Mathieu van der Poel will not return to Strade Bianche in 2026, despite having won the race in spectacular fashion just five years ago. The Dutchmans absence from the Tuscan gravel Classic has again raised questions, particularly as the race continues to grow in prestige and difficulty. But accordi...

Wilde Bikes out of Minneapolis just announced a new model they say is built for a singular reason: fun. With a looptail design, clearance for massive 26" tires, and canti studs, it's an intriguing design that is sure to pique some niche interest. Dive into all the details of their new Moto Cruiser below...The post The New Wilde Moto Cruiser Costs $1,800 Complete appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

I think we can all agree that the early days of mountain biking are pretty cool. Ive often played around with the idea of finding an old, early 80s production MTB and restoring it. You know, pay homage to the early days. And then have a blast riding it on your current fave trails. Well, I think thats the kind of fun Jeff Frane of Wilde Bicycle Co. was thinking about when they announced the Moto Cruiser.(Photos / Wilde Bicycle Co.)The new Moto Cruiser is by order only and will come as a frame set, which will include the frame, fork, and handlebars. Or if you would rather, Wilde can build up a complete one for you, as well. Plus, you can get it geared or set up as a single speed. The Moto-Cruiser name pays homage to Sweetheart Cycles (later renamed Yeti Cycles), which made an original Moto Cruiser model in the early-to-mid 1980s. The original Moto-Cruiser pulled direct influence from the Mongoose BMX Koz Kruzer. Nowadays, the originals are hard to find and quite rare.The Wilde Moto-CruiserJeff Frane expresses his thought process behind this project: Ive been dreaming of this one for a long time. Its a nod to so many things I love. The klunkers of the MTB pioneers, the untouchable cool of a Cook 3 Bar cruiser, and, of course, my own beloved 11, which has been my main city bike for over a decade. This was a project from the heart.This bike aims to recapture that childhood feeling of carefree cycling. One rider described it as making him feel like I have to be home in time for dinner. The Wilde Moto-Cruiser captures that nostalgic sense of adventure and freedom.The new Wilde Moto-Cruiser is a 26-inch wheeled bike designed around the simple concept of having fun while riding. That means everything from running errands around town, tackling some local singletrack, hitting a fun local pump track, or just plain cruising through the neighborhood. The crew at Wilde designed the Moto-Cruiser to prioritize compatibility and ease of building. It works with rim brakes and accepts both quick-release and bolt-on 26-inch wheels. Plus, it can be set up as either a geared or a single-speed drivetrain, depending on your jam.The frame features horizontal dropouts that can accommodate derailleurs and has generous tire clearance. The frame even includes stealth dropper post routing for those who want that option.Wilde hopes that this kind of compatibility means youll more than likely build one using parts from your garages parts bin, local bike co-op, or community parts stashes. Bingo!Klunker OriginsThe Moto-Cruiser also draws inspiration from mountain bikings klunker origins and classic cruiser aesthetics, but with added modern geometry tweaks for enhanced playfulness. The looptail design and classic silhouette give it a timeless look, while the updated geometry keeps the ride engaging.Wilde has included the handlebars in the frameset package because the tall handlebars are considered essential to the riding experience. Moto-Cruiser GeometryRetail & DetailRetail: $900 (frame, fork, handlebars)Complete: $1,800Frame Features:Classic 3-bar silhouetteLooptail designCanti studsBottle mount on down tube (Small & Med) and bottle mount on seat tube (L & XL)Three pack mounts under the down tubeStealth dropper post routingModular cable guidesClearance for up to 26 x 2.5 tiresFork Features: 420mm axle to crown (suspension corrected for 80mm fork)Mid-blade rack mountTire clearance 26 x 2.5Handlebar Features:90mm Rise15 Back Sweep7 Up Sweep830mm Wide22mm Clamp100% Butted 4130 Chromoly steelFrame & Fork SpecThe tubset that Wilde uses for the Moto-Cruiser is called Double Tuff. It uses the same high-quality 4130 butted CrMo steel as their TLC frames. But, its neither particularly light, nor particularly compliant. Wilde says its robust and fairly stiff. Its a full-strength MTB, and the tubing is appropriate for the use case.Frame Spec: Clearance for 26 x 2.5 tiresHeadset: EC 34/3473mm English threaded bottom bracket shellCanti Studs135mm SpacingSeatpost: 31.6mmSeat Collar: 35.0Cable Guides: Modular guides under the down tubeWet paint finish. Color: Purple Pizazz**Phosphate dipped and E.D. Coated for corrosion resistance and durability** Fork Spec: Canti Studs100mm Spacing420mm Axle To Crown1 1/8 SteererFor riders seeking a straightforward, versatile bike that encourages fun over performance metrics, the Moto-Cruiser offers a back-to-basics approach to cycling. Check out more details and all of the beautiful bikes that Wilde has to offer at the link below.wildebikes.comThe post Put Those Old 26 Wheels to Use with the New Wilde Moto Cruiser appeared first on Bikerumor.

Further to yesterdays post, heres another pro cycling story I cant believe I missed:It wasnt the rim, it was prolonged riding on the rim:The Giant-owned brand, which has for a number of years producedhookless rims, says the tire separation in this incident was not caused by hookless rim design, with its assessment carried out with the team revealing that prolonged riding over cobblestones with a flat and damaged rear Cadex Aero Cotton tyre caused the rim to crack.Hookless rims are perfectly safe if you dont ride them.Oh, wait, no theyre not:In the days of tubulars, the pros could continue riding in the event of a flat because the tire stayed on, but thanks to tubeless they now need to rely on pool noodles inserted in their tires:Images from the incident clearly show a tyre liner being used by the Jayco-AlUla rider, still in place around the Cadex Ultra 50 rim. This is a common addition to a tubeless tyre setup for teams, especially during the cobbled classics, in theory offering improved run-flat riding in the event of a deflation, with a degree of protection for the rim.Unfortunately, the rims still liable to collapse if you ride it with a flat, unlike the boringly reliable aluminum rims of yesteryear:Cadex says the initial impact occurred at approximately 47-48kph. Capiot then continued riding on cobbled sections of the race course until the wheel collapsed. The brand says that even when the wheel ultimately yielded to the extreme forces, it remained stable enough to prevent a crash.Theyre bragging that wheel remained stable enough to prevent a crash, really?!? Now that is what the Italians call chutzpah! I mean holy crap, THE WHEEL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE BICYCLE:What if it had been the front?Seriously, that wheel had every gimmick going:And when you put them all together, heres the result:Just look at that thing! Havent they been talking about the dangers of these side-entry straight-pull spokes for years now?How could anybody think this is a good idea? Anybody whod ever used a cheap umbrella in a high wind would see the problem here:Did they not even bother to test the wheel to failure using a diminutive Frenchman?May the ghost of Jobst Brandt haunt the designers for all eternity:This wheel is basically the equivalent of the plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy, Jr. in that its a bunch of bad decisions that might have been overcome individually, but when made together can only have ended in disaster.

Leander Van Hautegem sustained a concussion and a collapsed lung during the ride

Santiago Buitrago claimed victory at the 63rd edition of the Trofeo Laigueglia, attacking from the front group in the closing kilometres before riding solo to the finish on the Ligurian coast. The Colombian from Bahrain - Victorious accelerated from a select trio with just over 10 kilometres remaini...

Just a few weeks ago, Berd introduced what they claimed was the lightest 30mm XC wheelset in the world. Well, it didnt take long for someone else to take the crown. But good news for Berd theyre still part of the new record holder. Recently, NOBL introduced the TR36 and TR38 in its Signature Series. The new wheels bucked the carbon wheel standard, opting for a layup that provides more compliance than the stiff carbon wheels we might be used to.And, now, NOBL introduces a completely new lineup of wheelsEthos. Ethos features six new wheelsets from XC to gravity, providing the perfect option for each discipline.NOBL built the wheels in each category to hit a specific weight, strength, and ride feel. They did this by using a new rim design, Berd Spokes, and the new Ethos Ti70 hub.And, at the very front of the Ethos mountain wheel lineup is the SL 180 wheel. The carbon wheelset weighs just 993g, which makes it the lightest production wheelset with a 30mm inner width in the world. But, honestly, all the weights are pretty impressive.Heres a birds-eye view of the new wheels.NOBL Ethos LineupSuperlightEthos SL180 WheelsetAs mentioned, these are now the worlds lightest 30mm inner width production wheels. They were built with short track XC and ultralight XC racing in mind and are the only wheels not using NOBLs new Ethos hub.29 onlyDT Swiss 180 hubsBerd Polylight spokes (28 F/R)30mm internal width993g$2,499 USD // $3,369 CADEthos SL WheelsetHere we have essentially the same wheelset as above, but NOBL uses its Ethos Ti70 hubs in the build. This adds 40g but still keeps the SL wheels incredibly light and perfect for short-track XC and ultralight XC racing.29 onlyEthos Ti70 hubsBerd Polylight spokes (28 F/R)30mm internal width1033g$2,299 USD // $3,069 CADEthos XC WheelsetNOBL added a bit of strength and stability with a reinforced layup on the XC wheelset. The XC wheels are intended for XC riding and racing, but also for the everyday rider who wants quality performance from their wheels. Like the SL wheelset, the XC wheels feature Berd spokes and the new Ethos hub.29 onlyEthos Ti70 hubsBerd Polylight spokes (28 F/R)30mm internal width1175g$2,199 USD // $2,969 CADStill Pretty LightEthos Trail WheelsetNOBL says their Ethos Trail wheels span the trail spectrum, from lighter-duty to all-mountain ridingan aggressive claim for a wheelset under 1,400g. Tuned for better performance in rougher terrain, the Trail wheels smooth out chatter yet remain snappy in corners.29 onlyEthos Ti70 hubsBerd Polylight spokes (28 F/R)30mm internal width1338g$2,299 USD // $3,069 CADEthos Enduro WheelsetAs the name suggests, these are the go-to for enduro riding. Unlike the four previous lighter-duty Ethos offerings, the Enduro wheels feature a smaller 27.5 rim. Builds are available in full 29, full 27.5, or mixed-wheels. And while the same Ethos hub is used, NOBL opted for the beefier Polylight-X spokes with the enduro build.29, 27.5, or MXEthos Ti70 hubsBerd Polylight-X spokes (28 F/R)30mm internal width1551g$2,299 USD // $3,069 CADEthos HD WheelsetSimply put, NOBL says these are the strongest wheels theyve ever made and tested. HD is for delivering Heavy-Duty performance, which is needed to sustain the significant impacts of DH and bike park riding and the torque of e-bikes. However, they do venture a bit from the other five wheelsets in the lineup.They are the only wheels with 32 spokes, front and rear, and Berd spokes arent used for this build. The rims are also a touch wider at 35mm internal.Despite these weight penalties, NOBL still delivers a wheel under 2000g.29, 27.5, or MXErase J-Bend hubsAlpina Extralite steel spokes (32 F/R)35mm internal width1971g$1,799 USD // $2,469 CADRim ProfileThe Ethos wheels represent a completely new rim from NOBL, each engineered with its discipline in mind. Along with emphasizing performance in those disciplines, each rim is designed to improve impact durability and ride quality.NOBL did this by designing the rims to be intentionally shallow. Rim depths range from 18.5mm on the SL wheels to 23mm at the gravity end of the spectrum. A shallower profile reduces torsional stiffness, allowing the rim to absorb impacts and provide the amount of lateral deflection NOBL wanted.A high strength rate is maintained with a flared hookless bead profile. The rim flares outward at the bead, creating a larger surface area to absorb and disperse impacts more effectively. Then, the bead wall is tapered, allowing extra strength where needed and weight savings (due to less material) where it is not. NOBL also integrated a flexible material into the rim bead to dissipate impact energy without adding weight.Durability is also enhanced with specific rim profiles for the front and rear wheels (excluding the HD Wheelset). On the Ethos wheels, NOBL provides a bit more compliance and weight savings up front, and a bit more durability in the rear.But wheels still break. Fortunately, NOBL offers a lifetime rim warranty: If you break your rims while using the product for its intended use, we will send you a replacement rim at no charge; you will only pay shipping costs.HubsMatching the performance of the Ethos rims are the Ethos Ti70 hubs (which seem very similar to the Berd Talon ESL hubs). The hubs feature 70 points of engagement (5.14) on a titanium freehub body. NOBL worked with Berd to use its proprietary Hook Flang design on the Ethos hubs, optimizing strength while ensuring a secure and straightforward build.The Ethos wheelsets on both ends of the spectrum dont use the Ethos hub. To achieve the goal of a sub-1000g wheelset, NOBL opted for the DT Swiss 180 hub on the SL 180 wheels. Likewise, the HD wheels use the Erase J-Bend hub.Titanium Freehub Body70T ratchets and 5.14 engagementBerd Hook Flange Design (ESL Technology)331g (centerlock hubset)6-bolt or CenterlockBoost SpacingXD or Microspline (assuming; NOBL didnt specify)SpokesNOBL uses Berd spokes for the vast majority of the Ethos wheel lineup. Berds spokes weigh less than half as much as their steel counterparts but offer higher tensile strength. They also absorb vibrations much better.On the Ethos SL 180, SL, XC, and Trail wheelsets, NOBL opted for Berd PolyLight spokes. These have 12 times the strength of steel spokes by weight. For the Ethos Enduro wheels, PolyLight-X spokes are used. These have a 50% larger diameter than the PolyLight spokes and are 44% stiffer.Due to the added weight and torque of e-bikes, the Ethos HD wheels use Alpina Extralite steel spokes. Both wheels have 32 spokes.See all the details at noblwheels.com.The post Sub-1000g NOBL Ethos SL180 Claims to Be Lightest 30mm XC Wheelset in the World appeared first on Bikerumor.

Frank Slevin had been chair since 2018

Minister for Transport commits to MetroLink construction starting in Q4 2027.The Department of Transport claims that the publication of two strategy and policy action plans today heralds a transformative change, but one of the reports, Moving Together was supposed to recommend legislative changes to allow congestion charging, low-emission zones and other mesures, but has been watered down to a further Review of relevant legislation to ensure powers are sufficient to bring forward demand management measures.A workplace parking levy, which is already legislated, is mentioned in the report but not in its Implementation Plan. Instead, it only has commitment to study parking provision in urban areas over 20,000 people and after that to Examine [the] effectiveness of reducing car parking as a demand management measure.It looks to be the end of the road for now for some of the most high-profile measures in the 2021 Five Cities Demand Management Study, which said congestion charging with a 10 flat rate or 5 off-peakcould be put in place in Dublin and Cork by 2025. Also published today is the National Sustainable Mobility Policy action plan for 2026-2030, which commits to MetroLink construction starting in Q4 2027, the start of construction of the first BusConnects Sustainable Transport Corridors in Cork and Galway by 2030, and the start of construction of the Luas Finglas by 2029.While the plan is an action plan, many of the actions are already underway or include fuzzy language, including only to consider a planning exemption that would allow for reasonably-sized bicycle (including cargo bike) storage structures to be installed at the front of dwellings.While other measures, such as establishing a National Transport Authority Advisory Council and extending the agencys planning remit outside of the Greater Dublin Area, were listed as to be actioned in the previous action plan the delivery of such mesures is already years behind their previous deadlines. No start date is being committed to for the delayed Dart+ South West plan to serve the Kildare line. Construction with the Dart+ West project on the Maynooth line is planned to start in Q4 2027, with construction starting with Spencer Dock train station construction and electrification commenced.The delayed hybrid battery electric Dart trains are to start serving the northern line in Q2 2027.In Dublin, four of the BusConnects infrastructure routes, named as Core Bus Corridor Schemes in the capital, are planned to be completed by 2030. The action plan commits to the commencement of construction forBallymun/Finglas to city route by Q3 2026 and the completion of the Liffey Valley to city corridor by Q2 2028.The action plan commits to completing Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme by Q4 2026 and starting Phase 2 by 2029. For the national rail network, it also commits to starting the delivery of a series of new track passing loops and platforms to boost the rail networks resilience and capacity in Q1 of 2027 and finishing the programme by 2030. The policy also commits to the start of the track reinstatement on the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris and Athenry in 2028, while construction of the new Moyross train station on the existing corridor is pencilled in for 2030.For active travel, a distance-of-delivery metric that has been widely criticised has been adhered to. While the action plan also promises to complete a series of Quiet Road pilots in rural areas with suitable signage and traffic calming measures to support safe cycling, but the policy only has a 10km distance target, which is the distance between many towns or between towns and villages on a single route.Meanwhile, the plan aims to complete At least three park-and-ride sites nationally by 2029 and provide 150 bus shelters each year. It also promises to introduce or improve town bus services in Naas, Newbridge, Mullingar, Ennis and Tullamore by 2030.In the action plan, the Safe Routes to School programme which is mainly, although not exclusively, front-of-school safety improvements includes a 2030 outcome to address the 932 schools accepted into the programme in 2021. Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien and Minister of State Sen Canney launched the two reports. Minister OBrien said: The Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan supports the delivery of over 40 transport-related commitments in the Programme for Government. This includes major public transport projects such as MetroLink, BusConnects, Dart+, and Cork Commuter Rail, as well as ongoing investment in active travel infrastructure and the Safe Routes to School programme, the development of Park and Ride facilities, measures to increase taxi provision and investment in improving transport accessibility.By investing in new and innovative transport solutions like shared mobility, Bike Libraries and Smart Demand Responsive Transport, the Plan reflects the Governments commitment to transforming Irelands transport system, he said.He said that the Moving Together strategy allows for a systematic review of the transport system, with work across Government and society to explore and champion further ways of addressing the problem of congestion and its negative impacts such as air pollution, environmental damage and economic constraints.He added: People need to travel for many reasons work, education, health, leisure and the Government recognises that sustainable options are not always available, especially in more rural or remote areas. Our transport network must also be efficient to support the transportation of goods. Equally, our urban centres and streets must meet the needs of business and retail, must ensure that urban residents are protected from the impacts of congestion and pollution and must be fully accessible to vulnerable road users and the disabled community. Finding solutions that work for all is important, and this new Strategy seeks to do this in a balanced way, by moving together on key issues and future proofing our system for generations to come.Minister Canney said: The Moving Together strategy and the new SMP Action Plan, combined, take a comprehensive and practical approach to addressing the challenges that many people face in accessing sustainable transport, particularly those in rural areas. The Action Plan incorporates concrete actions to improve sustainable mobility options and regional connectivity across the country, through the completion of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the provision of more town bus services and increased walking and cycling routes connecting towns and villages.He added: In addition, Im delighted that BusConnects Galway will be progressed, alongside the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris and the completion of station upgrades in Ceannt Station and Oranmore.MORE: Moving Together A Collaborative Approach to Systems Change in Transport 20262030National Sustainable Mobility Policy (including the latest action plan).

Just released, the new OneUp XC Clip Pedals were designed with XC and racing in mind, and they're claimed to be the thinnest dual-sided clipless MTB pedals on the market. Find all the essential details on the XC Clip Pedals here...The post The New OneUp XC Clip Pedals are Super Light and Thin appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.