I’m heading out to Kyrgyzstan today, and I’m kind of nervous about it. I am hopefully smarter than I was in 2023, and I think I have addressed the issues that prevented me from finishing back then. My Coros Dura is lightyears ahead of my previous computers in terms of pointing me where I want…
Category: bikepacking
Full Suspension Bikes and SRMR Finish Rates
Conventional wisdom says that the added complexity of full suspension (or some say any suspension) will reduce their reliability to the point of making them a poor choice for ultra-endurance racing. There are several components to this, and, like so much conventional wisdom, data may contradict the accepted story. (more…)
Why Choose Electronic Shifting for Ultra-Endurance Racing
No matter what I decide about which bike to bring to Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) 2026, a few things are pretty firm in my mind One is electronic shifting. (more…)
Bike (In)Decision For SRMR
What Kind of bike do you recommend for these events? There are a number of bike options that would all be solid choices for these races. There are few extremely technical sections, but you will benefit from wider tyres, flat bars and mountain bike geometry on the rougher sections and on descents. When it gets…
Finding Myself
My recent racing history has a few unfinished courses in it, Rather than lament getting lost, I am actively looking to improve the things that make it more likely to finish. (more…)
ITI 2025 What Went Wrong?
What went wrong on my ITI 2025 ride? Well nothing really. Which is exactly what went wrong (more…)
Discover My ITI Adventure Through Video Highlights
Here is a video I made of my ITI experience this year, I was less focused on the video than I was on riding, but I surprised myself with how much footage I had (more…)
Success on the ITI 350
I always say that harsher weather favours riders like me who are on the slower side of slow but have strong cold-weather skills. When everyone is pushing their bikes through deep snow, then everyone is basically going the same speed as me. (more…)
From 2002 to 2025: My Iditarod Comeback
Back in 2002, when I first rode the OG bikepacking race, the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 (ITI), I said I would be back to ride the 1000 (if I had the time off work back in 2002, I would have just continued). The thought of riding in the long race has remained in my head,…
Moonlander II Early Thoughts
I have been riding a new Surly Moonlander II on snow for a few weeks now (plus another month on dirt) and I have some thoughts. Obviously, Surly pulled some of the design for this bike straight out of my brain, but that doesn’t necessarily make the best bike in the world. (more…)
