This week’s Debrief features a beautiful Hoff touring bike, a worldwide bike theft map, a new Cyber Cycles fork, the world’s lightest tubeless valves, a bunch of events to follow live, and much more. Find it all here…

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

Bits & Bobs

New products that are worth highlighting but didn’t make the Dispatch…

Cyber Cycles Cross Blade DSC Gen 2

Made in Germany / €589 at Cyber Cycles

Cyber Cycles in Germany just released an updated version of the Cross Blade DSC fork. As they put it, “Redesigning an icon is dangerous territory, so we kept the soul and only optimized the details (we’re not into sacrilege, after all).” It features a new crown that performs better with increased rake, and they added the option for a front-facing hole for those who want it. They also trimmed some excess weight, and it’s still available in your choice of height (400-440mm), steerer tube material, and mount locations.

Neil’s Canyon Grizl ESC is For Sale

$3,200 at Bike Camp Co-op

The size medium Canyon Grizl CF 8 ESC with the ECLIPS system that Neil reviewed last year is now up for grabs at the Bike Camp Co-op. It’s being offered in mostly stock condition, except for a recently installed handlebar—currently without bar tape. It’s a well-outfitted bike, complete with front/rear racks, a frame bag, and two bottles—just add your gear, and you’re ready to roll. One standout feature is the fully integrated dynamo-powered lighting system. It includes front and rear lights, a cache battery, and Bluetooth control, creating a seamless and highly functional setup.

absoluteBLACK Aether Tubeless Valves

Made in EU / $29.95 at Absolute Black

The new Aether Tubeless Valves from absoluteBLACK are apparently “the lightest tubeless valves available.” If you’re one to fuss over marginal weight reductions, then these might be for you. Instead of CNC-machined aluminum, the valves are made from a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer that they say reduces weight without sacrificing strength. They ditched the Presta valve core in favor of a bottom-sealing mechanism similar to the Reserve Fillmore Valves. The Aether valves weigh just 2.6 grams each and are available in two lengths.

Spurcycle Pro Mirror

Made in China / $69 at Spurcycle

The new Spurcycle Pro Mirror is a premium drop-bar mirror developed with direct input from the fast-paced gravel and road-cycling scenes. It’s machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, features a tempered glass mirror, is tool-free to install, and is available in two sizes: R35 (35mm) or R50 (50mm).

Incredibell Raijin

$26 at Wheels MFG

Inspired by Raijin, the Japanese god of thunder, the Raijin Incredibell delivers a ring exceeding 85 dB, giving riders an easy way to be heard on bike paths, streets, commutes, neighborhood rides, and busy trailheads.

Russel Makes TwEaKeR 2

Made in USA / $40 at Russel Makes

Austin J. Russell of Russell Makes is best known for his Instagram and YouTube videos, where he shares his love for artistic craftsmanship and for creating with CNC and manual machining, welding/fabrication, and aluminum anodizing. The TwEaKeR 2 is a purpose-built prying tool for fixing dents in aluminum bicycle rims.

Wolf Tooth Bike Parts Finder

Made in the USA / $0 at Wolf Tooth

The new Wolf Tooth Bike Parts Finder lets customers shop by bike. Folks select their bike’s brand, model, and year/version to see which parts are compatible. They are then shown options for the headset, bottom bracket, and seatpost clamp, as these are specific to the frame. Many of their other components and accessories are compatible with almost all bikes, such as grips/bar tape, pedals, and chainrings.

4th Gen BTCHN’ Titanium Drop Bar

Made in the USA / $620+ at BTCHN’ Bikes

The fourth generation of BTCHN’ Bikes’ titanium drop bar features a refined fit and feel of the 3D-printed corner sections, a reduced circumference of the top section, and a redesigned butted center section to reduce frontal surface area and improve aerodynamics. The BTCHN’ Ti Drop Bars are available in custom widths from 34cm to 50cm, and in 8°, 15°, or 25° flare options. They are bent, welded, and anodized in Chico, California.

Rockgeist Little Dumpling 2.0

Made in USA / $130 at Rockgeist

The Little Dumpling, the smaller version of Miles’s beloved Big Dumpling hip pack, which he recently reviewed, was just updated to include all the features of its larger sibling. Now both hip packs share the same waist compression straps, allowing you to fine-tune the fit. They now also both have a daisy chain across the front, which can be used to clip a blinky light or a carabiner to. The Little Dumpling 2.0 is available in four colors: Frost Teal, Cranberry Bog, Light Black, and Coyote Sunrise.

In Conversation

Exchanges and ideas that caught our attention in the site’s conversation section…

Your Coffee Outside Photos

Earlier this week, Cass shared a lovely tribute to his local coffee outside meetup in Oaxaca, “where cyclists pedal out at the crack of dawn to earn themselves a cup of self-made coffee, savour some conversation, and soak in a view before heading off to wherever daily life takes them.” A handful of readers shared comments about their appreciation for getting out for a morning brew, and we’d love to see photos from one of your recent coffee rides in the Conversation below.

Around the Community

News from around the bikepacking world…

LITELOK Bike Theft Map

LITELOK has launched a live interactive “Theft Intelligence” map designed to raise awareness of bicycle and motorcycle theft trends by visualizing real-time theft data and hotspot locations around the world. Drawing on attempted theft reports submitted by LITELOK customers, government crime statistics, and community engagement, the platform aims to reveal risk patterns and support the company’s mission to help riders “Worry Less and Ride More.” Granted, it’s only Litelok customers, but it’s still pretty interesting, and folks can submit their report here.

Stinner Refugio 32″ Titanium Gravel Bike (Video)

Earlier this week, Stinner Frameworks launched the Refugio 32″ titanium gravel bike. Shortly after the release, they published a detailed overview video that explains the component choices, geometry, fit, frame details, and more.

Across Andes with Aurum Bikes

Aurum Bikes has released a short video documenting the journeys of two of its riders in the Across Andes race—an 800-kilometer route through Chile’s Araucanía region. The video showcases the beauty and ruggedness of this incredible part of the world.

Rene Herse on 32″ Wheels

With more 32″ technology hitting the market, Jan Heine of Rene Herse has taken to their Journal to address some misconceptions about the new wheel size and the claims made by the industry about its potential benefits. Citing their own testing and some basic physics-based concepts, it’s an interesting read about a new trend the industry appears intent on developing.

PNW Opens Canadian Warehouse

PNW Components just opened up a Canadian warehouse, which means faster shipping, no customs delays, no brokerage fees, no surprise import charges, easier returns, and accurate CAD pricing! Remember, Bikepacking Collective members get 20% off all of their products.

Q&A with Firsthand Framebuilding

Firsthand Framebuilding has been busy prepping for their inaugural year of in-person framebuilding courses, based out of a new workshop in Portland, Oregon. Their first video covers some recently asked questions, including when classes will start, what they will offer, and more.

The Soma It Takes Two has Arrived

A few weeks ago, we posted about Soma Fabrications’ It Takes Two tandem bike. It’s based around Rivendell’s now-discontinued model, the Hubbuhubbuh, but has a few tweaks to keep it modern. After officially receiving the shipment from Taiwan, Luke from Soma took to the company’s YouTube channel to show off the bike and run through some design cues and expectations.

Hoff Cycles Custom Tourer

Adam Hoff of Hoff Cycles shared this cool, custom bikepacking rig this week. It fits 26 x 3.0″ tires and has a custom rack. It also provides an interesting look at how small framebuilders like him are adjusting to a world without Paragon, as he credits Daren Beenen of Woodpecker Cycles for the seatpost clamp. Adam said, “This is the second bike I’ve built for @ogbobson. Built for loading up touring over all kinds of terrain, 26 x 3.0” tires, custom racks front and rear, and all kinds of little details that I constantly lost track of time obsessing over. The integrated seatpost clamp was designed by @woodpeckercycleco and machined by @liminalmw. Thanks, Darren, for letting me use your design! It looks so good.”

Gravel Since The Beginning (Trailer)

“It’s been a wild ride since the early days of gravel,” says Salsa Cycles. Their new mini-documentary, Gravel Since The Beginning, premieres on Thursday, May 28th. Watch the trailer above.

Events Starting Soon

What to watch this weekend and bikepacking events starting soon…

Pinyons and Pines

Pinyons and Pines is an underground, self-supported bikepacking event that starts and ends in Flagstaff, Arizona, at 6,910 feet. The route is a magnificent tour of Northern Arizona, featuring a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, and dirt roads. The 2026 grand depart started yesterday morning, and we have an Event Tracker page up and running where you can find the race rig roundup and more.

2026 Central Missouri Circuit and Short Circuit

Designed for anyone interested in getting into ultra cycling, the Central MO Circuit is a 340-mile ultra race on over 50 percent gravel. It starts and finishes at Try Athletics in Columbia, Missouri. There are just over 20 riders registered for live tracking at today’s grand depart. Follow their progress live here.

Trans Virginia

The TransVirginia Bike Route is a 565-mile, mostly unpaved backcountry cycling route that traverses Virginia from Washington, DC, to Damascus, VA. This year’s grand depart takes off tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. local time, and there are just under 30 riders split between the different route options. Follow along live here.

Tor Divide

Not to be confused with the Tour Divide, and now in its third edition, the Tor Divide is a single-stage bikepacking event crossing the Peak District in the UK. The ride starts on Saturday morning—after sharing breakfast, of course—and will see riders choosing a route (150 and 250-kilometer MTB routes, and a 200-kilometer gravel route) from the three options provided. Finish is back at the campsite for pizza, drinks, and celebrations. Follow along on Saturday here.

Seven Serpents: Quick Bite!

Seven Serpents: Quick Bite! is the smoother and “shorter” version of Seven Serpents. It’s a route for riders who want a good warm-up for the season, with mostly smooth gravel and almost no hike-a-bike sections. Follow along live starting on Sunday here.

Cross Washington Mountain Bike Route

The Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route (XWA) is a 690-mile, mostly off-road bikepacking route from the Pacific Ocean to the Washington/Idaho border. The route features a mixture of singletrack, dirt roads, and a bit of pavement as it crosses the Evergreen State, passing through an incredibly diverse array of landscapes and terrain. Over 70 riders are signed up for this year’s grand depart, which kicks off this Sunday. Follow along live here.

Weekly Social

Some things we found around the ‘gram and elsewhere. This week, a Farther Bag Co. makes a Psychic Medium out of an Amazon bag and an interesting way to carry your mountain bike from Deuter…

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