This week’s Debrief features the Forbidden Heathen, a new Audax bag, fresh pumps and tools from Feedback Sports, the route to Ruta del Jefe, SCSW Dry Bags, Conan’s Tout Terrain Catalina, two events to follow live, and much more. Find it all here…
The weekly Debrief highlights small but important news, products, and things that caught our attention on the website, in conversation, and elsewhere in the community. These include upcoming events and interesting items our readers shared in the comments. Check out this week’s findings below.
Bits & Bobs
New products that are worth highlighting but didn’t make the Dispatch…
ENABags Handlebar Bag Audax
Made in Greece / €130+ at ENABags
New from ENABags in Greece, the Handlebar Bag Audax is an eight-liter touring and commuting bag that features a Kickflix mounting system, a rider-facing Fidlock magnetic closure, two side pockets, reflective accents, a bungee cord, and a transparent map pocket. Built from coated Cordura 500d, Hypalon, and Ecopak with a coated nylon lining, it also has an HDPE insert, a lightweight aluminum frame, and a padded interior. The Handlebar Bag Audax is fully customizable, weighs 500 grams, and measures 29cm x 18cm x 18cm.
SCSW Dry Bags
Made in St.Louis, MO / $80 at SCSW
Early this week, Zach Smith from SCSW released a small but important product to the brand’s lineup. The SCSW dry bag is made of Ultra 200 fabric, has minimal seams, and is seam-sealed with UltraTNT PSA tape. It has a capacity of 5-7L and comes in three colors: grey, white, and black.
Forbidden Heathen Restock
Made in Taiwan / $3,599 CAD at Forbidden Bikes
The Heathen from British Columbia’s Forbidden Bikes is a slack short-travel titanium hardtail designed around a 130mm fork. The two smaller sizes are designed for mixed wheel sizes (27.5″ rear, 29″ front), and the two larger sizes are full 29er. A limited run of frame kits is available to purchase now.
HOVERAir VERSA
Made in China / £519+ at HOVERAir
The new HOVERAir VERSA is a two-in-one camera that combines a three-axis handheld gimbal camera with a self-flying camera into a single, pocket-sized device. From HOVERAir: “In handheld mode, the pocket-sized device weighs just 163g and features a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for buttery-smooth POV shots, close-ups, and dynamic everyday footage. Powered by a 1/1.3-inch sensor, it delivers up to 17.5 stops of dynamic range, 4K video at 60 fps, and 10-bit H-Log for rich, true-to-life colors from bright daylight to low light. In flying mode, with the simple addition of the flight kit, VERSA transforms into a 230g autonomous flying camera. It features palm takeoff and landing, intelligent AI tracking, over 10 automated flight modes, and requires no prior piloting skills.”
New Feedback Sports Multi Tools + New Pumps
Made in Taiwan / $19.95+ at Feedback Sports
This week, Feedback Sports added three new multi-tools and two new hand pumps to their lineup of bicycle tools. The Reflex 7, 11, and 20 Multi Tools use fold-out steel bits, aluminum bodies, and rubberized grip sleeves. The Pneuma 30 and the Pneuma 70 pumps both feature a concealed, 90-degree, extendable flexible hose and a push-on locking valve.
Ringtailll Palmares
Made in Belgium / €3.95+ at Ringtailll
Created by Michel Claessens in Belgium, Ringtailll is a new brand creating bike stickers that let cyclists mark their adventures and favorite rides. Inspired by sewn-on flag patches, the stickers can go anywhere on your frame or fork to commemorate memorable rides or show where you’re from.
Rene Herse 15th Anniversary Cranks and Brakes
Made in Taiwan / $500+ at Rene Herse
To celebrate 15 years since their initial release, Rene Herse has released a run of special edition black cranks and rim brakes. They’re no different from their standard offerings, save for the color. The cranks come in 1x, 2x, and 3x models, and the brakes are available in cantilever and center-pull versions.
Around the Community
News from around the bikepacking world…
Bikepacking Scotland’s Wild West
Cycling 366 released a new video that takes a quiet, calm approach to documenting a bikepacking trip. In a well-shot 10-minute video, viewers get a look at the “Wild West” of Scotland as he makes his way through the gloomy but incredible terrain.
Conan Thai’s Ultra-Ready Tout Terrain Catalina
Cyclist, photographer, and ultra-racer Conan Thai has often waxed lyrical about his chosen home of New York and how it deeply contrasts the backgrounds of the places he jets off to for an ultra or bikepacking event. In a recent Instagram post, he took the opportunity to document his Tout Terrain Catalina on the busy streets of the Big Apple and talk about why he loves living in a large metropolis when racing in the unpaved wilds is such a big part of his life.
The Route to Ruta del Jefe
Tout Terrain is supporting the 2027 Ruta del Jefe event, and as part of that, they’re planning a free, open two-day ride from Tucson to the start of the event (spots are limited). They roll out on March 31st, 2027, for an 85-mile, mixed-terrain, self-supported ride. If you’re interested, you can sign up here.
Temple Cycles is Closing
Earlier this week, the British brand Temple Cycles announced plans to close. CEO Matthew Mears cited challenging industry conditions and some bad breaks along the way. The brand focused on affordable steel bikes and even entered the e-bike market in recent years. We’re sending our best to everyone affected.
The Bike Industry Shows Up for King Cage
On Monday, we shared a call for help from King Cage. Their shop has been hit hard by the flooding in Durango, and they need all the physical and monetary help they can get to get back on track. The bike community has shown up in droves. Not only have many come to help in person, but loads of people have also purchased gift cards from their online store to support them. In addition to that, we’d like to spotlight Bicycle Pubes, Rockgeist, and Mad Monkey Designs for stepping up in their own way. Each has contributed by offering their own product and donating the proceeds to help King Cage out, and it’s great to see.
The World of Cycles Soca
Based in Normandy, France, Simon Coulombier is the founder and framebuilder behind Cycles Soca. He designs and builds handmade steel bicycles, from gravel and all-road bikes to custom touring and adventure bikes, combining cycling industry engineering experience with traditional framebuilding craftsmanship. In the video above, Simon shares a look at the workshop, the manufacturing process, the bicycles, and the brand’s philosophy.
Events Starting Soon
What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…
Cohutta Cat
The Cohutta Cat is a 270-mile figure-eight loop in the mountains of North Georgia and Eastern Tennessee. This year’s grand depart kicks off this morning from the Mulberry Gap Adventure Basecamp near Ellijay, with over 30 riders participating. Follow their progress live here.
2026 Hunt 1000
The Hunt 1000 is a self-supported bikepacking journey across some of the most remote and beautiful country in Australia. This year, there are two route options: 500 or 1,000 kilometers, and as always, it’s a grand finish, instead of a grand depart, on Saturday, December 5th. Follow along live here.
Weekly Social
Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a one heck of a rat bike and a lap around Madrone HQ…
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info…
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