Friday Debrief: Electronic Shifting Survey, Concrete Trails Bar Tape, Soma Bar-Ins, 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 in 3D Violet

Made in USA / $45+ at Chris King

Originally produced in 1988, 3D Violet was Chris King’s first component color (after silver and black). Following a long hiatus, it’s been back in their lineup for the last couple of years and is now available for every product they make. The products pictured here are the King Seatpost Collar, Headset spacers, DropSet 5 headset, ThreadFit 24 bottom bracket, Thru Axles in collaboration with Robert Axle Project, and R45D rear hub.

Zpacks Summer Quilts in 40°F and 32°F

Made in USA / $299 at Zpacks

Zpacks just expanded their Summer Quilt lineup to include two temperature options, 40°F (4°C) and 32°F (0°C), which are functional as lightweight quilts for warm-weather use or as liners for winter camping. The quilts are packed with Responsible Down Standard certified 900 fill power Muscovy Duck down, utilize vertical baffles on the upper body keep down from migrating to the sides, and start at just 245 grams (8.6 ounces).

Fresh Endura MT500 Jacket Colors

Made in China / $299 at Endura Women’s Men’s

The Endura MT500 Jacket is one of Endura’s highest-performing waterproof jackets, featuring an ExoShell30 DR waterproof fabric and an improved DWR coating to keep wearers dry on the wettest rides. It has multiple venting options, a helmet-compatible hood, and water-repellent zips with storm flaps. Endura just updated the MT500 with several fresh new color options in both men’s and women’s sizes.

Argonaut Supernaut

Made in USA / $15,900+ at Argonaut GR3 RM3

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Over a decade in the making, the Argonaut Supernaut is now a full-production model in both road and gravel variants. Each Supernaut is handmade in Bend, Oregon, from start to finish utilizing an advanced composite engineering process known as high-pressure silicone molding (HPSM). The Supernaut family includes the GR3 gravel bike (right) and RM3 road bike (left), with complete builds starting at an eye-watering $15,900 or $16,500, respectively.

Alongside the Supernaut, Argonaut has released the US-made D33 Gravel Wheelset, which is available to purchase on its own or as part of the GR3 gravel bike. They feature a 28mm internal width for 45-50mm tires, weigh just 375 grams per rim and 1269 grams for the complete wheelset, and cost $2,800. Learn more here.

Grepp x Concrete Trails Handlebar Tape

Made in Sweden & USA / $40 at Concrete Revolt

Known for their reusable woven handlebar tape, Sweden’s Grepp teamed up with US-based Concrete Trails on a mini-series of their Gripper tapes, each hand-dyed by Todd Nisbet in Brooklyn, New York. Every set is one-of-a-kind, and all profits go directly to the artist.

Ornot Lightweight Vest

Made in Albania / $98 at Ornot Men’s Women’s

Ornot’s new Lightweight Vest offers packable wind protection made using Oeko-Tex approved fabric. It has a mesh back panel, a two-way zipper for venting and pocket access, a built-in stash pocket, and weighs just 75 grams (size medium). The vest is offered in six sizes in both men’s and women’s versions.

Soma Bar-Ins Extensions

Made in Taiwan / $69+ at Soma Fab

Not to be confused with bar-ends, the new Soma Bar-Ins provide additional hand positions and lots of adjustment. Unlike most fixed bar ends, the Bar-Ins have an adjustable angle, rotation, and two extension sizes to choose from. The bar clamp is hinged, so you don’t need to remove your grips or controls to install, and the clamp set and extensions sets are sold separately, so you can choose one or both extension lengths without buying the clamps twice.

Last Day for Back Issues!

Made in Germany / $24+ at Bikepacking Web Shop

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Today marks the final chance to grab a back issue from the limited back issue sale of The Bikepacking Journal. We’ll be shutting it down tonight to begin the fulfillment process. If you’re searching for a last-minute gift, consider one of the remaining copies—a time capsule of compelling storytelling and stunning photography to share with a friend or loved one. Find them here.

Jay Petervary Launches Ride Forward Designs

Made in USA / $150+ at Ride Forward Designs

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Earlier this year, Jay Petervary released a limited run of rack bags made by Sagebrush Stitchworks (formally FBJ), and now he’s officially launched a web store to sell his bags. “Ride Forward Designs” is Jay’s new bag brand, and his flagship product is the J-Bag, a soft single-ended dry bag designed to strap onto any rear rack. There are two size options (7L or 11L), and both have side pockets for small items, a bungee laced top, strap guides, and are seam-taped to be 100% waterproof. The bags are made by two different makers, including someone local to Jay in Idaho.

In Conversation

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

Electronic Shifting (For or Against?)

Of all the worthwhile conversations happening on the site this week, it’s hard to ignore the number of comments on Nic Morales’ opinion piece about electronic shifting, The Cost of Convenience. It seems like opinions were all over the place. Even on our team, it’s a solid 50/50 split with some of us even relying on the benefits of electronic shifting. With that in the rearview, let’s hear from you. If you had to choose one side today, are you for or against wireless shifting? Consider “for” if you hope to see wireless/electronic shifting continue to proliferate and evolve, and choose “against” if you plan on sticking with mechanical drivetrains for the remainder of your days. We’ll reveal the results next week.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Camping with Elephants: Bikepacking Journey Across Botswana

In episode six of Lewi Blake’s Bikepacking Journey Across Africa series, he crosses the border into Botswana, where he spend his days bikepacking and his nights wild camping among the elephants. The episode provides an unfiltered look at his experience so far, including one particularly wild night of camping.

Bright Midnight 2024 Video

The Bright Midnight is a 1,100-kilometer bikepacking adventure in Norway. The route follows gravel roads through small villages, barren tundra, dramatic fjords, and mystical forests, ascending over 20,000 meters of the most spectacular and iconic climbs Norway has to offer. The official movie for this year’s event premiered online recently, and you can watch it above.

Cranktank Moves Operations to USA

After over five years of serving the community from the Land Down Under, Adventure Hydration is excited to announce its future is secure and the CrankTank will continue to ensure adequate hydration on your two-wheeled adventures. With production moving to the US and partnering with a family-owned manufacturer within the States, Adventure Hydration can better serve the bikepacking and ultra-cycling community across North America and cycling enthusiasts worldwide. Learn more at AdventureHydration.com.

Bikepacking the USA Video

Julien Roche is currently five months into a massive bikepacking trip from Canada to Ushuaia. His latest video is a short complilation of his time in the United States: 6,041 kilometers and 68,693 meters of elevation gain between Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Go Up to Comedown

The first video from Tarantua Sports follows a group of friends on an overnight bikepacking trip from Los Angeles up into the surrounding Angeles National Forest last month. Among the crew, you’ll find our friend Kyle behind the camera and Brad from Road Runner Bags.

The Living Monsters of Dinétah

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Jon Yazzie, co-owner and guide for Dzil Ta’ah Adventures, an Indigenous bikepacking and adventure company on the Navajo Nation, just published a short piece on the Big Agnes blog that’s worth a read. In the piece, Jon shares some of the indigenous stories of Dinétah (Navajoland), including the monsters that shaped the land, and reflects on an overnighter in the Navajo Nation. Read the article here.

Priority Bruzer Teaser

Ryan Van Duzer and Priority Bicycles are collaborating on another new bike, and Ryan just released a video teaser of what you can expect. The yet-to-be-released Priority Bruzer is a rigid, Pinion-equipped bikepacking rig that’s kitted out with loads of mounting points, four-piston hydraulic brakes, a steel fork, and the same geometry as the Priority ADX. It’s expected to cost around $2,200, which seems like great value.

NorthCape4000 Edition VII Video

The official video for the seventh edition of the North Cape 4000 premiered a few days ago, and it’s available to watch online. The 25-minute video showcases some of the most exciting moments of the 2024 event.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Munda Biddi Ultra

The Munda Biddi Ultra is an annual bikepacking race along the Munda Biddi Trail in Western Australia. Riders get to choose between the full 1,067-kilometer route between Albany and Mundaring, or the short 220-kilometer route from Jarrahdale to Collie. There are just a few folks registered for this year’s grand depart, which takes off later today. Follow along live here.

GranGuanche Audax Trail

The GranGuanche Audax is a 900-kilometer adventure across the Canary Islands. From Lanzarote to La Palma, the route connects five islands with four ferries featuring epic sea-to-summit climbs across the most diverse landscapes and climates. It links sunny beaches to snowy peaks and crosses sandy deserts, lava fields, volcanic landscapes, tropical canyons, misty pine woods, and rain forests. This year’s grand depart starts on Sunday, with nearly 40 folks registered for live tracking. Follow their progress here.

Across Andes

Across Andes is the first self-sufficient bikepacking race to cross the longest mountain range in the world, spanning 1,000 kilometers over seven days from Chile to Argentina. There are well over 150 riders signed up for this year’s event, which starts this Sunday from Melipeuco. Follow the riders 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: Cowtown Keelocko

When we posted the “Trevor’s Closet Black” Surly Bridge Club yesterday, it brought back some memories, and I went and revisited this post to find a photo of that color’s namesake. The story reflects on the “fifth third annual” Great Cowtown Campout, a 40-mile bicycle party and pilgrimage from Blue Dog Bicycles (RIP) in Tucson to Cowtown Keeylocko, a small ranch town folk art installation located at the base of the Coyote Mountains Wilderness. It was one of my favorite days on a bike—despite being deathly ill with some sort of respiratory virus—and I wish I could do it all over again.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

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