JPaks LLC

▪️
I wonder if 3T Bike ever thought their bike would undergo such aero treatment when designing the 3T Ultra?

Picking up where they left, umm, open, Dan and I worked together to create this masterpiece.
▪️
Dan gave me a handful of colors to work with and set me free to lay them out into what you see here.

They give off a setting sun/mountain fade vibe with the blue(ish) sky up top and the topo down low.
▪️
- Full FramePak in Coyote + Port Wine + Black Topo
- Full Halfpipe in Turquoise + Evergreen
▪️
These will be lived in and lived out of for the next few months as he explores multiple countries overseas and I can guarantee you he won't go unnoticed!
▪️
Dan, I can't thank you enough for your support and trust with these. I'm stoked for you and jealous of you!
Have a blast exploring the world!
▪️

▪️Kalimera! Do you speak English?
Yes, of course. Where are you from?
America.
America! Wow, and on bikes!?
Haha, yes.
We don't see many Americans here, let alone on bikes!

Greece. Where to start...
Everything I thought I knew was quickly thrown out the window upon arrival.
The hospitality, courtesy and generosity were apparent from the moment we landed and never subsided.
The PEOPLE. The people really made this trip SO special!

In all the countries we've bikepacked through, Greece stands out from the others, with the people.

And then there's the food. The food was so good and SO cheap!
Kalamaki & Soulvaki & Greek salads every day!
▪️
It all started when Kristen signed up for all 4 of the Mountain series races overseas this year and asked if I'd accompany her in Greece.
Greece!? I'd never even thought of riding through Greece!
I'm down!

The plan was this:
Tour to the start of the Hellenic MTN Race together.
Ride my own route to the finish in Nafpaktos.
Rejoin as a pair and tour to Athens along the coast.
Explore Athens on foot for a week.
▪️
Here are some highlights:
- Cats everywhere
- Watching my wife Kristen Shoup Tonsager take 4th place female in the Hellenic MTN Race!
- The food
- Coffee, literally everywhere
- Chicken nugget sandwiches
- Stunning mountain passes and lush valleys
- Cherries!
- Swimming in the seas
- 6,000 year old stones
▪️
This was one of the finer trips we have put together and my first time riding alone in a foreign country. Along with Kristens first time finishing a big race (600 miles!) and then getting back on the bike to tour for another week.
Badass.
▪️
I've got more pictures, more thoughts and more words that will be posted to the website, soon.
But for now, this trip is over and I'm still processing everything we/I experienced over the last month.

One thing I can say for certain is, travel!

Get out of your home.
Get out of your comfort zone.
Get out and expose yourself to new cultures, new languages and new experiences.

It makes us all better in the end ❤️

22 days of riding
604 miles biked
104 miles walked
27 days of exploration

All pictures shot on Sony RX100 MKII
▪️

▪️THE definition of Beauty, Brains and Brawn ❤️

just took off on the here in Greece, the 2nd of the Four MTN series races of which she plans on completing all of.
▪️
Touring to the start over the past 5 days from Thessaloniki, we've soaked in thermal baths, marveled over ancient burial sites and eaten more pastries than I want to remember.

But most importantly we had fun!
▪️
Nothing like riding to the ride to get your head in the right place and the riding in Greece has been amazing so far.

To see the determination, the grit and the preparation for such an event through her eyes is awe inspiring.
I married this woman, introduced her to bikepacking and now look at her go!

She's unstoppable! 🙌🏼
▪️
BIG thanks to race director, Nelson Trees for supporting, showcasing and promoting women in our sport!
There's room for more and with the support of the MTN series races, things will only get better.
▪️
Go get 'em tiger and I'll see you in Nafpaktos!
▪️

▪️
"I like jump bike on ramp"
-

Me too buddy, me too!
▪️
Andrew was quoted with that saying at a young age and now it's immortalized on his down tube in the form of a decal.

I truly believe you're only as old as you think you are!
▪️
I first met Andrew a little over a year ago when he joined us for one of our Colorado Trail work days.
Bikepacker, singlespeeder, trail worker and all around rad guy we chatted about all things bikes and bikepacking that day and a few months later he was in my build queue with a special design.
▪️
Andrew designed a full FramePak for his Surly Karate Monkey with Coyote Brown + Olive Green + Navy Blue main panels with yellow accent thread and a custom 3-stripe yellow stitch detail on the lower section.

This whole bike has an intentional design feel with its purposefully chosen colored components that add a fun vibe without looking sloppy and thrown together.

Instead every single thing on this bike has been chosen for a specific reason and I'm stoked I get to fill the triangle!
▪️
I can't thank you enough for the support, help with trail work and trust with your FramePak.
Enjoy the miles of smiles ahead my friend!
▪️

▪️
What: Colorado Trail Race
Where: Cataract Ridge
When: 2019
Bags: Bedrock

I first met aka: Turtle, while racing the CTR in '19 on an absolutely stunning, high alpine day while traversing from Silverton to Spring Creek Pass, shredding with Brett, Josh and Andy.

He was a skilled, seasoned bikepacker with a tight setup that was clearly CTR focused but no JPaks.
Talking back and forth about all things life and bikes, he just 'got it'

We clicked and what followed were a few days of glorious singletrack racing and suffering along with laughs (seg 14!) and late night coffee breaks, until we parted ways.
But a friendship was born no doubt.
▪️
Fast forward to now and he's a multi-time CT/CTR completer as well as the only multi-sport yo-yo completer (hike/bike) and he's got a new ride for '26!

What: Colorado Trail Race
Where: Waterton Canyon
When: 2026
Bags: JPaks tip to tail
▪️
Hunter's rocking a full FramePak + Refugi Race harness (with PegLeg standoff) + Footlong SnakPak + Race Dropper in Black XPac RX30 with Purple accent stitching + Rainbow bartacks 👌🏼
▪️
Hunter, I can't thank you enough for your support, your friendship and your trust!
The CT is a magical place and now I'm always riding with you no matter where you go 🤘🏼
Tailwinds!
▪️

▪️
"Pulling your own weight"
has a different meaning when you ride an XS sized frame.

As much as we joke about having someone else carry everything for us, there's a sense of pride to be able to carry enough gear for bikepacking adventures.

Small frames don't help that...
▪️
But to see the look on Megan's face when she realized how much more she could carry now,on her Specialized Epic, was priceless!

Making the most of an XS frame she chose a FramePak and Footlong EXT SnakPak in B&W Topo with black accents.
▪️
A date with the Colorado Trail (and Dane!) is coming up and this rig is one step closer to pulling its own weight 🙌🏼
▪️
Megan, thanks for the continued support and enjoy every pedal stroke of the Colorado Trail!
Tailwinds my friends!
▪️

▪️
-Just trying to make a loaded bike ride like a normal bike-
Centralized, itemized, compartmentalized storage.
▪️
Dane's Spur got the royal treatment for an upcoming date with the Colorado Trail and when it came to maximizing the top tube, we went full tilt.

This is the single largest, one-piece HalfPipe I've ever made and it's stupendous in its storage!
(And that fit with the seat dropped 👌🏼)

The Spur is one of the funnest, most playful bikes and a competent bikepacking rig when outfitted properly.

And this is proper.
▪️
FramePak + Halfpipe + BattPak with Liteskin LS21 main panels + Purple accents & thread to contrast the Teal frame and utilize every available inch with a custom fit.
▪️
Dane, thanks for the continued support over the years and trusting me with this new setup!
Enjoy every mile of the glorious CT that awaits!
▪️

▪️
Piece by piece, building up the ultimate Colorado Trail slayer

Kevin is headed back for unfinished business with the best trail in the world: The Colorado Trail!

Already owning some of the best bags in the biz (CDW!) but missing one main piece for the triangle, Kevin reached out to fill that void for his upcoming CT tour.
▪️
FramePak and BattPak in Black XPac RX30 main panels with Coyote Brown zip garages and accent thread + OHS patch really tie the room together and make the most use of that inner space.
▪️
I can't thank you enough for your support and trust! Stoked to share some space with the legend that is CDW 🙌🏼 and now you're rocking the best, top to bottom.
Enjoy the rotational therapy along the Rockies!
▪️

▪️Go Far:
10 weeks
4 wheels
2 friends
1 fishing pole

This Fargo is about to Gofar!
Antelope Wells --> Banff over the next 3 months has me jealous of Phil and Jim's summer plans!
▪️
Phil chose a FramePak + ToolPak + BattPak + RukSaks + Refugi harness/bag in Black XPac with yellow accent stitching

Let the rotational therapy begin 🤘🏼
▪️
Phil, thanks for your support, your energy and the whiskey.
I hope you and Jim have the adventure of a lifetime!
▪️