#Arizona

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Singular Cycles Kite Titanium Gravel Bike Review: New Fork and Other Refinements

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Singular Cycles Kite Titanium Gravel Bike Review: New Fork and Other Refinements

The updated Singular Cycles Kite Titanium is an evolution of the original steel Kite, one of the first gravel bikes to accommodate large tires. Like, really large tires. While the titanium frameset has remained a popular option in Singular’s catalog, the UK-based brand just launched a revised version that features an entirely new titanium fork with 3D-printed crown and UDH-compatible rear dropouts.

Josh, who is consistently interested in testing chubby tire gravel bikes in his home turf of southern Arizona, spotted a prototype Kite Titanium earlier this year at the MADE show. That particular Kite happened to be Singular owner Sam Alison’s personal build, and he let Josh keep it in the U.S. for a couple of months before sending it back across the Atlantic. Read on below for Josh’s impressions of the quick and capable Singular Kite.

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Riders of the Night

In the face of record heat, one city’s mountain bikers go fully nocturnal. The summer of 2023 was the hottest on record for Phoenix, Arizona, with a daily average temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit for all of June, July and August and a total of 55 days with highs of at least 110 degrees.

In such conditions, getting out on the trails isn’t just uncomfortable; it can be downright deadly. Mountain bikers, however, tend to be a foolishly tenacious crowd. Faced with such searing conditions, many local riders have taken a cue from the wildlife and gone fully nocturnal to escape the heat.

“Down here, it’s the only time that’s safe and tolerable to ride,” says Arizona rider Kurt Refsnider. “You can only spend so much time by the pool, and not everyone has a pool.”

The Radavist Cycling Guide to Flagstaff

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The Radavist Cycling Guide to Flagstaff

With two members of our Radavist editorial team living in Arizona, it only made sense to head to Flagstaff for our second Cycling Guide. With its recent spike in new singletrack development, legendary dark skies, and accessible location as a hub for other Northern Arizona destinations, there’s a lot to talk about. Read on for a look at The City of Seven Wonders…

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…

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Ronnie Romance Goes BTS in Arizona

“To the desert go prophets and hermits; through deserts go pilgrims and exiles. Here the leaders of the great religions have sought the therapeutic and spiritual values of retreat, not to escape but to find reality.”
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

As Ronnie Romance grapples with the closing of Nutmeg Needleworks, he sought the spiritual values of retreat as Jon Krakauer wrote in “Into the Wild.” Follow along as he takes us BTS on Josh and John’s romp in the Hawes Trail System on the Cotic shoot

Rez Gravel 2024: Beautiful Dirt, No Dogs, A Lot of History

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Rez Gravel 2024: Beautiful Dirt, No Dogs, A Lot of History

The inaugural Rez Gravel was held in February of 2024. Founded by tribal member Elisha Bishop, the event consisted of 68, 26, and 13-mile courses through O’Odham tribal land near Casa Grande, Arizona. The event weekend also included a pre-ride dinner, campfire, and sharing of culture and history by Akimel O’Odham leader, singer, artist, farmer, and teacher Robert “Bobby” Stone. Don’t miss Erik Mathy’s unique photos and background on this new event below…

The Radavist 2024 Calendar: May

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The Radavist 2024 Calendar: May

“South Mountain Sunset” is the fifth layout of the Radavist 2024 Calendar. It was shot with a Canon R5 and a Canon f2.8 24-70, in Phoenix, AZ. Photographed by John Watson.

“John and Josh got in one last photoshoot on South Mountain before the heat rolled into the Sonoran Desert and the greater Phoenix area.”

For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper*, right-click and save link as – The Radavist 2024 – May. Please, this photo is for personal use only!
(*set background to white and center for optimal coverage)

The mobile background this month is of a glorious saguaro rising over a wildflower bloom. Click here to download May’s Mobile Wallpaper.

Pivot Cycles Vault Review: Hidden Treasure

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Pivot Cycles Vault Review: Hidden Treasure

Pivot Cycles’ Vault gravel bike has plenty of amazing tech securely (wink wink) stashed in the frame making for a comfortable and uncompromising riding experience. Spencer is ever chasing something other than geometry inflation to review and Pivot’s patented ISO FLEX technology caught his eye. Make sure you take a peek inside the Vault for all the hidden treasure below…

From Madrid to Tucson: The 2023 Komoot Women’s Arizona Rally

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From Madrid to Tucson: The 2023 Komoot Women’s Arizona Rally

Last fall Cristina Maristany joined 70 other riders from all over the world in the Sonoran Desert for the Komoot Women’s Arizona Rally designed and hosted by Lael Wilcox and Rue Kaladyte. Over eight days, the self-supported group camped under the stars and overcame the challenge of traveling through remote zones with limited food and water. The total route was over 400 miles (650km) and 25,000ft (7,600m) of elevation through breathtaking Southern Arizona landscapes.

Below, Cristina recaps this spectacular ride with her own wonderful photos, in addition to a gallery from event photographer Ashley Gruber, and a video she produced about the rally….