Visionary company owners, creative equipment innovators, and intrepid adventurers—shedding light on the people who are doing generally awesome stuff.

Inspiring stories of individuals shaping the cycling world. Meet company founders, equipment makers, and globetrotting riders who redefine the biking experience.

Meet the Makers, Riders, and Innovators | Bike Gear Database

People

Join Mattie on a visit to Wizard Works where Harry and Vee create vibrant bikepacking bags with community spirit. From a humble Peckham space to their thriving Greenwich studio see how Wizard Works plays a key role in the revival of the UK's independent textile industry.

Wizards at Work: A Visit to Wizard Works in London

Years before bikepacking became a household term, Martina Brimmer had an "aha" moment that sparked a shift in bike bag making. Fast forward 15 years, and she is now the CEO of her own company, Swift Industries, one of the most renowned bikepacking brands on earth.

Martina Brimmer: 15 Years of Swift Industries

Camp and Go Slow is a bike bag and accessories brand from Northern California co-founded by Casey Clark. We had the pleasure of chatting with Casey about how bag-making and pottery have similar energies, how he collaborates, and how we can all learn a little something from John Prine.

Camp and Go Slow: Unhurried Class

Casey Robertson (a.k.a Champagne Rodman) is an illustrator from North Carolina with an iconic style and a portfolio of top-tier cycling clients. We sat down with Casey and had a chat about how he landed on his style, the creative process, and who exactly Champagne Rodman is.

Casey Robertson & The Art of Champagne Rodman

In this interview, we chat with Nick Vacca, the man behind Send It Safely, a brand that has become ubiquitous in the alt-cycling scene. We spoke about how he got started, the challenges that face smaller makers, what it means to 'necatarize', and Def Leppard.

Send It Safely: Bikes With Buds

Recently, we were introduced to Will Moss of Farther Bag Co. in Memphis, TN, who we have admired from a distance for a long while. Will sat down with us to chat about how he loves collaborating with other brands, the impact of his Chief Visionary Officer and how he balances a small business on the side. 

Farther Bag Co.: Bags With Vision

For the past three years, Bryan Couchman has been making some of the slickest bike bags out there as Steady Co. based in Oklahoma City. We spoke with Bryan on being a designer, how he got started as a bag maker, his workflow and where it's all headed. Photos by Josh McCullock.

Steady Co.: Fresh & Snappy Bike Bags

"La Ride" is a French graphic novel about two friends who jettisoned their hectic city lives in search of adventure. Written by Simon Boileau and beautifully illustrated by Florent Pierre, the novel is full of situations and emotions that only come from the experience of traveling by bike.

La Ride: A French Graphic Novel Adventure

Take a Trip is the moniker of bag-maker Michael Bock from Bend, Oregon. Michael's bags, brand, and use of social media are engaging, lighthearted and fun. We spoke with Michael about how he got into the game and where he's headed. Buckle up.

Take a Trip: Bold, Happy Bags

Bicycle Society is a leaderless cult organized by Bill Scanga from Brooklyn, New York. Bicycle Society warns us to not follow the 'false metrics' and to explore our innerspaces as cyclists. In this interview we discuss the differences between hammering and shredding, whether cycling is a religion or not and how it's possible for anyone to find The Shred.

Bicycle Society: The Singletrack to Enlightenment

Atelier Medium is a colorful component and all terrain bike brand hailing from Paris, France. During our interview with co-founder Julien, we discussed the brand's emphasis on versatility, expression, color, and how all terrain bikes are becoming the new 'fixed gear' for adventurous riders. Let's go.

Atelier Medium: Colorful All Terrain for the People

Nomad Patches by Spencer Hawkes

Sofiane Sehili is a French ultra-cyclist who has been dominating the most grueling races in the world for the past few years. We had the chance to chat with Sofiane about how he started, what it takes to stay on top, what comes next, and the type of music he listens to while grinding the cold and dark distances.

Sofiane Sehili: World-Class Endurance

Keaton Haire is the master bender behind DOOM BARS, a brand from Albuquerque, New Mexico that prides itself on creating stunning, hand-crafted handlebars. In this interview, we chat about what makes a good set of custom handlebars, how Keaton got started, whether cycling is a cult, and how he sources materials from hell.

Doom Bars: Forged in the Fires of Hell

San Util Design is the moniker of Adam Nicholson, a 27-year-old bag maker from Winter Park, Colorado. San Util has been creating beautiful and rugged hand-sewn hip and bike bags for the past two years. We spoke with Adam about how he got started which eventually led to more introspective themes like how to feel fulfilled in life. Let's go.

San Util Design: Bike Bags & The Trail To Happiness

Circuit Board Stem Caps by Jason Quinn

The Art Of Kook Grin

Since 2020, Buffalo Bags has been creating bags small and huge from its headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. We spoke with the company's founder, Be, about how Buffalo Bags started, their flagship bag called the Big Buffalo, his crew of self-proclaimed bike nerds, and how Thailand is likely the next best cycling destination. Let's go.

Buffalo Bags: In The Workshop

Rogue Panda is one of the best custom bag makers out there. Inspired by the local terrain of Arizona, Rogue Panda approaches bag making with a 'singletrack first' process. This ensures that their bags are ready for anything. Grab a coffee and enjoy our chat with Rogue Panda founder Nick Smolinske about how it all started, where it's going and about a special new bag they have been working on. Let's go.

Rogue Panda: Dedicated. Rugged. Relentlessly Custom.

Neuhaus Metalworks is the moniker of Nick Neuhaus, a builder from Marin County, California. Since 2018, Nick has been building some beautiful hardtails with the latest additive manufacturing techniques. We had the chance to chat with Nick about 3D printing, production vs. custom bikes, and the future of bike building in general.

Neuhaus Metalworks: Additive Performance

Andrew and Katie Strempke are ultra-bikepack racers who apply their experience to making some kick-butt bike bags. Their company Dispersed Bikepacking is the first (that we know of) to be creating bikepacking bags 100% from the road and with solar power. An inspiring tale. Read on.

Dispersed Bikepacking: Sun Powered Bike Bags

Boulder-based Corvid Cycles is the moniker of custom titanium builder Chad Corbin. Five years ago, Chad shifted the focus of his career from engineering and programming to making lovely, lovely bikes designed for the dirt. We spoke to Chad about his bikes, the process, his career and the future of Corvid. Read on.

A Peek Inside Corvid Cycles: Crafted Titanium Bikes

Todd Nisbet is a cyclist from New York City who challenges every bikepacking cliché—where to ride, how to dress—all of it. We were happy to chat with Todd about community, personal growth, how he got into bikepacking, and how he merged his love of street apparel and cycling. Sit back, read slowly, and enjoy this one.

Bikepacking New York City with Todd Nisbet

Tara Weir is a seasonal forestry worker and bikepacker from British Columbia, Canada. Tara has clocked 42,000 KMs through 21 countries on her Thorn Nomad Mk2. In this story, Tara recounts her transition from an 'unadventurous teen' to one of the most awe-inspiring bikepackers we have had the pleasure to meet. Enjoy the ride.

Global Bikepacking: A Life Altered

Cory Ostertag is a bikepack racer who recently won a grueling 420 km race, known as the Buckshot, in interior British Columbia. He will also be racing this year's BC Epic 1000, and fundraising for an emergency relief effort for the city of Princeton, which was greatly affected by last year's flooding.

Cory Ostertag: A Journey Into Self-Sustained Bikepack Racing

Vintage Biker is a custom builder from the Netherlands that specializes in 90s mountain bike builds. The project is led by Ben who sources the parts from all over the world to create his stunning machines. Stumbling on his Instagram account transported us to another place and time. We were thrilled that Ben agreed to tell us his story, and answer our burning questions. 

Vintage Biker: Retro 90s Mountain Bike Builds

Haniwaya3 is a creator from Japan who builds mini track bikes—at a 1:12 scale—in his home. The level of craftsmanship of these mini-bikes blew us away. Hiniwaya3 documents his entire build process on Instagram, which had us wanting to know more. He wishes to remain anonymous, but we were lucky enough to have a chat with Haniwaya3 about technical skills, creativity, and life. 

Mini Bikes From Japan: Detailed Craftsmanship

Panorama Cycles is a Montreal-based adventure bike manufacturer that specializes in fat, gravel, and mountain bikes. We spoke with Simon Bergeron, the owner and operator of Panorama Cycles, about being the first carbon-neutral bike manufacturer certified by Climate Neutral, remaining independent in a corporate world, and cycling in Quebec.

Panorama Cycles Interview: Climate Neutral Bikes From Quebec

The Spandex Panda Collection specializes in imported Italian Merino wool apparel for cyclists with a sense of adventure. We spoke with Curtis Litun the owner and operator of  The Spandex Panda Collection who travelled the world to study what makes clothing timeless, class, and stylish. 

Spandex Panda Collection Interview: Style Designed for Adventure

Immerse yourself in captivating bikepacking and adventure cycling stories and people. Join us on thrilling two-wheeled journeys filled with scenic routes, challenges, and tales of exploration.

Immerse yourself in captivating bikepacking and adventure cycling stories and people.