Say goodbye (for now) to the Epic EVO, the Epic World Cup, and Epic 8 (classic). They all now sit under one new bike to rule them all, the all-new Epic 9.(Ned Overend has ridden and raced every version of the Specialized Epic since its inception. Photo/Jordan Villella)Didnt we just do this? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The Specialized Epic 8 just came out like two years ago, and the bike world seems to love it why mess with it? Its one of the more popular bikes at XC and Marathon races, and I wouldnt change much. but here we are, and after seeing and riding the new Epic 9, Im totally fine with a new XC race machine hitting the trails before I processed the previous version.What is the Specialized Epic 9?Specialized is calling the Epic 9 the lightest, fastest, and most capable XC race bike in the world. Thats a totally Specialized thing to say, and every launch theyve had in the past five years carries the same style claim. However, the Epic (a model thats dear to my heart, as I raced one on/off for the last 10 years) has undergone some unique changes. Plus, when paired with some of Rovals lightest wheels in years the new Epic 9 could be on the podium for the Fastest Bike in the World.Frame Updates The frame gets massive construction-optimization overhauls. The design team trimmed 25% off the weight of the suspension linkage and 13% off the hardware. They also remimagined the bottom bracket construction and the junction near the top of the seatpost. Also new is a nicely fashioned chain watcher, in partnership with MRP. This new (to the Epic) chainwatcher is adjustable from 28T to 40T Max. (Epic 9 design engineer Jason McDonald reached his 20th year with Specialized while working on the Epic 9. So, of course, they had to make him a custom frame, with colors and decals to match his milestone. Photo/Jordan Villella)Theyve also done away with the internal storage. From a racer only stand point, all of the Specialized Factory Team riders were riding a carbon plate over the storage box. Yes, it was very useful for some, but not super easy to implement when youre in a race situation. Specialized is reintroducing the SWAT Box, this time with a leaner package and a racer-focused package. (Photo/Jordan Villella)But the frame details would be nothing without a discussion of the new shock setup. Specialized gave the Epic 9 a much more active ride by updating the shock to a swing link. Similar to the Specialized WC, but now with 120mm of travel and RockShox Flight Attendant suspension. Well talk more about the suspension later in the piece. However, all you really need to know is that the new leverage curve offers 11% less friction in the entire suspension system.(Image/Specialized)Hit Me With The NumbersOne of the big changes is the weight; the new Epic 9 frameset (shock included) weighs a claimed 1,589g. Specialized says it makes it the lightest full-suspension XC race frame ever.What about a full bike, you say? The complete S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD lands at a claimed 8.5kg (18.74lbs! But, more on that later). The frame is paired with 120mm front and rear travel on the Epic 9 platform (excluding the LTD), revised kinematics, 11% lower suspension friction than Epic 8, and geometry that stays close to Epic 8s modern-XC feel. Plus, small refinements based on Body Geometry fit data and feedback from Specializeds XC race program.(Image/Specialized)More Than A Weight PlaySpecialized is leaning hard into the weight story, and fair enough.The Epic 9 frame is 129g lighter than the nearest competitor, and the total system sheds 206g compared with the Epic 8. The result through full-frame FEA optimization and a lot of very intentional trimming.Where did the weight savings come from? Lots of small places that add up to big changes: 110g from the front triangle, 15g from the main pivot, 17g from the seat tube, and 37g from the rear triangle. Its a lot of small, obsessive decisions stacked on top of each other.(Photo/Jordan Villella)The good news is that Specialized doesnt seem to have treated lightweight as the whole answer. Making the bike lighter was only a part of the overall makeover. The bigger picture also includes improving efficiency, ride quality, and capability. A race bike that wins the scale fight but gets weird when the course gets rough is not really winning much.(Image/Specialized)Same Travel, But Feels BetterSpecialized kept the now-familiar 120mm of front and rear travel on the Epic 9 platform, but updated the frame, link, and pivot layout to reduce suspension friction by 11%.The Specialized design team lowered the leverage at sag for better pedaling support, while matching Epic 8s curve through the bump zone and end stroke to preserve control and bottom-out resistance. That all feeds into what Specialized is calling the Dynamic Trio.(Image/Specialized)Dynamic Trio: Wide Open, Magic Middle, Sprint-On-LockThe Epic 9 carries over Specializeds three-position rear shock damping setup: Wide Open, Magic Middle, and Sprint-On-Lock. Wide Open is the full-send mode for descents and rough sections. This full open lets the SID Ultimate eat. Magic Middle is the all-day, most-of-the-race setting that keeps a firm pedaling feel until trail forces push the suspension past the initial knee, then lets the bike open up and track the ground. The Magic Middle is where most rides will spend 80% of their time. Its efficient and flows well.Sprint-On-Lock is the near-lock position for starts, paved transitions, smoother surfaces, and those moments when every watt needs to go directly into forward motion.(Photo/Jordan Villella)More on Magic Mike MiddleMagic Middle is still the real signature move. Its the setting that makes the Epic feel like more than just a lightweight XC bike with a remote lockout. It delivers a firm pedaling platform while staying active under bump forces. Its what you want on most terrain, which is a big part of why the current Epic platform has felt so calm and quick on actual race terrain, rather than just test loops and launch copy. (more of this in my ride review)(Image/Specialized)Same-ish Geometry + A few tweaksI think most who rode and raced the Epic 8 can agree on one thing: the geometry was pretty damn dialed. It was racey without being twitchy, and it let the skinsuit crowd (like me) feel more capable on the downhills than previously stated.Thats why I (and Im guessing most others) were glad to see there was little to no change in the geometry of the Epic 9. The Specialized Epic 9 design team worked with the Body Geometry/Human Performance Lab to make small revisions informed by fit data and racer feedback.Theres a flip chip to help you choose your own adventure, and this small piece helps guide the platform. High flip chip allows the rider to have a more race-focused feel and a higher bottom bracket; the low setting is the opposite, with a lower BB and more playful feel.What Does That Mean?On the standard Epic 9 platform, that means a 65.9 head angle in low, 66.3 in high, a 76 seat tube angle, 44mm fork offset, and size-specific chainstays that grow from 435mm on S/M to 438mm on L and 442mm on XL. Reach ranges from 420mm in size S to 505mm in XL in the low position, while stack ranges from 594mm to 645mm. Wheelbase stretches from 1,148mm to 1,264mm across the size range.One important bit for those foaming at the mouth on the S-Works Epic 9 LTD UL version. The S-Works Epic 9 LTD UL runs a different front-end package with a 110mm SID SL fork, and its geometry reflects that. The LTD UL gets a steeper 66.5 head angle in low, 66.9 in high, a slightly lower BB, a shorter fork length, and a touch sharper overall posture. So while the standard Epic 9 family leans into 120 mm of travel, the LTD UL clearly chases a slightly more traditional, ultra-race-day feel.Specialized Epic 9 LineupSpecialized is rolling out the Epic 9 in five versions: S-Works Epic 9, S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD, S-Works Epic 9 Frameset, Epic 9 Pro, and Epic 9 Expert. Lets start at the top and work our way down to the expert version.S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTDThis is the halo build for riders who want the lightest, most stripped-down version of the new platform. It uses the S-Works FACT 12m carbon frame, a RockShox SID SL Ultimate 110mm fork, and a RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate rear shock. The fork is a limited edition with lowers crafted from magnesium (you read that right), and the finish is a clear coat, so you can see all the sweet mag action. The caveat is that it only has 110mm of travel, but it makes up for it in style points.The build is full-on no-nonsense, with an SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission, a Quarq XX SL power meter crankset, Trickstuff Piccola 2-piston brakes, and Roval Control World Cup wheels with carbon spokes and premium DT internals.Tire spec is Specialized Air Trak 292.35 front and rear, cockpit duties go to the Roval Control SL integrated cockpit, and the build finishes with an S-Works Power with Mirror saddle and Bike Yoke Divine SL dropper. Claimed weight is 8.66kg / 19 lb 1.5 oz in size medium.S-Works Epic 9The regular S-Works build is still very much top-shelf, but it leans more into a fully featured modern race setup. It uses the same S-Works FACT 12m frame, but with RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant up front and a matching SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant shock out back.The drivetrain is SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission with a Quarq XX SL power meter crank, braking comes from SRAM Motive Ultimate 4-piston brakes, and the bike rolls on Roval Control World Cup wheels.Tire spec swaps to a Fast Trak front and Air Trak rear, both in 292.35. The cockpit is the Roval Control SL integrated setup, the saddle is a Specialized S-Works Power EVO Mirror, and the dropper is a RockShox Reverb AXS. Claimed weight is 9.66kg / 21 lb 4.7 oz in size medium. This is what youll see, Blevins, and the Specialized Factory Team racing this season.S-Works Epic 9 FramesetIf you already know exactly how you want to build it, the frameset provides a premium starting point. It includes the S-Works FACT 12m carbon frame, RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant fork, RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate Flight Attendant shock, and the usual hardware, including the SWAT Box 2.0. Claimed weight is 3.49kg / 7 lb 11.1 oz with the fork included, in size medium. Specialized is offering it in multiple premium finishes, including Gloss Agave Grey / Violet Pearl / Desert Metallic; Gloss Amethyst Frost Multi-Color Dry Impasto / Black; Gloss Bordeaux Metallic / Blue Pearl Edge Fade / Metallic White Silver; and Satin Carbon / Metallic White Silver.Epic 9 ProThe Pro seems to be the sweet spot for many serious racers. It uses the FACT 11m carbon frame, but still gets RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant suspension front and rear.Drivetrain drops slightly to SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission, though Specialized keeps the premium touch with a Quarq X0 power meter crankset. Brakes are SRAM Motive Silver 4-piston, wheels are Roval Control SL VI hookless carbon rims on DT Swiss 350 hubs.Tire spec is Fast Trak front / Air Trak rear in 292.35. The cockpit uses a Roval Alloy XC stem and Roval Control SL flat bar, while comfort and control come from a Specialized Power Expert saddle and Bike Yoke Divine SL dropper. Claimed weight is 10.39kg / 22 lb 14.5 oz in size medium. This one reads like the smart racers buy.Epic 9 ExpertThe Expert is the entry point into the Epic 9 family, but it still looks very much like a real race bike, not a maybe someday version. It uses the FACT 11m carbon frame, a RockShox SID Select+ fork, and a RockShox SID Luxe Select+ shock, all with Ride Dynamics tuning. The drivetrain is an SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, braking comes from SRAM Motive Bronze 4-piston calipers, and the wheels are Roval Control SL V hookless carbon rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs. Like the Pro, it runs a Fast Trak front and Air Trak rear, both 292.35. Cockpit parts include a Roval Alloy XC stem and Specialized Alloy Minirise bar, while the bike finishes with a Body Geometry Power Sport saddle and X-Fusion Manic dropper. Claimed weight is 10.95kg / 24 lb 2.2 oz in size medium. For the price, it looks like a pretty serious package.Specialized Epic 9 PricingS-Works Epic 9: $15,250S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD: $14,500S-Works Epic 9 Frameset: $7,000Epic 9 Pro: $12,000Epic 9 Expert: $7,500How does it ride? Look for our ride review! Check out the full details at Specialized.com.The post Specializeds New Epic 9 Might Be The Only Epic You Need appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Specialized Epic 9 has a lot to live up to. Its predecessor, the Epic 8, delivered 12 XCO and XCC wins across elite UCI World Cup and World Championship racing, putting it among the most successful bikes on the circuit. It was not the outright leader, though. Canyons rival platform, the Lux, claimed more victories over the same period. Even so, the Epics consistency across both formats kept it firmly at the sharp end of modern cross-country racing. It also impressed beyond the results sheet. The Specialized Epic 8 tested strongly with the BikeRadar team and proved popular with riders, thanks to its balance of efficiency and control on increasingly technical courses. So where do you go from there? Specialized says the answer lies in cutting weight, reducing friction and refining the kinematics, while preserving the traits that made the Epic 8 so effective in the first place. Lightest frame yet Specialized has shaved weight from the Epic's frame. The front triangle alone is claimed to be 110g lighter than the previous iteration. Specialized The headline figure is a claimed 1,589g frame weight for a size medium (Carbon/White colour, with shock, seat collar, axle and all hardware, including water bottle bolts). Specialized says that makes it the lightest full-suspension XC race frame available. Specialized claims thats a 129g saving over its nearest competitor. For the weight-conscious, that's a big draw. This reduction was achieved through full-frame FEA (Finite Element Analysis) optimisation, along with what it describes as hundreds of small refinements across the chassis. Or, as Specialized puts it, No lazy grams allowed. Compared to the outgoing Specialized Epic 8, weight has been trimmed in every major area. The front triangle sees the biggest drop, with a claimed 110g saving. Theres no internal frame storage now, which no doubt contributes. Smaller savings come from the rear triangle. The seat tube uses size-specific layups, with tuned wall thickness and shaping to optimise weight, strength and stiffness. A new rocker also helps trim weight. Weight savings matter, but not at the expense of ride quality, durability or stiffness. Specialized is keen to stress this is a no compromise weight reduction, claiming to have improved not only frame weight, but also efficiency and capability. That's something we would need to verify on the trail. As a reference point, a complete S Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD build is claimed to weigh only 8.5kg. That puts it firmly at the sharp end of the XC category. Lower-friction suspension aims to boost speed Specialized has repositioned the shock on the Epic 9, making it look more like the shorter-travel Epic World Cup. Specialized The more interesting changes have been made to the suspension. Travel remains at 120mm front and rear, matching the more technical direction modern XC racing has taken. What has changed is how that travel is delivered. Specialized claims an 11 per cent reduction in suspension friction, thanks to updates across the frame, pivots and linkage. Less friction should mean better sensitivity and improved traction. A new top-tube mounted link now drives the shock, replacing the previous rocker and yoke layout and aligning it with designs seen on bikes such as the Canyon Lux and Giant Anthem. The design looks to be borrowed from Specialized's own hardtail-killing Epic World Cup bike, with the mini rocker link likely increasing torsional stiffness in the rear end, while saving weight. It might be light and efficient, but the Epic 9 should still be a blast to ride. Specialized With this new linkage layout, Specialized has also reduced the leverage rate around the sag point to increase pedalling support, making the suspension firmer in the initial portion of its travel. Beyond that point, the curve is said to mirror the Epic 8, maintaining its balance of absorption through what Specialized calls the 'bump phase', along with its bottom-out resistance. In simple terms, it's intended to feel firmer under power, but active when the terrain demands it. Three-position shock damping The frame might be lighter and look a little less burly, but the Epic 9 still has 120mm of travel on tap. Specialized The rear shock retains Specializeds three-position damping system: Wide Open, Magic Middle and Sprint-On-Lock. Wide Open is exactly what it sounds like. It leaves the shock fully active, maximising traction and control on rough descents, and technical sections where grip and composure matter more than outright efficiency. Sprint-On-Lock sits at the other end of the spectrum. It firms up the shock heavily to limit movement, making it best suited to smooth climbs, sprints and transitions where you want as much of your effort going straight into forward motion as possible. Magic Middle sits between the two, and remains the default setting for most riding. It uses a firmer low-speed compression tune to resist suspension movement from pedalling inputs, helping keep the bike stable and efficient under power. Push past that initial resistance, though, and the damping becomes more forgiving. Once bump forces exceed typical pedalling loads, the shock opens up and enables more travel to be used, helping the rear wheel track the ground rather than skip across it. In effect, it creates a threshold between pedalling forces and trail impacts. Below that threshold, the bike feels firm and efficient. Above it, the suspension becomes active and compliant. It will be interesting to see how the same shock tune interacts with the new kinematics, which already improve pedalling performance. Will the combination make the initial travel feel too firm before falling away into a softer mid stroke? Geometry refinements There are no major geometry changes for the Epic 9 compared to the older Epic 8. Specialized The Epic 9s geometry changes are minimal, which is no surprise. The Specialized Epic 8 pushed XC geometry forward, with a slacker head angle, longer reach and more capable stance. Rather than rewriting that, Specialized has kept the same overall layout and made smaller adjustments based on rider feedback and fit data. However, the Epic 9 does not include an XS size in its geometry chart, with sizes running from S to XL. The head angle sits at 65.9 degrees in the low setting, with a flip chip offering a slightly steeper 66.3-degree option. Reach numbers remain similar, with the S and M bikes at 420mm and 450mm in the low setting. The L and XL gain an extra 5mm, extending to 480mm and 505mm respectively. To balance this, stack heights increase across the range, with the M, L and XL measuring 604mm, 618mm and 645mm. The S frame drops slightly to 594mm, compensating for the lack of an XS option. The chainstay length now scales by size, with S and M frames at 435mm, the L at 438mm and the XL at 442mm. The bottom bracket has also been raised by 4mm in the low setting to improve clearance on technical terrain. They're subtle changes, but ones Specialized says should deliver technical terrain capability alongside fast and efficient climbing and acceleration performance. Efficiency remains the core focus Efficiency is the aim of the game with the new Epic 9. Specialized Specialized is positioning the Epic 9 as its most efficient XC bike to date not just in terms of weight or stiffness, but as a complete system. That includes kinematics, damping, chassis behaviour and rider position. The aim is to keep power going into forward motion, rather than being lost through suspension movement, poor traction or rider fatigue. That aligns with what we are seeing across the category. Courses are rougher, speeds are higher and riders need bikes that can carry momentum, not just accelerate on smooth ground. Specialized Epic 9 models and pricing Specialized did not include any pricing in its press packs for the new Epic 9 bikes. Specialized Epic 9 S-Works Ultralight LTD Specialized Epic 9 S-Works Ultralight LTD. Specialized Frame: S-Works FACT 12m carbon, 120mm, SWAT Box 2.0 storage Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 110mm travel Wheels/tyres: Roval Control World Cup, carbon rims (28.5mm internal), DT Swiss ceramic bearings, carbon spokes with titanium end pieces, Specialized Air Trak, Flex Lite casing, T5/T7 compound, 29x2.35in (front and rear) Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission, Quarq XX SL Eagle power meter Brakes: Trickstuff Piccola 2-piston, 160mm rotors Seatpost/saddle: Bike Yoke Divine SL dropper/S-Works Power with Mirror saddle Handlebar/stem: Roval Control SL integrated cockpit, 760mm, 60mm/70mm stem Weight: 8.66kg (claimed, medium frame) Specialized S-Works Epic 9 Specialized S-Works Epic 9. Specialized Frame: S-Works FACT 12m carbon, 120mm, SWAT Box 2.0 storage Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, 120mm travel Wheels/tyres: Roval Control World Cup, carbon rims (28.5mm internal), DT Swiss ceramic bearings, carbon spokes with titanium end pieces, Specialized Fast Trak (front) / Air Trak (rear), Flex Lite casing, T5/T7 compound, 29x2.35in Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission, Quarq XX SL Eagle power meter Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate, 180/160mm rotors Seatpost/saddle: RockShox Reverb AXS/S-Works Power EVO Mirror saddle Handlebar/stem: Roval Control SL integrated cockpit, 760mm, 60mm/70mm stem Weight: 8.66kg (claimed, medium frame) Specialized Epic 9 Pro Specialized Epic 9 Pro. Specialized Frame: FACT 11m carbon, 120mm travel, SWAT Box 2.0 storage Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, 120mm travel Wheelset: Roval Control SL VI, carbon rims (29mm internal), DT Swiss 350 hubs, DT Revolution straight pull spokes, Specialized Fast Trak (front) / Air Trak (rear), Flex Lite casing, T5/T7 compound, 29x2.35in Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission,Quarq X0 Eagle power meter Brakes: SRAM Motive Silver, 180/160mm rotors Seatpost/saddle: Bike Yoke Divine SL dropper/Specialized Power Expert saddle Handlebar/stem: Roval Control SL carbon handlebar, 760mm/Roval alloy stem, 60/70mm Weight: 10.39kg (claimed, medium frame) Specialized Epic 9 Expert Specialized Epic 9 Expert. Specialized Frame: FACT 11m carbon, 120mm travel, SWAT Box 2.0 storage Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ Fork: RockShox SID Select+, 120mm travel Wheels/tyres: Roval Control SL V, carbon rims (29mm internal), DT Swiss 370 hubs, Sapim D-Light straight-pull spokes, Specialized Fast Trak (front) / Air Trak (rear), Flex Lite casing, T5/T7 compound, 29x2.35in Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission Brakes: SRAM Motive Bronze, 180/160mm rotors Seatpost/saddle: X-Fusion Manic dropper/Body Geometry Power Sport saddle Cockpit: Specialized alloy handlebar, 750mm/ Roval alloy stem, 60/70mm Weight: 10.95kg (claimed, medium frame) Specialized Epic 9 frameset Specialized Epic 9 frameset. Specialized Frame: S-Works FACT 12m carbon, 120mm travel, SWAT Box 2.0 storage Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, 120mm travel

The 2026 edition of the Eschborn-Frankfurt classic will take place on the 1st of May. This one-day race is perhaps Germany's most popular cycling event of the year and, inbetween the season of the spring classic and the Grand Tours, provides a last-ditch attempt for the classics specialists and spri...

Viair has been making a variety of air compressors since the late 1990s. While the majority of the brands products are geared toward vehicle and workshop use, Viair has been catering to the cycling market for several years now. In fact, we wrote about one of their portablecompressors back in 2022, well before the recent electric mini-inflator craze took off. Of course, Viair has a portable electric mini-inflator now as well, two actually.The Recon Mini debuted in early 2025 and was followed up later that year by the lighter-weight Recon Mini SL with an aluminum Presta head that saves 30 grams. Ive used quite a few different portable e-pumps, but Ive never had the chance to use either of Viairs. So, when I saw the Viair booth at Sea Otter, I wandered over to see what they had going on.Viair Clik HeadsViair is now making a Clik head for the Recon Mini and Mini SL inflators. It can be purchased with the pump or on its own.There are lots of alt-valves on the market these days, but the Clik valve has proven to be one of the most popular. In the past year, a few brands, including Lezyne and Wolf Tooth, have begun offering their pumps with Clik-compatible heads. Now, you can add Viair to that list, as they now sell the Viair Recon Mini and Recon Mini SL with Clik heads.The Recon Mini Clik sells for $137 while the Recon Mini SL Clik goes for $148. If you already own a Viair Recon Mini pump with the standard Presta head, they also sell the Clik head separately for $20. The brass Clik head threads on in place of the existing Presta head, and it weighs a claimed 15 grams. Viair also sells the Clik head with a set of Clik valves for $30 and sets of Clik valves on their own for $13.Viair On-Bike Inflator Carrying CaseThe red Viair tent made for some funky lighting, but the Recon Mini carrying case looks pretty neat.While the number of electric mini-inflators has grown exponentially in the past year and a half, we havent really seen many solutions for carrying them on the bike. Sure, they fit easily enough in a jersey pocket, hydration vest, some saddle bags, frame bags, and various other places. But the rectangular shape may not fit into some bikes downtube storage compartments, saddle bags, or it can feel uncomfortable in a pocket against the body.There are probably many people out there who have already sorted out their mini-inflator carrying system. Its safe to assume people have been 3D-printing brackets or figuring out other ways to strap them to their bicycles. Still, these electric gadgets arent waterproof, so I was pumped (ha) to see that Viair was showing a weatherproof Recon Mini carrying case at Sea Otter.The Recon Mini case strapped to a mountain bike frame.This plastic carrying case is made specifically to fit Viairs Recon Mini pumps the Mini and Mini SL share the same dimensions. It attaches to a frame tube or your saddle rails with a wide, stretchy rubber strap. I was told that it is sealed when closed and has passed submersion tests, so it should be able to stand up easily to rain, road spray, puddle splashes, and mud, too.The Viair team had several of these cases floating around the booth at Sea Otter, and they appear to be production-ready. They looked so finished that I actually assumed they were in production, so I neglected to ask the important questions like weight, price, and projected availability. I reached out to Viair to fill in the blanks, so hopefully I can update this article with details on the Recon Mini carrying case very soon.The case will fit the Recon Mini and the Mini SL, which are the same size.In the meantime, you can check out the rest of Viairs compressors, inflators, and accessories for bikes, vehicles, RVs, and more on the brands website.viaircorp.com The post Spotted: Viair Has Clik Heads and Upcoming On-Bike Carry Solution for Recon Mini Inflators appeared first on Bikerumor.

The 2026 Tour de France will pass over the Ballon dAlsace in less than two months, and stage preparations have sparked a sharp environmental dispute. The removal of more than a thousand trees in the area prompted an immediate response from environmental groups, who denounce an excessive interventio...

The Tour de Romandie got underway in explosive fashion on Tuesday, with Dorian Godon powering to victory in the opening prologue at Villars-sur-Glne. The French rider delivered a commanding performance over the short individual test, finishing ahead of Ivo Oliveira and Jakob Soderqvist. One of the...

Race Official Ciarn McKenna presents John Buller (Banbridge CC Specsavers) with the Festina Daily County Rider Award during Rs Tailteann 2025. (Photographer: Lorraine OSullivan).With more than a century of experience, Festina has become an internationally recognised brand known for combining elegance and functionality with a strong sporting identity. Their collections reflect precision and performance, aligning closely with the demands and values of elite cycling.Thanking Festina for their continued support of Rs Tailteann, Race Director Ger Campbell said: We are very grateful and proud to have a major international brand like Festina continuing its involvement with the race. Being the first Irish county rider across the line on any stage of Rs Tailteann is a very special achievement and having a Festina watch to mark that occasion makes it even more memorable for the riders.Representatives from Festina added: We are delighted to continue our partnership with Rs Tailteann in 2026 and to once again support the Daily County Rider Award. It is a pleasure for Festina to be associated with such a respected event and we would like to wish all riders a safe and successful week of racing.

We all love riding bikes. So by nature, we should all love things that allow us to ride our bikes longer either once the sun goes down (or before it comes up) and longer into the season. Whether being more visible, more comfortable, or just seeing the trail, there were some exciting electronics on display at Sea Otter that will do just that. Outbound LightingIts not often that a light will get me super excited, but the Outbound eEVO is not your ordinary ebike light. If youre riding an ebike, then youre toting around a big battery by default. So why are your lights not running off that big battery? Along those lines, why arent high output headlights for mountain biking that work off those batteries more prevalent?Thats where the forthcoming Outbound eEVO headlight comes in. Coming this fall, the headlight is designed to plug into Bosch or Shimano ebike systems out of the box, with others in the works. Depending on the motor system, the eEVO will provide up to 2,000-3,000 lumens and adds about 85g to your bike. To be available in a dual or single-sided mount, Outbound says theyre also working with Wolf Tooth Components to come up with a premium aluminum mount option. Look for more on this one later this season. Blade Rear LightFirst shown as a concept light in 2024, the Outbound Blade is now available for $125. Built with three separate optics, the light has a wide horizontal rear red light, a down-firing red light, and amber side lights, all to make the rider more noticeable. The rear beam is specifically designed so that cars can see it far back, but it wont blind riders following close behind. The downfiring light is meant to illuminate your legs to use bio-motion to make you more visible to cars, and turns off on the daytime settings since you wouldnt be able to see it during the day anyway. The light includes a massive battery, which is a user-replaceable 18650 cell to provide an 8+ hour run time on high with 250 combined lumens! Drop it down to daytime strobe (300 lumen peak) and you get 32+ hours of runtime, or a massive 120 hours on Eco Flash at 125 lumens. Charging via USB-C will take about four hours on a 5V/1A charger, and the built-in status lights and battery indicator will let you know how much juice is left. The light will include a new seatpost mount (not shown) that uses the GoPro-style mounting tabs, so you can attach it to other mounts if needed. The Outbound mount itself uses a quarter-turn system to lock the light in place or quickly remove it. Outbound is also working with Sheehy Labs to offer additional mounts. outboundlighting.comHotBars Heated HandlebarsWhile were on the subject of Outbound lights, we got to check out the new Hotbars heated handlebars in person which are designed so you can also run your Outbound headlight (or any other headlight) with the battery installed on the bar. If you missed the launch story, HotBars claim to be the worlds first heated mountain bike handlebar system. Yes, heated grips have existed for decades. But Hotbars make it so you can run any grips you want, and still get that sweet heat relief in the colder months. To prove it, HotBars founder Clayton Wangbichler had the coolest booth at Sea Otter literally. With a custom built freezer display case, you could stick your hands inside the freezer to see what the HotBars felt like in the cold. They heat up surprisingly quickly (at least they did at Sea Otter where it was 60F), and offer a premium carbon handlebar that you can ride year round after you take off the battery pack and install the plugs for the wiring ports. Overall, the system was extremely impressive in its engineering and how well throughout the user experience is. You cant cut down the bars due to the electronics inside, but they come in 8 different sizes to make sure you can find the right fit. hotbars.comSmith Forefront 3 Light/Accesory MountIf youre looking to put a light on your helmet, youll need a mount like the new light and accessory mount for the Smith Forefront 3. Available soon for $25, the adapter snaps onto the Forefront 3 roll cage and includes a GoPro-style mount and a bar mount adapter. Lezyne Road Drive 500Finally, from Lezyne comes a sleek new light to stash under your cycling computer. The new Road Drive 500 packs, you guessed it, 500 lumens into a very thin, credit card-sized case. The light includes a low-profile quarter-turn mount so it can be attached to a Lezyne dual-sided computer mount for the lowest profile, or it also comes with a GoPro-style mount for other options. The user-replaceable 1100 mAh battery can provide up to 50h of run time, with 500 lumens only reached on Day Flash mode which will run that full 50h. Otherwise, youre looking at 400 lumens on Blast for 1:30, 150 lumens on Enduro for 4:30, dropping off to Economy, Pulse, and Femto modes. The light is also Infinite Power Pack Compatible, so you can plug it into an external battery source for much longer run times. The optics are engineered to see and be seen which means they project downards even when the light is angled upward to provide enough light to see in front of your tire while also being visible to oncoming traffic. The light is priced at $59.99 and will be available this May. lezyne.comThe post Light & Electronic Roundup: Outbounds eMTB Hardwired Light, Heated Handlebars, & More appeared first on Bikerumor.

West Frisia in action earlier in the 2026 season. (Photographer: Team West Frisia).The Dutch development team is no stranger to Irish racing, having competed in Rs Mumhan on a number of occasions and they arrive in Ireland with a strong block of racing behind them. In preparation for this years event, West Frisia has raced in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands with their final outings including two Dutch classics, one of which takes place in the hills of Limburg, the region that hosts the Amstel Gold Race.West Frisia has built a strong reputation as a development pathway with a number of riders progressing through the team to the professional ranks. Former riders include Bart Lemmen, now riding with Team Visma | Lease a Bike as well as Alexander Konijn, Stijn Appel, Adne van Engelen and Jesper Rasch, all of whom are currently competing at a high level internationally.The team comes into Rs Tailteann in good form following a strong performance at Rs Mumhan earlier this season. Niek Hoornsman took victory on stage two, claimed the mountains classification and finished third overall. He will be joined by Tijs Dekker, who brings previous experience of Rs Tailteann, having competed in the 2022 edition.Team Manager Tino Haakman said: After participating in 2022, we are very much looking forward to returning to Rs Tailteann. We have always enjoyed racing in Ireland and have taken part in Rs Mumhan on a number of occasions. Our preparation this year has included racing in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands and we feel well prepared for the race ahead.Race Director Ger Campbell added: We are very pleased to welcome West Frisia back to Rs Tailteann. They are a team with a strong development ethos and they have already shown this year, particularly at Rs Mumhan, that they are capable of delivering results. With riders in form and good preparation behind them, they should be very competitive across the week.

Remco Evenepoels third place at LigeBastogneLige 2026 has not silenced critical analysis after one of the Ardennes marquee races. The Belgian, clearly outpaced by Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas, left mixed impressions despite stepping onto the podium. Among the most prominent voices is Greg V...