Adventure Cycling Association

When we went in search of partners for our 50th Anniversary Drop-in Rides, we knew we wanted Tout Terrain to donate a bike for our giveaway celebrating the TransAmerica Trail. But we left it up to them to choose the model they felt was perfect for the TransAm Drop-in rider who would win it. Here’s why the company picked the Blueridge.

“They say the best products are those that solve real problems — and when you’re days away from the nearest bike shop, or any shop for that matter, problems become very real. That’s why, from the beginning, Tout Terrain has built bikes that work when you’re far from home, fully loaded, and committed.

That mission first crystallized more than 20 years ago in Nepal, where our founders Oliver and Stephanie Römer spent as much time fixing their gear as they did enjoying their ride. Their bikes were high-quality but not made for the demands of true long-distance touring. That frustration sparked an idea: What if the racks were part of the frame? What if the design was built from the ground up for the rigors of real-world touring?

That first idea — welding the rack directly to the frame — became the foundation of Tout Terrain. And it’s baked into the DNA of the Blueridge.

First introduced in 2020, the Blueridge’s roots go back much further. It’s an evolution of one of the earliest Tout Terrain models — the Silkroad II — redesigned with long-distance road touring in mind. It’s a drop-bar bike designed to be efficient, comfortable, and above all, dependable.

That starts with the Blueridge’s most recognizable feature: the Expedition Rack. Crafted from stainless steel and welded directly to the frame, it’s the original Tout Terrain innovation and a rock-solid system that eliminates the noise, maintenance, and the vulnerability of bolt-on racks. Over time, it’s been improved by the modular Ex-Rail system, which gives riders more flexibility when mounting bags or panniers without affecting stability or weight distribution.

The GT Select 6.2 model, comes equipped with full-coverage fenders for wet weather, front and rear dynamo-powered lights for visibility, and a Shimano GRX 2×12 drivetrain for reliable shifting across the plains and climbing performance in the Rockies. There’s no guesswork; it’s built for riders who are going to be out there, day after day, tackling the TransAm’s changing terrain.

We’ve always believed that bicycles are more than tools; they’re enablers of experience. The right bike gives you confidence to go farther, carry more, and ride through moments that would otherwise break you.

So congratulations to Adventure Cycling for 50 years of inspiring people to travel by bike — and congratulations to the lucky rider who’ll take on the TransAmerica Trail with the Blueridge. We’ll be cheering from the roadside, wherever you are.”