Great Britain have been represented at the European Championships in Slovenia this week, but when Remco Evenepoel and Demi Vollering fought for the elite road titles, there was no British jersey in either peloton. British Cycling deliberately opted against sending teams for the men's or women's road...

Its hard to believe that the 2026 edition of Red Bull Rampage marks 25 years of pushing the limits of freeriding in the Utah desert. The contest hasnt been held every year since 2001, but when it has, all eyes have been on the various locations in Virgin, UT to witness the tremendous highs and equally low, lows. If you were to bookend the winning runs of 2001 and 2025, its almost hard to believe they are the same event. Thats the level of progression that weve seen at Rampage both in bike technology and course building. Based on some early looks from the original Rampage location which is being reborn for the 2026 edition, theres even more big line insanity in the works. But until then, enjoy every winning run since 2001 courtesy of Red Bull Bike. How To Watch Red Bull Rampage 2026For those in the United States (or elsewhere with a VPN), there are three main ways to watch Red Bull Rampage 2026. Red Bull will be streaming it live for free on Red Bull TV and on their Red Bull Bike YouTube channel. Theres also exclusive coverage in the U.S. on ESPN+ which requires a subscription. Note that the timing of the finals may change due to weather, but as of now, the Women will have their final on Thursday 10/8, followed by the men on Saturday 10/10. Womens Final:Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM MT (9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET)Mens Final:Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM MT (9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET)redbull.com

In my haste, I announced the Meh-roica Bike Pageant without first running it past my legal team:Despite their repeated entreaties:Now theres a very serious risk I could be sued for trademark infringement by the Roica people:Though as I understand it, in order to prove trademark infringement you need to show that theres confusion in the marketplace, and in this case I think claiming consumers are confused between their material and my contest would be a bit of ahold on, its comingStretch.But if they do come after me anyway I will blind them with this:That is a rather exquisite contest submission from The Land Of Mandatory Bicycle Helmets. (No, not New Zealand, the other one.)Also, as I mentioned, the deadline for submissions is 12:00pm EST on October 16th, but then someone pointed out that 12:00pm EST is actually 1:00pm DST, which I didnt even think about, and which would open up a legal loophole for submissions that are an hour late (at least according to my attorneys)and if that wasnt confusing enough, every year they say were finally getting rid of daylight savings anyway, but it never happens, and then you have other countries that dont have daylight savings, or they do have it but change the clocks on different days, and so forth. So no wonder the worlds such a big mess. Clearly we should just get rid of daylight savings, and clocks, and the concept of time altogether. Instead we could simply track time the natural way, by following the sun and the moon and our menstrual cycles, and maybe then everyone would stop fighting and love each other. In the meantime, two seconds of popular search engine jockeying indicates to avoid confusion youre just supposed to specify ET, but that itself seems confusing, so lets just say that when its non on October 16th here in New York thats when submission window closes. (Thats chronological noon, and not solar noon.) And if youre unsure just consult a popular search engine:Whew!Talk about cognitive load!That was almost as hard as working a front derailleur.But theres more to cycling than just Meh-roica bikes. Theres also JBARA* bikes. Recently I shared this one:*[Just Buy A Rivendell Already]And on the same popular online auction site I came across this:Its not a JBARA bike, obviously, but it is a fascinating glimpse into the sellers mind:WontTake two seconds to flip up the bars.WillTake the time to stage the bicycle by perching it upon a leather couchLook, Im not one of those commonists who tells time by womens menstrual cycles. I think people should be able to engage freely in the buying and selling of goods with minimal government interference. At the same time, everything about this screams I wound up with a dead guys bike and have no idea what it is or how it works, and I cant help wondering if maybe in such cases these bicycles should be appropriated and reassigned. I mean I guess its possible Im wrong, but a glimpse at the sellers other items does not suggest this person is a cycling enthusiast, as none of them have anything to do with bikes, or each other:Though I could use some new grips for my pistol, since I used mine to free a stuck quill stem bolt and they fell off:Just kidding.I dont actually own a gun. However, I may get one, because society is about to collapse. I know this because we have officially reached the Gravel/Cyclocross Inversion Point, which is a sure sign that chaos is imminent:Okay, long before there were gravel bikes, or mountain bikes, or any of that stuff, there used to be this sport called cyclocross. Basically people rode around on mud and grass and had to dismount their bikes in order to jump over obstacles and stuff. For many years, cyclocross in most places was like nine people standing around in a field talking about how this sport was massively popular in Belgium. But then in the aughts it started getting popular everywhere, and every bike company started offering an off-the-rack cyclocross bike, and more and more people started riding these bikes on unpaved roads and dirt trails and stuff. I dont have to remind you what kind of bike the winner of the very first Dirty Kanza rode, do I?No I dont, but I guess I did anyway.Then the whole riding-bikes-on-dirt-roads became a thing unto itself, and everyone started making special bikes just for that. At first people called this gravel, but vowels are almost as mentally taxing as front derailleurs, so they shortened it to GRVL. Then people forgot all about cylocrossthough according to the articles headline, theyre now remembering again, and all you need in order to take part is agravel bike.So there it is. Gravel is now the gateway to cyclocross, which was once the gateway to gravel. And theres your Gravel/Cyclocross Inversion Point.By the way, one reason for the early-aughts cyclocross boom was its fun and friendly atmosphere:Cheering on the race, with the help of a continental lager it is a CX race after all I was taken by just how fun and friendly it looked, with a few of the competitors even thanking us for the support as they went round. It was far from the intimidating event that it could have been, that the world of road racing certainly seems to me, hill-climbing is similarly open. People just turn up with a bike they are prepared to ride off-road on, pay the fee (which in this case was 25), learn the course, and race for under an hour. The risks are low, especially the muddier it is. There are no open roads, no cars, its fun, and unless youre battling at the front, its unlikely to be overly competitive. At least thats how it seemed to me. There are technical bits, but nothing insurmountable, especially at the beginning of the season; then the worse the weather gets, the more the chaos mounts too.Though I must say that in this part of the world that was not my experience. Thats not to say it wasnt fun or that people werent friendly, because it was and they were. However, in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region people came to cyclocross races toyou know, race. And they did, toodare I say quite seriously. You really didnt find this sort of thing:Maybe part of the reason GRVL caught on was that people forgot cyclocross was actually supposed to be a competitive sport and not goofy all the time so they had to create grueling 200-mile rides in order to escape the Irony Crew.Speaking of cyclocross, though Ive mostly de-fanged and borderline JBARA-ed it, the Farbman is the very quintessence of the pre-GRVL New England/Mid-Atlantic cyclocross era:Most recently, I changed the saddle and seatpost, which I recently acquired through some shady backroom dealing:Obviously few components are more subjective than saddles, but I happen to like this particular model, and with the change the bike has finally obtained a level of comfort that is so profound its almost disconcertingplus, the two-bolt seatpost is sufficiently robust for the remounts Ill never do, since the chances of my ever cyclocrossing again are vanishingly small.Or, to put it another wayTAINT in the cards:

As we head into the final day of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Sales, there are still plenty of genuine bargains to be had.As the deal-hunting guru at Cycling Weekly, I have my eye on the pricing across the year, so when I see a deal, I know it's the real thing. One Amazon deal that's actually worth it is on our best overall electric bike pump.The Cycplus AS2 Pro is down to a bargain $79.47, which is a massive 28% off the list $109.99. That's an all-time low price, beating the previous best discounted price of $90.99 last year.For UK shoppers, the Cycplus AS2 Pro has a lesser discount of 19%, down to 64.59, from 79.99. That just beats the best ever price of 66.49 from earlier this year.Modern electric bike pumps have been a total game-changer for me. Featherlight and compact enough to fit into any pocket or saddle bag, they take all the effort out of quickly inflating road and gravel tyres mid-ride or at home.In our Cycplus AS2 Pro review, we scored it with an impressive 4 out of 5 rating; it would get the perfect score from me, but at full price our tester felt it was just a bit expensive. So it becomes a great buy at this price.Below I've added the details for the US and UK discounts, and also the cheaper Cycplus AS2, which misses out on the LED display and offers precise pressure. However, if pure electric inflation at a budget is all you need, then the AS2 is also worth a look.To access Amazon Prime deals, you'll need a Prime membership. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial and cancel anytime before the $14.99 per month fee kicks in.Cycplus AS2 Pro Electric Pump dealsbest ever priceAS2 Pro Electric Pump: was $109.99 now $79.47Save 28%. In addition to taking the top spot in our electric pumps group test. We thought the AS2 Pro delivered, thanks to its compact size, precise performance, and ease of use, making it a practical tool. It missed out on the perfect score mostly because of its cost, so with this 28% discount, it might just tempt you into saying goodbye to the hand pump for good.View Deallowest UK priceAS2 Pro Electric Pump: was 79.99 now 64.59Save 19%. The AS2 Pro's headline feature is the large LED screen with a pressure gauge function, allowing for easy reading of preset pressure values and real-time readings. For UK Prime Day, it's available at one of its lowest-ever prices.View DealCycplus AS2 Electric Pump dealsAS2 Electric Pump: was $50.97 now $43.32Save 15%. The AS2 is capable of reaching up to 100 PSI and recharging via fast USB-C, it offers a fast, painless solution for fixing roadside punctures without adding unnecessary bulk to your ride setup.View DealAS2 Electric Pump: was 59.99 now 49.87Save 17%. The Cycplus AS2 offers game-changing electric pumping. Weighing just 97 grams, it's small enough to fit in a jersey pocket or saddle bag and eliminates the effort of manual mini-pumps.View DealThe main difference between the AS2 and the AS2 Pro lies in control and power: while the original Cycplus AS2 is an ultra-lightweight (97g) single-button inflator with no screen, the AS2 Pro adds a digital LED display that lets you set precise target pressures with a handy auto-shutoff. So if you require precise pressure, the Pro model is the way to go.The Pro version also boosts maximum output from 100 to 120 PSI and inflates faster thanks to a larger battery.Electric bike pumps aren't without minor compromises. Heat build-up can pose a risk to plastic valve stems, though the AS2 series mitigates this with a protective sleeve and extension hose without making the pump too hot to handhold. You also need to stay on top of charging them. However, these small inconveniences are easily overshadowed by effortless inflation, precise pressures on the Pro's LED display, and unbeatable convenience.

Marlen Reusser has won the elite women's time trial at the 2026 European Championships, beating Demi Vollering by 23 seconds in Slovenia to claim a record fifth continental title against the clock. The Swiss world champion took control from the opening checkpoint and never allowed Vollering back int...

Rogue Panda just added a smaller version of the original Bamboo Shoots inner bar ends that are 25mm shorter than the version we tested. Learn all about the new Bamboo Shoots Short King version here...The post Rogue Panda Bamboo Shoots Now Offered in Short King Version appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Marlen Reusser has capped another hugely successful season by making European Championship history in Slovenia, beating Demi Vollering to become the first five-time winner of the elite women's continental time trial title. The Movistar rider arrived as the clear favourite after taking the rainbow je...

Leigh Foster's latest video chronicles a charming summer bikepacking trip around Wisconsin's Driftless Area, a little-known but exceptionally beautiful region of rolling terrain dotted with small towns full of friendly people. Watch the 20-minute release here...The post The Best Riding in the Midwest Is Hiding in Wisconsin (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Colnago G4-X was easy to understand. It was fast, hands down, but the new G5-X is modern-gravel-focused and will please many more riders. When I first wrote about the G4-X, Colnagos gravel race bike felt much closer to a road or cyclocross machine than an adventure bike. It was stiff, quick, and relatively stripped down, with enough tire clearance to handle gravel (45mm MAX) without wandering too far from the race-bike formula.(Photos/Colnago)The new Colnago G5-X keeps the racing focus, but the recipe has changed quite a bit.Tire clearance jumps from 45mm to 53mm. The wheelbase gets longer, the front end gets slacker, the bottom bracket drops, and the downtube now offers storage. Colnago has also added more mounting points, a standard 27.2mm seatpost, and enough room for 53mm tires.Colnago is calling the G5-X an entirely new platform rather than an evolution of the G4-X. More importantly, it says the bike was developed specifically for gravel racing, rather than starting with the usual road-bike priorities of weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics and working outward from there. Its a modern gravel bike, one that looks very much like whats been in the gravel scene for a while. But will Colnago need to play catch up to the rest of the pack? Colnago Started With the RacesInstead of designing the G5-X around one type of gravel course or the athletes racing it, Colnago looked at four very different events: The Traka, Unbound 200, Badlands, and GranGuanche Audax.Each of these gravel gauntlets tests a bike differently. The Traka brings technical descending and plenty of climbing. Unbound is long, fast, rough, and unpredictable. Badlands pushes into self-supported ultra territory, while GranGuanche adds multiple days, loaded bikes, and camping.Colnago G5XColnago G4X Thats a pretty broad job description for one bike, but it also explains why the G5-X looks so different from the G4-X.The G4-X made sense as a race bike because it didnt try to cover every corner of gravel. The new bike still sits firmly on the race side of Colnagos lineup, but Colnago now sees racing as a much wider category.A fast gravel bike in 2026 may need to handle a ten-hour day at Unbound, a technical descent at The Traka, or an unsupported overnight race. The G5-X was built around that reality.53mm Tire ClearanceThe headline number is 53mm, because the G4X 45mm clearance just isnt up to par for the races mentioned above. Yes, you can totally do it, but Im guessing its not the preferred way. The G5-X adds another 8mm of nominal clearance and, more importantly, Colnago is actually taking advantage of it.From the gun, every complete G5-X comes with 700x50mm tires. The SRAM Red build gets Goodyear XPLR Inter TLR tires, while the Force and Rival models use 50mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH tires.Thats a big change from where the G4-X started and a pretty good snapshot of where worldwide gravel racing has gone in two years. Its not just the USA scene using the large tires and 2.2 MTB treads; its everywhere. More Room For Muddy RacesColnago used Unbound as a development reference. Anyone who has watched a wet edition knows that tire clearance quickly becomes more important than almost anything else. When Kansas clay starts packing into the frame, you can either ride or get out your paint stick. More room allows for mud flow to move out kinda like a cross bike, but lets be honest, that mud in Kansas is different. Longer, Lower and SlackerThe geometry changed along with the tire clearance, and its very much in line with what were seeing this year in the gravel trend. Colnago stretched the wheelbase, slackened the head angle, and lowered the bottom bracket. The fork uses 52mm of rake across the full size range, giving the G5-X more stability without letting the steering get too slow.Five Sizes Choose WiselyThe Colnago G5X comes in five sizes: 450, 480, 510, 540, and 570.The middle 510 has a 575mm stack, 392mm reach, 71-degree head angle, 73.5-degree seat angle, 435mm chainstays, 80mm of bottom bracket drop, and a 1,044mm wheelbase.The three smaller sizes use an 80mm BB drop, while the 540 and 570 move to 77.5mm.Dropping the bottom bracket helps compensate for the taller overall wheel diameter that comes with bigger tires. The idea is to keep the rider down between the wheels rather than letting the whole bike get taller as tire volume increases. The longer front center and slacker head angle should also make the bike calmer when the surface gets fast and rough. The G4X has a sharp, direct feel that made it work so well as both a gravel and cyclocross race bike. The G5-X looks much more committed to fast, rough gravel.Whether it still has enough of that G4-X snap for cross racing will be one of the first things Id like to find out.A New Carbon LayupColnago also changed the carbon construction. The G5-X uses a new layup intended to take some of the sting out of rough terrain while keeping the bike responsive when climbing or accelerating.The G4-X was never shy about being stiff, but man, its like a road bike stiff. Thats part of what made it feel so quick, especially when sprinting or riding it with a more road-focused setup.The G5-X is being asked to cover much longer events on much rougher terrain, so Colnago has softened that approach without turning the bike into a couch. Im guessing the big tires will do plenty of work here, but Colnago clearly didnt want them doing all of it.In-Frame StorageThe G5-X also gets downtube storage. A removable cover opens into the frame, with space for the usual gravel repair kit: tube, CO2, tire plugs, tools, and other small spares. I wouldnt have expected this on the G4-X replacement a couple of years ago, but it makes plenty of sense now. Even though lots of companies are ditching the inframe storage, its still a very useful add-on IMO.The G5-X also has considerably more mounting points. There are six standard 64mm mounts, including fork attachment points for carrying extra gear during ultra-distance or unsupported events.Fidlock or Traditional Bottle CagesColnago also worked Fidlock Twist Lock mounts into the G5-X. Traditional bottle cages still work, but every G5-X comes with three Fidlock mounts. The system lets a bottle or accessory twist into place from the side rather than being pulled vertically out of a cage. Its an easy way to fit more bottles on a tight triangle (or when a frame bag starts stealing bottle space), and something we used on the Lauf Elja to much success. But dont look for a bottle hand up unless you wanna put it in your jersey. The same mount can also take tool containers and other Fidlock accessories, giving riders a little more flexibility when setting the bike up for long events.A Regular 27.2mm SeatpostHeres one decision that should make plenty of riders happy: the G5-X uses a standard round 27.2mm seatpost. No proprietary aero shape or wild wedge clamp. It means riders can swap to another carbon post, suspension post, or 27.2mm dropper without working around a frame-specific design. Freedom! The smaller, round post should also help with compliance over rough roads. Its a simple choice, but it makes a lot of sense on a bike meant to do it all.CC.01 Wide Gravel CockpitThe Red and Force builds use Colnagos CC.01 Wide integrated carbon cockpit.Compared with the road CC.01, the gravel bar has 3cm of flare per side instead of 1cm. Reach is 72.5mm, drop is 120mm, and the stem angle is 82 degrees.The Rival model gets a Deda SuperZero Gravel aluminum bar paired with Colnagos SR10 aluminum stem.UDH, Threaded BSA and Electronic Shifting OnlyThe G5-X uses a 68mm threaded BSA bottom bracket, which should earn Colnago a few points, moving away from the G4Xs T47. It is also UDH compatible and works with both 1x and 2x drivetrains, as does the G4X. Maximum 1x chainring size is 50T. Colnago says all gravel double chainrings fit, while road 2x setups are limited to compact and super-compact options.One restriction: electronic shifting only.All three complete bikes use SRAM XPLR AXS with a 40T chainring and 10-46T cassette. Each also gets 160mm front and rear brake rotors. Colnago G5-X Models and PricingThree complete G5-X builds will be available at launch, and Colnago says all three use the same frame and carbon construction. The top offering, the SRAM Red XPLR AXS E1 model, comes with Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels, Goodyear XPLR Inter 70050 tires, and the CC.01 Wide carbon cockpit. Price: $10,500 / 9,200 / 9,999.99.The SRAM Force XPLR E1 bike gets Vision TC45 carbon wheels, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH 70050 tires, and the same CC.01 Wide cockpit. Price: $7,500 / 5,750 / 6,299.99.The SRAM Rival XPLR E1 model keeps the Vision TC45 carbon wheels and Pirelli 50mm tires but switches to the Deda SuperZero Gravel bar and Colnago SR10 stem. Price: $5,500 / 4,900 / 5,299.99.All three builds come in Carbon Green or Carbon Blue and all five frame sizes.

Movistar Team continues to look to the future and has confirmed the signing of Mateo Ramrez, an Ecuadorian rider. Now 20, the climber will join the Spanish team through 2029 from UAE Team Emirates Gen Z, having completed two seasons that confirmed his immense potential on the under-23 calendar. Ram...