Friday Debrief: The E.T. bike, Btchn’ Ti Bars, Sandbagging, and More

We started “The Debrief” on our YouTube channel last year as a way of highlighting the week’s news and things that caught our attention on the website, in the conversation, and elsewhere around the community. To take this a step further, we’re posting a weekly Debrief here on the site to highlight all of those things and more, including upcoming events and interesting things 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…

Limited Edition Panaracer Ginger and Astral Blue Tires

Panaracer’s annual limited edition GravelKing tires were just announced, and they are being offered in a Ginger and Astral Blue tread colour. The limited edition colours will be offered in their original GravelKing, the GravelKing SK (semi-knob), and the GravelKing SS (semi-slick) in 700 x 32 and 700 x 38 sizes.

$59.99 / Made in Japan / Details

Purple Cerakote Wolf Tooth Morse Code Ti Cages

Minneapolis-based Wolf Tooth Components’ latest limited-edition Morse Cage Ti features an eye-catching purple Cerakote finish. It’s available on their webshop now and will likely sell out quickly. While you’re on their site, be sure to check out their new “Shop by Color” option, which allows you to sort and view their entire catalog based on color.

$84.95 / Made in USA / Details

New Silca Chisela Computer Mount

The new Chisela Computer Mount from Silca is the brand’s latest 3D printed titanium product. It features a lightweight, aerodynamic design, a removable mount for lights, GoPros, and other accessories, and a corrosion-resistant black Cerakote finish with a subdued look. It’s compatible with all Garmin and Wahoo computers and with one of seven different mounts.

$125 / Made in USA / Details

Kuwahara E.T. 40th Anniversary Model

In celebration of E.T’s 40th anniversary, Kuwahara is reproducing the original E.T.40 BMX bike that was first released back in 1982. The 2022 model features a 4130 Chromoly steel frame, sealed bearing hubs, and Dia-Compe brakes. They are scheduled to be released by fall 2022.

$799.99 / Details

Btchn’ Bikes Titanium Handlebars

California-based BTCHN’ Bikes just released their first round of titanium handlebars and they’re looking pretty slick. They come in several different widths in either a high (75mm) rise or low (45mm) rise. Both use a 22.2mm stem and have either 13° (high rise) or 12° (low rise) of sweep.

$290 / Made in USA / Details

In Conversation

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

Greetings from the Woods (Redux)

Logan: I posted a short opinion piece earlier this week with some thoughts on Lael’s amazing Arizona Trail ride. I still congratulate Lael on a mind-blowing effort from a world-class cyclist. However, after fielding a lot of comments, conversations, and further reflection, I realized that I need to retract and redress the statement. To summarize, I voiced opinions about rules and advantages regarding the involvement of media in racing and what qualifies as an advantage and disadvantage in ultra-endurance events and FKTs. Ultimately, I realize that it’s not my place to make a claim about this. Being the editor of this site puts me in a place of influence, whether I like it or not. And because I’m not a competitive racer and don’t truly understand the idea of advantage in a multi-day race or FKT, I’m not qualified to endorse media or family being involved in multi-day bikepacking events. At this point, my job is to better understand, open up a constructive dialogue on the website, and allow all sides to (hopefully) have a level-headed conversation and help unify the community. To that extent, we’re hoping to hear from other voices who will share their ideas and values here on the site.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Sandbagger’s Choice

Our friends over at Kona sent over this video from Peter Wojnar recounting a massive day trip in South Chilcotin Provincial Park. For anyone interested in tackling such a thins, Peter says, “I’d highly recommend our approximate route as a bikepacking trip with one or two nights camping along the way.” We imagine it’s something similar to our route in the South Chilcotins that you can find here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Allegheny Mountains Loop

The Allegheny Mountains Loop (AML) follows the 400-mile route mapped by Adventure Cycling Association. The grand depart occurs each April and is a chance to ride the loop as fast as you can. This year’s grand depart was this morning at 6 a.m., follow along live here.

Ride Across Arizona

Ride Across Arizona is a 615-mile self-supported bikepacking event following AZ Gravel Rides’ Trans-Arizona Off Road Bike Route. The grand depart takes off from Topock, Arizona, on Monday at 6 a.m. Follow along live here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Logan Watts: Moab

It’s probably warming up, and swarming with Jeepers, but Neil’s excellent video above has had me dreaming about his new Peaks & Plateaus route. It shares a chunk of the trails and roads we tackled in our Kane Creek Pritchett Canyon Loop years before, and I’d love to get back to that zone and see more. If you haven’t watched that video, make sure to check it out. And subscribe to the channel! Neil’s videos keep getting better and better.

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