Speed, and style, refined. Snug fit, guaranteed.

Will Butler-Adams said manufacturers and retailers remain at risk, the folding bike brand bucking the industry trend and posting profits up a third in its most recent financial report

In 2019, Wout van Aert was in his first year as a World Tour rider and had made his Tour de France debut, winning a stage and having a dream race. On the time-trial in stage 13 he crashed against the barriers and suffered a massive wound in a leg. His wife now reveals that in the hospital in Pau - t...

This week's Reader's Rig comes from photographer and mechanic Antoine in Brussels, Belgium. He offers some thoughts on the practical and capable Brother Cycles Big Bro he's pedaled on off-road rides all around Europe. Meet Antoine and find a lovely set of images here...The post Readers Rig: Antoines Brother Cycles Big Bro appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Philipsen takes second victory of the race ahead of Van Aert and Pascal Ackermann

In our latest deals round-up, we're staying a bit closer to home with a firesale across the road.cc merch shop, plus plenty more deals from across the web

The few sprint days we've just had at the Tour de France have delivered incredible action and now we are back in the mountains. We preview stage 14, the first day in the Pyrenees where Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will go head-to-head in climbs such as the Col du Tourmalet and the summit finis...

This weeks Debrief features new leather trail-building shoes, a stop-motion DIY frame bag, the CAMP National Park Eyewear Collection, Bombtrack Hook EXT C, fresh QUOC Gran Tourer colors, Swift Campout Video Challenge submissions, two events to follow live, and more. Find it all hereThe post Friday Debrief: Zpacks Free Zip 3P, Mike Hall Bursary Winners, Stop-Motion Frame Bag, and More appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

We tend to joke in my little corner of the cycling world: Sounds like youre ready to get your titanium bike. The joke was reserved for our aging friends, riders who bonked on a hammer ride, and anyone complaining about getting older. The depth of the joke hinges on a line I heard many years ago when chatting about bikes with a titanium frame builder: This is the last bike youll ever need, the one theyll bury you with, basically your final ride.(All Photos: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor.com)However, the sea of carbon bikes and the dullness of their ride quality (compared to metal) have some road riders looking back to steel and titanium bikes. Sage Bikes from Beaverton, Oregon, recently updated their Skyline road machine, making it more attractive than ever to an all-road and not-so-carbon-crazy audience.Re-Imaged Sage SkylineSage recently updated the Skyline, giving it the endurance and all-road treatment. However, this doesnt mean theyve slowed the handling or turned it into a laidback machine. They managed to keep the Skylines precise feel and punchiness but with larger tire clearance (now up to 32mm) and a more comfortable ride.Why Skyline?Sage took the Skyline name from the serpentine Skyline Boulevard that winds along the spine of the West Hills in Portland, Oregon. To understand the evolution of the bike, you have to know where it came from. The Skyline was Sages road race machine. The section of the road encompasses the Skyline vibe: Speed, stability, and stiffness when you want to put the pedal to the metal.Skyline Frame DetailsEvery Sage bike is handmade and available in a custom spec. The Skyline is no different. Its crafted from 3/2.5 titanium alloy and evokes the essence of a race bike from the sports golden era.The frame is slightly compact and modern, with a sloping top tube. Everything is built modern, using flat-mount brake disc brakes, an oversized head tube, fender mounts, and 3D-printed titanium dropouts. The newest feature is entirely internal cable routing with help from the Chris King internal routing headset and a complete internally routed Enve cockpit.The Sage team stiffens the frame with a 1.75 down tube paired with pairs of large T47 threaded bottom bracket shells.Sage Skyline GeometryThe newest iteration of the Skyline leans more into the all-road crowd and away from a complete road race machine. This design change isnt a bad thing at all. The updated geometry and tire clearance give the Skyline a new lease on life with a broader net of pave riders and the light-gravel curious. Our review bike is 54cm and fits me perfectly at 510 with a 31.50 inseam.Sage Skyline BuildLike many custom bikes, the Sky(line) is the limit for build options. My review ride came decked out in the best all-road gear from ENVE. Each part accentuated the frames ride qualities. The ENVE wheels are an excellent piece of kit that gives the Skyline a spring to its step. Wheels draw out performance in a bike frame, and I feel the ENVE wheels accentuate the raw power of the Skyline frame. The same can be said for the fully internally routed ENVE aero bar and stem combo. Looking down and seeing a clean frame and lines feels good, modern, and fast. I personally love the feel of the ENVE aero handlebar and the way it mates with the new Shimano 12-spd shifter design.Our review ride came equipped with a full Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, ENVE wheels, ENVE aero cockpit, seatpost, and tires. The build didnt overshadow the frame; it helped express its intentspeed, power, and good times.Sage Skyline Build BreakdownFrame: Sage Skyline 54cmFork: EnveIn-Route Road ForkBars: EnveAero 42Stem: Enve Aero 110mmSeatpost: Enve27.2Seat: Sage / Velo Headset: Chris KingAeroset 3 Seatpost Binder: Sage TitaniumShifters/Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed R9270 Di2Front Derailleur: Dura-Ace R9270 Di2Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace R9270 Di2Crankset: Dura-Ace 5034 172.5 Stages power meter Cassette: Dura-Ace 11-34TWheels: Enve SES 4.5Tires: Enve SES 29mmAxels: Robert Axel ProjectPrice:$5,500.00* Frameset onlyWeight: 18lbsRide Review Sage SkylineMy time with the Sage Skyline was short, but I got lots of ride time on this stunning machine. First, let me preface this: I dont get to ride or review many titanium bikes. I see them rarely; when I do, they intrigue me but dont blow me away. I usually ride carbon road bikes, road race-focused, with comfort taking a back seat to efficiency.When I saw the Skyline, however, I was very into it. It looked like a classically styled road bike with oversized tires like youd see in the old days of Paris Roubaix. Plus, I reviewed the Sage Powerline mountain bike a few years back as a shreddable art piece and that impression stuck with me.A Jack of All Drop BarMy rides on the Skyline varied from full-on tarmac to light gravel and Pittsburgh pave. After my first outing, one thing was sure: it was a fun bike to ride. The Skylines semi-laid-back nature required a less finicky dial-in, so I had more time to enjoy riding.Im a big fan of the Sage saddles. I knowthey dont even make them, apart from adding the cool Sage logo to thembut man, its something I remember from the Powerline review. Not having to swap saddles is a nice perk; it makes the total package feel better.It feels like my Specialized Power (my go-to) but with a little extra cushion perfect for the Skyline.Welcome HomeThe Skyline is a versatile bike; the specs greatly help thatespecially the 29mm tires specd on my review bike. The frame has to accommodate all manner of rides, and thats precisely what it does. The bike can climb, descend, and roll with the best. The fundamental feature of the Skyline is its ability to adapt to different terrain and remain powerful yet comfortable. I rarely thought, This is too much for this bike, or Im uncomfortable. Remember, this is an all-road bike and not a full-blown gravel rig so we didnt get too crazy.When KOM is hunting or on a fast weekend ride, the Skyline can move and react to attacks like a carbon bike. The frame is responsive but not harshly stiff like a carbon frame. The ride and the way the frame rolls on the road are satisfying. The frame gives off a hum that reminds me of my old steel road bike, but more elegant. There is no other way to describe it, but its nice, almost like a warmwelcome home feeling.Would you Race the Skyline?I would 100% race the Skyline, but that said, this is a titanium frame that costs $5,500 alone just for the frame. I would save your alloy bike for the crit races and the Skyline for the pleasurable cruises on the farm roads and reenacting your favorite classics.That said, if youre ready to take this machine to the front lines of your local race, it will perform with the best of the carbon crowd. It has a slim profile with updated internal cable routing thanks to the Chris KingAeroset 3. The steering is reasonably point-and-shoot, and if you get a build like our review bike, the wheels spin up and hold speed like a demon.Final ThoughtsAm I ready for my titanium bike? After my time on the Sage Skyline, Im considering it. The bike is a functional piece of art; the logo, the build, the welds, and the story all speak to me and inspire a love of riding.The Sage Skylines price reflects its quality, and for most, that puts it slightly out of reach. But I can now see the draw and purpose of a bike like the Skyline more than ever.So, if youre looking for a road bike that can hold its own on your favorite terrain, and just the look of it inspires you to ride the Sage Skyline should be at the top of your list.www.Sagetitanium.comThe post The Sage Skyline Could Be the Last Road Bike You Ever Buy appeared first on Bikerumor.

UPDATED July 12, 2024BY Michael CooINTour d'Afrique no comments The Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition: Unique, Authentic & EpicThese days, what with AI, Insta influencers and Google Street view, the words epic, unique and authentic have lost much of their power in the world of travel. That begs the question are there any real adventures left in the world? It seems that all of the worlds challenging journeys are being reinvented as luxury experiences with the actual physical and mental demands being subdued to the needs of comfort and, of course, access to the internet. If you cant post it, is it actually real?The Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition, I believe, remains one of the last great opportunities to really test yourself, both mentally and physically. To discover what you are capable of. To expose yourself to the unpredictability of Africa. To expect the unexpected. While the conditions have changed over the years since it was first run in 2003, its essence remains the same. As Founder Henry Gold so aptly put it, This aint a ride in Provence.Although these particular challenges are no longer part of the current tour, we hope these examples from past Tour dAfrique Expeditions will inspire you to join us. As Star Treks captain Jean-Luc Picard says, Lets see whats out there!The Red BoxesIn the early years of the expedition, each rider was given a red plastic box into which all their supplies had to fit. At each campsite they would grab it from the support truck and then set up their home for the night. It also doubled as a bathtub, a washing machine, card table and camp chair.The Dodoma RoadCycling the Dodoma Road in Tanzania was a full body workout. Rutted and rocky roads sent handle bars in all directions. From the hips up, all a riders strength was spent wrestling the front wheel forward. Steep climbs, snaking descents and sporadic ditches were the norm for an average cycling day on this stretch.Paradise Lost The Good Ship S.S. SagalnaamUp until 2015, the Tour dAfrique riders had to cross from Egypt to Sudan over Lake Nasser, first by barge and then on an ancient German ship. One rider remembered the experience as A lower deck which smelt of last nights dinner, a toilet in need of attention mixed with a hint of gasoline, and an upper deck which resembled more of a department store rubbish pile turned hide-and -go-seek-nap-time.Meltdown Madness: Bandits, Dust Devils & Lava RocksFor years, until it was paved in 2015, one of the most dreaded sections on the Tour dAfrique was the 3 day, 260 km stretch between Moyale, on the Ethiopian border, and Marsabit in Kenya, optimistically labelled The Great North Road on Kenyan maps. One field staff member remarked, We camped for a night in the lava rock landscape that is the Dida Galgalu Desert and felt like we had just set foot on Mars.The Nightmare Road From Wadi Halfa To DongolaUntil the road was fully paved in 2011, this 450 km stretch was a nasty surprise for the riders who had just arrived from Egypt, with its nicely paved tarmac! 2005 cyclist, David Houghton remembered Nothing could have prepared us for the few roads that ran through the country. In fact, to call them roads was a disservice to roads everywhere. They were ruts, trails, tracks, but they bore no resemblance to roads as I knew them.The Kazungula Ferry: A Bridge Too Far?The crossing was fascinating for a number of reasons beyond the magical voyage across the rivers crocodile infested waters. It is claimed that this is the only place in the world where 4 countries meet Zambia, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe. This geographical quadripoint means that a ferry passenger would pass through 4 countries on the brief crossing! The method? A couple of ancient ferries. Actually, ferries is a rather grand word to describe what, in fact, were a couple of glorified pontoon rafts.RELATEDTOURTour d'AfriqueThe trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition: Unique, Authentic & Epic" Cancel reply