Most bikepacking bags are made from synthetic, petroleum-based fibers, but Decathlon challenged the status quo by creating a one-of-a-kind linen bike bag. The project led to a three-year exploration of the European flax supply chain, and they shot an interesting documentary that walks us through the entire process, from field to assembly. Learn about the new Decathlon Linen Half Frame Bag and watch the 20-minute video here...The post Decathlon Linen Half-Frame Bag: The Bag That Grows in the Fields (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The 2026 edition of Paris-Roubaix delivered one of the most chaotic and unpredictable races in recent memory, with repeated mechanical issues affecting every major contender. From Tadej Pogacars triple puncture to repeated problems for Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, the race was shaped as...

A motorist who carried out a spontaneous and dreadful road rage attack on a 64-year-old cyclist has had his jail term replaced with a fully suspended sentence and his driving ban lifted on appeal.Judge Simon McAleese ordered 30-year-old Glen Corcoran to pay 15,000 to the family of the victim, who the court heard has since passed away due to an unrelated illness. The judge had earlier noted that jails are bursting at the seams, with some prisoners sleeping on the floor and others being released early.Corcoran, with an address on Keeper Road, Drimnagh, was convicted in the District Court of assault contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.He was given a custodial sentence of ten months with one month suspended, a five-year driving ban and was ordered to pay 10,000 in compensation to the injured party. He was also ordered to complete a course of education and psychological counselling and not to have any contact with the injured party. Corcoran later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.Sergeant Caolan Devane told the District Court Appeals Court that on December 1st, 2022, he responded to an incident on Drimnagh Road in Dublins south inner city. He said that the injured party, who was a pedal cyclist, was assaulted by the driver of a vehicle as a result of a verbal dispute.Sgt Devane said that the injured party received medical treatment at the scene. He said that the next day, he located and seized the car involved and downloaded CCTV footage of the incident. The sergeant said that the injured party was 64 years old at the time, while Corcoran was 26. He said that the injured party had sustained a gash to his forehead.The grandson of the victim told the court that the incident impacted his family a lot and that they lived in a state of anxiety for his grandfather. He said that his grandfather later got cancer, but prior to that, he had been put in fear.His grandson said that the victim had been active and fit and loved spending time with his grandchildren. However, he said that after the incident, his grandfather didnt like to do outdoors activites as much due to his anxiety.Defence counsel for Corcoran, Lydia Daly BL, said that her client pleaded guilty in the District Court and had no previous convictions for assault. Ms Daly said that the incident was a verbal dispute which got heated and was out of character for her client. She said that her client has completed an anger management course and is very apologetic for his actions.Judge McAleese said that he was appalled by what he had seen in the footage. He said that Corcoran clearly deserves to go to jail but questioned if any good would come of that. The judge said that he could order a custodial sentence at the drop of a hat, but it was more difficult to come up with a variation which results in the defendant receiving a very substantial and expensive lesson.The judge noted that jails are bursting at the seams, with some prisoners sleeping on the floor and others being released early.Judge McAleese said that this was an incident of spontaneous and dreadful road rage as described by the sergeant. Youre half his age, he told Corcoran in reference to the victim, adding that the viciousness of the attack was chilling to behold.However, Judge McAleese decided to suspend the ten-month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that Corcoran keeps the peace and pays 15,000 in compensation to the deceased mans family. He also decided to lift Corcorans driving ban and told him to make sure it never happened again.Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.

The latest episode in artist Mike Dutton's "Pedal & Paint" series captures a relaxed ride along the coast to create a couple of peaceful landscape paintings. Watch the easygoing 20-minute video here...The post Pedal & Paint: Morro y Oro (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Zwift just announced it has completed the acquisition of ROUVY, the indoor training platform best known for its real-world video routes and event-based riding experience. The interesting part is that this isnt being pitched as a giant-blender move where everything gets dumped into one app. Zwift says both companies will continue to operate independently, with separate roadmaps and separate subscription packages.Zwift & ROUVY Are DifferentAlthough there is a lot of overlap between the two platforms, Zwift and ROUVY have never really been trying to do the exact same thing. Zwift built its name on game-style worlds, group rides, racing, structured training, and social indoor riding. ROUVY went the other direction, leaning into real roads, real gradients, and a more direct connection between indoor training and outdoor riding. Now both sit under the same roof.It Makes Sense From Zwifts side, the message is pretty clear: the indoor category is growing again, and the company sees a bigger opportunity in serving more than one type of rider.Zwift says the market has been expanding at its fastest rate since the COVID-era boom. More people are getting into cycling through indoor training and smart equipment. Another piece that continues to rise is easier-entry hardware, especially the Zwift Ready trainer category.Zwift is not buying ROUVY because it suddenly fell out of love with Watopia. Its buying ROUVY because indoor cycling is no longer just one lane. Some riders want virtual roads, avatars, racing leagues, and social rides. Others want real climbs, real courses, and the kind of route specificity that helps connect the trainer more literally to the outside world.Hardware Compatibility The most immediate practical change is hardware compatibility.Zwift says Zwift Ready smart trainers and Zwift Ride smart frames will now work with ROUVY. It gives riders something real on day one, rather than just asking them to trust a long-term vision statement. If you already own Zwift hardware, this opens the door to a different type of indoor experience without forcing a second equipment decision.ROUVY stays ROUVYTo its credit, the announcement places a strong emphasis on continuity.ROUVY says it will remain the same platform its users already know. The same team and the same focus on helping riders train through real routes and real-world terrain. That should ease the obvious concern that the app is about to lose its identity and become a side menu inside a larger Zwift universe.ROUVYs whole value comes from the fact that it isnt Zwift. It serves a different rider mindset and scratches a different itch. ROUVY makes indoor riding feel closer to the outdoor goals many people are actually training for. What ROUVY brings with itROUVY is not some tiny side-platform with a handful of scenic routes and a niche fan base. The company has built a sizable catalog of real-road and event partnerships. They have a clear identity centered on realistic training and route-based indoor riding. That gives Zwift something it did not fully own before: a stronger foothold in the part of indoor cycling that is less about virtual competition and more about preparation, exploration, and recognizable real-world riding.Because indoor training is not only about entertainment anymore. For many riders, it is where they start the sport, where they stay consistent through bad weather, and where they prepare for the rides and races that matter most to them. ROUVY has done a good job speaking to that rider. Zwift clearly noticed.The Bigger PictureNo deal terms were disclosed, which is standard enough. But the broader message is easy to read.Indoor cycling is not shrinking into one dominant format. If anything, it is getting more varied. Lots of different riders are coming in. More equipment is becoming accessible. The biggest companies are responding by expanding the number of experiences they can offer, not narrowing them.Theres no news yet on what a Zwift subscription will look like now that ROUVY is included, but we expect more news soon. Zwift.com / ROUVY.comThe post Zwift Buys ROUVY Bringing Virtual Worlds and Real-Route Riding Under One Roof appeared first on Bikerumor.

Zwift has today revealed it has bought Rouvy in what is a massive shake-up of the indoor cycling market. The acquisition is with the intention of accelerating growth in the indoor cycling market through cooperation between the two companies, but they will maintain their independent operations. Zwift co-founder and CEO, Eric Min, said: This is a major moment for both Zwift and Rouvy. We have a huge amount of respect for what ROUVY has achieved, developing a fantastic product and growing their global community by demonstrating there is a strong market for real video experiences. ROUVYs differentiated experience is proof we can be stronger together, and Im excited to see how this deal will accelerate our mission to make more people, more active, more often. Read more: Rouvy vs Zwift: how do two of the best indoor training apps compare? Zwift Ready smart trainers and the Zwift Ride smart bike will now work with Rouvy, with further updates to be revealed over the coming months. Zwift was founded in 2014 by a group of entrepreneurs and game developers. It describes itself as the fitness company born from gaming, with the platform adopting a gamified approach to indoor cycling. The company has seen steady year-over-year growth, with the Covid-19 pandemic causing a massive surge in popularity as people bought smart trainers and turned to cycling indoors. Zwift raised $450 million in 2020 and had a valuation of more than $1 billion. Although it does not publish active user stats, Eric Min told Forbes in 2021 that 3 million accounts had been created on the platform. Min said Zwift had at one point hit 45,000 simultaneous users, but hundreds of thousands of customers are using Zwift on a daily basis. Alongside its software, Zwift also produces hardware for indoor cycling. Zwift Unlike other indoor cycling apps, Zwift has also developed a suite of hardware to support its riders, including the Zwift Ride smart bike. Rouvy was founded after Zwift in 2017 by the brothers Petr and Jiri Samek in the Czech Republic as an augmented reality app for indoor training. As opposed to the gamified experiences of Zwift and MyWhoosh, Rouvy blends real-world video routes with virtual racing and training. The platform received $6 million of investment in 2021. At the time, the investors and developers said they intended to "redraw the popularity rankings of cycling applications, currently dominated by Zwift. In March 2026, Rouvys UK marketing agency told BikeRadar that the platform had more than 300,000 subscribers and had seen more than 50% year-on-year growth. Rouvy combines real-world footage with virtual racing and training. Rouvy This followed Rouvy making two big acquisitions in 2025. In January, Rouvy bought its competitor FulGaz from The Ironman Group, with FulGazs routes accessible through Rouvy. As part of the deal, Rouvy became the official digital sports platform of the global Ironman and Ironman 70.3 series as part of a multi-year partnership. Rouvy then bought Bkool in July, with Petr Samek describing the deal as a significant moment for cycling fans everywhere. The deal was intended to strengthen Rouvys presence in France, Denmark and Spain. At the time, Petr Samek said: Bringing together Rouvy, FulGaz, and now Bkool unites a wealth of expertise and unique features under one roof, clearly positioning Rouvy as the leader in the indoor cycling reality market. Commenting on Zwifts acquisition of Rouvy, Samek said: This is a strong validation of what weve built with our team and community, connecting indoor and outdoor training through real routes. Now, supported by Zwift and the Zwift hardware ecosystem, we have an opportunity to create even more experiences in the world of indoor cycling reality! Further details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

The Slovenian also takes the lead in the week-long Swiss stage race

Lenny Martinez came within touching distance of a rare milestone at the Tour de Romandie, matching Tadej Pogacar on the decisive climb before narrowly missing out on the chance to become the first rider to defeat both him and Jonas Vingegaard in 2026. Having already beaten Vingegaard in a two-up spr...

There is some more big news regarding e*thirteens new mountain bike tires. And, no, they arent 32.This announcement concerns the other hot topic in mountain bike tire development: radial rubber. The new radial casing comes on the Grappler tire platform, but e*thirteen didnt stop there. Today, e*thirteen announces the expansion of the Grappler tire to include not only radial options but also new rubber compounds, treads, casings, and rear-specific tires.The New e*thirteen GrapplerThe Grappler has been around for a few years now. First introduced in 2022, e*thirteen designed the tire with one thing in mind: gravity. The tread was aggressive, with tall shoulder knobs and a 3-2-3 tread pattern for the center lugs.Clearly, the Grappler was aimed at enduro and DH riders.And those were exactly the casing options. e*thirteen offered the Grappler in an Enduro or DH casing, with the choice of their MoPo or Endurance rubber.Size was the only option left, with the choice of 29 or 27.5, with both diameters coming in a 2.5 width.Building off of that design (literally, it looks like they carried over the same tread pattern), e*thirteen significantly expands the Grappler tire platform. What was one Grappler is now three.Before jumping into the new tires, lets look at the new features seen across (most) the Grappler platform.Casing and CompoundsIts why you clicked. You saw radial casing and needed to see the new offering. Yes, one of the new casings on the e*thirteen Grappler tire is radial. In fact, e*thirteen provides a whole new naming structure for tire casings, moving away from casing names matching intended riding use.CasingsFlux GR Radial. This is, well, the radial casing, and the most aggressive tire in terms of traction and support. e*thirteen uses super-stiff Dual Apex Sidewall Inserts in the Flux GR Radial casing. Not only does the casing feature extra bead support to prevent pinch flats, but an overall beefy construction also creates firm sidewalls.Extra material increases lateral stability. The big takeaway here is that e*thirteen says you can run normal tire pressures. For comparison, when I use Schwalbe radial tires, I typically run 4-6 PSI higher than with non-radial tires. While e*thirteen recommends a slight increase for significantly rocky trails, they claim tire pressure should remain relatively normal.e*thirteen also claims a significant increase in traction. Compared to non-radials, the new Flux GR Radial casing tires have a (claimed) 30% larger contact patch. e*thirteen also claims increased comfort, as the radial casing acts as extra suspension for the bike.Radial casing on the rightStepping down from radial is the Flux GR casing. While this casing isnt radial and doesnt see the same Dual Apex Sidewall Inserts, it does feature e*thirteens GR Apex inserts. Like the Dual Apex inserts, the GR Apex inserts beef up the sidewalls, increasing lateral stability and overall durability.Both the Flux GR Radial and Flux GR casings also feature two-ply, 72 TPI construction and Armor Weave sidewall protection.Stepping down from there, e*thirteen offers a third casing: Flux AM. Tires with Flux AM casing feature two-ply construction with 90 TPI. While this casing doesnt have either Apex inserts, it does have the Armor Weave sidewall protection.For the Flux AM, e*thirteen wanted lighter weight and faster rolling.CompoundsAlong with the three casing options, e*thirteen offers two rubber compound options for the new Grappler tires.First is their motion potion; the MoPo rubber, e*thirteens softest and grippiest option. MoPo is constructed with ultra-soft 42a rubber, which is now featured throughout the entire tread. e*thirteen claims this reduces tread rebound and enhances vibration damping.The other compound option (no more Endurance) will be e*thirteens Momentum rubber. Momentum is a dual-compound design, with a firmer 50a rubber in the center and the soft 42a rubber at the shoulders. e*thirteen says Momentum provides great longevity without sacrificing performance, and is an ideal choice for rear tires and eMTBs.The Expanded Grappler LineupSo now e*thirteens Grappler is actually a family of three tires. Well, three tread patterns. Well, sort of twoIn the press material, they referred to the range as simplified, which I think is quite a stretch. Just in case I miss anything, I will include a chart that helps line up all the new options. Now, here goes my attempt to explain the new tire offerings.3 New TiresFirst, there is the tire that will remain the Grappler. This is the aforementioned tire that appears to use the same (or very similar) 3-2-3 tread pattern as its predecessor. It is e*thirteens gravity cornerstone (for tires, at least) and offers the most options in the lineup.The Grapplers intended use stretches from trail and all-mountain to DH and eMTB. The use will depend on the casing chosen, which the Grappler provides all three Flux casing options. You also have the choice of MoPo or Momentum rubber compounds, making the tire ideal for the front or the rear. e*thirteen says it does best in loose, wet, and/or technical terrain.Moving on from the Grappler is the Grappler RS. Im assuming here that RS means Rear Specific because e*thirteen says this is a rear-specific tire. What makes it a rear tire?e*thirteen created the Grappler RS with a rear-optimized 2-2-2 tread pattern, adding tall and steeply ramped center knobs. This not only improves braking traction but also increases rolling speed. Oh, and the Grappler RS only comes in a 27.5.With the Grappler RS, the only casing options are the Flux GR Radial and Flux GR. The rear tire is available in both rubber compounds and is intended for enduro, DH, and eMTBs.Lastly, we have the Grappler TR. As far as tread goes, it looks like the Grappler RS, but e*thirteen says it has a lower profile. But that means faster rolling and lightweight.The Grappler TR also sees the fewest choice options. While the tire was intended for front or rear and is available in 29 or 27.5, that is where the choices stop. No radial casing, just the Flux AM casing, and only the Momentum Compound rubber.Pricing and DetailsIn the press material, e*thirteen also used the term affordable. That, I can agree with. The range starts at $60 and tops out at $80.Not bad considering some tires are double that.If you didnt see them in the chart above, here are some weights and prices for the new lineup:GrapplerFlux GR Radial casing, 1,425g (27.5) / 1,510g (29), $79.95Flux GR casing, 1,445g (27.5) / 1,520g (29), $69.95Flux AM casing, 1,255g (27.5) / 1,305g (29), $59.95Grappler RSFlux GR Radial casing, 1,460g (27.5), $79.95Flux GR casing, 1,460g (27.5), $69.95Grappler TRFlux AM casing, 1,255g (27.5) / 1,310 (29), $59.95ethirteen.comThe post e*thirteen Expands the Grappler Tire Platform, Adding a Radial Casing appeared first on Bikerumor.

Crashes, illness, and withdrawals are an unavoidable part of any stage race, and the 2026 Tour de Romandie will be no exception. With narrow roads, technical descents, and relentless climbing throughout the week, incidents can quickly reshape both stage results and the overall general classification...