When you think about it, tyres are one of the most inportant parts on a bicycle. They are the only way that the bike connects to the ground and the size, tread pattern, air pressure and rubber softness/hardness (compound) are all vital to how the bike performs in a straight line, uphill, down hill and on corners. The other big factor is what the ground conditions under the tyre are like at the time of riding.Ill go out on a limb here and say there is no tyre that covers all the bases, dry, wet, muddy, icy, tarmac, gravel, roots etc and I know these are the conditions the majority you ride in too. There is no perfect tyre but some come close with just a few compromises.Continental have been in the tyre making game for donkeys years so know a thing or two about tyres. The Terra series has quite a few different models that have been well received by riders all over the globe but really I dont care about that. What I need is a tyre that works where I ride and if you are in the UK too probably where you also ride. The name adventure conjours up epic riding in inaccessable jungles, icy windswept plateaus whilst surviving by foraging food from the hedgerow after riding 500k in one day. Well, the West Midlands isnt like that. What I have is tarmac, clay based soil, leaf litter, lots and lots of wet slimy roots at all times except summer and axle deep floods in winter. So yea, getting to work at some points in the year can be an adventure!Continental Terra Adventure centre and side knobsContinental Terra AdventureContinental say the terra adventure blurs the lines between MTB and gravel and that its predominently for off road riding. The tyres have quite close spaced knobs down the centre of the tyre which actually roll quite well on tarmac, they have a lot less rolling resistance than i thought they would have even in this 55mm size (more on this later). this also works well on hardpacked dirt and gravel paths. The shoulder knobs are slightly more pronounced and angled to bite into the ground when you lean the bike over. The tyres are tubeless ready and work with hooked and hookless rims. The tanwall tyres I tested weigh 734g/735g eachContinental Terra AdventureContinental Terra AdventureFitting the tyres and adding sealant was easy and straightforward and inflated with a track pump, this is a lot to do with the rim type and tape set up though, your experience may be different but Ive had to work much harder to get other tyres to stay inflated on these rims than the Conti terra adventures. There was no sidewall sealant weep or overnight deflation.How did they ride? well lets first tackle the size issue, yes they are 55mm which is equivalent to a 2.1 tyre. A lot of you will be saying they are not a gravel tyre at this width and right now that is pretty much true (Im running them om my Cotic Cascade which is a drop bar MTB thatll actually take 2.4 tyres) but with new gravel bikes being made with 50mm tyre clearance then I think 55mm isnt far off. You can of course buy Terra Adventure tyres in 45mm.Continental Terra Adventure rocky Continental Terra Adventure prime gravel!Its spring time locally and even though winter brought floods to the local area it has dried up remarkably quickly and so it was a novelty seeking out muddy sections to test the tyres in rather than avoiding them. the terra adventures did quite well in mud, if its really sticky the centre knobs will get clogged and here the wide size of the tyre didnt help and could sometimes start to slide. Leaning the bike into turns and letting the side knobs bite worked much better though. The tyres do quickly clear that mud when you hit a drier section. On firmer dirt and gravel the tyres performed really well maintaining purchase on the ground and the more I rode the more confidence I had in them even to the point of deliberately seeking out off camber stuff to push the limits of the grip. On tarmac there is a pleasant buzz as they roll along but they didnt feel draggy at all and at no time do you feel that it takes more effort to propel yourself forward.I found the tyres to be quite pressure sensitive especially on tarmac. Too much air especially in the front tyre when cornering made the bike ride on those taller side knobs making it feel unstable. Dropping the pressure down eliminated this completely. I ended up with around 35psi rear, 30psi front as a good compromise for on/off road riding. Dropping those pressures also made the ride incredibly comfortable. Gravel chatter and rooty trails caused much less vibration to the arms and saddle this would greatly benefit long distance rides leading to less fatique. In fact perfect for adventures! maybe the name is correct afterallContinental Terra Adventure singletrackContinental Terra AdventureOverall I was very impressed with the Continental Terra Adventure tyre in all but the muddiest conditions, definately a tyre to consider if upgrading your tyres for a more all road model.The continental terra adventure tyre is a great tyre for 3.5 seasons of the year and if you are a rider who avoids winter mud completely its a tyre you might not want to take off.You can find more details on the Continental tyre website Terra Adventure

Boyd Cycling is rolling out two new 55mm carbon wheelsets built for very different jobs. One is a deep, light aero road set meant to kill the usual fast but heavy excuse. The other is a purpose-built gravel race wheel that says yes, aero matters in the dirt too.(All Photos/Boyd)Deep wheels usually come with a catch. Theyre fast, but always kinda heavy, or theyre light, but fragile because of that. Deep wheels are great on a smooth road, and less convincing once the surface gets rough. The biggest challenge can be the wind; a poorly designed rim can act like a sail in crosswind, making a hard pace nearly impossible.The South Carolina wheel brand is adding two new 55mm carbon wheelsets to its Podium lineup: the Pinnacle Race for gravel and the 55 Road Disc SL for road. Both use Boyds new Grade 54 hubs, both are hand-built, and both lean hard into aero benefits without dragging around the usual deep-section penalty. The difference is in where each wheelset works.One wants race numbers zip-tied to a gravel bike. The other wants fast road miles, rolling terrain, and a rider who no longer wants to choose between aero set and climbing set.Boyd Pinnacle Race: Deep Gravel Wheels Race ReadyThe more eyebrow-raising of the two is the Pinnacle Race. A 55mm gravel wheels still sound slightly unhinged until you remember what modern gravel racing actually looks like now.Boyd says the Pinnacle Race was built specifically for that version of gravel. The Pinnacle Race uses a 55mm-deep, hookless carbon rim, a 28mm internal width, and a 33mm external width. Boyd says the recommended tire starting point is 40mm and up, with the wheel optimized for 45mm-plus tires.Lightweight & Durability Come StandardClaimed weight is 1354 grams for the set, split 618g front and 736g rear, which is pretty light for a gravel wheel this deep. The new rims use T1000 aerospace-grade carbon and carry a claimed 150-joule impact resistance, putting the durability claim in possible enduro-MTB territory. Boyd also gives the rim a 2.5mm spoke offset to better equalize spoke tension and improve responsiveness. Boyd 55 Road Disc SLBoyds 55 Road Disc SL sits at the top of the Podium Series and is meant to deliver deep-section aero benefit without feeling like a punishment every time the road tips up. Claimed weight is 1329 grams for the set, with 610g front and 719g rear, which is very tidy for a 55mm hooked tubeless road wheel.That weight comes from a 400g rim built from T1000 aerospace-grade carbon. Boyd says the full wheelset lands more than 200 grams lighter than comparable premium wheels in the 50mm-plus category.The 55 Road Disc SL uses a 24mm internal width and 29mm external width, with recommended tire sizes from 28mm to 38mm. That puts it squarely in line with where modern road riding has gone: bigger tires, better shape, and a better ride.Boyd also says the road wheel carries a claimed 140-joule impact strength, thanks to reinforcement around the bead hook and spoke bed. So while this one is clearly chasing speed, it is also being sold as a real-world wheel. One that can take a bit of bad handling and poorly maintained roads. Same Hubs Hand-Built ApproachOne of the cleaner parts of the launch is that both wheelsets share Boyds new Grade 54 straight-pull ratchet hubs.The hubset weighs a claimed 270 grams for the pair and uses a 54-tooth ratchet for 6.6 degrees of engagement, along with Enduro ABEC-5 bearings. Boyd says the hubs offer tool-free service and quick-swap freehub bodies for Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo.Both the Pinnacle Race and the 55 Road Disc SL are also hand-built, using 24 spokes front and rear, Pillar Wing 20 spokes, Pillar double-square alloy nipples, and 2x lacing at both ends. Both come with tubeless tape and valves installed, and both are backed by a lifetime warranty.Pricing & AvailabilityBoth wheelsets retail for $2,100 USD, 1,860 GBP, and 2,150 EUR, with UK and Euro pricing including VAT. Orders are open now, and Boyd says shipping is expected to begin before the end of April.The bigger question is whether your idea of speed currently lives on pavement or somewhere out past the county line.Boyd Pinnacle Race gravel wheelsetPrice: $2,100 / 1,860 / 2,150Rim depth: 55mmRim type: Hookless carbon tubelessWidth: 28mm internal / 33mm externalWheel size: 700cSpokes: 24 front / 24 rear, Pillar Wing 20Hubs: Boyd Grade 54 straight-pull ratchet hubsBearings: Enduro ABEC-5Weight: 1354g set / 618g front / 736g rearRecommended tire size: 40mm+Other details: 150J impact resistance, 2.5mm spoke offset, tubeless tape and valves installed, lifetime warrantyBoyd 55 Road Disc SLPrice: $2,100 / 1,860 / 2,150Rim depth: 55mmRim type: Hooked carbon tubelessWidth: 24mm internal / 29mm externalWheel size: 700cSpokes: 24 front / 24 rear, Pillar Wing 20Hubs: Boyd Grade 54 straight-pull ratchet hubsBearings: Enduro ABEC-5Weight: 1329g set / 610g front / 719g rearRecommended tire size: 28-38mmOther details: 140J impact resistance, 2.5mm spoke offset, tubeless tape and valves installed, lifetime warrantyBoydcycling.comThe post Boyd Goes Deep with New Pinnacle Race Gravel Wheels and 55 Road Disc SL appeared first on Bikerumor.

Saddles are usually one of the least dramatic parts of a road bike launch. A shape tweak here, a new foam recipe there, maybe a fresh cutout and a few big promises about comfort. Usually, you can squint at a new road saddle and more or less know what youre looking at. Plus, its totally up to you whether you can use it. Saddles either work with your anatomy or dont, no matter what carbon they adorn thats why its hard to write about them.(All photos/Prologo)However, this new Prologo saddle has a unique design, and the Italian saddle maker is calling it the first integrated road saddle. So its a bit more than comfort and power for the sell line. What Is The Prologo Choice?At its simplest, the Choice is Prologos new flagship road saddle, built around aerodynamics, low weight, and a more integrated structure than the usual shell-and-rail layout.The key detail is the Nack carbon rail, which is tucked up inside the body and hidden by two flowing side wings. Prologo says that layout helps smooth airflow around the saddle while also tightening up the structural connection between the rail and base. The whole thing is meant to work more like a single aerodynamic piece than a traditional saddle with the usual exposed hardware hanging underneath.Visually, it looks like it came off a concept bike. Which is probably the point.Chasing More Than ComfortA lot of saddle launches still lean on the same language: support, relief, position, comfort. Prologo is going further down the aero rabbit hole with this one.The company says the Choice was developed using CFD simulations and refined in the wind tunnel, with the goal of reducing drag and optimizing the interaction among rider, saddle, and bike as a complete system. That may sound like a lot of pressure to put on one component, especially one thats hidden under a butt but the design at least matches the ambition. The hidden rail and the covered side profile are not there by accident. This saddle is clearly trying to manage air, not just hold a rider in place.Prologo also says the reduced stack height and tighter rail-to-shell connection add structural stiffness. They also claim cleaner power transfer and more precise handling. Thats a bold claim for a saddle, but it fits the broader direction of modern road gear, where every component is getting more integrated, more sculpted, and more system-focused than it used to be.Its A Saddle FirstThankfully, Prologo did not forget the obvious part.The Choice uses variable-density foam, and the shape was refined using the brands Pressure Map MyOwn pressure-mapping system. The idea is to balance comfort and performance while letting riders stay in an aero position longer without the usual saddle-related negotiations. Shape-wise, Prologo calls it a semi-round, T-shape saddle. That usually means a little more versatility than the ultra-flat, ultra-specific saddles that work brilliantly for a very narrow slice of riders and nobody else. The overall length is a modern 240mm, and it comes in two widths: 140mm for the narrow version and 147mm for the wide. Claimed weight is 152g.Modular Maybe SmarterThe aero shape will get the attention, but the most interesting detail might be the one underneath.Prologo says the rail can be separated from the carbon shell with two screws, meaning individual parts can be replaced in the event of damage. That is not something you hear very often in the premium saddle world, where lightweight and repairable rarely show up in the same sentence.Its a smart feature, especially on a product this expensive. High-end saddles are usually treated like precious objects right up until the moment a crash, travel mishap, or bad lean against a wall turns them into a very expensive paperweight. Prologos approach here at least opens the door to fixing part of the saddle instead of binning the whole thing.A Bigger Idea?The bigger story is that Prologo seems to be treating the saddle the same way it has treated the rest of the road bike over the last few years. Frames got more aerodynamic. Cockpits got cleaner and more integrated. Wheels got deeper. Seatposts got more shaped and more specialized. The rider position got lower, faster, and more system-driven. Saddles, for the most part, stayed a little more familiar. But a saddle is arguably the most important part of the bike because if its uncomfortable, the rider suffers greatly, making the aero gains null and void. The Choice is Prologo, arguing that the saddle doesnt have to stay in that lane.It wont be for everyone. No saddle is. Fit is still personal, and the most advanced design in the world does not mean much if it doesnt work with your position, your hips, and your tolerance for very firm race equipment. But from a pure product standpoint, the Choice is at least doing something new in a category that usually changes in very small steps.And honestly, that alone makes it interesting.Prologo Choice Tech DetailsDimensions: 240 x 140mm or 240 x 147mmShape: Semi-round, T-shapeRail: Nack carbon, 7 x 9mmConstruction: Long-fiber carbon base with integrated hidden-rail designPadding: Variable-density foamClaimed weight: 152gPrice: 490Availability: Available now through Prologo and authorized dealers.PrologoThe post Prologo Choice: A Wild Aero Saddle with Hidden Rails & A Repairable Design appeared first on Bikerumor.

The latest Colnago C-Series road bike keeps the handmade-in-Italy soul intact while adding more tire clearance, cleaner integration, and a smoother ride for riders who want heritage without sacrificing modern speed.(All photos/Colnago)What Is The Colnago C72? This is the next chapter in Colnagos storied C-Series, the line that has long stood as the brands handmade, high-end expression of road-bike craft. It is still built in Italy. It still uses Colnagos signature modular construction. And it still looks like a Colnago in the way only a C-bike can. But this time around, the old-world recipe gets a few meaningful updates: more tire clearance, an integrated storage compartment, revised geometry, a new cockpit, and a noticeably more forgiving attitude toward real-world roads.While the C-Series has always traded on prestige, craftsmanship, and ride feel, the road beneath high-end bikes has changed. Riders are going faster on wider tires.Made In Italy Seven PartsAt its core, the C72 is still very much a C-Series Colnago. That means the frame is built from seven carbon parts joined together rather than formed as a single traditional monocoque. It is a construction method Colnago has used for years, and it remains one of the biggest things separating the C-bike line from the rest of the premium road market.This time, though, Colnago is leaning into that identity even more. Rather than trying to hide the joins, the new C72 makes the lugged construction part of the visual story. The transitions between sections look deliberate and crisp, giving the frame a sculpted, almost tailored look. It is one of those rare cases where the frame details feel less like an engineering compromise and more like design flex.Still A Race BikeIt is still a race-bred road bike that carries performance geometry. It still looks fast leaning against a wall. But Colnago has clearly opened the door to a broader kind of speed here. The bike now clears up to 35mm tires, which is a big move for a flagship road model with this kind of pedigree. That is enough room to make the C72 far more versatile than older C-bikes without dragging it into gravel-bike cosplay.That added tire room also comes with a smoother overall ride. Colnago says the frame improves compliance, especially at the rear end, to make the bike more comfortable and more composed on rough surfaces.That sounds like marketing copy until you look around the road world and realize nearly every premium performance bike is inching in the same direction. Wider tires are faster on rough roads. More control means less fatigue. Less fatigue means you are still making power when the ride gets long and the road gets rough.This is not Colnago going soft. It is Colnago catching up to what fast road riding actually feels like now.Hidden Storage C-SeriesYes, the C72 has storage, and honestly, Colnago handled it better than we expected.The new bike gets an integrated downtube storage compartment, opened via a twist-tab setup at the bottom of the tube. The bottle cage lifts away to reveal the compartment inside, a smart, clean solution on a bike that could have looked silly if the storage had been handled poorly.Instead, it is subtle enough to stay out of the way visually, but useful enough to matter once you actually start riding the thing. Tube, CO2, tool, maybe a tiny emergency snack if youre the type who likes to pretend you wont need one. It is one of those features that feels slightly unromantic on a hand-built Italian superbike until you use it once and immediately decide it should be on more road bikes.New Cockpit And More Fit FlexibilityUp front, Colnago gives the C72 a new CC.02 integrated cockpit, which replaces the previous setup with a lighter, more refined bar-and-stem combo. Colnago says it trims 15 grams over the older unit and is shaped for a more aggressive hand position and better brake control in the drops.That sounds like a small detail until you remember how much the front end can change a bikes feel. On a premium road bike, small front-end changes are usually the difference between pretty good and this thing absolutely rips.Colnago has also tweaked the geometry with a higher stack-to-reach ratio, giving riders a little more setup flexibility and a slightly more relaxed fit window than the more aggressive V5Rs. That does not suddenly turn the C72 into a grand-fondo machine, but it should make it easier to build the bike into something that feels properly fast. That is probably the smartest kind of update Colnago could have made. The riders shopping for this bike still want performance. They just do not all want to feel like they are trying out for Roubaix every time they leave the house.Lighter Than The C68Colnago says the unpainted C72 frame in size 485 weighs 895 grams, 30 grams lighter than the outgoing C68. The complete bike can reportedly hit 6.8kg with the right build.Those are healthy numbers, but this is not one of those bikes that lives or dies by being the lightest thing on the sales floor. The C-Series has always been about something a little more layered than that. Ride quality, construction, feel, brand heritage, and the particular satisfaction of owning a bike that still gets built with some actual romance baked into it.The weight drop is welcome. The bigger story is that Colnago found a way to make the bike more modern without sanding off its personality.A Price To Match None of this comes cheap, obviously. The C72 lands firmly in the if you have to ask section of the road-bike world, with pricing that matches its handmade, Italian-built, flagship status. That is not going to shock anyone shopping for a C-Series Colnago. Exclusivity has always been part of the pitch, and Colnago is not suddenly pretending otherwise.If anything, the C72 doubles down on that by making the bike more useful without sacrificing its uniqueness.Colnago C72 Models & PricesFrame kit: 6,299 / 5,940 / $8,535Shimano Dura-Ace + ENVE SES 4.5 wheels: 14,999 / 15,900 / $20,324Campagnolo Super Record 13s + Bora Ultra WTO wheels: 14,999 / 15,400 / $20,324Shimano Dura-Ace + Fulcrum Sharq 57 wheels: 13,299 / 14,200 / $18,020SRAM Red AXS + ENVE SES 4.5 wheels: 16,299 / 16,600 / $22,085 Availability 60 days from ordering Colnago.comThe post Colnagos New C72 Brings A More Comfortable Edge to Its Italian-Built Flagship appeared first on Bikerumor.

We're reaching the culmination of the first major racing block in 2026 but behind the scenes, rider agents have been in permanency since the start of this year, and now first big transfer rumours begin to surface as there's still more than three months until the official transfer window opens. But t...

Ritchey Logic continues to expand its cockpit options with an all-new dropper, some interesting new bar shapes, new classic silver finishes for a few of those, plus an upgraded set of flat pedals. More options and more finishes so all-rounder gravel and MTB riders can get the contact points that make them feel good without breaking the bank.Ritchey Logic expanded gravel & MTB cockpit offerings(All photos/Cory Benson)First up, theyve got a WCS 1-bolt Kite dropper post with two travel options, exclusively in 27.2 to work with traditional gravel and mountain bikes. On the cockpit front, the big news is a premium mid-rise carbon SuperLogic ErgoMax dropbar that combines light weight, all-day ergonomics, and extra comfort for gravel riders. But there are more affordable alloy bars, too.Shiny silver Ritchey alt bars add a couple more options as the popular Kyote gets a new, more dramatically flared-back El Camino flat bar sibling, also available in simple Comp series black ano. And their newest Corralitos ergo gravel dropbar also gets the Classic silver look.Plus, the recent Ritchey plastic platforms now get an aluminum big brother too, with the new Alloy Bigfoot flat pedals.Ritchey WCS 1-bolt Kite 27.2 dropper seatpostThe new WCS Kite is kind of a big deal as its the first Ritchey dropper post. And true to the Ritchey ethos, itll be pretty affordable at just $200 while delivering a trusted clamp, reasonable light weight, and just enough travel & traditional sizing for the type of riders who would want a Ritchey dropper.The dropper is 27.2 only, with a zero-offset 1-bolt head for round or oval rails, and the option for either 70mm or 100mm of infinitely adjustable dropping travel. Its a WCS post, so that means its made of 7075 aluminum and weighs a claimed 380g (70mm) or 410g (100mm). Since its targeting both drop bar or flat bar builds, the Kite dropper does not include a remote. But Ritchey will offer options for both separately.SuperLogic ErgoMax flared carbon riser dropbarAt the other end of the spectrum is the all-new Ritchey SuperLogic ErgoMax, a dramatically shaped carbon dropbar, combining extra ergonomic comfort with premium lightweight performance. Like their other ErgoMax dropbars, this one features a compact but round bend with wider ergonomic tops. But for the top-tier carbon bar, it also adds 20mm of rise just next to the stem to put you in a slightly more upright riding position, while also introducing a flex point to create a more comfy bar for reduced hand fatigue. Plus, theres a generous 90mm of uninterrupted 31.8 clamping width before the rise, so you should still have plenty of space to mount bikepacking bags, GPS mounts, or even a set of aerobar extensions.The SuperLogic ErgoMax gets a big 17.5 flare to the drops, while theres a subtle 5 backsweep for all-day comfort on those riser tops, too. It comes in 4 sizes 38-44cm measured at the hoods, with each being 6.7cm wider at the end of their flared drops.The carbon bars feature 113mm Drop and just 70mm Reach, plus internal cable routing including old school Di2 drilling. The drops flare 17.5, while the ends lean out another 2. Claimed weight is just 240g for a mid-sized 42cm bar. Pricing isnt officially set until the bars roll out this summer, but were told to expect a similar price point to other SuperLogic carbon bars.New Corralitos ergo gravel dropbarRitcheys newest alt drop bar shape is the slightly riser Corralitos drop bar with a short reach & shallow drop. Designed for riding off-road on bikes that traditionally would fit a flat bar, it features a 15mm rise, just 52mm reach, and 67.5mm drop with a smooth anatomic bend. It also gets a round top, generous 24 flare to its drops, and wide widths: 44, 46, 48, 50cm measured from the hoods.The double-butted 6061 alloy Corralitos comes in a 57 black Comp version, and soon also in a shiny high-polish silver Classic edition, too.New flared-back El Camino flat barTheir newest alt flat bar is the El Camino, essentially reshaping the popular alt Kyote (also now in Classic silver) with even more dramatic 35 backsweep and less forward offset. The El Camino looks like what you would get if you remade a beach cruiser bar in a more modern, high-performance spec. The result is a comfortable, upright riding position, but still with plenty of control to tackle any terrain.The 50-60 Ritchey El Camino bar is made of double-butted 6061 alloy. It measures 750mm wide horizontally, with a mega 35 backsweep, 50mm rise, and 200mm wide 31.8 round clamping area offering plenty of space to mount accessories or adventure-ready bags. The 340g bar is available in Comp black now, and soon in that high-polish silver Classic look, as well.WCS Bigfoot alloy platform pedalsLast up here are new sets of aluminum platform pedals to complement the plastic Bigfeet.Simple burly aluminum flat pedals, Ritchey crafted 6061 alloy pedals with a 105mm wide x 110mm concave platform and 10 replaceable traction pins per side. The 17.5mm thick aluminum pedals spin on chromoly axles with a sealed outer bearing and inner bushing.The 445g alloy Bigfoot pedals come in WCS black or Classic silver to match the rest of your Ritchey kit.Oh wait, that bike doesnt have any Ritchey kit on it. But it could surely use a Ritchey Classic cockpit and this new Classic Bigfoot pedals, right?RitcheyLogic.comThe post Affordable Ritchey Kite Post Drops In, Plus SuperLogic ErgoMax, Classic Bars, Pedals Too! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Every year, the Paris-Roubaix sees a number of debutants with various fates. In 2026, an entire one quarter of participants had taken on the French Monument for the first time, with many of them without any prior experience with the Roubaix cobbles from under-23 and junior categories. The latter was...

The season keeps edging closer to the Giro dItalia, the first Grand Tour of the year. Meanwhile, in full spring, one of the most thrilling weeks on the calendar has wrapped up. The UCI WorldTour Ranking has shifted after Itzulia and ParisRoubaix 2026, where a hefty haul of points was distributed....