While in Spain, we had 10 bikes from brands like Mondraker, Giant, Cube, Salsa, Rondo, Tout Terrain, Trek, Cannondale, Megamo, Rose & more to test.
The format was that every evening, everyone picked a new whip for the following day's trip. We had the opportunity to compare geometries, frame materials, tire sizes, bar shapes, and more over fun & challenging terrain.
Personally, I tried the Rose Backroad, Tout Terrain Ceres, Salsa Cutthroat, Trek Checkpoint & Mondraker Arid. It's tough to pick a favorite, but I better understand why friends love the Cutthroat on big bikepacking trips, I felt the potential of the Rose, climbed like a beast on the Trek, shredded on the Mondraker, and felt comfy on a ~230km overnighter on the steel Tout Terrain.
I'm already looking forward to next year and will be back in Spain in April for Border Bash Aragón on a Norka. More about that soon!
As always, thank you for reading,
Jon
March
- 🇩🇪 15 Rad Race
- 🇩🇪 15 Mini Bike Fest Berlin
- 🇩🇪 28-30 Cyclingworld Europe
April
- 5 Wheelrunner New Location Opening Party
- 12 12hr Alleycat
- 24-27 Border Bash Aragón
Bikes
Dalsrund Runt Returns
Josh from SILCA Answers Top 10 Ultimate Sealtant Questions
SILCA launched their Ultimate Sealant last week & with a special twist, their sponsored riders get a bonus if they flat during a race! Speaking of SILCA & race performances, congrats to Geerike Schreurs & Rose Klöser with 2nd & 3rd, respectively, at Santa Vall!
VIA's 2nd Chapter Rider Demographics
Ideas
Results of the trial to allow fast cyclists on the roadway
SEBASTIANBIKE
Growing numbers of e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and fat bikes, lead to more differences in speed and mass between bicycles and unsafety on cycle paths. The winning idea of the Bicycle Innovation Lab has been carried out as a trial in which fast cyclists were allowed to ride on the roadway. The results of the trial show that some of the (fast) cyclists actually used the roadway. Despite this limited effect, cyclists are positive about the trial.
Slack Tips From a Gen Z
The Largest Sofa You Can Move Around a Corner
Richard Green
Random one, I know. But recently completed stumped with helping move a friend's couch, suddenly this concept was very relevant.
Friends
Sockeloen Is Hiring a (Senior) Creative Director
SOCKELOEN
Jasper at Sockeloen is hiring! Looks like an awesome role for a designer near Amsterdam!
The Rule Of Reciprocity
I've gotta say, reciprocity is a big part of Twotone's whole approach! But as this post points out: it can also be misused. Great article, Peter!
Wheelrunner 2.0 Coming Along!
Radness
Iditarod Trail Invitational 2025
Thank you very much for reading!
Here's to earning a completion stamp this week!