2025 April Foolery in the Bike Industry

Our team was chatting about April Fools’ Day earlier this week and how bag makers always seem to up the game by designing and fabricating actual bags. While it’s normal to see a bunch of AI-generated silliness, some of our favorite gear makers poke fun at the industry and bikepacking in general by making real products that really work. We shared separate posts showing off the new Cedaero Jug Hug and the Revelate Designs Black Hole Technology this morning, which are both perfect examples of why we look forward to the first of April each year. We’ve gathered a few April Fools’ announcements from around the web below, and we’ll update this list if we see more happen throughout the day. If you stumble upon a good one, please let us know in the conversation!

Ratio Reverso

The new Reverso spider uses patented Reverse Motion Efficiency™ technology to allow riders to pedal backwards instead of forwards, enabling power increases of up to 41%, a more natural pedaling motion, and complete elimination of pedal kickback from suspension action. “The data doesn’t lie,” says Dr. April Erste, Head of Reverse Kinetics at Ratio Technology. “By reversing the crank rotation, we’ve unlocked a completely new biomechanical advantage. Forwards is dead. Backwards is the future.”

Starling Cycles Dive: A Retro-Modern 26” Full Suspension MTB

29+ is dead, but fear not, 26″ is back and more popular than ever. We’ve seen a huge resurgence in vintage MTB restoration projects and even modern bikes designed around 26″ wheels…Stridsland, we’re looking at you…so we know it was only a matter of time before someone took the 26″ platform to the next level. Well, that’s exactly what Starling Cycles has done. The new Starling Cycles Dive is a 160mm travel, steel, single-pivot 26” full suspension. And no, this isn’t just a Photoshop job; the Dive is a real bike designed around a 26″ frame and wheels, and they are making ten frames as part of their RARE program. Frames cost £2,046.67, come in three sizes, and will ship out in 8-12 weeks. Learn more at StarlingCycles.com.

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UCI Limits Road Bike Tires to 31mm

In a surprise move, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) handed down its latest technical rule: Effective immediately, road bikes are limited to a maximum tire width of 31mm. The new rule has been rumored for a long time. As more pro racers started using 30mm tires, there was growing concern that we might see road bikes with tires wider than cyclocross bikes, where the UCI imposes a 33mm width limit. Five-time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx joined Lappartient behind the microphones and opined: “Road racing is supposed to be hard, and road bikes are supposed to be uncomfortable. Can you imagine people calling me the ‘Cannibal’ if I had been riding on plush 32mm tires?”

Tire makers have mixed feelings. Jan Heine, president of R&D at Rene Herse Cycles, explained: “On the one hand, 31 mm makes sense for road bikes. That’s where the bike still feels like a road bike, with quick handling and easy to rock from side to side when climbing or sprinting out of the saddle.” So what’s the downside? Heine: “Well, this ends our dream of sending a team on 55 mm tires to Paris-Roubaix, have them attack on a cobble sector, ride away from the peloton, and then just time-trial to the finish. Our calculations show that this should be possible, and we’ve worked behind the scenes to make it happen. We’ve been collaborating with a bike maker to design a frame with aero that’s optimized for such wide tires. And we’ve been talking to riders who lack the watts to win the ‘Hell of the North’ currently, but who might stand a chance with this strategy.”

Heine acknowledged that this idea may be one reason for the new rule: “The UCI strongly believes that all riders should use similar bikes, so that strength alone determines who wins, and not some technological breakthrough.” Asked bout his personal opinion on the UCI’s philosophy, Heine said: “There is a strong aesthetic component to cycling, and I appreciate that the UCI wants to preserve that. That shouldn’t come at the expense of true breakthroughs in technology that enhance cycling for everybody, not just pro racers.” Read more at ReneHerse.com.

The OMINUM Fat Max

New from OMNIUM is an all-terrain cargo bike that, with the listed clearance, could tackle just about anything. Per OMNIUM, “We’ve sensed the latest trend and anticipate a huge demand in the market, so this is our latest prototype. Still undecided on 6.2″ or 7.5″ tires.”

Jokes aside, I’m sure there are plenty who would be chomping at the bit for this beast of a cargo bike. After all, there is truth in all jokes…

Velo Orange’s Galactic Derailleur Hanger

Emphasizing their own desire to take over the universe, Velo Orange have released their answer to SRAM’s UDH. That’s right, they’re going outside the bounds of our lowly atmosphere and taking things to a whole new, galactic level. Complete with schematics and all, Velo Orange’s galactic derailleur hanger design works with vintage and modern derailleurs that use either QR or TA axle variants, is precision-machined for warp-speed shifting, and is guaranteed to handle gravitational anomalies.

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Rogue Panda Donut Wheel Bag

March was a big month for Arizona’s Rogue Panda Designs. They released their first hip pack, launched a redesigned version of their Ripsey dropper bag, and added adjustable bar ends to their impressive lineup of bikepacking bags and accessories. However, there was an obvious hole in the market that needed filling, and Rogue Panda addressed this with the new Donut Wheel Bag.

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The Donut Wheel Bag adds extra front-end traction, increases rotational weight so you can burn more calories and eat more donuts, and installation only requires removing half your spokes, so it’s quick and easy. Innovations like this have us wondering what other unused packing spots there are that bag brands could be using. Helmet vents? On top of our cycling shoes? The space inside open platform pedals? Well, maybe it’s a coincidence, but a solution for that was also released today…

Outlier Feetzza Pocket

Since releasing their unique lowering platform pedals, customers have been requesting a clipless version from Ortlier, and the wait is over. The Feetzza Pocket is the world’s first clip-in pedal storage system, perfect for carrying snacks, tools, or whatever else you need…right at your feet. We can’t but wonder if the weight of added gear on your pedals will affect the self-rightening design of the Outlier pedals, but having more packing space might be just be worth it for some folks.

Wheels MFG Derailleur Hanger of the Month Club

Given SRAM’s increasingly successful mission to eliminate bespoke derailleur hangers, Wheels MFG had the unique idea of making these relics of a soon-to-be byegone era into collectibles. With their Derailleur Hanger of the Month Club, they’re putting their years of creating high quality small parts to use by gamifying what was once an essential and deeply specific drivetrain part. Some of the benefits include:

-One completely random rear derailleur hanger
-A collectible spec card with facts like:
-“Allegedly fits a brand we couldn’t verify, possibly made during a lunar eclipse in the late 1900s.”
-A monthly opportunity to say, “What the heck is this one for?”
-And absolutely no guarantee it fits anything you own

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Pricing is pretty reasonable with two distinct options available— $19.99/month or $249.99/year (includes a “mystery bolt bag” and a sticker that says “Life is Short Buy the Hanger”).

Fish-Ski Designs Technical Bindle

Have you ever wanted to just pack it all in and hit the road? Life got you down and need to just up and leave? Well, the Fish-Ski Designs technical bindle might be the right accessory for your wandering needs. Unlike your run-of-the-mill bandana on a stick, however, Fish-Ski designs has purpose built this bindle. Sure, it’s an April fool’s day joke, but they will actually make some of these small sacks for the low, low price of $420.69 USD. Built with storage compartments and bungee cords, it does actually look like something that could be useful as a stylistic saddle bag or a hiking accessory. While they are available on the Fish-Ski designs site, they’re also giving one away!

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Pinion C1.21i and a Pinion-Equipped Unicycle

When a 636% gear range just isn’t enough, the new Pinion C1.21i gearbox is here to make riding your bike more enjoyable and intuitive than ever. The C1.21i gearbox offers a massive 887% gear range packed into 21 perfectly tuned gears, and comes standard with Smart.Shift technology for lightning fast electronic shifting. If that’s not enough, Priority Cycles just released a Pinion-equipped unicycle called the Bruzer, complete with a Gates carbon belt drive and disc brakes.

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Widefoot BidonKadonk

Think you found the perfect bike, but it lacks enough water bottle bosses for bikepacking trips and long rides through the Sahara? Or perhaps you ride a small frame and there’s simply not enough room for large bottles? Instead of wearing a backpack or attaching a heavy and awkward rack to your bike, Widefoot has created an ingenious solution that opens up a whole new world of bolt-on accessories. The Widefoot BidonKadonk is a hole-laden ultra-minimal hip pack with three bottle cage mounting positions, an oversized hip strap, and can also accommodate cargo cages for larger loads while bikepacking.

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Breezer Monovolt: One Wheel, Infinite Adventure

The Breezer Monovolt is the world’s first bikepacking-specific unicycle. Designed for the brave and the balanced, the Monovolt features an ultra-stiff Chromoly steel frame, integrated rack mounts, and full pannier compatibility paired with a confidence-inspiring 29 x 3.0″ tire. We’re not confident that the wheel Breezer supplied is in fact 29+, nor are we sure what type of drive system it uses, but bikepacking is about getting out there and unplugging, not about asking questions.

Arkel Haul-Paw

Thanks to Arkel in Canada, you no longer have to make the decision whether to bring your prized puppy or leave them at home. The new Haul-Paw is a doggy version of their popular Haul-It pannier, designed to offer ultimate comfort for your four-legged companion. It has built-in orthopedic padding, 360° ventilation, quick-access treat pocket, a 3-point safety harness, and a machine washable anti-drool lining.

Alpacka Raft Jonah Packraft

Getting swallowed by a whale is one of the most common setbacks of packrafting, and the experts over at Alpacka Raft are addressing this with the new whale-proof Jonah Packraft. The Jonah features enhanced stability and durability specifically for planned whale-watching adventures, with larger tube diameters and increased cargo capacity if you end up living inside the whale’s mouth for a while.

Forkpacking: The latest trailblazing trend

Off Course in Australia just discovered that you can go bikepacking without all the fuss of a bike frame and extra storage…introducing Forkpacking. Leave confusing parts like dropper posts and drivetrains at home and just bring your front wheel, fork, and handlebars. Forkpacking offers the same freedom of bikepacking, but requires far less. Learn about Huw’s forkpacking setup below.

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Cut Your Toothbrush in Half

Cutting the handle off your toothbrush is a classic backpacker weight-saving tactic that is more than just cutting weight, it’s about scrutinizing your whole kit. Six Moon Designs supports cutting toothbrushes in half and put out a short PSA to remind us to cut unnecessary weight and gear.

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Hilleberg Scents From The Tents

The new Scents From The Tents collection from Hilleberg is an exclusive, limited-edition candle collection inspired by the essences of the backcountry. Bring the scents of nature straight into your home with scents like: 10 Night Sleeping Bag, Trail Worn Wool Socks, and Never Changed Base Layer. We can only hope the next round of candles includes some bikepacking specific options, like “Dank Double-Ended Dry Bag” or “5 Day Chamois.”

Further Reading

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