The Radavist

The Norco Search got some updates for 2021, including an optional build that features the 50mm SR Suntour GVX gravel fork which offers 50mm of travel. This X6 butted aluminum frame, when paired with this fork softens the ride quality while injecting a bit of fun to your normal rides. The bike comes with the standard bells and whistles of a modern gravel bike with a GRX kit, thru-axles, tubeless wheels, and best of all, the retail on the Search XR A Suspension is a mere 1,899.00. See more at Norco.

Paul Component Engineering has a lifelong legacy of making parts you can rely on, for just about any bike. This legacy is only possible due to the fact that the team at Paul live, eat, dream, drink, sleep, and travel for all things bike! Part of their tradeshow and bike race fleet is this Sprinter van, which recently got a facelift thanks to Chris McNally. Let’s take a look at this van’s new vinyl wrap in detail below.

This week’s Readers’ Rides is a little different. Chris sent in his parts bin Bombtrack Arise gravel bike. What makes this build unique is that his current build on this frame is a fixed gear. Read on below for the full build breakdown and some words by Chris…

I must say, we get sent A LOT of Kickstarter campaigns over here at the Radavist but this one is one of the most unique ideas I’ve seen:

“CHOKA is an airtight bicycle brand from the Pyrenees created by to bike fanatics: Claire and Joel both independent industrial designers. We want to create simple, playful, and durable bicycles with a little extra in case of a flat tire.

We dream of a better world, without disposable CO2 cartridges but with a lighter and more efficient solution than hand pumps. In 2018, for the Concours de Machines, we designed and built a prototype with Yoann, Menhirs frame builder. It that has been turning heads: we welded our frame airtight to use it as an air reserve. We can then inflate our tires and even set up tubeless!”

What do you think? See more at CHOKA’s Kickstarter.

With the ever-increasing popularity of gravel and all-road bikes, State Bicycle Co’s latest model is yet another geared bike, with a bit of versatility and affordability built-in.

6061 Black Label All-Road Frame

The Black Label All-Road frame is made from 6061 aluminum and uses thru-axles with 100/142 spacing, with plenty of tire clearance (700×45 or 650×50) opening the door for various wheel and tire size combinations.

Monster Fork Option:

This new Monster fork is compatible with the 6061 Black Label All-Road and steel 4130 All-Road bikes. Featuring “3-pack” mounts on each blade for racks, bottles and accessories, the Monster fork also has fender mounts and a front crown mount for racks, dynamo lights and anything else deemed necessary for adventure. Available as a retrofit for the 4130 All-Road or as a $179.99 option on the 6061 Black Label All-Road, the Monster fork is an ally for your next big ride.

Specs:
-6061 Alloy Frame, Tapered Head Tube, Rear Thru-Axle, Internal Cable Routing, 2x Bottle cage mounts and fender mounts.
-Full-Carbon Fork with fender and mid-blade rack mounts, 12×100 thru-axle and internal brake routing
-Drivetrain- 40×11-42, SRAM Apex with State 1x Crankset.
-Brakes: Tektro mechanical
-Wheels: Tubeless-ready, Vittoria Terreno 700×38 or 650×47 tubeless-ready tires
-MONSTER FORK Option: full carbon with “3-pack” mounts, crown mount and fender mounts, internal -brake routing, 12×100 axle

$1399.99 Complete (with 650b or 700c wheel choice)
“+Both” wheelsets add-on $349.99
Frameset: $679.99
“Swap” to Monster Fork $179.99

See more at State Bicycle Co.

Have you seen the X9 from Orange Bikes? Well, check out this short video showcasing this machine!

Hot off the press, fresh out of the kitchen, or brand spanking new. However you want to put it, today’s new build is one mightily impressive gravel bike! Built for Girona-based creative director, Nik Howe, this Legor Cicli LWTUA is inspired by the very place Nik will be riding it in – and specced according to match. But don’t take our word for it; read on what Nik has to say below and check out more photos of this dream bike.

Titanium is the greatest material for a bicycle and Bombtrack clearly knows that which is why they took their Hook EXT and made it from titanium for 2021. The Hook can take 650b or 700 wheels, has plenty of bosses for cargo attachments, and is only available as a frameset.

Specs:
-Titanium 3Al-2.5V frame with T47 BB shell fender mounts and through axles.
-Full carbon tapered fork with internal light cable routing, through axles and triple cage mounts.
-Sram UDH derailleur hanger.
-Toptube bag direct mounts, triple cage mount on downtube and seattube for optimized bottle position, bottle cage mounts underneath the downtube and rear rack mounts.
-CNC yoke for maximum tire and chainring clearance.
-Ovalized toptube for supreme steering precision and comfort.
-Biaxially ovalized downtube for optimized power transfer and steering precision.
-Front derailleur compatible.
-12 mm through axles front and rear.

Who is Bicycle Pubes? Or rather, what is Bicycle Pubes? Internet jokester or an anonymous harbinger of cycling’s truths. For this week’s Readers’ Rides we look at the Grim Donut of gravel bikes, the Grav Grav Cruncher by Enforcer Bikes…

Otso’s Waheela C is a crowd-pleaser all-road bike that checks a lot of boxes for lovers of gravel. For Autumn 2020, it gets a new slate and gray matte paint. After customer feedback, Otson has decided to launch this bike now instead of next year and will come with an option to have a fork with a 12mm or 15mm axle. The Waheela C has been covered here before on the Radavist but here’s a refresh for y’all:

-Massive tire clearance. 29” x 2.1” tires (700c x 53mm equivalent) with ample space. The same clearance can be found with 650b or 27.5” wheels.
-Adjustable geometry. A Tuning Chip rear dropout allows the rider to change the wheelbase by up to 20mm. This chip has three positions: the rear position makes for a long wheelbase and stable ride, the front position is a shorter wheelbase for CX racing or singletrack riding, and the middle position is kind of the best of both worlds.
-EPS molded carbon frame. It’s light, strong, and ready for the next race, climb, or spirited ride.
-Dropper compatible. 60mm and 100mm travel options on Otso’s custom bike configurator.

See more at Otso!

This morning Campagnolo announced their 13-speed gravel groupset dubbed Ekar and similarly, brands rolled out their build kit offerings with the new group. Sage Titanium is one of those brands and they now offer Ekar on their two gravel models, the Barlow race machine and the monster gravel machine, the Storm King. You can now build a Storm King as pictured with Ekar, a dropper, Shamal wheels, and the whole 9, err 13, for $9,500. It might not be for everyone’s budget but it sure is nice to look at! See this build in detail below and check out more at Sage Titanium.

Redshift has made a name for themselves by listening to what consumers want with their gravel bikes and the latest from the brand embodies that. The Kitchen Sink Handlebar comes in widths from 44cm up to 50cm and is designed to make your off-road experience as comfortable as posttible. Aiding in this is an option for an 150mm aerodynamic loop extension and options for their ergonomic Cruise Control Grip System.

Specs:
-20mm RISE means less pressure on the hands and a broad range of fit options.
-7° SWEEP means the bar is positioned where your hands want to be, whether your on the flats, the hoods or the drops.
-25° FLARE on a compact drop means a stable, aerodymanic drop position that is actually comfortable enough to use.
-Optional endurance loop adds an alternative aerodynamic riding position and a perfect spot for gear storage and mounting accessories.
-Retail $99
-Shipping in December

Head to Redshift to see more!

The Kepler is Brother Cycles’ do it all drop-bar bike. Gravel, light touring, commuting, and forest-bound shenanigans. The Kepler is a 4130 frame, with ED coating under the paint to prevent corrosion, can run either 700×45 or 650×48 wheels, has mounts for racks/fenders, with three bottle mounts. For 2021 the new Kepler now features flat-mount thru-axle dropouts with a replaceable derailleur hanger, s-shaped chainstays, and a unicrown steel fork.

Price for us non UK/EU dwellers is £520.83 which is not bad at all!

Pre-order your Kepler at Brother Cycles today for a October 12, 2020 release date.

The Fugio 30 returns this year in the expansive Genesis lineup. Along with a blinged-out, 1980’s inspired fade, the Fugio 30 comes with a Shimano GRX kit and is built from a Reynolds 725 tubeset, with a full carbon fork.

For those unfamiliar with 725. It sits three rungs down the Reynolds ladder. This steel tubeset uses thinner walls thanks to its production technique of mandrel butting. It’s then heat-treated to increase strength. 725 is lighter than most production steel tubes and this just adds to its responsiveness.

Head to Genesis to see more on the Fugio 30.

Always wanting to improve their tires, WTB has just announced a new casing for their gravel tires measuring at least 37mm wide. This casing is dubbed SG2, and is an ultra-thin nylon insert that coveres the tire from bead to bead under a 120 tpi casing. This means the 120 tpi casing will ride like a lightweight tire but will offer complete protection against snake bites and other potential damage.

These SG2 gravel tires only come in black sidewalls and will see a  5-10% weight gain over their 60tpi counterparts without puncture protection. This translates to a 15-50 gram increase in weight, depending on the width of the tire. All the WTB 60tpi tires that we’ve come to trust over the years are still available with an MSRP of $59.95, while all SG2-protected 120tpi gravel tires have an MSRP of $69.95.

The entire gravel tire line is currently in stock and can be ordered from your favorite local bike shop or WTB.com.

Each year, Bombtrack teases out their new range with a video clip collage of each of their forthcoming models. Here’s this year’s clip!