How did we manage to get an interview with one of the most famous bikepackers in the world? We simply reached out! We’ve followed his journey for a long time, and this March, we decided to reach out to him with the hope of equipping him with a pair of BERTs for his bikepacking races. To our delight, he replied—and we quickly learned that he’s not only an extraordinary cyclist but also an extraordinary person.
Justinas, a native of Lithuania, has become a true legend in the world of ultra-endurance bikepacking. In 2024 alone, he claimed victory in both the Tour Divide—where he also set a new course record—and the Arizona Trail Race, cementing his place as one of the sport’s elite. Known for his incredible stamina, determination, and grit, Justinas is redefining what’s possible in ultra-endurance racing.
In this interview, he shares his journey, his perspective on these epic races, and his thoughts on the relentless demands of ultra-endurance cycling.
Picture by: Eddie Clark
Who are you?
An ultracyclist, bikepacker, all sorts of cycling lover.
Describe yourself in three words.
Happy, smiley, optimistic.
When and why did you start cycling?
First bike at the age of 5, cycling as a form of sport in 2015.
How did you prepare mentally and physically for the Arizona trail race?
Not so much.. I tried to fish out as many youtube videos as possible from previous years, carrying the fitness from all the previous races I have done this year. Badlands was a preparation race to ride in the heat.
What is your (MUST) gear to include on your bikepacking races?
I would say food, but that's pretty obvious as all the others, like repair kit and so on, used to be inflatable pillow until I lost it somewhere and didn't buy myself a new one :)
What was the best part of doing this race?
Exploring new places, seeing new faces.
What was the most challenging part of doing this?
Definitely all hike a bikes, the main one being carrying your bike through the Grand Canyon - 21 miles of walking.
Why do you think more men do bike-packing than women?
You just wait.. more and more will start to believe in themselves and I hope to witness this shift in the amount of women participants exploding.
If you could do it again, what would you change?
A lot would be a short answer. There is quite some time that I have left on the trail, you learn a lot by doing that for the first time. But probably wouldn't hike through The Grand Canyon in cycling shoes.
What's your favorite thing about BERT?
how comfortable they are! That was basically the only shoe I could wear after finishing the Arizona trail, because of all the blisters on my feet.
What is your next adventure? and are you bringing Berts with you?
Next adventure will be try to regain all the fitness that I have lost doing all these races and not training :D but jokes aside, I would love to do the Iditarod in Alaska. I think for Alaska, they are not insulated well enough :D . For racing, I keep my minimalistic approach and this would be too much, but for touring and bikepacking absolutely!
