Happy late summer! Hopefully you’ve all found ways to stay cool these last few weeks. They’ve been warm ones. As I write this, the 10-day outlook has Tucson down in the low 90s, so hopefully cooler weather is on the horizon. Wherever you’re reading from, we hope you enjoy this little collection of stories and bike-related news from around the world. Catch you in the Fall!
Henna Palosaari’s Multi-sport Films
The phrase “freedom machine” is one often used to describe the many ways that riding a bike can enrich and empower our lives. Whether it’s your sole means of transportation or simply the way you get groceries, commute, see friends, or exercise, it really does add another layer to the activity.
Meeting a friend for coffee? Biking there after work relieves the day’s stress before you arrive. Forgot your lunch at home? Pedaling around the corner is a good way to break up the day and get some movement in. Looking to ski some late-season snow in Norway, why not connect it all by bike instead of car?
That’s how I came across Henna Palosaari. Earlier this year she released a stunning film where she did exactly that. Apart from the inspiring ethos of connecting everything by bike, the landscapes and skill required to pull something like that off are impressive. What’s more, she’s used the bike in similar ways for other adventures, including a surf trip in the Outer Hebrides (new map knowledge unlocked for me), and most recently, I followed her as she pedaled and ran various summits in some farflung region of Norway.
In short, she’s kind of a badass who can do it all, including putting together films after the fact. Her entire YouTube rolodex, a tribute to amateurs as she calls it, is worth watching, and I expect there to be one chronicling her most recent bike-run adventure.
More bikepacking news:
- Spokes and Saguaros: Friend of the shop (♥️) and Tucson native Katie Emory has recently launched a skill-building and tour-based company to help folks explore the beautiful Tucson trails. You can select from pre-designed tours, custom routes, and skills classes. Check it out!
- A Perfume Collab?: Lots of brand collaborations simply offer the same things in different colorways. Not always a lot of innovation or newness. Now, I’m not into perfume at all, but seeing QUOC pair up with a scent brand to release a limited run of nice smells was pretty cool.
- Tailfin in Color: Another off-the-hinge product release video introducing a color palette other than black. The top tube bag in Kentucky bluegrass looks especially nice.
- The Swingtop Lighter: Tired of cheapo gas station Bic lighters for your morning and evening stove ignition? How about an overbuilt, obsessively designed reusable lighter for $78? Not sure how practical it is to always be tracking down Zippo fuel for far-flung adventures, but the design is sweet.
- Australian Geographic’s “Spirit of Adventure” Award: We’ve mentioned the Swag Family in past news roundups, but if you missed those, a quick summation – family of 5 (3 young kids), two tandems, two years around the world. They recently received the award after returning home earlier this year.
- Comment on the Roadless Rule: We have until September 21st to comment on the proposed revision to a long-standing bit of legislation that protects new roads from being built on public lands. Bikepacking.com sums it up nicely and provides insight on how to make your comments more effective. Please speak up!
- RWGPS Wildfire Layer: I’m currently in Washington, and wildfire smoke can be seen or smelled most days. The new feature from RWPGS has made it super handy to see how my ride or run might be affected, with info on fire perimeter, wind direction, and AQI.
Leaving you with a couple photos from Tucson’s own bike-running adventure, the Tucson 5.
