CyclistIn The Drops: Rapha Insulated Vest, edgy Le Col gravel kit, adaptable Tailfin bar bag, Safety-conscious Suunto headphones and the US of AIts not even Friday yet where I am, but due to the magic of the internet, Im still able to deliver another In The Drops-shaped dispatch to tee up the weekend.If the cycling season was the Wilhelm Scream, it would be almost silent now, disappearing with a final flail into a bottomless abyss. Luckily, Robyn Davidson and Ewan Wilson specialise in turning the frogs of the bottomless abyss into ravishing royalty so youve got a wealth of reading material to drown out the fading wails.Robyn recapped the pro-cycling week that was in Pro Log while Ewan stared pensively through the cycling worlds sliding doors to imagine a world where Tadej Pogaar was merely a jumble of letters and question whether his 2024 season back in the universe where he does exist was better than the Cannibals best. Felix Lowes piece on the perpetual Ineos omnishambles deepened by Pidders-gate has been drawing intense debate over on our Facebook page. James and Will also chatted to the Peter Sagan about cycling real bikes and cycling imaginary bikes for the latest edition of the Cyclist Magazine Podcast.In the more practical stakes, Katherine Moore has been running the rule over some new lights, with the Lezyne Micro Drive 800+, the Exposure Siriius Mk10 and the TraceR Mk3, Ravemen FR300 light sets all reviewed. Mildred Lockes full review of the Hammerhead Karoo 3 is out, while weve updated our tubeless repair kit buyers guide, our best winter socks guide, our guide to the best all-road bikes in 2024, and whether you want to think about it or not our take on the best cycling overshoes.Though I say so myself, its a pretty swell selection of clobber coming up so strap yourself in for an In The Drops from across the pond.Tailfin Bar SystemFew things are more satisfying in (bike) life than efficiently loading all your possessions onto a bike and wheeling out towards the sunrise. When I was about seven years old, on a family holiday on the Isle of Wight, I watched, open-mouthed, as two lads rolled up next to our campsite on their heavily laden bikes. Within a few minutes they were cooking food, drinking beers, and putting up a tent. I turned to my parents and said, Can I do that?I cant even imagine the kind of rudimentary pannier setup those lads were rocking back in the 90s, but boy could they have done with some Tailfin innovation. With its headquarters in Bristol, this bike luggage brand knows a thing or two about keeping your kit safe and dry when the elements are telling you that youre eight metres below sea level.The launch of the Tailfin Bar Bag System completes its bikepacking set, so you can tail to snout in Tailfin. It comes in four sizes (two each for drop or flat handlebars) and the focus is on stability, adjustability and speed of mounting, thanks in part to its WaveLock closure and X-Clamp attachment system.The pictured bag extends from 4L to 9.1L, features a 1.6L expandable pocket, and Tailfin provides very specific instructions to ensure there is no head tube rubbing. Its compatible with round handlebars, is 100% waterproof, and comes with additional mounts for bike computers, lights and cameras.Full disclosure, the setup is like a miniature flatpack project, but thankfully you only need to do that once plus I only swore four times in the process, which is my own little KOM. Once youre up and running, the bag works brilliantly. The waterproofing is faultless and the wide entry point means accessing kit is easy. Plus, the additional pockets and attachments ensure that you dont need to come up with some wizardry to keep your usual endurance accoutrements namely head units, lights and charging points still functioning.Buy now from Tailfin (230) Related Posts Cyclist Magazine Podcast episode 116: Peter Sagan, highs and lows of a triple World Champ What if Tadej Pogaar didnt exist? Pro Log: Pogaar and Pidcock make headlines at Il Lombardia; Teammateless Zoe Bckstedt rides to third on GC; Velo dOr nominees announced; Cyclocross bust-up Pogaar vs Merckx: Who had the best season ever? In the Drops: Do-it-all Fizik shoes, do-it-all Panaracer tyres, easy chain waxing kit, new Shokz headphones and Magdalena Bay Rapha Insulated VestIs it a bird, is it a plane? Is it a bike brand, is it a lifestyle brand? The industry waters are pretty murky right now if youre looking for an answer to the latter, but that doesnt mean that the off-bike kit or maybe on-bike but pedalling a Lime Bike kind of on-bike isnt still good to have.Raphas new insulated Vest is a versatile overlayer that like not going outside at all is seriously coming into its own in these shoulder months. As well as being stuffed with lightweight and 100% recycled Primaloft synthetic insulation, the surface of the vest has a DWR coating to brush off light showers so its pretty handy in the moderate to poor weather we Brits experience on a day-to-day basis. It packs down easily into a jacket pocket, meaning its useful when you arent quite sure how cold the atmosphere beneath that grey sky is going to be.My favourite part is the cycling-centric two-way zip, so you can ambi-zip to your hearts content.Buy now from Rapha (140)Suunto Sonic HeadphonesThe advent of bone-conducting technology means its now far safer to ride while listening to audio. The open-ear design allows wearers to be more aware of whats happening on the road while also spicing up the more boring sections of a ride with the Cyclist Magazine Podcast. In honour of my own tiny violin, I live a 40-minute ride away from anything you could consider a country lane, so this is particularly good news.Weighing just 31g, the Suunto Sonic headphones are packed with features that are particularly handy for endurance riding. The ten hours of battery life is decent and just a five-minute charge will give you a three-hour boost.For protection from the elements, the Sonics have an IP55 waterproof rating and will work down to negative 20C though my legs definitely wont. There are three buttons with which to skip through songs or pause audio, and making calls is made possible by their noise cancellation qualities.Buy now from Suunto (129)Le Col ARC Gravel KitThe cycling gods decision to add pockets to bib shorts seemed to just add scope for me to hoard stuff while on the bike; sort of like moving into a bigger bedroom that initially seems to dwarf your meagre array of possessions. But then within a few weeks its bursting at the seams with an unthinkable array of crap. Be that as it may, Im now a total convert to pocketed bibs as it essentially allows you to be less organised.Gravel is here to stay not that it ever wasnt here and British brand Le Col has decided to throw their off-road hat into the ring with the launch of its ARC range. The shining lights are the ARC Cargo Bib Shorts and the ARC Lightweight Rain Jacket, complete with helmet hood.Having put them through their paces on a particularly flat, long and seated ride, I can ratify that the bib shorts are good for ten-hour days in the saddle and tally with Le Cols claims of a long-distance comfort fit. Le Col says the chamois has impact absorption technology (as youd expect) and features a bamboo-blend top sheet that is said to be quick drying. There are pockets for days with the usual leg pouches for gels and Tabasco topped up by a pair of rear pockets above the derrire.The ARC Lightweight Rain Jacket is made in partnership with laminate producer Pertex, using its PFAs-free membrane to provide waterproofing and breathability. Le Col claims the fabric weighs just a claimed 83g so its ideal for stuffing away in a pocket on longer rides. Its less-common feature is the hood, which is big enough to accommodate a helmet so you can keep your entire top half dry. Sure, it might not be the most aero or svelte look in the world, but staying dry is a decent payout.Buy now from Le Col (210 and 280)Ad featureDaysavers Essential8 packs 8tools into just 33 gramsThe smallest and lightest bike multitool with uncompromising functionality. Bits nested in bits. Simply flippable as needed. Held together by magnets.With 33 grams and the form factor of an allen key, this tool is good to go. Even in your pants or jersey pocket. Plasma-coated, corrosion-resistant stainless steel and Swiss engineering quality make sure this crazylightweight multitoollasts for all your bike adventures.With a bulky multitool you cannot reach many screws on the bike properly. Result: worn screws or scratches on the frame. With the simple and slim form factor of our tool, you can get to any screw and tighten or loosen it the right way. Thats a promise!Buy yours nowAd feature endsWhat were into this week Washington DCFor my sins, Id never previously set foot in the United States of America (apparently, my three-hour transfer across Detroits gargantuan airport doesnt seem to count). Girlfriend, daughter and I have now been here for over a week, which is plenty of time to get used to the bizarre brand of semi-recognisable normality the heartland of Western democracy is flogging these days.With the leaves falling and October progressing, weve been spoiled with front yard Halloween facades that literally beggar belief. Whether its eight-foot-diameter spiders crawling on rigged-up house-height webs, skeleton dogs and human arms poking out of disturbed earth, or legions of ghosts swaying from the rafters of wood-planked porches daring to leave just a poxy pumpkin on your doorstep looks like an unthinkable faux pas.Despite this part of America being absurdly expensive a single dish scourer costs $5 in a very average supermarket luckily DC has perhaps the best array of free museums on the planet. While my partner was working last week and I was on leave, my daughter and I hit every single one, tapping up every soft play section on offer. And thats before youve ticked off the conveyor belt of monuments that line the Mall or the general rubbernecking on offer from just pounding the sidewalks.Theres not much in the way of decent riding, unless you include the hill loop a few unperturbed roadies were ploughing around the Capitol building, but we got hold of a fun e-trike rental that made the monument tour a whole lot speedier. All in all: a destination I would recommend. Related Posts Cyclist Magazine Podcast episode 116: Peter Sagan, highs and lows of a triple World Champ What if Tadej Pogaar didnt exist? Pro Log: Pogaar and Pidcock make headlines at Il Lombardia; Teammateless Zoe Bckstedt rides to third on GC; Velo dOr nominees announced; Cyclocross bust-up Pogaar vs Merckx: Who had the best season ever? In the Drops: Do-it-all Fizik shoes, do-it-all Panaracer tyres, easy chain waxing kit, new Shokz headphones and Magdalena Bay The post In The Drops: Rapha Insulated Vest, edgy Le Col gravel kit, adaptable Tailfin bar bag, Safety-conscious Suunto headphones and the US of A appeared first on Cyclist.

Wout van Aert of Team Visma | Lease a Bike is one of the best known riders in the peloton today. A little less known however, is the 15-year-old Belgian junior also named Wout Van Aert, who's looking to forge his own career in professional cycling and move out of the shadow of his superstar namesake...

A year after finishing the Silk Road Mountain race on a cargo bike, Allan Shaw returned to Kyrgyzstan for the third and final installment of his 2024 Mountain Race Podcast series. After producing a daily hour-long episode day to share the racers' firsthand experiences, he presents a collection of film photos, lessons from more than 200 interviews, and some memorable perspectives from the trail hereThe post Five Lessons Learned at the 2024 Silk Mountain Race appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Tour of Guangxi will be the final World Tour event of the season; taking place between the 15th and 20th of October. The peloton will be in China for what is the final stage-race of the season, but one that will still be important to many. We preview stage 5.The queen stage. There is absolutely...

Jeremy Vine gets irate about a cycle lane and more in this week's social media roundup

Never before in his career has Jonas Vingegaard attempted the Giro d'Italia. In 2025 though, that seems set to change if the latest reports in Italy are to believed. With hopes that bothPrimoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar could also return to the Maglia Rosa fight, it could be the most eagerly anticipa...

A Dublin TD has said in the Dilthat a part of BusConnects plan to enable more direct access to buses and shorter walking and cycling access to shops and a large number of workplaces makes no sense because it would mean that children in the Ayrfield housing estate would have more direct access to the busy Malahide Road.The objectors are not just about road safety; the issue of security was also raised by the politicians and residents.Residents objecting to opening up permeability access in areas that were designed in a car-centric way is a recurring issue that blocks better walking, cycling, and public transport access.It is widely recognised by research that residential areas designed in such car-centric ways is a barrier to more people walking, cycling and using public transport. Travel data outlined in the BusConnects planning file demonstrates that Ayrfield has, according to a planning inspectors report, the highest car usage [for travel to work] along the route and exceeds the average mode share for County Dublin as a whole.The modal share for car use in the area is 62%, the report outlines.The NTA told the planning inspector that proposal to remove a section of the wall will bring a total of 619 properties within a 400-800m catchment to bus stops. Iff the link was omitted, the scheme would only add 35 units to this catchment.A measurement tool in Google Maps puts the current walk from within the Ayrfield estate to the proposed bus stops on the Malahide Road and the shops across the road at a distance of around 1.3km a 17 minutes walk or a 6 minutes cycle with awkward turns on main roads. Other bus stops would be around 900m-1km away.Dublin Bay North TD Denise Mitchell (Sinn Fein) raised the issue in the Dilin the time allocated to question the Government on policy or legislation.She said: I raise the BusConnects project, in particular, a plan in the area where I live to remove a wall between the Malahide Road and Ayrfield estate in Dublin 13. There is a green space behind this wall where children play daily. There are real concerns about the safety of children in the area. Residents have raised their concerns with the NTA as well as elected representatives. The removal of this wall will mean that there is open access into the estate from the Malahide Road, which is one of the busiest roads in Dublin, she said.Deputy Mitchell said: The proposals make no sense. They are not essential to the plan whatsoever. To be clear, we are not objecting to the BusConnects project. Will the Tnaiste raise this with the NTA in the interest of the safety of the children who live in Ayrfield estate?TnaisteMichel Martin said: I certainly will. I will raise it with the Minister, who will raise it with BusConnects. This is the Clongriffin core bus corridor and the proposal for pedestrian-cyclist connection, which plans to provide direct access for the residents of Ayrfield estate to the high levels of bus service on the Malahide Road.He said: The Deputy has said that a safety issue then arises. The NTA engages in consultations with Deputies, councillors and so on. It is to be hoped that the NTA will listen to concerns.Deputy Mitchell interjected: It has not, before Deputy Martin continued. He concluded: about the safety aspect of this because these are important issues that we cannot be oblivious to. It cannot all be just an engineering solution. The needs of the community and of children have to be taken into account.Local councillor Daryl Barron (Fianna Fail), who is also a resident, has also objected to the opening of the wall for bus, walking and cycling access.In a letter to An Bord Pleanla, he wrote that: I believe they [the NTA] have failed to adequately outline any pros versus cons of allowing this part of the BusConnects plan in its current state to proceed [referring to the plan to open a gap in the wall and stating that the issue is the health and safety of children playing in the estate.After claiming that the NTA has failed to outline any pros and cons, he added: The impact on the estate is extremely negative, and no one can clearly outline any positive for this CPO.In an interview with Dublin Live video, which covered a Save Our Wall protest in the estate, Cllr Barron said: Theres no need to open it up. The residents are quite happy to walk 10-15 minutes to any other bus route.Cllr Tom Brabazon (Fianna Fil), in the same Dublin Live video, said that the council has been closing off laneways, and he claimed that opening access would then go against policy. However, closing laneways that hampers walking and cycling access is against both local and national policy. He said: This doesnt need to go ahead for high-frequency, good quality bus service. The benefits of people accessing out here [pointing to the wall] to a bus service are far outweighed by the security concerns that are very clearly there. The An Bord Pleanla inspectors report said that of the 64 submissions which raised concerns on the proposed new pedestrian/cyclist link from Ayrfield Drive to Malahide Road, 58 were from residents of the Ayrfield estate and six were from elected representatives supporting the residents.The inspector wrote: In response to the contentions that the need for the new link was not investigated fully the NTA state that CSO data show that Ayrfield has the highest car mode share for travel to work trips at 62%. In addition, this mode share exceeds the average mode share for County Dublin as a whole. There is a continuous boundary wall along the Malahide Road at this estate. Data suggests that areas of higher permeability have higher bus usage. It is considered that the boundary wall acts as a deterrent to achieving the required mode shift away from private car use.The NTA told the planning inspector that The significant improvement to the walking, cycling and bus facilities included within the Proposed Scheme will encourage sustainable modes of transport, therefore reducing the demand for private vehicles / parking along the Proposed Scheme and that improved accessibility is also expected to increase social cohesion within the local community.The authority pointed out that the proposal for the new pedestrian and cyclist link supports elements of international policy, European Union (EU) law and policy, national policy, regional policy and local policy.The plan is supported by the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Street and the National Disability Authoritys Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach with regards to catering for all users, including those with disabilities.

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe continues to make moves in the transfer market ahead of the 2025 season. The latest signing comes in the form of a former Tour of Guangxi and Arctic Race of Norway winner from Soudal - Quick-Step, Gianni Moscon.I'm incredibly excited to join Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe a...

UPDATED October 18, 2024BY Guest AuthorINTour d'Afrique Cape to Kili no comments The Camaraderie Of An Expedition TourNick Coe is the Content Creator on the 2024 Cape to Kili Cycling Expedition. In this post from Lilongwe, Malawi, he looks at the bonds between riders that are created on expedition tours.Embarking on an expedition tour is more than just a journey through breathtaking landscapes and foreign cultures; its an opportunity to forge connections that can last a lifetime. When youre part of a group for an extended period of time, like on a TDA expedition tour, these connections deepen in ways you might not expect. Imagine cycling and camping alongside others for two months straight its nearly impossible not to make friends! Rather than retreating to separate rooms each night, we gather around communal meals, telling stories and enjoying each others company.This shared experience fosters a unique atmosphere where we naturally look after one another. On days filled with challenges, this bond becomes even more evident. The collaborative spirit among us is palpable, particularly when faced with the physical demands of long rides, unpredictable weather, and the occasional mechanical mishap.During a recent rider meeting, Tour Leader Yanez addressed the entire TDA Cape to Kili team after one of the toughest days on the toura gruelling 217 kilometre stretch against a relentless headwind, including a border crossing from Namibia to Botswana. He remarked, What I witnessed yesterday was remarkable. People made healthy decisions about when to ride and when to rest. I saw a crew that communicated effectively, and I watched as individuals faced seemingly impossible tasks together, strategizing and supporting one another. Some riders adjusted their pace, while others challenged themselves to push harder. It was inspiring to see how everyone contributed to the collective effort. A day like that reminds us that we cannot do this aloneeveryone was a vital part of the equation.The spirit of camaraderie was evident throughout that day. Rider Scott generously offered to set up tents for fellow cyclists arriving at camp, demonstrating the selflessness that characterizes our group. Another rider, Alice, recounted how Neil had stopped to assist her with a flat tire, despite her insistence that she could manage it alone. That was extremely helpful and kind, she reflected, highlighting how these small acts of kindness can significantly impact our experience.Over the past month and a half, Ive witnessed countless similar gestures. Whether its someone sharing a spare tube at a moments notice or a fellow rider offering to grab refreshments at a coke stop, the atmosphere of support is ever-present. Even something as simple as lending out sleeping pads showcases our willingness to look out for one another. Traveling as part of an expedition tour offers a unique sense of community a feeling of we are in this together.The bonds we form transcend geographical boundaries and cultural differences, creating an environment where everyone is invested in each others well-being and success. Its been very interesting getting to know the folks from all the different countries on this trip, shared Rider Andy. Its a very self selecting bunch so you get slightly weird people, weird in a good way. Anyone who is interested in taking this on in the first place is my kind of person. Ive enjoyed meeting everyone.In a world where many people travel solo or in small groups, the camaraderie of an expedition tour is a refreshing reminder of the power of connection. As we pedal through Africa together, we create not only unforgettable memories but also lasting friendships forged through both the good times and the challenges we face.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique Cape to KiliWith iconic Table Mountain as the backdrop, the cyclists will head north with Mount Kilimanjaro known as the Roof of Africa as their... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Camaraderie Of An Expedition Tour" Cancel reply

On stage 4 of the 2024 Tour of Guangxi, Israel - Premier Tech's Ethan Vernon powered his way to a second successive stage victory ahead of Max Kanter. Sadly though, because of a penalty from the race jury, the British sprinter lost his overall race lead to Kanter.I think that sometimes that first...