It was rumoured already for a while and now it's official: Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda is a new Movistar Team rider. The Ecuadorian rider has signed for two seasons with the Spanish team after having performed at a high level in recent seasons in Caja Rural - Seguros RGA.He is the fifth signing of the...

Its time for Marin Bikes to update its steel Boyond Road bikes: the Nicasio 1, and Nicasio+. In addition to those updates, Marin is also adding the all new Nicasio ST step-through. Marin says the Nicasio line of bikes is known for their endurance and versatility. The Nacasio+ supplies enhanced performance and comfort when the ride takes you on less-than-perfect roads.(Photos / Marin Bikes)All of the new models are built using classic CroMo steel frames. The classic tubing offers the durability and comfort that is associated with steel frames.All of the bikes come with a plethora of mounts, and Marins Beyond Road geometry geo that is made for any type of riding, long or short days, commuting, paved and unpaved roads, gravel roads and well, you get the picture. The geo is supposed to be comfy-centric. Lets take a gander. Marin Nicasio 1Retail: $899The best-selling Nicasio model first arrived on the scene in 2017. Its proven to be a capable and affordable bike. Its got a solid spec sheet with durable and dependable components. And the new Nicasio 1 now gets better tire clearance, coming speced with 38mm tires.FeaturesSeries 1 double butted CrMo Beyond Road frame; clearance for up to 45mm tiresShimano Claris 28 drivetrain, 11-32t cassetteTektro road mechanical disc brakesWTB Exposure 700 x 36mm tiresAvailable in two colors, black or bone greyNicasio ST (the ST means step-through)Retail: $899The newly added Nicasio step-through model features the dropped top tube making mounting and dismounting the bike easier. This step-through design can be particularly helpful when the bike is loaded with say, a child or cargo. It has the same frame construction and spec sheet carryover from the Nicasio 1.this one is just easier to throw a leg over. Or should I say, put a leg through?FeaturesSeries 1 double butted CrMo Beyond Road frame; clearance for up to 45mm tiresShimano Claris 28 drivetrain, 11-32t cassetteTektro road mechanical disc brakesWTB Exposure 700 x 36mm tiresMarins Nicasio+Retail: $1099The Nicasio+ has been dubbed by Marin as the Nic with a modern twist. Although it shares the same frame construction as the Nicasio 1, the Nic+ can fit large volume 650b x 47mm tires. It also sports the reliable and affordable 19 microSHIFT Sword Black gravel group.FeaturesNicasio 1-st-plus EMBARGOED UNTIL 21 OCT 2024Series 1 double-butted CrMo Beyond Road frame with abundant gear mountsmicroSHIFT Sword Black 19 speed drivetrain, 11-46t cassetteTektro road mechanical disc brakesWTB Horizon 650B x 47mm tiresAvailable in two colors, grey or tealAll of the new Nicasio models will be available in global markets starting in October 2024. Hit the link below to get yours!MarinBikes.comThe post Marin Updates Nicasio 1 and Nicasio+, Adds Step-Thru Beyond Road Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Netherlands is synonymous with cycling, with Dutchpeople riding bikes to work, and stars like Mathieu van der Poel winning worldchampionships on the road, gravel and in cyclocross. But Dutch cycling couldntbe at risk could it? The short answer is no, probably not, however, some believethat...

Just released, the new Vargo UltraFly 1 Tent uses an interesting single-pole design, a hybrid Ultra TNT/ nylon construction, and weighs less than 800 grams (two pounds) fully packed. Find images and further details here...The post The New Vargo UltraFly 1 Tent Weighs Under 800 Grams appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Vision Wheels has slowly revamped its road offering over the past few years. The change has garnered wider tubeless ready rims, updated hubs, and overall versatility. With this change, the higher-end wheels received the update first, and then the tech slowly trickled down. The Vision SC (Service Course) 30 AGX wheelset is the latest on the receiving end of the tech updates. Vision didnt change much from the higher-end SL version. However, they gave this wheelset its own path, with a deeper rear rim and gravel capability.(All Photos: Jordan Villella/BikeRumor.com)What is it? Vision SC 30 AGX Disc WheelsetVisions newest low-profile carbon wheelset, the SC 30 AGX, offers nearly the same rim as the SL versions but at almost half the price. How? They swap out the PRS hub (reviewed here) for a less advanced (but solid) pawl-driven hub. If this sounds familiar, thats because it is. We reported on this at Sea Otter Classic, and the wheels even received a best of award.The Vision SC 30 AGX Disc wheelset is the latest addition to the Vision AGX (gravel and all-road capable) line. It is the first to employ two different rim depths on the same wheel.Pardon the dust; these wheels have rarely come off my bike, only to swap tires. The front of the SC 30 AGX is 30mm deep, and the rear is a slightly taller 35mm. Both use the same 24 straight pull spokes and lacing pattern. The internal rim width is modern and measures 22.55mm with a solid hooked bead wall.Im new to the updated graphics package of the newest Vision wheels. Its classic but with a modern twist of overblowing the logo. Its subtle enough that it doesnt call out much and wont throw off your bike motif.Vision SC 30 AGX WeightsVision SC 30 AGX Wheelset DetailsFront wheel: 30mm depth rimRear wheel: 35mm depth rimInternal Rim Width:22.55mmOuter Rim Width:30.11mmTubeless-ready Clincher rimCenterlock rotor mountTA-12 and X-12Six sealed cartridge bearings (2F + 4R)DP Spokes 24F / 24RIncludes rim tape includedArtisan-built, entirely by handAlloy freehub: Shimano 10-11sp, SRAM XDRWeight: 1547g (with tape and valves)Price: $1,298Ride Review: Vision SC 30 AGXI was very excited when the Vision SC 30 AGX came across my desk. I am a fan of Visions wheels, having raced their tubulars for years in cyclocross and deep-section wheels on the road.Most riders know Vision wheels and components, but they mostly come from various World Tour teams and OEM products that arrive on their bikes. I feel Vision sometimes gets a bad wrap, and riders write them off as the gear that comes stock on the bike they purchased, not as the upgrade gear that riders look at for a performance boost and speed. The new Vision SC 30 AGX wheels prove you can have performance, reliability, and rational pricing in an all-around wheelset.So, are they gravel wheels? Good question, and the answer is Sorta. The Vision SC 30 AGX fits that niche of all road and gravel that floats between categories. The rim width is enough to fill out a 40-45mm tire well without getting the lightbulb effect. The same applies to modern road tires; the SC 30 AGX works very well with a 26-30mm road tire. So, they have a progressive road feel and a slightly conservative modern gravel feel. For cyclocross and anything in the 33-40mm range, they are perfect (rim-wise).On the All-RoadFor the road and all road portion of my time on the SC 30 AGX, I opted for a thicker casing Teravail Telegraph 30mm tire. Its a tire I wouldnt flat on gravel exploration and one that rolls pretty well if I were on the tarmac.My first impression of the SC 30 AGX wheels was, These feel light. When actually they are not. At 1547g, they are closer to the weight of XC mountain bike wheels. However, the overall weight of the wheelset was in the hub. This is similar to my sensation when I recently reviewed the FSA KFX i28 MTB wheels.The wheels feel nice and calm on the open road. They are only 30/35mm deep, so they dont catch much wind. They do have a nice roll, slightly rounding out the rough spots and delivering a punch when needed on a steep climb.The size of the 30mm tire paired with the 30mm rim boosts confidence in cornering without feeling dull, like some wider rims.Familiar Color PaletteRegarding aesthetics, the SC 30 AGX adheres to a familiar style guide that the top-tier Vision wheel follows. The graphics are subdued, pale grey, and pop slightly in the sun. The rims have a matte finish, with UD carbon and a slight rise in the middle.To Gravel and BeyondMost, if not all, of my time on the SC 30 AGX was spent riding gravel and cyclocross. Light gravel is where the wheels shine. The amount of abuse and power washing (cyclocross is excellent for your equipment) is worth noting. Ive flatted several SC 30 AGX wheels tires but have yet to see rim damage. Ive often thought, There goes the rim, only to find a sliced tire and an unscathed rim.This all came from experimenting with the lowest pressures I could get away with while training on our cyclocross course. The 30mm rim width allows for an excellent contact patch without lowering the pressure much to get the desired feel. Paired with the 30/35mm depth, the wheelset has some natural give that helps soften the roughest roads and grassy fields.To me, the wheelset shines as a true all-arounder, allowing riders to roll from road to gravel as quickly as they can swap tires.The $1,298 price tag put the SC 30 AGX on the bubble of accessible performance carbon wheels.Long Haul HubsThe hubset on the SC 30 AGX is one piece that I both loved and have some gripes about. The bearings (six in total) are super trustworthy. After many washes, creek crossings, and mud baths they came away rolling smooth. Plus, thanks to the hub construction, they are straightforward to service and access.Where they fell short for me is engagement. Since Ive ridden the Vision wheels with the new PRS hub many times, the engagement gulf between the PRS and the 3-pawl design on the SC 30 AGX is a bit much. Its not bad, and those who dont swap mountain bikes and road wheels often would have difficulty noting a difference. However, those who appreciate a high engagement hub will.Is it enough to damage the wheels performance? No, but when youre used to that instant engagement, it can feel like it is.Lasting ImpressionsThe Vision SC 30 AGX is a massive step in the right direction. It is fast-rolling and reasonably accessible to those who want an all-arounder upgrade. The graphics are slight enough that they would pair nicely with any bike.The longevity of the bearings and rims during my testing makes me think the SC 30 AGX would be great for anyone who is hard on gear. They are still running as smooth as I remember from opening the package, with only superficial scratches on the rims.Would I change anything on the wheels? No, but I would love to see a higher-end version of the SC 30 AGX (SL30?) with the PRS hub. That would be a very popular gravel and cyclocross wheelset, especially now that tubeless cyclocross tires are performing at an all-time high. But one can dream.Visiontechusa.comThe post Review: Visions SC 30 AGX Wheels Are Versatile & Bombproof appeared first on Bikerumor.

A practical little commuter that's fun to ride 7/10

Cyclocross world champion Fem van Empel admitted she wasntat her best during the Superprestige Ruddervoorde, finishing second behindCeylin del Carmen Alvarado. Despite competing for a podium spot, Van Empel, of TeamVisma-Lease a Bike, never looked like a serious contender for the victory.It was...

Opponents of the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan had called for a report from Taoiseachs Taskforce for Dublin to be published before the traffic plan progressed, but now the taskforce report says that the transport plan should be accelerated. The Dublin City Taskforce report recommendation states: Acceleration of the City Centre Transport Plan withprovision for regular review and amendment if required.The report recommends that Dublin City Council address known gaps that would aid active travel such as widened footpaths and pedestrian-only areas and calls for walking, wheeling and cycling improvements, especially around OConnell Street. Around OConnell Street, the taskforce calls for the fast-tracked delivery and funding of public realmprojects as per the councils planned works including: Street upgrades, pedestrianisation and street wideningfor accessibility, cycleways, laneway development, lighting and greening plans.It also calls for a last-mile delivery project using logistic hubs, an increase in 24-hour buses (which is planned as part of BusConnects), repurposing major car parks for other uses such as bicycle parking and logistic hubs, and the creation of orbital sites around the city for 24/7 coach parking with EV shuttle buses.On the city centre traffic plan, the taskforce report states: The cost of implementing the traffic management changes is minimal compared to the savings that can be accrued on public transport in terms of reduced congestion and more efficient running times. Recent Red C research highlights that pedestrianisation increases activity and thus perceptions of safety, particularly among young people.Associated with the changes in traffic movement in the city centre is the opportunity to improve the public realm and provide an improved walking, wheeling and cycling environment, with cleaner air from reduced carbon emissions, the task force said.The report added: It is particularly important that transport hubs such as the main rail stations and Busras are upgraded and maintained at a higher standard. Semi-State Companies and State Agencies are major contributors to congestion and emissions. We all need to do a better job to improve the public realm (as Dublin Bus has done with the cleanliness of the bus fleet).Dublin Commuter Coalition, an advocacy group that seeks to improve sustainable mobility, welcomed the report but said that many of the recommendations are not new.The full report is an interesting read, but theres nothing surprising in it, its filled with things that campaigners, activists and opposition TDs have been calling for over the last decade, the group said. The cause of Dublins problem is a lack of leadership and political will.We are particularly happy to see a commitment to improve the rail stations, which are currently very poor, the group said.The Dublin Commuter Coalition said that its worth reading the full report but added that with an election around the corner, ask candidates to commit to its immediate implementation. We cannot wait another decade for the blatantly obvious measures we need on a daily basis.The task force said that larger public transport projects such as MetroLink, BusConnects and Luas were outside the scope of the report but that they endorse the major ongoing and planned investments in transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and that These projects delivered at pace will contribute to the rejuvenation of Dublin city centre.

Congratulations to Alexandera Houchin, who rolled through the Picketpost trailhead last night to become the first woman to complete the Arizona Trail Race 300 (AZT300), and then quickly pedaled onward to continue her AZT800 effort. More about that, plus a full photo gallery from day 4 with updates about how the race is progressing hereThe post Alexandera Houchin Wins 2024 AZT300 + Day 4 Recap appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Many have tried to set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Kokopelli Trail or the White Rim Trail. But to attempt both in one go? Thats a different level of challenging. Together, youre looking at 310 miles and 25,000 feet of climbing with some technical terrain and desert conditions to contend with along the way. Inspired by his dads battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Ryan Standish is attempting to make the most of the time he has, and do hard things even if hes unsure of the outcome. Make sure to read Ryans own words on the challenge over at the Scott website. The post Riding the Kokopelli and White Rim Trail in One Go? Ryan Standish Gives It a Shot appeared first on Bikerumor.