Category: Bikes and biking
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In tepid defense of seat packs
Over twelve years ago I wrote a series on bikepacking for Backpacking Light, which included what I still believe was the first systemic review of “modern” bikepacking gear. It wasn’t an especially complex project to take on, given that the folks selling seatpacks numbered three (Carousel, Epic, Porcelain Rocket), and the folks selling off the…
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Stooge Speedbomb; bikepacking and enduro
The Speedbomb has continued to be money well spent; as given that a winter of sparse skiing has smoothed into a truncated and sporadic spring for floating, making the past 6 months a great time to ride bikes a lot. It was also money spent at the right time, as some good, prominent press saw…
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Dearborn River micro-guide
The Dearborn River can, for the purposes of floating, be divided into five distinct sections. All of them are worthwhile destinations, with short seasons relative to neighboring streams. Some parts of some of the sections are exceptional for their respective genre, and I make a point to float one or two every year. The only…
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Bedrock clogs; the hipster death shoe I love
Prior to 2008 or so I lived in Chaco sandals, like many others. They were comfy, good for most things so long as they weren’t too technical (in any direction), and exceptionally durable. When I got into backpacking in earnest and moved to relatively minimalist shoes, arch support quickly became intolerable, something that has remained…
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Stooge Speedbomb; the best of mountain biking
It is easy to dislike mountain biking these days. The industry has gentrified in un-environmental and increasingly, un-human directions, with trail development (or at least, the popular portrayal of it) following accordingly. The 21st century does not need more flow (read; easy) trails, bike parks, or skill and dedication obviating technology. In my opinion.…
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Marin San Quentin last thoughts, and replacement
The question I had three years ago when I bought and then changed up the San Quention was easy to answer; a new bike with modern geometry was absolutely worth it. I’ve enjoyed the bike immensely, and between the joy of riding, our exceptional network of backyard trails in Helena, and a schedule with more…
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The million dollar hat
Something on an exaggeration; but retail, this hat costs 55 dollars. Which seems excessive, even/especially in light of standard Pgucc truckers going for 35-39 dollars. Prior to this, my favorite foam truckers, which I find indespensible almost every day of the year, were the sort I got for free at trade shows or found for…
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Alpacka Caribou review
When we bought an Alpacka Caribou this past winter, to replace our slower and whitewater-poor Double Duck, bikerafting capability was far down the list. Another Explorer 42 could have easily been justified, as it has been so capable with multiple people, on white or flat water. The 42 is a bit much paddled solo, and…
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Tenderfoot Creek packrafting
(update January 2024) Tenderfoot Creek is the largest west-running drainage in the Little Belt mountains. Like the mountains themselves, it is a unique and somewhat obscure place. It has a public lands story which is worth reading about. As detailed last week, I’ve been mulling this post for a while. I discovered (for myself) floating…
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Patagonia STP Hoody; final thoughts
I’ve been using the Stretch Terre Planing hoody almost daily, and almost exclusively, for 18 months. It has proved to be as ideal a windshirt as I can imagine, without falling into hyperbolic hopes concerning future fabrics. As I detailed in the post last year, my windshirt quest has over the past decade consisted in…
Bedrock & Paradox 
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