The USDA has opened a comment period for its Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the rescission of the Roadless Rule, which restricts new road building on 45 million acres of public land across the United States. Find details to learn how to share your voice hereThe post Only 30 Days to Keep Roads Out of Our Public Lands appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Hunt Summer Sale is currently running, and the UK brand is offering some of its biggest savings yet, slashing prices by up to 40%. Huge discounts span across the majority of the Hunt lineup, from the best road bike wheels to top-rated gravel options.Shop the Hunt Summer Sale and save up to 40%.Our expert testers have put the majority of Hunt wheels to the test and have always rated them highly. Many have also ridden away with Editors' Choice awards.Hunt has arguably improved its range by advancing aerodynamic engineering, introducing recyclable materials, and refining front- and rear-specific designs for better durability and compliance.Below you'll find all the highlighted deals from the Hunt road-and-gravel wheel sale. Hunt has also dropped an extra 10% off on selected wheels, which is applied at checkout. If you're looking for a hassle-free setup, you can purchase some of the best road and gravel tyres when buying your wheels, and they also have up to 40% off.Hunt will even ship them set up tubeless and good to go for an additional fee.With some marked as limited stock and the sale ending soon, we'd suggest that if you have your eye on a wheelset, you pull the trigger fast.Hunt Summer Sale - Road Wheelset Deals Hunt 30 Carbon Hunt Hunt 34_34 Aerodynamicist Carbon Hunt 40 Carbon Hunt 44_46 Aerodynamicist UD Carbon Spoke Hunt 50 Carbon Hunt Hunt 65 Carbon Aero Hunt Summer Sale - Gravel Wheelset Deals Hunt Bike 25 Carbon Gravel X-Wide Hunt 4 Season All-Road Hunt 4 Season Gravel Hunt 35 Carbon Gravel Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel Aero UD Carbon Spoke The highlighted deals are from the UK Hunt Summer Sale, but for those in the US, the Hunt Summer Sale has plenty of equally appealing discounts. Hunt also utilises a dedicated domestic US warehouse, so shipping times are fast, and items do not face customs or high import fees.To sweeten the deals further, Hunt also has a 60-day Ride and Return policy. It means you can ride your wheels for up to 60 days from the date of receipt and return them for a full refund or product swap (see Terms for more details).Below you'll also find the best prices on Hunt wheels from other retailers, relevant to your currency and location.

A huge crash ripped through the peloton during Stage 2 of the 2026 Renewi Tour, bringing down race leader Jonathan Milan and leaving riders scattered across the road. The incident occurred on a narrow but straight section of the route to Ardooie, where a front-to-rear wheel contact near the head of...

Assos says that its updated Equipe ThermoBooster P1 is designed for rides that start cold and finish warm, but are somewhere in between in the interim.That sounds like most rides in the UK, even during most summers and particularly now the heatwave is officially declared over. Its also claimed to be a good option for longer, cooler descents and Assos quotes a 12oC to 21oC temperature range.The ThermoBooster P1 is a sleeved top that it says bridges the gap between a jersey and a jacket. Its packable and has a close fit so its still aerodynamic, so Assos says its suitable for racing. It can be used as a mid-layer when its colder or as an outer layer when its not too chilly.Lighter than its predecessor Assos says that the ThermoBooster P1 provides packable insulation for mixed temperature rides. The ThermoBooster P1 is made of breathable lightweight Sens Air Plus fabric with Hyperlight insulation, while the sleeves are constructed from close-fitting 575CX fabric. Theyre the same fabrics as Assos uses in its RS Shell Jersey S11 and it says that the updated jacket is now lighter weight than its predecessor. A two-way zip allows airflow regulation when riding. The jacket includes two mesh rear pockets, reflectives on the shoulders and a two-way zip to regulate airflow, so its geared up for use as an outer layer.The new Equipe ThermBooster P1 has a unisex fit and is available in sizes XS to 3XL. It comes in one colour, Kosimo Granit, and is priced at 175 / $235 / 200.How does it compare to the Castelli Perfetto and Do.di.ci? The Castelli Do.di.ci offers windproofing without water resistance in a low weight piece. Castelli Although theres no shortage of wind resistant, lightly insulated jackets, the ThermoBooster P1s nearest competitor looks to be the Castelli Do.di.ci.As with the ThermoBooster P1, the Do.di.ci is a breathable windproof jacket without water resistance, designed for cool and dry conditions, with Castelli claiming an effective temperature range between 8oC and 15oC.Castellis piece includes a PFAS-free membrane and comes in short and long sleeved versions in sizes XS to 3XL for men and XS to XL for women. Its more expensive than Assoss jersey/jacket, costing 250 / $280 / 230 with sleeves.If you want more weatherproofing, Castelli also sells the Perfetto 3 RoS, which it says is around four times less breathable than the Do.di.ci and can handle a lower temperature range of 4oC to 14oC. It carries a 280 / $320 / 250 price tag.

A newcomer to the cycling shoe market they might be, but Udog founder Alberto Fonte worked for Fizik, Kask and Pinarello before starting the brand, so should know a thing or two about cycling. Started in 2021, it offers a concise range of mid-range to high-end shoes with a distinctive aesthetic and some interesting technology.Based around its TWS 2.0 (Tension Wrap System) design, the Sempre is a mid-level road shoe with a dial-based lacing design; there is a version that uses laces called the Tensione. There are a number of similarities between this and the Udog Forza gravel shoe, which I also tried and liked, but there are important differences as well.Design detailsThe Sempres key design feature is the Tension Wrap System, wherein a strap passes under the foot and is tensioned by the single twist dial lace, locking the mid-foot more securely in place. Operating the dial is simple enough: turn one way to tighten and the other to loosen the lace entirely, so no micro-adjust for untightening; if you look closely, you can see the cogs inside the dial through the transparent fascia.the TWS part of the lace system pulls and secures the shoe around the midfoot (Image credit: Tim Russon)The upper is made from a micro-perforated PU with a decent protective bumper over the blunt toe (but nothing at the heel) and a well-padded tongue. As with the Forza, the Sempres tongue is captive down one side so it cant slip around and become uncomfortable; indeed, the upper cuff of the shoe extends seamlessly around the foot and along the top of the tongue.Silicone grips inside the heel cup hold the heel in place, and there are perforations in the insole that align with a couple of small slots in the sole unit for airflow. The insole itself is fairly basic, with no alternative arch supports or anything fancy, but it is decorated with an image of a bike rider, which is nice.Udog gives the Sempres nylon-carbon composite sole a stiffness rating of 7, but it isnt clear what this is relative to? Presumably it is 12, as with other brands, but there is no universally agreed-upon scale.Heel retention was great for out-of-the-saddle efforts (Image credit: Ewa Bartels)In addition to the two small ventilation slots, the sole has very subtle rubber heel and toe pieces; these are non-replaceable and not very substantial. Similar to the Forza, the heel of the sole heavily undercuts the heel cup; this is much less of an issue on a road-going shoe, unless you are partial to scrambling about off-road to take photos, at which point it is very easy to damage the upper around the heel on rocks (who? me?).Two small ventilation slots and slim, integrated rubber heel and toes pieces are included on the Sempre's Nylon-carbon composite sole (Image credit: Tim Russon)The weight of a pair of size EU44 Sempres was 620g.Available in Sempre Total White (as pictured) and Sempre Octane (which is white with black straps and a turquoise bumper). There are no half sizes or a women's version, but the full sizes run from 38 to EU48.PerformanceStrangely, the fit of the Sempre seems to me to be quite different from its sibling shoe, the Forza. While the size EU44 Forza felt snug and well-suited to my low-volume feet, the size 44 Sempre would better fit a higher-volume foot, in my opinion. It isnt as wide as the blunt toe box makes it look, but on my feet there is excess material over the forefoot, which makes them feel less secure. Hot temperatures gave an opportunity to test the sole's airflow (Image credit: Ewa Bartels)The single-dial fastening exacerbates this, as it is impossible to effectively secure the front of the shoe without applying excess pressure to the top section. This also hampers the TWS, which should, in theory, be a good concept; however, the inability to isolate each section renders it slightly impotent. The more expensive Cento model has two dials and probably works much better.(Image credit: Tim Russon)I rode the Sempres at home in the Peak District and up some quite big hills in the French Alps, and unfortunately never quite gelled with them. In part, this was because I was also using the excellent Van Rysel RCR shoes, which fitted me very well, and in part because of the lack of independent lacing adjustability. I spent a lot of time while riding fiddling with the twist dial, trying to get the right balance of front-and-back tension.The Sempres were tested in the Alps as well as in the UK (Image credit: Ewa Bartels)On the plus side, the little ventilation slots did offer some noticeable cooling benefits, and on long, hot alpine descents it was interesting to play with my foot angle and feel the airflow increase or decrease. Also, I really like the silicone grips inside the heel cup; they never rubbed or caused irritation and simply provided a highly secure, locked-in feeling without requiring excessive tension on the lacing, which is somewhat of a contrast to the front of the shoe.The difference in stiffness between the Udogs and the Van Rysels under power, while certainly tangible, never bothered me much, although it was a good demonstration of the difference between a pro shoe and a mid-level product. Prior to wearing either, I had imagined I would wear the RCRs for short, hard rides and default to the softer Sempres for longer outings, but in fact I preferred the Van Rysel shoes for both. Despite being less stiff than a race shoe, power delivery was fine (Image credit: Ewa Bartels)This is a shame, as I really liked the look and simplicity of the Sempre and the idea of a slightly detuned shoe for big days out. The TWS should work well too, but seemed to be less effective here than on the gravel variant perhaps because of the more substantial upper material on the road shoe?Value Ultimately, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Sempre. For me, they were overshadowed by the fit and comfort of the Van Rysel RCR, and by Udogs own Forza gravel shoe. Whereas I was always happy to wear the Forza, the Sempre was not my default choice.Of course, fit is a huge part of this, and another rider could, quite justifiably, come to the opposite conclusion, but if I had 160/ $209 to spend on a pair of road shoes, then these would not be top of my list. The TWS concept really is crying out for two dials.Not as wide as they look, but with plenty of volume in them (Image credit: Tim Russon)In terms of value, the Sempre is in the right ballpark, though; Specializeds single-dial Torch 2.0 is a fiver more, and Shimano's similarly stiff RC5 is the same price and only has one Boa, too. Giving it a star rating is tough 4 stars might seem a bit generous given my comments, but there will be people it fits well. And the style and quality are spot on, and it is great that it offers an alternative fit to lower-volume shoesIf you like the look and idea of the Sempres (which I do), and have high-volume feet (which I dont), then perhaps save a bit longer and give the two-dial Udog Cento a try.Tech specPrice: 160/ $209Weight: 620g (actual, size EU44)Outsole: Carbon-nylon compositeRetention: Single dial (Twist Tech)Colours: 2Sizes: EU38-48

Best road cycling shoes 2026 get some light, stiff kicks to help you go faster on the bike

Lorena Wiebes powered to her second victory in as many days at the 2026 Tour of Britain Women, winning a rain-soaked sprint in Blackpool after stage 2 had earlier been brought to a complete standstill by a car accident ahead of the race. The SD Worx-Protime sprinter launched inside the final 100 met...

Silca says, the tires [they] wanted to ride didnt exist, so they created four Protocols of their own. Always there for the marginal gains, Silca wasnt happy with the current crop of large-volume race tires available. So they laid out a development brief (or protocol) of what they really wanted from a modern dropbar race tire. From 29-38mm road tires. And from 45-55mm gravel tires, plus an even bigger 32 x 2.4 gravel tire for good measure (which we spotted on that Leadville prototype Ventum last week.) All-new Silca Protocol road & gravel bike race tires(Photos/Ventum via Instagram)Either scaled up from skinny road tires of the past, or scaled down from XC mountain bike tires, Silca felt like existing wide road and gravel race tires were lacking in performance, specifically tuned for how we race bikes now. So instead, Silca combined lessons learned from road & off-road tires, but rebuilt them from the ground up with lighter, faster casings and treads optimized for efficiency and control in a wide range of riding & racing conditions.(All photos/Silca)Throughout my career, Ive avoided official tire sponsorships so I could strictly run whatever tested fastest in the lab and on the dirt. The Protocol lineup is the first time a tire checks every box for volume, traction, and speed, making this partnership with SILCA an easy decision. Dylan Johnson, Silca sponsored athlete, pro gravel racer & marginal gains advocateSo what did Silca actually want out of a road or gravel race tire?Big volume, whether on road or gravel. Low rolling resistance and a supple ride. Balanced with plenty of conditions-specific grip and an appropriate level of flat protection for typical riding and racing situations. Designed for modern low tire pressures, and on wider rims. And they needed to be tubeless-ready, but also light and soft enough to work well with TPU tubes, too.The results are three Silca Protocol tires for gravel: RCG-1, RCG-3 & RCG-4. Plus one for road: RCR. And several sizes of each. (And yes, we noticed that RCG-2 is missing.)For years, the industry approached gravel tires by just slapping thick, heavy rubber onto traditional road tire carcasses. We approached the Protocol lineup by first looking at lower-pressure dynamics. By optimizing casing ply angles, tread profiles, and material science together, weve created a tire platform that is faster, lighter, and more supple without sacrificing durability. Joshua Poertner, Silca CEOTech detailstubeless-ready gravel & road racing tiresthin and supple 120tpi Race casingPulsar high-performance solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with silica reinforcement promises balanced rolling efficiency, grip & durabilityvariable height gravel tread knobs. taller outer knobs engage earlier at gentler lean angles to maintain biting-edge traction, while asymmetrical tread patterns optimize independent braking and acceleration forcescarbon fiber bead reinforcement for foldable, dimensional stability (instead of conventional Kevlar/Aramid)made in TaiwanProtocol RCG-1 low-profile fast gravel tire lightweight Ghost Shield puncture protection available in 700c x 45, 50 & 55mm widths 460, 510 & 535g claimed weights, respectivelyProtocol RCG-3 medium-profile, tightly-spaced mixed conditions gravel tire enhanced SealSkin puncture protection available in 700c x 45, 50, 55mm & 32 x 2.4 widths 495, 540, 590 & 710g claimed weights, respectivelyProtocol RCG-4 medium-profile, widely-spaced loose-conditions gravel tire enhanced SealSkin puncture protection\ available in 700c x 45, 50 & 55mm widths 545, 620 & 650g claimed weights, respectivelyProtocol RCR slick-profile road / all-road tire with cut-in tread lightweight Ghost Shield puncture protection available in 700c x 29, 34 & 38mm widths 290, 320 & 350g claimed weights, respectivelyall gravel & road widths measured on a 25mm internal rimSilca Protocol road & gravel tires Pricing, options & availabilityRCR, RCG-1, RCG-3 & RCG-4 (l-r)All three new Silca Protocol RCG Race Casing Gravel & the new RCR Race Casing Road tires sell for the same $99 / 119 price tag. Regardless of tread pattern or size. All are offered in all-black only. And are all available to order starting today, of course, directly from Silca online, or through their partner retailer bike shops.Silca.cc

Bike of the Year is back!Its been another action-packed year in cycling tech, with a raft of exciting developments and design evolution across every category and Bike of the Year celebrates the bikes that embody this, as we deliver our verdict on the best of the bunch.So, let this serve as our opening salvo for the 2026 edition, where we explain everything you need to know about our Bike of the Year format.We'll be sharing our category shortlists over the coming days (look out for a full rundown of each category, and why we've picked each bike for consideration), before we announce the winners from Thursday 27 August.What Bike of the Year categories will there be? Bike of the Year 2026 will feature three categories. Scott Windsor / Our Media This year, were running three drop-bar categories for Bike of the Year. Road race bikes Endurance road bikes Gravel bikesAlongside this, our MTB team has been testing the best eMTBs of the year, with their winner to be announced on Tuesday 1 September.In each of our road and gravel categories, weve seen marked developments in how brands are designing their bikes over the past 12 months.Well delve into the trends that have defined each category in 2026 soon, and reveal the shortlist of bikes weve considered for each crown.How are bikes shortlisted for Bike of the Year in 2026? Last year, the Cannondale Synapse won our overall Bike of the Year award because of its progressive design and performance excellence qualities that will stand contenders in good stead again in 2026. Andy Lloyd / Our Media As we test new bikes year-round, we are always looking for the thing that helps set them apart and most importantly makes them worth your time reading about (or watching, for our YouTube channel subscribers).Every new bike our team of expert testers deems to be influential, important or innovative or part of a defining progressive trend is shortlisted for Bike of the Year.Importantly, bikes must have been tested by our team to be considered for the shortlist, with senior tech editor and stalwart of Bike of the Year Warren Rossiter leading our testing this year.What testing has BikeRadar done for Bike of the Year 2026? We've been testing bikes impartially throughout the year, culminating in Bike of the Year. Since the 2025 edition of Bike of the Year, we have tested dozens of new bikes that we know you, our audience, are interested in.Weve focused on reviewing bikes that have been updated and we know are popular, alongside new bikes that push design in an innovative or interesting way.Good examples are gravel bikes with wider-than-ever tyre clearances, endurance road bikes with aero developments, and race road bikes with modernised geometries (to name a few).Only the bikes we've tested are considered for Bike of the Year entry, and the chance to fight it out with the very best bikes of 2026.What makes a Bike of the Year category contender in 2026? We're looking for bikes that stand out from the crowd for the right reasons not just another cut from the same mould. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia A Bike of the Year category contender must represent a meaningful step forward in design in the context of its competitors.While progressive designs don't automatically mean a bike is better, they are indicative of the direction of travel in bike design.We also consider a bike's performance compared to its contemporaries speed, handling, practicality, tyre clearance and many other elements are considered when we review bikes.This shortlist is built through our testing year, with the pros and cons of each bike assessed by our expert team.Well reveal what that means for each category soon, and the resulting shortlisted bikes.How will the winners be decided?The shortlist of bikes will be whittled down to a top-three podium. These three bikes are then placed in a shootout test, with each given an opportunity to shine.Their relative merits will be considered, and the winner will be decided by our team, led by Warren, a veteran of 15 years of Bike of the Year testing.

With a peace sign gesture across the line, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) toasted her second victory in as many days at the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women on Thursday. Stage two from Clitheroe to Blackpool was neutralised for an hour after just 35km of racing due to a road traffic accident further up the route. It restarted with 66km to go, and finished in a bunch sprint on the seafront. Wiebes opened her winning kick with 250m to go, lashing into a headwind. She held off Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) and Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) to extend her lead in the general classification. The Dutchwoman, who also won the sprint finish on stage one, carries a 14-second advantage over Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM) and Le Court-Pienaar into stage three's uphill finish on the Great Orme. How it happenedA blockage on the route out of Clitheroe meant the riders faced a half-hour delay in the rain at the start of stage two. The first 7.7km were then neutralised, as the peloton followed alternative roads, before rejoining the original course at around 20km, ahead of the 3.3km-long categorised climb of Waddington Fell.In search of QOM points, Alberte Greve (Uno-X Mobility) and Marta Jaskulska (Human Powered Health) dared to attack the bunch early. The pair were eventually swallowed up just short of the summit, where SD Worx-Protimes Steffi Hberlin took full honours. Greves team-mate Katrine Aalerud then went solo on the approach to the second categorised climb, Nick o Pendle. Nearing the top, however, the Norwegian was met with a red flag, as the stage was halted due to a road traffic accident further up the route. The stoppage lasted half an hour, during which time the riders waited on the road in the rain, wearing jackets given to them by their team staff. The stage restarted under an escort from the lead race vehicle, with both the QOM on Nick o Pendle, and the intermediate sprint in Whalley neutralised. An hour on from the initial stoppage, Aalerud was then allowed to restore her 50-second lead, and racing got underway again with 66km to go. The Uno-X rider continued on her own for another 23km. As the race barrelled towards the coast, she was reeled in by the peloton, and attacks began flying; blows came courtesy of Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL), Alice Towers (Great Britain) and Alessia Vigilia (Uno-X Mobility), until 19-year-old Oda Aune Gissinger (Hitec Products-Fluid Control) managed to strike hard enough to distance the bunch in the pouring rain. Drawing on the time trial prowess that earned her a bronze medal at the Junior Road World Championships last year, Gissinger grew her gap out to 50 seconds with 10km to go. The sprint trains then accelerated along the Lancashire coast, and halved the Norwegians advantage in 4km. Inside 5km from the line, Gissinger was swept up by the bunch, and the sprint finale began. Consonni's Canyon-SRAM, Lara Gillespie's UAE Team L'IMAD, and Clara Copponi's Lidl-Trek all tried to force their way to the front for their sprinters, but no team could match the well-drilled finish of SD Worx-Protime, who towed Wiebes away for her 17th victory of the season. ResultsLloyds Tour of Britain Women, stage two: Clitheroe > Blackpool (110km)1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime, in 3:29:262. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can) Human Powered Health3. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (Mus) AG Insurance-Soudal4. Nienke Veenhoven (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike5. Lara Gillespie (Irl) UAE Team L'IMAD6. Chiara Consonni (Ita) Canyon-Sram7. Clara Copponi (Fra) Lidl-Trek8. Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned) Uno-X Mobility9. Ally Wollaston (NZl) FDJ United-Suez10. Juliana Londoo (Col) Picnic PostNL, all at same timeGeneral classification after stage two1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime, in 7:32:152. Chiara Consonni (Ita) Canyon-Sram, +14s3. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (Mus) AG Insurance-Soudal, at same time4. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) UAE Team L'IMAD, +15s5. Josie Nelson (GBr) Picnic PostNL, +16s