Balaclava-wearing robbers rip bikes from roof rack in broad daylight on quiet residential street, the cycling team warning bike theft has "crossed the line into violent robbery"

The queen of all classics: Milano-Sanremo. The Italian race is the first of the five monuments of the cycling season and is the longest race on the professional road calendar. Every year it delivers a lot of action and is often termed the closest out of all monuments in the calendar. We take a look...

Today, the Southern California eBike brand Aventon launches a new e-MTB, adding to its extensive line of eBikes. The new Current (as in electricity) EXP full-suspension eMTB sits next to the Ramblas as the brands second eMTB. And its a lot o bike for not a lot o scratch (that means money, kids).(Photo / Ron Frazelle)As you may already know, Im a big fan of Aventon, and Im really excited about the direction the brand is taking. They make affordable, reliable, well-designed, and specd bikes. And at $6,000 for the top-tier Current, this new bike is no exception.We were invited to Phoenix, Arizona, in early February to give the Current EXP a good beating. It was a full day of riding, on some pretty chonky terrain. I had a great time and got to ride with old friends, while making some new ones. It was a good trip with good people, and we all got to ride a very nice bicycle. The Phoenix launch crew! The Aventon Current EXPWe will cover some of the techy stuff right from the start here. I will touch on the Current EXP which features a carbon front triangle and aluminum rear triangle, because that is the bike that I rode in Phoenix, and am currently testing here at home.Current EXP Spec Highlights:Motor: Aventon UltroX (110Nm, 120Nm, BOOST)Display: Touchscreen Integrated Top Tube DisplayBrakes: SRAM Maven BaseWeight: 52 lbs.Drivetrain: SRAM S1000 TransmissionFrame Type: Carbon Front Triangle, 6061 Alloy Rear TriangleSuspension: Rockshox Super Deluxe Select+ (21055)Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select (150mm)Wheels: 29-inch Rims, Tubeless CompatibleTires: Maxxis DHF/DHR 292.6Seatpost: X-Fusion Manic Dropper SeatpostConnectivity: ACU with GPS Tracking and Anti-theft featureseBike Class: Class 1, convertible to Class 3Current EXP GeometryAventons New UltroX MotorAventon is using a new motor for the Current EXP. Its called the UltroX, and Aventon says that they designed everything in-house, including the software. Once they dialed the design in, it was sent out to be manufactured. The proprietary UltroX is a different motor from the proprietary A100 they used on the Ramblas.Aventons new motorIt is customizable with personalized Ride Tune capabilities through the Aventon App. With 110Nm (120Nm in Boost mode), the motor is very powerful, and felt responsive with the pedal assist being smooth and predictable. Aventon claims that in the Boost Mode, the motor delivers 850W peak power. It offers 5 different pedal assist modes: Auto, Eco, Trail, Turbo, and Boost. Aventon claims that the motor is a lot quieter than the A100 Motor that the Ramblas uses. I can attest to that. For how much power this thing lays down, I cant believe how quiet it is. It also boasts an IP67 waterproof rating for use in all conditions.Beautiful Color Touchscreen DisplayThe display is very user-friendly. It can tell you so many different ride metrics. For instance, you can get your range per assist level, your current MPH, or even how much power you are inputting compared to the amount of assist youre getting. Theres a compass page that also tells you what grade youre currently climbing. Plus many more. The display is very easy to navigate, and the touch aspect of the screen works very welleven with gloves on. But, if your gloves arent doing it for you, there is a small button, next to the up and down assist buttons, on the handlebar controller that scrolls through the different pages.CompassMax and average speedODO and Trip mileageBattery range and ODORider power and motor powerThe Current also has a walk assist feature, which gives you a nice, large 30-second countdown while youre walking or pushing the Current up a hill. Wait! Theres More the Current ADVThere is another Current that will be released as well. Its the Current ADV. The geo and suspension are still the same as the Current EXP, but the ADV comes with a full aluminum frame, different colors, and a lower spec. This model retails for only $4,599 and comes in Blue Onyx and CamouflageCurrent ADV Spec Highlights:Motor: Aventon UltroX (110Nm, 120Nm, BOOST)Display: Touchscreen Integrated Top Tube DisplayBrakes: SRAM DB8 StealthWeight: 56 lbs.Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionFrame Type: 6061 AlloySuspension: Rockshox Super Select+ (21055)Fork: RockShox Psylo Gold (150mm)Wheels: 29-inch Rims, Tubeless CompatibleTires: Maxxis DHF/DHR 292.6Seatpost: X-Fusion Manic Dropper SeatpostConnectivity: ACU with GPS Tracking and Anti-theft featureseBike Class: Class 1 onlyMy Current EXP Thoughts, So FarCarbon fiber main triangleThe Current EXP is a very handsome-looking bike with a fit finish thats as good as any mountain bike Ive seen. It has dialed geometry, and really rode like a dream. When I first started riding the Current EXP in AZ, the suspension design worked very well out of the box and had no problem handling all of the big hits that the Arizona desert dished out.RockShox Lyrik 150mm forkI got to ride the Current for about 3.5 hours one day in Arizona, which was enough to get an idea if the bike rides well or not. I also just took delivery of my Current EXP test bike a few days ago. It was delayed due to the snow storms, but I did get to ride one of my favorite trails, and it slayed it.The suspension kinematics work well, and it offers the rider a plush platform to crush their favorite trail, no matter how rough the terrain may seem.The Mavien base brakes are very, very good!I found the bike very capable and extremely fun to ride. The ride I did was a bout 24 miles, though only about 1,600 of elevation gain. I tried to ride it hard and put it through the paces, and it handled anything I could dish out.The SRAM AXS DrivetrainThe drivetrain on the Current EXP uses SRAMs new OE-only S1000 AXS T-Type rear derailleur. In SRAMs hierarchy, the S1000 sits in the middle of the GX and the XO, and the derailleur is only a little bit heavier than the XO version. Im not a fan of the AXS pods, but it works well. The S1000 rear derailleur is robust and offers nice, crisp, and snappy shifts. The best part? The rear derailleur runs off the bikes battery, so you wont have to worry about charging it. Trail Boost Level is my FavoriteFor this ride, I wanted to play with the range a bit. So, I left the Current in the Trail mode to see how fast the juice would deplete. After the ride, I saw that I averaged around 13-14 miles per hour for the 24-mile loop.I used the Turbo and Boost modes occasionally, a few times, but mainly left it in the Trail mode. At the end of the ride, I was surprised that I still had 58% of the battery left. I couldve easily done another 20+ miles. And if my math is correct, 60+ miles worth of usable range, without babying the battery, is pretty damn impressive. The Current EXP is a climber with a ton of torque on tap!Aventon claims a range of 105 miles, which seems optimistic to me. If the rider were pretty light, and they only rode it in ECO, maybeMore to ComeSo many trails My Current EXP will be ridden a lot this Summer, and I will report back here when Ive gathered some more intel. The Current EXP is a steal at $5,999 and well worth a try. I will say this: I think Im really going to like this bike a lot. I mean, I already do. But I think it could change the way I ride and how often I can get out. The Aventon Current EXP is an affordable, full-suspension, full-power eMTB that is completely trail-ready. For more details or to get one for yourself, or check out all of the other bikes that Aventon has to offer, hit the link below.Aventon.comThe post Aventon Dives in Head First with New Current EXP Full-Suspension eMTB and its Awesome! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Modern cycling is all about the perfectioning of details and few other riders in the peloton are doing it like Victor Campenaerts. Since joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2025 the Belgian has improved significantly and seems to be a perfect fit with the team's strict programs. Even more so, he is...

It's been month and a half since Mads Pedersen suffered a fractured collarbone and wrist in a crash at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana, and he is not yet back to racing. The hope is that he is able to recover in time for the cobbled classics, both health wise and in terms of being able to have good...

On the 21st of March, the women's peloton will go through the first monument of the season: Milano-Sanremo Women. The race ends in Sanremo with the climbs that make it famous and provide an opportunity for the sprinters in the peloton to win their own big classic. We take a look at its profile. The...

Mike Wilson knew bikes were cool. Rolling across the 2013 finish of a solo Race Across America, however, gave the Alabama native a new appreciation of all the places in the world that a bike can take you: starting on one side of the country and ending up on the other.For the next decade, Wilson shifted into a more specialized mechanic work, chasing the worlds best as he built Elite Racing Services into North Americas only UCI World Tour-level pro race support service. Though he can certainly appreciate the prep work that goes into a Tour de France stage, he also knows that the smallest details make all the difference when it comes to planning your own next bike trip ahead.Mike Wilson, ready to wrench roadside at Californias Redlands Bicycle Classic, or in support pursuit of Tadej Pogaar, this fall at the UCI WorldTours Grand Prix Cycliste de Montral. (photos/courtesy Wilson)We sat down to get Wilsons take alongside two other seasoned cyclists who have made careers of traveling to ride bikes. Macky Franklin and his wife, Syd Schulz, have been traveling to experience the best (and most challenging) mountain bike races since 2013, graduating from seven vanlife years to globe-trotting adventures from their home in Los Alamos, N.M., sharing training and race reports on their YouTube channel. Meanwhile, Ben Delaney is a veteran cycling journalist who covers races and gear on Instagram and YouTube, lately with an eye to gravel bike tests at growing events he travels to across the U.S. from his home in Boulder, Colo.Ben Delaney (at left) grinding at Oregon Trail Gravel; Macky Franklin and Syd Schulz (right) at Moab Rocks (photos/courtesy Delaney, Franklin)Take advantage of the hard-earned wisdom from these well-traveled pros. From the right gear to the proper training, use their best advice on how to plan and preparethen ride the inspiration to your next big bike-based adventure in the season ahead.Bikerumor: Your trip is three months out, and you havent touched your one travel bike all winter. Where do you start?Ben Delaney: Start with the tires and chain. Is your chain cleaned and lubed? Is the sealant in your tubeless tires good to go? If not, refresh both.Macky Franklin: Pop your bike in a stand like the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic or Sport Mechanic 2.0, confirming that its shifting correctly and that the brakes are working. Then check that the dropper post is working and double-check your suspension (air pressure and rebound/compression settings). Add some tire sealant and/or replace your tires. Then, if at all possible, take your bike out for a short ride.Mike Wilson: On the ride, think of the ways the area youll be riding will differ, and start making a mental (or actual) list for bike prep. Is that area hillier? I need more climbing gears. Will I ride some mixed-surfaces (sand or gravel)? Choose an all-purpose tire and size. Will I have immediate access to a bike shop for repairs? Think about ways to make the bike more robust and less likely to need adjustments (electronic drivetrain, tubeless tire setups) and the supplies I should stock up on (spare tires, tubeless sealant, tire plugs).How much of your home tool kit makes it from the garage to the travel vehicle?Wilson: You really dont need the bulk of the home tool kit for most trips; think about the riding youre planning and imagine the most common Party Stoppers, meaning, the likely mechanicals that would stop your ride. For example, if I shred my tire, Im totally done. Most of the tools I bring and supplies to get a backup come directly from that list.Franklin: We have a dedicated toolbox that stays in the car and has the necessary tools for basic repairs like cleaning and lubing the chain, tightening bolts, adjusting the suspension air pressure, changing tires, etc. The Feedback Sports Team Edition Tool Kit is ideal for leaving in your car, its small enough to fit under a seat. On a weekend trip (or longer), we bring spares of things that might be hard to find. For places that we know have good bike shops, that means only parts that are specific to our bicycles. For camping trips or more rural areas where a bike shop might not have a good selection (or might not exist at all), that means spare derailleur and shifter, chain, brake pads, and tires.Delaney: I am pretty good at forgetting key things, so I keep a Feedback Sports Team Edition Tool Kit in my vehicle. That way, I dont have to think about it, and I always have what I need on the road, then supplement depending on what Im doing and where Im going. I just loaded up this morning to drive to Texas for Valley of Tears. Ive got a Feedback Sports Sprint work stand and a floor pump by the front door. Im also bringing two Rakk 2.0 stands because Im doing video/photo features on some pro bikes while out there.If youre pressed for space, what makes the must-take list?Franklin: For flying, we make sure to bring tools we need to build up our bikes, specifically a center-lock tool, quick link tool, and a good set of hex keys, like the Feedback Modular T-Handle Kit, and the Fanttik mini air compressor to fully air up our tires.Feedbacks Modular T-Handle Kit (Photo/Feedback Sports)Delaney: The Team Edition Tool Kit is the size of an old Trapper Keeper. Zips up with handles. Super easy. For flying when Im going super minimal, Ill bring a smaller kit. Last weekend, I flew to Louisiana for a race and just had the Feedback Sports Modular T-Handle Kit tucked into my cycling shoes inside my bike case. Sometimes I will go as light as just Feedbacks Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit. You can put that in your pocket.Feedbacks Team Edition Tool Kit (Photo/Dakota Snider, Feedback Sports)Wilson: The Team Edition Tool Kit should give any home mechanic confidence that they have a complete tool set for almost anything they could ever need, especially traveling. We often meet riders who might be embarrassed to admit theyre not sure what a complete set would even look like so theres confidence, convenience, and peace of mind to provide one great solution thats designed to travel and work anywhere.How do you begin physical preparation?Wilson: Not the week before!Franklin: When you start training, start short and easy. Consistency is the most important thing, and its easy to overdo it, get tired and sore, and stop much better to do a little every day.Delaney: I like to do long steady rides in the winter/spring and then start mixing in some intervals a month or two out from the event. Consistency over time trumps panic training. Theres no one perfect workout; just practice regularly.Which Feedback Sports item do you recommend most to friends?Feedbacks Pro Mechanic Stand (Photo/Dakota Snider, Feedback Sports)Wilson: A Feedback Pro Mechanic stand. Its often under-appreciated or under-valued; its literally the first tool any rider or mechanic should start with to enable every other repair. Nothing happens until it goes in that stand! Then, after the Team Edition Tool Kit, the tool trifecta is complete with the Pneuma CC Floor Pump: lightweight, robust, and capable for travel anywhere, versatile to handle almost any type of inflation need, and particularly capable (thanks to the internal air canister) for tubeless-compatible setups where most folks think they need a compressor.Franklin: The Modular T-Handle Kit, because everyone needs a good set of hex keys!Delaney: The Sprint stand is what I most often recommend, and also the one people most often ask about.Feedbacks proven Sprint stand (Photo/Feedback Sports)Whens the last time you forgot a key piece of maintenance gear?Franklin: We didnt bring a quick link tool to the Trans Madeira Enduro stage race, assuming that someone at the [Portuguese island] event would have one we could borrow to remove our chains when we were packing our bikes to head home; we had to ask the hotel to contact their maintenance team to lend us a pair of giant pliers. We havent made that mistake since!Delaney: I flew to Belgian Waffle Ride California and neglected to bring the rotor tool I used to take my rotors off. Rule of thumb for travel: If you use tools to take apart and pack your bike, bring these exact same tools with you to put it back together again.Whats the most common issue where a key piece of maintenance gear is needed or missing?Wilson: Across many disciplines, its disc brakes. Rotors get bent. Wheels get swapped and rotors no longer free-spin, etc. Brake pads wear out or get contaminated for all kinds of normal reasons and start making noise or have reduced performance these situations rarely need a bleed kit and the dark art of bleeding your brakes.Putting a Feedback 3-Way wrench to work (Photo/Feedback Sports) And most can be commonly addressed with a 3-Way Hex or Torx wrench (for centering misaligned brake assembly), a Steel Core Tire Lever (for fully opening the calipers), and a small Rotor Truing Fork (to confirm the rotor is true), plus about less than 10 minutes of practical instruction from a mechanic. This common brake area is probably where most riders (aka home mechanics) could make their biggest gains in performance and competence in working on their own equipment.What overlooked extra (non-bike) item do you always double-check to remember?Franklin: Syd always travels with fancy single-serve instant coffee packets in case the coffee options are bleak.Delaney: Coffee and snacks.Wilson: Fun, positive music. Since so many of our most important moments working involve riders that are having a very bad time, were big fans of always working as a team (driver/jumper or pilot/jumper) and starting the day with positive energy and upbeat mentality. Forrest Franks Good Day is a current fave.Where has cycling taken you that stands out the most?Wilson in TdF support pursuit (Photo/courtesy Mike Wilson)Wilson: Inside a race vehicle at the Tour de France stands out. Driving a neutral support wagon behind Tadej Pogaar, winning a World Tour race. Or two. The guy is easily the most talented rider Ive ever seen and smiles more than almost anyone in the peloton.Delaney: Ive made a 25-year-plus career in cycling still grateful to play with bikes for a living. Gotta drive to Texas now!Why travel to bike?Franklin: Its a great way to get to know an area. And you automatically have a group of people to connect with fellow bike riders regardless of whether or not you speak the same language.Delaney: The world is beautiful and diverse and incredible, and experiencing it by bike is the best way to go. You see more than by foot, but interact with it much more closely than by car.This article is sponsored by Feedback Sports.The post How To Travel With (and Prep) Your Bikewith Ben Delaney, Mike Wilson & Macky Franklin appeared first on Bikerumor.

JAKROO Handsling manager threatened with knife by thief, team says