Blog, Page #2

A close-up, eye-level shot of the front of a red bikepacking mountain bike. A dark grey frame bag is attached to the top tube and head tube, secured by yellow elastic cords and black straps. A black device, possibly a GPS or light, is mounted on the handlebars to the right of the bag. The right handlebar grip is visible, with a textured surface. The front tire, with knobby treads and a tan sidewall, is partially visible at the bottom right. The background is a lush green lawn with scattered white clover and some apple trees with reddish fruit.

Apidura Expedition Stem Pack

|

The Expedition Stem Pack from Apidura is fully waterproof and easy access is ensured by a Fidlock magnetic closure. It also stands out from typical stem bags with its boxy shape. Does it make sense to get one?... Read more

An overhead close-up shot of a red and silver mountain bike with a black Ortlieb top tube bag attached. The bike is outdoors on a sunny day with green grass in the blurred background. A black bike computer is mounted on the handlebars. The number "136" is visible on a sticker on the bike's head tube.

Ortlieb Fuel-Pack

|

Fuel-Pack is a top tube bag from Ortlieb. You don’t have to fear a broken zipper, because it closes with magnets. It protects its contents from rain, mounts either with bolts or rubber straps, and offers a volume of one litre… Read more

A red full-suspension bikepacking mountain bike, fully loaded with bikepacking bags on the seat post, frame, and handlebars, stands in front of a brick wall and grassy ground. The bike features brown-sidewall tires, a blue cassette, and a black front fork. The top of the image has a red banner with white text that reads "SILK ROAD MOUNTAIN RACE," and the bottom of the image has a red banner with white text that reads "GEAR LIST."

Gear list for Silk Road Mountain Race

| 💬 4 comments

An inventory of all gear, clothing, food, and supplements I’m taking for the world’s toughest MTB race – the Silk Road Mountain Race. Hot during the day, temperatures well below freezing at night. No bike shops. I have to be prepared for everything. Read more

A close-up shot of a grinning, dirty male cyclist, with a beard and dark, disheveled hair, wearing a red cycling jersey. In the background, out of focus, is the front wheel and part of the frame of a mountain bike with a water bottle attached. Red text overlays the image: "HELLENIC MOUNTAIN RACE" across the top, and "DOGS WANTED TO BITE MY ASS" at the bottom.

Hellenic Mountain Race 2025

|

A race where you don’t count kilometres, but vertical metres. With 27,000 meters of climbing, it is one of the vertical kings of bikepacking races. Not only did I have to deal with aggressive dogs, but I rode through rain, mud and storms. It was so warm in places that I could barely ride, but at night I couldn’t avoid freezing temperatures. Read more

A red and white full-suspension mountain bike, fully loaded for bikepacking, stands upright next to a large rock on a paved path. The bike features a frame bag, a large seat bag, a top tube bag, and several water bottles. The tires are tan-walled with knobby treads. In the background, a lush green landscape with trees and a winding path is visible under a cloudy sky. The image has a red banner at the top with "HELLENIC MOUNTAIN RACE" in white text, and a red overlay at the bottom with "GEAR LIST" in white text.

Gear list for Hellenic Mountain Race

An inventory of all the equipment, food, and supplements I’m taking for the Hellenic Mountain Race bikepacking event. I’m facing roughly 900 kilometers and 27,000 meters of elevation gain in the Pindus mountains. No bike shops nearby, and at night temperatures can drop below freezing. Read more

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?

|

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

| | 💬 1 comment

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

|

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