In a major blow to the custom framebuilding world, Paragon Machine Works announced today that it is ceasing major operations. For details on this seismic news in the bike-building world, read on below...The post Paragon Machine Works Closes Major Operations appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Well, jeez, this is a bummer. It was just 3 years ago that Paragon Machine Works (PMW) was celebrating 40 years with the release of that cool multi-tool. And here we are three years later, saying goodbye. Not cool.This week, an important part of our industry announced it will cease major operations. PMW states that market and industry factors have made the business no longer viable. PMW will continue operating with reduced staff to sell the remaining inventory through their website. They will also be manufacturing parts until material supplies are exhausted, prioritizing items with the highest demand.From Paragon Machine WorksIt is with great sadness that we announce that Paragon Machine Works will cease all major operations as of Friday, March 27th, 2026. We have determined that our business is no longer viable, due to a variety of market and industry factors beyond our control.With reduced staffing, we will continue to sell/ship our existing inventory on our website and make parts until our material inventory runs out. Manufacturing priority will be given to parts in greatest demand. If we can justify another run of a certain part, we will. We are working to find vendors who can potentially take on some of our product lines in the future. We are doing everything we can to take care of you, our customer.The following will be made available for sale or in the public domain (email requests or for details); we will post periodic updates on IG as things evolve:Intellectual property (CAD, CAM, and CNC files)CNC Machinery (with programs/tooling)Various shop supplies and toolsDue to reduced staffing, orders must be placed through our website and will ship out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We are unable to process back orders and will provide refunds for items that were not able to supply. All sales are final.We understand this is shocking news and appreciate your patience and support during this very difficult transition.Thank you so much to our amazing staff and customers whove supported us through 43 years of innovation, challenges, and fun. Its been a great ride, and were forever grateful.ParagonMachineWorks.comThe post Industry Staple for 43 years, Paragon Machine Works Says its Closing for Good appeared first on Bikerumor.

If youve ever wanted to be able to taunt your friend as you drop them and disappear into the distance on a group ride, Rilaxs RU-1 Pro helmet might be for you. The helmet has an InstaLink Intercom system that enables up to eight riders to talk to each other while out riding. Rilax says the RU-1 Pro enables you to chat to other users of the system up to 2,000m away, with a microphone and speakers integrated into the shell. The speakers and microphone sit in the brim of the helmet. Nick Clark / Our Media The brand says it uses noise-reduction software in order to keep gasping breaths and wind noise from exiting the speakers. The system also enables you to play music or podcasts, and take calls on the move. A magnetic quick-release buckle is used to secure the helmet. Nick Clark / Our Media Battery life looks good, with a claimed 12 hours of playback available, although Rilax doesnt say how long it lasts in the intercom setting. The system has IP67 waterproofing, meaning you should be fine if the heavens open. The touchscreen portion is integrated neatly, with gestures controlling the functions. Nick Clark / Our Media This top-of-the-range model features a touch-control interface on the side of the helmet for a sleeker design compared to the buttons found on other models. There is also a built-in light on the rear of the helmet, and it charges via USB-C. More from the Taipei International Cycle Show Steel tubes, lugs... and an electric motor?! This could be the perfect retro e-bike DVO returns after post-COVID slump with more tuneable luxuriously smooth fork and shocks This wild steel gearbox enduro bike could convince me to drop the derailleur Wheeltop expands its challenge to SRAM and Shimano with new wireless groupset These new smart thru-axles sound an alarm to prevent you crashing This is the longest-travel fork we've seen for 32in wheels could the new size go beyond XC racing? RST reveals inverted gravel suspension with electronic damping and a new 32in fork for XC bikes These are the lightest 32in wheels I've seen, and they use polymer spokes

Jonas Vingegaards first major move of the week in the Volta a Catalunya was decisive, emphatic and ultimately race defining, as the Dane powered to a solo victory on Stage 5 to take control of the general classification. After a stage shaped by early GC pressure, repeated crashes and a long, draini...

It is always cool to see bike brands like Orbea offer a quality bike for kids. Most of the time, department store bikes have little to no consideration for the proportions of a growing kid. They are essentially shrunken-down versions of adult bikes in terms of size and geometry.And, usually, the starting bike isnt something to write home about anyway.While these kids bikes from big industry names are definitely more expensive than department store bikes, they are generally of much higher quality. This is certainly the case with Orbeas new Kimu lineup, with wheel sizes ranging from 16 to 27.5.Orbea Starts at 16This is where Orbeas Kimu lineup enters the chat. The Kimu 16 is equipped, of course, with 16 wheels, supporting riders (generally) aged 3-6.Orbea designed the Kimu 16 to roll in two different modes. For the newest of riders, the bike can be set up as a balance bike. This is achieved without many extra parts, as Orbea uses the crank arms flipped around and attached, serving as a platform for their feet. When the child is ready to pedal, they can be flipped back and reinstalled. Now, it is a pedal bike.Because standover height and saddle height are significant concerns at the youngest ages, Orbea provides two seatposts with the Kimu 16. In its balance bike form, the Kimu 16 has a shorter seatpost. As the child grows, a longer seatpost can be swapped to stretch the bikes use a bit longer.Orbea also incorporates an elastic band running from the frame to the fork. This band acts as a stabilizer, preventing excessive handlebar rotation for new riders.The Kimu 20, 24, and 27As the kids get bigger, so do the bikes. And, like the Kimu 16, each corresponding number represents the wheel size for that particular Kimu. Orbea also breaks it down by age:Kimu 20: 5 to 8 yearsKimu 24: 7 to 10 yearsKimu 27: 9 to 12 yearsAs kids grow and develop as riders, Orbea provides bikes to suit their needs and riding styles. All the bikes feature quality aluminum frames, hydraulic disc brakes, and internal cable routing. They focus on components that make sense for smaller ridersshort cranks, adapted grips, saddles, and short-throw shifters.Orbea designed the lineup to help kids gain confidence on the trail.Kimu 24 H10 (left) and Kimu 24 H10 TR (right)The naming structure for the Kimu lineup follows what Orbea has already established. The Kimu 20 H10 and Kimu 24 H10 focus on trimming as much weight through premium components. As you might imagine, these will be on the more expensive side.The Kimu 20 and 24, both H20 builds, focus on quality, durable components with less of an emphasis on weight. These builds will be a bit more affordable.Orbea adds suspension forks and dropper posts to the remaining bikes. This would be the Kimu 24 H10 TR, and both the Kimu 27sthe H10 and H20. The addition of suspension and dropper posts helps this older group of kids develop the skills they need to move on to adult mountain bikes. (Adult in quotes because were really all kids.)Across the entire lineup, Orbea built the Kimu bikes around the Big Wheel concept. Here, wheels are proportionally larger, similar to 29 wheels on adult bikes. Bigger wheels provide greater stability and inertia, helping maintain speed and build confidence on rough terrain.Prices are only given in Euro or GBP, so its unclear when these might be available in the U.S., but pricing starts at 499 for the Kimu 16, and tops out at 1399 for the Kimu 27 H10. Check out all the bikes in the Kimu lineup at an Orbea dealer or at orbea.com.The post Orbea Now Offers a Full Kids Bike Lineup for the Little Rippers appeared first on Bikerumor.

Dutchman almost caught in final kilometre, but sprints to victory

Potholes on the bike are not good! the Newcastle United hero-turned-pundit posted

Mathieu van der Poel has won the E3 Saxo Classic for the third year in a row, holding off a four-man chase after a long-range solo that came within seconds of being undone in the closing kilometres. The Dutchman launched his decisive move on the Paterberg and spent more than 40 kilometres alone at t...

Wide tires becoming a drag? Pirellis got your fix. Pirelli points out that the tire and rim make up to 5% of total drag, so in an attempt to create the ultimate fastest tire, Pirelli has introduced a new aero tire design that will kick off on the P Zero Race TLR SL-R. The new Pirelli PAAS (Pirelli Advanced Aerodynamic System) is a patented tire geometry technology designed to reduce aerodynamic drag without compromising other performance characteristics. The system solves for the trend toward wider tires and rims, which have increased frontal surface area exposed to airflow, making tire aerodynamics more critical to overall wheel efficiency. To Pirellis point, even the best rim with the wrong tire will not reach its aero potential. This means precisely positioning the tires widest point at a mathematically calculated location relative to the tires overall height when mounted and inflated. Pirelli is in the unique position of already having a lot of engineering effort devoted to tire and rim aerodynamics thanks to their partnership with F1. Unlike a lot of automotive applications, F1 tires are exposed to the wind, and Pirelli needs to provide aero data from their tires to the various F1 teams to allow them to tune the aero elements of their cars.Now on the bike side, Pirelli is using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software adapted from automotive applications. Pirelli identified a specific zone where airflow remains attached to the tire sidewall without separating, reducing vortex formation and lowering drag. This positioning maintains aerodynamic benefits across various yaw angles (0 to 20) and speeds above 30 km/h, with particular advantages in crosswind conditions. But crucially, it doesnt require a pointy tread pattern that jeopardizes handling to do it. Left image: 28mm P Zero Race TLR (L) compared to P Zero Race TLR SL-R (R).Right Image: 28mm P Zero Race TLR SL-R (L) vs P Zero Race TLR (R).Actual weight of P Zero TLR SL-R 700c x 28mmMore numbers:14 iterations of aerodynamic parameter combinations over 18 months of R&D8 dedicated wind tunnel sessions across 4 facilitiesTested tire widths from 28 to 35mmUp to 20% average drag reduction vs P Zero Race RS (2W in normal conditions, 5W in high wind conditionsAlmost 15w improvement from P Zero Race RS at extreme yaw anglesBonus: The PAAS tire design maintains its aerodynamic efficiency as the tire wears, thanks to the strategic positioning of the widest point.The PAAS system also preserves the space between the tire sidewall and rim edge, ensuring standard mounting and removal procedures remain unchanged. Weight and rolling resistance are also unaffected, so its all winds, er, wins.P Zero Race TLR SL-R TireThe first tire to get the PAAS design is the new P Zero Race TLR SL-R which also features a new Litecore 120 TPI construction. This is their lightest TLR casing to date with maximum rolling efficiency, low weight, and a smoother ride. Combine that with the latest generation SmartEvo rubber compound, and you have a tire that is more aero, offers better grip, and lower weight. By the numbers:10% improvement (2W) in rolling resistance over P Zero Race RS275g for 28mm tire (Claimed weight, actual weight of 290g for our samples)Available in 28 and 30mm now, 32mm coming by end of yearTwo colors: Black-silver and Black-Team Edition (yellow)Three victories already with J. Milan in the Alula Tour stages 1&2, and H. Wilde winning the T100 World Final in Qatar$127.90 MSRPFourth model in P Zero Race Family, along with RS, Race, and 4SPirelliCycling.comThe post Pirelli PAAS Reshapes Wide Road Tires to Reduce Drag on New P Zero Race TLR SL-R appeared first on Bikerumor.

Its almost the weekend! That means its time to take a look at everything thats been happening in the exciting world of e-bikes this week