Affordable short saddle if you prefer a central channel to a full cutout, though not the lightest or prettiest

Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe's dual leadership of Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz leaves the German team heading into the Tour de France, but one Eurosport analyst believes that the unknown could help them land a podium spot at the Grand Boucle. Evenepoel and Lipowitz have been confirmed as their...

CYCPLUS are raising the bar with a new addition to their line-up: an ultra-compact battery-powered mini pump. Tipping the scales at just 106 g including the silicone sleeve, the AS2 Ultra is a true featherweight. Yet it still features a built-in display that lets you dial in your target pressure with precision. Bold move, because CYCPLUS clearly want to claim the crown in the world of portable electric pumps. Can it pull it off? Weve put the AS2 Ultra to the test for you.CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra | 90 g (without silicone sleeve) | 100 | Manufacturers WebsiteIn our big group test, we already put the best electric mini pumps through their paces. Now CYCPLUS are entering the ring with the AS2 Ultra, a pump that at first glance looks more like an oversized lighter than a serious bit of kit. But looks can be deceiving. With the AS2 Ultra, CYCPLUS are making a bold statement when it comes to miniaturisation.Armed with the insights from our group test, we subjected this new contender to our proven test protocol. The figures alone are impressive. At 90 g without the silicone sleeve (106 g with it), the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra is lighter and more compact than any pump weve previously tested, and that includes models without a display. Despite the tiny housing, it comes with a 400 mAh battery. On paper, that might not sound like much, but given the size, its surprisingly big. The key question is whether that capacity is enough to bail you out on the road and beyond.On Review: What is the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra really capable of?The first time you pick up the AS2 Ultra, you cant help but wonder where the power is hiding. Measuring just 65 x 48 x 29 mm, it almost disappears in the palm of your hand when you close your fist.Straight out of the box, the AS2 Ultra is compatible with Presta valves. If youre using Schrader valves, youll have to use the supplied hose attachment. Speaking of whats included, CYCPLUS also provide a drawstring carry bag, a ball needle, a charging cable and spare seals.Press the power button and the tiny compressor whirrs into life. In just under a minute, it pumps a 28 mm Schwalbe Pro One road tire up to 5 bar, and manages to do this three times in a row on a single charge. On the fourth attempt, though, it runs out of battery.In terms of speed, the CYCPLUS sits comfortably in the top half of our 2025 group test. After three full inflations, however, the battery is toast, which drops it into the lower half of the rankings for outright endurance. But lets be honest. By the time youre dealing with your third puncture on a single ride, it is not just the pump that has had enough.One critical issue with such small, high-revving compressors is heat build-up. Friction generates warmth, and high compression does the same. That much is obvious. Thankfully, CYCPLUS include a silicone sleeve, and its far more than a cosmetic extra. Its essential if you value your fingertips. The sleeve absorbs vibrations and shields you from the heat the pump produces. That heat can quickly become a real concern, especially if you are running temperature-sensitive TPU inner tubes.Who is the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra for?The AS2 Ultra is the ideal companion for road riders and performance-focused cyclists who count every gram but would rather avoid the unpredictability of CO cartridges. Its also a great fit for commuters who plug in their kit regularly anyway and can keep the battery topped up without a second thought. However, if youre heading off-grid for weeks at a time with no access to power, or you need to inflate seriously high-volume tyres such as those on a fat bike, you would be better served by a larger electric pump or a traditional track pump. The AS2 Ultra is a specialist built for quick, precise top-ups. It is not a long-haul workhorse.Conclusions: Would we Buy the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra?Yes, we would. The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra is about as mobile as it gets. At just 106 g including the silicone sleeve, and with an exceptionally compact housing, its the ideal companion on the road and disappears even into the smallest jersey pocket. Being able to inflate three tires on a single charge is impressive for a pump of this size. On top of that, you can set your desired pressure precisely via the display, something most mini pumps in this class simply do not offer. At around 100, CYCPLUS have put together a very compelling overall package.TopsVery small and lightweightAdjustable pressure via displayFlopsNoneFind out more on cycplus.comDer Beitrag Hot or Not? CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra Electric Mini Pump on Review erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Eurobike will move to a two-year cycle after the 2027 event with a hiatus in 2028, the cycling shows organisers have confirmed. The decision was announced at the media day ahead of Eurobike 2026, which began yesterday. Philipp Ferger, managing director of Fairnamic, the organiser of Eurobike, said the fair is re-focusing on what exhibitors and buyers need from it, according to Show Daily, which provides coverage from Eurobike and the Taipei Cycle Show. Dr Ralf Deckers, of the market research group IFH Kln, presented new data that revealed how personal contact is a survival strategy, according to Show Daily. His teams international survey paints a sober picture: seven in ten respondents expect procurement costs to climb further, six in ten see uncertainty deepening, and more than half are bracing for continued margin pressure. Geopolitics, Deckers noted, is doing a lot of that damage, Show Daily reported. Yet the majority of respondents pointed to personal networks and direct supplier visits as the relationships that help move business forward. Eurobike shake-up Eurobike 2026 opened on Tuesday 23 June. Eurobike The move to a two-year cycle is the latest shake-up to Eurobike, after a troubled period. In May, it revealed that Eurobike 2027 will run in September from a new part of the Messe Frankfurt exhibition centre after the majority of the industry clearly favoured September. The organisers said the reworked event would place a stronger focus on trade visitors with a clear B2B orientation and that it would encourage the return of leading bike brands. The decision to move the show followed two of Germanys most influential cycling industry bodies pulling out of Eurobike. ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad (Future Bicycle) announced their withdrawal after failing to reach an agreement with Eurobike over how to make the show more relevant to the cycling industry. Days after the two trade organisations left the show, Bosch said it would not exhibit at Eurobike 2026. Claus Fleischer, Bosch eBike Systems CEO and ZIV board member, said the company no longer saw the fundamental changes needed for a "successful future for Eurobike. Eurobike then cancelled its proposed Mobifuture e-mobility spin-off show in November, after pushback over light electric vehicles being excluded from the main show. Annick Roetynck, manager of LEVA-EU, a European trade association for light electric vehicles, told BikeRadar at the time that: There is no valid reason to exclude LEVs on the contrary, the bicycle and LEV sectors can inspire one another, driving innovation and growth on both sides. Turbulence then continued with Shimano, one of the biggest stall operators at the show. Shimano initially announced in January that it had withdrawn from the show before saying in April that it would in fact exhibit. Yet from 1,500 exhibitors in 2025, only around 800 are in attendance at the 2026 show. A new rival show 'Towards Tomorrow European Bike Show' will take place in September 2027 days after Eurobike. ZIV If Eurobikes own struggles werent enough, ZIV announced on Tuesday the launch of a rival show called Towards Tomorrow European Bike Show. The show will take place at Cologne's Koelnmesse and is proposed for 6-8 September 2027, following Eurobikes 1-4 September date. Countless key industry players, including all of the major retail associations, have already confirmed that they intend to participate, ZIV said in an official statement. The new trade fairs unique selling point lies in its consistent industry focus. According to the motto of By the industry, for the industry, its content, formats and key themes will be developed in collaboration with key players from the bicycle industry. The trade fair is intended as a platform for the entire value chain and is consistently geared towards a B2B audience, ZIV added. Berhard Lange, a member of ZIVs executive committee, said: The ZIV member companies, together with the German and international bicycle industries, the retail sector and service providers, expressed almost unanimously the need for a global leading trade fair for the industry and that this should take place in Germany, which is widely considered one of the worlds leading bicycle markets. That global leading trade fair was once Eurobike. But it seems there is now a fight for the title. Eurobike 2026 coverage New Canyon Aeroad CFR LTD breaks cover at Eurobike with impressive aero claims New Avinox MG Concept motor with integrated gearbox and regenerative braking spotted at Eurobike Supernova Superdropper is 'world's first dropper post with integrated tail light'

Waterproof, comfortable, very versatile and really nice made in the UK, if a little expensive

At 25, Carlos Rodrguez is already a settled rider at WorldTour level. Within his team, Netcompany-INEOS, he is one of the most reliable pieces across three-week races, a status underlined by his 2026 race programme and the progression he has shown whenever health has been on his side. In a British...