Kashif Khan was driving at around twice the speed limit when he killed Andell Goulbourne in 2020, the "callous" driver finally being arrested on return to the UK this summer

Next Sunday at the 2024World Championships inZrich, the men's elite road race takes place. The pre-race favourite for the Rainbow Jersey, is Slovenia's Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, Tadej Pogacar.One man that knows just how much of a threat Pogacar is going to be next weekend, is th...

Hailed as a 'revolution in ride dynamics' by E*Thirteen, and 'super smooth' by Aaron Gwin, this new freehub design is claimed to filter out pedal kickback and chain vibrations for improved suspension.E*Thirteen Sidekick hubsIts not a new idea, nor is it without potential side effects, but if just a fraction of the claimed Continue reading

Alaska Divide is a 1,700-kilometer (1,056-mile) unsupported bikepacking adventure from Anchorage to Deadhorse. Just three riders completed the route this year, overcoming frozen roads, torrential downpours, and drivetrain-eating mud. Bernarda Juric was the first to finish with a time of 8 days, 2 hours, and 29 minutes. Find her story here...The post Alaska Divide: Bikepacking Across the Great Land appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Classy, unobtrusive and does the job, but not cheap and can be fiddly to adjust 7/10

Tim Merlier has been in unstoppable form of late. In fact, since taking the European Championship title earlier this month, the Belgian has been victorious in all his races, the latest of which sees Merlier reach a landmark of 50 careerwins.In a tight bunch sprint on Sunday afternoon atGooikse Pij...

The latest MBR Show has just gone live, and in this episode Danny and Jamie discuss the rise of the robots in mountain biking are electronics a good thing, or are they dumbing down the sport and eroding hard-worn skills? MBR Show episode 12In episode 12 of the MBR Show we take a look at the increasing use of electronics and algorithms to Continue reading

e*thirteens new Sidekick hub is claimed to isolate the drivetrain from the rear suspension, eliminating pedal kickback and improving rider speed, control, grip and comfort on descents.The Sidekick achieves this by using a proprietary freehub mechanism that decouples the drivetrain from the suspension when freewheeling.This isnt the first kickback-reducing product weve seen, with the most notable release the Ochain Active Spider. The Active Spider is an attachment that enables the chainring to rotate anti-clockwise to a certain degree (depending on which elastomers you choose) independently of the cranks. This gives you what Ochain calls a chainless ride feel.But e*thirteen reckons its hub solution betters its competitors because it eliminates the root cause of the problem at its source, unlike other devices that require pedal kickback to occur before masking a portion of it.As well as the Sidekick hub, e*thirteen is also releasing new Grappler Sidekick Flux wheels, a new rim design with engineered compliance for improved grip and comfort, and the all-mountain oriented Sylvan Sidekick wheels.The Sidekick hub will retail for 469.95 / $499.95 / 499.95 / AU$843.95 or $559.95 / $589.95 / 589.95 / AU$995.95 with a 7-speed integrated cassette. A matching front hub will set you back 159.95 / $169.95 / 169.95 / AU$287.95.How does Sidekick work?A closer look at the internals of the Sidekick. - e*thirteen A proprietary freehub mechanism disengages the drivetrain from the rear wheel when freewheeling.What e*thirteen calls an adjustable engagement deadband then filters any kickback and chain vibration before it reaches the pedals. This in turn isolates any pedal feedback from the suspension.There are three settings for the Pawl Pusher. - e*thirteen When freewheeling, a spring keeps the Sidekicks pawls disengaged. When you pedal, what e*thirteen calls the Pawl Pusher lifts the pawls into position, which enables them to engage with the ratchet.The Pawl Pusher has three settings (12, 15 and 18 degrees), enabling you to tune the amount of deadband and resulting anti-kickback.The Sidekick relies on a steel axle, which e*thirteen says is for stiffness and reliability, and the ratchet is replaceable and serviceable.Many claimed benefitsThe purported benefits are numerous. - e*thirteen e*thirteen says the Sidekick will be of particular benefit to those who ride with flat mountain bike pedals, with the hope that the improved stability means your feet are more likely to stay exactly where theyre meant to be, boosting comfort and reducing fatigue in the process.The brand also claims the shifting will be smoother and quieter.In addition, e*thirteen says the reduced drag of the hub results in a speed benefit and the system is said to be whisper-quiet when freewheeling.The hubs are said to be "whisper-quiet". - e*thirteen e*thirteen says you dont need to change your rear-shock compression or rebound tune and the Sidekick enables you to spend up to 50 per cent more time in the mid-stroke of the rear-wheel travel, ensuring youre getting the most out of the available travel.The brand goes as far as claiming that, in its tests, it saw a cumulative increase of up to 44 per cent in time spent across the 11 to 70 per cent travel range on downhill mountain bikes. For reference, e*thirteen says it arrived at these figures by using a BYB Telemetry system with a 1,000Hz/sec sampling rate.The Sidekick has already seen results with the Mondraker Factory DH team. - e*thirteen Its important to recognise that figure will vary for different mountain bike genres.The Sidekick hub will be available with SRAM XD or Shimano Microspline, HG and mini-HG freehubs. You can choose between Boost, Super Boost, 157x12mm or 148mm DH mountain bike axle standards.e*thirteen claims an XD Boost hub weighs 452g.New Flux rimsThe Grappler Flux is a new enduro / downhill rim. - e*thirteen As well as offering the Sidekick hubs separately, e*thirteen will also be offering them as part of its new Grappler Sidekick Flux wheels.The wheels use a new Grappler Flux rim, a downhill or enduro-specific rim claimed to pair durability with a more forgiving and compliant ride.e*thirteen describes the rim as being the ideal choice for riders who challenge the limits of speed and agility on fast, aggressive tracks and trails while desiring more comfort, reduced fatigue and enhanced traction.The rims are engineered for improved compliance. - e*thirteen The Enduro rims sport a 17.5mm depth, and the DH rim 20mm with both options available in carbon or alloy.They have a 30mm internal rim width and are hookless, which e*thirteen says offers better tubeless tyre security and resistance to impact damage.Despite the added compliance engineered into the rim, e*thirteen says theyre as strong as its World Cup LG1 and Grappler rims and still offers a lifetime warranty on its carbon rims, with a five-year crash-replacement policy for alloy offerings.The alloy rim variants are available in 27.5 or 29in, whereas 27.5in sizes are only offered as a rear-wheel option for the carbon rim variants.e*thirteen Grappler Sidekick Flux range detailsAs well as four different wheel options, e*thirteen will also be offering the rims separately, with a Grappler Flux Enduro aluminium rim 119.95 / $129.95 / 129.95 and the carbon rim 489.95 / $539.95 / 539.95.The Grappler Flux DH aluminium rim will set you back 119.95 / $129.95 / 129.95, with the carbon rim 519.95 / $569.95 / 569.95.e*thirteen Grappler Sidekick Flux Enduro CarbonClaimed weight: 900g front, 1,200g rear (29, Boost, XD)Front-wheel price: 729.95 / $799.95 / 799.95/ AU$1,349.95Rear-wheel price: 1,099.95 / $1,199.95 / 1,199.95/ AU$2,023.95e*thirteen Grappler Sidekick Flux Enduro AluminiumClaimed weight: 906g front, 1,210g rear (29, Boost, XD)Front-wheel price: 349.95 / $379.95 / 379.95Rear-wheel price: 589.95 / $649.95 / 649.95e*thirteen Grappler Sidekick Flux DH CarbonClaimed weight: 1,000g front, 1,210g rear (29in, mini-HG, 157x12mm)Front-wheel price: 769.95 / $849.95 / 849.95 / AU$1,434.95Rear-wheel price: from 1,249.95 / $1,349.95 / 1,349.95/ AU$2,529.95e*thirteen Grappler Sidekick Flux DH AluminiumClaimed weight: 1,009g front, 1,219g rear (29in, mini-HG, 157x12mm)Front-wheel price: 349.95 / $379.95 / 379.95Rear-wheel price: from 599.95 / $659.95 / 659.95New Sylvan Sidekick wheelsThe Sylvan Sidekicks are e*thirteen's all-mountain option. - e*thirteen e*thirteen will finally be offering its low-profile Sylvan asymmetric all-mountain rims with the new Sidekick hub.The rims are available in alloy or carbon, with e*thirteen describing them as being perfect for aggressive trail, all-mountain or lightweight electric bikes.The 29in rims use a 4mm-offset asymmetrical spoke bed in an effort to equalise spoke bracing angles and tensions. Like the Grappler Flux, the Sylvan rims also have a 30mm internal width but a deeper 23mm profile.e*thirteen Sylvan Sidekick CarbonClaimed weight: 800g front, 1,060g rear (Boost, XD)Front-wheel price: 709.95 / $779.95 / 779.95 / AU$1,315.95Rear-wheel price: from 1,019.95 / $1,119.95 / 1,119.95/ AU$1,888.95e*thirteen Sylvan Sidekick AluminiumClaimed weight: 920g front, 1,180g rear (Boost, XD)Front-wheel price: 349.95 / $379.95 / 379.95 / AU$641.95Rear-wheel price: from 569.95 / $629.95 / 629.95/ AU$1,062.95

Tadej Pogacar won his first Tour de France in 2020 and it came as a big surprise, despite the immense potential that he had shown the years before. In a recent lengthy interview the UAE Team Emirates rider recalled that edition, how he beat Primoz Roglic in the final time-trial and even gave insight...

Today's installment of Weekend Snapshot finds three readers among the imposing landscapes of Utah, Italy, and Colorado. Find bikepacking vignettes from three members of our worldwide community and use the short form to share a photo from one of your rides here...The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.