The Radavist

Easton pulled together a great video showcasing last weekend’s CX Nats.

Our friends from Montanus sent over this wonderful project that I hope stokes some weekend plans for you and your riding buddies!

‘The Wolf’s Lair’ is a 400 km bikepacking route that winds through medieval castles, alpine scenery and ancient Italian villages in the Apennines mountains. The Montanus duo traced that route in 2016, after they felt the need to explore deeper Abruzzo region to learn more about their culture and origins. Giorgio and Francesco are back on The Wolf’s Lair to film the experience and show the hidden beauty that fascinated them three years before.

“The Transcontinental Race is rarely a race against fellow competitors, nor against oneself. It is, primarily, a race for oneself.”

Onboard is a film that has been four years in the making, documenting the immense beauty that is the TCR. Be on the lookout for the full-length in the coming weeks!

Joe from Starling, the maker of that steel full suspension bike I loved so much, just got interviewed by Global Mountain Bike Network. They ask a simple question: is boutique best?

Whether you’re new to MTB riding or have a loved one just getting into the sport, or perhaps you can only brake with one hand, Outbraker has a solution for your hydraulic brakes. The OutBraker was purposely developed to endos over the front wheel and provide stabile braking power. It also allows you to create an optimal braking force when braking by modulating pressure right before the wheel’s lock-up point – that zone that represents the best braking performance.

Their Double system allows riders to maintain perfect braking modulation of both the front and rear brakes with one lever.

This video explains the OutBraker but for more information, head to their website.

Bombtrack accompanied their pro racer Gosse van der Meer to the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Bern to gain insight into the grits and guts it takes to compete at this level.

Wish One Cycles is a framebuilding and engineering operation in France. They design, build, and paint their frames, with their most recent project being the SUB, a sport utility bicycle, which was tested in the high country in Colorado during the Steamboat Gravel Race. Be sure to check out their video from the event here, see more photos of the bike below and check out all the details at Wish One Cycles.

You don’t need to tell us how lame a lot of MTB apparel is. Fluoro colors, flashy graphics, and massive logos. Giro teamed up with Bicycle Nightmares to dress down and darken the MTB race kit… The collection will be on Giro.com December 9th.

Saturday, the 9th and Sunday, the 10th of May, 2020 brings about the fifth edition of the Rando Imperator, a European Randonnée from Germany to Italy. The event is part of the official Italian Audax calendar offering three different brevet courses: Munich-Ferrara (600km), Munich-Bozen (300km), Bozen-Ferrara (300km) and Bozen-Mantua (200km). See more information at Rando Imperator.

We watch a lot of videos over here, yet few come close to this level of perfection! This is the Postman:

“Clinging to the frayed edges of the ragged shores of the Isle of Harris, a singletrack path navigates its way above cliffs, around bays. Three friends make the trip to not only ride the Postman’s Path to Rhenigidale, but find out more about its history.

Until a road to the village opened in 1990, the path was the only overland link between Rhinigidale and the outside world. Kenny Mackay – the last postman to walk the track shares his stories – tales of community, survival and love.

They leave with a deeper understanding that this trail goes beyond being a simple physical connection between two places. It symbolises the emotional and practical ties to the landscapes humans call home.”

If you haven’t already been digitally or physically introduced to Mark and Will of the Free Radicals well now is your chance.

Cut to: You watching the video

Yes cinema, the magic of the motion picture, the simulacra of modern life. Sure this could all be smoke and mirrors but I met these two IRL I can tell you its not* that they give off the same “truly good human” vibe that carry in this video.

I am not the only one who has been bowled over by this good vibe wave,  my local trail boss – a highly esteemed curmudgeon and renowned hater – has also seen into their souls and has welcomed them into our tight knit cohort of riders and this say’s so much.

They’re good people doing good things. Taking action, doing work, paying it forward. So thanks Free Rads and thank you to all those other builders, advocates and riders named or not putting who are putting in the work telling the tale of our trails.

*I suppose I could be part of the simulacrum as well, World on a Wire anyone? But if that’s the case its very likely you are too so then does it really even matter?

ENVE has pulled together quite the SSCXWCUT recap video!

“Oh, the Single Speeder. Heroic, Athletic, Stout, Bibilous, and Brave. Each year SSCXWC brings together the greatest well-rounded riders in the world to test their mettle through Feats of Strength and the most demanding cyclocross courses known to man. The red rock deserts of Southern Utah played host to this mythical event for 2019, introducing St. George to a cyclist it has only ever heard of in storybook legends.”

Hats off, team!

With the Dolomites as the backdrop, the Veneto Trail is equal parts hard, as it is stunning. This year’s route – which changes each year – totals 450km of distance with over 10,000 meters of elevation. Mark your calendars for June 27th, 2020!

Klunkers and Cruisers, the early mountain bikes, took to the fire roads of Marin back in the 1970’s. Klunkers had a derailleur and hand brakes while Cruisers had coaster brakes only. The disambiguation of these two terms doesn’t count for much these days, as just about any bike that looks like this will be dubbed a “klunker”. We the People’s newest bike, the Avenger, is a 27.5″ rigid MTB with klunker/cruiser feels and disc brakes. We’ll look at the predecessor to this bike, a 26″ version, in detail this week but this bike, with a coaster brake would be all kinds of fun! Or just ride it as is. See more on the Avenger at We the People and see more photos below.

The Hunt 1000 is an intense bikepacking route through the Australian Alps. This video, produced by Hunt Bikes, really showcases this breathtaking event. For a more in-depth and personal look, be sure to read Jorja’s recap from last year!

The latest video from RedBull isn’t about Rampage, it’s about Formation, the inaugural freeride event built and ridden by all women. I’ve been waiting to see a video from the event and can only hope it gets more coverage next year!

We’re camera bag nuts over here so when an interesting model comes out, we feel a certain obligation to share it. Shimoda’s Axtion X bags are designed for active lives, with well-thought-out details, great colors, and ergonomics to boot. Check out their Kickstarter but if you like what you see, hurry and back it, since it only has a few more days left.

Bombtrack takes us inside the NRW Cross-Cup for some European ‘cross racing vibes.