Friday Debrief: Bolt-on Pizza Holder, Basket Mat, Sun Protection While Touring, and Much More

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…

Tout Terrain Trailers Come to North American Market

Made in Germany / $850-$1,700 at Tout Terrain

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Some exciting news from the world of two-wheeled family adventures: Germany’s Tout Terrain just announced that their Singletrailers are now available in North America, and US customers can get free shipping for orders made in April. Additionally, their pull-behind Mule trailer is now ready preorder. Hit the link above to explore their impressive range of trailers, bikes, and more.

Fizik Terra Atlas Enrosadira

Made in Taiwan / $169 at Fizik

Fizk just released their all-terrain/all-road clipless riding shoe, the Terra Atlas, in a limited edition colorway known as Atlas Enrosadira. Inspired by the magical colors of sunrise and sunset in the Dolomites, the Terra Atlas Enrosadira shoes are designed for all-day comfort, use a BOA closure, and are meant to be efficient both on and off the bike.

Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Collection

Made in Bangladesh / $30-$180 at Outdoor Research

Outdoor Research from Seattle launched its first collection of mountain bike-specific gear for spring. The Freewheel Collection features eight new items, including some interesting looking shorts, leather gloves, and more in both men’s, women’s, and extended inclusive sizing options.

Fifth Season Canvas Pat Mat

Made in USA / $48+ at Fifth Season Canvas

Handmade by Fifth Season Canvas in Vermont, the Pat Mat is a dual-duty basket cushion and seat pat made from upcycled yoga mats, waxed canvas, and wool. It attaches to your basket using cute little wooden toggles at each corner and comes in two sizes to fit Wald 137 and 139 baskets.

Extract Filters Now Available

Made in China/USA / $42 at Extract Filter

Launched as an Indiegogo campaign last year, the Extract filter is a unique water purifier that threads directly onto a standard Specialized water bottle. We had a chance to test out a pre-production version, but we’re happy to see the filters are available and shipping now. They cost $42 for the filter or $55 for the filter and bottle.

Fifth Season Canvas Simple Squall

Made in USA / $90 at Fifth Season Canvas

Alongside the Pat Mat, Fifth Season Canvas also dropped a pared-down version of their Squall Sack basket bag called the Simple Squall. It’s a bare-bones basket bag with a roll-top closure that fastens in place with wooden toggles and waxed cotton loops and is sized to fit Wald 137 baskets. The Simple Squall is currently offered in three waxed canvas colors.

Wolf Tooth Tubeless Valve Kits

Made in USA / $31.95 at Wolf Tooth

Wolf Tooth Components just added tubeless valves to its growing lineup of US-made, anodized bike components. The Wolf Tooth Tubeless Valve Kits come in nine colors, two lengths (44mm or 60mm), and include a core remover, extra valve cores, gaskets, and a custom knurled nut.

Acros Introduces Bottom Brackets

€50+ at Acros

Acros Components in Germany just announced a range of T47, BSA, and TPF bottom brackets that they say are built to last as long as possible with minimal maintenance. They feature improved sealing, replaceable ball bearings (so there’s no need to buy a whole new bottom bracket if something goes wrong inside), and the ability to swap out bearing sets to accommodate different crank standards.

Rodeo Labs Pizza Holder

Made in USA / FREE at Rodeo Labs

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What was originally an April Fools’ idea can now be yours if you have a 3D printer handy. From Rodeo Labs: “The TTPH 1 is designed to fit a single standard pizza slice according to ASTM F2238-20 (11.5” +- 0.5” Pizza). It can be mounted to the direct mounts on a bicycle top tube or to any mounts with standard bottle bolt spacing.”

Smith x Aleck CS Crash Detection Sensor

$210+ at Smith Optics

Smith just became the first cycling helmet company to integrate the new Aleck CS crash detection sensor across four of its performance bike helmet models—including the new Triad helmet. Integrated directly into a helmet’s fit system, the Aleck sensor measures impact forces, confirming a rider’s status and sending an emergency message with GPS location if necessary. Connecting via smartphone app, the Aleck CS links riders to chosen emergency contacts as well as any other Aleck app users within a 1.8-mile radius. No subscription is required to access basic crash detection features.

Esker Cycles Expands Singlespeed Builds

Made in Taiwan / at Esker Cycles

Esker Cycles has offered singlespeed builds for their steel bikes for some time now but has only just added complete singlespeed builds as an option for their titanium models, the Hayduke Ti and Japhy Ti. Both models are now available to purchase as a complete singlespeed build, starting at $4,200 USD. The beautiful bike displayed above is Alexandera Houchin’s new Japhy Ti that she’ll be riding as Esker’s first sponsored athlete.

In Conversation

Exchanges and ideas that caught our attention in the site’s conversation section…

Sun Protection While Touring

The Da Brim review we posted on Monday received a lot of comments right off the bat. That made us curious: what do most folks do for sun protection while out riding on long days? Logan and Virginia’s strategy has usually involved bringing two small Nalgene bottles, one filled with inexpensive 30 or 40 SPF to cover their arms and the other containing a better quality 50+ SPF sunscreen for faces and necks. However, Logan has also relied heavily on his collection of cotton Search and State Field Shirts to protect his arms, which seem to work well even when it’s rather warm outside. He also rides with an “enduro” helmet that has a very large visor that helps protect his face. What’s your strategy? Sun hoodies, sunscreen, SPF numbers? Leave us a note in the conversation below!

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Rhönrad Circle

The Keep Calm and Pedal on YouTube channel tackled the lovely Rhönrad (or Rhoenrad) Circle bikepacking route in Germany and made this video to document their ride.

Canfield Bikes Moves to Poncha Springs, Colorado

As part of their celebration of 25 years of business, Canfield Bikes has officially announced their move from Fruita, Colorado, to Poncha Springs, just outside the popular outdoor destination town of Salida. “For the first time in our history, a full demo fleet will be available at our headquarters,” says Lance Canfield, owner, engineer, and designer. “Riding is believing, and this will be a great opportunity for people to try before they buy or just rent a bike while they’re in town and experience the magic of Canfield Bikes for themselves. This area offers access to an unbelievable amount of riding, making it a great place for customers to demo and for us to test new designs.” Read more about the move here.

The Florida Divide (Video)

Last November, Graham Partain pedaled the Florida Divide route, sharing a short section with Toni Valley and route creator Karlos Bernart. They rode it as an individual time trial so Toni could earn her Florida Triple Crown. We’ve been told they received so much trail magic along the way that they ended up printing and sending thank-you cards in appreciation. Graham put together a 36-minute video from his ride, which you can watch above.

The Ride Together Grant

Grassroots Gravel and State Bicycle Co. have teamed up to launch the new Ride Together Grant, which aims to provide an opportunity for registration, travel and lodging expenses, and equipment support for riders facing financial barriers to participating in the Grassroots Gravel event on October 12th, 2024. Ten free event entries will be awarded, five expense stipends to support lodging and travel, and State Bicycle Co will be providing a new gravel bike to five awardees. Applications for the Ride Together Grant are open April 1st, 2024 to July 31st, 2024. Learn more and apply here.

Bikepacking the San Rafael Swell

Katie Strempke recently went on a three-day bikepacking trip with friends in the San Rafael Swell in Utah and put together a short video from the ride. Watch the video above, check out a similar route here, and find Katie’s write-up from the trip on the Dispersed Bikepacking blog.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Arizona Trail Spring ITT

There are two riders out tackling individual time trials on the Arizona Trail route right now: Chanel Abril and Angus Young. Coming from England, this is Angus’ first race in the US, and he’s passed the AZT 300 marker and is pushing north through the state. He has already encountered waist-deep river crossings and nearly a foot of snow on Mount Lemmon near Tucson, plus a rock slashed his tire open, which is having a hard time sealing, according to his Instagram. Follow along above and keep an eye on his Instagram for updates.

Wish We Were Here

Shedding a little light on a route one of us is dreaming about riding at the moment…

Lucas Winzenburg: The White Rim

For the first time since we launched our Wish We Were Here featurette, I’m doing more than just dreaming about riding somewhere; I’m actually heading there to experience it for myself. The White Rim Trail in Utah has long captivated my imagination, and I’ve eagerly watched and read everything we’ve shared from it over the years. At long last, I’m excited to be making the trip there myself this weekend!

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a handful of beautiful vignettes from Lael Wilcox on the Arizona Trail…

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A post shared by Lael Wilcox (@laelwilcox)

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