Riding through the rugged Scottish Highlands with two small kids and a fully loaded cargo bike might sound like a logistical nightmare — but for ultracyclist and Classified’s Customer Success Manager Katrien De Smet, it was just another dream adventure.
Katrien’s love of travel began with hiking and alpine climbs, eventually evolving into bikepacking after a life-changing trip from Alaska to Mexico. She and her partner Manu, both ultra-distance racers, made a conscious decision to keep adventuring after having children. Their kids went on their first bike trip at ages one and two, and the family has adapted their setup every year since.
This summer, the Highlands called. Manu had raced the Highland Trail 550 and the couple was drawn to the region’s raw, remote beauty. Together with their kids, they set off in search of the mythical Loch Ness Monster — riding, camping, and collecting water from streams along the way.
Their bike of choice was the Omnium Cargo V3, modified for comfort and equipped with the Classified Powershift hub. The setup included footrests, waterproof ponchos, mounted kids' bikes, and even custom ‘Nessie’ stem caps to add a playful theme. The Powershift hub proved especially valuable: instant gear changes under load made steep climbs and stop-starts manageable, even with a full cargo.
The bike handled surprisingly well off-road, aided by wide tyres and thoughtful planning. While there were a few lessons learned — like how to better protect mounted bikes from rubbing — the overall setup was solid and confidence-inspiring.
The kids embraced the adventure. Hyped up on Nessie legends, they scanned every loch with excitement and even powered through a six-hour hike-a-bike section with energy to spare. A highlight was watching them shred trails at the Fort William bike park and cruise singletrack near the West Highland Way.
For Katrien, the trip was a reminder that family life doesn’t mean the end of adventure — it just means doing things differently. With the right gear, attitude, and flexibility, the experience became a simple, beautiful rhythm: eat, sleep, ride, explore.
Their next dream destinations? Mongolia and Patagonia. But until then, there are plenty more cargo bike miles — and Nessie sightings — ahead.
Scotland photos © Katrien De Smet and Manu Cattrysse. Film by Ryan Le Garrec.
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