Friday Debrief: Memento Atlas Rack, Tomii’s Magic Beans, New Ombraz, 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…

Ombraz Refugio Sunglasses

Made in Italy / $195 at Ombraz

Inspired by retro wraparound shades and the full-send attitude of endurance athletes, the new Ombraz Refugio sunglasses are made for long days under the sun. They feature TR-90 aerospace-grade nylon frames, 100% recycled marine-grade cord, and a Zeiss non-polarized lens. The Refugios come in two sizes (regular and XL) and two colors (Charcoal and Tortoise).

SimWorks Bubbly Pedals in Olive Cerakote LTD

Made in Japan / $98 at SimWorks

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The folks at SimWorks unearthed a box of Olive Cerakote finish Bubbly and Tiny Bubbly pedals recently. They ran this as a limited color a couple of years ago. They’ve got a cool drab look to them that complements bikes that lean in to more organic and earthy tones. So, if you’re into that, get stuck in!

Knog Oi Prima Bell

$29.99 at Knog

We’ve teased Knog’s Oi Prima bell a few times, and it’s now available for order. Oi Primas are offered in two colors and two sizes. They feature Knog’s signature wrap-around design and the new WAVETEK hammer technology, which helps to create a beautiful and consistent bell tone while being built for long-lasting use.

Memento Atlas v5 Rack

Made in Canada / $182 at Memento Cycles

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Memento’s latest iteration of their Atlas rack is back and better than ever. This time, their flat-pack rack features a plate for the company’s name but has retained the same great shape and loading capacity as before. Able to attach at the axle, fork, or eyelets, this small rack is made entirely of stainless steel. It also has a sturdy yet lightweight 10″ x 11″ platform and can carry up to 25 kilograms or 55 pounds.

ILE x Wondrous Cooler Totes

Made in California / $140 at Inside Line Equipment

Inside Line Equipment and Wondrous Brewing Co. just restocked their collaborative Cooler Totes, which are designed to fit two four-packs with plenty of room for other items. They’re insulated and leakproof to keep your refreshments cool and feature weather-resistant zips, Hypalon carry handles, and and adjustable shoulder strap. Cooler Totes measure 12.5″ (31.8 cm) x 6″ (15.2 cm) x 12″ (30.5 cm) and hold about 14 liters.

Tomii Cycles Magic Beans

Made in Japan / $35 at SimWorks

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New from Tomii Cycles are the Magic Bean cable hangers for cantilever brakes. They’re a small item that blends functionality with the spirit of craftsmanship and a bit of color. With a lightweight and compact design weighing just four grams per pair, they help prevent the buildup of mud and grass, making them ideal for both off-road and city riding. The Magic Beans are especially useful on small frame sizes where space is limited for routing the rear brake cable, as there’s often not enough room to pull a traditional cable hanger. Installation is simple, requiring just a 3mm hex wrench and a 7mm spanner. SimWorks is currently stocking these while they last.

Bike Camp Co-op Finds

Bike Camp Co-op

We saw a couple interesting deals on the Bike Camp Co-op this morning. There are two Esker frames up for grabs: a size small new-in-box Japhy and an XL Hayduke. There’s also a set of eeWings available, something that rarely goes up for sale on the used market! Find all three at the Bike Camp Co-op now.

In Conversation

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

A Conversational Community

One of the most rewarding aspects of our platform is the vibrant community that forms in the Conversation (aka the comments section), where discussion sometimes goes far beyond casual banter. It’s not uncommon to see the very people who design the bikes, bags, and camping gear we all use, as evidenced in the Cotic BFe review and Durston X-Dome 1+ this week. Cy from Cotic and Dan from Durston both jumped into the discussion, answering questions, clarifying details, and even gathering feedback that sometimes informs future iterations of their products. That level of access and transparency is rare, and we’re continually grateful for the generosity, insight, and curiosity that is shared there. These Conversations are a reminder that the bikepacking world is still deeply human at its core, built on collaboration and a shared passion for making things better, one ride—and one comment—at a time.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Five Things I Wish I Knew Sooner

In his latest video, Craig from Second Life Bikes reflects on five things about building up and restoring old bikes he wished he’d learned earlier. Watch it above.

Apidura is Hiring

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Bikepacking bag company Apidura is hiring. Based in the UK, they’re looking for an analytically minded applicant to head up their E-commerce program, as well as a skilled in-person, repair technician to join their repair program team. For more information on the roles, click here.

All About Bar End Plugs

Following the recent release of their BëP Handlebar End Plugs, Paul and Patrick of Paul Component Engineering show off the latest bits and share some insight into their development and testing. See it in the video above.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Lost Elephant

The Lost Elephant Ultra Race takes place in British Columbia’s East Kootenay region, tucked between the Purcell Mountains and the southern Rockies. The route varies each year and typically includes two options: the longer Jumbo and the shorter Dumbo. Known for their rugged terrain, these routes are better suited to mountain bikes than gravel rigs. Follow the action live here.

The Capitals

The Capitals is an 830-kilometer self-supported gravel and adventure cycling event starting Sunday in Barcelona. Riders have 134 hours to complete the route, which climbs over 12,223 metres and connects Catalonia’s four capitals of Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona with a checkpoint in the Pyrenees at Bagà along a challenging mix of roads, tracks, and trails. Follow along here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Nic Morales: Cuba

I’d never thought I’d say this, but I miss the tropics. There’s no worse time to be near the equator than right now, when temps in my home land are easily into the 100+ real feel range nearly every day, but there’s something about the sense of sweating through your own skin that I miss. Logan’s La Ruta Mala seems like the perfect trip to do exactly that and as enjoy the Latin food I have sorely missed since leaving Florida.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, Cent from Blue Lug Yogi Park’s Crust Stupid Tourist all loaded up for a bikepacking trip…

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