This week’s Debrief features an updated Half Moon Rack, new cycling caps from Randi Jo Fabrications, a hammock line level, two events to follow live, and more. Find it all here…

We started “The Debrief” on our YouTube channel last year as a way of highlighting the week’s news and things that caught our attention on the website, in the conversation, and elsewhere around the community. To take this a step further, we’re posting a weekly Debrief here on the site to highlight all of those things and more, including upcoming events and interesting things 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…

Updated SimWorks Half Moon Rack

Simworks Half Moon Rack

Originally released in 2020, the Half Moon Rack from SimWorks is an elegant Chromoly steel front rack that’s well suited to micro panniers or a front bag setup. SimWorks just announced an updated version that now has a lower loop for pannier bungee hooks, increased tire clearance for up to 70mm (~2.75″) tires, slightly longer legs, and they now include steel spacers as an accessory.

$240 / Made in Japan / Details

Brackish Cycles Campagnolo Ekar Chainring

Brackish Ekar Ring

Washington-based Brackish Cycles shared their solution to the 36T minimum chainring size for Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed drivetrains, and it looks promising for anyone on the hunt for a smaller ring. Their chainrings are created from 3D printed aluminum, compatible with Cinch and SRAM 3 bolt cranks (with others on the way), and are made to order with the option for custom engraving at no extra cost.

$80 / Made in USA / Details

2022 Tour de France Opinel Knife

2022 Tour de France Opinel Knife

Opinel has been commissioned by Le Tour de France since 2017 to produce exclusive limited edition No. 08 knives for each year’s tour. The 2022 No. 08 Tour de France features a graphic designed by Manivelle (Matthieu Lifschitz), a cyclist and art director of 200 Magazine. There are two variations: the “Les Maillots” edition highlights the iconic jerseys worn by the race’s category ride leaders with yellow (leader), green (best sprinter), and red polka dots (best climber), and the “Landmarks” edition portrays iconic landmarks and symbols that are iconic on the tour—the Arc de Triomphe and Mont Ventoux—paired with graphics symbolizing the elements of water, rain, and mist. This edition also has a yellow leather lanyard. Both come with an official Tour de France sticker.

$29 / Made in Chambery, France / Details

Warbonnet Outdoor SweetSpot

The new Warbonnet SweetSpot is an adjustable line level for your ridgeline that allows you set up your hammock just how you like it, without the need to get in and out multiple times to make adjustments. The SweetSpot will make your set-up process faster, easier, and more consistent every time.

$20 / Made in USA / Details

New Fairweather Dyneema Packable Sacoche Colors

2022 Standert Erdgeschoss

The packable and ultra-lightweight Fairweather Sacoche is a musette that’s small enough to fit in your pocket but expands to pack in a few groceries or grab some food on your way to camp. It’s offered in X-Pac, Cordura, and an expanded line of Dyneema Composite fabrics in a wide variety of colors.

$32.49 / Made in Japan / Details

New RAL EM Loader and WB Loader Colors

RAL Loader 2022

SimWorks just announced new colors and fresh stock of their RAL WB Loader basket bag/tote bag and EM Loader half frame bag. Both bags are made in California, constructed from Cordura, and are available in a wide range of fun colors.

$52-$95 / Made in USA / EM Loader / WB Loader

Two New Cap Colors from Randi Jo Fabrications

Randi Jo Caps

Oregon-based Randi Jo Fabrications, makers of some of the nicest cycling caps out there, just released two new cap colors. On the left, a linen cap in their new Gravel color. On the right, a tropical wool cap in what they’re calling Blueberry.

$32-$46 / Made in USA / Details

Wolf Tooth Limited Edition Teal Morse Cage Ti

Teal Morse Cage

The latest addition to Wolf Tooth Components’ massive line of limited edition Cerakote painted Morse Cages is a fresh teal version that’s so flashy it might just match with everything. While some of the other limited edition cages are sold out, there is still pink and the standard raw titanium if teal isn’t for you.

$84.95 / Made in USA / Details

In Conversation

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

Koko Claims

In our Tour Divide coverage yesterday, a reader let us know that the Koko Claims segment (new to the route this year—2022 route in blue; 2016 in green) likely added several hours to the route for riders going southbound. “The snow and the mud and the additional crossings from all the runoff made it an incredible slog.” That makes Sofiane’s timing all that more impressive.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Brother in the Wild Shropshire Tickets on Sale

Brother in the wild 2022

Brother in the Wild Shropshire is back for 2022! Once again, Brother Cycles is partnering with Epic Cycles in Ludlow, England, for two days of riding, community building, wood-fired pizza, and vampires. Tickets start at £60 and are available now from BrotherCycles.com.

Ascend Armenia Event Postponed Until 2023

Ascend Armenia

Due to feedback from those interested in the event, the organizers behind Ascend Armenia, a new 1,000-kilometer ultra-endurance event, have postponed the event until next year. They hope the date change will give everyone more time to prepare and work it into their calendars. Everyone who was registered will receive a full refund or can defer their entry to the 2023 event. Learn more at AscendArmenia.com.

Loam and Gravel Society’s First President

loam and gravel society

Announced this spring, the Loam and Gravel Society is a project by Old Man Mountain and the Robert Axle Project, designed to provide one lucky applicant with three months of adventure all over the western US. They just announced our friend and regular contributor Evan Christenson as the inaugural president and shared some of the trips planned for him, including bikefishing in Montana, bikerafting, adaptive bikepacking, and a lot more. There are a few ways you can get involved, which you can learn about here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

2022 Carso Trail

Carso Trail 2018

Overlooking the stunning Gulf of Trieste, on the border between Italy and Slovenia, the Carso Trail is an unsupported bikepacking adventure on a 350-kilometer route along steep slopes and remote singletrack with breathtaking views and memorable treats. The grand depart took off this morning from Monfalcone, Italy, at 8 a.m. GMT+2, and you can follow along live here.

2022 Hope-1000

Hope-1000 Event

The Hope-1000 is a bikepacking race that begins in Romanshorn on Lake Constance and ends at the statue of Freddie Mercury in Montreux on Lake Geneva. Spanning 1,000 kilometers across Switzerland and nearly 100,000 feet of climbing, the Hope-1000 follows mostly singletrack through meadows, crystal clear lakes, abbeys with courtyards, and, of course, stunning views. There is a grand depart tomorrow at 6 a.m. with nearly 100 riders signed up to participate. 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…

James Joiner: Green Mountain Gravel Growler

Green Mountain Gravel Growler Bikepacking Route, Vermont

Sitting hung over in Aspen acclimating a body accustomed to life at sea level, I can’t help but wish I were somewhere so similar yet so far away: Vermont. Joe Cruz and Logan Watts’ Green Mountain Gravel Growler not only threads epic riding through world class breweries, it punches me right in the nostalgia muscle. Having recently moved from New England’s familiar clutches to the tinderbox that is our West Coast, I even find myself missing ridiculous things like humidity, green head flies, and Dunkin’ coffee delivered with attitude by people who can’t pronounce the letter “R.” Don’t get me wrong, California is gorgeous and Colorado oozes hypoxic awe, but give me class five roads, creemees, and all maple all the time and I’m truly in my happy place.

P.S. Today’s the last day to submit your application to our Rider’s Lens Grant. Good luck, everyone!

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, more updates from the 2022 Tour Divide…

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