We've teamed up with Austere Manufacturing in Washington for our 189th Collective Reward gear giveaway, and we'll be setting up a pair of lucky winners with beautifully CNC-machined Austere Lock Belts in eye-catching color combinations. Find details here...The post Collective Reward #189: Austere Lock Belts appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Trek Top Fuel has seen a fair amount of change over the past few years. Its morphed from a race-only cross-country steed, to a fun, fast trail monster in its fourth iteration. Trek is hitting its stride with the Trek Top Fuel Gen 4. The bike isnt undergoing full-on changes, but refinement and maximizing the most usage out of a single design.All Images: TrekThat maximization comes from suspension refinement, a 4-position monolink, small geometry improvement, and a lighter frame. The new Trek Gen 4 Top Fuel has a staggering eight different build options, starting at $2,700 and topping out at $10,500.Trek Gen 4 Top Fuel Whats New?The Gen 4 Top Fuel boasts many changes from the previous version. Some are additions, like the 4-position Mino Link and size-specific chainstay lengthother compatibility changes like the ability to take on MX wheels and longer-stroke shocks (130mm-140mm).Geo-Refinement Most of the improvements, though, are refinements to the previous design. Geometry-wise, the new Gen 4 Top Fuel moves from a 66-degree head tube angle to a 65.5-degree angle (size med) and a slightly longer reach, 445mm (Gen 3 M) to a slightly longer 447mm (Gen 4 M).Better Storage The Internal frame storage gets an update. The update brings an improved storage door with a tighter seal and a bigger opening, and the cables are protected (bags wont snag). Trek now offers a two-bag system on all bikes with storage doors: one padded for tools and one unpadded for tubes. Carbon bikes will arrive with both bags, while alloy bikes come with one padded tool bag.Those who were not Knock Block fans rejoiceTrek is eliminating the Knock Block for the Gen 4 Top Fuel.Also, for riders who struggled with longer dropper seat posts in the Gen 3 version of the Top Fuel, the new frame boasts an improved dropper insertion, allowing for longer droppers in smaller frames.Lighter Frame Both Alloy and Carbon The frame (alloy and carbon) is now 220 g lighter than the previous generation, with the same travel and more features.Familiar and Similar GeoThe geometry on the new Trek Gen 4 Top Fuel is refined rather than revamped. The bikes idea is fun and fast, with a bit of playfulness mixed in.The design team ticked the headtube back to 65.5 degrees (previously 66) and kept the effective seat tube angle at 76 degrees.Size Specific Chainstay LengthSomething were seeing on bikes across the board is size-specific chainstay length. It gives the bike a balanced handling and ride experience across all frame sizes. For the new Top Fuel, this means keeping the riders weight centered between the wheels. Shorter riders will have better wheel maneuverability, and taller riders will get better front wheel control. The previous Gen 3 Top Fuel had a 435mm chainstay across all sizes. Now, the Gen 4 Top Fuel boasts 435mm (Small and Med), 440mm (Med/Lrg and Lrg), and 445mm (XL only).More Versatile and AdaptableThe new Gen 4 Top Fuel is compatible with up to 140mm fork and a longer 18555 shock, gifting riders 10mm more rear travel.If you want to move to a 27.5 wheel, the stock shock is 18550. It is compatible with a 27.5 rear wheel but requires a 140mm fork and Mino High setting. Lets talk more about the 4-position Mono Link.4-Position Mino LinkThis new 4-position Mino Link offers the same geometry adjustment as the previous Top Fuel but now with a leverage rate adjustment. Riders can adjust geometry and leverage rates independently to dial in their ride.In a nutshell, the stock geo has low geometry and is less progressive, but riders can adjust to have more combinations easily. Heres a breakdown of all geometry and leverage combinations.Lower position = low BB/slack HT(65.5stock)Upper position = high BB/steep HT(66)Forward position = less progressive(14%-stock)Rear position = more progressive(19%-stock)Suspension KinematicsTrek made slight refinements to the suspension kinematics. The anti-squat is slightly higher for better acceleration in and out of turns. The leverage rate is bumped up from 13.5% to around 14%.The idea behind this adjustment was to make the bike even more trail-oriented, and more riders could adjust the leverage to a more progressive 19%.Trek Top Fuel Gen 4 ModelsTop Fuel 5Top Fuel 8Top Fuel 9Top Fuel 9.8 XTTop Fuel 9.8 GX AXSTop Fuel 9.9 X0Top Fuel 9.9 XXTop Fuel 9.9 XTRTrek Top Fuel Gen 4 Line PricingThe new Trek Gen 4 Top Fuel Line is available now at your local Trek dealer or online at Trekbikes.com The post Trek Gen 4 Top Fuel is Faster and More Nible With More DownCountry Adjustability appeared first on Bikerumor.

Girmay outsprinted Wout van Aert and Arnaud Dmare in Villeneuve-sur-Lot to complete stage win hat trick

Great value, highly functional mid-drive town bike 9/10

Biniam Girmay has made it a trifecta of Tour de France stage wins at the 2024 edition, with a thrilling bunch sprint win ahead of Wout van Aert and Arnaud Demare on stage 12.There was some early drama on stage 12, with a crash in the peloton seeing the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar himself caught...

Trek has built the Top Fuel with a four-position Mino flip chip, to let you adjust the geometry and the suspension feelTrek has added a new flip chip to its latest Top Fuel that lets riders change the bikes geometry and Continue reading

Wolf Tooth just announced the Worlds longest-travel dropper post at 242mm, as well as several other updates with their new Wolf Tooth Resolve Dropper Post rev2, including a new 34.9mm diameter and updated internals to optimize performance. Learn more here...The post New Wolf Tooth Resolve Dropper Post Rev2 is Worlds Longest appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Trek has extended the on-trail behaviour of its popular all-rounder the Top Fuel, with subtle geometry and suspension updates for 2025.Also refined rather than redesigned are its internal frame storage compartment and door, while shock compatibility is broadened for a wider (120mm to 130mm) travel band.All stock models run 29in wheels front and rear,except for the small, which uses 27.5in hoops. But Treks Mino Link means fans of mixed wheels (29in front, 27.5in rear) can give the Top Fuel a more shred-ready setup.Standout geometry figures include a 65.5-degree head tube angle, a 76-degree seat tube angle and size-specific chainstays, from 435mm to 445mm.The seven-bike range spans both alloy and carbon frame constructions, with the most affordable Top Fuel 5 costing 2,500 / $2,699.99 and the top-end Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS going for a whopping 10,000 / $10,499.99.Better storage and a lighter frameThe frame storage door and aperture have been updated. - TrekTrek claims both the alloy and carbon fibre versions of the new Top Fuel Gen 4 have lost 220g compared to their outgoing versions.Claimed full-bike weights start at 15.9kg for the medium Top Fuel 5 and drop more than 2kg to 12.85kg for the medium range-topping 9.9.We tested the previous-generation Top Fuel 8 as part of 2022s Bike of the Year and it tipped our scales at 14.8kg (size large, without pedals).The 2025 Top Fuel 8, in a medium, is claimed to weigh 14.58kg, a saving of and there are no prizes for guessing 220g!Trek says it has saved weight by redesigning its tubes with smaller profiles and softer edges and by reducing stiffness.According to the brand, this reduces mass and improves the ride quality of the bike, making it more balanced and forgiving than the Gen 3.The integrated down tube storage and its access door have also been redesigned.The door now has a tighter seal and a bigger opening, so water is less likely to get in, and sliding stashed items in and out will be easier.Trek also says gear, dropper and brake cables which route via the down tube are better protected to avoid snagging with the supplied BITS bags.And those bags have also been overhauled.Carbon fibre frames get two bags; a padded tool bag and a second, unpadded bag for tubes, both made from a ripstop material. Alloy frames only get one redesigned BITS bag.Details matterIt's a downcountry bike with intent. - TrekGear, dropper and brake cables are routed via ports on the side of the down tube instead of through the headset which no longer gets Trek's signature Knock Block design.The 2025 Top Fuels bars can be rotated through 360 degrees, if thats your bag.Dropper post insertion has also been improved, so longer-travel posts can be fitted.SRAMs Universal Derailleur Hanger/Full Mount dropout is of course fitted and specced.All frame sizes have a single water bottle mount on the frame's internal storage door. The size small can fit a 620ml bottle, while the medium and above have space for a 760ml bottle.Upping travel and progressionThe Top Fuel's Mino Link now has four adjustment positions. - TrekThanks to two additional positions on the lower shock mount Mino Link flip chip, the Top Fuels suspension kinematics can be tuned.According to Trek, the forward position is 14 per cent progressive, while the rear position is 19 per cent progressive.In the more progressive position, the leverage rate starts higher than the less progressive setting, but at full travel both settings terminate at roughly the same ratio.This means the more progressive position will have a softer, more supple starting stroke compared to the less progressive setting, but both ramp up towards the end of their travel to provide similar bottom-out resistance.The less progressive setting will ramp up more gradually, because the leverage rate doesn't change as quickly or as much.Anti-squat how much the bike resists pedal bob has been increased slightly compared to the old model, now sitting just above 100 per cent at full travel.The Gen 4s frame travel remains unchanged at 120mm, but the latest Top Fuel is compatible with a longer-stroke shock. Up the stock 180x50mm shock to a 180x55mm version and travel is increased to 130mm.Its the same story for the fork. The Stock 130mm fork can be switched to a 140mm model for a more shred-ready frame.The mixed-wheel setup requires a 140mm-travel fork and for the Mino Link to be set in its high position.You can also down-fork the Top Fuel to a 120mm version, potentially making it ready for XC racing.Geometry tweaksYou can change the fork and switch to a mullet setup for increased downhill performance. - TrekAlthough the longer, slacker, lower trend is still ongoing, the rate of progress has been abated as geometry figures converge on an increasingly unified sweet spot.But this means brands are focusing their efforts on other areas to refine rather than revolutionise handling.The 2025 Top Fuel Gen 4 is a great example of this.Its head angle is either 65 or 65.9 degrees, depending on the Mino Links high or low positioning, while the seat tube angle is around 76 degrees for both settings.Reach figures in the five-size line-up (small to extra-large) start at 417mm and rise to 507mm.Fitting a 27.5in rear wheel and 140mm fork slackens the head angle to 64.6 degrees and the seat tube to 75 degrees. SizeSmallMediumMedium-longLargeExtra-large Reach (mm)417447462477407 Stack (mm)570603607612630 Bottom bracket height low/high (mm)342/348345/351345/351345/351345/351 Seat tube angle low/high (degrees)76/76.576.9/77.376.2/76.675.9/76.375.2/75.6 Head tube angle low/high (degrees)65.5/65.965.5/65.965.5/65.965.5/65.965.5/65.9 Wheelbase (mm)11511188121012271271 Chainstay length (mm)435435440440445 Edit Table Trek has made the biggest improvements to the chainstays, which are now size-specific.The small and medium bikes get 435mm stays, the medium-long and large are 440mm, while the extra-large lifts that figure to 445mm.Interestingly, each size shares chainstays; its the front ends that differ, with bottom-bracket placement moving in relation to the rear axle and main pivot to give the extra length.2025 Trek Top Fuel Gen 4 models and pricingWith no fewer than seven bikes in its latest Top Fuel line-up, Trek is hoping to cater for all price points.Starting at 2,500 / $2,699.99 for the Top Fuel 5, this alloy-framed bike features a RockShox Recon fork and X-Fusion shock, along with Shimanos Deore M6100 drivetrain.At the other end of the spectrum is the Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS, boasting a full carbon fibre construction, RockShox Pike Ultimate and Deluxe Ultimate shock, along with SRAMs XX Transmission. However, it costs a chunky 10,000 / $10,499.99.Trek Top Fuel 5Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminium, 120mm travelFork/shock: RockShox Recon Silver RL, 130mm travel / X-Fusion Pro 2Wheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line 30 / Bontrager Gunnison Elite XR 29x2.4inDrivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100Seatpost/saddle: TranzX / Bontrager Verse ShortBrakes: Shimano MT200Price: 2,500 / $2,699.99Trek Top Fuel 8Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminium, 120mm travelFork/shock: Fox Rhythm 34, 130mm travel / Fox Performance Float DPSWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Comp 30 / Bontrager Gunnison Pro XR 29x2.4inDrivetrain: Shimano XT M8100Seatpost/saddle: Bontrager Line Dropper / Bontrager Verse P3Brakes: Shimano M6100Price: 3,500 / $3,999.99Trek Top Fuel 9Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminium, 120mm travelFork/shock: Fox Rhythm 34, 130mm travel / Fox Performance Float DPSWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Comp 30 / Bontrager Gunnison Pro XR 29x2.4inDrivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSeatpost/saddle: Bontrager Line Dropper / Bontrager Verse Short CompBrakes: SRAM Level BronzePrice: 4,500 / $4,799.99Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XTTrek Top Fuel 9.8 XT. - TrekFrame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 120mm travelFork/shock: RockShox Pike Select+, 130mm travel / RockShox Deluxe UltimateWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Comp 30 / Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT 29x2.4in, Bontrager Montrose RSL XT 29x2.4inDrivetrain: Shimano XT M8100Seatpost/saddle: Bontrager Line Dropper / Bontrager Verse Short CompBrakes: Shimano XT M8100Price: 6,000 / $6,249.99Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXSTrek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS. - TrekFrame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 120mm travelFork/shock: RockShox Pike Select+, 130mm travel / RockShox Deluxe UltimateWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Comp 30 / Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT 29x2.4in, Bontrager Montrose RSL XT 29x2.4inDrivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSeatpost/saddle: Bontrager Line Dropper / Bontrager Verse Short CompBrakes: SRAM Level BronzePrice: 6,500 / $6,999.99Trek Top Fuel 9.9 X0 AXSTrek Top Fuel 9.9 Gen 4 X0 AXS. - TrekFrame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 120mm travelFork/shock: RockShox Pike Ultimate 130mm travel / RockShox Deluxe UltimateWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Pro 30 / Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT 29x2.4in, Bontrager Montrose RSL XT 29x2.4inDrivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSeatpost/saddle: RockShox Reverb AXS / Bontrager Verse Short ProBrakes: SRAM Level SilverPrice: 8,500 / $8,499.99Trek Top Fuel 9.9 X0 AXSTrek Top Fuel 9.9 Gen 4 XX AXS. - TrekFrame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 120mm travelFork/shock: RockShox Pike Ultimate 130mm travel / RockShox Deluxe UltimateWheelset/tyres: Bontrager Line Pro 30 / Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT 29x2.4in, Bontrager Montrose RSL XT 29x2.4inDrivetrain: SRAM XX/XX SL Eagle AXS TransmissionSeatpost/saddle: RockShox Reverb AXS / Bontrager Verse Short ProBrakes: SRAM Level Ultimate Price: 10,000 / $10,499.99

Stage 12 of the 2024 Tour de France saw Biniam Girmay make it a hat-trick of stage wins this Grand Tour. Behind the Eritrean however, things were a little more complicated with a messy sprint bringing plenty for the race jury to look at post-stage.On the line, Arnaud Demare managed to cross the lin...

Some things are best left to the professionals... there are plenty of things pro cyclists do that are worth taking inspiration from, but in this article we're focusing on what NOT to copy off the pros