Štěpán Stránský

Paradigm disruption and internal change of character exceeds even the greatest pain I have experienced while bikepacking. Curiously, during my bikepack races, both of these happen, oftentimes simultaneously.

I am a person who accepts multiple identities. People oftentimes label me a bikepacker, graphic designer, photographer, tester, illustrator, product developer, or adventurer. I don’t separate those labels from each other, quite the opposite, actually! Art is very close to ultra-endurance sports, which are in turn close to spirituality, which is probably what governs it all.

One of my friends bid me to finally

Stop with the super-correctness!

When I do something, I want it to be done the best or there is no point in doing it at all. Should I learn to do things halfway? Maybe. Maybe the thief should learn to make an honest living and an honest man should start thieving, or maybe the doctor should learn the craft of executioners, and maybe the king should be the one who cleans the sewage. There is one thing I do know for sure though: people oftentimes treat the planet and their surroundings quite badly, and because everything exists in a balance, I decided to seek the half where this doesn’t happen.

Professionally, apart from a bikepacker, I am still partially a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, and product developer. You can click to have a look at my portfolio.

The bikepacking method is my educational program. It is a sort of a blog where you can find and study various topics. There is training, equipment, the nature of bikepacking, diet, regeneration, preparation, and many more. This methodology is a precursor of my upcoming book, currently being worked on in conjunction with my sponsors, which will have even more in-depth content and lectures. The bikepacking blog and methodology of bikepacking by Štěpán Stránský.

I have been a bikepack racer since 2010. I specialize in MTB and gravel bike oriented bikepacking events, while gradually adding winter bikes and road bikes. I am a tester and developer of cycling brands. I fuse graphic design, illustration, painting, and photography with sport and cycling.

I am a founder of multiple project, the most well-known being Wolfman (bikepacking races, bikepacking eshop directly connected to product development, cyclist team), Flukeatelier (graphics and photography atelier), Pexoesa (circular matching game in a tubular box, made by Czech artists), and Viento (educational seminars).

I live in Orlické hory with my family, domestic and wild animals, and many other beings. I am actively interested in possibilities of progress, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. In my opinion, spiritual progress is the most important one and is the key to success, not only in your field of work.

Štěpán Stránský’s racing results:

2010: Loudání – 4th

2011: 1000 Miles – 3rd

2014: 1000 Miles – Winner – historic time record

2014: Loudání – 2nd

2016: Italy Divide – 2nd

2016: Loudání – 2nd

2016: 1000 Miles – 2nd

2017: Šediváčkův long – 2nd

2017: Loudání – Winner

2017: WOLFman SNOW – self-organized bikepacking races

2017: WOLFman RUN – self-organized bikepacking races

2017: WOLFman ROAD – self-organized bikepacking races

2017: WOLFman MTB – self-organized bikepacking races

2018: Italy Divide – 2nd

2018: Navad1000 – Winner – historic time record

2018: WOLFman SNOW – self-organized bikepacking races

2019: Wisla1200 – 3rd

2019: Loudání – Winner

2019: WOLFman – self-organized bikepacking races

I have many ways to prepare to make it work in key situations. We all play games in this wonderful world. The greatest game is birth, life, and death. The mind is my fuel, the body is a machine. That’s my mantra; I use it during my races as well. I have many alternate selves I switch between when racing. I use natural extracts from exotic countries or Czech herbalists, but sometimes I stray to the store for a Coca-Cola and a Snickers bar. 🙂

My training is complex and connects multiple sports. My main goal isn’t to win. Victory is like a beautiful portfolio full of graphics, photography, and illustration – it opens up opportunities to be seen and meet new people. As far being a cyclist, repeat podium finishes allow me to be in close contact and to live in mutual respect with event organizers and the best backpackers alike, which opens up opportunities to be effectively sponsored by brands not exclusively affiliated with cycling. I got to a position from which I can spread information and know-how to get people into the beautiful cycling sport called backpacking. My goals are personal growth on an exciting journey and travelling into other countries and universes. The remainders of my ego and naiveté work on attempts to change the people and to steer the goings on for better. Let’s see how long that lasts; probably not past my death.