Gravel, adventure, gnarmac or cyclocross. It doesn’t much matter which moniker you care to hang off it because when the gravel gets lumpier, the adventure becomes more adventurous or things get a little gnarlier than you expected … your re-branded cyclocross bike is going to get out of its depth. In some instances, it might be […]
When the intrepid bikepacker thinks about getting wet, it’s usually in the form of rain from above. However, while you’re unlikely to get quite as wet from below … you can still get unpleasantly damp. Using a bivvy bag obviously negates the issue of wet ground but it’s not without its draw-backs. Firstly, there’s the […]
If you read part 3 of this saga, you may recall that I was just starting out on the quest to discover whether a fat bike really does make a good ‘all rounder’. Many of those riders already trundling round the countryside atop a fat bike appeared to think so but my initial ride left […]
Cheerful hey? Contrary to popular belief it wasn’t Bill Shakespeare who coined the phrase above reminding us that we should make the most of our time. My in-depth research tells me that the phrase is actually a bastardisation of two different quotes from the Old Testament but I suppose whoever and wherever doesn’t really matter […]
As analogies go, comparing Ordnance Survey Explorer 213 against a black lace thong, half cup bra or red satin suspender belt might be stretching things a little, however, I honestly believe certain similarities exist between lingerie and maps that are hard to dismiss.Those of you who already love maps, probably don’t need me to tell […]
I was a little surprised when the mountainbike world seemingly fell head over heals in love with 650b. It appeared to be a whirlwind romance, an overnight infatuation and one I couldn’t understand. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I did my best … I looked at the figures and scratched my head, I begged and borrowed […]
There’s three primary areas on your bike to carry your belongings – below the saddle, in front of or below the handlebars and within the frame’s triangle. For some, that represents more than enough carrying capacity but others need to find a little more. So, what do you do if you do need to squeeze […]
Bearstock? A gathering, a party, a chance to meet up and the perfect excuse to pack your bags and get out there. Bear Bones is five years old this year and we thought it would be a great excuse to host a party. It takes place on July 2nd / 3rd in greenest mid-Wales. Besides […]
I crouched twenty yards back from the waters edge, desperately trying to coax my damp lighter back into life. From the furthest corner of my eye, something caught my attention. It was big and seemed completely out of context with its surroundings, I stood to get a better view. It was a boat, a large […]
Bikepackers, we’re a strange bunch. On the one hand, we seek out the wild places, remote, lonely and free from people. On the other, we court attention, interaction, even conversation – fat bikes, single speeds, big miles, rigid forks, and the ultimate aid to making people stop, stare and point …. the weird handlebar. To […]