Matthew Fairbrothers 24 hour fast-food frenzy took in 2,650 laps, 5,300 speed bumps and 10,600 corners. The question is; why?

The physical consequences of Mads Pedersens opening-day crash at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana were clear within hours. Broken wrist. Broken collarbone. A season debut that ended almost as soon as it began. Less visible, but just as revealing, is how the former world champion is processing the s...

Welcome to the Liveblog for the third stage of Volta a Comunitat Valenciana and Etoile de Bessges Classic,and for the Classic held in Oman, the Muscat Classic. In Spain, after strong winds canceled the ITT, we have a day when a Red Bull in excellent shape will measure its strength against Emirates...

Campagnolo doubles down with Team Cofidis for 2026Super Record 13 set to take centre stageVicenza-based icon renews its WorldTour alliance as the first-ever 213 road drivetrain enters a year of fullgas racing validation.Campagnolo has confirmed it will continue as technical partner to Team Cofidis for the 2026 season, extending a collaboration rooted in performance, innovation and relentless R\&D. The partnership puts the spotlight squarely on Super Record 13the worlds first 213-speed road platformnow moving from debut season success to a year of consolidation in the heat of racing.From launch to the WorldTour pelotonOfficially launched in 2025, Super Record 13 is the first 213 groupset developed and brought to marketan audacious step that redefines how closeratio road gearing can feel at race intensity. Selected Cofidis riders, including the teams Tour de France squad last season, raced the system to help complete final development and raceday validation. That collaborative loop continues into 2026 as Campagnolo sharpens the platform under WorldTour stress.Being once again alongside Team Cofidis is a great source of pride for us, said Campagnolo, underscoring the brands belief that direct feedback from athletes accelerates meaningful innovation for both pros and enthusiasts.What Super Record 13 promises on the roadCampagnolo says Super Record 13 delivers smoother gear progression, tighter cadence control and consistently precise shifting even when the race is at its most chaoticwhile preserving the trademark ergonomics, braking control and safety that define the brands halo groupsets. In short: less fumbling for the right gear, more flow when the speed is on.Crucially, this isnt a onetrick, proonly drivetrain. The architecture has been built as a modular ecosystem from the outset, spanning road, allroad and gravel in both 2 and 1 configurations. The aim? One shifting philosophy across multiple terrains, without compromising precision or efficiency.Tech highlights at a glance213 gearing: worldfirst road platform brought to market, designed for closer steps and smoother cadence control at race speed.Racevalidated: deployed by select Cofidis ridersincluding the Tour de France squadin 2025 to complete final development and validation.Ecosystem approach: modular architecture covering road, allroad and gravel, with both 2 and 1 setups to match modern riding styles.Fast wheels to match: Bora ULTRA WTOCofidis will complete the package with Bora ULTRA WTO wheels in 45mm and 60mm depths. Handmade UltraLight Carbon rims and Campagnolos G3 lacing target classleading stiffness and power transferexactly what you want when the leadout ignites or a crosswind echelon tears the peloton to ribbons.Why this matters (and why you should care)For racers and fast club riders, 13speed done right means you can hold your preferred cadence more often, especially over rolling terrain where traditional 11 or 12speed setups often force awkward jumps. If Campagnolos claims translate beyond the WorldTour, expect more seamless shifting under load and a calmer, more controlled feeling in the bars when the hammer drops.For everyday riders, the modular platform hints at a future where your race bike, endurance rig and gravel weapon share a common shifting DNA. Thats good for familiarity, and potentially for maintenance and spares, too.The bigger pictureFounded in Vicenza in 1933, Campagnolos legacy runs through countless drivetrain firsts. The renewed Cofidis deal signals that the Italian marque is pressing the advantage with Super Record 13, using the WorldTour as a rolling lab while bringing the tech straight to enthusiasts. With the 2026 season now underway, watch for Cofidis to lean on those 13 ratios when the gradients bite and the speed surges.

This weeks Debrief features Chris King's Gold Grease, OneUp Goldstone Grips, a Woodsy Hog's Back, Rockgeist Mr. Fusion colors, a couple of events to follow live, and more. Find it all hereThe post Friday Debrief: Chris King Gold Grease, Woodsy Hogs Back, Mr. Fusion Colors, and More appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

If youre old enough to be receiving routine colonoscopies theres a decent chance youre of the opinion that we are raising a generation of simpering, mollycoddled, over-programmed, under-developed, screen-addled invertebrates. You may even think this advice column is a case in point:Heres what happened:My husband and I have a 6-year-old son, Xavier, and a 15-month-old daughter. We recently gave Xavier a new bike. Last weekend, he took off on it and disappeared for over two hours before he came home. Xavier said hed just been riding around the neighborhood and on the next block over, but I was about ready to call the police! After this I dont think our son should be allowed to ride his bike unless myself or my husband is with him until hes at least 10. My husband, however, doesnt think what he did is a big deal, citing the fact that he used to ride around on his bike for hours at a time when he was around our sons age. That was more than 30 years ago when things were safer! What can I do to get him to take Xaviers safety seriously?Reasonable Riding RestrictionsHmmm. 30 years ago was 1996. Were things really safer back then? Probably not, though Im way too lazy to look it up.Anyway, as a parent who receives routine colonoscopies, Im torn. (Not literallyan irrational fear of tearing is not a reason to put off that colonoscopy!) On one foot, six is pretty young to be off riding by yourself; on the other foot, at six I would certainly have been off riding by myself, and I turned out just fine, multiple psychologically scarring and potentially deadly encounters notwithstanding. So sure, I get it. Its 2026, not 1996and certainly not 1976, which is closer to my own frame of reference. In retrospect, dangers such alcoholic authority figures, secondhand smoke exposure, and casual racism seem positively quaint. Hey, was all a character-building journey, right?Now we live in a scary dystopian future in which Cybertrucks roam the streets and a solo bike ride is a one-way ticket to Epstein Islandand even if you do make it back youre lucky if your friends dont set you on fire for social media cred:Still, this response from the columnist seems a bit harsh:My friend, Im glad you wrote in, because, respectfully, your husband isnt the only one who needs a wake-up call here. It isabsolutely unacceptablethat you allowed your 6-year-old child out of your sight, out in the world, fortwo hours.Even 10 minutes gone without explicit permission and knowledge of where exactly you could find him would have been too much! As soon as he was out of your sight, you should have been after him. And if he left without your knowledge, you should have been canvassing the neighborhood as soon as you realized he was gone.Jeez, relax! The kid came back, didnt he? Also, context is important, and we have no idea where these people even live. Riding around the neighborhood means completely different things in different places. Here youre liable to get hit by a car:Whereas here youre probably more likely to get hit by a tennis ball:Thus we see the complex forces of social injustice at work. Poor children are threatened by reckless motorists, whereas rich children are threatened by errant tennis ballsand even if we do replace the motor vehicles with tennis courts, the rich children are still at considerably lower risk since theres a much higher chance theyve had lessons, are carrying a racket, and can return a lob.This is why Ive long advocated for UTL (Universal Tennis Lessons).So when can you allow children to ride bicycles on their own in a modern world besieged by giant SUVs and flying fuzzy Wilsons? Well heres what the experts say:The American Academy of Pediatricsadvisesage 11 or 12 is when most children are developmentally ready to be unsupervised. Thats twice the age of your son. He is just not ready for the responsibility of biking alone yet, and he wont be for many years.Unfortunately this is far too general for todays overbearing parents, who need to know exactly what their children should be allowed to do and when they should be allowed to do it, right down to the minute. To that end, I suggest the American Academy of Pediatrics adopt the following guidelines for young bicyclists:0-3 years: do not let child anywhere near a bicycle3-4 years: let child play with a bicycle helmet while you softly recite pro-helmet propaganda4-6 years: gift child a balance bike or a scooter, allow them to use it only at a playground under adult supervision while wearing a helmet and elbow and knee pads that severely limit mobility and spontaneity (and be sure to drive to playground whenever possible)6-10 years: gift child an ill-fitting superhero-themed bike that would be difficult to ride even if child was not wearing knee and elbow pads and a poorly-adjusted helmet10-18 years: in the extremely unlikely event your child still wants to ride a bicycle at this age, gently redirect them towards more age-appropriate behavior such as computer gaming and driving lessons18 years and up: in some cases a latent desire to ride a bicycle can resurface during adulthood, in which case we recommend the purchase and occasional use of an Industry Standard Gravel Bike (ISGB)See that? Simple! Or lose custody of your kid, whatever works for you:Since your husband is living in a fantasy world where nothing bad happens to little kids, at least wake him up the real world where bad things can happen to families who are investigated by CPS. And keep your 6-year-old in your line of sight. Hell have plenty of time to joy ride the neighborhood when his brain is more developed.By the way, Im disappointed nobody pointed out that Xavier the wayward six year-old may just have been exhibiting early signs of being captivated by the Spirit of Gravel, articulated succinctly and eloquently by a reader in Germany:The spirit of gravel means to meTo fart in the woods in peace.If a gravelista farts in the woods and theres nobody around to smell it, does it still stink?

Stage 3 of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana was decided by a daring late move and a nervy run to the line, as Andrew August held off a charging peloton to claim his first professional stage victory. What had started as a fast transition day along the Costa Blanca was transformed at the Puerto de Tib...

This week's Reader's Rig comes from Andrei in Helsinki, Finland, a new dad who shares the mid-90s Marin Pine Mountain he pieced together to haul his kid around town and on overnighters into the surrounding countryside. Meet Andrei and see his latest build here...The post Readers Rig: Andreis 1994 Marin Pine Mountain appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Enigma's new Excel 6AL/4V prototype is not only the foundation for the British titanium bike manufacturer's upcoming 20th-anniversary limited-edition model. It will also showcase the future design direction of Enigmas range. With only 20 frames scheduled for production, the new Excel is set to be a collectors item. Each frame will be handmade at Enigmas HQ in Hailsham, Sussex, and made from Grade 5 (6AL/4V) double-butted titanium tubing. The prototype is finished with a satin bead blast, and gold-mirror anodised details, head badge and logos. Jim Walker, Enigmas managing director, says: We are collaborating with our friends at Reynolds Technology, who are aiming to produce a brand-new set of Grade 5 6AL/4V tubing for the bike. We want the frame to be as British and sustainably produced as possible. Read more: Best titanium road bikes in 2026 for smooth and luxurious riding, as reviewed by BikeRadar Enigma Excel 6A1/4V details The tubeset is custom-made for the Excel. Enigma bicycles The frame features 3D-Printed UDH dropouts and a 3D-printed seat cluster. As youll notice from our pictures, Enigma has stayed with a traditional external seat clamp. We believe [a traditional clamp] offers greater long-term security and serviceability than the current trend for concealed push-plate systems," says Walker. "At Enigma, we use 3D printing only where it offers a genuine structural or functional advantage, not purely for aesthetic impact. 3D-printed UDH dropouts Enigma tells us this is an early design and has been refined for the finished bike. Enigma bicycles The bike uses a CNC-machined IS52 head tube and a CNC-Machined T47 bottom bracket shell. Walker says this is because CNC machining delivers much tighter tolerances than 3D printing and a superior surface finish. Its the right choice for high-load, precision interfaces such as head tubes and bottom brackets. The Excel's CNC-machined T47 bottom bracket shell shows Enigma's attention to detail. Enigma bicycles Enigma Excel 6A1/4V design The 3D-printed seat cluster incorporates a subtle Enigma logo. Enigma bicycles The design team at Enigma wants its bikes to combine classic looks with a modern twist. However, it says function should always lead form. Enigma doesnt believe that titanium should mimic carbon fibre aero shapes. Simply, if aerodynamics are your ultimate priority, it believes you should use carbon fibre. Enigma wants to celebrate titaniums qualities and amplify rather than disguise them. Jim is adamant youll never see a titanium aero frameset from Enigma. Its intention is to show off its frame builders' skill with traditional TIG welding, and use a combination of tube diameters, wall thicknesses and butt profiles to influence the ride quality. While the new bike embraces some 3D-printed elements, Walker sees overreliance on this new technology as a limiting factor when it comes to custom bikes, which have been the heart of Enigmas business for two decades. The head tube is CNC-machined from a solid billet. Enigma bicycles Jim tells us: While it is possible to build custom frames around extensive 3D-printed components, it can significantly increase cost and restrict design. A more traditional construction allows almost complete customisation without unnecessary complexity. Mirror gold anodised logos set the Excel apart. Enigma bicycles For Enigma, it's also about longevity and that means reparability. Titanium frames, made conventionally, are fully repairable. When you damage a complex 3D-printed structure, it's difficult if not impossible to rectify. Enigma wants its bikes to last for decades rather than seasons. Enigma bikes have been made in Sussex, UK for 20 years. Enigma bicycles This being a prototype, Enigma hasnt yet listed pricing for the 20th anniversary Excel, alhough the current Excel is priced from 4,070 for a disc frameset.

For Andrew August, Stage 3 of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana was never supposed to end with him raising his arms. It was meant to be a day of work. A day of pulling. A day of covering moves for others. Instead, it became the moment his professional career properly began. The 20-year-old produced a...