Review: North St. Bikepacking Bags & Old Man Mountain Rack
Other than our legs, the real heavy lifting on our Japanese bikepacking adventure was done by North St.’s bags, with the rear cargo held by Old Man Mountain’s Divide pannier rack. We specifically chose this pairing because the then-new North St. Adventure Pannier bags were specifically designed to fit that rack. And their Roll-Top Trunk […]
Review: Sea to Summit Telos Bikepacking Tent (plus Pads & More!)
For my father-son bikepacking trip through the Kii Peninsula, Japan, I needed sleeping arrangements that were as light as possible, but also comfortable. And, as much as possible, a roomy tent. Sea to Summit is one of the few brands that offers everything needed to set up camp, and they do it with bikepackers in […]
Pivot Mach 4 SL Flight Attendant Review: Trails are Clear for Takeoff
Pivot updated its super XC race bike, the Mach 4 SL (previously known as the Mach 429 SL), in 2023 (read the full tech piece here), ushering in the third iteration of this unique off-road machine. In a nutshell, the newest model is 300-400g lighter (depending on size) than the previous version. It now includes […]
First Look: State Bicycles Updates 4130 All-Road Bike w/ Impressive Spec at $1000
There’s nothing like a good bike for an affordable price. And that’s been State Bicycle Co’s jam from the get-go. For 2025, they’ve done it again by updating their award-winning 4130 All-Road bicycle. The new updates include some new colorways and the 4130 All-Road’s additional new features are plentiful. (Photos / State Bicycle Co) State […]
New WTC EnCase 30cc is the Smallest Pump with Internal Storage We’ve Seen
Would you be more inclined to bring a pump if it was smaller and lighter than a CO2 inflator? What if that same tiny pump also included storage for a tire plugger? Sounds good, right? It does to us, which is why we were excited to check out the latest EnCase pump from Wolf Tooth […]
Newest Fox Speedframe Helmets are Already Virginia Tech’s Top-Ranked
The newest Fox open face helmet has broken cover, and it’s already attracting positive attention – especially from the testers at Virginia Tech. The new Fox Speedframe won’t even be available until sometime around mid-March, but they’ve already climbed to the top of the latest bicycle helmet ratings from VT with the Speedframe RS taking […]
New Race Face Chester Pedals Spread Out the Pins and Dump the Hump
When I first heard of composite flat pedals, I was skeptical that they would be tough enough for MTB. After riding several sets, including the updated Race Face Chester pedals, I’m convinced you’d have to do something severe to catastrophically damage a composite pedal body. They are tough enough, and they’re lightweight and inexpensive! For […]
Le Col Dives Deep Into Gravel with New Premium ARC Clothing Range
Adaptable. Reliable. Capable. You could apply those words to the best gear for a number of different purposes, but in this case, that is the basis of Le Col’s new ARC Collection. As their first-ever gravel collection, Le Col states that ARC is a bold new direction for the brand. Instead of high-end road kit, […]
The Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 5 Cargo Bike is a Huge Improvement over the 4
Rad Power Bikes established themselves early as one of the leading players in affordable, consumer-direct ebikes. That momentum was likely blunted by high-profile recalls and lawsuits, however it seems like with the recent announcement of the Rad Power Safe Shield battery technology, Rad is once again gaining momentum. I was specifically interested in the updated […]
The 7mesh Spruce Hoody Is A Top-Notch Temperature Regulator
Testing gear is always fun, but it’s awesome when the right piece comes your way at just the right time and becomes an instant favorite. 7mesh hit the nail on the head, setting me up with their new Spruce Hoody just as late fall/early winter conditions hit British Columbia. The Spruce Hoody is an ideal […]
