All this talk of Meh-roica bikes last week compelled me to head out on one this past Friday as soon as I concluded my broadcast day:This in turn finally compelled me to do a little more primping:After acquiring this bike very inexpensively last April, I pledged to spend absolutely no money on it, and so far Ive been successfulwith one (well, technically two) exception(s):Ironically, those things cost almost 25% of what I paid for the entire bike. However, they still only cost about what youd pay for lunch for two at Chipotle, and they were well worth it to salvage what was otherwise a perfectly good pair of wheels. Furthermore, with this latest round of improvements, I still havent spent any money. Well, at least not directly.Oh, speaking of money, the resurrection of my archives last week also prompted me to go back in time to the mid-aughts and find Chris Hubers price list:Wowand keep in mind thats mid-aughts money. Factor in the inflation and thats like twenty million American Fun tickets for an aluminum frame.So what did you do to the bike?, youre now not asking, because who the hell cares about a stupid Craigslist bike except me. Well, having addressed all the most serious deficiencies, what it now needed most urgently was new bar tape and new hoods:Fortunately, having recently engaged in some shady backroom deals during which no actual money changed hands, I had both, and so on they went:Less crucial in terms of functionality and ride comfort but nearly as bothersome psychologically was the absence of the little o-ring thingy on the rear brake adjuster:Well, I now had that too, thanks to a surprise package:So I took care of that, and while I was at it I also put the original brake pad holders on there because I finally found my stash of Campagnolo brake pads:Then there were the tires that came with the bike, which Id kept on there in the name of frugality, even though you can see theyre sort of starting to come apart:So I put on a pair of 23mm tires Id been saving, nearly breaking my thumbs in the process because holy crap those rims are a tight fit:By the way, nobody has asked, but yes, there will be a tire width limit for the Meh-roica Ride:[This flyer is 100% AI slop and therefore at least 45% inaccurate.]Simply put, tires wider than 25mm will not be permitted. Arguably this is unnecessary, since many Meh-roica compliant bikes cant go wider than that anyway. But the point here is to preserve the integrity of the event at all costs, which more than anything else is about telling GRVL to go FCK TSLF. Seriously, its enough with the Very Small Rocks already. Plus, we all know how it goes: first you allow 28s, then medium-reach brakes, then come the dick breaks, and before long theres a 500-mile MH-RCA XL and all the twisted love triangles that come with it and jilted lovers are killing the riders.Frankly I dont need that kind of publicity.So you can keep your Panaracer tires with the boutique branding and the huge mark-up at home, and if youre afraid of pinch-flatting or whatever then youd better open the windows, lock up the cat, and start gluing:And so help me if I catch anyone with tubeless tires during the pre-ride inspections that will be grounds for the confiscation of your bicycle.Oh, and Im also banning handlebar bags for the same reason:If you cant carry it in a jersey pocket or under your saddle or in a water bottle with the top chopped off in your second water bottle cage then dont bring it. This is not some kind alt-cycling love-in and we will not be stopping to make pour-over coffee and go skinny-dipping. Meh-roica is a ride for cranky old fusspots, and the only thing higher than the tire pressure will be the blood pressure.Anyway, in addition to the above I switched from mountain bike pedals to road pedals, because if Meh-roica is about one thing its telling GRVL to go FCK ITSLF [see above], but if its about two things its about that and inconvenience in the name of performance:Finally, speaking of Performance, I added the ultimate Meh-roica flourish by changing the perfectly good but mismatched skewers that came with the bike for these flimsy Fort-branded ones:Because nothing evokes the Meh-roica spirit like flipping through a paper Performance catalog.I daresay this is now nearly the Platonic ideal of the Meh-roica bike:All it needs is crabon wishbone seatstays.

The Vuelta a Espaa 2026 delivered a race defined by the spectacular breakthrough of Enric Mas, the early dominance of Tadej Pogacar, the resurgence of Mikel Landa, and the outstanding collective work of Movistar Team and Visma. There were disappointments too, although picking major losers in such...

Gravel Across Switzerland is a self-supported bikepacking challenge that takes riders on a sweeping diagonal across one of Europes most spectacular countries. Starting in Geneva, on the western shores of []The post Gravel Challenge Across Switzerland appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

This years edition of the annual Pass Wide and Slow event in Kent was held in memory of cyclists Steven Anscomb and Natasha Lewis, attracting a huge turnout as participants told motorists: the road must be safe for everyone

The line between glory and heartbreak is razor thin for Richard Carapaz, who delivered another memorable Grand Tour performance at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana. Despite missing out on the podium, the Ecuadorian lit up various parts of the race and was trying right until the end as he tried to break into...

Felix Gall knows that his second Grand Tour podium finish didn't come lightly, his third place at the Vuelta a Espana is forged in the hard work and sacrifices made by his Decathlon CMA CGM teammates. The Austrian followed up his Giro d'Italia second place with a third place finish in Spain, even pu...

Tom Pidcock crossed the finish line of the GP de Montral and puffed out his cheeks as he rolled to a stop next to the crowds clanging cowbells.The WorldTour race provided a super hard dress rehearsal for the Pinarello Q36.5 leader. Using the same circuit as the World Championships road race, last Sundays 214km event allowed him to see the lap for the first time and gave an indication of the favourites. Pidcock is one of them after carrying on his late summer momentum. He finished fourth in last Fridays GP de Qubec, won by Remco Evenepoel, and sixth in Montral. I was up there, I was racing. It was definitely worth coming [to Canada], he told Cycling Weekly post-race.Given his form, the saw-blade puncheurs profile and the absence of Tadej Pogaar, next Sundays race could be Pidcocks best opportunity yet of an elite road race rainbow jersey. Probably, but I dont think its the biggest chance in the world, he said. Well see: you dont need to be the strongest to win the Worlds. Well, in the past [you did], maybe now its different.No Pogi means a more open race. Tadej is the hardest rider to beat and hes not here. Then the next best rider is less hard to beat, Pidcock said earlier in the week.The 26-year-old was a protagonist in Montral, making a couple of attacks, but he could not follow a decisive acceleration by Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro. The UAE Team Emirates XRG star won, out-sprinting the French prodigy.I attacked quite early a few times, probably earlier than other guys, Pidcock said. You really need legs the last two laps on this course. But it didnt make much difference: Seixas and Del Toro showed they were the strongest. I think theyre the favourites for the Worlds. It is going to be incredibly attritional, he added. It could be a bit of a group behind, especially if the race is longer [273 kilometres in distance] people wont be able to make the difference with being explosive.Cohesion and strength-in-depth will be important assets. Although Great Britains line-up was yet to be announced on Sunday, Pidcock told CW that Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) and Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) would be competing with him. Its a good course for me, Ive done well in the WorldTour race before, 2023 GP de Montral winner Yates told CW ahead of finishing 13th in this years edition. I put my hand up [for it], well have a good team and give it a crack.Asked whether he would be sole leader or co-leader, the veteran said: Were never going to be there as number one favourite so the more bodies you have in front in the final, the better your chance.

After 10 years, the Ex Enduro has closed its doors but owing to its uniqueness, Liam reckons its inimitable charm will be talked about for years

Finlay Pickering thinks that riders and teams still need to search for ways to beat Tadej Pogacar. Defending Enric Mas, the rider claims that Pogacar's crash does not take away from the fact that the Movistar rider won the Vuelta a Espana red jersey. UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider Pogacar was in comm...

The 52/58 Superlight Aero wheelset from No.6 has plenty of racing pedigree. They are ridden by both the DAS Hutchinson UCI womens team and Ineos Grenadiers development team, CAMS Majaco. Indeed, if you look closely enough, you'll spot some WorldTour teams using blacked-out versions so as not to upset any official sponsors.The wheels are smart with the gloss black rims and white logos Future - Andy TurnerThey pair well with most framesFuture - Andy TurnerDesign detailsThe No.6 52/58 form is part of the Superlight Aero range of wheels from No.6, part of its 2026 ProjectSpeed, as it calls it. These comprise 28, 42, 48, 52, 58 and 65mm rims profiles, with this specific combination being a 52mm front and 58mm rear. The front wheel measures 32mm external width and 25mm internal, while the rear uses 30mm external width and 24mm internal; these wider internal measurements are becoming commonplace among the best road bike wheels. The claimed weight for all of this is just 1,267g for the pair; on my scales, they came out at 1,281g, including the rim tape and a Shimano HG 11/12 speed hub. The rims feature a lovely gloss finish and are made of a combination of Toray T700 and T800 carbon fibre. They are tubeless, as most road wheels are now, but still use hooked rather than hookless rims. Maximum tyre pressure is 110psi, and a 110kg weight limit is also imposed. The silver hubs look fantasticFuture - Andy TurnerInside are the ceramic bearings which roll smoothly. Note the deeper profiled rear spokesFuture - Andy TurnerMoving inwards from the rims, the spoke nipples are external and Aerotitanium Alloy. Carbon spokes lace into these. These differ between the front and rear. The front uses 16 spokes measuring 3.8mm in diameter, arranged in a two-cross 1:1 ratio, while the rear uses 20 spokes measuring 5mm and is laced in the same two-cross 1:1 ratio. The hubs are Zero Gravity v.3 and as standard come with Tripeak Ceramic Bearings and a 45-tooth ratchet engagement. Freehub options cover the full spectrum, with Shimano HG, MSR, SRAM XDR and Campagnolo N3W. No.6 says the wheels perform best with 28-30mm tyre widths, but can use 28-35mm. White and black decals are available.The silver hubs look very smartFuture - Andy TurnerCeramic bearings inside as standardFuture - Andy TurnerRear spokes are wider than the front for aero and stability gainsFuture - Andy TurnerPerformanceFitting tyres to these wheels was pretty easy for the most part, depending on the tyres. Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed slotted on very easily, while getting the bead of the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR S-LR tyres proved a little tighter. Both, however, pumped up and seated fairly well. As a rule, I prefer a hooked rim for road riding, given I opt for pressures above 75psi to deliver a more consistent cornering sensation.Regardless of the tyre choice, out on the road the wheels feel rapid. The rims are wide, so they work very well with 28-30mm tyres which tend to sit nicely flush with the rim profile, and do tend to provide greater aerodynamic performance. The 52/58mm depths are reasonable; I personally prefer a deeper one given I am a taller and heavier rider, but this combination did feel quick. Racing in my local handicap road race series, averaging speeds in excess of 45km/h, these wheels proved no barrier. I used them as part of a wind tunnel test with a few different frames, and against a set of Vision Metron SL 60 wheels with the same tyres, the No.6 52/58 were faster at every speed and yaw angle across three different frames. While this is a limited comparison, the Metron wheels are well-regarded and feature a deeper profile so might be expected to be faster at higher speeds and yaw angles. Weight is another area where these wheels perform admirably; 1,281g for a deep-section wheelset, including valves and tape, is certainly competitive. And it shows out on the road. On fairly consistent inclines, whether shallow or steep, the wheels seemed to hold speed well. Even on steeper climbs requiring a higher power output, they got up to speed quickly. I personally find that well-laced steel spokes with a slightly higher count can be a bit stiffer, and while carbon-spoked hoops aren't a benchmark for lateral stiffness, these are by no means floppy. The rim width works well with these 30mm tyresFuture - Andy TurnerMeanwhile the profile of the rims is stable even in blustery conditionsFuture - Andy TurnerThat in itself isnt the worst thing, as the wheels have a reasonable amount of compliance; riding across the broken surfaces that make up a good deal of the roads I train and race on locally, they aren't jarring at all. I still have my reservations about carbon spokes however, as Ive had stones or debris ping up when riding in a bunch, and if they ever impacted a carbon spoke I dont fancy its chances. Fortunately, spares are supplied, both front and rear, given the different spoke widths used. External nipples also mean they can be fitted with limited hassle.I like the inclusion of ceramic bearings as standard. These are a marginal gain, but it's in wheel hubs where they make the most sense to me. Pulley wheels or bottom brackets aren't always turning, whereas if you are moving, the wheels are spinning, so there is more to gain from ceramic bearings. They, of course, need to be good quality, and the races need to match them, or issues can arise over time. However, across the 1,500km of testing so far, the bearings roll well, and there is no play in them. The 45-tooth ratchet also engages quickly, proving to be especially efficient in bunch races where I find myself on and off the power more frequently. Finally, a very subjective element: I think they look great. I dont like matte carbon wheels; they get dirty quickly and are a pain to clean, as water marks and oil add imperfections. The gloss finish on the No.6 wheels looks fantastic, similar to the stunning Campagnolo C Lux finish. The wheels even received some limited wind tunnel testing across two frames and against the Vision Metron SL 60. The No.6 came out on top even being shallower (rotors and cassette were fitted for testing) (Image credit: Future - Andy Turner)ValueAt 1,699 / $2,199, these are by no means cheap. However, there is good reason for the higher price than you might expect from Chinese-brand wheels: more research and development. Wind tunnel testing isn't cheap, and that development cost gets passed on to consumers. That means this wheelset costs more than the Scope R4 (1,498) or Hunt 5AM Limitless (1,699). But that is not where these wheels are marketed to compete.Compared with the Scope Artech 6 (3,498 / $4,398), Enve SES 4.5 Pro (3,999 / $3,750), Zipp 454 NSW (3,400 / $4,200), and Princeton Wake (4,000 / $4,275), the No.6 52/58 starts to look like good value. The weight is comparable, the aero performance is based on some independent testing, while ceramic bearings are included as standard, which is not always a given. Outliers include the Hunt 5AM Limitless UD spokes, which are 1,999 / $2,599 and very similar on paper, but overall the No.6 52/58 offer pretty impressive value compared to their rivals.A bonus for the No.6 is that there is no import fee with the wheels, and spares are easy to get. However, the lack of dealers in the UK at present may put some riders off, while Hunt is renowned for its customer service in the UK.Tech specPrice:1,699 / $2,199Weight:1,267gHubset:Zero Gravity v.3Freehub options:Shimano HG11/12, SRAM XDR, CampagnoloRim depth:52/58mm front/rearInternal rim width:25mmSpoke count:16/20 front/rearRim:Hooked