After spending years swapping the same worn-out parts between vintage steel frames, I was ready to build my ideal “road” bike in 2020. I wanted something that was comfortable, versatile, and beautiful, and after much deliberation, I settled on the Soma Grand Randonneur. Read on to learn why I chose the Grand Randonneur and my thoughts on the bike after two tours, a gravel race, and many long days on country roads.
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Radar
Archive Re-Up: Rust Never Sleeps on Sofia’s AWOL Touring Bike
When we lost our 2015 image bucket back in 2018, it was a huge bummer but over the past few months, I’ve been digging out hard drives and re-editing some photos, in the hopes of filling in the bigger holes. With this real winter we’ve been having, I’ve had a bit more free time to take a deep dive into the archives and today, I’m sharing one of the most iconic bike finishes we’ve ever hosted…
Check out the most recent Archive Re-Up: Rust Never Sleeps on Sofia’s AWOL Touring Bike.
I should also note that my intent here is only to upload lost photos, keeping the text and formatting intact.
Reportage
The Inner Passage of Cochise Stronghold: A Senselessly Multisport Adventure
Tyler and Spencer stitched together a multisport overnight in the enigmatic Cochise Stronghold in Southern Arizona. The duo combined some of the best single and double-track riding, along with a squeeze through the popular Inner Passage, making one epic lap around this beautiful mountain range. Be careful if you’re claustrophobic because this gallery is tight!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Yann’s Self-Built Khelys Carapace Tourer
We love receiving Readers’ Rides submissions by framebuilders. There’s something about featuring the work of someone who built the bike that’s extra special. Today we have the latest bike to leave the Cycles Khelys shop, a Carapace touring bike built for a customer. Let’s see more below!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Ben’s AWOL
The Specialized AWOL was ahead of the curve. It was part of the Specialized Adventure brand and intended for long, off-road bike tours. We’ve got a soft spot for this bike made of steel, so when Ben shared his, we had to post it immeditately. Let’s get to it!
Reportage
Connecting Two Distant Corners: Cycling the Length of Africa
Cairo to Cape Town. The words tumbled together in poetic cadence. Africa’s malleable cycling route from the Pyramids of Giza to Table Mountain was my dream of a decade. Soured by the rigid nature of sponsors’ expectations, I chose a bare-bones expedition. Plans and timelines aside. To travel for travel’s sake. To sink my teeth into the truth and toss the rest by the wayside. I started from the Egyptian pyramids with just my kiwi partner, the most efficient machines ever created, and the entire African continent ahead. Southbound and on edge, we began our trans-continental cycling journey dissecting Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Joel’s Bridgestone MB-3 All-Rounder
The MB line from Bridgestone produced some of the most timeless bikes, still in use today. Whether as a basket bike or a drop bar tourer, such as Joel’s. Let’s look at how Joel built this beautiful classic up below!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Luke’s Rivendell Atlantis
We LOVE Rivendell. Always have. Always will. And plenty of y’all feel the same. Take Luke, for instance, who just finished a 62cm Rivendell Atlantis build and was kind enough to send in a wonderfully-documented Readers’ Rides for us to enjoy!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Bryce’s Woodpecker Cycle Co x BogeWorks 29er
Bryce sent in this stunning Woodpecker Cycle Co x BogeWorks 29er touring bike and while we pick our jaws up off the ground, why don’t you check out more beautiful photos below!
Reportage
Caminos del Sur: Bike Touring from Volcano to Forest In The State of México
As residents of the desert state of Sonora when not touring, Radavist contributors Daniel Zaid and Karla Robles decided to pay a visit to the lush state of México further south. Daniel teams up with Nicolás Legorreta, the physicist, cyclist, and nature enthusiast behind the bike bag company Peregrinus Equipment. The two embark on an overnight tour, starting at the 15,000’+ reaches of the volcano Nevado de Toluca and making their way back to Nicolás’ home of San Simón el Alto. With a route that’s all downhill, what could go wrong?
Radar
Radar Roundup: Fizik Terra Artica GTX, Moots 40th Keychains, Nordest Kuxto, DOOMtitanium, Scout Bike Alarm, ILE Dopp, We Are Moots, and Andy McKenna – Evolution
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Tumbleweed Stargazer Review: Best in Class
John takes on the Tumbleweed Stargazer for an in-depth review, where he compares it to other 29er drop bar mountain bikes and explains what sets it apart from the competition…
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Eric’s Rivendell Appaloosa – A Love Letter To a Build
Our Readers’ Rides showcases builds from the readership. Sometimes they’re succinct and to the point and other times, we get wonderfully penned novellas, waxing poetic about their beloved bikes. These submissions are part product review and part passionate penning. This week is one of those submissions. Eric’s Rivendell Appaloosa was featured in Wednesday’s Radar Roundup, albeit in video form, so let’s check it out in words and photos below!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Sunny, Ulysse, Em, and Max’s Family Cyclotouring Setup!
Have we got a special Readers’ Rides for you! An entire family touring the Northeast sent in their setup and a rough itinerary of their travels. Let’s check it out below!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Matt’s Crust Bikes Lightning Bolt – A Lightweight Randonneur
The Crust Bikes Lightning Bolt is a wonderfully classic frameset and this week’s Readers’ Rides comes from Matt in Oakland. Read on as he shares his build with us today!
Reportage
A Look at Two Builds from Mexico’s Atom Cycles: The Puelche and Kodkod
In our previous story, we showed you Atom Cycles’ workshop in Ojo de Agua, in the State of México, but here we’ll take a look at two of their finished bicycles. What better example to look at in-depth than the personal bikes of Dulce and Wladimir, the couple behind the name.
Radar
Chumba Cycles Yaupon All-Terrain Drop Bar MTB
Chumba Cycles just announced its newest model, the Yaupon Steel All-Terrain Bike. These frames and builds are made to order, in Austin, TX at Chumba’s facilities and are available for ordering today. Let’s look at this new bike below.
Radar
Review: Two Tours with the Tailfin V-Mount Packs
The folks over at Tailfin have been steadily adding to the array of options in their collection of waterproof cycle-touring bags over the last couple of years. Another addition to their growing list of offerings comes in the form of the newly announced V-Mount packs. With 1.7L and 3L options, these bags are designed to mount to virtually any bike, even if you have no dedicated mounting points, thanks to their remarkably simple v-mount system.
For the last 9 months, I’ve had a chance to thoroughly put them through the rigors of touring in the South American Andes and offer up a few thoughts on who they might work for and who might want to look elsewhere, just in time for their launch.