July’s Recap!
Hello everyone,
First things first, welcome to those of you who just subscribed to the newsletter through our giveaway in collaboration with Moga Bags. If you haven’t entered yet for a chance to win a full set of handmade bikepacking bags, you can still try your luck here ➡️ Win the Ultimate Custom Bikepacking Bag Setup!
This newsletter is usually where I recap everything happening at Slow Spin Society, along with a bit of behind-the-scenes insight into how the media is evolving, what we’re experimenting with, and where things are heading.
Despite this being the “off-season” for many, things have been anything but slow on our end. We’ve been deep in preparation for a range of projects coming later this year, and the level of planning ahead has grown significantly, with what used to be mapped out over weeks, is now stretching into months, sometimes even years.
Last month, we also began testing a new publishing rhythm, with three news pieces and three main features per week. To be completely honest, it’s probably a bit too much at the moment, and the “slow” in Slow Spin Society has never felt more distant. But experimenting is part of who we are, and this is no exception. You’ll be able to share your thoughts in this month’s “Collective Take” at the end of the newsletter.
As for August, I’ll be a bit everywhere, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the US. But if there’s a moment to catch me, it will most likely be during MADE in Portland. Yes, I’m finally going, and saying I’m excited would be an understatement.
— Paul
As usual, I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who took out a membership or made a donation through Buy Me a Coffee. Thank you for keeping SSS alive!
If you enjoy what you see here, you can support SSS by Buying Me a Coffee. Click on that cup and help this project grow and thrive for the price of one cappuccino a month!
On Slow Spin Society This Month:
![[Video] The Gravel Bike I Can’t Stop Riding](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffd9a896fdcad54337d6c32/1785008823335-YTRTHI6VH3LQ2XWUSP8S/Jona+Huang+-+2026-07-25+19.25.48.jpg)
We’re also going to change our newsletter format a bit. Until now, we’ve been recapping every article, video, and editorial from the month, but the sheer volume of content we publish no longer makes that sustainable or enjoyable to read.
Instead of a short recap of everything, we’ll highlight a selection of our favorites and let your curiosity do the rest. You can still see the full list of content we published this month just above, but here’s our top pick for July.
Our Top Picks:
Compact Vision #4: “Out There in the Real World”
Of course we have to start with the fourth installment of our Minivelo series. We’re so excited to finally bring this project to life, and while the voting is now closed, we can’t wait to reveal what you chose for this tiny ripper. Getting this bike in the hands of everyone who wants it before the end of this year is one of our top priorities, so keep your eyes peeled!
Bike Check: Gibran’s Samson Illusion
A bike check straight from Jakarta with this Samson Illusion that seems to be straight out of 2009. OG parts list, legendary rider, there is everything you need for a nostalgia trip while also growing your curiosity for the Indonesian cycling scene! I know we’d love to visit and know more, so hopefully we can make something happen one day.
Win the Ultimate Custom Bikepacking Bag Setup!
As I mentioned in the intro, we’ve partnered with Moga Bags to create this giveaway with a total value of 750 euros! It’s our first official giveaway, and you still have two weeks to enter and try your luck at winning this complete bag set. You’ll find all the information on how to enter directly in the article!
Kryptonite Locks Reviewed: The Good, the Bad, and the Practical
We all need a bike lock! But with the numerous types and brands available, it’s sometimes easy to get lost in what to buy and for which use. Thankfully, Kryptonite sent me a bunch within their lineup to try out and review. Hopefully you’ll get a clearer picture of exactly what type of lock you need.
[Video] The Gravel Bike I Can’t Stop Riding
Finally, here is a video we’ve been cooking up about the Weis Gravel bike I’ve been riding for a year at the time of writing this. An interesting and definitely very overkill bike, which already has a bunch of stories to tell.
Of course, every article is up and live for you to enjoy wherever you are, looking at the Tour de France or just trying to find some fresh air.
Collective Take:
With the giveaway, many of you may be new to SSS, or at least new to this newsletter. We’d love to hear what you think of our web magazine.
This month, “Collective Take” is a bit of a free-for-all: share anything that’s been on your mind about Slow Spin Society, the quality of the articles and videos, our new-release schedule, or anything else you’d like to see.
And if you simply want to say hi, that’s totally fine too.
See you next month!
✍️ : Paul
📷 : Paul and Ryan
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