This week’s Debrief features a nighttime Safety Pizza, new Titanium bag supports, BXB backpacks, two new ultralight quilts, the Tasmanian Trail, two events to follow live, and much more. Find it all here…
The weekly Debrief highlights small but important bits of news, products, and things that caught our attention on the website, in the conversation, and elsewhere around the community. These include upcoming events and interesting items our readers shared in the comments. Check out this week’s findings below.
Bits & Bobs
New products that are worth highlighting but didn’t make the Dispatch…
Bags by Bird Cadenza Daypack
Tucson, Arizona-based Bags by Bird’s foray into the world of backpacks is taking off with their new Cadenza Daypack, a lightweight 20-liter bag inspired by summit packs. It features a body-tapered shape, a removable ¼” foam back pad, and two stretchy side pockets that are large enough for Nalgene bottles. The main compartment is accessed via a drawstring closure and flap opening, and each pack is made-to-order, so you can choose the main fabric types and colors.
Made in USA / $205 at BagsxBird.com
Safety Pizza Burnt Slice
If the bright finish of the original Safety Pizza wasn’t metal enough for you, the new Burnt Slice Safety Pizza could be the next best thing. It features a black finish that’s waterproof and reflective and is manufactured in Santa Rosa, California. It comes in two sizes: regular or small.
Made in USA / $20 at SafetyPizza.com
New 20 and 40° Quilts from Hyperlite
Hyperlite quietly rolled out two new ultralight quilts for 2023. Both are made with 1000fp RDS-Certified Grey Goose Down and 7D micro-ripstop nylon. Although they’re not cheap, they both look nicely designed and offer competitive weights in their class.
Made in Mexico / $399/$499 at Hyperlite 40° Quilt 20° Quilt
Stealth Bike Bags Rata 20
New Zealand’s Stealth Bike Bags also introduced a new backpack recently called the Rata 20. According to Stealth, it was designed from the ground up “to prioritize comfort, simplicity, and strength.” The Rata 20 has contoured shoulder straps, stretchy side pockets, a zippered front pocket, and a high-volume roll-top main compartment.
Made in New Zealand / $399 NZD at StealthBikeBags.com
Scoutset: The Frontbag Support
Kansas-based bike shop Velo Garage KC just released a titanium bag support called the Scoutset. It’s made from titanium, fits 1 1/8” steerer tubes, and requires roughly 13.5mm of room on the steerer to install. It weighs just 368 grams (13 ounces) and can support up to 20 pounds.
Made in China / $129 at VeloGarageKC.com
Tribulus Limited Endover Preorders Open
Sante Fe, New Mexico’s Tribulus Limited just opened preorders for their Endover handlebar bag. This lightweight but spacious bag holds up to 25 liters, weighs just 453 grams (16 ounces), and has a massive expandable roll-top closure for stashing gear, snacks, and more. Bags ordered before April 20th are 10% off, and completed bags will start shipping by the end of April.
Made in USA / $215 at TribulusLimited.com
Brooks Scape Discount
Through April 30th, Brooks is offering 30% off their Scape line of waterproof bikepacking bags when you buy two or more. You can use the code SCAPEBAGS30 at checkout. Our Bikepacking Collective members can take 30% off Scape bags without the requirement to buy more than one, and, as a reminder, they can also save 20% on everything else from Brooks (except limited edition items), all the time!
$55+ at BrooksEngland.com
Fairlight Cycles Secan 2.5 in Desert
Fairlight Cycles in London just opened up orders for their new Desert Secan 2.5, which is expected to deliver by late May. The Secan is their all-purpose gravel bike, making the transition between pavement and dirt smooth and fast. It features Bentley x Fairlight Mk2 dropouts, increased tire clearance (now compatible with a 27.5 x 2.4” tyre), lighter chainstays, size-specific tubes, and a color-matched Cempa 2.0 fork as standard.
£750 deposit at FairlightCycles.com
Restrap’s New Tool Pouch
Restrap unveiled a new Tool Pouch made in England with hardwearing 1000D textured nylon and a nylon lining. The pouch also has foam cushioning that helps protect tools and an internal storage sleeve for organizing smaller items. Reflective detailing and the classic Restrap label finishes the design.
Made in UK / 78g / $49 at Restrap.com
In Conversation
Exchanges and ideas that caught our attention in the site’s conversation section…
The Times They Are a-Changin’
Photo of Steve Roberts from our recent Computing Across America feature
In the last week alone, we’ve seen a high-tech hangerless transmission from SRAM, a wacky new frame design from Specialized, universal friction brifters from Growtac, and a bunch of interesting new bits from the Taipei Bike Show. We also shared a detailed look at the Pinion gearbox, another system that does away with the derailleur entirely. With change and innovation (and surely some marketing) at what feels like an unprecedented pace, what do you think is coming next, or what are you hoping is developed in the year ahead? Let us know in the conversation below.
Around the Community
News from around the bikepacking world…
Enduropacking the Tasmanian Trail (Video)
Van Girl Yuka on YouTube recently packed up her heavy enduro bike and her full-face helmet to tackle her first bikepacking trip along the challenging 480-kilometer, 10-day Tasmanian Trail. Along the way, Yuka put together this fun video following the trip.
Events Starting Soon
What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…
2023 Skyway Epic
The Skyway Epic is an endurance mountain bike race in the Talledega National Forest in Alabama, starting and finishing on the stellar Sylaward Trail at Lake Howard. There are 60 and 100-mile options, and the race kicks off tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. local time.
2023 Catalonia Trail
The Catalonia Trail is 750, 430, or 260 kilometers around the most amazing mountain natural parks, isolated beaches, and churches and castles of Catalonia, Spain. There is a grand depart from Girona on April 6th at 6 a.m. local time. Learn more here.
Wish We Were Here
Shedding a little light on a route one of us is dreaming about riding at the moment…
Neil Beltchenko: Among the Lupine
With winter in the Western US dragging on, dirt riding has been nonexistent in many areas. This is not abnormal for high alpine, but even the high deserts are still covered. With a very deep snowpack—historic in some cases—and a rather slow runoff, this is the best-case scenario for a lush summer season with less intense wildfires and instead fields of wildflowers and tacky trails. While this zone is covered in feet of snow, I’m longing for late-night summer rides with friends among the lupine.
Weekly Social
Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a handful of random shots from Arthur Nieuwenhuys (@arthurnieuwenhuys), one of Lucas’ favorite accounts…
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