Our Reader’s Rig of the week comes from Kari in North Dakota, who shares the Marin Pine Mountain 1 she uses to escape on head-clearing trail rides. Meet Kari and find photos of her loaded hardtail out in its element here…

Words by Kari Torres, photos by Mike Torres

Hi, I’m Kari! I’m originally from Michigan but am currently living in North Dakota. I am a professional mouse clicker (LiDAR technician) who turns points into elevation profiles for maps. I got my first real bike in 2022, trying to keep up with my husband and his revolving door of outdoor hobbies.

Marin Pine Mountain 1

I started out commuting, but that quickly evolved into long weekend rides, overnight trips, and a migration to dirt. Now I lean toward any riding that gets me away from cars and takes me on an adventure. As a seasoned backpacker, the transition to bikepacking was a natural progression.

The bike has become a way to slow my brain down and experience the natural world. Being outside allows me to reconnect with myself and get my priorities back in line. I’m most at peace when I’m lying under the stars, birding, watching the clouds pass by, or exploring local trails with my dog, Denny.

Marin Pine Mountain 1

  • Frame: 2025 Marin Pine Mountain 1
  • Fork: RockShox Rekon Silver RL 120mm
  • Tires: Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.6
  • Handlebars: Marin Bars, Lizard Skin Grips
  • Headset: FSA
  • Crankset: Marin
  • Pedals: Crank Brothers Stamp
  • Cassette: Sunrace 11-speed
  • Derailleur(s): Shimano Deore 11-speed
  • Brakes: Shimano BR-MT400
  • Shifter(s): Shimano Deore 11-speed
  • Saddle: Specialized Mimic
  • Seatpost: OneUp V3 90mm dropper
  • Stem: Marin
  • Front bags: Swift Industries Catalyst
  • Frame bags: DIY with denim X-Pac
  • Rear bags: North Street Bags
  • Accessory bags: DIY top tube and stem bags
  • Other accessories: Axiom rear rack

In the past year or so, singletrack riding has come to the forefront in my cycling. Looking for something a little more confidence-inspiring, I recently sold my beloved Surly ECR to fund an adventure-oriented hardtail. Thanks to some sales early this spring, the Marin Pine Mountain 1 was an obvious choice. The bike is mostly stock, aside from the touchpoints. One huge upgrade was adding a dropper post.

Marin Pine Mountain 1

This past winter, my husband and I got into sewing. It took a couple of tries, but we made a top tube bag and a bolt-on frame bag for my bike. While looking for materials, we saw some denim X-Pac that San Util Design wanted to offload before they moved their shop. Given that our first sewing projects were tote bags made from old jeans, this was on brand for us!

Send Us Your Bikepacking Rig

Use the form below to submit your bikepacking rig. We’ll choose one per week to feature in a Reader’s Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. To enter, email us your best photo of the bike (preferably at a 90° angle), your Instagram username (optional), and a short description of you and your rig. If your bike is selected, we’ll need a total of five photos and a little bit more info.

Further Reading

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