If that’s not a compelling backstory for a rig built to tackle burly trails loaded with gear, I don’t know what is.

One of the more popular items stowed among these bags was sardinhas (sardines). As the story goes, during the Middle Ages Almocreve merchants traveled from village to village across Nordeste’s steep slopes on saddlebag-laden pack mules to peddle their goods. Pedro delved deep into his Nordeste roots for inspiration on this one.

It was that etymological and historical narrative that initially lured me into the Sardinha, even with its interesting geometry and nicely appointed steel frame.