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Bike Hacks: How to Never Forget Another Piece of Riding Gear

Radar By: Travis Engel

Bike Hacks: How to Never Forget Another Piece of Riding Gear

For those of us who have (or choose) to drive to our rides, there’s always a risk that we’ll leave something important at home. And usually, we don’t realize it until we park the truck, unload the bike, reach over to the passenger seat, and … well, shit. Travis Engel knows this feeling all too well, so he’s got a hack to make sure he always has what he needs, as long as he always has his truck.

Collect ’em All: Seven Bicycle Tools You Rarely Need but Should Have Anyway

Radar By: Travis Engel

Collect ’em All: Seven Bicycle Tools You Rarely Need but Should Have Anyway

Really, how often are you pressing in a headset cup? Or cutting a steerer tube? The answer is probably just a little more than “never.” But Travis Engel would say that’s still enough to merit having the right tool when the time comes. This list contains some cheap (and some not-so-cheap) additions to your garage that could come in clutch when you’re preparing for a ride or a road trip and suddenly find yourself in greater need than a simple set of open-ended wrenches can satisfy.

What’s on Kurt Refsnider’s Bike? How to Pack for Self-Reliance in the Backcountry

Radar By: Kurt Refsnider

What’s on Kurt Refsnider’s Bike? How to Pack for Self-Reliance in the Backcountry

Members of our editorial team have shared multiple looks into “essential ride kits” this year, including one from John and another by Travis. Today, Kurt Refsnider – ultra-endurance bikepacker and backcountry trail adventurer – takes a different approach to detailing what he carries on big rides where his priority is self-reliance regardless of the scenario. Read on below for a trove of helpful information about one of Kurt’s most requested topics!

Bike Hacks: How to Keep Your Brake Levers Symmetrical on a Modern Gravel Handlebar

Radar By: Travis Engel

Bike Hacks: How to Keep Your Brake Levers Symmetrical on a Modern Gravel Handlebar

There’s a classic, time-honored technique to help you evenly position your drop-bar brake levers by using a ruler or straightedge. If you know, you know. But handlebars have changed, and the ruler method sometimes won’t apply. So, Travis Engel is here to share a bike hack to help keep the brake lever positions symmetrical on today’s shallow or oddly shaped gravel bars. There’s no ruler involved, but you will make use of some items you may already have in your home office.

So Kitted: A Measured but Meticulous Approach to Every-Ride Essentials

Radar By: Travis Engel

So Kitted: A Measured but Meticulous Approach to Every-Ride Essentials

We pay a lot of attention to our multi-day-ride packing lists. But what about just, like, a Sunday-ride packing list? Travis Engel has been building his kit over several years, adding and subtracting as necessity and technology shift. This is what we think is a pretty thorough setup, but let us know if we missed anything. What’s in your kit that you never leave home without?.

Space Race: Why the OneUp EDC Lite and Bontrager BITS Are the Only In-Bike Multi-Tools I’ll Use

Radar By: Travis Engel

Space Race: Why the OneUp EDC Lite and Bontrager BITS Are the Only In-Bike Multi-Tools I’ll Use

The field of on-bike and steerer-tube tool storage hasn’t quite delivered on its promise to finally rid us of our packs and pockets. There are dozens of options out there, and all involve some level of compromise. But maybe it’s time we just accept that. Travis Engel sure has, so he’s here to review the least-bad in-frame tools on the market. We swear, it’s better than it sounds.

Meet the New Boss: The Updated, Made-In-House Trail Boss Hoe Rake Does More With Less

Radar By: Travis Engel

Meet the New Boss: The Updated, Made-In-House Trail Boss Hoe Rake Does More With Less

This is not a review of the Trail Boss collapsible tool system as a whole. That’d be kinda pointless. These U.S.-made splined sectional trail tools don’t really have any worthy one-to-one competitors. So, until that changes, Trail Boss wins by default. But that’s not a bad thing. Although traditional tools are sturdier and cheaper, you can’t stow traditional tools inside a pack, do legit heavy tread work, then pop mad wheelies while comfortably carrying them home. So, instead of stretching my not-so-hot take for hundreds of words, I’m just going to talk about Trail Boss’ new made-in-house tool head, the Hoe Rake, and stretch that for a mere hundreds of words.