A decade ago, we met an elderly couple in Patagonia traveling in a topless 1920s Model T Ford. When asked why travel in such a peculiar vehicle, their answer was a simple, “Why not?”. The ancient Model T was slow and thirsty, and, naturally, spare parts were nearly impossible to find along the route. Such…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
Feature Image Courtesy of The Journal of Lost Time AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When: June 20-23, 2024 Where: Leavenworth, Washington The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Spring
Lead photo courtesy of Weird Wild West SOUTHWEST USA Adventure Van Expo When: April 13-24, 2024 Where: Scottsdale, Arizona The Adventure Van Expo series returns for 2024 with a packed schedule of events, including the first of the season in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lively music, food trucks, vendors, and camping converge in this all-ages celebration of…
How to Prepare for and Survive Inclement Weather While Overlanding
Lead photograph by Michnus Olivier, Piki Piki Overland More than a decade ago, we camped in a large wooded campsite in Punta del Este, a coastal town in Uruguay. Despite extensive overland travel in Africa, we were relative rookies. It was our first night in South America, the Defender had been released from the port…
The Great Gravel Boom :: 4,000 riders expected at Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 2023
unbound adjective un·bound | \ən-ˈbau̇nd\ 1: having no limit The gravel race that began with 34 participants in 2006 will boom through the scenic rolling hills of Kansas’ Tallgrass Prairie in 2023, with thousands of cyclists clamoring for a lottery ticket to ride. Although participants will hit blacktop roads in smaller sections, the vast…
Off-Road Cycling Endurance, The RAD Dirt Festival
Rad adjective slang Extremely exciting or good. Excellent; wonderful. Radical. The terrain They call it an “untouched plethora of gravel unlike any other,” that southern Colorado plateau laden with impressive mesas, paths that will bear the churning of hundreds of bike wheels on October 8 as riders compete for the top finisher in the RAD…
Staples In Tents’ The Gathering is Coming to Vancorum, Colorado, August 18-22
Sonya and Necota Staples of Staples In Tents and Black People Off-road are champions of equality in the outdoor space. They strive to make camping and overlanding accessible to everyone, including those from marginalized communities who haven’t traditionally enjoyed easy access to outdoor recreation opportunities. Enter The Gathering, a weekend of outdoor adventure and education…
The Overland Adventure Rallies Return (With a New Name) For 2022
Lead photo by Bryon Bass As rally organizers gear up for this year’s full season, I know I’m not the only one looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Overland rallies are where like minds come together, bundling up for nightly bonfire raffles, visiting with colleagues and friends, listening to stories from…
Bikepacking Kitchenware
Food, water, and coffee. The triumvirate of life. I wouldn’t say I was addicted to coffee, only that without my morning espresso, I’m completely unable to function—often not sure who I am, where I belong, or what day it is. On my bicycle tour from John O’Groats to Lands End, I packed a heavy stove-top…
Bikepacking During a Pandemic
Let’s start with a riddle: what’s invisible, arrived in 2020, caused global chaos, and begins with the letter ‘C’? Ah yes, Covid. It has been a rather strange episode here on Earth, and there aren’t many of us who’ve not been affected. It’s all too easy to curl up on the sofa, grab a tub…
Tips for Your First Bikepacking Trip
In today’s instalment, we’re going to look at 11 top tips for your first bikepacking ride and hopefully get you excited about your pedal-driven adventure. I want this series of articles to create a solid base for beginners but also offer experienced riders some useful considerations for their upcoming trips. As we continue to deep…
Bikepacking: How to pack your bike for a successful trip
You decided what to take. Now you have to fit it onto your bicycle.
First (Big) Ride: Rocky Mountain Sherpa
I take Rocky Mountain’s latest bike, one purpose-built for overland travel, on a 100 mile ride on the White Rim.
Trail Tested: Salsa Cycles 2015 Beargrease Carbon 1
Who says fat can’t be fast?
Wanderland
Logan and Virginia pedal through the Kingdom of the Sky, welcomed by the people of Lesotho.
Bikepacking: Selecting the Right Shelter
If you’ve been tuning into the Expedition Portal bikepacking series, you’ll know we’ve covered everything from how to select a bike to which snacks to keep in your jersey pockets. One of the more critical components to a successful trip is bringing along a shelter appropriate for your travels. The options are endless, but knowing…
Bikepacking: Fluids and Fuels
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do when bike packing. Its unfortunately one of the hardest things to do as well. Here’s some advice from a professional on keeping your body fueled and ready.
Bikepacking: Top Tips for a Good Trip
Before you roll out, it might be wise to take with you a few tips, many learned the hard way. The very hard way.
Bikepacking: Choosing the Right Bike Bags
In our continuing series of bikepacking edifiers, we now turn our attention to what many consider the most important component to a bikepacking setup––bike bags.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Mountain Bike Format
While things used to be easy when choosing a bike, these days require more than a little guidance to make the right choice