Whistling along merrily to the Hey Duggee theme tune, our regular columnist George Hill is in the driver's seat rather than the saddle today. He might need to go for a nice relaxing bike ride after reading the comments...

Whistling along merrily to the Hey Duggee theme tune, our regular columnist George Hill is in the driver's seat rather than the saddle today. He might need to go for a nice relaxing bike ride after reading the comments...

Demi Vollering brought her Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey to the French town of Poitiers, the home of her FDJ-Suez team. Fulfilling a long-standing goal for the France-based team, Vollering won her second La Grand Boucle crown last Sunday. The Dutchwoman took hold of the yellow jersey after sta...

Just released, the redesigned Crankbrothers Highline Dropper is said to be lighter, smoother, shorter, and easier to adjust. Plus, it comes in a whopping 33 sizes and travel configurations. Find all the details here...The post The New Crankbrothers Highline Dropper Comes in 33 Sizes appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Crankbrothers has been making its Highline dropper posts for quite a while now, but they havent been meaningfully updated in quite a few years. That changes today, with the introduction of the new Highline, an evolved, refined, and redesigned dropper post thats made for every rider, every trail, every day. Crankbrothers says the new Highline is lighter, smoother, and more reliable, with shorter insertion depths, all of the sizing options, and adjustable travel for the perfect fit.The new Highline was designed to evolve, improve, and simplify our dropper post platform. By reducing insertion length, refining performance, and adding features like internal travel adjustment, weve made it easier for riders to maximize drop and achieve the best possible for for their bike and body.-Andy Hilliard, Product Line DirectorCrankbrothers Highline DetailsThe new Highline looks a lot like most other droppers on the market, as well as its predecessors, the Highline 3 and Highline 7. But Crankbrothers assures us it is almost an entirely new product. That starts with the sealed emulsification cartridge that strips away complexity in favor of proven reliability. The sealed cartridge has a fixed, faster return speed and a simple design thats intended to boost reliability and longevity.At the base of the post, the new, low-profile actuator is roughly half the size of the blocky actuators on previous Highline posts. The shorter actuator helps decrease insertion lengths and makes fitment easier on some frames. At the same time, Crankbrothers says it has tuned the actuator and cartridge for easier actuation, a light touch at the remote, and a quick response.The new Highline also features an internal adjustable travel system so riders can fine-tune the drop length to optimize fit. On the 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9mm diameter posts, travel can be reduced by up to 20mm in 5mm increments with an easy-to-install key. According to Crankbrothers, the process requires minimal tools and the post does not need to be completely removed from the bike. Note: the 27.2mm posts use a hydraulic IFP cartridge, and do not have adjustable travel.The stack height has been reduced by 2mm to a very respectable 45mm (collar base to saddle rail center), and the brand states that insertion depths across all sizes have been decreased, too. The two-bolt saddle clamp has been updated slightly, but still features the quick-release, pivoting rear bolt that makes saddle installation, removal, and adjustments a snap.More SizesCrankbrothers says, No matter the bike, theres a Highline that will fit. It comes in 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm, and 34.9mm diameters and travel lengths between 60 and 230mm (depending on the post diameter). With so many options, it does seem like there is a Highline to fit any bike.30.9mm and 31.6mm SizesSize options, measurements, and weight for the 31.6mm diameter posts. The 30.9mm posts come in the same sizes and weigh ~15 to 20g less depending on the size.34.9mm Sizes27.2mm SizesSpecs and Features20mm of internal travel adjustment (excluding 60mm and 80mm lengths and all 27.2mm)Shortened insertion lengthMaterial: 7075-T6 Aluminum45mm minimum stack heightTwo-bolt quick-release head for easy saddle installationQuick-connect linear pull mechanism for easy cable installation and routingEmulsification cartridge (gas/oil mixed) (27.2mm has a hydraulic IFP cartridge)Jagwire cable and housingInternal routingRemote sold separately5-year warrantyCrankbrothers Highline: Pricing and AvailabilityAll of the new Highline dropper post sizes are priced at $249.99 / 249.99. Head to the brands website to learn more, pick up a new post, or find a Crankbrothers dealer near you.crankbrothers.com

Tudor Pro Cycling have moved quickly to tie down one of the ProTeam's in-form riders, confirming that Marco Brenner will ride with the Swiss outfit until the end of the 2030 season. The former German national champion has evolved into a solid stage racing option for Tudor, and took his first WorldTo...

Ventum is going all in for mountain bikes, and it seems they arent messing around with old tech; they appear to be leading with very large wheels and a very aggressive silhouette.But what does a company that has mainly produced drop-bar TT, road, and gravel bikes know about off-road racing? Maybe more than we think! (Photos/Ventum/Instagram)Ventum 32 Mountain Bike? 32/29 MX?Ahead of this weekends Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Ventum Racing teased what appears to be a 32-inch full-suspension prototype through its social channels. The sneak peek was met with excitement, trepidation, and chuckles, but thats a good thing, as we all know, social media rewards drama.To be fair, we dont know for sure that this is a 32 bike. But the choice of an inverted fork, the prototype tires, and the general angles with a very low, negative drop stem all point towards the larger platform. Given the split image, its hard to tell, but it almost looks as if this is a mega MX bike with a 32 wheel up front and a 29 wheel out back. That would make it easier to package the rear end and suspension travel while providing the benefits of the larger 32 wheel up front. Why? In its 11-year history, Ventum has never produced a mountain bike. But it seems each year the brand offers more tire clearance and more off-road-friendly designs. Plus, now that 32 looks to be the wave of the future for Life Time Grand Prix (or at least some of them), why not give it a go? They have a seat at the very front of the 32 race bike launches, and it will keep their athletes from racing other brands for the MTB Life Time Grand Prix races. What Are We Looking At?From the teaser images, the bike in question looks ready to roll, and like it has already been ridden. I wouldnt be surprised to see a Ventum athlete on this during the Leadville 100 race. From what is visible, the Ventum prototype looks more like a marathon or XC race bike than a trail bike. The flex-stay layout makes sense for keeping weight down, and its proven for lightweight XC work. The FSA wheels are for sure new, but now that we can expect more 32 production bikes, OEM gear will follow. The inverted fork choice also fits the current state of 32-inch development. Fork availability is still one of the harder pieces of the 32 puzzle, but maybe not for long. The tires are a mystery, but damn if they dont look WTB in some way to me but Ive been way off before. Why Leadville?If there is a place where a 32-inch mountain bike makes sense, Leadville is high on the list. The race is long, fast, and more marathon XC than technical World Cup track. Yes, there is a huge climb on the course that will most definitely be a drawback for anyone on a heavier bike with big wheels. But Leadville rewards momentum, staying on top of the gear, and general plowing through the course. The long gravel sections, doubletrack, and long descents will be a little check mark in the 32 wheels corner.Why 32 Wheel Again? The basic pitch is a lower angle of attack, smoother rollover, and possibly less fatigue from repeated bumps. Weve heard it all at this point except for X amount of watts saved. However, that does not mean 32-inch wheels are automatically faster. But it does mean Leadville is a great way to get some real-world testing done, chum the water, and do it on a course that might fit the bikes style. For now, this is still a teaser. But man, it is a good one. Ventum may be new to mountain bikes, but choosing Leadville as the first public proving ground for a 32-inch full-suspension prototype is a great bit of marketing know-how. If the goal is to show that big wheels can carry speed, smooth rough ground, and make sense over 100 miles, Leadville is a pretty honest place to try it.Ventumracing.com

It's been a season to forget for Thibau Nys. The 23-year-old Lidl-Trek rider has only raced seven days after undergoing surgery earlier in spring before an infection once again took him off the saddle. The Belgian rider underwent surgery in March forprepatellar friction syndrome - known as 'cyclist...

The 2026 Arctic Race of Norway will be taking place from the 13th to the 16th of August. It is the northernmost stage-race in the calendar and one that will provide opportunities for the sprinters, as well as some interesting summit finishes. We take a look at its profiles. The race was first held...

Limerick Citys long-awaited South Circular Road Active Travel Route which will link a number of existing routes in southwest suburbs to the city centre is now under construction.The project was approved by a majority of councillors after a section of cycle path was removed from the plans and replaced with filtered permeability. The 2.5km route will link Dooradoyle over the N18 dual carriageway to Limerick City via the South Circular Road, linking a number of schools along the route. The project follows the Dutch concept of using a mix of two-way cycle paths and low-traffic street designs local access will be maintained, but through traffic is to be restricted.The route was originally planned as an active travel project under the Smarter Travel brand of projects around 2015, but was not advanced until years later, and eventually approved in 2023 after a majority of councillors voted to amend the project to remove a section of cycle path to replace it with filtered permeability.The redesign idea was developed by council officials after some councillors insisted on retaining a length of car parking. Automated bollards will now control access to the area where the parking is to be maintained; limiting through traffic is planned to allow for a low-traffic route for two-way cycling. Limerick City and County Council said: Active Travel infrastructure is delivered through individual schemes that together will create a connected network. The South Circular Road Active Travel Scheme is a key link in the strategic corridor connecting the communities of Dooradoyle and Raheen with Limerick City Centre.The scheme builds on completed active travel infrastructure on Father Russell Road, St. Nessans Road and the R510 corridor, with another link between St Pauls and Ballykeeffe roundabouts currently under construction. Through connections via Baggot Estate, Childers Road and Hyde Road, the wider network also provides links towards the University of Limerick, Colbert Station and other key destinations across the city, the council said.The council said that construction will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption where possible. Initial works have started at two locations at South Circular Road between Fennessys and Scoil Mhthair D, and on Henry Street between its junctions with St Alphonsus Street and OCurry Street.The contractors have started works at the Ballinacurra Road junction and at Fennessys Roundabout. The council is encouraging anybody who wants to keep updated to sign up to the construction email newsletter.IMAGES: Construction works have started (Photos: Limerick City and County Council).