Former American pro rider Chris Horner has talked about the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico on his Youtube channel and has launched very harsh remarks on the racing of Mathieu van der Poel. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider pushed on the day's final climb and broke the peloton apart, dropping Jasper P...

Over 100 builders and brands traveled to Philadelphia for the weekend to showcase an incredible selection of bikes, components, and accessories at the annual expo. Nic Morales returned for a second year to search out the most interesting bikes and other bits. Explore his first roundup and gallery of handpicked finds hereThe post Bikes, Booths, and Builders in Philly (Part 1) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

As you know, over the holidays I completed the assembly of a broccoli bike. After finally triumphing over an internal cable routing system that nearly killed me, I was looking forward to fully exploring the bikes gravelosity, but shortly after completion we were ravaged by the worst winter weve had in years. This meant I was unable to do much more with the bike than ride it for as long as I could stand on salt-strewn roads until losing all feeling in my extremities.But finally, as of this past weekend, the snows had finally melted, the trails had finally dried out, and I was able to resume my ongoing Search for the Spirit of Gravel (or at least the Spirit of Gravel Marketing), Lob be praised:As Ive noted before, my Search for the Spirit of Gravel (Marketing) mostly just involves doing the same mixed-terrain rides Ive been doing for years on bikes as diverse as the MilwaukeeAnd the JonesAnd the Pine MountainAnd the other JonesAnd the PlatypusAnd the RoadunoAnd the Milwaukee againAnd so forth.The main difference here being that, instead of simply riding a versatile bicycle on a wide variety of surfaces as humans have done more or less since the invention of the bicycle, Id be doing it on an Industry Standard Gravel Bike, or ISGB, in order to determine whether or not this new category of bicycles has truly brought anything new to the experience:So, has it? Well, after weeks and weeks of frigid temperatures and knee-deep snow and drivetrain-eating slush and doing the same short road ride over and over again, being able to finally undertake an improvisational route and alternate between road and dirt at will in temperatures comfortably above freezing was positively sublime, so I dont want to attribute too much of the utter joy I felt to the bicycle alone:Though I can safely say it left me wanting for nothing, and its certainly very much at home on the various surfaces youll find in between the road and the tricky* mountain bike trails:*[I think Im going to stop saying technical mountain bike trails. Its a little pretentious, isnt it? Youre riding a bike, not rewiring your car. Difficult trails arent technical, theyre difficult. Or, more accurately, theyre tricky, since as soon as you dismount and walk your bike through the so-called technical section theyre not really difficult anymore, are they?]Do I, someone blessed with a multitude of bikes of varying geometries, tire widths, etc. also need an ISGB? I do not. But do I see how a normal person with a regular road bike and a regular mountain bike who buys complete bikes from a bike shop and for whom stuff like frame material and brake type isnt a philosophical issue might also get an ISGB and end up riding it more than either their road bike or their mountain bike because it sort of splits the difference? Yes I do. And while there are all sorts of ways to approach all-terrain riding, certainly the ISGB is a convenient and effective over-the-counter solution, and so it absolutely makes sense theyve become so popular.But while I may be willing to accept and even embrace the ISGB, unlike normal people all this stuff very much is a philosophical issue for me, and I still prefer to forego electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes. So the Sword Black drivetrain has been a good compromise, since its a modern single-ring drivetrain with integrated shifting, yet its not only entirely mechanical and Hyperglide-compatible, but also quite cheap:In fact, its so cheap I didnt even really look at what I was buying, and I wound up with a low gear of 42 teeth:Even though it officially comes with a 46:A low gear of 4042 is fairly high for a bike like this, though for my purposes its just fine, since Im not loading the bike up with camping supplies (as if!) and riding through a mountain range for three days anytime soon. And if I do need a lower gear, 9-speed cassettes from Microshift are delightfully inexpensive, so big deal.As for the shifting, it works very well. Yes, if I go straight from, say, this shifter on this bike to the Microshift, I notice that the shiftings not as crisp, but thats the kind of thing you forget about after like 10 minutes. (In fact, 90 percent of pretty much all differences between bikes you forget about after 10 minutes.) At the same time, the shape of the lever body is extremely comfortablemaybe one of the most comfortable Ive used. Overall, the only area where it truly falls short (literally) isthe nubbin:Look, I dont hate the nubbin. Its there, and it does what it needs to do, which is upshift. But its still a nubbin, and as such its a little harder to find than the proper paddles on the other systems.In fact, on regular Sword (what Im using, Sword Black, is the budget version), it seems they even revised the nubbin to make it less nubbin-y:But I dont regret the Sword Black in the least, especially given the price, and if I were doing it all over Id probably still buy it, nubbin and all. (Unless I did a bar-end friction type thing, but I have multiple friction-shifting bikes already and the whole point here was to embrace modernityat least to the extent Im able to tolerate it philosophically.) I dont even think Id bother with the regular Sword, since apart from a slightly larger nubbin (which is still a nubbin, lets get real here), you mostly just get an extra gear and a derailleur with a clutch, and so far Ive had absolutely no indication that this drivetrain would benefit from the addition of a clutch in any way. Its also held up well so far despite the fact that the trails are rather debris-strewn after the harsh winter and Ive managed to suck up most of it:So yes, I like it, nubbin or no nubbin:Plus, a modern ISGB doesnt preclude you from using accessories from companies with a different sensibility:To wit:Yes, thats a Bananasack, and yes, Im using it to carry not only a sandwich, but an actual banana:Whats more gravelly than pulling up a piece of retaining wall and enjoying a light trailside lunch?Plus, once Id emptied my sack (sorry)I stopped at the store on the way home for coffee, butter, and cheese (yes, I am attempting to stop my heart, thank you very much), all of which I was able to carry home in the Bananasack. (Ive taken to keeping a small lock in the top tube bag, which is sufficient for securing the bike during short stops in suburban gravel country.)Now thats how you gravel.Oh, speaking of gravel and stopping at the store, awhile back Pearl Izumi sent me these already inexpensive All Road shoes, and I see that theyre now on sale:Like their bargain road shoes, which Ive been using for years now, these are holding up well, and the rubber sole means you can walk both confidently and silently when you stop for coffee, butter, and cheese. So I will continue recommend Pearl Izumis low-cost shoes for the frugal cyclist who is interested in clipping in to his or her pedals.So all in all, a fine weekends graveling:If only theyd stop routing the cables through the frame these mainstream bike companies might really be onto something.

Stage 4 to Uchon saw the peloton split in crosswinds at the start. A crash in the front group inside the final 50km saw half the Red Bull team ride on unhindered with Jonas Vingegaard along for the ride. This was the moment the race was won.The two opening stages went to the sprinters with surprise wins for Luke Lamperti and Max Kanter with both triumphs were built on a strong lead-out and an early drop-off.Stage 3 was the team time trial. Paris-Nice has had the rule twist of taking the time on the first rider across the line since 2023 and apparently lwith this years Barcelona Tour de France start in mind all along. The win went to Ineos who were two seconds faster than Lidl-Trek but the yellow jersey was for Juan Ayuso because hed four second time bonus on the previous stage. Visma-LAB were close but UAE were not.It was all looking like a classic Paris-Nice, Ayuso in the lead with seconds in it. And now came the bad weather stage as a cold front swept across France for Stage 4.Look at the the picture above. Almost everyone is out of the saddle as Stage 3 starts. A three-quarters tailwind would whip the bunch along and cause splits from the start.The decisive moment later happened on an innocuous portion of road. The descent of the Col du Rebout was over by the team the race reached the D3 out of Saint-Lger-sous-Beuvray. A reader even visited the location and remarked it was an ordinary bit of tarmac.Whatever happened wasnt seen. The TV motorbike camera was well ahead and filming backwards, there was no overhead shot as the helicopter was grounded due to bad weather. But Juan Ayuso crashed, taking down Brandon McNulty and others too.It left Vingegaard with a free ride to the finish as Nico Denz and Tim and Mick van Dijcke rode on to tow their team leader Dani Martinez to a high overall position. Any unwritten rule about waiting for the yellow jersey was long gone but wouldnt have mattered as Juan Ayuso was out of the race. His injury looked horrible in the moment but fortunately it was only hip trauma and hell be back for his next race as planned.Cycling often has Snakes and Ladders moments but this was different. This was more a scene of a cartoon or a Buster Keaton movie where the protagonist jumps aboard a moving train to evade chasers, and then as it crosses a large viaduct with the pursuers closing in on a handcar only for the bridge to fall away to thwart them for good. You can make your own luck but its rarely this decisive in sport.Another unseen moment was Georg Steinhauser slipping away from the chasers but this gave him over 40 seconds on the rest and would lift him up to third place overall and the podium in Nice.Vingegaard got a free ride to the line and his greatest worry seemed to be clothing. Hed been dressed in layers of kit to see him through the early part of the stage only the relentless pace left him with no chance to stop and remove some of it. But the layering worked as Dani Martinez seemed frozen to the bone and unable to respond on the climb to the Signal dUchon. After hed changed into the yellow jersey Vingegaard had minutes on most of the rivals whod stayed in the race.Vingegaard doubled up the next day. This stage win was much less complicated. He set his team to work to chase down the break and the last rider left, Victor Campenaerts, did a hail Mary turn on the hardest climb of the day and Vingegaard attacked and was clear for the win. This is probably going to be his route to the Giro dItalia win as rather than waiting until late to move, he can shake off rivals mid-way on a summit finish and pace himself to the finish faster than the rest.With the sun back out Harold Tejada took the win in Apt. If Dorian Godon was frustrated to win the sprint for second, hed get lucky the next day. Snow fell on the planned route to Auron and so the decision was taken to finish in Isola village down in the valley below. On the day the route was shortened further to just 47km and Godon won the sprint.The final stage sawDani Martinez crash on the descent of the Col de Porte and begin a long chase with team mates. Normally losing a minute here would be ruinous on the final stage of Paris-Nice but he had help from team mates and a cushion to manage and by the time gaps were so wide that he did not have to panic.Visma-LAB tried to set up Vingegaard for the stage win again but this time Lenny Martinez stuck to his back wheel and later said it was hard but he had something in reserve, he suffered more on the flat to hold the Danes wheel. Martinez won the stage and Vingegaard the race.The VerdictFor Vingegaard a successful week, for everyone else an atypical one. The pleasure of Paris-Nice often from the tiny margins and competition to the end. Not this time, this was a comprehensive triumph for Vingegaard. A margin of 4m23s is the fourth largest ever, and the three editions with wider gaps were all in the 1930s. Vingegaard won the points and mountains competitions as well, a feat only achieved by Eddy Merckx in 1970 and Sean Kelly in 1983, 1984 and 1986. However fate played an oversized role here. Stage 4s bad weather and one crash defined the race.The imponderable is whether Juan Ayuso would have challenged Vingegaard the win. Probably as the form was there, the team strong and the intent to go for the win too but first stay upright. We wont know of course and if the question cant be answered it is still a lament as seeing the two in duel decided by seconds should have been the race played out. For all the ease of Vingegaards win he cant count on having it as easy again this season. His next test is Catalunya where hell face a denser field.As well as the high profile exits, plenty of others left the race along the way. Bahrain finished with two riders. Cofidis with one in Ion Izagirre who finished 7th overall. But perhaps the struggle was worse for Picnic-PostNL which finished the week with only 200 of prize money but along the way got a CHF 500 fine from the commissaires so a negative outcome, at least in cash terms.The week showed the role of team work: it made the difference for lead-outs in the first two stages; obviously for the team time trial which could have been won by Decathlon if they had an extra rider to accompany Daan Hoole; Red Bulls numbers and the strength of the Van Dijke brothers got Dani Martinez on the podium and set up the decisive win to Vingegaard; it placed Harold Tejada back in the bunch after a puncture so he could attack and win; it set up Dorian Godons sprint; all this and more. Including the decision by Ineos not to give Kvin Vauquelins more support when dropped early on Stage 4 probably costing him the podium.Milan-Sanremo is rushing up. Were all meteorologists this week to see theres a tailwind in the finish because this plays a big role in whether an attack on the Cipressa works. Right now six different models predict a tailwind. If Mother Nature obliges well see if UAE can nail the team work soon.The post The Moment Paris-Nice Was Won first appeared on The Inner Ring.

Lidl-Trek Junior Racing to make debut at French race later this month

Mini pumps are everywhere. I just recently tried one for the first time, a few weeks ago, and I was pretty impressed. Well, being no stranger to clever, innovative, and helpful bike items, Portland Design Works (PDW) has just thrown its hat into the mini electric pump ring. Introducing the PDW Essentials Electric Pump.(Photos / Portland Design Works)Like most small electric mini pumps, the Essentials Electric Pump lets riders set their target pressure on a digital display. But the PDW pump sets itself apart with the inclusion of four pressure presets for Gravel, MTB, City, and Road. These presets can be adjusted to your preferences with the left/right arrows, and it will remember those changes as you cycle through the settings. Trek Air Rush vs. PDW Essentials (blue accents)It weighs in at just 188g in its most stripped down form (184g claimed), and fairly small though not as small as the Trek Air Rush. Its conveniently rechargeable, using a USB-C port. And, the device works with pressures from 2 PSI, all the way to 120 PSI. PDW claims that it can fully inflate 3-6 tires on a single charge, which takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Its time that mini-inflator brands start publishing the battery capacity of these things, as its a key component in how big the inflators are and how many tires theyll fill. PDW doesnt seem to list that number anywhere on the site, but it is in the instructions for the pump: 5.55Wh. The Air Rush has a 3.7Wh battery, hence the smaller size. There is a light on the bottom of the inflator that will turn on if you double-click the U button. How Loud is it?Most mini inflators are loud enough to startle anyone nearby whos not expecting it. The PDW inflator is no different, measuring 105dB on our dB Meter app. Compare that to the Trek Air Rush at 100dB, which as a notably higher pitched sound than the PDW. While we wouldnt recommend turning it on right next to your ear, youll be OK without hearing protection for the time it takes to inflate a tire. The pump is versatile and includes adapters for Presta, Schrader, and needle valves. Additionally, there is an included extension hose for reaching awkward valve positions. The pump and all of its goodies store nicely in a cool, lil watertight bag. So if youre braving the elements, this handy bag will help keep your pump dry and organized. Just note that the instructions say to wait until the pump cools down to remove the hose and store it, so it will possibly melt that bag if you put it away too quickly. The Essentials Electric Pump has an automatic inflation feature where the rider can set their desired PSI and focus on other pre-ride tasks, rather than standing over a regular pump. As mentioned, there are four presets that you can use: MTB, GRVL, CITY, and ROAD. These are the only pressure settings you can use, so you will have to select one of them, set your desired pressure, put it on the valve, and hit the power button to inflate. Once it reaches the desired pressure, it will turn off. You can also hold down the U button to change pressure units from PSI to Bar, to KPA, to kg/cm2.Essentials Electric Pump Retail & DetailRetail: $856.5 oz (186g)86 x 38 x 52mm / 3.4 x 1.5 x 2.0USB-C Charging: 45-60 minutes to full charge5.55Wh battery capacity2-120 psiFully inflates 3-6 tires on one charge. Lifetime WarrantyThe Essentials Electric Pump includes a charging cable, soft and watertight storage bags, an extension hose, Presta, Schrader, and needle valve adapters.Pump ChartWho is the PDW Essentials Electric Pump For?For most cyclists, this electric pump offers convenience for regular tire maintenance and trailside repairs. The compact size fits easily in a bag, backpack, jersey pocket, or hip pack. The multiple chucks for different valves means it works across different bike types. The quick charging time and bigger capacity per charge make it practical for your whole stable. The ideal customer for this inflator is someone who wants a fairly small inflator, but doesnt mind giving up some size and weight for a larger battery. It will also be great for riders who have multiple bike styles they will use it on, and want to be able to keep pressure presets ready to go. Its also one of the more affordable inflators on the market, so anyone who appreciates a good value is sure to be happy here. As part of the companys 1% For The Planet membership, a portion of sales supports environmental nonprofits. Check out all of the great bike stuff PDW has to offer by hitting the link below. RidePDW.comThe post Portland Design Works Joins the Mini Electric Pump Game with New Essentials Electric Pump appeared first on Bikerumor.

As he approaches the final chapter of a career that has spanned nearly two decades in the professional peloton, Damiano Caruso believes the nature of cycling has changed profoundly. The Italian veteran, who will retire at the end of the season, spoke during Paris-Nice about the transformation he has...

The chaotic finale of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 ended in a frightening crash for two of the races fastest finishers, but the first medical updates have brought reassurance for both Jasper Philipsen and Paul Magnier. The pair were among the sprinters preparing for the expected bunch finish in San Bened...

This Weekend Snapshot shares a wide-ranging mix of colorful scenes submitted by readers around the world, including vignettes from Australia, Mexico, and Belgium. See what a few folks from our community were up to during their recent time away and share a shot from one of your rides here...The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries from trailside bodges to full workshop overhauls with help from the BikeRadar team and trusted industry experts. This time, its a reader wondering how to fit Shimano SPD cleats. How do I fit Shimano SPD cleats properly, step by step, like a pro bike fit? Tom from Jakarta, via email Cleat position is so personal that its hard to recommend a specific location for your cleats. Were not professional bike fitters, so we cant give you that level of advice, but from personal experience and conversations over the years with specialists, we can provide a few tips. Want to know more? Check out our full guide on how to fit road and mountain bike cleats for detailed step-by-step instructions. First, its worth noting that two-bolt SPD cleats, popular with mountain bikers, gravel riders and commuters, have more float (free foot movement) built in than Shimanos three-bolt SPD-SL road cleats, so theyre more forgiving to set up, and finding the optimum position for them is less crucial. Always use grease when installing SPD pedals because the bolts can become seized over time. Katherine Moore / Our Media Make sure to grease the bolts before you install them, and tighten them to the correct torque, because they can seize or come loose over time. Jack Lukes top tip is to put a dribble of candle wax over the bolts to prevent squeaking. In terms of position, Simon von Bromley recommends starting with the cleat under the ball of your foot to get a feel for things. You can always move it slightly further back if that feels more comfortable or you want more stability on descents. The same logic applies to Crankbrothers' cleats. Scott Windsor / Our Media In terms of side-to-side position and angle, youll want to set the cleat so your foot sits naturally, without your toes being forced in or out. Be aware of your knees too, and make sure both feet feel balanced and even. Go on a few short rides and test out the position, taking a multi-tool to make small adjustments if needed. If you cant get comfortable, Ergons TP1 cleat tool might help make fitting easier (be sure to get the Shimano SPD version). Alternatively, get a full bike fit from a professional this is a great way to ensure you reduce the risk of injury.