Ben Healy has been named on the EF-Education-EasyPost team for the Tour de France, which will be the Irish riders debut appearance in the worlds biggest bike race. Though the former Irish champion, and recent Tour of Slovenia (2.Pro) stage winner, had already been spoken of as a very likely Tour starter, confirmation he will []The post Ben Healy named for Tour de France debut with EF Education-EasyPost appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Establishing the correct bike size for you is one of the most important things to do when buying a new bicycle. Although theres a lot you can adjust on a bike so that it fits better, if you start off with a frame thats too small or too large for you, you may be placed awkwardly and uncomfortable as you ride.That can result in aches and pains when cycling and your bike not handling as it should, both of which can limit your enjoyment when out riding.With that in mind, heres everything you need to know about bike sizes be it a mountain bike, road bike, hybrid bike, women's-specific bike or childs bike. Bike size chartWell cover the nuances of road bike, mountain bike, hybrid bike and gravel bike sizes shortly, but heres an overview of typical frame sizes, according to rider height.However, body dimensions and frame layouts can vary significantly from one person and brand to the next, so seek further advice, specific to the bike you are intending to buy, before purchasing. Rider height (cm)Rider height (feet)Road bike frame size (cm)MTB frame size (inches) 143155cm4ft 8in 5ft 1in44cm13in 155163cm5ft 1in 5ft 4in48cm15in 163170cm5ft 4in 5ft 7in51cm16in 170178cm5ft 7in 5ft 10in54cm18in 178183cm5ft 10in 6ft56cm19in 183191cm6ft 6ft 3in58cm20in 191196cm6ft 3in 6ft 5in60cm21in 196205cm6ft 5in 6ft 49in62cm22in Edit Table How do I know what size bike I need?More accurate ways of measuring your height are available. - Getty ImagesThere are a number of ways to find your correct bike size.1) Rider height and inside legThe quickest method is often to look on a brands site.Usually, there will be a chart with recommended bike sizes for different rider heights, so its comparatively easy to see where you fit.Some brands will have an interactive size guide, where you input your height and often other details, such as inside leg length, to find your recommended size.However, don't take a brand's size guide as gospel it's a guide, after all, and one person's dimensions and requirements can vary from another, even if they are the same height.Equally, if you are between sizes, you will need to decide whether to size up or size down. More on that to come. 2) Go to your local bike shopNext up, if youre buying a bike from a physical shop, you can ask them what size you need. Sometimes, youll just get eyeballed and the assistant will put you on a bike to see if you fit.However, bike shops are getting more sophisticated, so you might get a proper sizing, where the shop staff will measure you and determine more precisely what size bike you need.Find a good local bike shop that takes the time to ensure youre buying the right size bike.3) Bike fitFinally, some shops will offer you a discounted or free bike fit as part of your purchase. This is the most sophisticated option, not only to make sure you get a frame that fits, but to have your contact points set correctly so you'll be comfortable and efficient when riding.You may be advised to swap out components such as the stock saddle for something that better suits your sit bone anatomy or to opt for a non-standard bar width or stem length, for example.A bike fit will also help you to determine key setup measurements, such as saddle height, which are crucial to finding a comfortable and efficient riding position. Well cover this in more detail later.What if I'm between sizes?Theres normally an overlap between frame sizes, so youll often have a choice of two sizes.If you sit between two frame sizes, the common advice is to take the smaller of the two options. Theres a lot you can adjust easily on bikes, such as saddle height, saddle setback and handlebar height, to fine-tune the fit.However, seek further advice from the bike brand or your local shop, if you're unsure.Road bike size guideNaming conventions for bike sizes vary by brand. - Our MediaThe most common way of sizing road bikes is by seat tube length in centimetres.However, this will be different depending on whether the frame has a sloping or a horizontal top tube, so youll often see 'effective' seat tube lengths quoted, based on a horizontal line between the head tube and the seatpost.Some brands just give you S, M, L (and often XS and XL) sizes. Others, such as Colnago and Pinarello, have their own unique sizing systems.That means youll need to revert to the brands size info, as described above, or study the road bikes geometry chart to work out which bike size is best for you.See our guide to road bike sizing for more detailed information. Rider heightFrame size Feet and inchesCentimetresEffective top tube (cm)Bike size 4ft 10in 5ft148-15247-48XXS 5ft 5ft 3in152-16049-50XS 5ft 3in 5ft 6in160-16851- 3S 5ft 6in 5ft 9in168-17554-55M 5ft 9in 6ft175-18356-58L 6ft 6ft 3in183-19158-60XL 6ft 3in 6ft 6in191-19861-63XXL Edit Table Mountain bike size guideMountain bike brands largely stick to 'T-shirt sizing'. - Our MediaWhen it comes to mountain bike sizing, most brands have reverted to an S, M, L (etc) sizing method for their frames.With mountain bike seat tube lengths being highly dependent on the frame geometry and rear-suspension layout, T-shirt-style sizing provides the clearest guide.The trend for long and slack mountain bike geometry has accentuated the difficulty in selecting a frame size based on seat tube length alone and some brands now rely on reach (the horizontal distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) to define their frame sizes.Seat tube length is still an important consideration though, because you need to be able to get your saddle height right. If you want to fit a dropper post, a short seat tube may also mean some models won't fit.Finally, MTB frame sizes are significantly smaller than for road bikes, so dont try to compare your road bike and mountain bike sizing.Weve got a lot more info in our mountain bike sizing guide. Bike sizeFrame sizeRider height Extra-small13-14in152-162cm (5ft 5ft 4in) Small14-16in162-170cm (5ft 4in 5ft 7in) Medium16-18in170-178cm (5ft 7in 5ft 10in) Large18-20in178-185cm (5ft 10in 6ft 1in) Extra-large20-22in185cm plus (6ft 1in plus) Edit Table Mountain bike sizing, geometry and riding styleIts a good idea to study our guide to mountain bike geometry to understand the key measurements of an MTB frame, and how they affect a bikes handling characteristics and fit.The type of riding your bike is designed for alters its geometry, too. If youre riding a cross-country bike, designed for agile handling, you may want to be more stretched out, while beginners may prefer a shorter reach so that theyre more upright, with less strain placed on the hands and wrists.Bikes designed for more aggressive riding, including the latest downcountry bikes, trail bikes and enduro bikes, will typically have a longer, slacker geometry to match, which may have a knock-on impact on finding the correct frame size.With the trend for bikes to have slacker head tube angles, its important to get your position forward enough to weight the front wheel and the suspension effectively, so you dont want a frame and seat position that sits you too far back. Again, a geometry chart is the best way to work out the best frame size for a comfortable fit.Gravel bike size guideGeometry becomes particularly important when choosing a gravel bike. - Our MediaGravel bike sizing is much like road bike sizing, with most brands using the seat tube length in centimetres to size frames, though T-shirt-style sizing is, once again, also used by some brands.In general, your position on a gravel bike will be more relaxed and upright than on a road race bike.Thats because you need to be able to shift your weight around more off-road to balance and steer your bike over obstacles. A more upright position will also be more comfortable over uneven terrain.Having said that, if youre interested in gravel racing, a longer and lower position will reduce your frontal profile and potentially make you faster, and the geometry of many of the latest go-fast gravel bikes is shaped accordingly.As when choosing a road bike, pay attention to the geometry of a gravel bike when choosing your next ride. Buying a bike that matches your riding intentions is vital. Rider heightFrame size Feet and inchesCentimetresEffective top tube (cm)Bike size 4ft 10in 5ft148-15247-48XXS 5ft 5ft 3in152-16049-50XS 5ft 3in 5ft 6in160-16851- 3S 5ft 6in 5ft 9in168-17554-55M 5ft 9in 6ft175-18356-58L 6ft 6ft 3in183-19158-60XL 6ft 3in 6ft 6in191-19861-63XXL Edit Table Womens bike size guideBrands that create women's-specific bikes tend to have specific size guides. - Sam Voaden / Our MediaWomen's frame sizes can vary significantly depending on a brand's outlook on women's bikes.Some brands, such as Liv, have womens-specific geometry and womens bike ranges designed from the ground up. As a result, the range of sizes on offer will also be specific to women.Other brands, meanwhile, assert that there are more differences in body proportions among people of the same sex than there are between sexes, and label all their bikes as unisex as a result, following a 'unisex' size guide.In the middle, you have brands that offer 'unisex' frames but with specification tweaks to cater for women.Some brands such as Canyon, on its women's-specced WMN road bikes fit smaller 650b wheels to their smaller frame sizes, so that geometry and handling can be kept consistent through the range.Weve got a separate guide to womens bike sizing to cover the topic in detail, including the difference between road, mountain and hybrid bike sizes for women.Kids bike size guideAs with adult bikes, its vital to get the size correct for a child's bike.Age range is often quoted by bike brands as a way to size kids bikes but, because children grow at different rates, its not the best way to make sure a bike will fit comfortably.Measuring your childChildren grow quickly, but ensuring they are riding the correct-size bike will make for a more positive experience. - andresr / Getty ImagesMeasuring your child is an important first step in choosing the right kids bike size.That starts off with their inside leg measurement. You also need to measure their height.For the majority of the best kids bikes, that should give you the info you need to hone in on the correct bike size.Wheel sizesWhen buying a kids' bike, you'll find they're sold by wheel size. - Our MediaAs we cover in our kids bike size guide, childrens bikes are normally sold by wheel size (in inches), with sizes increasing from 12-inch balance bikes, via 14in, 16in, 20in, 24in and 26in. Approx age Wheel size (in)Minimum inseam (in)Minimum inseam (cm)Minimum height (ft, in)Minimum height (cm) 2+12 (balance bike)12302,888 3+1415383,398 4+1616423,5104 5+1818463,8112 6+2020523,11120 8+2423574,2127 10+2625644,7140 Edit Table What if a child is in between sizes?Its tempting to buy a size up so that theyll grow into it in a few months. Thats not optimal, not least if you're teaching a child to ride a bike for the first time.If theyre not able to ride the bike comfortably and put a foot down easily, they may feel nervous, lose confidence, and be put off riding. Its also easier for a child to overbalance and have a fall if the bike is too large for them.Some brands have trade-up schemes with a discount on a larger bike when theyve grown out of their current one.How are bike sizes measured?Sizing conventions can vary between one type of bike and another, and between one brand and another. - Our MediaBike sizes are measured in a number of different ways and, confusingly, theres little consistency between bike types or between brands.Road bike sizes are typically measured in centimetres, based on the length of the seat tube (from the bottom bracket to the top tube), although as well see the actual seat tube length will vary dependent on the frame geometry.A bike frame's size is often determined by the length of the seat tube, which runs from the bottom bracket to the top tube. - Simon Bromley / Immediate MediaOn the other hand, mountain bike frame sizes are typically measured in inches, because they originated in the US.You cant compare mountain bike frame sizes directly to road bike frame sizes not just because theyre in different units of measurement, but also because the frames on mountain bikes usually have much shorter seat tubes than those found on road bikes.To get around the difficulty of measuring frame sizes, some brands use T-shirt sizing (e.g. S, M, L) for all their bikes, based principally on rider height.But again, this measure isnt consistent between brands. Indeed, brands that sell both road and mountain bikes may use a different sizing convention between the two.Childrens bikes use different sizes again, often based either on a childs age or the bikes wheel size.How to find your bike's sizeIf you have a current bike, you can look at the frame size sticker on it to find what size it is. This will often be located on the seat tube, but might be in a more discreet location, such as under the bottom-bracket area.If its a recently sold model, you should be able to find a geometry chart for your frame on your bike brands website.Alternatively, you can measure your frame size yourself, as we explain in this piece on how to measure a bike frame.

Felix Gall was one of the biggest breakthroughs of the 2023 season. He won a mountain stage and was among the very best throughout most of the Tour de Suisse and then backed that up with an eighth spot at the Tour de France which included a victory on the queen stage. The Austrian leads Decathlon AG...

Ben Healy says he is going into the Tour de France for his debut ride in the race, in what will be just his second Grand Tour aiming to win a stage, though he knows he needs particular conditions to pull it off. Though still aged just 23 years, last years Giro dItalia []The post Healy sees multiple chances at Tour de France | Well get our own opportunities appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Balbriggan Tidy Towns has received an electric cargo bicycle as part of Fingal Council Councils efforts to expand the use of cargo bikes and to support community groups.EU-funded research found that, on average, slightly over half of motorised trips in European cities involving goods could be switched to normal or cargo bicycles.A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said: This morning Balbriggan Tidy Towns took delivery of their e-cargo bike from Bleeper theyll use it for transporting their tools, plants and garden waste around Balbriggan and were looking forward to seeing the bike get lots of use as they beautify Balbriggan.Bleeper said: This week we delivered a new electric cargo bike to Balbriggan Tidy Towns. The cargo bike is funded byFingal County Counciland is one of a number of electric cargo bikes which the council is supplying to local community groups across the county.The bike we delivered to Balbriggan Tidy Towns is aBimas BikesEcargo 3.3 Premium, with a powerfulBafang E-Bike Drive SystemsM400 motor and a 630WhSamsung Electronicsbattery for great range a perfect workhorse for all the jobs that Tidy Towns volunteers do, the company said.The rental company added: Bleeperalso supplied and installed the branding for the cargo bike, something which increases the visual impact of the bike and builds awareness about Tidy Towns, and about Fingal County Councils support for local initiatives.Great to see the new Balbriggan Tidy Towns e-cargo bike from the Fingal County Council #activetravel department and thanks to Bleeper for showing everyone the ropes. It will help the crew transport equipment efficiently and sustainably. Give a wave when you see it cruise by! pic.twitter.com/2pD5NlWRVx SMART BALBRIGGAN (@smartbalbriggan) June 19, 2024

Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red AXS and Campagnolo Super Record Wireless are the flagship road bike groupsets from the three biggest manufacturers.These are the most expensive road bike groupsets each brand produces, and the kit youll see sponsored WorldTour teams riding.SRAM Red AXS is the newest of the bunch, with the updated version released in May 2024. Its original release in 2019 ushered in the beginning of the AXS era for SRAM, which now extends to four road and gravel groupset tiers, as well as mountain bike groupsets.Campagnolo Super Record Wireless was released in May 2023 and is also wireless.Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 was released in 2021 and brought semi-wireless shifting to Shimanos Di2 groupsets for the first time. Its now the oldest of the three.All three are 12-speed and are available exclusively as electronic groupsets you can no longer buy a top-tier mechanical groupset from Shimano, Campagnolo or SRAM.In this in-depth guide, well compare the three brands premium groupsets what each offers and how they function, as well as the all-important weights and prices.Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo shifters comparedCampagnolo Super Record abandons the thumb shifter. - Oscar Huckle / Our MediaThe design of SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo's shifters was, for many years, a key point of differentiation between each manufacturer.However, with Campagnolo ditching its signature thumb shifter, all three now work in a broadly similar fashion.Their ergonomics are more similar, too. While Shimano made its 12-speed shifter bodies larger than its previous generation 11-speed ones, SRAM has shrunken its new Red ones. Campagnolo has redesigned its shifter bodies to be more ergonomic as well.As with Shimano, Campagnolo now has two shifter buttons on each brake lever. Shimano mounts its shifters one behind the other, while Campags are above and below each other.Campagnolos My Campy 3.0 app allows the functionality of these to be custom-programmed.Shimano has made its shift levers easier to use. - Scott Windsor / Our MediaShimanos older 11-speed Di2 shift buttons could be difficult to differentiate, particularly when wearing winter gloves. Its gone some way to addressing this with its 12-speed shifters though, with the two shift buttons more widely separated and the forward shifter raised relative to the rear one. Shimano also integrates auxiliary buttons into the top of the hoods of its Dura-Ace shifters.SRAM Red AXS has one shift button per brake lever. - Russell Burton / Our MediaSRAM has only one shift button per brake lever, which makes rear gear changes more intuitive: right shifter to change up, left to change down in standard configuration.Front changes are also straightforward. You operate both shift levers together to move between chainrings.You can change what each Red shift button does, either using the AXS app or on the latest Hammerhead Karoo cycling computer, which comes included with the groupset. Theres a new Bonus Button on the hoods, mirroring Shimanos hidden third button, which can be programmed to provide additional functions. Campagnolo doesnt offer a third button.Both SRAM and Shimano enable you to set up satellite shifters positioned elsewhere on your bars or bar extensions. SRAMs Blips are wireless and you can link up to eight to your configuration. In contrast, Shimanos are wired and you can only set up one pair. Campagnolo doesnt offer satellite shifters.Campagnolo and SRAM's wireless design vs Shimano's semi-wireless approachSRAM Red AXS is completely wireless. - Russell Burton / Our MediaBoth Campagnolo Super Record Wireless and SRAM Red AXS groupsets are fully wireless.As a result, setting up the front and rear derailleurs is an easier task than with wired electronic groupsets.In contrast, Shimano Dura-Ace is semi-wireless.Shimanos front and rear derailleurs are connected to a central battery, which is usually located inside the seat tube. However, some brands including Cannondale are now choosing to mount the battery in the down tube because their seat tubes are now too skinny for the battery to fit.The single battery makes setup slightly harder than Super Record Wireless or Red eTap AXS, but at least you won't need to route anything through the headset on an integrated bike.That's unless you use the rim-brake version of the groupset, which is still wired.Different gearing optionsAs with SRAM, Campagnolo Super Record cassettes now start with 10-tooth sprockets. - Oscar Huckle / Our MediaShimano is now the only one out of the big three to stick with cassettes that start with an 11-tooth sprocket.For a given gear range, this makes everything larger than starting at 10-teeth you must use larger cassettes and larger chainrings to provide an equivalent top gear.This could potentially mean more weight, although a comparison shows Shimano Dura-Ace weighs approximately the same as SRAM Red and Campagnolo Super Record.Shimano says the Dura-Ace cassettes are available in the following range:11-28t11-30t11-34tHowever, despite being promised at launch, the 11-28t cassette is still not commercially available.Campagnolo has followed SRAMs lead in starting with 10 teeth on its cassettes. It provides the following cassette options:10-25t10-27t10-29tSRAM Red offers a wider range of cassettes than Campagnolo:10-28t10-30t10-33t10-36tThe larger-range cassettes should allow fewer front shifts and lead to more efficient riding.Theres now only one Red rear derailleur, which works with all the available Red cassettes, all of which are available in rainbow anodized and standard metal finishes.SRAM has redesigned its front derailleur with a cage thats more tightly wrapped around the chain and which auto-trims as you move up and down the cassette, unlike the previous mechanism.Wheel compatibilitySuper Record cassettes run on an N3W freehub. - CampagnoloWhen you're considering which road bike wheels will work with one of these three groupsets, you need to consider which freehub is on the wheels:Campagnolo cassettes: N3W freehub bodySRAM Red cassettes: XDR freehubShimano 12-speed cassettes: new 12-speed road freehub, although they're also backwards-compatible with HG-style freehubsIt's possible to change the freehub body on some wheels to fit cassettes from different groupsets.Crankset options comparedRed AXS uses direct-mount chainrings rather than a separate crank-arm spider. - Russell Burton / Our MediaYou can choose between 50/34t, 48/32t and 45/29t Campagnolo Super Record chainrings.As with the first-generation 12-speed groupset, SRAM Red offers 50/37t, 48/35t and 46/33t double chainrings. So, although its large ring sizes are similar, its chainrings dont provide such a big jump between the two rings as Campagnolo.This compensates for Campagnolos more closely spaced cassettes and results in both groupsets offering a comparable gear range. With SRAM, you will need to make fewer front shifts, while with Campagnolo the jumps between gears are smaller at lower ratios.If you like to push a big gear, you can buy a SRAM chainring set with 52/39t, 54/41t and 56/43t configurations. Campagnolo says it may produce larger chainrings to satisfy pro riders, too.Dura-Ace uses larger chainrings than Super Record or Red AXS. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaShimano Dura-Ace cranksets provide 54/40t, 52/36t and 50/34t options, which along with its wide-ranging cassettes offer a much greater range than the Shimano pro-level groupsets of old.SRAM Red chainrings are direct-mounted and made as one piece, whereas Campagnolo and Shimano chainrings are interchangeable on the crank-arm spider.SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo all now have a double-sided power meter option for their double cranksets, following the launch of the Campagnolo HPPM power meter.Unique among the three, SRAM also sells a single-chainring aero option with a 48t or 50t chainring, with or without a power meter.Shimano has the most crank-length options, with SRAM second and Campagnolo last. SRAM now has a 160mm crank length available, but has discontinued its previous 177.5mm cranks.Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red and Campagnolo Super Record crank-length options compared 160mm165mm167.5mm170mm172.5mm 175mm177.5mm Campagnolo Super Record WirelessXXXX SRAM Red AXSXXXXXX Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 XXXXXXX Edit Table Disc brakes reign supremeShimano Dura-Ace brakes incorporate additional cooling features. - Scott Windsor / Our MediaAll three brands use hydraulic disc brakes for their top-spec road bike groupsets. This should come as no surprise many of the best road bikes are now disc-brake only.Shimano offers a get-out rim brake configuration for the die-hards, but both SRAM and Campagnolo have gone all-in on disc brakes.Campagnolo says its disc brakes are efficient enough to avoid excessive heat build-up without resorting to cooling fins on the disc brake rotors.The latest SRAM Red rotors have a lighter carrier and a new profile to the braking surface. - Russell Burton / Our MediaThats true, too, of SRAMs HRD brakes, which have been redesigned for a lighter action with more leverage and increased pad separation for less chance of brake squeal or ticking.Shimano Dura-Ace disc brakes rotors incorporate a cooling fin, known as Freeza tech. Shimano says this helps reduce rotor heat build-up by up to 100C compared to 'standard stainless-steel rotors'.All three brands offer reach adjustment at this top-spec level. Unlike SRAM and Shimano, Campagnolo doesnt offer bite-point adjustment.Battery lifeSRAM AXS batteries can be swapped between the front and rear derailleurs. - Russell Burton / Our MediaCampagnolo quotes a 750km derailleur battery range with heavy use, or up to 1,000km with less intensive shifting, which is similar to Shimanos claimed 1,000km.Confusingly, SRAM quotes in hours: 60 of them.SRAMs system means you can swap batteries between derailleurs if the rear derailleur battery gives up.Thats not an option with Campagnolo because the battery shapes are different, so youll need to struggle home with a single rear ratio if youve forgotten to charge up before your ride.Shimanos single battery prioritises rear shifting if its short on juice, so its get-me-home functionality is an advantage over Campagnolos. You also get some warning of the low battery once the front derailleur gives up, even if you havent paid attention to the flashing low-battery LED.All three systems use coin cells to power the shifters and all three claim around a two-year battery life.ChargingYou can charge Campagnolo's batteries on or off the bike. - Oscar Huckle / Our MediaCampagnolo has the upper hand over its rivals with its charging tech, because it offers both on-bike and off-bike charging, thanks to a magnetic charging interface.In contrast, Shimanos internal battery is only chargeable on-bike via the magnetic charge port in the rear derailleur, so you need a wall socket nearby to connect the charger.SRAM only offers off-bike charging via its USB docking station. This has the advantage that you can take your batteries somewhere convenient to charge, but the disadvantage of having to unhook the batteries from your derailleurs every time you need to charge them.In reality, this isnt such an arduous task and both SRAMs optional four-battery charger and its single-battery charger that comes with the groupset do the job in double-quick time via USB-C. A full charge is claimed to take 60 minutes.Campagnolo also offers fast charging, claiming a 90 per cent charge in 45 minutes and a full charge in 60 minutes. The quoted time for a full recharge of a Shimano Di2 battery is between 1.5 and 3 hours.Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red and Campagnolo Super Record weights comparedWeight is dependent on configuration, but Dura-Ace weighed 2,514g when we tested it. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaNew SRAM Red has a claimed weight of 2,496g for a 48/35t power meter with a 10-28t cassette, all the required bolts and bits, and even the hydraulic fluid. SRAM claims its now the lightest groupset of the trio.Thats borne out by the 2,520g claimed weight for the Super Record Wireless groupset in its lightest configuration without a power meter.Meanwhile, we weighed Shimano Dura-Ace at 2,514g when we tested it, but that did include a power meter.As always, actual weight is highly dependent on configuration and whether you include the small parts such as Shimanos battery mounting kit and rotor lockrings. However, weight-wise SRAM does appear to have the upper hand now, even if only by a few grams.High pricesCampagnolo Super Record Wireless is premium-priced compared to its competitors. - Oscar Huckle / Our MediaIf you want a pro-level groupset, youre going to pay for it, regardless of which brand you choose.As with weight, price is highly dependent on the options chosen, but a complete Shimano Dura-Ace groupset costs around 3,600 at full retail price.A complete SRAM Red groupset is less expensive, at around 3,000 without a power meter, although SRAM includes a Hammerhead Karoo cycling computer.Discounting means you can usually buy groupsets for a significantly lower price though, at least for SRAM and Shimano.Meanwhile, Campagnolo Super Record retails for 5,200, or around 4,500. If you want an in-series Campagnolo HPPM power meter, you can add 1,990 to that for a total just shy of 6,500 slightly more than a complete Shimano Ultegra-equipped Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 with DT Swiss carbon wheels.Cheaper optionsShimano Ultegra Di2 sits below Dura-Ace Di2 in Shimano's groupset hierarchy. - Russell Burton / Our MediaTalking of Ultegra, both SRAM and Shimano offer cheaper electronic-shifting road bike groupsets, alongside their premium offerings.In SRAMs case, its AXS groupsets are available at Force, Rival and Apex levels. Force and Rival offer double and single-chainring options, while Apex is single-ring only.Shimano has Ultegra and 105 Di2 as less expensive electronic road bike groupsets.The wireless Campagnolo groupset, as with its predecessor wired version, continues to be offered at Super Record level only. Campagnolo formerly offered wired electronic shifting at Record and Chorus level though, and it hinted to us at launch that its new wireless tech may trickle down in future.

For once, EF Education-EasyPost have not been the final team to reveal their lineup for a Grand Tour. The American team has revealed it's squad for the upcoming Tour de France with plenty experienced and brilliant stage hunters including Neilson Powless, Ben Healy and also Richard Carapaz who comes...

A new 13-speed SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset has been spotted at the 2024 Unbound gravel race.When SRAM recently launched its flagship Red AXS groupset, a gravel variant was curiously omitted.Now Red XPLR AXS is here and its a radically different product from its road counterpart.We spotted the groupset on Tiffany Cromwell's Canyon Grail. - Sam Andrews / Our MediaThe new gravel groupset borrows from SRAMs Transmission (what SRAM is officially referring to these components as, after initially being called T-Type) mountain bike groupsets, with the derailleur hanger incorporated into the rear derailleur itself, mounting directly onto a SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) dropout.There are also some interesting features we didnt expect, which may give a hint about how SRAMs road and gravel groupsets will develop in the future.Lets take a look at the components.A direct-mount rear derailleurThe very dusty new rear derailleur. - Sam Andrews / Our MediaThe new rear derailleur confirms its a Red XPLR AXS model because it says so on the component theres a Red graphic on the main body and an XPLR graphic on the derailleur cage by the lower pulley wheel.Like Red AXS, the Red XPLR AXS rear derailleur features handsome polished sections and appears to be equipped with ceramic bearings.The Red AXS rear derailleur relies on an Orbit Fluid damper, but the new derailleur appears to borrow the Overload clutch found on Transmission rear derailleurs.The Overload clutch is focused more on protecting the derailleurs shift motor to better protect the derailleur from damage.The road Red AXS rear derailleur relies on an Orbit Fluid damper. - Russell Burton / Our MediaUnlike the new Red AXS rear derailleur, which relies on a conventional derailleur hanger, this Red XPLR AXS derailleur mounts directly to the frames dropout.This means the derailleur forgoes a conventional rear derailleur hanger and instead uses SRAMs UDH standard.Because of the UDH dropout, Transmission rear derailleurs lack limit and B-tension adjustment screws because the distance between the derailleur and cassette is controlled.Instead, the derailleur is set up using SRAMs AXS smartphone app or via buttons on the derailleur itself.The Transmission rear derailleur lacks limit and B-tension screws. - Steve Behr / Our MediaAs a result of the rear derailleur lacking limit and B-tension screws, like Transmission, we suspect there will likely only be one cassette option.In terms of ratios, the new 13-speed XPLR cassette could be a 10-48t, which would match Campagnolo Ekar GT. We reckon the cassette will be a 10-48t. - Oscar Huckle / Our MediaBy comparison, SRAMs Transmission rear derailleurs are designed around a single 10-52t cassette. The road-oriented SRAM Red AXS rear derailleur can handle up to a largest 36t cog.Although Shimano offers its mechanical GRX in a 10-51t flavour (this uses a Shimano XT M8100 cassette), we don't think it would make sense for SRAM to manufacture a cassette that is only a single cog smaller than its 10-52t Transmission options. Mountain bike uptake of the SRAM UDH dropout has been rapid and while its becoming more widespread on gravel bikes, there are many key models omitting the standard.On the basis of this rear derailleur relying on the standard, surely most, if not all new gravel bike releases are going to adopt the UDH standard, especially because the standard also plays nicely with competitors' rear derailleurs.Shared shifters and brakesThe groupset seems to use the existing Red AXS shifters, as seen on Keegan Swenson's Santa Cruz Stigmata. - Brett Rothmeyer / Keegan SwensonLaunched only a couple of weeks ago, SRAM Red AXS is the brands latest flagship road bike groupset, shaving 154g from its previous generation.SRAM Red AXS incorporates a new lever and hood design, improved braking performance and design, and faster front shifting. Other than the price, senior technical editor Warren Rossiter found little to fault in his review.From what we can deduce, SRAM Red AXS XPLR shares many of the same components as Red AXS. The shifters, brake calipers and disc brake rotors appear to be identical.The shifter's new hood shape is much lower in profile compared to the previous generation and 7mm longer in reach, too. The hydraulic piston has also been reoriented from its previous vertical alignment to a new horizontal layout to improve braking performance.CranksetThis crankset looks to be a carry-over with updated 'SRAM' graphics on the crankarm. - Sam Andrews / Our MediaThe new crankset appears to be 1x only and the teeth are presumably oriented to mesh nicely with the chain.Over the weekend at Unbound, weve seen a few riders using different crankset setups Keegan Swensons Santa Cruz Stigmata had a 1x aero chainring with an integrated power meter, for example, while others were using the existing, 12-speed Red 1 crankset with a non-integrated power meter.This suggests there may be some backwards compatibility between the new 13-speed components and existing 12-speed chainrings.Wed nevertheless expect SRAM to release a new crankset with updated graphics and tooth profiles, though, as every new groupset needs a crankset, after all.Chain and cassette a sign of the future?The fact Red XPLR AXS is 13-speed will almost certainly result in some product incompatibilities. - Brett Rothmeyer / Keegan SwensonOne of the most exciting aspects of SRAMs latest Red AXS road groupset is its backwards compatibility. This means if you own a SRAM Apex, Rival or Force AXS groupset, you can upgrade to the new Red one piece at a time.However, that doesnt seem to be the case with SRAM Red AXS XPLR. Why? Because its 13-speed.If you count the cassette cogs, there are 13 teeth. This is paired with a new 13-speed chain.The shifters, brakes and crankset may be borrowed from SRAMs flagship, 12-speed road groupset, but to upgrade here youll likely at least need the new Red XPLR AXS rear derailleur, cassette and chain.Riders have enjoyed being able to mix and match components for a while now. - Jack Luke / Our MediaPreviously, all of SRAMs performance-oriented road, gravel and mountain bike groupsets were 12-speed. This means they were all cross-compatible with one another, meaning, for example, you could pair road bike shifters with a mountain bike drivetrain.It makes sense for SRAM to go to 13-speed because, until now, this has been a key selling point for one of its main rivals, Campagnolo. Both its Ekar and Ekar GT groupsets are 13-speed and the extra cog enables a more progressive jump between gears.However, the downside is this means SRAM Red AXS XPLR will introduce more component incompatibilities for example, you wouldnt be able to use a Transmission 10-52t cassette with the new rear derailleur if you wanted a wider gear ratio because its 12-speed.This could mean a wholesale move to 13-speed groupsets is coming from SRAM in the future. However, Transmission is only the best part of a year old (and the new 12-speed Red AXS is just under three weeks old) and it wouldnt make sense for SRAM to supersede a product so soon into its lifecycle.When will SRAM Red AXS XPLR be released?The new Red XPLR AXS and XX SL Transmission groupsets being raced side-by-side. - Unbound / Taylor ChaseThe groupset looks to be a final production unit rather than a prototype because of the production graphics, so a launch may not be too far away.However, it appears to be one of the first times the groupset has been used out in the wild and there may be a period of SRAM gathering feedback from its sponsored professional riders, to check the performance stands up to real-world use.We contacted SRAM for more information but the brand declined to comment.

A new, slimmed-down Trek Madone RSL has been spotted at the Critrium du Dauphin, raising questions about the future of Treks road racing lineup.The unreleased bike has been on a diet, compared to the current aero-focussed Madone but retains the Madone name on the top tube. Trek's IsoFlow design the hole in the seat tube is present, too.There are no official details on the new bike yet but, with Lidl-Trek riders using Trek's latest machine at the Dauphin a key Tour de France shakedown race a release is likely to be around the corner.One bike to rule them all?Trek looks set to launch a new Madone. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaThe first notable aspect of the new bike is the slimmed-down silhouette.Trek seems to have reduced the depth of tube shapes across the frame, suggesting the Madone has been on a diet to make it lighter. The Madone appears to have been on a diet... but the IsoFlow seat tube hole is still present. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaThis may mean that Trek claims the Madone can be used on all stages of a road race, be that the high mountains or flat sprint stages.Lidl-Trek are using the new bike at the bike at the Critrium du Dauphin. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaTo do so, Trek will have had to take steps to retain the Madones aerodynamic credentials though without wind tunnel and real-world testing data, it is impossible to decipher whether this is the case at this point in time.Yep, it's definitely a Madone. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaWhat about the Emonda?Where does this leave the Emonda? - Liam Cahill / Our MediaThe key consideration is whether Trek has left space in its racing line-up for its current climbing bike, the Emonda.Treks Emonda is currently the only bike the Lidl-Trek team has in use that can be built down to the UCIs 6.8kg minimum weight limit. A 56cm Madone, for example, tipped our scales at 7.29kg for the existing model.Liam Cahill / Our MediaThe slimmed-down tubes suggest weight savings.Specialized killed off its Venge aero race bike, replacing it with the Tarmac SL7 and later refining the design with the current Tarmac SL8. Pinarello, meanwhile, is among the brands to also offer one race bike, sticking steadfast to the Dogma for Team Ineos-Grenadiers.If Trek has reduced the Madones weight to get closer to the UCI's minimum limit, it would be hard to see any racer opting for the less aero Emonda.IsoFlow...liteThis is the existing Trek Madone SLR, with its beefier aero tubes. - SRAMTrek sent the cycling world into a minor meltdown when it introduced the previous Madone in 2022.The IsoFlow seat tube hole and cantilevered seat post divided opinion, to put it mildly, but the design is back on the latest Madone, which comes only two years after the original release.IsoFlow sent the cycling world into a minor meltdown in 2022. - James York / Matt Grayson / Our MediaBack in 2022, IsoFlow replaced the IsoSpeed decoupler system, which had been a feature of the Madone since it went all-in on aero with the 9 Series in 2015.Trek claimed IsoFlow allowed the Madone SLR to match the compliance of the previous IsoSpeed system on its stiffest setting. It was also said to improve the aerodynamic performance of the frame by around 3 watts, while saving weight.It is unclear whether Trek has refined the IsoFlow system in any way. As a result, well have to wait for word from the brand about drag reduction.The Critrium du Dauphin is a key warm-up race ahead of the Tour de France. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaAero water bottlesThe bottle cages have had the aero treatment. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaWhile the standard shape of a water bottle is ideal for fitting any bottle and cage to your bike, their tubular profile is not exactly aerodynamically optimised.Some brands, such as Pinarello, make an effort to smooth the airflow onto the down tube bottle by recessing the mounting points into the tube.Others, such as BMC, design proprietary bottle cages that sit flush with the down tube and seat tube.The new bike has a custom paint job through Trek's Project One scheme. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaTrek appears to have taken a different approach, creating a bottle and cage system that, at first glance, is specifically designed for the Madone SLR.Its a measure that we often see on time trial bikes, but with racers requiring several bottle hand-ups throughout a stage, it hasnt yet been a common sight onthe road.SRAM Red AXS for the Lidl-Trek team. - Liam Cahill / Our MediaGiven that the new Madone has been seen with specific aero bottles, we would expect Trek to admit this plays a key role in keeping the Madone SLR as fast as the outgoing bike, if not making it faster.When will we find out for sure? Well, there's no official news yet, but we'll bring it to you when Trek's ready to announce this new Madone.

The 2024Tour de France willstartnext Saturday in Florence with a difficult opening stage, where stakes will be high. Over 3800 altitude meters in 200+ kilometeres-long stage is immediately going to test everyone's legs. And as always, the Maillot Jaune is of course in the offer.Whether classic ty...