CYCLES is a documentary that captures my journey as I restore my late Uncle's cherished mountain bike and design a custom bikepacking rig that I put to the test on a soaking-wet expedition through the Pacific Northwest in March.

This project is not just a film; it's a personal testament to the durability of the human spirit, the transformative power of adventure, and the cyclical nature of life.

Learn more…

BIKE STUFF.

More than a bike…

This is my Uncle Gary. In 2018, we recieved the news that he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, he moved in with my family and I while he underwent treatment.

I was in high school at the time, so these moments spent together were very formative for me. I loved hearing his stories about all of the exploration of his youth: backcountry skiing, mountain biking, fishing, camping, and so much more. His stories opened so many doors for me and helped establish my own sense of adventure.

Unfortunately, Uncle Gary lost his battle against cancer in 2022. Outside of his legacy as a wonderful father, brother, uncle, and son, one of the things that he left behind was his cherished mountain bike…

With its vintage chromoly steel frame painted black and neon orange, 26-inch wheels, brass plated leather saddle, 3x7 drivetrain, and top spec components from nearly three and a half decades ago, this bike is sure to turn some heads.

Kept safe under a blanket of dust and cobwebs in my grandmother’s garage, this piece of mountain bike history had remained in relatively good shape, but if I was going to be taking this thing with me all the way through the Pacific Northwest, there was lots of work that still had to be done.

If it’s broke, fix it.

Throughout the restoration process, there were several parts that needed to be replaced/fixed.

This included the bike’s original suspension fork, front brakes, and entire rear wheel.

Through the process of bringing this bike back to life, I not only gained invaluable knowledge in bicycle mechanics, but I found a path to process the loss of my uncle.

Every moment spent with the bike deepened my connection to it even further, so by the time we set off for our trip I felt as though we were embarking on a journey not just as rider and machine, but as kindred spirits bound by our shared history.

BAG DESIGN

In order for the bike to be able to carry enough gear to sustain me throughout the entire trip I custom designed a set of bike bags.

To maximize the carrying capacity of my setup, I used the geometry of the bike to draft the pattern for the frame bag.

By making the pattern from scratch I was able to incorporate custom features like a dual pocket system and a removable inner shelf.

In addition to the frame bag, I also made a dry bag that I could strap onto my bike rack for additional storage.

This provided room for essential kit like my sleeping bag and ground pad.

Given that we were taking these setups to the Pacific Northwest, it was imperative that the bags could withstand the elements.

To achieve this I constructed them out of a coated, water-resistant material, and sealed all of the seams with a silicon bonding.

EXPEDITION

So here’s the plan…

Me and two of my best friends, Rishi and Wes, planned out an epic bikepacking trip that takes us through the Pacific Northwest.

Our plan was to fly to Seattle and bike out to the Oregon coast before eventually making our way back East and flying home from Portland.

Day 1: SEATAC - Dash Point, WA 15.3 Miles

Our journey began as soon as we got off the plane. We rebuilt our bikes in the airport and set off straight toward our campground for the night.

That first ride was cold, wet, and miserable. During those first fifteen miles I quickly came to realize that this trip was going to be extremely challenging both mentally and physically.

Day 2: Dash Point - Roy, WA 36.1 Miles

After a necessary reality check on Day 1, we set off on the next leg of our trip, our first real ride.

Blessed with slightly better weather, we bombed down from the mountains into Tacoma, WA. Eventually, we made it to a small rural town called Roy, where we ate the first of many mediocre bar-burgers before having to hurriedly set up our tent in a ditch next to some railroad tracks in the middle of a sudden downpour.

Day 3: Roy, WA - Centralia, WA 41 Miles

The trek to Centralia from Roy was divine.

It began with a cool overcast morning followed by a beautiful sunny afternoon. The much needed sunshine gave us a chance to take our time and dry some of our stuff off along the way. Upon our arrival to town, we were greeted with pool tables, Mac n’ Cheese, and beer. I could have gotten used to it there.

Day 4: Centralia, WA - Lebam, WA 40.8 Miles

Along this stretch of our route we were also accompanied by a pleasant overcast all the way to our food stop in the strange little town named Pe Ell.

The main street consisted of a church, a pub, a convenience store, and for some reason a massive World War II era tank that no one we talked to in town seemed to know anything about.

Unfortunately after our Pe Ell pitstop the weather took a turn for the worse. Luckily, our final destination, a Midsomar-esque Swiss Summer camp, wasn’t too far.

Day 5: Lebam, WA - Astoria, OR 50 Miles

We said ciao to our Swiss encampment and set out on what would be the most challenging ride of the entire trip.

Within the first ten miles of the ride, we gained over 2000 feet of elevation and it was all over extremely muddy, rocky, logging roads. This brutal climb was not followed by a smooth and rewarding descent, but rather a cranium-shaking downhill battle over technical terrain.

However, we eventually made it out of the woods (literally)played around in near an epic river, refueled, and sent it straight to the eclectic seaside town of Astoria where we took refuge for the night.

Day 6: Astoria, OR - Jewell, OR 24.3 Miles

In terms of misery, this day ranks near the top of the list. While the ride was shorter, it was a slow-burning steady climb nearly the entire time. The pouring rain, plethora of mechanical issues, and lack of food were just the cherry on top.

The day wasn’t a total loss though, because at the least we got the chance to sleep in a really cool spot next to a massive waterfall.

Perks of Winter camping: no one cares where you do it.

Day 5: Jewell, OR - Vernonia, OR 25.3 Miles

After our cold and hungry night near the falls, we were desperate to get to civilization. So desperate none of us took our cameras out the entire ride.

The lack of calories and the 25 miles of damp and dreary weather, made what would have normally been slightly-better-than-average Mexican food one of the best meals that I have ever had.

Day 8: Vernonia, OR - Portland, OR 52.7 Miles

After a rough couple of days we were rewarded by what is to this day the best bike ride of my life. All of our climbing from the previous two days had finally paid off and we were able to spend this bright and sunny day coasting downhill for over 50 miles, all the way until we reached our final stop in Portland.

At this point, I was flooded with emotion: relief, pride, euphoria, and surprisingly a bit of sadness that it was all over. While this trip challenged me in ways that I had never experienced it also pushed me closer to my limits and showed me all that I am capable of.

Looking back on the trip, I am filled with so much gratitude, and I can’t wait until the next one.