Tuscobia Winter Ultra Race Report
The Tuscobia Winter Ultra is a 160 or 80 mile race along the Tuscobia and Wild River Trails that takes place in December or January. The 80 mile course is one way, this year from Northern Pines Resort on Butternut Lake to Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The 160 mile course starts in Rice Lake; at Butternut Lake racers turn around and go back the way they came. In 2019 I completed the 80 mile race on bike, it was warm (for winter), rainy and icy. This year I was wishing for cold and my wish was granted, and then some. Continue reading Tuscobia Winter Ultra Race Report
Introducing Fenrir
The Otso Fenrir Stainless is a ride-anywhere bike for bikepacking races and afternoon adventures alike. It can be built with drop bars or with MTB bars and both selections are available as stock build options. A tire clearance of 29” x 2.6” or 27.5” x 2.8” keeps the Fenrir rolling on rough terrain, while extra frame and fork braze-ons are ready to carry gear for days or weeks on the trail. Continue reading Introducing Fenrir
Heck of the North 2021
Everything comes back to timing. Calendars, clocks, watches, and luck. If this year’s Heck of the North were held 24 hours earlier, we would’ve spent the day riding through autumn rain on sloppy roads and ATV trails. Instead, we were treated to hard, packed gravel and ideal weather by anyone’s definition for bikes, fall colors, and type-two fun. Continue reading Heck of the North 2021
Shop Tour of Wolf Tooth & Otso Cycles
In this Wolf Tooth & Otso Cycles aerial shop tour, we are telling the story of the Wolf Tooth ReMote Dropper Lever making its way from engineering to machining, lasering, assembly, shipping, and finally to its recipient. Along the way, you get to see the facility and our staff, and finish by checking out the Otso Cycles space. Continue reading Shop Tour of Wolf Tooth & Otso Cycles
Sonoran Desert Scouting
Spring 2021 rolled around and I found myself itching to get back on my bike for a little tour. The ongoing pandemic had all but smashed my plans (like everyone else’s) for long tours outside of my home state. Continue reading Sonoran Desert Scouting
Bikepacking Roots Releases the 600-Mile Northwoods Route
A new bikepacking route in our backyard was just shared by the good folks at Bikepacking Roots. Otso is a presenting sponsor of this new Northwoods Route alongside Shimano because this part of the world is special to us, as we spend a lot of time riding the dirt near Lake Superior. Continue reading Bikepacking Roots Releases the 600-Mile Northwoods Route
Bikepacking the Idaho Cold Springs
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Idaho Hot Springs bikepacking loop. It’s a multi-day bikepacking trip that weaves along gold-medal trout streams, flower-dotted meadows, self-made towns, and of course, hot springs. Unfortunately, the season for enjoying this route is getting much shorter and riskier due to climate change. Continue reading Bikepacking the Idaho Cold Springs
Tour Divide 2021: Ken’s Waheela C Setup
I first learned about the Tour Divide when I watched a documentary about the race back in, I think it was, 2010. I was so intrigued and interested in the race, but it seemed like something I would never have the opportunity to take part in. Continue reading Tour Divide 2021: Ken’s Waheela C Setup
New: Single Speed Conversion Kit for Tuning Chip™ Dropout, Plus Instructions
The people have been asking for it, and we’re excited to say that we now have a Single Speed Tuning Chip Conversion kit! Continue reading New: Single Speed Conversion Kit for Tuning Chip™ Dropout, Plus Instructions
Etter Olson 2020 Look Back
Perhaps like everyone, we had PLANS for 2020: international research (a collaboration with a Palestinian cycling club), bike tours, laid back bikepacking trips and more intense races. We planned to ride around things (Great Salt Lake, the Cedar Mountains, and Minnesota), through things (really big trees in Big Sur and the arches around Moab), across things (the Flint Hills of Kansas and the state of Utah) and over things (clear sandstone in Capitol Reef and endless gravel roads of the West Desert). In short, we hoped to ride the Waheela Cs through as many adventures as we could. Continue reading Etter Olson 2020 Look Back