Irina and Hugo didn't know each other well when they decided to take on an Alaskan bikepacking trip together last summer. Brought together by a sense of adventure, this unfamiliar duo set off into the wild for the adventure of a lifetime. Their new documentary recounts the trip, with all the trials, tribulations, and spectacular beauty along the way. Watch the full video below...The post Cycling Alaska with a Stranger (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Wilier introduces the Rapida, a new all-road offering for the premium Italian bike manufacturer. With the Rapida, Wilier hoped to accomplish a couple of things. They wanted to design a bike with the performance expected from the brand, but with an everyday riding ethos.According to Wilier, speed is, first and foremost, whatever feels right for you. They designed the Rapida to be the bike that can go fast, but doesnt need to. This opens the door to a wider audience, one seeking the head-turning appeal of a designer bike without the steep price tag.That is the other thing Wilier did: keep the price relatively low.The Wilier RapidaWilier designed the geometry of the Rapida around the exact point where speed and distance coexist. Now, quantifying that point sounds a bit difficult, but they feel like theyve got it.The Rapidas riding position holds to Wiliers racing characteristics without neglecting comfort. The bike is equally as comfortable between the tape or pushing heavy distances on long days out. Wilier placed the stack height and other geo specs between their pointed race bikes and the endurance range, attempting to strike a balance between the two.Like other race-focused Wilier bikes, the Rapida features a monocoque carbon cockpit. The design features total cable integration, providing clean lines and a modern, aggressive look.The cockpit isnt the only thing contributing to an overall aggressive feel and look. Wilier incorporated NACA airfoils into the frame, fork, and carbon seatpost, improving aerodynamic efficiency.Wilier also designed the Rapida with a UDH back end and compatibility for 1x or 2x drivetrains. They also bumped up tire clearance to 36mm, adding some stability and comfort to the bike, whether youre on pavement or gravel.They offer the frame in four colorways: Dusk Grey, Midday Orange, Lastlight Black, and Weekend White. Wilier offers a fairly extensive size range of six frame sizes, XS-XXL.After choosing a color, youll need to choose a build, of which there are two. Wilier has a slightly more expensive option with a Shimano 105 Di2 212 groupset and Miche Asfalto 45 carbon wheels. This Rapida build retails for 3,999 (~$4,691.43).A less expensive Rapida build is also available. Featuring a Shimano 105 (mechanical) 212 groupset and Miche Reflex DX wheels, this build is priced at 2,899 (~$3,400.96).wilier.comThe post The New Wilier Rapida is Designed, and Priced, for All Riders appeared first on Bikerumor.

Joao Almeidas withdrawal dramatically altered UAE Team Emirates - XRGs original plans for the 2026 Giro dItalia, but one rider who will not be stepping into the resulting general classification vacancy is Jay Vine. With Almeida ruled out before the Grande Partenza and Adam Yates now carrying the...

Otsos mythical drop-bar mountain bike, the Fenrir, is once again changing its spots. Now available in chromoly steel, the Minnesota brand has ported its fabled steed into a more approachable build material. With only minor geometry and spec changes, does this do-it-all bike keep its legendary status in a less alluring material? Find out in our full Otso Fenrir Steel reviewThe post Otso Fenrir Steel Review: Earth From Sky appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Otso Cycles says they started seeing requests for a standard steel version of their Fenrir bikepacking bike back when they released the Fenrir Stainless back in 2021. So, here we are a few years later, and its come to fruition: meet the Fenrir Steel. Otso is known for its versatile bicycles, and the Fenrir may be the most versatile one of the bunch.(Photos / Otso Cycles)The Fenrir is a versatile bikepacking-specific bike designed to adapt to different riding styles and cargo needs. The bike can be configured with either flat or drop handlebars. It can also accommodate both rigid setups and 100-120mm travel suspension forks. It can run a dropper or rigid seatpost as well. But what really sets this bad boy apart is its extensive mounting system. Its got dual three-pack mounts on the fork, three bottle mounts on the main triangle, plus rear rack compatibility. So its ready for riders who want to carry a boat-load o gear for multi-day adventures.Versatility for the WinThe Fenrir Steels adaptability also extends to its ability to run different handlebar configurations, which can change the bikes character significantly. With drop bars and a shorter stem, it behaves like a capable gravel bike with added stability when loaded. Drop barsOr, run mountain bike bars with a longer stem, and it becomes more nimble and responsive. No matter what bar you choose, the Fenrir Steel is designed to handle all terrain while loaded.MTB barsThe Fenrir Steels frame uses 4130 chromoly steel with custom tube sets. Each tube set is optimized for each of the four available sizes (S to XL). It features a 68 head tube angle, 75 seat tube angle, and wheelbases ranging from 1,110 to 1,170mm.Fenrir Steel GeoXSSMLXLRecommended rider height410-5453-5757-511511-6363-66Inseam29-3030-3131-3232-3333-34Effective top tube547mm565mm583mm600mm618mmNominal head tube angle6868686868Tuning Chip-induced head/seat tube angle change from middle position0.250.250.250.250.25Head tube length90mm100mm120mm140mm160mmNominal seat tube angle7575757575Seat tube length360mm400mm450mm490mm530mmBottom bracket drop68-72mm68-72mm68-72mm68-72mm68-72mmChainstay length430-450mm430-450mm430-450mm430-450mm430-450mmWheelbase1090-1110mm1110-1120mm1130-1150mm1150-1170mm1170-1190mmTrail88mm88mm88mm88mm88mmFork offset51mm51mm51mm51mm51mmRigid fork axle to crown length495mm495mm495mm495mm495mmStack595mm605mm623mm642mm660mmReach387mm403mm416mm428mm441mmStandover754mm777mm810mm838mm866mmThis steel version joins the existing titanium Fenrir Ti model that launched in 2022, offering the same geometry and features at a lower price point. The Fenrir Steel retail starts at $1,950 for a frame and $3,200 for a base build. To put that in perspective, the stainless steel Fenrir frame was priced at $2,550, and the ti frame is priced at $3,450. Its worth pointing out that the stainless Fenrir is currently on sale (20% off frames and 12% off complete builds), and Otso has said theyre undecided if theyre phasing out the stainless version, but there will definitely not be any restocks this year. So it could be a great time to snag one of those before theyre gone.The new steel version includes a carbon Lithic Mountain Fork that includes the three-pack mounts and an adjustable dropout chip for flip-flopping the bikes handling characteristics.Customers can fully customize their build, choosing from two colorways (Pumpkin orange with beige accents or Indigo blue with white details), wheel sizes, components, and anodized color accents, with each bike configured to order at Otsos Minnesota facility.OtsoCycles.comThe post Otso Launches New Versatile Fenrir Steel, Same as the Ti Version But $1,500 Less appeared first on Bikerumor.

Half the peloton is ill, Lotto sports director Maxime Bouet said, revealing some of his riders were hospitalised following the Famenne Ardenne Classic on Sunday

Jonathan Milan has already won stages and points jerseys at the Giro dItalia. On Friday in Bulgaria, he has the chance to do something he has never managed before in a Grand Tour: pull on the leaders jersey. The opening stage of the 2026 Giro dItalia is expected to end in a bunch sprint on the Bl...

Wilier is a brand renowned for its high-end race-ready bikes, such as the Filante SLR, Verticale and Rave SLR. Its bikes usually come with a high price and a high-end build. Now Wilier has launched the Rapida. The new bike has the same design styling as Wiliers aero-focused road bikes, but comes at a price thatll appeal to a much wider audience. There are two models, each based around Shimanos 105 groupset, starting at 2,999 for the 105 2x12 mechanical drivetrain and rising to 3,499 for the 2x12 105 Di2 model. Usually, major brands' lower-tier models skimp on the latest details, so its great to see Wilier has included everything needed to make the Rapida a truly modern road bike. That means a UDH dropout, one-piece cockpit and 36mm tyre clearances. While its still very much an aero road bike, Wilier describes the geometry as "accessible for everyday riding". The geometry sits somewhere between Wilier's long and low race bikes and that of an endurance bike, which, alongside the tyre clearance, should bring plenty of comfort. The Rapida has generous tyre clearance and 'everyday' geometry. Wilier A size XL (58cm) Rapida has a 592mm stack compared to the Filante's 571mm, and a 396mm reach compared to the Filantes 395mm. That still puts it very much in the race-geo camp, compared to classic endurance bike geometry. It's 25mm lower, and 3mm longer than the Giant Defy in the same size. Aero frame design The Rapida's seat tube blends into an aero post with a hidden clamp. Wilier The Rapida frame was designed with NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) aerofoil profiles, although Wilier doesnt provide any wind-tunnel data. It has plenty of the details Id expect of a modern aero-optimised road bike, including a deep sculpted head tube, wide-bladed fork, dropped sculpted seatstays and a rear-wheel cutout in the aero-shaped seat tube. The details are there, too full internal routing, a one-piece aero-shaped cockpit and an aero-shaped seatpost with integrated seat clamp. The UDH dropout makes the Rapida future-ready. Wilier The Rapida has generous 36mm tyre clearances, making it compatible with the latest larger-sized road tyres such as Continental's GP5000 S TR. The UDH dropout and removable front derailleur mount also open it up to 1x drivetrain builds. Great pricing The Rapida certainly has a premium look, with both models getting Wiliers one-piece Z-Bar cockpit and Miche wheels. The 2,999 / 2,899 Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical bike gets Miche Reflex DX alloy wheels, with the 3,499 / 3,999 Shimano 105 Di2 model getting carbon Miche Asfalto 45 hoops.

The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider took the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3RS during a scheduled recovery period, with the Tour de France just weeks away.

Liam has thrown a few curveballs into his list. Which do you agree with?