Welcome to RECON where you will find all of our latest stories including gear reviews, ride recaps and industry news.
It was an unlikely destination for a late-summer ride, but pandemic circumstances continued to push us further to the edges of San Diego County, exploring everything the region had to offer. Up before sunrise, we loaded up Jay’s 4x4 pickup with two Obed Boundary gravel bikes and headed east, past the Vulcan Mountains and down Dry Canyon to Borrego Springs, California.
Read MoreIt started when I swapped the fat tires on my Otso Voytek with 27.5+ wheels, a Fox 34 shock, and a dropper post during a hazy period of COVID quarantine. Obviously this meant that I need to ride the Kenai 250, or at least that’s what told my wife when I asked her to pick up a giant curb-side box of parts at my local bike shop. That, along with “always wanting to check out those trails,” convinced me to spend the hefty $20 to register my InReach tracker with the event.
Read MoreOriginally released for cross applications in the 90s, the SpeedMax returned in 2017 as a tubeless and gravel ready option for riders looking to take advantage of their bike’s newfound clearances. But how does this unique looking tread hold up and perform compared to other options in the 40mm range? In this review, we take a closer look to see just how good Tom’s widest 700c tire is on gravel.
Read MoreApidura is one of the top bikepacking bag makers and has led the way in ultralight, rackless packing systems. They produce minimalist gear for multi-month bike tours, self-supported cross country races, as well as for a weekend get-away. As bikepacking and adventure riding continues to grow we have seen an increasing number of bag brands enter the market, pushing Apidura to stay on top of their game.
Read MoreI feel fortunate to have had an early winter full of bikepacking in Southern California where I was riding my Salsa Cutthroat equipped with Apidura’s Expedition line of bikepacking bags. I’m looking back to those trips with more fondness than usual. And now, in this liminal space, where we inhabit at socially acceptable distances from each other, I wanted to offer my thoughts on the three bike packing gems of Southern California - Santa Catalina Island, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and the formidable Stagecoach 400.
Read MoreIt’s winter here in Southern California and that means training season for upcoming bikepacking adventures and races. In preparation, I’ve been trail testing some tires from Teravail, the QBP brand, that is well known for off-road tires. I was keen to try the Sparwood 29 x 2.2” tires on my Salsa Cutthroat for the last three months on mostly local gravel, mountain single-track, desert sand, and multi-day bike packing routes in varied terrains.
Read MoreAll new gravel tire review from Eric with the Ultradynamico CAVA, a smooth tire for fast conditions with a unique look.
Read MoreFounded in 2012, Sage Titanium Bicycles may be a relatively young brand in the bike industry, but has steadily grown a solid array of MTB and drop bar bikes in its lineup. Based in Portland, Oregon, a region well known for its cross culture and love for adventure, it’s not surprising that Sage has excelled at bringing premium drop bar gravel and cross bikes to the market.
Read MoreGravel races and events have their unique characteristics. Nearly all test riders in distance and climbing. Some events merge elements of bike packing, cyclocross, and even straight up road racing. Most gravel events grow out of the local riding culture and are often dictated by terrain. By any measure, this year’s running of the Hunt of the North in Carlsbad, California was unlike any other gravel grinder you will find.
Read MoreThe challenge with developing a gravel tire is a reflection of what the category entails. Try selecting a tire for all conditions and all roads. There always seems to be some compromises in tire selection, a balance between traction on dirt and minimal resistance on road. Additional variables like mud, sand and rock can further complicate things.
Read MoreMatteo Pistono’s account of The Stagecoach 400 multi-day bikepacking race in Southern California.
Read MoreGravel riding in San Diego’s north county offers a combination of urban shard-ladened tarmac connecting hard packed sand and rollers on washed out and rutted mountain bike loops. In these conditions, for traction and stability, I prefer to max out the tire size to 38 mm on my Foundry Overland. But with the Belgian Waffle Ride date quickly approaching, and other adventures like the SBT GRVL, where I will likely run a smaller tire choice, I thought I would test out Ere Research’s 32 mm Tenaci.
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