Wow, what a weekend, chasing checkpoints and catching up with the bikepacking community.
Detours at a glance
- Tailfin Detours is a community-focused bikepacking event that emphasizes freedom, self-navigation, and rider choice.
- No fixed route, putting the adventure in your hands.
- Collect checkpoints and score more points, just make sure you’re back before the time-cut.
- The perfect weekend on bikes for every level or rider.
Pre-ride nerves.
The day began with excited chatter, last-minute bike faff, and the nervous triple-checking of routes before roll-out.
At 9 a.m, riders scattered, each chasing their own adventure: some sticking to the plan, others swept along by the crowd. That’s the beauty of Detours. You pick the route, and there are no wrong turns.
Steep hills and early checkpoints
The first climb quickly set the tone. Legs burned, but the friendly conversation carried riders up the slopes. Rain fell and spirits stayed high. At the first checkpoints, riders regrouped briefly before scattering again.
Many headed straight to the mandatory checkpoint. Some slid down greasy trails, others cranked up broken tarmac. Either way, the reward was the same: sweeping views, grin-inducing roads, and bowls of homemade chilli.
The party on the Gospel Pass
The mandatory checkpoint brought the energy with a buffet of food, pumping tunes, and even a best-trick competition.
From Gospel Pass, a swooping descent delivered riders to the warmth of a café stop. Coffee, shelter, and the eternal question: push on for more checkpoints, or head to camp? Most couldn’t resist the lure of food, fire, and a Detours beer. A few brave souls pressed deeper into the Welsh hills, hunting for those final checkpoints and extra points.
Welcome whisky, and the evening curry
At camp, Tailfin’s Founder and CEO Nick welcomed riders with a dram of whisky (the bottle mysteriously already half empty). Tents sprang up, some gracefully, others with head-scratching trial and error.
Then came the real reward: hot curry, a cold Detours beer, and stories from the road. Bee stings and broken chains. Every rider had their own tale to share.
Late-night talks and bedtime movies
As night fell, everyone gathered in the Dome. The cosy structure was the perfect spot for R&D rider Chris Hall, who gave a talk on his ultra-racing adventures, including his recent perimeter bikepacking trip around the UK. Alongside him, famous maker of the tall bike from Frankenbiking, Jonathan Thompson of Tomo Bikes, hosted a Q&A on custom bicycles. A firm fan favourite was Manu Cattysse and the cargo-bike family, closing the night with a screening of their newest film, Finding Nessie. For family fun bikepacking inspiration, you didn’t need to look much further.
There are no losers
Just like back at school sports day, everyone is a winner at Detours. That said, there is a podium. Both men’s and women’s podiums were filled by the riders who racked up the most checkpoints within the allotted time. That weekend saw some big rides, chapeau to all the riders who picked up a podium place.
Men’s Podium: 1st Chris Mehlman, 2nd Matt Page, 3rd Justinas Leveika
Women’s Podium: 1st Cara Dixson 2nd 3rd Abi Flourence Smith 2nd Amy Barnes
Sunrises and social rides
Tired legs and happy campers settled into their canvas homes, counting Welsh sheep and dreaming of the road ahead.
The morning brought fresh coffee, breakfast rolls, and the perfect sunrise. The final ride was a chilled 40 km social spin back to the start, with the journey home marking the end of the inaugural Detours.
Rounding up Detours 2025
We created Detours to connect with the bikepacking community, to put the adventure in your hands, and to enjoy a weekend on two wheels. It delivered.
As far as first editions go, we couldn’t have asked for a better crowd, setting, and feeling.
Missed out this year? We’ll be back in 2026.
From all of us at Tailfin, thanks for detouring with us.
