Back in 2009, we knew wed hit Peak Fixie when Wired started covering the subject:Now, 15 (!) years later, we know weve hit Peak Gravelor at least its slower cousin, Peak Supplefor the same reason:WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY TIRES, WIRED? Of course some extra tire volume (or at least the clearance for it if you decide you want it) is often a very good thing, but at this point fat tires are becoming dangerously overprescribed, and people are cramming them onto bikes whether they need them or not. Ive mentioned that Rene Herse tires have a sort of Vicodin effect, but at this point wide, supple tires are like Oxycodone, and its developing into a full-blown epidemic. I can certainly I can understand the zeal of the recently converted:But he lost me at modern sport truck. AND WHAT THE HELL DOES HE HAVE AGAINST OLD CAMRYS???The Camry has been around since 1982 and it deserves your respect.Again, certainly the increasing availability of voluminous high thread-count tires is nice, and the writer clearly has good taste in bikes:But I maintain that he is overzealous:As is clear from his attempt to Cat 6 a random roadie, which is decidedly un-Rivendellian behavior:Its rare that I can speak to any subject as an authority, but as both a Rivendell rider and a spandex-clad racer (well, technically former racer) depending on my mood I think I have the necessary qualifications to do so in this case. Now, something a lot of non-roadies dont understand is that the roadies dont care about you. At all. Theyre not perplexed that youre able to keep up with them. Theyre not judging your bike, or your clothes, or analyzing your performanceand theyre certainly not trying to race you, either. Its like thinking a supermodel snubbed you, when in fact she simply didnt even notice you in the first place, which is an important distinction since you cant snub something if youre not even aware of its existence.However, as a Rivendell rider, I also know there is an exception to the above, which is when the roadie is also a Rivendell rider (or at least has Rivendellian sympathies) in which case they will say something like, Nice Rivendell! This is because they have to let you know that they get it. In fact, when Im on a racing bike and I see someone on a Rivendell Im often tempted to do the same thing myself, but I dont, because when Im on the receiving end I cant help feeling like its a little patronizing.(You may think Im overthinking all this, and youd be right. This is why Ive been writing a bike blog for 17 years. In fact I just checked and holy crap, its been 17 years exactly as of today! If Id known ahead of time I would have baked myself a cake.)The writer also speaks to the cycling worlds two biggest supple tire apologists, Russ from Path Less Pedaled, and Jan Heine. Its ironic that they share this role, because one of them bases his entire identity on riding as slowly as possible while the other one is chasing FKTs and wrote a whole book about how aero handlebar bags are. I suppose this means that supple tires really are the best solution no matter how you ride, but it only makes me suspicious. Then again, who am I to question Heinian wisdom like this?Friction in the body? Racing trucks? (Again with the trucks!) Water-cooled shocks? The human body has evolved to be able to run barefoot for miles upon miles at a time. I think it can handle being on a road bike with 23s on a paved road for a few hours.Though even Jan Heine doesnt claim that switching to supple tires is like going from black and white to color:Id argue its more like watching the same TV but changing from one pre-set picture mode to another, but then again all the friction in my body from riding narrow tires on my road bike has probably rattled my brain but also impaired my senses.Still, theres something even worse for you than riding skinny tires, and according to Gear Patrol its cycling in sneakers:If you ride skinny tires you may risk filling your body with friction, which is bad enough, but if you ride in sneakers your foot will hemorrhage energy and youre never going to get it back:This is absolutely true, which is why if you attempt to walk up a flight of stairs without a pair of stiff-soled shoes your foot will immediately buckle and youll find yourself crumpled in a heap at the bottom landing. Its also why barely survived my ride yesterday:I lost so much unrecoverable energy from my feet I eventually had to start pedaling with my hands.Its no surprise Andy Pruitt, Ed.D was involved in Specialized Body Geometry products, which are designed to medically scare you from using anything else. And nothings scarier than impotence, hence Dr. Roger Minkow and the Body Geometry saddlethough I admit I do miss the days when Specialized marketed their saddles on penile blood flow:For a moment there it really seemed like penile blood flow was poised to replace grams as the measurement to obsess over.Instead, cycling inside became the new cycling outside, and Zwift are now making a complete bikeAnd unlike, say, a Peloton, its designed to actually look like a bike:Im not a Zwifter, and I havent ridden any sort of trainer in many, many years, but this is a very smart idea and theyre probably going to sell a lot of them.But Im holding out for the carbon version.Finally, speaking of Rivendells (at least we were earlier), heres yet another reason to Just Buy A Rivendell Already:Its the kludge that kills.

One of the themes of last cyclo-cross season was the overloaded calendar. And that debate resurfaced with publication of UCI calendar. Involved parties hoped for lesser density of races spread over longer time period. But instead, there is even more focus put on World Cup with 12 rounds within two m...

Phil Bauhaus has survived a tough day in the saddle to take the win from a messy and crash marred sprint on stage 2 of the 2024 Tour of Slovenia.Five riders forced their selection in the breakaway with some well known names amongst them too. Connor Swift of the INEOS Grenadiers, Antonio Morgado of U...

UK bikebuilder J.Laverack is taking both stock and full custom titanium bikes to the next level with their new AM64 additive manufacturing project. Available for ti road, gravel, mountain, and even urban bike frames, the AM64 series 3D-prints select tubes, frame junctions, and dropouts in titanium to give them complete design & geometry flexibility, a sleek aesthetic, and all the latest modern tech features.J.Laverack AM64 3D-printing enhanced titanium bikes(Photos/J.Laverack)J.Laverack is going all-in on 3D-printed titanium for their new AM64 project. Theyre now offering additively manufactured enhancements to both stock and custom bike frames. Like weve seen in their recent Aston Martin.1R Road superbike, 3D-printing ti junctions enable them to create a sleek integrated look, with more conventional tubes here welded in between.Whats new?The J.Laverack AM64 project features headtubes, bottom brackets, seat clusters, and dropouts, all designed parametrically and 3D-printed with titanium additive manufacturing tech. Those 3d-printed elements are designed to transition smoothly, when welded onto regular double-butted titanium tubes for a smooth look, and full integration. That lets J.Laverack offer full custom geometry, or stick to the stock geometry of their broad standard frame sizes (44-64cm). The AM64 tech is now offered on all of J.Laveracks models, which encompasses road, gravel, urban commuter, and mountain bikes.Tech detailsThe 3D-printed 6Al-4V titanium elements are seamlessly welded to the matching ti tubes for the most part. That then creates the smooth look you dont often find on a metal bike. This additive manufacturing construction gives all of the Laverack AM64 series bikes full internal cable routing through tapered headsets. Then you get a printed-in (or painted) griffin headtube badge, a threaded bottom bracket, an integrated seatpost clamp, and 12mm thru-axle dropouts. (But no UDH, at least so far.)Included in the standard AM64 price J.Laverack lets buyers pick full or semi-internal routing to suit their preferences, including the option for dynamo wiring. Plus, you get to pick the number of regular bottle cage mounts you want, fender mounts or not, 27.2 or 32.8mm seatpost diameter, and BSA or T47 threaded bottom bracket size. Fully bespoke options include an AM64 titanium fork, a dynamo-ready carbon fork, customized frame finish or paint, and more.J.Laverack AM64 Pricing, options & availabilityAll models in the J.Laverack range are available with AM64 which denotes both Additive Manufacturing and the grade of titanium alloy used; Ti-6Al-4V. Laverack will custom number the first 50 AM64 frames of each model on their downtube, as a special edition. That includes the road R J.ACK, the all-road J.ACK, gravel GRiT, urban road commuter PiLOT, and XC mountain bike CONTOUR hardtail.Titanium AM64 frameset prices start from 7000 / $8950 / 8265 including an Enve carbon fork, stem & handlebar, plus headset, seatpost, and bottom bracket. Its a bit less for the XC hardtail at 5500 / $7025 / 6490 with a bottom bracket & Hope headset. An individual bike fit at their Oakham, Rutland shop and custom geometry adds on another 500 / $630 / 585. And complete bike builds start at 9,745 with Shimano Di2, Ultegra or GRX.JLaverack.co.ukThe post J.Laverack AM64 3D-Prints Titanium for Sleek Custom Road, Gravel, Urban & Mountain Bikes appeared first on Bikerumor.

New Pfadfinder combines timeless appeal of steel with 3D printing tech and the latest design trends to promise added aero gains and extra versatility

CyclistCyclist Magazine Podcast episode 107: Factor Bikes owner Rob GitelisThis week James and Will are joined on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast by the founder and owner of Factor Bikes, Rob Gitelis. Rob is originally from Miami but moved to Taiwan more than twenty years ago to start building bikes. Originally he ran a factory that built bikes for brands such as Cervlo, Scott and Canyon, but in 2015 he decided to go it alone with the purchase of Factor Bikes. In this episode, Rob discusses how the bike industry really works, why things are so expensive, what progress lies in store, and what he believes is one of the fastest bikes ever made and it came out several decades ago.Interview begins at 10:42.Listen toCyclist Magazine Podcast episode 107 now on AcastCheck outall episodesAlso available wherever you get your podcastsDid you knowCyclistis also stunning monthly magazine? Subscribe now atstore.cyclist.co.uk/cycpodand get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door. Related Posts New Factor Ostro leaves old design in its wake Factor O2 VAM review Factor Ostro Gravel review Not all carbon bikes are created equal: Inside Factors Taiwanese HQ The post Cyclist Magazine Podcast episode 107: Factor Bikes owner Rob Gitelis appeared first on Cyclist.

The Criterium du Dauphin has handed out a lot of points this past week. With the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France soon to come, big changes may come in the rankings; but for the time being the positions at the top remain rather stable. UAE Team Emirates continue to dominate the first place and inc...

With a number of factors influencing what size tyres you should have on your bike, working out what tyres will fit can be difficult.Bikes these days come in an array of different wheel-size diameters, from 700c found commonly on road bikes to 27.5in found on mountain bikes.Width has also changed a lot, with wider tyre sizes proving more popular thanks to their bump-absorbing nature.Of course, you can always replace like with like, but if you want to try running a different tyre, or maybe just the same tyre in a different width, there are a few things to consider.In this guide, we'll run through everything you need to know about bike tyre sizes and delve into the unique size specifications of road bike tyres, mountain bike tyres, gravel tyres and commuter bike tyres.Use the links below to jump to the section you need or read on for our full in-depth guide.How do I find the size of my current tyres?What defines the size of a bike tyre?Road bike tyre sizesMountain bike tyre sizesGravel bike tyre sizesCommuting bike tyre sizesHow does rim width affect tyre size?How do I find the size of my current tyres?Mountain bike tyre sizes are usually expressed in imperial units (e.g. a 2.3in-wide tyre for a 29in-diameter wheel, as pictured here), but they'll have an ETRTO size embossed on them too. - Mick Kirkman / Our MediaThe size of a tyre should be printed on its sidewall.The definitive tyre size is the ETRTO number, which will be embossed on the sidewall of all tyres.It consists of a tyre width measurement in millimetres, a dash and then the tyre bead diameter, also in millimetres. For example, 25-622 means the tyre is 25mm wide and will fit a 700c wheel, while 65-584 means the tyre is 65mm wide and will fit a 650b wheel.You can normally find a tyre's size 700 x 26c here on its sidewall. - Josh Patterson / Our MediaBecause ETRTO numbers are not commonly understood, most tyres will have a metric size such as 700c x 25mm, or an imperial size such as 27.5 x 2.60in embossed on them too, sometimes both.A tyre's size may be printed in black, and quite tricky to read, so outdoors or under a bright light is the easiest place to pick it outWhat defines the size of a bike tyre?Diameter and width define the size of a bike tyre. - Alex Evans / Our MediaThere are two parameters that define bike tyre size:Tyre diameterTyre widthThe tyre diameter, or to be more specific the tyre bead diameter, is defined by the size of the wheel that it has to fit on. We'll cover this in more detail.Tyre width is also a factor to consider. There are more options here, as well as some variability in the width the tyre ends up when its mounted on your wheel rim. We'll come on to this.Tyre and wheel diameterThe most common wheel sizes are 29in / 700c, 27.5in / 650b and 26in. - BikeRadarConfusingly, there are multiple ways in which tyre and wheel sizes are designated.Road bike tyres are typically sized using the traditional European measurement system. Usually, a road bike will have 700c rims and fit 700c tyres.Mountain bikes, on the other hand, usually have tyre and wheel sizes designated in inches, reflecting the US roots of the sport.Typical mountain bike wheel sizes and tyre sizes are 29in, 27.5in and, historically, 26in.29in wheels and tyres have the same bead diameter as 700c; 27.5in is the same diameter as 650b.The 26in wheels that dominated mountain bikes for years are now more-or-less obsolete.Like road bikes, gravel bikes have metric-sized wheels, but they tend to be either 700c or 650b.What about ETRTO tyre sizing?ETRTO standards are used to precisely specify rim and tyre widths and compatibility. - Matt PacochaIt gets even more complex, because theres also an ETRTO sizing thats typically printed on the sidewalls of tyres, defined by the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation.This is controlled by an ISO international standard and ensures that any tyre of a designated diameter should fit on any rim of the same designated diameter.The ETRTO number is expressed in millimetres:For a 700c or a 29in wheel and tyre, the ETRTO diameter is 622mmFor a 650b or a 27.5in wheel, the ETRTO diameter is 584mmFor a 26in wheel, the ETRTO diameter is 559mmWith this in mind, there are actually a limited number of wheel and tyre diameters readily commercially available. A tyre of a specified diameter should fit a rim of the same diameter, although, as we'll come on to, the width of the tyre and rim are also significant factors to consider.When it comes to tyre size, the wheel/tyre diameter will be combined with the tyre width to give you the full ETRTO number. For example, a 25-622 tyre will have a nominal width of 25mm and a diameter of 622mm (to fit a 700c wheel).Despite the ETRTO standards outlined above, manufacturing tolerances mean the fit between the tyre and rim can be tighter or looser than expected.If you need to change a bike tyre fitted with an inner tube, that may just mean the difference between an easy job mounting a tyre and sore thumbs from prising an over-tight tyre onto a rim or off again.For tubeless tyres, its more critical theres a close fit between the tyre and the rim, particularly for road bike tubeless tyres, where tyre pressures are higher and theres more risk of a blow-out than with an MTB or gravel bike tyre.Manufacturers are now making the best tubeless road tyres to much closer tolerances than a few years ago to ensure safety, particularly on the latest hookless rims.Makers of road bike wheels with hookless rims will often publish a list of tyres recommended for use with their wheels, and its best to consult these lists to avoid any mishaps out on the road. Tyre widthThe width of road bike tyres is typically expressed in millimetres, while inches are used for mountain bike tyres. - Russell Burton / Immediate MediaAlthough there are a limited number of tyre bead diameters to fit discrete wheel sizes, theres a lot more variation in tyre width.To start with, mountain bike tyres are a lot wider than road bike tyres. This is one reason why youll likely be unable to fit a mountain bike tyre in a road bike frame, although you can in principle fit a mountain bike tyre on a road bike rim.Road bike and hybrid tyres are typically sized in millimetres, when it comes to width.Most gravel bike tyres are also sized in millimetres, although super-wide gravel tyres akin to mountain bike tyres may be sized in inches.Mountain bike tyres are typically sized in inches too. Road bike tyre sizes explainedRoad bike tyres are wider than ever. Here's a 30c tyre (with a nominal width of 30mm) for a 700c wheel. - Josh Patterson / Our MediaWhen it comes to choosing the best road bike tyres for you, width is the key factor to consider.Almost all road bike wheels are 700c (with a beam diameter of 622mm), although some bike brands fit 650b wheels (with a bead diameter of 584mm) to some of their smaller-sized bikes, so they can maintain a similar road bike geometry to larger frame sizes.In the past, 23mm was the typical width for most road tyres, and some tyres came in a 20mm width or narrower.Now, 25mm is the narrowest tyre that typically comes fitted to road bikes and many bikes have 28mm tyres, with clearance on some of the latest bikes for 32mm rubber and beyond.Wider tyres can offer improvements in grip, comfort and rolling resistance. However, you should check the clearance offered by your frame before committing to a wider tyre.One final point while millimetres are often used to measure or refer to the width of a road bike tyre, its actual width when inflated will depend on manufacturing tolerances, the rim width and tyre pressure.As a result, you may see the width referred to in 'c'. For example, 25c instead of 25mm.Common road bike tyre sizesHere's an overview of common road bike tyre sizes. ETRTODimensions 1862270018c 2362270023c 2562270025c 2862270028c 30-62270030c 3262270032c Edit Table Mountain bike tyre sizes explained2.5in-wide tyres are now common on many of the latest mountain bikes. - Steve Behr / Our MediaMountain bikes are now split between 27.5in and 29in wheels. Some mountain bikes have a 29in wheel at the front and a 27.5in wheel at the rear. These bikes are often referred to as mullet bikes, and it's a popular setup on trail bikes and enduro bikes.Wide rubber rules the day with the best mountain bike tyres. Typical widths range from 2in up to 2.6in, depending on the type of riding the tyre is designed for. Increasingly, wider tyres are also available.Common mountain bike tyre sizesHere's an overview of common mountain bike tyre sizes, across 26in, 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes. 26in wheels ETRTODimensions 50-55926x2.0in 54-55926x.2.1in 55-55926x2.2in 58-55926x2.3in 61-55926x2.4in 63-55926x2.5in 66-55926x2.6in Edit Table 27.5in wheels ETRTODimensions 50-58427.5x2.0in 54-58427.5x.2.1in 55-58427.5x2.2in 58-58427.5x2.3in 61-58427.5x2.4in 63-58427.5x2.5in 66-58427.5x2.6in Edit Table 29in wheels ETRTODimensions 50-62229x2.0in 54-62229x.2.1in 55-62229x2.2in 58-62229x2.3in 61-62229x2.4in 63-62229x2.5in 66-62229x2.6in Edit Table Gravel bike tyre sizesGravel tyres typically range from around 32mm to 50mm in width. - Steve Sayers / Our MediaChoosing the best gravel bike tyres for your bike often means weighing up wheel size, tyre width and tread pattern, to find an option that suits your riding style and the terrain you'll be taking on.Gravel bikes come with either 700c or 650b wheels and youll need to choose a tyre that will fit the wheel size you have on your bike.700c gravel bike tyres start off at around 32mm wide, although most frames can take wider rubber and many riders now opt for 40mm or 45mm tyres. Gravel tyres can reach around 50mm if they fit in the frame.Switch to 650b wheels and tyres are usually wider, to add extra air volume and comfort. 650b gravel bike tyres typically start at around 40mm wide and travel up towards 60mm, by which point, inches may be used to express the width.A 650b wheel with a wider (and hence deeper) tyre will have a similar rolling circumference to a narrower tyre on a 700c rim, so many gravel bike frames can take either wheel size.While gravel tyres may appear to share much in common with cyclocross tyres, UCI regulations for cyclocross racing dictate that CX tyres must be 33mm or narrower for competition.Common gravel bike tyre sizesHere's an overview of common gravel bike tyre sizes for 700c wheels. 700C wheels ETRTODimensions 38-622700x38c 40-622700x40c 42-622700x42c 45-622700x45c 60-622700X50c Edit Table Commuting bike tyre sizesThe majority of hybrid bikes ride on 700c wheels, although examples with 650b wheels and wider tyres such as this Ribble Hybrid AL Leisure are available. - Steve Sayers / Our MediaCommuter hybrid bikes have 700c, 650b or 26in wheel sizes, with 700c being the most popular.Although hybrid bikes tend to have the same-size wheels as road bikes, robustness and comfort are prioritised over speed, so they typically have significantly wider tyres that are heavier and incorporate a more pronounced tread pattern.Hybrid bike tyres typically start at 30-plus millimetres wide and go up into the high 40s. If you go much wider than this, increased rolling resistance can make for slow progress.Common hybrid bike tyre sizesHere's an overview of common hybrid bike tyre sizes for 700c wheels. 700c wheels ETRTODimensions 30-62270030c 3262270032c 35-622700x35c 38-622700x38c 40-622700x40c Edit Table How does rim width affect tyre size?Wider rims mean tyres typically come out significantly wider than their marked size. - Russell Burton / Immediate MediaAlthough weve talked a lot about tyre width, this is only the tyres nominal width (i.e. what the manufacturer has stated, rather than the actual width when measured).A tyres actual width will be different when mounted on a wheel. There are two reasons for this:First, when inflated, a tyre may plump up wider than its stated width, due to variations in manufacturing tolerancesSecond, the tyre represents only around three-quarters of the circumference of the wheel/tyre combination, the rest is determined by the rim bedBest road bike tyres in 2024 | 13 of our favourite clincher and tubeless tyresRim width can vary significantly from one wheelset to another, even if they're designed for the same intended use. - Josh Patterson / Our MediaWheel rims are getting wider both for road bikes and mountain bikes. So, whereas 17mm used to be a fairly standard road bike rim width, many modern road bike wheels have rims with internal widths of well over 20mm.The Zipp 303 Firecrest wheel, for example, has an internal rim width of 25mm. That adds significantly to the width of the mounted tyre, so a nominally 28mm Michelin Power tyre measured up at 30.9mm wide in our test of the wheelset.Among the advantages of wider rims, the extra volume of the tyre means it can be run at lower pressure for a more comfortable and possibly faster ride, without any weight penalty. On the downside, you may have clearance issues in your bike frame if a tyre measures up significantly more than the stated width.

The motorist claims she wasnt aware of two cyclists approaching until she heard the impact as police say the crash could not reasonably have been avoided

Consistently one of the stars of the race in recent Tour de France editions, whether or not Wout van Aert will be present at the startline of the 2024 edition in Florence, isn't yet known. The Belgian is clearly returning to top form though if his Strava is anything to go by!Currently at altitude in...