WHICH RACK IS RIGHT FOR YOU? We have all found ourselves in analysis paralysis when gear shopping. Divide vs. Elkhorn, Elkhorn vs. Divide? Do you choose one of each, or do you run matching front and rear? Do you go handlebar roll in the front and rack in the rear? Saddlebag and front rack? Do you axle mount or do you eyelet mount? Do you just get khaki cargo shorts and stuff those [...]
A weekend with Lowelifes Respectable Citizens Club When you think of Los Angeles, mountain biking probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But, if you look a little closer, you will find a thriving community of mountain bike advocates dedicated to uncovering trails lost to time & building more access for all user groups. I had the privilege of joining the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens Club on one [...]
WHY SMALL RIDERS LOVE USING RACKS When I started mountain biking, there were very few options for bikes that would fit me. At exactly 5 feet tall (not a half inch more!), I’m definitely on the short end of the spectrum of riders. My first mountain bike that I bought in 1995, was a steel, 26-inch wheel Gary Fisher. When I look at photos of me on that bike, [...]
We took over the foyer of the legendary Chris King HQ, and setup basecamp for their annual Open House. The event showcased their newest colorway MIDNIGHT. All of the builders used the new colorway to inspire a variety of builds. We saw titanium full suspension rigs, powerful all mountain ebikes, slender road touring bikes, unique adventure rigs, and bespoke hardtails. We brought two unique bikes. A Santacruz 5010 fully kitted in Matte Mango [...]
A SOUTHERN OREGON COASTAL MIXED TERRAIN ADVENTURE Early October can be absolutely stunning in Oregon. Wildfire smoke usually diminishes, the daytime temps are in the lovely 75-degree range, and the nights cool down. While I’ve done a ton of riding in central Oregon and the Cascade Mountains, the Oregon coast range has been on my list for a bikepacking tour. The Elliot Loon Overnighter was the perfect way to [...]
Type 3 fun in the Gifford Pinchot Sometimes things don’t turn out according to plan. Oftentimes that can be a bad thing, other times, that can lead to unforgettable spontaneous experiences. Or it could possibly lead to hours of torture. This turned out to be all of the above. Over the years I have heard legends of Juniper Ridge and the Dark Divide, unmatched views, burly descents, and brutal hike-a-bike. [...]
BIKEPACKING IS FREEDOM For the 4th of July holiday, I (Chris Kratsch co-founder of Old Man Mountain) and two long time friends set out on a 3-day bike tour of the Mt. Hood area of Oregon. Our route was inspired by the by 9th segment of the Oregon Timber Trail. The three of us: Derrick Bell, Chris Dodson and I have ridden in the area many times before, but none [...]
A QUICK HOMETOWN WEEKEND RAMBLE For several years in a row, we would embark on a “Motor-Free Memorial Day Weekend”. We’d grab a friend or two, load up our bikes, put a rough route together and leave from our home in Bend, Oregon for a door-to-door 3-day bikepacking adventure in our nearby mountains and forests. This year, the weather was daunting in our nearby Cascade mountains, with snow in [...]
Hell Biking: Who’s idea was this anyway?! A short history lesson Hell Biking was a term coined by Carl Tobin to describe the type of riding and adventures he, Roman Dial and Jon Underwood were doing in the late 1980’s (Note 1). Roman Dial, regarded as the godfather of bikerafting, was the instigator of these tours and their 1988 adventure from Nabesna to McCarthy in Alaska, was considered to be the first ever [...]
Getting the call... So it finally happened. Your bike buddies invited you to join them on a weekend bikepacking trip. They promise peace and solitude, but after a quick google search you start to panic. Anxiety creeps in as you find your way into the depths of the bikepacking world. You spend a few moments hyperventilating, looking at ludicrous prices for bike packing specific bikes, reading extensive gear reviews filled with words and [...]
