Portland, Oregons top-notch component maker, Chris King Precision Components Ready to Ride Wheelsets are ready to ride. These wheelsets are hand-built to the same set of precise standards as all of the Chris King products.(Photos / Chris King)Ceramic or Steel Bearings?The wheelsets come with either steel or ceramic bearings and whatever drive suits your fancy. The best part is they are built and ready to ship on the same day they are purchased. Chris Kings line of built-to-order wheels, with the color hub you want, is also still available if thats the direction you want to go.For those that dont mind going with the prebuilt options, Chris Kings Ready to Ride line of wheelsets is the fastest way to get Kings precision wheels on your steed.Ready to Ride RetailChris King Retail: $2700 $2850 (Chris King hoops)ENVE Retail: $3000 (ENVE hoops)HED Retail: $1125 (HED hoops)Stans Retail: $850 $1125 (Stans hoops)What Are They Built With?Stans rim with blue hubChris King FusionFiber rim with gold hubThe Ready to Ride line of wheelsets includes Chris Kings high-performance FusionFiber rims on the GRD23, MTN30, and ARD44. There are also other rims available in the line like offerings from Stans, HED, and ENVE. All of the wheels are built in-house and use Chris King hubs.HED rim with blue hubENVE rim with orange hubThe Chris King hubs come with a Lifetime Warranty, ensuring a lifetime of worry-free riding. Check out the details of all the different flavors of Ready to Ride wheelsets, get a wheelset made to order, or take a look at all that Chris King has to offer by hitting the link below. ChrisKing.comThe post Chris Kings Hand-Built, Ready to Ride Wheelsets are in Stock and Ready to Rip appeared first on Bikerumor.

Riding your bike is an incredible way to stay fit, explore the outdoors, and commute sustainably. However, like any physical activity, it carries the risk of injuries. There are two different types of injuries we need to worry about when it comes to cyclingchronic use injuries, and injuries that come from accidents like falling off the bike. Both are a huge bummer because none of us want to spend time off the bike. The good news is that with the right precautions, many common cycling injuries can be prevented. This guide will help you understand how to stay safe and enjoy your ride to the fullest.Get A Professional Bike FitOne of the most crucial aspects of preventing injuries is ensuring your bike is correctly fitted to your body. An ill-fitting bike can lead to various issues, including knee pain, back pain, and numbness. Sometimes folks are literally on the wrong sized bike, but most of us just need small adjustments to the bike to feel our best. These include making sure the saddle is set to its correct height and adjusting the handlebar position, but also other tweaks like cutting the handlebars to a narrower width or swapping out cranks for shorter ones.Some of these things you can do on your own (most of us can get our saddle height set to a mostly correct position), but a professional bike fit will really help you dial things in. Ask anyone who has a cycling-related chronic knee injury, and theyll tell you they wish they had invested in a professional bike fit BEFORE it developed. Dont Mash On The PedalsI work with lots of athletes who are what I call pedal mashers. These folks like like to push a huge gear with a low cadence.This not only puts a lot of force on your knees, pedal mashers also tend to wrench on the handlebars putting strain on their lower back and shoulders. This is a great way to cause a chronic use injury.According to a study published in Sports Medicine, Riding at too much pedal resistance is a major cause of overuse problems in cyclists. Overuse injuries are lower using lower gear ratios at a higher cadence.If you think you might be a pedal masher, start paying attention to your cadence. If you drop below 70 rpm, shift to an easier gear and pick it up a bit. Proper Warm-Up and Cool-DownWarming up before a ride and cooling down afterward are essential to prepare your muscles and prevent injuries. A good warm-up increases blood flow, allows your heart rate to slowly rise, and gets your muscles ready for the workout ahead. I like to have my athletes warm up for AT LEAST 15 minutes before starting any hard intervals. After your ride, a 10 to 15 minute cool-down with light pedaling and gradual reduction of your heart rate, *may* help remove metabolic waste (like lactic acid) from your muscles and reduce soreness. While I dont know if soreness can really be counted as an injury, it feels like it when youre limping around for a few days after a hard ride. Strength TrainingRepetitive cycling motions can lead to imbalances in the muscles and strain certain areas of the body. Strength training helps in balancing these muscle groups, reducing the risk of overuse injuries. Exercises that target the core, back, and upper body are particularly beneficial in this regard, as they support a stronger posture on the bike. Folks who experience knee or lower back pain, are particularly benefited by strength training. I recommend my athletes do a MINIMUM of2 or 3,20-30 minute strength training sessions per week. I have them focus on five types of strength movements:Core (examples: planks, side planks, medicine ball twists)Pushing (examples: pushups, bench presses, overhead press, tricep dips)Pulling (examples: rows, pullups/chinups, deadlifts)Squats (examples: traditional, goblet squats, pistol squats)Lunges (examples: traditional, walking, curtsy lunges)Mobility ExercisesCycling is a repetitive motion sport, meaning youre doing the same movements over and over. This can lead to muscle imbalances and tightness, especially in the hips, back, and shoulders.Mobility exercises help counteract these effects by improving flexibility and range of motion. While specific studies directly linking mobility work to injury prevention in cyclists are limited, systematic reviews on general sports injuries suggest that flexibility and mobility exercises are beneficial in preventing injuriesStretching after a ride, going to yoga classes, and using a foam roller are all good ways to work on your mobility. Gradually Increase Mileage And Properly Train For Big EventsWhen I was a senior in high school, I decided I wanted to do a 200-mile road ride with my dad. Up until this point, the longest ride I had done was 50 miles and I wasnt riding on a regular basis.While my mind was ready, my body was not. At the 100 mile point, my left knee developed excruciating pain and it lasted for several months after the event. Not smart.For long distance riding, make sure you are working up to longer miles on the bike and following a training plan. A proper training load helps reduce your risk of injury. Avoid OvertrainingOn the flip side, its important to listen to your body and avoid overtraining. Overtraining can lead to fatigue, decreased performance, and an increased risk of injuries like tendinitis. Be sure to include rest days in your training schedule (take AT LEAST one day completely off per week) and vary the intensity of your rides to give your body time to recover. For every HARD ride youre doing, you should be including an easy ride in your schedule.Stay Aware of Your Surroundings And Choose Safe RoutesAccidents with other cyclists, pedestrians, or vehicles are common causes of cycling injuries. Always stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Use hand signals, wear visible clothing, and make eye contact with drivers when necessary. Following traffic rules and riding predictably can greatly reduce your risk of accidents.Choosing safe routes, particularly bike paths away from traffic, can help reduce your risk of injury as well. One study showed that bike paths separated from traffic had a 28% lower relative risk of injury than on a street. That said, only 7% of cycling injuries involve collisions with vehiclesmost are from falls or hitting stationary objectsso its really important to stay alert while riding even when youre away from traffic. Wear Your Helmet!Brain injuries are the most serious cycling injuries of all, and can be prevented with a helmet. According to a review in Scientific Reports, studies consistently show that wearing a helmet while cycling is beneficial in preventing injuries, regardless of age or crash severity. Make sure that your helmet fits well and isnt cracked or worn. Make sure to replace it every 3 to 5 years, or sooner if you notice signs of decay or if youve been in an accident. Make Sure Your Bike Is Well MaintainedRegularly maintaining your bike, including checking the brakes, tires, and chain, can prevent mechanical failures that might lead to accidents. As someone whos worn her brakes to failure before, let me tell you that it is a very dangerous situation!Before each ride make sure to do the A,B,Cs! Check your tires Air pressure to make sure they are properly inflated. Squeeze both the front and rear Brakes individually to make sure they are working. And clean and lube your Chain to keep it spinning smoothly.At least once a month, do a thorough cleaning on your bike and check your brake pads and chain for wear. Check all bolts to make sure that everything is snug. These are easy things to learn on YouTube, but if you dont feel comfortable doing it yourself, make sure you are taking your bike into the shop regularly for service. Take Care Of Your Nether RegionsSome of the most common cycling injuries or the least discussed. Saddle sores, chafing, and genital numbness are just a few issues that cyclists experience. And you shouldnt have to put up with any of them! Butt or genital pain shouldnt be a normal part of riding a bike. Depending on the issue and the cause, there are many things you can do to address saddle pain. These include choosing a bike saddle thats the appropriate width for your sitbones, getting a professional bike fit (as previously mentioned), wearing padded bike shorts, and using chamois cream. For more serious problems, like pelvic floor issues, a doctor or physical therapist can prescribe exercises to help.Wear Bike GlovesAt some point, nearly all of us will have a bike crash. And most of these crashes dont involve broken bones or head injuriesthey usually result in road rash. Common locations for road rash are our elbows, forearms, knees, and palms. Long cycling pants and long sleeve jerseys can help prevent road rash, but are often impractical due to heat. Bike gloves, however, can be worn even in hot temperatures and help prevent our hands from getting skinned in a crash. They also provide additional grip which can keep your hands from slipping off the bars.Finally, gloves with a little padding can help prevent wrist and hand injuries, such as Cyclists Palsy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (as can alternating hand positions on the handlebars). More Stuff You Might LikePreventing and Treating Cycling Injuries With Samantha Welter (podcast interview)Getting Back On The Saddle After A Bicycle CrashCycling After Surgery: How I Got Back On The BikeAbout The AuthorKristen Bonkoski is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist.An avid cyclist for a few decades now, she took to cycling during her late teen years a time when she needed something to help boost her self-esteem and confidence.Mission accomplished, the sport has become an important part of her life. Kristens favorite disciplines are mountain biking andbike commuting, although youcan also find her crankingout a century on her road bike and touring with her husband and son. If it has to do with two wheels, she enjoys doing it.Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and she runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.IG:@femme_cyclistThe post How You Can Prevent Cycling Injuries appeared first on Femme Cyclist.

With their loved ones trackside, Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant wrote their names in history

Its been 14 years since Californias Marin Bikes had a full-blown gravity-oriented bike in their line. But that is no longer the case as they announced the release of the all-new Quake. The Quake is a bike strictly designed for freeride, park laps, and downhill runs. While the name is familiar, Marin reminds us that it shares nothing but the name and design intent with the previous version of the Quake.(Photos / Marin Bikes)With the new Quake, Marin used an immersive design cycle, utilizing multiple generations of development samples and garnering invaluable input from top riders. During this time, at events like Crankworx, Darkfest, and Hardline, the Quake was proven to be both strong and capable. On some of the steepest and most challenging tracks, riders like Matt Jones, Martha Gill, Mark Matthews, and Vinnie Moonen helped Marin form the final iteration of the bike.Quake HighlightsAll-new Series 4 Aluminum MultiTrac 2 LT frame with 180mm travelAdjustable geometry: bottom bracket height/chainstay lengthMixed 29 F / 27.5 R wheel sizesAbility to run 29 rearAbility to run 27.5 front when used with 10-15mm tall external lower cup200mm travel forks, 4 piston brakes w/ 200mm rotorsOne model & one frame kit are availableFrame & TravelThe Quakes all-new Series 4 Aluminum frame has 180mm rear travel. And, it features the MultiTrac 2 LT suspension platform that debuted on the Alpine Trail models. Marin says that the MultiTrac 2 LT suspension shifts seatstay pivots to chainstay pivots. This ensures that the suspension performance matches their design goals, which would not be achievable using seatstay pivots once the travel exceeds 150mm. The relocation of the rear pivot points from the seatstay to the chainstay also reduces anti-rise, allowing for better control under braking, more mid-stroke support, and may feel better at bottom-out. Furthermore, the pivot relocation has the added benefit of allowing for the adjustability of the chainstays and bottom bracket height.The new Quakes headtube is a 56ZS (56mm diameter with Zero Stack). This size headtube opens the riders aftermarket options for headsets, allowing for better reach and headtube angle adjustments. The frame is also compatible with most appropriate single crown forks, with either the 29 or the 27.5 front wheel.Riders who switch to 27.5 wheels need to use a 10-15mm external lower cup for 180-190mm single crown or 200mm dual crown forks.Adjustable GeoSeatstay Flip ChipThere are two integrated flip chips on the Quake. These chips, as you guessed, help the rider quickly and easily choose from multiple configurations based on terrain and equipment preference. Chainstay Flip ChipYou can set the Quake to a long and low configuration (353mm/440mm) or high and tight (361mm/430mm). By flipping the chip in the seatstay it will allow the rider to run a 29 rear wheel, instead of the stock 27.5 wheel. ProtectionThe Quakes chainstays and seatstays are protected using durable rubber guards. This helps to minimize noise and protect the finish of the bike. Keeping the filth and muck off the lower suspension pivot bearings is the mudflap.Lower downtube protectionUpper downtube protectionYoull find an integrated lower downtube guard that will help protect against rouge rocks, logs, or whatever trail debris is kicked up on a ride. Theres also an upper down tube shuttle pad protecting the frame against tailgate shuttle rash (I think I just made up that term). A cool lil touch is the cable ports. These are designed to keep the inside of the frame sealed off from the elements. They feature a membrane that is pierced upon initial installation. This membrane seals around the hose or housing once it is inserted. They will be available as service parts in case you need to change components.SRAM Full Mount CompatibleThe Marin Quake utilizes SRAMs Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standard for the dropout and hanger. This will allow riders to use the direct-mount rear derailleurs if desired. Quack Retail and SpecsRetail: $4699 (complete)Retail: $1899 (frame kit)Marin says that they are offering the Quake in one model and one frame kit. They also say that theyve chosen a no-nonsense build kit. Lets check it out below. The Quake frame kit consists of the frame, rear shock, headset, axle, UDH, and seat clamp.RockShox Boxxer in combination with a RockShox Vivid Coil Ultimate DH shockSRAM gravity-specific GX DH 7-speed drivetrain Maven Bronze four-piston brakes and 200mm HS2 rotorsMaxxis Assegai 2.5 tubeless-ready tires with 3C MaxxGrip DH casingSRAMs Descendant crankset, handlebar, and direct-mount stem. FSA No 74 headsetThe all-new Quake and Quake frame kit is expected to be available in global markets in March 2025.MarinBikes.comThe post Marin Bikes Shakes it Up with the Return of the Quake DH/Freeride Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

The 2024 Vuelta a Burgos got underway this Monday afternoon. After a frantic final sprint, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL's Pavel Bittner sprinted to the win on what was basically a perfect day for the team.Today was the first sprint opportunity of the race. The guys and team really believed in me that...

With Olympic title in their pocket, Australian national team will try to carry the good spirits through to the Zurich World Championships, scheduled to take off in just a little bit over two weeks from now. While all eyes will be set on the women's time trial, the highly intimidating profiles of bot...

National Track Championships 2024 SundriveVelodrome, Eamon Ceannt Park, Crumlin Womens Team Sprint Mens Team Sprint (Open) Womens Team Pursuit Mens Team Pursuit Womens 500m TT Senior Mens Kilo TT Womens Madison Mens MadisonThe post Results National Track Championships 2024, Eamon Ceannt Park, Crumlin appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Ryan Mullen rounded out his debut Olympics with a Trojan effort in the mens road race, working for Ben Healy, after his 12th place in the TT the weekend before. That result by Mullen in the race against the clock was Irelands best ever placing on the road at any Olympics, but was eclipsed at []The post Ryan Mullens Olympics | When the race is easy, the explosion later will be bigger appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Sven Vanthourenhout (thanks to the phenomenal Remco Evenepoel) has achieved everything a national coach can dream of. Whether he'll continue in his task as a Team Belgium's coach is now up in the air as he reportedly received numerous work offers from top WorldTour teams.Het Laatste Nieuws informs t...

Ed Clancy is Yorkshire's most decorated Olympian to this day with three Olympic gold medals from track. In addition he also won six World championship titles and five European titles. However he is well aware that he may be surpassed by the 25-year-old Tom Pidcock, who's already won the Olympic MTB...