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Meaghan Hackinen is a writer and ultra-endurance cyclist from Canada’s West Coast. Her two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads. In addition to being the 2024 Tour Divide winner in the […]

The Components That Supported My Mountain Race Series Win

The Mountain Race Series—Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan, Atlas in Morocco, and Hellenic in Greece—pushes riders into remote landscapes where equipment matters as much as fitness. Routes range from 900 to 1,950 km and include rugged gravel, ancient trade and shepherd trails, hike-a-bike passes, and weather that swings from scorching heat to freezing rain or snow.

The races are entirely self-supported. Riders must carry gear, manage repairs, and make constant decisions about pacing, navigation, and resupply. Days from the finish and hundreds of kilometers from the nearest bike shop, reliability isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.

Competition has grown dramatically, with strong women’s and men’s fields. From components to line selection, every choice counts. Read on to learn about the components that supported my journey to become the first woman to complete the Mountain Race Series.

Amelia

2025 marks my first year as a Salsa Cycles-sponsored rider. It’s also four years after I purchased my original Salsa Cutthroat and committed to the goal of racing competitively. Here’s the story of how my beloved Amelia came into my life—enjoy! Pandemic Road Trip “I’ll pay for coffee,” I say, handing the credit card to […]

From Bikepacking to Time Trialling

How Bikepacking Helped Me Win the World 24 Hour Time Trial Championships (Twice) November 5, 2022: After twelve hours of tunnelling through darkness, dawn’s first pale hues buoyed my spirits. Since the 5:00 pm start whistle, I’d been sucked into a void: just me and my time trial bike on an 18-mile loop in the […]

Getting to the Start Line

A Commuter’s Journey into Bikepack Racing Darkness swallows my failing front light as I ascend into the foothills of Romania’s Parâng Mountains. I’m approaching the resort town of Rânca, according to my navigation unit. Within minutes the inviting flicker of guesthouses warms the inky night—the thought of a cushy pillow and cleansing shower enough to […]

The Lost Elephant Q&A

On July 22-23, 2023, I had the opportunity to travel to Cranbrook to compete in the Lost Elephant, a gritty ultra-distance race that explores the bikepacking paradise of the East Kootenay region, with two different route lengths to choose from. I opted for the 500+ km Jumbo (in contrast to the shorter-but-still-challenging Dumbo), which traversed […]

Backcountry Freedom with My WR35 Falcon Wheels

As a dedicated road cyclist, I stepped outside my comfort zone in 2021 to purchase a used Salsa Cutthroat, an ultra-endurance mixed surface bike inspired by the Tour Divide. I fell for this style of adventure cycling so hard and decided to upgrade my wheelset in 2022 to get even more out of the experience. […]

Big Rides of 2022: A Roundup

Inspired by 2021’s Big Rides in the Okanagan, this year I’ve broadened my reach. Unlike 2021 where I explored terrain close to home and in neighbouring US states, this year I racked up 24,000 km in twenty-one countries on two continents (plus many more hours on my indoor trainer). Transitioning to remote, part-time work enabled […]

Midnight Reflections from the Transcontinental

July 24-August 5, 2022 From Transcontinental.cc : “The Transcontinental Race is the definitive self-supported bicycle race across Europe. From the cobbles of Flanders, to the shores of the Black Sea; via rock hewn tunnels, bald mountain tops, navigating pristine asphalt and rock strewn tracks, the Transcontinental will once again cross the European continent in its […]

Early Bird Van Island Bikepacking

James and I kicked April off with an early season bikepacking trip: seven days, no set route, more dirt than pavement. We picked Southern Vancouver Island mostly out of convenience. I had a cat sitting gig in Courtenay lined up for the end of March, plus spring arrived a little earlier on the Island than […]

Covid-19 Comeback: My RAD 400 Experience

The westerly gale socks me. I tuck low into the aerobars and concentrate on forcing power through my legs. Dig in. Just a few more kilometres, I promise myself. I should be approaching Denmark’s west coast, but under an overcast night sky, the midnight darkness swallows me whole. An inky landscape reveals few hints to […]