Friday Debrief: Fancy Crank Caps, Farwest Grips, Fresh Videos, Waterproof Monocular, 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…

PDW Airforge Mini Pump/CO2 Inflator

$39 at PDW

The new Airforge Mini Pump/CO2 Inflator from Portland Design Works is an ultra-compact gadget designed to handle any flat tire. Its compact size makes it ideal for storing in a jersey pocket, frame bag, or on the bike via the included mount. It weighs 74 grams, is six inches long, and can be used as a manual pump or with a CO2 cartridge.

Babyldn Bottle

Made in the UK / £15 at BABYLDN

London bike shop Babyldn has released a new bottle. Featuring imagery consistent with their South London roots, these fit all standard bottle cages and are a great way to support a small shop.

SimWorks x NANGA Sleeping Capsule

Made in Japan / $350 at SimWorks

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The 260-gram SimWorks × NANGA Sleeping Capsule is an ultralight down sleeping bag designed specifically for bikepacking. Stripped down to the essentials, it’s filled with Spanish duck down and is rated to 45°F. Featuring a simple drawstring closure, it’s small enough to pack into a 1L Nalgene bottle and measures 74.8 inches long by 31.5 inches wide at the shoulders.

Outer Shell Koozie

Made in the USA / $15 at Outer Shell

Made from the excess fabric produced from their bag-making, Outer Shell has released a fun new Koozie just in time for summer. With an external seam for storing and packability, a nylon webbing handle, and attachment points for a carabiner or nano Voilé strap, this is an all-terrain Koozie made for adventures. It’s also insulated with a thin foam that keeps the pack size down but keeps your drinks nice and cool.

NOCS Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof Monocular

$179.95 at NOCS

The new Zero Tube 8×25 Waterproof Monocular from NOCS is a small, light, durable, high-quality way to seek the unseen. A rugged, no-slip grip keeps it protected and comfortable in hand, no matter what. Featuring ED glass and fully broadband multi-coated lenses, the Zero Tube provides the clearest images of the terrain ahead. Built to roam with confidence, the Zero Tube is waterproof (IPX7) and fogproof, with nitrogen-filled internal chambers.

Tomii Cycles x SimWorks Farwest Grip

$18 at SimWorks

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Following the Faraway Tire, the second collaboration between SimWorks and Tomii Cycles is the Tomii Cycles x SimWorks Farwest Grip, which features an all-over Southwestern motif, a closed end, and a tacky rubber compound for excellent comfort. The Faraways measure 140 x 32mm and are available in Cactus Green and Sand Brown.

YellowBird Threadworks Crank Rotondo

Made in Chester, CT / $65 at YellowBird ThreadWorks

Brian from YellowBird ThreadWorks has a new blingy crank cap for those who still use square-taper cranks. Built in the same style as his top caps and bar ends, the Crank Rotondo is also functional. They work as crank extractor caps and include a nylon washer to prevent unwanted binding and wear. The Comito Shipwreck variant is pictured above, and there are three other designs available in his web shop.

In Conversation

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

32-Inch Reservations

In Miles’ review of the Sour Pasta Party 32, several readers brought up concerns they have with the new wheel size and bikes designed around it. Examples include head tube strength, toe overlap, stack heights, gearing, and fork offsets. What are your biggest concerns with 32-inch bike design? Let us know in the Conversation below.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Pedals to Powder Documentary

“Pedals to Powder” is a new documentary that follows two adventurous as they undertake the challenge of a lifetime: cycling to all the ski fields in Aotearoa (New Zealand) in just one short snow season. Battling storms while pushing their bodies to their limits, they discover the country’s grassroots ski culture and independent club fields. Watch it above.

LA CHOUETTE PRESENTS: ALT D’HUEZ, DARK SIDE OF THE TOUR

Organized by La Chouette bike shop in Paris, Alt D’Huez is a four-day cycling camp in the French Alps, built around the idea of slowing down enough to actually enjoy one of the world’s great riding regions, while the Tour de France races through it at full speed. The event runs from July 23rd to 26th, starting in Vénosc, and only 50 tickets are available. Learn more here.

El Sur: A new event by L’esperit del Bikepacking

Starting and finishing in the coastal city of Málaga, El Sur from L’esperit del Bikepacking is a self-supported bikepacking event that takes riders on an unforgettable journey through southern Spain, in the warmth of the Spring sun. The inaugural grand depart kicks off on March 14th, 2027, following an 800-kilometer route. Registration opens on July 16th. Learn more here.

The North Race 2026 Dates Announced

Originally set up in 2024 to promote the launch of the Restrap Race Hydration Vest, The North Race has grown into its own beast. The challenge has always been simple: start at the Restrap Factory HQ and ride as far north as possible in 24 hours. At exactly midday on Saturday, September 5th, riders will leave Restrap HQ and go as far geographically north as possible. But there’s a twist: this time, they must turn around and return to where they started within the 24-hour window. One second too late and their distance is invalid. One minute early and they could have ridden a little further. Learn more and register here.

Fanzy Bikes: Not Quite the Tour de France

“Fanzy Bikes: Not Quite the Tour de France” is a delightfully unexpected short film set inside Fanzy Bikes in Salzburg, Austria. It offers a glimpse at the small shop’s unique ethos and some colorful social commentary at the same time. Check it out above.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Oregon Timber Trail

The Oregon Timber Trail Race and Tour is an unofficial bikepacking event along the spine of Oregon from the California border to the Washington border. The majority of the route is singletrack. There are nearly 50 riders registered for live tracking at this year’s grand depart, which starts tomorrow morning. Follow along live here.

District 16

A Lake District bikepacking odyssey starting and finishing from the home of Kirkby Lonsdale brewery at The Royal Barn in the center of Kirkby Lonsdale. The route is designed to be tough 585 kilometers with over 16,000 meters of ascent, all whilst showcasing the beauty of the English Lake District. Expect flowing singletrack, hike-a-bike, spectacular scenery, technical trails, long climbs, and big mountain exposure. This year’s event starts tomorrow morning. Follow along live here.

Montana Bike Oddyssey

The Montana Bike Odyssey is a 1,750-mile loop through Montana, starting and ending in Bozeman. For 2026, there are also 500-mile and 235-mile route options.

Pan Celtic Race

The Pan Celtic Race is a 1,400-mile, self-supported cycling adventure that journeys through the Celtic Nations of Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany. This year’s grand depart takes off on Sunday, and you can track the riders live here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Nic Morales: Munda Biddi Trail

Summer is in full swing here in the Appalachians, and I’m a little tired of the heat. Consistent heat domes and non-stop rain have me yearning for the drier, cooler temps present on the other side of the equator, and I can’t think of a better route than Miles’ Munda Biddi Trail in Western Australia. The cool coasts and tree barrels look like a perfect escape from the sweltering heat. Hopefully I’ll make it there someday.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, Wake Robin’s weekend overnighter and a custom Hudski Dualist made by SCV Imports in Australia…

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