{"id":721187,"date":"2026-07-31T16:02:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/721187\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T16:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:02:18","slug":"friday-debrief-232-bikepacking-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/721187\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday Debrief #232 – BIKEPACKING.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week\u2019s Debrief features new White Industries hubs, a fresh alt-biking podcast, VHS-inspired graphics, Silca\u2019s new chain lube, tales from the Abyss, cardboard bike box wheels, a fancy bar-end mirror, recently released bags and gear, your weirdest bikepacking experiences, a couple of events to follow live, and more. Find it all here\u2026<\/p>\n

The weekly Debrief highlights small but important bits of news, products, and things that caught our attention on the website, in the conversation, and elsewhere around the community. These include upcoming events and interesting items our readers shared in the comments. Check out this week\u2019s findings below.<\/p>\n

Bits & Bobs<\/p>\n

New products that are worth highlighting but didn\u2019t make the Dispatch\u2026<\/p>\n

Trail Borne RollPack Nomad<\/p>\n

Made in USA \/ $30+ at Trail Borne Gear<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Trail<\/a><\/p>\n

Launched earlier this year via Kickstarter<\/a>, Trail Borne Gear has expanded its RollPack caster system for cardboard bicycle boxes to include two levels. The new RollPack Nomad system is designed for one-way trips where you plan to ditch the box at the airport. The wheels attach to any standard cardboard bike box, then bolt onto downtube mounts when not in use. The Eagle system includes four wheels built for race weekends and bikepacking trips.<\/p>\n

Hyperlite 20-Degree Mummy Bag<\/p>\n

Made in Mexico \/ $650 at Hyperlite<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Hyperlite Mountain Gear\u2019s new 20-Degree Mummy Bag is packed with 1,000-fill-power grey goose down treated with a DWR finish for maximum loft and durability. An ultralight 7D micro-ripstop nylon shell and lining balance durability and breathability, and draft tubes along the zipper, neck, and hood help seal in warmth. Cinch cords and a parka-style hood create a secure, cozy fit through the night,, and continuous horizontal baffles allow you to shift insulation as conditions change. It\u2019s available in three sizes (Short, Medium, and Long) to fit users from under 5\u20196\u2033 up to 6\u20196\u2033 tall. <\/p>\n

Buffalo Bags\u2019 New Fabric<\/p>\n

Made in Thailand \/ $200 at Buffalo Bags<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Buffalo<\/a><\/p>\n

Buffalo Bags launched a new color of their Big Buffalo top-loader in a new EPLX600 fabric. It features a thicker construction with a clean matte finish, which they say is has excellent resistance to wear and abrasion. It\u2019s currently available in all three sizes in Black or Graphite.<\/p>\n

KiLEY Nexus Eye Mirror<\/p>\n

Made in Japan \/ \u00a56,960 (~$42 USD) at Kiley Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Kiley<\/a>
\n\"Kiley<\/a><\/p>\n

The Japan-made KiLEY Nexus Eye Mirror is a damn good-looking bar-end mirror for riders who want to be safe in style. It\u2019s CNC machined from aluminum, offers a roughly 225-degree field of view, and is compatible with handlebars with an inner diameter of 17.5-21mm. It can be installed on the left or right side of the bars, and the mirror part can be easily removed with a quick-release mechanism.<\/p>\n

White Industries MET Hubs<\/p>\n

Made in USA \/ $203+ at White Industries<\/a><\/p>\n

\"white<\/a><\/p>\n

The new MET hub from White Industries is a hub platform designed specifically for Brompton folding bicycles. Precision-machined in Petaluma, California, the MET Hub features high-quality aluminum construction, sealed cartridge bearings, and Brompton-specific axle and flange geometry designed to maximize durability, wheel strength, and long-term reliability. The White Industries MET Hub is available through authorized White Industries dealers and distributors. Front hubs cost $203 and rear hubs cost $453 USD.<\/p>\n

Velocio LUXE Ultralight Gloves + TRAIL Ultralight Gloves<\/p>\n

Made in Vietnam \/ $49+ at Velocio<\/a><\/p>\n

\"velocio<\/a>
\n\"velocio<\/a><\/p>\n

Velocio has two fresh pairs of ultralight gloves available. The $59 TRAIL Ultralights are a summer glove for long, hot days on the trail, maximizing breathability without sacrificing protection, and the $49 LUXE Ultralights are a hot\u2011weather glove that disappears on summer rides, with zero padding and maximum breathability. They\u2019re both available now in a wide array of sizes and colors.<\/p>\n

Silca Super Secret 2.0 Chain Lube<\/p>\n

Made in USA \/ $25 at Silca<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

SILCA\u2019s Super Secret Lube 2.0 brings hot-wax efficiency to a drip bottle. Developed with Team Visma\u2013Lease a Bike, they say their new formula lasts longer, performs better in wet conditions, and minimizes drivetrain friction on par with hot-melt wax systems, delivering a breakthrough in drip-application marginal gains and longevity. <\/p>\n

Molly Sugar\u2019s Korean Coasts Zine<\/p>\n

Made in USA \/ $13+ at Long Distance Studio<\/a><\/p>\n

\"molly<\/a><\/p>\n

The Korean Coasts Zine is the second chapter of Molly Sugar\u2019s bicycle journey through Korea, exploring identity, belonging, and landscape as a Korean adoptee. The zine is 52 pages long (twice as big as part one) and includes an Ocean Light Crab sticker with every zine. Sliding scale pricing, starting at $13, supports production and future bike tours in Korea.<\/p>\n

New Brother Stroma Colors<\/p>\n

Made in Taiwan \/ \u00a31,199 at Brother Cycles<\/a><\/p>\n

\"2027<\/a>
\n\"2027<\/a><\/p>\n

Brother Cycles in the UK shared a peek at the forthcoming colors of their Stroma all-road framesets this week, inspired by the bold graphics and loud colors of old VHS packaging. With frames arriving from Taiwan in about a month, pre-orders for both yet-to-be-named colors are opening soon. Hit the link above to read the story behind the new paint. <\/p>\n

In Conversation<\/p>\n

Exchanges and ideas that caught our attention in the site\u2019s conversation section\u2026<\/p>\n

Your Weirdest Bikepacking Stories
\n\"Slug<\/a><\/p>\n

In Nic\u2019s review of the Slug Earthling<\/a> on Tuesday, he shared a shocking story about a moth getting stuck in Daniel\u2019s ear while they were on a weekend bikepacking trip together, and it sent many readers reeling in the comments. It was an incredibly unlikely and no doubt equally uncomfortable freak occurrence, and it has us curious to hear about the strangest or most unexpected thing that\u2019s ever happened to you or a riding partner on one of your trips. Let us know in the Conversation below. There are no wrong answers! <\/p>\n

Around the Community<\/p>\n

News from around the bikepacking world\u2026<\/p>\n

Antoine Willemart\u2019s Bikepacking Setup<\/p>\n

Regular contributor Antoine Willemart\u2019s new video offers and up-close look at his Brother Big Bro, fresh off a few weeks on the Torino-Nice Rally track and our own Trans Verdon<\/a> route. Watch the 20-minute video above to learn more, and don\u2019t miss his Reader\u2019s Rig<\/a> feature on the same bike. <\/p>\n

These are the Rides we Remember<\/p>\n

Unprepared and uninformed, Brian Cahal and Teddy Hayden equipped their Hudski Dualists with a light load of overnight gear and headed north from San Francisco using public transport. On their way to the coast, the ride quickly devolved into type 2 fun, and it ended with the smell of canned fish. The next day, they reaped the benefit of the push to the coast and hit some epic lines as they traversed back to the city. This ride was a reminder that a memorable adventure is just an idea away, even in one of California\u2019s biggest cities. <\/p>\n

WZRD Quill Stem Step-by-Step Build<\/p>\n

WZRD\u2019s latest video digs into the build process of a custom high-rise quill stem for a customer\u2019s dirt-drop build. Since Emma doesn\u2019t have a lathe, most of the time is spent machining the aluminum wedge, but the rest of the stem is made by chopping tubes and fillet brazing everything together. Don\u2019t forget to check out our WZRD shop visit story<\/a> from a few years ago to learn more about the brand.<\/p>\n

Stephen\u2019s Rift Abyss Write-Up
\n\"Stephen's<\/a><\/p>\n

Rodeo Labs\u2019 Stephen Fitzgerald took on the The Rift\u2019s new, longest distance earlier this month and has a great write up<\/a> on the Rodeo Labs journal about it. The Abyss distance is a 330-kilometer race across Iceland\u2019s moon-like landscape in the middle of summer. As always, Stephen\u2019s words are insightful, and they provide an interesting perspective on competition.<\/p>\n

Bantam Bicycle Works Has a New Website
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Long in the works, Bantam Bicycle Works in Portland finally launched a fresh website a few days ago. Builder Bob Kamzelski\u2019s work is on full display in neatly organized pages with essential details galleries of his lovely handbuilt frames, forks racks, stems, and more. Head to the new BantamBicycles.com<\/a> to learn more about Bob\u2019s custom and stock offerings.<\/p>\n

12 Hours For Adventure: Bikepacking The Lake District UK<\/p>\n

Allen Boardman\u2019s latest video is out, and here\u2019s what he had to say about it: \u201cI craftily planned a Scottish three-day adventure a few days before a family holiday in the Lake District, though through poor route planning I didn\u2019t manage more than a day ride, leaving me still wanting a night under the stars. We\u2019ve had some great weather in the Lake District \u2013 not a rain jacket in sight and suncream at the ready, so it was only right to head out on an overnighter after a day out with everyone. Already being seconds from a trail or quiet roads, it was great to leave the van on the drive and ride straight from the front door.\u201d<\/p>\n

No Wrong Turns Podcast: Episode One<\/p>\n

No Wrong Turns is a new podcast hosted by Jim Santos of Outer Shell, Adam Sklar of Sklar Bikes, and Adam Leibow of Calling in Sick magazine. It\u2019s an alt-bike industry podcast at the intersection of design, manufacturing, culture, and fun, through the eyes of three insiders and a rotation of special guests. The first episode explains why the three friends started a podcast and what\u2019s unique about their shared workspace at \u201cThe Farm\u201d in San Francisco. In case you missed it, Miles visited The Farm ahead of Sea Otter this summer, check that out here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Drive Side is Starting a Gear Library
\n\"the<\/a><\/p>\n

Our friends Jimmy Judgey and Gurinder Sandhu of The Drive Side in Ontario just announced that they are starting a cycling gear library<\/a> based out of Toronto and Hamilton. The Gear Library will have a catalog of items available at Bikechain in Toronto and New Hope Community Bikes in Hamilton. They are looking for gear and monetary donations to help get up and running. Learn more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Curious Creatures Brand Video<\/p>\n

Montana-based Curious Creatures, known for their colorful and creative cycling apparel, just shared a two-minute video that conveys their design language and what they\u2019re all about. Watch it above. <\/p>\n

Events Starting Soon<\/p>\n

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon\u2026<\/p>\n

Dahu Trail
\n\"dahu<\/a><\/p>\n

The Dahu Trail is an 800-kilometer vertical alpine unsupported ultra-cycling adventure that takes riders on a journey through the high altitudes of the Western Alps. The route will cross the borders between Italy, France, and Switzerland eight times. The 2026 edition starts at 8 a.m. on Monday, and you can follow the participants live here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Colorado Trail Race
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2026 Colorado Trail Race takes off from Denver on Friday, with around 70 riders making their way along the high-elevation, singletrack-heavy route to Durango, on the other side of the state. We\u2019ll be sharing updates from the 514-mile race is it unfolds, and you can keep up with all the action on our 2026 Colorado Trail Race Tracker<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Weekly Social<\/p>\n

Some things we found around the \u2018gram and elsewhere. This week, a Cam\u2019s summer bikepacking adventure and a different kind of gravel bike from Marcel Sketches\u2026<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.<\/p>\n