Search Term – Change
The field of on-bike and steerer-tube tool storage hasn’t quite delivered on its promise to finally rid us of our packs and pockets. There are dozens of options out there, and all involve some level of compromise. But maybe it’s time we just accept that. Travis Engel sure has, so he’s here to review the least-bad in-frame tools on the market. We swear, it’s better than it sounds.
First off, wow, wow wow! The response to our initial release of this list and exposure highlight of the first few creatives was profound and I truly, from the depths of my heart, appreciate it. I built this list with the hopes of it being an outlet used for bringing new creatives opportunities within the industry, a reference point for those who have hopes and dreams of entering into the photography/videography side of the industry and to provide the exposure that these talented individuals deserve.
For those of you who are new here, I started compiling this list back in 2019 after photographing Crankworx and realizing that there weren’t many (if any) other female-identifying photographers/videographers shooting the event. I had known of just one who had attended a conference at the event, but she wasn’t present, at the time, on the field. In the last 4.5 years, I have managed to compile a list of 90 (and growing) women, trans, femme, and non-binary creatives who shoot either photo or video within the cycling industries. And while I am sure there are plenty of names that you are familiar with, it is my hope that this list opens your eyes to at least a few more. And with thanks to The Radavist, there is now a platform that is helping me bring even more awareness to these creatives by highlighting eight individuals each quarter. This list is ever-growing and I will continue to update it as I discover new identifying creatives, however, if you’d like to apply to be on the list, there will be a form at the bottom of this article. Please share this list, print it and pin it to your desk, forward it to a friend, and follow everyone on it! It is up to us as fans of the cycling industry to help spread the word about the talent that helps it function.
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Released in 2021, the Surly Corner Bar was designed to reorient flat-bar controls into a drop-bar-style configuration. It’s decidedly low tech, with its steel construction and somewhat unrefined ergonomics, but it was too clever for Travis Engel to pass up. He’s owned a pair since they launched, and has a few suggestions if you’re considering dropping in.
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
It ain’t news that older 26″ MTBs make for great commuters and Matt is the latest to submit a tasty conversion to our Readers’ Rides email. Let’s check out his USA-made Nishiki Backroads commuter conversion below!
While steel full-suspension bikes are nothing new, there has been a resurgence in recent years with many small framebuilders making trail-ready, competent bikes that leave their genetic predecessors in the proverbial dust. When I first rode a Starling Murmur in 2019, I wasn’t prepared for how engaged I felt with the trail or the flex and movement the Murmur provided. If you like the feel of steel hardtails or gravel bikes, chances are you’ll vibe more with a steel full-suspension than a carbon model.
These bikes are incredibly niche (though you can find them being made in workshops worldwide), and they still feel like a product from a cottage industry, not an engineered machine. It wasn’t until I spent some time with the REEB Cycles SST that I felt like steel full suspension bikes had finally leaped into the next stage of their evolutionary process. Let’s take a look at the SST below.
Fat bikes aren’t going anywhere. Well, that’s not true. Fat bikes go everywhere in the winter months in cold and snowy places. This week’s Readers’ Rides features Peter’s REEB Donkadonk, with a lengthy write-up by Peter, so let’s get to it!
We’d like to think we’re pretty alright at photographing bikes over here at The Radavist. The steeds we choose to document reflect our audience’s preferences and capture distinct trends in bicycle design. Yet, each year as we reflect on all the builds that have rolled through this cyber showroom, we’re always surprised to see what the Top Ten list reveals. This year, we’ve got a good mix of bikes, outfitted with flat and droopy bars, running rubber across the size spectrum, and made of steel, aluminum and yes, even carbon. Let’s get to it!
London-based Wizard Works makes decidedly cute, sturdy, and durable bags for cyclo-touring and bikepacking. Founders and owners, Harry and Veronica, are committed to producing everything in-house, sourcing materials from within the UK and Europe, and supporting their small staff with livable wages and a positive work environment. They’ve turned what was once a hobby into a robust brand, now with stockists around the globe. Following this year’s Bespoked, Josh got to play tourist and eat biscuits while getting treated to some behind-the-scenes time at Wizard Works’ new workshop in Greenwich. With their cheerful space, happy colors, and employee-first practices, this is some wizardry where you very much want to look behind the curtain. Read on for more from Josh’s shop visit!
The Specialized AWOL was ahead of the curve. It was part of the Specialized Adventure brand and intended for long, off-road bike tours. We’ve got a soft spot for this bike made of steel, so when Ben shared his, we had to post it immeditately. Let’s get to it!
The MB line from Bridgestone produced some of the most timeless bikes, still in use today. Whether as a basket bike or a drop bar tourer, such as Joel’s. Let’s look at how Joel built this beautiful classic up below!
Tom Ritchey is not what you would call an open book. Rather, he’s a whole library; a labyrinth with many alleys, chockfull of stories, where everything splits and branches like the best network of singletrack, and there are no cul de sacs. Every door leads you to another room. Every answer opens up another question. There are no shortcuts.
The following is just a casual conversation. In it, you might not find all the details of the next frame that he is working on but you may find a better understanding into what it took for Tom Ritchey to become Tom Ritchey.
“I have a public self and I have a personal self. I could answer that question on a public side and tell you I just love riding my bike and being by myself and all (…) That would be an authentic answer but it’s not the whole answer of course. So I’ll give you the personal one too.” – Tom Ritchey
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Cross Checks are undoubtedly the most ubiquitous of the Surly models, yet no two are built the same. A case in point is Tim, who submitted one he’s owned for 15 years, and boy does it have some lovely beausage! Let’s check it out below!
Rezduro takes place in the remote community of Hardrock, Arizona which is located on the Black Mesa plateau/region on the Navajo Nation. What started out as a vision by Nigel James and friends has turned into the first and only Indigenous-led mountain bike enduro race. Nigel James dreamed of bridging his grandparents’ sheep herding trails with his passion for mountain bike enduro racing as a result, Rezduro was born in 2021. Rezduro is organized by Diné (the Navajo people) on Diné lands.
I doubt the readers of this website need an introduction to the brand Salsa Cycles, but what about the brand’s genesis? Today’s Vintage Bicycles bike features Ross Shafer, the founder of Salsa’s 1984 Custom. This bike, much like Salsa itself, is riddled with lore, so we pinged the lore meister himself, Tasshi Dennis, to dish out the goods. Grab a bowl of chips and a dish of salsa, and get yourself a big scoop below…
Basket bikes are our Achilles, and today, for our Readers’ Rides, we bring you Takahiro’s Panasonic singlespeed. If you’re into clean, minimal builds and photos, this one’s for you!
