Canadian takes win as Blanka Kata Vas moves into race lead

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One of the most well-liked figures in cycling, Alison Jackson's win on stage 2 of the La Vuelta Femenina was surely one that brought a smile to many viewers.For the Canadian National Champion herself, the joy and emotion of taking victory was completely overwhelming in the immediate aftermath as Ja...

The new Priority Gemini is a low-maintenance gravel bike equipped with a Pinion Smart.Shift internal gearbox, responsive geometry, and your choice of an aluminum or titanium frame. Find all the details here...The post The Priority Gemini has a Pinion in Aluminum or Titanium appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

German champion Emanuel Buchmann says he was promised "co-leadership" of Bora team, but he has not been picked

Retaining its distinctive design elements, check out what's new on the updated space-age track bike that Team GB will be going for gold(s) on in Paris this summer (we're still waiting on a price unfortunately)

CyclistHow to clean your bike helmetLearning how to clean your bike helmet is an important yet underrated skill. While we might see cycling as a hobby or a mode of transport, its still a form of exercise and when you exercise, you sweat, even if only in small amounts.This sweat builds up over time and can lead to odours and skin irritation. In the same way that we clean our cycling clothes, we need to clean our helmets too.Though it might seem self-explanatory, there are a few easy mistakes to avoid and some simple tricks that can help make the process easier and keep you and your helmet happy and healthy.Do I need to clean my bicycle helmet?Bike helmets are designed to sit close to the skin to help keep them secure and provide protection, and so they will inevitably absorb some sweat.Sweat will accumulate over time and, while it wont initially cause problems, it can lead to unwanted odours. It can also cause skin irritation where its gathered and affect the sweat-wicking properties of the padding.Dirt and grime can also build up, dependent on what type of riding you do, and the combination of all these factors can lead to bacteria and fungus growth. Its important to know how to effectively clean your helmet to eliminate these risks and keep your helmet hygienic after all, you are putting it directly on your head. Related Posts Best cycling helmet: Buyers guide to road and gravel bike helmets from under 100 Bike helmet safety: Standards, testing and tech, plus Virginia Techs top-rated helmets Watch: How to clean a bike in the time it takes to make a cup of tea Best bike locks 2024: How to keep your bike safe How do I clean my bike helmet?What youll needCharlotte Head Mild soap such as dish soap or a helmet-specific cleaner like Muc-Off Foam Fresh Warm water Bucket/bath/bowl Soft/microfibre cloth Sponge Soft brush eg, an old toothbrushWell tackle one section at a time. The different areas interact with your skin in different ways and will need varying levels of cleaning, as well as some areas requiring specific types of treatment.Step 1: PaddingCharlotte HeadThe padding is typically the area that gathers the most sweat as it sits close to the skin and is often designed to have sweat-wicking properties. As such, many manufacturers make this padding removeable so that it can be thoroughly cleaned.If you can, remove the padding from the helmet. Some brands will specify whether this can be put in a washing machine, which will always need to be on a 30C or below gentle wash to prevent the padding from shrinking. If you do use a washing machine, its a good idea to put the padding inside a mesh bag to protect it.Charlotte HeadMachine washing can cause the padding to separate so, unless it is really dirty, we would recommend washing it by hand. If the padding cannot be removed, it must be hand-washed as the helmet itself must not go in the washing machine.If you are washing the padding by hand, soak it in warm, soapy water and clean with the sponge. Squeeze out the excess and leave to air dry.Step 2: Helmet interiorCharlotte HeadOnce the padding is out, use the cloth and warm, soapy water to wipe the interior try to avoid soaking the helmet for too long as the shell is attached by glue, which may begin to de-bond if left in hot water for a very long time.The inside of the helmet wont typically get as dirty as the padding but dirt and grime can get in through ventilation holes so its worth cleaning anyway.Step 3: StrapsCharlotte HeadUnlike the padding, bike helmet straps are rarely detachable. Use the sponge to soak the straps and lay them on a flat surface to scrub. If the straps are very sweaty, its worth getting a soft brush to really agitate them to get them fully clean.Step 4: Helmet exteriorCharlotte HeadTake a lightly dampened cloth and wipe over the outside of the helmet to remove excess dirt and run-off from cleaning the rest of the helmet. Wipe gently so as to avoid damaging the lacquer or paintwork.Leave to dry in a warm, well-ventilated place and re-install the padding once everything has completely dried. Related Posts Best cycling helmet: Buyers guide to road and gravel bike helmets from under 100 Bike helmet safety: Standards, testing and tech, plus Virginia Techs top-rated helmets Watch: How to clean a bike in the time it takes to make a cup of tea Best bike locks 2024: How to keep your bike safe Key mistakes to avoidDont machine-wash your helmet while it may be safe to put some types of padding in the washing machine, it is never safe to machine-wash the helmet itself. This can cause invisible damage that will affect the helmets safety, rendering it useless. (Same goes for putting it in the dishwasher or tumble dryer, though we imagine you wouldnt do that anyway.)Dont put your helmet padding in the tumble dryer the high temperatures from a dryer (or washing above 30C) will cause the padding to shrink and warp and will likely mean it no longer attaches correctly to your helmet.Dont use petroleum-based cleaning products aggressive cleaning products, particularly those with a petroleum base, will cause damage to the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner which can be invisible to the eye but render the helmet less effective. The same goes for insect repellents that contain DEET. Either use mild soap or helmet-specific cleaning products such as Muc-Offs Helmet Care Kit.Dont submerge the helmet for long periods the polycarbonate shell is bonded to the EPS liner with glue which will begin to break down after soaking in hot water for a long time. To avoid, ensure you only submerge the helmet for short periods and in lukewarm water.Helmet-specific cleaning productsCharlotte HeadWhile soap and water will do the trick, sometimes its nice to have the reassurance of a dedicated cleaning product to ensure youre using the right materials. There arent many specific helmet cleaners out there but Muc-Off does make a dedicated kit. Its primarily listed for use with motorbike helmets but we got in touch with Muc-Off who confirmed that its bicycle helmet-friendly as well. The Foam Fresh cleaner is the essential part and can be purchased separately, but you might find the visor/goggle cleaner and anti-fog spray useful for cycling sunglasses. Double win if you also own a moto.How do I look after my bike helmet?Keeping your helmet clean is one of the easiest ways to extend its life and keep it in a usable condition but here are some extra tips for looking after it:Store away from direct heat and sunlightAvoid dropping it/keep in a protective caseDry after sweaty/rainy rides and keep in a dry placeReplace every three to five years or after a crashYou know how to keep them clean, now see our guide to all the best road and gravel bike helmets. Related Posts Best cycling helmet: Buyers guide to road and gravel bike helmets from under 100 Bike helmet safety: Standards, testing and tech, plus Virginia Techs top-rated helmets Watch: How to clean a bike in the time it takes to make a cup of tea Best bike locks 2024: How to keep your bike safe The post How to clean your bike helmet appeared first on Cyclist.

As the days go by it seems more and more likely that Demi Vollering will soon be racing in the colours of FDJ - Suez. According to the latest reports, Specialized are set to follow the Tour de France Femmes winner also.With this latest report coming from renowned and well-respectedLa Gazzetta dell...

Were happy to announce the lucky winners of our most recent round of Collective Reward giveaways! Find the list of Bikepacking Collective members who will receive one of 20 spring 2024 prize packages worth a total of $10,000 hereThe post Spring 2024 Collective Reward Winners appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Further to last Fridays post, a lot has happened on the Spinergy front, and a lot continues to happen:[Well this hasnt happenedat least not yet. Extreme Normcore!]I will of course fill you in when I have a better idea of whats going on, but in the meantime all Ill say is please do not attempt to obtain any Spinergys on my behalf because the carbon-bladed wheels are very much in motion.Meanwhile, this coming weekend is the Five Boro Bike Toursorry, the TD Five Boro Bike Tour:[The TD stands for Tour de]And if youre riding it this year youd better watch out for me because Ive been training and I am going to fucking destroy you:Just kidding:In fact, even though I made a promotional video in which I had to say the date of the ride repeatedly, I kind of forgot about it until I was driving The Car That I Own on the highway the other day and on one of those signs where they flash updates and stuff there was a warning that a bunch of roads would be closed soon for the Five Boro Bike Tour. (Nobody reads these signs and then everybody freaks out when the roads are closed, even though the rides only been going on since like the 1970s.)Then I forgot about the ride again, until this past Friday when I was on a ride and the sights and sounds of spring reminded me once more that it was nigh Five Boro Bike Tour time:I admit Id be lying if I also thought to myself, You know what would be better about this ride? No dirt and 30,000 other people. But Ill be there, because not only am I the Five Boro Bike Tours official spokesman*, but only an idiot would turn down this many bananas:*[Bike New York wishes it to be known that Bike Snob NYC a.k.a. Tan Tenovo is not the official spokesman TD Five Boro Bike Tour, and furthermore that they disavow themselves of any relationship with him beyond the annual Making of the Video, and even then only when he wears a helmet. And if he shows up with a cargo bike and attempts to resell our bananas again they will press charges. Also, its not spokesman; its spokesperson, or else spokesentity if they have transcended not only gender but corporeal existence altogether.]Of course the big question is: What bike to ride? Ive already sought and attained vengeance with a bike curated especially for that purpose:So do I load up the basket of the Platypus with sundries and make a day of it?Or do I slice and dice the ride expediently astride a full-blown Fred Sled?Speaking of which, riding it this past weekend I became aware of a creak, which I found to be emanating from the boutique ultralight crabon crank, and a cursory inspection revealed the arms to be loose. Upon returning home (does anybody actually carry an 8mm Allen key with them?), I tightened both bolts as much as I dared, though the play remained in the left arm. Ive been enjoying this bike very much and did not want to subject it to unnecessary downtime, so rather than attempt to further diagnose the problem I figured a transplant was the most straightforward solution:The crank uses the ISIS interface, which is the object of more or less universal derision:I have no idea if the play is the result of worn or damaged splines or something else:I also have experience with only one other ISIS crank, which is the one that originally came on the budget singlespeed that now lives with a reader in California:I replaced it early on, since as I recall the bottom bracket seemed prematurely worn, which I think is the big problem people have with ISIS. I then dug it out of the parts bin and stuck it on the Softride after picking all the good stuff off of it before giving it away:[Photo: Arlo Weiss]This reminds me that the recipient owes me an update; I will have to check in with him. Hopefully he has not discovered that riding a Softride beam while pedaling an ISIS crank will open a portal to Hell.As for the remaining parts in the aforementioned bin, among the various cranks in there was this Race Face road crank, which I decided to use for the LeMond because its the same length and BCD as the Zipp which meant I could use the same chainrings:Its an outboard bearing crank from the mid-aughts, and when it comes to those theres Shimano, which is by far the best (until they started bonding their cranks, obviously) and then theres everyone else. Race Faces not-so-bright idea was to attach the spindle to the left arm and then put the fixing bolt on the drive side, which one contemporary review claimed was a potential environmental benefit:I dont know about that, but Im sure its a lot cheaper and easier to stock, pack, and ship. (My parts bin is a testament to that. Have you ever tried to figure out how to store a Hollowtech II crank? Its surprisingly challenging.) Id also imagine thats at least part of the reasonif not the entire reasonthat lots of companies (SRAM, for example) use a similar system. It certainly seems inferior to the Shimano system from an engineering standpoint, since as I understand it (though I readily admit I understand technical things very poorly) the spider is where most of the stress happens on a bicycle crank, which is why those old Campagnolo Record cranks (a pair of which Im currently riding around on) apparently tend to crack there. Indeed, the Race Face outboard bearing cranks of this era had a reputation for failing (the splines would wear out and the crank would become useless) and I had a Race Face mountain bike crank that died in exactly this waythough I never had a problem with either of the Race Face road cranks Ive owned, including this one. (The other one is, as far as I know, still working fine on a bike I gave to a friend.) Really, the only problem I had with the road ones was that the Race Face bottom bracket that came with it was complete garbage, though I remember at the time it was advertised as containing Phil Wood grease, which is kind of like saying it had Sony guts:Fortunately the crank also works with Shimano outboard bottom brackets, which last forever, so that solves the problem.As for why I have had so many of these inferior-to-Shimano cranks, the reason is that my stable of bicycles was experiencing rapid growth in the mid-aughts, while my wallet was notand these cranks were very cheap even when new, probably because they were not very good. But as I say, the road ones served me just fine, and this one seemed a good fit for the LeMond, so I moved the rings over and put it on the bike:Well see how it holds up.