The weakest part of any sectioned pole will always be the spigot where the sections join. On a well designed pole used correctly, it doesn’t cause a problem. Poles are very strong when subjected to compression forces but what about those stresses applied when subjected to bending forces which might occur if the pole is […]
Food glorious food, don’t care what it looks like, burnt, underdone, crude … did you know Oliver Twist was a hardened bikepacker? Given the right set of conditions, many of us will eat practically anything. Food becomes no more than fuel and as long as we keep stuffing it in, we can hopefully keep turning […]
Orders are now being taken for the latest batch of Bear Bones jerseys and gilets. Jerseys are available in both long and short sleeve versions while the gilets obviously have none. This is a ladies version. You can tell because it features a smaller bear … yours may fit differently. You’ll find full details over […]
What tyre for? A question that’s usually asked with a big dollop of genuine enthusiasm and a splash of expectation. It’s an innocent enough question of a straightforward nature, so why more often than not, does it result in ridicule? I can only guess at the answer … which is something I’ll probably have to […]
The Highland Trail has very quickly secured itself a seat at the top table of bikepacking ITT. It’s not the longest test of bike and rider but its wild and often unforgiving nature can provoke both fear and awe in equal measure. As the Highland Trial’s notoriety has spread, the number of riders from further […]
There’s something wrong with me. I’m not referring to the extra rib I possess or my inability to recognise colours. I’m not talking about the unidentified lump on my left leg or the fact that all my finger nails are split following a childhood infection. No, what’s wrong with me is something a little less […]
I’m not a fan of carrying any more than I have to. Packing for a trip usually involves removing things rather than adding them, continually balancing on the edge of just enough and too little. Some people will question this approach and I really don’t blame them. It certainly appears geeky, maybe foolhardy and on […]
I firmly believe that cycling off-road is safer than cycling on road. There may be trees, rocks and numerous other trail obstacles to contend with but unlike cars, they generally aren’t travelling towards you at 50mph. As a bikepacker, I try and find the quiet places, the one’s where most people don’t go. I weave […]
Although highly prized, Cuben, carbon and titanium won’t be featuring here. Instead, we’re going to concentrate on gear with a price tag that doesn’t induce a sharp intake of breath through pursed lips and clenched teeth. While we won’t be looking at handmade ultralight exotica, we also won’t be looking at items some may describe […]
Track, downhill, enduro, xc, dirt jump, fat, road and gravel. All recognisable genres in the bubbling, melting pot of cycling. Simply add the word ‘bike’ at the end of every one and your brain will instantly generate an image of what each looks like … but it can’t do that with the word bikepacking. Aside […]