#made-in-the-usa

tag

Introducing the Argonaut Cycles GR3 Gravel Bike, Shop Visit, and Interview with Founder Ben Farver

Reportage

Introducing the Argonaut Cycles GR3 Gravel Bike, Shop Visit, and Interview with Founder Ben Farver

Over the years, we’ve done a lot with Argonaut Cycles, from documenting its first shop location to photographing its race team at the Rouge Roubaix and shooting bikes at various showcases. The brand has come a long way in that time and today, after three years of design, testing, and research, they are releasing the GR3, a next-gen custom carbon gravel bike.

While in Bend, OR, recently, Josh caught up with the Argonaut Cycles team for a tour of their facilities and sat down for an interview with founder and designer Ben Farver. The conversation covers the brand’s fully custom in-house carbon frame and component production methods and more. Below, find Argonaut’s GR3 introduction, Josh’s interview with Ben, and an extensive photo gallery detailing the Argonaut fabrication process!

In Stock For Now: Radavist Feldspar Riding Jackets – Star Trails and Monsoon Camo

Radar

In Stock For Now: Radavist Feldspar Riding Jackets – Star Trails and Monsoon Camo

Like a repair kit, a packable, just-in-case layer is something we always throw on the bike before setting off, but like many things bike-related, we felt we needed to tweak the standard to achieve our ideal iteration. In collaboration with California-based cycling apparel manufacturer, Voler, our new Feldspar Ride Jacket ($119.99) hits the mark. This super breathable, minimal, USA-made layer packs up to burrito size and provides the sweet spot in protection for most three-season riding. After thorough testing and design back-and-forth with Voler, the unisex Feldspar jacket is finally on our digital shelves, ready to ship to you today IRL. Let’s take a long exposure look at them below…

In Stock For Now: Ocean & San x The Radavist Juniper Dapple Short and Long-Sleeve Jerseys

Radar

In Stock For Now: Ocean & San x The Radavist Juniper Dapple Short and Long-Sleeve Jerseys

At The Radavist, we look to the natural world and our unique Rocky Mountain locale for inspiration. The riding around Santa Fe occupies a semi-arid steppe, and native shade trees are scarce in these foothills. As such, dense juniper forests are often the backdrop to our rides, and we’re grateful for the shade these hearty, low-lying trees cast to counter the sun’s high UV radiation in these parts (an unfortunate byproduct of life at 7000′).

It’s during the fading hours of the day that these groves become truly radiant as the dappled light of sunset filters through their scrubby branches, onto the trail, and ourselves. On a ride, last winter, our product designer Cari Carmen snapped a photo of this dappled light hitting my shirt and commented that it would make a cool pattern for a cycling jersey. And so began our journey on The Radavist Juniper Dapple Jerseys with Ocean & San, a Los Angeles-based cycling apparel company. A year in the making, these limited-release jerseys are now in stock at our webshop, but let’s look at them in detail below.

Under No Pretext Should Radness Be Surrendered: Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol Review and Factory Visit

Reportage

Under No Pretext Should Radness Be Surrendered: Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol Review and Factory Visit

The Trail Pistol is Guerrilla Gravity’s short travel trail bike with 29″ wheels and 120mm of travel. It’s the type of bike that seemed to fit my riding style, and I was super excited for the opportunity to spend some time with one for a long-term review. Since the factory where these bikes are made is just a short drive from where I currently live, it made sense to combine the review with a more in-depth look at the brand, their manufacturing process, and the modularity of their bikes. The original article was close to 6500 words, so we decided to split it up a bit for everyone’s sake. Next week, we’ll share a slightly shorter article that takes a look at the modular frame platform, new paint schemes for the brand, and the next-gen Gnarvana, which is GG’s long travel enduro bike. Let’s get to it!

Engin Cycles Port Royal Crankset Review: A Modern Crank With a Vintage Silhouette

Radar

Engin Cycles Port Royal Crankset Review: A Modern Crank With a Vintage Silhouette

Modern tech, bikes, and components were lost on me over the previous few years. Sure, I talk about all that here at “work,” but in my personal life, I have spent more time looking backward, not forward, with bikes. Maybe it was because all the major manufacturers wanted journalists (if I can even call myself that) to review new gear that wouldn’t hit consumers for another year or so. Or perhaps I felt like there was inherently more to learn from the past than new tech and its marginal gains mantra.

Having spent a lot of time curating a few vintage builds, re-evaluating my own stable, and pouring over old bike catalogs, there’s something about the aesthetic found in the 1980s and early 90s mountain bike components that hits the nail on the head. Be it the eeWings cranks, those nifty Cyber Cranks, or these Engin Cycles Port Royal cranks, what’s old is new again in terms of design silhouette.

When I first saw these cranks, I immediately felt like they were an homage to the first gen M700 Deore cranks by Shimano, which did in fact come in black. (Ritchey Commandos were specced with an all-black Deer Head group!) Yet, the thing I liked about them the most was the slim profile, 30mm spindle, and the fact that Engin Cycles, a framebuilder I hold in deep regard and respect for, machines these in Philly!

I’ve had the Engin Cycles Port Royal Cranks ($575) on my Starling Murmur for a while now and finally have some thoughts I can share with y’all, so read on below for a quick review…

Initial Reaction: Cedaero Viewfinder Camera Handlebar Pack

Radar

Initial Reaction: Cedaero Viewfinder Camera Handlebar Pack

As you might imagine, we’re bag and camera nerds over here at The Radavist. A lot has changed with cycling and photography since the days of pedaling around with a 35mm SLR jammed into an Ortlieb handlebar bag on tours and overnighters. The name of the game is simplicity nowadays, relying on handlebar straps rather than proprietary attachment methods.

There have been several wonderful handlebar-mounted camera bags that have come to market over the past few years, and the latest comes from Cedaero. The Two Harbors, Minnesota-based bag makers announced their new Viewfinder Camera Pack recently and John got his hands on a production model a few weeks before the launch. He’s spent some time with it and is ready to give you an Initial Reaction breakdown review below so read on…

The Radavist Summer ’22 Product is Live

Radar

The Radavist Summer ’22 Product is Live

We’re excited to announce the drop of our Summer ’22 collection. Included in this release are some re-stocked favorites like our Big Deserted bottles, our Nocturnal Roadrunner bottles, Howdy 3-pack socks, and the return of the YO bottles. We also have new designs like our Third Eye socks, Wind Warriors shirts in Sage and Cobalt by artist Evan Weselmann and our Mammatus Cloud sock and bottle designs. After many requests, we’ve also made Klean Kanteen 20oz bottles in Marigold and Obsidian.

See the full collection at The Pro’s Closet and for a limited time, take $20 off $100 or more orders with the checkout code: E2PX7A6P

BTCHN’ Bikes Introduces “The Jerk” Handmade Steel Enduro Full Suspension

Reportage

BTCHN’ Bikes Introduces “The Jerk” Handmade Steel Enduro Full Suspension

To much fanfare, last month we teased the beautiful steel full suspension enduro rig that Tyler of BTCHN’ Bikes was cruising around with at Sea Otter in our event coverage. Aptly named The JERK, it’s a true stunner with a 29/27.5 mullet setup, standard 24mm bottom bracket single pivot, custom integrated bar/stem, wild paint, and so many other intricate details. Today we’re stoked to announce that BTCHN’ is launching a small batch pre-order for eight of these frames in a size run (S, M, L) and two suspension configurations. The engineering for this bike was complex and took Tyler and team a looong time to dial in. Below, Tyler goes into lavish detail about his design process and philosophy, so continue reading about this beautiful machine, how it came to fruition, and how you can get your hands on one!

Sean’s Beach Club Discless Road

Reportage

Sean’s Beach Club Discless Road

Beach Club. What is it? Are they serious? Rim brakes in 2022? Hot pink and white? Wut in tarnation are those Los Angeles city slickers at The Cub House doing? They’re doing what they want, and to be honest, we dig it. Beach Club began as the side project hustle of Danny Heeley and Sean Talkington from Team Dream and The Cub House. They wanted to make production bikes in the USA for people who still care about rim brakes, steel tubing, and lookin’ good. We already looked at the flagship livery a little while ago, and at the LA Invitational this weekend, John photographed Sean’s build. We think you’ll all agree deserves a full-n-fat gallery on this lovely Monday. Check out more below!

Tumbleweeds and Tradition: SimWorks Introduces the Doppo High Plains Drifter

Reportage

Tumbleweeds and Tradition: SimWorks Introduces the Doppo High Plains Drifter

SimWorks is pleased to present our latest offering in the Doppo lineup of framesets: The High Plains Drifter. These framesets are handcrafted in small batches by our friends, and adept framebuilding cohorts, at Simple Bicycle Co. here in Portland, OR. It’s a modern twist on a time-honored favorite, sure to bring back more than a few pleasant reminders of some of our earliest memories on a bike, while opening up a world of possibility for future off-road explorations.