A cycling journal — All disciplines, honest opinions
Ride stories, gear reviews, and trail notes from someone who spends too much time in the saddle and not enough time indoors.
Ride Journal
Showed up with my gravel rig for what turned out to be proper MTB terrain. Spent the weekend getting schooled, loving every minute of it, and rethinking what "the right tool" actually means when you're having too much fun to stop.
Read the full storyMTB
The trails were tacky, the air was 38°F, and I had the whole place to myself. A case for riding off-season.
Bikepacking
Day one ended 40 miles short of the campsite. Turned out that was the better option anyway.
Road
Weather app said 20% chance. It was not 20%. What I learned about rain gear, resolve, and roadside diners.
Gravel · 2025 Model
After 1,400 miles across two bikepacking trips and a dozen day rides, I have opinions. The short version: yes, but with caveats that matter.
Read the reviewMTB · Helmet
Looks phenomenal, fits my oddly-shaped head better than anything else I've tried. But they need to stop saying it's cool in summer. It is not cool in summer.
Read the review"I write about riding the way I ride — without a plan, with too much coffee, and always a little past the point of knowing what I'm doing."
Offback is a one-person cycling journal covering mountain biking, gravel, road, and everything in between. Based in Detroit. Riding since before it was a personality trait.