Mathieu van der Poel's repeated attempts at mountain bike glory may be viewed through fingers as a somewhat greedy effort in attempt to win rainbow jersey in all cycling disciplines possible. And until now, it really seemed to be a somewhat distant dream of Van der Poel's. But theWorld Cup round in...

Go farther, have more fun. Thats the tagline that Woodpecker Cycle Co. uses on its website, and its a great way to sum up their bike builds. Built by Daren Beenen out of Lacey, Washington, this THIK MINI was the star of the show from Woodpecker, but it was not their only showstopper. All of the Woodpecker builds manage to combine a level of creativity with whimsical good looks that can only make you smile. The THIK MINI came about as a compromise between Jeremy from Teravail and Daren. Jeremy wanted a mini velo, but Daren wanted to build something with a Pinion gearbox and a stik shift. The result speaks for itself. THIK MINIMaking a retro-inspired stick shift for a 6-speed Pinion gearbox isnt exactly an easy task, but Daren figured it out with some help from the U.S. team at Pinion. The stick shift itself is actually based on the shifter housing for the gearbox, but Daren figured out a way to take it apart and make it work. Daren is quick to give credit to everyone who helped him on the build, and that continues with Coy from Thompson Bicycles, who helped Daren build the fork. Adam Prosise from Prosise Metal Works machined the brass housing guides, as well. These are apparently Hope rotors that are only sold in Japan. Apparently Onyx makes headsets now? Potentially a prototype. The THIK MINI rolls on 20 x 2.8 tires, and may be the coolest mini velo weve ever seen. Woodpecker DH BikeAs complex as the THIK MINI was to put together, this DH bike ramps it up a notch. Running around 195mm of rear travel, this one is also based around a 6-speed Pinion gearbox with a Gates Belt Drive. Gates helped out with the proper belt drive tensioner placement, though the UDH belt driver snubber was designed by Daren with help from Liminal Machine Works who also helped with the idler carrier. Once again, Adam Prosise helped out with the pivot hardware. Unlike the THIK MINI, this bike uses a Pinion Smart.Shift system, which meant figuring out what to do with the battery. Instead of simply putting it on a carrier outside the frame (which is what Daren says he probably should have done), Daren actually cut the battery housing to split the two cells to make them inline, so they could be stored in the downtube. Finish it off with a unique powdercoat finish, and you have the best-looking belt drive DH bike at MADE. Gravel BikesBut wait, theres more! In addition to a gravel bike on display in the Teravail booth with a beautiful finish, Daren also had his daughters 650b gravel bike on display in his booth. The kids gravel bike is a great use of 650b x 47mm tires, and is built with truly kid-proportional parts including Hup components handlebars, Appleman cranks, an SQLab Saddle, and potentially the only TRP Hywave S shifters outside of Giant kids road bikes. We first saw the kid-sized shifters when Giant/Liv introduced the Liv Seek at Eurobike in 2025. They still arent available for sale aftermarket, but Daren managed to get a hold of a set to build this bike. Both frames are painted by Daren with alcohol ink a process that involves a white basecoat that is then overlaid with an alcohol ink color. After the alcohol evaporates, the color is left behind and then wet paint clear coated with wet graphics. The result is pretty stunning. woodpeckercycleco.com

The controversy sparked by the presence of content creator Erola Jons at La Vuelta a Espaa has reached Eurosports broadcast. The organizations decision to bring in an influencer with a huge social media audience to generate content around the race has drawn heavy criticism, especially for the ton...

On the 30th of August, the World Tour calendar continues in Plouay. On holy cycling land, the peloton tackles the Bretagne Classic, one of the longest race in professional cycling, fitting to the classics specialists. The race was first held in 1946, right after the end of World War II, with Ange Le...

"Steel will never die," Dario Pegoretti once famously declared.The legendary Italian framebuilder was speaking about the materials enduring quality at a time when carbon was rapidly taking over the bike industry. Nearly two decades later, while walking through the MADE bike show, Pegoretti may have been right though not in the way he may have imagined. Steel was everywhere at the Portland handmade bike show, as youd perhaps expect, but what was more surprising was what builders were doing with it.Steel in 2026 looks nothing like the skinny, round-tubed, heavy lugged, rim-brake bikes of old. Modern steel is lighter than ever and paired with 3D-printed titanium and carbon aero foils or custom-drawn to create a no-expense-spared climbing bike, or fully hand-formed into aerodynamic truss structures around 32-inch wheels.At MADE, Big Block, Scarab and Rare Earth each approached steel from a very different direction, but all demonstrated that one of cyclings oldest frame materials still has plenty of unexplored territory left.Big Block 427: framebuilding for the CAD generation(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Raleigh, North Carolina-based builder Dustin Schwell showed a bike made from steel, yes, but also carbon and 3D-printed titanium, using each material where, in his view, its particular qualities served the bike best.Schwell comes to framebuilding from a background in CAD (computer-aided design) rather than traditional fabrication, and his process reflects it: more time behind a computer, less time with a file.Much of his 427 show bike was conceived digitally, including complex junctions that can be 3D printed rather than painstakingly fabricated by hand. That makes it easier to create intricate interfaces, simplifies fixturing and allows Schwell to easily adapt the same underlying design to different rider geometries.The mixed-material approach makes for unique lines, welds where one wouldn't necessarily expect them and stands out in the bike's aerofoil-shaped carbon sleeve.(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Rather than treating one material as inherently superior, the 427 is more of a pick-and-mix: steel where steel makes sense, carbon where carbon does, and printed titanium where conventional fabrication would be unnecessarily complicated.Theres a practical benefit to all that digital work, too. By shifting some of the labour from the workshop into CAD, Schwell can keep the cost of a fully custom bike relatively grounded, which is Schwell's raison d'etre: to "build bikes people can actually afford."In the rarefied world of handmade bicycles, "affordable" is, of course, relative. But at $3,200 for a frameset including custom geometry, custom seatpost mast, and custom paint, Big Block sits well below many of the five-figure dream machines displayed at the show. Schwell even paints the bikes himself.Anne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookScarab Serena: steel, but make it premium(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Where Big Block is rethinking how a steel bike is made, Scarab Cycles decided to tackle how the material is perceived."People sometimes think of steel as cheap," Scarab founder Santiago Toro told me.His show bike, The Serena, is an exercise in proving otherwise. The Serena is the most conventional-looking machine of the three steel bikes featured here with slender tubes, restrained proportions and a classic road silhouette that doesnt immediately scream technological showcase. But beneath those clean lines lies an obsessive effort to create the ultimate steel climber's bike. "Serena asks a question that extends beyond weight and stiffness: how should the ultimate climbing bicycle feel?" the brand's marketing material reads. "The answer is both technical and somehow psychological. A good climbing bike is the result of variables that can be measured, and others that can only be felt."Steel is the base of this project because, for one, it's all Scarab does, but also because of the material's "balance of compliance, spring-like return, precision, and durability."Scarab worked with Columbus to develop an ultralight family of custom-drawn Spirit tubes specifically for the Serena, tuning diameters, wall thicknesses, tapers and shapes around the demands of the bike rather than simply stripping weight from an existing platform. The tubes are paired with a custom-machined two-piece head tube, a T47 bottom bracket, 3D-printed stainless-steel dropouts, fully integrated cable routing and, of course, rider-specific geometry.The complete bike Scarab brought to MADE is Toros own, labelled 0 of the 25 complete builds the brand will offer. Designed as more than a frameset, Scarab developed complete configurations with climbing-oriented partners so that the gearing, wheels, cockpit, saddle, tyres, and contact points all contribute to the same "riding sensation". The build includes a Campagnolo Super Record 13 with Ultra upgrade kit, a Darimo Nexum Drag cockpit and T2 seatpost, a Selle Italia SLR Racing Replica saddle, and Vittoria Corsa Pro 30mm tyres. Wheel choices include the 1,030 g Tune Yokto 3030, Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra, and Lightweight Meilenstein ART (as shown).Estimated complete-bike weights range from approximately 6.95 kg to 7.16 kg, based on the published configurations and a size 56 prototype. The price? $16,167 USD.Even Toro himself admitted to feeling a tad nervous riding something this expensive. But buyers are, apparently, less apprehensive. Toro revealed that Scarab had already sold eight Serenas before the ordering window had even officially opened.(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)As a Colombian brand, Scarab Cycles is uniquely positioned for this climbing experiment. There's simply no escaping the mountains there, and the country is known for producing some of the sports finest climbers. "Being a cyclist and a Colombian means one thing: you are constantly exposed to mountains. Climbing here is not optional. It is not something you specifically aim for, nor something you carefully prepare around. It simply becomes part of how life happens here," the brand muses. "Colombians do not live despite the mountains. We live within them, alongside them, adapting naturally to their gradients and conditions."These gradients are replicated in Serena's paint, with silver fading into green, and touches of purple revealing themselves only as you moved around it. Sadly, my camera struggled to capture it. Some bikes are simply better seen in person.Anne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookRare Earth Rare Berd: are those even tubes?(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)If the Serena subtly challenges assumptions about steel, Brian Halls Rare Berd takes those assumptions and throws them out the window altogether."Most people look at this bike and say, Thats really cool, Hall told me. Then theres 20% of the people that give me a barf emoji, so yeah.If provoking a reaction is one measure of success at a handmade bike show, Hall can consider the Rare Berd a triumph. The 32-inch-wheeled machine was created in collaboration with Berd to showcase the wheel brand's newly launched Sparrow 50 Gold wheels. With the 32-inch aero wheels, Hall decided to design an aero steel frameset to match, steel fork included. Hall describes it as "an aero drop-bar-shaped mountain bike," noting that the fork offset and trail numbers are more akin to a rigid mountain bike than a conventional gravel machine.The finished bike looks as though it ought to have emerged from a carbon mould or perhaps a 3D printer. Instead, Hall painstakingly formed the entire thing by hand."For me it was an exercise in sort of artistic, sculptural shaping," he said. "The whole bike is American steel, so I hand-formed steel to be aerodynamic.""Its a skeleton with a skin on it, basically. A steel skin."(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Hall built the top tube, chainstays and fork around internal truss structures made from small-diameter steel tubing, then covered portions of those skeletons with thin sheet steel to create their deep aerodynamic shapes. In places, the underlying structure is deliberately left exposed.The down tube and seat tube required a different bit of invention. Hall formed round steel tubing into aero profiles, even shaping the seat tube around a Specialized Tarmac SL8 seatpost.It is an elaborate way to build a bicycle. And, for being fully made of steel, surpringly light: 22 pounds, ready to ride. Thats just under 10kg, complete with enormous 32 x 2.4in tyres.Whether the Rare Berd ultimately performs as boldly as it looks remains an open question. Hall had finished it only about a week and a half before MADE and had limited his riding mostly to trips around town, in part because he wanted to keep the show bike "pristine".But the 32-inch wheels themselves are anything but a novelty to him. He said he's already built several mountain and bikepacking bikes around the larger wheel size. And he is emphatic about the result."I love it. I absolutely love it," he said. "I pretty much quit riding 29ers at this point."Anne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookBoth Rare Earth and Scrab Cycles received Builder's Choice awards at the show.

Mads Pedersen felt the Vuelta a Espana second stage was like coming back from the off-season as he felt his usual final kick missing in the finale of stage 2. Finishing on uphill drag to the line, the Lidl-Trek rider was among the favourites for the stage, but ran out of gas and was beaten by Matthe...

BOA had a strong Tour de France, and not only in the shoe aisle. BOA Fit System has been part of top-level road shoes for years, but this Tour also put the BOA Fit System featuring FS2 into the helmet conversation.Most riders know BOA for that last little turn before a climb, sprint, or finish line effort. It is the difference between pretty close and locked in. Now that same fit mindset is moving above the neck with FS2, a helmet platform aimed at a more even hold without the pinch points that can come from over-tightening.We recently reviewed the Specialized S-Works Evade 4, which uses the BOA Fit System featuring FS2, and came away impressed. The adjustment felt precise, but the fit stayed balanced around the head instead of digging into one spot.Podium fixture and overall TdF runner-up Remco Evenepoel wore the Specialized S-Works Evade 4 helmet with the BOA Fit System featuring FS2 (photo/courtesy BOA)Tour de France BOA Goes All In On HelmetsAt the Tour, 48 riders raced helmets using the BOA Fit System featuring FS2. Specialized, POC, and UVEX-sponsored teams all had FS2-equipped helmets in the race. It wasnt just about volume for athletes, it was quality too.You might recognize some of these names, all of which used BOA dials on their shoes, helmets, or both:Remco Evenepoel, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe (Belgian overall runner-up in the general classification, won back-to-back victories on Stage 15 and Stage 16)Tim Merlier, Soudal Quick-Step, also wearing BOA Specialized Shoes (so-called sprint king won a trio of flat days in Stages 7, 8, and 12)Mathieu van der Poel, Alpecin-Premier Tech (won a thrilling final day on Stage 21 in Paris)Jasper Philipsen, Alpecin-Premier Tech (2nd overall in the final points classification, Stage 21 runner-up)Mads Pedersen, Lidl-Trek (led his squad to win overall team classification)Team Visma | Lease a Bike (TTT) (Stage 1 Team Time Trial victory)Demi Vollering, FDJ United-SUEZ (second career overall TdFF title)Lorena Wiebes, SD Worx-Protime (Stage 1 and Stage 2 victory as well as winner of final Green Jersey Points Classification)Kim Le Court, AG Insurance-Soudal (Stage 6 victory)Puck Pieterse, Fenix-Premier Tech (claimed final Polka-Dot Mountains Jersey)The key model was the Specialized S-Works Evade 4. It was used by BORA and Soudal teams during the Tour de France, along with Womens Soudal and FDJ-SUEZ teams at the Tour de France Femmes.Valentin Paret-Peintre, riding for the Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team, wearing the Evade 4 not to mention the Tours iconic polka-dot King of the Mountains jersey.What Makes FS2 Different?FS2 is BOAs helmet fit platform built around Dynamic360. The system wraps the head more evenly, helping balance tension, reduce peak pressure, and deliver up to 6% stronger hold. BOA says FS2 also offers up to 40% finer adjustment resolution than traditional dial-based helmet fit systems.The FS2 YOKE Dynamic360 weighs 19g and is shaped to lock around the occipital bone while cradling the sides of the head. The yoke ladder gives riders 11 vertical positions, spaced 4mm apart, to fine-tune fit.Prototype UVEX & POC in the TourFS2 was not limited to road helmets. EF riders used a prototype POC Tempo Sonic TT helmet, while Cofidis riders raced the UVEX Ultimate DNAero road helmet and Ultimate Race X TT helmet.67% of Tour Riders Were on BOABOA was even more visible below the ankle. Of the 184 riders in the 2026 Tour de France, 123 raced shoes featuring BOA Fit System. That is 67% of the peloton.That number matters because BOA says riders were not contractually required to use BOA products. If a team has a shoe sponsor, riders choose from that brands product range, usually with input from performance staff.The Race-Day AdvantageRiders adjust fit before climbs, attacks, and sprints. Heat, sweat, and long hours can change how a shoe feels, so small changes matter.I micro-adjust my BOA dials when I hit a climb or start an effort. I tighten them so theres no movement inside the shoe, just direct power transfer to the pedal.Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney, winner of the 2024 Tour de France FemmesThat added level of connection is the practical side of the BOA Fit System: fast, precise adjustment when the race is about to get hard.This article is sponsored by BOA.

Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Espaa has led to an incredibly unusual finale. Whereas the riders were expected to arrive in Font Romeu this Monday afternoon, the peloton instead sought out refuge in a hotel in the Pyrenees. Wout Van Aert described his encounter with the brutal hail storm. The difficult w...

In the handmade space, gravel, all-road, or even 32 bikes certainly seem to be the most common at the moment. But that doesnt mean classic road bikes are dead. In fact, the new Scarab Serena wasnt the only road-specific bike being celebrated at the 2026 MADE Show; two other road bikes also got Builders Awards: English Cycles and Rare Earth Cycle.Winner, winner, chicken dinner! (Photos/ Zach Overholt BikeRumor)To me, there are very few things sexier than a dedicated, sleek, and understated road bike. I mean, theyre kinda the fighter jets of the bicycle world. I dont really ride them anymore, but I will always revel in them. Theyre usually very beautiful, in their light but tough demeanor.And the new Scarab Serena is no exception. Shes a Climber!I gave my custom Scarab Darin hardtail my Editors Choice Award for 2025 last year. Its an incredible riding steel mountain bike. The crew at Scarab knows what they are doing. And their work shows it. The Serena is a climbers bike, and it is a beaut! Scarab Cycles Founder and Lead Product Designer, Santiago Toro, says this about the Serena: Serena began with a question I have returned to for years: how should the ultimate climbing bicycle feel? Not only when attacking a mountain, but also during those rare moments when the bicycle, the body, and the climb stop feeling separate from one another. Serena was created to bring both sensations together.Well, she looks amazingly subtle and fast. Lets take a ganderScarab SerenaThe Serena base model frame can be yours for only $4,850 (frame, fork, seat clamp, front & rear axles, Wolf Tooth headset, and touch-up paint). That is a great price for a fully custom, hand-made, high-end steel frameset. To make the Serena, Scarab worked with Columbus to create a new family of custom-drawn Spirit tubes specifically for the platform.The head tube is a custom-machined two-piece design which really brings the whole front end together visually. Youll also find 3D-printed stainless steel UDH-compatible dropouts and weight-reducing details throughout, including the 68mm T47 bottom bracket. Even being a climbing bike, there is still room for 32mm tires.That head tube/top tube junction, though!The first 25 will be called the First Series, each with a permanent identifier on the chainstay. The Scarab Serena is a beautiful bike that is well deserving of the MADE 26 Builders Choice Award. The Scarab crew is not only talented, but they were so accommodating and nice when going through the frame-building process.Congrats to the crew at Scarab! Hit the link below to get your own Scarab frame; just know that only 25 units will be made for the First Series of Serenas!scarabcycles.com