The Radavist

Restrap, the UK-based cycling portage company, has just updated their custom frame bags. Their full-frame bag comes standard with one (right side/drive side) large compartment with an internal velcro divider (optional) and a long slender document pocket (left side/non-drive side). Each bag is made with YKK zips, textured nylon outer, and VX21 fabrics. Included in all sizes is a slot for camelback/dynamo positioned on the top of the bag. Each bag is finished with Restrap’s classic label (PU leather/vegan-friendly).

Check out this video for all the details on how to submit an order and see more information at Restrap.

Specs:
-One large main compartment with optional internal velcro divider (right side/drive side).
(optional) longer slender document pocket (left side/non-drive side).
– YKK zips, textured nylon outer and VX21 fabrics.
– Tough, durable and versatile design.
– Slot for camelback/dynamo positioned on the top of the bag.
– Finished with our classic label (PU leather/vegan-friendly).
– Choice of colours – black, grey, olive, navy and digital camouflage.

Small: £74.99, €84.99, $99.99
Medium: £94.99, €109.99, $129.99
Large: £109.99, €124.99, $149.99

Steve McClure is one of the UK’s best climbers and has set some of the hardest routes. A bike keeps Steve in shape, climbing is demanding on your body, requiring total body fitness. Check out this video showcasing how Steve uses his Cairn e-bike to access areas that would otherwise require long hikes or 4WDs.

Choose Cycling looks at two UK-based cyclists, Ore and Lucy, and spotlights what drew them to bikes and commuting.

The Kepler is Brother Cycles’ do it all drop-bar bike. Gravel, light touring, commuting, and forest-bound shenanigans. The Kepler is a 4130 frame, with ED coating under the paint to prevent corrosion, can run either 700×45 or 650×48 wheels, has mounts for racks/fenders, with three bottle mounts. For 2021 the new Kepler now features flat-mount thru-axle dropouts with a replaceable derailleur hanger, s-shaped chainstays, and a unicrown steel fork.

Price for us non UK/EU dwellers is £520.83 which is not bad at all!

Pre-order your Kepler at Brother Cycles today for a October 12, 2020 release date.

With a hydroformed 6061 triple-butted aluminum frame, a 65º head angle (66.6º when sagged for Satan), 1191mm (Large Scout 275) wheelbase, and 435mm chainstays, the Nukeproof Scout is not messing around. This little shit of a bike mocks its bigger, rear-shocked brethren with cackles as it cascades through chundah and foresaken forests.  Nukeproof really did it this round, speccing the bikes with with “trail appropriate” tires, so you don’t have to swap out for some meaty Maxxis rubber first thing, and there is plenty of clearance for the wet dust out back (2.6” in 27.5 and 2.5” width in 29er). Plus in that shiny, pretty boy, polished aluminum it’s almost mocking you for not getting it filthy.

-Frame Finish: Brushed ‘n Raw with Black decals
-Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select Charger RC 150mm, 46mm Offset, BOOST, Debonair
-Wheelset: DT Swiss M1900 SPLINE
-Tyres: Front: Maxxis Assegai, Maxx Terra, EXO, TR/ Rear: Maxxis Dissector Maxx Terra EXO+, TR,
-Crankset: Shimano SLX M7100 12-Speed
-Brakes: Shimano SLX M7120, 4 Pot Brake, Resin Pads with Fins
-Handlebars: Nukeproof Horizon V2 25mm Rise, Width – S780mm, M780mm, L800mm, XL800mm)
-Stem: Nukeproof Horizon, 50mm, Black
-Saddle: Nukeproof Horizon SL, Black/Grey
-Seatpost: Brand X Ascend internal w Shimano SL-MT500-IL Remote lever, S:125mm drop; M:150mm drop; L/XL:170mm drop
-Headset: Nukeproof, 44-56 IITS
-Grips: Nukeproof Sam Hill Signature
-SRP: £2100 (GBP)

Impressive! See more for yourself at Nukeproof.

Our friend and videographer Sandy Plenty worked on this flick for Fustle, featuring their Causeway gravel bike. What he came up with is right up our alley! Check out more at Fustle.

The Faran 2.0 is the latest from the UK builders Fairlight. It’s a multi-purpose tourer, built with custom-specified Reynolds tubing, like a Reynolds 631 DZB downtube, and 631 front triangle, with a 37mm 4130 head tube and stays, with 68mm of chainstay clearance which will fit either a 700 or 27.5 wheel. That’s big enough to fit a 27.5 x 2.4” Continental X-King Tyre on Hope XC rims. These bikes have all the fixins to make them an ally on randonneuring events, S24O, or even a full-on tour. Fairlight has pulled together an extensive product catalog on the features of the Faran MKII, which I highly suggest checking out. It’s not often a bicycle manufacturer goes to these lengths describing their new product.

A £500.00 lands you a deposit (£899 frameset retail) for a Faran MKII and the queue is open for business, with the first batch shipping in September/October, with the colors to be announced shortly so head to Fairlight if you like what you see!

Cotic, the MTB brand from the UK, known for the full suspension steel MTBs and other trail-ready bikes have updated their steel Escapade bike. The revamped design includes improved cable routing for crisper shifts, a 142x12mm rear thru-axle, and this bright, Molteni orange paint job. This is the 4th generation of the Escapade which means it’s not going anywhere but up! Check out all the information and ordering details, including their 0% financing offers, at Cotic.

While Restrap markets their new Adventure Musette as an accessory bag for bicycle touring, we can’t help but note that packable bags like this reduce paper and plastic bag use. When they’re this small, you can stuff them anywhere. These 70g bags are made in the UK, come in three colors (safety orange, olive drab, and black) and are available for ordering at Restrap for $37.49.

At this point, we should all be paying attention to what we consume and these days it’s hard to tell what is a good product versus what is good marketing. Make things people want instead of making people want things, right? Companies taking the stand and pushing for sustainable production and also recycling is important. I for one, want products with environmental considerations, that push progression of product design. That’s why the PEMBREE R1V pedals caught my eye. Here’s why:

They are carbon Neutral, including transport to customers.
Materials: All individual components of the R1V are fully recyclable.
Recycling aluminium reduces energy consumption by 95% compared to producing new.
Energy: The Pembree factory solely uses renewable energy from Ecotricity
Manufacturing: All swarf is 100% recycled. No waste to landfill.
Packaging: All Pembree packaging is recycled, can be recycled and is 100% plastic free
Trade In: At the end of life all of your Pembree products will be welcomed back for recycling and you will get a credit on future Pembree products.

These pedals retail for $218 but come with a 5-year warranty. Even if you balked at that price – like I did – it’s good to see the environmental considerations motivating production. See more at PEMBREE.

Long and slack gravel bikes are popping up everywhere. John’s Sklar is a good example, as is the Evil Chamois Hagar, even as polarizing as that bike is, it brought the long and slack ideology to the mainstream. Nordest just announced their Super Albarda Ti gravel bike and it looks like a beast. With a 68º head angle and a longer reach, designed for 50mm to 70mm stems, it’s onto something. Plus, it’s titanium, THE best material for all-terrain riding. Hands down. These frames retail for 1.156,20 € – 1.280,17 € and have a 10-week lead time. See more at Nordest.

Specs:
-Frame TITANIUM Ti3AL2.5V double butted tubing
-Long reach for use 50mm to 70mm stem
-Nordest 50mm stem,include with frame
-Wheels up to 650b 2.10 or 700x50c
-Interchangable dropouts, include with frame
-For 12x142mm thru axle rear hub
-Thru axle 12×1.75mm, include with frame
-For 27.2mm seatpost
-Seatclamp 31.8mm, include with frame
-46T max chainring in 1x or 50T/34/ in 2x
-TR44 head tube
-Weight for M/L size: 1.845 g
-Design for 400mm taper fork with 52mm Rake

James and Pete from Upshift Velo take on an amazing 100-mile route heading out from Backyard Bike Shop to Kielder reservoir and back including some of the Dirty Reiver route. 50/50 road and gravel, but surely some of the most premium gravel riding there is to be had in the country.

Perthshire Gravel worked on this lovely project, titled Drovers:

“Filmed on the Drovers Trail, a new 331-km-long gravel bikepacking route in Scotland, ‘Drovers’ tells the story of the ancient drove roads, an important part of Scottish history, which inspired Scotland’s greatest writers like Burns and Scott. The new video from round the world singlespeed cyclist and film-maker Markus Stitz follows him on his adventure on the route, retracing the footsteps of the cattle drovers on their journey from the Cairngorms through the Tay Valley to Crieff, which became Scotland’s most important cattle market in the end of the 17th century.”

When the return of Chater Lea was announced last year, we honestly had no idea what to expect from one of the UK’s most famous names in component manufacturing. Like you, we had a lot of questions. Well, today we’ve got answers to those very questions, with full product spec and high res photos of the finished product and even a retail price, so read on below for all the details…