Arkansas Trail Revolutions: Mena’s Ward Lake, E-Bike Truths, and the Great Bikepacking Bike Rankings | ShiftLess Ep. 71

Welcome back to ShiftLess, the home of unpaved bicycle culture. In Episode 71, Kevin, Brad, and DJ Caleb dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of gravel cycling, bikepacking, and the "dangerous" allure of the E-MTB.Brad recaps his recent trip to Mena, Arkansas, where the Ward Lake project is poised to become the next major destination for ultra endurance unpaved cycling. We’re talking 100 miles of planned trail, high-elevation technical climbs, and the controversial addition of lift systems in a region that rivals Bentonville for vertical gain.We also take a hatchet to Bikepacking.com’s recent "13 Favorite Drop Bar Mountain Bikes" list. From the Salsa Cutthroat’s surprising ranking to the emergence of esoteric steel rigs, we discuss what actually makes a bike capable for The USA Trail and long-distance expeditions.In this episode, we discuss:The Mena Explosion: A firsthand look at the new Ward Lake trails and why this corner of Arkansas is the new frontier for adventure cycling.E-Bike Confessions: Brad admits his "love" for the high-powered Cannondale e-MTB. We break down battery range in turbo mode, technical climbing stats, and whether an E-bike still counts as a "workout" (spoiler: a 177 max heart rate says yes).The "Worst List Ever": Our unfiltered critique of the top drop bar mountain bikes. Is carbon truly a "drawback" for bikepacking, or is the industry just chasing steel-is-real nostalgia?Basepacking & Scouting: How vehicle-supported "Basepacking" is helping verify sections of The USA Trail, and the gear needed to move from camp to backcountry.The "Yard Sale" Report: Kevin and Brad trade stories of recent crashes at North Shore, discussing the importance of titanium frames, wide bars, and the slow-motion physics of a bar-over-gate wreck.Tech & Gadgets: A look at the new State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road, the ultra-tiny SON Dynamo hub with USB-C support, and an experimental $9 Amazon fix for biting flies involving artificial dragonflies.Whether you are prepping for your next gravel race or looking for the perfect "Amish bike" for a self-supported tour, join us for a candid look at the gear and grease that keeps the wheels turning.Gravel cycling, bikepacking, gravel racing, ultra endurance unpaved cycling, The USA Trail, Basepacking, Mena Arkansas trails, Salsa Cutthroat, drop bar mountain bike, E-MTB performance, State Bicycle Co Titanium, ShiftLess Podcast.“Everyone has a plan until they hit a tree gate at North Shore.” — Go ride your bike.Key Highlights & StatsFeatureDetailsMena Trail Goal100 miles of singletrack & 5 lift systemsE-MTB Range~43 miles in "Turbo Mode" (Texas Motor Speedway testing)Bikepacking Bike RankingsSalsa Cutthroat (#11), Tumbleweed Stargazer (#1)The USA Trail4,000+ mile transcontinental unpaved route verificationKeywords for OptimizationBikepacking dot com list:https://bikepacking.com/bikes/13-best-drop-bar-mtb/Kevin's battery test video:https://youtu.be/BC9HceWFEEgReach out and touch us: [email protected]