Friday Debrief: Big Dumplings, MAAP Alt_Road, Goodbye Why S7, Zwift Trainer, and More…

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…

Gramm Tourpacking Diamond Bag in X-Pac RX36

Our friends at Berlin-based Gramm Tourpacking just released an X-Pac RX36 version of their Diamond Bag (which we’re currently testing), designed specifically to fit the ALLYGN Diamond Front Rack. RX36 is 100% climate-neutral and contains 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric. The bag offers 7.5L of packing space, weighs 500g, and is available now.

€249 / Made in Berlin / Details

Rockgeist Big Dumplings are in stock!

One of our favourite hip packs for carrying large cameras is back in stock! The Rockgeist Big Dumpling is a 100% waterproof roll-top hip pack with a generous 6L max capacity that’s perfect for hauling sensitive electronics, cameras, or 6L of wine. It’s available in light black or coyote and is in stock now.

$175 / Made in USA / Details

Original Free Range Titanium MiniThing

Original Free Range took their preferred titanium bottle opener from King Cage and paired it with a Nano Voile Strap and their rubber strap keepers for a minimal and lightweight mini cargo deck. The MiniThing requires a single boss to mount to and is ideal for holding items such as multi-tools and spare tubes.

$22 / Made in USA / Details

Zwift Hub Trainer

Earlier this week, Zwift announced its first-ever smart trainer, the Zwift Hub. It’s priced at a reasonable $499/£449/€499 and includes a pre-installed cassette, making getting started on Zwift easier than ever before. The Zwift Hub is packed with features and will be available for purchase in the US, UK, and EU from October 3rd.

Details

MAAP Updates Alt_Road Collection

MAAP is back with the third installment of their adventure-focused Alt_Road collection, and MAAP is lifting the lid on its latest installment with a spotlight on the adventure-focused engineering behind each garment. The latest drop features some new pieces alongside garments from earlier releases in fresh colors.

Details

In Conversation

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

How do you poop in the woods?

In our latest YouTube video, Neil chats with PACT Outdoors Founder Noah Schum about the best practices for properly pooping outside while bikepacking in a way that minimizes impacts on our environment. The video stirred up some good discussion on best practices and lack thereof. Check it out here.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Brother Cycles Big ‘Un Tickets on Sale

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, Brother Cycles is excited to bring the Big ‘Un back for 2022! The Big ‘Un is a challenging one-day gravel ride that starts and finishes at Brother HQ in Kent, UK. It’s scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd, and tickets are already 50% gone. Learn more at BrotherCycles.com.

Sour Bicycles: The Whole Process

Germany’s Sour Bicycles put together a captivating look at the processes behind the bikes they make, from start to finish. From Sour: “The Sour Clueless in this clip features a smattering of parts that are the culmination of sometimes years of work and building of relationships. When Shimano knocked on our door with the uber-limited silver GRX groupset, we knew what we had to do.”

Mission Workshop opens London Showroom

Mission Workshop has teamed up with some other like-minded cycling brands on a new concept store located in London’s iconic King’s Cross. The store will showcase their full Acre Series Collection along with select Mission Workshop bags alongside products from other great brands, builders, and makers. The space, named VIA, will host film screenings and group rides, and they also have an in-house café. Check it out at 18 & 19 Stable St., ​London, UK.

Wolf Tooth x Topo Designs x Untapped Maple Giveaway

Wolf Tooth Components, Topo Designs, and Untapped Maple have joined forces for a fun giveaway for those living in the United States or Canada. All you have to do is add your email to enter, and you’ll be put in a draw to win a Topo Designs Mountain Hip Pack, Bike Frame Bag fully loaded with Untapped Maple Waffles, Lemon Tea Mapleaid, and Pure Vermont Maple Syrup, as well as Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Pack Pliers and a Wolf Tooth Bottle Opener with Rotor Truing Slot. Learn more here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

The Adirondack Trail Ride

The 2022 Adirondack Trail ride takes off from Northville, New York, this morning at 8 a.m., following a challenging 585+ mile loop through the Adirondack Mountains. There are currently 14 brave souls signed up on Trackleaders, and you can follow their progress live here.

Fitzgerald’s Joyride

Fitzgerald’s Joyride is a 400ish-mile bikepacking loop in the heart of southeastern Idaho and northern Utah. The route starts at Fitzgerald’s Bicycles in Idaho Falls, Idaho, turns around at Joy Ride Bicycles in Logan, Utah, and heads back to Idaho Falls. There are currently 25 riders signed up for the grand depart tomorrow, which takes off at 8 a.m. 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…

Joshua Meissner: Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains capture my imagination as a wilder counterpart to the fully developed Alps—one bears and wolves call home. On my recent ride from Berlin to Budapest, I skirted the mysterious beech forests of the Little Carpathians in the southwestern tip of Slovakia before dropping into bustling Bratislava. The Lemkivska Kobiouka route in Poland looks to be the perfect launching board for diving deeper into Slovakia and Romania. Hopefully next year.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, photos of Miles’ Why S7, a model that has officially been discontinued from their lineup. It was fun while it lasted!

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