The folks over at Tenkara Rod Co. just announced a new fishing rod, and it's their most compact and lightweight model yet. Learn all about the Tenkara Hafu Rod and their 500% funded Kickstarter campaign here... The post The Tenkara Hafu Rod Packs Down to Just 12.5″ appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The brand behind the system aims to reduce brain injuries with new tech designed to make helmets easy to adjust and wear correctly

On the 17th of April the women's peloton takes on La Flèche Wallonne Femmes. It is a race that revolves around the Mur de Huy ultimately, and will put to the test some of the best climbers and classics riders in the peloton. We take a look at it's profile. The 143-kilometer race is hilly and feature...

Fox claims the new Transfer post has a 300 hour service interval and can be rebuilt at home.Fox Transfer dropper postAlready the goldest dropper post on the market, Fox reckons its new Transfer post is now the gold-standard dropper post …Continue reading »

Mechanic to pros and amateurs alike, Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike

"I couldn't put a name to the face initially, but I did recognise him..."

From the 15th to the 19th of April we've got the Tour of the Alps on the road. This is the single most important run-up race ahead of the Giro d'Italia and sees five days of racing in the Alps with the mountains always looming in the background. We preview the race ahead. East of Innsbruck deep into...

The best cross-country (XC) mountain bikes are all about raw speed. But their light weight and excellent efficiency also makes then ideal for fast, flowing singletrack as well as racing.XC Race Bike Test openerThe best cross-country mountain bikes are about raw speed, making them lightweight, efficient and ideal for fast, flowing singletrack as well as racing.

Just announced, the FOX Transfer dropper post was completely overhauled to provide tunable air pressure, adjustable travel ranging from 95-240mm, and remedies to two issues we experienced with the previous model. Plus, it’s now 100% serviceable. We had the chance to fiddle with it and put a few rides in prior to the launch. Find our first-ride 2025 FOX Transfer review here… The post 2025 Fox Transfer Review appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Cyclist How to find the right saddle position How do you set your saddle position? And where exactly should your saddle be anyway? The bicycle saddle is an easy component to adjust. By just loosening a couple of bolts you can change the height, tilt and fore/aft placement – also known as setback. For this reason, it’s often the first thing that riders tweak in the search for improved comfort or more power. What isn’t always fully understood, though, is how best to adjust the seat. If you’re just looking for some quick advice on saddle height, head to our article on how to change your saddle height. Related Posts Stack and reach explained: How to measure them and why they matter What is a bike’s head angle? Bicycle gear ratios explained What is a bike’s wheelbase and how does it affect handling? What stem length do I need? Watch: How to set and change your saddle height What’s the best crank length for cycling? How should I position my saddle? ‘There’s no actual ideal position,’ says Phil Burt, leading figure on all matters of bike-fit and founder of Phil Burt Innovation. ‘I like to refer to a bike-fit “window”. But if you were to ask me what’s the most important part of bike-fit, I’d always say saddle position: setback, height and tilt. ‘Those points are interrelated and absolutely critical. If you get those wrong everything else becomes a bit of a bodge job.’ It’s time for an art class. ‘If you drew a box around the saddle, force generation will typically be lower and comfort easier to find in the bottom right-hand corner – in other words the point that’s lowest and furthest back,’ says Burt. ‘Conversely, the upper left-hand corner will bring benefits in terms of power output but may not be a position you can sit in comfortably all day.’ So, as is often the case with bike-fit, much will depend on the individual case relative to what your body can cope with and what your chosen discipline is. ‘Seat setback obviously affects reach,’ Burt adds. ‘I see a lot of people who have their seat too low and too far back and they can’t ride comfortably on the hoods. ‘But it’s mad to run the seat right back. If you look at the evidence you want the seat as high and as far forward as possible for power delivery.’ Saddle Position: Rules for pros ‘The UCI has its “five behind” rule [the seat nose must be a minimum of 5cm further back than the centre of the bottom bracket],’ says Burt, ‘and if you want to be more powerful you want to run right up to that line where possible. And not just forward, but higher too, to open up the hip angle. ‘I regularly see riders who have their seat setback at around 80mm behind the BB, but they’re struggling to reach the bars so they go and buy a shorter stem. ‘In most cases what they actually need to do is run the seat much further forward. The result is a better position with your weight further forward over the front, which will benefit handling as well as power generation from your legs. ‘Think about this: if you try to stamp on something that’s directly by your foot, you can crush down on it with a lot more force than if the object is half a metre in front of you. ‘You’re just way more powerful when you’re applying force directly underneath you, and it’s the same with pedalling.’ Saddle angle and short-nosed saddles So why aren’t we seeing all the top riders perched on the noses of their saddles, and the saddles all the way forward on the rails? It turns out we probably are, it’s just we might not have noticed due to the latest saddle designs. ‘If you look back at pictures of the older generations of pros generally the trend was to sit lower and further back,’ says Burt. ‘That mentality is changing now, especially with the newer types of saddles. Shorter, snub-nosed saddles allow you to bring the support you need from the saddle further forward [within the rules]. ‘The saddle also has to be at the correct tilt, to get that position to work. For me a saddle should never be nose up. That will stop the pelvis rotating forward which would mean doing all your reaching from the lumbar spine, which is not ideal.’ If you intend to reposition your seat, you need to be clear about what your goals are. ‘If it’s purely a “more power” thing there’s a position for that. But if it’s a case of needing to be comfortable for a five-hour ride we’d need to make a different call.’ Burt has one final piece of advice: ‘Remember, bike fit is evolution not revolution. You can adjust the bike instantaneously but your body will not do the same. ‘If you want to find out whether your body will accept a new position, the best way is to make adjustments in little chunks, and that way work out what the sweet spot is for you.’ Enjoyed our series on bike fit variables? Check out our guide on how to measure your bike frame.  This article first appeared on Cyclist in 2019 and has since been updated by our team of experts. The post How to find the right saddle position appeared first on Cyclist.