Brands & Companies I Recommend
Some links are affiliate links, and other links are just regular links.
Bike Brands & Parts
Bike Companies I have in my own garage:
Velo Orange, Priority Bikes, Aventon
Specifically a custom built Velo Orange bikepacking bike; the Priority 600 for all terrain all conditions; the Aventon Level 3 ebike; the Aventon Cargo ebike.
Bike companies I hope to own from one day:
Memento Bikes; Vendetta Bikes, Bike Friday
Some design notes for your bike:
Ergonomic grips can be amazing for bikepacking and bike tours. Would highly recommend getting a good pair.
SPD Pedals can be great for cycling- ultimately depends on what you want out of your experience. If setup correctly with your cleats, they can aid in speed, efficiency, and preventing overuse injuries.
650b wheels can be awesome for gravel riding and touring. Not a necessary investment, but can be quite enjoyable.
I opt for Schwalbe tires when I can, but if you don’t have those near you, ask your local bike shop for the most durable tire for bikepacking/touring. At the end of the day, it’s about getting good quality tires for the conditions you’re riding on, which can vary for any and all of us.
Bike Bags
Some companies I own from (seen in bike photo at top of page):
Outer Shell- handmade made in California; incredibly durable; beautiful color choice; built to last
Ortlieb - a classic brand. BTW-You can find many similar bags to Ortlieb (in terms of quality and design) these days. Just make sure if you buy a different brand, it’s not an Amazon brand.
Garner & Tow- built for bikepacking and commuting with style and functionality.
Other companies to support:
PNX Bags (bike bags handmade in Oregon, LGBT brand)
Your local sewist!!
Clothes & Wearables
Clothing for vibes (and cycling)
Branwyn- merino wool sports bras and underwear which you can wear for a week straight without getting a yeast infection or skin problems- literally an essential for bikepacking, travel in general, your overall health.
ATW Builds - punk stuff, Maryland based
Concrete Trails - the best casual bike clothing I own
Krime t-shirts - punk stuff
Balaclavas (crocheted by me) - I sell them occassionaly on Instagram, so if you want a pair, DM me there!
Bikepacking Gear
Equipment ‘n Tools
Sea to Summit - all kinds of gear
Big Agnes - bikepacking tents
Enlightened Equipment- sleeping bags and pads
Loop Earplugs- helpful for sleeping at night/on trains/flights while traveling
Ass Savers- super lightweight, durable fenders for cycling (use code livingbybike_10 for 10% off)
Crank Brothers - multi tools
Epic Water Filters - water filter, use LIVINGBYBIKE15 for 15% off your first order
Sawyer Squeeze - water filter
LifeStraw - water filter
Other Companies & Books
Not Sponsored but things I really like:
Dirty Kitten Gravel- good bike races (multi-surface) in the Maryland area
718 Outdoors-group bikepacking trips
Singletrack Samurai- Florida group bikepacking trips/races
The Guest by Quentin Dol
Dirtbag Rich by Blake Boles
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Proton Mail- protect your data with Proton’s encryption features while breaking up with Google (who sells your data)
SCRAP- a creative reuse center where you can buy used craft supplies for a very good price!