CyclistFulcrum goes extra-wide with two 30mm internal width wavy-rim wheelsets for gravel racingFulcrum has released two wheelsets with a 30mm internal, 36mm external rim width designed around the needs of gravel racers.The Fulcrum Sharq GR has Fulcrums standard cup and cone bearings and 24 aero spokes and is made of high spec carbon for a 1,550g claimed weight. Its priced at 1,790 / $2,490 / 1,990.The Soniq GR wheelset offers a lower priced alternative with the same rim profile and spoke count but made of lower spec carbon. It has sealed bearings and round spokes and its claimed weight is 1,695g. Its priced at 1,290 / $1,790 / 1,490.In both cases, the rim uses Fulcrums 2-Way Fit tech, which uses a sealed rim bed that doesnt need to be taped to create a tubeless seal. Both wheelsets are available with an HG-11, XDR, Micro Spline or N3W freehub.Designed for gravel racingFulcrum says that its design brief for the new wheelsets was to support high speed riding over rough terrain, with aero benefits and control. Its taken its 2-Wave mini-hooked rim profile first seen on the Sharq wheelset, which was launched in 2024 and will continue to be sold for all-road riders and supersized it for gravel use, increasing the internal width from 25mm to 30mm.The 47/52mm wavy profile is also deeper than the 42/47mm profile of the Sharq. As with the Sharq, its asymmetric, unlike the waves in rims from Zipp and Princeton CarbonWorks, whose rim undulations are symmetric. Fulcrum claims its profile reduces yaw moment and frontal drag by controlling airflow over the rim.The extra-wide rim is claimed to promote a flatter sided tyre profile and improve aerodynamics by avoiding a lightbulb tyre shape. Its also designed to improve tyre stability, offer a wider contact patch and reduce the risk of burping when cornering.As another bonus, Fulcrum says that the wide and short tyre-to-ground contact patch reduces tyre deformation and rolling resistance.Fulcrums 30mm internal width rims are designed to work with 47mm to 50mm wide gravel tyres, which are rapidly becoming a go-to width for gravel, although it says you could go wider still. The mini-hooked rim is claimed to increase the number of compatible tyres and increase safety if the tyre is overinflated. With the added air volume of the tyres and their wide stance on the rim, Fulcrum says that theres a wider range of tyre pressure that can be used in races. Related Posts Best gravel bike wheels 2026 Best gravel race bikes 2026 reviewed Fulcrum Sharq allroad wheelset review Best gravel bike tyres 2026 and how to choose the right ones 45mm tyres tested for compatibilityFulcrum says it has tested 45mm tyres and confirmed that some are also compatible, although they dont fall within the width range thats designated compatible under the ISO/ETRTO standard. You can find the list of compatibility-tested tyres on Fulcrums site.Fulcrum joins Zipp in offering ultra-wide gravel rims. The Zipp 303 XPLR SW rim is even wider at 32mm internal and the 1,452g claimed weight is lower. Zipp also sells the lower priced, 1,610g 303 XPLR S wheelset, also with a 32mm wide rim.Zipps rim is hookless, which should increase the tyre width even more. Its only certified compatible with specific tyres though and there are two Goodyear XPLR tyres specifically designed for the wheelset.While Zipps top spec NSW road wheelsets have wavy rims, its yet to port the tech to its gravel wheels.The post Fulcrum goes extra-wide with two 30mm internal width wavy-rim wheelsets for gravel racing appeared first on Cyclist.

Cian Uijtdebroeks returned to racing with an aggressive ride at Milano-Torino, placing himself firmly among the key contenders on Superga before ultimately falling just short in the decisive moments. The Movistar rider, coming back after a disrupted start to his 2026 season, was active throughout th...

Twenty-eight riders, including nine women, showed up for the 2026 Queen's Ransom group ride last month, all set on tackling the challenging 230-mile route around Phoenix, Arizona. Kara Woolgar put together a detailed reflection from the weekend, paired with loads of photos from the group. Find it here...The post Seeking Shade at the 2026 Queens Ransom appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

CyclistIs it ok to care about bikes when the world is burning?I dont think its altogether controversial to say that things could be better in the world than they are right now.When bombs are falling, and suffering seems to be everywhere, and theres a definite possibility that things could get considerably worse before they get better, talking about bikes can seem rather trivial, offensive even.Flipping through Instagram stories theres so much I should be thinking about. So many things about which to be enraged, such an avalanche of grief and worry demanding my attention. It is utterly relentless, the unplumbable depths of sorrow.Amidst all that, some new aero bikes have launched and Tadej has won another bike race. The world got a fresh new entry level road groupset, and so the cogs of a creaking bike industry continue to turn.Theres no point trying to pit the trivial against the horrific, they clearly cant compare to one another. They are orders of magnitude apart. But if it does anything, we should let the bad stuff remind us why the good stuff matters.The occasional importance of being somewhat selfishTheres a mantra I cling to here, something I tell myself not because I feel good about it, but because its necessary to preserve my sanity: worrying about world events does nothing on its own to alter the course of those world events. Unless youre actively involved in changing the course of history, whether that means campaigning, fighting, protesting, or legislating, your feelings arent actually doing anything.The universal availability of information has fostered the delusion that awareness itself is consequential. But knowing that bad things are happening does not reduce the number of bad things that happen, unless you actually do something about the bad things.Sharing social media posts is not doing something. Handwringing publicly is not doing something. Doing something is doing something.And if you dont feel that youre currently in a position to do something, its valid to say: I cant handle this just now, so Im going to step back. Im going to stop doomscrolling and think about the bike I want to build, or Im going to go for a ride and not think about anything.Of course this comes from a place of immense privilege. People being bombed dont have the luxury of not thinking about bombs. But maybe you do at least some of the time, and it doesnt make you a total monster if you exercise that privilege so you dont go crazy.You can be someone who cares about stuff and you can engage when it feels productive, without torturing yourself pointlessly. Related Posts I can't wait for 32in wheels on my gravel bike I bloody hate winter, this is how I get through it Never mind diesel cars, gravel bikes are the real mis-selling scandal Bikes are goodPatrik Lundin / CyclistYears ago there was a bike clothing brand called Machines for Freedom. Long since shuttered by its parent company Specialized, its name is lodged in my memory as a neat encapsulation of what makes bikes so good and pure. I am unapologetically placing them on a pedestal.Bikes represent multiple kinds of freedom: as a mode of transport, as a deceptively simple yet extraordinarily effective example of human ingenuity, but most importantly to me, as a means of escape. Bikes are so much more than just an amplifier of our physical prowess, they are a portal to a simpler, more mindful existential place.Sometimes I feel like time stops when Im riding. Just briefly, the pressures of being an adult in 2026 fade to a background hum. Life revolves around the crunch of tyre on gravel or the zzzzt of a gear change.One Sunday I ride laps of a short, swooping trail, with my two year old perched in front of me on his Shotgun seat. His gaze is steely, but quiet humming noises narrate his delight. More more more! he commands as we finish another run. Then he shrieks with surprised joy as we become momentarily weightless over a roller.The world is burning, but right now I care about this, and only this, and that is as it should be. This is what bikes give me, and nothing about it is trivial.The post Is it ok to care about bikes when the world is burning? appeared first on Cyclist.

Welcome to the Nokere Koerse Liveblog, one of Belgium's most popular semi-classics and a firm holder of a key position in the spring calendar.With a strong and high-quality field of riders, we can expect an exciting and aggressive race today. Join us and dont miss any moment of the action, live an...

This weekend, Benny Zengas family of four will climb aboard the fantastical Infinity Cycle for an endlessly pedal-powered tour. Find some inspiring perspective and a gallery of photos showcasing the wildly creative contraption from the creators of Tall Bikes Will Save The World here...The post The Infinity Cycle is a Mind-Blowing Touring Bike Built for Two (and Soon Four) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Race Face recently reaffirmed its commitment to downcountry with the launch of its super-light Era SL cranks. Now its doubling down with the new Era SL handlebar. This carbon bar is aimed squarely at cross-country, downcountry, and short travel trail bikes, with a very light weight, Goldilocks Tune, and a flippable design that essentially makes it two bars in one.The Era SL is lightweight and flips for +/-6mm rise.Era SL Handlebar DetailsThe new Era SL is made of UD Carbon, and it slides into the brands handlebar lineup as the lightest of the bunch, with a claimed weight of 170 grams. This makes it among the lightest non-boutique handlebars on the market, especially at 760mm wide. Race Face states that it is eMTB-ready and designed for downcountry, suitable for trail riding on bikes with up to 140mm of travel. Although the brand may be leaning into downcountry, the Era SLs low weight and dimensions should also make it well-suited for lightweight cross-country race bikes, too.The 760mm width is well-suited for its target downcountry and XC audience. The purpose-built flippable design, however, is somewhat novel. (photo/Jeremy Benson)DimensionsThe Era SL has a 35mm clamp diameter and has a max clamp width of 60mm. It comes in a 760mm width, and Race Face says it is trimmable to 720mm without impacting the bars stiffness characteristics. They also mention that it can be trimmed narrower than that, but it increases stiffness undesirably.The Era SL has fairly standard sweep angles: 8 degrees of back sweep and 5 degrees of up sweep. However, they note that if the bar is rolled to a flat profile with no upward sweep, it has a 9-degree back sweep. And finally, it has a flippable design that allows for either 6mm of rise or 6mm of drop.Flip ItOn the bike, the drop and rise positions are visually quite obvious.Arguably, the most interesting feature of the Era SL handlebar is its flip-to-fit design. Race Face designed the Era SL to go from 6mm of rise to 6mm of drop by simply flipping it over lengthwise. Despite flipping the bar, the sweeps remain consistent, and the logos have been designed to flip as well. While that sounds almost impossible at first, it makes more sense when you see it.And while some XC riders have probably been doing this for years, this is the first modern handlebar weve seen that specifically calls it out as a feature.Essentially, the rise/drop section of the bar is offset to the top or bottom (depending on its orientation) of the widest part/center of the bar. The offset design accounts for +/-6mm of rise from flat, giving riders a total difference of 12mm when flipping the handlebar. Race Face also tells us that riders seeking more adjustability can pair the Era SL handlebar with the Turbine SL stem. The Turbine SL stem can also be flipped for +/-6mm rise, making for a total of 24mm of height adjustability in the cockpit.The Era SL handlebar is a suitable choice when youre wearing spandex.Goldilocks TuneRace Face has given the Era SL its Goldilocks Tune (GL Tune), which it shares with the rest of the handlebars in the brands lineup. With the GL Tune, Race Face believes theyve found the just right balance of stiffness and compliance to enhance rider comfort while maintaining handling precision. According to the brand, trimming the Era SL bar to 720mm does not affect the GL Tune, but going narrower than that will increase stiffness.And its suitable when youre wearing baggies.Race Face Era SL Handlebar: Pricing and AvailabilityThe Era SL is available now at a retail price of $199 USD ($220 CAD). Like most Race Face products, it comes with a lifetime warranty. You can learn more about it and the rest of the Era SL family of products on the Race Face website.raceface.comThe post Race Face Flips Out with New Lightweight Era SL Handlebar with Flippable Design appeared first on Bikerumor.

At last years Unbound Gravel, Cameron Jones averaged a staggering 22.49mph for more than eight hours to win the mens race and Karolina Migon won the womens Unbound 200 with a speed of 20.21mph. In other words, gravel racing is fast, and Fulcrum has created the new Soniq GR and Sharq GR wheelsets to support these lightning speeds. Read more: Best gravel wheels in 2026: top-rated gravel wheelsets and buying advice Wavy, wider rims The wheels have Fulcrum's 2-Wave Rim profile. Fulcrum The Soniq GR and Sharq GR feature Fulcrum's 2-Wave Rim profile. This is similar to the profile weve seen on wheels from companies such as Zipp and Princeton CarbonWorks. The variable wave profile, with a height of 47/52mm, improves air flow management and reduces the yaw moment and frontal drag, Fulcrum says. Fulcrum also uses this rim profile on the shallower Soniq and Sharq wheels, which straddle road and gravel riding. But the new GR variants of the wheels increase the internal rim width from 25mm to 30mm. This means the wheels can work in perfect synergy with gravel tyres that are 4750mm wide. Fulcrum says gravel tyres of this width have become standard in todays fastest gravel races and are also the ideal solution for everyday rides. It adds that its new gravel wheelsets are compatible with specific 45mm tyres, which it lists on its website. The wheels are optimised for tyres between 47mm and 50mm wide. Fulcrum The combination of the 30mm rim width and wider gravel tyres means you can better tailor your tyre pressure to your needs, according to Fulcrum. The larger air volume of the system allows for a wider adjustment range, to optimise the setup and find the best balance between speed, control and stability in relation to terrain, conditions and riding style, Fulcrum says. The wheels have an undrilled rim bed. Fulcrum The combination is also said to improve airflow over the tyre and rim interface to enhance aerodynamics, and to help increase the tyres contact patch with the ground for greater grip and control. Elsewhere, the two new wheelsets use Fulcrums mini-hook system, which it says ensures broad tyre compatibility and aids safety.They also have Fulcrum's undrilled rim bed, which means you don't need rim tape to set the wheels up tubeless. So whats the difference between the Soniq GR and Sharq GR? The two wheelsets have much in common, but several key differences. Fulcrum On the surface, Fulcrums new Soniq GR and Sharq GR share many of the same features and dimensions. But the two wheelsets have several key differences. The Sharq GR wheels are said to represent the maximum expression of Fulcrums performance for gravel races. To this end, they have rims made from FF100 carbon fibre, cup and cone bearings and aero spokes laced in a 2:1 pattern. They tip the scales at a claimed 1,550g. Meanwhile, the Soniq GR wheels are less competition oriented. The rims use the lower-spec FF80 carbon fibre, round spokes and sealed bearings, which should require less maintenance. These wheels weigh a bit more at a claimed 1,695g. These differences result in a difference in price. The Sharq GR costs 1,790 / $2,490 / 1,990 and the Soniq GR costs 1,290 / $1,790 / 1,290. The wheelsets are available with XDR, NSW, HG and MS12 freehub bodies.

Were excited to announce that Bike Easys Policy & Design Committee has open seats, and we want to fill them with people from across the city!*The Policy and Design Committee is where we figure out what Bike Easys positions are on the stuff that affects people on bikes in New Orleans. Road projects. City policy. State legislation. When someone asks what does Bike Easy think about this? the answer most often comes from this committee.Our bylaws set aside 10 seats specifically for community members. People from the community who ride bikes (or want to) in Greater New Orleans. Are you one of them?Apply hereHeres what the commitment looks like: one evening meeting a month, about 90 minutes. These are working meetings. We show up, we produce something: a public comment letter, a position statement, testimony for a council hearing and we leave with things to do before next month. If youve been to meetings that are mostly people talking at you for an hour, this isnt that.You dont need a policy background or a planning degree. You need to care about safe streets and be willing to show up regularly for a year. We especially want to hear from folks in neighborhoods that dont always get a seat when decisions are made about our streets.Interested? Fill out our short application here. Deadline to apply is Sunday. March 22nd at midnight, and first meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th and then on every second Tuesday of the month.Know someone who should be on this committee but probably wont apply on their own? You can nominate them: just reply to this email with their name and a sentence about why you think theyll be a good fit. Well reach out to them directly.Other ways to support the direction of our city and regionFill out the New Orleans Department of Health and Human Services Community Health Assessment. Input gathered through the survey will help to determine how NOHSSS can best serve the City ofNew Orleans and its residents and work towards a healthier city.Fill out the Regional Planning Commission Survey. Your input will help identify current challenges, prioritize future projects, and ensure that the transportation system meets the needs of all!Looking forward to hearing back from you.In Service,{{broadcaster.name}} Executive Director at Bike Easy Policy & Design Committee Co-ChairAdam Davies Bike Easy Board Member Policy & Design Committee Co-ChairCharlie Thomas Bike Easy VIP and Legal Advisor*PS: If you are a current Bike Easy Member, you should have received this invitation last week Thank you all who applied so far!

Double Li2 dials, a breathable upper, and a wider toebox make for an attractive upgrade this summer