Friday Debrief: Custom Tanglefoot Builds, New Nitto Light Mount, WTB Fatbike Tires, 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…

Wildwood Cycles Backcountry Collection

Made in Canada / $20+ at Wildwood Cycles

After multiple requests for solutions to carry animal deterrents, Wildwood Cycles on Vancouver Island has released a new lineup of accessories dubbed the “Backcountry Collection.” The drop includes a bear spray holster that’s designed to leave room for a bottle cage on top, a Tru Flare holster that can also be installed under a bottle cage, and a handmade Islander Knife that comes complete with a sheath, your choice of cherry or black walnut handle, and a tempered 4130 steel blade. Each holster/sheath is available in orange, black, or camo and available to purchase now.

Moots Introduces Groundswell Finish

Made in USA / $825 at Moots

Moots just added a finish option called Groundswell that’s now available on all of their titanium frames. Defined as “a broad, deep undulation of the ocean caused by an often distant gale or seismic disturbance,” Groundswell uses a combination of matte anodized techniques with touches of bright polished anodization to give an effect of movement. It adds a sensation that the tube has an ovalized rectangular look to it and comes in subtle matte grey and radiant rose-copper colors.

Doom Bars Mini Shims

Made in USA / $30 at Doom Bars

Folks running a 22.2mm handlebar will be interested in Doom Bars’ new Mini Accessory Shims. These little shims clamp onto any 22.2mm bar and provide a 31.8mm diameter clamping point for lights, GPS devices, and more. There are 25mm (1″) wide and have 19mm of clamp-able width. The price includes US shipping.

Shovel Research 7mm Nitto Light Mount

Made in USA / $17 at Shovel Research

The new Shovel Research Nitto Light Mount is a simple light mount designed to mount on Nitto adjustable rack struts with a 7mm diameter. They include a machined clip, 20mm M5 bolt, and one double-threaded stand-off with a M6 side for bolting your favorite dynamo light to. The mount is made from 6061-T6 aluminum and comes in anodized silver (clear) or black.

Carrie Gere Supply Vest

Made in Amsterdam / €270 at Carrie-Gere.com

Leanne from Carrie Gere in Amsterdam started prototyping a vest after participating in the Atlas Mountain Race last year. She wanted it to be a lightweight hydration pack with extra capacity for long stretches without resupply. The Supply Vest is the final product. It’s made from Challenge Sailcloth Ultra 200, can expand to hold up to 10L, is fully seam taped, and is packed full of pockets and straps for organization and easy access while riding. The vests will be made in small batches starting next month, and those interested should e-mail Leanne directly to reserve one.

Tanglefoot Core Crafted Builds

Made in Taiwan / $2,500+ at Analog Cycles

Tanglefoot Cycles just added new complete build options for 2024, a project they’re calling their “Core Crafted” lineup. Unlike their full custom builds, the Core Crafted bikes will be customizable to dial in the look and fit while avoiding the full customization process. Complete builds start at $2,500 and are available today.

Limited Edition Wizard Works x Cycles Manivelle Alakazam Basket Bag

Make in England / €260 at Cycles Manivelle

Last spring, Lucas reviewed the Wizard Works Alakazam and new Manivelle basket, which sits comfortably between Wald’s 137 and 139 sizes. The two small brands just teamed up on a limited run of four Alakazam bags made to fit the Manivelle Basket featuring some lovely pops of color. Two of the bags are already sold at the time of posting, so act fast!

ENVE INNERDRIVE System

$750+ at ENVE

ENVE just introduced their new INNERDRIVE hub system, which they claim “represents the pinnacle of bicycle drive mechanisms.” It features an oversized 42mm ratchet system that saves weight and reduces axle stress to increase durability compared to their earlier generations of hubs. They say they’re low maintenance and easy to service, too. Their INNERDRIVE hubset is available now as a standalone option or as part of SES road and G Series gravel wheelsets.

New WTB Fatbike Tire

1530-1670 grams / $135-280 at WTB

WTB recently got into the fatbike tire game. Their new Bailiff 27.5 x 4.5″ fatbike tire has a 120tpi casing, features tightly spaced fast-rolling center knobs, and is available with or without carbide studs pre-installed. All versions feature 312 stud pockets. The tread is made from a snow-specific compound that WTB claims remains soft at extremely cold temperatures.

Buffalo Bags EPX-400 Shiny Leaf

Made in Thailand / $190+ at Buffalo Bags

Buffalo Bags in Bangkok just expanded their Big Buffalo handlebar bag lineup with a new EcoPak X-Pac color they are calling “Shiny Leaf.” EPX-400 is the lightest fabric in their lineup and is, according to Buffalo Bags, “the world’s only durable and waterproof fabric made from 100% recycled polyester fiber and film.” The Big Buffalo comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large) and costs between $190 and $250 USD.

In Conversation

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

Your Navigation App of Choice

In Josh’s Editor’s Dozen earlier this week, he pointed out what app he’s been using for in-phone navigation on tour. That made us curious about what apps our readers use for in-phone navigation. Take the survey below, and we’ll release the results next week…

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

2024 Colorado Trail Race Details Announced

Race organizer Jefe Branham updated the Colorado Trail Race website this week with details for the 2024 group start. This year, it starts in Waterton Canyon at 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 11th. There’s no formal registration, but Trackleaders will be used to keep tally of riders wanting to be tracked. Read more here.

We Are All In This Together

Independent filmmaker and adventure cyclist Daniel Troia released his award-winning independent documentary We Are All In This Together on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play today. Troia rode his bicycle from San Francisco to New York City with no money or food to find out how divided we really are as a people and then made a documentary about the experience. Part adventure cycling film, part social impact project, We Are All In This Together has won multiple awards on the film festival circuit, and you can watch it now. Learn more here.

Why Cotic Uses Reynolds 853

In their latest video, Cy Turner, Cotic’s founder and designer, walks through why they use Reynolds 853 tubing in their bikes.

Be Good Foundation Colorado Trail Bikepacking Scholarship

The Be Good Foundation Scholarship program is committed to removing financial barriers and providing more access to cycling opportunities for individuals from underrepresented communities. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 depending on need, and they’re intended to be used for gear and travel support specific to bikepacking the Colorado Trail. The deadline to apply is February 29th, 2024. Find the application form here.

Wizard Works January Sale

The crew at Wizard Works in London is having a sale to kick off the new year and help folks prepare for spring rides and trips ahead. Through midnight GMT on Tuesday, January 16th, they’re offering up to 30% off bags, 20% off accessories, 15% off Wiz Viz, 20% off everything Hot Pink, and 10% off all custom orders. Explore the sale at Wizard.Works.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

JayP’s Backyard Fat Pursuit

JayP’s Backyard Fat Pursuit is a 60 or 200-kilometer bike race on a network of groomed snowmobile trails. Groomed is relative. Riders will need to be self-sufficient and carry all their own gear, food, and water, although there will be checkpoints and aid stations. There are more than 70 riders registered for today’s grand depart. You can follow their progress live here.

Shaky Isles Challenge

The Shaky Isles Challenge is a self-supported bikepacking challenge following a massive 2,900-kilometer route along the length of Aotearoa/New Zealand. There are only four riders registered for live tracking, and you can follow their progress live here.

Wish We Were Here

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

Joe Cruz: Oh Boyaca!

There are a thousand reasons for riding bicycles in a place, but for me, the big ones are for a beautiful and inspiring history, for terrain that tells its own towering story, for food that sings, and for time with people who make you a better, richer person. Colombia is all of these, and I keep going back. The cycling culture there is vigorous and vibrant. Riding bicycles is legible to Colombians, and it leads to shared stories and joyous pedaling. I, for one, am glad that national hero Nairo Quintana is back in the pro tour this year riding for the Movistar team.

I first rode bikes around Villa de Leyva a dozen years ago, and then saw it again during BIKEPACKING.com’s scouting project for the Ruta Chingaza section of the Andean Bear Corridor Routes Network. Villa de Leyva is also the southern endpoint of the Oh Boyaca! route, published on this site in 2016. If I could magically transport myself somewhere right now, that would be on the short list. I picture myself moving fast and light and waving to Colombians on the roadside as I cheer for what a terrific place it is.

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