Friday Debrief: New XTR Pedals, Brass Dropper Posts, 32-Inch Bikes, Ti Bars, 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…

Shimano XTR PD-M9220 SPD Trail Pedals

$260 at Shimano

Alongside the new cleats we posted about yesterday, the Shimano XTR PD-M9220 SPD Trail Pedals are purpose-built for enduro and trail riders and technical terrain. With a refined dual-sided SPD interface, an enlarged contact area, and a raised platform with four adjustable traction pins, they aim to increase control and security when descending—even when not clipped in. A robust outer cage shields the binding mechanism from rock strikes and trail abuse, and Shimano claims the upgraded seal design makes them even more reliable.

Cedaero Readymade Packs for Jones and Surly Moloko Bars

Made in the USA / $114 at Cedaero

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Cedaero is now offering readymade packs for both Jones and Surly Moloko bars. These were custom offerings before, but the team at Cedaero is now happy to offer them as stock options. In addition to their readymade status, they tweaked the size to better fit the bar if the user has the bar wrapped (some early versions fit the bare bar great but could get scrunched with thick bar tape). The bags themselves are made from RX30 X-Pac and have a 210D nylon silver lining and feature a Black Magic magnetic closure.

PNW Dropper in Brass Monkey

$230 at PNW

The winning color for PNW’s anodizing competition is Brass Monkey! The dropper itself has yet to drop, but the new, limited edition anodized component will available soon. The dropper itself is the brand’s Loam Gen 2 and can be purchased through PNW by joining their email list linked above.

Shimano’s new RX910 S-PHYRE Gravel Race Shoe

$480 at Shimano

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Shimano’s new gravel shoe, the RX910 S-PHYRE, is built for gravel racing and features an all-new cleat engagement system. Dubbed the Pontoon cleat system, the new feature includes a pair of modular, replaceable TPU contact blocks that supposedly improves the shoe-to-pedal contact point and optimize power transfer. The shoe also features their stiffest midsole, drainage holes, a TPU lugged outsole, and Dual Boa fit system Li2 Dials.

BTCHN’ Bikes Ti Drop Bar Pre-Order

Made in California / $620+ at BTCHN’ Bikes

BTCHN’ Bikes in California just opened pre-orders for a fresh batch of titanium drop bars. The bars’ construction incorporates 3D-printed corners that help dial in an ergonomic shape that can’t be achieved with traditional manufacturing, and they’re available in an impressive variety of customizable configurations. Buyers can choose from 34 to 50cm width at the drops,
an 8, 15, or 25-degree flare, and a standard brushed or one-of-a-kind Omakase finish. All bars have a 31.8mm clamp, a 73mm reach, and a 107mm drop.

In Conversation

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

Your Thoughts on 32-Inch Bikes?

We were a little surprised by the amount of engagement our feature on the 32-inch bikes on display at the MADE show received over the weekend, with commenters sharing a wide range of opinions. It left us wondering if the wheel size might have finally found the critical mass needed to take off. Would you seriously consider a 32-inch bike? If so, what appeals to you? Let us know in the conversation below. And if you’re opposed to yet another wheel size, we’d love to hear your thoughts, too.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Badlands 2025 Map

Our friend Alex Hotchin illustrated a beautiful map for the 2025 Badlands course. Make sure to follow along over on the Tracker page.

From the Ground Up

From the Ground Up is a series documenting everyday riders as they prepare to tackle one of the hardest mountain bike races in the world, Colorado’s Leadville 100. The inspiring first episode of season five introduces Caleb DeRoin, Greta Shaffer, and Kimberly Callton as they prepare for Leadville in four months.

SEIDO Wheelset Sale

SEIDO Components in Germany is currently offering a massive discount of up to 50 percent on several of their most popular aluminum and carbon wheelsets in 700C and 650B. The Acceleron, Geon, Magnon, and Sinus are all on sale while they last, and you can save as much as €725 on a set. Head over to Seido-Components.com to learn more.

Riding a ’90s Steel MTB in 2025: GT Outpost

Join YouTuber Unknown Route in his first video as he talks through what makes his 1990s GT Outpost so special to him and why he was inspired to start a channel of his own. “I’ve ridden everything from downhill to gravel and XC, but nothing hits quite like a steel frame paired with some solid 26-inch tires. It’s just pure fun.”

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Gunny Loopy Loop

The 2025 Gunny Loopy Loop is set for Saturday, August 30, starting at 6 a.m. in downtown Gunnison, Colorado. This year’s route features a single 212-mile counterclockwise loop with roughly 31,500 feet of climbing and descending across rugged backcountry trails. High altitude, technical terrain, and big mountain views make it a true test of endurance and skill—one not to be underestimated. Follow along on Trackleaders here.

New Colo

Kicking off on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 6 a.m. MST, the New Colo is a self-supported, mixed-surface bikepacking adventure that starts and finishes in Durango, Colorado, weaving through the diverse and rugged landscapes along the Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico border. Follow along here. Note that Trackleaders is currently displaying 2024 field, but we expect that it will be updated before the event starts.

Badlands 2025

BADLANDS 2025 is a self-supported gravel bikepacking event following a roughly 816-kilometer route in southern Spain. The course crosses some of the most remote, diverse, and challenging places in Europe. There are nearly 350 riders participating this year in men’s, women’s, and pairs categories. Follow along on the Tracker here.

Idaho Smoke ‘n’ Fire

Kicking off on September 3rd, the Idaho Smoke ‘n’ Fire 400 is a self-supported mountain bike race covering roughly 400 miles through some of Idaho’s most varied terrain. The route blends rugged two-track, expansive gravel and dirt Forest Service roads, demanding singletrack, sections of hike-a-bike, and the occasional stretch of pavement. Riders take on nearly 41,000 feet of climbing along the loop and are rewarded with vast landscapes and sweeping views throughout. Follow along on Trackleaders here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Logan: Vermont

Every time the end of August rolls around and deciduous plants start showing signs of the coming fall, I start dreaming about Vermont. It’s usually glorious this time of year, with the promise of bluebird skies and early autumn temperatures. Alex’s new Montshire Maze sounds fun, and it’s hard not to think about sipping one of the states many great IPAs on the Green Mountain Gravel Growler.

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