Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
#bikepacking
tag
Reportage
The Lighthouses Route of Spain’s Galician Coast
Spain’s Galician coast is extensive, beautiful, wild, abundant and it is feared for its mightiness since ancient times. The Atlantic Ocean beats the Galician cliffs and rocks with a fascinating strength. Fishermen and their families are in close contact with this Ocean’s powerful force. The potent waves often attempt to drag nightmares into these shores, but the coastline is dotted with lights of hope. One lighthouse after another sends signals to sailors and fishermen alike, these are the large torches that illuminate the way back to terra firma.
Radar
Litespeed’s Softail Titanium Unicoi
Litespeed’s Unicoi softail has been around for a few years, but we recently came across it again and thought you, our readers, would be interested in seeing it. With 45mm of rear-end damping built-in, and the capability to run up to a 140mm fork, the Unicoi would be a great alternative to using a modern full suspension as a bikepacking or touring rig.
Reportage
The Radavist’s 2021 Photographic Year In Review
There are about 52 weeks a year and every week, we post 5 full-resolution galleries, meaning there are around 260 Reportage galleries a year for you to enjoy. The intention behind this website has always been about documenting the outliers of cycling and inspiring you, the readership’s next build and bike ride. Over the years, we’ve tapped into a wonderful resource of talented raconteurs and photographers. Hosting their work is both a privilege and an honor we cherish.
With such a massive image database, these Photographic Year In Review posts provide reflection, aspiration, and motivation to continue, to push on, and keep doing what we do best: tell stories and share photos.
Read on below for a short synopsis of this year with a massive gallery of inspirational photos from the past twelve months…
Reportage
Cactus y Cañones: A Return to the Peruvian Andes
After some indecision over where I’d go following my tour through Southern Turkey, I landed back on familiar territory. I’d originally planned to head for Ecuador or the Western Wildlands route in the US, but once my plans got pushed later into the year, I decided that a trip back to Southern Peru would be more enjoyable than trudging through Ecuador’s rainy season or dealing with the seemingly constant fires in the western US. Plus I’d get a chance to see if the months of Duolingo to shake off my rusty Spanish would pay off in any meaningful way.
Radar
Radar Roundup
We’re rolling out some new things for 2022 and that includes our Radar Roundup where we take some of the news items to come across our inboxes into an easy-to-digest dump of sorts, culling down the clutter from our homepage and making it easier to stay on top of what’s going on in our little corner of the cycling industry. This will come particularly in handy when it comes to spring/summer product drops from our favorite brands.
Check out our first Radar Roundup below with products, videos, and a Radavision entry…
Radar
The Carry Cage by Restrap
Restrap, the UK-based cycling bag and accessory makers, have released their first foray into mounting hardware. The Carry Cage is manufactured with the same core principle as all Restrap products – functionality first. Designed in house and produced locally, the Carry Cage has been rigorously tested on and off road in the formidable terrain of Yorkshire. It’s a secure and versatile carrying solution that allows increased cargo capacity, whether you’re bikepacking, touring or just exploring. Head over to Restrap to see the Carry Cage and other storage solutions.
Radar
The Hebridean Way: Bikepacking Adventure
Fish and Chip connoisseurs, Joe Barnes and Fergus Lambs of the venerable Dudes of Hazzard invite you to join them on their whimsical journey along the Hebridean Way. Faffing about through the long days of high summer here’s your chance to take part in a proxy experience of cold swims, impressive echoes, and some extremely pastoral campsites.
Radar
Valley of the Giants
This video was showcased in today’s Reportage but we’ll put it here in Radar as well:
Odyssey of the VOG is a 350 mile self-supported bikepacking race through some of the most rugged terrain through the old-growth forests along the the Oregon Coast. The event name pays respect to a section of the route comprised of 51 acres of massive old-growth forest found on the North Fork Siletz River at the western edge of Polk County, Oregon. Most of these huge trees are Douglas-firs, with a few large western hemlocks as well, many of which are close to 500 years in age. 2021 was the inaugural year for the Odyssey of the VOG. This film provides a glimpse in to the experiences of a few of the participants.
For more information: odysseyvog.com
Reportage
One Last Trip Through Kangal Country on Turkey’s Elmalı Plateau
One of my favorite aspects of traveling to a new place is discovering the local music. Inevitably, I’ll be at a restaurant or shop and a song over the radio will catch my ear. In my experience, there’s very little that will bring the enthusiasm out of a local like a tourist showing an interest in their favorite local classics, so asking about the song will often open up a whole conversation and a slew of other recommendations. With that in mind, here’s a short playlist of Turkish classics from the ’70s and ’80s that folks turned me onto along the way:
Reportage
Nine days, 350 miles, and Awe: Bikepacking Southern Utah’s Henry Mountains
The Henry Mountains of southern Utah have fascinated me ever since one of my geology professors in graduate school eloquently described their unique setting and their unlikely stature in the field of geomorphology. As a student, I found myself eagerly diving into a century-old geologic report to learn more, and then as a professor, I found myself taking my own students to the area to experience its grandeur in person. But a deeper understanding of the landscape could only come from moving through it for days on end. I finally had the opportunity to make that happen in late November with the company of my friend Chase Edwards – nine chilly days, 350 miles of pedaling, climbing six range’s most prominent peaks, and endless awe.
Reportage
The Inaugural Colorado North South: My Initiation to Bikepacking Racing
Earlier this year, Hailey Moore set out with a small group of riders in the first North South Colorado Bikepacking Race, a self-supported race event on mixed terrain – from Fort Collins to Alamosa – through the Rocky Mountains. Continue reading for Hailey’s immersive trip report and photos from along the route.
Reportage
The Otso Cycles Fenrir Touring Bike is a Drop Bar 29er Stainless Steel Monster!
Is it a gravel bike? A drop bar 29er? Or something else entirely? When it comes to the nomenclature surrounding these modern touring bikes, I often scratch my head, pondering an answer to this question. My usual inclination is to envelop these bikes under the umbrella of “adventure bikes” but then this bike landed in my lap. The Otso Cycles Fenrir is aligned with bikes like the Kona Sutra ULTD and the Moots Baxter but Otso did something different – i.e. better – than its competitors. The Fenrir took it up a notch and has utilized boost spacing wheels, which in my mind, put this in the drop bar 29er category.
I’ve had the Fenrir for a while now, have taken it on an overnighter, and have ridden some of my favorite mixed terrain routes here in Santa Fe with it. On washboarded sandy roads to singletrack, doubletrack, and gravel, the Fenrir is a hell of a bike and one that I really resonated with, so let’s check it out in detail below…
Radar
Introducing the Love Where You Ride Project from Bikepacking Roots
Bikepacking Roots (BPR) is excited to share the Love Where You Ride project. Recognizing that bikepackers traverse landscapes from those with wilderness qualities to rural communities to urban areas, we have created a set of Positive Impact Bikepacking practices that riders can apply to travels and racing. We also partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to adapt their standard Seven Principles specifically for bikepacking and adventure cycling.
Radar
Scarlet Zeigler: Erie Canal Individual Time Trial
In 2020, 11 year old Scarlet Zeigler set a personal goal for herself to ride 100 miles on her bike in one day. She accomplished that goal in the early spring and then set out riding several tours that year. One of those was on the Erie Canal where she decided to see how fast she could ride it. That year, she rode it in 2 days, 22 hours.
For 2021, Scarlet decided to see if she could beat that time and went back, fully self-supported, and rode from Buffalo to Albany NY on the Erie Canal trail. In November. She was responsible for buying all of her own food, finding water along the route and had to figure out the many detours completely on her own. I (her dad) simply recorded everything with a dated iPhone…
Here is the story….
Radar
Kona’s “Moving Mountains” Video Follows Riders Through the Paparoa Track in New Zealand’s South Island
Kona‘s latest video features an epic bikepacking trip across the recently built Paparoa Track in New Zealand’s South Island.
Check out more photos and a brief synopsis below. Enjoy!
Radar
Bikepacking 1,300km on the Great Divide & BC Trail | Part 2
We posted part one of this video series a week or so ago and here’s part two!
Three friends bikepack 1,300 km over 3 weeks through BC and Alberta on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) and BC Trail in snow and record-breaking heatwave. Follow @Sir.Bikes.Alot on Instagram for more!
Radar
The Monumental Loop: Riding With a Crew!
Ryan Duzer’s second episode from the Monumental Loop is live on his YouTube channel. Watch it here for a look at this beautiful terrain and some dusty cyclotourits!