Felix Gall started the 2026 Vuelta a Espana as the "man to beat" in the battle for second spot overall. And since the first moments, he was quick to take up that role as he even tried to pile pressure on Tadej Pogacar in stage 4 - even if it didn't work out. But afterwards, the Austrian began to str...

Tadej Pogacar's crash on Saturday's stage of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana was a crucial point of that race, but the aftermath of the crash could have a great importance also for the upcoming seasons. The Slovenian did not get spared in his injuries, suffering a broken collarbone, vertebrae, and a concu...

The adjustable Victory Indoor Trainer Frame removes the need to take an outdoor bike on and off a trainer and a complete trainer-and-frame setup costs 899

Irish Rail says consultation and other progress likely to resume from 2030 at the earliest. FOI request shows 4-year-old report recommended closing level crossings in Sandymount. Active travel access to be maintained but mainly via steps and lifts rather than ramps.The Governments reluctance to annoy Dublin 4 motorists plays a large part in slowing progress on speeding up trains and adding capacity, according to Rail Users Ireland, a passenger advocacy group.The group said there appears to be resistance at national level to proceed to public consultation despite the support of 679 pages of engineering analysis supporting the level crossing closures along the Dart line in south Dublin.The report, written by consultants Arup, was published today by the passenger group after the Information Commissioner intervened when Irish Rail / Iarnrd ireann stopped responding to a Freedom of Information request for the four-year-old report. The report, which examines options for closing level crossings, is still partly redacted, including unusually redactions of possible environmental impacts.Mark Gleeson, a spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland, said: This is yet another example of the unwillingness at a Government level to make decisions; projects are delayed and paused. Difficult decisions need to be made, and we need leadership willing to make them; otherwise we are left in a never-ending game of playing catch up.Dart passengers have suffered for 42 years by a compromise to prioritise private cars over the train. The proposals from Irish Rail/Arup offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to replace Merrion Gates with a bridge and to dramatically improve rail performance and capacity, he said.Gleeson said: While some of the recommendations will clearly raise concerns around local access and impact to existing bus routes, Iarnrd ireann sitting on the report for over 4 years without starting public consultation is ridiculous; why has it not been moved to consultation?The group said the Dart+ West project which includes planning approval to close all level crossings between Ashtown and Maynooth has set a precedent and made the benefits clear. But the key difference is that Sandymount has less space for under or overpasses that can accommodate cars without significant property take.Of the five level crossings in the area at Lansdowne Road, Serpentine Avenue, Sandymount Avenue, Sydney Parade Avenue, and Merrion Gates, consultations have recommended only that the latter gets an underpass. The recommended area for an underpass is north of the existing Merrion Gates level crossing, in a similar location where an overpass was previously suggested but was dropped after strong local opposition. Within the documents released under FOI request, there are emerging preferred options which include a motor vehicular underpass under the railway at Serpentine Avenue, but this is omitted from the recommendations, which calls for pedestrian and cycling access via steps and lifts.The scrapped idea of allowing motorists through Serpentine Avenue includes a circular ramp on one side, which would require CPOs and demolition of a commercial building.Rail Users Ireland said that removing the level crossings would shorten journey times for Dart and Rosslare/Wexford intercity services, remove the risk of damage from high winds and motorists damaging the gates, allow for higher frequency of service, reduce maintenance costs, and allow for the railway to be raised at points to protect from flooding. It said that Sandymount Ave and Serpentine Ave are two of the most struck level crossings in the country, and that the system struggles with the current peak of 15 trains per hour and that future plans are for 24-30 trains per hour, which cannot be delivered without closing all the level crossings.Arup recommended to Irish Rail to keep access open at the level crossings for walking and cycling using underpasses, but these will contain steps, so will not be cyclable and would push people on bicycles and wheelchairs into lifts. The group said that the Arup report is written in a way that clearly expects a public consultation, but no progress has been made.Rail Users Ireland said that the Dart line is unique in Ireland in that level crossing closures are scheduled by computer to maximise time open to vehicles. The group said that this leads to extended journey times for trains and adds several extra minutes to millions of individual passenger journeys annually for 42+ years.Barry Kenny, a spokesperson for Irish Rail, said: To facilitate the frequency of Darts envisaged under the Dart+ Programme, the removal of the rail/road interfaces at level crossings on the southside has always been proposed. The staging of the Dart+ Programme is seeing a range of projects progress first, including the Bray / Greystones capacity enhancement element of Dart+ Coastal South.Under current phasing of the programme and predicted funding, the remainder of Dart+ Coastal South, including addressing level crossings, is likely to resume from 2030 at the earliest, he said.Kenny added: Given the complexity of the proposals and the need to ensure we deliver train capacity, ensure alternatives for road users, be they drivers, pedestrians or cyclists, and the impacts arising from works and new points of access in the wider community, this would involve extensive public consultation and a Railway Order application process.MORE: FOI pack with Dart+ Coastal South Constraints Report IMAGES: Draft drawings of the emerging preferred options note: The recommendation for the Serpentine Avenue crossing does not correspond to the drawing shown, which would require CPOs and demolition of a commercial building.

The dynamics of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana have changed drastically over the past weekend, mainly due to Tadej Pogacar's abandon. Suddenly, many riders who have deep down already given on overall victory return into the mix, and Mattias Skjelmose would've hoped to be part of it. However the ninth sta...

Your bicycle chain needs to be replaced (its stretched, cracked, or rusted) and youre wondering if you need to take your bike to the shop. You dont.Replacing a bike chain is straightforward, and you only need two tools plus the new chain.For years, I took my bike to the shop for all drivetrain work, but once I started doing it myself and realized just how doable it is, I started teaching others how to do it too. The more you know about your bike and how it works, the more empowered youll feel. In this article, Ill cover when to replace your chain, what tools you need, how to pick the right chain, and the step-by-step.Watch The VideoVisual learner? Watch this video instead.When Should You Replace Your Bike Chain?There are several reasons you might need to replace your chain.The most common is that you measured your chain for wear (aka stretch), and discovered that it is time to put on a new one. If you dont know to do this, read my article on how to check your bike chain for wear. When you replace your chain as soon as it starts to stretch (wear), you prolong the life of the rest of your drivetrain. If you wait too long, youll wear down other drivetrain parts (like your cassette, chain ring, and derraileur pulley wheels) which can be very expensive. The next reason is chain failure of some sort. Sometimes, this means that your chain actually broke and fell off the bike while riding. (Hopefully, you had a tool and masterlink and were able to repair it long enough to get yourself home). It could also mean that you were cleaning your bike and noticed cracked or bent links. In all these cases, its time for a new chain.Finally, if a chain has been neglected for a long time and has heavy rust, it also needs to be replaced. What Youll NeedChain pliers /master link pliers* (I really love the Wolf Tooth Pack Pliers which are small enough for my on-bike tool roll as well as at home repairs).Chain breaker tool *A new chain (see the next section)How To Choose The Right Replacement ChainTo choose the correct replacement chain for your bike, youll want to determine the speed count of your existing drivetrain. If you dont know your speed count, count the number of cogs (rings) on your rear cassette. For instance, if you have 12 rings on your rear cassette, youll want a 12-speed chain. If you have 10 rings on your rear cassette, youll need a 10-speed chain.You also want to make sure to match the brand to your rear derailleur, or make sure its listed as compatible with that rear derailleur. If you watch the above video, youll see I had a SRAM GX derailleur with a 12-speed cassette, so I bought a SRAM GX 12-speed chain. Step 1: Remove The Old ChainBefore we can put on your new chain, we have to remove the old one.To do this, youll want to locate the master link. Its the one link that looks a little different from all the others. Sometimes its a different color, sometimes not, but in all cases, it will have a little slot next to one of the pins. That little space is what allows us to disengage the master link and release the chain.Position your chain pliers on either side of the master link and squeeze inward to release.Before you pull the chain off the bike, you may want to snap a photo. I like to take a picture of how the chain routes through the rear derailleur pulleys in case I have any questions later. (This is a good habit for all bike maintenance work in the beginning as you start to learn). Step 2: Determine The Correct Length For Your New ChainWhen you pull your new chain out of the box it will be longer than you actually need it to be.Well use the old chain to inform how long our new chain to be. That said, you cant just match the two by length because the old chain has stretched over time.Instead, you need to match the NUMBER of length on the new chain to the number of lengths on the old chain. There are two ways you can do this.Method A: You can manually count the outer links on the old chain, and then count out the same number of outer links on the new one.Method B (easier): Lay the two chains side by side, matching one outer link on the old chain to one outer link on the new chain.In either case, make sure you start with the master link on each chain and count it as one outer link.Once youve matched the number of outer links, go to the next outer link on the new chain and mark the first pin with a sharpie. Thats where youre going to break the chain. Step 3: Break The New Chain To LengthGrab your chain breaker tool and place the marked link in the chain breaker with the first pin lined up with the pin on the tool. Screw the tool in until you hear and feel the chain break. (It will take muscle and might feel a little scary. Keep going, you can do it!).Once it breaks, keep screwing until you push the pin all of the way out.Then, back the tool out and remove the extra links. Your chain is now the correct size. Go ahead and place the second half of your new master link into the new hole where you just pushed out the pin.Step 4: Route The New ChainRoute the chain onto the bike making sure that it matches your photo. It will go over the front chain ring, onto the rear cassette, then through the derailleur (under the top pulley wheel, over the bottom pulley wheel).Step 5: Connect The Master LinkOnce you have the chain over the front chain ring and thru the derailleur, bring two ends together at the bottom run of chain and join the master link. If your masterlink has an arrow, make sure its pointing in the direction the chain will move. When the masterlink is at the bottom of the chain, that means the arrow will be pointing backward toward the rear derraileur. Make sure you get both pins thru the little slots on the front and back of the masterlink (squeeze them together), and then give the chain a little pull to help it engage. Put the chain pliers on either side of the master link, and this time pull them apart to pop the link fully into place. If you struggle to get it fully engaged, go give it a couple hard pedal strokes which will usually do the job for you. Troubleshooting: My Chain Is Skipping After Replacing ItIf, on your first ride after replacing your chain, your chain is skipping, it means that other drivetrain parts are worn and need replacing as well.Start with the cassette, but make sure to check your front chain ring(s) and derailleur pulley wheels as well. Other Articles You Might Find HelpfulYour Guide To Bike MaintenanceHow to Clean and Lube Your Bike Chain (Its Easy!)How To Refresh Tubeless Tire SealantAbout The AuthorKristen Bonkoski is a USA cycling and NICA coach, bike educator, and founder of Femme Cyclist.Shes also the host of the Femme Cyclist podcast and runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.Shes been riding bikes for more than two decades and is passionate about empowering women on the bike.IG:@femme_cyclistJoin Kristens Weekly Newsletter!The post How To Replace A Bicycle Chain appeared first on Femme Cyclist.

Spain has outlined its main cards for the Montreal Road World Championships, scheduled for September 27th. Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas will be the two key references for the Spanish team in the road race, a date they will reach via very different paths. The news, broken by AS, places the leader of La V...

Tadej Pogaar has undergone a successful surgery on his fractured left clavicle following the crash that ended his Vuelta a Espaa.UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed the latest update on Monday evening, two days after the Slovenian abandoned the Grand Tour on stage eight.Pogaar had initially been unable to undergo the operation due to precautions relating to a concussion he sustained in the crash. Having since received medical clearance, he has now had surgery and is expected to remain in hospital for post-operative monitoring."This afternoon, Tadej underwent successful surgery on his left clavicle after receiving the all-clear to proceed with the operation," an update from the team doctor read."The procedure went well and he will remain in hospital for post-operative monitoring for a few days."When ready, Tadej will travel home to begin his recovery and rehabilitation under the supervision of the teams medical staff. We will continue to monitor his progress closely throughout the recovery process."Pogaar crashed with around 31km remaining on stage eight of the Vuelta, when his front wheel appeared to hit some debris or a rock on the road. Several other riders were caught up in the incident, including his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Pavel Sivakov, Oscar Onley and Ben Tulett.The world champion initially attempted to remount his bike but was unable to continue. He was treated at the roadside before being taken away by ambulance and transferred to hospital for further examination.The full extent of Pogaars injuries was confirmed later that evening. Alongside the concussion and left clavicle fracture, he was diagnosed with a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra in his neck and multiple abrasions. The team said there had been no neurological damage or other major injuries.The crash brought Pogaars Vuelta campaign to a sudden end while he was leading the general classification. He had won three of the opening eight stages and held an advantage of almost four minutes over Enric Mas.It was the first time in Pogaars career that he had failed to finish a Grand Tour.No timeframe has yet been given for his return to training or competition. His injuries, however, place his planned defence of the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on 27 September in serious doubt. A clavicle fracture typically takes between six and 12 weeks to heal, although recovery times vary.Pogaar will begin his rehabilitation at home once he is discharged from hospital, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG expected to issue further updates as his recovery progresses.

Tadej Pogacar's crash at the ongoing Vuelta a Espaa has not only turned the whole race upside down, but also the final months of the season. On the most recent episode of the CyclingUpToDate podcast, Rben Silva and Gavin Quinn have analyzed the Slovenian's future after a major setback. "First and...

Tom Pidcock won the mountain bike world championships this weekend in Val di Sole, effectively succeeding in what Mathieu van der Poel has been attempting for years. The Briton has spoken to the media following the race, ahead of his return to road racing. As usual, Pidcock raced in May on the off-...