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<p className="readable-intro">Seattle-based <a href="https://bit.ly/3UrKe1e" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Swift Industries</a> needs little introduction. Since 2008, Swift has been creating some of the best bike bags out there and are considered pioneers of our sport. A fun coincidence connected us with the founders of Swift Industries as they were about to launch the <a href="https://bit.ly/3BzHBlD" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Olliepack</a>, their new shredpacking seat bag. We have been testing it for the past few weeks. Grab a coffee and read some words about it.</p>

<p className="readable">If you've been following this site for any period of time you may have picked up on my growing disdain for seatpacks and saddlebags. Without going on too much of a rant—loosening straps, bags that sit too low, tailwag, and just generally looking sloppy all contribute to my growing dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction led to me giving up on strappy seat bags completely and instead trying out various rack and mini-pannier systems, like the <a href="/gear/bikepacking-bags/tailfin-carbon-rack">Tailfin system</a> (which I was quite happy with on <a href="/stories/vancouver-island-tree-to-sea">a recent trip</a>).</p>

<p className="readable">A few weeks ago, my good friend and boss at my day job mentioned that he grew up with the founder of Swift Industries. I almost fell out of my chair and wondered why it took so long for him to reveal that little tidbit. I was over the moon when he introduced me to Martina Brimmer, and even more blown away when Martina wanted to hop on a video chat and meet face to face. After two years of running this site, Martina is the first person that actually wanted to meet. We had a fantastic conversation about how Swift Industries came to be and where it's headed. I'll admit, it's tough sitting through a call trying your best to be chill when at the same time you are a real fanboy.</p>

<p className="readable">During our call, Martina mentioned a new seatpack they were close to launching called the Olliepack. The Swift Industries team spent over two years designing and testing the bag with an aim to prevent many of the seatpack issues listed above. I was immediately dubious, but my interest was piqued when Martina told me that the bag was designed specifically for shredpacking on rough terrain. For me, this is where all seatpacks fall apart. The second you ride into the chonk, straps loosen, et voila—you get the wag and are stopping every hour or so to re-cinch.</p>

<p className="readable">Martina agreed to send me an Olliepack and I was keen to get it going.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Immediate Impressions</h3>

<p className="readable">Opening the box, I was actually surprised at how small and light the Olliepack was. At 6L, and weighing in at 11oz, the bag is tiny. Almost more like a mini-pannier for your seat rails than any saddle bag I have come across yet. The Olliepack is simple, which is disarming at first. Only once you get into the details do you realize that its simplicity is very intentional. I immediately loved the color, which tonally fit with my <a href="/gear/bikes/landyachtz-ab-st">Landyacthz AB-ST</a>, one of the bikes I planned testing the Olliepack with. The pack ships in three color options: black, teal, and the famous Swift Industries coyote brown.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">On &amp; Off</h3>

<p className="readable">There's something about seatpacks that always make feel a little stupid. A mess of straps and canvas, you never really know which straps are intended to go through the saddle rails and which are used to cinch the bag shut. Also, as a bag gets older and dirtier, this mess seems to become worse over time. Getting most seat packs on and off a bike has been a total PITA for me. Maybe it's just me? Unclear.</p>

<p className="readable">The Olliepack, however, was straightforward. All the straps seemed really well thought out, and all excess was tucked and buckled away. The single beefy velcro strap that fits around the seatpost is a breeze to get on (and off), and it is rubberized inside to prevent any rotational movement around the post. One beautiful detail is that the saddle rail straps and cinch straps are detailed differently for quick visual understanding of which straps go where. I can't stress how great this is, and I am a bit baffled at how no other maker (that I have come across) has done this yet. It's such a simple idea that makes the product designer in me very happy, but also demonstrates the strong human-centered design culture that Swift must have internally. There is no denying that the Olliepack is a tight little package. </p>

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<p className="readable">The saddle rail straps have a quick-release buckle system that makes cinching and tightening under the saddle a breeze. Again, this is one of those little details that make the Olliepack a bit of a dream to put on and take off the bike. I ended up swapping the Olliepack between two different bikes with two very different saddles: first was my monster gravel bike with a race saddle, second was my all-terrain bike with <a href="https://www.brooksengland.com/en_us/b17.html?___from_store=en_row" target="_blank">a Brooks B-17</a>. At the risk of sounding too obvious, the Olliepack was easier to install on the Brooks than the race saddle, as its rails are much deeper.</p>

<p className="readable">Fully loaded, the Olliepack is the first seat bag that I wasn't able to shake. But let's get out there and see how it does on various tracks.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">On The Gravel</h3>

<p className="readable">My first trip was a simple gravel grind to meet my family at a local beach about 30km out of town. The wind had changed directions overnight and covered the sky in smoke from a wildfire in mainland Canada. After filling the Olliepack with various beach toys and lunchables, I hit the road. The ride began with about 10km of asphalt; on that surface, the Olliepack was imperceptible. It's like it wasn't even there, even fully loaded. And once I hit the gravel, it continued to be undetectable. Looking at your shadow really demonstrates how much a bag is wagging, so I kept checking mine to see how the pack was faring. Even in my shadow, there seemed to be no movement. Nuts. Even while climbing up out of the saddle and pulling on the handlebars in an exaggerated way, I couldn't get the Olliepack to move.</p>

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<p className="readable">With past saddle bags, I have always tried to access the main compartment with the bag strapped to the bike, telling myself that physical tetris was better than the hassle of removing the bag completely. With the Olliepack, this wasn't an issue. When I arrived at the beach, I took the pack off the bike to access the main compartment. The roll-top closure is easy to use and so is cinching it all up.</p>

<p className="readable">While on the beach, I “discovered” a secret mesh pocket on the underside of the bag. Swift had been nice enough to send me the marketing materials before I received the bag, which I probably should have read beforehand—they clearly call out the mesh pocket as a feature and call it the Power Mesh Stash Hatch :) The stash hatch is a fantastic idea, and I'd probably still have my favorite flip-flops to this day if my older bags had had one. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">In the Chonk</h3>

<p className="readable">After being totally blown away at how the Olliepack performed on the gravel, it was time to test it in the chonk. Any bikepacking on our small island is for sure going to involve some level of singletrack, and I was keen on checking Swift's claims that the Olliepack is shred-friendly.</p>

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<p className="readable">The Olliepack was seemingly designed to sit high on the seatpost, up and away from the tire to accommodate for dropper posts. It fits fantastic on my <a href="/gear/components/pnw-loam-dropper-post">PNW dropper post</a>, with 150mm of travel. This was only my second time riding with a saddlebag on a dropper post but the Olliepack seemed more prepared for the job than the Outer Shell pack I tested my post with. I couldn't quite drop the post the full travel, but it was very close. So close that the Olliepack's main velcro strap didn't seem to interfere with the post or get caught in it. Fully loaded however, I did notice that the post took a fraction of a second longer to raise. I doubt this is the pack's fault, but in the moment that fraction of a second is noticeable. </p>



<p className="readable">I have been out on the trails a handful times with the Olliepack, trying my best to shake the thing. Simply put, it doesn't budge. In my opinion, the team has successfully created a singletrack friendly seatpack. Shred on.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">It's honestly tough to find anything wrong with the Olliepack. The only challenge I see is in its size. At 6L, it definitely is not meant for everyone <em>or for every trip</em>. You wouldn't, for example, take the Olliepack on a multi-month journey across the Himalayas—I don't think anyway. But I'm not sure that's the intention of the Olliepack. The pack seems ideally suited for day tripping or even overnighters where you are going to be hitting some gnarlier trails. </p>

<p className="readable">The Olliepack is something new, at least to this cycling writer. It starts to feel like a new category of bag designed specifically for people who play in the mountains and want to move fast and light. The devil is in the Olliepacks details. There are a lot of smart decisions that can only come from the experience and culture of a company like Swift Industries. All those small details that at first seem simplistic, ladder up into some large, large love. The Olliepack has found a permanent home on my monster gravel bike, and I look forward to shredding the days away with it.</p>

<p className="readable">Get the Olliepack goes for $180 USD. Get it <a href="https://bit.ly/3BzHBlD" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">here</a>.</p>

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We tested the shred-friendly Olliepack from Swift Industries for a few weeks. Grab a coffee and read some words about it.

Swift Industries Olliepack Review


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<p className="readable-intro">UK-based <a href="https://76projects.com" target="_blank">76 Projects</a> has a knack for imagining cycling accessories and new ideas. A great example is their <a href="https://76projects.com/products/micro-piggy" target="_blank">Micro Piggy</a>, a storage solution originally designed for full-suspension riders to carry an extra tube. However, we are always looking for new storage solutions for our adventure rigs, we decided to test the Micro Piggy through the lens of bikepacking. Let's go.  </p>

<p className="readable">For us bikepackers, space is always at a premium. It took me a <a href="/stories/global-bikepacking-a-life-altered">few years and about 35,000km of cycling</a> the world to ditch my (larger volume) pannier setup in favour of more compact luggage. As a result, I no longer have a few large bags, but many little ones. And just when we think there isn't an inch of space left for even a Snickers bar, in comes the Micro Piggy by 76 Projects. </p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Mounting and Placement</h3>

<p className="readable">The Micro Piggy is a storage solution that includes both bolt-on and stick-on options. It is meant for securing smaller objects to the frame, such as tools, an inner tube, or—as I discovered—snacks! Ideally it is mounted using the under top tube bosses, which are available on select modern frames. My older and very trusted 2013 <a href="https://www.thorncycles.co.uk/bikes" target="_blank">Thorn Nomad Mk2</a>, unfortunately, does not have this setup. Lucky for me, 76 Projects has a unique sticky mount option, allowing me to place the Micro Piggy anywhere it fits on my frame.</p>

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<p className="readable">For positioning, I opted for the top of my top tube, since my v-brake cable routing prevented me from placing it underneath. The stick-on mounting itself is quite straight forward: Use the alcohol wipe provided to ensure a clean surface; place the adhesive strip on the back of the mount, and press it onto the frame. For those of us who use frame bags for bikepacking, finding a good spot for the Micro Piggy may prove to be tricky. This is what had me initially disappointed. There simply wasn't enough space in between my frame bag velcro straps for the Micro Piggy. </p>

<p className="readable">Happily, I was able to test out this little piggy during my bikepacking “off-season”. As a seasonal forestry worker, it seems that I am either 100% at work or 100% at play. I now typically leave on multi-month bikepacking trips, and work hard in between adventures. So, at this time, most of my rides are day trips. The Micro Piggy proved to be a nice addition for local gravel rides around my home town of Dawson Creek, where a frame bag wasn't really that necessary. </p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Durability</h3>

<p className="readable">The Micro Piggy is lightweight and the design appears to be quite solid. The mount is 3D printed with a velcro strap that feels anything but flimsy. I used it to carry a spare inner tube and snacks—something that we hungry cyclists never seem to have enough space for. All objects tested stayed firmly in place, especially with the added heavy elastic band. As for the sticky mount itself—I had no reason to think that it would be going anywhere. On the 76 Projects website, they say that it sticks “like sh*t to a blanket.” But as a long-term bikepacker, I can never fully speak to the durability of a product until I have ridden with it for a long time. For now, I am impressed with just how secure it feels, something I was initially hesitant about.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Final Thoughts</h3>

<p className="readable">Would I take the Micro Piggy bikepacking? Yes, I would—if I could integrate it with my Rogue Panda custom frame bag. I am fairly set on using a frame bag for bikepacking, and unfortunately that leaves me wondering where I'd put the Micro Piggy. However, if you have the real estate, I would recommend adding the Micro Piggy to your setup as additional storage. Longevity is an important factor to take into consideration when buying gear for a long bikepacking trip, and the Micro Piggy feels like it would survive months of riding on rough tracks. </p>

<p className="readable">Get it <a href="https://76projects.com/products/micro-piggy" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

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The Micro Piggy from UK-based 76 Projects was originally designed for full-suspension riders to carry an extra tube. We tried it through the lens of bikepacking. Let's go.

The Micro Piggy by 76 Projects Review


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<p className="readable-intro">Over the past couple years, <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/" target="_blank">Passchier</a> has been making some waves with their stylish, vibration-absorbing bamboo handlebars. They recently added a new narrower bar to the lineup—dubbed <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/product/astaire/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">the Astaire bar</a>—and let us try them out. Follow along as Lew asks some tough questions and gives his impressions on these flexy bars. </p>

<p className="readable">There's no denying that handlebars made from bamboo split opinion. I asked my Twitter followers what they thought about them, and the response was pretty much 50-50. My initial scepticism had to be kept in check: how could wood be a sensible choice for handlebars? Surely they'll snap. But Barry tested Passchier's <a href="/gear/components/passchier-gump">Gump bars</a> and that didn't end with a face full of splinters. In fact, he quite liked them… and surely he wouldn't want to take out one of his new writers… I'll be okay. Still, doubt was on my mind; so before fitting the bars, I thought it would be sensible to do some due diligence. How strong is bamboo? I asked Google. And the trusty source of all knowledge put my worries to bed. Bamboo reportedly has a higher tensile strength than steel… although I'm not quite sure what that really means. It's also used as scaffolding in all sorts of places around the world. That's got to count for something, right?</p>

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<p className="readable">One thing is for certain: these bars are beautiful. Photographs don't do them justice, and the finish is impeccable. A piece of art in their own right, it felt almost criminal knowing that I was going to take them off-road with the potential to be busted up. The minimal look seriously appeals to me and they're a head-turner. Some riders might be used to the little alignment markers most bars nowadays come with to allow for centralised and perfectly rolled bars, but I was happy to swap these out for the perfectly unspoiled wood instead.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">First, A Quick Lesson On Preparation</h3>

<p className="readable">With my doubts somewhat eased, it was time to fit the Astaires on a bike. My rigid alloy gravel bike would have been my first choice, but review gear doesn't often stay on my bike long before being switched out again. The drop bars, and accompanying hooded brakes/gears weren't going to make for an easy swap, so the gravel bike was ruled out. Instead, I chose my steel hardtail—<a href="https://www.stifmtb.com/collections/stif-squatch/products/stif-squatch-pro-kit" target="_blank">a Stif Squatch</a>. I stripped the bike of the usual bars, taking care to slide my brake levers off and onto the Passchier bars without scratching the finish. Finally, it was time to tighten the stem. Except it wasn't. The 31.8mm diameter of the bamboo bars (obviously) didn't fit the 35mm stem clamp I already had fitted. And I didn't have a spare. Thankfully, next-day delivery meant that I had a stem quickly enough to complete the test, but I was also reminded to be better prepared. I can also confirm that the Astaire bars are indeed 31.8mm in diameter, despite not being listed on Passchier's website.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Initial Thoughts</h3>

<p className="readable">After fitting the bars and reading the accompanying information, my first question was: who are these bars for? The instructions made it clear that the bars aren't made for trail riding, and their narrow 620mm width confirmed this. The vibration dampening properties (more on this soon) suit off-road riding, but the bars' narrowness offers less control than I'd have liked, when riding on double track. Perhaps I'm so used to 800mm handlebars on my mountain bikes that anything much smaller feels twitchy and less stable.</p>

<p className="readable">I left the house and firmly stuck to the 'no jumpy stuff' rule that I'd read on the leaflet. Instead, a local loop would let me ride road, gravel, double track, and even a ribbon of grassy singletrack. The road riding didn't seem to feel any different at all, aside from the bars being narrower. My alloy <a href="https://burgtec.co.uk/product/ride-wide-alloy-enduro-handlebars/" target="_blank">Burgtec bars</a>, which were fitted before the swap, felt very similar. I honestly felt quite deflated, thinking that I had wasted my time swapping in the Astaire bars only to find no difference... at least to begin with.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchierastaire/lew-on-hardtail.jpg" alt="lew on hardtail" />
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<h3 className="readable-sub">Where The Bars Shine</h3>

<p className="readable">When it was finally time to ditch the road in favour of gravel, I stood to climb a small bank and that's when the bars seemed to come alive. The definite flex was noticeable without being unnerving. Both the tarmac and gravel climbs were subject to the dampening that Passchier had promised. They seemed, as advertised, to 'soak up the road.'</p>

<center> <div className="quote"><h3>The definite flex was noticeable without being unnerving. Both the tarmac and gravel climbs were subject to the dampening that Passchier had promised.</h3></div> </center>

<p className="readable">As my ride progressed and I left the gravel, with the tracks turning to dust and dirt, the vibration of the bars again seemed similar to alloy bars when unweighted. A slight change to my usual relaxed riding position, and a little weight through the arms and onto the bars, brought them back to life again.</p>

<p className="readable">Eventually, I found some familiarity with the width of the bars and started to find comfort in tighter turns again. After that, I felt duty call. I'm definitely an off-road rider, so if the bars have come to me, they must be put through proper riding, right? A couple of short descents gave me a chance to hop and skip the bike around a little. Some bunny hops and small pops from roots and rocks were my usual level of playfulness during a ride, and the bars didn't seem to mind. They offered no disconcerting give on larger impacts but continued to soak up the finer vibrations. It was both pleasing and reassuring to know that the bars are strong even while under flex. I purposely didn't take them on the trail; when I spoke with Passchier they were keen to let me know that their intended use is not on downhill trails, but for usual gravel riding and bikepacking.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">Several more test rides and I found the same result—the Passchier Astaire bars were at their best when weighted, even slightly. The reduction of buzz through the bars became noticeable only when at least some pressure was on them, and it was certainly pleasing when it happened.</p>

<p className="readable">Because I used them with a suspension fork, I wasn't able to feel the full benefit of the bars; also, the width isn't my personal preference. So, who are these bars for? In my mind, they are for riders of fully rigid bikes who already suffer from regular arm and hand fatigue when riding. Commuters and tourers who aren't riding twisty trails might find the width more to their liking, and with a rigid fork you'll feel more of the bamboo in action.</p>

<p className="readable">The Astaire bars go for $185 CAD / $140 USD / £185 - get them <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/product/astaire/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

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Passchier recently added the new narrower Astaire to it's lineup. Read Lew's full review on them here.

Passchier Astaire Handlebar Review


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<p className="readable-intro"><a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com" target="_blank">Panorama Cycles</a> have been creating carbon-neutral adventure bikes from their headquarters in Quebec, Canada since 2016. Recently, they updated their composite <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/product/katahdin-en/" target="_blank">Katahdin gravel bike</a> to be more versatile. We gave the Katahdin v2 a demo and learnt a lot about what versatility actually means. Go.</p>

<p className="readable">I don't keep my crush for Panorama Cycles a secret. For the past 6 years, Simon Bergeron and the team have been building something special in Granby, Quebec that is not only good for Canadian cycling but also <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/sustainability/" target="_blank">good for the world</a>. Their carbon-neutral bikes have changed how I look at bike manufacturers and set a precedent for the rest of the industry. I am also a huge fan of the team of Canadian riders they have been supporting, including <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/cory-ostertag-en/" target="_blank">Cory Ostertag</a> and <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/marie-pierre-savard-en/" target="_blank">Marie-Pierre Savard</a>—who recently came in first and third respectively (both setting FKTs) at the <a href="https://www.logdriverswaltz.ca/" target="_blank">Log Driver's Waltz</a> race in Eastern Canada. </p>

<p className="readable">Earlier this year, Panorama released the second generation of its Katahdin gravel bike. The bike is named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Katahdin" target="_blank">Mount Katahdin</a> in Baxter State Park, Maine, not far from Panorama headquarters. The name Katahdin comes from Abenaki, the language of the local Penobscot people, and translates to “great mountain”. The mountain is in a remote area of northern Maine which happens to be a mecca of gravel riding and marks the end point of the <a href="https://nps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6298c848ba2a490588b7f6d25453e4e0" target="_blank">Appalachian Trail</a>. </p>


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<p className="readable">The first version of the Katahdin bike was originally inspired by cyclocross geometry. This second version was completely redesigned from the ground up to be a more versatile gravel and bikepacking rig. The updates completely reimagine how the bike feels, and introduce a slacker head tube angle and a longer wheelbase. It's been a long time since I rode a composite bike that I can lift with one hand, and I was excited to try the Katahdin. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Let's take a look...</h3>

<p className="readable">The Katahdin ships with two build options or as a <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/product/katahdin-frameset-en/" target="_blank">frameset</a> for anyone that is looking to build their own. The two build kit options effectively let customers choose between setting up the bike for ‘mountain gravel'—with SRAM Rival 1 and 650b wheels, or for 'groad touring'—with Shimano GRX 2x and 700c wheels. However, you can also get in touch with the team and have them build you anything your heart desires, assuming the components are available. </p>

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<p className="readable">The first thing that hits your eyeballs looking at the Katahdin is its color. There simply aren't many burgundy bikes out there. Initially, I couldn't tell if I liked the color or not, but it has grown on me over the past months. I can safely say that it stands out from the crowd, which is always a good thing. The Katahdin got a lot of looks on one ferry crossing from a team of black-on-black gravel hipsters from Vancouver—which I found amusing. Bucking even more minimalist trends, the beefy downtube is accented by a fantastic illustration of a howling wolf by Canadian illustrators <a href="https://www.pellvetica.com/portfolio/panorama-katahdin-illustration" target="_blank">Pellvetica</a>.</p>

<p className="readable">Overall, the bike looks clean, made in part by its internal cabling. The Katahdin comes equipped with frame holes for an internally routed dropper post, as well as ports for a dynamo hub in the fork. Having these ports is a fantastic option for any gravel machine that's planning on getting into some mischief. </p>

<p className="readable">The Katahdin v2 boasts mounts on mounts on mounts. It feels like there are mounts everywhere which will make any bikepacker happy. The Katahdin is the first bike I have ever ridden that has 3 bottle mounts on the inside triangle, but it's worth noting that you would probably need shorter bidons. Still, pretty awesome. The seat stays have upper mounts and lower ones near the dropouts to fit a rack or <a href="/gear/bikepacking-bags/tailfin-carbon-rack">Tailfin</a>, and the fork has a triple mount for any fork bag system. The mount threads are stainless steel and cleanly recessed into the carbon.</p>

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    <tr>
        <th>Size</th>
        <th>S</th>
        <th>M</th>
        <th>L</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Recommended Height</td>
        <td>5'4"-5'7"</td>
        <td>5'7"-5'10"</td>
        <td>5'10"-6'2"</td>
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    <tr>
        <td>Head Tube Angle</td>
        <td>70°</td>
        <td>70°</td>
        <td>70°</td>
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        <td>Seat Tube Angle</td>
        <td>74°</td>
        <td>74°</td>
        <td>74°</td>
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    <tr>
        <td>Stack</td>
        <td>573mm</td>
        <td>591mm</td>
        <td>611mm</td>
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        <td>Reach</td>
        <td>382mm</td>
        <td>393mm</td>
        <td>400mm</td>
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    <tr>
        <td>Head Tube Length</td>
        <td>145mm</td>
        <td>165mm</td>
        <td>185mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Seat Tube Length</td>
        <td>450mm</td>
        <td>480mm</td>
        <td>510mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Top Tube Length</td>
        <td>546mm</td>
        <td>562mm</td>
        <td>575mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Chainstay Length</td>
        <td>430mm</td>
        <td>430mm</td>
        <td>430mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>BB Drop</td>
        <td>75mm</td>
        <td>75mm</td>
        <td>75mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Fork Rake/Offset</td>
        <td>55mm</td>
        <td>55mm</td>
        <td>55mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Trail</td>
        <td>71mm</td>
        <td>71mm</td>
        <td>71mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Wheelbase</td>
        <td>1040mm</td>
        <td>1057mm</td>
        <td>1072mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Trail</td>
        <td>70mm</td>
        <td>80mm</td>
        <td>90mm</td>
    </tr>
</table>
<br/>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Build, Build, Build</h3>

<p className="readable">Commenting on build kits always feels tough considering the delays and substitutions that brands need to make in order to ship bikes these days. However, it's even tougher to separate a bike from its build decisions. As I mentioned above, the Katahdin has two build options that would fundamentally change the feel and maybe even the use(s) of the bike. </p>

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<p className="readable">The bike that Panorama sent me was actually a hybrid of the two options they offer—a decision I assume was made due to wheelset availability. The bike I tested was a Rival 1 groupset, but with the 700c wheels that normally ship with the GRX 2x option. I'll admit this was my first time riding a 1x drive with a set of 700c wheels, which took a bit of getting used to. More on that in a bit.</p>

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<p className="readable">The build is solid. Over the past few months I've been learning to love the SRAM Rival 1, a shift from riding the <a href="/gear/bikes/landyachtz-ab-st">Landyachtz AB-ST</a>. The Yokozuna brakes are a nice touch with their compressionless housing, as is the carbon seat post. But for me, the star of the build is the <a href="https://ritcheylogic.com/bike/handlebars/comp-beacon-handlebar" target="_blank">Ritchey Comp Beacon</a> drop bars. There's something about these bars that I just can't get enough of. I initially thought they would be too shallow of a drop but they somehow seem to fit me (and the Katahdin) perfectly. They are flared, wide (46cm), and ready for anything. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Enough Talk</h3>

<p className="readable">I took the Katahdin out on my favorite <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/7448769950" target="_blank">local century ride</a> here in Victoria. A perfect test track that goes through some steep, punchy hills that eventually flatten out into some fast gravel bliss.</p>

<p className="readable">Once we really got into the ride, it took me a bit to get accustomed to the Katahdin. In the more technical hills, I had to check myself while descending on gravel, reducing speed and even stopping one or two times completely. To me, it felt like the whole bike was crying for some beefier tires. With a long reach, wheelbase, and 70 degree headtube angle, 40mm doesn't seem like enough tire to me. If you are looking at getting the Katahdin with 700c, and have any chonky roads in your future, I would suggest going with a larger tire width; 45mm would probably do the trick, but why not go all the way and max it out at 50mm? </p>

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<p className="readable">Once we got through the hills, the Katahdin and I found our flow together. And when the route hit some flatter, flowy gravel track the bike was in its element. I was able to not worry about the tire size and really open the Katahdin up. It was whippy, snappy, responsive and most importantly, it was <em>fun as hell</em>. The frame stiffness and power transfer of the bike seems to be off the charts. Whether that's while climbing, or up out of the saddle in a sprint—<em>the Katahdin wants to move</em>. Almost like an electric car, from a standstill the bike's pickup is insane and seems to get up to speed faster than most bikes I have ever ridden. Climbing in lighter gravel was also a dream. The combination of the frame stiffness and wide Ritchey bars helped get me up rolly hills quickly and efficiently. And then ripping on the way down led to some serious smiles in the saddle.</p>


<p className="readable">One interesting thing to note about the Katahdin was how quiet it is. This may be due to the huge, threaded bottom bracket, or composite everything… unsure. But there was a point where I was in the trees and felt like I was on a cloud hovering above the ground. It took me some time to realize that the feeling came from the Katahdin being virtually silent. I was alone, flying noiselessly through the trees and having one of those moments that only off-road cycling provides. Love.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap Up</h3>

<p className="readable">In today's world, even with the endless library of marketing vernacular, it's almost impossible to classify bikes effectively, especially when you take what is essentially a race bike and redesign it to be a versatile-gravel-bikepacking bike. I'll admit I have struggled a bit to understand exactly what the Katahdin is for; but this thinking might be me trying to fit the bike into a clean category, which simply does not exist. Yet. The easiest way to think about the Katahdin might be in a series of questions:</p>

<p className="readable"><strong>Can I bikepack with the Katahdin?</strong> Definitely—the mounting options and slack geometry make it ideal. However, you may want to stick to dirt roads and flowy gravel tracks versus technical backcountry roads. Also, I would make sure to get some ride wrap on that carbon before strapping bags to it.</p>

<p className="readable"><strong>Can I gravel race the Katahdin?</strong> Absolutely—the Katahdin wants to fly. And my guess? This is where the bike would really shine—on single or multi day gravel events where speed, stiffness and power matter.</p>

<p className="readable"><strong>Can I set up the Katahdin for the mountains?</strong> Again, it seems so. The max tire clearance (700x50 or 650x2.1) allows you to run the thing like a rigid mountain bike as well. I may try the Katahdin with 650b wheels and report back on it. Stay tuned.</p>

<p className="readable"><strong>Is the Katahdin happy on the road?</strong> Actually yes—it's super stiff, fun and fast on the road. Maybe the best road/off-road/multi-surface bike I have ever had the privilege of riding. You would easily be able to swap out larger tires for something more streamlined and keep up to your roadie pals.</p>

<p className="readable">I hope these questions above illustrate what I mean—the Katahdin might be impossible to categorize. However, that is because it seemingly is able to do a bit of everything and quite well. If I were forced to give the Katahdin a classification, it would be something like <strong><em>Ultralight Groad Packer</em></strong>. Haha, oh man. Let's keep that name between us.</p>

<p className="readable">The Katahdin comes with a 5 year warranty. The Rival 1 option comes in at $3799 CAD and $4,249 for the GRX 2x version. Get it <a href="https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/product/katahdin-en/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>

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Recently Panorama Cycles updated their Katahdin gravel bike and we gave it a demo. Let's Go.

Panorama Katahdin v2 Review


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<p className="readable-intro"><a href="https://noblwheels.com" target="_bank">NOBL</a> has been producing world-class composite wheels in British Columbia, Canada since 2013. In 2020, they moved the NOBL operation from the Fraser Valley to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. We swapped a set of old alloy wheels for a shiny new set of <a href="https://noblwheels.com/tr37/" target="_bank">NOBL TR37s</a>. Let's get going.</p>

<p className="readable">Over the past two years, I have been on a quest to lighten my bikepacking rig. I know it seems a bit silly to buy a sturdy, 29-pound steel bike designed to climb volcanoes and then try to make it lighter. But when the bike is fully loaded for longer trips, the whole affair starts approaching the 50 pound mark, making for some <a href="/stories/vancouver-island-tree-to-sea">very tough grinds</a> while cycling in the mountains. So tough that you start rethinking every single gram of weight on the bike.</p>

<p className="readable">After some thinking, it seemed that the easiest place to start dropping the weight would be with the wheels. Surly shipped the 2020 Krampus with a set of WTB alloy wheels, 3.0 Dirt Wizards, and huge, heavy tubes to fill them. The three items put together are next-level sturdy, but come with a significant weight penalty. This led me to swap out the tires for a set of tubeless <a href="/gear/components/maxxis-ikon-29-x-2.6-exo-tr">2.6 Maxxis Ikons</a>, which did drop my overall weight by almost 2 kilos! Next up? Those wheels.</p>

<p className="readable">From the start I was keen on a set of composite wheels and even keener on buying something from a local brand. In British Columbia, we seem to have a very high carbon wheel brand per capita ratio. And to make the decision even harder, they are all pretty awesome. Ultimately, I decided on getting a set from NOBL, who manufacture rims in China and hand-build the wheels here on Vancouver Island.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Ordering &amp; Customization</h3>

<p className="readable">I consider the interaction with product teams a super important component of a product's overall experience. I have had some pretty interesting interactions over the past couple years, and you can always get a pretty good sense of a company's culture from the people you interact with. That said, my chats with NOBL were legit friendly and fun. </p>


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<p className="readable">I am probably not NOBL's target customer, at least for their mountain wheelsets. From most the marketing materials, it would seem that NOBL's mountain wheelsets are designed and engineered for squish bike riders ripping up the berms and singletrack—not fully rigid cross-country bikepackers like me. Words like “chase podiums at your local enduro” and “designed and tested on the World Cup circuit” had me wondering if I was making the right choice. For one thing, I wanted to put my 2.6'' low-pressure tires on them for that chonky B.C. backcountry. Enter customer service, who instantly assured me that the TR37s were versatile enough for my needs and that rigid bikes were in fact pretty awesome.</p>


<p className="readable">The staff walked me through a <a href="https://youtu.be/P8ROhP_3-Qk?t=13" target="_bank">plethora</a> of options for my new wheels. Once I landed on the 29” TR37s, my biggest decision was which hubset to build them around. Options include: Industry Nine, Chris King and DT Swiss hubs. After watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1KmNKUjizE" target="_bank">this video</a> shot by NOBL's videographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/max_mcculloch/" target="_bank">Max McCulloch</a>, there was no way I could choose anything other than the Industry Nine Hydra Super Boost.</p>

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<p className="readable">Another nifty perk when purchasing a set of NOBL wheels is being able to choose the colors of the logo stickers on the wheel and spoke nipples. At surface level this could seem like a bit of unnecessary accoutrements; however, it's an awesome opportunity to tone down (or up) the wheels to match your setup. So many cycling companies are uber protective of their brand and want their logo to stick out vs. blend in. I give NOBL huge props on this. I ended up choosing black word type and a bright yellow crown. I thought that the black would show up on the charcoal of the carbon and the yellow would match the Maxxis logo of my Ikons. In my head I had the image of a muscle car's <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkzmQ4MKjS0/WiG8UYo0uaI/AAAAAAAE5Pc/FdnYxEzh47krl_CzEVf_Lk0xnAub8BJLACLcBGAs/s1600/tumblr_oeffpsi2uv1qh5zuoo1_1280.jpg" target="_bank">mag wheels</a>.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Specs &amp; Design</h3>

<p className="readable">One of the more interesting ideas behind the TR37s is the distinctive ‘wave' profile. The sine-wave like shape of the rims allows the material to flatten out at each spoke and have a drop in between. According to NOBL this adds to the rims' lateral stiffness, which in my non-physics brain seems to make much sense. The front wheel internal width is 31mm and the rear is 30mm but both have an external width of 37mm, hence the name. </p>

<table className="datatable" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>

    <tr>
    <th></th>
    <th>Front</th>
    <th>Rear</th>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>Weight 29/27.5"</td>
    <td>450g / 430g</td>
    <td>550g / 520g</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>Internal Width</td>
    <td>31mm</td>
    <td>30mm</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>Weight 29”/27.5"</td>
    <td>450g / 430g</td>
    <td>550g / 520g</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>Depth</td>
    <td>20.5mm</td>
    <td>20.5mm</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>Hole Count</td>
    <td>32</td>
    <td>32</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
    <td>ERD 29/27.5"</td>
    <td>599mm / 561mm</td>
    <td>599mm / 561mm</td>
    </tr>

</table>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Initial Impressions And Oh, That Look</h3>

<p className="readable">When the wheels showed up, I was charmed by the care NOBL poured into shipping and protecting the wheels I was about to bash all over the place. The carbon seemed to sparkle and the logo colours totally popped. As I had imagined, the black did stick out from the grey carbon, and the yellow was (almost) a bang-on match for the Maxxis logo. Inside the box was a polaroid of the wheels being built by NOBL staff in Cumberland, which was a nice touch. The sine-wave profile was a bit of a surprise, and looked more dramatic than any of the photos I had seen on NOBL's website. </p>

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<p className="readable">While ordering, I managed to make a costly mistake, and I ended up receiving a Shimano freehub body. I was running a <a href="https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-pg-1230-a1" target="_bank">PG-1230 NX SRAM cassette</a> that (obviously) needed a SRAM XD driver body. Crap. My friend Andy and I were leaving <a href="/stories/vancouver-island-tree-to-sea">for a trip</a> the following week, so I ended up taking the wheel to my friends at <a href="https://www.martysmountaincycle.com/" target="_bank">Marty's Mountain Cycle</a> here in Victoria. As usual, they are the masters at getting things done fast and well. They ordered me the right freehub body for the cassette and sent me on my way. Cheers gents.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Time to Ride...</h3>

<p className="readable">Before heading out on my big trip, I was able to take the NOBLs out on my <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/7480573615" target="_bank">favorite in-town XC loop</a>. The first thing that is impossible to ignore is the freehub sound coming out of the Industry Nine hubs. Wowza. For sure not everyone is into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhVy3H5gzg" target="_bank">a loud hub</a>, and it took me a while to get accustomed to it; now—after 600km+ with them—I find myself using the sound in all sorts of creative ways, including alerting pedestrians and other cyclists that I'm behind them.</p>

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<p className="readable">Moving from alloy to composite was a bit of a change and took some getting used to. Having to adjust to the lateral stiffness of carbon surprised me, but I soon found myself cornering quicker and more confidently than with my alloy WTBs.</p>

<p className="readable">But the real test for the TR37s was a trip my buddy Andy and I had planned around <a href="/stories/vancouver-island-tree-to-sea">Northern Vancouver Island</a>. I will admit, with 40 pounds of gear and food strapped to your bike it is hard to notice any weight improvement from your wheelset, but the TR37s continued to feel snappy and happy over the 6-day voyage.</p>

<p className="readable">Throughout the 400km trip we faced some serious steep climbs and descents. Steep descents in thick chonk (fully loaded) is always a bit nerve racking, but the NOBLs gave me the confidence I needed to make it through more than one sketchy high altitude backcountry pass. The vertical compliance and overall impact strength of the TR37s, along with lower tire pressure in the Ikons, provided all the travel my rigid bike needed to get over all those rocks and roots. It might not be 'enduro', but it aint lolly-gagging either.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">Being a rigid mountain biker is a funny thing—I never really know if a product is intended for me. Anything that isn't gravel gear is positioned as enduro (or trail) gear. However, between those two categories lives an <a href="https://bikepacking.com/plog/atb-manifesto/" target="_bank">entire universe of riders</a> that don't get a lot of recognition. I will say that NOBL's customer service team was the first to acknowledge that fact, and they assured me that their product would work for my use case. I will always appreciate that moment.</p>

<p className="readable">The wheels? They look and feel great. With the Industry Nine Hydra upgrade the TR37s come out to $1,875 CAD/$1,550 USD, which places them at the more affordable end of the premium carbon wheel spectrum. With a lifetime warranty and a 50% replacement cost discount for non-riding-damage (!!!), the price seems more than reasonable.</p>

<p className="readable">And in regard to the Krampus—it does feel lighter and more nimble than the day it showed up at my door. However, over the course of this latest trip I decided that the Krampus needs to be what it is—a sturdy bikepacking rig; and I need to get over trying to also make it my XC race machine. Last week, I made a special order from <a href="https://www.wzrd.bike/" target="_bank">WZRD bikes</a> here in Victoria to build me a <a href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f3d8961be04694bc0f2e799/03dc413d-5d3b-44b2-bc44-e95b20ccf711/File_000+%286%29.jpeg?format=2500w" target="_bank">custom XC racer</a>. You probably don't have to think too hard on which wheels I will be putting on that beautiful machine. </p>

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NOBL has been producing world-class composite wheels in British Columbia, Canada since 2013. We swapped a set of old alloy wheels to a shiny new set of NOBL TR37s and went riding.

NOBL TR37 Wheelset Review


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<p className="readable-intro">In 2017, <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc" target="_blank">Tailfin</a> started as a Kickstarter project and has since become one of the most interesting bikepacking companies. They prioritize R&amp;D, engineering, and design to deliver some of the highest quality products we have had the pleasure of testing. We took their flagship products—the Carbon Rack, the AP20 Trunk Bag, and 10L mini-panniers—for a 400km boot around Northern Vancouver Island.</p>

<p className="readable">Since its inception, bikepacking has been clearly defined as a different-from-bike touring activity. As a tourer turned bikepacker, this delineation has often seemed to be to the detriment of bikepacking rather than the other way around. Sure, bikepacking terrain is very different from road touring, but ultimately the spirit remains the same—getting out there and doing it. There is a lot of learning that has come out of hundreds of years of bike touring that seemed to be either totally ignored or else forgotten, especially in the realm of seatbags and—omg, tailwag.</p>

<p className="readable">More and more we are starting to see bag companies reboot older touring ideas, using new design and technologies to create bikepacking gear. For example, <a href="https://www.arkel-od.com/" target="_blank">Arkel</a> here in Canada has 25 years' experience as one of the country's best road touring pannier makers. They have been leveraging their experience and moving in totally new directions, creating products like their <a href="/gear/bikepacking-bags/arkel-rollpacker">Rollpacker Seat Bag</a>. We find this all super exciting. There are also newer companies who seemingly bypass all the traps of the traditional bikepacking setup, and are just able to think differently. Enter Tailfin.</p>


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<p className="readable">Tailfin started in 2017, as a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tailfin/tailfin-ultra-light-carbon-bike-rack-and-panniers" target="_blank">Kickstarter project</a>. For the project, Tailfin was actually the product name for an ultralight carbon rack and pannier system aimed at road cyclists. The team succeeded in raising 300x their initial ask and got to work. Since the Kickstarter, they have adopted Tailfin as the company brand and have doubled down on technical equipment for off-road touring and bikepackers. Tailfin pride themselves on their R&amp;D, and they bring a lot of thought and creativity to the bikepacking room. An excellent example of this kind of thinking would be their clever <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/cargo-cage-system/suspension-fork-mounts/sfm/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">suspension fork mounts</a>. Suspension forks and touring?! </p>

<p className="readable">Tailfin's flagship product is their complete reboot on the traditional rack and pannier system. It is aimed at riders who want to go light and fast but also need the durability of being off-road and in the chonk. Tailfin sent us the full package—the <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/pannier-racks/carbon-racks/carbon-rack/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">Carbon Rack</a> with pannier side mounts, a <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/pannier-trunk-bags/aeropack-trunk-top-bag/" target="_blank">20L top trunk bag</a>, 2 x <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/pannier-trunk-bags/mini-panniers/" target="_blank">10L mini-panniers</a>, and the <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/spares/axles/universal-thru-axle/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">universal thru-axle</a>. I received the kit in February of this year and have been waiting on a trip big and rugged enough that warranted the Tailfin. This summer, my buddy Andy and I set off for a 400km trip on <a href="/stories/vancouver-island-tree-to-sea">North Vancouver Island's Tree to Sea Loop</a>—a perfect testing ground for the Tailfin. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/universal-axle-box.jpg" alt="universal axle box" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/universal-axle-bits-angle.jpg" alt="universal axle bits angled" />    </div>
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<h3 className="readable-sub">Installation</h3>

<p className="readable">Right off the bat, I will say that the Tailfin is a high, high, high-end product. It is obvious from the very start: everything is super polished, and I quite enjoyed taking it all out of the minimalist, thoughtful packaging. The rack and bags are beautiful, and you can immediately feel the quality in every detail.</p>

<p className="readable">As I was preparing to install the rack, I got hung up on the universal thru-axle. In order to be truly universal, the axle is made up of a series of parts and spacers and my brain refused to play nice with the clear instructions that Tailfin provided. I was hoping to use the axle as it allows you to use a quick release and remove the entire rack quickly. After 30 minutes of trying to sort it out, I opted to mount the rack directly to my seat stay mounts. I would have preferred using the dropout mounts, but alas, Surly didn't seem to thread them properly. Boo. </p>


<p className="readable">Once the rack was attached to the frame, the tool-free seatpost connector worked like a charm. Just seeing the rack on the bike made it somehow look faster. All there was to do after that was screw in the mounts to the top trunk bag and side panniers and put them on the rack. A breeze. </p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Let's hit the gravel...</h3>

<p className="readable">The immediate benefit to the Tailfin system is that there is zero tailwag. This may seem like an obvious benefit, but coming from the seat bag world, I am always surprised at how much tailwag we tolerate. Tailfin describes the system as being ‘designed to flow with the bike'. It really feels like this is the case as the rack and bags are all super solid with absolutely zero movement or rattling while riding. Whether this means the rack is rigid or flexible, however, I couldn't really say :) </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The AP20 Trunk Bag</h3>

<p className="readable">The AP20 Trunk Bag is the main bag of the system and boasts 20L of volume with a max carry capacity of 9kg. The trunk bag is big, err, I mean huge. I have never carried a 20L bike bag on my bike and adjusting to this much volume in one bag was a bit tough for me. With that volume, I ended up overpacking and added a bit too much weight to my bike. This is my fault and not the bag's. </p>

<p className="readable">One sticky issue I had with the bag was making sure that it was packed in a way that could fit under my saddle. I found that I needed to pack all my clothes near the rear of the bag and less up front in order for it to fit correctly. I am not sure if this is an oversight or by design but it did feel a touch awkward. Tailfin does mention that the system is dropper post friendly. However, if I didn't pack my gear at the back of the bag, there was no way my saddle would be able to drop. I'm pretty sure I am not the first rider to notice this issue, as Tailfin does sell <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/spares/accessories-accessories/extended-aeropack-seatpost-connector/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">an accessory</a> that will lengthen the seatpost connector by 50mm to push the trunk bag out from under the saddle.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/tailfin-on-beach.jpg" alt="tailfin on beach" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/seatpost-connector.jpg" alt="seatpost connector pins" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/carbon-rack-on-beach.jpg" alt="carbon rack on beach" />
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<p className="readable">The trunk bag was designed to be removed from the bike for ease of use. It has a simple roll top and compression straps to tighten the bag while riding. In British Columbia, we spend a lot of time in bear country, and the compression straps are a great place to hang our bear spray. The bag has two side access zippers. One is a small, long pocket for quick access items like pens or tools. The other is direct access to the main storage of the bag. I did try to access the main compartment a few times while riding and was a bit surprised to find that the compression straps actually overlapped the zipper. However, once I loosened off the straps, access was easy and I found what I was looking for.</p>

<p className="readable">Getting the trunk bag on and off the bike was super simple at first, but it seemed to be a bit more difficult over time. The bag has a hook under the front of it that slips into the front of the carbon rack. You then lower the back of the bag and use some steel pins to secure the bag to the rack. Over the course of my trip the pins seemed to become more and more difficult to line up. There are little rubber washers between the rack and the bag that seemingly got caught up everytime I mounted the bag. Once the bag was mounted however, I felt comfortable enough in its security to ride up any mountain.</p>

<p className="readable">I won't sugar coat this one—the trunk bag needs some iteration. The entire thing feels like it's a quality engineered product and works well, but there seem to be some simple mistakes in its design that prevent it from being amazing. The compression straps cross over the side access zippers, straps can get caught in the front hook while mounting, and needing to pack your gear in the rear to clear your saddle seem like easily fixable challenges. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">SL10 Mini-Panniers </h3>

<p className="readable">The star of the show, however, were the 10L mini-panniers. Like the trunk bag, the mini-panniers boast fully welded seams and are 100% waterproof. These panniers are hands down the best panniers I have ever used to date. There was so much to love about them. Mounting was a breeze with Tailfins XClamp, a fully alloy clamp that locked the pannier super securely to the carbon rack. Even when full of dust and dirt the XClamp seemed to work great and again no lateral motion or rattling of any sort.</p>

<p className="readable">The mini-panniers come with additional compression straps that could be used to secure the bags in two different ways. I ended up not using the straps. The material was stiff enough that they kept their shape even when not fully loaded. I LOVE this. The bags don't suffer that empty-bag-icitis look of being totally deflated when not full. My Salsa fork bags on the other hand look sad unless there's enough food in them to look happy.</p>


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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/pannier-mounts.jpg" alt="pannier mounts" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/xclamp.jpg" alt="tailfin xclamp" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/tailfin/xclamp-on-rack.jpg" alt="xclamp on rack" />
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<p className="readable">My only critique of the panniers is that I would love them to have a hard bottom in order to stand when off the bike. I have come to love this little feature about my Salsa bags as it makes them super easy to load and unload on any surface. But—I admit—this is me looking for problems. I absolutely loved the panniers on this trip and will continue to use them for a long time.</p>


<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">There's a lot to love about the Tailfin system. You can feel the engineering and quality in every aspect of the product. Tailfin tests the system to ISO standards and offers a 5 year warranty which gives riders a lot of confidence in its durability. I don't think I have ever had a rear-system that I trusted as much as the Tailfin. </p>

<p className="readable">I will continue to use the rack and mini-panniers in my regular setup from now on. However, I still feel that the trunk bag needs some work. Having spent many years as a product designer, it feels like the challenges of the trunk bag are easy to spot but are ultimately fixable with accessories or a new iteration in the future. I would definitely be interested in trying it with the extended seat post connector—and I'd update this article.</p>

<p className="readable">That said, I love what Tailfin is doing. They are thinking in new ways and building on old technologies to deliver completely new products. I am not sure if many companies could pull off this level of innovation and engineering as well as Tailfin. Working to create products at this level of quality requires integrity and rigor. I am a fan of Tailfin and will be watching every move they make with interest.</p>

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We took Tailfin's flagship products—the Carbon Rack, the AP20 Trunk Bag and 10L mini-panniers for a 400km boot around Northern Vancouver Island.

Tailfin Carbon Rack, Trunk Bag & Mini-Panniers Review


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<p className="readable-intro">In 2019, <a href="https://ixs.com" target="_blank">iXS</a> launched its <a href="https://bit.ly/3pjQeei" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Trigger AM</a> helmet—a mid-level helmet aimed at trail riders. After a crash at Testival in Brixen, Italy, Gerald found himself in need of a new helmet and landed on the Trigger AM. He has been wearing the Trigger for the past year while gravel grinding and hitting his local mtb trails.</p>

<p className="readable">Founded by Mountain Bike Magazine in 2013, <a href="https://www.mountainbike-testival.de/" target="_blank">Testival</a> has become something of a fixed point in the European mountain biking schedule. If you haven't heard of it, Testival is a festival in <a href="https://www.brixen.org/en/exploring-the-great-outdoors/bike/mountainbike-testival" target="_blank">Brixen, South Tyrol</a>, where people can test (get it...<em>Testival?!</em>) the latest bikes and accessories like helmets, gloves and everything else. For a few days every autumn, the center of Brixen transforms into a huge exhibition with the obvious big players like Giant, Rocky Mountain, Scott and Santa Cruz offering their newest models for free test rides. However, there are also smaller and local brands that show off their latest stuff. This is what excites me.</p>

<p className="readable">Brixen is a mountain bikers paradise known for its mild and sunny autumns with the Dolomites around the corner. During Testival, one can borrow a bike for a few hours (an adequate time for a test ride) and be on the trails within a few minutes. The atmosphere, the trails, the mountains, the sunshine, the bikes, the entire experience gets me too excited—and that's how I wiped out. I was too busy being thrilled that I lost control and bam… my head was ringing. The helmet I was wearing at the time was finished and got its rightful place on my wall! I couldn't imagine what a crash like that would have been without a helmet.</p>

<p className="readable">Even when a helmet does not show any obvious signs of damage it may have micro fractures in its inner structure that weaken overall integrity of the helmet. Thus, I found myself needing a new helmet. At the time, many of my friends were wearing the <a href="https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/helmets/mountain-bike-helmets/ixs-trail-rs-evo-helmet-review/" target="_blank">iXS Trail RS</a> and recommended that I join the club. At Testival, I went searching for the iXS booth. The brand rep suggested I try a newer model—the award-winning <a href="https://bit.ly/3pjQeei" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Trigger AM</a>. I was immediately impressed with the Trigger, the fresh new colors were pleasing and the magnetic buckle made me smile. I tried a few other helmets from other brands, but in the end the Trigger had me intrigued.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Trigger Look</h3>

<p className="readable">The Trigger AM has that <em>form follows function</em> and <em>classic yet modern design</em> that might be subjective, even polarizing for some riders. Kind of like buying new sunglasses, something that looks great on your buddy may not look so hot on you. However, the helmet doesn't look outdated nor too futuristic. As Goldilocks would say, just right. Oh, and it also won a prestigious <a href="https://design-innovation-award.com/winner/ixs-trigger-am/" target="_blank">design and innovation award</a> after its release in 2019. So ya, there's that.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/trigger-in-grass.jpg" alt="trigger in grass" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/trigger-am-visor.jpg" aalt="trigger am visor"  />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/trigger-am-sideview.jpg" alt="trigger am sideview"  />
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<h3 className="readable-sub">The Trigger Fit &amp; Feel</h3>

<p className="readable">Overall, the Trigger AM feels great. The straps and harness system are comfortable and easy to adjust. The magnetic Fidlock buckle, my favorite feature, is a breeze to use even while flying down a mountain with gloves on. The helmet comes with the iXS ErgoFit Ultra system, which helps riders easily adjust fit vertically and horizontally. Simple clips on the inside of the helmet help adjust vertically, which becomes the baseline adjustment and can also be fine tuned with an indexed ratchet wheel on the back once wearing the helmet.</p>

<p className="readable">The Trigger sports a lower back side to offer more protection. However, it does seem like the backing could be even lower for additional protection when shredding down gnarlier trails. But, I find myself riding those hardcore lines less and less nowadays, so this is not a deal breaker for me. I have to admit that sometimes the slightly lowered front does feel uncomfortable. If you are into full-on enduro style riding, the <a href="https://www.giro.com/p/tyrant-mips-mountain-bike-helmet/100000000500000086.html" target="_blank">Giro Tyrant</a> or the <a href="https://bit.ly/3Qued6t" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Fox Dropframe</a> might be  better options but both of these come at the price of reduced ventilation and increased weight.</p>

<p className="readable">Even the best technology has limits. It's best to take your time and choose a model that fits your head properly. Especially, since the Trigger only comes in two sizes. My head measures 57cm and the size SM (54 -58cm) fits me perfectly.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/trigger-detail.jpg" alt="trigger detail"  />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/inside-adjustment.jpg" aalt="inside adjustment"  />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/ixstrigger/ratchet-wheel.jpg" aalt="ratchet wheel"  />
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<p className="readable">I spend about 60% of my cycling time on a gravel bike and about 40% on my mountain bike, which means I tend to prefer lighter road-style helmets. Technically, the Trigger is significantly heavier (size SM w/o MIPS: 360g) than a “roadie” helmet, but once you put it on that weight difference almost disappears. And to be fair, for a trail helmet its weight is reasonable.</p>

<p className="readable">With 19 ventilation channels it offers rather good airflow which makes it comfortable even while climbing on hot days. With an additional merino hat, it could also make an excellent choice for colder days.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">3-Level Adjustable Visor</h3>

<p className="readable">Visors on mountain bike helmets are intended to provide protection for your eyes and face from the sunlight, rain and branches. They have become a design feature that helps distinguish the roadies from the trail shredders. The Trigger's visor is well integrated into the overall design and not awkwardly huge like on some other helmets.</p>

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<p className="readable">The visor is one of the more visible features of the Trigger. Three adjustable levels allow riders to adjust for different lighting conditions and to make room for goggles. These levels seem reasonable to me and iXS offers replacement lids for a few bucks in the event of breakage. Like with all helmets, it would be a good idea to wear your favorite goggles and/or glasses when trying the fit since they could interfere with the helmet.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Oh.. and MIPS</h3>

<p className="readable">At its introduction in 2019, the Trigger AM, like its sibling the TrailRS, came without MIPS. In the unlikely case you have never heard of <a href="https://mipsprotection.com/" target="_blank">MIPS</a>, it stands for <em>multi-directional impact protection system</em>. In a crash, MIPS allows the head to move relative to the helmet to reduce rotational impact. This is a total game changer in helmet safety and an absolute <em>must</em> for anyone buying a helmet nowadays. The newest iteration of the Trigger is available with and without MIPS.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">My crash at Testival still lives in my head and has made me more thoughtful about what makes a good helmet and what doesn't. A helmet is more than a vital piece of kit, it's a literal life-saver and after a year of usage, I have come to trust the Trigger AM...<em>dramatic voice</em>...with my life.</p>

<p className="readable">The production quality of the Trigger is excellent. If you dig that <em>stylish but classic</em> look and good ventilation in a comfortable package, you can't go wrong with the Trigger AM. Unfortunately, the first generation that I purchased did not come with MIPS. It will soon be <a href="https://bit.ly/3pockfv" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">replaced by a MIPS-helmet</a>, and a newer MIPS Trigger is high on the list.</p>

<p className="readable">The latest model sells for $199 USD / $250 CAD / €189 with MIPS and $159 / $200 CAD / €139 without MIPS. Get it <a href="https://bit.ly/3pjQeei" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">here</a>.</p>

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After a crash at Testival in Brixen, Italy, Gerald found himself in need of a new helmet and he landed on the iXS Trigger AM.

iXS Trigger AM Long-Term Review


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<p className="readable-intro">In 2019, <a href="https://www.curvecycling.com.au/" target="_blank">Curve Cyling</a> from Melbourne introduced its notoriously wide <a href="https://www.curvecycling.com.au/products/walmer-bars" target="_blank">Walmer Dropbar</a>. The bar is one of the most unique products in the Curve Cycling lineup. For the past two years, our newest contributor, Immu, has been running the bars and has a lot to say about them. Let's go.</p>

<p className="readable">If you (somehow) haven't heard of them, Curve Cycling is a team of adventure cyclists from Melbourne, Australia who design a full range of products. The core idea behind their Walmer Bar was to combine flat MTB bars with drop bars creating one hybrid bar—although it's something of a trend these days, it was unique and fresh when Curve introduced the bars three years ago. The Walmers have the stability and control of MTB bars, but also offer the multi-hand positions of drop bars. With a 29° flare for better control during fast off-roading, the bar is ideal for almost anything.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/side-view.jpg" alt="walmer bar side view" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/walmer-detail.jpg" alt="walmer detail" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/walmer-bridge.jpg" alt="walmer bridge" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/you-are-here.jpg" alt="you are here" />
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<p className="readable">The Walmer bars were named for <a href="https://streets-alive-yarra.org/walmer-street-bridge/" target="_blank">a (very) narrow pedestrian/cycling bridge</a> in Melbourne. At the initial launch, there were only four sizes available: 46cm, 50cm, 55cm and 60cm. With the increasing popularity of endurance road and gravel grinding, Curve added narrower versions of 40cm and 43cm with BP versions providing wider central oversized sections for more mounting spaces. The Walmer is made from 6066 alloy designed with 7° sweep and 29° flare. The drop section is 110mm and the reaching part is 60-65mm.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Introducing Unstable Immu</h3>

<p className="readable">For the past two years, I have been running the 55cm Walmer Bar Walmer bars on my <a href="/bikes/gravel/bridge-club-2022">Surly Bridge Club</a> and have done some serious distance with them. My main style of riding is off-road bikepacking trips through the jungles near Chiang Mai but I still run the bars for short rides and cafe hopping near my home in Bangkok. My current setup includes a <a href="https://www.buffalobagth.com/store/p/bigbuffalo-xpac" target="_blank">X-Pac Big Buffalo Bag</a> (size M, 26L) and two <a href="https://www.buffalobagth.com/store/p/bufftank" target="_blank">Buff Tanks</a> strapped to the Walmer. Just in case you're wondering, and I know you are, I run 27.5x2.22 tires.</p>

<p className="readable">At first sight the Walmers are almost weird and awkward. Hah! Yes! It's ok to admit this. However, once I put them on the bike and started pedaling, a love affair started. </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/cockpit.jpg" alt="cockpit" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/rear-view.jpg" alt="Immus setup rear view" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/immus-setup.jpg" alt="immus setup" />
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<p className="readable">My first observation after riding with the Walmer bar was how impressed I was with the stability they offered, especially when descending technical routes that would normally require MTB bars. My cycling mates know me as “Unstable Immu”, because I am always accidentally choosing the wrong line on technical or off-road routes. The shallow drop, short reach and flared lower drop really helped me find my balance and roll up the technical climbs. The 29° flare allows me to use more fingers while gripping the brifter for better control. In the sense of body anatomy, the flared and wider bars provide better balance through your chest and back leading to a more relaxed ride. And my friends, well, they don't call me “Unstable Immu” anymore ;)</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Getting the Right Walmer</h3>

<p className="readable">There is a lot to love about the Walmer bar but there is also a lot to consider before deciding if they are right for you. For example, the widest version (55 or 60cm) has a hard time in narrow spaces and might be a safety concern while riding in traffic. The bar is also designed for adventure bikes that normally have long top tubes, so you may need to adjust your setup to accommodate—for example, the stem length or saddle position, in order to fit with your arm reach and ensure a comfortable position.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/immu-on-dock.jpg" alt="immu on dock" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/immu.jpg" alt="immu" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/immu-with-surly.jpg" alt="immu with surly" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/curvewalmer/surly-bridge-club.jpg" alt="surly bridge club" />
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<p className="readable">Most riders who focus on single track or wild routes and need more control would be fine using a 50-60cm width bar. Those who hit the gravel and road may want to consider the 40, 43 and 46 BP options. Your tire size would also be a consideration, and if you are running anything over  2.5” width, you probably would be safe with the 55-60cm versions for better control and more stability. If possible, I suggest trying to find a set to grip the bar first and ask yourself if you like the feel or not.</p>

<p className="readable">To keep it all easy, Curve suggested the following: 40 and 43 BP suits endurance road and light gravel riding. For gravel grinding and bikepacking, 46 and 50 BP. And finally, for drop-bar MTB, off-road touring and fat-tire bikepacking rigs, go for the 55 and 60 BP.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">The Walmer Bar has really improved my rides when I go out cycling in the wilderness—it provides more control and stability than any other bar I have tried. Keep in mind, the key to enjoying your Walmer is selecting the perfect width. If you can, ask your local Curve distributor before finalizing your selection.</p>

<p className="readable">The current price of the Walmer Bar is $127 USD / $164 CAD / $199 AUD, which includes anti-slip and 3.2mm thick shock reduction bar tape. Get it <a href="https://www.curvecycling.com.au/products/walmer-bars" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

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Curve Cyling introduced its notoriously wide Walmer Dropbar in 2019. Our long-term review discusses what the bars do well and how to choose the right width. Don't miss it.

Curve Walmer Bar Long-Term Review


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<p className="readable-intro">In 2020, <a href="https://bit.ly/3L3hNTh" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">Chrome Industries</a> introduced the <a href="https://bit.ly/3QxxUt2" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">Doubletrack Handlebar Sling</a>—a bag designed for day riders that require quick access to essentials, as well as the ability to remove and carry it off the bike. We have been running the bag for the past 4 months and have grown to trust and even love it. Follow along.</p>

<p className="readable">Handlebar bags aren't for everyone. If you are counting grams and shaving them off wherever you can, you're probably not going to be looking for a large bar bag. Certainly not one as big as the Chrome Industries Doubletrack Handlebar Sling.</p>

<p className="readable">For me, riding my bike is as much about the adventure as it is the cycling. Getting lost in the lanes, stopping to take photographs, making a coffee, and writing in my journal are all things I prefer to do by bike. If you are someone who doesn't track times and prefers a slower pace, then the Chrome Doubletrack may become your favorite bike accessory. For me, a decently sized bar bag has become somewhat of a necessity.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Room for Zoom</h3>

<p className="readable">The Doubletrack is technically a 5L bag (9” x 9” x 4.5” / 22cm x 22cm x 11cm), but feels much larger. There is enough room for my Canon R5 mirrorless camera and a lens; in fact, depending on the lens I choose, sometimes there's even room for two. More often than not, I keep the camera stowed away safely in the Doubletrack, strapped to my bars where I can see it. It took me some time to trust the bag with my camera gear, but it's been entirely reliable and I don't even think twice about loading it up now.</p>

<p className="readable">The bag has three key fastenings which attach it to the bike: two robust velcro loops for the bars, and a webbing loop with a clip around the headtube. Where the Doubletrack really shines is when I get off the bike at randon coffee stops. Whip the velcro off, unclick the clip, and it's now a sling to throw over your shoulder. Stored in the rear of the bag are two longer straps which quickly turn the bag into something you can take with you wherever you go. Whether it is holding my camera or that new jacket I just bought, the Doubletrack allows me to keep my belongings close while out on a ride, and that brings me peace of mind.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/chromedoubletrack/mud-on-bag.jpg" alt="mud on bag" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/chromedoubletrack/gloves-in-bag.jpg" alt="gloves in bag" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/chromedoubletrack/open-bag.jpg" alt="open bag" />
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<h3 className="readable-sub">Simple &amp; Functional</h3>

<p className="readable">Chrome does simplicity and functionality very well, so it was no surprise that they'd made use of a magnetic buckle for the fastening of the bag. The magnetic buckle gives you quick access to the enormous main pocket (which has two internal mesh pockets), even while riding. A simple double roll and it's closed again, the magnetic fastener clicking into place on its own. Your ride snacks, a gilet, gloves, or anything else you might want on hand can be stored in the bag so you don't have to stop and go rummaging. There is an additional mesh side pocket that has no fancy magnets or roll closings, but you can throw your keys, a couple of gel wrappers, or something like that in there.</p>

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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/chromedoubletrack/pedal-slip-on-bike.jpg" alt="pedal slip on bike" />
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        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/chromedoubletrack/pedal-slip.jpg" alt="pedal slip" />
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<p className="readable">As with anything from Chrome Industries, the Doubletrack Handlebar Sling is about as robust and durable as they come. Made from 1050D Nylon and 1000D TPE Tarp on the outer, and lined with 70D Poly, it's tough. I've taken this bag over rocky trails in the  <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Kz8BAmWLq4zVS7DC9" target="_blank">Peak District</a>, and through woodlands in wet conditions, and still it continues to look new after a quick brush down at the end of each ride. Provided I've fastened the bag with a double fold, it keeps showers out, and the clever use of reinforcement on the bottom of the bag means there's no water ingress either.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">That Look</h3>

<p className="readable">Bags are often either hit or miss in terms of aesthetics. The folks at Chrome have done an excellent job of preventing the Doubletrack being clunky or obstructive. It sits nicely between the drops and doesn't get in the way of shifting at all. As with all their gear, the simple and minimal design favours functionality without unnecessary bells and whistles. It looks as good as it functions.</p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">When I head out on the mountain bike, I always choose a backpack. But these days the Doubletrack Handlebar Sling is my go-to when heading out on the gravel bike. Of course, there are limitations to any bar bag, but this one takes care of the most common gripes I have.  </p>

<p className="readable">At $65USD (£63GBP/$85CAD), it sits right in the 'reliable but not budget' category. Of course, there are far more expensive options out there, but Chrome seems to understand what value is. The bag does what it's supposed to. I couldn't think of a more suitable bar bag for the value than the Chrome Industries Doubletrack Handlebar Sling.</p>

<p className="readable">Get it <a href="https://bit.ly/3QxxUt2" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

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In 2020, Chrome Industries introduced the Doubletrack Handlebar Sling—a bag designed for day riders that require quick access and the ability to remove and carry it off the bike.

Chrome Industries Doubletrack Handlebar Sling Review


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<p markdown="1" className="readable-intro">For the past few years, <a href="https://landyachtzbikes.com" target="_blank">Landyachtz</a> has been putting out some solid bikes from their headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia. They recently released a follow-up to their popular <a href="https://landyachtzbikes.com/bike/gravel-bike-ab1/" target="_blank">AB1</a> gravel bike called the <a href="https://landyachtzbikes.com/bike/ab-st-steel-gravel-bike-frameset/" target="_blank">AB-ST</a>. The AB-ST is fast, ready for anything, and truly feels like a whole new direction for gravel bikes. We gave the AB-ST a demo and weren't sorry that we did. Let's go.</p>

<p className="readable">In 2020, Landyachtz launched the AB1 (Adventure Bike 1) gravel bike. The AB1 was a serious contender as I was looking for a new bikepacking rig. At the time, I loved the premise of the AB1: positioned as more than a gravel bike, it is a machine that is intended to bring you anywhere, and do anything. Ultimately I opted for a rigid mountain bike, but over the past couple years I have often wondered whether I made the right choice.</p>

<p className="readable">For 2022, Landyachtz has launched two new additions to its AB lineup: the AB-AL, which is an alloy iteration of the AB1, focused on gravel racing; and the AB-ST, a slacker, steel version focused on fun. Landyachtz says that the AB-ST is “designed with bikepacking and getting RAD in mind”.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/cockpit.jpg" alt="cockpit" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/headtube.jpg" alt="headtube" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/adv-fork.jpg" alt="adv fork" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/top-tube-mounts.jpg" alt="top tube mounts" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">I love how the word <i>rad</i> is starting to take on meaning in today's gravel world. Gravel bikes have been evolving quickly over the past few years, and trying to explain and categorize them is getting tougher and tougher. Terms like <i>monster gravel, monstercross, mountain bike with drops</i> never clearly explain what a bike is intended for.</p>

<p className="readable">However, RAD, I understand. <i>Rad</i> is not addressing the category of the bike; rad is a mindset or approach to cycling, and a clear indicator for the people who know. With thru-axles, disc brakes, huge tire clearance, a longer wheelbase and reach, the AB-ST is a gravel bike that really lives up to the rad classification.</p>

<p className="readable">Due to supply chain issues,  Landyachtz is currently offering the AB-ST (and AB-AL) as a frameset, including frame, fork, FSA headset and front/rear axles. For the purposes of this review, Landyachtz sent me a build including SRAM 12sp Rival, Easton carbon wheels with 29 x 2.25” Nine Line WTBs. 🤟 </p>

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    <div className="full-bleed-holder">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bike-on-boardwalk.jpg" alt="bike on boardwalk" /> 
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<h3 className="readable-sub">Truly All-Terrain</h3>

<p className="readable">Unfortunately, I have not ridden the AB1; however, I will boldly state that the AB-ST (most likely) lives up to the anywhere/anything positioning better than the AB1 (or AB-AL). Just looking at the bike makes it fairly evident.</p>

<p className="readable">Let's start with the clearance for up to 29 x 2.25” tires. Honestly, my love affair with the AB-ST started at gravel 29er. With huge tires and thru-axles (12x100 F, 12x142 R), the AB-ST really is made for anything you throw it's way. This was my first time running 29ers on a gravel bike, and I was a bit unsure of what to expect. However, after a few hundred kilometers, I can safely say it's exactly what you imagine: they get you up and over pretty much anything, quickly.</p>

<div style={{overflowX: 'scroll'}}>

    <table className="datatable" style={{marginTop: '16px !important'}}>
        <tr>
            <th>Size</th>
            <th>S</th>
            <th>M</th>
            <th>L</th>
            <th>XL</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Recommended Height</td>
            <td>5'3"-5'6"</td>
            <td>5'6"-5'9"</td>
            <td>5'9"-6'2"</td>
            <td>6'2"-6'6"</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Seat Tube</td>
            <td>450mm</td>
            <td>480mm</td>
            <td>510mm</td>
            <td>540mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Seat Tube Angle</td>
            <td>74°</td>
            <td>74°</td>
            <td>74°</td>
            <td>74°</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Head Tube Angle</td>
            <td>70°</td>
            <td>70°</td>
            <td>70°</td>
            <td>70°</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Head Tube Length</td>
            <td>150mm</td>
            <td>170mm</td>
            <td>190mm</td>
            <td>210mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Top Tube Length</td>
            <td>535mm</td>
            <td>565mm</td>
            <td>595mm</td>
            <td>615mm</td>
        </tr>
    <tr>
            <td>Stack</td>
            <td>569mm</td>
            <td>588mm</td>
            <td>607mm</td>
            <td>626mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Reach</td>
            <td>391mm</td>
            <td>415mm</td>
            <td>440mm</td>
            <td>455mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Fork Length</td>
            <td>398mm</td>
            <td>398mm</td>
            <td>398mm</td>
            <td>398mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Chainstay Length</td>
            <td>430mm</td>
            <td>430mm</td>
            <td>430mm</td>
            <td>430mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>BB Drop</td>
            <td>72mm</td>
            <td>72mm</td>
            <td>72mm</td>
            <td>72mm</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Wheelbase</td>
            <td>1046mm</td>
            <td>1077mm</td>
            <td>1108mm</td>
            <td>1130mm</td>
        </tr>
    </table>
    <br/>
</div>

<p className="readable">On Southern Vancouver Island there is a phenomenon of people “mountain biking on gravel bikes”. This happens mainly because our little island is an underwater mountain and has a limited number of pure long-distance gravel tracks. So if you are looking to do any meaningful off-road distance here, you are most likely hitting some singletrack along the way. I've always considered drop bars on heavy terrain bananas, and held firmly to my belief that gravel bikes simply don't make sense in the singletrack. However, the AB-ST strongly challenges this idea. Once I got used to the narrowness of the bars, the AB-ST was tackling everything my Surly Krampus does. Is it ideal? Maybe not. Is it possible? Absolutely.</p>

<center> <div className="quote"> <h3>I've always held firmly to my belief that gravel bikes simply don't make sense in the singletrack. The AB-ST strongly challenges that idea.</h3> </div> </center>

<p className="readable">For those who really want to push the AB-ST, Landyachtz was wise to include optional internal cabling-in for a dropper post. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Say Hello To Your New Bikepacking Rig</h3>

<p className="readable">The AB-ST has all the mounts. And by all of them I mean… <i>all of them</i>. After a few weeks of riding the bike, I'm still finding mounting options. There is a place to mount a top tube bag, triple mounts on the top of the down tube (double underneath), double mounts on the seat tube, and rack mounts on the seat stays. It has more mounts than my Surly Krampus, which kinda blows me away.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/seat-stay-mounts.jpg" alt="seat stay mounts" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bottom-bracket.jpg" alt="bottom bracket" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/thru-axle.jpg" alt="thru axle" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/adv-fork-tape.jpg" alt="adv fork tape" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">The AB-ST ships with the updated Carbon Adventure (ADV) fork. The fork boasts triple mounts on each side and a rack mount to accommodate pretty much any front end setup you have in mind. (I <i>think</i> this finishes the long list of mounting options for the bike). The mounting bolts are recessed into the carbon so that they sit flush when no cage is mounted, which is a slick touch. However, mounts on raw carbon always make me a little nervous, and I ended up adding some electrical tape down the center of the fork which will hopefully <a href="https://cycle.hypertelia.com/salsa-anything-cage-hd-review-warning" target="_blank">avoid any friction</a> when a cage is attached. That said, the new ADV fork is solid. It's raw carbon finish really lends to the overall look of the AB-ST.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Light &amp; Quick</h3>

<p className="readable">After 2 years of riding a sturdy flat bar mountain bike, it's a lot of fun to be back on some drop bars with my hands on the hoods, and moving fast again. I am loving the quicker cadences and longer distances.</p>

<p className="readable">In the gravel, the AB-ST has a whip-like responsiveness to it that I catch myself daydreaming about while at work. The 4130 LY Chromoly is strong and light (a medium weighs in at 6.75 lbs), and makes me feel like I'm a faster rider than I really am. And with the longer wheelbase the whole affair feels fast yet super stable when cornering or descending in rough terrain.</p>

<p className="readable">My first time on the AB-ST, the bike brought to mind a <a href="https://www.hotcars.com/what-are-safari-porsche-911s-and-where-did-they-come-from/" target="_blank">Safari Porsche</a> (the car of my dreams). Safari Porche's are essentially repurposed 911s, tricked out for offroading. A super fast chassis with beefier suspension and other accoutrements of off-road driving. This, in a nutshell, is how the AB-ST feels to me. A quick gravel machine decked out for the chonk. If that's not rad, I'm not sure what is.</p>

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<div className="full-bleed">
    <div className="full-bleed-holder">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bike-near-ocean.jpg" alt="bike near ocean" /> 
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<p className="readable">Returning to the challenge of categories—if I had to make one for the AB-ST I'd call it Fastpacking. I'll leave the actual naming for the marketing experts, but the AB-ST does make me think of the <a href="https://www.bikegeardatabase.com/stories/cory-ostertag-bikepack-racer">ultra-bikepack racers</a> out there. Bikepack racers require everything the AB-ST has to offer: fast rolling huge tires, a light, flexible frame, and the ability to mount any bag setup imaginable. The AB-ST would be ideal for anyone who's interested in a beefy drop bar bike for racing.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Oh, And That Look</h3>

<p className="readable">As much as we pretend that color doesn't matter—it really, really does. Of course appreciation for  aesthetics is in the eye of the beholder, but I am in love with the color choice on the AB-ST. I asked the people around me at work how they would describe the color and the responses were “milky navy” and “blue steel”, both not wrong. When the blue steel is coupled with the raw carbon of the ADV fork (and in my case, the Easton wheels), the whole machine looks pretty swank.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bike-near-stream.jpg" alt="bike near stream" />
    </div>

</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bike-with-boat.jpg" alt="bike with boat" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-ab-st/bike-with-more-rocks.jpg" alt="bike with more rocks" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">I should mention one unfortunate bungle, which is that after a couple hundred kilometers, I started noticing small chips in the paint. I spoke to Lucas, Landyachtz's marketing manager about it and he mentioned that the issue had to do with the pre-production version of the bike I was testing.</p>

<p className="readable">In the end, I opted to get the AB-ST <a href="https://www.ridewrap.ca" target="_blank">Ride Wrapped</a> to protect it. This isn't a huge issue, as I planned to have it wrapped regardless—bike bags are hell on any paint job.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">Call it what you will—<i>monster gravel, monstercross, mountain bike with drops</i>—it really doesn't matter. Categories are for computers. Landyachtz was right to label the bike as rad and avoid the confusion of trying to properly fit it in some word jumble. The only thing that matters is getting out there and shredding it all, which the AB-ST will help you do, very, very well.</p>

<p className="readable">I hope you like seeing the bike in photos, as you'll be seeing much more of it on this site. This was meant to be a straightforward review, and I planned to send the bike back once I was done forming an impression. However, the idea of boxing it up and shipping it back brought on a little heartache; so I bought the bike. Now she just needs a name.</p>

<p className="readable">You can get the frameset $1,250 CAD / $975 USD or work with the Landyachtz team to build up your dream machine. Get it <a href="https://landyachtzbikes.com/bike/ab-st-steel-gravel-bike-frameset" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<br/>



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Landyachtz has updated its AB lineup with two new bikes. We were lucky to demo the AB-ST Chromoly version designed for bikepacking and being rad.

Landyachtz AB-ST Review

Sometimes off the shelf gear just doesn't cut it. Find the right ultralight gear maker in this list.

Ultralight Gear Makers for Bikepacking


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<p className="readable-intro">Hailing from Sherbrooke, Quebec, <a href="https://bit.ly/3T6Bk8H" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Arkel</a> is one of Canada's oldest bike bag makers and has been in operation since the late 80's. We recently tried out their <a href="https://bit.ly/3ApFdyc" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">15L Rollpacker</a>—an integrated seat pack and alloy rack system that, frankly, blew us away.</p>

<p className="readable">If you have been following along, you may have picked up on my frustration for most seat bags. It might be my experience and the products I have used so far, but absolutely none of them have cut the mustard for me. Many saddlebags use the common pattern of nylon straps through saddle rails, which inevitably loosen over time and contribute to the wonderful condition known as tailwag. Beyond tailwag, this pattern also forces riders to completely remove the bag from the saddle to load and unload effectively.</p>

<p className="readable">These challenges—common to most of the saddlebags I've met on my travels—leave me a little confuddled, and are ultimately the reason I have moved over to a t-rack and mini pannier system.</p>

<p className="readable">When I started talking to Arkel (pronounced Ark-elle), one of Canada's oldest pannier and bike bag makers, I was intrigued by their Rollpacker seat bag. The Rollpacker is more than a bag: it is an integrated bag and rack system. The website even mentions that the Rollpacker eliminates tailwag and many other common challenges of normal seat bags. (A pretty big statement.) However, considering Arkel has been in the business for over 34 years, I was excited to see if it would hold up to its bold declaration.</p>

<p className="readable">I'll admit, I was very skeptical going into this one.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Construction &amp; Installation</h3>

<p className="readable">The Rollpacker is a side entry, fully-waterproof pack that attaches to an alloy rack. The rack has a flexible mount that hugs your seat post and is reinforced with a velcro strap. Under the saddle, a quick release mechanism slides between the saddle rails and clamps the rack into place. It has a top entry pocket for quick access. The bag itself weighs in at 454 g / 1 lb, with the rack weighing in at 363 g / .8 lb. I opted for the 15 litre version that boasts a max load weight 15.4 lb / 7 kg.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/instructions.jpeg" alt="instructions" />
    </div>
</div>


<p className="readable">Installing the Rollpacker was an absolute snap. I simply slid the seat post mount on, tightened the velcro strap, and attached the quick release to the saddle rails. It took less than a minute, but if you need help Arkel has a great video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTRSoe1Dgc" target="_blank">here</a> to help you along. There are two ways to install the Rollpacker: riders can mount the pack on top of the rack or below it. (Whether you chose above or below may depend on the size of your bike.) My Surly Krampus is a size large, but I chose to put the bag on top of the rack anyway. </p>

<p className="readable">I was (happily) surprised that the Rollpacker fit with my <a href="/gear/components/pnw-loam-dropper-post">PNW dropper post</a> and my <a href="/gear/components/aenomaly-constructs-switchgrade">Aenomaly Constructs SwitchGrade</a>. Although I can't use my dropper post with the rollpacker on the bike, at least I didn't need to swap it out for a solid seat post. Woot.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Immediate Impressions</h3>

<p className="readable">Before I even got outside, I could see that the Rollpacker was very well thought out. It has a solidity to it that you don't really see in many seatbags, and I kept finding detail after detail that surprised me. The straps are strong, the rack is solid, small loops for carabiners, everything is well sewn and manufactured.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/three-quarter.jpeg" alt="three quarter" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/from-cockpit.jpeg" alt="from cockpit" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/rollbag.jpeg" alt="rollbag" />
    </div>
     <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/from-side.jpeg" alt="from side" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">More importantly, it's a clever design. Even as a rack, the idea of attaching to the seatpost and with a quick release on the saddle rails is amazing. The rack could even be used on its own without the bag for pretty much anything you might need within the weight limits.</p>

<p className="readable">My skepticism was waning. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Let's Roll(packer)...</h3>

<p className="readable">The first noticeable benefit of the Rollpacker is zero tailwag. I need to be clear about this… the bag has absolutely no tailwag. And because there are no straps through the rails, there is really nothing that can loosen from lateral motion. Even when up and out of the saddle while climbing, the bag stays put, exactly where you want it.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/carabiner.jpeg" alt="carabiner loop" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/clasps.jpeg" alt="clasps" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/top-bag.jpeg" alt="top bag" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/loop.jpeg" alt="loop" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">On the flipside, the Rollpacker does have a bit of up and down motion to it. Since the weight of the bag is out a little further, the alloy rack does have a small amount of flex resulting in a subtle bounce. Depending on the type of riding you do, this may not be an issue. The only time I really felt the bounce was when I was running through singletrack and ripping through the roots and rocks. I can't confirm this at the moment, but I think mounting the pack under the rack would dissipate this bounce.</p>

<p className="readable">With the pack mounted on top, the whole kit sits higher than a regular saddlebag, and I could feel it softly hugging my butt. I thought this would annoy me, but it actually ended up feeling like a seat rest and was kinda nice. It made me feel a bit more attached to my bike. Especially when rolling downhill, fully bagged, I was able to stabilize the bike more with my butt on the bag. Buttstabilty.</p>

<p className="readable">By this point, I was starting to think the Rollpacker is straight-up rad.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">On &amp; Off &amp; In &amp; Out</h3>

<p className="readable">Where the Rollpacker really shines is in its accessibility. As I mentioned above, one of my biggest pet peeves with normal seat bags is that you basically need to completely remove it to get access to all the items in the bag. Getting the Rollpacker bag off the rack is a super simple action that takes two seconds. The bag is held in place by two straps with durable clasps. Simply undo the clasps and slide the bag off the rack. And getting it back on is just as easy.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/rear-shot.jpeg" alt="rear shot" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/seat-rail-quick-release.jpeg" alt="seat rail quick release" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/alloy-rack.jpeg" alt="alloy rack" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/seat-post.jpeg" alt="seat post" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">I have never been a huge fan of side entry roll bags, which I call sausage sacks. I have some sort of trauma from my 15L handlebar Ortlieb that can never seem to balance properly. However, when strapped to a rack, the sausage format seems to work wonderfully. When my bike was lying on the ground, getting in and out of the sides was incredibly natrual and easy.</p>

<p className="readable">And the best for last: the top pocket. Any bag that has a quick access pocket like this is a winner. In my opinion, more bag companies need to do this no matter where the bag is located on the bike.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
       <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/slide-off.jpeg" alt="slide off" />
    </div>
</div>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap Up</h3>

<p className="readable">I'll just say it, the Rollpacker system is killer. I am having a hard time finding any faults with it. There are so many great choices and details with the Rollpacker that could have only come from a mature bag maker. The 34 years of Arkel experience shows in every aspect of the bag. If I had to find a fault, it would be that it doesn't work with my dropper post. But that's a stretch, as Arkel in no way asserts that it would.</p>

<p className="readable">The Rollpacker system would be a great choice for all types of bikepackers and tourers, but especially ideal for you shredpackers...the bikepackers that are out there hitting the singletrack between long roads of gravel, in the mountains.</p>

<p className="readable">At $330 CAD, the Rollpacker system isn't the cheapest on the market, but with a lifetime warranty and being as good as it is, the price almost seems like a deal compared to some larger known brands.</p>

<p className="readable">I started this review skeptical. If anything, before it arrived, I had already convinced myself I didn't like it. I am humbled by the Rollpacker and learnt something about myself in the process. Arkel asked me to send the bag back after I was done trying it out, and I was genuinely sad to see it go. Get it <a href="https://bit.ly/3ApFdyc" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">here</a>.</p>

<p className="readable">P.S. A few weeks ago, Arkel changed ownership and it sounds like a lot of changes are happening at the company. The team assures me that this means more new and exciting products from Arkel. If the Rollpacker is a signal for where Arkel is headed in the future, we should all keep our eyes on them.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '0px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/arkelrollpacker/made-in-canada.jpeg" alt="made in canada" />
    </div>
</div>

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We recently tried out the Arkel 15L Rollpacker—an integrated seat pack and alloy rack system that frankly, blew us away.

Arkel 15L Rollpacker Seatbag System Review


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<p className="readable-intro">The SwitchGrade is the first product by <a href="https://www.aenomalyconstructs.com/" target="_blank">Aenomaly Constructs</a> from Vancouver, Canada. Created by Noel Dolotallas, the SwitchGrade is a simple idea that deserves a lot of attention, as it introduces a whole new facet to cycling—the ability to adjust saddle angle on the fly.</p>

<p className="readable">I have been putting a lot of thought lately into my riding position and how it could be more dynamic. As a bikepacker and long-distance adventurer, I spend long days in the saddle. Since moving to British Columbia, those long days are now accompanied by long climbs and descents. Along with the added weight while bikepacking, the elevation and distance all add up to make the days feel even longer. A 65km day now feels like an accomplishment, and I ask myself frequently: would we be able to go further if our riding positions were a bit more dynamic and ergonomic?</p>

<p className="readable">A few months ago, a friend introduced me to the Aenomaly Constructs SwitchGrade, which instantly blew my mind. The SwitchGrade is an alloy component that sits between the seatpost and saddle, allowing riders to easily change seat angle. By simply pressing a mechanical lever on the component and shifting weight, riders can choose between 3 locking positions: 0, -10 degrees for climbing, and 12 degrees for descending.</p>

<p className="readable">The idea of adjusting the saddle angle was new to me, and I assumed it was a totally new concept in cycling. However, I learned from Noel that Specialized did try this in 2017 with their Command Post. The Command Post was an integrated dropper post and seat tilt component that automatically adjusted saddle angle depending on the dropper height. I was surprised that I had never come across the Command Post before, but it seems to not have caught on due to some technical challenges. It also seems they missed one very important part of the puzzle, a negative seat incline for climbing.</p>

<p className="readable">I'm not sure the goal of the SwitchGrade was to solve the issues of the Command Post... but it does, in spades. The fact that it plays nice with existing dropper posts as an aftermarket product is enough to leave Specialized in the dust. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/on-box.jpeg" alt="switchgrade on box" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/transform-your-ride.jpeg" alt="transform your ride" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/define-the-odds.jpeg" alt="define the odds" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/packaging.jpeg" alt="switchgrade packaging" />
    </div>
</div>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Installation</h3>

<p className="readable">Before purchasing the SwitchGrade, make sure you own one of the dropper posts listed on the site's <a href="https://www.aenomalyconstructs.com/pages/compatibility-guide" target="_blank">compatibility guide</a>. I was happy to see that the SwitchGrade worked well with my newly purchased <a href="/gear/components/pnw-loam-dropper-post">PNW Loam dropper post</a>, and that it also plays well with multiple posts from Fox, Race Face, OneUp, RockShox and TranzX.</p>

<p className="readable">Installing the SwitchGrade was a snap. The component comes in well thought out packaging with <a href="https://www.aenomalyconstructs.com/pages/how-to-install-a-switchgrade" target="_blank">well-written instructions</a>, and the hardware comes in a little tea bag. (I love when manufacturers put effort into the packaging and presentation.) The device ends up replacing the bottom seatpost clamp; and, depending on which dropper you own, you may need to swap out the cap on the post's air shaft to let the component sit flush in the cradle.</p>

<p className="readable">An important thing to note is that the SwitchGrade positions can be dialed in depending on your riding style. By calibrating the neutral (middle) position with the 2-bolt fastening system, you open up a whole world of angles. Check <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0557/6287/8640/files/SwitchGrade_Setup_Guide_8ed6009a-372d-4b31-b0ef-7c9c33046eb5.png?v=1641167725" target="_blank">this chart</a> for more.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Form Factor &amp; Construction</h3>

<p className="readable">The beauty of the SwitchGrade is in its simplicity. The patent-pending component is assembled with well-machined pieces of 6061 T6 aluminum billet for the swingarms and rail clamps and 7075 T6 aluminum for the base and lever. At 170g it feels solid in the hand, which lets you know it will stay sturdy in use. 170 grams might sound like a lot to anyone who is super weight conscious, but you also end up shedding 50-70g by removing the stock rail clamps. All in all, the SwitchGrade is around 110-120 grams installed. Personally, I don't sweat adding a bit of weight; and for the utility the SwitchGrade provides, this is more than a fair trade.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/black.jpeg" alt="anodized black finish" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/profile.jpeg" alt="switchgrade profile" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/component.jpeg" alt="switchgrade component" />
    </div>
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<p className="readable">Noel and the team spent countless hours over three years refining the final form and ensuring it works with a variety of dropper posts—not an easy feat of design. Once installed, the angled saddle simply looks cool and makes the bike look ready for action. The anodized black finish almost makes the component disappear under the saddle. It's a conversation starter, and, personally, I want to show it off :)</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Ride</h3>

<p className="readable">It's hard to imagine the impact the SwitchGrade makes until you actually try it out. Its presence is felt as soon as you sit on the bike; it adds a bit of height to your stack, and I had to make some adjustments to my dropper post top height to accommodate. No biggie.</p>

<p className="readable">I took the SwitchGrade out for a ride right away and was surprised to feel that it was 100% solid. There was no shifting, creaking or movement whatsoever until I adjusted it. This is testament to the quality of the components' manufacturing.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={2} height={3} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/climb-mode.jpeg" alt="climb mode" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={2} height={3}  layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/neutral-mode.jpeg" alt="neutral mode" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={2} height={3}  layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/descent-mode.jpeg" alt="descent mode" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">I was excited to get out the following day to my local hills and really try it out. Lying in bed I couldn't help but imagine how the next day's ride would go... It's easy to imagine how the SwitchGrade fits into enduro style riding—the riders who spend all day bombing down steep descents and have long climbs to do it all over again; but I was interested in how it would perform on a more cross-country type of ride.</p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Going Down</h5>

<p className="readable">If I'm reviewing the SwitchGrade from a totally cross-country slash bikepacking perspective, the component falls a bit flat for me. Our terrain on Vancouver Island tends to be very punchy—quick ups and quick downs—which presents a unique challenge for the SwitchGrade. Flying over undulating terrain often left me in the wrong position to the chagrin of my groin. I often don't know what's coming around the corner, and how long a climb or descent will be. In these situations I was really wishing for a cable actuated lever to adjust the saddle tilt. Instead, I learnt to keep the SwitchGrade in its level mode and save it for larger inclines that I knew were coming up.</p>

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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/on-surly-krampus.jpeg" alt="switchgrade on surly krampus" />
    </div>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Going Up</h5>

<p className="readable">Where the SwitchGrade <strong>really</strong> shines is on steep and long climbs. Again, this is hard to communicate or imagine; it is something you really need to try. The feeling is similar to trying a dropper post for the first time, and wondering how you managed to ride before that moment.</p>

<center><div className="quote"><h3>The feeling is similar to trying a dropper post for the first time,  and wondering how you managed to ride before that moment.</h3></div></center>

<p className="readable">In climbing mode, the SwitchGrade keeps you high above the bike with your weight above the bottom bracket. Being in this position gives you more power on the pedal stroke as you are pushing down, instead of being behind the bike and pushing forward. This also puts a lot more weight and traction on the rear tire, which keeps you moving up and forward easily.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/climb1.jpeg" alt="switchgrade climbing" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/climb2.jpeg" alt="switchgrade climbing" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/climb3.jpeg" alt="switchgrade climbing" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/climb4.jpeg" alt="switchgrade climbing" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">There is a punchy and technical little climb on my regular route that I have never successfully managed. It has been the bane of my rides, and each time I approach it I try a new strategy to tackle it. Nothing has worked, until the SwitchGrade. The SwitchGrade allowed me to drop into my highest gear, keep my weight above the bottom bracket (which stabilized me through the roots and rocks) and roll super slow up the incline. This is not hyperbole—it was the first time I ever managed this little climb and I was stoked.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">What About Bikepacking?</h3>

<p className="readable">The benefits of the SwitchGrade for mountain biking are pretty clear, but what about bikepacking or all-terrain touring?</p>

<p className="readable">The first obvious point is that the SwitchGrade would be useless if you are traveling with a saddle bag. However, if you have ever been riding with me, you know my disdain for saddlebags, and I am moving onto a T-Rack system this season. The <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/pannier-racks/carbon-racks/carbon-rack/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">Tailfin</a> setup that I will be using this year will allow me to continue using the SwitchGrade while bikepacking, and that makes me very happy.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/switchgrade/for-bikepacking.jpeg" alt="for bikepacking" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable">On the few tests I have done with the SwitchGrade so far, I started adjusting it on flat ground. After about 50km of singletrack and gravel my back needed some relief, and putting the SwitchGrade into climbing mode allows you to stretch out the lower back area. This feels like a glass of water in the desert.</p>

<p className="readable">A part of me wishes the SwitchGrade had more lock positions for this type of use. It would be fantastic to have 4 or 5 different angles to allow for multimodal usage and dynamic positioning. Of course this is easy to say, and most likely very difficult to engineer. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap Up</h3>

<p className="readable">The SwitchGrade is a neat little thing. It introduces a whole new facet to cycling that I really hope people come to appreciate. However, like many innovations, people are often somewhere on the spectrum of wary to downright offended. Ideas like this take time and iteration to build traction. Noel and his team have more products and iterations of the SwitchGrade in their pipeline. My vote is for a cable actuated version that somehow can be internally routed alongside my dropper post cable. Can't wait to see what's next from the team.</p>

<p className="readable">The SwitchGrade will spend (at least) the season on my bike. I'm heading out to Utah and Colorado for a couple weeks later this summer, and I'm excited to see how it affects my rides in different terrain.</p>

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</Container>








The SwitchGrade is a simple idea that deserves a lot of attention. It gives riders the ability to adjust saddle angle on the fly.

Aenomaly Constructs SwitchGrade Review


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<p className="readable-intro"><a href="https://www.apidura.com/" target="_blank">Apidura</a> is one of the most recognizable bikepacking bag brands on earth. They are a small team from London, UK, and they believe that bags should be built to last. They sent us an upgraded version of one of our favorite bags ever—the top bar Expedition.</p>

<p className="readable">I bought an <a href="https://www.apidura.com/shop/expedition-bolt-on-top-tube-pack/" target="_blank">Apidura Expedition</a> top bar bag three years ago on the spot, with zero research and big expectations. The bag was an early <a href="https://www.apidura.com/shop/expedition-top-tube-pack/" target="_blank">velcro version</a> of the Expedition, and over the past few years it has become more of a constant than the bikes it's been riding on. I love it and have put it through some serious usage.</p>

<p className="readable">My original Expedition held up brilliantly until one day last summer, when the zipper blew up on a bikepacking trip in the middle of nowhere. Although not entirely unexpected, I tweeted about it (as you do), and (happily) I promptly got a reply from Apidura. They told me they would be happy to fix it through their <a href="https://revive.apidura.com/" target="_blank">Revive Program</a>. I sent the old bag to them in London which they then repaired and sent back to me. The zipper worked as good as new. Experiencing the Revive Program made me an even bigger fan of the company. There aren't many brands out there that would miss an opportunity to sell you more stuff.</p>

<center><div className="quote"><h3>Experiencing the Revive Program made a fan out of me. There aren't many companies out there that would miss an opportunity to sell you more stuff.</h3></div></center>

<p className="readable">When I recently got a new gravel bike with top tube mounts, I was sure I wanted another Apidura top tube bag for it. I also knew that Apidura had updated the product over the past few years and was excited when they agreed to send me the updated bolt-on Expedition.</p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Form Factor</h5>

<p className="readable">Compared with the old bag, the updated Bolt-on Expedition is slightly larger, however, it has retained its sleek and narrow form. The bag's actual dimensions are 23.5 x 10 cm (9.3 x 3.9 in) and weighs in at 110g. The Expedition may only be 4.5 cm (1.77 in) wide, but it comfortably fits everything I carry on a regular day ride, including a thin power bank, phone, keys, protein bar, airpods and a usb cable. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/apidura-expedition-old-new.jpeg" alt="apidura expedition old new" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/expedition-interior.jpeg" alt="expedition interior" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/top-tube-bag.jpeg" alt="top tube bag" />
    </div>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Fully Waterproof</h5>

<p className="readable">As with all Apidura products, the bag is 100% waterproof with welded seams and an aquaguard zipper. The bag protects your valuables through a proprietary three-layer laminate fabric. This is an absolute must for me, as winters here on Vancouver Island see a lot of rain. My past Apidura bags have really lived up to the water challenge.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/apidura-expedition-shadow.jpeg" alt="apidura expedition shadow" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/zipper.jpeg" alt="apidura expedition zipper" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/zipper-cord.jpeg" alt="apidura expedition zipper cord" />
    </div>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Toolless Mounting </h5>

<p className="readable">The Expedition is a quick and easy install. The bolts that Apidura provides are made out of plastic, which seems a bit odd to me. (It's unclear if these plastic bolts are a cost saving tactic or if plastic is actually better for carbon frames.) When I bolted the Expedition onto my frame the plastic bolts almost cross-threaded in my steel frame. No biggie—if this had happened, I would have swapped back to metal bolts and washers. Lastly, it comes with a handy liner for the inside of the bag; this lines the bottom and hides the bolts to keep the inside nice and orderly.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/apidura-brand-color.jpeg" alt="apidura bradnd color" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/bolt-on-profile.jpeg" alt="bolt on profile" />
    </div>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Card Holders... Maybe?</h5>

<p className="readable">While digging around in the bag, I was happy to discover two secret inner side pockets. I couldn't find any info on the pockets (I suppose secret pockets should be kept secret), but they feel a little too intentional to be accidental. This is a huge upgrade from my old bag. These liner pockets are great for any thin valuables you might need to carry with you, like bank or credit cards. I can't count the number of times I have put my bank card into my bag, only for it to get stuck to my phone and dropped at rest points. Luckily, I have never lost a card, and with these new pockets, my winning streak will likely continue. LOVE these. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/secret-pocket.jpeg" alt="secret pocket" />
    </div>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Cable Port</h5>

<p className="readable">The Expedition has a cable port at the front of the bag allowing you to power your computer or phone from a power bank in the bag. This has become pretty standard for top tube bags over the past few years, but it's new to me and is a huge upgrade for my setup. No more hiding my computer in a bag waiting for it to charge.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/cable-port.jpeg" alt="cable port" />
    </div>
</div>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrapping Up</h3>

<p className="readable">Overall, the Bolt-On Expedition feels great for day-long gravel rides or longer multi-day bikepacking trips. And like most Apidura products, the Expedition bag looks sharp. For $68USD / $87CAD the bag is a no-brainer. When you factor in Apidura's lifetime warranty through its <a href="https://revive.apidura.com/" target="_blank">Revive Program</a>, the deal gets even sweeter. </p>

<p className="readable">I have high expectations for this Expedition, and certainly hope it lasts as long as my old velcro version.</p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/apidura-expedition/apidura-logo.jpeg" alt="apidura logo" />
    </div>
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Apidura sent us an upgraded version of one of our favorite bags ever—the top bar Expedition.

Apidura Expedition Bolt-On Top Bar Bag Review

Indie bike builders are changing the cycling industry as we know it.

Our Favorite Indie Bike Builders For 2022


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<p className="readable-intro">Seattle-based <a href="https://www.pnwcomponents.com/" target="_blank">PNW Components</a> has a philosophy centering on affordable quality components and one of the largest selection of dropper posts out there. We took their new <a href="https://www.pnwcomponents.com/collections/shop-all-droppers/products/loam-dropper-post" target="_blank">Loam dropper post</a> and  <a href="https://www.pnwcomponents.com/collections/levers-1/products/loam-lever-dropper-remote" target="_blank">lever</a> for a test to see how it would affect our riding on local trails and on bigger bikepacking adventures.</p>

<p className="readable">Dropper posts seem to be everywhere these days and cross all genres of cycling from mountain biking into gravel (sure) and into <a href="https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro-bike/matej-mohoric-dropper-post/" target="_blank">road racing </a> (wha?!). Even with this level of ubiquity, it took me two full years of thought and research (errr, procrastination) to finally join the dropper post crowd. On my local loop I have a few loose chunky gravel descents and I have come close to flying over my handlebars more than once. </p>

<p className="readable">Apart from the obvious benefit of not using my face as a brake pad, I have been putting thought into using a dropper post to adjust my riding position. Bikepacking has us spending huge days in the saddle with heavy bag laden bikes. Like office ergonomics, should we as bikepackers be adjusting our positions and postures frequently to avoid injury and pain? </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/full-loam-kit.jpeg" alt="full loam kit" />
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<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/loam-level-in-box.jpeg" alt="loam level in box" />
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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/loam-post-box.jpeg" alt="loam post box" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/pnw-squad.jpeg" alt="pnw squad" />
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<p className="readable">There are a bunch of manufacturers out there building droppers including Fox, RockShox, OneUp and BikeYoke. I ended up choosing the Loam post from Seattle-based PNW. PNW has an entire lineup of products and components including pedals, bars, apparel and more. Out of all the brands, they seemed to have the largest line of dropper posts including suspension posts, externally and internally routed droppers and even a kids post. PNW was the path forward. </p>


<p className="readable">I chose the Loam with 125mm travel and matching lever, because well, why wouldn't you?</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Specs & Features</h3>

<p className="readable">The Loam is available in 4 travel options 125mm, 1500mm, 170mm, and for you uber tall folk a 200mm. They are also available in 3 seat-post diameters including 30.9mm, 31.66mm and 34.9mm. The posts are cable-actuated and work with all cable friendly levers from other brands. </p>

<div style={{overflow: 'scroll'}}>
<table className="datatable" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <tr>
    <th></th>
    <th>125mm</th>
    <th>150mm</th>
    <th>170mm</th>
    <th>200mm</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Seat Collar to Center of Rails</td>
    <td>170mm</td>
    <td>200mm</td>
    <td>220mm</td>
    <td>250mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Total Length</td>
    <td>385mm</td>
    <td>440mm</td>
    <td>480mm</td>
    <td>540mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Min. Insertion Length</td>
    <td>90mm</td>
    <td>90mm</td>
    <td>120mm</td>
    <td>145mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Full Insertion Length</td>
    <td>215mm</td>
    <td>240mm</td>
    <td>260mm</td>
    <td>290mm</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>30.9 ⌀ Weight </td>
    <td>456g</td>
    <td>504g</td>
    <td>532g</td>
    <td>576g</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>31.6 ⌀ Weight </td>
    <td>474g</td>
    <td>524g</td>
    <td>554g</td>
    <td>598g</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>34.9 ⌀ Weight </td>
    <td>576g</td>
    <td>638g</td>
    <td>674g</td>
    <td>734g</td>
    </tr>
</table>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Quick Adjust</h5>

<p className="readable">One super neat feature of the Loam is that it allows riders to adjust the dropper's maximum height on the fly and without the need of any tools. By unscrewing the collar midcap, you have access to a white shim that can be turned to adjust the max height by up to 25mm. This came in super handy for me on my first ride with the Loam, when I realized my max height was slightly. too. high. ow. ugh. Check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uLxQn0sJHo&t=56s" target="_blank">video</a> that shows off the quick adjustment in detail.</p>

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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/loam-midcap.jpeg" alt="loam midcap" />
    </div>
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<h5 className="readable-sub">Silicone Color Band </h5>

<p className="readable">The Loam has a swappable color band that allows you to customize the post's look. On the surface this may scream as some sort of silly customization feature that allows you to express yourself... or whatever. However, I did not choose a color and opted for a black band while ordering. I am not exactly sure why, but I simply couldn't make a choice before hitting BUY. Now I regret it. The post looks great but these little color touches actually add some zing to the look of the post and if done properly could match your bike's highlight color. Alas, it's not an issue as PNW <a href="https://www.pnwcomponents.com/collections/shop-all-droppers/products/loam-dropper-silicone-band" target="_blank">offers the bands</a> independent of the posts. I will for sure be replacing my black band in the near future.</p>


<h3 className="readable-sub">Installation</h3>

<p className="readable">Notgonnalie, I was a bit intimidated before installing the Loam. I have recabled my bike many times before but this was the first time I've ever routed anything internally. That said, the installation of the post and lever was a breeze. If you have ever recabled anything you should be more than comfy installing a dropper post, internal or otherwise. PNW makes it super easy and has made some <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O169WrcTddI" target="_blank">excellent videos</a> walking you through the entire process.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Aller, Aller, Aller</h3>

<p className="readable">With the post installed and adjusted it was time to shred. On the first ride, I couldn't stop playing with it. Adjusting to dynamic seat height is more than a novelty, it's damn fun.</p>

<p className="readable">The biggest shift has obviously come in how I approach and handle descents. Before the post, I was keeping my brakes engaged on chonky hills and releasing the brakes only when I felt comfy for a very slow roll down. I was also very used to having the seat in between my legs and using it as a lateral stabilizer.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/barry-on-dropper.jpeg" alt="barry on dropper" />
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<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/loam-lever.jpeg" alt="loam lever" />
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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/lever-press.jpeg" alt="lever press" />
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<p className="readable">The problem with this seat stabilization is two fold, it keeps your center of gravity high and over the front end of the bike <i>and</i> it ensures the bike is always headed in a straight (ish) line which isn't always helpful when speeding down loose gravel drops. </p>

<p className="readable">However, having the seat between my legs did help me feel connected to the bike and ultimately to the ground. Dropper posts remove the seat from the equation and that has changed how I move my body over the bike. Pushing all your weight lower and towards the back of the bike gives one the feeling of being a snake sliding over the rocks. Now that my thighs weren't holding the seat and bike straight, I was able to turn more fluidly and slither over pretty much anything. My body and bike felt separated and that is a huge change. </p>

<p className="readable">From the words above you may realize that I'm not an enduro mountain biker. I have always been more interested in distance and adventure than technical trail grinding. However, the Loam gave me the confidence to push my comfort zone a bit further. I ended up climbing a few larger rock outcrops and flowed down them with confidence. What. A. Feeling.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '280px'}}>
      <Image layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'}  src="/products/pnwloam/hill1.jpeg" alt="hill one with loam" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '280px'}}>
      <Image layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'}  src="/products/pnwloam/hill2.jpeg" alt="hill two with loam" />
    </div>
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    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '280px'}}>
      <Image layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'}  src="/products/pnwloam/hill3.jpeg" alt="hill three with loam" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '280px'}}>
      <Image layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'}  src="/products/pnwloam/hill4.jpeg" alt="hill four with loam" />
    </div>
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<p className="readable">The post and lever work as promised. I struggle to find any cons with them. My only concern was after installation, I felt a little bit of wiggle in the post. At first, I thought that I hadn't tightened the clamp on the seat rails properly but it was a small amount of give in the post itself. It was a bit of a surprise but I didn't notice the wiggle on the bike and it made absolutely no impact on the performance of the post.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Do I need a dropper post for bikepacking?</h3>

<p className="readable">As with most gear related questions the answer really depends on the type of riding you do while backpacking. If you are touring on gravel roads probably not. But if you're like me, and like to get into the singletrack while fully bagged out, you may want to consider moving to a dropper. However, you may need to make a few tweaks to your setup to accommodate.</p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Dropper Post Friendly Bags</h5>

<p className="readable">The biggest change to your setup may be your saddle bag. You will need a bag that attaches much higher on the seat post to allow for the travel of the post. Obviously, anything that attaches too low will hinder the post's ability to drop. Nowadays, many bag manufacturers design bags for this exact use case. You can find a very thorough list of dropper compatible bags at <a href="https://bikepacking.com/gear/dropper-post-seat-bags/" target="_blank">bikepacking.com</a>.</p>

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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/bag-on-krampus.jpeg" alt="bag on krampus" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/pnw-logo.jpeg" alt="pnw logo" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/krampus-ready.jpeg" alt="krampus ready"  />
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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/outer-shell-on-pnw.jpeg" alt="outer shell on pnw" />
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<p className="readable">I borrowed a nifty little dropper post friendly bag from a friend here in Victoria named <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/sirbikesalot" target="_blank">Sir Bikes A Lot</a>. The loaner bag was from Outer Shell, a custom handmade bag maker from San Francisco. I wasn't able to give the <a href="https://outershell.com/" target="_blank">Outer Shell</a> a proper multi day test or anything but had it strapped to the Loam for an afternoon's ride. The bag was great and did its job although it did attach to the seat post a bit lower than I would have liked. </p>


<p className="readable">Another idea might be to swap out your saddle bag completely in favor of a T-Rack and mini-panniers. Personally, over the years, I have lost my patience with saddlebags and this season I will be moving to a carbon rack and mini-pannier <a href="https://www.tailfin.cc/product/pannier-racks/carbon-racks/carbon-rack/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">setup from Tailfin</a>. Full review coming soon :)</p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Multimodality</h5>

<p className="readable">Back to the idea of the ergonomics of long distance off-road cycling. I'm no expert by any means but the idea of dynamically adjusting seat post height seems solid. I was making micro adjustments to the height every 5km or so to see how it would feel. The adjustments ended up allowing me to take pressure off my lower back and even use different leg muscles as I pedaled.</p>

<p className="readable">In the end, it felt great and I didn't experience any discomfort over 65km of chonk. If you take that same idea and multiply it over X amount of days and X00s of kms the idea of position adjustment starts making a lot of sense.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap Up</h3>

<p className="readable">I may be new to the dropper post world but it's hard to find any fault with the Loam post and lever. I may revisit this review in the upcoming months but it does exactly as advertised—goes up and down at the press of a lever. Super simple.</p>

<p className="readable">In the very least, it's fun. However, this simple idea has made the biggest impact of any new piece of gear on how I ride. The feeling of being behind the bike and lower gives that snake-like feel that also embrews confidence and helps me push into new territory and new terrain.</p>

<p className="readable">I'm a dropper-post convert and plan on using this PNW Loam as long as it wants to keep my butt propped and dropped.</p>

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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/pnwloam/do-bikes.jpeg" alt="do bikes" />
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We took PNW's Loam dropper post and lever for a test to see how it would affect our riding on local trails and on bigger bikepacking adventures.

PNW Loam Dropper Post & Lever Review


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<p className="readable-intro"> <a href="https://www.weareonecomposites.com/" target="_blank">We Are One</a> is a carbon wheel and bike manufacturer in British Columbia, Canada. In 6 years, they have transformed from a wheel builder to one of Canada's most exciting MTB brands. We were lucky to try out their new(ish) handlebar system called Da Package that rethinks how carbon bars and stems integrate. </p>

<p className="readable"> For most of you, We Are One needs little introduction. Since 2016, We Are One has been crafting some of the best handmade composite wheels on the planet at their HQ in Kamloops, British Columbia. Over the past few years, the company has been making huge strides and growing its product lineup. The recently released <a href="https://www.weareonecomposites.com/the-arrival" target="_blank">Arrival</a> — an enduro machine 100% designed, manufactured, and assembled right here in BC— has cemented We Are One's place in Canadian mountain bike fame. But We Are One didn't go from making wheels to releasing the Arrival overnight. It's been a long and impressive journey.</p>

<p className="readable"> Along the way, We Are One doubled down and began building out some of its own components. One of those components is a stem and handlebar combo, lovingly called 'Da Package'.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/da-package-on-krampus.jpeg"
      alt="da package on krampus"
    />
  </div>
</div>

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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/carbon-bars-with-apidura-bag.jpeg"
      alt="carbon bars with apidura bag"
    />
  </div>
  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/dapackage/bike-in-mist.jpeg" alt="bike in mist" />
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<p className="readable"> Da Package is a combo of 'Da Stem' and 'Da Bar' (really), and was designed as a single unit with 3 parts: a stem, the bar, and an alloy sleeve or shim. Da Problem is that most stems are not designed specifically with carbon bars in mind, which results in irregular and uneven clamping force. This can lead to harsh contact points between the stem and carbon which eventually leads to wear and potentially catastrophic failure. As they say, “carbon is just a fancy word for plastic” and it makes plain sense to me that the contact point between the two be designed as one. </p>

<p className="readable"> We Are One mentions that the alloy shim distributes the clamping force evenly across the carbon, making it much stronger and safer over time. Again, this makes perfect sense. The downside to this is that Da Package can only be used as a complete system. There is no taking Da Package apart and running that Raceface stem that matches your socks. Da Package locks you into the We Are One garden, which actually is a great place to be…</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Da Specs</h3>

<p className="readable"> The stem, bars and shim were designed as a team effort between We Are One and 77 Designs out of Northern Germany. There is no doubt, Da Package is a high, high-end product. All parts of the unit are downhill grade components and 100% hand laid (and made) here in Canada. They are not for the faint of heart.</p>

<p className="readable"> Da Package comes with few options: two stems lengths (35 and 45mm), and three levels of rise (20, 27.5mm and 35mm).</p>

<p className="readable"> I can't quite emphasize how light these bars are. Da Bar weighs in at 215g and 12g for the alloy sleeve. Which brings the full unit to a miniscule 320g for the 35mm stem option 338g for the 45mm stem. The hardware on Da Package is of course titanium which obviously makes you faster out there. </p>

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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/bike-in-forest.jpeg"
      alt="bike in forest"
    />
  </div>
  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/carbon-handlebars.jpeg"
      alt="carbon handlebars"
    />
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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/handlebars-on-hill.jpeg"
      alt="handlebars on hill"
    />
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      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/surly-krampus.jpeg"
      alt="surly krampus"
    />
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<p className="readable"> Da Bar is just that— a bar, with a 5 degree upsweep and an 8 degree backsweep. The bar ships in one length: long—800mm that can be trimmed down to 740mm if that's your thing.</p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Da Look</h3>

<p className="readable"> Apparently, Da Package sometimes arrives in a box with a beautiful purple velvet liner. Ours came in a triangle shipping container with some packing paper. I get it… I suspect that We Are One found a bar hanging around the factory floor and sent it over to us. Too bad, I love gear packaging and would have loved to see Da Packaging. Oh well, I was still stoked to try Da Package out.</p>

<p className="readable"> My first reaction to the bars was a great improvement from my reaction to the packaging: they are stunning. The raw carbon somehow seems to absorb the light around it like a black hole. It takes a few moments to get over how rad they look to realize there is zero branding on them. These bars are an exercise in subtlety whereas most bars are annoyingly <a href="https://www.deitycomponents.com/store/p306/SKYWIRE_CARBON_35_25MM_HANDLEBAR_STORE.html" target="_blank">heavily</a> <a href="https://www.raceface.ca/products/next-bar-31-8" target="_blank">branded</a>.</p>


<p className="readable"> Because Da Package is created to be a unit, We Are One was able to remove the need for a faceplate completely. The stem reaches over the sleeve and bar and only requires two titanium bolts to fasten the whole thing together. This design decision gives Da Package its iconic pointy look and really makes it stand out.</p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/we-are-one-da-package.jpeg"
      alt="we are one da package"
    />
  </div>
</div>

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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/da-package-no-faceplate.jpeg"
      alt="da package no faceplate"
    />
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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/carbon-bars-close-up.jpeg"
      alt="carbon bars close up"
    />
  </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> My only gripe about the design of Da Package is that I would have loved a stem cap to match the unit. I got lucky when I dropped by my local shop,{' '} <a href="https://www.martysmountaincycle.com/" target="_blank"> Martys Mountain Cycle </a> , and found a pretty awesome, beautifully machined Chromag cap that matched perfectly. Along with some jet black Chromag grips, I was ready to roll. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Da Feel</h3>

<p className="readable"> I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I replaced my stock alloy Salsa bars with Da Package. The quality upgrade wasn't one or two steps up, it was 12. For my first ride with Da Package, I hit some new trails that I have never visited called Partridge Hills and headed to a lookout point that overlooks Finlayson Arm here in Victoria. </p>

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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/krampus-on-mountain.jpeg"
      alt="krampus on mountain"
    />
  </div>
</div>

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  <div className="gallery-images-col">
    <Image
      width={3}
      height={2}
      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/bars-in-the-mist.jpeg"
      alt="bars in the mist"
    />
  </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> The bars felt instantly great. As a rigid rider, I take a lot of shock to the arms and have developed a pretty keen sense of vibration. Da Package was stiff exactly when I needed it to be, but was able to dampen the chonk when necessary. I'll be totally honest here, I am not sure if this comes from We Are One's engineering or the qualities of carbon as a material, or both—but really, who cares. They feel great. </p>

<p className="readable"> I had some apprehension about the shallow backsweep and was mentally prepped to feel some discomfort in my wrists. I was surprised when this didn't happen. For the past two years, I have been running bars with 11 degree sweep and did a short sprint on a set of bars with a 22 degree sweep. Turns out, I like shallower sweeps and with the 800mm width the 8 degrees was perfect. </p>

<p className="readable">Through the singletrack, Da Package performed amazingly. The width allowed for precise and responsive movement. Allowing me to micro adjust over anything at super low speeds.</p>

<p className="readable"> I made a mistake while ordering Da Package. I would have liked a bit more rise in the bars but I won't fault them for my own stupidity. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Da Conclusion</h3>

<p className="readable"> I can't properly vouch for the technical claims that We Are One is making regarding Da Package's performance and durability. However, ignoring these claims would be to ignore some pretty simple logic: that a purposely designed stem and bar combo is better (and safer) than disparate components. I mean, how many people have cracked carbon seat tubes for this very reason? </p>

<p className="readable"> At $399 CAD ($299 USD) Da Package is not the cheapest solution on the market. But they look and feel fantastic, allowing you to ride harder for longer, and for me, that's all that matters. </p>

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      layout={'responsive'}
      src="/products/dapackage/krampus-in-mist.jpeg"
      alt="krampus in mistr"
    />
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A rethink on carbon handlebar systems by Canada's We Are One

We Are One "Da Package" Composite Bar Review

We did a deep dive into the freshest indie bag makers around the globe, so you don't have to.

Our Favorite Indie Bikepacking Bag Makers For 2022


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<p  className="readable-intro"> Since 2005, <a href="https://bigskyinternational.com/" target="_blank">Big Sky International</a> has been creating award-winning ultralight gear. They started with ultralight tents and have recently been diversifying their lineup. They sent us two <a href="https://bigskyinternational.com/products/big-sky-insulite-insulated-food-pouch-freezer-bag-cooking-cozy?variant=39581236953134" target="_blank">food pouches</a> intended to keep food hot (and cold) while on an adventure. Such a simple idea, and yet—strangely enough—one we had never before considered for bikepacking. </p>

<p className="readable"> If you have ever been on a tour or bikepacking trip with me, chances are you know about my love for avocados. Avocados are great to take on a long cycling trip: drop an underripe avocado in your fork bag and give it a few days of bouncing around. Voilà! Ripe avocado treat. A perfect snack on the go to replace fiber, healthy fats, and multitude of vitamins and nutrients. </p>

<p className="readable"> As amazing as avocados are, they aren't perfectly packable; and as much as I hate to admit, they can get a little tiresome after 3-4 in a row. Every trip, I do my best to experiment with fresh foods in my bikepacking bags. Call me crazy, but I prefer fresh and healthy foods to highly processed and pre-packaged—both off and on the road. Of course, the ability to carry fresh food is dependent on (and potentially dictated by) your itinerary; but it all begs the question—why do we insist on eating such crap on the road? </p>

<p className="readable"> I'll say it: store-bought, freeze-dried backpacking meals are garbage. Too many times I have been backcountry with so many days worth of dehydrated Mexican Rice that I dread actually sitting down to eat. After a hard day in the saddle, it's hard to look forward to eating yet another over-processed, freeze-dried meal. Every trip I ask, why didn't I just work a little harder to bring something fresh and yummy? </p>

<p className="readable"> Enter the food pouch. Now, when we started speaking with Big Sky about reviewing one of their products and they suggested their <a href="https://bigskyinternational.com/products/big-sky-insulite-insulated-food-pouch-freezer-bag-cooking-cozy?variant=39581236953134" target="_blank">Insulite Food Pouch</a>. I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed. I was really hoping to review one of their ultra-light tents, not a snack bag. However, I am glad they insisted we review the pouches—they were a completely new piece of gear to me, and have managed to change the food game on my rides. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Bags</h3>

<p className="readable"> The bags themselves are pretty simple in their design. They weigh a mere 1.5 ounces and are highly packable as they compress down to nothing when not being used. The bags feel super durable, and the insulated, reflective material can take a beating. </p>

<p className="readable"> It's probably best to think about the Big Sky pouch as a “thermos” bag—it retains temperature for foods that require cool storage, and also allows for a speedier cooking time for hot foods. You can use them for packing chocolate or energy bars on hot days, or literally anything you need to keep from melting away. The PrimaLoft insulation is constructed from 70% post-consumer recycled content, and every meter of insulation used saves 2.5 plastic bottles from landfill. So you can feel pretty good about the way it's made as well. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/single-serving-size.jpeg" alt="single serving size" />
    </div>
</div>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/bag-tag.jpeg" alt="bag tag" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'}  src="/products/bigskybags/fresh-fruit-in-bag.jpeg" alt="fresh fruit in bag" />
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<p className="readable"> The bags have a handy freestand construction, which allows for upright cooking, and they come in two sizes. A 25 x 25cm “full meal” version for $15 USD, and a smaller “single serving” size for $14 USD. </p>

<p className="readable"> When using the larger “full meal” bag, you can ditch store-bought meal packaging before setting out. This is helpful when meal packaging is made for a backpack, and doesn't fit well into a frame bag, and would also help eliminate some camp garbage that would need to be carried out. Win. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Cold Test</h3>

<p className="readable"> The cold test was easy: get on bike, go for ride, eat cold stuff. Before setting out, I chopped up some apples, oranges and threw in a few sugar snap peas. I set out on one of my larger loops that takes about 4 hours. It was a relatively warm and bright day and my black frame bag was attracting sun and warming up. </p>

<p className="readable"> I stopped at one of my favorite spots on the loop—a huge moss-covered rock that flanks a fun little single track trail here in Victoria called <a href="https://www.trailforks.com/trails/electric-avenue-101420/" target="_blank">Electric Avenue</a>. My mind was blown—having fresh (and cool) fruit in the middle of the forest on my rock with the sun coming through the trees, was a small slice of paradise. I honestly couldn't think of any time in my life where I had ever had cool, fresh fruit mid-ride. It was delicious, and exactly what my body needed to get me home. </p>

<p className="readable"> With an added ice pack, fresh fruit will now be part of every ride I do. This I promise to myself. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Hot Test</h3>

<p className="readable"> Big Sky's main sell point is that the bags aid in cooking your meal quicker. I will be honest, I was a bit dubious about this claim. For the hot test, I opted to cook some instant noodles to see exactly how quick (and well) the bags rehydrated and cooked freeze-dried food. (Kindly disregard everything I mentioned about eating healthy and fresh up above ;) </p>

<p className="readable"> Doing this test meant I had to go for a much larger ride. I decided to do a 90 km loop to the top of <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/6714369137" target="_blank">Mount Quimper</a>. It was my first time to Mount Quimper and I knew by the time I hit the summit I'd be ready for a warm lunch. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/food-pouch-in-framebag.jpeg" alt="food pouch in framebag" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/pouch-in-surly-krampus.jpeg" alt="pouch in surly krampus" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/framebag.jpeg" alt="framebag in surly krampus" />
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<p className="readable"> I packed fresh fruit and a small cube of butter in the smaller bag. Again, the fruit was super welcomed at a rest point I love overlooking <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/48%C2%B021'55.1%22N+123%C2%B036'23.9%22W/@48.365302,-123.6071812,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x548f0f31838485eb:0x6637cd27d28768bf!2sMatheson+Lake!3b1!8m2!3d48.3622144!4d-123.5993857!3m5!1s0x0:0x88b79de2201772ec!7e2!8m2!3d48.3653025!4d-123.6066338" target="_blank">Matheson Lake</a>. The butter is a bit of a joke between my buddy <a href="https://saltybeardbikepacking.com/" target="_blank">Saltybeard Bikepacking</a> and I. On our last bikepacking trip, we both agreed that to cook anything fresh, with any degree of enjoyment, one requires butter. Fats are absolutely paramount to any home-cooked meal worth it's salt. We had carried a small bottle of olive oil and learnt that high quality olive oil doesn't come from small bottles in small town grocery stores. The cube of butter would be a nice way to add some fats to my noodles, and test how well butter travels in the bags. </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/food-pouch-with-jetboil.jpeg" alt="food pouch with jetboil" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/packaging.jpeg" alt="big sky food pouch packaging" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/butter-to-go.jpeg" alt="butter to go" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/mount-quimper-view.jpeg" alt="mount quimper view" />
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<p className="readable"> The warm bag worked way better than I expected. I boiled some filtered puddle water (really) in <a href="/gear/camping-gear/jetboil-flash">Jetboil</a> and added the butter (which kept fantastically in the cool bag). The bag did exactly as advertised: it stood up perfectly, and within 7 minutes I had perfectly cooked instant noodles. It's been ages since I cooked instant noodles at home, but it feels like they cooked as fast if not faster than on a stove top. </p>

<p className="readable"> The noodles were warm and buttery and really hit the spot. A perfect reward for a hard climb to Mount Quimper summit. Next time, I will probably have my noodles in the smaller bag, and the cold items in the larger bag. The big is quite large and as they say, fits two meals. I ended up rolling it down in order to eat properly. Also, next time I will be bringing more fresh items—because I can. </p>

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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/jetboil-boiling.jpeg" alt="jetboil boiling" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/noodles-in-pouch.jpeg" alt="noodles in pouch" />
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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/oh-ya-instant-noodles.jpeg" alt="oh ya instant noodles" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/food-pouch-on-cliff.jpeg" alt="food pouch on cliff" />
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<h3 className="readable-sub">DIY Thermal Bags?</h3>

<p className="readable"> Doing research for this review, I came to realize that the backpacking community has been on the idea of thermal bags for a long while. You can find a bunch of different DIY options out there. I mentioned this to my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelephotodesign/" target="_blank">Michèle</a> who told me how she made her own. She found a reflective, windscreen cover from a dollar store, cut it into a pocket and sewed it together with a bit of velcro. I can't really vouch for the quality of her DIY as compared to the Big Sky bags, but it does seem like a viable alternative for those on the cheap. </p>


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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/diy-freezer-bag.jpeg"  alt="diy freezer bag" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/bigskybags/diy-with-bar.jpeg"  alt="diy with bar" />
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<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap It Up</h3>

<p className="readable"> That said, the Big Sky Insulite pouches do feel like a quality product that are designed to last. They also seem moderately priced, and more than fair for the value they bring. </p>

<p className="readable"> In hindsight, I feel a bit silly having never tried an Insulite (or competing) bag before on my bike trips. Now that I know, I know. I will be forever indebted to Big Sky for introducing me to the idea, and I will be absolutely adding these bags to my bikepacking setup for the foreseeable future. </p>

<p className="readable"> Of course, I will also keep bringing my 🥑. </p>

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Temperature controlled bags are such a simple idea that changed how we think about food while bikepacking.

Big Sky Insulite Food Pouch Review: Eat Fresh While Bikepacking


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<p  className="readable-intro"> <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/" target="_blank">Passchier</a> is a manufacturer of award-winning bamboo handlebars from New Zealand. Bamboo is a versatile and eco-friendly material with natural shock-absorbing and flex properties. It's usage for handlebars almost seems like a no-brainer. Passchier's bars have been getting a lot of buzz lately and we were lucky to try out a pair on our local trails. </p>

<p className="readable"> My mountain bike life started in the mid-90s in Northern Ontario. I started out riding a rigid Trek 930 STX because well, that's all that really existed at the time. I loved that bike. I rode the hell out of it while racing my local trails and packing to go camping and fishing with friends. Full suspension was in its infancy—something we saw in Mountain Bike Action magazine and was intended for downhillers. In my room, I hung posters of the <a href="https://www.cool386.com/trek/trek.htm" target="_blank">Trek Y-Frame</a> and the <a href="https://www.pinkbike.com/news/now-that-was-a-bike-1995-gt-lts.html" target="_blank">GT LTS</a> but never had the chance to see or ride one in real life. In 1997, I moved to Toronto to go to school and I sadly fell out of the mtb scene for a very long time. </p>

<p className="readable"> Fast forward 25 years, I'm 43 years old, my little family moves to British Columbia and I'm severely underbiked. I decided the best bike to hit all the local terrain would be a rigid mtb. I wanted something versatile enough to let me ride singletrack but also join friends on gravel rides and bikepacking trips. However, the terrain here is a touch more technical and chunky than the flowy tracks of my childhood. After about 40km of vibrating chonk, I can really feel numbness in my wrists, hands and arms. Lately, I've been asking myself “am I old?” “should I at least go hardtail with some suspension up front?”. </p>

<p className="readable"> I was super excited to hear about Passchier and their handlebars. Maybe this is exactly what I was looking for. The idea seemed so simple to me—a naturally flexible but strong material used on one of the most rigid and jarring parts of the bike. Admittedly, Passchier's bars aren't actually designed for the type of riding I do daily but I couldn't resist trying them out. According to the team they are targeted at riders that are looking for comfort - tourers, commuters and <strong><i>elderly riders *ahem*</i></strong>. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Company &amp; Product</h3>

<p className="readable"> Passchier (pronounced “pah-sheer”) was started by two friends, Dirk Passchier and Mike Baddeley. Dirk is a craftsman that started making bamboo kayak paddles in the late 70s. His paddles attracted some prominent figures in the New Zealand kayaking world. 40 years later, Dirk meets Mike, an entrepreneur and consultant focused on product development and strategy who brings his love of cycling into the mix. Together Mike and Dirk form Passchier and focus on handlebars that are designed to let riders enjoy the journey. </p>

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<p className="readable"> Today, Passchier has <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/product-category/bamboo-handlebars/" target="_blank">two products in the market</a>, the Gump 760 and 650 each with a comfy 22 degree sweep. Named after Forest Gump who “ran and ran”, using these bars will allow you to “ride and ride”. The bars have been getting some amazing press recently and featured in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W1BC9F7194" target="_blank">Path Less Pedaled</a> and <a href="https://bikepacking.com/index/comfort-mtb-handlebars/" target="_blank">Bikepacking.com</a>. Even more impressively, Passchier has been recognized with the prestigious <a href="https://www.core77.com/posts/110124/More-Comfortable-Handlebars-Made-from-Shock-Absorbing-Bamboo" target="_blank">Core 77</a> design award for their efforts and it's not hard to see why. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Style For Miles &amp; Miles</h3>

<p className="readable"> The first thing I noticed about the bars is how beautiful they are. They are reminiscent of a classic car. Specifically, the wood steering wheels that sports cars donned before synthetic materials from a time when experience and quality trumped profiteering. The bars somehow feel warm to the touch. </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/carbon-shim.jpeg" alt="carbon shim" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/passchier-logo.jpeg" alt="passchier logo" />
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<p className="readable"> The wood is contrasted by a gorgeous piece of carbon wrapped around them to act as a shim to prevent damage to the wood from the stem. It was almost a shame to cover the shim and well-designed Passchier logo with my gonky, factory stem. </p>

<p className="readable"> Once installed, the overall look of the bars stunned me. The entire front-end looked completely different. My cockpit was brighter and somehow gleaming. My old Salsa bars looked old and tired compared to these beauties. If you are not into the wood finish, Passchier also has a range of colors for you to choose from. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '8px'}}> <div className="gallery-images-col"> <Image width={3} height={2}  layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/shim-in-stem.jpeg" alt="shim in stem" /> </div> </div>

<h3 className="readable-sub">But how strong is strong?!</h3>

<p className="readable"> In the cycling world, natural materials still seem to be on the fringe and considered boutique items. Many of us, of course, have seen the <a href="https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a20005683/do-it-yourself/" target="_blank">DIY bamboo frame projects</a> all reporting amazing successes. The closest I've found to any company looking at proper bamboo production is an amazing effort from <a href="https://booomers.com/" target="_blank">Booomers Bikes</a> in Ghana. </p>

<p className="readable"> It's ok to be a bit dubious about wood replacing steel or alloy in the one part of the bike that keeps your face from the dirt. However, according to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/bamboo-as-a-replacement-to-steel" target="_blank">Interesting Engineering</a>, bamboo is stronger than steel. At a molecular level, bamboo is more tightly packed than steel and has a tensile strength of 28,000 pounds per square inch vs. steel's measly 23,000 pounds. Tensile literally means the materials resistance to breaking or splitting under pressure. </p>

<p className="readable"> Passchier builds on this natural strength by using sourced, engineered bamboo. They take 11 3mm sheets of the engineered bamboo and glue them together. They are then shaped in a press and CNC-ed into the final form. Once done, a laminate layer adds even more strength to prevent catastrophic failure. That's strong. Passchier has done extensive <a href="https://www.passchier.co.nz/strength/" target="_blank">research on the strength</a> and durability of their bars. They have been tested to an <a href="https://passchier.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ISO_standards_excerpt.pdf" target="_blank">ISO standard</a> that covers touring and commuting standards. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Everything-Friendly Production</h3>

<p className="readable"> How bikes and components are manufactured should be important to all cyclists. In a past life, I used to coach companies into doing exactly what Passchier does and encourage renewable and natural resources in production. In those conversations, bamboo kept coming up for good reason—it's list of environmental and manufacturing friendly properties is exhaustive. </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/front-end.jpeg" alt="front end" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/landscape.jpeg" alt="landscape" />
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<p className="readable"> Bamboo is not a tree, it's actually a grass and requires next to zero fertilization and pesticides. </p>

<p className="readable"> Bamboo holds the <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-growing-plant/" target="_blank">guinness world record</a> for the fastest growing plant on earth. Some species can grow up to a meter a day. </p>

<p className="readable"> Bamboo self-regenerates from its roots and can grow almost anywhere and pretty much infinitely. </p>

<p className="readable"> Bamboo releases more oxygen than many other plants (and traps carbon as a result). </p>

<p className="readable"> The entire plant can be used for a variety of purposes ranging from construction to deodorants and medicines. </p>

<p className="readable"> It is almost a wonder how the material has been overlooked by the cycling world. Until now… </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Test</h3>

<p className="readable"> Passchier is clear that the Gumps are ISO tested for easy trails, tours, jaunts around town, and daily commutes. The leaflet that accompanies the bars mentions they are not intended for Grade 4 trails and up. I had to look this one up and found that in New Zealand a Grade 4 trail <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/mountain-biking/track-grades/" target="_blank">is described</a> as: </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/close-up.jpeg" alt="close up" />
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         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/bars-on-krampus.jpeg" alt="bars on krampus" />
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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/cockpit-zoom-out.jpeg" alt="cockpit-zoom-out.jpeg" />
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<p className="readable"> “A mixture of long, steep climbs, narrow track, poor traction and obstacles that are difficult to avoid or jump over. Generally exposed at the track's outside edge. Most riders will find some sections easier to walk.” </p>

<p className="readable"> I knew taking the Gumps on my local loop would be pushing it a bit. My loop hits every terrain our little island has to offer—doubletrack, singletrack, flowy to technical. I have done my loop 100s of times and know every single rock, root and bump. If the Gumps were to make a difference I would for sure know where and what to look out for. </p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Hit play and go for a ride...</h5>

<div className="video-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RnNr1h9Bgcw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> 

<p className="readable"> The difference from my Salsa alloy bars was instantly noticeable. I could feel the give and flex in every pedal stroke. This initial feel made me wonder about how much shock my arms must take  with the alloy bars. </p>

<p className="readable"> The 22 degree sweep was new to me. I am very used to my 11 degree risers bars but again I quickly got used to the sweep and rather enjoyed it. My wrists felt like they were at a much more natural angle and my elbows were tucked in. I felt faster. Zoom. </p>

<p className="readable"> For the first two rides, on the singletrack, I found myself slowing down and being a touch more cautious while cornering. The little bit of flex in bars while turning sent a little caution signal to my brain and I instinctively slowed down. This didn't last long and I was cornering as hard as usual in no time. </p>

<center><div className="quote"><h3>With the Passchier Gumps the vibration wasn't minimized—it was totally gone. And I mean 100% gone.</h3></div> </center>

<p className="readable"> Where I did enjoy the flex, surprisingly, was on out-of-saddle climbs. It's tough to describe but the elasticity felt like I could move the bike side to side in a way that felt way more natural and climbing felt easier. </p>

<p className="readable"> But there is one hill that unlocked the whole experience for me. A quick little blast down a doubletrack that takes me out of the forest and into town at the end of each ride. The track is about 1km long with a 40m drop in elevation. It does however have some decent sized gravel and I've always taken it slower than I wanted as the bar vibration was pretty severe. With the Passchier Gumps the vibration wasn't minimized—it was totally gone. And I mean 100% gone. The feeling was absolutely thrilling and I flew down the hill. Woot. </p>

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<h3 className="readable-sub">Ride on...</h3>

<p className="readable"> Passchier mentions that the bars will change the way you ride and I agree with this to a certain extent. There is a small adjustment period but this seems moot for what you get in return—a set of handlebars that are as comfortable as they are beautiful. </p>

<p className="readable"> Back to my challenge of being old and looking for some comfort, they did that in spades. The bars are obviously not a substitute for suspension but they are a viable option for anyone looking to reduce handlebar vibration for whatever reason. </p>

<p className="readable"> The company has also told me that they are also developing a riser bar in the near future which I will be very interested in when it hits the market. </p>

<p className="readable"> I can honestly say, I didn't expect to fall in love with them, but here we are. </p>

<p className="readable"> Through the process of testing the Gumps and writing this review I came to the conclusion that natural materials have a perception challenge—not a technical one. We as consumers need to adjust where we put our money and show the manufacturers that we care about ideas like sustainability and responsible sourcing. That will not happen overnight, and until it does, companies like Passchier will be filling a much appreciated gap. </p>

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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/passchier/mike-dirk.jpeg" alt="Mike and Dirk" />
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Passchier's Gump bars have been getting a lot of buzz lately and we were lucky to try out a pair on our local trails.

Passchier Gump 760 Handlebar Review


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<p  className="readable-intro"> <a href="https://bit.ly/3dwQL9W" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Sealskinz</a> is a UK-based manufacturer of waterproof socks, gloves, overshoes and hats. They have been around for 25 years and are a leader in what they do. After a very well-timed Instagram advertisement hit our feed, we decided to take the plunge and hit the buy now button to find out exactly how well their <a href="https://bit.ly/3Pr2bti" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">all-weather, waterproof socks</a> would stand up to a rainy-season rainforest ride. </p>

<p className="readable"> If there's a place and time on earth that begs for waterproof socks, it's Vancouver Island in the winter. The average rainfall of the south island is almost 4 inches per month. The wet is inescapable while biking in the winter months here. The moss—which literally covers everything—holds the water, and from November to March it feels like you are biking through a wet sponge. </p>

<p className="readable"> I have mentioned many times on this site that my family and I moved here so I could cycle year round. However naive of me, I wasn't expecting the amount of water (and mud) that winter brings, and it took me a long while to adjust. At first I resisted; because, I suppose, my rational mind would not accept being covered in mud from head to toe after a 40km ride? After two years, my attitude towards cycling in the elements on this island has changed 180 degrees—I now find it quite liberating to be covered in earth juices. </p>

<p className="readable"> Well, for the most part. The one thing I have never gotten used to was having my feet soaked completely through. Once your feet get wet, you're finished. They will never dry out, the cold gets into your soul and the darkness creeps in from the sidelines. We have all been there. I have finished  enough drenched rides screaming at myself to finally do something about it. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Socks vs. Overshoe Booties</h3>

<p className="readable"> My first attempt to dry my feet out was a pair of overshoe booties from an unnamed brand. Like all new gear, there was once again an adjustment period. It turns out that booties are harder to get used to than I expected. Simply getting your feet into them and over your shoes requires the usage of many four-letter words. </p>

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<p className="readable"> Once I managed to get them on and get out riding, the boots still let in water from the top. There was no silicone bead or anything. They acted like funnels into my shoes which quickly filled with water. They were expensive, bulky as hell in the gear drawer, and forget about adjusting any boa dials with them on. There had to be a better way. </p>

<p className="readable"> After one particularly soppy ride, Instagram's advertising algorithm had me pegged and served up an ad for all-weather waterproof socks from Sealskinz in the UK. Well, I thought, I have to wear socks anyway, they might as well be waterproof. Let's give them a go. Buy Now. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Fit & Feel</h3>

<p className="readable"> I honestly didn't know what to expect and was mildly surprised when the socks showed up a couple weeks later. My immediate impression likened them to scuba gear rather than socks. They almost felt neoprene to the touch. However, when I put them on I was a little taken aback at how comfy they were. The socks stretched like a normal pair of socks, which I had heard is an issue with some other brands of waterproof goretex socks. </p>

<p className="readable"> The socks are made up of three layers (more on this in a bit) which adds to a bit of bulk. I was worried about the socks fitting my super narrow <a href="https://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/bike-clothing/cycling-shoes/mountain-bike-shoes/bontrager-evoke-mountain-bike-shoe/p/34129/" target="_blank">Bontrager shoes</a>. But I easily got my shoes on and the thickness of the socks didn't seem to be an issue at all. Rolled up, however, they are quite large, which may take up room in a bag and could be a concern for any space-obsessed bikepacker. </p>


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<p className="readable"> Overall, the socks felt like a quality product and I couldn't wait to get out and test them in the rainforest on my beloved local loop. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Materials & Construction</h3>

<p className="readable"> As I mentioned above, the socks are constructed in three layers: a lush Merino wool inner layer, a waterproof membrane and a durable outer fabric. </p>

<p className="readable"> The inner layer of Merino wool keeps things comfy while acting as insulation. Merino is a natural alternative to many of the synthetic high-performance materials that plague the cycling industry. We had a great chat with some friends on Merino in cycling <Link href="/stories/the-spandex-panda-collection"><a>here</a></Link> if you're interested. The key is that Merino is a material with natural temperature balancing and moisture-wicking properties (Merino fibers can absorb up to one third of its own weight in moisture without feeling wet to the touch), and will keep your feet warm (or cool) and dry when you need it. </p>


<p className="readable"> Sealskinz markets the waterproof membrane in it's sock as “hydrophilic”. I had to look that one up. Hydrophilic plainly means that it is a material that interacts with water in some way. In this case, it's safe to assume that it can pass (and keep out) water at a molecular level. Apparently the water molecules are driven out of the membrane because of the higher temperature and humidity inside the sock. What is amazing about the membrane is that it also allows for great breathability </p>

<p className="readable"> It's simple really: the Merino feels nice and cozy while wicking the sweat off your feet, which then passes internal moisture to the membrane, which “hydrophilicly” passes the water out of the sock where it dries. For those of you into numbers, the membrane has a minimum W.V.P (Water Vapor Permeability index) of 65% and has been tested to withstand a column of water (hydrostatic head) >10,000mm. So, there. </p>


<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/try-on.jpeg" alt="try on" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/try-on-close.jpeg" alt="try on close" />
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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/try-on-down.jpeg" alt="try on down" />
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<p className="readable"> To make sure it's all wrapped up, nice and snug, Sealskinz has added something they call Hydrostop™. The Hydrostop™ is a non-silicone (silicone-like?) band around the top of the inner sock that prevents water from entering the cuff of the sock. Take that, booties. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Time to Ride</h3>

<p className="readable"> To test out the Sealskinz, I went for a ride on <a href="https://ridewithgps.com/trips/78593375" target="_blank">my favorite loop</a> here in Victoria. A 40k rip through every type of surface you could imagine from tarmac, to gravel, to singletrack in the wet, wet forest. I had the idea to hit a local puddle that is notorious to cyclists in the winter at a park called <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Ax37947apTpo4tih6" target="_blank">Panama Flats</a>. Panama Flats is a marsh that runs alongside the Colquitz River, an important fish habitat. In the winter months, the river regularly floods and the flats act as a flood plain. This flood plain happens to cover a few hundred meters of trail with about 1-1.5 feet of water. </p>


<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/panama-flats-puddle.jpeg" alt="panama flats puddle" />
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</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/panama-flats-flood-plain.jpeg" alt="panama flats flood plain" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/panama-flats-bike.jpeg" alt="panama flats bike" />
    </div>
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<p className="readable"> Not only was I going to ride the puddle, I planned on stopping and fully emerging my feet and shoes into it. The puddle is early in my ride so if the socks didn't work I'd have a miserable 30k home. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Result</h3>

<p className="readable"> Standing in a massive puddle at 6 degrees celsius in the rain will definitely get you a few odd looks. No surprise there. However, having your feet fully emerged in close-to-freezing water with waterproof socks plays a massive trick on your mind. You see your feet in the water, you feel the cold temperature and your brain ends up filling the gap with the thought “my feet are wet”. It's a very strange sensation that makes you ask the question: what is the difference between wet and cold? After a few minutes I was able to tell that my feet were in fact dry, and I was more afraid to wreck my new shoes than anything. Amazing. </p>


<p className="readable"> I hopped back on the bike and took off with freezing cold feet and drenched shoes. After about 10 minutes I could already feel my feet warming up. I know now that the Merino was keeping in the warmth, wicking away sweat and thus heating up my feetsies. After 20 mins, I felt like I had just left the house—my feet were totally toasty and dry. I was truly blown away. </p>


<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '400px'}}>
        <Image layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'} src="/products/sealskinz/shoes-in-water.jpeg" alt="shoes in water" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col" style={{position: 'relative', width: '100%', height: '400px'}}>
         <Image  layout={'fill'} objectFit={'cover'} src="/products/sealskinz/barry-standing-in-water.jpeg" alt="barry standing in water" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> No matter how moist the forest got or how many puddles I splashed through, my feet wouldn't get wet or even that cold, which in turn lightened my mood and helped me hammer the trails. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Zen and the Art of Sock Maintenance</h3>

<p className="readable"> When I got home, I experienced the harshest part of the socks. A bit of water had seeped into the cuff and made a moisture seal between my leg and the non-silicone/silicone bead. Taking off the socks was a bit like removing duct tape off a cat. I didn't know leg hair could be removed from a leg in such a way. A mistake I'll only make once. </p>

<p className="readable"> I threw the socks in a muddy heap much to my wife's distress and let them sit there while I took a shower. I then threw them in the washing machine and dryer before having the thought that maybe the membrane wasn't really meant for regular laundry. I thought I killed them on the first go. Alas, this is not an issue, Sealskinz can be washed (and dried) normally alongside the rest of your gear. Whew. </p>


<p className="readable"> However, you may need to flip them in and out once or twice to fully dry. They are waterproof afterall. </p>


<h3 className="readable-sub">Wrap Up</h3>

<p className="readable"> I have now been on a handful of rides with the socks and am totally sold. At $71 CAD the socks are not cheap. But they do come with a lifetime guarantee which seems incredible for an item that sees as much wear as a pair of socks. If these socks in fact last my lifetime, $71 bucks seems like a hell of a deal to me for dry, happy feet in the wet, cold, unforgiving world of winter cycling. Get them <a href="https://bit.ly/3Pr2bti" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">here</a>.</p>


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        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/sealskinz/in-the-moss.jpeg" alt="in the moss" />
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</Container>


If there's a place and time on earth that begs for waterproof socks, it's Vancouver Island in the winter.

Sealskinz Waterproof Socks Review: Dry, Happy Feet


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<p  className="readable-intro"> In 2019, <a href="https://www.maxxis.com/" target="_blank">Maxxis</a> released an update of its massively popular <a href="https://www.maxxis.com/ca/tire/ikon/" target="_blank">Ikon</a> tire. The 2.6” EXO/TR update allowed for much lower pressure giving riders more traction and comfort on any cross-country terrain. We swapped our 29+ Dirt Wizards for the more versatile Maxxis Ikons. </p>

<p className="readable"> I was at Heathrow Airport when I picked up a bikepacking magazine for the first time and my brain exploded. The downward spiral of internet research eventually brought me to <a href="https://bikepacking.com" target="_blank">bikepacking.com</a>  where I spent months reading about what seemed like a whole new type of cycling and drooling over the photos. The <a href="https://bikepacking.com/plog/four-days-bikepacking-wilsons-creek-and-lost-cove/" target="_blank">early articles</a> from Logan featuring his 2012 Surly Krampus really inspired me. </p>

<p className="readable"> At the same time, my family and I were living in Tokyo, and transitioning back to Canada. We ended up in British Columbia so “Daddy could bike all year long”. It was obvious pretty quickly that the “gravel” setup I was riding wasn't going to cut the mustard in BC. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">How I ended up 29+</h3>

<p className="readable"> I detest cycling genres and have a tough time communicating the type of riding I do. My favorite thing in the world is soloing through every surface I can - tarmac, single-track, double-track, gravel, whatever. The <a href="https://ntxtrails.com/what-is-n-1/" target="_blank">N+1 joke</a> has always kind of annoyed me as I have always dreamed of one rig to do it all. It was early 2020, and Surly had launched a new Krampus which triggered my memories of Logan's early posts. I got one. </p>

<p className="readable"> The Krampus is the first true plus-sized bike and ships with 29x3.0 <a href="https://surlybikes.com/parts/dirt_wizard" target="_blank">Dirt Wizard tires</a> that are intended to climb volcanoes (which they can do easily). The traction and cushion on the Dirt Wizards allowed me to adjust to my surroundings. I love my Krampus. It can do anything. But let's be real, it wasn't designed to be the fastest, snappiest rig on the market. After almost two years/6000km of riding, I started putting thought into how to speed the Krampus up. The easiest place to start shedding weight was the tires. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Maxxis Ikon vs. Surly Dirt Wizard</h3>

<p className="readable"> The volume of the 29x3.0 Dirt Wizards allows you to run super low pressure which is cushy on rocky and rooty terrain. When other MTBers gawked at my rigid frame, I would joke that suspension was in the tires. The tight-knit center knobs keep you moving quickly while the huge outer knobs help provide confidence in cornering. Honestly, they are awesome tires but at 1210g they are a huge weight penalty. After a long day in the saddle, you start to feel every single gram. I knew finding something lighter with as much traction and comfort as the Dirt Wizards would be a challenge. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/surly-dirt-wizard.jpeg" alt="Surly Dirt Wizard Close Up" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/dirt-wiazrd-weight.jpeg" alt="Surly Dirt Wizard on Scale" />
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</div>

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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikon-detail-off-wheel.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikon Hanging on Bike Stand" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikon-on-scale.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikon on Scale" />
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</div>

<p className="readable"> I was originally interested in the 2.8 <a href="https://teravail.com/products/coronado-tire?variant=39350969892915#/" target="_blank">Teravail Coronado's</a> until I learned that they weighed in at close to 1000g. My <a href="https://www.northparkbikeshop.com/" target="_blank">local shop</a> pointed me in the direction of the 2.6 Maxxis Ikons. After speaking to a few friends who swear by Maxxis (specifically the Ikons) I placed my order. </p>

<p className="readable" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}> The Ikons are just that - an icon. Maxxis released the Ikons in 2014 as a 27.5x2.3. Alongside the popular Rekons, the Ikons have a purpose-built cross-country tread pattern and became a kingpin in the industry. Since then, Maxxis has introduced a whole range of sizes and the introduction of the 2.6 has heralded the “death of 29+”.</p>

<table className="datatable" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <tr>
    <th></th>
    <th>Maxxis Ikon</th>
    <th>Surly Dirt Wizard</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Size Options</td>
    <td>2.0-2.6"</td>
    <td>2.6-3.0"</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>TPI</td>
    <td>60/120</td>
    <td>60</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Bead</td>
    <td>Foldable</td>
    <td>Foldable</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Weight(g)</td>
    <td>805g</td>
    <td>1390g</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Max PSi</td>
    <td>40</td>
    <td>35</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>MSRP (usd)</td>
    <td>$65</td>
    <td>$90</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>Color Options</td>
    <td>Black/Tan Wall</td>
    <td>Black</td>
    </tr>
</table>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Installing an Ikon</h3>

<p className="readable"> Getting the Ikons on my wheels was a breeze. The foldable bead was easy to pop on and get seated. When installing, make sure the arrow and directional tread are pointing towards the front of the bike. You probably want to consider a bit more sealant than usual. I dropped about 150ml of sealant in both tires before inflating. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikon-rear-tread.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikon Tread" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikon-front-tread.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikon Tread" />
    </div>
</div>

<center> <div className="quote"> <h3>"The bike wanted to fly and I couldn't help but smile"</h3> </div> </center>

<p className="readable"> As soon as the Ikons were on, I went for a boot around my hood. I can't verify this, but I imagine the feeling is a lot like losing 10 pounds and putting on a pair of expensive jeans for the first time. The bike wanted to fly and I couldn't help but smile. This may sound lame but the rotation of the yellow Maxxis logo looked rad. They somehow reminded me of the muscle cars of my youth. The Krampus was reborn and I couldn't wait to get it out on my local loop. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">A True Mixed-Surface Loop</h3>

<p className="readable"> Maxxis positions the Ikons as a true mixed-surface/cross-country tire with a high rolling speed and ready for anything. My local is a 40k loop that leaves from my house and covers all terrain that Victoria has to offer. </p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">On the Road</h5>

<p className="readable"> My route hits about 10-20km of tarmac to get to (and fro) the trails. This stretch was tedious with Dirt Wizards, especially on the way back when everything is feeling heavy. The distance on the Ikons ripped by and I barely noticed. It took about 10km to realize just how quickly my average road speed had increased. I was moving anywhere between 20-25km/h, a huge contrast to the Dirt Wizards that would maintain an avergae of 14-18km/h. Guess what? Dropping almost 2 pounds makes a noticeable difference. </p>

<p className="readable"> One small observation, the Ikons have less of a footprint and this makes it harder to “stand” at a stop. With my Dirt Wizards, I could almost stand the bike at a full stop. </p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">XC</h5>

<p className="readable"> The Ikons were purpose-built for cross-country and they no doubt shine on gravel roads and double track surfaces. At first, the challenge was mine - not the tires. The transition time to a thinner tire was a bit longer than expected. I found myself holding back and not fully opening up as I wasn't sure of the footing and traction the tires were capable of. Once my comfort leveled out, I noticed again, average speeds were much faster. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/krampus-on-rock.jpeg" alt="Surly Krampus With Maxxis Ikons  on Rock" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/krampus-up-close.jpeg" alt="Surly Krampus With Maxxis Ikons Up Close" />
    </div>
</div>

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    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/krampus-side-view.jpeg" alt="Surly Krampus With Maxxis Ikons Side View" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> But wow, they are light. So light in fact that I could bunny hop and wheelie way easier than with the Dirt Wizards. I spent a good part of the trip with one wheel in the air. </p>

<p className="readable"> My only XC gripe about the Ikons was that they spun out quite fast in the mud. On our little island, serious mud is a reality most of the year and the lower tread meant a bit more slippage in the soup. </p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Singletrack</h5>

<p className="readable"> The true test for the Ikons came in the singletrack. The singletrack here tends to be fairly technical, full of wet rocks and roots - which the Dirt Wizards made a quick job of. Nowhere does Maxxis advertise the Ikons as a singletrack-friendly tire, but I was delighted to find out that side slippage was comparable to the Dirt Wizards. Again, the challenge was me trusting the tires - not the tires themselves. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
         <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikons-on-the-trail.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikons On The Trail" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikon-tread-close-up.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikons Tread Close Up" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> The drop in weight dramatically changed how I climb on singletrack. With the 29+, I would throw the bike into the highest gear, sit back and pull myself up the rocks. Now with the Ikons, I am leaning in and attacking similar to what most full-suspension riders do - with the weight over my front tire. I love this. </p>

<h3 className="readable-sub">Verdict: Is 29+ dead?</h3>

<p className="readable"> There has been much debate around the death of 29+ tires and bikes. Bikepacking.com has sighted the <a href="https://bikepacking.com/bikes/surly-ecr-elegy/" target="_blank">discontinuation of Surly's ECR</a> as a signal that the 29+ platform is dying and published a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnKCb4Hbjzo" target="_blank">great video</a> on the topic. It's indisputable that the number of brands carrying plus-size options has dropped and that it remains a bit of a niche for bikepacking specifically. </p>

<p className="readable"> After spending a few weeks on Ikon 2.6s, I am pretty confident I will not be returning to 29+ tires and I am left wondering what the use case for 29+ is. Sure, I loved the clearance and the ability to roll over (and through) everything but the 2.6 Ikons have proved that you can still get all of the benefits of a 29+ in a much lighter and nimble tire. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/ikons-from-cockpit.jpeg" alt="Maxxis Ikons From Cockpit" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/surly-krampus-rear-tire.jpeg" alt="Surly Krampus With Maxxis Ikons on Rear" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '16px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/maxxis-ikon/surly-krampus-front-tire.jpeg" alt="Surly Krampus With Maxxis Ikons on Front" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> As for my beloved Krampus, it feels like a whole new bike with a fresher, younger attitude. I am now looking at ways to speed it up even more. Maybe slapping an oval ring on the front with a couple more teeth, lighter wheels, and/or a carbon fork. Stay tuned. </p>

<div className="feature">

<h3 className="readable-sub">The Route</h3>

<p className="readable"> Some friends jokingly started calling my regular ride, Barry's Loop. I have been tweaking this line for as long as I owned my Krampus. It has everything you need for an awesome mixed-surface, cross-country ride. This is the core loop for which many, many variations exist that you can find on <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/894277" target="_blank">Strava</a>. </p>

<iframe src="https://ridewithgps.com/embeds?type=trip&id=78593375&metricUnits=true&sampleGraph=true" style={{width: '1px', minWidth: '100%', height: '560px', border: 'none'}} scrolling="no"></iframe>

<br/>
<br/>

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We swapped our 29+ Dirt Wizards for the more versatile Maxxis Ikons.

Maxxis Ikon Review: A True XC Tire

Maxxis Ikon 29x2.6 Review: A True XC Tire


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<p  className="readable-intro"> <a href="https://landyachtzbikes.com" target="_blank">Landyachtz</a> is a company from British Columbia, Canada that is globally known for it's stellar longboards. Over the past couple of years, Landyachtz has started producing gravel bikes that in thier words "allow people to go further". On a recent <a href="/stories/tutti-gravel-inn">trip</a>, the BGDB team was lucky to test out a spanking new <a href="/bikes/gravel/cb-mkii-metallic-galaxy-blue-2021">CB MKII</a>  - the second generation of the much loved and super capable CB2. </p>

<p className="readable"> I've been riding a "gravel" bike for almost five years now. My steel Soma Wolverine has 650b wheels, 48mm tires, and drop bars, and I wanted to see what it was like to ride a modern gravel bike with 700c wheels. I've never described my Wolverine as fast or agile. It's comfy and fun for long casual treks at a party pace. I knew that I wanted to experience bigger wheels on long gravel roads. </p>
<h3 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">Landyachtz Makes Bikes?</h3>

<p className="readable"> My only experience with Landyachtz has been with their <a href="https://landyachtz.com/" target="_blank">longboards</a>. During the first stage of my mid-life crisis, I watched one too many YouTube videos of people bombing down hills on drop deck skateboards and ended up owning a Landyachtz Switch. I tooled around town on it, too aware of my mortality and the stiffness of my hips and lower back to point it down any actual hills. I was very aware of their popularity and reputation, especially here in British Columbia, where I live and Landyachtz runs their thing. Up until our trip to Clinton, in my mind, Landyachtz was a skateboard company and not a bike company. </p>

<p className="readable"> Now I wouldn't call myself a bike snob, but I do enjoy researching and picking out the parts for a bike, so I end up with something unique. Off-the-shelf builds don't excite me. So when I first swung my leg over the Landyachtz bike, the stoke was minimal and expectations were low. I was just happy to be getting out for a 50k ride, to experience more of the gravel roads we had just tasted, on a bike that had a wheel size I thought I'd want to put on my Wolverine. Boy, was I in for a surprise. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_head_badge.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII Head Badge" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_bars.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII Handlebars and Shifters" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
 <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_cockpit.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII Cockpit"/>
</div>

<p className="readable"> I expected to ride the Landyacthz AB1 Gravel bike, but Tutti's were set up with 650b wheels. I was not to be deterred from the big-wheel experience I was hoping for, and I ended up on a large Landyachtz CB MkII setup with the desired 700c wheels. </p>

<h3 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">The Setup</h3>

<p className="readable"> Landyachtz describes the CB MkII as a capable gravel setup. A blue-painted Chromoly steel frame with Landyachtz's carbon fork. Ritchey aluminum for the bars, stem, and seat post. TRP Spyre cable pull disc brakes are the original spec for this bike, but mine came with hydraulics. I don't recall the brand. Aluminum wheels, tubes, and 42mm Teravail rubber to interface with the road. SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain with Double-Tap shifting. Basic black bar tape and a no-nonsense saddle. Everything one needs to search for gravel gold in the Cariboo. Let's go. </p>

<h3 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">The Ride</h3>

<p className="readable"> As soon as we were rolling, I could feel the difference in the tire size. The ride didn't feel as plush as my Wolverine, but at the same time, I didn't feel like I was getting sucked into and slowed by the washboard roads. It felt like I was rolling over the terrain a bit quicker. I know this is a commonly described benefit of 700C over 650b wheel sizes, and it was nice to experience it. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_side.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII Side View" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_in_grass.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII in the Grass" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_jay.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII Jay Pozo" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_mountains.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII with mountains in the background" />
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> The more we rode on, the more I realized how much I liked the tires, and I also really liked this bike. It felt confident on the gravel, mud, and paved road we experienced. The steel frame and tubed tires soaked up enough of the bumps so that I could relax into a steady pace. The CB MkII's large frame size fits my 5'10" body well. Barry kept saying how it looked like it fit me better than my Wolverine, and it did feel that way. The bike felt so good over our 50km ride that it had me questioning many of my bicycle choices to date. </p>

<p className="readable"> My only gripes with this bike are personal preference. I don't like Double-Tap shifters, which would easily be resolved by switching the levers out to something I prefer, like Di2 or Campagnolo. And the drop bars felt small compared to the Cow Chippers that I'm used to. I could get used to smaller drops though. And I'd pull the tubes out and run this bike tubeless. That's it, that's all. </p>

<p className="readable"> Up until this ride, I had only planned on buying a 700C wheelset for the Wolverine. Over the last 10km of our ride, I was calculating costs and scheming of ways to get myself more permanently onto something like the Landyachtz CB MkII, unaware of its price. How many bikes would I have to sell? How would I justify yet another bike purchase to my (very bike-supportive) wife? It turns out this bike is reasonably priced at $2499 CAD. </p>

<p className="readable"> We got back to Clinton after our ride and got the chance to speak with Kelly about the bikes and his relationship with Landyachtz. We talked about how people can get stuck on bicycle trends, semantics, and brands and forget to enjoy the ride. I definitely fall into this trap and would never have considered a Landyachtz in my top choices of gravel bikes to buy. They're a skateboard company, right? But now I'm glad to have experienced the fact that Landyachtz makes damn good gravel bikes. </p>

<center> <div className="quote"> <h3>"Landyachtz isn't just a skateboard company that also makes gravel bikes. Landyachtz is a bicycle company that makes excellent gravel bikes"</h3> </div> </center>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_couch.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII branded couch" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_dirty.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII after a ride" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/landyachtz-cb-mk2/cbmk2_paint.jpeg" alt="Landyachtz CB MKII paint is beautiful" />
    </div>
</div>

<h3 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">Landyachtz - A Gravel Bike Company</h3>

<p className="readable"> Just consider that Landyachtz has a direct line to the gravel bicycle world via riders like Kelly. If you have ever had the privilege of hanging out at the Tutti Gravel Inn and riding the epic Cariboo gravel, you know the roads are beautiful, but the loops are long. Kelly has experienced the Italian L'Eroica twice (winning it once) and spends his days in Clinton riding and discovering long beautiful gravel adventures for himself and his guests. If anyone knows gravel riding, it's Kelly. Landyachtz has already built him at least two custom bikes with his input, and I'm sure they won't be the last. What this all means is that Landyachtz isn't just a skateboard company that also makes gravel bikes. Landyachtz is a bicycle company that makes excellent gravel bikes with the input of experienced gravel riders like Kelly. </p>

<h3 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">The Verdict</h3>

<p className="readable"> Will I end up with a Landyachtz gravel bike? Time will tell. I like the idea of supporting a local British Columbia company, and if I were looking for a sub-$3000 gravel bike, the CB MkII would be on my list. It's a really great gravel bike. I am looking closely at their custom titanium options and have dreamed up a build that I could use for long gravel, bike-packing, and commuting. Landyachtz. Who knew? Kelly Servinski did. </p>

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</Container>


On a recent trip, the BGDB team was lucky to test out a spanking new CB MKII - the second generation of the much loved and super capable CB2.

Landyachtz CB MKII Review: A Confident Gravel Grinder


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<p className="readable-intro"> During a 500 km bikepacking trip on Vancouver Island, we wanted to test the Salsa Anything Cages (HD &amp; standard) and the all-new EXP Bag to see how they would stand up to the terrain. </p>

<p className="readable"> For the ride, we filled two new EXP Series Bags up with food and strapped them on to our cages—one Anything HD Cage (2015) and one original Anything Cage (2010), to understand how the newer version stood against the original. With the two cages hooked up to our front fork, we hit the (dirt) road. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_full.jpg" alt="Salsa Anything Cages on Surly Krampus fork" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_under.jpg" alt="Salsa EXP bag hard bottom" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_fork.jpg" alt="Salsa Anything Cages on Surly Krampus fork" />
    </div>
</div>

<h4 className="readable-sub">The Specs</h4>

<p className="readable"> Before we jump in, let's go over the specs of each of the products we used during our ride. We chose <a href="/bikes/brands/salsa">Salsa</a> because they've been an innovative leader for bikepackers and gravel riders since the 1980s. Their contributions have been making headway for bikepacking cyclists to maximize the efficiency of travel. We heart them. Salsa, if you are reading this, please send us a Timberjack for review ;) </p>

<h5 className="readable-sub">The all-new Anything EXP Bag (2021)</h5>

<div>
<ul className="no-padding-list readable">
<li>Designed from the ground up</li>
<li>New rigid bottom allows bag to stand while loading</li>
<li>Fits snugly into both HD and the standard cage</li>
<li>Waterproof 💦❌🤘</li>
<li>Keeps weight low to the ground</li>
<li>Quick-release roll-top closure</li>
<li>Easily accessible</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Anything Cage HD (2015)</h5>

<div>
<ul className="no-padding-list readable">
<li>Made of injection-molded nylon for impact resistance</li>
<li>Sturdy make with fewer gaps than rack style</li>
<li>Designed for “Heavy Duty” (HD) transport</li>
<li>Carries bags, water bottles, and gear</li>
<li>Includes 2 nylon straps</li>
<li>Weighs 149g</li>
<li>3kg/6.6 lb cargo weight limit</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h5 className="readable-sub">Standard Anything Cage (2010)</h5>

<div className="readable">
<ul className="no-padding-list">
<li>Made of aluminum</li>
<li>“Rack” style make</li>
<li>Designed to hold bags or large water bottles</li>
<li>Includes 2 nylon straps</li>
<li>Weighs 98g</li>
<li>3kg/6.6 lb cargo weight limit</li>
</ul>
</div>

<Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_standing.jpg" alt="Salsa EXP Bag Standing" style="cursor: pointer"/>

<p className="readable" style={{paddingTop: '24px'}}> There's a reason we chose Salsa for our trip. Every product is designed for accessibility, security and durability. Now, let's see how these cages stack up against each other on installation. </p>

<h4 markdown="1" className="readable-sub">Cage Installation (HD vs. Standard)</h4>

<p className="readable"> We were able to install the Standard Anything Cage as easily as any water bottle cage. It was super straightforward, held the EXP bag effortlessly, and was a perfect fit for our 2020 Surly Krampus—solid and secure. </p>

<p className="readable"> When attempting to install the HD cage, we discovered we couldn't attach it to the down tube of the Krampus even though Salsa says this is possible. The mounts are near the bottom bracket and the HD couldn't clear the cranks. Also, it turns out we didn't read the instructions properly and had a bit of a crisis. While cycling at 25km/hr the HD cage flew off the fork due to improper installation. Always read the instructions, people :) We had to find a bike shop at the last minute for longer hex bolts and washers to correct our mistake. Ooops. </p>

<p className="readable"> Also worth noting if you are riding a carbon frame, mounting the HD cage can cause wear. You may want to consider something in between the HD and your frame to protect your carbon from damage. For more on this, check out this article at <a href="https://cycle.hypertelia.com/salsa-anything-cage-hd-review-warning" target="_blank">hypertelia.com</a>. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub">Packing, Packing and Re-packing…</h4>

<p className="readable"> The two new Salsa Anything EXP bags were able to carry 4 days of food for the trip: with 3.35L of space, it was the perfect size for storing just the right amount of food. We were able to fit everything we needed except our MSR bowl and GSI pour-over coffee filter due to the radius. Small boo, but all other nourishment needs were good to go. </p>

<Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_food.jpg" alt="Salsa EXP Bag Perfect for Food" style="cursor: pointer"/> 

<p className="readable" style={{paddingTop: '24px'}}> The roll-top closure allowed for easy accessibility during the ride and we noticed the benefit of the new rigid bottom as soon as we started packing. The EXP stands at attention, ready for packing, which allows for easy storage at home or at the campsite. We were also able to use the loop from the roll-top to carabiner the bags together and hang them in a tree for nighttime bear safety. Also, they are fully waterproof—an essential for any serious bikepacker. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub">Strapping the Bags in</h4>

<p className="readable"> As we strapped the bags in, we noticed the very long length of the nylon straps. They could have easily been 5 inches shorter and still had enough slack to tighten a fully loaded bag. However, it seems Salsa has updated the straps (to rubber!) on its latest release. </p>

<p className="readable"> As far as attaching the EXP bag to the cages, the experience was very different for each. The HD cage is designed for the strap to pass through the holes, so lining it up was super easy. Attaching the bag to the standard cage, however, was a total pain. We ended up strapping the bag to the mount itself; this worked fine but was not ideal. We also tried numerous ways of strapping the bag to the cage, but it never felt quite right. </p>

<p className="readable"> When the Salsa Anything Bags are full, the cages and bags work great, but when the bags are empty it's like pushing a wet noodle uphill—they are floppy and hard to keep in place, especially with massive amounts of excess strap interfering with cables and spokes. We also had to make sure the straps weren't tightening on our hydraulic brake cables during strapping, but this issue isn't unique to the Anything Cages. </p>

<Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/salsabags/salsa_bags_empty.jpg" alt="Empty Salsa EXP Bag" style="cursor: pointer"/>

<p className="readable"> All of that said, the straps did allow us to secure our flip-flops very nicely 👌 We didn't have to cram them into a seat bag this time since we were able to tie them up in the long strap. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub">In Action...</h4>

<div className="video-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hS7aaUm35iw" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen></iframe> </div>

<h4 className="readable-sub">The Verdict</h4>

<p className="readable"> After our trip with both styles of Anything Cages, we know that the HD cage is worth a few extra bucks. Hands down. The <a href="https://salsacycles.com/components/category/bags_frame_packs/anything_cage" target="_blank">Standard Anything cage ($30 USD)</a> was a pain when strapping on bags, and apparently aluminum can be at risk of failure. The <a href="https://salsacycles.com/components/category/racks/anything_cage_hd" target="_blank">HD Anything cage ($35 USD)</a> is still lightweight, it is more efficient, and far easier to work with. It also looks pretty bad-ass. </p>

<p className="readable"> The newly designed <a href="https://salsacycles.com/components/category/bags_frame_packs/exp_series_anything_cage_bag" target="_blank">EXP bags</a> are worth every dime. They stand, have excellent grip, and are easy to access at any time. The durability and weatherproofing make this bag a must-have for any avid bikepacker. </p>

</Col>
</Row>
</Container>



we tested the Salsa Anything Cages (HD & standard) and the all-new EXP Bag to see how they would stand up to local terrain.

Salsa Anything Cages & EXP Bag: The Ultimate Fork Bag System


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<p className="readable-intro"> Are you looking for the ultimate cooking system for your biking excursions? We have been on the hunt for the perfect cooking set-up for bikepacking: something that is light, efficient, and fits in a frame bag. Oh, we also don't want to carry a pot. </p>

<p className="readable"> Enter the <a href="https://jetboil.johnsonoutdoors.com/stoves-systems/flash-cooking-system" target="_blank">Jetboil Flash Cooking System</a>. The ultimate minimal cooking system that fits all of our criteria and then some. Designed for backpackers, this compact stove of sorts is an excellent choice for cyclists as well. The Jetboil Flash comes with everything you need to enjoy delicious meals after a day of hammering the trails or road. </p>

<p className="readable"> The Jetboil Flash Cooking System is totally self-contained and packs in a stabilizer, a 4oz fuel canister, and a bottom cup that can be used as a bowl. Weighing in at 13.1 oz. this stove is light enough to bike with and comes with attached cookware, thereby reducing bulk. </p>

<Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/jetboilflash/jetboil_flash_breakdown.jpg" alt="Jetboil Flash breakdown" style="cursor: pointer"/>

<p className="readable" style={{paddingTop: '24px'}}> We tested the limits of the Jetboil Flash for ourselves on a 500 km bikepack trip on northern Vancouver Island, Canada. First things first, let's talk about the Jetboil fuel system. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> The Jetboil Flash Fuel System </h4>

<p className="readable"> The Jetboil Flash uses its own brand of fuel, a blend of propane and iso-butane called Jetpower. The company states Jetpower has been designed to negate the effects of cold weather, but you can also safely substitute fuel from Brunton, Gigapower, MSR, Primus, and Snowpeak. </p>

<p className="readable"> The Jetboil Flash is extremely fuel efficient, which means you can take less fuel with you, saving on weight and space. Because it is (up to) twice as efficient as conventional stoves, we ended up only needing two 4oz fuel canisters—1 Jetpower and 1 MSR IsoPro. We brewed coffee, cooked oatmeal, instant Japanese curry (yum) and pasta with it everyday for 9 days, and had fuel left over when we returned home. We noticed very little difference between the branded Jetpower and the MSR fuel in terms of performance. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Bring on the Coffee </h4>

<p className="readable"> It's no secret that cyclists love their coffee. A shot of caffeine gets the legs and mind moving. It promotes fat burning and can clear up any feelings of pain and fatigue. What an elixir! If you love brewing your own coffee on your bike trips, the Jetboil Flash is an absolute must. The Jetboil Flash is highly skilled at one thing—boiling water. In fact, it does it faster than most kettles we have used: 1 liter of water from standing to rolling boil in under 2 minutes. On our trip, we packed a half pound of coffee with a GSI pour over filter. Being able to hop off the bike, boil water close to instantly and have a fresh cup quickly was a godsend. </p>

<Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/jetboilflash/jetboil_flash_coffee.jpg" alt="Jetboil Flash making coffee" style="cursor: pointer"/>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> What Can The Jetboil Flash Make? </h4>

<p className="readable"> Because the Jetboil can boil water so fast, it makes it ideal for freeze-dried backpacking meals and anything that only requires hot water. But what we wanted to know was could the Jetboil Flash cook, or was it strictly for boiling? After a few hundred kilometers, we were craving something that didn't taste like it came from a machine. We wanted comfort food to the fullest— pasta! </p>

<p className="readable"> We learned that the Jetboil is <strong>not</strong> a one-trick pony. While it took some practice, getting the Jetboil to simmer is possible. To cook our pasta, we brought a half full Jetboil of water to a full boil. We then added our pasta and turned the burner down as low as possible. It took us a few times to find that simmer point; but if you nail this, you can, in theory, cook pretty much anything that requires simmering. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/jetboilflash/jetboil_flash_pasta.jpg" alt="Jetboil Flash pasta" />
    </div>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/jetboilflash/jetboil_flash_pasta_strainer.jpg" alt="Jetboil Flash pasta strainer" />
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image  width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/jetboilflash/jetboil_flash_meal.jpg" alt="Jetboil Flash dinner time" />
    </div>
</div>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Pros and Cons of the Jetboil Flash </h4>

<p className="readable"> We really appreciate all the Jetboil Flash has to offer, and it has definitely changed the way we eat on the road. </p>

<div className="readable">
<strong>Pros</strong>
<ul>
<li>Boil 1 liter of water in just over 2 minutes (!!!)</li>
<li>Spout and drainage top for easy pouring</li>
<li>Boil indicator shows when water is ready</li>
<li>Easy to clean with a regular scrub pad</li>
<li>Quick and simple storage</li>
</ul>
</div>

<div className="readable">
<strong>Cons</strong>
<ul>
<li>Can be loud in a quiet campground</li>
<li>Lighting in windy weather can be tough</li>
<li>Push-button ignitor stopped working—be sure to bring a lighter just in case</li>
<li>Our wet fuel canister began to rust inside the Jetboil when we packed it away between trips</li>
<li>Simmering requires some finesse</li>
</ul>
</div>

<p className="readable"> Any con we encountered during our trip was easily corrected with simple solutions like carrying a lighter. As far as the noise, since the Jetboil Flash boils water in minutes, it was hardly a con at all. Overall, as long as you keep it clean, dry, and have a lighter handy, you're ready for top chef bikepacking. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> See it in Action! </h4>

<p className="readable"> Check out the sizzle reel of the Jetboil Flash in action. It's easy to see why we love this cooking system. </p>

<div className="video-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QTWMookiuSc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> The Verdict </h4>

<p className="readable" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}> The pros outweigh the cons by a long shot. We thoroughly enjoyed using the Jetboil Flash and were extremely impressed with the versatility it provided. The Jetboil Flash is fast, durable, and—this may sound lame, but it's fun! It might not be as small as a foldable MSR, but you also don't need to wait 5 minutes to boil water for that speedy (and much needed) cup of joe on the road. </p>

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We tested the limits of the Jetboil Flash for ourselves on a 500 km bikepack trip on northern Vancouver Island, Canada.

The Jetboil Flash Review: Perfect for Bikepacking


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<p className="readable-intro"> Advances in technology mean gadgets are always getting better, faster, and ideally more convenient. From CDs and DVDs to streaming, and flip phones to smartphones, most changes have been welcomed. But there are some things—like cycling computers—that may have been better before, when life was simple, and so were our accessories. </p>

<p className="readable"> In the 90s, cycling computers were a no-frills, easy-to-use tool.  A black on white LCD display, which told us how far we rode, how fast we were going, and not much else. Many modern cycling computers try to compete with, or keep up with smartphones, connecting a rider to what is happening in the world outside their ride. For some, this is great; for others, all the pops-ups and notifications are a distraction to pedalling. </p>

<p className="readable"> When you first try the <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/698436" target="_blank">Garmin Edge 130</a>, you may be transported back to the 90s. Free from over-complicated, hard to use devices, you may enjoy the simplicity—now available without the mess of wires and lining up magnets during set-up (thank you GPS). </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> A Simple Interface </h4>

<p className="readable"> Kept in navigation mode during a ride, this device tells you just enough, thanks to the straightforward Garmin user interface. When you need to access different functions, there are simple buttons and gestures to get you around the operating system. A breeze to figure out, it will only take about a minute to learn how it all works. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_map_interface.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 map interface" style="cursor: pointer"/>
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_stat_interface.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 stat screen" style="cursor: pointer"/>
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> As you would expect for a device at this price point and size, there's no touch screen, but the interface is intuitive, so you don't really miss it </p>

<p className="readable"> By default the Edge 130 boasts 10 customizable views, each with a maximum of 4 data fields that you can flip between during a ride. You get to set which stats you want to see and when, depending on the type of rider you are. Some won't use this at all, but if you like to tweak and customize, this is a godsend. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Physical Design </h4>

<p className="readable"> Cyclists spend so much time, effort and money lightening their bikes and gear, slapping on a heavy bracket with a bulky, heavy unit seems counterproductive. This is the key reason we love the Garmin Edge 130: it is tiny, light, and unobtrusive. At just 40 x 61 x 17mm, and 33 grams, it takes up hardly any space and adds almost no weight. </p>

<div className="gallery-images-row">
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_design_under.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 mount" style="cursor: pointer"/>
    </div>
</div>

<div className="gallery-images-row" style={{paddingBottom: '24px'}}>
    <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_design_side.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 side view" style="cursor: pointer"/>
    </div>
 <div className="gallery-images-col">
        <Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_design_bars.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 on handlebars" style="cursor: pointer"/>
    </div>
</div>

<p className="readable"> The stripped-down, simplified interface means a lot less processing power and hardware, which means it doesn't have to be huge. It is, however, both waterproof and well-designed. It may be simple, but it looks good, and we can all admit that matters. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Features </h4>

<p className="readable"> Garmin have been making top of the line navigation and GPS tools for a long time, and it shows. This little bike computer does exactly what it needs to, with the kind of economy of features that we love. The Garmin Edge 130 gives you all you need on the connectivity front: the bluetooth lets you easily connect to your smartphone, which in turn can relay any important notifications if you need them. </p>

<p className="readable"> If you like to build your own routes in external services like Komoot or Ride with GPS, you can easily import your GPX data into the 130 through Garmin Connect. Simply export from your favorite route service, upload to Garmin Connect and sync to the device. This ease has saved our butts numerous times on a few bikepacking trips over the past 6 months. </p>

<p className="readable"> While in navigation mode you don't get things like landmark information or any deep mapping information, like where to stop for groceries. Some might see the lack of mapping data as a drawback, but we have always preferred exploring. </p>

<p className="readable"> The Garmin Edge 130 will give you all the information you need or want, it just won't slap you in the face with it. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Battery </h4>

<p className="readable"> Battery life claims are a lot like gas mileage: the figure that's advertised is rarely what you get. That's been our experience here. The Garmin Edge 130 marketing materials boast of a remarkable 15 hours of battery life, but we have maxed out at 9 or 10. The 15 hours may be a lab based number under optimal conditions and minimum use. But that's not really what you get in the real world. </p>

<p className="readable"> But, if you ride with a spare power bank (as most of us do), it's no big deal. A trick is to keep the unit unpaired from your phone to push the battery life as far as it will go. This does limit some features, but when you are focused on riding, you won't notice. Roadies who are worried about weight will love the size of the unit. Even with a spare battery, it's still lighter than most of the oversized (and complicated) models. </p>

<h4 className="readable-sub"> Final Verdict </h4>

<p className="readable"> If you love high tech gadgets with all the features (and then some), this is not the bike computer for you. If, however, you just want to get back to all the reasons you love cycling and have all the basic navigation and ride data you need, you will love it. This unit is simple, but it does everything you need without “plugging” you in to yet another device. </p>

<Image width={3} height={2} layout={'responsive'} src="/products/garmin130/garmin_130_size.jpg" alt="Garmin Edge 130 size comparison" style="cursor: pointer" />

<p className="readable"> A big part of why we ride is to get out and get away from all the distractions of modern life, and the Edge 130 makes that possible, without sacrificing the good stuff. It's small, it's light, and even technophobes can figure it out fast. Which also lets you spend more time on the road and less time studying the manual. </p>

<p className="readable"> The Garmin Edge 130 is sold at a great price point while still delivering all the quality you would expect from a Garmin. All things considered, this is one of our favourite modern bike computers, because it is so much like it was in the good old days. </p>

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We have been using the Garmin Edge 130 for over a year now.

Garmin Edge 130 Review: Small, Light, And Wonderfully Simple

There’s a lot of gear out there and if you need help deciding on what sort of camping gear to bring on your next backpacking trip, you’re in the right spot. Here are all our camping gear-related reviews to get you going. We love covering sleeping kit, cooking and eating gear through a bikepacking lens.

Reviews on sleeping, cooking, eating and other camping gear.

Camping Gear

Ultralight Gear Makers for Bikepacking

Big Sky Insulite Food Pouch Review: Eat Fresh While Bikepacking

The Jetboil Flash Review: Perfect for Bikepacking

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