Friday Debrief: Basketpacking Utility Belt, Brodie Drop-Bar MTBs, Blue Lug Swift Campout, 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…

Bull Moose Basket Boss

Made in USA / $95 at Bull Moose

It isn’t new, but we stumbled upon the Bull Moose Basket Boss this week and thought it was unique enough to share here. The Basket Boss is like a utility belt for your Wald basket, adding carrying capacity and organization without sacrificing its regular interior storage space. There’s a collapsible drink holder, a U-lock holder, a small velcro pocket, and a clip for a front light. There are a few stock options as well as the option to go custom with your choice of one main color and three accent colors. Each bag is handmade by Bull Moose’s owner/founder Wes Holland in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

2024 Brodie Elan Vital and Elan 2.0

Made in Taiwan / $2,199+ at Brodie Elan Elan Vital

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Brodie Cycles just updated their Elan Vital and Elan models for 2024, and while both bikes shares the same frame and fork, they are specced with different components. Both are dropper compatible, have clearance for 29 x 2.4″ tires, and appear to have geometry suited for a versatile all-rounder or all-terrain bicycle. The Elan Vital costs $2,799 CAD, and the Elan costs $2,199.

Paul Baby Groovy Barrel Adjusters

Made in USA / $20+ at Paul Components

Just released, the Paul Baby Groovy Barrel Adjusters are a mini version of their regular Groovy Barrel Adjusters and a step above the standard plastic ones. They are designed to pair nicely with their Klamper brake calipers but will also fit any of their other parts with a mini barrel adjuster, like Funky Monkey Cable Hangers, Dropper Triggers, Cross Levers, E-Levers, and Thumbies. Adjusters are made from 6061 American-milled Aluminum or Brass, come with an anodized or raw finish, and are available in a variety of fun colors. As always, the Baby Groovy Barrel Adjusters are machined at Paul’s shop in Chico, California.

Knog Blinder and Bell in Purple

$25/$90 at Knog

Knog just launched special edition Spec.001 Capsule Collection featuring purple versions of their Oi bell and Blinder 900 light. The USB-C rechargeable Blinder 900 features six light modes and a 900-lumen road-focused beam that lasts two hours on full brightness and has up to 120 hours of runtime on Eco Flash mode. It includes two mounts: a go-pro style attachment and a rubber strap for the handlebar. The Oi bell comes in two sizes: large size fits 23.8–31.8mm bars, and the small fits 22.2mm bars.

Austere 1″ Cam Straps in Tactical Colors

Made in USA / $27.28 at Austere

After a number of requests, Austere Manufacturing just added their 1″ Cam Buckle to their limited edition Tactical Collection. The collection includes a number of color options based around coyote, ranger green, and orange buckles, and your choice of coyote or ranger green webbing. Each buckle is CNC-machined at Austere headquarters in Washington, and they’re some of the nicest buckles we’ve used. Check out our review here.

In Conversation

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

Hiring Update

We were overwhelmed by the number of excellent applications we received for the Routes Director and Senior Tech Editor positions we posted last month. Thanks to everyone who expressed interest. Several folks have asked, so we want to give a quick update to let everyone know that our very small team is hard at work reviewing applications in detail. With Bespoked, Eurobike, and other travels keeping us busy these past few weeks, we’re a little behind where we’d hoped to be, so please bear with us a bit longer!

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Mystery Tour Film Screening (July 27th, Erie, Colorado)

A full-day cycling event in Erie, Colorado, put on by Voltage LTD and Boulder Valley Velodrome. The day will include time trial races, BBQ, gravel rides, live music, and will conclude with a premiere of the new bikepacking film Mystery Tour. This film follows four cyclists on their 21-day journey through Japan. Where: Boulder Valley Velodrome, Erie, Colorado. When: July 27th, 2024. Learn more here.

Gateways: Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

Bikepacking Scotland teamed up with Trust in the Park to showcase Loch and the Trossachs National Park’s extensive network of accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes in a new short film titled Gateways. Watch it above.

Blue Lug’s 2024 Swift Campout

The crew from Blue Lug in Japan pedaled out for an overnight bikepacking trip to celebrate the 2024 Swift Campout, and they put together a short video documenting their ride from Kyoto to Shiga. Check it out above.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

North Cape 4000

One continent, 10 countries, and over 4,000 kilometers of self-supported riding with a legendary destination, the Arctic Circle! This is the NorthCape 4000. The 2024 grand depart starts tomorrow morning from the town of Rovereto in Italy. Follow along live here.

Transcontinental Race No.10

Founded by Mike Hall in 2013, the Transcontinental Race (TCR) is an annual, self-supported, ultra-distance bikepacking race across Europe. The route varies for each edition, but participants are free to choose their own route between the mandatory checkpoints. There are nearly 300 riders registered for the race, and you can follow their progress live here when they start this Sunday.

Wish We Were Here

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

Lucas Winzenburg: Türkiye

I’ve had plans to spend time in Türkiye fall through a few times now, and it’s right up there among the countries that intrigue me most. As such, I was glad when I saw Michael O’Dwyer’s Cappadocia Delight bikepacking route pop up on our global map last month. It looks like it delivers a fascinating blend of flowy trails, striking landscapes, and fascinating history. I’m not sure when I’ll make it over, but I love having a well-stocked bucket list just the same.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, an assortment of delightful and colorful builds based on 1980s and ’90s frames…

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