Friday Debrief: A Bar-end Bell, Chain Wear Accuracy, and a Woodsy Romanceur Build

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…

Atwater Atelier Fuel Tanks

Available in three sizes, the Fuel Tank top tube bag is the latest stock offering from Narek Papian’s studio, Atwater Atelier. Made from Cordura 1000D with a brightly colored Ripstop 70D DWR inner liner, it features a velcro and shock cord attachment, HDPE plastic base, and closed-cell foam sidewalls. The Fuel tank is available in a whopping 14 colors and is made by hand in Montreal, as always.

$64-88 CAD / Made in Canada / Details

Canyon RING Bar End Bell

Alongside the cool plugger/multi-tool we posted yesterday, we stumbled on the Canyon RING Bar End Bell, which plugs into any drop handlebar end. Once in place, the bell is held securely by handlebar tape and Canyon claims the brass alloy body reaches +85db when contacted by the strong wire mechanism.

$20.95 / Details

Fresh RAL EX Loader Colors

SimWorks USA shared the latest RAL EX Loader colours with us this week. They’re made from Cordura, offer about 11L of storage, have a clever exterior mesh cargo net for stuffing gear into, and use a simple hook and bungee attachment system. The new Maroon and Coyote colours are looking particularly nice.

$78 / Made in USA / Details

Cascada Land Wool Shirt Restocked

Cascada’s Land Wool Shirt was one of Miles’ favourites in the roundup of cycling-friendly flannels and button-downs we published back in 2020. It’s extremely stretchy, has a slim fit, and is warm enough for cool spring mornings without looking too technical. Cascada just restocked the entire line, including most colour options and their women’s version.

€110 / Made in Italy / Details

Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Bike Grease

Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Bike Grease is a new waterproof, synthetic oil-based lubricant for cycling-specific applications. It reduces friction on moving components while protecting them from contaminants, water, and corrosion. WT-G also prevents non-moving components from seizing together due to corrosion or galling.

$7.95-$24.95 / Made in USA / Details

New Ergon Bar Tapes and Pads

Ergon just announced a trio of new bar tapes and two sets of bar pads—one for drop bars and another for aero bars. The BT bar tape is available in three thicknesses from 2mm up to 3.5mm for different disciplines, each in five colors. The tape has a unique pattern that can be wrapped in either direction for extra grip or more freedom of movement, and it also features a built-in guide to help you wrap your bars evenly. The pads are designed to go under the tape to provide additional comfort at common contact points, including drops, tops, and arm rests.

$29.95-$39.95 / Details / YouTube Video

In Conversation

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

Approach Shoes for the win

We’re always on the hunt for durable shoes for big bikepacking trips. Some of the best we’ve tried in the past have been approach shoes. In Logan’s review roundup of “not so cold” weather flat pedal shoes, a reader pointed out the Mammut Hueco Advanced Mid GTX approach shoe, which we thought was worth sharing. Find details over at Mammut.com.

Double-Checking the Chain

In our long-term review of the 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain, a couple of users commented with skepticism about the accuracy of the Park Tool CC-2 chain tool, questioning the ~60% chain wear estimate (0.6 on the gauge) that Logan measured after around 2,500 miles (4,000km) of use. Later, Logan checked the chain with the CC-4, a three-point chain wear measurement tool that was recommended: “I measured the chain with the CC-4. It didn’t drop below the 0.5 notch. After double-checking the Park Tool instruction video for the CC-4, when I apply full pressure on the segment of chain between the hook and tension tip, the gauge tip doesn’t drop into the link without really forcing it. So, if it’s accurate, this chain is below 50% wear.”

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Chumba Blog: Katie Strempke’s Repair Kit

Chumba team rider Katie Strempke just published a complete breakdown of her go-to bikepacking repair kit on the Chumba blog. Check out the full post at ChumbaUSA.com.

The Woods Cyclery Romanceur Build Video

We missed when they first shared online, but our friends at The Woods Cyclery over in the UK put together this captivating two-minute video that showcases the build of a lovely Crust Romanceur and the first shakedown ride once it was complete. It offers a glimpse of some of the incredible riding in their corner of the UK and features a killer soundtrack to boot.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Maricopa Trail Race

The Maricopa Trail Race is a 240-mile self-supported ultra endurance race along the Maricopa Trail in Phoenix, Arizona. The route consists of smooth desert singletrack, rugged backcountry trails, and canal pathways. The grand depart starts today at 6 a.m. and you can follow along live here.

GranGuanche Audax Gravel

The GranGuanche Audax Gravel is a 700-kilometer adventure on fast gravel doubletracks and secondary paved roads across the Canary Islands. It’s a self-supported, single-stage, fixed-route ride and follows the classic rules and principles of ultra-cycling races, but in the spirit of Audax, participants are allowed to ride in a group and draft each other. The event starts tomorrow 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…

Joshua Meissner: Baja Divide

With winter still holding Central Europe in its cold grasp, I’ve lately found myself daydreaming about pedaling in the deserts and mountains of Baja California. While I’ve never been beyond the start in San Diego, the steady stream of Baja Divide stories on this website, in The Bikepacking Journal, and from friends have planted the sandy doubletrack and solitary coves on the Sea of Cortez firmly in my mind as a top route I’d like to ride. Since my experience in the barren plateau landscape in Scandinavia, I’ve been drawn to such vast expanses, and I hope to make it across the pond for a winter sojourn in Baja California sooner rather than later.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, we were stoked to get tagged a couple of times by Aigaras Stuart, aka @kook.grin.media. Aigaras is a digital and tattoo artist from Lithuania currently in Fraser, Colorado. Great work on @whileoutriding and @logans.ride’s rigs… and have fun living off of your bike this summer!

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