From the 12th to 18th August the Tour de France Femmes 2024 will be on the road. After it's return, it has quickly become one of women's cycling most important and attractive events, and the 2024 edition promises to deliver with a route that is packed with surprises.We preview stage 2.The second da...

After painstakingly fabricating them by hand for quite some time, builder Konstantin of Drust Cycles in Berlin recently received his first batch of lovely forged aluminum rear light mounts, and they're available now in limited quantities. Learn more about the problem-solving Drust Rear Light Mount here...The post Drust Rear Light Mount: Form and Function appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The full general classification, along with the latest stage result, and the standings for the other jerseys

Charlotte Kool was in the past a leadout for Lorena Wiebes but had the difficult challenge of facing her biggest rival today on the opening day of the Tour de France Femmes. As luck would have it, a broken chain means she did not have to, and in the final sprint she was the strongest and took the ye...

Proper bike control is largely dictated by your contact points, so a good pair of shoes is an important piece of your riding kit. At Crankworx Whistler this year, FiveTen and Dainese had some new and soon-to-come MTB shoes on display.FiveTen was showing some incoming shoes that will be released in Spring 2025. Most notably, the popular Freerider Pro shoe will be available with a BOA closure system! Dainese had several models of their shoes on display. The lineup includes two models for flat pedals, two for clip-in riders, and one incoming model designed for comfortable on or off-bike use.FiveTen Freerider Pro BOA and Updated Hellcats:FiveTen was teasing some of their upcoming products at Crankworx Whistler this year. Info is scant at this point, but they were keen to get people excited about two revised models that will be announced next Spring. First up, the popular Freerider Pro shoe will soon be available with a BOA closure system. The Freerider Pro BOA is expected to launch in February 2025, so watch BikeRumor for future coverage when full details are available.FiveTen has also revised the Hellcat shoe. The updated models now feature a stronger reinforced toe area for better protection.The new Hellcats will also come with more lugs on the outsole for improved off-bike traction. This model will be launching in Spring 2025.Dainese Shoes HG Acto and Acto PRO:The Acto is a simple skate-style lace-up flat pedal shoe. It includes Daineses Z-Plate Bike insert in the sole which provides side-to-side support but allows flexibility front-to-back. The breathable upper fabric is reinforced with a rubber pattern on the sides for durability. TPU reinforcements on the heel and toe protect your feet.Inside, an EVA midsole ensures comfort and pedal sensitivity. On the outside, a Vibram XS Ride outsole features a compound designed to provide solid grip, while allowing for easy foot repositioning when necessary.The HG Acto shoe sells for $160. Color options are green/black or black/black, and US sizes range from 6-13.Also designed for flat pedals, the Acto PRO shares the same Z-Plate Bike sole insert, EVA midsole, Vibram XS Ride outsole, and TPU heel and toe reinforcements as the Acto shoe.The PRO model adds Daineses PER-FIT (Precision Elasticated Retaining System) lace system. It features four elasticated bands across the top of the foot and a quick sliding lace, plus a Velcro top strap to ensure a snug fit width-wise. Dainese says the system wraps the instep area snugly and applies uniform pressure on the foot.The Acto PRO also gets side panels with an auxetic pattern cut into them. This pattern allows for plenty of flexibility and unrestricted foot movement.Retail price for the HG Acto Pro is $190. It comes in black/black only (note: the colorway pictured is not showing on Daineses website), and in sizes 6-13.This photo shows the Materia (clip-in) and the Acto (flat) soles.HG Materia and Materia PRO:Image c. DaineseFor clip-in riders, Dainese offers the Materia shoe. The Materia is a low-top, lace-up shoe with several similar features to the Acto, but it offers a clip-in interface. The Materia gets an EVA midsole, and rubber side inserts to keep its breathable upper fabric protected from abrasions. It also includes TPU heel construction and a rubber toe cover. The Materia shoe gets a Groundtrax TCX outsole.The HG Materia shoe sells for $180. Color options are green/black or black/black, and US sizes 6-13 are available.Image c. DaineseThe Materia PRO model gets upgraded with Daineses PER-FIT lace system. It also features dual-density EVA upper construction, with auxetic patterned side panels to provide protection while allowing excellent foot mobility. The PRO model uses a Groundtrax TCX outsole with a universal clip-in interface.Features shared with the Materia model include an EVA midsole, TPU heel construction, and a rubber toe cover. MSRP for the Materia PRO is $199. They are available in black only, and sizes range from US 6-13.HG Itinera Flat:Coming next March is the trail/all-mountain focused HG Itinera Flat shoe. The Itinera offers a balance between stiffness for good pedal support and flexibility for comfortable walking when off the bike.The midsole features Dainese/TCXs ZPLATE BIKE technology. This tech places a Z-shaped thermoplastic support in the shoe that increases stability on the pedal by minimizing twisting or bending of the foot. However, the plate also allows for suitable walking flexibility. An EVA midsole provides cushion and helps absorb impacts, and a 5mm thick Ortholite footbed ensures comfort through long rides.The HG Itinera Flat features a Vibram Megagrip sole. The tread pattern was designed to allow excellent foot-to-pedal contact and to expel mud. Its high-performance rubber compound is very durable and provides excellent grip on pedal pins.Three colorways of the HG Itinera Flat will be available: Black, Four Leaf Clover, and White Pepper. MSRP is $140.The post Crankworx Whistler: Daineses Latest in MTB Footwear, FiveTen Teases Upcoming Models appeared first on Bikerumor.

We take peoples safety extremely seriously and recognise that some cyclists are making pedestrians feel unsafe, a Greenwich Council spokesperson said in response to the latest complaints

The opening day of the Tour de Pologne was fit for the puncheurs and it delivered. It was an exciting finale with a few attacks and differences; Thibau Nys was the strongest and managed to take another win to complement an already luxurious season.The first day of the race always offers up at least...

This installment of Weekend Snapshot shows off unique mountain vistas from three continents. Ride and camp along with folks from our global bikepacking community and take a moment to share a photo from one of your recent getaways here...The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Sometimes its interesting to hear how a new bike comes about. In the case of Aris incoming Superior Peak downhill bike, it was created because their sponsored riders needed a DH race bike, or something to ride freeride contests with. When these riders started producing results on the bike, Ari started getting questions about where people could get one!Initially Ari hadnt decided if this bike would go into production, but with anticipation building, they opted to produce a small run of the Superior Peak this year. The bike will soon be available in two complete builds or as a frameset. Ari Superior Peak Key Features:*Photo c. Ari BikesWhile the Superior Peak is a fully capable downhill race bike, it was designed to include plenty of versatility and adjustability. Ari has freeride athletes riding this frame in addition to their racers, so its a good thing this bike can be set up for racing or freeride/bike park use.The Superior Peak frame is made from airformed aluminum, and it can run 29 wheels or MX wheels on all frame sizes. A flip chip at the top of the seat stays keeps the frame geometry and kinematics almost identical with either rear wheel size. For freeride or bike park setups, the Superior Peak can run a single crown fork.The Superior Peak frame offers adjustable geometry and suspension kinematics, with eight possible configurations. Each adjustment is independent of the others, so riders can fine-tune one aspect of the bike at a time. Swappable shock mounts give the bike two progressivity settings. Both mounts are included with the bikes.You can choose between low and high BB settings, short or long chainstay settings, and the frame is compatible with angle and reach adjust headsets. The bikes come stock with normal headsets, but Ari offers customization options and will add a reach/angle adjust headset to your bike upon request. On top of tuning the geometry, the Superior Peaks suspension curve can be adjusted via two less/more progressive leverage ratio settings.Frame sizes S1, S2 and S3 will be available, covering riders from roughly 53 to 65.Build Options:*Photo c. Ari BikesThe two complete bike options will be the Comp and Elite models. Since Ari is still in the prototype stages and things could change, well leave the complete spec rundowns for the launch article. At a glance, the Elite model includes a RockShox Boxxer Ultimate fork, a Vivid Ultimate rear shock, and a SRAM X01 drivetrain. It will retail for $6499. The Comp model gets a RockShox Boxxer Charger 3 RC fork, a base model Vivid rear shock, and a SRAM GX drivetrain. That model is priced at $4799. Both models will be available in either the blue or white/raw colorways seen in the photos.One Ride Impressions:I got a chance to take the Superior Peak for a few laps in the Whistler Bike Park during Crankworx and it rekindled my affinity for downhill riding. This stable, supportive bike brought my faded bike park confidence back in a few hours flat! Ari doesnt have a geometry chart posted for the Superior Peak yet, but here are some of the key specs on the setup I rode: I am 510 tall, and I was on the S2 frame size, set up with 29 wheels front and rear. The S2 frame has a 480mm reach, and was in its short chainstay setting (444mm). Its head tube angle is 63.5. I rode the bike in the low BB setting, and in the more progressive leverage ratio position.With just a few hours on the bike, Im keeping my brief initial impressions focused on frame geometry and suspension characteristics.Geometry:Check out the Superior Peaks race-ready external cable routing.I stepped out of the DH game for the last few seasons, after selling off my aging downhill bike. In the meantime, trail/enduro bikes have grown significantly (which Im happy about), so I was curious what size DH frame Id feel comfortable on.With a reach of 480mm, this is the longest downhill bike Ive ridden by a large margin, and on the first lap it felt long in terms of wheelbase but comfortable as far as body position and reach. After a couple runs, I quickly adapted to handling the longer bike. By the end of the day I was convinced this is the size of DH bike I should be riding.I rode the Superior Peak in its shorter chainstay position.The lengthy front end gave the bike plenty of stability at high speeds and was definitely not too long for me to pull up for a little bump-to-bump wheelie. The 444mm chainstays didnt feel excessively long at all, and cornering was still relatively quick and fun. My test bike was in the short position, so you have the option of going longer if you want.Oddly enough the Superior Peaks 63.5 head angle is actually steeper than the slackest position on the Specialized Stumpjumper I recently reviewed. With a 200mm DH fork up front, it felt appropriately slack and very capable on steep or rough terrain.Suspension:With the bike in the more progressive leverage chip setting, I hit about 90% travel. Keeping in mind Im a bit rusty in the bike park, and the bike has a less progressive setting, I doubt Id have any trouble dialing it in properly given more time to experiment with setup. Thats a nice thing to know if youre a lightweight rider like me (at 135lbs).The Superior Peaks Tetra Link suspension linkage did a great job of sucking up big or repeated hits. What really pleased me was how supportive the mid-stroke was; the bike felt lively and never spongy while pumping through rollers or tight berms. It also showed an eagerness to spring forward and maintain speed.This support bar hiding behind the Superior Peaks rocker link helps keep the front end stiff and strong.While bump absorption was great, the Superior Peak is not a bike that produces a numb, deadened ride. I found its supportive mid-stroke helped it pop quite nicely off roots, bumps, or bigger jumps.*Photo c. Ari BikesAri is planning to officially launch the Superior Peak this fall, so watch Bikerumor for an upcoming article with complete details on the model lineup. Interested customers can pre-order a Superior Peak from Aris website now. aribikes.comThe post Aris Superior Peak Downhill Bike Offers Adjustable Geometry And A Lively Ride appeared first on Bikerumor.

Schwalbes new Albert and Shredda tyres borrow their carcass construction from the car tyre industry, using perpendicular radial plies rather than diagonal ones.Bold claims around improved grip and traction, and a smoother-feeling ride accompany the brands new approach to carcass construction.Three new tyres use Schwalbes Radial design the Shredda gravity-focused aggressive spike, the all-rounder Albert and a radial version of the Magic Mary.The radial carcass design is claimed to compress more freely, resulting in more grip. - SchwalbeCosting from 73.99 / 73.90 for the Albert Trail Pro and Magic Mary Trail Pro to 79.99 / $104 / 79.90 for the Shredda Pro, Albert Gravity Pro and Magic Mary Gravity Pro, the new tech to cycling at least comes at a cost.The Albert is available in 27.5in and 29in diameters, and 2.4in and 2.5in widths, while the Shredda front is only available in 29x2.5, but the Shredda rear can be bought in 27.5x2.5in and 29x2.5in sizes.However, their weight is competitive. The Albert Gravity Pro 29x2.5in Ultra Soft tyres weigh 1,346g, which is similar to equivalent Maxxis, Continental and Vee Tire DH-casing tyres.Radial tyre techThe Albert Gravity uses a two-ply casing. - Alex Evans / Our MediaRadial tyre constructions in the automotive industry, at least are nothing new.Radial tyre carcasses are built using plies that run perpendicular (90 degrees) to the tyres direction of travel and typically use a belt that improves stability.Diagonal carcass (also known as bias ply) tyre construction plies criss-cross one another at sharper angles (typically between 30 and 45 degrees), forming a mesh-like pattern and giving them their strength.Both tyre construction types can be built from as many or as few plies as the manufacturer wishes, depending on their intended usage.Cyclings take on radial tyre constructionSchwable's radial design isn't a true radial tyre because its plies aren't perpendicular to the direction of rotation, but it's not far off. - SchwalbeSchwalbes mountain bike radial tyres are a slight modification of the traditional 90-degree radial tyre.Its plies are still laid at an angle, albeit one less acute than a true radial tyre.This is the criss-cross pattern of a bias ply tyre carcass. - SchwalbeSchwalbe says the angle has been adjusted enough so it doesnt need a belt to maintain stability, but like the secret ingredients of a chefs sauce, the exact angle of the plies remains undisclosed.What are the advantages of radial tyres in mountain biking?The difference between a bias ply tyre's contact patch (left) and a radial tyre's contact patch (right). - SchwalbeAccording to Schwalbe, because the tyres plies are at a more obtuse angle, theyre under less pressure or tension, which means the tyre can deform better as it rolls over bumps.Thanks to that additional deformation, theres also an increase in tyre contact patch; up to 30 per cent for an equivalent pressure against a bias ply tyre. The tyre effectively squashes more when its on the ground or contacting a bump, compared to a traditional mountain bike tyre.A radial carcass design is claimed to be better damped compared to a bias ply model, with a quicker reduction in compression and rebound oscillation after an impact.The radial tyre oscillates at a lower amplitude and stops oscillating faster than a bias ply tyre. - SchwalbeThis 'more controlled rebound' and 'smoother response behaviour' should help improve bike handling and grip.Details in Schwalbes press release are thin, but its safe to assume the rebound speed of the carcass remains more constant regardless of how compressed it is. As the tyre returns to its original shape, its still inflating/rebounding at a similar rate to when its nearly fully compressed. This should boost control.There must be some disadvantages, right?A downside of the radial carcass design is a potential increase in pinch-flat punctures. - SchwalbeEven Schwalbe admits there are some cons to its radial design.Rolling resistance is increased thanks to the larger contact patch; more of the tyres tread and rubber is in contact with the ground at any one time.You may get more pinch-flat punctures because radial tyres are more supple compared to bias ply tyres. As the tyre hits an impact, it compresses more, thus opening up the potential for more pinch flats.Schwalbe likens this to removing a volume reducer from an air spring; it'll use more of its travel more readily.New Albert Trail Pro and Albert Gravity Pro details and pricingThe Ultra Soft is Schwalbe's tackiest compound. - Alex Evans / Our MediaThe new Albert comes in two variants: the Albert Pro Trail and the Albert Gravity Pro. The differences between the two are the number of plies in their construction. The Gravity Pro is made with a dual-ply casing, while the Trail version uses a single ply.However, the tread is identical across both tyres, featuring an alternating two-three centre-block pattern and long side knobs, akin to Maxxis Assegai.The tyre has a rounded profile. - Alex Evans / Our MediaThe tight block pattern known as a small pitch has been designed specifically to keep as much tyre in contact with the ground as possible, working with the radial carcass.Its positioned as an enduro-focused all-rounder, but with a performance bias towards harder trail surfaces. It has a universal front and rear tread pattern, and is recommended for bikes with 150mm of travel or more.It measures 60mm wide, slightly narrower than Schwalbe's 65mm claims. - Alex Evans / Our MediaWhile claimed weights for the Albert Trail and Gravity tyres arent publicised by Schwalbe, my 29x2.5in Albert Gravity Pro Soft and Ultra Soft tyres weighed 1,319g and 1,346g respectively.Schwalbe Albert Trail ProSchwalbe Albert Trail Pro. - Schwalbe27.5x2.4 Soft27.5x2.4 Ultra Soft29x2.4 Soft29x2.4 Ultra Soft29x2.5 Soft29x2.5 Ultra SoftAll models 73.99 / 73.90Schwalbe Albert Gravity ProSchwalbe Albert Gravity Pro - Alex Evans / Our Media27.5x2.4 Soft27.5x2.5 Soft29x2.4 Soft29x2.4 Ultra Soft29x2.5 Soft (1,319g actual weight)29x2.5 Ultra Soft (1,346g actual weight)All models 79.99 / $104 / 79.90The new Shredda ProSchwalbe Shredda Front Gravity Pro. - SchwalbeThe new Shredda Pros spiked tread pattern has been designed for loose and loam trail surfaces, and its design was inspired by motocross tyres.There are front- and rear-specific tyres, each with their own tread pattern.The Shredda Pro Front uses a symmetrical square-shaped two-block centre pattern, but every other pair of knobs has a small bridge to increase stability.Schwalbe Shredda Front Gravity Pro. - SchwalbeIts side knobs are more rectangular, running with their longest edge in the direction of rotation. These are designed to grip when the tyre is leant over during cornering.Designed with the radial construction in mind, an open and high tread is said to create 'interlocking' with the terrain, upping grip on loose surfaces.Specific to the rear, the Shredda Pro Rears tread is shallower than the fronts and has a different design.Schwalbe Shredda Rear Gravity Pro. - SchwalbeA two-two-three centre-block alternating pattern and larger vertically orientated side blocks, which also alternate in a one-two pattern, are claimed to provide uphill grip and traction (for electric mountain bikes) and plenty of braking performance.Schwalbe hasn't released claimed weights for the new Shredda.Schwalbe Shredda Gravity Pro Front29x2.5in Ultra Soft79.99 / $104 / 79.90Schwalbe Shredda Gravity Pro Rear29x.2.5in Ultra Soft27.5x2.5in Ultra SoftAll models 79.99 / $104 / 79.90