Friday Debrief: Hungry Smorgy, Road Boost, Itzarack, Uganda Dreams, 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…

Hungry Smörgåsbord

Australia-based bag maker Hungry just released the Smörgåsbord (or Smorgy for short) this week, their largest handlebar bag to date. It’s a long flap-style handlebar/saddle bag with an expandable roll-top that can hold 13L-23L in the main compartment. There are two additional side pockets, a compression strap that doubles as a shoulder strap, and a variety of daisy chain webbing attachment points to secure the included Voile Nano Straps to your rig. The Hungry Smorgy is made to order in your choice of fabric color, and the current lead time is up to five weeks.

Made in Australia / $350 AUS at Huuungry.com

Framework Designs Custom Bag Orders are Open

Tia over at Framework Designs in Australia recently opened up custom frame bag orders for both full and half-sized bags. There are a number of options available, including dual or single zippers, roll-top closures, hydration hose ports, and more. You also have your choice of fabric, including EcoPak, 1000D Cordura, and Australian-made Canvas.

Made in Australia / $245+ AUS at FrameworkDesigns.com

HANDUP x Nittany Mountain Works Hip Sack

As part of Handup’s limited edition Red Label Collection, they partnered with Nittany Mountain Works on a hip pack called the Half Sack. It’s a half-size version of Nitanny’s Deluxe Hip Sack that’s perfect for ride essentials and small enough to be used as a shoulder sling pack. It’s made from 1000D Cordura Nylon, has an exterior daisy chain for dangles, and is handmade in the USA.

Made in USA / $48 at HandupGloves.com

SON “Road Boost” Dynamo Hubs

Did SON just make Road Boost a thing? Thanks to Joergen at Parallel in Rotterdam, we learned that SON just added a new 12 x 110mm SON 28 dynamo hub to their lineup. It’s an interesting hub spec to see, especially when you can purchase a 15mm version and use adapters to fit multiple bikes, but we’re not the dynamo experts. The hub comes in both 6-bolt and centerlock configurations in three spoke counts: 24, 28, and 32.

Made in Germany / €339 at Nabendynamo.de

The Singular Gryphon MK3 has Landed

Remember the updated Singular Gryphon MK3 we shared a while back? Singular just let us know that the first batch has landed at their UK-based shop, and the rest are expected to arrive next month. The latest Singular Gryphon was updated with thru-axles, flat mount brakes, clearance for 29+ tires, and a healthy selection of rack and cargo mounts.

Made in Taiwan / £900 at SingularCycles.co.uk

Ornot Decadent Merino Hooded Pullover

The Ornot Decadent Merino Hooded Pullover is a limited edition shirt made from domestically sourced Polartec Power Wool. It’s the warmest and stretchiest pullover they offer. It’s sewn in California from deadstock fabric and comes in a wide size range from XXS to XXL.

Made in USA / $164 at OrnotBike.com

2023 Kona ESD is back in black

The Kona ESD is a rowdy steel hardtail mountain bike designed around a 150mm travel fork, strong 4-piston brakes, and 29 x 2.5″ rubber. For 2023, Kona brought back the ESD in a Mad Max-approved gloss black paint job alongside the gloss purple colorway from last year.

Made in Taiwan / $3,099 at KonaWorld.com

Hudski Itzarack is Back

The Hudski Itzarack is back in stock! Hudksi’s three-piece front rack breaks down for easy transportation, accepts panniers and baskets, and supports large handlebar bags. The deck and legs are made from aluminum, it has a weight limit of 22 pounds, and the rack weighs 1.5 pounds. You can check out review here for a closer look.

Made in Taiwan / $100 at HudskiBikes.com

In Conversation

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

More Sub-$1000 Bikes!

Two bike announcements this week sparked conversation on bike prices and capability. First, the Salsa Timberjack continues to become more expensive year after year, while Poseidon managed to release yet another sub-$1,000 gravel bike and a growing number of curious readers chimed in. Are the big brands missing out on an important segment in the market?

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

MADE X MTNS Story: Rockgeist Bikepacking USA

Made by Mountains is a series that highlights the people, places, and companies of Western North Carolina’s outdoor industry. Their latest guest was our good friend Greg at Rockgeist in Asheville. Watch their video above to learn more about the business and then head over to MadexMtns.com to read the full story.

Brother Big Bro build – The Woods Cyclery

The Woods Cyclery in the UK recently put together a custom Brother Big Bro build and published a video highlighting the process. They also shared that Brother Big Bro framesets just landed in Yellow and Woodland Brown, so give them a shout if you’re in the UK and looking for a new rig.

The Weird & Wonderful: Winter Bike

Unearth Marketing recently worked with Paige Thomas on some unique visuals for UK-based Brixton Cycles, a workers’ co-operative bike shop. “The Weird & Wonderful: Winter Bike” showcases a few unique winter bike setups that Brixton describes as “practical, versatile, and sitting a bit outside the status quo.” Check out the full article here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Jacob Martin (@mid_nowhere): Uganda

Searching through the BIKEPACKING.com route archives, one that really stands out to me is the Trans-Uganda. This grabs my interest with the fact it is unlike anywhere I have ever been, and to be honest, quite outside my comfort zone. My travels across Europe have been amazing, however, the culture there is not too dissimilar to my own. I feel like 40 days around Uganda would be the perfect introduction to this new continent for me. By all accounts, the people are extremely friendly, the wildlife is wilder than any I have experienced, and it seems like where I would find plenty of interesting stories to share.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, some updates from last week’s 2023 Fat Pursuit event…

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