With the countdown now very much on to Rás Tailteann 2024, the race organisers have announced more teams coming from abroad to spearhead the foreign challenge. In the mix will be three squads from the UK and a team from China. Many of the UK riders are already well versed in the rhythm of Irish […] The post Four foreign teams confirmed for Rás Tailteann battle next month appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

After a brilliant performance at the Amstel Gold Race, just missing out on victory to Tom Pidcock in the final sprint, Marc Hirschi hopes to go one better this afternoon at La Fleche Wallonne.Having already won this race back in 2020, the Swiss has fond memories of his racing at La Fleche Wallonne....

Off:Roader SRI LANKA EIGHT stages | 710km Nights 9 Stages 8 Difficulty ☆☆☆☆☆ 4/5 PRICE FROM £2399 VIEW DATES & BOOK Nights 5 Stages 4 Difficulty ☆☆☆☆☆ 4/5 PRICE FROM £1549 VIEW DATES & BOOK OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMMODATION GETTING THERE PACKING LIST FAQs OVERVIEW An unforgettable, eight stage trip of a lifetime through the heart of Sri Lanka, this is an absolute bucket list ride.. Averaging 80-100km per day on a mix of back country dirt roads, gravel tracks and mostly quiet lanes, experience the undiscovered gravel paradise of Sri Lanka. Our unique route winds its way from the west coast, north of Colombo, through the rice fields of the lowlands to the stunning private tea plantations in the highlands and back down to sea level again. We finish by the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of the south coast. Off the bike, you’ll have the opportunity to visit some of the country’s ancient cultural and UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the rock fortress of Sigiriya & take in the famous scenic train ride through the tea country. Whilst our accommodation will be in comfortable 3* & 4* hotels, we will be staying in some more rural parts of the country so you get a real feel for the warm and friendly Sinhalese culture. Our feed stops will be unlike any others, as we mix local roadside stalls with an abundance of the freshest, most flavoursome fruits you’ll ever taste (though beware the Durian fruit!) Included in Ride Package Accommodation9 nights in a range of small 3* & 4* hotels. Choose private single, shared twin or shared double rooms. Airport TransfersFly into Colombo (CMB), our team will be on hand to collect you & drop you back off on departure day. 8 Epic StagesFull ride support with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops. Optional rest day. MealsBring some money for drinks but our package includes 9 dinners, 8 lunches & 9 breakfasts. CheckpointsFeed stops with mechanical support approx every 35km with local food & drink. LuggageWe move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch. WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with evening meal REAL RIDER REVIEWS Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. John DoeCEO Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. John DoeCEO Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. John DoeCEO Previous Next ITINERARY DAY 1 Arrival in Colombo, transfers at 2pm to Chilaw (2hr journey). DAY 1 Stage One: Chilaw to Chilaw - gentle warm up ride, 60km, 200m elevation. 50% off road. DAY 3 Stage Two: Chilaw to Kalpitiya - 86km, 184m elevation. 65% off road. DAY 4 Stage Three: Talawa to Dambulla - 101km, 421m elevation. 60% off road.​ DAY 5 Stage Four: Dambulla to Dambulla - 60km, 400m elevation. 50% off road.​ Evening visit to Sigiriya DAY 6 Stage Five: Queen Stage, Dambulla to Digana - 109km, 2156m elevation. 50% off road.​ DAY 7 Stage Six: Optional rest day with scenic train ride OR Bandarawela to Bandarawela - 60km, 1500m, 60% off road. DAY 8 Stage Four: Bandarawela to Tissamaharama - 124km, 1198m elevation. 50% off road. DAY 9 Stage Four: Tissamaharama to Tangalle - 110km, 661m elevation. 50% off road. DAY 10 Departure day, transfers leave at 6am for flights after 12pm RIDE HIGHLIGHTS Be one of the first to experience gravel in Sri Lanka!With a massive network of unexplored gravel roads, single track through rice fields and dirt tracks through private tea plantations, on this trip you will take the roads less travelled and see the country from a unique perspective. Get back to natureSri Lanka is a sensory overload with incredible biodiversity! An enchanting country, with an abundance of wildlife (think eagles, kingfishers, monkeys, leopards and elephants to name but a few), and incredible views everywhere you look, every day is guaranteed to ignite all your senses. Food, Tea & CultureHave you ever tasted a coconut roti hot off the grill? Or watched a delicious hopper (Sri Lankan pancake) being made for you? Or drunk a fresh King Coconut? And did you know there are over 20 different types of banana in Sri Lanka? Each day we will enjoy local foods and fresh produce, our feed stops will be unlike any others! smiling faces all aroundAs we ride into remote sections of the country, we are greeted by friendly locals everywhere we go. From waving school kids, to local residents bringing us bottled water on hot days and local food stalls showing us how to make their snacks, the people of Sri Lanka will stay long in the memory. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Mix of Tarmac & GravelEvery country has it's own version of gravel. In Cyprus the trails are mostly excellent but can be rocky in places. This route uses quite a lot of road but the tarmac is mostly excellent and there is very light traffic. Mix of HotelsWe stay in small villages most nights so we don't have a massive choice of hotels. Nights 1,2,3 & 6 are in really nice 4 & 5* hotels but in the middle we stay on the coast in clean but basic hotels. REMOTE ROUTEWe head into very remote sections of Cyprus where we see very few people for hours. There are some places where we won't see the support vans for a while so we need to be self-sufficient. Bring your climing legsThere is no getting away from the fact that Cyprus is pretty hilly! Even on day one where we stay near the coast, we have 1,700m of climbing and that is the avg amount of elevation to expect per day on this ride. 7 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN SRI LANKA NUMBER OnePaphos Forest - a cycling wonderland This state forest in the centre / north of the island is where we spend the majority of stage three & four. The forest has a network of gravel trails and smooth roads through it and other than some forestry workers, you are unlikely to see anyone else all day. Think Kielder / Galloway Forest but with 9 months of warm weather. The magic of riding in this forest is the pure escapism. There is nothing to disturb the silence and the smell of warm pine trees is a delight. The area is hilly with lots of climbs & descents and the occasional panoramic viewpoint of large swathes of the island & the Med. NUMBER TWOTroodos Mountains: Climbing & Descending in Cyprus' remote centre In the middle of Cyprus lies the Troodos mountain range peaking at nearly 2,000m at Mt Olympus. Within the mountain range is a ski resort (in mid winter you can enjoy a day on the beach and hit the slopes all in one morning!), several climbs in the foothills and some charming mountain towns which seems like a very different country than the coastal resort towns of Paphos & Limassol. number threeFOOD: Perfect ride lunches & sweets for that energy boost Cyprus is set as a gateway between Europe & the Middle East and it's cuisine is a mix of both as well as some great indigenous dishes. Breakfasts are typically buffets with some lovely fruit, yoghurt as well as eggs / bacon etc. At the feed stops, we have fresh, seasonal fruit and delightful local cakes. Lunches are in village cafes where we will enjoy delicious sandwiches, kebabs, chips, halloumi & amazing greek salads. In the evening we eat at a mix of our hotels and local restaurants. On the last night we head into Paphos for a traditional Cypriot feast to finish the week in style. Number FourPaphos: Finishing the ride by the Med Most days are spent riding in the rolling hills & mountains but other than stage two, we finish by the sea meaning most days end with a descend and that we can see where the stage ends from miles away. Number fiveRural Villages: The sleepy soul of the island Outside of a relatively small strip in the South West of the island and close to the cities (Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia), most of Cyprus is rural and unchanged through the years. Our ride takes us through lots of these beautiful villages and we get to experience them most at the lunch stops when we head to a small cafe & typically eat outside (often near the main square). Here we enjoy some great food while people watching in the village. Number sixBeach Life: post ride relaxation on sandy beaches The rides are fairly challenging with on average 1,750m of elevation on each stage. Luckily, we finish in great locations each night and most stage finishes are by the sea. Our rides are in small groups so you really get to know each other and enjoying a swim or stroll on the beach before dinner is often the highlights of our trips . We typically enjoy a couple of beers before dinner and then all eat together. Number sevenEmpty Roads & Trails: Enjoy having the roads to yourself With a few exceptions, the gravel in Cyprus is smooth and relatively wide and the tarmac is amazing - riding here often feels like youre a Tour de France rider who only knows freshly laid tarmac! The other delight to riding in Cyprus is the complete lack of anything else on the road outside of the area around Paphos & Limassol. In the Troodos Mountains and even more so in the Paphos Forest, we can ride for a long time on the road without seeing more than a handful of cars and the gravel trails are almost always empty. STAGE DETAILS STAGE ONE: TOCHNI TO TOCHNI Route Summary:Our first stage gives us a real flavour of what to come with a glorious 107km loop starting and finishing by the coast.We start off with a relatively easy 40km section along the coast on a mix of gravel & road before heading inland for an introduction to Cypriot climbing. After a gentle 5km road climb, we hit a 12km section of false flat with a climb at the end with gravel & tarmac sections.From the summit is mostly downhill all the way home with some fun, long descents. Ride Distance: 107km   Ride Elevation: 1700m   % Off Road: 70%   Difficulty: 4/5 STAGE TWO: MONIATIS TO KALOPANAGIOTIS Route Summary:A real moving day as we head from the coast up to the centre of the island into the heart of the Troodos Mountains.The stage starts with a 1hr transfer and then we are straight into the foothills with the first 7km being slightly uphill. After 20km of rolling terrain we have a long (20km) section of mostly uphill with views of Mt Olympus to our right. We go up to 1,500m at the highest point before a long descent down into our charming finish town in the hills. Ride Distance: 63km   Ride Elevation: 2,000m   % Off Road: 50%   Difficulty: 4.5/5 STAGE THREE: KALOPANAGIOTIS TO KATO PYRGOS Route Summary:One of the best stages of our gravel calendar. We alternate long road sections and then long gravel sections all day as we head from the Troodos Mountains, through the Paphos Forest to a finish on the coast.The first 40km in mostly long, gentle climbs and long descents before we get into the Paphos Forest and some lovely gravel trails through the woods. Almost all of the last 25km is downhill as we go from 750m to sea level. Ride Distance: 84km   Ride Elevation: 1,800m   % Off Road: 55%   Difficulty: 4.5/5 STAGE FIVE: KATO PYRGOS TO POLIS Route Summary:Starting & finishing by the sea, this is a ride of two halves with a punchy first 40km and a relatively flat final 35km.After a short warm up, we head upwards into the Paphos Forest for a glorious morning of gravel riding before heading west past orchards & vineyards and eventually popping out by the coast near Polis to our finish hotel on the Med. Ride Distance: 72km   Ride Elevation: 1,500m   % Off Road: 50%   Difficulty: 3.5/5 STAGE FOUR: POLIS TO PAPHOS Route Summary:Our final day’s riding takes us all over the West of Cyprus starting in the north and finishing in the South West in Paphos.We start with some epic fire roads in the North West and climb up to the traditional village of Kathikas with some great views all over the island.From there we stay inland past golf courses and farmland before a 15km descent down into Paphos and a celebratory beer at the finish.Ride Distance: 69km   Ride Elevation: 1,600m   % Off Road: 50%   Difficulty: 3.5/5 ACCOMMODATION Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. PACKING LIST 1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.8. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.8. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. GETTING THERE Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.  FLIGHTS FROM UK Flights Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. INBOUND TRANSFER Transfers Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. OUTBOUND TRANSFER Outbound Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Your Guides Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Rental Bikes Some Brand Some Model Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. getting to Cyprus Fly Into: Paphos (PFO) Direct Flights From: Lots of options from all London airports with direct flights with BA (Heathrow), Gatwick (Easyjet) & Stanstead (Ryanair). Also direct flights with Easyjet from Manchester. Transfer Times:  – Sunday 3rd Nov: Arrival Transfers at 2.30pm for arrivals at Paphos Airport before 2pm. The transfer takes approximately 50 minutes. – Saturday 9th November: Departure Transfers at 5pm for departures after 8pm. The transfer takes approximately 20 minutes.First Town / Hotel if you want to come earlier: St Raphael Resort in Limassol Accommodation & Meals The hotels in Slovenia are a good standard. We stay in a mix of superior 3* and 4* hotels. Choose between a single, shared twin or double room. You can add your preferred room mate in the booking notes. In Kranjska Gora & Bohinj the hotels overlook the mountains & lake. Our hotel in Lipica is world famous for it’s white horses and we finish overlooking the Adriatic. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel & bike boxes are transferred from Bled to Portoroz on the first afternoon. Evening meals are buffets with pasta, salads, meat & vegetables. Lunches at feed stops are local restaurants as we try some of the local delicacies. Vegan, gluten free and other dietary options are available. packing list Cycling KitBibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm warmersCycling shoes | Socks | MittsHelmet | Sunglasses2 bottles | Chamois cream | Sun creamGPS device with handle bar mount​Bike spares2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyreSpare tyre | Tyre levers1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chainSpare rear mech hanger for your bikeSmall pump | Rear lightSpare batteries/charging cables for lights Personal Medical kit1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressingSmall set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol)Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Prescribed medication Hotels & Meals We stay in a mix of 2* to 4* family run hotels. The quality is a mix as we stay in small towns / villages in remote areas.Breakfast is at the hotels each morning. Lunch is at local restaurants on the route (we have local food – expect seafood, lovely meat, salads, halloumi etc) and then dinners are either at the hotel or at a local restaurant nearby.Choose between a private single room, shared twin room (2 beds) or shared double room (1 bed). We stay at: Limassol – St Raphael Resort *****Kalopanagiotis – Casale Panayiotis ****Kato Pyrgos – Tylos Beach Hotel **Polis – Souli Beach Hotel **Paphos – Aliathon Resort **** DATES & PRICES START FINISH SINGLE ROOM TWIN/DOUBLE ROOM DEPOSIT Friday 6 Dec 2024 Sunday 15 Dec 2024 £2749 £2399pp £299pp Book Now Friday 24 Jan 2025 Sunday 2 Feb 2025 £2749 £2399pp £299pp Book Now Friday 24 Jan 2025 Sunday 2 Feb 2025 £2599 £2249pp £299pp BOOK NOW Saturday 13 July 2024 Friday 26 July 2024 £775 £775 £775 BOOK NOW DATES & PRICES Friday 6 Dec 2024 Sunday 15 Dec 2024 Single£2749 Twin£2399pp Deposit£299pp Book Now Friday 24 Jan 2025 Sunday 2 Feb 2025 Single£2749 Twin£2399pp Deposit£299pp Book Now Saturday 13 July 2024 Friday 26 July 2024 £775 £775 £775 BOOK NOW Saturday 13 July 2024 Friday 26 July 2024 £775 £775 £775 BOOK NOW FAQs WHAT TIME ARE THE AIRPORT TRANSFERS  – Sunday 3rd Nov: Arrival Transfers at 2.30pm for arrivals at Paphos Airport before 2pm. The transfer takes approximately 50 minutes. – Saturday 9th November: Departure Transfers at 5pm for departures after 8pm. The transfer takes approximately 20 minutes. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER In November daytime temperatures will range between 21-24°C, with variations depending on the region. Expect some cool mornings in the hills / mountains and to get warmer by late morning. Temperatures in the evenings and also the mountains will be cooler. WHAT BIKE & TYRE SETUP DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR THIS ROUTE Gravel in Cyprus is mostly smooth with a few rocky sections. A lot of the route is on tarmac.A gravel bike is ideal for this trip as it will cope well with the varied terrain on the route.We suggest a wider tyres, over 40mm, will be ideal as they will offer comfort and stability on the rockier and more technical sections, and still be fast rolling on the country lanes. A gravel tread also works well, although you may wish to choose a tyre with more grip.Remember to take care on any road sections, particularly in and around towns. IS BIKE RENTAL AVAILABLE We will have bikes to rent soon for this trip. Our local partner has a great fleet of Cannondale gravel bikes available for £199. OTHER RIDES YOU MAY LIKE CategoriesInternational Off:Roader Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 6th Dec - 15th Dec Stages 8 Distance 710km Elevation 6620m Difficulty View Details CategoriesInternational Off:Roader Cyprus Cyprus 3rd Nov - 9th Nov Stages 5 Distance 400km Elevation 8500m Difficulty View Details CategoriesUK Rides Suffolk Gravel X Autumn South England 26th Oct - 1st Jan Stages Distance Elevation Difficulty View Details CategoriesInternational Last Few Places Off:Roader Sicilia Italy 21st Oct - 26th Oct Stages 4 Distance 359km Elevation 4162m Difficulty View Details CategoriesInternational Off:Roader Toscana Week 2 Italy 16th Oct - 20th Oct Stages 3.5 Distance 325km Elevation 7100m Difficulty View Details CategoriesUK Rides Cannock Chase Autumn X North England 12th Oct - 1st Jan Stages Distance Elevation Difficulty View Details The post Off:Roader Sri Lanka appeared first on Glorious Gravel.

The many sides to the veteran Slovak star – and there are many – unveiled

Cyclist How to use chain quick links Known variously as ‘quick links’, ‘power links’, or ‘missing links’ depending on the brand, these clever widgets take all the faff out of joining a bicycle chain. In the past, joining a chain was a pretty fiddly and tricky job. It required using a dedicated chain-splitting tool to drive a pin through the centre of a link before securing it within the outer plate on the other side. This had to be done very accurately because a poorly joined chain would be liable to snap under load. At the same time, it was also tough not to end up with a stiff link. The beauty of modern quick-joining links is that they take all the guesswork out of connecting a chain. You simply pop them together, and once they’re on, you’ve got a secure joint and a safe chain. At the same time, they also make removing your chain easy, which is excellent for cleaning, transporting the bike or making quick roadside repairs. Related Posts How to build a home bicycle workshop The mechanics of being a professional WorldTour bike mechanic Watch: How to true a bike wheel How to adjust your front derailleur Video: How to adjust a rear derailleur and index your gears How to use quick links step-by-step How to fit a chain with a quick link  How to remove a chain with a quick link  Tools required  Chain hook Chain tool Quick link pliers  Although there are various styles on the market, almost all quick links work in the same way. Generally, both sides of the quick link have an offset slotted outer plate. A bit like a keyhole, this gap is such that when you pop the riveted side of the link through the end of the chain, you can then push the two sides of the link together. With a little force applied to the chain, they’ll then lock firmly into place. Some links can be reused indefinitely; some are single-use. However, almost all work on this same principle. How to fit a chain with a quick link Let’s imagine that we’re fitting a new chain to a bike. Having threaded the chain through the derailleurs and around the chainring and sprockets, you’ll be ready to determine the correct length required. Once you’ve ascertained this, you’ll need to use a chain tool to chop the chain down to size, leaving an inner link at either end that’s ready to accept the quick link. At this point, you’ll benefit from a tool designed to hold the chain together while it’s being joined. The one we’re using is made by Topeak. Counteracting the tension from the derailleur arm and creating some much needed slack, this will make it far easier to fit the link. Now is a good time to check if the style of quick link you’re using is directional. Look for an arrow on the side plate that will tell you the necessary direction of movement as the link passes through the drivetrain. Pop the two parts of the quick link into either side of the chain and locate the pins through the keyhole sections on its partner piece. Give both sides a push to temporarily lock them in place. You can now unhook the tool that was formerly holding the chain together. The chain should now remain together. However, you’re not finished. You still need to fix the link in place. The best way to do that is to use the drivetrain to help you pull it into place. To achieve this, back-pedal the chain around until the quick link is above the chainstay. Once the link is in place between the cassette and the chainring, hold the back wheel and push down on the pedal as if to drive the bike forward. This will place tension on the link and pop it into place. Listen out, and you may hear the link click together. Next, visually check to ensure both sides of the link are correctly slotted together and that the distance between the two pins is the same as on the other links. If they are, you’re good to go. How to remove a chain using a quick link Now let’s suppose you want to disconnect your chain. For this, you need a simple tool called a set of joining pliers. Locate the quick link and rotate the drivetrain until it’s below the chainstay. The joining link pliers are designed to locate either side of the quick link. As you compress the link, you’ll see the pins move back into their slots, enabling you to pop that link apart. Again, be aware that some brands of quick link are only designed to be joined and separated once. Ready to take on some more complex workshop tasks? Why not watch our guide on how to remove and fit press-fit bottom bracket?  The post How to use chain quick links appeared first on Cyclist.

On what is a truly miserable day weather-wise at the 2024 Tour of the Alps, INEOS Grenadiers' Filippo Ganna is attempting a monumental effort.With no intention of staying in the peloton and catching the spray from other riders' wheels, Ganna set out on a one-man breakaway with 113km still go. At 50k...

Challenge accepted...Can you ride 450 miles on Forestry trails this year?Could you ride more than 450 miles of singletrack this summer? That’s the challenge being laid down by the Forestry, …Continue reading »

Tested on the light gravel, road segment and forest trails, the Topstone 1 Alloy could handle all three, but clearly excelled in the former