The UCI Gravel World Championships are taking place this weekend, in a little (and I mean little) place called Nannup in Western Australia, where the population of 538 is about to be considerably swollen by an influx of bike riders, mechanics, teams and fans or at least the ones who can get themselves there, which is no mean feat in itself.Outside of Perth, Western Australia (which could swallow most of Europe and still have room for a stubbie and snag) is pretty damn remote. Move away from the gorgeous coastline by more than a mile or two, and you might as well be on Mars. I once covered a car rally that went right across the state, and one night we were hosted by a young family who looked after a property that was bigger than England, and aside from about a million goats (literally), they were the only ones living there. But its not just the sense of agoraphobia that the worlds best gravel riders are going to have to contend with this weekend. Its also the terrain. Specifically the pea gravel. Which I am willing to bet even the likes of defending world champion Florian Vermeersch and elite riders such as Marianne Vos have not come across before. (Image credit: SWpix.com)In what now feels like a different lifetime, I lived in Australia for over a decade and for several consecutive years I competed in the four-day Cape-to-Cape mountain bike race. I say competed in reality I didnt see much of the front pack, which regularly included Aussie Olympians like Rebecca Henderson and Dan McConnell, after the starting line each day, but we all rode the same trails. And what trails. Tracing what seemed like endless dreamy miles of sublime singletrack, the route went from Cape Leeuwin on the edge of the Great Australian Bite, through the Margaret River wine-making region to Cape Naturaliste, pausing at a boutique brewery or vineyard each night.Everything, from the wildlife and wine to the wending trails, was stunning, but after stage two, when we first encountered it, all anyone would talk about post-ride was the bloody pea gravel. In more recent years, a whole new network of community-constructed singletrack trails have been built and incorporated into this race, specifically based around this unique surface material. And this is where the World Champs are happening, in Nannup.A post shared by UCI (@uci_cycling)A photo posted by Organisers and locals are bigging up the fact that the event is happening on real gravel. And I cant argue with that theres none of this root-and-mud, or chunky stone nonsense that counts for gravel in the UK and England. This terrain is covered in billions of pea-sized, semi-spherical pieces of stone, such as you might see in a cartoon or slapstick film deployed by crafty kids to make people pursuing them skid all over the place and fall on their arses. Pea gravel is as loose as a goose to ride on. Even on mountain bike tyres, berms become terrifying, any use of brakes only results in uncontrolled skidding and the minute you stand up out of the saddle and pedal, your back wheel spins out and you come to a near stop. It is going to be very interesting watching how the elite riders known for their climbing prowess get on. I caught up with reigning British gravel champ Jenson Young shortly after hed arrived in Western Australia and done a recce of the first 30km of the route, and the very first thing he wanted to talk about was the pea gravel. It's nothing like the gravel I've been on before, he told me. It's really fine. It looks like it'd be grippy, but actually there's not much grip at all. The slippage is at the point where, as soon as you get out of your seat on a climb, your back wheel is just sliding everywhere, which is something I've never really had in British gravel events, where the gravel is chunkier.Young has decided to make some technical changes, to deal with the pea gravel. "I've gone with a lighter set of wheels than I'd normally use, and I'm using a mountain-bike tyre that's sort of in-between the slick and the grit," he tells me. "But it's weird it's so fast rolling on some bits, and there's no chunky gravel, so you don't really need the puncture protection, but you definitely do want the grip on the corners, where it's really loose. You have to keep some weight on the back wheel. It doesn't really suit the fast climbers. I actually think the heavier riders might do well."I dont know about that. I was once put in the Clydesdale Class when I entered a bike race in Australia (theyre not known for their tactfulness Down Under) and I still slid all over the place on the pea gravel. But one thing is for sure, it will certainly make for an interesting couple of races on Saturday and Sunday.

Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has hit once again in the transfer market. Transfer number 10 of the winter is XDS Astana's Davide Ballerini, a winner at the Giro d'Italia this year and another leader for its cobbled classics campaign. The Swiss team announced the signing of Ethan Hayter earlier...

Enduras Scottish homeland gets every kind of weather, even sunshine. Far more common, though, are the seemingly infinite combinations of blustery, bracing, and wet that give the Scots language its uncommonly rich collection of weather words.We should expect nothing less of a country ribbed with ancient hills reminiscent of Appalachia, flowing into rugged seascapes worthy of Coastal California, and bathed in the light-sucking drizzle of Southeast Alaska. Cyclists, of course, will recognize all those places for their world-class roads, gravel and singletrack. Which brings us to the quandary that gave us Enduras lineup of foul-weather kit: When the trail is braw, but the weather is dreich, what is a cyclist to do?Suit up and ride, of course*. With the proper Endura kit youll finish your trail day well and fully chuffed, and nae the least bit oorlich.*Assuming the trails arent closed; always follow the direction of your local trail Org.AllTrack Race CapeThe AllTrack Race Cape packs serious rain protection into an ultralight shell built for road and gravel duty. How serious? The cape sports a 20,000mm waterproof rating, which is how scientists say it can hold back a 65-foot column of water. That plus fully taped seams means this compact and packable bit of foul weather kit goes anywhere and is ready for anything.Shop NowSingleTrack Windproof GloveThe SingleTrack Windproof Glove blocks the chill with a softshell backhand and lightly brushed lining for knuckle protection without bulky insulation. A zero-padding synthetic-leather palm and silicone grip preserve bar feel, while the Velcro cuff locks down the fit.Shop NowEndura AllTrack Rout PantBuilt for riders who dont need their trail pants painted on, the AllTrack Rout Pant uses four-way stretch fabric and a relaxed fit with room for knee pads. Articulated, tapered legs keep things pedal-friendly, while a DWR finish, adjustable waist, and zipped pockets handle everyday trail duty.Shop NowEndura AllTrack Roam WP JacketThe AllTrack Roam WP Jacket adds a bombproof outer layer to Enduras AllTrack line of relaxed ride-anything-anytime gear. Stretch construction gives you room to move on technical trails, keeping the rain and smirr at bay without the restrictive feel of a race shell.Shop MensShop WomensEndura MT500 Burner FleeceMore technical midlayer than bulky winter top, the MT500 Burner Fleece warms your upper body and sleeves with Polartec Alpha insulation. Pit zips dump excess heat, while the four-way stretch and relaxed Roam fit give you freedom to move when the trails get touzie.Shop NowEndura MT500 Roam Insulated JacketFor those pure Baltic trail days, the MT500 Roam Insulated Jacket backs up a two-layer, water-repellent DWR outer with breathable Polartec Alpha insulation. Underarm vents allow excess heat to escape, while articulated sleeves, roomy front pockets, and an adjustable hood make this a versatile layer for those unforgettable winter rips.Shop NowAllTrack Roam FleeceConstructed of breathable fabric and a soft fleece interior, the AllTrack Roam Fleece wraps you in a warm embrace without smothering hard efforts, while articulated sleeves maintain riding mobility. A relaxed Roam fit and zippered valuables pocket provide the sort of style and practicality that will make this midlayer a favorite on and off the bike.Shop NowEndura AllTrack Ride L/S JerseyPart jersey, part adventure shirt, the AllTrack Ride L/S blends a lightweight merino-knit body with stretchy ripstop sleeves for added trail durability. Articulated sleeves improve riding fit, while three rear drop-in pockets and a zippered security pocket provide road-jersey utility without the road-racer aesthetic.Shop MensShop WomensThis article is sponsored by Endura.

Our Reader's Rig of the week comes from Mer in Arkansas, who shares the 1996 DEAN Colonel she bought for $200 and thoughtfully rebuilt into a showstopper that balances budget-friendly and boutique bits. Meet Mer and see her DEAN here...The post Readers Rig: Mers 1996 DEAN Colonel appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Theres no shortage of aftermarket wheels out there, so thats forcing brands to figure out ways to stand out in the crowd. For NOBL, that means hand-building wheels in Cumberland, BC, for Canadian customers or in Bellingham, WA, for the Americans. While those wheels cover a wide range of disciplines and styles, NOBL seems to be planting its flag as a premier builder of ultra-lightweight wheels with the help of BERD spokes. Wheels like the Ethos SL would certainly qualify. Which makes it even more amazing when you consider that these arent even the lightest that they offer. Built with a 29 rim that measures 30mm internally and 20.5mm deep, the Ethos SL gets a pair of NOBLs own TI70 hubs that were designed in conjunction with BERD and Erase Components out of Belgium. The hubs are hooked so they offer a perfect mount for the looped BERD spoke ends and provide 5.14 of engagement. The Ti part of the name hints at the titanium freehub, and the 70 references the 70t ratchet. Hubs are offered in either 6-bolt or centerlock with HG, MicroSpline, or XD freehub options. Each wheel is built with 28 BERD Polylight Dyneema spokes which loop around the hub and attach to a rim with standard Sapim Alloy Secure Lock nipples that thread onto the stainless steel threaded section bonded to the end of the spoke. The BERD spokes are a big part of the lightweight story, but far from the only part. Compared to the NOBL Ethos XC wheelset, which is said to have a reinforced layup that is 21% stronger, the Ethos SL rims opt for an ultralight carbon layup with T800 and T1000 carbon fiber (and a 2mm taller rim profile than the XC rims). Calling them their lightest rim ever, the 270g SL rims are hookless with a 2.9mm-wide rim bead thats angled and reinforced with a flexible material to make them more durable and impact-resistant. On our scale with rim tape and NOBLs own valve stems installed, the actual weights come out to 489g for the front and 590g for the rear. Just 1079g for the pair. If you need something lighter, the Ethos SL180 drops to a claimed 993g for the pair thanks to DT Swiss 180 hubs. Unfortunately for us, by the time these wheels showed up, the bike I had intended to use them on had to go back, and the freehub wasnt right for any other bike I had to test them on, so we didnt get any time on them before the wheels themselves had to go back to NOBL. Overall, though, the NOBL Ethos SL wheels are a very interesting option if youre looking for an insanely light set of 29 wheels. Like the old adage goes, light, strong, cheap, pick two you will definitely not find the Ethos SL to be cheap. The SLs sell for $2,399 for a set, with options for glossy white, gold, silver, and black decals included. The Ethos XC wheels are only $100 less for a 1,175g claimed weight, but with a stronger rim as mentioned. Or go the other way with the Ethos SL180s priced at $2,799. All NOBL rims include a lifetime warranty for the original owner, so long as it fails while being used as intended.noblwheels.com