Singular Cycles Swift MK5 Review: 29+ Ain’t Dead

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Singular Cycles Swift MK5 Review: 29+ Ain’t Dead

Initially released in the mid-aughts, the Singular Cycles Swift was one of the first bikes to embrace 29-inch wheels, which, as we now know, became a highly popular size during the proceeding decades. Still, nearly twenty years later, the Swift endures. The frameset has undergone multiple updates over the years, with the most recent incarnation featuring elements true to its roots, like thin steel frame tubing, eccentric bottom bracket, thicc tire clearance, and reasonable pricing. Yet the MK5 version, launched in late 2023, finally gets internal dropper routing, tapered headtube, boost spacing, and thru axles. 

When Josh swung through Portland, Oregon, earlier this year, he picked up a Swift test frameset from US distributor Biciclista and outfitted it with choice parts from generous partners like Ingrid, Chris King, and Paul. A longtime fan of plus tire bikes, Josh reviews the Swift after a few months of riding on his home trails in southern Arizona. Is this 29+ suspension-corrected rigid bike still relevant in 2024? Read on to find out…

Lachlan Morton Wins 2024 Unbound Gravel: A Personal Reflection

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Lachlan Morton Wins 2024 Unbound Gravel: A Personal Reflection

Last weekend, Lachlan Morton’s historic record-setting win at Unbound Gravel felt like a rare moment that all cycling fans could celebrate. The Australian pro rider’s journey has been anything but ordinary. For many of us at The Radavist, Lachy represents a soul rider who continually manages to rise above the drama of gravel racing and win for all the right reasons.

Below, Nic Morales offers a meditation on what Morton’s victory in Emporia means to the broader cycling community, accompanied by photos from Richard Pool.

Melodie Special: Commuter Cycles in Melbourne Helps Melodie Build Her New Bike

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Melodie Special: Commuter Cycles in Melbourne Helps Melodie Build Her New Bike

Andy and Melodie from FYXO run a series of events in Melbourne, Australia, as a husband and wife team. Over the years, Melodie has had many bikes, but it wasn’t until she linked up with the team at Commuter Cycles that she had real input on a build. Read on for a brief history of Melodie’s bikes and a walkthrough of what the team is cooking up for her newest steed in part one of a two-part look

Designed For The Dirt: Curve Cycling Carbon Dirt Hoop Wheelset Review

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Designed For The Dirt: Curve Cycling Carbon Dirt Hoop Wheelset Review

Since its launch in 2013, Melbourne-based Curve Cycling has developed an impressive and unique stable of adventure-focused titanium and steel bikes. Perhaps you caught Sam Rice or Pat Valade’s review of their GMX+ or watched Abdullah Zeinab scoop first place at the Rhino Run last year? But before they made race-winning adventure bikes, carbon wheels were their bread and butter. 

After spending time with the alloy rims that came on his GMX+, Sam Rice switched over to carbon Dirt Hoops from Curve and has since put considerable mileage on them. Below, he offers an overview of the wheelset along with an in-depth review…

Bikes of the 2023 GiRodeo: Rizzo, Repete, Scarab, Argonaut, ENVE, Belle, Stelbel, and Curve

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Bikes of the 2023 GiRodeo: Rizzo, Repete, Scarab, Argonaut, ENVE, Belle, Stelbel, and Curve

More than just a long weekend of some of the finest people, food, and grav grav Europe has to offer, the ENVE and The Service Course GiRodeo is a small bike show hosted by Girona’s best bike shop. Originally made famous by its Gustave Eiffel bridge and later the TV series Game Of Thrones, Girona is arguably being made more famous as a cycling destination today.

If Gustave Eiffel’s Pont de les Peixateries Velles bridge was an architectural warmup, demonstrating the strength of steel before going full Eiffel Tower in Paris, then this year’s Ruben of Madrid-based Rizzo went full Eiffel Tower, with four super interesting bikes of their own. Petor continues his coverage of the 2023 GiRodeo by showcasing the huge leap forward in terms of skills, craftsmanship, and technique from the bikes he saw last year…

Announcing Cycling the World Film Event hosted by Patagonia Palo Alto on January 24

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Announcing Cycling the World Film Event hosted by Patagonia Palo Alto on January 24

Cycling The World documents McKenzie Barney’s multiyear, mostly-solo attempt to see the world by bicycle over 18,000 miles, five continents, and 28 countries. Self-shot and edited, McKenzie is currently touring her documentary around the United States with The Radavist as her media partner. In 2023, the film toured around the country, hosted by universities, breweries, and bike shops such as Treehouse Cyclery and Cycleast.

Now, we’re excited to announce the latest Cycling The World film tour event for 2024: January 24 in Palo Alto, California hosted by Patagonia!

Wood Is Good: Twmpa Cycles GR1 Gravel Bike Review

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Wood Is Good: Twmpa Cycles GR1 Gravel Bike Review

Steel may be real but, for Petor Georgallou, that cliché begs the question: is wood good? Ever the curious reviewer, Petor has long wanted to test the ride quality of a wooden frame and the opportunity to ride a Twmpa Cycles GR1 gravel bike finally presented itself a few months back. But before Petor dips into his ride impressions, he shares an exchange with another wooden builder, Mark Kelly, about the characteristics that make wood an especially compelling frame-building material. After checking out Petor’s review of the GR1, drop into the comments and let us know…would you? Wood you!?

The Rough Road Renegade: Introducing the Curve GMX+ Steel

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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.

Ten Years of Making the Logo Bigger, Ornot: Matt Quann Takes Us on a Trip Down Memory Lane

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Ten Years of Making the Logo Bigger, Ornot: Matt Quann Takes Us on a Trip Down Memory Lane

Our friends at Ornot are celebrating their ten-year anniversary as an independent cycling apparel and accessory brand. As part of this milestone, founder Matt Quann penned a retrospective about his experience starting an apparel brand in a San Francisco garage, tracing a path through custom frames, hurdles with domestic manufacturing, and a ride where waffles were promised but not delivered. Continue reading below for more from Matt and keep your eyes peeled for some special giveaways along with this exciting occasion!

Cycling the World With McKenzie Barney Part 1

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Cycling the World With McKenzie Barney Part 1

For McKenzie Barney, cycling the world was never about chasing a record, or even adhering to all of the Guinness Book of Records parameters to qualify for an “official” time. But after an introduction to bike touring in Vietnam and learning about the 18,000-mile goal post for a “Cycle the World” completion, she was intrigued. For the next few years she planned, scrimped and saved between trips while pursuing her own Cycling the World project. Earlier this year, she completed the project after having ridden 18,000 miles, in 28 countries, and on five continents. Read on for Part 1 of her journey download, where she writes about moving from thru hiking to bike touring, gaining solo experience in Europe, and then putting it to the test on a ride from Cairo to Cape Town with her partner James. Plus, don’t miss the trailer to her upcoming self-documented, self-edited film!