Vedangi Kulkarni: Cycling Around the World (Twice) Isn’t About Being The Fastest

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Vedangi Kulkarni: Cycling Around the World (Twice) Isn’t About Being The Fastest

In 2024, Vedangi Kulkarni made her second attempt to break the record for being the fastest woman to ride around the world. But in the middle of Kulkarni’s 18,000 mile ride, Lael Wilcox broke the Guinness World Record. In this piece, Caroline Dezendorf writes a story of one young woman’s journey of perseverance and self-discovery on a bike ride around the world.

2024 Bespoked Dresden Part 01: Atherton, Ballern, Black Sheep, Curve, Good Grief, Ingrid, Parsec Objects, Quokka, Rossman, and Sturdy

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2024 Bespoked Dresden Part 01: Atherton, Ballern, Black Sheep, Curve, Good Grief, Ingrid, Parsec Objects, Quokka, Rossman, and Sturdy

This weekend, we’re in Dresden, Germany for the Bespoked artisan frame builder and maker showcase! Below, our 2024 Bespoked Dresden Part 01 reportage features some amazing bicycles and products from Atherton, Ballern, Black Sheep, Curve, Good Grief, Ingrid, Parsec Objects, Quokka, Rossman, and Sturdy. Scroll on down to take it all in!

Hungry the Big Lunch V 2.70 Hip/Shoulder Bag

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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.

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!