Friday Debrief: Nebula Altar Pedals, Compact Wera/SQ Lab Hex Set, PEdALED Odyssey, 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…

Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX

$209 at Fizik Ergolace Clip Ergolace Flat

Fizik released two new cycling shoes this week, the Terra Ergolace GTX and Terra Ergolace GTX Flat. Both feature a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane, a classic lace-up closure, and Fizik’s X2 outsole that has proven to be grippy and totally capable for hike-a-bike. Make sure to check out out long-term review of the standard Terra Ergolace Flat shoes here.

PEdALED Odyssey FW23 Collection

€30-€280 at PEdALED

PEdALED’s Odyssey FW23 Collection is full of outwear and accessories designed specifically for long rides in challenging conditions. The collection includes wool socks, bibs, jerseys, a waterproof jacket, and an insulated hooded jacket.

Tectonic Components Nebula Altar Pedals

Made in USA / $229 at Tectonic.Bike

The latest in Tectonic Component’s Altar Pedal Artist Series is called Nebula, and they’re available in three groovy colors: Violet/Purple, Purple/Blue, and Blue/Green. They are made in Colorado and weigh just 405 grams/pair. Make sure to check out our review of the original Altar pedal here.

SQ-Tool NINE Key Card

Made in TBD / 50€ at SQ Lab

SQ Lab recently collaborated with Wera to make a high-quality, compact 8-piece hex wrench set that fits in a flat credit card holder. The set includes hex 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hex wrenches and Torx 10 and 25 bits.

A Big Custom Myth Cycles Hardtail

While it’s not technically for sale, we saw this custom Myth Cycles hardtail built for a seven-foot-tall rider and couldn’t resist sharing it. It has some interesting features like a custom tubeset to provide the right stiffness without sacrificing flex, longer chainstays to keep center of gravity where it should be, and a design based around 210mm long cranks. Read all about it here.

SAS S1-J in Grey and Orange

Made in NY,USA / $285 at Search and State

One of our favorite EDC lightweight wind/weather jackets just became available in a couple of new colors. The made-in-NYC Search and State S1-J is now available in Grey and Supernova Orange. You can also pick it up in Navy, Utility Green, and Black.

Shifting Gears by Meaghan Marie Hackinen

$23.95 at Newest Press

Meaghan Marie Hackinen’s latest book charts her unforgettable 25-day journey on the Trans Am Bike Race: a coast-to-coast ride across the entire North American continent from Oregon to Virginia. “Shifting Gears is another expertly delivered travelogue and a thrilling glimpse into a world of athletes driven to impossible lengths.”

In Conversation

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

Long- and Mid-Tail Bikes

The conversation filled up quickly in our Dispatch about the new Esker Hayduke LVS. It seems many folks jumped on this bike, and we hope to see more options come along. Do you ride a long- or mid-tail bike for bikepacking? Or do you have any wishes you’d like to see bike manufacturers address? Leave us a note in the conversation below and show us a photo of your bike. Or, better yet, submit it as a Reader’s Rig. We have several mid and long tails in our growing archive of 280 bikes submitted by our reader community. For instance, check out Joshua’s Black Sheep and David’s 1985 Trek Antelope.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

Gaelle’s Bombtrack in Pen and Ink

Speaking of Reader’s Rigs, our friend Timothé Girard, the artist who illustrated the lovely poster that shipped with the ninth issue of The Bikepacking Journal, recently posted a drawing of Gaelle’s Bombtrack Audax AL which we featured as a Reader’s Rig last year.

Bikepacking Catalina Island

As a farewell before leaving his home state of California, Trent Siggard recently hopped on the ferry out to Catalina Island for the first time to pedal around and scope out a campsite he’s wanted to stay in for some time. He shares a look at his ride across the beautiful island in the video above.

Farewell Alberta Rockies 700

After eight years of adventure, Alberta Rockies 700’s organizer Jonathan Hayward has announced that the event will no longer continue. “As much as it pains me to do so, the decision to conclude the AR700 was not made lightly. The event has faced numerous challenges over the years, from ever-changing trail conditions, forest fire re-routes, and logistical hurdles. As the event grew in popularity, so did the risk of organising an unofficial event such as this.” Read the full story here.

Tallbike Tour Ep.3: Following the Rhine River

In his latest video, Alex pedals his homemade tall bike along the EuroVelo 15, a multi-country cycle route that follows the River Rhine from Den Haag in The Netherlands until Andermatt in Switzerland. The EV15 is one of many signposted cycle routes crossing Europe. Also, check out our recent post featuring more about Alex’s trip and a collection of photos.

Framework Designs Turns Five!

Our friend Tia at Framework Designs in Australia is celebrating five years of bag making—congrats on hitting the five-year milestone, Tia! If you missed it be, sure to check out our field trip from this spring. Also, for anyone in Melbourne, Framework Designs is having a little celebration at their new shop in conjunction with their first ever warehouse sale on Friday, October 27th. Watch their Instagram page for updates.

Ultra Distance Scholarship Extends Deadline

With the mission of increasing representation within the world of ultra-cycling events, the Ultra Distance Scholarship (UDS) selects three recipients per year to receive 8-10 months of intensive support to train for and compete in an established self-supported ultra-race. The deadline to apply was just extended until the 13th of October at midnight. Apply here.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

The Big Lonely

The Big Lonely is an unsupported bikepacking adventure starting and ending in the beautiful beer and bike paradise of Bend, Oregon. The grand depart took off this morning at 6 a.m., and there are more than 25 riders registered for live tracking, which you can check out here.

Arkansas High Country Race

The Arkansas High Country Race is a self-supported 1,037-mile event following a new route from Adventure Cycling Association. Riders will ride one of three routes: the full ARHC, South Loop, or Ouachita Triple Crown. Learn more about the event and follow their progress live tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. local time.

Wish We Were Here

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

Logan Watts: Gravel Growler

With the leaves starting to turn, I always feel the draw to head up to Vermont for the Green Mountain Gravel Growler or to take on the Appalachian Gravel Growler again. There’s something about the cool air and fall colors that go hand and hand with these routes. I can almost taste the hot apple cider, Hill Farmstead Edward, and Folino’s pizza.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a handful of updates from the GOATS off-road ultra-distance bike challenge covering 750 kilometers in Portugal…

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.