Its always fascinating to see the wide range of gear and aesthetic choices throughout the bikepacking world. We get to admire setups that range from incredibly light rackless bags to []The post Lightweight Front Racks for Bikepacking and Touring appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Movistar rider returns from injury with a bang

CyclistPro cycling winners and losers in MarchWelcome back to our monthly recap of pro cyclings winners and losers. There was plenty to digest in March, including Tadej Pogaar finally claiming victory at Milan-San Remo, Carys Lloyd bursting through for Movistars big breakthrough, and highs and lows for Tom Pidcock.WinnersTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesTadej Pogaar slayed his Milan-San Remo demons in some style. The World Champion went down in a crash at one of the most important moments of the race as things were coming together for the build-up to the Cipressa and it looked like it could be all over for another year.But this is Pogaar. With help from Brandon McNulty, the pair soldiered their way to the front and after one last pull from Isaac del Toro, he was off. Tom Pidcock was the only man able to stick with Pogaar, with even Mathieu van der Poel dropping on the Poggio with blood pouring from his hand.Neither Pidcock nor Pogaar could create a gap on the Poggio descent, leaving the two to battle it out in a sprint finish. It was a close one, with Pogaar had to look over to see his breakaway companion before feeling sure enough to celebrate, but he had, on his sixth attempt, finally cracked it. The only Monument he needs to cross off now is Paris-RoubaixRead more: Opinion: Tadej Pogaars Milan-San Remo victory is his finest win yetElise Chabbey (FDJ United-Suez)FDJ United-SUEZStrade Bianche was one for the books. Picture this: FDJ United-Suez with two riders on the podium, yet neither were Demi Vollering. After the chasing group with big names including Vollering, Lotto Kopecky and Pauline Ferrand-Prvot were ultimately led down the wrong road by a motorbike, the race would be decided between Elise Chabbey, teammate Franziska Koch, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini. The race would be decided on the very last corner into Siena. With 300m to go to the Piazza del Campo, Koch, Niewiadoma-Phinney and Longo Borghini all attempted to take the same outside line, but that was their undoing, as Chabbey came through on the inside, rode into the lead and took the best win of her career.Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Xavier PereyronFollowing a couple of stage wins at Tirreno-Adriatico, Mathieu van der Poels attention pivoted back to the Classics for a title defence at E3 Saxo Classic. He went off on a traditional long solo for the final 42km. He was almost caught, but the most severe case of Group 2 syndrome youll see came to his rescue and he held on to win.This marks Van der Poels third consecutive victory in the race. Read more: Is Van der Poel running out of steam: 7 takeaways from E3 and In Flanders Fields 2026Carys Lloyd (Movistar)A stunning sprint to the line Carys Lloyd takes victory at the Ronde van Brugge pic.twitter.com/ytBiBw5pjc Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) March 26, 2026 All Carys Lloyd needs to win is the promise of some new Lego. The 19-year-old Brit lined up at Ronde van Brugge and promptly powered to her first professional win in a fast-paced sprint finish. A crash disrupted the final kilometres, with Charlotte Kool out of contention, but Lloyds cut through the field to come out on top was a remarkable display of riding.After the race, Lloyd said, We spoke about it in the bus as a little bit of a joke my mechanic told me that hed take me to the Lego Store and I can buy anything if I win as a joke. [At the finish] I turned around and was like, oh fuck! Sorry, uh, oh my God. I actually won.Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)A.S.O./Billy CeustersJonas Vingegaard is proving hes far and away the man to beat at the Giro dItalia. The Dane is aiming to join the ranks of a select few that have won every Grand Tour and its looking increasingly likely after stamping his authority on the Volta a Catalunya.Bursting into life in the mountains, his back-to-back solo victories resulted in his second stage race win of the season after a similarly dominant Paris-Nice.Read more: 7 talking points from the Volta a Catalunya Related Posts The next stage: Inside the life of a retired pro cyclist How to watch the Tour of Flanders 2026 Cycling Spring Classics 2026: Race dates, Monuments, cobbles and live TV guide Tour of Flanders 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch, start lists and history LosersAxel Zingle and Visma-Lease a BikeShame on you, Axel Zingle.. #E3SaxoClassic pic.twitter.com/raxeGVfIud Lv Cycling (@Lv_Cycling) March 27, 2026 Axel Zingle and Visma-Lease a Bike were left looking red-faced after the E3 Saxo Classic. In a video caught by a spectator, the French rider was caught receiving an incredibly sticky bottle with the team car towing him back towards the race. He was later disqualified and received a yellow card, as did car driver and Visma boss Richard Plugge.An interesting discussion was raised in the aftermath. In the era of AI, will organisers be able to take a future video at face value or should punishments be dished out only if the act is caught live?E3 chasersTim de Waele/Getty ImagesThere arent many chances that riders will get to reel back in Mathieu van der Poel, but a chasing quadruple had him in their sights at E3. They worked well together to almost catch him into the final kilometre as Van der Poel admittedly ran out of steam. But when Florian Vermeersch pulled aside for Jonas Abrahamsen to take a turn, no one came through, leaving Van der Poel to ride away once more as the group looked at one another.It was very embarrassing.Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Maximilian Fries / Red Bull Content PoolRed Bull-Bora-Hansgrohes star signing Remco Evenepoel faced another stage race blow at the Volta a Catalunya. He lost a minute and a half to Vingegaard on the Coll de Pal and another half a minute on the following stage to Queralt. The Belgian ended the race in fifth overall, over two minutes down, while teammate Florian Lipowitz was able to come away with a podium finish. Hes underperforming in stage races, but hell turn his attention to the Classics now with a debut at the Tour of Flanders to turn his season around.Read more: Is Remco Evenepoel too unreliable in stage races?UAE Team Emirates-XRGA.S.O./Billy CeustersThe injuries just keep coming at UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Both Tim Wellens and Jan Christen suffered broken collarbones, sidelining the duo as the Classics ramp up. Wellens crashed at the start of the month in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne while Christen hit the ground hard at Milan-San Remo.The squad has suffered several injuries already this season. Jay Vine broke his wrist winning the Tour Down Under and teammates Jhonatan Narvaez, Mikkel Bjerg, Vegard Stake Laengen and Sebastian Molano all abandoned along the way. Brandon McNulty, Rune Herregodts and Pavel Sivakov were forced to withdraw from Paris-Nice, and Vine additionally crashed at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, which will see him out of action for a while.Javier Romo (Movistar)Sprint CyclingMovistars Javier Romo took umbrage with a manoeuvre from Matteo Jorgenson on a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico. After the line, the Spaniard made a beeline for the Visma-Lease a Bike bus to allegedly grab Jorgenson by the back of the neck, and had to be pulled away by his directeur sportif.Similarly, Kiaan Watts of NSN Cyclings development squad punched Beat CC p/b Saxos Marijn Maasat the 1.2 Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle. He did not receive a yellow card, but the team pulled him from the next race to reflect on his actions and the consequences.Mixed bagTom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling)March was a topsy-turvy month for Pinarello-Q36.5s Tom Pidcock. The Brit won Milano-Torino in impressive fashion before even more impressively racing to a close second behind Pogaar at Milan-San Remo and then notching a couple of strong finishes at the Volta a Catalunya.He sat second overall at the beginning of Stage 5 at Catalunya, but a mistake on the descent saw him tumble into a ravine. He was thankful afterwards that his radio still worked as no one knew he was there. He managed to finish the stage after being helped back onto the road but withdrew prior to Stage 6 with a number of knee and wrist injuries.The post Pro cycling winners and losers in March appeared first on Cyclist.

Marlen Reusser won Dwars door Vlaanderen Women 2026 after a chaotic final kilometre in which she and Demi Vollering came close to throwing away victory before recovering to sprint for the win. The leading duo, who had built their advantage with a decisive move in the final phase of the race, hesitat...

When Shimano launched its Dura-Ace 9000 groupset back in 2012, it introduced a new weight-saving technique, where the outward and inside faces of the cranks were bonded together, with a cavity between them. An advance on the previously hollow-forged design of Dura-Ace 7900, Shimano claimed its new Hollowtech design saved weight with no loss in rigidity. A few years later, reports began to emerge of crankset delamination and failure, reaching their thousands before Shimano acknowledged there was a potential issue with the bonding process. This led to the recall for inspection of around 2.8 million 11-speed Dura-Ace and Ultegra cranksets worldwide and Shimano agreeing an $11.5m penalty in the US for failing to report the problem promptly. With the deadline to submit a claim approaching in August 2026, we look back over the timeline of Shimanos costly product failure. Read more: "Bone fractures, joint displacements and lacerations: Shimano agrees to pay $11.5m penalty over crankset failures 2012: Dura-Ace 9000 launched with new bonded crank arms Dura-Ace 9000 was Shimano's first crankset to employ Hollowtech with bonded two-piece crank arms. James Huang/Future Publishing Shimano launched its first crankset with bonded arms as part of the Dura-Ace 9000 groupset. It was its first with four arms, in place of five, which were arranged asymmetrically on the spider rather than being evenly spaced. The outgoing Dura-Ace 7900 groupset launched in 2008 also used a two-piece hollow design, but the parts were forged together, rather than bonded. When we reviewed the groupset, we commented on the larger section to the alloy crank arms over the predecessor Dura-Ace 7900 groupset and on the visible bond line between the two faces. It was followed in 2013 by Ultegra 6800, which, in Shimano fashion, replicated at a lower price and slightly increased weight much of the functionality of the flagship groupset. Mid-2010s onward: crank-arm failure reports emerged online @thanksshimano has been posting about Shimano crank failures since 2018. Thanksshimano / Instagram The first reports of failed Shimano cranks emerged online. Starting in late 2017, the @thanksshimano Instagram account began to fill up with shots of failed Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranks, spindles and more, with the most recent dating from March 2024. 2020: BikeRadar first reported on crankset failure A managing director at BikeRadar's then owner alerted us to the crankset problem. Jack Luke / Immediate Media BikeRadar has been following the Shimano crankset story since April 2020, when we reported on a crankset failure in the team. Riding to work in January of that year, Stuart Forrest experienced a complete failure of the crankset, with the outer part of the crankarm separating from the rest of the crank. Hed covered around 15,000km on the groupset in six years and had noticed a couple of weeks earlier that the cranks had started to creak. Responding to our report, Shimanos spokesman pointed to the huge global user base of its cranksets and advised riders experiencing problems to consult a dealer. 2021: Shimano said there wasn't a design problem with its cranks In 2021, Shimano denied there was a design problem with its Hollowtech cranks. Jack Luke / Our Media In late 2021, Road.cc reported on a crank failure experienced by one of its readers, which spurred other riders to report similar incidents. Shimano told Road.cc at the time that its engineers hadnt found a design problem with its cranks, although it was investigating to see if there was a specific cause. 21 September 2023: official recall announced in the US Shimano's recall replaced defective 11-speed cranksets with a modified version of its 12-speed models. Shimano In September 2023, 11 years after it had introduced the design, Shimano announced a US recall of its 11-speed Hollowtech cranks in the US, and a global inspection and replacement programme. This affected a total of 760,000 cranksets in the US and 2.8 million globally, after 4,519 reported instances of cranksets separating. Affecting the original Dura-Ace 9000 and Ultegra 6800 cranksets, as well as the more recent Dura-Ace R9100 with and without a power meter and Ultegra R8000, this was the first time Shimano had acknowledged a problem with its Hollowtech cranksets. Shimano confirmed owners of cranksets showing signs of bonding problems and delamination would be provided with a free replacement. 22 September 2023: Shimano clarified recall programme Only specific crank models and production codes were affected by the recall. Ben Delaney / Immediate Media The next day, Shimano clarified which cranksets were affected by the recall, specifying that only certain model numbers, for cranksets made before 2019, and with a specific range of production codes, needed inspection by a dealer and potential replacement. Shimano excluded from its warranty cranks modified by third parties, such as 4iiii and Stages power meters, but included them in its inspection process. Read more: The Hollowtech crank recall is a nightmare for riders, shops and Shimano. How did we get here and what happens next? October 2023: class-action lawsuit filed in the US relating to crank failures In October 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed in the US against Shimano, Specialized and Trek, claiming the announced recall was inadequate. Because it did not cover all Hollowtech cranksets, the suit claimed cyclists could be riding a dangerous bicycle for an extended period without being sure their cranks wouldnt fail. It also sought redress for riders who had already disposed of a failed crankset. In addition, it pointed out that mechanics could be liable if a crankset failed subsequent to an inspection and caused injury. Trek and Specialized were included in the suit because they were accused of knowingly and intentionally misrepresenting, omitting, concealing, and/or failing to disclose material facts regarding the quality, reliability, and safety of the cranksets". October 2024: some bike shops claimed they were banned from the programme over high failure rates A year later, Road.cc reported some bike shops claimed they had been put on a 'banned list' for the crankset inspection programme, because they had failed too many cranks.Shimanos UK distributor, Madison, said Shimano would no longer pay the 35 per inspection fee to shops on the list. Meanwhile, some shops claimed they were returning a large proportion of cranks to Shimano because they were not in a position to definitively pass a crankset based only on visual inspection. August 2025: class-action lawsuit neared conclusion Roll forward another year and the US judge issued preliminary approval for the settlement of the 2023 US class-action lawsuit. The settlement was granted final approval by the court in February 2026 and involved Shimano issuing a magnifying device and a manual for retailers, to assist them in inspection. Shimano also opened a website through which affected riders could submit reimbursement claims. It stated the impact on its future business was expected to be immaterial. March 2026: Shimano agreed to pay an $11.5m penalty Shimano has paid an $11.5m civil penalty in the US for not promptly reporting the crankarm defect. Jack Luke / Our Media The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced an $11.5 million civil penalty settlement with Shimano, which it concluded had failed to report promptly to the commission the defect in its 11-speed cranks. The settlement also required Shimano to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act and submit annual reports on its compliance programme and internal controls. August 2026: deadline to submit claim form for class-action lawsuit closes 14 years after it launched Dura-Ace 7000, Shimano is finally looking to draw a line under the saga, with a deadline of 4 August 2026 to submit a claim, with documented costs, if you purchased and installed a replacement crankset on your bike outwith the replacement programme.

Ganna's comments came after taking his first classics victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen, overcoming two bike changes and Wout van Aert in the finale

CyclistBig ride: Andorra, a small country with big hillsThis gradient is ridiculous. We can see the top from here but still dont know if well make it up the insanely steep ramp. Im in my lowest gear, out of the saddle, hauling on the bars and driving down on the pedals for all my life is worth. If the rear tyre slips now, Im done for. Eventually, after seconds that feel more like hours, we emerge from the apartment block carpark and our ride can begin.This is Andorra La Vella, a mini-metropolis in the mountains; a slice of Paris in the Pyrenees. The capital city of Andorra is densely developed hence the fiendishly tight underground parking with compact living spaces above fancy shops selling luxury goods. Big, expensive cars squeeze along its narrow roads. Its crowded and bustling, dripping with the kind of opulence youd associate more with Park Avenue in New York or Londons Mayfair.In all honesty, it isnt an especially nice place to ride a bike. Fortunately, its so small that you can escape it in a matter of minutes.Exactly 2km into our ride, my riding partner Andrew and I leave the city and begin the first of the three major climbs that await us on our route today. The Coll de la Comella begins sharply at 12% and the change in effort is as jarring as that in the scenery. The urban area ends abruptly. What was concrete is now greenery. Wherever it is that those impatient drivers have to be, apparently it isnt here.As we climb away from the noise of Andorra La Vella, the windproof outer layers in which we set off are first unzipped and then removed entirely as we start to warm up. It was a chilly 10C as we rolled out, the sun having a long morning commute into the blue sky over the elevated horizons that surround Andorra. The shade and empty road make it feel hours earlier than it really is.The 4km Coll de la Comella has featured in the Vuelta a Espaa three times and will do so again on Stage 4 this year, although the peloton will be heading in the opposite direction to us. Andorra packs in a number of monster climbs, but this isnt one of them. Rather its an amuse-bouche before the meatier ascents to come, and a way to avoid the busy road, at least for a while.The climbs 8% average is not steady but is made up of a mild midsection bookended by steeper sections, with the switchbacked final kilometre ramping up into double digits. The summit, at 1,347m, is modest by Andorran standards, so its only occasionally that we can peer through gaps in the trees and look back at the city below with its forest of construction cranes looming over the buildings like schoolteachers prowling an exam hall. Students of the ride, we keep our heads down and crack on, fully focused on the days challenges.If its not down, it must be upThe descent takes us back down to the busy CG-2 spine road, itself a climb because nowhere in Andorra is flat. We ride through a tunnel that feels like it should be closed to cyclists or at least have a dedicated bike lane, but it isnt and doesnt. The air quality has declined along with our altitude. The relatively heavy morning traffic is moving fast uphill, engines working hard, and the resulting emissions hang in the valley. Smell is added to the multi-sensory contrast between the climbs and the city.As we ride higher, the air improves and the sun finally makes its way above the peaks (Sorry Im late, traffic was terrible). Its now a beautiful autumn day and the best of the route is coming into sight ahead of us as the landscape gets increasingly mountainous. At the small town of Canillo we turn left onto the Coll dOrdino and begin our second ascent of the day.Half a dozen switchbacks at around 7% gradient lift us up the side of the mountain to an astonishing view back across everything weve just ridden, a landscape framed by towering peaks, somehow more impressive for not stretching off into haze, and for containing within it an entire country.The gradient is ideal hard but not too hard the road is wide and smooth, the sun is warm, the traffic is far away below us on the main road, and our legs still feel good, so every pedal revolution is pure joy.The Coll dOrdino is just shy of 9km in length and has twin peaks, with a short kilometre of descent at the 6.5km mark, followed by a top-up climb to the summit at 1,987m. The road approaches each peak from a different direction, giving two distinct views. Were not pushed for time today so we stop at both and drink them in before pouring our bikes into the flowing descent.Like the Coll de la Comella, the Coll dOrdino will also feature on Stage 4 of this years Vuelta, which is returning to Andorra for the fifth time since 2015 (by contrast, the Tour de France has only visited twice in the same period). And like the Col dAspin or Col du Soulor to the west, the Ordinos less-than-fearsome gradient and position between mightier mountains means that it is a climb that is usually visited on the way to somewhere else. Indeed, thats how were using it today, as a gateway to the town of Ordino that marks the start of our final and most serious climb, the giant that is Arcalis.Article continues belowReady to navigate Andorra La Vellas one-way streets.Chris StorrarAndorra in a snapshot: a fancy building, a Porsche, and two cyclists heading for the mountains.Chris StorrarThe quiet Coll de la Comella begins straight out of town.Chris StorrarThe Coll dOrdino climbs to nearly 2,000m and is where the big views begin.Chris StorrarAndorras very steep mountains mean many roads are cut deeply into their sides.Chris StorrarHydrating after the second peak of the Coll dOrdino at 1,987m.Chris StorrarMaking good time up the mild lower slopes of Arcalis.Chris StorrarThe Coll dOrdino climbs high but does so at kind gradients.Chris StorrarThe picturesque Coll dOrdino is tackled immediately on leaving Canillo.Chris StorrarThe long, snaking avalanche gallery on Arcalis.Chris StorrarWe promise we didnt do the graffiti ourselves just for the colour-coordination.Chris StorrarNearing the final set of switchbacks on Arcalis, the peaks no longer a craned neck above.Chris StorrarBeyond the base of Arcalis ski station, the road is joyfully car-free.Chris StorrarEvery passage of the Tour de France is commemorated in this mural on an Arcalis tunnel wall.Chris StorrarAt 2,229m, Arcalis is one of the highest points you can ride to by road in the Pyrenees.Chris StorrarThe fantastic espressos and cookies from the mountain-top cafe on Arcalis are a fitting reward for our efforts.Chris StorrarThe traffic-free switchbacks up to Arcalis, with the naked ski slopes visible in the forested mountainside behind.Chris StorrarChris Storrar Related Posts Classic climb: Coll de la Gallina, scene of cyclings newest, most exclusive race Big Ride: The Tour de France's greatest escape Big Ride: The Pyrenees-Orientales express The big oneHeading across the valley we converge with a pro rider from the Burgos-Burpellet-BH team who is out training. To be honest, Ive no idea who he is, though he looks like a sprinter, not a climber, given that his calves are bigger than my quads. He glances over his shoulder, clocks us, then winds up the pace. I resist the temptation to see if I can stay on his wheel.Andorra is home to a fair number of pro riders, which is as much to do with the low rate of tax as the mountainous training environment. One of the more interesting residents is Aleix Espargar, who was a MotoGP rider until retiring from the sport at the end of 2024, aged 35, and remarkably taking up a cycling career with Lidl-Trek. Admittedly, he was more ambassador than racer, but nonetheless he made his pro cycling debut days before his 36th birthday and went on to compete in events such as the Tour of Austria.He has since announced a second retirement from racing bicycles, admitting that it was harder than expected. Still, he was able to finish pro races at an age when most riders have stopped racing altogether, and that after having won at the top level of an entirely different sport, so that deserves kudos.After an 8km false flat up from Ordino, the village of El Serrat is where the climb to Arcalis really begins, first with switchbacks and then a long traverse across the mountain that includes one of the longest gallery tunnels Ive ever seen. While they exist to protect roads from avalanches in high-risk spots, and are constructed from great blocks of concrete, I happen to think they are rather beautiful, especially the way the light beams through the gaps to create barcodes of shadow across the road. Even the graffiti adds to the aesthetic.It was here in 2016 that Tom Dumoulin managed to drop the rest of the breakaway group during Stage 9 of the Tour de France, before soloing to his first Tour victory at the summit of Arcalis in a hailstorm of biblical proportions. Luckily for us, the scattering of white clouds presents no threat of similar downpours today.The next tunnel is a proper one, marked by a large mural in homage to the Tour de France. Its round in cross-section and arrow-straight, creating unusual acoustics that amplify any noises inside. As we approach the corner leading into the tunnel, we become convinced that a vehicle is hurtling towards us at an insane speed, probably one of Andorras many supercars, only for an old hatchback to appear, tootling along, driven by someone who looks like they can remember a time before there were any cars here at all, let alone Lamborghinis.Around 14km into the climb we arrive at the ski station of Arcalis, which marks the point beyond which cars are forbidden to pass. But theres still 6km of road to go to the summit, so the final section is completed in blissful, car-free serenity (to photograph the top part of the climb, Cyclists photographer has to buy a ticket for the gondola ski lift and shoot from above who needs a drone?).A perfect set of 11 switchbacks winches us up the steep face, before a final kilometre of false flat (that handily passes under the gondola twice) ushers us gently to our conclusion at the summit. Were at 2,229m, almost as high as is possible on tarmac in the Pyrenees, well above the Col du Tourmalet (2,115m) and Col de Portet (2,215m), the highest roads in the Hautes-Pyrnes region over to the west in France. In fact, if we wanted to go higher, the only road to surpass Arcalis in the Pyrenees is also in Andorra the Port dEnvalira at 2,408m on the eastern border.Despite the altitude, its nice and warm at the top and we dont even need gilets. Better still, this is the kind of summit that comes furnished with a cafe and sunloungers, so we toast our ride with espressos and giant cookies. They feel well earned. After all, weve ridden across an entire country.Just how small is Andorra?As it turns out, pretty smallWith a land area of 468km2, Andorra is about the same size as Greater Manchester, measuring 25km from east to west and 30km north to south. Its about a thousandth of the size of France and Spain, the neighbour countries it sits wedged between, and is officially one of the six microstates in Europe although it can at least boast that is the biggest microstate in Europe, the others being Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.Fun fact: the microstates compete in their own mini-Olympics, snappily titled the Games of the Small States of Europe. Along with the six microstates, other countries at the Games include Cyprus, Luxembourg, Iceland and Montenegro, and they compete in a total of 14 sports. Last year Andorra was the host country but failed to podium at any of the cycling events, which were dominated by Luxembourg. Andorra proved more successful in the swimming events, where it won three golds despite being a landlocked nation.How we did itTravelAndorra doesnt have an airport or rail link, so your best option is to fly to Toulouse in France, which is very well connected from the UK, and then rent a car for the three-hour drive. As such, its not a great venue for a short weekend trip, but if youve got a car and time to spare, you can also explore the Pyrenees to the north and Catalonia to the south.AccommodationCyclist rented an Airbnb in Andorra La Vella, but being both a summer and winter destination, Andorra has scores of hotels and holiday rentals with options for every taste and wallet. Go to visitandorra.com for more info.ThanksThanks to photographer Chris and ride partner Andrew for being great company as always. Thanks to FiftyOne Bikes for a big effort to get the new Sika to us in time; likewise to Josh at Chicken CycleKit for the Prologo and Zfal parts to finish off the build.The post Big ride: Andorra, a small country with big hills appeared first on Cyclist.

Marlen Reusser completed a remarkable winning return to racing at Dwars door Vlaanderen, edging Demi Vollering in a photo finish after a chaotic and almost self-inflicted collapse in the closing kilometres. The Swiss star, racing for just the fifth time this season after injury disrupted her early c...

From hot-dog-specific cargo cages to a $400 Dyneema shower curtain and a Pinkbike spin-off, our 2026 April Fools Day roundup gathers many of the years best lighthearted product releases and announcements. Browse our collection of favorites from around the web here...The post 2026 April Fools Day Roundup appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Theres a point on the Big Dog route at the Lakeland Gravel Grinder where it all settles in and you realise exactly what kind of day youre in for. The early buzz fades, you find a rhythm, and it becomes about getting stuck into it, long climbs, fast descents, endless forest tracks, and the occasional view that makes you look up and take it all in before getting straight back to work. Its a properly epic big ride. The kind where the hours stack up, the terrain keeps changing, and you just keep rolling through it, one section at a time.It was also the first real outing for me on the Lakelander, and straight away it just felt easy, in the best possible way. Smooth over the rough stuff, responsive when you ask it to be, and almost annoyingly eager on the climbs. There were moments where it felt like it wanted to go quicker than I could, which was equal parts impressive and slightly frustrating. But thats kind of the point, it just gets on with it. No drama, no distractions, just a bike that lets you focus on the ride. By the end, legs completely spent, I had that solid feeling of having put a proper shift in and enjoyed every bit of it. - CathyThe week before the Lakeland Gravel Grinder I was really surprised to hear that there were 900+ participants over the various distances. When you consider the numbers attending road sportives would be nowhere near this it blew my mind a bit. Who knew there were that many cyclists who love a rattle around the gravel trails?!? After completing the event, which was our first official gravel event, I can now see why the numbers were so huge. It was epic!The event was simply fantastic. The organisation was seamless from Friday night when we turned up for registration, to Saturday morning when almost 1000 cyclists descended on a wee Community Centre on the outskirts of Belcoo, the whole way around the route and right to the finish line and the delicious burger and beer. We made a weekend of it and stayed at Rushin House Caravan Park which we would highly recommend. The facilities are great and its only a 2 minute cycle to registration and race start/finish. Im sure any non-cyclists on the site wondered why the place was coming down with bikes on Friday and Saturday and why everyone was walking like John Wayne on Sunday.We struck it lucky with the weather which was warm and sunny with very little wind. The dusty trails were a far cry from the muck and dirt we were expecting. Although, I must admit to being a wee tad disappointed that I crossed the finish line so clean!The route passed through some beautiful forests but the elevation on The Big Dog route was not for the faint hearted. The Navar Ending Climb had a wee sting in the tail but the amazing view from the Magho Viewpoint and the friendly volunteers up there were worth the climb. As for the last climb in Belmore Forest which we christened the Everest Climbwe managed to stay on our bikes and grind it out. This gives us some bragging rights over a couple of friends (who are much better cyclists than us) but they admitted to taking their bike for a wee walk up the hill. So good to bump into so many cycling chums from all over NI and Ireland but especially Lisburn Triathlon Club, Dromore CC and of course lots of Fustle Family enjoying the day. - GailMy first Lakeland Gravel Grinder! Epic day out on my Fustle. A great route; it had it all: tough climbs, speedy descents. Such a great atmosphere all day! I can't wait until the next one! - PaulAfter retrieving my trusty Fustle Causeway GR1 from the garden shed for the first time since the Five Forest Challenge in the autumn I was really looking forward to getting back in the saddle for a season opening spin.A quick tyre pump, and lights charged I was ready to rock.With my lack of bike fitness I knew the 32km night time werewolf was realistically the best option, and it was fantastic fun. Whilst I started optimistically my lack of fitness became apparent when most of the other 30 odd entrants disappeared into the distance, I could even occasionally hear the ominous rumble of the 'sweeper vehicle' closing in on the climbs, headlights blazing through the forest in front of me.It's somewhat menacing presence behind me definitely motivated me to keep going! Once the climbs were out of the way it was a thrill to hit 50kmph on the way back down to the finish where we all got a much welcome bowl of Irish stew and I realised the only person I finished ahead of had spent a good few extra km lost in the forest in the dark before the aforementioned sweeper vehicle came to the rescue ! Thank goodness I had a Garmin.As always these gravel adventure events we are blessed with on this Island prove to be great craic and the Fustle Causeway is the perfect tool for the job! - AndrewLakelander was my first proper gravel event since getting my Causeway last summer. True to its name, the Mongrel was a mix of everything; 60km of rugged gravel, steep climbs and fast descents. My causeway handled like a dream and didnt miss a beat (unlike my legs on the Belmore climb).Awesome sunny weather and stunning views made for a great day - we even got a wee beer at the end... whats not to love?! - RachelIf youre going to do the big dog, let it be at Party Pace. Me and my good friend Marcus Cromie (not Fustle Fam Famous, but bread Famous!)We took a staggering 7 hours to do the 100km big dog including breaks, punctures and stopping to take in the views. The weather was on our side, so we made the most of it (thats what I'm telling everyone anyway)I was fun to see the route reversed in places, but for those who know me, know I basically live up in those hills anyway. Marcus insisted that we did the big dog, only to change his mind at the last feed stop, so it felt only right that I insist we did the last mega climb of Belmore forest *which is only 15%I was a little gutted not to see Alastair Beckett down as its always fun watching him suffer up the steepest of hills. Maybe October hey! - DarrenThis was my third year taking part in Lakelander, and after previously doing the Mongrel and the Big Dog I thought I would take it a little easier this year and give the Little dog a go to tick off the trio! This was also the first year of the Werewolf night time ride the night before, and having being doing nighttime gravel rides through the winter I wanted to give this a go.The Werewolf was a lot of fun, and even after bit of a spill (my own fault, my confidence was greater than my skill) I had a great night. Little Dog was fantastic as well, and definitely less suffering than the Big Dog, but still managed to test the legs, and I was fading towards the end of the ride. I think the ride being in March this year meant my fitness wasnt quite where it would be compared to October.We were incredibly fortunate with the weather, it was a lovey day, and enjoyed riding dry dusty gravel trails, rather than the usual muddy gravel. - ConnorI took my new Fustle Lakelander out for its debut at the Lakelander Gravel Event & honestly I credit the bike itself maybe the amazing weather a little bit too! for the permanent smile fixed to my face throughout! It honestly felt like the perfect bike for the job! Straight away the bike felt dialled in for the terrain being thrown at it. The frame of this bike I feel strikes a perfect balance between comfort & stiffness so on the climbs responds well & doesnt beat you up on the rough stuff!It felt great on the descents & gave me the confidence to let it roll! The comfort in general over the distance was amazing! Even towards the end I felt good & that I actually really could have ventured on a little further! Overall, seriously impressed! It made me feel capable. - Gillian