New owners commit to 'double down on unique brand legacy' and to 'never do a BOGO sale again'

The light segregation was branded a death trap by one cyclist who broke his wrist last year after crashing into a cycle lane divider that he claimed was totally invisible in the dark, but campaigners say its removal may well cost life and limb

So far at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, the weather has been relatively nice for the riders. With the start of the third week looming with stage 16 on Tuesday however, the incoming snow and cold weather is seeing some riders pushing for a adjustment to the stage.Speaking in a Twitter exchange with Cyclin...

CyclistEvery UCI Womens WorldTour race ranked: From the Tour de France to the Tour of Chongming IslandLast week, we ranked all 30+ races on the mens UCI WorldTour calendar. Now, its time for the Womens WorldTour to face the same treatment. The womens selection of racing takes them across the globe from China to the UAE, from Belgium to Spain. In total, there are 27 races on offer. Some names will stand out. Of course, the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix shine among the line-up. But, there are far more races than that. The Womens WorldTour has grown exponentially within the past few years. However, the womens calendar is if anything more eclectic than the mens. Be prepared for wild sponsorship titles, strange scheduling choices and plenty of Benelux one-day races. Ive teased enough, lets dive into our wholly unserious ranking. Related Posts Every mens UCI WorldTour race ranked: From the Tour de France to the Tour Down Under From North Wales to Manchester: Tour of Britain Women announces route for 2024 race Paris-Roubaix gallery: Oh my god its a double rainbow all the way The best photos from the Tour de France Femmes 2023 Tour de France Femmes 2024 route announced ft. Alpe dHuez and a mini Monument The lower rankingsUCITour of Chongming IslandWhere is Chongming Island? What is a Chongming? What is an Island?Tour of GuangxiFair play, they persevered here. The Tour of Guangxi sticks out as the most underhyped mens and womens race.Santos Tour Down UnderTime zones, advertising bombardment and run-of-the-mill racing. I am not a fan.Deakin University Elite Womens Road RaceThe name. I cant look past the name.Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesMiron Ronde van DrentheI cant get behind a flat classic tailor-made for the sprinters. At least throw in a couple of hills or cobble sectors. Heck, make the riders get off with 5km to go and dance the macarena 3 times before getting back on the bike. (VAMberg erasure, yellow card Ed.)Classic Brugge-De PanneThis ticks the box for a one-day sprinters classic with the added hazard of echelons. Without wind, this race is humdrum.Vuelta a Burgos FeminasPredictable racing in the past couple of years has made the womens lap around Burgos rather vapid.Tour de Suisse WomenWell, well, well. Its Swiss, its swish, itsdecent.Ford RideLondon ClassiqueA sprint finish in Harlow? Be for real.A.S.O./Billy CeustersItzulia WomenAh yes, the SD Worx race. You know theyve won every stage of this, right?Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders FieldsThis is a yo-yo. Sometimes its great, sometimes its a little uninspiring.Tour of Britain WomenIf this race was a little more adventurous with the parcours, it would be moved up a couple of pegs.La Flche Wallonne FminineThe womens hill-climb world championships.Tour de Romandie FmininLige-Bastogne-Lige FemmesThe mens race is fine. The womens race is fine. A mid-table result is inevitable.Tour de Romandie FmininThis edges out the other Swiss race. The Tour de Romandie is a staple in the womens calendar. It provides a testing week of racing around some of Europes most stunning scenery.Classic Lorient Agglomration Trophe CERATIZITThis is unironic. The name is long, but this race is rich and creamy like a Camembert. Thats not a Breton cheese, is it?UAE Tour WomenIrony aside, the UAE Tour Women provides some much-needed early-season mountain action on the womens calendar. However, Jebel Hafeet cant save the three non-stages that weigh down this race.10. Simac Ladies TourSimac Ladies TourSome hearty Benelux racing is always necessary. A week-long Classic, the Simac Ladies Tour serves up a calypso of hills, sprints and time-trials. The late October placement on the calendar is a little quirky, but it still manages to stick out, even if the peloton is already in holiday mode.Its just what we need in the Womens WorldTour. Plus, its one of the few races at which Demi Vollering has a chance of missing the podium.9. Omloop Het NieuwsbladVisma-Lease a BikeOmloop Het Nieuwsblad is like opening the first door on an advent calendar. When it rolls around, you know youre in the festive season. The cobbles come back in style at Omloop. The Muur van Gerardsbergen is out in full force, the top riders are back in the saddle after the off-season. You are guaranteed a proper battle when it comes to this Flemish amuse-bouche.8. Amstel Gold Race Ladies EditionCor Vos/Amstel Gold RaceThe womens race does Amstel Gold correctly. They take on the old Cauberg-style finale. For that, this feels like an improved version of the mens race. Perhaps my judgement is clouded by recency bias because the 2024 race was a top-tier spectacle. However, Amstel Gold remains the most under-appreciated day in the Ardennes cycle.7. Trofeo Alfredo Binda Comune di CittiglioStanding as its own entity, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda is a special jewel in the womens calendar. The race also has the pride of not having an adjoined mens race. This is important in establishing a unique identity in the sport. In this case, the Trofeo Binda was a trailblazer in womens racing.Its not all about this narrative, however. The profile through the Lombardy landscape makes for unpredictable and explosive racing. An eclectic hall of honour only proves that, with winners including Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo and Coryn Rivera.6. Giro dItalia WomenSprintCycling/RCSThe old lady of the womens Grand Tour field the Giro dItalia Women (formerly known as the Giro dItalia Femminile, Giro Rosa and Giro Donne) is as chaotic as youd imagine. The race does propose some of the toughest climbing on the Womens WorldTour. For that, the Giro gains some brownie points. However, the presentation of the race leaves a lot to be desired. I am begging for this race to be broadcast more widely. I cant excuse that. Hopefully with an existential redrawing of the brand identity this year as mens race organiser RCS takes over, the race can rival the Grand Tours that slot in higher on this list.5. Vuelta Espaa FemeninaA.S.O/Alex BerasategiThe Vuelta Femenina is certainly the biggest grower in the past year. After its bulking season, the womens Vuelta has become a Grand Tour worthy of the title. Mountain stages, punchy paint-by-numbers Vuelta kickers and a team time-trial have been added in to make for a meaty stage race. Unexpected twists and turns have only made this race more captivating with time.4. Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec ZwiftJames York/Matt GraysonA newcomer to the womens Classics calendar, its been a wild ride for the womens Paris-Roubaix. The prestige of the race often overshadows the race itself, but the organisers dont scrimp on including the mythical pav sectors and novelties of the mens race.The past two editions have been crackerjack races, especially Alison Jacksons breakaway victory in 2023. There are few races on the Womens WorldTour worthy of a victory dance.3. Ronde van Vlaanderen Tour des FlandresGruberimagesLike the mens race, the Ronde van Vlaanderen is a whopper of a race. The atmosphere and warm hospitality make this the real pinnacle in the Flemish calendar. The full depth of the Flanders mystique is honoured, with the inclusion of all the headline cobble climbs.An A-List roll of honour props up this races classification on this list.2. Strade Bianche DonneJames YorkStrade BIanche is a special day. The gravel sterrata of Strade Bianche throw up some of the wildest storylines in the womens cycling calendar. My god, there was a horse cameo in 2023. Thats peak cycling.RCS, if youre reading, please give this race a day of its own. The early start is inconvenient to say the least.1. Tour de France Femmes avec ZwiftA.S.O./Fabien BouklaThe Tour de France Femmes [avec Zwift] truly feels like the pinnacle in terms of prestige andpomp.It might be the shiny new toy, but the Tour de France Femmes is a step in the right direction for womens Grand Tour racing. In recent years we have had interesting routes, gravel, the Tourmalet and soon we will have a foreign Grand Dpart and a visit to Alpe dHuez. This feels like the real deal.The Tour de France Femmes has garnered attraction and spectacle unlike any other womens race. The competitive element has matched up to this status too. Long may we #WatchTheFemmes.We passed the same judgement on the mens UCI WorldTour calendar last week. Related Posts Every mens UCI WorldTour race ranked: From the Tour de France to the Tour Down Under From North Wales to Manchester: Tour of Britain Women announces route for 2024 race Paris-Roubaix gallery: Oh my god its a double rainbow all the way The best photos from the Tour de France Femmes 2023 Tour de France Femmes 2024 route announced ft. Alpe dHuez and a mini Monument The post Every UCI Womens WorldTour race ranked: From the Tour de France to the Tour of Chongming Island appeared first on Cyclist.

Tadej Pogacar has been drawing some very lofty comparisons with his supreme dominance of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with many comparing his cannibalistic attitude towards the race, with that of cycling legend, Eddy Merckx.According to BORA - hansgrohe's Enrico Gasparotto however, comparisons with Merc...

A slew of unreleased RockShox BlackBox Enduro Flight Attendant enduro suspension components popped up over the weekend, kitting out Zeb forks, Super Deluxe Coil shocks, and now an all-new Vivid Coil & Vivid Air shocks with automatic damping controls. It really looks like Flight Attendant is going full speed ahead & full-enduro for gravity racing with dozens of riders on several different brands of bikes sporting the new automatic control system over the weekend at the all-new Polish World Cup round of the UCI MTB gravity World Series in Bielsko-BiaaRockShox prototype auto Flight Attendant enduro suspension(All photos/Cory Benson)RockShoxs automated wireless electronic compression damping controls first debuted on mid-travel trail to all-mountain bikes two and a half years ago. Bringing with it the promise of suspension that was always fully-open for the descents, delivered a stable platform when you were pedaling, and locked out automatically for the steep climbs. To anyone who has embraced the modern 3-position remote lockout for its ability to setup your bike super plush without losing pedaling efficiency, Flight Attendant promises to deliver all the performance, without any need to think about it. And no more forgetting to unlock your suspension on the descents.(SRAM/RockShox)But at the time it was limited to bikes mostly in the 125-150mm of rear wheel travel. That was because the only compatible rear shock available was the Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant air shock. Even though you could officially pair it with a Lyrik, Pike, or Zeb fork, which covers a pretty broad 120-190mm travel range. RockShox explained at the time that the algorithms and software at the heart of Flight Attendant were limited to a middle of the trail type of riding.Nino Schurters Cape Epic Spark RC (Photo by Michael Riehle/Scott)Now, just a few weeks ago Flight Attendant got an XC update with lighter, shorter travel SID forks & shocks. And with it, specific new algorithms optimized for cross-country racing. Plus, new connectivity with the latest AXS T-type derailleurs, Reverb AXS dropper posts, and power meters for smarter automated suspension control.And now it looks like a gravity racer tune is pretty close to ready, as wellRockShox Vivid Air Ultimate Flight Attendant This newest of new here, is the RockShox Vivid Ultimate Flight Attendant air shock we spotted on several bikes.Designed for gravity racing Enduro, to Downhill & eMTB RockShox launched the large volume air shock last summer. While it just looks like a big air can, RockShox developed the Vivid for more coil-like linear DebonAir performance, at a lighter weight.Last year, RockShox was coy about whether the big air shock would get automated control. But now just like the Super Deluxe family, RockShox is giving the Vivids piggyback reservoir a Flight Attendant upgrade.RockShox Super Deluxe Coil or All-new Vivid Coil with Flight Attendant?We actually already spotted a BlackBox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Flight Attendant prototype at the Tweed Valley EWS two summers ago on Charles Murrays S-Works Enduro race bike. But this YT Capra of Kasper Woolley has what looked like the same coil shock at first, but it is actually labeled as a Vivid Coil. Is there some of the same position-sensitive TouchDown damper tech inside like the Vivid Air?Interestingly, Murray won this weekends Bielsko-Biaa race. But he raced on the shorter travel S-Works Stumpjumper EVO fitted with a Lyrik fork and Super Deluxe air shock, both with manual lockouts.At least one member of his Specialized Factory team though, was racing the same Stumpjumper EVO with this new Super Deluxe or is it Vivid Coil (?) Flight Attendant shock matched to a Lyrik Ultimate Flight Attendant fork.The Flight Attendant control module looks like it could be exactly the same as the one on the Super Deluxe Ultimate air shock. Even down to the silver adapter that hangs it off of the piggyback reservoir. And we expect the same function, just probably tuned for bigger travel and a more linear feel. But that Vivid Ultimate label looks too much like a production item to be a mistake. Right?RockShox Zeb Ultimate Flight Attendant OK technically, the Zeb Ultimate Flight Attendant fork was available from Day 1 of Flight Attendants lifetime. So this isnt entirely new. But we really didnt see that many bikes taking advantage of this 38mm stanchioned forks 150-190mm travel range. Thats because most full enduro bikes want a bigger air volume than the Super Deluxe Air shock for big travel. But not everyone needed more. YT offers the Capra in an Uncaged 12 Flight Attendant build with a 170mm Zeb matched to 165mm of rear travel in this setup. And thats exactly what some of the YT Mob team riders are still racing. But some of the mobsters are on the Flight Attendant coil now, as well.Now that Super Deluxe Coil & Vivid Air are about to get Flight Attendant, we expect to see more of the even longer travel Zebs getting automatic control.Which bikes will offer it?We have no official word from SRAM/RockShox about when these two new Flight Attendant-equipped enduro shocks will hit the market. But just like when previous MTB disciplines got Flight Attendant, this is something youll see as OEM-only at first. Remember, its more than just swapping in a control module on the end of your fork and shock. The Flight Attendant system needs at least a fork, shock & crank sensor. And the latest version syncs with AXS derailleur, dropper seatpost & power meter cranksets now for even smoother operation.So far, weve spotted enduro bikes from Forbidden, Specialized, Trek, and YT with the new Flight Attendant gravity enduro setup. So its safe to say at least these three will offer Flight Attendant-enabled enduro bikes when RockShox officially rolls out the option on their Super Deluxe Coil & RockShox Vivid Air shocks. Theres not yet an official timeline from SRAM. But I would expect to hear about a midsummer launch around Eurobike. With the Flight Attendant enduro setup available on MY25 bikes that could be first available late this year.Its certainly all over the racing scene now. And no longer being hidden under the cover of BlackBox stickers.SRAM.com/RockShoxThe post RockShox Prototype Vivid Coil & Air Flight Attendant Enduro Shocks Hit the World Cup appeared first on Bikerumor.

CyclistParis-Brest-Paris: The audaxers audaxStanding under the torrent of water, I can taste the salt thats running off my forehead as I wash sweat, suncream and grime from around my neck. I peel off my jersey to wring it out and pull off of my cycling shorts to scrub the chamois clean. Then I hear a sharp intake of breath.Have you seen your backside?A small crowd gathers behind me in this communal washroom to tut and shake their heads in disbelief. Its just one massive bruise, says an onlooker, clearly delighted. Related Posts We who travel have stories to tell: The Pan Celtic Ultra race The Cateran Dirt Dash: Bikepacking for beginners Another planet: The Atlas Mountain Race I am almost 700km into Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), and this news comes as no surprise. Stepping out into the afternoon sun, my kit dries in about the time it takes to locate my bike the obvious cause of my affliction. I thought riding a fixed-gear bike would give me some insight into the first Paris-Brest et Retour in 1891, the forerunner to Paris-Brest-Paris, when around 200 competitors set out from the Champs-lyses on a mixture of safety bikes, tricycles, tandems and a lone Penny Farthing. Ian Hands runs a club for randonneurs in honour of his dad Adrian, who completed Paris-Brest-Paris in 2003 you have to match or beat his time of 88h 55min to join (adrianhands society.com).Fergus CoyleI wanted to put myself in the shoes of its inaugural winner, Charles Terront, a cycling superstar who won on a British-made Humber in the days when derailleur gears were barely a twinkle in their inventors eye.Im still fairly new to the world of fixie riding, and its only on this monumental ride that I have discovered one of its great drawbacks. Its not the climbs in PBP the climbs tend to be long and steady, and are proving very manageable its the descents. Due to the lack of a freehub my pedals spin faster the more speed I pick up, and every time I find myself bouncing erratically in the saddle, pummelling my buttocks to a pulp.The village of Le Ribay only has 500 inhabitants but offers plenty of support to the passing 6,749 participants.Fergus CoyleI wince as I sit back down on the narrow saddle and push away from the kerbside. Only another 500km to go.132 years and countingThe Special Category consists of tandems, triplets, recumbents and lots of velomobiles.Fergus CoyleThe original event in 1891 was a race, open only to male French riders of whom 207 started and 99 finished. The last time it was run as a race was 1951, from which point it has been run purely as an audax (or more accurately, a randonneur) and has grown into one of the biggest draws on the amateur calendar.By the time I find myself on the start line on a Sunday in August 2023, Paris-Brest-Paris has gained a huge global following. The 6,749 participants come from more than 80 countries. Among them are Americans on classic steel frames, Dutch riders in bullet-like velomobiles and a group from Malaysia on Bromptons. There are Finns and Aussies, a rider from Zimbabwe, a team of Indonesians, flag-swathed Brazilians and a trio of Germans on a triplet.Locals young and old line the route to greet the riders as they pass.Fergus CoyleAs our wave inches towards the start line, an animated group of Indian riders on carbon bikes prepares to sprint away. Im scooped up by one peloton after another as we tear into the night, knowing we have just 90 hours to cover 1,219km. Constellations pinprick the sky then vanish as the sun rises. By early morning Ive ridden my fastest ever 200km yet have barely scratched the surface.Susilo Baskoro was one of 45 riders from Indonesia. His highlights were the enthusiastic participation of local communities and the abundance of food.Fergus CoyleThere are 15 checkpoints and, as I am quickly learning, minimising faff time is key. You need to arrive with a to-do list: 1) Park your bike and note its location. 2) Throw empty bidons into a musette. 3) Get your card stamped for proof of passage. 4) Eat as much as possible. 5) Invest some time in self-care: brush teeth, shower, snooze or stretch. 6) Get back on the road as quickly as you can.Its easier said than done. Controls are chaotic; there are the crowds who cheer you in, long queues for food and the complexity of trying to summon up schoolboy French when you can barely remember your name. And there is the confusion of trying to find the people you plan to ride with in the melee of the bike park.Approaching the 400km mark, I team up with a Japanese rider who pedals like a metronome and smiles at my arigato as I take over at the front. We soon find ourselves behind a diminutive Iberian dynamo who drags 30 riders along with her. I exhaust my Spanish telling her how grateful I am.Passing through Le Ribay, where local volunteers ensure riders cross the busy RN12 safely.Fergus CoyleBy the time we are 24 hours in, sleep deprivation is making people clumsy. Everyone has a story of seeing a rider fall asleep in the saddle then collapse into a field, ditch or hedge. Sure enough, rounding a corner we find a veteran French cyclist sprawled in the road, still clipped into his pedals. As he is helped to his feet he teeters like a new-born foal. This could be concussion. A driver pulls up and offers to help but the rider insists hes fit to carry on. With careful coaxing, we load his bike into the car and he promises to get medical attention.Its midnight when the ping of a phone message tells us there are only 45 beds left at our planned sleep control. Every rider we overtake now represents another potentially free mattress, so we chase tail-lights, tearing up hills and in my case spinning wildly on long descents.Participants make one last food stop before the final leg for home.Fergus CoyleWe pass bodies in gold space blankets on the roadside and riders sleeping in steamed-up bank foyers. Both of these would have been better options as it turns out, because when we arrive at the sleep control at Carhaix (515km), the only space I can find is under a table.Channelling CharlesBack in 1891, Charles Terront rode the entire route without sleep. Learning that his nearest rival, Joseph Jiel-Laval, was resting in a hotel, Terront took a lengthy diversion to avoid being seen and within a matter of hours was in the lead.This classic event draws riders from more than 80 countries.Fergus CoyleWith Terront as my inspiration, I peel myself off the linoleum in the middle of the night and trundle out of the control to tackle Roch Trevezel, a 384m climb to the highest point on the ride. Climbing on a fixie is easier at speed, and I overtake scores of riders before arriving at the summit, finding a cafe, drinking a coffee, wrapping myself in a blanket and collapsing into a deliciously deep sleep.I make it to Brest that morning, well within the 40-hour limit. The advice is to race out and tour back, but that doesnt make the 50-hour return leg feel any easier as I grind through 80km of knee-hammering ascents before heat sends me scurrying for shade. The clock is ticking and I know Ill have to make up the deficit after dark.We told you Le Ribay offered plenty of support. The village also supplies food, bike repairs and sleeping quarters.Fergus CoyleThe first Paris-Brest-Paris was designed as a test of rider and machine. Michelin had convinced Terront to use innovative pneumatic tyres that could be detached, the tubes repaired, then reattached in minutes. He was plagued with punctures but the tyres the worlds first clinchers still gave him an advantage. His problems mysteriously stopped when he got to the front of the race, which made him suspect underhanded tactics from Jiel-Lavals team.These days, theres a far greater sense of collaboration among the riders. One new-found friend kindly drops back when Im struggling with heat stroke. Another dashes ahead to order pizzas when were flagging. Cyclists Ive never met counsel me through tough night sections. And one woman is so horrified by my appearance at a control that she gifts me the coffee she has just bought herself. It is both touching and slightly humiliating.Through it all are the people who gather at all hours to cheer us on: from children with arms outstretched for high fives, their parents offering food and water, to elderly neighbours whove seen the event speed past their front doors over many decades. Towns are adorned with bikes and banners, and street parties go on into the night.Fergus CoyleIn the early hours of Thursday, I wake up on a patch of grass with the luxury of nine hours to cover the last 120km. I join a conveyor belt of red lights stretching ahead into the night. Im sleep-deprived and time has lost all meaning but, as I ride into my fourth sunrise, I know I will make it.Paris in sightTerronts final stop in 1891 was in Versailles just 17km from the finish line, where you can find a small monument to his achievement. In Paris, police sent reinforcements to control the crowds who had gathered on the Boulevard Maillot long before sunrise. And just after 6am he rode through the Bois de Boulogne, flanked by local cyclists as the crowd cried, Vive Terront!Fergus CoyleMore than 130 years later, there are echoes of that moment as the finishing line comes into view. The cheers that have carried us from one town to the next rise to a crescendo over the final 400m. And its the growing legion of long-distance riders around me who are Terronts greatest legacy.As different as Paris-Brest-Paris is today from his 19th century voyage of discovery, this wonderfully international group of riders shares the same sense of adventure. Its a camaraderie that has made this event the worlds greatest celebration of long-distance cycling.Kit listGear up for Paris-Brest-ParisFergus CoyleI rode this titanium Van Nicholas Yukon touring bike with gears in the 2019 Paris-Brest-Paris and had it converted to a fixed gear bike for the 2023 event.You need to be fully self-sufficient on the road and so, on top of inner tubes and a pump, I carried a spare tyre and an extensive tool kit. A battery pack is vital to keep computers and phone charged. Backup lighting, a change of clothing and a light bivvy bag are all worth considering. Dont forget your toothbrush, suncream, hydration tablets and towel.The detailsYouve got three yearsWhat Paris-Brest-ParisWhere Rambouillet, just outside ParisHow far 1,219kmCut-off time 90 hours (options for 80 and 84 hours if you are feeling competitive)Next one August 2027Qualifying requirement Entrants need to complete four qualifying rides of 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km in the same year as the eventPrice 190 (entry only)More info paris-brest-paris.org This article originally appeared in issue 152 of Cyclist magazine. Click here to subscribe Related Posts We who travel have stories to tell: The Pan Celtic Ultra race The Cateran Dirt Dash: Bikepacking for beginners Another planet: The Atlas Mountain Race The post Paris-Brest-Paris: The audaxers audax appeared first on Cyclist.

Sam Bennett is one of the most prestigious sprinters in the peloton and over the past few years, subject of a lot of controversy. Despite planning on racing the Tour de France every year, the last time he participated was in 2020 when he won the green jersey. But in 2024, he should make a return wit...

I first noticed Viral Bikes new Wanderer Drop Bar Bike when I saw it being pushed around at this years Sea Otter Classic. I was super busy at the show (or spending too much time in the K-Edge trailer) and, sad to say, didnt get a chance to stop and check it out up close. The bike was officially launched on the 18th of April and looks like a cool bike. Lets take a gander. The Viral Bikes WandererWanderer with Carbon Boost fork option (Photos/Viral Bikes)The development for the Wanderer started after they moved their HQ from Bend, Oregon, to Bentonville, Arkansas. The Wanderer is Virals drop bar-specific adventure bike, designed for the roughest roads and the longest of backcountry adventures. Wanderer with mountain bike suspension fork option The frame on the Wanderer is built around mountain bike standards including a full 100mm mountain bike suspension fork, and boost spacing. As soon as we had the Pinion SmartShift in our hands, we knew that this would be the next bike to market, says Virals founder Steve Domahidy. The new Wanderer is also built specifically around Pinons electronically shifted gearbox, SmartShift. Along with that, TRP has added their Hywire which is a drop bar shifter/brake lever combo designed around the SmartShift. The Hywire allows for a proper shifting experience when using a drop bar with the Pinion gearbox. There have been a lot of workarounds to making drop bars compatible with the Pinion gearbox, but theyve all been pretty major compromises, until now, Domahidy continues. There doesnt seem to be anything to worry about when it comes to battery life for the electronic shifting. Pinion claims a full 10,000 shifts per charge. Wanderers Unique GeometryPushing the boundaries of gravel and adventure bike geometry, the Wanderer runs a 67.5 head tube angle and long front center. This pushes the wheelbase and reach out for more stability while descending, whether loaded or not. In addition, is changing the game with size-specific geometry, concentrating on seat tube angle vs. size-specific chainstay lengths. At the end of the day, we have little control over the final chainstay length of a bike. It is what it is when you tension the belt to a specified amount, and you can change that a bit with belt lengths and gear ratios, but now youre compromising the final drive ratio to accomplish a chainstay length. Thats not how we wanted to go about it, Domahidy says.Instead, the Wanderer puts larger riders and smaller riders more forward on the bike with a steeper seat tube angle. This accomplishes the same result as longer chain stays. More on this from Steve Domahidy:Shorter riders benefit from a steeper seat tube angle as it helps improve the front and center geometry which helps keep toe overlap in check. Taller riders benefit from the same steepening of the seat tube to keep their center of balance more forward and centered over the bike. As you raise the seatpost for taller riders, this moves their center of gravity further and further back which unbalances the ride characteristics. Because we cant really effectively control the chainstay length, we decided to control the center of gravity through the seat tube angle. As you may have guessed, Steve spent a lot of time working on and refining the Wanderers geometry. He thinks the results are sublimeOne of the most noticeable characteristics of the Wanderer frame is the unique seat cluster area. The seat cluster de-couples the top tube from the seat tube. Then a titanium spring plate is welded to the seat stays to support the rider. The technique offers 10-20 mm of flex to the seat tube. Thus, giving the rider additional comfort and control when stuff gets dicey. Wanderers Geometry Charts* based on a 100mm travel fork** measurement in the shortest positionFrame Specs and RetailRetail: $4250 (frameset)Retail: $9795 (complete bike with RockShox SID SL Ultimate) // $9295 (with Viral Carbon Boost Fork)Viral Bikestriple butted titanium tubeset Full Mountain Bike capability and clearance for a 29 x 2.4 tirePinion C1.12i SmartShift gearbox delivers 600% gear rangeFrame kit comes with Gates belt drive, front and rear cogs, forged cranks, TRP Hywire brake/shifter combo with 180mm rotors front and rear, battery, charger, wiring kit, locking tool, rear cassette spacer kit, and first 6000-mile oil changeRigid* or 100mm fork compatible31.6mm seat post, compatible with internal dropper post routing.148mm Boost rear hub spacingIS41 upper/ IS52 lower headset bearings4.25 lbs. for medium framePre-orders are available now at the link below. A 50% deposit is required. Pre-order frame kit customers will receive the TRP Ha\ywire brakes and shifters for free in addition to being able to select the color theyd prefer to anodize their frames logo and stripes. Viral.BikeThe post Pre-orders are Open for Viral Bikes Wild New Wanderer Drop Bar Adventure Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

After victory in his opening race of the season at the Clssica Comunitat Valenciana, Dylan Groenewegen has had to wait a long while for another taste of success. Finally though, five months later, the Dutch sprinter has emerged victorious again at the Ronde van Limburg.It's been a while, so it's...