Venture Handmade

Venture Handmade Artisan-level bicycle and bikepacking goods. Building since 2010. New lineup LIVE NOW! www.venturehandmade.com

This discontinued Salsa Blackborow cargo bike remains one of my favorite bikes of all time. I built it up as a proper ri...
07/17/2026

This discontinued Salsa Blackborow cargo bike remains one of my favorite bikes of all time. I built it up as a proper rigid MTB 29er, with DT 350 hubs, carbon cranks and bars, a Transfer dropper, a reliable 11-spd SRAM drivetrain, and 2.5" Maxxis DHF/Aggressor rubber. It just happens to be a LOT longer than your typical trail bike! No motors, no batteries, just legs and cranks and a loooonnnng chain to put the power down. Every shipping batch gets carried to the UPS dropoff on this thing - just one of the real-world links from your order to my workshop to your door.

Now that's a good-lookin' rig. Dan's new Neuhaus Hummingbird, equipped with a new Alpha Custom Frame Bag and Cache Tank ...
07/14/2026

Now that's a good-lookin' rig. Dan's new Neuhaus Hummingbird, equipped with a new Alpha Custom Frame Bag and Cache Tank Bag. Colors were Dan's choice and they look killer. 🔥🔥🔥 Thanks Dan, now go explore some backcountry!

It was obvious going into this summer that the fire danger was high, but we always hope for the best. Unfortunately, the...
07/08/2026

It was obvious going into this summer that the fire danger was high, but we always hope for the best. Unfortunately, the several massive fires burning across the region brought the obvious to life. My thoughts are often genuinely with those affected by the Gold Mtn, Ferris, Aspen Acres, Babylon, and other fires in the larger neighborhood.

Beyond the danger to human life and property, I'm also thinking about the forests and the creatures that call 'em home... I've packrafted the Dolores River Canyon, bikepacked Elk Ridge west of the Abajos, and hiked through the mountains northeast of Ouray. All those areas are forests of blackened, lifeless trees now, and they won't return to normal for many years. That's a huge bummer, to say in the least.

Here in Durango we've been very fortunate so far, with no immediate fires or even much smoke to worry about. That could change any day, but I appreciate it while it lasts! And apparently there's still blue sky and wildflowers over in Utah, as this nice shot from Nick Bierman makes clear. Stay calm and ride on!

I'll be real - for people like Nicolas, who just set a new record on the TransAm route, the only thing their gear needs ...
07/02/2026

I'll be real - for people like Nicolas, who just set a new record on the TransAm route, the only thing their gear needs to be is highly functional. It's not like his Alpha Custom Frame Bag *helped* him set this record - it just stayed out of his way and did the job with no fuss. And obviously there are like three different brands of bag on his rig, so I won't pretend only my gear was chosen!

But I am impressed with Nico's incredible cross-continental ride. Just hours over two weeks, self-supported, that's wicked fast!

And I'm even more impressed that Nico simply approached me, asked if I could build what he wanted, paid for it, and then only at the last minute mentioned that he was doing the TransAm in a few months. He didn't tell me he was a big deal, or try to broker some social media exposure "sponsorship" swap. As a trail guy who doesn't follow road events, imagine my surprise when Nico reached out the other day and nonchalantly said "I made it to the end of the TransAm with your frame bag." I love meeting people who just quietly crush it.

Congratulations, Nico! Thanks for choosing my work as part of your record run. Let's work together again next year.

Twelve years ago, I invented and fabricated the first-ever RailWing seat bag stabilizer on my back shop bench at Velorut...
06/26/2026

Twelve years ago, I invented and fabricated the first-ever RailWing seat bag stabilizer on my back shop bench at Velorution Cycles. At the time, all seat bags were just sway-tastic blobs with straps threaded over the saddle rails. Man, we've come a long way since then - and I'm stoked the RailWing is an OG part of seat bag evolution.

Over the last few weeks, I surveyed my recent seat bag customers and found they were split - some loved the new, tool-free RailWing V2 that ships with the Bravo and Charlie Seat Bags. Some preferred the original bolt-on RailWing design, as it is slightly more secure than V2.

Happily, I have decent remaining stock of raw aluminum parts for the V1 bolt-on RailWing, and I’ve created a version of it that works with the new Bravo/Charlie strap anchors. Call it RailWing Version 1.5. As of today, RailWing V1.5 is available as an option for all Bravo/Charlie orders.

V1.5 does cost a little extra - because instead of being made entirely in-house like V2, I have to bring a machine shop into the manufacturing loop. As you might imagine, machine shops haven’t gotten any less expensive over the last few inflationary years. But if you want the ultimate in anti-movement performance for your seat bag, you can now choose the RailWing V1.5.

If there’s enough demand for RailWing V1.5, I will create a V3 at some point - combining everything I’ve learned since that first RailWing years ago. So show me what you want!

Bike check! Question for you all: Do you have to ride the latest and greatest, or do you stick with stuff you like? This...
06/25/2026

Bike check! Question for you all: Do you have to ride the latest and greatest, or do you stick with stuff you like? This week I got sick of the GXP bottom bracket on my SRAM carbon XX1 cranks - the bearings in these things seem to be made of cheese and I wear them out super fast.

I found myself missing my bomber old 2007 Shimano XTR cranks that I rode for years on my singlespeed rigs. So I dug them out of a box and swapped them onto my trusty Chameleon. Ti spindle, Hollowtech II arms, bearing adjustment ability, and BBs that last forever... what's not to like?

After that I realized I've been riding DT Swiss 240 hubs for over 20 years (not the same set, but still). They just work, flawlessly, every day. Speaking of, I should probably open the rear one up and l**e the star ratchets...

Then I decided I was sick of my year-old Eagle X01 12-speed setup, which even as a pro mechanic I've never been able to dial in so it works the way I think it should. It's noisy, finicky, and I recently broke the chain on an XC trail ride, making my ride buddies wait for me. So back to the parts box I went, and dug out my faithful XX1 11-speed setup. Superlight. Super pretty. And flawless shifting! I'll sacrifice one gear for those qualities.

All this got me thinking about the bike industry in general, and how good bikes have been for the last several years. When I started riding seriously in the 1990's, bike choice really mattered. The industry was experimenting, and some bikes worked great... and some were terrible. But by about 2018, it was difficult to buy a terrible mountain bike. In fact, I haven't had a new rig since 2020, because every time I look at the latest, I don't see a reason to leave what I've got (that, and my wallet catches fire just thinking about new bike prices). This is probably part of why the industry is focused on EEBs and 32" wheels and additional stupid ideas.

So now my bike is pretty much old, and simultaneously outfitted with the best parts I've ever ridden. It's my dream machine. (Until I want to add a full-suspension back to the quiver, anyway.) But what's your take? Am *I* just old and stuck in the past? Are the new bikes super amazing in some way I'm missing? Or is the industry flailing around trying circus tricks to entice us, while some of the best bicycles ever built are already in circulation?

You can always choose custom colors for all my gear, but I try to keep five In-Stock colorways available for quick shipp...
06/23/2026

You can always choose custom colors for all my gear, but I try to keep five In-Stock colorways available for quick shipping.
Which one is your favorite? And what would you like to see that’s not here? I have some ideas for new ones, but I want to hear your opinions too!

RESTOCK! After the product lineup launch last month, I almost immediately sold out of certain items - a few colors of St...
06/11/2026

RESTOCK! After the product lineup launch last month, I almost immediately sold out of certain items - a few colors of Stash Pack and Wingman, most Charlie Seat Bags, and every last available Delta Handlebar Bag. As of this week all are back in stock and ready to roll.

I’m still short on Sierra SL Panniers - these take a good chunk of time to build and I’m working on custom orders right now. Hoping to have all Sierra colors restocked next week!

06/03/2026

You all should know by now that sometimes I like to tell stories. Here's one about Primal Wear. Go look up Alann J Boatwright's artwork!

Longtime customer Jerry just took on the Odyssey of the VOG, a 350-mile, self-supported bikepacking race on the Oregon c...
05/28/2026

Longtime customer Jerry just took on the Odyssey of the VOG, a 350-mile, self-supported bikepacking race on the Oregon coast. He sent me this photo from Hembre Ridge and reported his gear worked perfectly - what a beautiful area, and a clean-looking rig! Thanks for all the support over the years, Jerry. I appreciate ya.

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