Bikes Beers Bluegrass (B3) Lost River Recap: A Wild and Wonderful Time

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Bikes Beers Bluegrass (B3) Lost River Recap: A Wild and Wonderful Time

Bikes Beers Bluegrass (B3) Lost River is a weekend-long gathering of Mid-Atlantic cyclists centered around a non-competitive gravel ride that focuses on casual cycling. Andy Karr attended B3 for the first time after years of prioritizing other local, racing-oriented events instead and was left wondering, “What was I thinking all those years?” Continue reading below for Andy’s recap, supported by a wonderful mix of analog and digital photography!

Jordyn’s Deep Custom Chromag Darco

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Jordyn’s Deep Custom Chromag Darco

Today, we are showing off Jordyn’s deep custom Chromag Darco. Unlike your local rad dad selling his 10-year-old MTB as “custom” after swapping the saddle and grips, Tucson local Jordyn went deep to adapt his Chromag Darco to his desert trails. Check out all the dialed details below!

Velo Orange HQ Visit: “Homage to an Ideal”

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Velo Orange HQ Visit: “Homage to an Ideal”

Following his visit with Crust Bikes, Nic Morales‘s road trip across the southeast continues with a trip to Velo Orange in Baltimore, MD. Given his longstanding appreciation of the brand’s ethos and product offerings, it felt only right to finally put a face to the names and influences that had influenced so much of his cycling life.

Through an extensive tour of their headquarters and an interview with co-founder Igor Shteynbuk, Nic learned of the logistics and mindset taken up by those behind the “VO” adorning many of our builds… Check it out below!

2024 Liv Pique 29 Advanced MTB Review: The Women’s-Specific PR Seeker

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2024 Liv Pique 29 Advanced MTB Review: The Women’s-Specific PR Seeker

Brooke’s preference for mountain bikes leans towards longer and slacker varieties. However, when the opportunity arose to test the all-new Liv Pique 29 Advanced, she couldn’t resist. There’s something to be said about a race-bred bike, no matter the terrain it’s intended for. The review of this cross-country race machine coincided with Brooke’s own training and participation in the Downieville Classic All-Mountain Championships, where light and lean Liv Pique proved to offer an edge.

And special thanks to Ryan Cleek for the stunning photoset!

Morocco’s Highest Peaks By Bike: A Bikepacking Traverse Through the Atlas Mountains

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Morocco’s Highest Peaks By Bike: A Bikepacking Traverse Through the Atlas Mountains

After crossing Spain and climbing the highest mountains in the Al-Ándalus area, the Toubkal mountain presented itself as a challenge but also as an excuse to explore a country in which Sonia and Eloi had not cycled before. They knew that the next step was to change continents, and Morocco’s Highest Peaks were just on the other side of the harbor. What they didn’t know was that they were about to cross a land that would surprise them to an extent that, at the time, they couldn’t even imagine…

Far from Alone: Meaghan Hackinen’s Invisible Support Network Behind her Solo Tour Divide Finish

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Far from Alone: Meaghan Hackinen’s Invisible Support Network Behind her Solo Tour Divide Finish

This June, Meaghan Hackinen set out to compete in the Tour Divide. While no stranger to big rides or bikepacking races, this would be Meaghan’s longest off-pavement adventure yet. After a neck-and-neck race with Ana Jager, Meaghan reached Antelope Wells in a time of 15 days and 23 hours, winning the 2024 women’s division (7th overall) and setting the fastest women’s time for a grand depart.

In this reflective essay, Meaghan weaves together snapshots from her experience while exploring the invaluable but less visible support network that helped her achieve this Tour Divide win. 

Supporting photographs from Seth DuBois, Alexandera Houchin, and Megan Dunn

Archer Components D1x Trail Shifter: Shift Everything

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Archer Components D1x Trail Shifter: Shift Everything

Having always been excited about mixing and matching drivetrains in ways they were never meant to be used, Spencer’s interest was piqued with the D1x Trail shifter offering from Archer Components. With the second generation of the D1x, Archer added a multitude of new features to make this an appealing alternative to big-brand wireless shifting systems.

Allowing for wireless use of any cable-actuated derailleur opened some doors to intriguing (if unconventional) use cases. Check out Spencer’s review of the D1x Trail and all the strange combinations it enables below…

2024 North South Colorado Recap – A Long, Solo Win

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2024 North South Colorado Recap – A Long, Solo Win

The North South Colorado Bikepacking Race, a 610-mile adventure from Fort Collins to Trinidad, Colorado, is known for its challenging and scenic route over some of Colorado’s iconic (and lesser-known) passes. This year’s event saw around 60 riders toe the line, ready to tackle the diabolical journey. The course, notorious for its demanding 50,000 feet of elevation gain, offers a diverse mix of terrain, including smooth and blown-out gravel roads, trails, and even an abandoned train trestle precariously perched on the side of a mountain.

After a scratch on Day 2 of last year’s race Zack Allison returned this year with renewed confidence and a well-thought-out strategy. Zack, who spends most of his time racing gravel bikes and co-promoting the FoCo Fondo with his wife Whitney, provides a thorough recap of his North South Colorado win. His account delves into the highs and [mostly] the solitary lows of his journey to take the win at one of the toughest bikepacking races in the USA.

More Kids on Bikes: How NICA is Changing the Culture of Youth Sports

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More Kids on Bikes: How NICA is Changing the Culture of Youth Sports

Stacked on a foundation of building strong minds, bodies, characters, and communities, The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) has been getting more kids on bikes through mountain bike racing, adventure riding, trail building, community outreach, and scholarship programs since being officially established in 2009.

Katie Sox spills the beans on her experience photographing for the Oregon League and how NICA continues to expand its offerings while cultivating a healthier and more equitable approach to youth sports.

Fine Bikes, Charles Thomas, and My Enamel Road Bike

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Fine Bikes, Charles Thomas, and My Enamel Road Bike

Over the past few years, Mitchell Connell has fallen in love with road riding with his friends – but he never felt at home on his Scott Addict road bike. He turned to Charles Thompson of Fine Bikes to design a dedicated road bike from the perspective of a fellow commuter, bike mechanic, and racer. Read more about their design process, visiting Charles’ shop, and how his bike turned out.

2024 LA Invitational at the Cub House: Where Everyone’s Invited

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2024 LA Invitational at the Cub House: Where Everyone’s Invited

Today, we present a recap of the 2024 LA Invitational put on by all the lovely folks over at The Cub House in Los Angeles, CA. In a slightly different format than our typical event Reportage, the team gathered stories from various participants, who recounted harrowing and ecstatic experiences while out riding the event routes. Then, they conclude with a gallery of drool-worthy two- and four-wheeled machines from the bike and car show portion. Let’s check it out below!