He Designs Florida Bikepacking Routes that Include a Dose of Swamps, Sand, and Alligators

Karlos Bernart is the Founder, Off Road Architect, & Event Mastermind at Singletrack Samurai. His group organizes and plans a number of rides and bike routes in Florida including the Huracan 300, CFITT, and the Florida Divide. How did you get into mountain biking and route planning? Is your goal to include as much singletrack as possible when you design bikepacking routes like the Huracan 300? How has the route evolved over the years, and why? Is it difficult coordinating access with land managers along the route for a long, 100+ mile rides? How do you know when you’ve added the right number of challenges to a route? Do you try to balance difficulty with enjoyability? What is the right size for an race like the Huracan? How much time do you spend scouting new routes, and verifying that existing ones still work? Of all the Florida off-road routes you’ve assembled, which one is your favorite? Which one do you recommend for folks who want the full Florida off-road experience? Which bikepacking gear developments do you think have made bikepacking more accessible and enjoyable over the past 5-10 years? How do you motivate someone who is having a bad ride? Do you have any mental tricks or strategies for getting yourself through the toughest parts of a big ride? Find out more about biking in Florida at singletracksamurai.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks