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Radar

Feature Film and Photobook Announcement Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking

Photographer Wende Cragg has been a pillar of the cycling community since she began documenting road, cyclocross, and the early days of mountain biking in Marin County, California, and throughout the United States over 50 years ago. We are delighted to launch the trailer for our first feature-length documentary film, Camera Corner: Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking. It profiles Wende’s work and its lasting impact on the cycling industry.

We’re also unveiling a book and merch pre-order, as well as the beginning of a growing list of film screenings, which kicks off with the world premiere at the Marin Museum of Bicycling on August 16th & 17th and another at MADE’s movie night on August 23rd. There’s exclusive early viewing access, pre-orders for an epic photobook featuring Wende’s work, and an associated throwback merchandise run.

Continue reading below for all the details!

Reportage By: John Watson & Cari Carmean

Kona Ouroborus Supreme Review: Next-Gen Gravel

Since posting our first look back in April, John’s been putting in miles on the Kona Ouroborus Supreme and finally wrapped his head around not only how to classify this bike but also what its best use case is. Is this the next stage in the evolution of gravel bikes?

Radar By: Nic Morales

State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road First Ride Review

Featuring offerings in almost every category, there wasn’t a whole lot State Bicycle Co. was missing from their lineup of approachably priced frames and completes. Today, however, State enters the final frontier of metal frames with a $1299 titanium all-road model and multiple build kit options. Nic Morales has spent the past few weeks with the all-new titanium All-Road from State Bicycle Co. and, below, offers an exclusive in-depth first look…

Radar

Hungry the Big Lunch V 2.70 Hip/Shoulder Bag

Hungry, an Aussie bagmaker, makes a killer cross-body/shoulder/hip/bum bag called the Big Lunch ($210 AUD). While Cari and John were in Melbourne at MADE OZ, they picked up V 2.70 of this bag and used it on bike rides, bush walks, and city sightseeing. The V 2.70 of the Big Lunch features the Big Fidlock closure system, making entry to the bag a cinch and the massive roll top allows you to stuff it full of all sorts of stuff. Best of all, the straps tuck into the padding and you can mount it to your handlebars with ease. There’s even a secure zippered pouch accessible without having to unroll the roll-top.

All this to say we’ve got a bag problem and Hungry has our fix. Check out the V 2.70 of the Big Lunch at Hungry.

Reportage By: Travis Engel

Ibis Ripmo V3 First-Ride Review

The Ibis Ripmo may be the perfect bike. And how could Ibis update the perfect bike? Well, Travis got a couple short weeks on the new 2025 Ibis Ripmo V3, and it turns out you can do a lot more than just straighten the top tube.

Reportage By: Josh Weinberg

Avalanche Cycles Shop Visit: Vive L’Innovation à Paris

Earlier this month, Josh stopped over in Paris, France, following his time in the UK covering Bespoked Handmade Bike Show. During his visit to the City of Lights, he visited multiple bike shops and fabricators. First up in a series of reports from his time there, Josh checks in with Marie and Laurent of Avalanche Cycles, who take an innovative approach to building bicycles and components from steel, stainless, and titanium.

Learn more about this duo of French builders below!

Reportage By: John Watson

Readers’ Rides: Zeke’s Gemini World Randonneur

Originally featured in our MADE OZ coverage, Zeke’s stunning resto-mod Gemini World randonneur build was expanded upon by Alex Streich on the Off Course Bike Shop blog. We’ve got the whole write-up below for a very in-depth Readers’ Rides!

Reportage By: John Watson

Vintage Bicycles: 1983 Steve Potts MTB – What Are Dirt Drops?

Dirt drops are mentioned periodically here on The Radavist, usually in the context of a modern hardtail, rigid mountain bike, or adventure touring bike. But where did this terminology come from, and how are vintage dirt drops wildly different from what we have today? Using his 1983 Steve Potts as a platform for discussion, John unfurled the unique history behind this bike and looked at a proper 1980s dirt drop setup. Let’s check it out.

Radar By: Mike Varley

Mike Varley’s ‘Dropping In’ Article from 1991

We’ve got a story coming up tomorrow that references this Mountain and City Biking article written by Black Mountain Cycle‘s Mike Varley from 1991 about drop bars on mountain bikes. Also known as dirt drops, Mike discusses the benefits of the unique riding position offered by these off-road drop bars in the original article text below…

Reportage By: Ryan Wilson

A Long-Term Review of the Durston X-Mid 1P Tent

The X-Mid series of ultralight tents from Canada’s Durston Gear has gotten a lot of attention since they were first launched in 2018. Ryan Wilson has had a chance to put his Durston X-Mid through the wringer on trips across rugged regions of Asia and South America. Read on to find out about his thoughts on the tent after two years and hundreds of nights with it.

Radar By: Hailey Moore

What I Learned at the Rowdy Gowdy Women’s MTB Camp

During her review period with the Ibis Cycles Ripley, Hailey Moore attended the 2024 Rowdy Gowdy women’s mountain bike camp outside of Laramie, Wyoming, with hopes of gaining a better understanding of full-suspension fundamentals. In the age of internet tutorials and DIY culture, read on for a recap of what she learned in this directed and supportive setting.

Radar By: Nicholas Haig-Arack

Existential Safety: Leatt at 20 – A Conversation with Dain Zaffke

We’re trying something new here at The Radavist. We have been exploring various ways to keep providing free, top-notch photography, reviews, news, and Reportage to our audience, and sponsored content is one way to keep the lights on and the bills paid. We’re unwilling to compromise your trust, so we pledge to always operate with the utmost integrity and be fully transparent about any spon-con on the site.

Full disclosure: this article was supported by Leatt. If you’d like to keep the Radavist independent, please consider joining the Group Ride today – a monthly or yearly subscription is the best way to support the longest-running alternative cycling website.

Whew! Now that that’s out of the way… Our newly-minted Copy Editor, regular Radavist contributor Nicholas Haig-Arack, recently caught up with Leatt’s Dain Zaffke to learn about the brand’s history and discuss matters of safety, both physical and existential. Let’s begin with an intro to Leatt…

Reportage By: Brian Biggs & Abe Landes

Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo: Telling the True Story Through Photography

Do event photos tell the true story? Do they just remind us of a cool day on the bike that we can show off on social media? Or can they tell a different story, one we might not even know was taking place? Within the context of the Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo gravel cycling event, photographer Abe Landes wonders what role event photos play in telling the true story of the ride. Cyclist Brian Biggs has some thoughts…

Radar By: Hailey Moore

Casual Women’s Cycling Shorts Round-Up: Rapha Explore Shorts, ORNOT Women’s Mission Short, Fjallraven S/F Rider’s Hybrid Short and Ripton Diesel Jorts

For the start of summer, Hailey Moore shares a brief review of four casual women’s cycling short options: the Rapha Women’s Explore Shorts, ORNOT Women’s Mission Short, Fjällräven S/F Rider’s Hybrid Short and Ripton Diesel Jorts. Find your new warm-weather uniform for on and off the bike!

Reportage By: Hailey Moore

Ibis Cycles Ripley Review: A First-Timer’s Crash Course in Riding Full Suspension

Before getting to test ride an Ibis Cycles Ripley, Hailey Moore was pretty sure she’d never own a full-suspension bike. Now her feelings are, well, a little squishier. Read on for Hailey’s reflections on how riding a full-suspension mountain bike for the first time challenged her identity as a cyclist and furthered her mountain biking progression.

Reportage By: Morgan Taylor

Inside Paul Brodie’s Shop: a Lifetime of Tinkering

A lifetime of tinkering has led to some very interesting work out of Paul Brodie’s backyard shop, from influential early mountain bike designs to motorcycles made from the ground up. In advance of Brodie’s 40th Anniversary show in Vancouver BC this weekend, Morgan Taylor visited Paul’s shop to take a peek at the multitude of in-progress projects.

Reportage By: Hailey Moore & John Watson

Temple Cycles Road 2 Review: The Future Vintage Steel

After an extended hiatus from riding a dedicated road bike, Hailey Moore dips back into the category with a review of UK-based Temple Cycles Road 2. Read on for Hailey’s thoughts on this neo-classic with future vintage ambitions…

Reportage By: Josh Weinberg

Otso Cycles Hoot Ti Review: Titanium Hardtail Gets the Last Laugh

Launching today, the Hoot Ti from Otso Cycles is the brand’s first foray into designing a truly modern and progressive hardtail mountain bike. Built around 140 mm of front suspension with short 425mm chainstays across all sizes, the Hoot is meant for demanding trail riding yet is playful enough for riders who like to get airborne. It’s an evolution of where the brand, which has been innovating since day one, is going while also showcasing its ability to deploy new technologies to solve challenging design problems.

Josh has put considerable mileage on the new Hoot over the past few weeks, both in his usual testing grounds of southern Arizona and a big week in the steep mountains of northern New Mexico. Continue reading below for Josh’s review of the Hoot and a peek inside Otso’s Minneapolis, MN-based operations.