Mountain Bike (MTB)
Gravel Bike
All-Terrain Bike (ATB)
Fat Bike
This week’s Debrief features a great sticker, the return of Fairdale’s Rockitship, new love for old bars, a one-of-a-kind Stumpjumper, several jobs at Apidura, fresh videos and podcasts, four events to follow live, and a whole lot more. Find it all here…
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…
Cosmic Grape Camp Snap
Made in China / $74.95 at Camp Snap
Recently updated, the Camp Snap is a little low-resolution, screen-free digital camera that has become quite a hit among bikepackers and other outdoor enthusiasts for its compact size, ease of use, and nostalgic design and output. A new Cosmic Grape colorway, inspired by the translucent tech of the ‘90s, has been added to the lineup and is available now.
Fairdale Rockitship
Made in Taiwan / $2,999 at Fairdale Bikes
First launched in 2017, the Fairdale Rockitship has officially returned as the brand’s top-of-the-line, all-purpose gravel bike. It’s built around a Reynolds 725 steel frame and an ENVE carbon fork, and it now features UDH dropouts, rack and fender mounts, and four sizes to pick from. The Rockitship is available in Blood Orange or Gloss Black, with a Shimano GRX groupset and Continental Terra Adventure 700 x 45mm tires.
Banta Bars
Made in USA / $100 at Banta Bikes
Banta Bikes in Seal Beach, California, released the Banta Bars earlier this summer. They were created to preserve the original frame-fork-stem combination found on vintage mountain bikes while delivering modern comfort and performance. They are manufactured in the US by S&M and have a 777mm width, 92mm rise, 22.2° backsweep, and 22.2mm clamp size.
Rene Herse 32″ Tubes
$43 at Rene Herse
Rene Herse has launched its own line of 32″ tubes. Ideal for tires up to 2.6″ wide, these are made of TPU and feature Rene Herse branding on the casing. Though the brand imagines most riders will run their 32″ rigs tubeless, they may make for a good emergency tube if things go south. For those wondering, the existence of 32″ tubes doesn’t necessarily mean Rene Herse is ready to hop on the bandwagon. When asked, Jan said, “We don’t tell cyclists what they should ride. Our job is to provide reliable information so riders can make their own decisions—and then support those decisions with products that combine performance with quality.”
COROS PACE 4 in Ultraviolet and Neon Yellow
$279 at COROS
COROS has two fresh standard colors of its popular aluminum PACE 4 sport watch. The latest hues are Ultraviolet and Neon Yellow, both of which are available on matching silicone bands and come packed with features for $279.
New Wheels MFG 8-Bolt Chainrings
Made in USA / $115 at Wheels MFG
Teased earlier this year, the new 8-Bolt Gravel Chainrings from Wheels MFG are finally available to purchase. They are machined from 7075 aluminum and are available in SRAM and Shimano-compatible tooth profiles, with four tooth counts: 40T, 42T, 44T, and 46T. Like the rest of their components, they are offered in a range of colors: Black, Blue, Teal, Green, Red, Purple, and Orange.
Park Tool TS-2.50
Made in USA / Available viaeBay
From Park Tool: “First introduced in 1976, the TS-2 has since garnered a reputation as an essential tool for professional mechanics, wheel builders, and hobbyists alike. To celebrate the golden anniversary of the TS-2, Park Tool is producing 50 special edition truing stands. Each TS-2.50 is finished in gold powder coating, and features an engraved numbered nameplate, custom decals, and CNC-machined aluminum knobs bearing the original Park Tool logo. A select number of these stands will be made available via online auction, with the proceeds going to bicycle-focused nonprofit organizations. The first auction is now live.” Learn more at ParkTool.com.
In Conversation
Exchanges and ideas that caught our attention in the site’s conversation section…
Ultra-Wide Bars: Best of Both Worlds?
Nic’s Editor’s Dozen spoke to his recent change of heart regarding bar choice. Though he’s tried many ultra-wide drops that claim to have the benefits of both drops and flats, he hasn’t found that to be the case. Others chimed in, speaking to their experiences with wide drops and how differences in angles, leverage, and overall effect on position allowed for the best of both worlds. What do you think? Are wide drops truly a jack of all trades, or are they a master of none? Can they replace flat bars for you? Let us know in the Conversation below.
Around the Community
News from around the bikepacking world…
Our Video Review of the Restrap Switch Rack
In case you missed it on our YouTube channel, Neil shared his review of the Restrap Switch Rack earlier this month (read Logan’s in-depth written review here. The highly modular rear cargo carrier is compatible with a variety of accessories that increase capacity and versatility. Find his thoughts in the 25-minute video above.
Bikepacking The Hood Loop
It’s been more than six months since we last saw a video from Chris Wilson of the excellent PNW Bikepacking YouTube channel. We’re constantly impressed by his trip videos, and we’re happy to see he found some inspiration to release another one. This time around, he documents a 125-mile bikepacking trip around Oregon’s Mount Hood, following Cedar Kyes’ Mount Hood Loop.
Bicycle Mechanic Stickers
Our friend Randy Collette from MTB Suspension Service (featured in the suspension fork article we posted a couple of years ago) made some dogmatic new stickers. Find details on his Instagram post here.
Hidden Gems at Ritchey HQ
Nolan from the BikeSauce YouTube channel recently visited Fergus at Ritchey. During his tour of Ritchey HQ, Fergus walks him through the ins and outs of what it’s like to work with the company, shows him some cool vintage components, and shares insights into one of cycling’s most storied brands. Watch it above.
No Wrong Turns Ep. 2: Origin Lore
No Wrong Turns, an alt-bike industry podcast hosted by Adam Sklar, Jim Santos, and Adam Leibow, released their second episode this week. If you’re interested in the origin stories of Sklar Bikes, Outer Shell, or Calling in Sick Mag, this one is for you.
Cairngorms Outer Loop
Mona Grabowska recently rode the Cairngorms Outer Loop in the UK as her first proper solo mountain bikepacking adventure. She covered 225 kilometers and 3,255 meters of elevation gain and had to make some quick decisions after realizing she had forgotten her tent. As if the route wasn’t challenging enough, Mona also completed the entire route without relying on single-use plastic packaging and found it easier than she thought.
Peter Verdone’s PVD Corsair
Peter Verdone, a contract designer for the bicycle, motorcycle, and skateboard industries, recently posted details about a 32-inch-wheeled all-road project he’s calling the PVD Corsair. It’s packed with an incredible amount of tech and interesting details, including a custom fork with a 3D-printed stainless steel crown and dropouts bonded to titanium fork legs, a wild bonded all-in-one bar-and-stem combo, and 2,583 grams of 3D-printed 316L stainless steel parts.
The PVD Corsair has a 601mm reach, which Peter says might be the “longest in existence for a performance bicycle.” Find all the details and more photos on Peter’s website, PeterVerdone.com.
Apidura is Hiring
The bag makers at Apidura are looking to fill some key roles at their London headquarters. Current positions include Sports Marketing & Community Manager, Technical Repair Specialist, and Product Developer. You can find all the details and apply online here.
Off Course 2.0 Survey
In May, Melbourne, Australia’s beloved Off Course Bike Shop was destroyed by a fire. They’ve set up a temporary shop in a small warehouse, but they are starting to think about the shop’s future. If you shopped at Off Course, they are looking for feedback to help shape their new shop. Respond to the survey here.
Custom-painted Stumpy
Isaak Man recently posted this completely custom-painted Stumpjumper that caught our eye. Inspired by ‘90s colors and graphics, the frame and fork have no decals. All the graphics were achieved with masking and an airbrush. “In 1995, my coworker Mick invented the first Judy fork, and fast forward to 30 years later, I had the honor of painting a reimagined version on a Lyrik Ultimate.” Find the original post with more photos here.
Events Starting Soon
What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…
2026 Silk Road Mountain Race
The Silk Road Mountain Race is a bikepacking race through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. This year’s event follows a 2,052-kilometer route with roughly 35,362 meters of elevation gain. It will start in Talas, in northwestern Kyrgyzstan, and finish in Cholpon Ata on the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Follow along live here.
2026 Nordic Chase: Copenhagen to Oslo
Nordic Chase is an unsupported gravel race from Copenhagen to Oslo. Riders will cover 800 kilometers with approximately 7,200 meters of elevation. The route links three countries (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) and includes one ferry crossing. The event started yesterday with over 100 riders participating. Follow along live here.
Kokova 900/500
KÕKÕVA 900/500 is a bikepacking race through the Estonian wilderness. The loop goes through Estonia’s main islands, starting and finishing in the capital, Tallinn. Over 60 riders are participating in this year’s event, which starts later this afternoon. Follow along live here.
Austrian Extreme Bike Race 2026
The Austrian Extreme Bike Race is an unsupported 800- or 2,500-kilometer bike event through some of the most iconic Austrian landscapes. The 2026 grand depart starts on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. local time. Currently, there are just four riders registered for live tracking.
2026 TNGA
The Trans North Georgia Adventure (TNGA) is a 355-mile mountain bike route through the mountains of northern GA on trails, forest roads and paved roads featuring challenging terrain, beautiful scenery, and a whole lot of climbing. There are nearly 90 riders registered for this year’s event, which kicks off tomorrow morning. Follow along live here.
Weekly Social
Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, Xavier Chiriboga’s Colorado Trail Race rig and some dreamy photos taken by Aydan Marriner on the 10 Lakes Overnighter in British Columbia…
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