In our deep-dive into bladder histrionics, we answer the question thats (strictly metaphorically) on everyones mouths

Wout van Aert is having a Tour de France of disappointments. It had a very positive start but a late attack saw him not being able to benefit from his strong sprint to win and take the yellow jersey. Over this Tour he has been blocked in two bunch sprints, and today finished in second position for a...

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Jasper Philipsen had a disappointing start to the Tour de France but is now up to speed. Alpecin-Deceuninck lost two riders the day before and committed much less to trying to reach a sprint on stage 13, but the Belgian sprinter managed to benefit from the work of other teams to snatch the victory a...

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has taken his second stage victory of Tour de France 2024 into Pau on a day when Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was badly caught out and missed his chance at the sprint finish. Though Philipsen was left without team support at the end of a very challenging 165km crosswind-hit stage []The post Philipsen wins on Tour de France as Irelands Bennett caught out | Video appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

In 1885, the transportation landscape changed forever when John Kemp Starley designed the so-called safety bicycle:This design persisted and for the entirety of the 20th century, and it even made it into the 21st, though by 2024 it was officially dead, having been completely replaced by the battery-powered stand-up scooter:Ah well, the bike was fun while it lasted.Of course, some of us still enjoy riding the old-fashioned safety bicycle, though increasingly were becoming something akin to Civil War reenactors or renaissance fair attendees. I myself ride a safety bicycle on a regular basis, although sometimes I like to negate the safety part by equipping it with a pair of ass-ploding Spinergy wheelsyou know, just to keep it exciting: [Id remove the rim stickers, but Im concerned they may be structural.]The Spinergy Rev-X is arguably the most infamous bicycle wheel ever built, having acquired a reputation for spontaneous failure that has supposedly sent countless unwitting riders to the ER. As a champion of primitive safety bike technology such as steel frames and aluminum rims and wire spokes Im naturally inclined to blame carbon fiber and cutting-edge bicycle for all the ills of society, yet as a contrarian and skeptic Im also innately wired to discount or laugh off all forms of mass hysteria. This puts me in an awkward position: do I reject the Spinergy as a symbol of bicycle industry hubris and excess, or do I embrace it in order to thumb my nose at the woosies?Well, its a tough call. On one hand, as someone who was an active racing Fred during the heyday of the Rev-X, I never personally witnessed or even heard about any spectacular failures other than those I read about in the newsgroups (remember those?) and if anything at the time the Rev-X had a reputation among riders for being heavy yet durable. But on the other hand theres the famous Spinergy Accident Reporter website, which does make for some chilling reading:Now, before we go any further, I should state for the record that I am a staunch advocate for traditional wheels:You want a safe wheel? This is a safe wheel:As far as Im concerned, this is as good as a wheel gets, and if I were putting together a bike from scratch, Id choose something like this every time, regardless of whether the bike were an upright rambler or flat-back road racer. In fact, even while I was still racing, I eventually gave up on wheelsets and went back to traditional wheels with 32 spokes. Oh, sure, when a bike arrives at my doorstep sporting a pair of superlight aero wheels Ill absolutely ride and enjoy them:But wheels like this are not my default, and in that sense Im like someone who smokes socially, or who has a drink or two at a party but doesnt keep any booze in the houseI enjoy it from time to time, but its not a lifestyle.By the way, the Rolfs have been trouble-free so far, though they are dangerous in that every time I remove a tire I manage to nick my knuckle on the bladed spokes:Anyway, its in the spirit of social smoking that Ive been enjoying the Spinergysand, as the failure website itself notes, Spinergy had sold 100,000 Rev-X wheels by that time. I dont know if that means 100,000 individual wheels, or 100,000 pairs of wheels, but either way its a lot, and if they were really that dangerous wed have lost an entire generation of Freds and weenies. As for why theyre dangerous, according to the website it could be sort of a perfect storm of whirl-mode flutter, bending, and torquing:As the wheel rotates it develops a number of frequency modes: a) whirl-mode flutter is caused by the blade-like spokes interacting with the wind; b) the natural frequency of the spoke in bending (longitudinal to the blade): as the wheel turns the blades are alternately in high and low tension; c) Torquing of the blade-like spokes. These frequency modes, while perhaps individually benign, may cause a sudden catastrophic failure if they become resonant with one or more other modes. In the case of the bicycle wheel, the source of the energy that builds up is likely the pumping action of the wheel going up and down, as the bladed spokes are bent and torqued, as the wheel rotates. This bending and torquing is due to the different loads imposed on the bladed spokes as they assume different points of rotation. For example, at 10:30 and 1:30 the wheel would tend to sag somewhat as compared to when the spokes were at 12:00 and 6:00. A secondary energy source would be the interaction of the wind on the rotating wheel.But of course the salacious part of the site is the crash reports, some of which read like the old Penthouse forums in that that theyre often a heady mlange of braggadocio that bodily fluids that leads you to question their validity as much as youd like to believe them. To wit:I was on a club ride in Connecticut August 10, 1999. I have been racing a bike for approximately 12 yrs. I am ranked as one of the great sprinters in New England. I know how to handle a bike.Presumably he was also 65 with a Lou Ferrigno physique and the phallus of an Azerbaijani plowhorse.But then:I just got away from the pack and I was about 30 sec. in front of them. I just came off a hill and was doing about 34 mph. I looked back to see were they were when I went off the road. I went about one foot off the road andas I was turning to get back onto the road the spokes exploded (the rim stayed intact). The wheel did not hit anything. I was sent about 30 feet through the air.Without knowing his identity we have no way of confirming whether or not he was indeed widely known as one of the great sprinters in New England, but turning around to look behind himself and going off the road in the process is at odds with the assertion about bike-handling. **[Please note I would typically not make light of a crash, but I maintain the statute of limitations runs out after 25 years.]Then there are the ones from the self-styled engineers who offer spurious technical analyses:The other thing that you should pay attention to if you ride these wheels is the trueness of the wheel.I did notice that the wheel had become closer to true as the vibration got worse over the last month.In order for the true of the wheel to change something has to be happening with the spokes.This web site surely saved me from a very bad crash. I had looked at the wheel at least a dozen times and found nothing wrong. But by looking with a bright light and pinching the spokes together about 4 inches up from the rim you could see the cracks open when you pinched the spokes. Thank You.A wheel that gets more true as it approaches failure?!? DEAR GOD, WHAT HOPE DO WE HAVE?And then there are the ones that are just abjectly terrifying, and feature everything from sudden spontaneous collapse of a nearly-new wheel to reconstructive facial surgery:My Spinergy wheel failure is known to nearly every bike racer in San Diego. Thank you for this web site, I hope it helps to prevent these kind of injuries. I bought my Spinergys at Cycle World in San Diego on 3/13/97. As I bought them for racing only, I had only 3 races (2 time trials) on them when the front wheel failed.This happened right in front of the feed zone, which made for many witnesses. There were also many team mates behind me (Swamis Club), and friends with the SDBC Club.They all say that I did not hit anything, or anyone. The reason the Spinergy wheel failed will always be a mystery, as I have no memory of the crash.When my face slammed the ground, it tore off most of my ear. My face was laid open from around my eye, down the length of my jaw. This required considerable plastic surgery. My knee was ground to the bone, and is left with a horrid scar.I was unconscious for about 8 minutes. I was later given a bag of spokes, carbon fiber shards, a hub, and a rim.Thats horrific, though to be fair a bag of broken wheel parts is a pretty good prize at a Cat 4 race.**[Sorry. Statute of limitations though.]And yes, there are even mountain bike stories:My client was riding his mountain bike on Northstar Mountain in Lake Tahoe, CA about July of 1997. He works in a bike shop that his dad owns. He races on an amateur level and instructs the local bicycle police force. He is an educated rider. He was taking his first run with a set of Spinergy Rev X Roks wheel which was newly purchased.He began to enter a turn on a single track run, when he heard a moaning sound.The rider behind then describes how the front wheel collapsed and the bicycle simply fell to the ground throwing him over the handlebars striking a rock with his head. The spokes and simply given way, separating from the hub connection. The design appears to have caused the spoke failure. He sufferedconcussion with associated symptoms (bloody nose/headaches for following weeks) neck and back pain.Reading these makes me question both the wheels and stories, but mostly it makes me question myself. Its like reading about alien abductions. Do I question the stories because I think there must be a more logical explanation? (Some prior damage in the case of the Spinergy failures, or the consumption of LSD in the case of the alien abductions.) Or do I question them because the truth is simply too terrible for me to contemplate?I dont know. But what I do know is that this is the most exciting show bike Ive seen in awhile:Not sure about the Faggin, but Id say that bike is worth the risk.

If you want to go and see the Tour de France here are some tips and suggestions.If you are hesitating, go because it is really different from what you see on TV, there are so many details to observe and remember. And France is glorious in July.Plan aheadThe route is unveiled in October. Detailed maps tend to be published on the letour.fr website in May and not before. This can frustrate because many want to make plans for holiday visits but cant find the precise route.You can guess the roads for the mountain stages when its obvious theres only one road. But the whole route has to be approved by the layers of local government in France and sometimes the decision whether the race passes through this village or that one can take a while so the route isnt signed off fully until March and the mapping gets done.Which stage to see?If youve got free choice then many will opt for the mountain stages as they offer a longer show with up to 40 minutes between the first and last rider and things you dont see on TV such as the dropped riders and the gruppetto. Theres the ability to actually see the riders up close as they go past at 15-20km/h rather than 50km/h. So far so good but it can be a big logistical challenge as the roads are closed early meaning access is harder, you have to invest the whole day or more.A time trial stage means theres a lot to see as the riders come past every couple of minutes for the whole afternoon and you can feel things build as the big names approach. But helmets and visors make it hard to see the expressions, its as if youre standing further away.The easy option is a plain flat stage in the middle of nowhere. Approach the route from the side and you can park close and see the caravan and then the race go by in the space of two hours without much more planning.The StartThe Tour de France segregates riders from the public more than any other race. But were talking waist-high barriers, not walls so theres still plenty to see.The start offers some access and visibility as riders mill about between their buses and the signing-on podium. The start line and the road behind for a kilometre or more is lined with barriers. With about an hour go to this space is full with team buses, show up before and you get some caravan goodies and see the logistics at work, the scale of the event.If you pick the right spot and are enthusiastic about it you might get an autograph or a selfie. Tadej Pogaar is in demand so try another rider, shouting their name or waving the right country flag seems to help.You can see the team cars as well and all the bikes on the roof if you like the tech up close, including small details like how so many UAE riders have their saddles perched forward. The start line has the signing-on podium and is surrounded by some other things like stalls handing out freebies.The FinishThe finish is where youll get to see something decisive but requires patience, show up with an hour to go and youll be lucky to see anything except for the back of someone elses head unless youre tall enough to play in the NBA. You might need to be in place by lunchtime as crowds build early. Pick wisely and you can stand near the line and within sight of a giant TV screen so you can watch the race otherwise you risk standing for hours only to see the publicity caravan and the riders flash by.Once the race is over dont leave. Because beyond the finish line is a cordoned off zone but keep going a couple of hundred metres and youll find team buses and vehicles the configuration varies, they could be down in the valley for a mountain stage and you can spot the riders and staff, some giving post stage interviews.VIP passYou need to have some connection to the race, to know a race sponsor or someone linked to the start or finish for your lanyard sesame or you can buy one from a Tour travel operator, expect to pay a few hundred euros. It doesnt give much more access and almost no riders enter this zone.RoadsideOutside is free and perhaps the best way to see the race is to find a scenic spot and enjoy a picnic, assuming the weather is nice. Thinking of it as a day outdoors rather than being a sports spectator is probably key to having a good day.However its no picnic planning it all. The race route will be closed to traffic in the morning, if its a big mountain pass then at sunrise. You can approach by car on a side road, park and walk to your spot, probably following many others too, the side road might have cars parked along it for a kilometre or more. This is not possible for many mountain passes, theres no side road joining the top of the Tourmalet so youll have to park near the foot and make your way up: be prepared for a long walk.You can ride up too, the police will tolerate people walking and riding into position but with about three hours to go the gendarmes wont let anyone cycle. If you take your bike think about where to stash your bike, there are crowds around and it can get knocked over or trampled. Its unlikely to get stolen but you may want to lock it to something.Take a backpack with clothes appropriate for the days weather. Pack food, drink and some shoes so youre not click-clacking in your cleats. A bike lock is handy too and think of finding a place to park your machine where it wont get knocked over or trampled on.Pick your spot helps, a small hill wont slow the bunch much but if its on a straight bit of road it can allow you to see more. Also try to imagine the racing line taken by riders when picking your spot.If the weather is good set up camp with food, drink and sit back. Whatever you bring, youll spot Tour pros with parasols, BBQs, perhaps even a TV and a portable fridge for cold drinks. If the weather is bad then a local caf is a good idea as it will probably have warm drinks and TV and all the locals will dash out in time for the action.Waiting gameThe publicity caravan comes two hours before the riders, its a must-see. The sight of the giant floats going past in the countryside is absurd and joyous. Its fascinating anthropology to watch the way people buy in to the marketing in a festive way, donning freebie polka-dot t-shirts, diving into a ditch to grab a keyring, adults duelling for a Haribo minipack.Things go quiet apart from vehicles driving past, soigneurs on their way to hand up drinks and so on. The whack of helicopter rotors announces the race is coming. This is the point of the picnic, aim for a day in the countryside rather than thinking youre going to see the race unfold.When the riders come past youll want to take photos to record the day but then invariably turn out bad, so take photos if you want by pointing your camera and shooting but dont look at the screen, see the riders with your own eyes.The crowds can overwhelm the phone network, draining bandwidth to the point where its impossible to refresh a page; in some places like the finish they even add extra telecoms masts to cope but not in the countryside. A pocket radio can work here, with RMC probably having the most live coverage but theres also RTL, France Info and Europe 1.TipsIts worth seeing for real rather than on TV, youll see lots of details you dont notice on TV from decorations to the scale of the Tour and the logistics behind itMaps appear online in MayThe stage start and finish are obvious destinations, sections are cordoned-off for VIPs but its still reasonably open even if riders prefer to relax on their busTreat a roadside visit as a long picnic rather than the chance to see the race unfoldPlan the visit, dont just hope to turn up in timeThe roads are closed several hours ahead of the race, mountain passes can be closed to traffic at dawnThe post Tour de France Roadside Tips first appeared on The Inner Ring.

It will all come out in the wash - this weeks round-up of our favourite new bike-related products

The new route has been approved by the council who stressed it will provide "a safe, comfortable and attractive alternative" to a busy, narrow road nearby however one outspoken local claimed "security" and "anti-social behaviour" are a "major concern"

Stage 13 of the Tour de France 2024 was a hard blow for UAE Team Emirates. Juan Ayuso had to abandon the race after testing positive for COVID-19 and was unable to keep the pace in the first kilometers of the day. This is bad news for race leader Tadej Pogacar who needs every bit of help to win this...