Lets start with what might sound like several controversial statements, but they really shouldnt have to be(All photos/Cory Benson)Maybe the best groupset I have on an XC bike today is a 16-year-old Shimano XTR M980 2x10sp setup. Its shifting is still so crisp, quick & tactile! My favorite groupset I have on any dropbar bike is an 8-year-old Campagnolo Super Record 212-speed mechanical. Its light, has great ergonomics, excellent brakes, and delivers an excellent click with each shift. Plus, it was almost entirely made-in-Italy. And I downright love the modular durability of last springs SRAM Eagle 90 drivetrain on my enduro bike. It just feels bulletproof, while rewarding inputs with an unmistakably positive click as it shifts into place. I have many opinionated leanings for sure. And yet I am Agnostic when it comes to picking one drivetrain maker over another, or even whatever technology is going to manage my shifts. But at the same time, I just love the classic, simple & predictable performance of a mechanical shifting groupset. And I think Im not alone. And dont forget, each one of those groupsets Ive singled out is ready to ride at a moments notice. Not a battery in sight. Mechanical shifting is simple, serviceable & more affordableOK, buckle up buttercup, here comes a bit of a rantElectronic shifting is great. And new gadgets are genuinely really cool. But good old mechanical shifting can still be just as good. In fact, historically, top-tier mechanical shift drivetrains were also almost always lighter.Am I the only one who remembers that? My recent upgrade from mechanical XT M8100 with full-length housing to new wireless XT Di2 M8200, for example, added 99g to my bike, even if it will also make your wallet lighter.By definition, mechanical shifting is also mechanically much less complex. When something stops working, you can just look at it and see whats wrong. Plus, moderately skilled home mechanics can not only diagnose most normal shifting issues, but also often fix them easily. And finally, mechanical drivetrains are just more affordable when you remove motors, batteries, and smart controllers from the equation.Sure, you need to replace cable housing every once in a while. What a great excuse to add some colorful new housing!But honestly, its not something you have to do every season if you clean and take care of your bike. I have two, three, and even (gasp!) four-year-old cables that still shift quite smoothly. And can sometimes even deliver faster gear changes than an electronic setup, in certain situations.Not just a retro-grouch, so what am I trying to rebel against?Look, Im not a Luddite. I have fun playing with new electronics. They do some cool things, but also add a lot of complications, too. What you never have to do is remember to charge a mechanical drivetrain. Or update its firmware. Or remember to replace those tiny hidden shifter batteries that you forgot about. Or worry that you leaned another bike up against your electronic-shift road bike, and not only drained the battery, but actually destroyed the battery by over-draining it. Yeah, I did that with a Di2 setup several years ago.Also, a couple of years ago, I found an AXS battery on the side of a trail about 2500m above sea level, high and deep into the Swiss Alps. I hope someone lost their spare battery. Because if that had fallen out of their mountain bike derailleur there, it would have been a really long day stuck in the wrong gear before they made it back to civilization, where theyd have been able to shift again.Decades of EPS, Di2 & AXS, but is our riding life better now?Generation after generation of little servo motors, silicon microprocessor chips, and various communications protocols many wired, now almost all wireless; add to that all manner of rechargeable, sometimes interchangeable, and also plenty of disposable batteries to power them.There are even (and have been) a lot of apps that promise unique drivetrain adjustability, which has truly been pretty cool. But those also brought endless firmware updates and the threat (promise?) that one day your phone or app or derailleur wont be the correct version anymore. And so eventually, your electronic shifting may simply no longer work. Electronics almost inevitably mean some degree of planned obsolescence. SRAM has done a great job with universal AXS batteries powering all of their electronics for years. But Campagnolo and Shimano have both gone through several electronic generations that are not backwards compatible, as have other smaller electronic drivetrain makers.Sure, electronics bring some of the fastest, most powerful, most consistent, and precise shifting drivetrains that bicycles have ever seen, to be sure. At the same time, some of them even slowed down shifting speeds to ensure ebike compatibility or to make them work no matter the user (i.e. more idiotproof).But lets just remember that old mechanical M980 XTR groupset of mine. It still works well, a decade and a half later (and likes to spend time in the air). 10-speed chains and cassettes are cheap and readily available, as are standard shift cable sets. And when the power goes out, that bike keeps shifting!Dead batteries!Talking about the power going out Nothing hurts worse than heading out for a ride, and 1 minute out the door, realizing that you cant shift. Yes, your bike is dead. And departure cut short. Hopefully you have a spare battery, or maybe a spare bike with mechanical shifting! Actually, you know what is worse? Having your bike die an hour or more away from home, especially when you thought it was still charged. Weve had electronic bikes run out faster than normal because they had bad firmware, or because battery contacts were corroded or loose, or even just from an age-degraded battery. It happens more than you would expect. More than I would want, at least. I dont care how many little red flashing warning LEDs exist.Or how about having remembered to charge your derailleurs, and then the stupid shifter battery dies. Oops, you forgot about that one, didnt you! Since they last anywhere from 1-3 years between replacement now (an inconveniently wide time range), youll be forgiven for having forgotten about them. And when it happens, of course, you dont have an extra CR2032 or 1632, or whatever obscure watch battery your specific shifter requires. No, they are not all the same. I keep 2032 spares at home, and some others that I dont even remember what they are for now. But not the CR1632 of the latest wireless Di2 setups that will start to die on us all in about a year or two.No rechargeable derailleur batteries or disposable shifter batteries required for mechanical shifting, thank you very much.Replacements didnt (and still dont) have to break the bank!Oh, and lets remember that crash replacement is a real thing. Outside of tires and brake pads that simply wear out, I feel like the rear derailleur is my most often impact-damaged component requiring replacement. On proper mountain bikes, it really is unavoidable. On road and gravel bikes, derailleur damage is also not unheard of.When I broke an XT M8100 12-speed mechanical derailleur on a rock last summer, it only cost me 50 in a bikepark bike shop to replace it with a perfectly functional Deore M5100 mechanical derailleur. Back home, the original XT derailleur replacement officially retailed for 135, but I could find it online for nearly half that price. Now I have a spare.At the same time, when my GX AXS T-type derailleur started mysteriously running out of battery, I couldnt even diagnose what was wrong. Ultimately, I had broken a part of the un-serviceable electronic shifting core in an impact that I dont even remember. Only it took a couple weeks to properly diagnose what was even happening. That then meant buying a new derailleur for 475 just to get riding again. And thats the cheapest wireless T-type derailleur that SRAM sells (and doesnt even include a battery!) Sure, I could find one online for as little as 330, but no deals like that in a shop to get me riding again on the spot. #facepalmLasting pleasYes, wireless electronic drivetrains are cool. And your cockpit will be a tiny bit cleaner with one fewer cable. Yes, youll never have to dial-adjust tune the derailleur as your cables stretch, or replace shifter cables & housing every year or two. And yes, building up a new bike is so incredibly easy when all you have to do is pair a wireless shifter and derailleur together.So, Ill just end all of this with a Dear Bike Industry requestPlease Shimano, keep making XTR M9100 & XT M8100 mechanical derailleurs. And I know we are limited to 105 on the road now, but could you please at least give us Ultegra mechanical? And yeah, dont abandon mechanical GRX.Please SRAM, keep the Eagle mechanical family going strong. Maybe even give us an option with a lighter carbon cage or some other weight savings? Im thinking Eagle 100 or 110 sounds nice! (I guess we mechanical-loving weight weenies can probably already piece that together on our own with a replacement XX SL Cage Assembly.) SRAM, remember when mechanical Red was your lightest-ever road groupset? You could totally do that again!And dear Campy, thank you for Ekar. Dont abandon that lightweight mechanical simplicity. And maybe please give me a new 13-speed mechanical road groupset compatible with those newest SR13 cassettes. It doesnt need to be Super Record. Wed all be very happy with just Record. But remember how light mechanical can be!/rantThe post Dear Bike Industry: Please Dont Take Away My High-End Mechanical Drivetrains appeared first on Bikerumor.

By Shane Stokes In what is at first glance a setback but which could ultimately prove to be a boost to his career, Sam Bennett spoke in a very frank manner this week about a heart operation he underwent last November. Talking at length to Stickybottle on Wednesday in advance of a short team announcement []

At BikeRumor, lots of products make their way to our home offices and workshops before ultimately hitting the roads and trails. Try as we might, its not always easy to keep up with it all, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to give everything the attention it deserves. In our new Shifting Gear series (see what we did there?), well be highlighting products that have just arrived, were excited to try out, or that were particularly stoked to tell you about but havent had a chance to review yet.In this first installment, Jeremy unpacks some of the freshest gear in his testing queue. Shoes, lights, gear storage, wireless drivetrain upgrades, and waterproof apparel, hes got no shortage of interesting new products lined up.Kitworks Gear Tote: MTB Gravity BundleThe components of the Kitworks MTB bundle on the left (the flap pockets are already attached to the tote), and a fully packed Tote ready to drive to a less snowy riding location.Cycling gear organization is a problem with many solutions, and Ive been searching for the perfect one for years. Instagram apparently knows this about me and fed me a targeted advertisement for the Kitworks Gear Tote. Im honestly kind of glad it did.Kitworks is one of many brands selling rugged, adventure-oriented gear organization and storage products Velocio and RUX recently co-branded something that looks somewhat similar. The brand sells a variety of gear storage solutions, including totes, gear boxes, and duffel bags, in various sizes. Everything appears to be deliberately tough and thoughtfully designed, with modular accessories that let you customize your storage space to meet your unique needs.All the gear on the left fits easily and neatly into the Kitworks Tote on the right.After browsing the brands website, I settled on the Mountain Bike Gravity Gear Tote bundle. This includes the 55L gear tote, a mesh pocket system, a flap pocket system, a wet+dirty bag, and two small zippered gear cubes. All of these items and more are available separately on the Kitworks website, so you can pick and choose if you have something specific in mind. I went with the bundle because I didnt want to think about it, and it seemed like a good selection.The 55L tote is cavernous, and its easy to fit and see everything inside. It took me a little while to set up the other components of the modular system, but theyre fairly easy to attach to either the inside or outside of the tote. Im still making adjustments to my setup, but Im pretty impressed so far. It seems very well made and durable, and I really appreciate that the semi-rigid flat bottom keeps it from tipping over in my truck.mykitworks.comFox Union All-Weather Flat ShoesBeyond the tall cuff, the Union All-Weather looks a lot like Foxs other shoes.Fox introduced its new Union All-Weather shoes in the fall, and I got my hands on a pair a little while ago. They resemble the rest of the brands Union shoe lineup, but stand out with an extra-tall ankle cuff, which is taller than most other weatherproof shoes Ive seen. They come in both clip-in and flat pedal versions, both of which feature the BOA Fit System and look virtually identical (other than the sole).Fox doesnt specify a waterproof membrane material used in the shoes, but it apparently extends all the way up the ankle cuff to keep water, as well as mud and debris, from making its way inside. With the extra-tall cuff, it should be much easier to overlap with pants, which will also hopefully prevent water from running down your legs and into the shoe. Otherwise, the flat version I have uses the same Ultratac rubber sole as Foxs other models, so I expect pedal grip to be about the same. Inside, the footbed features adjustable arch support and a D30 panel intended to absorb impact and vibration.The Flat version uses Foxs Ultratac rubber sole and comes with a D30 footbed with adjustable arch support.My first impression is that they look surprisingly normal for the most part, except the extended cuff, which looks a little goofy until its covered by your pants. They are very difficult to get on and off a shoehorn would probably help but once on, they feel like regular riding shoes and are quite comfortable in my limited use thus far. The BOA Fit System does a good job of tightening them over the feet and wont be annoying to deal with when wet. Overall, they strike me as a well-designed foul-weather shoe, and Im looking forward to riding in some sloppy conditions with them soon.foxracing.comGloworm CX Core Mountain Bike LightThe Gloworm CX Core light with all of the included components.Last year, Gloworm finally cut the cord and introduced its first self-contained mountain bike light. Unlike the rest of the brands lineup of lights, the new CX Core houses the battery and light in a single unit, eliminating the need for annoying cords. It has four high-powered LEDs and boasts up to 1,750 lumens of output with multiple steady and flashing settings to choose from. The internal 6,000 mAh battery has a claimed 80+ minute runtime at max output and up to 10 hours at lower settings.Beyond the cordless design, the wireless handlebar remote is undoubtedly one of the best features, letting you adjust brightness settings without taking your hand off the grip. It comes set up for use on the helmet, with a GoPro-style attachment, as well as stick-on and strap mounts. Gloworm also sells a bar upgrade kit so you can modify it to mount on your handlebar, too. The bar kit includes a sturdy bar clamp, as well as a swappable lens with a wider beam spread compared to the more focused beam of the helmet setup.The CX Core comes set up for helmet use, but the upgrade kit is available to convert it into a handlebar-mounted light, too.So far, the CX Core appears to be very well made, quite bright, and an excellent option for a helmet-mounted light. At 199 grams, its a little heavier than the Exposure Zenith I also have, but it doesnt feel heavy on the head. Conditions are not great for night riding in my area right now, but I look forward to using this light more in the near future.glowormlights.comShimano Deore Di2 Upgrade KitThe Deore Di2 upgrade kit includes everything shown on the side of the box.Shimanos top-tier mountain bike components always get the most attention. Such has been the case with the latest Di2 wireless derailleurs and shifters that launched last year. But if Ive learned anything over the years, its that Shimanos more affordable components perform nearly as well as their more expensive counterparts, just with a slight weight penalty.So, when Shimano asked if I wanted to try out the Deore Di2 wireless upgrade kit, I said, Hell Yes! Assuming youre already running a cable-actuated Shimano 12-speed drivetrain, the upgrade kit includes everything you need to switch to wireless. It comes with the Deore M6250 Di2 derailleur, wireless shifter, battery, charger and cable, and a 12-speed quick-link. Swapping the old for the new is very easy, assuming you have the tools and a little know-how.Actual weights of the Deore Di2 shifter and derailleur.I received this upgrade kit a little over a week ago. Ive got it installed on my bike, but Ive only taken one ride with it so far. My first impression is that it looks a little bland, but it works almost identically to the XT version that I have on a different test bike. The shifter has fewer features like positional adjustability but weighs less. The derailleur weight difference isnt nothing, but together its only ~90 grams heavier than the XTR Di2 derailleur and shifter combo. Stick with a higher-tier cassette, and youll probably never notice. At $675, the Deore upgrade costs $185 less than XT and $310 less than the XTR upgrade kit it could be the best value in wireless.bike.shimano.comPatagonia Dirt Roamer Storm KitThe latest Patagonia Storm Jacket and Pants. Color coordination is on point.Patagonias Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket and Pants are waterproof and designed specifically for mountain biking in miserable conditions. Patagonia uses a 3-layer H2No shell, which they claim is waterproof, breathable, stretchy, and recycled. Ive been a pretty big fan of Patagonias mountain bike apparel since the brand started making it again several years back. Ive owned and tested a number of different shorts, jerseys, and jackets, but this is my first experience with any of the Storm gear.The jacket is a pullover, but it has a 3/4 front zip and massive side zippers to evacuate air. It has a helmet-compatible hood and subtle features intended to enhance performance and durability on the bike. The pants feature abrasion-resistant reinforcement on the seat, crotch, and knees, along with ankle zips for easier fit over pads or shoes. The waist has a super low-profile adjustment system that works surprisingly well. The waist adjuster on the pants and the waterproof front zipper on the jacket.For my height and weight, 60 and 170 pounds, the medium jacket and pants fit me perfectly and are very comfortable to wear. The inseam length of the pants actually works well for my long legs and overlaps nicely with the extended cuffs of weatherproof riding shoes. For fully waterproof gear, its lightweight and relatively packable, plus the material doesnt feel as plastic-y as some of the other waterproof stuff Ive tried. As with everything else Ive gotten from Patagonia, the design, materials, and craftsmanship appear to be of the highest quality.Ive got one sloppy ride in the pants, but Ive only worn the jacket around the house so far. Weve got snow or sticky mud on the ground here right now, which has the local bike trails shut down for a bit, but Ill be searching out some damp foothill riding in the near future to put this suit to the test. I plan to go all-in and pair this kit with the Fox Union All-Weather shoes, maybe stand in front of a fire hose and see how it all farespatagonia.comStay TunedIn the coming weeks, Ill be putting all of these products and more through their paces. Ill do my best to follow up with in-depth reviews of each as conditions allow for testing and time allows for writing. Be sure to check back if youre interested in hearing my thoughts on how they perform. The post Shifting Gear: Affordable Wireless Shifting, Shoes, Lights, and More Fresh Products appeared first on Bikerumor.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling have adopted quite an unorthodox approach to their off-season preparation. While most of their rivals are currently racking up kilometers in sunny Spain, a compact expedition of seven, including Tom Pidcock, travelled across the globe to the cycling-exotic land of Chile....

During this mornings commute to work I was reflecting on our work and running through my long to do list while making sure to pay attention to the road. Being a frequent bike commuter sometimes equals to a mastery on multitasking to say the least. I took a pause to look at the freshly installed yard sign promoting this years Purple Way (launching tomorrow!), and also paused to think about what I was wearing today: a shirt that reads Las Calles son Nuestras which means The Streets are Ours in Spanish: a fantastic reminder that it takes all of us using the road to make it safer for everyone. With that said, here are some things you can do to make change happen: Meet Your New Elected OfficialsLast week, our new elected officials were sworn in. We encourage you to become familiar with the Council Members that represent your district, especially since there have been some changes to the District Maps that went into effect on January 1st:Councilmember At-Large JP Morrell JP.Morrell@nola.govCouncilmember At-Large Matthew Willard Matthew.Willard@nola.govCouncilmember District A Aimee McCarron Aimee.McCarron@nola.govCouncilmember District B Lesli Harris Lesli.Harris@nola.govCouncilmember District C Freddie King III Freddie.King@nola.govCouncilmember District D Eugene Green eugene.green@nola.govCouncilmember District E Jason Hughes Jason.Hughes@nola.govIf you are not certain of what District you are part of, click hereAnd of course we have a new Mayor:Mayor Helena Moreno mayor@nola.gov She currently has a survey out: It includes 40 questions that run the gamut from housing, to infrastructure, to workforce development and more. Put aside at least 20 minutes to complete, and encourage your friends and family to participate: New Bikeway Improvements Completed in New Orleans!Recently, the city completed the installation of a new and improved crossing signal on the intersection of the Lafitte Greenway and Broad Street. Keep an eye for a PSA from the city on how to navigate it as someone walking/running, biking and driving. And if you have feedback on it, that is when the Council Member list comes in (District C). Safer St. ClaudeOur campaign Safer St Claude Campaign continues to grow. On January 10th. SPARK: Light Up St Claude was held in partnership with BYMBO who has taken the lead in creating a community based Master Plan for this corridor.During the event, we engaged with different community members and locals to the area, asking them for feedback on what priorities will make the corridor safer. We also asked residents to email elected officials and ask for Support of Safer Streets on St. Claude for Everyone Who Uses It.One of our biggest concerns is for the study committed on this corridor to fall through the cracks in the change of Administration, so help us keep the momentum:Edit and send email with your personal story here Other Ways to Get Involved? Seek Opportunities at Local Organizations!As you probably heard,Lafitte GreenwayPartnershipis hiring three new positions to grow their organization andscale their impact:Project Manager (Full Time)to support all of LGPs environmental, cultural, and planning projectsCommunications Coordinator (Part Time)to support their storytelling via social media and email GetFit Coordinator (Part Time/Seasonal)toset up their table,greet participants, and support instructors in their free outdoor fitness programJob descriptions and application requirements can be found here on their website applications are due on February 13 at 5pm. Volunteer with Bike EasySupport outreach, education, bike valet, and community events. Become a MemberHelp build safer, more accessible streets year-round.I have began setting meetings with the new elected officials for the weeks to come, and are committed to continue to advocate for the community as best as we can. As always, keep your ideas coming and feel free to reach out if you ever want to meet and learn more about our work and how you can be more involved.In Service,{{broadcaster.name}}Executive DirectorPS: Join me tomorrow night for the Krewe of Prometheus! This Critical Mass Ride will be followed by a Ball at the John Thompson Legacy Center

The cyclocross World Championships in Hulst have lost some of its spark. Without injured Wout Van Aert, the main event, elite men's race seems to have a known winner already far in advance with the seven-time world champion Mathieu van der Poel seemingly out of anyone's reach again this winter. But...

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Wout Poels is a rider who in his career finished 6th overall at La Vuelta (twice), won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and played a key part in multiple Grand Tour victories of his team. However, for what could turn out to be his final professional season, the 38-year-old signed up for a project which doe...