Improving your cycling is never easy. You must put in the physical work. But no one ever said that you need to accept discomfort as part of the journey. And when it comes to the crucial linkage between body and machine, the pedal connection often goes overlooked as the root of any issues.Phil Burt breaks it down in simple terms: Pedaling is really just walking on a bike, he says, so the pedal system has to reflect how that rider naturally moves.Phil Burt (photo/Wahoo)Burts take is that riders should not have to adapt their bodies to match their pedals. It should work the other way around: The right system should (and can) properly re-align a rider to reduce strain, prevent injury, and boost performance. Burt should know; he literally wrote the book on Bike Fit, having helped earn over 30 Olympic medals and five Tour de France victories, serving as the Head Physiotherapist for British Cycling and a consultant for Team Sky.As a pioneering expert in solving ridings physio puzzles, the British bike fitter-innovator is a fierce advocate for upgrading to pedals that optimize your strengths and that reflect your preferred movement pathway. Heres what Burt has discovered by converting to Speedplays, and the impact he sees with what he considers the industrys only truly custom pedal system.The Speedplay Zeros fit into the standard tension cleat (photo/Wahoo)Learn more about Speedplay ZeroLearn more about Speedplay PowerBIKERUMOR: What are the main problems you see with elite athletes on the wrong pedals?PHIL BURT: The biggest issue is usually not a simple power number you can measure; it is pain, compensation, and inefficiency. If the pedal system or cleat setup does not suit the rider, you tend to see the overuse issues of knee pain, hip pain, IT band tightness, rocking on the saddle, and asymmetrical movement. If the foot cannot move as the rider naturally wants to, the stress gets pushed up the chain.What was your first impression switching over to Speedplay?For most riders, Speedplay feels unusual at first because it is so much less constrained. I always say it can feel like pedaling on an ice cube for the first ride or two. But once riders adapt, they usually realise how restricted they were before. The common feedback is that the bike starts moving with them rather than against them. And from my side, you often see excessive knee movement settle down very quickly once the rider is allowed to move more naturally.With prolonged use, what are the gains of adopting Speedplays into the full fleet?The long-term gain is not always about some dramatic, instant jump in peak power. More often, the biggest gain is allowing the rider to pedal more naturally, more comfortably, and more consistently. In elite sport, that often means fewer recurring issues, less physio input, and a better chance of holding aggressive positions without the body fighting back. It is not always about one dramatic jump in watts it is about removing the barriers to performance.Did the pedals have a particular impact with any team riders?Bradley Wiggins is a good example: as he accumulated miles and got older as an athlete, his hip started to kick out more. Changing to Speedplay helped that immediately because it gave him the freedom he needed. We also used Speedplay in the Rio team pursuit setup because the lower stack height and aerodynamic profile were genuine advantages, especially when you are trying to hold a very aggressive position. If the pedal lets the foot, knee, and hip sit more naturally, it becomes much easier to sustain that position and perform in it.Which type of rider is best suited for these pedals?Any rider who feels they are struggling to pedal naturally, fighting the pedal system. If you come off the bike with tight knees, move your feet around excessively, struggle with asymmetry, clip the cranks with your heels, or feel your knees are not tracking naturally, Speedplay is worth a serious look.Is their benefit a function of how much time you spend riding?It is less about hours ridden and more about whether your current setup is letting you pedal the way your body wants to. Speedplay is particularly useful for riders who need more float, more freedom of movement, or more options around stance width. That can apply to elite athletes in aggressive positions, but it can just as easily apply to everyday riders carrying old injuries or simply trying to get comfortable.The Speedplay Zeros (photo/Wahoo)What about mere mortal recreational riders? Why should they care about pedal fit and connection?In many ways, recreational riders should care even more. Elite riders often have the resilience, support, and time to work around a poor setup. Most ordinary riders do not. A pedal system that gives you more freedom to find a natural, pain-free movement pattern can make riding more comfortable, more sustainable, and more enjoyable.Any overlooked Speedplay features you really enjoy?The most overlooked feature is stance width. I think stance width will be the next big conversation in bike fit, because not every rider wants to stand or pedal at the same width. Speedplay gives you meaningful options there the variable spindle widths help you line the foot up properly under the knee and hip and that can be a game changer. Add in the low stack height, aerodynamic shape, and tunable float, and it becomes a very complete system. It is the only truly bespoke, custom pedal system, in my opinion.The real intangible, though, is simple: once it is set up properly, riders often stop noticing the pedals altogether. And that is usually a very good sign, because it means the bike is finally working with them rather than against them.This article is sponsored by Wahoo. The post Unlock Power With Wahoos Speedplay Pedals appeared first on Bikerumor.

Netcompany INEOS have set their sights on a return to the summit of the sport. Not simply a place among the stronger WorldTour teams, but the Tour de France-winning, peloton-leading status that once made the old Sky machine the reference point for Grand Tour racing. A rebuild of that scale needs mor...

Afonso Eulalio found another small margin in the Giro dItalia pink jersey fight on Stage 12, and the Bahrain Victorious leader admitted afterwards that the opportunity was almost handed to him. On a day dominated by Alec Segaerts late victory in Novi Ligure, Eulalio quietly strengthened his hold o...

Paul Magnier left Stage 12 of the 2026 Giro dItalia still in the maglia ciclamino, but with frustration clear after a day that turned a possible sprint chance into another chaotic reduced finale. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider was one of the biggest losers from Movistar Teams aggressive approach on...

An eagle-eyed collector spotted Beryl Burton's world title winning pursuit bike languishing in the back of a pickup truck

Orbea Factory Team has teased the Basque brand's latest prototype Oiz, with rider Simon Andreassen set to compete on the cross-country mountain bike at the Nove Mesto UCI World Cup race this weekend. The bike is a part of Orbeas OOLABs developmental program, though we can likely infer that this bike will be the replacement for the current Orbea Oiz. It shares more than a passing resemblance to other cross-country bikes that have launched this year, with a top tube-mounted rear shock paired with a mini-linkage rocker. This appears to be the preferred approach to shock placement, with Specializeds Epic 9 and Canyons Lux Trail sharing a similar setup, and could be the future for many of the best cross-country mountain bikes. While the design has its roots in the Trek Superfly, Specializeds Epic World Cup was the first to really prove the system, lending it to its longer travel Epic sibling this year. The bike has yet to be named. Orbea Orbeas prototype uses flex-stays in the rear triangle, which cuts down on bearings and maintenance while having the added benefits of being lighter and stiffer. Unfortunately for some, the bike keeps the internal headset cable routing of old. But this is slightly more forgivable in the realms of cross-country mountain biking. Specialized's Epic World Cup was one of the first bikes to launch with this design. Scott Windsor / Our Media Despite all the hype around 32in wheels, the bike is still running 29in wheels and is pictured with a pair of Orbeas in-house Oquo carbon rims. The prototype is running Fox suspension, with the new 34 SL at the front featuring a cable-actuated lock-out. Were not sure on suspension travel, but with the last bike already hitting the 120mm mark, we wouldnt expect any less. There appear to be two bottle cage mounts in the frame, which will be welcomed by those racing in marathon events. Not much else is known about the bike, but were excited to see the final result. Why the only bike you need is an XC mountain bike

The Giro dItalia has long built its reputation on attrition as much as spectacle. Across three weeks of racing between 8 May and 31 May, crashes, illness, exhaustion, and withdrawals can completely reshape the race, whether in chaotic bunch sprints, freezing mountain conditions or the brutal final...

Specialized has announced a multi-year partnership with Audi Revolut F1 Team, becoming the squads official bicycle and e-bike supplier for the 2026 and 2027 Formula One seasons. The deal will see Specialized provide a fleet of bikes for riders and staff, ranging from the brands race-focused Tarmac road bike to its Vado 3 electric bike. The brand says these will be used for transport and recovery duties around race weekends and the teams Hinwil headquarters in Switzerland. Partnerships between bike brands and motorsport teams arent new; many will remember that Specialised co-developed a Venge with McLaren back in 2011. And who can forget Colnagos CF1 made alongside Ferraris composites team. However, it appears this partnership is more superficial than R&D-based. Read more: The Specialized Tarmac SL9 has leaked here's what we know about the unreleased race bike so far The partnership has been announced with this S-Works Tarmac finished in an Audi Revolut F1 livery. Specialized Specialized says the collaboration is rooted in a shared focus on relentless innovation and uncompromising performance, with CEO Armin Landgraf highlighting the parallels between elite cycling and top-tier motorsport. Audi Revolut F1 Team chief commercial officer Stefano Battiston added that maintaining peak physical condition across the team is essential in such a demanding environment, and Specializeds premium bikes will play a key role in supporting the fitness, wellbeing, and recovery of our people, both at the track and at our facilities. Cycling has become deeply embedded within Formula One culture in recent years, both as a training tool and as a way for drivers and staff to stay mobile during packed race weekends. Cycling and F1 have a long history. Specialized There are also plenty of ex-racers with a cycling passion, with Valtteri Bottas and Mark Webber being avid riders. See more: Valtteri Bottas custom Canyon Grail CFR for the 2024 UCI World Gravel Championships Specialized says there's more to come. Specialized The announcement also hints at future co-branded projects, with Specialized teasing very cool collaborations still to come. Whether that means limited-edition bikes, shared tech development or something more ambitious remains to be seen.

We got a stealth-mode look at Sage Titaniums upcoming Project FAF at Sea Otter Classic. What David and the Sage Team have cooking is one of the more interesting mountain bikes of the year: a fully modern, full-suspension titanium downcountry bike built in the USA with a heavy dose of 3D-printed titanium elements throughout.Sage Project FAF titanium downcountry mountain bike(Studio photos/Sage)For the first time in a decade, Sage Titanium skipped the full booth routine at Sea Otter Classic. But that doesnt mean they stayed home. I dont think you can keep someone like Sage Founder David Rosen away. But this time, he was incognito, or as much as you can be walking around with a shiny secret ti, yet-to-be-released bike.Cloak & DaggerSneaking around was hard with a bike like this. (All photos/Jordan Villella)Instead, David showed up in stealth mode with something a whole lot more interesting than a pile of brochures and a tent full of polished display bikes. Tucked away ahead of its official launch later this year was Sage Project FAF. A new 120 mm travel full-suspension titanium mountain bike.On first look, its very Sage: a little very nerdy, highly refined, and just strange enough to be cool for the MTB racer crowd.What is the Sage Fast As $#!@ All About?Ok, yes, the name is temporary, but I hope it sticks. For now, FAF (Fast and Fun?) stands for whatever you want it to stand for. Fun As works. Fast As also works. Fancy As honestly, that fits too. Whatever the final name turns out to be, the bike itself already has a pretty clear identity.Full-Suspension Titanium: Made in the USASage says Project FAF is the worlds only fully modern, Made-in-USA, full-suspension titanium mountain bike on the market today. I know were gonna have some fact-checkers in the comments, so comment away if were right or wrong & let us know.But what we have here is a super cool, calculated raceable and shreddable bike that didnt come out of a carbon mold. Its oddly refreshing, and it sticks out like a sore thumb in the carbon crowd.The Sage FAF is an XC/downcountry platform built from premium US-sourced titanium tubing, blended with a bunch of 3D-printed titanium parts and CNC-machined components made in Oregon. Pretty much what you get on most or all Sage bikes.Three Years In The Works Sage says Project FAF has been in the works for three years. From the outside looking in, the bike doesnt feel like a rushed we need a full-suspension bike now project. Because you generally dont do that kind of thing with titanium, it feels like a bike someone (Dave) obsessed over for a long time, and only built it once the right version finally showed up on the drawing board.Mountain biking is my first love. Building a Sage full suspension bike has been on my mindsince the company started. This is the next chapter for Sage. Dave RosenSage OptimatorDavid was completely clear during our sit-down; he wanted a bike suited to his riding style. Hes honest about most of their bike designs, stemming from Davids own search for a better bike for the riding hes into. Here, he was looking for something that would not be as full-on as the hardtail Optimator (above). And it needed to be more raceable than theSage Timberline hardtail,but fun, like that one. A full-suspension bike was the only option, but it had to be done the Sage way.FAF Suspension DesignThe Sage FAF uses a single-pivot flex-stay suspension layout, with a linkage-drive shock. The shaped seatstays and chainstays do most of the flex work while that linkage manages the kinematics. Sage describes the suspension feel as firm at the top, plush in the middle, and again firm at the end for a more bottomless feel.Project FAF is not meant to be a long-travel bruiser or some mini-enduro machine in expensive metal clothing. It is built to sit in that sweet little zone where a bike still pedals like an XC bike, still feels light, and is responsive under power. Dave hopes this kinda downcountry-style bike will give the rider enough confidence to blast through rock gardens and drops like a longer-travel machine, while still feeling fast and efficient like an XC racerThat kind of bike is hard to create, basically a short-travel trail bike for people who still like going uphill quickly.Lets Talk GeometryOn paper, the numbers are pretty sensible, no reinventing the wheel, just stable and shreddable. The FAF opts for 120mm travel up front and 115-120mm rear travel (still in development), with the final rear travel to be sorted out soon.Tire clearance is stated at 29 x 2.4. And the geometry lands in a modern, very usable place with a 66 head angle, 470mm reach, and 435mm chainstays on the Medium size demo bike we saw, but didnt get to ride (yet).Dave said he wanted that mix of Optimator and Powerline, but with a slight bias toward the Powerlines more playful handling. The new FAF looks like the bike for riders who want one machine that can handle big all-day rides feel quick when the trail turns up, and still make descending fun rather than survivable.How Much Does It Weigh?The prototype shown at Sea Otter weighed 28.6 pounds, as pictured with RockShox Flight Attendant. Thats not exactly XC race weight yet.Could it get lighter? Sure. David says there is some room to save weight by using different wheels and trimming/optimizing the printed parts a bit more. But those 3D-printed ti elements are intentionally overbuilt right now, and that feels like the right call. If you are going to introduce a fully modern, full-suspension titanium platform built around a lot of printed pieces, maybe we should make it a little more durable than necessary is not exactly a bad instinct.What Happens Next?One of my favorite details is this brake mount super clean.Project FAF is still officially in prototype mode, which is part of why seeing it at Sea Otter felt a little special. Sage says theyll continue testing and refining the bike ahead of the full public unveiling at the MADE Show in Portland this August. Expect the FAF to make its proper debut there.But Sage Titanium Project FAF Pre-order Pricing & Anticipated AvailabilityThe Project FAF is available for pre-order already. So you can get a place in line for one of the first frames, now.Deposit: $1,000 USD, non-refundable, transferable to any other Sage modelEstimated frameset price: $10k-15,000? Final pricing confirmed before first deliveries, shared with deposit holders first.First deliveries: Anticipated early 2027Production: Limited first production run. First-come, first-served.Pre-order bonus: Free Cerakote logo finish upgrade (optional), preferred pricing on complete build components, first access to name reveal, and final pricingBut if you are the sort of rider who has always wanted a full-suspension titanium mountain bike and found the existing options either too old-school, too compromised, or too nonexistent, Project FAF might be the bike that finally makes that idea feel real.Project FAF Tech DetailsFrame material: US-sourced titanium tubing welded together with 3D-printed titanium partsConstruction: 100% USA made frame and parts, welded, and assembled in the USASuspension layout: Single-pivot flex-stay, linkage-driven shockFork travel: 120mmRear travel: 115-120mm, final figure TBDWheel/tire clearance: 29 x 2.4Head angle: 66Reach: 470mmChainstay length: 435mmClaimed bike weight as shown: 28.6 lbLaunch timing: Public unveil expected at the MADE Show in Portland this August 2026First complete bikes: Q1 2027 for the first pre-order customer deliveriesSageTitanium.comThe post First Look: Sage Project FAF, a Made-in-USA Full-Suspension Titanium Mountain Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike have confirmed Jonas Vingegaard has been among the riders affected by illness at the Giro dItalia, adding a significant new layer to the questions around the Danes form after a turbulent few days in the fight for pink. Sickness has become one of the major threads of the s...