There are some bikes that are forever bikes. For Thomas from The Bike Hub, that bike is his trusty Trek Sawyer that he converted to a Drop-Bar MTB. Let’s check it out below!
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Reportage
Unicorns are Real: The Story of an Elusive 1991 Yeti Tree Frog
There aren’t many modern bicycle brands that have a history quite as rich as Yeti, let alone a diehard cult following of collectors and fans for the early bikes. Coming into a steel F.R.O or Yeti Ultimate is usually enough to be considered a “Holy Grail” find for most. However, there is another bike in the early Yeti lineup that is so rare many will never see one in person and more modern followers of the brand may not know even exists. This is the story of an elusive Yeti Tree Frog…
Radar
The Dust-Up: We Need A Better Way to Measure MTB Seat-Tube Angle
Today’s edition of The Dust-Up is a nerdy little tour through the world of effective seat-tube angles. Travis Engel thinks that the way we measure them is a little … obtuse. That number on your bike’s geometry chart may not mean what you think it means. He informs his opinions by talking to some mountain bike brands who are taking a fresh look at this deceptively complex dimension.
Radar
Radar Roundup: Sklar Titanium Seatpost, Yoshimura Black, Fabs Abs Spicy Pumpkin, Groovy Barrel Adjusters, ORNOT Power Air, Are City Cyclists “Better” People?, Rivendell Visit, Contraire, and Sight Unseen: Norway
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
The Ten Best Horror Films for Adventure Cyclists
Just like the rows of bagged candy at your grocery store, or the fountains of pumpkin spice latte at your coffee shop, you can’t escape Halloween once October hits. Not even here at The Radavist. Travis Engel has jumped on the spooky-season bandwagon with a list of scary movies (and one scary short film) that will strike a nerve for anyone who likes riding to the middle of nowhere…
Reportage
John’s Restoration of a 1983 Ritchey Everest With a “Touring Package”
Forever tinkering with his bikes, John recently wrapped up a complete restoration of the 1983 Ritchey Everest that we looked at last year. Remember? The gray one? The bike appeared to have been subjected to a sloppy respray at some point in the early 2000s, and John wanted to restore the bike to its formal glory.
He pinged Rick at D&D, the guy who has painted more Ritchey frames than perhaps anyone, to respray the Everest in Imron Bright Gold paint with the uber-rare Palo Alto Ritchey decals to finish the look. The Everest also had a “touring package” added when Tom built the frame in 1983. Since John acquired it, the Everest has always felt a bit naked without the proper racks…
We know John’s posted a lot of vintage projects over the past few years, but this might be the best yet! Let’s check it out below…
Radar
First Ride Review: PNW Components Loam Carbon Handlebar
With so many options for handlebars these days, it’s difficult to stand out in a crowded market. With their new Loam Carbon Handlebar, PNW Components claims they have achieved the optimal combination of compliance, comfort, strength, and value. Available today, the Loam Handlebar is offered in either 38mm or 25mm rise, trimmable 800mm width, and 35mm clamp diameter. Josh and Andrea recently installed the Loam bars on her Ibis Ripmo and, below, offer an overview and first ride impressions…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Massacan Paula Gravel Bike, Rivendell MUSA Pants, SON Edelux USB-FL Sneak Peek, Rogue Panda Ultra 200X Bags, Quirk Titanium Seatpost, BTP Bar Tape, Good Company, and International SingleSpeed Day is Coming!
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Cycling the World With McKenzie Barney Part 2
In Part One of her Cycling the World story, McKenzie Barney wrote about going all-in on bike touring after an introduction to unsupported two-wheeled travel in Vietnam led to a months-long ride down the length of Africa. In Part Two, she picks up the thread in recounting her solitary rides across New Zealand, Australia and South America.
Radar
Properly Tall: Bags By Bird Right Height Bag Review
Jay Ritchey of Bags By Bird (BXB) recently started offering custom bags not only for fabric choice and all the usual options but also specifically tailored to the height of your bars and your desired width. For riders with a lot of front-end real estate or those with a minimal amount, this can be an amazing way to maximize your gear space. In true BXB fashion, the bag looks incredible and functions equally beautifully.
Radar
Radar Roundup: Cotic Jeht Gen2, Chris King and Robert Axle Project, Ratio 2×12 SH Kit, Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 4.0, Brompton C Line Hot Pink Returns, MW Radius Winter Tights, Bikes or Death 165
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Custom Klunker Challenge: The Leafcycles Trail Digger
As a trail worker, cyclist, and product developer at Schwalbe tires, Michael Rudolph knows better than most that heavy, and often sharp and pointy, tools don’t make for the most convenient bike cargo. And, coaster brake klunkers don’t often make the most capable cargo bikes. But, with the announcement of Leafcycles Custom Klunker Challenge, Michael was on a mission to reconcile these incompatibilities. Read on for the backstory and build process for his winning custom klunker submission: the Leafcycles Trail Digger.
Radar
Eight Years Later: Silca SuperPista Ultimate Hiro Rebuild
Back in 2015, I bought one of the first Silca SuperPista Ultimate Hiro pumps. These pumps are a modern take on the vintage classic SuperPista floor pump Silca made back when it was an Italian brand in the 70s and 80s. Now, Silca is a US brand and when it re-launched, they debuted a stunning Made in the USA version of the SuperPista pump.
When I bought it, the pump was dubbed the Impero Ultimate Frame Pump and with a $400 price tag, I was hoping it’d last for decades, much like Silca’s legendary frame pumps that I use on my bikes. Well, eight years later my pump finally needed a rebuild, so I thought it’d be nice to walk through the rebuild process…
Radar
The Radavist is Once Again an Independent Website
You may have noticed some changes on The Radavist over the past few weeks. Well, it’s because we’ve parted ways with TPC. Read on for TPC’s official press release announcement on the split and what this means for the future of The Radavist with a letter from John Watson below…
Reportage
The Rough Road Renegade: Introducing the Curve GMX+ Steel
Is it a drop-bar mountain bike? A gravel rig on ‘roids? Or a bike from another dimension? When it comes to codifying bikes these days, it’s really easy to get really lost (real quick). However, once in a while, a bike comes along that challenges the norm, flips the bird to conventional geo numbers, and stands alone: not as an outlier, but as an original. Sam Rice has been test riding Curve Cycling‘s long-awaited GMX+ and shares his thoughts on why it isn’t “just another touring bike” below, along with a look at their updated Seek 430 FM carbon fork.
Radar
Radar Roundup: Don’t Miss the Velo Cosmos Show, Caletti Photo Show, Fish Ski 6-Pack, High Above Dyneema Hip Pack, Bullitt and Cinelli, Fat Tire and Dangle Supply, Trackers!, Bike Story Night with Alexandra Houchin, PEdALED Jary Collection 23, and Rémy Métailler Rides Portal
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
In Stock Now: Radavist and Cedaero Portage Bag – Black and Burgundy
When Josh posted up his Alumalith, with a custom Portage bag he collaborated on with Cedaero, it caused a rukkus! Karl from Cedaero got flooded with requests for these throwback MTB bags from the 1980s and 90s, so we decided to make a run for our readership!
We made two colors; waxed canvas burgundy ($134.95) like Josh specced and all-black cordura ($124.95). These bags are bike geometry/size specific and Karl made them to fit the Alumalith but they will fit any bike but you’ve gotta be mindful with the sizing! Read on below for more information on how to size this for your bike…
Radar
22.2 Ain’t Dead! A Look at the Paul Component Engineering 22.2 Boxcar 6-Bolt Face Stem
⌀22.2mm or 7/8″ bars were all they had back during the genesis of the almighty MOUNTAINBIKE. Riders would take the entire cockpit off their dirtbikes and flat track racers: Magura L363.20 bars, Magura brake/clutch levers, and even Magura grips, mounting them to SR or Cinelli quill stems. A lot has changed since the late 1970s but one thing remains: people love these small-diameter clamp bars for their mountain cruisers, klunkers, hardtails, and rigid MTBs. You know, the bikes that get ridden super hard!
Paul Component Engineering offers their normal Boxcar stem in a ⌀22.2mm clamp, but today they announced a 6-bolt faceplate Boxcar Limited stem ($147.50 – $166.50).
John got his hands on one before the drop and has some photos and thoughts below…
