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259 mi. / 417 km5-7 days
Madrean Rugged Ramble
20 Feb 27 Joe Cruz USAThe Madrean Rugged Ramble is a challenging but delightfully scenic week-long bikepacking route in southeastern Arizona. This 260-mile loop showcases some of the best the region has to offer, including Arizona Trail singletrack, historical adobe homesites, iconic gravel roads, towering canyons, and a well-deserved resupply in Patagonia... -
JOBST BRANDT RIDE BIKE! Book Review
16 Nov 3 Joe Cruz / culturePublished earlier this year, “JOBST BRANDT RIDE BIKE!” is a 224-page book from Isola Press that tells the story of imaginative cycling trailblazer Jobst Brandt (1935-2015), who helped shape the way we ride drop-bar bikes off road today. Through interviews, previously unpublished photos, and narrative storytelling, it paints a picture of his life and legacy. Read Joe Cruz’s captivating review here…
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QUOC Escape Off-Road Review
3 Oct 26 Joe Cruz / apparelWith a fresh look for mountain bike shoes, the new Quoc Escape Off-Road eschews categorical classification and blends trail durability with a streamlined aesthetic typically found on road shoes. Joe Cruz put a pair to the test and reports back with this in-depth review…
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103 mi. / 166 km3 days
No Business Loop (Cumberland Plateau)
71 Sep 20 Joe Cruz USAThe No Business Loop is a weekend bikepacking route on the Cumberland Plateau that samples the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and its environs via a stitchwork of technical singletrack, rowdy jeep roads, pristine white gravel, and fast and flowy trails. Riders will be treated to a backcountry experience that takes in a wealth of incredible scenery, massive rock formations, and challenging, grin-inducing riding. -
The Complete Book of All-Terrain Bicycles
10 Jul 18 Joe Cruz / newsYesterday, Joe Cruz was reminded of the “Complete Book of All-Terrain Bicycles,” a 1985 book by author Eugene Sloane. Find a peek into this classic text and learn how it became one of Joe’s early sources of off-road cycling inspiration here…
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Bike Friday All-Packa Review: Small Wheels, Big Pedaling
139 Jan 27 Joe Cruz / bikesThe Bike Friday All-Packa is a first-of-its-kind, dirt-forward 20″ folding bike with room for 2.4″ tires and loads of provisions. After thousands of miles of use and multiple bikepacking trips, Joe weighs in on it with this thorough review…
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Tanglefoot Hardtack Review
32 Aug 23 Joe Cruz / bikesAt the end of last year, Joe reviewed the Tanglefoot Moonshiner, a sure-footed ATB conceived for woodsy New England terrain but suitable for all manner of bikepacking in rugged environs. Readers will remember that he loved the Moonshiner for its handling and flat-out prowess on his favorite kinds of exploratory rides. The Hardtack is a lighter-duty sibling to the ‘Shiner, and it shares its dominant philosophy. Read on to find out how Joe thinks the two compare…
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Introducing the Bike Friday All-Packa: Behind the Scenes with Willie Hatfield
65 Aug 15 Joe Cruz / bikesBike Friday recently unveiled their new bike designed for gravel riding and bikepacking on everything from dirt roads to chunky doubletrack to flowy singletrack. Like most Bike Fridays, the All-Packa has 20” wheels and folds into a standard suitcase for travel. It also features clearance for 2.4” tires, a newly developed alt-bar, and loads of mounts and space for bags. Read more about it and find an interview with the designer here…
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A Visit to Analog Cycles: Celebrating Dirt and Woods Pedaling
30 Apr 14 Joe Cruz / field-tripsAnalog Cycles is a small shop in Poultney, Vermont, specializing in a thoughtful, intentional approach to all-terrain adventure riding. In a short time, it has become fiercely beloved to many customers in the northeast of the USA. We visited Analog at their just-opened new location, and we think their reputation is rightfully earned. Find photos and our interview with co-owners James Johnson and Candice Passehl here…
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QUOC Gran Tourer II Review: A Refined Shoe for Fast Dirt Rides
18 Apr 13 Joe Cruz / apparelIn a dozen years, QUOC shoes have made a name for themselves by attending to fit and function with a clean, distinctive styling. The Gran Tourer II is the evolution of an earlier model that was exemplary in everything from spirited gravel rides to drop-bar bikepacking. Does the update exceed the high standard set by the original? Read on to find out why Joe thinks it’s only a qualified success…
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Tanglefoot Moonshiner Review: Triumphal Pedaling Toward Retro-Futurism
76 Dec 9 Joe Cruz / bikesThe Tanglefoot Moonshiner is a woods exploration bike conceived in and for the kind of riding you’ll find in Vermont and throughout New England. But its prowess doesn’t end there. It’s a bike for getting outside in the playful adventurous spirit that all-terrain bikes were supposed to be for. Dig in to this lengthy discussion to find out why—after riding one in a variety of conditions for a couple of months—Joe is excited and enthusiastic for what Tanglefoot has achieved.
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Nutmeg Nor’Easter 2021 (The Alt Cycling World Championship)
31 Nov 1 Joe Cruz / cultureThe 2021 Nutmeg Nor’Easter (aka Thee Non-Competitive Alt Cycling World Championship) happened a couple of weeks ago, leaving all attendees with hope for the cycling community at large. Find a reflection from the event by Joe Cruz here, alongside a stunning gallery of photos by Conan Thai…