Radar Roundup: Bridging a Gap, Surly Grappler New Color, SaddleSpur, Nordest Albarda GT Gravel, Mountain Laurel Border Handlebar Harness, Ripton Black Pant, Twotone Long Sleeve, Finding Balance in Tweed Valley, and NYC Loop with Aiyana

Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…

Bridging a Gap: The Story Behind Bikepacking Roots’ Newest Community Route

Bikepacking Roots was founded to get more people out on their bikes camping. As such it has been focusing on Community Routes, or routes its members send in to include in Bikepacking Roots’ extensive route library. The latest route, the Grayson Gravel Traverse:

“I was invited to join this trip by David Landis, who I am excited to have as our Bikepacking Roots’ Regional Steward from Virginia. David is probably most known in the bikepacking community as the creator of the popular TransVirginia Bike Route. He also started and moderates the popular Bikepacking Virginia Facebook group with over 3,500 members. David assembled a great group of bikepackers, writers and photographers to experience the Grayson Gravel Circuit and connect with local stakeholders along the way. The Grayson Gravel Circuit is a 143-mile loop version developed from the signature 72-mile route, the Grayson Gravel Traverse, which David created in 2022 in partnership with Grayson County.”

Check out the full story and a lovely gallery from Ben Carpenter at Bikepacking Roots.

Surly Grappler New Color $1899

Surly’s 27.5-wheeled, dropper post-equipped, dedicated touring bike, the Grappler, got a new paint color for 2024; Subterranean Homesick Blue. These frames are boost-spaced and have bosses for racks, fenders, and cargo cages throughout. If you’re looking for a drop bar, big tire tourer, this is a great option!

See more at Surly.

The SaddleSpur is… Interesting £125

The SaddleSpur is like the Narwal of the saddle world. Designed in Britain, and engineered for stability, enhanced performance, and comfort, this unisex short saddle provides the fifth, secure, point of cycling contact; “coccyx connection”. We obviously haven’t tried this and we get where the SaddleSpur is going from a functional standpoint… but. Wow.

Specs:

Short nose allows for a more personal fit.
Flexible base and a pressure relief channel for comfort.
Patented “spur” design provides a fulcrum for stability and enhanced performance.
Sturdy polyurethane padding provides comfort for body contact.

See more at SaddleSpur.

Nordest Albarda GT Titanium Gravel Bike

New frame, new design, and new geometry; that’s Nordest’s intent with the all new Albarda GT gravel bike. Its drive-side chainstay is 3D printed to optimize tire and chainring clearance. It features full-integrated cable routing from the Chris King Aero 3 headset to the front and rear derailleur, rear brake caliper, telescopic seatpost, and front brake caliper. The Nordest Albarda is a titanium gravel bike with a clean and minimal look.

All of these improvements make the Nordest Albarda GT frame silent, fun, and one fast gravel bike. The frame is manufactured in Ti3Al2.5V double-butted titanium tubing, with an advanced study of geometry designed by Nordest, and has been tested by riders with excellent results in all conditions. With just 420 mm chainstays and up to 650b 2.10 or 700x50c compatible wheels.
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Albarda GT Frame Kit Includes:

Nordest Albarda GT frame
Chris King AERO 3 headset
Nordest Albarda Carbon 12×100 1.5T 47/52mm fork
2.375,00 € – 2.674,00 €

See more at Nordest.

Mountain Laurel Design Border Handlebar Harness $68

The MLD Border Handlebar Harness system is a simple, strong, and lightweight dual-clamp style handlebar harness built to hold all sizes of single and double-ended drybags, like its Ultra X Handlebar Double End Dry Bags and Ultra Bike Drybags. (bags not included) This dual clamp style harness provides more stability vs. foam spacers, has better clearance and cable protection, and allows for better hand positions near the stem.

Specs:

Ultralight and Tough Ultra X 200 UHMWPE fabric.
Internal carbon fiber wands on top and bottom edges for stability.
Multiple strap locations on the daisy chain to Velcro to the carbon fiber tube.
3” X 10” Bungee Cord Top Lash Deck. Attach rain jacket, tent pole bag, mini tripod, etc
Three 10mm Triglides for attaching accessories.
Large Secure Full Rectangle Deck Wrap Face 10”X12”.

See more at Mountain Laurel Design.

Ripton Black Bike Pants for Women and Men $120

Lookin’ casual on the bike has never been easy, nor does it require any compromise in comfort or performance. The Jort-barons over at Ripton dropped these Black Bike Pants a little while back and John’s been riding them daily since they showed up. You can expect a review from us next week but we didn’t want them to sell out before spreading the good word.

If you’re looking for a riding pant that doesn’t look like a riding pant but performs like a riding pant then check out these!

See the Womens and Mens at Ripton.

Twotone “Hold Your Line, You’ll Be Fine” Long Sleeve Shirt Pre-Order

To celebrate Twotone turning nine years old, they teamed up with their favorite visual communications studio 568,91 km down the Rhein in Basel, Switzerland: Rio Basel.

Inspired by their Amore Senza Motore design last year, Kike & Jon worked with Giacomo from Rio Basel to incorporate the 9th year motto into a limited run of co-designed 100 t-shirts printed in Utrecht, the Netherlands, by Katoen Fabriek. The shirt is 100% spun and combed organic cotton, water-based ink, regular fit, 200 G/M2.

The pre-order is open until Nov. 14th & will save you €10 + get you free shipping. And definitely some free stickers! The shirts will then ship in early December.

Twotone thanks you all for all the support over these past nine years!

See more at Twotone.

Innes Graham: Finding Balance in the Tweed Valley

“I love riding my bike. It’s the best thing.”

From World Cup Downhill to BMX to coach to Enduro racer. Innes Graham (@innesgrahambike) has more reason than most to find that elusive balance of riding for work or pleasure.

Between coaching for the prestigious Dirt School, training for UCI EDR, the best thing for Innes to get stoked on riding bikes again, is riding bikes.