Joe Cruz
Contributing Editor

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*CURRENTLY FOR ROUTES ONLY (MORE SOON)If gear, clothing, and bikes were chosen purely for function, we’d likely have settled on a uniform list by now, varying only by climate and terrain. Instead, the market fuels our acquisitiveness with minor differences and new standards, shaping a consumerist mindset that feels self-driven. In Joe Cruz’s 2024 Editor’s Dozen, he offers a hopeful alternative: that the gear we choose can also reflect how we imagine and hope a ride will feel. Find his perspective on the topic and a list of 12 takeaways from 2024 here…
In this piece, Joe shares a trip report of making new friends and riding Bike Friday’s all-terrain All-Packa folding bicycle in Montana last autumn before forbidding weather ended the bikepacking season. The party of four—which included Willie Hatfield, the bike’s lead designer—were all on the mini-velos. Along the way, Joe offers further thoughts on the prowess of 20” wheels…
Today, British footwear brand QUOC announced its new Grand Tourer XC Lace off-road shoe, featuring a carbon midsole and a new grippier TPU tread material. Joe has been testing a pair for the last month. Read on to find out if the QUOC Gran Tourer XC Lace is worth its premium price…
Published earlier this year, “JOBST BRANDT RIDE BIKE!” is a 224-page book from Isola Press that tells the story of imaginative cycling trailblazer Jobst Brandt (1935-2015), who helped shape the way we ride drop-bar bikes off road today. Through interviews, previously unpublished photos, and narrative storytelling, it paints a picture of his life and legacy. Read Joe Cruz’s captivating review here…
With a fresh look for mountain bike shoes, the new Quoc Escape Off-Road eschews categorical classification and blends trail durability with a streamlined aesthetic typically found on road shoes. Joe Cruz put a pair to the test and reports back with this in-depth review…
Yesterday, Joe Cruz was reminded of the “Complete Book of All-Terrain Bicycles,” a 1985 book by author Eugene Sloane. Find a peek into this classic text and learn how it became one of Joe’s early sources of off-road cycling inspiration here…
The Bike Friday All-Packa is a first-of-its-kind, dirt-forward 20″ folding bike with room for 2.4″ tires and loads of provisions. After thousands of miles of use and multiple bikepacking trips, Joe weighs in on it with this thorough review…
At the end of last year, Joe reviewed the Tanglefoot Moonshiner, a sure-footed ATB conceived for woodsy New England terrain but suitable for all manner of bikepacking in rugged environs. Readers will remember that he loved the Moonshiner for its handling and flat-out prowess on his favorite kinds of exploratory rides. The Hardtack is a lighter-duty sibling to the ‘Shiner, and it shares its dominant philosophy. Read on to find out how Joe thinks the two compare…
Bike Friday recently unveiled their new bike designed for gravel riding and bikepacking on everything from dirt roads to chunky doubletrack to flowy singletrack. Like most Bike Fridays, the All-Packa has 20” wheels and folds into a standard suitcase for travel. It also features clearance for 2.4” tires, a newly developed alt-bar, and loads of mounts and space for bags. Read more about it and find an interview with the designer here…
Analog Cycles is a small shop in Poultney, Vermont, specializing in a thoughtful, intentional approach to all-terrain adventure riding. In a short time, it has become fiercely beloved to many customers in the northeast of the USA. We visited Analog at their just-opened new location, and we think their reputation is rightfully earned. Find photos and our interview with co-owners James Johnson and Candice Passehl here…