The Radavist

Filmed in June 2019 on locations around Loch Etive, The Pierhouse Hotel in Port Appin and the Isle of Lismore in Argyll, ‘Distance’ is the follow-up to ‘Wild About Argyll’, which was released in 2018. In his latest film adventurer and round the world cyclist Markus Stitz reflects on his solo bikepacking adventures in Scotland and how they help him cope with the social distancing measures during the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All photos by Josh Weinberg

Our friends at Four Corners Guides and our buddy Chris Reichel gave us a heads up on this one.

The Navajo people are suffering terribly from the coronavirus and Four Corners is looking to raise $2,500 to send funding specifically to our pal Jon Yazzie – our host in our this trip – and his chapter in Kayenta, so that food and water can be purchased and delivered to Navajo elders and others in need.

You can donate directly to the Kayenta chapter if you like visiting the Kayenta Township OR, please consider donating $5, $10 or $20 on this GoFundMe page.

On the fence about this fundraiser, well, consider these data points:
-62% of Navajos live in poverty
-40% don’t have running water, with many of those unable to even afford containers to hold water. Think about that? How would you feel if you couldn’t wash your hands 10 times per day, as many of us are used to?
-Around 30% live without basic sanitation
-According to the LA Times, there are about 175K residents and only four inpatient hospitals.
-Furthermore, there’s a lack of grocery stores. Where once Navajo elders would drive to bigger cities for shopping, they are now stuck at home.

Thanks for joining me in supporting our friends!

This is the fifth layout of the Radavist 2020 Calendar, entitled “Castilleja” shot with a Sony A7ii and a 24-70 lens in Downieville, California.

“For May this year, we dove into Jason Fitzgibbon’s Downieville bikepacking story and picked two favorites from his recent gallery here on the Radavist. See Jason and Colton’s full gallery here.”

For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper*, right-click and save link as – The Radavist 2020 – May. Please, this photo is for personal use only!
(*set background to white and center for optimal coverage)

The mobile background this month is also one of Jason’s, featuring the Sierra Buttes. Click here to download May’s Mobile Wallpaper.

Photos by Rugile Kaladyte

When Rene Herse Cycles decided to develop a tire specifically for bikepacking and ultra-endurance racing, they asked Lael Wilcox what she wants in a tire. Lael has raced many ultra-endurance events, including the Tour Divide and Silk Road Mountain Race. She provided Rene Herse Cycles with heaps of feedback and they’re now introducing the result of this collaboration, the Fleecer Ridge 29″ x 2.2″ (or 700C x 55 mm), named after Lael’s favorite climb on the Tour Divide.

The Fleecer Ridge is a true all-rounder. Large knobs with generous space in between provide superb traction on loose and soft surfaces, while the knobs are spaced to put more rubber on the road as the tire leans into corners during paved descents into town to resupply.

The Fleecer Ridge offers a choice of the four Rene Herse casings:
-Standard combines comfort and speed at an affordable price.
-Extralight is our most supple casing for ultimate speed.
-Endurance uses the same ultra-fine threads with extra protection against punctures and cuts.
-Endurance Plus is one of the toughest performance tires available today.

Available in mid-May 2020 from good bike shops and directly from Rene Herse Cycles.

Finding a 1-1/8″ steerer carbon fork with bosses for cargo cages, fenders, and yes, dynamo lighting is near impossible. So what are we to do with all those capable 1-1/8″ steerer frames we have that would otherwise make a great touring bike? CINQ makes one such fork, with all the above features. The Touring Fork weighs 550g, a unique “no-thread” thru-bolt eyelet system for cargo cages, fits bigger tires, utilizes internal routing, and much more!

Specs:
-Clearance for 27,5″ x 2.2″ or 28″x2.0″ (700x50mm) tires
-Great for touring and gravel applications
-“No-Thread” stainless steel thru-bolt cargo mounting system avoids damaging threads permanently mounted in the carbon
-Compatible with internal dynamo wiring for a clean setup
-Light and fender mounts
-Lightweight and strong

See more at CINQ!

These aren’t available in the US but CycleMonkey has licensed it and they make a tapered steerer version too!

Thanks to Brian for pointing this product out yesterday!

South Africa’s Ride FARR has two new products to their ever-expanding catalog. The 265g Clip-On Arm Rest Kit and Aero Bar Bag, both will be in stock this June. The Aero Bag fits on their Aero Gravel and Aero MTB bars and takes advantage of extra real estate on your bike’s cockpit.

Clip-On Arm Rest Kit:
-Lightweight, Modular Design
-Vertical and Horizontal Adjustment
-CNC Machined Alloy 6061 Clamps and Brackets
-Nylon Injected / Glass Fiber Ergo Arm Rest Cups
-48-Hole Bolt Pattern for Maximum Adjustability
-10mm EVA Foam Pads

Aero Bag:
-Durable 500D Cordura Material
-Easy fitment via double-sided velcro straps
-Custom designed to maximize space in the front extension
-Unique Aero Shape to compliment the styling of your bike
-Inner Mesh Compartment to prevent heavier items from moving around during
riding
-Top Cover with Zipper Pocket with Stem Bungee Cord for Secure Closure
-Underside Bungee Cord for added carrying potential
-Made in USA

See more at Ride FARR.

The Ritchey Outback received a hefty facelift for 2020, making it more capable than ever. With an all-new Ritchey Adventure Fork design, complete with cargo mounts, and a frame with more braze-ons, including rack and fender mounts, you can take it on gravel rides, or out on a multi-day tour. The Outback also clears 700c x 48mm or 650b x 2.0″ tires, making it an extremely versatile bike within Ritchey’s lineup. The frame + fork will run you $1,399 and you can see one in person at your local dealer. Head to Ritchey to see more!

Our friends at Broken & Coastal announced the final issue of their wonderful print magazine. Here’s the info, straight from the source!

It’s easy to look at cycling and the outdoors as a place that brings people together, regardless of religion, skin color, sexuality, gender identity, or economic status—but this is not always the case. Even in 2020, there is still a huge fight for equality and representation in this industry, and there’s an equally huge need for allies in this fight.

Volume 05 of Broken & Coastal is dedicated to the badass women, trans, and non-binary folks that are leading the way in creating change in the cycling industry. Professional mountain biker, Veronique Sandler brings her dreams to life in the film Vision; photographer Tasha Lindemann reflects on Women’s Weekend at the legendary Catty/Posh trails; elite cyclist Ivy Audrain finds new meaning on the bicycle; and so much more.

Inspired to do our part in making the world a better place, we’re also swearing in a new role for the magazine as a tool to inspire creativity and give back to charity, starting with this issue. Proceeds from Volume 05 will be donated to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention services to LGBTQ and queer-questioning youth nationwide.

We’re working on becoming a nonprofit as part our purpose-driven shift, so this process will definitely evolve, but for now we’re keeping it super simple and super transparent.

Here’s how it works: We’re offering the magazine on a sliding scale starting at $20. It cost us approximately $10 per issue to produce and print Volume 05, so if you pay $20, $10 will go to charity, and so on. The more money you contribute, the more money we can donate.

We are starting at $20 due to the global pandemic, but we know that some have been especially impacted, and we want to help. If you’ve been affected by COVID-19 and you want a print, message us for a discount code and we’ll ship you a copy for half the price. As always, you can find digital versions of all five issues of Broken & Coastal on our website.

Check out the full-length video from today’s Reportage here.

A film by Ryan Le Garrec Produced by Ryan Le Garrec and Lander Deldime. Made with the support of The Race Around Rwanda, Visit Rwanda, and Hunt Bike Wheels.

On February 2020, 65 people lined up at the starting line of what was to become an extraordinary adventure, a challenge through thunderstorms, muddy roads, and never-ending hills, rewarded with stunning views, thousands of cheers and everlasting memories. Each and every participant of this 1.000 km bikepacking race has an amazing story to tell, Tugende shows you some of these stories, from the very first person over the finish line, to the last one to reach Kigali.

www.racearoundrwanda.com

These are just four of the bags from Swift Industries’ 2020 collection, which come in these colors, plus black, across the whole lineup. Each of these bags have been refined over the years to be durable, withstand the elements, carry snacks, and ya know, things like that. All are in stock now at Swift Industries, who is still open for business!

Ralph Samson took off on the Sky Islands Odyssey with friends last January, documenting the trip for all of us to enjoy while we’re locked indoors. Thanks for sending this over, Ralph!