British bikepacking equipment specialist Tailfin has announced its first event, called Tailfin Detours. The bikepacking weekender, which will take place around the Abergavenny area in Wales between Friday 12 – Sunday 14 September, has a few unique spins on your standard cycling event, including a route that is self-plotted between two checkpoints - with participants encouraged to detour between them and find nine more optional checkpoints - and an "inclusive" pricing structure, that offers a limited number of lower priced entries for those facing financial barriers.  

• Review: Tailfin Long Top Tube Bag
• Your complete guide to bikepacking
• Bikepacking through Wales - The Wales Divide

Tailfin says the event is suitable for casual bikepackers who fancy a weekend of riding and ultra-racers alike, as the self-plotted nature of the course means participants can make it as tough or as relaxed as they so choose. 

Tailfin Detours 2.jpeg, by Jack Sexty

The race/ride proper takes place on the Saturday, departing from Brecon in the morning (there's optional camping included in the ticket price on Friday evening), and finishing at Fforest Fields in mid Wales. The only compulsory checkpoints are at the start and finish, but in between, the 'Detours' element comes in, with nine extra checkpoints to be found on route. Extra points can be accrued for finding the checkpoints, and the 'winner' is the rider who takes the biggest detour within the cut-off time. There is no maximum distance, but the minimum distance per day is 70km.

After another night of camping, participants all head back together on Sunday in a non-competitive group ride. 

There is a compulsory kit list to take part, and Tailfin says facilities including toilets, showers, a shop and a bar can be found at the campsites. For the entry fee, participants get two nights of camping, GPX files of the checkpoints and a suggested route for the Sunday ride, food and supplies at the compulsory checkpoints, plus an exclusive Tailfin Detours brevet card. Dinner and breakfast, hire bikes and kit packages can be purchased separately, and there are prizes on offer for the winners of the Saturday ride. 

Tailfin Detours 1.jpeg, by Tailfin

Things get interesting when it comes to the pricing, because there are three tiers: Community (£60), Standard (£90), and Supporter (£120). Participants get the same for each ticket price, but Tailfin is trusting entrants to essentially pay what they can afford when purchasing tickets. 

"We believe bikepacking should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial
circumstances", says Tailfin. 

"To build a truly diverse and inclusive community on the trails, we've created three pricing tiers... that helps fund accessible spots for other riders." 

We understand that a very limited number of Community tickets will be available, and everyone else can choose to pay the £90 or £120 rate. 

Tailfin adds that family and friends of participants are encouraged to join in at the overnight locations, and want to offer an event that prioritises community over competition. 

"Tailfin Detours isn’t just another cycling event. It’s a chance to build a community, push boundaries, and create lasting memories.

"We want to shift the narrative from competition-only riding to something more playful, personal, and human."

For ticket options and more info, head to the event landing page here. 

You might also like:

• Review: Bikepacking England by Emma Kingston
• Best gravel bikes
• The best bike upgrade isn't the bike, it's the rider