In this feature edition of Reader's Rig, we hear from Jose Pacheco in Colombia, who shares how a near-death experience led him to embark on a 7,300-kilometer bike trip from Peru to Chile aboard a Brother Cycles Big Bro. Learn more about his purpose-built Big Bro, the thoughtful collection of parts and bags he uses, and find photos from his travels here...
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Logan Kasper just set a new fastest known time on the Eastern Divide Trail, finishing the 6,000-mile route in about 41 days and averaging nearly 150 miles per day as he pedaled from Newfoundland to Key West, Florida. Learn more about his ride, find details on his bike, and see a list of components and gear he packed for the journey here…
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In this edition of Rider and Rig, we meet Boulder, Colorado-based designer Justin McKinley, who'll soon line up for the 2024 Tour Divide aboard the 2009 Moots Mooto X YBB he scored on Craigslist and rebuilt into the long-hauling singlespeed of his dreams. Get to know Justin and his guiding philosophy, recap some valuable lessons he learned during his first Tour Divide attempt, and find an expansive photo gallery here...
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In this Rider and Rig, Evan Christenson caches up with Humbert Campins, a Spanish bikepacker and photographer who is currently pedaling through some of Morocco's toughest terrain aboard his 1990s Trek 830. Read on for some of Humbert's story about falling in love with bikepacking and his approach to riding the many faraway places he's traveled to so far...
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In our latest Rider and Rig feature, we catch up with geologist, educator, and route builder Seth Kruckenberg, creator of several fabulous desert rides published on this site. As well as dissecting his all-terrain, Rohloff-powered Tumbleweed Prospector—a stunning build that includes an unusual but elegant set of handlebars—Seth shares insightful tips on understanding geological terrain and using topography for route creation so you can plan spectacular trips of your own. Find it all here...
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While riding the forthcoming Woods Rat Run bikepacking route, we chat to The Woods Cyclery's Tom Farrell about his Stooge Rambler, BMX-ing, dinglespeeds, front loading, and rat runs. Plus, enjoy a gallery of his black and white film images captured on local outings and learn about his shoot-from-the-bike camera setup here...
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Ernesto Pastor crafted his revered Montañas Vacías bikepacking route with an unusual level of care and dedication, and it now draws a steady stream of bikepackers to Spain's remote interior. In this Rider & Rig feature, we examine his motivation behind the project, its local impact, and his trusty Rohloff-equipped Surly Ogre's role in experiencing and documenting the landscapes he calls home…
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In this Rider and Rig, we catch up with dogpacking duo John and Mira shortly before the grand depart of the 2023 Tour Divide. Find out about John’s motivation to travel the world with Mira, learn why he chose to race this particular route, and enjoy a gallery of Mira in action. Plus, aspiring dogpackers can get granular with a detailed breakdown of their Pinion-powered titanium race rig...
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In this Rider and Rig, Cass Gilbert chats with airplane mechanic and self-confessed roadside scavenger Mason Steinbrueck about his 1991 Bianchi Advantage, an eclectic build that includes a homemade mushroom-themed framebag, a self-brazed front rack, a collection of orphaned dinosaurs, and many time-patinaed components with stories of their own...
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In a world that idolizes the latest and greatest, we deconstruct Daniel Schmidt's lightweight Salsa El Mariachi bikepacking rig built solely with second-hand parts and winter specials. We talk about his guiding company, Ramble Bikepacking, his trail work through the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and how to avoid the perils of doomscrolling. And despite his "low-key competitiveness," we discuss the value of allowing time to stop and interact with those around you…
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Since 2006, Jefe Branham has been tackling some of the most challenging self-supported bikepacking races out there. However, one that he’s yet to check off that list is the full Arizona Trail Race, an 800+ mile ride from Mexico to Utah. In our latest Rider & Rig video, Neil catches up with Jefe to learn about the race, his signature Why Cycles El Jefe, what he’s bringing along, and how he plans on carrying his bike through the Grand Canyon...
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Eddie O'Dea is more than two-thirds of the way through our Eastern Divide Trail, the longest off-road bikepacking route in the world. We intercepted Eddie as he passed through nearby Pisgah National Forest to ask a few questions about his trip. Find an update on his ride, and a detailed photo gallery and overview of his bike here...
The post Eddie O’Dea’s Rodeo Labs Flaanimal on the Eastern Divide Trail appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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Cass heads out with Chad and his Mexico-bought "26 ain't deaders," complete with DIY bags, motorbike handlebars, dollar-fifty brakes, and a Dangle Boot. He ponders the essence of an ATB and wonders if perhaps we should all foster a vintage mountain bike in preparation for our planet's uncertain future, and even load it up with homemade gear to celebrate the halcyon days of All Terrain Biking. Plus, find out what thrift-store specials have earned a place in Chad's technicoloured bags...
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In our first video Rider and Rig, Neil catches up with Chris Besnia of Goodday Bike Works in Colorado to get the lowdown on the Rufous, a beautiful handbuilt rando-inspired gravel bike with a truss fork. Chris walks us through why he built it, gives an overview of the components, and shares his packing list for a recent overnighter...
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With its integrated tent and table, Fischer Olpin's self-made Adventure Tall Bike is one of the most fascinating rigs we've stumbled upon in a while. See photos of his one-of-a-kind bike in action and get to know the 24-year-old product designer and bikepacking bag maker here...
The post Fischer Olpin’s Adventure Tall Bike and Fish-Ski Designs Bags appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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In our latest Rider and Rig, we catch up with Samer Abouhamad on his way down to Patagonia aboard his streamlined Bombtrack EXT. We talk Beirut, Redshift Kitchen Sinks, Crocs, cakes, and we even rescue a little puppy too. Plus, find Samer's full gear list for his journey across the Americas...
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As luck would have it, Karl Kroll was recently seen cycling through the neighbourhood, giving us the chance to chat to the long-distance bikepacker as he puts the final pieces down for his mammoth Americas Bike Trip jigsaw. Over a local campout and an ice cream float, we talk about everything from Ecuadorian Dangle Llamas to packing bearings with bananas, bikey family heirlooms to triple-padded bar-ends, along with unfortunate finds in the Copper Canyon and running a YouTube channel. Plus, check out his complete gearlist honed after 31 months on the road...
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Over the winter, Cass was fortunate enough to receive two of his favourite and most prolific bikepackers as houseguests: Chris Campbell and Amanda Andros. As part of this informal "Let’s go for a ride" series, he joins them on the first day of the Trans-Mexico Sur to talk to them about their Ti Timberjacks, living within their means, and going where the wind takes them…
The post Chris and Amanda’s Ti Timberjacks: Work Hard, Play Hard appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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There’s a group of more than 50 women out pedaling along the quiet roads and doubletracks of the 700-kilometer Montañas Vacías route across Spanish Lapland right now. Photographer Rugile Kaladyte was at the start to shoot portraits of all 55 riders and their rigs before they set off. Find the full gallery here...
The post Meet the 55 Riders of the 2022 Women’s Montanas Vacias Rally appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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This weekend, Andrew Strempke set off to see how quickly he could ride the entire Monumental Loop in Southern New Mexico. Turns out he can move pretty swiftly, and he set a new fastest known time on the 245-mile route. We caught up with him a few days later for a short interview and to snap some photos of his bike setup...
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We talk cargo bikes, Border Collies, and tree planting with JC, Zaïna, and Basquiat - aka Cargodoggo. Find out how Basquiat and JC found each other, how Zaïna's identity as a BIPOC rider has shaped her newfound love of bike touring, and how the Cargodoggo team got into dogpacking. Plus, check out a gallery of their photos from the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour and glean sage dogpacking advice, should you be inspired to do the same...
The post Cargodoggo: JC, Zaina, and Basquiat’s Omnium Cargo Bike appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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Long after taking her Hayduke on the inaugural Baja Divide Grand Depart, Emma Bucke shares a more recent reinvention of the bike. Discover how a few component changes and some evolving gear choices have turned a flawed favorite into a bike that’s far more tuned to her needs, transforming her confidence and enjoyment on trails and making this classic steel hardtail finally feel like it's her own...
The post A Hayduke Story: From Baja to Bend to Oaxaca appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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It's always a pleasure to meet up with old friends. Cass enjoys the chance to entertain a bikepacking and foodie amigo in Oaxaca, the perfect locale to ride bikes and eat fine fare. And Cale brings a wonderful custom Waltworks along for the trip. Read on to find more about Cale and his partner Melissa's bikes, complete with S&S couplings, portage handles, and back-friendly geometries...
The post Cale and his Custom S&S Waltworks appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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There's a group of 21 women riding the 700-kilometer Torino-Nice Rally through Italy and France right now, and Tristan Bogaard was at the start to capture a portrait of each rider and rig. Find those here, plus an introduction from Lael Wilcox...
The post Meet the 21 Riders of the 2021 Women’s Torino-Nice Rally appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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The 2021 Hungarian Divide took off from Smaragdvölgy, Hungary, last month and challenged riders with a 600km or 1,200km route across the country. The organizers sent details on more than 70 rigs that were at the starting line, plus a short race recap. See the full gallery here...
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The 2021 BADLANDS kicks off in southern Spain this weekend and follows some of the most remote and challenging terrain in Europe. We’re excited to share a collection of nearly 70 rigs that’ll be taking on this year’s course. Find a massive gallery of photos and details on each bike and its rider here…
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The 2021 Trans North Georgia Adventure (TNGA) just kicked off, and we've once again worked with this year's riders to assemble a list of rigs and gear details for the rugged 350-mile mountain bike route. Check out our gallery of more than 50 Rigs of the 2021 TNGA here...
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The 2021 Silk Road Mountain Race kicks off in Kyrgyzstan in just a few hours, and we're excited to share a collection of nearly 60 rigs that'll be taking on this year's course. Find a massive gallery of photos and details on each bike and its rider here...
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Alexandera Houchin was the first woman to cross the finish line of the 2021 Colorado Trail Race. She did so on a brand new, custom-built, titanium Chumba Sendero. We caught up with her at the finish line to ask some questions about the bike and her time on the trail. Find a gallery, the Sendero build kit, and our interview here...
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We're excited to present the Rigs of the 2021 Colorado Trail Race! Find details on more than 40 bikes here, including the gear this year’s riders are bringing along for their 530-mile Rocky Mountain journey from Durango to Denver...
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After a two-week tour through the Oaxacan mountains, Cass Gilbert gets the lowdown on Cjell Moné and his custom 5-speed La Roca, complete with an attention-grabbing Lefty fork. We ask him where he and his distinctive brand, Mone Bikes, are headed next. And we talk bread trucks, coaster brake hop-up kits, '80s mountain bikes, and getting more people on bikes...
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The 2021 edition of the Veneto Trail unsupported bike adventure took place in Italy late last month, with close 200 riders taking on the challenging 450-kilometer route through the dramatic Dolomites. We rounded up photos and details on more than 60 bikes at the starting line. Find the rigs of the 2021 Veneto Trail here...
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We're excited to present the Rigs of the 2021 Oregon Timber Trail! Find photos and details on more than 20 bikes that will be taking on the challenging and beautiful singletrack-heavy route for the OTT700 Grand Depart this weekend. The roundup includes information about the rig and gear each of this year’s riders are bringing along for their 540-mile journey…
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The Hope 1000 race starts in Switzerland tomorrow, and we caught up with ever-inspiring endurance athlete Lael Wilcox ahead of time for her thoughts on the route and a detailed breakdown of her bike and kit. Find that here, accompanied by photos from Rugile Kaladyte...
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Back after a brief hiatus, we're excited to present the Rigs of the 2021 Tour Divide! Find details on more than 70 bikes here, including the gear this year's riders are bringing along for their roughly 2,400-mile journey...
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Last year, Andrea and Jake, a couple from El Salvador and the US, prepared to embark on a long-planned bike tour across Latin America just as a pandemic began taking hold. Discover what drove them south nonetheless and read about the issues facing those migrating north here, along with the story of their metamorphosis from bike tourers to bikepackers...
The post Andrea and Jake’s Surly Disc Truckers: A Story of Migration appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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From commuting to bikepacking and now more technical trail riding, Emily retired her trusty 26+ steel Jamis Dragonfly in exchange for a more trail-friendly Kona Hei Hei. Read on for her thoughts on why the new ride has been important to her skill development and our recent move to BC's Sunshine Coast...
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In this Rider and Rig, we get to know Colorado-based ultra-endurance athlete Joe Grant and his single speed Myth Cycles Wyvern. Find a post-ride video interview, photos of his colorful rig, and a profile of Joe put together by Colt Fetters here...
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The Badlands 2020, a self-supported gravel event put on by Transiberica Ultracycling, follows some of the most remote and challenging terrain Europe has to offer. With help from the participants, we’ve put together a list of over 40 riders who are tackling the event this year, including bike photos and gear highlights...
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In this Rider and Rig, we chat with UK framebuilder Jonathan Thompson about his Tomo x On-One x Kona Tall Bike. We find out about the tall bike scene, bikepacking on a tall bike, and dive into an alternative world where bicycle design collides with unhindered imagination...
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With help from the riders and organizers of the 2020 GBDURO, we've put together a detailed event recap that includes a summary of this year's race, an interview with the winner, and rider portraits and rig details—including their nutrition details for the entire 2,000 km route. Check it all out here...
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During a recent family bikepacking trip on Vancouver Island, Sarah and RJ Sauer loaded up their fatbikes for some dirt road touring, complete with their two-year-old son Oliver in tow. We met up for a quick spin to learn more about their travels, gear, and their thoughts on bikepacking with a little one…
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Virginia recently got surprised with a new Why Cycles Wayward for trail riding, touring, and everything in between. The build features a 1x12 drivetrain, 29 x 2.6” tires, and a custom bolt-on frame bag. Read on for build details, a full photo gallery, and a Q and A with Virginia...
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We recently stumbled upon this video of artist Dustin Klein unboxing the new Jena gravel bike he designed collaboratively with Wilier Triestina, so we reached out for some backstory. Find the video here, plus a build kit, behind the scenes photos, and a short interview with Dustin...
The post Dustin Klein’s Custom Wilier Jena DCO (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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Yesterday, Julia Vallera shared her artwork and illustrated photography from her bikepacking trip along Mexico’s Baja Divide. Today we find out more about Big Gurl, the mud-dodging Surly Pugsley she modified for the ride, her favourite Nairo Quintana baseball cap, and how she ended up with those trippy sunglasses…
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Think you need to spend a small fortune for a Baja-worthy rig? Think again! Roberto-Apolinar Martinez tells us how his dinged-up 2006 Jamis hardtail, mated to a modern 27.5+ Surly fork, saw him successfully ride a chunk of the Baja Divide… teamed with bags he made himself, good coffee, and the spirit of adventure.
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We've spent a month scouting a new route in Colombia's Paramos. To cap it off, Lael Wilcox rolled out on a solo mission to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT). Find the route map, her bike build, gear list, and details on her ride...
The post Lael’s Chingaza FKT: Gear List and Ride Map appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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The first edition of the PEdALED Atlas Mountain Race launches from Marrakesh tomorrow, and will send racers on a 1,145-kilometer route across beautiful Morocco. More than 85 participants sent us a photo of their rig, plus a breakdown of their kit. Find them all here...
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Charlie and Molly might just be the first “dogpacking” team to complete a bikepacking ultra endurance race. We had the chance to meet the duo at Mulberry Gap and ask them a few questions about the race and their rig. Find the interview here, plus loads of photos…
The post Charlie Kemp and Molly Rider’s Dogpacking Rig appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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Just south of the geological attraction of Monument Valley, you'll find the town of Kayenta, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation. We catch up with local Jon Yazzie of Dzil Ta’ah Adventures for a quick ride and to learn about his plans to put the Navajo region on the map. Find more about Jon and his collection of beautiful bikes here...
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The 5th annual Adirondack Trail Ride (TATR) took off this morning from Northville, New York, following a challenging mix of trail and service road through the 6-million acre Adirondack Park. We stopped by the grand depart, and with the help from the riders, we've put together rider portraits and details on their rigs. Check them all out here...
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Lael Wilcox set off on the rugged and beautiful Silk Road Mountain Race early this morning. Following our race rigs coverage from earlier this week, here's an in depth look at the bike Lael's riding, her complete gear list, and answers to a few questions we had about what she packed and the choices she made...
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This second annual Silk Road Mountain Race kicks off this weekend. Riders will face a long and arduous course through the remote mountain landscapes of the Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. Over 40 participants sent in photos of their rigs along with details about their kit. See them all here…
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We chat to Amanda Andros about the European bikepacking tour she's currently sharing with her partner Chris, and find out which routes they've ridden so far, where they're headed to next, and what motivates her to bikepack rather than tour more traditionally. Plus, Amanda shares some one-pot recipe ideas to help stay happy and healthy on the road...
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This year's Colorado Trail Race kicks off this weekend with over 80 riders registered to ride from Durango to Denver along Colorado's highest and toughest singletrack. Over 40 participants sent in photos of their rigs along with details about their kit. See them all here...
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Named after Benedict's Instagram alter-ego, the Crust Romanceur fits him like a glove. We had a chance to catch up with Ultraromance in Tucson to find out what makes this bike special. Read on for details...
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Continuing our annual tradition, here are the Rigs of the 2019 Tour Divide, featuring nearly 80 riders, their bikes, and gear kit details about what they're bringing along for the 2,750+ mile journey...
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Tim Fairbrother's custom Brother Cycles Big Bro features a fantastic group of high quality components and bags sourced out from a variety of manufacturers. Tim, a bicycle mechanic by trade, left the UK over 10 years ago for British Columbia. We meet up for a quick overnighter to learn more about his Big Bro and to get some tips on spring bike maintenance...
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This salmon color Nor' Easter belongs to Crust Bikes founder Matt Whitehead. Find out more about this curious, thru-axle-equipped all-roader with a threaded steerer and the yet-to-be-released Peck Deck minimal saddlebag support. Plus, a Q&A with Matt about Crust Bikes...
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In this edition of Rider and Rig, we check in on our old friend Joel Caldwell. Joel is a professional conservation photographer whose work has taken him to some amazing places. Less than two years ago, after a serious motorcycle accident, Joel lost his left leg. Nonetheless, a positive outlook, perseverance, and training got him back on the bike for our recent ride through Ethiopia…
The post Joel Caldwell and his Surly ECR in Ethiopia appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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We head out for a night bivying under the skies of southern Arizona with Hubert d'Autremont, framebuilder and tortilla maker, and find out about his custom bikepacking rig...
The post Hecho en Tucson: Hubert’s Custom Bikepacking Machine appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.
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