Friday Debrief: Tons of New Bags, Asymmetrical Pulley Wheels, Gear for the Andes, 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…

Revelate Designs Skedaddle

Made in USA / $35 at Revelate

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Revelate Designs’ new Skedaddle is a zippered organizer built to corral the small essentials—think repair kit, toiletries, and tech bits—with internal dividers and a passport-friendly footprint. Made in the USA and offered in Lavender Sunrise, Orange Creamsicle, Red Clay, and White, it measures 4.0″ × 5.5″ × 0.5″ (10.2 × 14.0 × 1.3 cm) and weighs 1.3 oz (37 grams).

Cours s’il Pleut Sarma Mini Panniers

Made in France / €200+ at Cours s’il Pleut

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The Sarma Mini Panniers from Cours s’il Pleut are a set of multi-purpose bags that can be used on either a rack or a cage. They are designed to fit Avalanche Cycles’ titanium cages and any rack with a horizontal bar. They come in two sizes: 3.5 and 5L, feature a roll-top closure for easy access to gear, and have exterior mesh and stretch pockets for quick-access items. The Sarma Panniers are sometimes in stock and ready to shop but are otherwise made to order.

Wren Updates Perseverance Adventure Flat Handlebar

Made in Taiwan / $149 at Wren

Wren’s Perseverance Adventure handlebar was released a few years ago and described as a “cockpit you can live out of.” It has a massive aero loop out front for additional hand positions and spots to secure bags or accessories. Aside from the front loop, it has a reasonable 780mm width, 25mm rise, and a 16° backsweep that is a little more relaxed than stock mountain bike bars. Wren just updated the Perseverance bar with higher-grade tubing, enabling them to reduce the total weight by 20 percent. The original weighed 754 grams, and Wren says the new version weighs in at 620 grams.

Rodeo Labs (Actual) Spork

$25 at Rodeo Labs

For about a decade, Rodeo Labs has been offering their Spork adventure bike forks on our own bikes and as a standalone purchase. “The name ‘Spork’ has always been a wink to the fact that our bike forks are simply more capable and versatile than the rest in much the same way that the Spork utensil is more versatile than either a fork or a spoon.” The Rodeo Labs Spork is made of titanium and is finished by hand at their Denver headquarters. If you want a sad spork, they’ll do that for you for a small upcharge.

BTCHN’ Bikes 4130 Supercross Bar

Made in USA / $200 at BTCHN’ Bikes

The new BTCHN’ Bikes 4130 Supercross bar is flatter than their other MTB bars but with way more rise and “stout as hell” with a fillet-brazed cross bar. The stock width is 840mm, with 70mm of rise and a 12° backsweep. It looks like the first batch sold out already, but you can sign up to be notified when they’re restocked via BTCHN’s website.

Tumbleweed x BXB Zippered Pouch

Made in USA / $38 at Tumbleweed

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Tumbleweed teamed up with Jay Ritchey of Bags By Bird in Tucson, Arizona, to revive a beloved Carousel Design Works–inspired tool pouch that Daniel has used for ~15 years. The new version uses burly Challenge EcoPak EPX400 fabric (in navy, gray, tan, or red) with a waterproof YKK Aquaguard zipper, sized just right for a full bicycle repair kit—everything shown fits except the pump. Dimensions are 5.5″ x 8.5″ (14.0 x 21.6 cm), making it a tidy, durable catch-all for tools, spares, or day-ride odds and ends.

Dyed in the Wool ReCycled Bags

Made in Poland / €22+ at DITW

Poland’s Dyed in the Wool just released two new products made from recycled Nylon bags, the ReCycled Shopper and the ReCycled Trail Wallet. They received a whole 50-meter roll of misprinted Nylon in September, and rather than discarding it, they turned it into these special zero-waste bags available at a discounted price. The Shopper, which comes in two sizes, is a versatile tote made to fit Wald baskets, and the Trail Wallet, which is also offered in two sizes, fits an iPhone, credit card, repair kit, and other bits and bobs.

Fresh Mugshot NYC Valve Caps

$16.99 at Mugshot NYC

Mugshot NYC’s latest 3D-printed valve caps include a tiny moka pot and an iconic bag of Cafe Bustelo. Available in all kinds of clever designs, they have long-lasting metal threads and a universal design that works with Schrader and Presta valves.

Big Buffalo in Coyote Brown EcoPak

Made in Thailand / $200+ at Buffalo Bags

Buffalo Bags in Thailand just added a new color of their popular Big Buffalo roll-top bag, recycled Coyote Brown EcoPak EPLX400. It’s the lightest fabric in their lineup, but they say it still maintains their desired toughness. The Big Buffalo is available in three sizes (18, 26, and 30 liters) and boasts a ton of handy features for loaded riding. EcoPak bags range from $200 to $260, depending on size.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

From Pro to Slow

In this short trailer for Bombtrack’s upcoming video, we meet Gosse van der Meer, a pro racer who got his first taste of bikepacking along the spectacular Veneto Trail in Italy. Spoiler: he’s already dreaming of the next loaded adventure. Watch the trailer above, and stay tuned for the full documentary in early 2026.

Revelate Portage Panniers Explained

Neil and Logan released their reviews of the Revelate Portage Panniers earlier this week, and along with the launch comes a great explainer from the brand on the product’s history, use, and evolution. It’s incredible to see how much research and development went into these bags, and the video provides a detailed version of the “why” behind the panniers.

Ultra Romance: Rivendell Atlantis Customer Build

Ron of Ron’s Bikes is back with another customer build: this time, a Rivendell Atlantis for tattoo artist and photographer Kevin Gates. Enjoy the typically cinematic, sultry, and relaxing tone of this Northeast-specific ATB build as Ron scours his extensive parts bin for the perfect components.

Bike Repair Stations on the Tree to Sea Loop

Miles has been working with Vancouver Island North Tourism and some of the smaller communities along the 1,000-kilometer Tree to Sea route to assess the impact the route has had on tourism. It turns out Port Alice has seen a massive spike in two-wheeled visitors, so they approved funding for two bicycle repair stations and designated bike parking. The stations will be at the Port Alice Marina and the Link River Campground, which are key stops on both the Tree to Sea Loop and the new Jeune Landing Loop. They should be ready for next summer!

SOMA is Making Asymmetrical Pulley Wheels

In their latest video, Soma talks asymmetrical pulley wheels, discussing more about what they are, what they do, and how they work.

Angus Young Talks Gear in the Andes

Our friend Angus Young is riding in the Andes for three months, and in his latest video, he talks about some of the gear he decided to bring along. Watch it above.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Hunt 1000

While not exactly starting soon, the Hunt 1000 has a “grand finish” rather than a grand depart, scheduled for November 29th in Melbourne, which means all riders should be nearing the end of their 1,000-kilometer ride. Track the final hours of the event here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Lucas Winzenburg: Eastern Divide Trail

I’m currently in Washington, D.C., and this visit to the eastern part of the country has rekindled my interest in another bikepacking trip out this way. It’s been almost 10 years since my last one, which started in nearby Baltimore, and I can’t think of a more perfect way to pedal around this part of the country than hopping on our Eastern Divide Trail’s fifth segment, Hellbender. The nearly 6,000-mile off-road route is a marvel, and I’d love to check off at least a few segments of it in the years to come.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, some cool Stridsland bikepacking rigs and scouting for the upcoming Doom bikepacking routes…

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