Friday Debrief: Surly Color Survey Results, the Rat Tail Rack, Ron’s Bikes Pouches, 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…

Forager Cycles Tins of Four

Made in USA / $32 at Forager Cycles

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Forager Cycles in Washington has been working on new packaging ideas over the last few years, and the four-pack Cable Cherry tins mark the beginning of this change. The four-packs include an extra wrench and screw set and a handy little tin container that’s perfect for stashing small items that aren’t Cable Cherries.

PEdALED Lifewear Collection

Made in Italy / 70€+ at PEdALED

PEdALED just rolled out their Lifewear Collection, which includes several new pieces made for bike-focused urban living with a clean, contemporary aesthetic using natural and performance fabrics, smart details, and complementary colors.

Ron’s Bikes Auntie Laura’s Pouches

Made in New Hampshire, USA / $27+ at Ron’s Bikes

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Ron’s Bikes announced that they have a handful of padded pouches in three sizes, offering a protective layer for delicate essential items. They’re ideal for stowing earbuds, battery banks, headlamps, multi-tools, or (sun)glasses, keeping your gear safe and easily accessible while on the go. All are made in New Hampshire by Auntie Laura.

Rasta 10-Year Dynaplug

Made in USA / $69 at Dynaplug

Dynaplug announced their 10-Year Pill. Hand-anodized in Rasta colors and weighing only 53 grams, the limited edition Pill is made to celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary. “Each Rasta pill will be as unique as a snowflake.”

Mica Rat Tail: New Name, Same Rack

Made in Taiwan / $185 at Mica Cycles

After taking a top spot in our 2024 Gear of the Year Awards, Mica Cycles has moved their production to Taiwan in order to keep up with demand. The freshly named rack is called the Mica Rat Tail. It weighs 40-50 grams more than the version we tested due to larger diameter tubing and is available to order today. You can read more about the story behind the name and what Mica Cycles has planned at MicaCycles.com.

YARK Components x Sinewave Cycles Tail Light Adapter

Made in USA / $25 at YARK

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YARK Components in Pennsylvania designed a nifty seatpost adapter for the new dynamo or cache battery-powered Sinewave Cycles Taillight. The adapter is available in 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters, costs just $25, and is available to order today. You can read more about the Sinewave Taillight in our Friday Debrief.

Schwalbe G-ONE R PRO line

Made in Vietnam / $88 at Schwalbe Tires

The new Schwalbe G-ONE R Pro Line is the tire brand’s next generation of performance gravel tires, featuring improved puncture protection, less rolling resistance, and a wider range of sizes right up to 50mm. The lineup includes a tan and black sidewall option in all models, a new G-ONE RX model, as well as the existing G-ONE RS and G-ONE R.

Limited Edition High Above Venture Ultra 400

Made in USA / $200 at High Above

The Washington-based hip pack experts at High Above just released a limited run of their popular Venture hip pack made of Challenge Ultra 400 fabric. Compared to our already extremely durable 600D face fabric that they use on the standard packs, Ultra 400 is 5x more tear resistant, 4x more abrasion resistant, and about half the weight.

DITW Christmas Gift Guide

Made in Poland / €33+ at Dyed in the Wool

Just in time for the holidays, the bag makers at Dyed in the Wool in Poland just released a Christmas Gift Guide to simplify the gift-giving process. There are several categories of ready-to-ship and discounted items, including items under €60, under €100, and under €200. Practically everything in their lineup is also on sale.

Logos Gída 29 Wheelset

Made in Poland / $1,850 at Logos

Logos, makers of the Eudae wheelset we reviewed and are still riding, just released their lightest mountain bike wheels to date. The new Gída SL 29—Greek for goat (i.e. climbs like a; “The Greatest of All Time”)—maintained a 28-spoke design, a 30mm internal rim width, the 36-tooth star ratchet hub, and weighs just 1240 grams, which is pretty impressive.

In Conversation

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

Your Favorite Surly Colors

Thanks to all 732 people who voted last week in our Favorite Surly Colors survey. We compiled a list of the top 10. It’s also worth noting that the top two write-ins were Demonic Sparkle Party and Illegal Smile.

1. Drink More Water Yellow
2. Moonlit Swamp
3. Bruised Ego Purple
4. Meth Teeth
5. New Pig Smell
6. Hot Mayonnaise
7. Nosedrip Curry
8. Blue Porta Potty
9. Blue Oyster Coat
10. Unicorn Stew

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Autumn in Auvergne｜Bikepacking in France

Reader Thomas Kerrec’s latest video documents a couple of cold but beautiful days of fall riding around some of the many lakes in France’s Auvergne region. Join him and his partner as they pedal, forage, and eat their way through the picturesque countryside.

Bombtrack House Blend: BienVélo in Malmö, Sweden

Bombtrack’s newest episode in the House Blend series checks in with BienVélo in Malmö, Sweden. “What feels better to a cyclist than to have a home, somewhere you feel comfortable with each time you’re crossing the threshold, where someone that can help to build the bike of your dreams resides, and where you can always find skilled mechanics that leave no doubt to their abilities and are always happy to help in moments when one at their wit’s end?”

Thesis Project N1

In his latest post, Randall Jacobs at Thesis continues his quest to end “N+1” by creating one adaptable machine that outperforms dedicated road, gravel, and adventure bikes. Project N1 aims to not just bridge the gap between road and gravel bikes but to encompass the ends of the spectrum and the space in between. The latest post discusses why so many bikes don’t fit their riders via “The Rider Position Spectrum.” It’s definitely worth a read.

Panorama Cycles Framebag Templates

This week, Panorama Cycles added framebag templates for their entire bike lineup in every size. Now there’s no guesswork for customers looking to make their own bags or have a custom bag maker do it for them. You can find the templates under the “User Manuals” tab on each bike page. See more at PanoramaCycles.com.

DIY Dropper Post Routing

Want to void your frame’s warranty and add some slick stealth dropper post routing in one swift move? Adam Sklar’s latest video walks through the relatively simple process of make a hole in your frame (do so at your own risk!).

New Zealand on a Bike: Episode #1

Víctor Pérez Pelayo paused his life as a full-time freelance photographer to take on a solo bikepacking trip around New Zealand. His first two episodes are out now and you can watch episode one above. Head over to his YouTube channel for more.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Evergreen Grinder

The Evergreen Grinder is the Pacific Northwest’s premier gravel adventure race. There are two routes this year, 100 miles or 50 miles, and both promise long climbs, fast and flowing descents, and enough unpredictability in weather and road conditions to keep even the most prepared participants on their toes. There are over 60 riders registered for Saturday’s grand depart, and while there isn’t live tracking, you can follow along via Instagram here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Nic Morales: Queen’s Ransom

Having just moved to lower Appalachia, I’m freezing my Floridian bones off in the supposedly mild winter on display here in western North Carolina. While I don’t necessarily dream of Florida’s topography, its mid-winter temps are one of the main reasons being a Floridian can be great. That said, though I’ve yet to make the trek, I hear Arizona’s winters are nearly as brilliant as those of my home state without much compromise on riding. Inspired by Neil’s video from last year, the Queen’s Ransom Route seems like the perfect antidote to these winter doldrums.

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