I rarely stick with a tyre for long, and almost never use them long enough to wear them out, which is par for the course for someone in my position. However, something about the Hutchinson Touareg HardSkin kept me interested over the last couple of years. I found it to be a fit-and-forget tyre in its HardSkin casing; you can run it at super-low pressures and really push it into corners; there is always some grip, even when it is clogged with mud; and it is incredibly durable, arguably one of the best gravel bike tyres. It had one major flaw, though: it was incredibly slow. So, has Hutchinson revitalised this great tyre by giving it a racy upgrade? Or has it lost its identity amid the bicycle industry's unrelenting pursuit of 'speed'?Design detailsThe Touareg Race shares much of its DNA with the Hutchinson Caracal Race I tested last year, and is also made in France. It uses the well-proven SwiftEasy casing, which is considerably more supple and reduces rolling resistance. Alongside the brand's Mach Tread 3.0 rubber, Hutchinson claims that the changes have increased the Touareg's efficiency by 35%.Not much made here these days, even Renault only make vans in France now (Image credit: Matt Ischt-Barnard)That's a hefty number, even when compared to a tyre as slow as the Touareg. A quick fact-check on BicycleRollingResistance.com makes this abundantly clear: The HardSkin costs you nearly 30 watts in the 40mm version, let alone the 45mm I ran. According to BRR, that number is now just 16 watts for the 40mm, which is only 2 watts slower than the Caracal Race, a considerably less knobby tyre. Available in 40, 45 and 50mm, my 45mm test set weighed 554g/1.2lbs, which is surprisingly 30 grams lighter than the Caracal Race 45mm. The Touareg Race is also offered with Hutchinsons GridSkin casing. This added protection, found on the brand's road tyres, is said to offer increased bead-to-bead protection, at the cost of around 30-40 g per tyre.A very respectable weight of just 554 grams/2.1oz (Image credit: Matt Ischt-Barnard)PerformanceHutchinson typically makes easy-to-fit tyres, as was the case here. You can thumb them on, and they still feel reassuringly sturdy and well-fitted. Inflation was just as easy, and I did it with just a floor pump. I found I had to hold the tyre flat at the valve to force the casing against the rim wall, and I needed an additional 4-5 pumps to get it going. This isnt unusual, and a good reminder to replace my rim tape and valves.Once inflated to 40psi/2.7 bar, my calipers measured the tyres at 47mm on 25mm internal hookless rims.As expected, the Touareg Race is considerably faster than the HardSkin version. However, the biggest gains come on fine, hardpack gravel surfaces, where it overlaps considerably with the Caracal Race. Where I'd hoped to see improvement was on much chunkier, looser surfaces. While it is faster than its predecessor, it just doesnt feel as spritely as the Caracal despite sharing much of the same DNA.Despite the HardSkin version being a tyre I ran pretty low, Id settled on the high 30s, around 37/38 psi for the Caracal, which struck a nice balance between speed, grip, and suppleness and where I decided to start with the Touareg. Like its sibling, I didnt find the Touareg's sweet spot until I dropped well below 35, closer to 30psi. They may be small, but rather mighty (Image credit: Matt Ischt-Barnard)Dropping pressure, as expected, increased compliance and, thankfully, speed on looser surfaces. It's always a tread I felt I could really rail, mainly because I knew the HardSkin version wouldnt fold or puncture; this feeling thankfully returned at lower pressures. It's clear the Touareg just needs to deform more, which I always put down to the HardSkin's tough casing, but it's more about how the tread interacts with the casing. It's those micro-knobbles that make me believe the Touareg is much more of an intermediate tyre than Hutchinson markets it as, and its crossover with the Caracal is only really in the Race branding. I have always believed the Touareg to be a great wet- and mud-tyre. Because the knobs are so small, they rarely pick up much, but what they do pick up clears very quickly, meaning there is always some grip.The directional tread doesn't hinder performance at all (Image credit: Matt Ischt-Barnard)It's when you point the Touareg uphill and bank it hard into corners that the difference between the two becomes more like night and day, especially on the slimy chalk we have in abundance here on the South Downs , located in South East England. The Touareg rarely lets go, turning hard efforts and big loads into excellent forward momentum regardless of how hard you push it.During my testing for the Caracal, I got a big tyre slash on a long, hard-packed gravel fire-road section; I put it down to bad luck. Just as I was penning my thoughts on the Touareg, it happened again. Fairly tame trail, admittedly, with some flint around, but totally flat, fast, and well-trodden, the kind of trail and road you might see in a gravel race. Massive gash in the tyre. So, that's two tyres written off in under 1,000km. In the past, Hutchinson has offered almost too much durability at the expense of speed; with the Race tyres, they seem to have gone too far the other way. While they do offer the newer Grid Skin version, given I have had maybe one puncture in the last 5 years or more, and two on similar tyres in quick succession, I have to pin it on Hutchinson. Tyre mismatching is very common in mountain biking, but is there a case for it in Gravel? (Image credit: Matt Ischt-Barnard)Value Of course, the Touareg is now much faster; while the Caracal is still the faster, more spritely tyre, the Touareg is more consistent and, in my opinion, still one of the best all-round gravel tyres. It also thankfully retains its ability to be pushed hard and ridden more like a mountain-bike tyre than a gravel one.My big takeaway comes from Hutchinson marketing, which says, The Touareg Race is the cornerstone of the 'Ultimate Combo', when paired with a Caracal Race at the rear. Tyre mismatching is very common in mountain biking, and I discussed it briefly in my Caracal review after getting that near-ride-ending puncture. That was more about optimising protection versus speed, but my time on the Caracal and now the Touareg Race is really starting to make me think, and something Im going to dedicate some time to testing over the winter. Cost-wise, Hutchinson continues to undercut its competitors and the big players in the market by maintaining its 55/60 price point across its Race-branded tyres. US pricing is unconfirmed at the time of writing, but direct currency conversions suggest it will remain a bargain across the pond, if you can get hold of some.However, a tyre is only good value if it's durable and can outlast or last as long as the more expensive options. Unfortunately, Hutchinson's Race format tyre doesn't seem to be cutting the mustard. I was ready to give the Touareg a 4.5-star rating, but I had to reduce it for this reason. Tech specsPrice: 55Size: 700 x 45mmWeight: 554g/2.1oz (on my scales)TPI: 127Compound: Mach Tread 3.0Sidewall: Tan, Black

Michael Rasmussen has again raised questions over Jonas Vingegaards position heading into 2027, this time suggesting even the Tour de France organisers may no longer regard the Dane as Tadej Pogacars principal challenger. The comments come only days after Rasmussen criticised the lack of communica...

A message from our Executive DirectorIts been a busy fall, and I wanted to take a moment to share a few updates on what weve been working on lately, whats coming up, and a little bit of personal news.First, a personal update: my health is improving, and Ive been able to get back on my bike a little more! Its been exciting to spend more time riding, and I really appreciate everyone who has reached out with kind words and support. Im looking forward to getting out there more and hopefully seeing some of you on the streets!Working Toward Safer E-Biking in New OrleansA big part of the past month has been spent in meetings with city agencies and local stakeholders, including the New Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans Health Department, and the Department of Public Works, discussing e-bike policies and how we can make riding safer for everyone.With the first round of the citys e-bike rebate program now underway, this work feels especially timely. The initial round is a soft launch with 100 vouchers, with the next round planned for after Mardi Gras. The longer-term vision is to distribute 500 vouchers per round, at least twice a year.Were excited to be part of these conversations and to help ensure that education, safety, and responsible riding are central to the program, especially as we work to address the serious injuries and fatalities involving people riding e-bikes.At our latest Policy & Design Committee meeting, we welcomed representatives from the Health Department to discuss the rebate program and its educational components. We also had a representative from Waymo join us to hear our committees ideas and concerns about autonomous vehicles. Were planning a similar conversation with Bike Easy members before the end of the year, so stay tuned for details!Getting Out Into the CommunityOne of my favorite things about this work is getting to learn from people across our city.On September 16, I joined the City Planning Commissions Connected Community Workshop and E-Bike Ride. We spent time riding through the city, meeting community leaders, and talking about ways to improve micromobility and transportation options in New Orleans. It was refreshing to join a ride that I wasnt leading and simply listen, learn, and get inspired to keep pushing this work forward.Ive also been spending plenty of time at City Council, particularly during the ongoing budget hearings. I attended the hearing where the mayor presented the budget and was encouraged by the thoughtful questions council members asked. Its clear that theyre digging into the details, and its important for residents to be part of those conversations, too.If theres an issue you care about, I encourage you to participate! Check the City Council website for upcoming meeting dates, submit public comments, or watch recordings of past hearings online. Your voice matters, and public participation helps keep our citys priorities accountable to the people who live here.Ive also been out in the community distributing bike lights. Were now up to 251 lights given away toward our goal of distributing 1,000 lights across New Orleans within 12 months! Big shout out to Entergy for the support to make this happen!Last weekend, Adam Davies (Board Member and Co-Chair of our Policy & Design Committee), family and friends joined ByMBOs Trash Bash to clean up a stretch of St. Claude Avenue near Elysian Fields. Afterward, I headed to Gentilly Fest to give away bike lights alongside NOPD. Well continue partnering with the department on more giveaways, and wed love to work with other community organizations, too. If your organization would like to host a bike light giveaway, just reply to this email!Sharing Ideas and Building ConnectionsIve had some wonderful opportunities lately to connect with people working toward a better transportation future for New Orleans.This week, I joined a panel at the Committee for a Better New Orleans Leadership Forum. As an alum of the program, it was great to be invited back to discuss transportation alongside Shirani from Ride and Steve Nelson from the Department of Public Works.I also participated in a feedback session with Tulane University masters students who are exploring the idea of creating a greenway network connecting our citys universities. Its exciting to see new ideas emerging about how we can make our city more connected, accessible, and enjoyable to navigate.And I recently recorded a podcast conversation with Ryne Hancock from The Ryne Show about the citys e-bike rebate program, e-bikes, and the broader transportation landscape. Check out the podcast here.Bike Easy Bicycle Second Line Is Getting Closer!Of course, a huge part of our time lately has been dedicated to planning this years Bicycle Second Line! Yesterday, we walked through the Broadside to prepare for both our upcoming E.T. screening and the Second Line, and were so excited about whats in store. Oh! and speaking of stores, remember to purchase your 2026 Bicycle Second Line by Thursday, October 22nd! We will have a limited amount of 40.00 shirts for sale at the event, so dont sleep on this Our silent auction launches on Wednesday, October 21, during our E.T. screening at the Broadside. Its a great opportunity to support Bike Easy while enjoying a fun evening with our community. And if you bike, you get in for just 1.00 (plus tax) We will have Bike Valet and our moon photo booth is coming back!There are lots of other ways to get involved in the weeks ahead, too. Be sure to check out the upcoming events and important dates below, and make plans to join us!Bike to the PollsWell be providinga free Bicycle Valet from 2-3pm for early voting as part of Bike To The Polls. Join the Critical Mass before hand for a great group ride or make your plans to meet us for our Bicycle Valet set up just across the streetfrom City Hall in the Holiday Inn parking lot (alongside the Clarinet Mural) Thanks to VOTE and the Power Coalition for organizing all the Parade to the Polls event and contracting our Valet service to make it even easier to bike and vote!Bike Maintenance, Safety & Beer at Care Forgot BrewCraft!Were excited to partner with Care Forgot BrewCraft for a Bike Maintenance & Safety Workshop on Saturday, October 24, from 46 PM at 1728 St. Charles Avenue! Bike Easys Community Programs Manager and skilled bike mechanic, David Meza, will cover the ABCs of bike maintenance, including fixing a flat, caring for your brakes and chain, and staying safe and visible on the road. Even better, Care Forgot is debuting its new Bike Easy Low Gear IPA, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting Bike Easy! No registration required:just show up, learn some bike skills, and raise a glass to safer riding.We have three new Learn-to-Ride Classes coming up. Two for youth on November 21st and January 23rd and an Adult Learn to Ride on December 19th. Pleaseshare with those interested in learning how to ride!Register for Youth Learn to Ride on November 21stRegister for Teen and Adult Learn to Ride on December 19thRegister for Youth Learn to Ride on January 23rdIf you are interested in Sponsoring our Learn to Ride classes, please contact lauren@bikeeasy.orgLets Keep Rolling TogetherIts been a full and energizing fall, and I dont expect things to slow down anytime soon. From policy conversations and community partnerships to bike light giveaways and preparations for our biggest annual event, theres a lot happening behind the scenes to make bicycling easy, safe, and fun for everyone in Greater New Orleans.Thank you for being part of this community and for helping make this work possible. Whether youre showing up to a public meeting, volunteering at an event, sharing your ideas, or simply choosing your bike for a trip around town, you are part of the movement.Support our work by donating todayAs always, feel free to reply to this email if youd like to connect over coffee, talk about biking or transportation in New Orleans, or share an idea. Id love to hear from you.I hope to see you at the Broadside soon, and maybe out on the streets, too!Keep rolling,Allene La SpinaExecutive Director

If your indoor training journey began this side of the indoor cycling cyber revolution, consider yourself extremely lucky. Nothing less than 'revolution' can do justice to the change from the old ways to the new. From counting bricks on the garage wall to connecting in real-time with thousand-strong cyber-pelotons made up of many nationalities, in onscreen worlds offering every watts, leaderboards, segment PRs and a dinosaur around every other corner. Forget boredom this is pretty much sensory overload.One thing though - if your adventures in indoor training began post-2015, you did miss out on the character building experience that means anyone who's swung a leg over a noisy, standalone old-school trainer gets to feel nothing but gratitude every time they fire up Zwift, MyWhoosh, or Rouvy.My indoor training experience actually began outdoors, on a set of Tacx rollers. At that point they were pretty much the most widely available indoor training device, owned by a lot of club cyclists. Aged 18, and a relative newbie to road cycling as a hobby, this was such a novel idea, being able to complete a ride while not actually going anywhere. I'd rigged them up so I could steady myself on the window ledge as I mounted up, which seemed to work pretty well. The training effect was limited, the boredom mitigated by the fact that if I'd drifted off for more than a few seconds, a faceplant onto the concrete was likely to be the result. The experience was also enlivened considerably by the fact that whenever I went to steady myself on the brick ledge I got an electric shock from the static build-up.Needless to say, when my mate Neil became the proud owner of a brand spanking new indoor trainer, I was probably more excited than he was to try it out.Rewind to the very early Nineties, and there we both were in his garage, admiring it as if we'd stumbled across a trove of Babylonian treasure. Of the two of us, Neil always led the way when it came to new cycling tech (and often on the bike too). He had a cycle-computer first. And an alloy-framed bike, and now he had an indoor trainer. We took it in turns to spend a few exhilarating minutes each, riding as hard as we could, before swapping back over to let the other one rejoin the fun.My indoor riding journey had begun.It didn't last long. My rollers got bruled in a car fire and I never felt compelled to replace them. Meanwhile, and to the surprise of no one reading this, the novelty of Neil's turbo trainer wore off for both of us, just as quickly as it had appeared. There ensued a hiatus of seven years or so during which college, cheap student union booze and bands confined training and any thoughts of doing so indoors to 'bubbling under' status.And then I started working at Cycling Weekly.The basic roller design Training, and racing was soon back on the agenda, and paying for coaching from a pre-Doctor Hutch era Michael Hutchinson quickly followed that. A predilection for outlandish interval sessions in his coaching plans, as well as his own apparent imperviousness to pain and boredom during sessions of up to several hours on the trainer was impelling and inspiring in turns. And so it was, almost inevitably, that I found myself in Cycling Weekly's old workshop, during lunch hours, or after work, on a noisy old trainer, cracking out 2 x 15min of 10/20sec on-off intervals or whatever other deliciousness the doc had in store that week.Nothing good comes easy, so they say and believe me, the fitness gains that came from these sessions was won hard in the old-school. This was 2002. Music streaming and podcasts were not a thing, let alone Zwift and the like. You stared at the wall, three feet in front of you, and as for audio accompaniment well, that would be the laboured whoosh-and-whine of a trainer that had all the natural fluidity of a first-timer in the Cooper's Hill Cheese Roll.Even back then, if you were lucky you did at least have a few numbers to watch to keep your brain from imploding while all this was going on. The trainer I used displayed time, and watts although the latter was likely no more accurate than pulling a number out of the air and multiplying it by your gran's most recent shopping bill. A crude cable pull controlled resistance.And that was about the way things remained for the next decade or so, albeit with minor improvements in trainer ride feel, and the introduction of MP3 players and the ipod, both of which could prove useful in an indoor training scenario, and helped keep sweat away from your Sony Discman.The last trainer I had before going Zwift featured fluid resistance and a gel roller for 'realistic road feel and quiet operation'. In reality my family had to turn the TV up even if I was using it out in the garage. While annoying for them, they could at least seek solace in the idea that I was fighting off deep physical discomfort and mental anguish with strategies that included counting all the slats in the garage door, or inspecting every brick in turn. Which brings us, inevitably, to the advent of Zwift. It had been around for a few years before I came to it. Although working in cycling media I well remember the excitement that it had caused in the office when it was launched. The excitement, and the novelty, was reminiscent of the scene in Neil's garage all those years ago, as we crowded round to see videos of 'in-game' action.(Image credit: Future)Thanks to the wonders of Strava, I can reveal that my first ride in the virtual world took place on Sunday 9 September 2018 and was called 'That so-called Zwift'. It took me up Fox Hill in London and back. I obviously thought it was OK, because after three weeks of all-indoor riding I ended up performing an FTP test and even that didn't seem to put me off.Those early days hardly turned me into the kind of Zwift-banger who puts in 20 hours a week on the platform, but it's always been there. And it's served different purposes protection from the weather of course, but also a super-accessible way to race and, after a particularly unpleasant dalliance with sciatica, a useful rehabilitation tool. New courses and worlds keep things interesting, as does the community feel one of the platform's key strengths, I would say. I've tried other platforms too. I loved the IRL scenery and the video-realistic elements of Rouvy, while RGT and its Magic Roads were a fun concept but didn't really deliver in reality, at least for me. Whichever platform, though, the best smart trainers and virtual platforms are a total paradigm shift from the old school. These days those 10/20second interval sessions would still be just as physically hard although thankfully I have limited call for them these days but all the numbers, the colours, the other riders and, yes, the dinosaurs of online riding are distracting enough to make things significantly less soul-crushing.As an old-school old git who would happily waffle on about the good old days of steel frames and polished groupsets ad infinitum given the chance, I have nothing but respect for you if you're still doing it the old-fashioned way, labouring away on a dumb trainer, counting the bricks on the wall. There's an easier, funner way though, and I'd highly recommend a little potter into the virtual cycling world to see what you're missing.One word of warning though once you've seen it, you're never going back.

With our fall member drive behind us, were happy to share our latest group of Collective Reward winners! Find the names of all the lucky folks randomly selected to receive one of about 20 prizes worth over $12,000 in our latest batch hereThe post Fall 2026 Collective Reward Winners appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

What are your plans for 2028? I know we are yet to cross the rubicon into 2027 yet, but where do you think youll be? What do you want to be doing? Are you happy in your current job? Do you think you could be doing something better in the year after next?These are all big questions, individually existential, for which I would hope most of you dont have all the answers to yet. If you do, congratulations on being more neurotypical than me, or at least scarily organised. These are the kind of questions that are currently being asked of the crown prince of cycling, the great hope of France, the growing phenomenon that is Paul Seixas. At just 20, the young man is currently being asked to decide onthe direction of travel for his career. The devilishly simple question is this: should he stay at Decathlon CMA CGM, the team that has brought him to this point, or should he seek great riches elsewhere? Stick or twist? The elsewhere could be UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma-Lease a Bike, Netcompany-Ineos and more. Seixas is, of course, a rider who has won Flche Wallonne, Itzulia Basque Country and Il Lombardia, and finished fourth at his debut Tour de France, all in his second season as a pro. However, he is also a second-year pro, someone still working it out, someone barely out of his teenage years with a complexion to match; a man who cannot yet grow a moustache is being asked to make a totemic decision.At the Frenchmans age, I was still in my third year of university, studying history, with barely a thought about something as vulgar as my future career. I probably wanted to be a journalist, thats about as far as it got. Its no wonder that the man himself has had enough of the debate over what happens next. "It's going to become increasingly oppressive," he told French radio station RMCs 'SuperMoscato Show'. "I can't just decide at the last minute, either."But perhaps I'll start the [2027] season without making any announcement I don't know yet. I think there will come a point where I'll want to be free of this.""Up until now and ever since the start of my career, Ive spent my time chasing after contracts, he continued. Every time I put in a good performance, people would tell me, 'You need to sign a new deal.' "But when I signed my current contract two years ago, I promised myself I wouldnt rush into signing the next one. Because, honestly, Im fed up with it."A professional bike riders career is short and full of risk, so it makes sense for them to maximise their earnings wherever possible. It might be that Seixas is never as in demand as he is right now again, never so able to leverage his position. Right now, hes the most promising rider in the world, so its unsurprising that hes paralysed by choice. However, it doesnt need to be this difficult. I think he should stay at Decathlon CMA CGM. I understand I am in the privileged position of an armchair observer, but to stick rather than twist would not be an abdication of opportunity. The team has been through a revolution in the last couple of years, from the plucky brown shorts of AG2R to the super-team they are now, not all of which is down to Seixas.Decathlon have proved adept at changing to suit their superstar, with ever-improving technology from their partners, Van Rysel in particular. They have signed riders to match their ambition. They might have lost Felix Gall, but in Laurens De Plus, Pavel Sivakov and Ben OConnor, the team has world-class support for their 20-year-old leader. They have also offered a competitive package to keep him, a record deal, should reporting be believed.Seixas knows the team, has been successful there, and can continue to be the star. There is more risk with moving. Should he leave for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, he will be at the best team, but also vying with Tadej Pogaar and Isaac del Toro for the limelight. A move to Netcompany-Ineos might see him as an outright leader, and potentially better paid, but the British squad are past their super-team era, and whether they can get back there is unknown. There are other suitors, all of which would mean upheaval. At 20, stability and a familiar environment should be compelling.This might all just be selfish thinking from me. I think its more fun for the stars of the sport to be spread out across an array of teams than to have all the best talent stacked up in one place. I like the French hope being at a French squad, and the idea of this project being allowed to develop. We know Seixas is good, but we still dont know how he will develop or how this story will end. I just hope he stays at Decathlon CMA CGM. This piece is part of The Leadout, the offering of newsletters from Cycling Weekly and Cyclingnews. To get this in your inbox, subscribe here.If you want to get in touch with Adam, email adam.becket@futurenet.com.

Egan Bernal's future has been the subject of considerable uncertainty in recent weeks, but Netcompany INEOS are confident the former Tour de France winner will return to racing in 2027. After the Colombian recently acknowledged doubts about how much longer he would continue competing, sports directo...

After selling out for most of the year, the Wilde Rambler and Rambler SL are back in fresh colorways. Take a closer look at the new Galaxy Black and Elven Silverblue hues here...The post New Wilde Rambler and Rambler SL Colors Have Landed appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

While cyclists can endlessly debate the merits of a tubeless setup, all can agree on one thing: It requires maintenance. To help navigate (and minimize) the hassles ahead, this edition of Tech Tuesday covers the upkeep and setup essentials for tubeless bicycle tire systems.Park Tools Truman Purdy begins with the big picture why do tubeless bike tires even need sealant? to frame the advice on how you can best utilize sealants to address small punctures and prevent air leakage.The tips range from the basics of coating the tire system and the various methods of refreshing your sealant (as well as the tools needed), to seating your tubeless tire effectively. Seasoned riders can key in on the tricks Purdy outlines for removing old sealant and its benefits.This article is sponsored by Park Tool.

The erroneous claim was made on at least four occasions by presenters Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh, as well as former Conservative education secretary Gillian Keegan, highlighting how quickly TV discussions on reducing road danger can go down an incoherent rabbit hole