Jonas Vingegaards future at Team Visma | Lease a Bike has rarely been a subject of serious debate. The Dane remains tied to the Dutch squad long-term, and all signs point towards continuity as he targets further Grand Tour success. Yet comments from Magnus Cort Nielsen have offered a rare glimpse i...

Northwave launches Extreme X, its new top-end off-road race shoeNorthwave has unveiled the Extreme X, a new flagship off-road race shoe aimed at riders who want maximum efficiency for fast gravel, cross-country and marathon competition. The Italian brand says the model brings across technology first seen in its Veloce Extreme road shoe, with a new Hyperlight HT sole and High Tail design intended to boost stability, stiffness and power transfer when the pace rises.The launch carries a sense of history for Northwave. The company points to its long-standing place in off-road cycling, from Olympic cross-country success to the modern growth of gravel, and frames the Extreme X as the next step in that story. The timing is also symbolic, arriving 30 years after Paola Pezzos mountain bike gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, one of the landmark moments associated with the brands off-road heritage.At the heart of the new shoe is the Hyperlight HT outsole, made from 100 per cent unidirectional carbon. Northwave says this sole has been developed to maximise power transfer while limiting energy loss, with the key feature being its High Tail construction. That design extends asymmetrically around the outer heel area to improve support and deliver more targeted stabilisation through the inner foot, with the aim of improving alignment when riders are putting down serious power.Northwave is making some bold performance claims for the new platform. Compared with the previous generation, the brand says the Hyperlight HT sole delivers 169 per cent more torsional stiffness and 41 per cent more compressive stiffness. In real-world terms, that should mean a more planted and responsive feel during accelerations, repeated pace changes and rough or variable terrain, all of which are common demands in elite gravel and mountain bike racing.The sole package also includes Northwaves patented PowerShape arch support, which is designed to improve both pedalling efficiency and long-distance comfort. Underneath, rubber and TPU inserts are used to add traction and stability off the bike, while the tread studs are now replaceable. That last detail could prove particularly appealing for racers and regular riders alike, as it should help preserve grip and extend the working life of the shoe over time.Up top, Northwave has gone for a lighter, more volume-optimised upper than before, with laser-cut ventilation ports intended to improve thermoregulation in hard efforts and warm conditions. The shoe also uses the brands Anatomical Reticular Support, or ARS 3.0, an internal structure designed to wrap the foot more securely and improve stability through the pedal stroke. According to Northwave, the overall aim is a precise race fit without creating pressure points.Fit adjustment comes via Northwaves dual-dial SLW3 closure system. The brand says this allows fine-tuned, differentiated adjustment across the foot, along with a micrometric release function that can be operated through a side trigger, making mid-race changes easier. To widen the fit range further, the Extreme X is supplied with two anatomically shaped footbeds: a 5mm option for a slimmer fit and a 3mm version for a regular fit, both with added arch and metatarsal support.In terms of availability, the Extreme X is offered in black and white, in sizes 36 to 50, with half sizes from 39.5 to 45.5. Recommended retail price is 299.99, or $329.99. Northwave positions the shoe as the standout release in its Spring/Summer 2026 Extreme line, a premium collection spanning road, MTB and gravel, intended to represent the brands highest level of technical performance.On paper, the Extreme X looks like a clear statement of intent from Northwave. The brand is not simply refreshing an existing off-road shoe, it is trying to push its top-tier race offering forward by importing proven road technology into the dirt-focused segment. If the claimed gains in stiffness, support and fit translate on the trail and gravel track, the Extreme X could become a serious option for riders chasing every possible watt in competition.

Florian Lipowitzs third place at the Volta a Catalunya has reinforced what his results over the past year have already suggested. He is no longer an outsider trying to break into the elite of Grand Tour racing, but a rider operating just behind the sports two dominant forces. That is the view of i...

Take a look inside the new Fox 38! This is its first full redesign since 2020, so marks a major upgrade in terms of the design of the chassis, air-spring, and damper. Compared to the outgoing Fox 38 theres a new generatively designed arch and crown, where A.I. software helps optimise structural Continue reading

GRVL has unveiled NYCHTHEMERON, a new self-guided gravel challenge that asks riders to take on 12 or 24 hours of continuous riding across a growing collection of routes in the UK, Ireland and Italy.Taking its name from the Ancient Greek word for a full cycle of day and night, NYCHTHEMERON is positioned as an endurance test of resilience, pacing and self-reliance rather than outright speed. GRVL says the challenge is open to riders of all abilities, provided they are ready to deal with long hours in the saddle, changing terrain and the mental strain that comes with riding through fatigue.The format is deliberately simple. Riders choose either a 12-hour condensed route or a full 24-hour version, complete it continuously within the allotted time, and then submit a verified Strava or Komoot activity to GRVL. The idea is to offer a personal challenge rather than a mass-start event, with participants free to ride when it suits them, although GRVL points to spring and summer as the most favourable seasons for an attempt.Route options span a broad mix of gravel riding destinations, including the Chilterns, Cornwall, North Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Peak District, Yorkshire, South Wales and Kent. According to the brand, the courses have been designed by GRVL and its ambassadors, giving riders a menu of established adventures in some of the most recognisable off-road regions in the British Isles, with additional options beyond the UK too.For riders tempted by a badge of honour at the end of a big day out, GRVL has attached a set of completion rewards. Finishers of the 24-hour challenge receive 30 per cent off GRVL orders, 50 per cent off the NYCHTHEMERON Jersey, a woven patch and a partner prize bundle. Those who complete the 12-hour version receive 20 per cent off GRVL orders, 25 per cent off the jersey and a partner prize bundle. Partner brands involved in the incentive package include Tailfin, Veloforte, VANGO and Sportive.com.Alongside the challenge itself, GRVL is also launching a dedicated NYCHTHEMERON Jersey. The brand describes it as a lightweight, breathable and sustainable gravel jersey built for long-distance efforts, with a tailored aero fit, vented back panel, recycled fast-wicking fabric, UV protection, three rear pockets and laser-cut hems. Its standout visual feature is a psychedelic rear graphic intended to reflect the altered mental states that can come with ultra-endurance riding.GRVLs wider brand message remains rooted in sustainability. The company says its apparel uses natural fibres such as merino and Tencel blended with responsibly sourced recycled materials, and that production takes place in small batches at a technical factory in Portugal powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. The same facility is said to recycle water and work to GOTS, GRS and RCS certifications, underlining GRVLs focus on lower-impact manufacturing and longer-lasting kit.The challenge will also be supported by ambassador-led ride-outs on selected routes, offering a more social way into the concept for riders who want to sample the terrain before committing to a solo effort. GRVL says details of those events will be shared through its website and social channels.There is, however, a clear emphasis on personal responsibility. NYCHTHEMERON is a self-guided challenge, not a fully supported sportive or race, and participants are expected to manage their own safety, equipment and decision-making on the road and trail. GRVL states that riders take part at their own risk and recommends helmets and appropriate safety gear.In a gravel scene that increasingly blurs the lines between adventure riding, ultra-distance challenges and brand-led community projects, NYCHTHEMERON looks designed to tap directly into the appeal of doing hard things on your own terms. For riders drawn to long, self-supported days that roll from dawn into darkness, it could prove an intriguing addition to the calendar.

The storied jersey is battered by his crash and signed by his team-mates

The proposals, which could see the creation of a protected cycle track on one of Belfasts busiest commuter corridors, have been criticised by Fonacab, who questioned whether spending is justified in a very old city with limited road space

As spring envelops us in a sneeze-inducing cloud of fertility, the hibernating animals emerge from their hidey-holes, and so too do the bicycles that have lay dormant over the course of the long, dark winter:First came GRVL LNCHNG, then it was the GRVL RDNGso I suppose single-speed gravel reading SSGR was inevitable:It was so warm I didnt even need my Woolen Reading Gloves:I bet I could even have fit a sandwich in there too, thereby combining GRVL LNCHNG and GRVL RDNG, but one shouldnt fly too close to the sun, lest one singe ones wings, or at least ones beard. Anyway, with lugged head tubes as far as the eye could see I it was in Retrogrouch Heaven:Oh, and in case youre wondering, the answer is yes, it is technically possible to gravel read while gravel riding, but I wouldnt recommend it:[Trained professional, do not attempt.]Anyway, I hadnt been on the Roaduno for awhile, and so as soon as I got back on it my Singlespeed Delusion Syndrome (SDS) began to flare up:SDS is characterized by sudden-onset feelings of elation which sufferers often misinterpret as a profound spiritual revelation that this is the only bike theyll ever need. Victims then make a resolution to get rid of all their other bicycles, renounce multi-speed gearing in all its forms, and commit fully to a singlespeed lifestyle forever.This wouldnt be so dangerous in itself, but unfortunately after a period of time (anywhere from several days to several years) the disorder moves into a second phase in which the victims realize, You know, I really do love this bike. But you know what would make it even better? Gears! This is a real problem if the singlespeed to which the victim has committed is unable to accept them, but fortunately the Roaduno has been designed with the SDS sufferer in mind, and can be easily geared (albeit frontally) at minimal expense:In the year and a half Ive had this bicycle, my own SDS has come full circle at least once. When ordered as a complete bicycle, it comes with two chainrings mounted but is set up as a singlespeed, and at first thats how I rode it:But I soon unlocked the inner ring by adding a shifter, front derailleur, and rear-derailleur-as-chain-tensioner:I also added drop bars, because apparently thats what I do to every bike:Anyway, the two-speed singlespeed setup worked so well it was only a matter of time before I changed the double crank for a triple:I now had a big gear for the flats, a medium gear for the rolling hills, and a low gear for the real climbs, and at this point I began to think that perhaps Id arrived at the perfect drivetrain. More than that, I began to suspect Id attained spiritual enlightenment with my three-speed singlespeed, a Holy Trinity of Gearing with different numbers of teeth yet all sharing the same divine spirit. Utterly fulfilled, I needed nothing more from this bike or from any other bikeyet I soon turned it back into a singlespeed anyway.And here we are:[Qui si parla Bee-oh-pa-chay]If a three-speed singlespeed is The Holy Trinity of Gearing, than a Biopace singlespeed is some weird pagan god nobody worships anymore except the sorts of people with too many bumper stickers and too many cats who read fantasy novels and practice polyamory.The point of all this is that the Roaduno is currently singlespeed perfectionwhich means Ill be putting another chainring and a front derailleur on there again in a matter of days.But such is the allure of the singlespeed. Not only is it fun to ride and easy to tinker with, but it also holds the promise of escape from the bicycle industry merry-go-round once and for all. I mean who doesnt read about yet another wheel size and want to become a renunciate?Start saving up now, because youve got exactly one year:At this point, Merida realised that it had to do something with the new size. It is now developing 32in cross-country mountain andgravel bikes, and Seitz stated it will become the new standard for performance riding in these disciplines in basically one year from now, when there are enough available parts on the market.So much for my once-current Industry Standard Gravelling Appliance