Exmoor National Park is a wild and rugged region that sits across North Devon and West Somerset. Its best known for its open moorland, wooded valleys, dramatic coastline, and strong []The post Exmoor Explorer Overnighter appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Rimpacts Chain Damper was launched in 2024, and since then, interest in drivetrain feedback mitigation seems to be gaining momentum. The fact that current World Cup DH ruler Jackson Goldstone uses a similar device on his bike has likely caused quite a spike in interest. On their part, Rimpact supported 15 World Cup DH Teams through last season, and theyre expecting that number to grow this year.Since Rimpact has seen increased demand for the Chain Damper, theyve decided to make it more accessible and drop the price by quite a bit. MSRP for the Chain Damper has been significantly reduced from 279 to 189! Even better, Rimpact is now including two sets of springs so riders can tune their chain dampers with Trail or DH-suitable settings.Rimpact Chain Damper: Trail and DH SpringsWhile the Chain Damper itself has not changed, Rimpact will now include two different sets of springs in the box with every unit. This offering was prompted by feedback from dealers, riders, and racers. Until now, the dampers were all sold with Rimpacts DH springs, and the Trail springs were available as a separate accessory.The two spring sets offer different spring rates. The Trail springs are softer and designed to prioritize reduced pedalling sensation and a natural feel on rolling terrain. The stiffer DH springs provide a higher spring rate to offer optimal control and composure on rougher, faster terrain. Will some trail riders prefer the DH springs, and some DH racers wind up using the Trail springs? Who knows, but now its much easier to try both and decide which works best for your bike, riding style, and terrain.Chain Dampers with 30 or 32t chainrings will be sold with the Trail springs pre-installed. Dampers with 34 or 36t rings will come with the DH springs in place. Rimpact offers dampers compatible with Shimano, SRAM (3 bolt or 8 bolt Transmission), Hope, and RaceFace cranks.The updated Chain Damper is available now. If purchased through Rimpact online, the new reduced price includes free shipping to most locations worldwide. For more info on how the Chain Damper works, check out Rimpacts website.rimpactmtb.comThe post Rimpact Components Slashes Chain Dampers Price While Adding Two Tuning Options appeared first on Bikerumor.

As I continue to seek the Elusive Spirit of Gravel, Im pleased to report I have now moved on to the inevitable accessorizing phase of my journey. Remember how back in the early part of this century, at the height of the fixie craze, you could obtain all manner of u-lock holsters and colored rims and top tube pads, allowing you to play Barbie with bikes?Well the same thing goes for your broccoli bike, and taunted by all those empty accessory mounts I have now acquired and installeda small top tube bag:In the dark days before the Gravel Revolution a top tube bag was known as a bento box. It was used exclusively by triathletes and was the very pinnacle of dorkiness. But now theyre apparently acceptable, and while my corporate bag may not have the cachet or gravel cred of a designer hobo bindle from Ultraromance that you attach to your Brooks saddle with a stick, it does bolt directly to the bike:Hey, you dont become cool overnight. Youve got to pay your dues first. And if that means riding around looking like the main character in a childrens book called My First Gravel Bike then Im willing to do what it takes:Thats the AIs take on a childrens book called My First Gravel Bike. Not bad! Sure, theres the usual mutant cockpit, but thats a given at this point. Also, Niord Bt Galris Mgfleah is one of my favorite authors, though hes best enjoyed in the original Gaelic.Anyway, this bag will allow me to carry a mini pump without sticking it in my jersey, as well as some foodstuffs for when its finally warm enough to ride outside for more than two hours:[Two hours? Woosie.]I suspect the real reason the whole gravel bike thing took off is not for any of the reasons people usually cite (people dont want to ride on busy roads with lots of cars; people want more versatile bikes; people can work remotely and live the desert hipster lifestyle] but rather because roadie types are finally allowed to put small bags on their bikes.Speaking of gravel, Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LGH) -6,98777%, the company that owns all the gravel, is officially banning drop bars from the Leadville Trail 100:But you will still be able to use drop bars in races with the word gravel in the name:Detailed in itsupdated rules for its 2026 events, Life Time revealed that drop bars will not be allowed at both the Leadville Trail 100 and Little Sugar mountain bike races this year. The Chequamegon MTB Festival event will still allow the use of drop bars, as will the Sea Otter Classic Gravel, Unbound Gravel and Big Sugar Gravel.Now, I should make it clear that I dont really care if races have rules, nor do I care whether or not those rules make any sense. Races have rules, and thats what makes them races and not rides. If you dont like the rules, then dont enter the race. So if Life Time wants to ban drop bars, or singlespeeds, or pubic hair, or anything else, thats quite literally their business. Dont like it? Find another race, or else youd better book that waxing appointment now to avoid the pre-Unbound rush.Stillwhy?I did visit the rules page, and heres what they say:Course compatibility? Isnt that up to the riders? Clearly drop bars were compatible with the course, otherwise nobody would have used them. As for safety, were people crashing because they were using drop bars? Im not asking sarcastically, Im really asking, because I have no idea. And if the ultimate goal is to preserve the integrity of Leadville as a mountain bike race or something, that doesnt really make sense, since people have always raced mountain bikes with drop bars. [I dont need to insert the Obligatory Tomac Photo here, do I? This isnt the rest of the Internet, were all grownups here.]Of course, not everybody agrees:I dont know whats funnier: putting drop bars on a mountain bike and selling it as a gravel bike like Pinarello did, or claiming that doing so is somehow dangerous to the consumer, like this article does:Bike brands then respond by building ready to go conversions. You dont have to source parts; you just have to put down your credit card and you get something thats fully engineered. Except is it? Is it actually fully engineered?What if you are a small brand that just wants to capitalize on a trend without much investment. That would never happen in our small community, right?Wont somebody think of the marketing victims?!?Also, what is Life Time saving people from exactly?Life Time is right to kill this trend in the racing community, but you should also be thanking them. This rule change will save you from bikes like this. The actual use case is incredibly small and Leadville is at the center of that. Banning the trend there means you wont be seeing drop bar mountain bikes winning races nearly as often. That will mean less headlines about it and that will mean less interest. Brands wont need to respond.Like the use case (barf) for most other types of mountain bikes isnt vanishingly small? In 2026 you need separate mountain bikes for riding up hills and for riding down them. Also, if the bikes are winning races then doesnt that meantheyre working?I guess the real reason mountain bikers object to this is that putting different handlebars on a bike for a specific course is a decidedly low-tech solution, and theres nothing they hate more than simplicity.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike is the team that challenges UAE Team Emirates - XRG the most, however in 2026, they want to move away from having the Grand Tours as absolute priorities, but instead put more emphasis on the monuments as well. Matteo Jorgenson, an incredibly versatile rider and world-class...

Irish sprinter, now at Pinarello Q36.5, had atrial fibrillation, back on bike following operation

Sam Bennett has undergone medical treatment for atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular heart beat. He underwent the procedure in Germany just days after he suffered a heart scare while in London in November. He woke up during the night with an unusually high heart rate, especially as he had just been asleep. He then []

Bikepackers, commuters, and touring cyclists know the brand Restrap well. From frame bags to saddle bags, panniers, and hydration vests, the UK-based brand knows bike bags well. However, one thing has been missing from its lineup.Although the brand offers its own mounting brackets and accessories, it doesnt have a dedicated rear bike rack. Until now.Wed like to introduce you to the Restrap Switch Rack and the Switch ecosystem of bags and products. But actually, we cant, because the brand isnt releasing the rack until late February.Restrap Switch Rack DetailsThe new offering has been two years in the making for Restrap. While they promised to share the complete details upon the release, they were kind enough to give us a few details.Thru-axle-mounted aluminium alloy rack64mm spaced bolting on the rack legs for cages, Restrap Switch Panniers, or any other compatible accessoriesThe top bar will be compatible with the Restrap Switch ecosystemHigh Grade 7075-T6 aluminium 12mm diameter axles in 1mm, 1.5mm, and 1.75mm thread pitch optionsCompatible with 142mm and 148mm Boost spacingThe Switch Rack will have an entire ecosystem of bags and accessories. Here we see how they attach.Spare axles available separatelyCompatibility with UDH and Transmission25mm velcro strap to fit all seat post sizes and shapesQuick flip system provides maximum wheel clearance across all bike sizesISO tested up to 30kg (~66lbs) loadLightweight construction, 395g (less than 1 pound)Price: 124.99 / 149.99 / $189.99Angus Youngs (left) Eastern Divide FKT bike and Josh Reids (right) Tour Divide bike Restrap says those with a keen eye may have already seen the new Switch Rack at different bike shows. Josh Reid also had one on his Tour Divide bike, and Angus Young used it on his Eastern Divide FKT.Already Winning AwardsTo add to the excitement of Restrap releasing the Switch Rack, you should know it will be coming to you fresh off a win at the Design and Innovation Awards. These are awards for standout products each year, or, as they call them, the Oscars of the bike and outdoor industries.Heres what they said about the Switch Rack:For bikepackers and touring riders who dont want to choose between weight, style, and function, the Restrap Switch Rack offers a refreshingly pragmatic solution. This aluminium rack keeps things deliberately low key, which is exactly where its charm lies. Restrap calls it engineered simplicity: a light and sturdy carrier that bolts on in just a few steps and, thanks to the supplied thru-axle, fits almost any bike. The universal interface makes the system impressively versatile. Switch panniers, Multimount accessories, or bags from other brands all sit securely and neatly on the rack. The minimalist design not only looks premium but also proves its worth off-road, where the rack stays quiet, stiff, and reliably in place. The only real intervention is swapping the axle during installation, which is barely worth mentioning given the included options. If you want a lightweight, unfussy and versatile luggage system, the Switch Rack stands out as a smart, modern companion for both short escapes and big adventures.Well bring you more information about the Restrap Switch Rack and the entire Switch ecosystem as we learn more closer to the February 26 release.The post The Restrap Switch Rack Isnt Released Yet, But Its Already Winning Awards appeared first on Bikerumor.

From bike fits to press trips to Dubai, we look at the emerging phenomenon of the cycling influencer

INEOS Grenadiers has struggled to perform in the Grand Tours over the past few years and simultaneously, it struggled to capture new Grand Tour stars in the market. Hence, as UAE and Visma had their teams largely decided and weren't on the hunt for new leaders, the British team had to go all-out to...

Typically, oversized pulleys and cages promise lower friction from ceramic bearings and larger pulleys. The new Kogel Kolossos Speed for SRAMs latest XPLR 13-speed gravel and Transmission mountain bike groups adds two more features more ground clearance, and a better chainline.Starting with the already very stiff and slightly aero Kolossos Speed design designed for precise shifting, these new versions also include Kogels huge 14-tooth upper and 20-tooth lower wheels spinning on their hybrid ceramic bearings.Where it really differentiates itself is with a shorter-than-stock cage. For XPLR, its 10mm shorter, and 5mm for T-Type derailleurs. This means more ground clearance and less chance of snagging (or smashing) the cage on a rock or root.Lastly, Kogel says its the only oversized pulley cage that mimics SRAMs offset lower wheel angle, designed to maintain better chainline from the bottom of the chainring to the derailleur. The result should be quieter, smoother performance.These Kogel Kolossos Speed versions remain at $499.99 each, coming in black and desert sand. Or, get them in your choice of 144 different Cerakote colors for $649.99, which lets you mix and match colors on inner and outer cage plates and upper and lower pulleys, plus several colors of hardware for putting it all together.Kogel.ccThe post Kogel Kolossos Speed Adds Ground Clearance, Improves Chainline for latest SRAM Groups appeared first on Bikerumor.