Friday Debrief: A Misfits-Themed Surly Preamble, the Unforget Rack, and Much 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…

Fairlight Secan now in Moorland Silver

£1,250 at Fairlight Cycles

Earlier this week, Fairlight launched a new color of their flagship gravel bike, the Secan. Now available in what the brand calls Moorland Silver, this new color is inspired by classic cars. It features a nuanced olive/tobacco accent they say complements the base color and references autumn landscape shades. The Moorland Silver Secan is now available through Fairlight; contact them today to reserve yours.

Golden Pliers Special Bar

Made in USA / $150 at Golden Pliers

Golden Pliers in Portland, Oregon, has partnered with Leker Leks Bike Stuff in Pennsylvania on a special handlebar that hits the sweet spot for sweep, rise, and width. The Golden Pliers Special is their take on the perfect bar for riding around town and heading off to have a nice picnic somewhere. They have a 710mm width, 35mm rise, and 50 degrees of backsweep. They are available in two finishes, silver and blued, and use a 22.2mm clamp. To purchase, visit Golden Pliers in Portland.

Bags Made by Bears Fork Bags

Made in USA / $35+ at Bags Made by Bears

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Longmont, Colorado’s Bags Made by Bears recently introduced a new 3.5-liter fork bag that attaches with Voile straps. The highly water-resistant bags measure 5.5″ wide by 10.5″ tall after rolling three times and are made from 100% recycled Ecopak EPX200/400 fabric. They come in Gray or Lilac and are available for as little as $35 each.

PNW Range Grips

Made in Taiwan / $29 at PNW Components

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PNW Components’ new Range Grips feel more minimal, supple, and softer than the Loam grips. They feature a soft “micro fin” texture on top, a grippy waffle texture on the bottom, and a plastic core made from 80% recycled fishing nets and other reclaimed maritime plastics. The Range Grips come in two sizes: Regular (30mm diameter) and XL (35mm diameter), six colors, and use a closed-end, single clamp design.

New Schwalbe 32″ Tires Coming Spring 2027

Coming Soon at Schwalbe.com

Schwalbe teased the launch of four new 32-inch tires this month, adding to the list of tires that customers can actually buy. They are adding 32″ versions of the G-ONE RS PRO and G-ONE RX PRO in 50 and 55mm widths. There will also be 32″ versions of RACE PRO Rick and TRAIL PRO Romy in 32 x 2.4″. We can expect to see all of their 32″ tires as an OEM spec option soon, with aftermarket availability coming this spring.

Revel Rascal in Desert Chemistry

Made in Taiwan / $5,799+ at Revel Bikes

Revel’s new Rascal colorway is a real show-stopper, following a two-tone approach that pairs a deep metallic electric blue with raw, unidirectional carbon. “Generous metallic flake gives the blue plenty of pop, while the frame decals are brushed-silver to add a subtle contrast. A durable gloss clear coat ties it all together and makes an easy cleanup after a muddy ride.” Desert Chemistry joins the Rascal lineup alongside the existing Pulp Friction and Copperhead colorways, available worldwide as a frame kit or a complete build.

Restrap Mudguards

$19-$25 at Restrap

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Restrap has launched a new series of mudguards designed for both their Switch Rack and more standard gravel and mountain bike forks. Made of polypropylene, these mudguards use zip ties and adjust to fit almost any bike.

Jones V2 Plus SWB Framesets on Sale

Made in Taiwan / $595 at Jones Bikes

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Previously available only as a complete bike, Jones has a limited quantity of V2 Plus SWB framesets on sale. Available in black or teal in small, medium, and large, the frames are unused but have very minor blemishes, scuffs, or paint chips, hence the lower price point.

Updated Lazer Impala KinetiCore

$219.99 at Lazer

Lazer updated its singletrack-focused Impala KinetiCore helmet for the new year with an adjustable strap slider in the ear cradle to expand fit compatibility for a wider range of riders and head shapes. It’s available in three sizes and a broad array of colors and features a magnetic buckle, breakaway visor, integrated RECCO rescue technology, and more.

Rockgeist Spacelinks Now in Silver

Made in the USA / $38 at Rockgeist

The Spacelink is Rockgeist’s steerer tube spacer, letting you anchor your top tube bag above or below your stem for a more stable connection to the bike. For years, the North Carolina-based brand only offered it in black. But they’ve now expanded to silver!

7mesh Chilco Snap Shirt

Made in China / $200 at 7mesh Women’s Men’s

The new 7mesh Chilco Snap longsleeve blends a classic button-up, collared design with their Wind Thermal Ventilation (WTV) loft fabric, designed to retain or release heat as your effort picks up or calms down. It’s available in men’s and women’s sizing and a few color options.

PNW LTD LOAM LEVER GEN 2: Hyper Lichen

Made in Taiwan / $69 at PNW Components

PNW Components’ latest limited edition Loam Lever drop features a bright Hyper Lichen silicone thumb pad. The Loam Lever is a worthwhile upgrade for any dropper post, with its fully CNC’d aluminum construction, sealed cartridge bearings, and stainless steel hardware. It’s available in black or silver, and it won’t be around for long.

Ornot Special Projects: Micro Climate Vest

Made in USA / $158 at Ornot Men’s Women’s

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Just in time for fall, Ornot updated their Micro Climate Vest with three rear pockets, added reflective details, and wrapped it up with a two-way zipper. The vest features a flocked front and a lightweight grid fleece back for an ideal balance of insulation and breathability, and it’s part of their special projects collection because it includes deadstock fabric on the back panel and neck interior.

In Conversation

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

Specialty Travel Tools

When we posted the news about the new Ultralight Titanium Bikepacking Tool—a portable chain whip and cassette-removal tool—earlier this week, there were several comments about other specialized travel tools. This is obviously a very niche segment, but we’re curious what other niche tools for long-distance bike travel are out there. If you have a recommendation, let us know in the conversation below…

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

The “Did I Forget That?” Rack

YouTuber Flatlander Tech built a front bike rack to help him avoid forgetting things when rolling out on a ride, to work, or beyond. Watch it above.

Giorgio’s DIY Kona Unity Bags

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Giorgio of Montanus made some stunning custom bags for Francesco’s and his Kona Unity bikepacking rigs, and we dig them. The frame bag is made from X-Pac RX30 fabric, features a Riri AQUAzip zipper, and uses all the mounting points inside the main triangle for a clean install. The handlebar bag has Dyneema/Nylon Ripstop stretch fabric side pockets, sports a roll-top closure, and has a quick-access zippered pocket up front. See more on their Instagram page.

Tour Divide: Found My Limit

This summer, professional endurance athlete Heather Jackson challenged herself with an individual time trial on the 2,700-mile Tour Divide route between Banff, Alberta, and the US/Mexico border. Although her ride didn’t go as planned, waking up with a painful case of Shermer’s neck on the fourth day of riding, it was a lesson in pushing beyond what you think is possible, confronting your limits, and discovering what remains when the outcome isn’t the one you imagined.

Into the Night: Racing the Vapor Trail 125

Into the Night follows Russell Finsterwald’s time racing the 2026 Vapor Trail 125 in Colorado. Following a 125-mile route with 16,500 feet of climbing and a 10 p.m. start, it’s anything but ordinary. Watch the video for a detailed look at what it takes to take on such a challenging race. The Vapor Trail also makes for a fantastic bikepacking trip for those who want to take their time!

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

A Fierce Green Ride 2026

A Fierce Green Ride is the official grand depart on the El Lobo Lupus route in Arizona, following a 400-mile loop through Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This year’s grand depart started earlier this morning, with a small but brave field of riders participating. Follow their progress live here.

Utah Mixed Epic 2026

The Utah Mixed Epic is an excellent opportunity for career advancement through an annual unofficial self-supported bikepacking excursion through Utah’s most scenic conference rooms. Just under 20 high-performing stakeholders are involved in this year’s event, which started this morning at 6 a.m. local time. Follow along live here.

High Plains Drifter

The High Plains Drifter is a free 312-mile unsupported bikepacking adventure following a mix of gravel roads and doubletrack in Northern Colorado. There are no fees or prizes. Over 20 riders are registered for live tracking, and the ride began at 7 a.m. local time this morning. Follow along here.

The Golden Horseshoe Race 2026

The Golden Horseshoe Race aims to take riders through the best and most remote riding that Southern Ontario has to offer. Over the 1,650-kilometer course, they’ll encounter everything from groomed singletrack, pristine pavement, and Cadillac gravel, to overgrown ATV trails, riverbeds, creek crossings, and long-forgotten roads. This year’s event kicks off tomorrow morning, and you can follow the riders’ progress live here.

Bohemia Divide 2026

Bohemia Divide is an 800-kilometer unsupported cycling race through the Czech Republic, starting in the south (Vyšší Brod) and finishing in the north (Varnsdorf). This year’s grand depart starts tomorrow morning with over 160 riders registered. Follow along live here.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a great Preamble and Molly Sugar’s Alberni Bam Bam sketches…

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