BikeTips Staff Simply put, a “Watt” (W) is a unit of power. On a scientific level, it’s equivalent to one joule per second.
Watts are most commonly calculated for cyclists through the use of a power meter, which measures torque and cadence to display power output.
Read on to find out what Watts means for cycling power, why it’s such an important element of power to understand, and how this knowledge can be implemented in your training.
Sadly, the US isn’t exactly renowned for its cycling infrastructure.
However, there are some cities in which the local government has invested in simple safety infrastructure to increase the bike-friendliness of the city.
So, what are the most bike-friendly cities in the US?
Choosing between the hundreds of road bike brands on the market can be a challenging ordeal.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some of the best-known and highest-regarded road bike brands around.
Strava comes in two “flavors”: Strava Free vs Paid.
After years of using Strava’s free version, I was lured in by the additional features on offer and finally decided to take the plunge and upgrade to a premium Strava subscription.
But what’s the difference? How much is Strava premium? And is the upgrade worth it?
If you’re looking for a high-quality vintage French bicycle, then a vintage Gitane bike could be your best bet.
Gitane as a name is synonymous with late-20th-century French racing bikes. With many Tour de France legends having ridden Gitane bikes to victory, they’re an extremely well-known and reputable brand.
Jesús Herrada (Cofidis) won Stage 11 of the Vuelta a España 2023 with an impressive last-ditch counter-attack at the summit of the Category 1 climb La Laguna Negra.
In the world of cycling tech, there always seem to be new things that offer the potential to either revolutionize the industry…
The cycling tech world is changing rapidly, with innovations every year that offer the potential to revolutionize the sport.
However, some innovations certainly don’t offer such bountiful outcomes but are extremely unique bikes or, sometimes, just plain weird bikes.
The beauty of a well-made, vintage bicycle in good condition cannot be understated. But what are the best vintage bicycle brands?
Three-time Vuelta a España winner Primož Roglič pipped Remco Evenepoel to the punch in a seven-man sprint after Jumbo-Visma once again exerted their domination in the mountains.
America’s Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) took Stage 6 of the Vuelta a España after a powerful attack on the Arcos de las Salinas climb propelled him beyond the rest of a large breakaway group.
Andrea Kron (Lotto-Dstny) launched a blistering attack on the steepest slopes of the Montjuic climb, fighting off a large group of perseguidores for 4 km to ride to victory on the treacherously slippery roads of Barcelona.
With the final Grand Tour of the year just around the corner, many of us are wondering how to watch Vuelta a España 2023 action from the comfort of our own sofa.
So where on TV can you catch all of this action where you live?
Anyone with interest in professional cycling sees knows that in each of the Grand Tours (the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España), the race leader wears a certain jersey to distinguish themselves from the rest of the peloton.
The Vuelta a España is no exception, and there are four different jerseys up for grabs in the race.
The two most popular bike brands in the United States, Trek and Giant, are both excellent options if you’re in the market for a new bike.
But which is the better choice for you: Trek vs Giant?
If you’re keen on bicycle touring, traveling by bicycle, and a minimalist lifestyle, then biking across America should be high on your bucket list.
So, you’re in the market for a new bike with a not-so-limited budget. When it comes to premium frame materials, which is better: titanium vs carbon fiber?
The biggest American bike brands – Trek and Specialized – are two of the most trusted and well-established bike brands in today’s market. But who wins in the battle of Trek Vs Specialized?
Slovenian Bahrain-Victorious rider Mohorič took the stage today with an impressive lunge to the finish line that beat yesterday’s winner – Kasper Asgreen – by a hair, confirmed only by a photo finish.
Danish Soudal-QuickStep rider Kasper Asgreen outsprinted the remainder of a small 4-man breakaway to win a breathtaking Stage 18 as an unorganized peloton came within seconds of catching them at the finish line.
AG2R Citroën’s Felix Gall launched an impressive solo attack with 6 km to go of the toughest climb of this year’s Tour – the Col de Loze – and held his lead to the finish despite the efforts of Simon Yates and Jonas Vingegaard.
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard rode the time trial of his career to eclipse rival Tadej Pogačar and take a potentially Tour-winning 1 minute and 38 seconds out of the Slovenian in his first stage win of the year.
In the modern cycling world, everyone’s “getting aero”.
A huge chunk of new cycling tech and discourse is about optimizing our bikes, accessories, and our position on the bike in order to minimize aerodynamic drag, in pursuit of saving some precious watts.
Bora – Hansgrohe’s Jai Hindley showed his General Classification intentions by sustaining a powerful solo attack for almost 20 km to take the first mountain stage of this year’s Tour.
It was the Australian’s first stage win in his debut Tour de France, after winning the Giro d’Italia last year. Hindley snatched the yellow jersey from UAE’s Adam Yates, on what was a poor day for UAE.
Alpecin – Deceuninck rider Jasper Philipsen was the fastest of the bunch today as he crossed the finish line a wheel’s length ahead of Phil Bauhaus in a thrilling bunch sprint in Stage 3 as the Tour de France returns to French soil.
Victor Lafay launched a blistering acceleration to distance himself from the bunch – and pre-stage favorite Wout van Aert – in the final kilometer, as Stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de France arrived in San Sebastián.
Lafay crossed the line a bike length ahead of van Aert, who was seen to punch his handlebars in frustration at the finish line as he lost the sprint.
With the action underway, we’re running through the full start list of 2023 Tour de France teams and riders.
The Tour de France 2023 start list contains some clear favorites, some dark horses, some surprising absentees, some incredibly strong teams, and some with a slightly underwhelming set of riders for the race.
As with most things in life, the technological revolution has dramatically impacted professional cycling. New cycling tech changes the way in which amateurs and professionals alike interact with the sport.
Revolutionary advancements in aerodynamics, tracking, equipment, communication, and anti-doping tech have had direct consequences in the sport itself. Nowhere is this more present than in cycling’s biggest race: the Tour de France.
The directeur sportif (sports director) of each team essentially runs the show on the sporting side of things. Analogous to the head coach in football, the directeur sportif provides insight into the current situation of the race, following the team in a car.
They also provide the team with the proper tactics they should use in each case, often updating these as such during a stage, reflecting the current situation of the race.
The Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and such a significant sporting event – in any context – is never going to be emission-free.
Cycling is widely considered to be a sustainable practice, particularly when used in place of another form of transport. However, in the context of cycling as an organized sport, it’s certainly not emission-free.
If you’re fairly new to the Tour de France, you may have been baffled by the cameras focusing on one spectator in particular: the Tour de France Devil.
The Tour de France devil – otherwise known as Didi the Devil – was for decades an almost essential part of watching the Tour de France.
This Giro d’Italia 2023 began on the Adriatic coast and finished in Rome, the first time in the Italian capital since 2018.
The three-week race covered 3,448 km along the beautiful Italian coastline, along rolling hills, and most importantly, over 51,000 m up some of the most brutal climbs in Europe.
Whether you’re a beginner cyclist or a seasoned racer, at some point you’ve probably caught yourself wondering: “Just how do bike gears work?”
The way in which gears function is something that seems pretty complex, but in reality, is a very simple mechanism.
V brakes and cantilever brakes are both different types of rim brakes. This means that, upon the action of the brake levers, they apply a frictional force directly to the rim, slowing the rotation of the wheel to an eventual stop.
But what is the difference between V brakes vs cantilever brakes?
A wheelset is one of the integral parts of a bicycle, and, as the name suggests, contains the system of the wheels.
The question – “What is a wheelset?” – might seem straightforward, but it can be a little confusing because there are many different parts included within a wheelset. If you just buy a set of wheels, you wouldn’t necessarily consider all of them separately.
SRAM XDR and SRAM XD drivers are a type of freehub standard made by SRAM that is compatible with a range of hubs and cassettes.
But what’s different about the SRAM XD vs XDR drivers? And what cassettes and hubs are they compatible with?
Switzerland’s St Gotthard Pass, one of the most legendary Alpine passes of them all, is located near the Italian border between the charming villages of Hospental and Airolo.
For cyclists, climbing St. Gotthard Pass is an extremely unique (and challenging) experience that you’re not likely to forget anytime soon.
Home to stunning mountains, swathes of beautiful coastline, and even temperate rainforests, the UK offers excellent potential for bikepacking adventures.
The long-distance cycle routes UK has to offer vary significantly in difficulty and scenery, meaning there’s a route out there for whatever you’re looking for from your adventure.
Great Dun Fell is the second-highest mountain in the Pennines, 849 meters above sea level – but it is also home to the highest road in Britain. Located in Cumbria in the northwest of England, it is also a highly-regarded climb, since it is renowned for its superb road surface and beautiful views. Regardless of … Read more
If you’re looking to buy a complete bike or just a frame, then it’s likely that if you’re on a budget, you’ll need to think about the comparison between steel vs aluminum bikes, and which would be better for you.
The wheelset of your gravel bike can make a huge difference to the feel of your ride. But how do you choose the right gravel wheelset for you?
Different types of gravel wheelsets excel at different things. Gravel biking is such a wide discipline that two gravel wheelsets could be very different from one another and should be used for different types of riding.
The Lance Armstrong doping case was the greatest scandal to ever hit the cycling world.
For many years, Lance Armstrong was the poster boy of the Tour de France and helped to elevate the competition to global popularity with his success.
In this article, we’ll give you the complete story of cycling’s biggest scandal: Lance Armstrong’s doping case, from start to finish.
As cyclists, we like to challenge ourselves. The biggest challenges often come in the form of climbs, whether it’s around the corner from your house, or on a long ride far from home. But what are the most challenging climbs in the world? Now, this probably isn’t a question you’ve asked yourself unless you’re really … Read more
Let’s face it: cycling in the rain can be pretty horrible.
However, often, this is because you’re simply not prepared for the wet weather. With a few tweaks to your habits and your kit, you can not only survive rainy bike rides, but enjoy them!
Cycling in the rain can actually be pretty fun – so long as you’re prepared.
If you’re in the market for a bike, Italian bike brands are some of the best around.
Italy is well-known for exceptional quality bike manufacturing, especially for road bikes. There is an endless list of quality Italian brands that you can go to for both vintage and modern bikes.
If you’ve got disc brakes on your bike, then you’ll need to make an important decision as to which type of brake pad you wish to use: organic vs sintered brake pads.
But what are sintered brake pads? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of sintered brake pads when compared to organic brake pads?
Cycling is a thrilling spectator sport, but there is a darker side to the pro peloton: cycling doping.
Cycling doping has existed for almost as long as the professional sport itself and was initially common and accepted, even in the biggest pro races.
Some parts of cycling tech can be particularly confusing. One such area in which this is particularly apparent is mountain bike wheel sizes.
Cycling is a sport that has rapidly developed over the past few decades, with new disciplines cropping up and adding new types of tech along with different names for already existing tech and sizing.
Greg LeMond won the yellow jersey in the 1989 Tour de France – the closest and arguably most fiercely fought Tour in history – by a margin of just 8 seconds.
Often regarded as the greatest edition in the race’s history, the 1989 Tour de France winner was decided in its final moments in dramatic scenes never matched before or since.
Your brakes are one of the most important parts of your bike: they keep you safe! But which is a better braking system, disc brakes vs rim brakes?
In recent years, the best type of braking system for your bike has been hotly debated amongst roadies, and there are benefits and drawbacks to both rim and disc brakes.
One thing is undisputed in cycling technology: light bikes come with a huge number of benefits.
The most significant of these is that a lighter bike lends itself to faster acceleration and deceleration. If you’re tackling a climb, you simply have less weight to drag up the hill, and it makes it easier to fight gravity.
If you’re trying to slow down, you’re carrying less mass, and therefore less momentum, so can decelerate more sharply.
In the market for a vintage road bike? There are a few things to look out for to ensure you get the best deal possible!
Vintage road bikes provide an excellent entry point into the world of road cycling, but they’re not just for the beginner. There are a number of highly desirable vintage road bikes that enjoy a high level of esteem due to their functionality, aesthetics, and collectibility.
Shimano’s mid-range groupset offerings – Tiagra and 105 – are some of the most common groupsets among amateur cyclists.
Shimano is the world-leading manufacturer of components, and for a good reason. They are trusted by much of the pro peloton and have supplied the groupsets on every winning men’s Grand Tour bike since 2020.
So, it begs the question, is it worth the upgrade? What’s the difference between Shimano Tiagra vs 105?
Cycling is an extremely rewarding sport.
Whether you’re summer cycling or biking in the winter, getting on two wheels allows you to get from A to B, keep fit, and feel immersed in your surroundings and connected to the landscape around you all at the same time!
For some, however, it’s very much a summer sport.
But in reality, there are very few places where you cannot go biking in winter – and winter cycling can be extremely beautiful and very rewarding.
Cycling at night can be pretty dangerous, and riding when you don’t feel completely safe can take away from your enjoyment.
However, by taking just a few simple precautions, you can feel significantly safer and enjoy your night rides more!
Night bike rides can be super fun. The roads are generally less busy, everything is really nice and quiet, and you can even use it to enjoy the stars or bask in the moonlight whilst riding your bike.
Commuting to work by bike is an excellent way to reduce your environmental impact, keep fit, and avoid the horrific rush hour roads or busy commuter trains, all at the same time.
Campagnolo Wheelset Guide: Title Image
If you’re in the market for a new mountain bike, or even just a new wheelset for your off-road machine, then it’s likely you’ll be confronted with a choice on wheel size.
Depending on your riding style, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to each size.
Cycling the Furka Pass in Switzerland is an unforgettable experience that is not for the faint-hearted. Not an easy climb by any stretch, the long pass stretches up to lofty heights where the air is thin, with seemingly endless hairpins winding their way up the mountain.
But in an area renowned for its natural beauty, the view at every one of these hairpins could be a computer desktop background: sparkling rivers winding through valleys carpeted with vibrant green and huge snow-capped mountains and unique glaciers towering above them.
Bikes these days can easily set you back thousands of dollars, and the constant need to replace certain parts only increases the cost. So, it’s worth doing everything possible to ensure that your bike and its components last as long as possible.
But what are some good tips to make your bike last longer? And how can you ensure that your components don’t need replacing very often?
Handling is one of the most important things to develop in order to enhance your cycling performance. But are there any tricks to accelerating this development?
Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned cyclist, there are always improvements to be made in your ability. Handling is perhaps one of the best routes to such improvement.
Passo dello Stelvio is the highest paved mountain pass in the eastern Alps at 2,758 m / 9,048 ft, in Italy near the Swiss border. From Bormio (south side) it’s 21.5 km at 7.1% with 38 hairpins; from Prato allo Stelvio (north) it’s 24.3 km at 7.4% with 48 hairpins. The Stelvio has appeared in … Read more
Want to get away with your bike, but struggling to narrow down the list of bikepacking destinations? Who doesn’t? But, it can be quite hard to land on the ideal location to suit your needs for your cycling holiday. Maybe you’re looking for somewhere with incredibly unique landscapes, not found anywhere else in the world, … Read more
Shimano’s wheelset range covers four tiers: Dura-Ace (top, carbon clincher and tubular, $2,500–4,000); Ultegra (premium clincher and tubeless, $1,000–1,800); 105 / RS-series (mid-range alloy and entry carbon, $400–800); and the WH-RS01 / RS300-series (OEM wheels on $1K–2K complete bikes, $200–400 to buy separately). Shimano’s wheels are known for hubs that last 50,000+ miles, conservative aerodynamic … Read more
L’Eroica is a vintage cycling event held annually in Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, since 1997. Riders complete one of five route lengths (38–209 km) on pre-1987 steel-frame bikes wearing period clothing. The original event has spawned a global circuit — Eroica Britannia, Eroica California, Eroica Hispania, Eroica Japan. It’s the closest most cyclists will come … Read more
One of the most beautiful cycling routes in the world, the Carretera Austral is a road stretching over 1200 km through Chilean Patagonia.
It is known for its beautiful scenery and is littered with dramatic mountain formations, glaciers, volcanoes, and fjords. The Carretera Austral is a partly paved, partly unpaved road spanning 1240 km, passing through some of Patagonia’s highlights.
If you’re in the market for a second-hand bike on a budget, it’s likely you’ve come across some vintage Trek road bikes during your search. Trek is now a hugely popular brand amongst amateur cycling enthusiasts, enjoying the biggest slice of the bicycle market in the United States. However, it wasn’t always this way, and … Read more
A “granny gear” is the smallest chainring on a bike’s drivetrain, paired with the largest cog at the rear — the easiest gear available, used for very steep climbs. The term comes from triple-chainring road bikes of the 1980s–90s, where the inner ring (typically 30 teeth) was small enough that “even your grandmother could ride … Read more
Sa Calobra is the most famous cycling climb on Mallorca — a 9.5 km, 7% average gradient road that snakes down to a Mediterranean cove via 26 hairpin turns and the dramatic “Nus de Sa Corbata” (necktie knot) where the road loops back over itself. The climb is paired with the descent on the way … Read more
Vintage Raleigh bikes — the iconic British marque from Nottingham (1885–1999 as a UK manufacturer) — are among the most collectible vintage road and commuter bikes. The most coveted models are the Raleigh Professional, the Team Replica, the Carlton-built Competition, the lightweight Record Ace, and the iconic Chopper. Raleigh frames typically used Reynolds 531 tubing … Read more
One of the most unorthodox cycling events in Europe, the Transcontinental Race – often abbreviated to TCR – is exactly what it says on the tin: a race that spans the whole of Europe. Fancy cycling all day, every day, bivvying up in bushes at the side of the road every night for a few … Read more
An iconic dormant volcano in central France, the Puy de Dôme returns to the 2023 Tour de France for the first time in decades. After being excluded for over three decades, the famously steep and challenging climb of Puy de Dôme has once again been announced in the route for the 2023 Tour de France. … Read more
Cyclocross is one of the most hardcore cycling disciplines, requiring excellent handling, power, and even running. The riders need to traverse some extremely tough terrain, including steep banks, sand, mud, and sometimes snow. Not only that but there are often many obstacles on the courses, meaning the riders have to dismount and run with their … Read more
Gravel bikes and mountain bikes are two very different types of bikes, but they’re both intended to be used off-road. Mountain bikes are the classic off-road beasts and couldn’t be further from their efficient asphalt-going cousins: road bikes. However, cycling’s newest discipline, gravel biking, has exploded in popularity, particularly with roadies keen to give some … Read more
Cyclists must abide by a rule imposed by the UCI that restricts the minimum weight of their bikes to 6.8 kg (15 lbs) if they wish to compete in elite races. With cycling tech advancing rapidly to shave grams off the total weight of their bike, through ultralight frames, wheels, tires, and even handlebars, it … Read more
Campagnolo’s road groupset hierarchy: Super Record Wireless (top, 12-speed wireless electronic, ~$5,000), Record (premium, 12-speed wired electronic), Chorus (mid-premium, 12-speed mechanical), Centaur (entry-performance, 11-speed mechanical), and Veloce (now discontinued). Italian-made, distinct lever shape (a separate thumb lever for downshifts), and a cult following — but more expensive than equivalent Shimano. The oldest and most iconic … Read more
Sportives and Gran Fondos are an excellent way to get involved in the cycling community while enjoying a beautifully scenic ride with like-minded riders. Gran Fondos (also known as Sportives in parts of Europe) are mass-participation road cycling events often taking place over large distances through stunning courses. Due to their increasing popularity, Gran Fondos … Read more
Shimano 105 (R7100) and Ultegra (R8100) are the mid and premium tiers of Shimano’s road groupset range. Both are 12-speed, both come in mechanical or wired-electronic Di2, and both use hydraulic disc brakes. The differences: Ultegra is ~250 g lighter, has slightly faster shifts, and costs about 60% more. For 99% of riders, 105 delivers … Read more
Colnago are one of the highest-regarded manufacturers of bicycles of all time. Even to this day, you’re likely to see some beautiful Colnago frames in the pro peloton. But one of the reasons Colnago enjoy such esteem is due to their iconic vintage bikes. Colnago is not the oldest of manufacturers, founded in 1952, but … Read more
The typical beginning of the road cycling season, the Spring Classics include some of the most iconic day races in the cycling calendar. The Spring Classics are a collection of fourteen major one-day races which kick off the road cycling calendar, beginning in February and ending in April each year. Some races are more prestigious … Read more
Seemingly from nowhere, Jonas Vingegaard has risen to the pinnacle of world cycling, taking the yellow jersey in the most recent Tour de France. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past two years, you might not have even heard of Jonas Vingegaard. Having entered his first Grand Tour in 2020, he has … Read more
Particularly for off-road disciplines, you’re often offered a choice in wheel size when buying or building a bike. The wheelset of a bicycle includes the hubs, bearings, spokes, rims, and often the tubes and tires themselves. It’s not uncommon to be presented with a choice of wheel size, specifically if you’re buying a gravel or … Read more
Shimano and SRAM are two of the biggest and most successful manufacturers of bike components, making up 85% of the bike componentry market combined. Choosing the right groupset for you is absolutely essential. Whether you’re building a bike from scratch or buying a complete bike outright, SRAM and Shimano are both tried and tested options … Read more
The new world of gravel racing is vast and diverse. There’s an event out there for every gravel bike racer! Since the introduction of gravel bikes a few years ago, gravel bike races are popping up all over the place, taking in some of the most beautiful gravel roads, dirt forest paths, and single-track in … Read more
If you’re in the market for a new bike but haven’t found the perfect model yet, then perhaps you should consider building a bike from scratch. But if you’re not that clued up on the anatomy of a bike, learning how to build a bike from a bunch of parts can be a daunting task. … Read more
There are lots of reasons for selling a bike. Perhaps you want to upgrade to a better one, and you can get yourself a nice little discount by selling your current bike. Or, maybe you just have one too many bikes and need the space. Whatever the reason, you’re going to want to get the … Read more
Campagnolo is renowned for its high-quality bike components. Their flagship groupset – the Campagnolo Super Record EPS – is no different. Campagnolo is the oldest and (arguably) most prestigious bike component manufacturer, famed for its beautiful Italian aesthetics and outstanding engineering. However, they come at a hefty price tag. Campagnolo Super Record EPS is the … Read more
Buying a bike can be daunting. There are just so many options. What type of bike should you buy? Is it best to buy new or used? Where should you buy your bike from? There’s a lot to consider before any big purchase. The likelihood is, buying a bike will cost a fair amount of … Read more
Bike gear ratio = front chainring teeth ÷ rear cog teeth. A 50/14 gear (50t chainring, 14t cog) gives a ratio of 3.57, meaning the rear wheel spins 3.57 times for each pedal revolution. Multiplying ratio by wheel circumference (≈2.1m for 700×25c) tells you how far you travel per pedal stroke. Below is our gear … Read more
If you’re the unlucky owner of a regularly-dropping chain, a narrow wide chainring might provide the perfect solution to your chain retention woes. A narrow wide chainring employs a special tooth profile to increase chain retention, with alternating narrower and wider teeth to match the alternating gaps in your chain. This is especially useful for … Read more
Vintage Bianchi road bikes — the iconic Italian celeste-green steel frames from the 1960s through 1990s — are among the most collectible vintage road bikes. The most coveted models are the Reparto Corse (race-team frames), the Specialissima (lightweight pro racer), and the X4 (Grand Tour heritage). 1970s–80s celeste Bianchis with Campagnolo Super Record now sell … Read more
The pinnacle of road cycling, the Grand Tours are three multi-stage races taking place every summer: the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España. The most important events on the cycling calendar, racing at – and winning – a Grand Tour is the ultimate goal for every professional road cyclist. Characterized by brutal … Read more
If you’ve watched any professional bike races recently, you’ll likely have caught some bike frame painting envy seeing the stunning custom-painted bike frames ridden by many pros. Sagan’s beautiful color-shifting S-Works frames, Mario Cipollini’s eye-catching animal print bikes, or the multitude of Tour de France jersey-matching paint jobs: they’re all unique and memorable bikes that … Read more
The toughest bikepacking route in England, the Pennine Cycleway traverses the largest mountain range in the UK. The Pennine Cycleway is a long-distance, multi-day bikepacking route from Derby to Berwick-upon-Tweed. It passes through some of the UK’s most stunning national parks, as it traverses the Pennines for over 350 miles. If you’re looking for a … Read more
The most prestigious and iconic race in the cycling calendar, the Tour de France has changed immeasurably from its formative years. The Tour de France is an annual multi-stage cycling race held (mostly) in France. Beginning well over a century ago, the Tour de France history is one of the longest and most fascinating of … Read more
Il Lombardia (formerly Giro di Lombardia) is one of the five “Monuments” of professional cycling — a one-day classic raced in northern Italy each October, between Bergamo and Como. Known as the “Race of the Falling Leaves,” it covers ~250 km of brutal climbs through the Italian Lake District, including the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo … Read more
Shimano’s MTB groupset hierarchy (top to bottom): XTR (top, 12-speed wireless or wired electronic, $1,800+), XT (premium, 12-speed mechanical and Di2, $700–1,000), SLX (mid, 12-speed mechanical, $400), Deore (entry-performance, 11/12-speed mechanical, $250), Cues (new entry, $150), and Tourney (budget, 7/8-speed, $80). XT and SLX are the sweet spot for most trail riders — 95% of … Read more
Each Tour de France team has 8 riders, plus 4–6 staff (sport directors, mechanics, soigneurs, doctors). Of the 22 teams in the 2025 Tour, 18 are UCI WorldTour teams (automatic invitations) and 4 are wildcards (ProTeams selected by ASO). Teams aim to win the GC, stages, KOM, points jersey, or team classification — strategy varies … Read more
A technique developed to reduce the effect of a crosswind, a cycling echelon formation can make or break a team‘s tactics on a windy day. Crosswinds can have remarkable effects on a road race, often producing large time gaps, and resulting in a thrilling watch for the spectators. Riders often use a formation known as … Read more
Accompanying the explosion of gravel bikes in the past few years, the component manufacturing giants have all released specific gravel bike groupsets. Over the past decade, gravel bikes have become exceedingly popular. It fits a need for a versatile bike that performs well on the road and off-road. Initially, they used road bike groupsets, but … Read more