The $1000 "pure road riding" groupset features a wide gear range, ergonomics to suit a wide range of hand sizes and less mass

Shimano promised to simplify and revolutionise its mid to entry-level components line-up across road and MTB back in 2023... but with the revamp of Shimano Tiagra, it looks like the road groupset hierarchy is, for the most part, going back to how it was (or never really changed in the first place)

This was the 'opening weekend' of the Spring Classics, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles Kuurne. In France, there were two races in the Ardche region, and in Italy a race that will now make the newspaper headlines. Controversy erupted after the finish of the 168-kilometre Memorial...

Today, Shimano rolls out a new road drivetrain that focuses on performance and affordability. The Tiagra R4000 Series is a 211 mechanical drivetrain featuring a new cassette, an ergonomic lever design, and other new features.And while Shimano introduces this new system today, itll say goodbye (eventually) to the Tiagra 4700 10-speed drivetrain.Shimano Tiagra R4000 DetailsWith the new Tiagra R4000, Shimano provided the modern performance roadies are looking for. Along with improved performance, it also hit the price points they wanted and saved about 200g along the way.Cassette (CS-RS400-11) and chain (CN-HG601-11)New in this drivetrain group is an 11-36T, 11-speed cassette that boasts a 327% gear range. Paired with multiple chainring options, this Hyperglide cassette allows you to find the needed gear ratio for everything from stout sprints to steep climbs.If you have multiple new chains lying around from the pandemic days, dont worry, you can still use them. Shimano carried over the HG-X11 direction chain from previous drivetrains as it shifts consistently well and is durable thanks to Shimanos SIL-TEC treatment.Crankset (FC-R4000)52-36T (left) / 50-34T (right)Shimano offers two chainring pairings and multiple crank lengths for the new Tiagra crankset. First, the chainrings are offered in a 52-36T combo, or 50-34T. Then, the crank arms vary in length by 10mm, with 165, 170, 172.5, and 175mm offerings.Front derailleur (FD-R4000)Lighter and smoother front shifting is promised with the new front derailleur. The Tiagra 11-speed front derailleur features Shimanos toggle-link construction and an optimized cage design, delivering precise, natural shifting performance.Rear derailleur (RD-R4000)Optimized and designed specifically for 211-speed road performance, the Tiagra rear derailleur delivers crisp, precise shifts. It is compact and lightweight, but more importantly, reliable for smooth shifting.Dual control levers/shifters (ST-R4020-L / ST-R4020-R)Using the advanced ergonomics from their 105 Series levers, Shimano built the new Tiagra levers from the ground up. The dual control levers provide consistent brake feel and crisp shifting. A redesigned lever position and bracket provide the comfort, control, and confidence needed on a long ride.Tiagra R4000 CompatibilityHere is what Shimano wants you to know before you click buy on the new Tiagra R4000 drivetrain.To support consistent shifting performance, frame and drivetrain compatibility should meet the following targets:Chain: Shimano 11-speed-compatible chain (CN-HG601-11 and CN-LG500 specified for the series)Rear hub spacing (O.L.D.): 135142 mmChainstay length: from 410 mmChainline: 43.5 mm (consistent with modern road front-shifting targets)Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD): 110 mm (for the specified crank platform)Front derailleur clearance: comparable to FD-R7000-type fit considerations (modern disc-road-oriented cage/clearance approach)Front chainring clearance: comparable to FC-RS510-type chainring/crank fit expectationsFreehub interface: HYPERGLIDE (HG) Spline M and HG Spline L (with 1.85mm spacer) (11/12-speed).The new Tiagra R4000 sits just above Shimano Cues U6030 and 105 R7000. Pricing is as follows:Rear derailleur: $70Front derailleur: $55Crankset: $160Levers: $240 eachCassette: $70Shimano said they expect to phase out the older 10-speed Tiagra drivetrain by early 2027. See all the details at bike.shimano.com.The post New Shimano Tiagra is Lighter and Offers Wider Range Gearing appeared first on Bikerumor.

Kona has launched a monster steel gravel bike with a 100mm-travel RockShox SID suspension fork lifted from XC mountain bikes. The LBF is not an MTB with a drop bar, though, with the frame geometry set up specifically for a drop bar. The Reynolds 520 butted-steel frame bikes LBF name stands for Legend of the Big Fork, a play on the Big Foot monster native to Konas Pacific Northwest home (allegedly). As with the fork, the tyres and wheels are MTB-level, with a 2.4in Maxxis Dissector tyre at the front and a 2.4-inch Maxxis Forekaster at the rear on Race Face ARC Asymmetric 27mm rims built on Formula hubs with Boost spacing. Kona fits SRAM G2 four-pot brake calipers to the LBF, which includes a sliding UDH dropout. If youre heading into territory where you need the big tyres and hardtail-adjacent suspension, youll want appropriate stopping power, too, so Kona has paired the LBFs SRAM Apex levers with SRAMs G2 four-piston MTB brake calipers in what it says is a unique but SRAM-approved configuration. The bike is specced with 180mm SRAM HS2 brake rotors, but you can fit 200mm rotors should you choose. SRAM Eagle components supply MTB-adjacent gearing. Theres a SRAM Eagle crankset with a 32-tooth chainring on a 73mm threaded bottom bracket and a SRAM Eagle 10-52t cassette, with a SRAM Apex Eagle derailleur. You can fit a maximum 34-tooth chainring if you want to gear up. Drop-bar geometry MTB-like geometry is correct for the Ritchey drop bar. Konas headline geometry numbers mirror those of its mountain bikes, with a 67-degree head tube angle thats very slack in the gravel world but, it says, lends the bike stability at speed. The seat tube is MTB-steep, too, at 75 degrees, which Kona claims leads to predictable handling and seats the rider more centrally between the wheels. The fit of hardtails and gravel bikes is different, though, with drop bars typically extending the reach. So Kona has adjusted the LBFs geometry to account for the drop-bar configuration, rather than simply clamping a gravel bar to an MTB frameset. The LBF is kitted out with a Ritchey Comp Beacon flared gravel handlebar. The Kona LBF is designed for rowdy gravel riding. Kona Another feature of the frame is sliding UDH dropouts at the rear, enabling you to set up singlespeed or tweak the rear-end configuration. Theres a full set of mounts, so you could fit mudguards (although probably not with the 2.4in tyres) and a rack, as well as bags above and below the top tube. An MTB-adjacent gravel bike needs a dropper post, too in this case, a TransX RAD+. Kona claims a 14kg / 31lb weight for the LBF, which is available in S, M, L and XL sizes. It's priced at 3,299 in the UK, $3,699 in the US and3,999 in Europe.

Shimano has announced the launch of a new Tiagra groupset after stating in 2023 that the all-encompassing CUES family would replace all Shimano groups up to and including Tiagra. The new group of components looks to answer the questions CUES has failed to address in the eyes of product managers and bike buyers. New Tiagra R4000 offers 2x 11-speed with two chainring options, accessible gearing and a new more ergonomic lever design to suit a wider range of riders. The emphasis on adjustment could make new Tiagra a great option for juniors. Shimano also claims like-for-like configurations of the new R4000 with the current-generation Tiagra are more than 200g lighter. Read more: Shimano CUES has failed to revolutionise entry-level road gearing Why return to Tiagra? Tiagra provides, for many, the first taste of true performance bikes. Russell Burton / Immediate Media As I reported last last year, the reaction to Shimano's push with CUES into the entry-level road bike market was lukewarm at best. I found very few examples of CUES-equipped bikes. CUES always looks far more at home on urban and gravel bikes. Shimano Instead, product and brand managers were happier to continue with the soon-to-be-phased-out 10-speed Tiagra rather than switch to the robust all-road styled CUES. New Tiagra looks like what weve been asking for The new shifters have the same ergonomics as the latest mechanical 105 shifters. Shimano Only a few weeks ago, I wrote how I wanted to see a new performance-oriented, entry-level option from Shimano. That was based on what I saw as the lack of innovation for the huge market of affordable road bikes, and from talking to key industry figures. Well, Shimano obviously thought the same. We now have a range of components with both looks and key specifications to meet the needs of this broad, large range of bikes. The biggest change from previous Tiagra, and indeed CUES, is the shifters. Shimano says the ergonomic profile means easier reach across a wide range of hand sizes. The design has the same ergonomics as the latest 105, using the same redesigned lever and bracket positioning. The 2x 11 options include only a single 11-36 cassette, although its joined by both a 52/36 pro compact pairing and a more traditional compact 50/34 option. Styled for the road The new Tiagra derailleur has similar styling to the latest 105. Shimano Where the new Tiagra scores in my eyes is its styling. Unlike the chunky, robust-looking CUES, Tiagra R4000 carries the same styling and DNA as Shimanos high-end groups. The 105-alike levers are smoothly styled, while the integrated look of the crankset shares design cues with 105, Ultegra and the flagship Dura-Ace. The low-profile and compact rear derailleur has classic road-component vibes, especially when viewed alongside electronic derailleurs with built-in batteries, as we now have from Campagnolo, SRAM and Shimano. The downside is that, although Shimano has announced a new Tiagra today, the existing Tiagra is not set to be phased out until early 2027. So, while we can be excited at the advancements on offer, we wont see bikes with the new components until the 2027 model year. Ive quizzed representatives from many major bike brands and, although all have expressed excitement about Tiagra R4000, none have confirmed models or price ranges well see the groupset featuring on. Understandably, their focus is on current ranges rather than what comes next. New Shimano Tiagra spec, price and weight details Rear derailleur: RD-R4000 The new front derailleur uses the compact cam action debuted on Dura-Ace 9100. Shimano The new RD-R4000 rear derailleur looks very similar to 12-speed 105, with what looks to be a more compact cage, and the main body having elements of the 105s low-profile shadow shape. Rather than it being a full low-profile shadow design, the main cable port on Tiagra is more exposed. At a claimed 275g, it's only 2g lighter than the current Tiagra. Front derailleur: FD-R4000 The new front derailleur is available in both band-on and braze-on versions, with Shimanos toggle link action first introduced on mechanical Dura-Ace 9100. It uses a compact cam-driven mechanism that results in lighter action and reduced lever throw another improvement for small hands, asserting Tiagra as a great option for kids' road bikes. The new front unit is marginally heavier than its predecessor (95g compared to 91g). Crankset: FC-R4000 (52-36 and 50-34t options) The new FC-R4000 crankset is the star looker of the new Tiagra seen here in 50/34. Shimano The crankset looks much like the latest 12-speed 105 with the smooth flow of the crank spider into the outer ring. I think this is the single biggest improvement over both its predecessor and CUES. With 52-36 and 50-34 options, it shows Shimano views the new Tiagra as a true performance option, too. Its available in 165, 170, 172.5 and 175mm length options. The 907g weight (50-34, 172.5mm) is lighter than the outgoing version's 926g. Shifters: ST-R4020-L (left), ST-R4020-R (right) The new shifters borrow the ergonomics from the latest mechanical 105 shifters. Shimano The new shifters share the same ergonomics and profile as mechanical 12-speed 105 and are hydraulic disc brakes only. The weight is a claimed 622g a pair a significant saving over the previous generation's 740g. The brakes are the existing BR-RS405 hydraulic caliper. Cassette: CS-RS400-11 The new 11-speed 11-36 cassette is the single option for new Tiagra. Shimano The final new component is the 11-36-tooth cassette. Obviously, this is now 11-speed rather than 10-speed hence a slight increase in weight to 398g from 384g. The compatible chain is the current CN-HG601-11 a directional super-narrow HG-X11 unit with Shimanos SIL-TEC treatment on the plate surfaces. Rear derailleur, RD-R4000. Weight: 275g. Price: 64.99 / 59.99 Front derailleur, FD-R4000-F. Weight: 95g.Price: 39.99 / 37.99 Front derailleur, FD-R4000-B. Weight: 111g. Price: 39.99 / 37.99 Crankset, FC-R4000, 52-36T. Weight: 917g. Price: 139.99 / 134.99 Crankset, FC-R4000, 50-34T. Weight: 907g. Price: 139.99 / 134.99 Shifters ST-R4020-L, ST-R4020-R. Weight: 622g (pair). Price (each): 174.99 / 169.99 Cassette, CS-RS400-11. Weight: 398g. Price: 64.99 / 59.99 What does Shimano say? The 52/36 crankset option shows Shimano sees Tiagra as a proper performance option. Shimano We originally reported on CUES in February 2023, with Shimanos radical new approach seeing it replace Alivio, Acera and Altus, alongside select Deore components for flat-bar/mountain bike use, and the drop-bar iteration replacing Tiagra, Sora and Claris. The apparent U-turn on the CUES idea shows Shimano has listened. I asked about the new Tiagra and it stated: We developed Tiagra R4000 to meet a clear demand from riders and OEMs (bike brands: original equipment manufacturers) for an accessible, 2x11 mechanical groupset that delivers a true road cycling experience. "While CUES is highly versatile designed for All-Road, Gravel, and bikes with wider tires TIAGRA R4000 remains a dedicated "Pure Road" groupset. This distinction is reflected in its technical specifications, such as optimized chain stay lengths and front derailleur tyre clearance, which are specifically tailored for classic road bike geometry, aesthetics, and performance. However new Tiagra has come about, Im very glad it has. Now its over to Shimanos rivals, SRAM and Campagnolo, to offer an alternative to Shimanos return to value performance road components. Read more: Road bike groupsets everything you need to know

Christophe Laporte will not start Le Samyn on the very day Team Visma | Lease a Bike had hoped to turn the page on a disrupted opening to 2026. Wout van Aerts long-awaited return to racing was meant to reset the narrative. Instead, hours before the Belgian one-day race, the team confirmed via socia...

At this point, there are many sub-genres in the world of off-road bikes, yet none are ready to contain the LBF. Thats the Legend of Big Fork, and its Konas latest masterpiece. Its a bike that, on paper, doesnt really make sense. But if you know how to let it run wild, youll be rewarded with one hell of a good time. Now, Kona is no stranger to drop bars. Over the years, the brand has covered everything from road & cyclocross bikes to commuters and MTB-influenced gravel bikes. But the LBF is something different entirely. This is not a gravel bike built with bigger tires. This is a mountain bike, purpose-built for drop bars that just happens to be adventure-ready. (All photos c. BikeRumor unless noted)Like many of the great Kona frames, the LBF starts with steel. Reynolds 520 butted cromoly to be exact. The frame has modern MTB fitments, including a 73mm threaded bottom bracket with ISCG05 tabs, a 44mm headtube that allows for a tapered fork, and Boost 148mm rear spacing. But more than just a Boost spaced axle, the dropouts are built with chunky sliders to allow for single speeding. It also allows you to adjust your wheelbase for more stability when bikepacking or more playfulness when shredding. Its also UDH compatible, so you can upgrade to the latest SRAM Transmission drivetrain if thats your style. Along those lines, its built around a 55mm chainline and can clear up to a 34t chainring, for 1x drivetrains only. The LBF frame seems incredibly burly, so it should be just as precise when fully loaded down with cargo for backcountry expeditions. There are a ton of mounts, including two bottle cages on the downtube (lower mount has three bolts), a top tube mount, rack mounts, and three bolts under the top tube to allow for bolt-on frame bag options. Since this isnt a gravel bike, you get a Rock Shox SID suspension fork with 100mm of travel. No more, no less. This bike is specifically built around a 100mm fork with 29 wheels, and Kona points out that to stray from this in either direction will result in: warranty voided, potential injury or worse, and anxiety from Kona staff.GeometryThe geometry is specifically built around drop bars, and youll find much shorter reach numbers than you would on a comparative hardtail with a flat bar from Kona. Dont let that fool you the LBF runs on the larger size, and if you typically ride a medium like me (58), youll also likely be a medium here. Note that with my 690mm saddle to center-of-BB measurement, I was just able get the saddle at the right height with the 150mm travel dropper its almost as low as it goes. However, if I needed to get it lower, the +RAD dropper is internally adjustable by up to 30mm. Youll also find the front end to be on the tall side with more stack than a Kona Honzo ESD (which has a 150mm travel fork). Im on the small side of a medium on the LBF, so I slammed the stem, and its still a very upright position. Combined with the 75 seat tube angle across the size range, you should have no problem getting upright and comfy on this bike. Up front, the 67 head tube angle makes it feel like a properly modern mountain bike, and again not a gravel bike with big tires.Build KitWhile the LBF does have drop bar levers, these are not your typical build. In fact, Kona claims this is a custom SRAM-authorized combo built specifically for Kona. That means youre getting SRAM Apex Eagle mechanical levers with hydraulic G2 four-piston brake calipers. That should give you some indication of the purpose of this bike especially when you consider that you can run up to 200mm rotors. The remainder of the build equation is largely made up of the wheels and tires. RaceFace ARC 27mm rims are wrapped in 29 x 2.4 Maxxis Dissector/Forekaster tires. Slow on the road, but youll be happy to have them if youre really pushing the limits on the trails. The bars are 50cm wide at the hoods, and 62cm wide at the drops!The cockpit includes a massively wide 50cm Ritchey Beacon Comp XL dropbar with a stubby 45mm Comp Trail stem, and a TranzX +RAD dropper post with their DL Butterfly lever. All of this adds up to a medium bike that is 30.86lbs with sealant in the tires but no pedals. Definitely not light, but a few key upgrades could shed some serious weight. PricingOffered in a single build and a single color, the LBF will sell for $3,699 which doesnt seem terrible? I dont even know what to compare this to for pricing. The closest thing that comes to mind is maybe the Chumba Yaupon Steel, which is definitely built more for exploring than sending big jumps. That bike starts at $1895 for the frame only, so $3,699 for the complete build seems reasonable. Kona LBF ReviewIts always fun when a bike shows up that you have absolutely no preconceived notions about its intent before the first ride. I knew that the LBF would have dropbars, but that was about it. The bike showed up in the midst of a fairly snowy winter, which meant even fat bikes were no match for non-groomed trails. So I patiently waited until it all melted away. When the day finally came, I set out for my first ride and was thoroughly underwhelmed. It was heavy, it was slow, and it left me wondering just who this bike was for. But that first ride was confined to roads and gravel trails, as any off-road sections were so completely saturated that it was impossible to ride without mud packing up and stopping the tires almost immediately. Ride it like a mountain bike. Because it is. On the next ride, I had an epiphany: this bike really comes alive when you realize that youre not just on a gravel bike with bigger tires. This is a mountain bike with drop bars. Once you remember that, you start riding it like a mountain bike, and you start having a lot more fun.If you can ride like Elliot Smith, the LBF wont stop you from getting those tables nice and flat. (Photo/Satchel Cronk/Kona)As soon as some trails dried up enough to venture off-road, the LBF came into its own. Suddenly, I was riding everything I would on any other mountain bike I just happened to be on drop bars. Jumps, drops, North Shore features, this bike can hit it with the best of them. It really is a bizarre feeling to feel like you have this much control off-road while looking down at dropbars. Dont get me wrong, I love underbiking. Most of my riding from the house is on gravel bikes that I use to link up smaller mountain bike trail systems. Im no stranger to putting drop bar bikes to the test, but on the LBF it never seemed like I was actually doing that. More like it was putting me to the test. Why Drop Bars?Why does this bike exist? Well, why not? I have to say, after riding it on some sketchy trails, there was never a time when I thought, I would really prefer some flat bars right now. I dont think flat bar mountain bikes are going away anytime soon, but for a bike thats going to be ridden longer distances to the trail, it seems to make sense. Thats particularly true when you factor in bikepacking to the mix. The added hand positions will be welcome on long days in the saddle, and the ergonomics of the Ritchey bar still allow you to feel confident in technical terrain. Dropper WoesBefore I even got the LBF outside, I ran into an issue with the dropper post on my test bike. As built, the DL Butterfly lever was basically unusable, which came down to a few things. First, the housing and brake hoses on the bike were all too long. Additionally, the housing anchor point near the seat tube for the dropper cable puts it in a fairly tight bend if the zip tie is tight, which binds up the cable inside the housing even more. Finally, the handlebar tape was wrapped so the lever was rubbing and catching. How the bike came vs. improved dropper routing on the right. The more gradual bend causes the cable to bind less. After fixing all three of these issues, the lever was at least usable, but it still wasnt very easy to actuate. It just seems that the cable has to enter at an awkward angle, which binds things up, and the lever itself is fairly small and doesnt provide much mechanical advantage and also doesnt stick out far enough from the bar tape. I had been wanting to try out the Wolf Tooth Components ReMote Drop Bar lever for a while, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. After installing it, the ease of use was night and day different than the stock lever. Due to the lever shape and the bearing that it rides on, I could actually activate it just using my ring finger while on the hood, or with my thumb in the drops. At first, I wasnt crazy about the large bulge from the lever clamp, but after riding it, I realized it didnt really interfere with my hand placement in either position. There are other drop bar dropper post levers you could try, but in my experience, youll have to do something to address the limited function of the Butterfly dropper lever out of the box since this is a bike that demands an easily-functioning dropper. Bar-to-Top-Tube ContactThe only other build-related issue I experienced was due to the position of the massively wide bars. With a 50mm wide handlebar on a bike with a 65 head tube, the fork has a tendency to flop when leaning it against things, working on it in a stand, etc. On the medium frame, the end of those handlebars perfectly aligns with the top tube, which will likely result in scratches at best, or dents at worst over time. I wrapped a thick piece of dual-sided velcro around the top tube to act as a bumper, but other methods could be used as well. About that WeightTheres no getting around it, the LBF is a heavy bike. At 30.86lbs out of the box, my build was over 34lbs by the time it was ready to ride (water, small frame bag, tools, front fender, pedals). The weight is less noticeable on the trail, but when coupled with the rolling resistance of chunky MTB tires, youll definitely feel it on the road or gravel. Just out of curiosity, I threw a set of carbon wheels with 30mm rims and some lighter tires on the bike, and it instantly dropped almost 2.5lbs. With some smart upgrades (and some $$$$), I think a 25lb build would be in the realm of possibility without giving up the bikes aggressive nature. But also, on a bike like this, weight isnt the first priority. And its worth pointing out that after a 3-hour early-season ride, I was left feeling better than I have in what seems like years. Whether its the steel frame, the beefy tires, or a combination of everything, theres some magic to this build that you might not want to mess with. That weight should also help if you plan on using the LBF for bikepacking duties. Even fully loaded, the frame and components should be up to the task without feeling flexy and vague. Should I Get This or a Gravel Bike?If you know you want a drop bar bike but arent sure which side of the spectrum you fall into, ask yourself this: do you want to prioritize shredding mountain bike trails and carrying heavy bikepacking gear or going faster over long distances? The LBF is a bike that puts up with long road and gravel miles as long as it means you get to ride the fun stuff when you get there. But without that trail carrot at the end of the stick, this isnt the bike for standard road & gravel. Kona is BackTheres just something about the LBF that reminds me of my first real mountain bike, a Kona Lava Dome, and its not just the green color. This bike certainly has more in common, at least spiritually, with the original Lava Dome than the new aluminum models. More than anything, it seems to have that go-anywhere, ride-anything mentality that mountain bikes had to have in those days because there werent so many different categories. Like many of those early bikes, the LBF is a genre-defying bike that is up for just about anything including recapturing that Kona Magic that made so many fans along the way. The post The Kona LBF is Their Rowdiest Drop Bar Bike Yet & Definitely Not a Gravel Bike w/ Big Tires appeared first on Bikerumor.

Outstanding winter jacket for riding through the worst conditions, for a highly competitive price - and it's made in the UK!