Michal Ozogan
Mentoring

Blog, Page #3

A male cyclist in a white helmet, striped shirt, and brown shorts rides a red and black mountain bike with aero bars on a paved road, looking left. He has a beard and wears pink-striped gloves. In the background, a small, light-colored house is partially visible behind a thick line of bare trees and shrubs on a grassy incline. White text with a red outline at the top reads "AEROBARS FOR BIKEPACKING," and at the bottom, "SAVIOR OF HANDS."

Are aerobars worth it for bikepacking?

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Isn’t it totally stupid to carry a triathlon aerobars on a MTB? It doesn’t have to be, depending on what your goals are. We’ll show you when aerobars are useful, what are its advantages and disadvantages. And I’ll help you choose the right type for bikepacking… Read more

Four power banks of varying sizes and designs are laid out on a weathered wooden tree stump with green grass visible in the blurred background. A red and white text overlay on the image reads "HOW TO CHOOSE POWERBANK FOR BIKEPACKING?". From left to right: 1. A light gray power bank with a black top. It has "5000 FASTCHARGE" and "cellularline" written on it. 2. A larger, slightly lighter gray power bank, also with a black top. The text "alza4power" is visible towards the bottom. 3. A black power bank with a carbon fiber pattern. 4. Another black power bank with a carbon fiber pattern, similar to the third one but slightly taller.

How to choose powerbank for bikepacking

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There are many half-truths and myths surrounding powerbanks, which we will now explain and dispel. I’ll show you which parameters to look for when choosing a suitable device, and which ones you may not be interested in. At the very end, I’ll share some of my own tips on powerbanks that I use… Read more

A close-up shot of a red mountain bike with a large black frame bag on a sunny winter day, parked on an asphalt road with snow on the verges. The bike's handlebars, front fork, top tube, down tube, and seat post are visible. A smartphone is mounted on the handlebars, and the black frame bag, labeled "RESTRAP," fills much of the main triangle of the bike frame. The seat post has "RITCHEY" written vertically. In the background, out of focus, are houses with brown roofs, bare trees, and some green shrubs, suggesting a rural or suburban setting.

Restrap Race Top Tube Bag

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This long frame bag from Restrap holds a lot of stuff that’s quickly accessible during your ride. There are also a couple of side pockets for frequently used small items. But how did it hold up in the field?… Read more

Promotional image for the Atlas Mountain Race bikepacking event. A cyclist wearing a helmet and red backpack rides a dirt road through an arid desert landscape with rocky mountains under a clear blue sky. Red banner at top reads “ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE”; bold red text at bottom states “ENDLESS DESERTS AND MOUTH ON FIRE”.

Atlas Mountain Race 2025

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It was my first time on the African continent, and I wanted to celebrate it with a competition. The Atlas Mountain Race is a prestigious, international bikepacking race that traverses remote Berber settlements of the Anti-Atlas. As the sun burned through the day, I cycled across the rocky roads trying to catch up to the top 10. Despite bitter crises, I never thought of quitting. Read more

An image of a red and silver mountain bike outfitted with black bikepacking bags (including a seat bag, frame bag, and down tube bag), parked against a brick and stucco wall. Overlaid text reads “ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE” at the top (white on red) and “GEAR LIST” at the bottom (bold red with white outline), indicating this is a gear list for a bikepacking race. The scene is set outdoors on grass with scattered leaves.

Gear list for Atlas Mountain Race

An inventory of all the gear, food, and supplements I took with me to the Atlas Mountain Race. I was glad I didn’t have to use any of the emergency items. Overall, apart from the food, I was satisfied with my selection. Read more

An eye-level shot captures a serene mountain lake with dark green water, surrounded by a dense forest of tall, dark green pine trees. Patches of snow cling to the hillside and the ground beside a dirt road that winds along the lakeshore to the right. The sky above is overcast with light gray clouds. A red banner in the upper left corner reads "TOUR DIVIDE," while text at the bottom in a bold, red font with a white outline declares "FREEZING RAIN IN MOUNTAINS THE UNSUCCESSFUL STORY."

Tour Divide 2024

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Tour Divide is the grand-grandfather of all bikepacking races. I have heard a lot of stories about what can happen on the route. I came to Canada with a great sense of humility. Riding trough vast and remote areas will be a big challenge. But before the race started I found myself in much bigger trouble. Read more

A low-angle shot shows a red mountain bike with knobby tires, likely muddy from a ride, positioned against a brightly spray-painted wall. The rear wheel, chain, and chainring are visible on the left, while the front wheel with a "ROCKET RON" tire and fender is partially visible on the right. A black, roll-top dry bag is secured to the bike's frame near the bottom bracket.

Tailfin Downtube Pack 3 Litres

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Finally, a frame bag that you can ride with even when it’s empty. Tailfin came up with an interesting concept, especially suitable for smaller but heavier items. However, you need to be mindful of the space between the frame and the tire—especially when the fork is fully compressed. Read more

A close-up shot of a black bicycle saddle and a grey bikepacking seat bag with orange straps, set against a vibrant, multi-colored graffiti wall. The seat bag, which is branded "ORTLIEB Waterproof," appears to be packed full. A portion of the rear tire is visible at the bottom of the frame.

Ortlieb Seat-Pack 11 litres

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Since I’ve owned this Ortlieb bag for five years, I can describe my experience with truly long-term use. And I must say that the test of time has kept it waterproof. It has decent capacity of 11 litres and excellent craftsmanship. Read more

A light-colored bikepacking saddle bag with the word "CYCLITE" printed on it is attached to the seat post of a red bicycle, set against a vibrant, multi-colored graffiti wall featuring pink, blue, yellow, and green geometric shapes. The bike has a black saddle and a "SCHWALBE" tire with brown sidewalls.

Cyclite Saddle Bag Small

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Cyclite is not yet as well-known among bikepacking bag manufacturers, but their Saddle Bag stands out with its high-quality craftsmanship and unique features. For example, a plastic loop for a cup 🙂 I was testing this stuff on Tour Divide. Read more

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