Empowering The Bicycle Traveler

Bike Touring Equipment

In Defense of Bar-End Shifters

We are often asked why Surly specs bar-end shifters rather than integrated brake/shift levers on the Long Haul Trucker, Disc Trucker and Cross-Check.  This is a good question and one we thought warranted some explanation. When you walk into most bike shops, you'll most likely find that every single new bike with drop bars is fitted Read More

We are always looking, hoping and striving for the best possible experience when we head out on a bike trip. Our free time to dedicate to these journeys is limited and valuable and we should do everything in our power to make the most of the opportunity. Many components in this alchemical equation are beyond our Read More

Packing for the Smoke ‘n’ Fire 400

Greetings!  I'm a new voice here so I'll briefly introduce myself.  My name is Ryan King and I'll be riding the inaugural Smoke 'n' Fire 400 bikepacking race with the support of the good folks at Bike Touring News.  I've done a small handful of rides like this, including the Oregon Outback in May of Read More

Frostbike 2014

Every year Quality Bicycle Products, or QBP, produces a trade show for their dealers featuring vendors who sell their products through QBP. Your humble reporter was invited this year to the frozen wasteland that is Minneapolis. By the way, those who refer to Portland, OR as Minneapolis West are not even close to the mark Read More

Riding and Touring Off Pavement

If you follow any of our posts you have already noticed we aren't afraid of touring on dirt and gravel roads.  In fact in the last few years we have probably covered more miles on dirt than on pavement... AND we cover most of them on loaded touring bikes. Certainly, riding a fully loaded touring Read More