Friday Debrief: New 5DEV Ti cranks, Around-the-World OM-2P, colorful King, 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…

Chris King Mix’n’Match Program

Made in USA / $176+ at Chris King

Chris King recently expanded its Mix-n-Match Program to include every color in their palette. The program now includes GripNut, NoThreadSet, InSet, and DropSet headsets, and the colors can be mixed to create a unique combination. Each Mix-n-Match headset is built to order.

Cours s’il Pleut Sarma Panniers

Made in France / €175+ at Cours s’il pleut

The new Sarma Panniers from Cours s’il Pleut in France are roomy panniers with a roll-top closure and several exterior pockets, and they were designed with repairability in mind. The Sarmas are offered in two sizes: small (9-12L) and large (17-21L). The small version uses a Voile Strap attachment on daisy chain webbing, and the large version uses a more traditional clip and elastic hook attachment. The Sarma Panniers come in three different colors/fabric options and are sold individually.

Curious Creatures Men’s Sun Dog Pant and the Ramble Scramble Long

Made in USA/Overseas / $194+ at Curious Creatures

Launched last year, Curious Creatures is a mountain bike apparel brand based out of Bozeman, Montana, that’s reimagining technical clothing to feel and look like clothes, not costumes. They just expanded their men’s lineup with two new pieces: the men’s Sun Dog Pant and men’s Ramble Scramble Long. Both feature built-in articulation, stretchy fabrics, and a cycling-specific fit.

Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp Redesign

157 grams (5.5 oz) / Made in USA / $379 at Zpacks

Zpacks redesigned their ultralight Hexamid Pocket Tarp with more headroom and a lower weight. The Pocket Tarp can be set up with a trekking pole replacement, packs up tiny, and is a loose fit in the included 5″ x 6″ (13 cm x 15 cm) stuff sack. It’s one of the lightest one-person shelters available.

5DEV Ti Gravel/XC Cranks

Made in USA / $1199 at 5DEV

Announced this week, Californian component manufacturer 5DEV launched their new Titanium Gravel/XC/Road cranks, combining advanced engineering, CNC machining, and robotic laser welding. The cranks weigh in at just 450 grams (170mm/road spindle), come in three lengths, offer adaptable Q-factors, and use a SRAM 8-bolt chainring interface. The cranks are designed and made in San Diego.

In Conversation

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

Where are you heading for the Swift Campout?

Yesterday marked the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere, and you know what that means. This weekend is the Swift Campout, a call for folks around the world to set out on an overnighter and soak in the long days. What are your plans? Let us know in the conversation below, and don’t forget to take part in the video challenge we’ll be jurying, to be eligible for an excellent prize package. Learn more over at SwiftCampout.com.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Re-Route: Theo Kelsey and the BT 700

In Albion Cycling’s latest short film, Re-Route, Theo Kelsey gives us a glimpse into what being a first-time race director means and how it represents a healthy change of pace in his relationship with racing.

Bikepacking basics with Juliet Elliott

In Marin’s latest video, trials rider Duncan Shaw digs into the world of bikepacking with ‪Juliet Elliott‬ to learn how easy it is to head out on an adventure with your bike.

Velocio Relaunches Velocio Renewed Program

This week, cycling apparel brand Velocio announced a relaunch of their Velocio Renewed program with an all-new trade-in option. The refreshed program includes a collection of revived, repurposed, and reconditioned apparel that is ready for a second life in the saddle. Velocio Renewed is currently only available in the United States. Shop Velocio Renewed here.

Indy’s Solace OM-2P

In his latest video, Indy shares a rundown of the Solace Cycles OM-2P bikepacking rig he’s using for a multi-year adventure around the world. You can also find his gear list we posted a few weeks ago here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Kenai 250

The Kenai 250 is a challenging route, for experienced backcountry endurance riders, with over 200 miles of singletrack that traverses some of the most beautiful landscape the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska has to offer. The ride includes the historic Resurrection Pass, Russian Lakes Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Johnson Pass and so much more! The event started this morning from Hope, Alaska, and there are over 30 riders signed up for live tracking. Follow along here.

Veneto Trail

The Veneto Trail is a self-supported adventure on dirt roads, trails and side roads from the Po Valley to the Dolomites passing through a myriad of fascinating landscapes. The 2024 route (ninth edition) follows a mix of doubletrack gravel roads, rocky singletrack, and secondary paved roads. It’s 500 kilometers long with 10,000 meters of elevation gain. The grand depart takes off tomorrow morning, and you can 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: Slovenia

Some friends of mine are heading out on the Slovenia West Loop in a couple weeks, and all I can say is that I’m jealous. We were considering joining them, but life and work got in the way. I guess that route will have to remain in my Bucket List for the time being.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a handful of updates from the 2024 BT700 in Ontario, Canada…

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