This Swiftmas we’re showcasing standout gift guides from community members from Seattle to Manila.

On the First Day of Swiftmas…. Anton Krupicka

A Gift Guide for Bicycle Touring

Hi Tony, tell us about yourself: I’m a professional mountain runner and have been riding bikes as cross training for the past 20 years. However, in 2015, a stress fracture that took me out of running for a few months was the catalyst to really take the deep dive into adventure cycling—off-road riding, bike camping/touring, etc. I’ve enjoyed the life on two wheels much more intrinsically ever since, not just as a means to maintain fitness when I can’t run. My favorite style of ride is the multi-day to multi-week tour where life is distilled to pedaling, eating and sleeping. Those experiences are a privilege but also feel like a vital return to a more elemental way of being that sticks with me long after the trip is over.

What are you riding here?  This is my Crust Evasion, set up single speed. The Evasion is a workhorse rig robust enough for heavy touring, but it paradoxically still rides with a delightful smoothness and playfulness when unloaded. The current build here is pretty typical–Brooks leather keeping the butt happy, cable-actuated Klampers for unparalleled stopping power and acoustic reliability. An ENVE carbon flatbar for even more compliance and extra leverage on singlespeed climbs, 650×2.5″ rubber on wide 40mm rims, and White Industries ONE square taper cranks and BB for buttery spinning that’s sealed from the elements.

What are your favorite Swift bags for this ride and what are you packing in them at this time of year? I like this rig specifically for commuting the 10mi to our local climbing crag–Eldorado Canyon–so this bike is set-up for capacity and ease of accessibility at the transition to climbing. A Sugarloaf Basket Bag is perched on a Velo Orange Flat Pack Rack, and the fork blades are adorned by the forthcoming Gemini fork bags (coming Spring 2024). I stuff these with either a climbing rack of cams and slings or a climbing rope (these items are split with my climbing partner; I rarely have to carry both rope and rack), climbing harness, chalk bag, shoes, jacket, etc. The Sidekick Stem Bag and Moxie Top Tube Bag house quick-to-access items like wallet, snacks, and gloves and the Olliepack is usually where I carry my approach shoes and an extra layer.

Tell us about a highlight of riding in 2023? Touring in Western Slovenia in September. Quiet forest roads, quaint villages, beautiful scenery, discovering a new-to-me country.

2023 Favorite Ride Snack? Salted Nut Rolls—not as ubiquitous, but vastly superior to Paydays!

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