Streamlined shapes, maximum weight savings, and peak efficiency have long been the gold standard for road cycling footwear. The same goes for the increasingly competitive and professionalized world of gravel, where the same principles of lightness and aerodynamics reign supreme, albeit with a bit more protection.BOA Technology is taking its micro-adjustable BOA Fit System off road more than ever. The brand partners with numerous leading brands to create performance fir solutions purpose built for tough off-road conditions; (Photo/BOA)Countless professional athletes of these disciplines rely on the BOA Fit System when selecting footwear for the Olympic Games, DH World Cups, FKTs, and more, many of whom cross over from road into gravel or mountain biking.Kasia Niewiadoma has become a dominant force in road and gravel racing; (Photo/BOA)Few people on this planet understand the rigors of mixing it up in different disciplines more than Kasia Niewiadoma. The Canyon/SRAM racing powerhouse has a resume stacked with 18 professional wins, including this years La Flche Wallonne and Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift. She also currently holds the title of UCI Gravel World Champion. She achieved all of these significant triumphs using the BOA Fit System.Though she holds the title of the worlds best gravel cyclist, Niewiadoma considers herself a die-hard roadie.I definitely gain or get more pleasure with racing on the road. I find finals very interesting, and I can fully zone in and enjoy the whole process and the suffering part, she said. Gravel racing is also very interesting and stimulating in the way that you have to use your technical skills more often.Niewiadoma said she doesnt necessarily look forward to the hard, steady paces associated with gravel races as much as the more explosive style of racing involving tactics that she prefers on the road.Kasia Niewiadoma won the 2024 Tour de France Femme Avec Zwift while holding the title of UCI Gravel World Champion; (Photo/BOA)From the races I did, I definitely felt that (gravel) is super hard because you have a hard pace from the start, but its like this for the whole five-hour race, or six-hour race. So its a different sort of suffering, and in some ways (kind of) lonely racing, She said. I think I will forever choose road over gravel.But still, as more roadies move into gravel, or even mountain biking, BOA has gone with them, offering a reliable fit and feel required to maintain the performance and comfort they need to compete at the highest level, no matter what bike or terrain they are on.Kasia Niewiadoma says feeling comfortable on the bike is one of the most critical components of racing, whether on road or gravel; (Photo/BOA)I dont really mind making those switches between road or gravel, mostly because the position on my gravel and the road bike is quite similar, and I dont feel like I compromise anything. Throughout the season and even in the winter time preparing for the main season, I spend quite a lot of time on my gravel bike, or sometimes on my mountain bike, so I think Im just used to changing surfaces. And I think that ultimately it all comes down to how comfortable you feel on the bike. KatarzynaKasia Niewiadoma. Understanding BOA TechnologyBOA Technology entered the cycling market 16 years ago. Its patented, award-winning BOA Fit System consists of micro-adjustable dials, strong, lightweight laces, and low-friction guides, replacing traditional laces in a sport that demands lightness, simplicity, toughness, and comfort in every piece of kit.Aside from the nagging issues that can come from traditional laces, the BOA Fit System allows its designers to reimagine the upper configuration in ways not possible with traditional laces. BOA says research conducted in its BOA Performance Fit Lab has shown many significant benefits of its PerformFit Wrap, where panels activated by the BOA Fit System wrap from medial to lateral for cyclists. These documented scientific benefits include up to a 9% increase in power output, 11% increase in peak power output during sprints, and 10% improvement in pressure distribution that benefits riders in sprints or long-distance riding.Off-road shoes tend to be heavier than any other type of cycling shoe, as they require padding to absorb extreme punishment. Off-road riders also dont generally have as much time, if any, to adjust their shoes while they charge down a mountain white-knuckling the bars, or cutting across a section of chunky gravel. But even the off-road world has snuggled up to BOA tech more and more as its benefits continue to become clearer, and models adapt to meet the demands of gravel, trail, and downhill riders.BOA platformsBOAs wrapped upper configurations, activated by the brands latest L-Series dials and purpose-fit for low-cut and light-weight footwear, continue to refine fit and performance on a whole new lineup of shoes.The L6 dial platform combines a lightweight design with a priority on durability. Like all modern BOA platforms, L6 features a breakaway design where the dial releases from the bayonet on extreme impact and pops back in without catastrophic damage. L6 also offers exceptional resistance to impact on the trail, dirt, and mud, with some brands opting for integrated shields so riders can have complete confidence on trails.BOA dials are easy to operate, light, and tough; (Photo/BOA)The Li2 platform, which is BOAs most advanced, provides a low-profile design with multidirectional adjustment capability and a fast total release tailored to riders who need extremely fine-tuned control that is effortless to use and unwaveringly reliable. With the Li2 platform, riders can continuously adjust their shoes to the conditions they are in, maintaining an even fit and maximizing efficiency and comfort in a way that could not be done with traditional laces or even hook and loop.The BOA Fit System is adaptable, allowing brands to integrate it within models to meet varied demands, for instance leveragingClassic Fit, Targeted Zonal Fit, or BOA PerformFit Wrap.The Targeted Zonal Fit, which riders can find on the Fox Union BOA shoe, incorporates two independent zones of micro-adjustable closure to more precisely match unique foot shapes. This fit can reduce pressure points and allow for quick adjustments as feet swell.BOA PerformFit Wrap appears on shoes like the Ride Concepts Tallac Mid BOA and the Canyon TEMPR CFR Off-Road. It improves fit, stability, and efficiency with a wrap around the middle of the foot that locks in the heel and offers more freedom of movement in the forefoot.A series of new partnerships with Ride Concepts, Fox, and Canyon has taken the BOA brand further into the MTB category with a host of new BOA-driven shoes built for the most demanding off-road conditions and could buck the trend of lace-ups in the downhill and adventure riding world altogether.Ride Concepts Tallac Mid BOAThe Ride Concepts Tallac Mid BOA is one of the toughest shoes to feature BOA tech. Made for serious downhill riding, the shoe comes in clip or flat options, and features BOAs state-of-the-art PerformFit Wrap.The Ride Concepts Tallac Mid BOA shoe is built for downhill riders, offering protection and precise fit control with BOA PerformFit Wrap technology; (Photo/BOA)Ride Concepts says the shoe offers integrated D3O pads for protection over the top of the foot, a 3D molded collar that protects ankles from side impacts, and a grippy hexagonal outsole for grip while off the bike.The shoe uses a single Li2 dial that can tighten or loosen with ease so riders dont have to waste time fiddling with laces between runs.The BOA PerformFit Wrap system improves power transfer and efficiency, so every pedal stroke will send more power directly through the drivetrain, rather than getting lost in slop.The Ride Concepts Tallac Mid BOA sells for an MSRP of $230 in the clip option, and $220 for the flat option.Fox Union BOAThe Fox Union BOA sits at the top end of the Fox Union range specifically because of its partnership with BOA. The Union BOA is a dedicated trail shoe that comes in flat, or two-bolt pedal compatible models. The shoes come with a padded tongue, and lightweight mesh material for increased ventilation and breathability to make the shoe more comfortable.The Fox Union BOA mountain bike shoe features two BOA Li2 dials and extra padding to protect from impacts on the trail; (Photo/BOA)The BOA system includes two Li2 dials for a targeted zonal fit. The lower dial controls the lower and forefront portion of the shoe, while the upper dial controls the collar to get a snug fit.With these dual, multidirectional dials, riders have the control to make even tiny micro adjustments at multiple points on the shoe instantly. The Fox Union BOA comes in seven colors and sells for an MSRP of $249.95.Canyon CFR footwearGravel and light off-road riding can still take a heavy toll. Shoes cant just be ultra-light and stiff with no protection. Rocks fly up into feet all the time on gravel, and whether in rocks or mud, every gravel rider is sure to find themselves walking at some point. Canyons all-new Tempr CFR Off-Road shoes leverage the most optimal integration of BOA and pack it into a footwear package that is born to blaze a trail across gravel race courses like Unbound Gravel, or on any other adventure.Canyon CFR TEMPR Off-Road shoe features two BOA L12 dials and PerformFit Wrap upper configuration; (Photo/BOA)The Canyon Tempr CFR Off-road shoe features the BOA PerformFit Wrap to evenly encircle a riders foot, locking the heel in place to prevent unwanted movement while under power. It also lessens or eliminates pressure points over the arch of the foot that can be debilitating on long or demanding rides.The shoes have been on the podium of elite-level UCI gravel, cyclocross, XCO, and XCC races this year, which shows how versatile they can be in vastly different conditions.The shoe uses two anodized aluminum BOA Li2 dials with multidirectional adjustment, along with a Vibram Megagrip outsole for traction while off the bike.They weigh in at 290 grams and come in white or grey with black tread, or black with gum tread for an MSRP of about $360.Final thoughtsThe BOA Fit System offers a fit, functionality, and performance boost that pays dividends to riders over traditional laces.With micro-adjustments, quick-release capability, and a tough, lightweight package, shoes featuring BOA promise to thrive even in the most rugged and demanding conditions.The post BOA delivers top-tier fit and control in widening off-road shoe offerings appeared first on Bikerumor.

Unusual design that works surprisingly well 7/10

On the 27th of September, the men's U23 road race takes place at the 2024 World Championships in Zurich, as the next generation of talents fight it out for a Rainbow Jersey.The final startlist for the race includes: Johannes Kulset, Jorgen Nordhagen, Jakob Soderqvist, Jan Christen, Henrik Pedersen,...

We stumbled on Phil Vandelay's YouTube channel a while back, and his latest video follows the process behind building an extra-sturdy front rack using a cheap pipe-bending tool. It's quite satisfying to watch. See it and find a couple of other interesting picks from the channel here...The post Building a Front Rack with a $25 Bending Tool (and Other Phil Vandelay Videos) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Italy'sLorenzo Finn has triumphed in the men's junior road race at the 2024World Championships inZrich after a heart-breaking crash from defending champion Albert Philipsen ruled the Dane out inside the final 23km.In some pretty disgusting conditions weather-wise, therewere a number of crashes...

A Dublin councillor looking for a blind eye turned to motorists parking on footpaths in residential areas to continue has been told by council officials that parking on footpaths is illegal and that parking on a road where it obstructs road users is also illegal. The issue of parking on footpaths was discussed at Dublin City Council Central Area Committee this month after a member of the public complained that cars were clamped for parking on footpaths in Cabra.Up until around three years ago, a total blind eye had been turned to enforcement on residential streets. But, as Dublin Inquirer reported at the time, the citys transport committee and officials agreed to change their focus to enforce illegal parking on footpaths except where the space left on footpaths was greater than 2.5 metres. Cllr Cieran Perry (independent) said: Ive had a couple of reports of cars being clamped for parking two wheels on the path and as weve discussed on numerous occasions given the size of the roads in the Cabra area its not possible to park on the road without full four wheels of the road without blocking the roads, so if that could be raised with the relevant bodies please.Jaoa Brescia, a council official, said: Cllr Perry, about cars being clamped for parking the footpath thats under the Road Traffic Act. Its illegal to park in the footpath I understand that the road is narrow but parking the footpath is blocking the way for pedestrians, wheelchair users and everyone that needs to use the footpaths, so this needs to be enforced.Brescia said: If the road is not wide enough for parking, they should park in another place.Cllr Perry said: Thats a very serious decision now you seem to be publicised into this meeting that cars cannot park two wheels on the roads that wont allow traffic to pass if youre saying that and I ask people locally to park on the road, and they block numerous roads in Cabra.He said: Once we understand whoever made that call, be it yourselves or park enforcement, youll be answerable to any sort of disturbance in the area when cars cant simply drive up the majority of roads, particularly in Cabra East.William Mangan, another council official, said: Cllr Perry, just on that point, its actually illegal to park on a footpath and if the road is not wide enough, the car cant be parked on the road.Cllr Perry said: Im a councillor now 15 plus years. Ive had this discussion with people in parking enforcement and, given the roads and Cabra were built in the 1930s, there has always been an understanding that even if it was in breach, providing they werent blocking the footpath, that there would be a blind eye turned to people parking on the footpaths.So its a very serious reinterpretation of that agreement that we had that will result in roads being blocked in Cabra. So its a very serious review of that legislation, Cllr Perry said.Brescia said: Under the legislation its saying a car shouldnt be parked on a footway grass margin or a meting strip and a car shouldnt be parked in a manner which in which will interfere with the normal flow of traffic or which obstruct or in dangers of the traffic. Its under the law. Were not like just making this and parking enforcement they enforce under the law.He added: And if we are meant to do something different from whats written in the law, then the law should be changed, and we should not try to do something that goes beyond the law to allow people to do illegal things.Previously, around the same time that policy was changed, IrishCycle.com reported how a now former Labour councillor who supported footpath parking claimed that the militant wing of Green Party with fascist behaviour put a fatwa. The issue came to light at a council meeting after she had written to residents and promised that the then Labour Dublin Bay byelection candidate and now party leader Ivana Bacik had agreed to fight your case [to park on footpaths] in the Senate, or the Dail if successful in the bye election.

Get ready for an exhilarating experience as the Fantasy World Championships Road Race Men kicks off on Sunday, 29 September 2024, at 10:40 on Eurosport.This FREE-to-play fantasy game invites cycling enthusiasts to test their strategic skills by selecting a team of 13 elite riders who they believe wi...

When Surly specced the Pinion-equipped Moonlander with a chain and left the derailleur hanger in place, it felt like they were daring someone to slap on a derailleur and cassette to see how it'd work with a Pinion and derailleur drivetrain together. So, we did just that. In this video, Neil shares what he found after experimenting with a few different configurations...The post Pairing a Pinion and a Derailleur: 72 Speeds with 1,445% Range!? appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

British rider takes second road medal of Thursday as Italy's Lorenzo Finn wins in Zrich monsoon

CyclistBMC says its new Teammachine R Mpc frameset is the pinnacle of peformance, engineering and manufacturingBMC has launched the Teammachine R Mpc frameset, which sits alongside the Teammachine SLR Mpc frameset that launched in 2020. With Mpc signifying Masterpiece, the new Teammachine R Mpc is available as a frameset-only in limited numbers and, BMC claims, represents the pinnacle of performance, engineering and manufacturing.The new BMC Teammachine R Mpc frameset is priced at /$8,999. It or the Teamachine SLR Mpc will be ridden by Tudor Pro Cyclings riders when competing for their national teams in the UCI World Championships in Zrich this weekend.Hand built in EuropeThe Teammachine R Mpc is based on the already-flashy Teammachine R aero road bike that was launched a year ago and developed in collaboration with the Red Bull Advanced Technologies consultancy, which works on the Red Bull Formula 1 cars.The Teammachine SLR Mpc, meanwhile, uses the lighter weight Teammachine SLR as its starting point.BMC says that its taken a no-expense-spared approach to the Mpc bikes. That means high-precision carbon fibre placement and alignment, no excess material and a blemish-free raw carbon surface that doesnt require finishing.The Mpc framesets are made in Europe by an elite group of BMCs framebuilders using advanced tooling. The time required means that the Mpc frames are available in limited quantities only.BMCs head of R&D, Stefan Christ, claims that the Mpc framesets deliver exactly the riding behaviours and performance that the bikes engineers envisioned. Related Posts New BMC Teammachine R launched with aero tech from Formula 1 BMC Teammachine SLR01 One review Best lightweight road bikes reviewed From turmoil to Tour de France triumph: The story of BMC Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort No decrease in stiffnessBMC claims that the frame weight has been reduced from the standard frames without compromising the frames stiffness, delivering a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio.So whereas the standard Teammachine R frame weighs 910g, the Mpc frame weighs 810g. The fork and seatpost weights both drop by 5g too, so that the complete frame, fork and seatpost weight decreases from 1,460g to 1,350g, a 7.5% reduction.In the case of the Teammachine SLR, the corresponding reductions are 731g versus 820g for the frame and 1,197g versus 1,350g for the complete frameset, a 12.6% reduction.Both framesets are compatible with BMCs range of ICS one-piece carbon cockpits and the ICS2 stem, which can be purchased separately.The Teammachine R Mpc and Teammachine SLR Mpc framesets are both priced at /$8,999. Thats a /$3,000 increment from the price of the standard Teammachine R frameset module.Both Mpc bikes are available online from BMC and to order through BMC retailers. Theres a BMC travel case available to purchase separately for your Teammachine R Mpc bike, priced at /$1,599. Related Posts New BMC Teammachine R launched with aero tech from Formula 1 BMC Teammachine SLR01 One review Best lightweight road bikes reviewed From turmoil to Tour de France triumph: The story of BMC Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort The post BMC says its new Teammachine R Mpc frameset is the pinnacle of peformance, engineering and manufacturing appeared first on Cyclist.