British Cycling has unveiled the track bike to be used by Team GB at this summers Paris Olympic Games.Described as a collaboration between the best of British engineering talent, with Hope, Lotus and Renishaw all represented, the bike is an evolution of the machine used at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.According to British Cycling, notable developments include the 3D-printed Renishaw titanium crank and split seatpost, also designed in conjunction with additive manufacturing experts Renishaw.This summers Olympic bike, including that split seatpost, was originally teased in July last year.Hopes HB.T frameset, which originally broke cover in 2019, remains at the heart of the bike, with its radically wide fork legs and seatstays.According to British Cycling, the bike is designed to work as one with the rider, with the fork legs breaking the airflow over the rider. The seatstays are then effectively hidden from the trailing airflow by the riders legs.Introducing the Hope HB.T ParisThe updated fork uses a sawtooth profile on the trailing edge.Compared to the original design, the Hope HB.T Paris features a narrowed frontal area and an updated fork with a sawtooth trailing edge.British Cycling says this design is complemented by 3D-printed handlebars that support increased aerodynamic positioning or, in other words, enable the bike and rider to integrate with one another in a manner that is more aerodynamic and comfortable.We can only assume the trailing-edge profile serves an aerodynamic purpose.The Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D, which Filippo Ganna used to smash the UCI Hour Record, has a sawtooth leading edge on its seat tube and seatpost, for example.Likewise, some wheel manufacturers produce aerodynamic rims with sawtooth designs, such as Zipps 353 NSW and the Princeton CarbonWorks Mach 7580.Splitting the differenceThe split seatpost appears aerodynamically similar to the seatstays.Towards the rear of the bike sits a striking split seatpost, made from 3D-printed titanium by Renishaw.British Cycling remains coy on how this design improves performance, though its similarity to the wide seatstays suggests the split design may serve a similar aerodynamic purpose.Again, such a design may enable the seatpost to effectively be hidden from the airflow by the riders legs.Unlike the Look P24 track bike, which is due to be raced by the French national team at the Paris Olympics, the Renishaw seatpost converges at its base to a single point, enabling it to fit the Hope frame.3D printing galoreRenishaw also supplies a new aero crankset.The new bike will also use a 3D-printed titanium crankset from Renishaw.This, as youd imagine, has been aerodynamically optimised, although British Cycling doesnt detail what the potential performance advantage could be compared to the carbon fibre cranksets it used previously.As is de rigueur in elite cycling nowadays, the crankset is finished with what appears to be a very big chainring, constructed from carbon fibre.The bike is pictured with pursuit-style handlebars, but will also be compatible with drop handlebars for sprint and mass-start track events.Although the bike pictured here shows it in pursuit setup, with time-trial style aero extensions and a flat base bar, the bike will also be compatible with a set of aerodynamic drop handlebars for sprint and mass-start track events.As built here, the bike is finished with a Simmons full-carbon saddle and a set of Hope track disc wheels.Mismatched tyresTeam GB looks set to opt for mismatched tubular tyres. - British CyclingIt appears Team GB will opt for a narrower tyre up front to optimise aerodynamic performance on the bikes leading edge with a wider tyre at the rear for reduced rolling resistance.Both wheels appear to be shod with tubular tyres. With the recent announcement of its new Super-9 Clincher Track Disc, though, Zipp teased that a number of riders at this years Olympics would be using clincher tyres on the track.The bike showcased is finished with a set of Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedals, though its possible these are simply the personal preference of the individual rider to whom this bike belongs.How much does the Hope HB.T Paris cost?Given all kit used by national teams must be publicly available for sale, this could soon be you (providing you have deep pockets). - British CyclingAt the time of writing, we dont know.However, per UCI rules, the bike should be listed for sale so you will technically be able to buy one, if you want to.We can be fairly certain it wont be cheap, though.Even prior to the COVID-19 induced price spirals, the Hope HB.T cost a cool 15,500 for the frameset alone.

British Cycling reveal the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer

A neighbour and conservationists have objected to the proposal to turn the "very rare" air raid shelters into bicycle storage, because "the position of the doorways is of particular historic interest" and the shelters are part of the street's "charm"

Powering to the line in a frantically chaotic sprint finish to stage 2 of the 2024 La Vuelta Femenina, EF Education-Cannondale's Alison Jackson could barely contain her delight post-race."I came in with a real fire to win this. Even starting under the rain, I took the mentality that it could be a v...

If youre just catching up, there were a lot of new valve designs this year at Sea Otter including some we cant even talk about yet. At Stans, the well-known tubeless brand has completely rethought the presta valve with an all-new design that promises to offer high flow without any clogging. To get there, the Exocore uses a multi-piece design with a solid brass core in the middle. Since all of the sealing surfaces are external to the valve, Stans claims the valve is virtually clog-free. It also should work with nearly any pump which can be an issue for certain valves. To operate the valve, you can give the upper section a 1/4 turn to allow for a micro-bleed of air pressure. Or you can turn it wide open to allow for full airflow. Stans also claims that since there isnt a regular valve core, you dont have restrictions in flow. They claim youll see 4-5x the flow of a normal presta valve when using the Exocore fully open. Note that this is with the top section and the core still attached. If you need even more flow, you can remove those two like a standard presta valve. In a pinch, you can even install a normal presta core into the base. The base of the valves are tire insert-compatible and use an elliptical tapered stopper which is pucker-free offering a full contact seal with more surface area. The valve nut also includes a captured o-ring to prevent it from vibrating loose. Instead of a cap that has to be unthreaded, the Exocore cap simply presses on with an o-ring, and you remove it by twisting while pulling. The valve stems themselves are offered only in black, but the valve nut and caps are available in six colors which will be sold separately as a color kit. The patent-pending valves will be sold in four lengths to fit various rim profiles and will be priced at $50 per set. The color kit price is TBD. Expect these to start shipping on July 1st. Amazing New Syringe It is tough to get excited about a tubeless sealant syringe, but Stans accomplished that with their new Tubeless Sealant Injector. Completely custom-made for Stans, the injector has a few details that make it better than just about anything else out there. For starters, the syringe is bigger to work with more sealant for bigger wheel sizes and will fit up to 5oz. That larger size is also important because Stans says its best to fill the syringe from the top, rather than sucking sealant out of the bottle with the hose. Why? When you use the hose, you often dont get enough of the particulate suspended in the sealant to get the most of its sealing properties. But if you go to pour sealant into the top of the syringe, how do you keep it from spilling all over? Stans addressed that by adding a split valve to the hose like youd find in a ketchup bottle. Theres also a bump stop and ridge built into the top of the syringe that allows you to insert the plunger to the stop line, without squeezing out any sealant. That means you can prep the syringe and have it fully loaded and ready to go on your workbench without spilling. When youre ready to fill, simply press the valve fitting onto the valve, and squeeze in your sealant. You can also plug the syringe with the included red plug which doubles as a hanger. The Tubeless Sealant Injector will sell for $15, and is available now. The post New Stans Exocore Uses Solid Brass Core for Clog-Free, High Flow Tubeless Valve appeared first on Bikerumor.

After Team SD Worx - Protime missed out on the opening stage team time-trial win at La Vuelta Femenina 2024 on Sunday afternoon, Blanka Kata Vas took advantage of her close proximity to the race lead to launch herself into red via bonus seconds."I didnt have the best legs today, but it was a very...

For today's Weekend Snapshot, we join readers on day rides and bikepacking trips in Italy, Australia, and Finland. Find three fresh photos from across our worldwide community and use the short form to share a scene from one of your recent rides here...The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Editors Note: BikeTiresDirect has partnered with Alex Howes a renowned world-tour-rider-gone-off-road-privateer since 2022. Heres an excerpt from a conversation between BTD & Howes that took place on April 2nd, 2024, where they went down the rabbit hole on all things bicycle.Bertrand Mejia-Morin (from BTD): Alex, thanks for taking the time to chat what driving forces were behind you leaving the WorldTour team that you were on (EF) and targeting a more freeform off-road-centric privateer life?Alex Howes: The number one driver behind it all was just wanting to be home more with family. COVID was long, and the professional cycling world spent a lot of time just in the bubble. [It required] a lot of time away from home literally months so it just wasnt a lot of fun.BTD: How do you tackle balancing being a professional racer with [having a family]?Howes: Its funny because people use the word balance a lot and the reality is it doesnt feel balanced on any level or in either direction the highs are super high and the lows are low get things done when you can, and just forget about them when you cant. Accept the chaos [know it] doesnt last forever, and if you just keep tapping away at the pedals and having fun with it the snow melts and the form shows up and there you go.(Photo/Gretchen Powers)How to Break Into Bike PrivateeringBTD: Any advice for people who are trying to similarly privateer their way through the US off-road racing scene?Howes: It is surprisingly competitive these days. People do their research, both in racing and in putting together sponsorship proposals and decks and everything else.First bit of advice: dont think it wont be a job. If you want to do it, its a lot of work. If you want to make it happen you gotta pick up the phone. You gotta get the keyboard out. You gotta hustle hard.10-15 years ago, if you wanted to be a pro cyclist, you gotta go UCI, and thats that. [Now], theres no one right way to do anything in the privateer world.BTD: What is the most underrated or overlooked thing that you carry with you during races?Howes: I always bring super glue with me Ive used it more often than I feel like I should have. I glued bar tape back together mid-race one time when I cut it and it was flapping. It was just driving me crazy. Ive super glued cuts. Ive glued tire plugs in. I mean, there are 58,000 uses for it and you can get the super tiny ones.Tour Divide vs Tour de FranceBTD: How would you compare some of the more structured [WorldTour] races to a race from your Privateer career like the Tour Divide just you out there on your own?Howes: I mean its kind of funny because at the end of it all there were a lot of metrics that kind of lined up. If you look at fatigue scores they were almost identical between the two of them between the Tour Divide and the Tour de France. Which is comical because theyre not even in [the same] universe on so many other levels. [For] the Tour Divide I mean, I would be surprised if I averaged 105 watts, overall. Versus the Tour de France I dont think theres a day where you average under 220 which doesnt sound like a lot but for someone thats 63 kilos, [at] 220 [youre] pushing for a lot. So anyways, it was surprising how well they compared on some levels, [but then are] totally different.BTD: And if I recall correctly, You were on the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms for the Tour Divide? Howes: Theyre still going. Yeah, I rode them two days ago the exact same tires.(Photo/Wil Matthews)Alexs Favorite Road TireBTD: On that note, whats your favorite tire youve ridden?Howes: Yeah, the bummer with tires is you remember a whole bunch that you really didnt like.If you have a good tire you forget about it, and youre just enjoying your bike ride. If you dont have a good tire youre either fixing it or youre terrified because its coming apart on you or youre crashing.The ones that I probably spent the most time on that I really enjoyed were the Vittoria Corsa [N.EXTs] I rode those things in training a ton.If I was gonna go buy a pair of tires to ride and race, those are the tires between [the compound] and running them tubeless. I just think about how many tubes I used to use a year.(Photo/Gretchen Powers)Cycling Industry Thoughts and FeelingsBTD: Whats your least favorite thing about the bike industry?Howes: I feel like were always chasing theres a cycle to it every year. And I feel like everybody is a month behind at all times? Me included Im two months behind and Ive just accepted that. Like, Im putting my bikes together now, which is kind of ridiculous why dont we all just hit pause for a month and let it all catch up?BTD: How about your favorite thing?Howes: I think theres a lot of just genuinely happy people that do stuff with bikes. And thats why they get into the industry. For all its shortcomings everybody wants to be there. Theyre just trying to figure out how to stay there.Howes: Did we touch on how we linked up? I called you guys up out of the blue. I said hey, you wanna do something? You guys are like, we dont do that but I guess we could. What do you want?Tires, duh! And I [explained] the whole rationale [behind] the [Lifetime] Grand Prix, with gravel racing, and with what I do; no single tire brand makes the perfect tire for every race. And tires are 50% of the game in off-road endurance racing. Maybe 50% is generous, but youre not gonna win anything if youre not getting to the finish line with air in your tires, so yeahI wanted the ability to mix and match, and you guys said Alright, yeah. We do shipping.So yeah, its been fun. Ive tested a lot of stuff and found some stuff I like, and some I dont. I found a pair of tires that will apparently last for 7,000 miles.BTD: And you were a real test subject for this year 2024 now includes five athlete partnerships for BikeTiresDirect. And its been great to be able to share our base of knowledge and resources with other folks be a part of their seasons and a part of their careers, even in a small way. So in that respect, thank you.Its been a great partnership so far and were really looking forward to what the next year and beyond has to hold working with you.Howes: And I appreciate it. Yeah, and the reason I called you guys is because I just kept buying stuff from you guys.[both laugh]Thanks for reading. Youll find the unabridged transcript with more about Alexs WorldTour experiences, his strategy for tire choice, his confusion about pro cyclists apparently always pooping in hats, and a whole lot more at BikeTiresDirect.The post Alex Howes Talks Tour de France vs. Tour Divide, Finding Form, and Tires appeared first on Bikerumor.

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to talk about the recent trend of oversized chainrings in the pro peloton.Following on from Simon's feature you can full the full deep-dive here the two discuss common chainring sizes and theorise why we've seen pros more commonly using 54T chainrings and far bigger. Are they simply much stronger these days?They also delve into whether you should consider upping your chainring size to match, and what gearing you should consider depending on your local terrain.Got a question for the BikeRadar team? You can email us atpodcast@bikeradar.com.How to subscribe to the BikeRadar PodcastThe BikeRadar Podcast takes you to the heart of the issues that matter for bike riders, whether you're a roadie, mountain biker, gravel rider or commuter.From the latest tech news, reviews and debates, to interviews with the biggest and most interesting personalities in cycling, the podcast is your direct line into the BikeRadar team.To make sure you dont miss a future episode, you can subscribe viaApple,Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.

Tadej Pogacar's incredible palmares has already seen him draw comparisons to some of the greatest cyclists ever. Despite the number of stunning wins only growing in the last couple of seasons, a Grand Tour triumph has eluded him nearly three years now.With the Slovenian taking on a Giro d'Italia/Tou...