Friday Debrief: Lachlan’s new Book, Blue Packrafts, a Limited Edition Jones…

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…

The Dot, by Lachlan Morton

While everyone’s in the thick of the Tour de France, it’s fun to reflect on last year’s Tour when Lachlan decided to tackle his own journey with The Alt Tour—find our coverage here. In his new book, The Dot, Lachlan tells his side of the story of this crazy ride. The Alt Tour raised over $760,000 for World Bicycle Relief, a non-profit organization and Rapha Foundation grantee that delivers specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles for people in need.

$30 / Details (not yet live on site, but should be soon)

PNW Satellite Saddle Bag

The new PNW Satellite Saddle Bag is a water-resistant, pint-sized saddle bag designed to hold ride essentials and other small items. It attaches under your saddle rails, has an adjustable compression strap, and is dropper-post friendly thanks to the removable bungee seatpost attachment.

$39 / Details

Limited Edition Kokopelli Packrafts in Smoke Blue

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, Kokopelli launched a limited edition run of packafts in a Smoke Blue colorway. Their Rogue-Lite and Nirvana Self-Baling boats will be available in the new color and are available now.

$899-1299 USD / Made in China / Details

Limited Edition Jones Orange

Jones Bikes just announced a restock of their SWB and LWB steel framesets, available in their standard matte black finish and a new limited edition Jones Orange paint. Prices start at $1,670 USD, and framesets are available now.

$1670 USD / Made in Taiwan / Details

New Anodized Colors from Wheels Manufacturing

Colorado-based Wheels Manufacturing just expanded their color options with seven vivid new anodized options. They are currently available in their Universal Derailleur Hangers and seven different bottom bracket styles. These exciting new colors include Red, Orange, Pink, Teal, Blue, Purple, and Green.

$48-123 USD / Made in USA / Details

Great British Gravel Rides

Route creator and singlespeed round-the-world cyclist Markus Stitz has curated a collection of 26 gravel routes across all of Britain, handpicked by 12 female and 16 male riders. They’re published in his first book, Great British Gravel Rides – Cycling the Wild Trails of England, Scotland & Wales. Each route has a detailed route description, a map of the trail, public transport info, GPX links, and more.

$26 USD / Adventure Books / AMZN

In Conversation

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

Bikes in Wilderness

As posted a couple days ago, the Valles Caldera Preserve is initiating a Wilderness Eligibility Assessment. The result could mean the denial of bike access on one of our routes. We’re not against the Wilderness designation where it makes sense, but this is an interesting topic and the Conversation that’s ensued on that post is worth checking out. Find it here.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Certain Change

“Episode Two of the Open the Road series explores the inevitability of change as it relates to the past, present, and future of women’s cycling. The Women’s Tour de France returns after 33 years of absence. While the men’s side of the sport has grown, seeing teams spend more money and use more resources than ever before in the pursuit of performance and winning, the women’s side of the sport has not kept pace. With the addition of the women’s World Tour, the women’s Paris Roubaix, and now the return of the women’s Tour de France, the momentum appears to be in favor, and the demand for women’s racing is at an all-time high. Change and progress are inevitable. Whether it be the changing of the seasons or technological advances that push humanity forward, “change is meaningless unless we see it through.” It is the responsibility of each rider, race organizer, and the fans to see the change through, to play their part in the progress and growth of the sport we are all passionate about.”

Chumba Yaupon on the Wasatch Crest Trail

Chumba Cycles just released a video of co-owner Vince Colvin’s first ride down Utah’s legendary Wasatch Crest Trail aboard their newly released Yaupon drop-bar mountain bike. It should give you a good idea of what the Yaupon can handle. Check out our original press release here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

2022 Transcontinental Race No.8

The Transcontinental Race is back for 2022! Founded by Mike Hall in 2013, the Transcontinental Race (TCR) is an annual self-supported, ultra-distance bikepacking race across Europe. The route varies for each edition, but participants are free to choose their own route between the mandatory checkpoints. The event kicks off this Sunday at 8:00 a.m. from Belgium, and you can follow along live here.

2022 NorthCape 4000

One continent, 10 countries, over 4,000 kilometers of self supported riding with a legendary destination, the Arctic Circle! This is the NorthCape 4000. Riders will follow a fixed route with four mandatory checkpoints along the way and must finish within 22 days. There are over 300 riders registered for the grand depart tomorrow in Italy, and you can 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…

Logan Watts: Kyrgyzstan

Perhaps it’s just the heat that’s been ravaging USA and Europe—or maybe it’s the fact that we’re coming up on the sixth anniversary of our scouting trip for the Tian Shan Traverse—but I’ve been dreaming about the high alpine landscapes, rugged two-track, and scenery of Kyrgyzstan all week. It’s like nowhere else; maybe I’ll go back, one day.

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