Van Aerts long-awaited Roubaix triumph proved that, sometimes in cycling, the rider everyone wants to win can, in fact, win

For Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Paris-Roubaix 2026 was another case of how quickly control can slip away on the cobbles. Having already taken victories at Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders this spring, Pogacar arrived in Compigne chasing the one Monument still missing from his...

Well it certainly looks like the Perry Ruby was not wanting for excitement:Its also strangely comforting to see that for all the so-called advancements in bicycle wheel and tire technology, inopportune punctures remain an integral part of bicycle racing. For as Ben Franklin sagely observed, the only certainties in life are death and taxes, but since that time we can add flatting to the list, and possibly also the steadfast refusal to JBARA:Yes, weve seen this bicycle before, but its still available and waiting for the perfect buyer, such as a Sponeed model with a lot of cash to throw around:As for me, I didnt watch the bike race on Sunday, because I had more important bicycle-related business to attend to over the weekend:Specifically the riding of them:As well as the comparing and contrasting of the relative performance of two fine lugged steel bicycles on a variety of surfaces:Including various types of gravelor, if you prefer, Very Small Rocks:As you can see, I sampled all the major strains, too:Since divesting myself of the ISGA, I am certainly wanting for nothing in the Riding On Very Small Rocks department, despite not having an actual gravel bike. I could bore you with stuff like geometry, and trail figures, and tubing diameters, and all that other stuff, but I wont, mostly because I dont understand any of it. Instead, Ill say that having these two bicycles is like owning both a 5th Avenue penthouse and a Southampton beach houseand not only because like many people who own 5th Avenue penthouses and Southampton beach houses I dont actually deserve either of them, having inherited the Karl Farbman, and having obtained the Roadini only after blackmailing Grant Petersen with the threat of revealing that he actually rides a Cervlo S5: Just kidding:And I do have to make that clear, because when I joked that he drove a Ferrari people believed me.But yes, the Farbman is the 5th Avenue penthouse in this scenario, in that the address confers status, and its quite luxurious, but its also a racing bike, so youre inclined to ride it at a more spirited pace, just as your schedules a lot busier when youre in town what with business meetings and going to the opera and attending fundraisers for your childrens prep school and all that other stuff:Meanwhile, life at the beach house is still pretty lively, but its also more spacious, and generally speaking youre a little more inclined to slow down when youre there, so its a place you could see spending more and more time as you get older:As for ISGAs, those are like split level homes in Wantagh, in that theyre perfectly fine, but we riders of fine lugged steel bicycles dont even notice them as we drive by them on the LIE.The truth is, its hard not to feel like Ive arrived when I get to spend the weekend on bicycles like these, even though Ive accomplished absolutely nothing in my life, apart from being in one YouTube video that has a decent number of viewsthough the algorithm served it to me the other day and to my horror I discovered Ive been replaced by an AI stand-in with a comically large u-lock:Presumably the AI determined the video would get more clicks if I were trimmer about the midsection and looked a little more like Fidel Castro:Maybe if I crack a million views I can finally land that Sponeed modeling contract.

Amid the chaos of Paris-Roubaix 2026, Mick van Dijke quietly produced one of the rides of the day, bridging between the races biggest storylines and coming closer than most to influencing the outcome. While the spotlight fell on Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar at the front, and the disrupted challe...

scar Freire, the three-time world champion who rose to prominence with Rabobank and became one of the most successful riders of his era, was arrested on Sunday in Cantabria following a domestic abuse complaint filed by his wife. The case, first reported by El Mundo, centres on allegations that go f...

Shimano has released two new flat pedals, the Saint and Deore XT, to meet the demands of trail riders. They feature wide platforms, grippy pins, and durable construction. Find details on both fresh pairs hereThe post Shimano Launches New Trail-Ready SAINT and Deore XT Pedals appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

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In the decisive moments inside the Roubaix velodrome, the balance of Paris-Roubaix 2026 shifted from strength to psychology.As Tadej Pogacar led out the sprint, the pressure of the moment was already building. Behind him, Wout van Aert waited. For British pundit Matt Stephens, that tension defined...

Ahead of this year's Sea Otter Classic in California, we teamed up with Wheels Manufacturing and Surly Bikes to give away a stunning singlespeed Surly Karate Monkey decked out with Wheels MFG parts. Enter for a chance to win here...The post Wheels MFG x Surly Karate Monkey Spring Bike Giveaway appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Today, Shimano is releasing two new flat pedals, the Deore XT and Saint. While both pedals share a very similar look and design, there are a few key differences between them. This includes weight, number of pins, and a skid plate on the Saint pedals. And, these differences also affect the price.But, seeing these latest offerings from Shimano might just cause a bit of deja vu, as well. Hey, wait, havent I seen these pedals before? Well, yes, and no (well kind of). Let us explainShimano Saint and Deore XT Flat Pedals(Photos/Shimano)Shimano designed both the new octagonal Saint and Deore XT pedals very similarly. Here is a quick look at what both pedals share:Extra-wide, dual-concave shape121mm x 110mm platform10+ replaceable pins per side standardFlat platform design for consistent pedal height and no protrusions from the axleThin pedal body for improved ground clearanceForged alloy pedal bodyImpact-resistant traction pinsDurable axle and bushing constructionFully serviceable with readily available replacement partsIncluded 6mm and 3mm pins plus a dedicated E5 socket wrench pin toolThey look pretty damn good!Okay, that last one was me, but I think it is a sound observation. But the point is that the Saint and XT pedals are very similar. Shimano designed both with a large, concave platform that positions and secures the foot well. Both pedals also feature a slimmer profile than Shimanos current GR-500 (old Saint pedal) for better clearance.But, eventually, you will hit rocks. Shimano knows that, so both the Saint and XT pedals feature a robust alloy pedal body and impact-resistant pins. They also use bushings rather than bearings for their durability and longevity, although some might argue bearings are always the way to go. (Thats up for debate).And, when it is time for a service, Shimano has made everything rebuildable. They include extra pins for both the XTs and Saints, and other replacement parts are available.Whats different between XT & Saint?However, there are a few differences between the two pedals. In addition to the look and branding, the Shimano Saint pedals feature an additional skid plate along the entire outer edges of the pedal. This composite skid plate helps the pedals deflect off rocks, roots, and other obstacles more effectively, rather than hang up. It replaces some excess alloy material that the XTs have and can be replaced.The alloy is trimmed around the Saint pedal to accommodate the skid plateReplacing the skid plate should keep the Saints looking fresher, and saves 30g.4 additional pin holes on Saint pedals (left) and 2 additional holes on XT pedals (right)Another slight design difference is additional pin options. Out of the box, both pedals feature 10 pins (per side) around the perimeter, with the option to add pins in the middle. For XT, two more pins can be added. With Saint, its four.The Shimano Saint flats weigh 393g and retail for $225. The XTs weigh 423g and retail for $175.So, Are These Really New?Saint and XT pedals from 2021As I said earlier, you might feel as if youve seen these pedals before. Like, in an article, similar to this one, on the internet. We covered a very, very similar Shimano Saint and XT pedal release in 2021.However, these are technically new. First, the names are new. Well, not XT or Saint, but the numbers and letters Shimano puts with all of their products (that arent confusing at all). In 2021, for example, the Saint pedals were the Saint PD-M829. Todays pedals are the Saint PD-G8040. The PD for pedals is straightforward, but we guess Saint isnt just Mountain anymore and gets upgraded to Gravity. (Hope we dont confuse that with Gravel.)The new pedals also shed a few grams from the 2021 Saint and XT offerings: four and five grams, respectively. These are claimed weights, of course, as we dont yet have a set of either of the new pedals.And they are claimed weights on the 2021 pedals, too. Why? It looks like no one really had the chance to try those. In my Oh, yeah, what happened with those pedals? quest, forums and article comment sections popped up with users complaining that Shimano announced them, but didnt seem to actually release them. They popped up in online shops, but almost always out of stock as far as I could see. Customers looking to buy still couldnt find either pedal years after the apparent release.COVID? Supply chain issues? Were not sure. But, here they are again, and were hopeful this time that well actually see both pedals on bike shop shelves now.bike.Shimano.comThe post Shimano XT and Saint Flat PedalsTake Two? appeared first on Bikerumor.