The scale of Wout van Aerts Paris-Roubaix victory was always going to stretch far beyond the velodrome in Roubaix. In the days that followed, the reaction spilled out across Belgium, from packed village squares to viral videos of celebrations that captured just how much the win resonated. It even r...

I cant remember when my first Sea Otter Classic experience was, but it was at least 12 years ago. Thats a long time, but it pales in comparison to many that have called the show their own bike industry family reunion for 30+ years. Thats part of what makes the tradeshow so special. Its not really a show so much as a gathering of like-minded people who want to ride bikes, race bikes, talk about bikes, and look at bikes. Ive already emptied out a bunch of photos of 32 gravel bikes, bicycle electronics, composite spokes, full suspension kids bikes, sneaky new hubs, and more, but of course, theres still plenty to seeWhy Was the Pond So Blue?As mentioned, Ive visited Laguna Seca many times for Sea Otter, and the water in the pond has never been a hot topic. For some reason, this year, the water was very blue. Like opaque chemical toilet water blue. Come to think of it, there are a lot of porta potties at Sea OtterLight Bicycles Pregnant RimLight Bicycle had a number of interesting things on display (including 32 MTB wheels), but this AG48 Aero Gravel rim certainly caught my attention. Jokingly referred to as the pregnant rim, the bulbous profile features a 35mm internal width which flares out to a massive 48mm wide at the widest point. Built with a hybrid hook, the rims are optimized for 55mm or 2.1 tires, and have a claimed weight of 460g. For something a bit more normal, the WG44 Wide Aero Gravel Wheel is still wide, but not that wide. With an internal width of 30mm and again with a hybrid hook, the rims are 44mm deep, 38mm wide externally at the rim, and 40mm at the widest point. Claimed to be 450g per rim, you can actually buy these ones now starting at $289 per rim. LIght Bicycle also had some very light one-piece cockpits on display that claim to start at just 250g. Available in road or gravel configurations, theres even an upgraded 3D printed titanium computer mount option. These start at $410, check out the Light Bicycle site for details. Bushnells BiNOCularsI feel like Ive seen these before Clearly taking some inspiration from NOCS, Bushnell is joining the brightly-colored-rubber-coated binocular game. The Bushnell A series includes the A1 binoculars, A3 monocular and binocluar, and the top of the range A5 binocular. Prices start at $129, and seem to be about $20+ more per model than a comparable NOCS though the 42mm A5 is substantially more than the new NOCS Field Issue 42 at $329 vs. $199. The Bushnell models do include color-matched cases and some premium touches though.Performance Enhancing SunscreenIts easy to get burned at Laguna Seca, so Im always on the hunt for sunscreen. I actually smelled the sunscreen from Pelotan before I saw it summery with pop of coconut, its fantastic. Better still, this isnt your typical sunscreen, its specially formulated for cyclists. What does that mean? It means its designed to not clog your pores for better temperature regulation. Unfortunately for us in the U.S., we dont get the version offered in Europe that provides 8 hour protection at SPF 30. Instead, the U.S. version (with different ingredients) has the highest FDA water and sweat resistance rating of 80 minutes.It was also interesting to hear about the companys take on sunscreen as a performance enhancer. Because of the effects of the sun on your skin during long days in the saddle, they are apparently working on an app that will put that in terms of watts lost or gained based on your sunscreen use. A fascinating take on something we all probably take for granted. Backpacks for Balance BikesIf youre a parent with a kid on a balance bike, youve probably done the ride-with-one-hand-while-carrying-a-balance-bike-in-the-other routine. Kids get tired. Or maybe you want to ride to a safer spot with kiddo on your Shotgun Seat. Whatever the reason, Kids Ride Shotgun has a new method for carrying that balance bike so you can ride with both hands. The new $129 Uplift Balance Bike Backpack allows you to carry a bike comfortably with it sitting off your back, and includes an actual backpack portion for storing gear, a helmet, etc. FIDLOCK + TwicemeTwiceme is a way for first responders to scan your helmet and get your important medical details. Now, FIDLOCK has partnered with Twiceme Technology to integrate those digital safety features directly into their magnetic helmet buckles. This should allow helmet companies to add the tech without having to redesign their helmets, and the user gets a better buckle as well.Fidlock is known for their cage-less bottles that snap on with magnets and easily twist to unlock. Now theyre bringing that same style to insulated bottles. Obviously, more of a stop-on the-side-of-the-road-to-take-a-drink situation, the bottles should provide another option for those who would prefer not to drink out of plastic.Boyds Beer Inspired HubsWhats better than a Tripel hub? A Sixtus, of course. Continuing on the Belgian beer-themed hub names, Boyd Cycling was showing their newest MTB hub line called the Sixtus named for the St. Sixtus brewery. The new hubs will offer either 3 or a minuscule 0.5 freehub rotation, depending on the freehub internals. More on these soon. Abbey Bike Tools Goes Soft (Sided Tool Bag)Abbey Bike Tools offers one of the best curated cycling toolboxes money can buy. But because it includes a number of tools that Abbey doesnt control the prices on, the price has crept up to $1,850. Wanting to offer something more accessible to more people, Abbey has just introduced their Soft Sided Toolbox. Using bags made in Bend, Oregon by Cloud Chaser Bags, the Soft Sided Tool bag will be offered as a standalone bag for $225 or as a complete tool kit for $675. The bag itself is made from 500d and 1000d Cordura with YKK zippers and light foam for structure. Inside, youll find four removable bags that velcro to the inside. Tools included:Thru Axle CrombieWhip-ItLL Chain Wear ToolPre HAGT Way 10 Bit SetStu StickKnipex Pliers Wrench and Flush CuttersWera Torque DriverEVOCs New Bikepacking BagsOn the bikepacking front, EVOC has some new additions to their on-bike bag line including BOA and non-BOA options. There are also new Panniers with smaller options that are perfect for fork mounts, or the full-size rear with Quick Fix attachment. Eagle Bear Goes Mountain BikingThe Foxtrot full suspension kids bike wasnt the only MTB news at the Prevelo booth this year, as their sister brand Eaglebear was showing the new ZULU Twenty Nine. As a refresher, Eaglebear is the adult version of Prevelo affordable bikes with excellent spec. To be priced at $2,399 when launched later this fall, the triple butted aluminum frame includes adjustable UDH dropouts to allow for single-speed use, along with internal cable routing, a forged chainstay yoke, and a CNC engraved headtube logo. The build kit will include a Mazocchi Bomber Z2 with 140mm of travel, SRAM Eagle 70 mechanical drivetrain, TRP Slate Evo Comp 4 piston brakes, and a KS Vantage adjustable length dropper plus Maxxis 29 x 2.5/2.4 WT trires. Jordan Raced a BromptonJordan is the member of our crew who just cant help himself when it comes to riding at Sea Otter. He rides into the show. He races the gravel race (and takes 2nd in the Mens open 30-mile race). He also took part in the California Brompton World Championships and took 5th. He probably would have been on the podium if he knew how to unfold a Brompton, and had both shifters workingThe post Zachs Sea Otter Randoms: A Pregnant Rim, BLUE Ponds, Performance Enhancing Sunscreen & More appeared first on Bikerumor.

Tudor Pro Cycling Team have confirmed their lineup for the 2026 Giro dItalia, with Michael Storer set to lead their general classification ambitions as the team continues its search for a first ever Grand Tour stage victory. This will be Tudors third appearance at the Giro, and their most balanced...

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Every year, EF Education-EasyPost arrive at the Giro dItalia with something different. In 2026, they may have taken that tradition further than ever. With their usual pink colours off-limits due to the clash with the Maglia Rosa, the team have once again turned to a one-off design. This years vers...

In the first World Cup Downhill qualifier of the season, the three fastest womens times were set on two different belt-drive, gearbox DH bikes. Then on race day, those three all ended up in the top-5 overall, with Gloria Scarsi of MS Racing just a half second off of the World Champion to take the second step of the podium. Its not the first time weve seen a belt-drive bike on a World Cup DH podium, but it looks like the elite downhillers are edging even closer to nabbing Gates promised 100,000 bonus!Belt-drives shine in Korean World Cup for MS & AON Racing(Photos by Andreas Ehrensberger/MS Racing)This weekends UCI World Cup racing in Mona Yongpyong, South Korea was exciting and eventful on many levels from hardtail controversy on the dusty, rocky DH track to wildly wet & muddy XC racing just a day later. But what really stood out in my mind were the Elite Women of the DHI and the bikes they were riding. (Photo by Grega Stopar/AON Racing)Already in the first round of qualies on Friday afternoon, three women set the first elite benchmarks Harriet Harnden of AON Racing and Valentina Roa Snchez & Gloria Scarsi, both of MS Racing all racing downhill bikes with electronic Smart.Shift Pinion gearbox bikes and Gates belt-drives. Those three fastest times in Q1 landed the trio the coveted last start positions, setting up for a nail-biter finish that would see them all end up in the top 5, but with Scarsi missing out on the win by just 0.573 seconds to 4x and current World Champ Vali Hll.Its a solid start to the racing season for belt-drive bikes. And Scarsi mused after the race that its a huge motivation to work more, because we want the first and of course the 100k that comes with it.Lets take a quick look at the two belt-drive bikes of the Elite Womens top-5Zerode G3 of MS Racing(Photo by Andreas Ehrensberger/MS Racing)Just a couple of months ago a belt-drive Zerode G3 bike won Red Bull Rampage. Now, both Gloria Scarsi and Valentina Roa Snchez set new personal World Cup bests on the same bike. This high single-pivot aluminum gearbox bike with an idler pulley and tensioner appears unchanged from the G3 bike that consumers could already buy from the start of last year. But thats not to say the MS Racing team isnt continually refining the bike and its suspension. It is unique in that the 200mm travel mullet bike features a narrow 12x142mm rear end like thru-axle road & gravel bikes which works with a stronger, symmetrically-dished rear wheel thanks to needing just the one belt-drive cog.I only spy two obvious differences for the MS Racing rigs. The team bikes feature a more neatly integrated, and more machined this year, red plate securing the idler & tensioner at the main & linkage pivots. And they also get a more robust skid plate setup that protects the gearbox from DH racing impacts, also serving a bit as a bash guard for the Gates belt-ring up front.The team bikes are otherwise built up with SR Suntour Rux 38 & Voro Coil suspension, Hope brakes, cranks, hubs & wheels, Michelin tires, Crankbrothers pedals, Renthal cockpits, and SDG saddle+ seatpost combos.ZerodeBikes.comGamux Sego carry-over prototype of AON Racing(Photo by Grega Stopar/AON Racing)Harriet Harnden of AON Racing finished in 4th place, just over 2 seconds back from Hll, on a belt-drive Gamux Sego that looked a lot like the bikes her team was racing last year. It is a combo of Swiss CNCed aluminum with boxy carbon tubes bonded in strategically for stiffness. Each of the team riders bikes has always been uniquely machined to fine-tune stiffness for their size/weight/riding style with more or less material removed, or more or fewer ribs and struts added. So Harndens bike has less-intricately machined chainstays than the other guys on her team had raced last year.(Photo Cory Benson)Besides the Gates belt and Smart.Shift Pinion gearbox, the AON Racing team rides on Manitou Dorado inverted forks and Mara Piggy Back air shocks, purple Hayes Dominion brakes, Hope cockpit, and custom Reynolds Blackline carbon wheelsets. Plus, do you see her high-ride, negative offset stem!?and a next-gen Gamux prototype, too!(Photo by Grega Stopar/AON Racing)Interestingly though, the guys on her team including Reece Wilson (20th-place Elite Men), Stan Nisbet (7th in Junior Men) & Henry Kerr, were all riding a completely different Gamux prototype. One with a completely CNC-machined massive single downtube with modular bolt-on bits, and a wholly-redesigned Horst-link high-pivot suspension design. Talking with the AON team on the World Cup last season, they described their partnership with Gamux as a way to continue to innovate their DH race bikes. 2020 DH World Champ Reece Wilson established the team, specifically for the freedom to pursue new technologies in their bikes, investing in the niche Swiss CNC mountain bike maker.GamuxBikes.comThe post Gloria Scarsi Nearly Cost Gates 100K, As Both MS & AON Close In On the Belted Purse appeared first on Bikerumor.

Stage 2 of La Vuelta Femenina 2026 was defined by the crash and abandonment of race leader Noemi Ruegg, but in the fight for the stage win, Lotte Kopecky was left to reflect on a moment that slipped away in the final metres. Positioned perfectly for the uphill finish in San Cibrao das Vias, the Bel...

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Well, here we are, winding down our coverage of the 2026 Sea Otter Classic. Well, at least I am. I had taken a lot of photos and shared most with you guys. But, I had a lil folder on my desk top called Rando Shots, and thought Id dump them here. They felt kinda like leftovers after going to dinner: like, there wasnt very much left, but too much to throw away. You know what I mean? Pulling in to grab my Media Credentials. So, I thought Id share some parting thoughts about the show, along with the contents of that folder. Theyre not great photos by any stretch of the imagination, but I think you might like em. At the Teravail bar wrapping contest the Best Day Brewings non-alcoholic West Coast IPA is so good! But, before we get into my parting words, lets take a moment to celebrate my occasional partner in mischief & monkey business, who happens also to be our amazing ad salesperson, Riley, shotgunning a non-alcoholic beer by Best Day Brewing. Riley, doing the thing with the beer! Good damn times! Best Day Brewings non-alcoholic beer is, by the way, incredibly tasty! Look for a Beyond the Bike piece about this brew real soon.Parting WordsHere we go, crossing the bridge to day one! As you probably already know, I really love attending the Sea Otter Classic. Its always been a great time. This was my 10th year in a row for Bikerumor, and there hasnt been one bad experience. Even when we ran on a shoestring budget and had to choose which of us got the bed, the floor, or the bathtub, it was always fun. Looking forward to 10 more years, perhaps!Shimano, represented at our hotelAs I mentioned in my recent pre-Otter piece, the whole Bikerumor crew attended, minus Steve, and Cory, our European editor in Prague. So, the workload felt a little more focused and not so overwhelming. That was nice, and a big reason why this time around, the SOC felt different. It felt like there was a smaller feel to it.The Camp and Go Slow Eastern Rattler bar tape someone knows the best bar tape on the planet. The footprint of the show was bigger than ever, but the vibe felt smaller and more connected. That is to say, there were a lot of really cool, smaller brands and some Id never heard of before the show. And both were offering bitchen and innovative products. There were far, far too many eScooters around, like, one is too many, in my opinion. But a lot of great new bikes and bike products for kids and parents, which was really great to see.More brands were offering free, decent, and often really good coffee at their booths, with the winner probably being Salsa Cycles (and, if you read my stuff, you arent really surprised about my pick. Right, Tim?). What? Its not my fault that they do just about everything really well.HooptieI did notice a lot fewer cargo bikes this year, sparking the question: Were the last two years the pinnacle of Americas interest in Cargo Bikes? My guess, for the most part, is yes. Yes, 32 Wheels Ruled the RoostIt was pretty obvious that the 32 wheel was indeed the star of the show. There were a lot of 32 bikes and 32 adjacent parts, like forks, tires, wheels, rims, and bike rack adaptors. The rest of the crew handled most of the 32 wheel coverage. If you missed any of it, search 32 wheels on our site to get all caught up. Fork beer. Probably not a great ideaSay what you will about the industry introducing new standards, it is pretty exciting. Personally, Im excited to see what comes of it. Will it be a flash-in-the-pan kinda situation, only to crash and burn in the end? Or will it be a total game-changer, like the introduction of the 29 wheel? Who knows?At our hotelI will say that a lot of brands, and not just the smaller ones, are going all-in on the concept. I even saw more than one 32/29 mullet bike at the show. There were new 32-specific parts, prototype forks, and some full-suspension frames, plus built-up one-offs. I mean, there was a lot of 32 stuff going on.The obligatory Roadrunner Bag in the bathroom stall at a show photo.All of which sounds promising, and my prediction is that it will stick, but not be like the 29er, maybe just for taller riders, or the outliers that need something new and fresh to wake up the passion for riding again. We will see. Thanks for Reading!In the land of 32 wheels, let me reintroduce you to the 26er Kick-ass old bike!Well, thats it. I wanted to extend a thank you to everyone who goes outta their way to open the site and read our stuff. You guys rule! We will continue to provide all the news and stuff that keeps you guys engaged.There may be some more events and shows that the crew will be attending throughout the year, so keep an eye out for that. But, for me personally, I will only be attending one other show this year, the MADE Show this August. So stay tuned here for more info about that. SOC bike parkingNot sure who, if anyone else from the crew, will be joining me yet on that adventure. Rest assured, the coverage will be fantastic like always.Ok, thanks again! Now, get out and ride your bikes! The post Adios Sea Otter Classic, Until Next Year: Parting Words & Some Random Photos appeared first on Bikerumor.

If weve learned anything in the past year, its that 32 wheels have arrived, and we can probably expect to see A LOT more of them in the coming months and years. To be fair, 32 wheels have been around for a while, but theyve clearly gained more mainstream interest and acceptance, outside of their previously niche use and popularity. Whether or not they maintain traction (pun intended) in the market remains to be seen, but it seems pretty likely that theyll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.With seemingly more 32 wheels, tires, forks, and frames coming out every week, there is obviously going to be a need for some new 32 compatible tools and accessories. Late last year, Tubolito got in the game with the announcement of 32 TPU tubes (although they dont appear to be available just yet). At Sea Otter just recently, we saw numerous bike rack brands demonstrating or talking about 32 compatibility. Now, Unior Tools is getting in the action, with the announcement of the 32 compatible Truing Stand 2.1 and an upgrade kit to modify the 2.0 version.Uniors Pro Truing Stand 2.1 is compatible with 32 wheels.Unior Pro Truing Stand 2.1As far as designing new tools is concerned, creating a 32 compatible truing stand looks about as easy as it gets. In the case of the Pro Truing Stand 2.1, it appears that all Unior needed to do was create new, longer upright arms to make enough clearance for 32 wheels. In fact, the rest of the stands design and features appear to be identical to the Pro Truing Stand 2.0, which has been around for a few years.Technical FeaturesPrecision threads, springs, and bearings for smooth operation and less frequent calibrationSpring-loaded caliper arms for fast, repeatable wheel changesSimultaneous axial control for accurate rim truingFull adjustable caliper for different rim sizesComposite caliper tips protect the rim surfaceCompatibilityAccepts wheels up to 32 with tire installedSupports solid axle, quick-release, and all through axle hub standardsThrough axle compatibility ensured with one pair of included adaptersThe Pro Truing Stand 32 Upgrade Kit includes longer upright arms to increase clearance for 32 wheels. Truing Stand 2.0 32 Upgrade KitAlready have a Truing Stand 2.0? Fear not, Unior created the 32 upgrade kit to make your existing stand 32 compatible. It includes a set of extended upright arms that replace the shorter stock arms. Installation is reportedly very simple using standard tools. Unior mentions, however, that the Pro Truing Stand calibration tool 1689.1 should also be used to ensure proper alignment of the upright arms and caliper.AvailabilityThe Unior Truing Stand 2.1 looks like a great option for any shop or individual who will be working on 32 wheels with any frequency. Pricing and availability information were not provided, but the Truing Stand 2.1 and the 32 Upgrade Kit are both listed on Uniors global website. We think its safe to assume they will be available soon, but that may vary depending on the geographic market.Price-wise, were guessing it will likely be about the same as the Truing Stand 2.0, which retails for $400 USD. Head to the Unior website to learn more.uniortools.comThe post Unior Introduces 32 Compatible Pro Truing Stand 2.1 and Upgrade Kit for 2.0 appeared first on Bikerumor.