Cass Gilbert

Seeking a two wheeled spring break adventure, Cass and his son Sage return to New Mexico after a number of years away, to reacquaint themselves with the city’s bike paths and spend a night under enchanting skies. Read on for a story about a family campout on the Caja del Rio, and a visit to an emporium of preloved outdoor gear that is sure to delight both parents and children alike…

In our latest Rider and Rig feature, we catch up with geologist, educator, and route builder Seth Kruckenberg, creator of several fabulous desert rides published on this site. As well as dissecting his all-terrain, Rohloff-powered Tumbleweed Prospector—a stunning build that includes an unusual but elegant set of handlebars—Seth shares insightful tips on understanding geological terrain and using topography for route creation so you can plan spectacular trips of your own. Find it all here…

Filling a gap in their ever-expanding lineup, Tailfin’s latest Mini Pannier offers 16L of rattle-free storage, aiming to provide a Goldilocks size that suits everything from bikepacking trips to grocery runs to laptop-loaded commutes. After spending several months with a pre-production version in the run-up to their launch, Cass reports in with some long-term findings…

Is it that time of year again? After a busy 12 months of travel and time on two wheels in several countries, Cass kicks off our annual Editor’s Dozen gear picks with his roundup of favourite bikes, components, accessories, clothing, and more. Find out which old and new pieces earned top marks in 2023 here…

After a turbulent time over the last few years, the UK-based children’s bike specialists at Islabikes have announced that the company will cease sale and production of bikes once remaining stocks are sold. Find more details here…

How do you wrap up a great summer in the UK? Well, you could go camping with newfound friends, ride into darkness, awaken at sunrise, make coffee outside, hang out in a bike shop, join the Sunday ride, drink more coffee, and then pedal home. Cass swings by the UK’s New Forest for the full experience of The Woods Cyclery. Read on for our shop visit, a route, and a dissection of shop owner Tom Farrel’s gorgeous Rivendell Appaloosa…

Trail treats or bikepacking bliss? In this report from the UK, Cass wrestles with his love of bikepacking and equal fondness for trail riding. Do you stop and go, or flow? Perhaps, he concludes, the answer is to do both, on the very same trip. Find his story here…

Cass and his 10-year-old son Sage head off for a bikepacking loop around Vermont’s Mount Mansfield, following forest roads, trails, and bike paths. Between Monty Python reenactments, stealth camping, and searching for pizza, they follow a family tradition of journaling and blogging, sharing this dueling narrative of the experience…

While riding the forthcoming Woods Rat Run bikepacking route, we chat to The Woods Cyclery’s Tom Farrell about his Stooge Rambler, BMX-ing, dinglespeeds, front loading, and rat runs. Plus, enjoy a gallery of his black and white film images captured on local outings and learn about his shoot-from-the-bike camera setup here…