Friday Debrief: Z Bar Tool, SHREDLY x Marley Blonsky, Bikepacking in Korea, and 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…

Loam Equipment Collapsible Framebag

Made in USA / $200+ at Loam Equipment

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Loam Equipment in Bellingham, Washington, posted some photos of a neat collapsible framebag that was made for a customer looking for one bag for both short and long adventures that still leaves room for a bottle on the seat tube. It’s made from Dimension Polyant VX21 with a Challenge Sailcloth Ultra TX 70 seat tube panel, YKK #8 aquaguard zips, and a vertical velcro divider between the two compartments. Hypalon-reinforced spectra cords form the loops for compress the back panel to the front main triangle. Custom framebags start at $200, and the collapsible bag extension adds $40.

FSA PRO WING AGX

Made in Taiwan / 380 grams (420mm) / $142.90 at FSA

FSA made the new PRO WING AGX handlebar with bikepacking and long rides in mind. The alloy bar features a unique shape with pronounced flare, an integrated U-loop extension for multiple hand positions, and ergonomically-sculpted contact points for the hoods and drops hand positions. The bar comes in 420, 440, and 460mm widths (hood to hood), each with 120mm drop, 80mm reach, and 25° flare.

Zefal Z Bar Tool

Made in China / €45.79 at Zefal

The new Zefal Z Bar Tool is a 15-function multi-tool that slides into your mountain bike bar ends to stay out of sight but is ready when you need it. It has a full assortment of hex and Torx bits, a tubeless plugger tool, valve core tool, chaink link and Presta valve core holders, and sleek CNC aluminum bar-end plugs.

Carradice Limited Edition ‘Sand’ Bikepacking Bags

Made in UK / $36+ at Carradice

Carradice just released a limited edition version of their bikepacking collection in a Ranger HX waxed cotton fabric. Handmade in Nelson, United Kingdom, the drop includes their Odyssey XL Saddlebag, Colorado Seatpack, Pennine Top Tube Bag, Cambrian Saddlebag, and Baja Bar Bag.

Lezyne Digital Check Drive

Made in China / 61 grams / $50 at Lezyne

The Lezyne Digital Check Drive isn’t new, but we ran across it this week and thought it was worth sharing as it looks like a good on-the-go digital pressure gauge. Lezyne claims the Check Drive is built from a tough Composite Matrix construction and made to survive a pack or saddlebag. It measures 150 x 49 x 22.8mm, is designed around a low-profile Digital Strip Gauge, and has a machined aluminum head with a flip-style chuck offering both Presta and Schrader valve compatibility while providing accurate readings up to 350 PSI.

SHREDLY x Marley Blonsky Collection

$29+ at Shredly

Launched at Sea Otter, the SHREDLY x Marley Blonsky capsule collection aims to deliver female cyclists and outdoor advocates of all sizes and backgrounds some of Marley’s favorite SHREDLY items branded with the iconic manatee that Marley chose when creating her Manatee Cycling Club, a rallying cry for all cyclists in all bodies to live and ride unapologetically.

In Conversation

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

Bikepacking-Specific Frame Features?

Some commenters have been fawning over the clever portage handle on Josh’s custom Sandskimmer ATB, which has us wondering what other bikepacking-specific features you’d spec on your dream bike. Let us know what you think should be standard on bikes built for travel and what small or large unique touches you’d add to the custom bike you’ve been scheming up!

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Sanitas Cycles Ultimate Bike Giveaway

Through May 26th, Durango, Colorado’s Sanitas Cycles is hosting what they’re calling the Ultimate Bike Giveaway. One lucky winner will take home a $7,000 prize package that includes a complete titanium Sanitas Cycles Tap Root hardtail and tons of goodies from Ritchey, Ornot, Ignite Components, WTB, King Cage, and many other great brands. Entry is free, and you can find details here.

Cynthia Carson’s dream bike for the TRAKA

After the canceled Traka Adventure 560-kilometer event, Cynthia Carson decided to switch gears and tackle the 360-kilometer event instead, followed by the 200km event the next day, and if she’s able, she’ll wrap things up with the 100-kilometer event on Sunday. She put together a rig check video of the 3T Extrema she’ll be riding in Spain. Watch it above.

April overnighter with Korea’s bikepacking crew

Marcus of Probably Riding recently shared a new video that chronicles a spring overnighter with a crew of bikepackers from Korea. The 18-minute video above offers an up-close look at their rainy journey through the beautiful countryside.

Quinda Verheul’s Bike Check: Traka 560 2024

Despite a canceled 560km event at this year’s Traka race in Spain, Quinda Verheul decided she had come too far not to give it a go. She put together a bike check video going over her setup for the ride, centered around a Sour Pasta Party, Fox 32 Factory Stepcast fork, and Schwalbe Thunder Burt tires. You can follow her tracker live here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Yorkshire Divide

The Yorkshire Divide “Headwaters Trail” is a unique and exciting 350-kilometer route along the high ground of three Yorkshire rivers. The grand depart takes off from the village of Mytholmroyd on May 4th at 6 a.m. local time. Follow their progress live here.

Seven Serpents Quick Bite

Seven Serpents Quick Bite is a 500-kilometer introduction to the full Seven Serpents event. From the Slovenian forestry gravel roads to the rocky Croatian trails, it’s a journey that will show you the diversity of various natural and urban environments. Enjoy the Croatian seaside and the national parks in the Istra region right before finishing in the mesmerizing Italian town of Trieste! The event kicks off this Sunday at 5 a.m. local time. 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…

Lucas Winzenburg: Vedauwoo Rendezvous

I’ve been eager to get up to the Vedauwoo region in Wyoming to experience its unique rock formations since moving to Colorado last year, so I was pleasantly surprised when the Vedauwoo Rendezvous overnighter popped up on our overnighter map a while back. As a bonus, the designer is none other than Seth Kruckenberg, whose excellent routes have always intrigued me. Now that spring is arriving, I’m planning a trip up across the border for sometime next month!

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a handful of Instagram posts from Korea’s Monthly Bikepacking club, as featured in the video above…

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.