Freitag began making bags in 1993 from used truck tarpaulins, discarded bicycle inner tubes and car seat belts, resulting in beautiful, graphically unique backpacks. Brompton began building folding bike for urban transport and more in 1976. These two brands worked together recently on a backpack that attaches to the Brompton and we think it’s pretty dang slick. See the full drop and all the info at Brompton.
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Radar
Albion’s Ultralight Insulated Jacket + Backpack
Weighing just 99 grams in size small, the newest piece of apparel in Albion’s kit is an ultralight, insulated jacket that combines warmth, breathability and packability. This new jacket uses Clo’s Eco Vivo recycled insulation and utilizes 100% recycled nylon ultralight ripstop face fabric with a C0 DWR coating to provide some shower resistance. Made in Italy.
Pricing: Jacket – £145, Bag – £35, Bundle – £170
See more at Albion.
Radar
Tailfin Announces Aluminum Arch Updates, Universal Thru-Axles, and More
Tailfin‘s unique rear rack setup looks more like a Tubus Tara system for your rear triangle than a traditional touring rack. Their carbon option has been quite popular and they just announced some crucial updates to their aluminum arch design, as well as a universal thru-axle, and much more. Read their full press-release below on this entire product drop.
Reportage
Workbench Review: Ratio’s 11-Speed Road to 12-Speed Eagle Drop Bar Conversion Kit
I’ve got this bike. It’s a touring bike. So when it’s loaded down with gear, it can get quite heavy. To remedy this, I built it up with an Eagle GX rear derailleur and cassette, giving me a whopping 10-50t range (the new GX goes to 52t even). To shift this range, I used a barcon shifter from Microshift because as you are well aware, SRAM doesn’t make a cable-actuated road shifter that’s compatible with their MTB mech lineup.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with the Microshift barcon. I was and have been more than pleased with this option but then Ratio, a small startup out of the UK announced a 11-speed road to 12-speed mountain upgrade kit.
I think this is one time when we can ignore that old Eddy Merckx adage “Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades…” Sorry Eddy, Johnnie’s bike needs this.
We posted about Ratio’s kit back in October. I ordered a kit the day the post went up but didn’t get motivated to do the install until I felt like I had a reason to. A few friends here in Santa Fe are taking on an all-road tour in April, and I wanted to get this bike dialed in before that trip, so last week, I swung by Sincere Cycles with the Dreamer and Ratio’s kit with hopes of rolling around on an 11-speed road shifter working with a 12-speed mountain…
Reportage
People Have to Learn Bicycles: Inside / Out at Ted James Design
As though they’d joined a cult and made some kind of suicide pact, having seen none during the five hours of driving previous, perhaps thirty pheasants lay dead in the road over a quarter-mile3 stretch. What had happened on this quarter-mile stretch? Why here? It made me regret buying the rabbit, but without screeching to a halt on a frozen dual carriageway it wouldn’t have been practical to stop and collect them. Even at 70mph I could tell some were past their best and it’s rude to turn up empty-handed. I was on my way to visit Ted, so turning up with roadkill seemed to make sense. I was running late though and didn’t want to rely on road gifts so I picked up a wild rabbit wrapped in paper from our local butchers. It was a relief they had it because plan B was the pet shop.
I’d debated not going to visit Ted of Ted James Design and just compiling the stories people tell about him. The chronicles of SuperTed! The stories people tell can seem fairly fantastic, however, worryingly most of the time they’re true. I sometimes wonder how Ted is even alive? If I were more superstitious, I’d say his spirit was too big for his body and so it spends all of its time trying to get out. There’s something in his eyes like the sort of superintelligence and frustration a sheepdog has about being domesticated, as though any room that he’s in is somehow too small, so his eyes dance about searching for exits.
Radar
Wizard Works is Taking Orders for Custom Alakazam and Shazam Bags
UK-based Wizard Works’ custom bags are in high demand and the good news is, today at 3pm GMT they’re opening up their custom orders again. These custom spots are extremely limited to just 5 orders per bag.
The will be 5 of each of these bags available:
–Alakazam 137
-Alakazam 139
–Shazam
–Mini Shazam
The bags will be made to order and will ship by the end of March. Check the individual items for more specific lead times.
Radar
UK’s Restrap Moves to a Bigger Facility
It’s always exciting to see makers in this industry grow and that’s the case with the UK’s Restrap, which recently moved from a 6,290sqft factory to 12,250sqft, doubling their production space. Check out their press release below, along with more photos of their new digs.
Radar
How a Bicycle is Made
This film from 1945 looks at the design and manufacture of Raleigh bicycles. You can see more at the British Council.
Reportage
From Coil Back to Air: John’s Pumpkin Spice Starling Murmur 29er
Since moving to Santa Fe, I’ve ridden my mountain bikes almost exclusively, which is a stark contrast to how much time I would spend on my drop bar bikes in Los Angeles. It’s not that there isn’t gravel in our area, it’s just that mountain biking is so accessible, so remote, and so sheltered from the wind and the sun, it’s a no-brainer.
Another major difference is whereas I’d drive to the trailhead in LA, I find myself riding to the trails here 99.9% of the time, even on my Starling Cycles Murmur, which is a really big bike to pedal across town, up the foothills, and into the mountains.
These miles spent on my full suspension had me spending a lot of time adjusting the coil system this bike was built on. Some days, I’d pedal with only a hip bag, while others, I’d lug a heavy camera bag around. This 10+ pound differential made it somewhat awkward to adjust the coil shocks as I found myself smack dab in the middle of the two coil weight zones. While the ride quality of the coil system is undeniably noticeable, it felt like I needed something less finicky.
So, when Fox reached out, asking if I wanted to try out their new fork and rear shock, I jumped on the opportunity. Little did I know I’d gravitate back towards air after vibing so hard on the coil shocks’ ride quality…
Radar
Halo Wheels Designs Gravel Tires: RXR, GXR, GXC
Halo, makers of various wheels and components, have entered the gravel market with three new models of tires. Their RXR (650b x 47mm) is an all-road/hardpack tire, GXR (650b x 47mm) is an all-surface tire, and the GXC (650b x 47mm or 700 x 38mm) is a gravel tire with lots of grip for the roughest days out on backcountry roads. Each tire comes in black or gumwall and you can find out more at Halo Wheels.
Radar
Mason Cycles InSearchOf Redux Features the Condensor Rack and Load-Bearing Fender
Many framebuilders and bike companies approach cargo capacity by relying on third-party racks, which is fine and all but when a company designs specific cargo solutions, it causes pause. Trek did it with their 1120+ touring bike and now Mason Cycles turns it up a notch with their new InSearchOf steel touring bike model, featuring the Condensor Rack. Yet the most clever innovation here is this beautiful load-bearing front mudguard/fender. Not every ride requires cargo bags but plenty of rides, especially this time of year, require the constant shedding and switching of layers. This fender can hold a jacket (or a hoagie, burrito, muffin, etc), with the addition of ski straps.
You can read all about the Condensor Rack at Mason Cycles and see the new ISO models there too!
Radar
Adidas Returns to Cycling With “the Road” Shoes and More
While Adidas’ entire cycling lineup looks exceptionally well, the real standout from the brand’s full-fledged return to cycling apparel is ‘the Road’ shoes. Those fans of the ’70s and ’80s Adidas cycling shoes will remember how sleek and minimal those shoes were. The Road shoes feature three reflective stripes, lace closure, a seamless upper, and use three-bolt cleats patterns. These shoes will retail for £130 when they’re in stock and unfortunately, they’re only available in the UK…
See more at Adidas.
Radar
Hazzard Racing welcomes Jack Carthy
Jack Carthy takes on the Fort William trails with his new team, Hazzard Racing…
Reportage
Sturdy Progress: Inside / Out at Sturdy Cycles
Andrew stops mid-sentence, pauses, “ooooooh!…….. Oooooh…. oooooh!” his pitch rises to a maniacal school child giggle of surprise and wild childlike delight, like a two-year-olds first taste of cake. Visceral and uncontrollable joy. “Tom!?! Is this a prototype or is this a FUCKING!…. ok…. That’ll do it!” a long pause of wild-eyed observation glancing desperately around the room, eyes hungry for an affirming reaction but forced to settle for Tom’s grinning but nonchalant response of “yea, they’ve gotten lighter as well”. Another longer pause as dust from Tom’s stoic “yogi bear” response settles, a mumbled and affectionate “asshole.” The recording tapers off into minor expletives, mumblings, and the low noises people make to indicate affection for bits of metal when they’re together in sheds.
Radar
the Fairlight Secan MKii
The Secan MKii and Faran MKii sit together as a family of products as they share many of the same design features including tire clearance, tube shaping, and dynamo integration. Both models are extremely versatile and they can cover everything from commuting to self-sufficient touring. Whereas the recently launched Faran MKii is a dedicated off-road tourer, the Secan MKii is an all-capable gravel bike.
The Secan MKii features custom-shaped and butted Renolds tubing: 853 DZB down tube, 853 seat tube, 853 top tube, and a 631 CNC’d oversized head tube. Both the Secan MKii and the Faran MKii utilize 14mm stays.
Think of the Secan as a more robust off-road machine with an oversized head tube, larger tubing, but the same fat tire (68mm) clearance as the Faran. Both have integrated dynamo setups, Fairlight’s signature dropouts/brake mount design, and beautiful paint jobs.
Head to Fairlight to see more.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Brad’s UK-Built Curtis S1 SSMTB
Our International Singlespeed Day post brought out some real gems, including Brad‘s Curtis S1 singlespeed MTB. This one’s a real beaut and Brad supplied a great rundown on the bike’s inception, so read on below for the full report!
Radar
Be Seen on the Road with the New Wizard Works Wiz Viz Bags
Just announced on their Instagram account, UK bag makers Wizard Works debuted two bags, built from reflective material with high-visibility blaze orange hits. The lil Presto! barrel bag offers enough space for snacks, layers, or a small camera and the Teeny Houdini saddle pack will hold a spare tube, levers, and a small multitool. Both bags are made in the UK and offer up additional visibility for the dark winter months ahead.
Radar
Boosted Bryn Gets Buck Wild on the Starling Swoop
Starling Cycles rider Reece Richards has a bit of fun in the woods on the Starling Klunker and Swoop.
