Friday Debrief: Tilty Omnium, Maniak V1.5, Temple Pathfinders, What is Waterproof, 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…

Omnium Tilting Rack Bracket

€108 at Omnium

The new Tilting Rack Bracket is an innovative accessory designed to further enhance the versatility and storage potential of OMNIUM Cargo and Mini-Max models. It enables riders to effortlessly tilt or detach their rack for storage and transportation. The Tilting Rack Bracket is designed for practical urban life and helps the bike fit in tight spaces and narrow corridors. Paired with a turnable stem and folding pedals, the complete bike’s width can be reduced to as little as 21cm (8.2″).

Jack’s Sacks Bag Customizer

Made in USA / $70+ at Jack’s Sacks Frame Sack Snack Sack

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Jack’s Sacks in Richmond, Virginia, just launched a handy new bag customizer tool on their website, allowing customers to visualize exactly what they’re ordering. The tool includes over 45 colors/fabrics, bag shapes, zipper configurations, and it even allows you to upload pictures for custom framebag templates (known as Snap Sack) directly into the product page.

Updated Binary Maniak V1.5

Made in China / $2,099 at Binary Bicycles

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Photos by Andrew of “Build A Better Bike“

The Binary Maniak was just updated with a suite of frame refinements and features. It’s still a 29+ titanium hardtail designed for 120 or 130mm of travel, but the cable guides have been tweaked, the dropouts have tighter tolerances, tire clearance has been improved, it has a stronger chainstay yoke, and it now has 430mm chainstays on the XL and XXL sizes, but all other sizes remain shorter.

Austere Coyote 1″ Pin Ladder Lock Buckle

Made in USA / $19.85 at Austere

After numerous customer requests, Austere Manufacturing in Washington just added a new coyote color option for their 1″ Pin Ladder Lock Buckle. Just like Austere’s other buckles, the Pin Ladder Lock is CNC-machined from solid billet aluminum and includes your choice of two titanium or stainless steel pins as the “ladders” inside the buckle. It’s the perfect upgrade or replacement for a broken or worn-out plastic buckle. Read Miles’ review here.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Temple Pathfinders

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The UK’s Temple Cycles just announced a new program to support riders called Temple Pathfinders. According to Temple, a Pathfinder is an “avid adventurer who carves out their own paths in nature, sharing their stories to inspire others to do the same.” Their first ever Pathfinders are Anna Blackwell and Tad Jiunn Kho. Read more about them here.

Experience the Unbelievable Chilcotins

Mahalo My Dude’s latest YouTube video documents a stunning backcountry mountain bike trip in British Columbia’s South Chilcotins. They hit popular trails including Lorna Pass Trail, High Trail, Camel Pass Trail, and more. If you’re interested in bikepacking in the Chilcotins, make sure to check out this route guide.

Bikepacking Trips with Oregon Territory Outfitters

Located just east of Portland, Oregon Territory Outfitters has been busy developing a multi-day bikepacking route around Mount Hood called “The Hood Loop.” They offer guided trips, shuttle services, gear rentals, and more. They offer drop-off and logistic services for folks riding the full Oregon Timber Trail route and look like a valuable resource for anyone bikepacking in Oregon. Learn more at OregonTerritoryOutfitters.com.

Diving Deep into Waterproofing

Being from the UK, the bag makers at Restrap understand the importance of keeping gear dry. Unpacking wet gear is not only frustrating but potentially dangerous when traveling in remote places. In Restrap’s latest blog post, they dive into the topic of waterpoof bags, answering questions about what makes them waterproof and what we can do as bikepackers to ensure our kit stays dry no matter what. Dig into it here.

I Think They Call It Bikepacking

We stumbled upon this gem from 2022 documenting a raw and unedited ride down Spain’s coast toward Barcelona. The creator behind the “nor gather into barns” YouTube channel does an excellent job of showcasing the simple side of traveling by bike: riding, eating, and finding somewhere suitable to sleep.

Mason Cycles: The Wilding Ride

Mason Cycles celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a bikepacking weekender into the heart of Sussex, sleeping and dining amid the beauty of Knepp. Here’s what founders Dom and Julie Mason had to say about the weekend: “Thank you so much to all of you who joined us for this joyous event. It was something that I could only have dreamed of when we started the brand 10 years ago and a truly emotional moment for me, riding through the sunny countryside surrounded by so many happy MASON riders! Without you, we are nothing.”

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

2024 Arkansas High Country Race

The 2024 Arkansas High Country Race kicks off tomorrow morning, with riders one of three loops that start and end in Russellville. For 2024, the three routes are: the full Arkansas High Country Route, the Central Loop, and the Ozark Odyssey. There are over 60 riders registered for live tracking, and you can follow them live here.

Dead Ends & Dolci 2024

Dead Ends & Dolci is a self-supported and self-navigated bikepacking event in southern Switzerland—with homemade dolci at each checkpoint. The grand depart started yesterday morning from Ticino, Switzerland, with 80 solo riders and 10 pairs registered. Follow them here.

Karnu Rally

The Karnu Rally is an unsupported bikepacking event in South Australia where riders get to choose from either a 700 or 1,170-kilometer route. The fourth edition starts from Adelaide, and there are just six riders signed up for live tracking. Follow their progress here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Lucas Winzenburg: Asiago Loop

I was recently on a group ride and met someone who’d participated in this year’s Veneto Trail, which I had the opportunity to ride aboard a Bombtrack Cale hardtail in 2021, and their rave reviews of the spectacular route reminded me that I’ve been meaning to get back to the region to ride more of creator Andrea Securo’s routes. Weaving incredible tracks and trails with history and geology, the Asiago Loop is at the top of my list next time I’m in Italy.

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