We're running a week-long spotlight on electric mountain biking this week, with reviews of the latest budget e-bike models, buying advice, maintenance tips, and skills guidance.E-bikes are a game changer for mountain bikersWith summer finally making an appearance, the trails drying out, and mountain bikers looking to get out and ride, were Continue reading

The big news in the cycling world is of course that celebrity food-cooking person Gordon Ramsay has been involved in a cycling accident:And has served up the obligatory my helmet saved my life statement:Seasoned with a dash of fathers day guilt: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gordon Ramsay (@gordongram)So far I have not seen any details regarding the crash itself, so its impossible to say whether there are any other factors that may have contributed to it regardless of the style of hat he may or may not have been wearing at the time. Was there a car involved? Did he attempt to ride on an unpaved surface without using a proper gravel bike? Was he distracted by his cellphone, or by chronic nipple irritation due to his apparent lack of a base layer?We may never know. However, the presence of gravel in the photo does raise some suspicion:Regardless, this is the most intense British cycling-themed guilt trip to which weve been subjected since Richard Branson admonished us all to wear body armor:Even though the crash was caused by his undiagnosed lack of thumb mastery:Photographic evidence does suggest he has known how to grasp sporting equipment since at least 2005:Though apparently he never learned to apply the technique to the bicycle.By the way, besides the body armor incident earlier this year, and the 2016 incident that compelled him to call for face masks:Branson was the victim of yet another collosal crash in 2021:This one due to an apparent brake failure:Say the line, Sir Dick:Its unclear what type of braking system Branson was using at the time, though a photo accompanying the announcement for this years event depicts him on a disc brake-equipped road bike and riding without body armor or facial protection:As for other judgmental British people, after breaking his back on an e-bike, Simon Cowell broke with tradition and forewent the helmet scolding, instead telling people to RTFM:Some good adviceIf you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time.I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) August 10, 2020Two years later he crashed again:And finally got with the program:Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but that second crash has Big Helmet all over it.So lets review:Gordon Ramsay: Plastic racing bike, crashRichard Branson: Plastic racing bike, crashSimon Cowell: Overpowered motorized bike, crashHelmets caveats not withstanding, perhaps all of these gentlemen should consider more age- and lifestyle-appropriate bicycles. For example, they might consider switching to bikes withoh, I dunno, tall quill stems to get the handlebars up a bit and really long wheelbases for enhanced stability? There gotta be somebody who sells a bike like that, right?If you can think of anybody let me know and Ill pass it along.

Reigning two-time champion has been training teams final altitude training camp in Tignes before Florence Grand Dpart

Will this solar-powered GPS bike computer outshine Wahoo and Garmin with its "flawless operation" and "ample battery life"? Here are our first impressions

CyclistTour de France history: Coppi triumphs on debut for first Giro/Tour doubleCoppi and Bartali in the Tour! Whats more, in the same team! So began a Lquipe cover story two days before the start of the 1949 Tour de France. It does not seem possible that these two great champions so totally opposed in Italy agree to ride side by side, in the same jersey, to share the same team members of Italys squadra and, above all, agree to lend a hand if necessary.Much has been written about one of cyclings greatest rivalries, one that would divide Italy into Bartaliano and Coppiano. Gino Bartali was the dogged and devout Catholic; Fausto Coppi the charismatic and graceful star whose extra-marital affair would provoke the wrath of the Vatican. Coppi would lobby for Bartalis exclusion from national teams; Bartali would break into Coppis room in an effort to find the secrets of his success.By 1949 the intensity of the rivalry was growing and, with the Tour de France run in national teams, the Italy team manager, Alfredo Binda, had a decision to make. Binda, who himself had endured a famous rivalry with Costante Girardengo during his own cycling career, knew he really needed both men in his Tour team.Bartali was the defending Tour champion but Coppi, who had not yet ridden in the race, was now clearly the dominant rider. To leave one of them out would be unthinkable, but just months previously they had refused to work together at the World Championships in Valkenburg. Neither had wanted to react to an attack by Belgiums Alberic Schotte for fear of helping the other, and eventually both abandoned.We turned around together, without exchanging a word, not very proud of ourselves, Coppi said of that day.Binda could not risk a repeat at the Tour so in late February called the men to a meeting in Chiavari, a town on the coast of Italys Ligurian Sea. The result was an agreement that both would ride at the Tour with a commitment that they would not race against each other.The Chiavari Pact insurance against a new Valkenburg! reported an excited Lquipe, but after Coppi crushed Bartali four months later at the Giro, winning by more than 20 minutes, the accord fell apart. It took another meeting and another agreement, reached with the Tour just weeks away, to get both men to the start line. Related Posts Les Mis meets Le Tour: The man behind the West Ends Gino Bartali musical Tour de France history: The return of the trade teams in 1962 Classic climb: Madonna del Ghisallo, a holy institution of Il Lombardia Tour de France history: Coppi christens Alpe dHuez en route to second Giro/Tour double Tour de France history: Bartali rescues Italy Coppi crafts cycling historyAs it turned out, the Tour started poorly for both men. By Stage 5 the pair sat nearly 18 minutes behind French race leader Jacques Marinelli. Then, on that stage to Saint-Malo, Coppi was brought down in a crash. His bike was wrecked and he had to wait for a spare. When Binda arrived and told him to get going, Coppi refused.I want to go home; the Tour is now lost, he said. Dont even talk about it, replied Binda, who, through a combination of encouragement and thinly veiled threats, finally coerced his rider back into the race.That night, Coppis spirit was shot. He was now nearly 37 minutes behind Marinelli and more than 13 minutes behind Bartali. There was no guarantee Coppi would have the motivation to start the next day and so the team rallied.We all made him go on, Coppis teammate at the race, Ettore Milano, tells author William Fotheringham in Fallen Angel. We got round him and made him continue in the race.Fausto Coppi receives the 1949 Tour de France winners bouquet from famous French singer Line Renaud in Paris. L'EquipeThree days later Coppi recorded his first Tour stage win, claiming a 92km time-trial into La Rochelle. He led at every checkpoint and took more than seven minutes back on Marinelli and three minutes on Bartali. And so started Coppis march up the rankings.By the time the race reached the Alps on Stage 16, Coppi was tenth but still 14 minutes from the race lead, now held by Fiorenzo Magni, who was riding for Italys B Team. Bartali was ninth, a minute and a half ahead of Coppi.On the stage from Cannes to Brianon, over the Allos, Vars and Izoard, Bartali and Coppi escaped together. Their mutual suspicion remained high, though, and on the Izoard their pace dropped as each became concerned about the other taking advantage.Binda again laid down the law, stressing the damage another Valkenburg would do to their reputations. The pair listened and rode together to the finish, each waiting for the other as Coppi slid on mud and Bartali punctured. Bartali, who turned 35 that day, took the stage win and the yellow jersey remarkably the third time he celebrated his birthday with a win at the Tour.The great handoverThe next day, over the Montgenvre, Mont Cenis, Iseran and Petit-St-Bernard passes, it was Coppis turn to taste success. Bartali was the first of the two men over all the climbs bar the Iseran, but when he punctured and then later crashed on the descent of the Petit-St-Bernard, Coppi went on alone to win the stage and lift the jersey from his rivals shoulders.Over the years, stories have varied as to whether Binda and/or Bartali told Coppi to continue alone that day. Certainly, Bartali appeared phlegmatic immediately afterwards, saying, The main thing is that its Coppi who has the jersey, isnt it? Ive already won the Tour twice. He hasnt. He got his chance today.After destroying the field in a 137km time-trial to Nancy on the penultimate day, Coppi finally stood in Paris as the overall winner by nearly 11 minutes. He was already 29 years old but had won cyclings most important race at his first attempt. He had also become the first rider to win the celebrated Giro/Tour double, a feat he would repeat three years later.The double requires strength of character, an ability to perform on the key days, Raphal Geminiani says in Fallen Angel. Only the greats of cycling have it in them. Related Posts Les Mis meets Le Tour: The man behind the West Ends Gino Bartali musical Tour de France history: The return of the trade teams in 1962 Classic climb: Madonna del Ghisallo, a holy institution of Il Lombardia Tour de France history: Coppi christens Alpe dHuez en route to second Giro/Tour double Tour de France history: Bartali rescues Italy The post Tour de France history: Coppi triumphs on debut for first Giro/Tour double appeared first on Cyclist.

The foundation on which much of the successes of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team have been built on, the duo of Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel have formed one of the best tandems in the entirety of the peloton.With Philipsen's contract ending at the conclusion of the 2024 season however, whe...

Coros is disrupting the bike computer market with a capable, fairly affordable, easy-to-use solar GPS cycling computer. Oh and did we mention it has a claimed 120+ hours of battery life? Coros did their homework on this one, and the early adopters are already sold. Is there room for another cycling head unit in the peloton? What does Coros offer that others dont?Photo: Coros What is the Coros Dura?You might recognize Coros from fitness watches and the Coros Omni helmet. Ive owned one of their watches for a little over a year. Its easy to use, is super light, and has an extra-long battery life. Coros wants to bring that formula to the cycling computer market with its new Dura head unit.(Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)Why Dura? When I first heard the name of the new Coros head unit, I thought, That sounds fast. Like many other Shimano riders, Im sure were associating it with Dura-Ace, but Dura for Coros means something slightly different though its not bad being associated with Shimanos top-tier road group.Dura for Coros means endurance, going the long haul, and taking on a challenging task. Thats precisely who the target market is for their new head unit. Coros wants the Dura to be the go-to cycling computer and training companion for adventure, gravel, and long-distance riders.Why? It has 120 hours of battery life, is always ready, and has robust navigation. Theres a lot more to this new cycling computer, so lets start with the key features.Photo: CorosCoros Dura Key FeaturesBattery Life: The Dura boasts 120 consecutive hours of ride time with complete GPS on a single charge. The additional top solar panels add up to two hours of ride time for every hour of direct sun exposure.Display: The screen on the Coros Dura uses a fully customizable 2.7-inch MIP color touch screen. That means viewing your data and navigation on the Dura is clear when riding outdoors, especially under direct sunlight. It also employs an adaptive backlight that auto-adjusts screen brightness to ensure clear vision at night or indoors. The gorilla glass should take all the knocks you can give it. Easily Toggle: The unique dial allows the rider to scroll between screens quickly and without swiping. Yes there is a touch screen, but the knob is easy to use, slightly novel, and fast.Navigation: The Coros app allows you to navigate easily using Google Maps or download them from your favorite apps, such as Strava, Ride with GPS, and Komoot.Training: Dura includes a whole training platform in the Coros app and a desktop-friendly Coros Training Hub at no extra cost or monthly fee. Using the Coros App and Training Hub with a Coros watch, you can track performance, recovery, sleep, stress, and HRV metrics.Our goal is to create products that solve problems for athleteswhether to help them train, explore the world, or simply bring them closer to the sport they already love. COROS DURA is a clear extension of this ethos and is the ultimate adventure and training companion. We are proud and humbled to introduce DURA to the cycling market.Lewis Wu, COROS Co-FounderPhoto: CorosCOROS Dura Unit DetailsGPS Battery Life: 120 hoursWeight: Body: 97g, Mount: 44gDisplay Size: 2.7 inchSolar: YesDimensions: 3.92 x 2.39 x 0.62Display Type: Memory-in-Pixel LCD, 480240 pixelsBacklight: Auto-AdjustTouchscreen: YesConnectivity: Bluetooth/ANT+/WiFiGPS: Dual-FrequencyWater Resistance: IP67Navigation Support: Offline Maps, Turn-by-turn, Checkpoints, Smart Rerouting (when connected to the app)Media Controls: ComingCrash Detection: YesNotifications: YesFree Desktop Training Platform: Included (mobile app included)Pricing and AvailabilityThe all-new Coros Dura is available for $249, on sale worldwide, and starts shipping July 1st.Photo: CorosFirst Impressions: Coros Dura GPS Cycling ComputerIf youre like me, you find something and stick to it. For many years (and currently), that has been a Garmin head unit. When the Coros Dura came up in conversation, the design spoke to me. I liked that it only had two buttons: one for laps and a dial for scrolling through screens and navigating the unit.But theres also a touchscreen if youd prefer not to use the buttons at all.(Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)When the Coros Dura unit arrived, I was impressed with the presentation. Its similar to the Coros watch and has a high-end feel. Even though the Coros Dura is right in the middle for the price, its affordable for those looking for a touchscreen computer with tons of battery life.(Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)When you unbox the Coros Dura, you first get to the unit and then all the extra goodies youll need to maintain and charge it. It comes with an out-front handlebar mount but is compatible with most quarter-turn (Garmin style) mounts.(Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)Coros Dura SetupThe unit came fully charged and was very easy to set up. You scan the QR code, and your phone should take you directly to the Coros App to download and set up your unit. The apps current version had nearly everything I needed to get the unit up and rolling. It is missing some features; however,the Coros PR team tells us there are a LOT of updates coming either immediately, or in the near future. (Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)You can easily set up your data screens on the head unit while in the app. Its straightforward to set up screens, add sensors, etc.The version of the app Im running didnt allow for connection with my Radar (or couldnt find it). That is a bummer. However, everything else worked just fine, and the knob toggle/button is pretty damn clutch.The head unit responds in quick time to any movement on the knob and shuffles through the screens or any selection of data youre checking out. I enjoy the two-button style of the Dura and imagine that with a few more rides, everything will be automatic (sometimes I forget what the lap button was).(Photo: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor)Impressed So Far More to ComeIve had minimal time on the Coros Dura, and I look forward to exploring it more at the Enve Grodeo this weekend. From what I can tell, the Dura is a serious competitor to the Wahoo, Garmin, and Bryton units. The user interface is very intuitive and familiar. The price is also attractive$250 is great for such a head unit.Hows the battery life so far? I have about 13 hours on the head unit and have yet to charge it. Its been reading 75% since the second ride and floating up/down 10% or so from there. It would be nice to see the solar charging data on a dedicated page like Garmin offers, but Im sure thats coming soon. One thing is for sure: Coros updates their units frequently. Ive noticed it with my watch, and I expect the same thing with the Dura. Hopefully, users will see these updates sooner rather than later.Learn more about Coroa Dura at coros.com/duraThe post Coros Dura $249 GPS Solar Bike Computer Has 120 Hrs of Battery appeared first on Bikerumor.

As reported by us earlier this month from Unbound Gravel, GPS sports watch manufacturer COROS is entering the cycling market with its "Dura" Solar GPS cycling computer, boasting an astonishing 120+ hour battery life.

The report says an estimated 30,000 trips are missed in the city every day

In a few weeks, Remco Evenepoel will finally make his much anticipated Tour de France debut. What are realistic expectations for the Soudal - Quick-Step leader though? This question has seemingly split the cycling community.There are those who believe Evenepoel is as good a shout as anyone to chall...