German brand Rose Bikes' questionably named gravel bike now comes with a Shimano Cues build kit and a questionable color scheme to match. Find details on their latest integrated-rack, flat-bar bike here...The post The New Rose Hobo Cues Comes in Cotton Candy appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Orbea Oiz has a long history of trying new things, and not all of them worked out. But, a few years back, the brand decided to recalibrate, stop chasing trends, and focus on making the bikes they wanted to ride. They also seem to learn from mistakes, because this new, 8th generation Oiz is not only the best version of it theyve ever made, its also one of the best XC bikes Ive ever ridden.Check out my launch post for all the technical details. Here, Ill focus on ride quality, suspension choices, and the nuances that make it a winner. Pics and words below, or just enjoy this videoBased purely on aesthetics, the new Oiz wins. Honestly, I havent always loved the brands designs, but this one is a looker. Low slung, sleeker, and cleanly integrated from tip to tail.Plus, the tinted clear coat options let you add color without hiding the carbon underneath. The fact that you can customize all paint colors across the frame, handlebars, and wheels at no extra charge on the OMX models is also a big win.Speaking of their MyO custom program, the invitation to this launch included an impressive number of options we could choose from multiple tire brands and widths, drivetrains, brakes (including Trickstuff!), and more. All of which you can choose from when ordering your own bike, too.The big one, though, is suspension. So before I dive into how it rides, we need to talk aboutSuspension Choice Rockshox vs FoxYou may notice that the bike here features Rockshox suspension with Flight Attendant. Prior to the launch, Orbea gave us the choice between Fox and Rockshox. Since its a race bike, I opted for Flight Attendant.But, honestly, I was torn, so on day 2, I switched to Fox. Same bike, same everything, their tech crew graciously swapped the fork, shock, and lockout so I could compare them back to back. And heres why:Orbea uses its MyO custom program not only to give you a choice in your paint and build spec, but its also great data, letting them see what people want. While most opt for a standard build, which previously only had Fox spec, they say about 10% of the bikes headed out the door with Flight Attendant. People wanted it, so theyre offering it on standard builds with this new model. So, I figured I should test both.For pure racing, Flight Attendant is the jam. Locked out when youre hammering, and open when you need it, and somewhere in between for the rest no thinking required. Traditionally, its racers that have bought the Oiz, which is why all of the Fox bikes come with their Squidlock dual (three-way) lockout, and Flight Attendant honestly provides a much better experience here.But, for riders like me who want a fast bike but dont care about a lockout, its an expensive option that also gives you two more batteries to worry about.More than that, though, Orbea works directly with Fox when tuning the Oiz. So I wanted to ride the bike on the suspension it was designed around, despite my well-known dislike for lockout levers.Credit where its due, Orbeas custom I-Line shock provides the cleanest possible routing for a mechanical lockout. And the Squidlock is an admirable attempt at minimizing a combination dropper remote and lockout lever, using one lever for the seatpost and one to control both fork and shock, cycling through Open, Trail, and Firm modes on Fox suspension.Heres the conundrumI liked the Fox suspension better, but the Flight Attendant is a better user interface.Granted, Flight Attendant is adjustable. It also learns your patterns and adapts to your riding style, power output, and preferences over time. But out of the box, the bike just felt far more alive and fun on the Fox 34 SL and custom-tuned rear shock.Both setups were running 120mm forks, so its apples to apples there. But with Fox, the default is Open, whereas with Rockshox Flight Attendant, the default is Firm. For me, that made a huge difference in the all-day ride quality, favoring Fox. Also, the 34 SL is an absolutely amazing fork; its what Im currently riding on home trails, albeit with 130mm travel.But I really didnt like the Squidlock remote. Its a stretch getting to the bottom lever, and the position cant be adjusted as much as some third-party dropper levers. I also had to move it pretty far inboard to prevent it from rubbing the top of my thumb while holding the bar.So, heres my take: If youre mainly racing and want the most intuitive, efficient system, get the Flight Attendant. If youre rallying the bike all day, consider the Fox build and swap the Squidlock for the more compact Fox Twin Stick dual remote. Or maybe wait and see if Fox brings their Live Valve Neo to XC, which seems like a logical next step for them, no?2027 Orbea Oiz Ride ReviewIts a race bike, so yes, it absolutely hammers when your legs give it the juice. Thats the bar any XC bike needs to hit, and the new Oiz meets that minimum standard quickly and easily.With the suspension set to Open, or even Trail, I did notice enough pedal-induced movement that racers will still want a lockout. It wasnt excessive, especially in Trail mode, and it certainly made the bike more comfortable, but worth noting for the racers here.It also climbs very well, with a lot of credit going to excellent weight balance. The geometry had me in the sweet spot of rear tire traction without letting the front end wander or lift, even on really steep inclines. I never felt the need to shuffle on the saddle as terrain undulated beneath me, and thats a big energy saver when racing.When fully locked out, I did notice that it would skip a bit over rough climbs, especially when standing. Putting the suspension in Trail mode eliminated this issue and kept the rear tire stuck to the ground.Where the bike really starts to shine is when things get rough. Some ultralight XC bikes can feeldainty. The Oiz doesnt.Thats not to say it feels heavy, but it feels planted and solid. That instills a lot of confidence ripping through rocks and roots, or bombing down chunky terrain youve never ridden before. Its an XC race bike, but it bombs downhill like a trail bike, and that makes it a lot more fun.Our test days were on the tail end of a lot of rain in the Basque region of Spain. While the ground did its best to soak it up or shake it off, there were spots that were slick.The Oiz felt solid throughout, even when it got knocked about, slipping between roots. As long as I kept the front wheel rolling, it did an admirable job of going where I pointed. Orbea admits that geometry has gotten so well dialed across most major bike brands that its hard to differentiate there, but Id say theyre setting a good example nonetheless.Days were wet and overcast, but dang if that didnt create great photo conditions and this sweet rainbow.Despite the mud, the rear tire never got bogged down. Theres a small flap covering the gap between the seat tube and chainstay yoke (shown in the video) that keeps crud from getting between them, too. It seems to work, and while it may look like it would create a shelf for mud to sit on, that never happened during our two full (long!) days of testing.Where many modern XC bikes advertise themselves as fast downcountry bikes that you can also race, the Oiz feels exactly like the pure race bike they built it to be, but one you can also rip like a light trail bike. Its a fun combination that makes for a great all-around short travel performer that makes no compromises when the start gun fires.Small Details Add UpBeing able to fit two water bottles on all frame sizes is a big bonus, with Medium, Large, and XL bikes able to fit larger/taller bottles on the downtube. Youll want side-entry cages, but they fit well and are easy to reach while riding.I ride with top tube bags on virtually every bike I own. And for press trips, its where I stick my action camera and phone for quick access. So, I asked Orbea to build the bike with a few spacers, and found out what color the bike was, so I could match it.Even with 20mm of spacers under the stem, the bike still looks sharp with the bag removed. But theres also just enough room for a Velcro strap to wrap around and stabilize a bag. For marathon and epic events, bento bags are perfect for snacks, so for me, being able to add one here without killing the bikes aesthetics is a big win. Also, that Oveja Negra Snack Pack matches the gold bike logos perfectly. I mean, cmon. Sick.I also really like that the tinted clear coat lets the carbon fiber show through. When the sun hits it just right, its quite pretty.Lastly, the bike is easy to carry when needed. Theres room to grab around the shock area and lift or hoist, or slide your arm through to carry it cyclocross-style.The Wrap UpYou never know what race day may bring. But after two days of riding the Oiz in challenging conditions with tons of climbing, fast descending, and a technical mix of flow and natural trails, I think the bike is ready for anything you throw at it.Its not just fast, its fun. Handling is dialed, fit, and weight balance is excellent. Other than making a hard decision about which suspension and lockout I want to live with, nothing about the bike felt like a compromise. This is a race bike I could live with year-round and love every day on it.Orbea.comThe post First Rides! New Orbea Oiz Favors Bold Lines, Strong Legs appeared first on Bikerumor.

Orbeas Oiz cross-country bike has been revamped, with the 2026 version claimed to be stiffer, lighter and better-performing than ever. The geometry has been updated to make the bike more stable at high speed and construction techniques have been optimised, enabling a claimed frame weight of only 1,700g according to Orbea. Orbea is aiming the bike at racers looking for the best weapon to take on the latest generation of XC race courses. On paper, the new Oiz looks to have all the ingredients of a modern XC bike capable of winning a World Cup round. Stiffer frame The New Oiz has a more stealthy shock placement hidden under the winged top tube. Orbea The first Oiz was released in 2005 and over the past 21 years has seen considerable evolution. We saw an Oiz prototype in Nove Mesto at the World Cup XCO, which team rider Simon Andreassen used to finish in 16th place. Orbea says the new version of the Oiz prioritises stiffness after extensive testing. It claims that in a blind test its team riders preferred a stiffer version with more carbon in the layup over a more flexible prototype that was 50g lighter. The new frame has a differently shaped winged top tube and a Powerspine running from the head tube to the bottom bracket (BB) to increase stiffness, while the production methods use more carbon fibres and less resin in the frames construction to reduce excess weight. However, the new frame isnt heavy by any means, with Orbea claiming the new Oiz OMX frame weighs only 1,700g for a medium size, including the shock. That's still 111g heavier than the claimed weight of the latest Specialized Epic 9. This weight has been achieved thanks partly to the aforementioned modification to the carbon layup and a lighter suspension link. Interestingly, the new, lighter-weight link is made of aluminium rather than the carbon of the previous generation. However, with multiple reliefs and clever engineering, the aluminium link is a considerable 30% lighter. The Oiz is available with two levels of carbon construction the top-spec OMR and cheaper OMX, much like Santa Cruz with its C and more expensive CC options. The top-spec material is the OMX carbon frame, which Orbea says is both lighter and stiffer than the cheaper OMR carbon version. Orbea says OMR carbon delivers the same level of strength and structural performance, but will not be as light as the OMX. Geometry updates The new Oiz is nearly two degrees slacker than the previous generation. Orbea XC bikes have become noticeably more aggressive in the past couple of years, including in the geometry department. Orbea has followed this trend, slackening the head angle of the new Oiz, taking the new bike to 66.8 degrees 0.2 degrees slacker than the previous generation. The latest Specialized Epic 9 is much slacker and more progressive than this, though, with its head angle sitting at 66.3 degrees in the high setting and 65.9 degrees in the low setting. Slacker bikes have more stable handling, suiting the latest generation of XC race tracks, which are steeper, rougher and faster than ever before. Reach on the new bike is similar to the outgoing Oiz 425mm for a small, increasing in roughly 25mm increments up to 495mm for the XL bike. The chainstay length has also been reduced, which Orbea says improves responsiveness and acceleration, but with only a 2mm reduction over the previous model, this seems unlikely to make a profound difference to handling. Suspension evolution not revolution The updated rear suspension uses a smaller link, but still provides 120mm of travel using a flex-stay arrangement. Orbea The new Oiz keeps the 120mm front and rear travel of the previous version in line with the majority of modern XC bikes. It also sees a continuation of Orbeas choice of regressive suspension kinematics. Unsurprisingly for an XC bike, Orbea has aimed to make a bike that pedals efficiently, explaining that it chose a shock-actuation ratio that prioritises support in the initial part of the stroke. Orbea says the shock uses a small air can, which creates a progressive air spring to provide support at the end of the stroke. The frame is compatible with up to a 130mm front fork if you want to increase the travel slightly after purchase. The bike uses Orbeas Spinblock to prevent the handlebar clouting the frame in a crash. Custom configurator MyOrbea enables riders to choose their own custom colours and graphics options in an online configurator. Orbea The Oiz is configurable using Orbeas MyOrbea Custom online programme. This enables you to choose custom colours and graphics combinations to make your bike stand out from the stock versions. Pricing and availability Orbea offers eight models, with half of them using its top-spec OMX frame and the cheaper four using the OMR carbon. Orbea There are four OMR builds and four OMX builds to cater for different budgets. The new Oiz is available at Orbea dealers now. Oiz OMX M-Ltd: 9,999 / $12,127 / 10,999 Oiz OMX M-Team Factory: 8,359 / $10,473 / 9,499 Oiz OMX M-Team AXS: 6,599 / $8,268 / 7,499 Oiz OMX M-Pro: 6,399 / $8,048 / 7,299 Oiz OMR M10 AXS: 6,199 / $7,717 / 6,999 Oiz OMR M10: 5,299 / $6,614 / 5,999 Oiz OMR M20: 4,199 / $5,291 / 4,799 Oiz OMR M30: 3,349 / $4,189

The British rider is heading back to the Tour after a year a way next month

Olav Kooijs move to Decathlon CMA CGM Team was supposed to open a clearer path towards the Tour de France. Instead, the Dutch sprinter now looks set to miss the Grande Boucle again, with Paul Seixas rapid rise and his own disrupted spring reshaping the teams July plans. Kooij left Team Visma | Le...

Mica Cycles, the creator of the minimal Rat Tail Rack, just released some nifty custom cam lock straps made by ARNO in Sweden. The Mica Mini Cam Straps look like an ideal option for any rack or cargo cage setup. Check them out here...The post Micas Mini Cam Straps Look Perfect for Racks appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The all-new 2027 Orbea Oiz made a stealth appearance at the Nove Mesto World Cup race, and now its official their top-level XC race bike gets a complete refresh, making a pretty good bike into a great one. It all comes down to little design details that add up in a big way, and we were at the launch for a first-hand look.The Necessary BackgroundOrbeas new global MTB category managers prior job was focused only on their longer-travel bikes. Now in charge of everything fat tired, he thought it would be fun to apply that line of thinking to a shorter travel XC bike.To put things in context, heres a quick history of the Oiz model, which, Orbea being a Basque company in Spain, its pronounced -th.The 2005 model introduced carbon flex stays to remove the rear-most pivot. It also introduced the I-Line rear shock layout, which Fox helped develop. Orbea patented the design and now licenses it to other brands, using proceeds from that to support regional trail-building efforts.In 2022, they were one of the earliest brands to commit to 120mm travel on a World Cup XC platform, a suspension layout thats now basically standard for cross country race bikes.But the XC Category is Still ChangingIts not just that racing has changed, with World Cup races now being shorter and faster (and more exciting). The market is shifting, too. While XC is one of the last categories to be completely crushed by e-bikes, riders also have more choices than ever from more brands than ever, with gravel bikes also eating into the category.So, whos left wanting an analog XC bike? And what would make one stand out in todays market of so many really, really good bikes? Orbeas answer was toFocus on Pure RacersLets get this out of the way. Yes, theyre looking at 32 wheels, but for now, they say the ecosystem just doesnt have the level of component quality and choice to justify launching a product. Also, this new Oiz has been in development for three years, long before 32 was a thing. So, theyre testing them, but are also quite happy to not be first.Besides, 29ers kinematics and geometry have gotten so well dialed. But that becomes the challenge what can be made better? Should it be lighter? Stiffer? Something else?They started in the lab, with lots of prototypes, of course. But bikes arent ridden in the lab. Orbea has long focused on total efficiency, but realized that climbing efficiency isnt everything (even though its often where races are won). They wanted to make the bike better overall, improve ride quality, and, dare I say, fun.Admittedly, these days, gains are marginal. But they are there if you look hard enough.It Starts with StiffnessOrbea started with stiffness, particularly in the rear triangle. With courses becoming more technical and descents getting rougher, a laterally and torsionally stiffer rear end paid dividends in handling and rider confidence. It also keeps all of the pivot points in tighter alignment throughout the range of motion, letting the suspension move more smoothly and efficiently.But, how to add stiffness in the pivot and linkage areas without adding weight? It came down to design and the manufacturing process.The bonus is that it also has a lower standover height and center of gravity.Notice that both the seat tube and now the top tube are both straight. Gone is the bent top tube, which required more material both for the shape and to maintain its stiffness.The new top tube looks flat, but around the shock, it actually uses a hollow winged shape to add a lot of stiffness.A common method for increasing lateral stiffness is to add a bridge to the seatstays, behind the seat tube. But Orbea says this adds stiffness at the top of the wheel, not so much at the axle or upper linkage.So, they created an aluminum bridge that sits in front of the seat tube and connects the seatstays.This added a tiny bit of weight, but made it a lot stiffer where it matters and kept the seatstays pushing forward in perfect alignment, driving the shock straight forward to prevent any binding that would add friction.The other big change is the switch to a smaller linkage thats now alloy. The prior version was carbon fiber, but much larger. This new linkage is just 44g, down from 77g with the much larger carbon fiber linkage.As a system, its a slight gain, adding up to 100g total for the new link and bridge, but its way, way stiffer.The main pivot is also updated to eliminate static load on the rear triangle. Specifically, they switched to a pinch bolt to secure the chainstays to the pivot axle.This means theyre not pinching the stays around the seat tube, which creates tension that can create friction. Now, everything rotates freely for improved suspension performance.The front triangle is now made in just two pieces. The top, head, and down tubes are all one piece, and the seat tube and bottom bracket junction are one piece, then its bonded together.The rear triangle is done in five pieces the front 2/3 of the chainstays and yoke are one piece, letting them optimize for strength and stiffness with the least material around the yoke and pivot area. Each seatstay is molded separately, as are the dropouts, which include the dropout and brake mounts.Compared to the 2023 Oiz OMX, the 2027 Oiz OMX is 36% stiffer, and the rear triangle is 22% stiffer.Worth noting that the rear brake mount is also contributes to the suspensions performance. Its a separate alloy mount that slides over the axle, then attaches only to the chainstay. This lets Orbea make perfectly symmetrical seatstays, with the same layup, so that they flex the same on both sides which is important, because theres no pivot near the rear axle, so the design relies on seatstay flex.The rear brake mount switches back to post mount (from flat mount), so you have more caliper options, and its a bit easier to work on.The Lightest Oiz Ever 2027 Orbea Oiz Actual WeightsClick any image in this post to enlarge.Combined, front and rear carbon frame parts are 48g lighter than the prior model. Altogether, the hardware is about the same weight despite looking different. Put it all together, and they say this is the lightest Oiz theyve ever made.The two top OMX models are shown above, one with full XX SL and Rockshox Flight Attendant (9.63kg / 21.23lb, on left), and one with full Shimano XTR with Fox Factory suspension (9.86kg / 21.74lb, center). Theres also an OMR-level bike with XO AXS (10.86kg / 23.94lb, on right).Claimed weight is 1473g for a painted frame (size M) with hardware, but no shock (this one came in at 1484g, well within expected variance).Its worth noting that there is a lower-level OMR series, too, which gets all of the same design updates, but a less-expensive tier of carbon fiber. The OMR is 160-180g heavier than OMX.They offer a variety of paint options, including a lighter-weight tinted carbon, like whats shown on the bike throughout this post. Its a nice option if you like seeing hints of carbon layup and a hint of color. Drop another 20+ grams off that by going with a raw carbon finish.Cockpit and Small PartsOrbeas housebrand components make up the wheels and handlebar, and the one-piece bar-stem combo comes on all models. It has a -18 stem, is 760mm wide, and comes in 75mm and 90mm reach options. If that sounds long by todays standards, keep in mind that this entire bike and its build are designed to put you in a race-ready position.The bike shown throughout this post is the one I rode, too, and I asked for a few spacers so I could run a top tube bag (youll see it in the review I think it looks good, some folks disagreed). Even with 20mm of spacers, the shape of the stem and its sleek cable integration make it look low. Remove all spacers and the stem, all but tucks into the frame for an extremely aggressive look.Orbea offers both wireless and mechanical shifting builds, and the AXS and mechanical lockout builds, with cable port covers for each so that youre not left with extra holes under the stem, no matter what parts you run. Along with the integrated, removable computer mount (includes Garmin & Wahoo compatible pucks), they keep this bike looking super tidy with every build.Their Oquo wheels come standard, with the top models getting the 1350g LTD series. Rims are all carbon, with a 30mm wide internal, hookless, and front- and rear-specific asymmetric designs. They get DT Swiss 36-tooth internals with upsized bearings.Other than the two pinch bolts on the chainstays and bottle cage bolts, theres not much metal on the frame.A rubberized chain guard keeps things quiet and protected, and a small chain catcher sits just over the chainring for insurance.GeometryNumbers are with a 120mm fork, but you can opt for a 130mm fork in their MyO custom configurator.Wheelbase is the same as before, so the main changes from the prior model are 430mm chainstays (2mm shorter) and a 66.8 head angle (0.2 slacker).They experimented with 65 but found that it wasnt tracking well on the climbs. A slacker head angle might be worth that tradeoff on trail and enduro bikes, but its not a compromise you can make on an XC bike.It has an extremely low stack height and, combined with a slightly steeper seat angle, puts the rider just a bit further forward for a more powerful pedaling position. This combo balances rider weight on the bike with the slightly shorter chainstays, and helps keep enough weight on the front of the bike on climbs.Larger sizes have shorter seat tubes than before, too, which lets you run longer-travel dropper seat posts. Combine that with a 130mm fork and the new Oiz becomes a great downcountry or light trail bike, too.All frame sizes fit two bottles, 650ml on the seat tube, and up to 1000ml on the downtube, depending on frame size and whether youre running an e-shock like the Flight Attendant.Suspension Kinematics & OptionsThe suspension curve is regressive, built around a small volume shock that gets easier to compress once youre into the travel. So, its firmer and more supportive early in the stroke, good for hammering through a race, but with a supple mid-stroke so its active when you need it to be. Then, it firms up at the end of travel because of the small volume shock ramping up, so no harsh bottom out.Orbea recommends 24-30mm sag, which is about 20-25% of the shocks stroke.You have two suspension options, Fox and Rockshox. While Orbea develops the bike alongside Fox, with specially developed rear shocks and tunes, they noticed more and more customers swapping to Rockshox Flight Attendant through their MyO customization program. So, now there are stock bikes with both options.For Fox-equipped bikes, Orbeas own Squidlock dual-lever lockout can simultaneously lock out the fork and shock with one lever, and drop your seatpost with the other.For Rockshox-equipped bikes, you get a Rockshox mechanical dropper seatpost lever, and thats because ALL builds come with the Fox Transfer SL dropper post. Why? Because its lighter than a Reverb AXS or Transfer, and this is a race bike.Which is better? I rode both, and Ill cover that in my review.2027 Orbea Oiz Pricing, Options & ExtrasFour standard builds will be available for both OMR and OMX models. OMR bike prices range from 3,799 to 6,999.OMX bikes range from 7,299 to 11,499 and are available through their MyO custom program. This lets you swap parts, including options like Trickstuff brakes and Maxxis Tires. A cool bonus MyO includes no-cost paint customization so you can pick the colors for every part of the bike, even customizing paint on the one-piece handlebar and LTD wheels.An optional new 77g mini tool and mount fits directly in front of the rear shock. The sleeve bolts into the frame, and a strong magnet keeps the tool in placeits really cool.Overall, the new Oiz is a very smart and smart-looking upgrade from the prior model. Check my review (with video) for all the reasons why its not just better on paper, its also a ripper on the trail that eliminated any shortcomings its predecessors may have had.Orbea.comThe post 2027 Orbea Oiz XC Race Bike Debuts, Better Than Ever appeared first on Bikerumor.

Ultra-cyclist will ride up to 22 hours a day on her 'One Way North' ride from southern Spain to northern Norway

The entrance to heritage-listed Poole Park, previously used by rat-running drivers as a cut-through near Sandbanks, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country, was permanently closed in 2024