Once again I managed to get a little Farb time in yesterday:Ive been riding it a lot partially because Im very pleased with the new drivetrain, but also because after you put on a whole bunch of new stuff like that youve got to sort of bed everything in, which is why bike shops often include a free tune-up if you buy a new bike from them. This sounds impressive to new cyclists, who dont understand that tune-up in this context just means giving a barrel adjuster the quarter turn it will invariably need after the first few ridesthough in the electronic age there arent barrel adjusters anymore, which presumably means new cyclists arent coming back for their post-purchase barrel adjuster turn, and the shop is losing out on any impulse buys the customer might make while theyre waiting for the mechanic to pretend hes doing more than just twiddling a barrel adjuster, such as a really ugly jersey:[Image borrowed from here, and for the love of Lob, DO NOT BUY IT.]How do I know this? Because I once purchased and wore that exact same jersey. And you want to know the weird part? I didnt even have a bike with a HeadShok, but in browsing the rack somehow fell under the delusion that this would be a cool thing to wear.Anyway, to this day I still get embarrassed for myself when I see anything HeadShok-related, though I kind of wish I still had that jersey because I would absolutely wear now.And if youre wondering when I see HeadShok-related things, it happens all the time when youre browsing Craigslist:Sorry, that bike doesnt need love, it needs a front wheel.All of this is to say things are settling in nicely, though there is one thing I still need, and thats a red car with yellow accents to match my red Farbman with yellow accents.Fortunately I may have found just the thing:It looks like its wearing one of those nose ring/earring chains:Actually the Craigslist Cannondale would go with that car even better, now I may have to buy it.Speaking of that new drivetrain, it of course includes an OM-1 rear derailleur, and lets not forget Im the [chokes back laughter] journalist who had the exclusive on it when it first came out:This makes three bikes of mine with OM-1s, the other two being the Roadini and the Platypus (though technically those are prototypes), and Ive also got a Shimano Rapid Rise derailleur on the Homer, which was my first one, and which Grant Petersen send me during the lengthy low-normal indoctrination process he performed on me. So whats the point of low-normal anyway? Well, the reverse action goes well with friction shifters in a subjective and hard-to-quantify way, but more importantly its the ideal derailleur to use with bar-end shifters:With a low-normal derailleur, its down to downshift and up to upshift on both sides, which is not only really intuitive, but also means the levers are out of the way of your knees if youre climbing or off-roading or any of the other stuff you might be doing in a low gear that could cause you to bump the shifter with your knee.Also, once again, let the record reflect I am currently using these shifters in clicky-click mode, and the index with the OM-1 perfectly.But more important that any of this is the question of which bike will get to go on vacation with me this year, and right now its between the Farb and the Dini:And yes, I realize nobody cares about my vacation, but if I could write anything other than self-indulgent nonsense then I wouldnt be a blogger, now would I?No, Id write self-help books or something, for the betterment of humanity:Okay, so I told the AI to generate A self-help book by the blogger Bike Snob NYC and thats what it came up with. My main problem is that the author looks nothing like me (at least I dont think it does), though I suppose it did capture my writing style rather well: Its true, theres nothing I hate more than the srumps.And if you think the fact I generated that image with nothing more than the push of a button is scary, consider that with nothing more than a push of another button I could have the AI write me that whole goddamn book.But what kind of srump would do a thing like that?Anyway, we first started vacationing in this location eleven years ago. Back then, gravel hadnt been invented yet, but I was very excited about the prospect of exploring some roads strewn with Very Small Rocks. So I brought the Milwaukee and headed into the wilderness, where I promptly learned the terrain was unrideable on such a bicycle due to Medium-To-Large-Sized Rocks, and then I got lost:So it was back to the road for the rest of the trip, and on subsequent vacations I bought bikes such as the long-departed Ritte Rust Bucket:[Not shown on vacation.]And yes, Ritte still sell a Snob bike, though they dont acknowledge its origin:However, Im assuming Ritte has changed hands since those days, so they probably dont even know.Ive also brought the Litespeed, also departed, and heres where you tell me how crazy I was to send it back to Classic Cycle:[Also not shown during vacation.]I stand by my decision, yet Im also not arguing.But after several years I got to know the area a lot better and was ready to venture into the wilderness again, and so I brought the Jones:[The Jones, on vacation.]In fact Ive brought the Jones with me a number of times, and overall its probably been the best vacation bike of them all, because it can go anywhere and do anything. However, Im not bringing it this year for two reasons. The first is that Im reasonably sure if I keep riding in the wilderness its only a matter of time before I get attacked by a bear or bitten by a rattlesnake, and I know this I often see bears, and because I was hiking with my family one year and would have absolutely stepped on a rattlesnake if a park ranger hadnt happened by and pointed it out to us. In fact, even after he pointed it out I still couldnt see it and nearly stepped on it anyway. And the second reason is that I have a new car packing configuration which requires me to carry the bicycle on the roof instead of on the hitch, and even though I guess I could get something to adapt the Jones to fit on the roof rack, I put other stuff on the roof too, and so I want to keep the weight up there to a minimum. So lighter bikes with quick release wheels have the dual advantage of being easy to carry on the roof and limiting me to the sorts or roads and trails on which Im less likely to get attacked by a bear or bitten by a rattlesnakeor lost without a cell signal or pursued by a psychopathic cannibal like Charlize Theron in that movie I just watched on the Net Flicks:Then there were The Homer Years:[The Homer, vacationing.]During this period, instead of bringing bikey shoes and bike clothes, I just brought the Homer and rode in sandals. Every so often Id miss having drop bars, but the simplicity of this arrangement made up for it. However, I ride the Homer so much that over the years it has become completely citified:So absent a complete overhaul its not coming this year.And of course I often used to exploit the Family Bike Loophole, where Id bring another bike for someone else to use, such as my wife, or my older son once he was big enough to ride my bikes:[The American M-16, on vacation, ostensibly for sharing purposes.]But eventually I have given up this ruse since nobody really wants to ride up there except methough there was the one year when I invoked The Loophole to take both the Jones and the Y-Foil, which was maybe the most decadent vacation of them all:I brought the Y-Foil entirely so I could take this photo for this column:However, strange things happen to a man when hes upstate with a Y-Foil. In fact, its the second-weirdest thing that can happen to you in a rural area after getting probed by aliens. See, thats when I started to really like the bike, which I did not expect. I suppose something similar happens to lonely farmers in remote areasafter awhile they start to look at the sheep differently.Maybe Ill buy that HeadShok jersey and call the Ferl back from Classic Cycle

Look has launched a new generation of its 785 Huez RS climbing bike with an 830g claimed frame weight in size S, a 360g fork and complete bike weights from 6.6kg. Theres clearance for 32mm tyres.To keep weight down, the new 785 Huez RS has round tube profiles and Look claims its geometry is balanced to ensure ride comfort as well as climbing efficiency.Although the frame forgoes aero features, the new Huez RS Aero Carbon Combo bar/stem is designed to offer an aerodynamic edge. Look's new cockpit offers cable integration for an aerodynamic advantage. According to Looks bike product manager, Romain Simon, the bike isnt designed solely for climbing.We gave the 785 Huez RS a geometry and a character that makes it a fantastic ride downhill and on the flat section between ascents, making it a weapon of choice for those who want to spend the whole day in the mountains," he says.We reckon the bike may see action with the Cofidis women's team in tomorrow's stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes, when the peloton tackles the iconic Mont Ventoux. Look claims the new bike is fast on descents and the flat, not only on climbs. The low-weight only focus goes against the tendency of other brands to shape their lightweight bike frames for aerodynamic efficiency. The Specialized Aethos, for example, has morphed from round tubes and external cables in its original version to add aerodynamic tube profiles and front-end integration in its second iteration, launched last year.Other lightweight climbing bikes, such as the Scott Addict RC and Factor O2 VAM, also sport shallow aero tube profiles.The 785 Huez RS is Look's second new product launch in as many months, with the 795 Blade RS 3 lightweight/aero road bike unveiled just ahead of the Tour de France, where we checked out sprinter Milan Fretin's bike.The claimed weight for the 795 Blade RS 3 frame is only 60g more than the 785 Huez RS, at 890g and Look quotes a fork weight that's 20g lower, with complete builds from a claimed 6.9kg.Look 785 Huez RS specs and prices Look claims a 6.6kg weight for its top spec, equipped with SRAM Red AXS and Scope Artech 2 wheels, and priced at 11,990.The lower-priced build, with Shimano Ultegra and Fulcrum Speed 25 or 42 wheels, has a 7.2kg or 7.4kg claimed weight and is priced at 7,490.Theres a frameset-only option, priced at 3,190.Look offers a lifetime warranty on its frame and fork, with the bike hand painted and assembled at its factory in Nevers, Burgundy. The Look 785 Huez RS is available immediately.

Isaac del Toro personally turned down the chance to lead UAE Team Emirates XRG at the 2026 Giro dItalia, instead asking to ride the Tour de France alongside Tadej Pogacar. The decision has taken on fresh significance after the 22-year-old committed his future to UAE until the end of 2031, only da...

Fan access will be restricted to certain areas on Fridays stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes due to the risk of wildfires.The stage will finish on the summit of Mont Ventoux, and is the first time the Tour de France Femmes will climb the Giant of Provence. But no spectators and hikers will be allowed inside the Dentelles de Montmirail massif or alongside the Departmental Road 90, the race organisers and the Vaucluse department revealed yesterday.While an extensive safety and emergency response operation will be deployed over both days in coordination with the event organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation, the Prefect has decided, due to the sensitivity of the area and the wildfire risk, to prohibit public access to the Dentelles de Montmirail massif. Only access to the Paty exemption area will be permitted, an official press release said.The statement said the following rules must be observed: no smoking; no lighting of fires; and no driving or parking, even temporarily on DFCI forest access tracks, which are reserved for emergency vehicles.Pressure to rerouteThe Tour de France Femmes faced pressure last week to reroute the Queen stage because of the threat of wildfires in Provence.The Vacleuse department said on its website: At a time when forest areas are at a peak risk of fire, the prefecture has asked the organisers of the Tour to consider an alternative route. Following a fire risk assessment on Tuesday 4 August, an alternative route will be implemented should the wildfire risk be considered extreme.But there has been no adaptation of the 146.8Km route, with only public restrictions announced.Tomorrows Tour de France Femmes stage could prove decisive for the general classification. Marlen Reusser leads the race after Wednesdays stage five, which saw the Swiss rider finish second behind race favourite Demi Vollering and defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prvot fall out of contention.You can view a map of open/closed forest areas here.Disruption at the men's Tour de FranceThree stages of the mens Tour de France were disrupted by wildfires and the allocation of emergency services. The final stage to Paris on Sunday 26 July was shortened from 133km to 89km as Frances internal security forces were redeployed to fight wildfires.Extreme heat at the race also led the UCI to relax its feeding rules to ensure riders remained hydrated.More on the Tour de France Femmes Orla Chennaoui hits out at Tour de France Femmes organisers as outrage grows over limited broadcast Padded bras cause controversy at Tour de France Femmes ahead of stage four time trial The forgotten history of the women's Tour de France and why it vanished for decades

Isaac del Toro has committed to riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the next five years, signing whats believed to be one of the biggest deals in bike racing. The 22-year-old had previously agreed to stay with his current team until 2029, but after the Mexicans mature performances this season, UAE Team Emirates-XRG moved swiftly to agree terms and lock the prodigiously talented rider in for a further two years. Already this year, Del Toro has tasted victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes and enjoyed a brilliant run at the Tour de France, where he stood on the podium having finished third in GC, won a stage and took home the white jersey awarded to the best young rider. These performances backed up his stunning achievements in the 2025 Giro dItalia, where he won stages, wore pink and finished as runner-up. The agreement means Del Toro has a deal that extends beyond that of his teammate and mentor Tadej Pogaar, whose current contract will see him stay with the most dominant WorldTour squad on the circuit until 2030. It also locks him in for longer period of time than UAE Team Emirates-XRGs two other young talents, Pablo Torres (20) and Jan Christen (22), who have both committed to the team until 2030. Whether it's enough to quell speculation about UAE's rumoured interest in Decathlon CMA CGM's 19-year-old rider Paul Seixas remains to be seen.Although he wont be taking part in the upcoming Vuelta a Espaa, Del Toro has shone this season as he settled comfortably into his role as Pogaars lieutenant and wingman, with the Slovenian champion consistently showering his potential heir apparent with support and praise. "This team feels like home," Del Toro wrote on the UAE Team Emirates-XRG website. "We share the same ambition, the same passion for racing and the same desire to keep getting better. Signing long-term gives me a lot of confidence because I know Im in the right place for my future."Weve already achieved some amazing victories together, but I honestly believe the best is still to come. Im excited to keep growing with this team and fighting for the biggest races in the world.""Im very happy to continue this journey with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. From the moment I joined the team, everybody has believed in me and given me the best environment to develop as both a rider and a person."Every season Ive learned something new from my teammates and the people working around me, and I feel that Im improving all the time."

Cycling records a new doping case. The International Testing Agency (ITA), acting on behalf of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), has announced that Italian rider Giovanni Carboni has been banned for four years after the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal ruled he committed an anti-doping rule violation...

Five bikes from Cube, Merida, Gloria, Spa Cycles and Moustache, top-tier tech from Specialized and some seriously impressive riding gear from Castelli and Gobik have all earned our coveted road.cc Recommends badge in July

Good morning and welcome to the liveblog of the Vuelta a Burgos. The queen stage of the Spanish race takes place on the third day of racing, and we are set for a serious battle for the general classification. Oscar Onley is the race leader, and today his rivals will be looking to put the yellow jers...

Dan Camp is back with a new video from his multi-year ride down the Americas. In episode 38, he shares a glimpse at his first 250 miles of bikepacking across Chile, which featured some of the trips most intense storms to date. Watch the 30-minute video hereThe post Bikepacking 250 Miles Across Stormy Chile (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.