Today, we’ve got a fine selection of used (and new) goods from the Rad Bazaar, our Group Ride subscribers‘ selling platform, featuring some unique offerings. Let’s check it all out!
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Readers’ Rides: Luke’s Soma Wolverine
The SOMA Wolverine is an affordable all rounder that can be built in a number of different ways. We’ve documented a number of these builds over the years and they always pull at our heartstrings. For this week’s Readers’ Rides, Luke, a longtime follower and commenter of The Radavist shares with us his stunning build…
Reportage
The Radavist’s Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2023
We’ve got over 17 years of Beautiful Bicycles in our archives and each year we like to look back at the previous twelve months of coverage and decipher what you, the audience, liked the most. To do this, we look at the page views for each and every Beautiful Bicycles gallery. Then we look at comments and internet chatter. Once we cull all this data, we’re left with a solid list of bikes. We love compiling this data as it helps us determine what bikes you like to see the most and thus, informs what bikes we document in the future.
Without further ado, let’s get to it!
Radar
Radar Roundup: Winter ORNOT, MAAP Unimatic, All My Friends Ride Bikes Sweatshirts, Bombtrack Beyond Ti, Third Eye Headlamps, and PayDirt
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
An Original MTB Saddle Gets Reissued: A Review of the Brooks B72
When Brooks England decided to resurrect the legendary B72 saddle ($190), the brand reached out to John to use his 1980 Ritchey as a model to showcase the saddle’s history of being mounted to some of the first mountain bikes. Then, to offer a modern comparison, they built up a stunning Stooge Cycles Speedbomb. The resulting builds are eerily similar in some ways and worlds apart in others, yet the Brooks B72 looks right at home on both bikes. Let’s check out the new B72, including John’s quick review, below.
Radar
wHaT’S BiZarRe iN tHe BaZAAAAAaaAAa4R ThIS WEeK!?!
If you aren’t checking the Rad Bazaar–our private buy/sell/trade forum open for Group Ride members–every day, you might be missing out on some bizarre items. Our Acid Jackal went wild and picked out a selection of goods to share with you today, so check them out below!
Reportage
Stiggy Pop: A Review of the All-New 2023 Santa Cruz Stigmata
Some bikes just hit differently. They grow with an audience, transform the paradigm, and go against the grain. The Santa Cruz Stigmata is one of those bikes for me.
These days, mountain bike brands are all about gravel bikes, but one company started its foray into drop bars way back in 2007. Santa Cruz Bicycles first launched its quirky and fun ‘cross bike, dubbed the Stigmata, back before disc brakes proliferated the drop-bar bike phenotype. It was made from Easton EA6X aluminum in the USA and had cantilever brakes. It was weird. Funky. Cool.
Then, in 2015, the brand brought back the Stigmata but in carbon with disc brakes. I spent some time in New Zealand on the bike and logged many miles in Los Angeles. I loved it. So much so that I copied its geometry for my custom Firefly in 2016. Later, the Stiggy got another refresh and the 2019 iteration sported 27.5 x 2″ tires and was a carbon monster truck. I posted that review the day we refreshed our web design of The Radavist.
So when Santa Cruz announced its 2023 model, with the full SRAM AXS kit, including the RockShox Rudy suspension fork, I had to try it out, too. I’ve been ripping around on this lightweight and capable bike here in Santa Fe through the remnants of a dry and dusty El Niño year and have some thoughts on what makes the Stigmata so magical. Check it out below!
Reportage
A Titanium Chariot: Esker Cycles Hayduke LVS Longtail Review
Announced at this year’s Moab Outerbike, the Esker Cycles Hayduke LVS –available as a frame ($2,950) or a complete ($4,950)–is a hardtail mountain bike with 600-millimeter chainstays and touring accouterments aplenty. Esker even developed a specialty rack for this bike, dubbed the Molle Rackwald ($300.) Needless to say, it’s a unique offering from the brand.
John was able to ride one for a bit, including on an overnighter with the Esker Cycles team and Sincere Cycles in Santa Fe, so read on for an in-depth look at this rare and funky bike!
Radar
In Stock For Now: The Radavist Fall/Winter 2023 Product Drop (And More!)
We’re back operating as a 100% independent entity and, with everything going on, managed to whip up some stunning merch for Fall/Winter 2023. We’ve got Woolie Boolie socks, a Necronomicog throwback design, and two new dirt jerseys, all in stock and shipping worldwide today from The Radavist Webshop.
Let’s look at the designs and offerings below…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Bombtrack 2024 Lineup, Bedrock Mountain Clogs, Revelate Pronghorn Returns, Farewell Scout Roll, Wizard Works Quick Draw Bottle Pocket, Steve Potts Bars, Bender MADE Show Bike, and Tesekkür Turkey
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: DKG Maglite Mount, Stelbel 50th Anniversary 50esimo, Riv Shirts, Suntour Hats, Wilier Adlar Touring Bike, Chris King Open House, PEdALED Odyssey, and Fat Biking the Oregon Coast
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Titanium Touring Perfection: Singular Gryphon Drop Bar 29er MTB Review
Over the years, I’ve had the ability and privilege of throwing my leg over a number of fat tire, drop bar touring bikes. From the almighty Tumbleweed Stargazer to the readily available Kona Sutra ULTD, these robust bikes with an off-road and load-bearing geometry make for great interstitial, genre-bending machines for all sorts of riding.
Yet before brands like Salsa were even making high clearance, drop bar, 29er, disc brake, production touring bikes, a brand called Singular Cycles in the UK shifted the paradigm with its Swift in 2007 and, later in 2008, Gryphon models. These frames featured high stack numbers, fit big tires, and most importantly, had rack/fender/cargo bosses aplenty.
This year, Singular debuted its custom Gryphon Titanium, and once again, I’m questioning which bike to crown “best in class.” Check out my full-length review below…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Meriwether Shimzilla, Agave Finishwork Bars, Wizard Works Bespoke Framebags, Ornot Mission Pants Stone Blue, Wilde Nitto Country Bar, and Riding Platypuses Around Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Matt’s “A Lighter Elephant” (NFE)
There’s an old adage: “The traveler with the most experience carries the least.” This can be applied to everything from car camping, to bike touring, and backpacking. Matt learned this along the way, resulting in his current Elephant NFE setup. Let’s check it out below!
Radar
Radar Roundup: Chris King Splash, Esker Limited Edition MRP ShredKote Purple Cerakote Japhy, Santa Cruz Skitch, Rune Bicycles Unnamed Drop Bar, Riv Silver Cranks in Stock, Wolf Tooth 3-Bolt T-Type Chainrings, Crank Brothers F-Series Tools, Ass Savers X Squid Bikes, and Whisky Scully Bar
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
A Simple Solution for a Simple Problem: A Shovel Research Rod Steward Review
Does it get much better than small makers addressing niche demands within a niche sector of the bike industry? I don’t think so. One of my favorite parts about running this website is showcasing and highlighting cottage industry bike businesses. Shovel Research is a small machine and fabrication shop that makes well-designed products that address a niche demand. One of which is its Rod Steward, a bag support designed for the Fab’s Chest by Ron’s Bikes, but as I found out on my Rivendell Bombadil, it works well with a Rivendell Sackville BagBoy bag.
Let’s check out a quick review below…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Starling Cycles Roost, New Evasion Color, 5DEV LTD Olive Drab, State Desert Cargo Cage, CDC Outlands Shoes, Movement, Rondini, and Paw 100
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
On Mobility, American Cities, and e-Cargo Life in Santa Fe: A Globe Haul ST Review
e-mobility, specifically e-cargo bikes, have the real potential to transform our cities as Americans. In an attempt to use their car less, John and Cari have been substituting the Globe Haul ST for their innercity errands and light cargo hauls in Santa Fe. Read on below for some context and an in-depth look at this unique e-cargo solution…