If you’re a cyclocross maniac, you’re already posting about how #crossiscoming. Those utterly obsessed with the sport are also already building a tire coffer for the upcoming season. Challenge Tires knows better than anyone that August is ‘cross-prep month, and what better time to show off some brand-new designs while everyone’s stoke is at the max?

New Challenge CX Tires?

Challenge Tires is giving something to the elite-performance racer and the master blasters with an assortment of new tubeless race (red) tires and 38mm clinchers/tubulars.

First is the new tubeless clincher version of the famous “team only red” tubular tires. Unlike the red team tubulars, these new Team Edition (H-TLR) tires are available for everyone.

What makes them different than the tan-walled cotton tubeless tires? Well — they are red, and red is fast. Seriously though — when Challenge has a red sidewall tire, that usually denotes “team edition” or top of the heap.

In this instance, it’s the all-new Challenge Handmade 320TPI Team Edition (H-TLR) tire. These are the same tires we reported on back at Sea Otter Classic, but now we’ve had some training and rides and can give a full report (more on that later).

What makes the red side-walled tires slightly different is the casing. The new Team Edition Challenge H-TLRs use a 320TPI pre-sealed cotton casing. This slightly higher TPI (the tan walls are 300TPI) moves the ride slightly closer to a tubular feel while keeping the ease of tubeless protection.

The tread is Challenge’s own SMARTsoft Compound, the same tread compound found on the tubular version but it should be more active when paired with a higher TPI casing. The H-TLR RED Team Edition Cotton Series tires are available in the all-arounder Grifo tread and mud master Limus models for $99 per tire. We received both for our product review but spent most of the time on the Grifo since mud season is also coming, but not here yet.

Challenge TE Red H-TLR — Setup Impressions

The only thing I don’t like about the Challenge H-TLR is the setup, more precisely — mounting the tires. The bead is tight, and Challenge sells a tool to help users ease their mounting woes. But it’s a callous process; I found it less of a bear with the Challenge Gravel tires, but still; rough. Mounting the Team Edition (H-TLR) Grifos was no different than the first H-TLR experience.

Like most challenging tasks, though, the reward is worth it. My past version of the H-TLRs has yet to burp, and I’ve run some questionable pressures in the mud, so I guess the tight bead works. All of Challenge’s H-TLR cross tires are hookless rim compatible.

Challenge Team Edition (H-TLR) — Ride Impressions

Since this is a race tire, I tried to be respectful and keep my pavement time minimal. I like to ride to our local cyclocross course, which would be a great time to work out any possible tire issues.

On the road and limestone trail to the ‘cross course, the tires rolled fast, with a spring to them. I say this, having just come from the H-TLR version of the Grifos on the same wheelset. The Team Edition H-TLR tires have slightly more give and suppleness under the same 35 PSI as the standard H-TLR.

My first sessions on the course were dry and dusty. I kept the tires slightly higher in pressure (around 25-27 PSI) and felt confident in the corners and over roots/rocks. This was the sweet spot for my riding style and the slightly rocky features of the course.

When I dropped the pressure slightly (23-25 PSI), the tires felt more tubular-like but hit the rim more often. The tires did not go flat or puncture after rim dings. The Team Edition Grifo H-TLR tires are more pressure-sensitive than their tan wall counterpart.

When riding the Challenge 300tpi H-TLR tires, I would do a few course recon laps and pressure tests, give a “that as good as it gets,” and roll to the line. With the Team Edition Grifo H-TLR, you can drill down and find that just-right pressure, though it will take a bit like an excellent tubular.

I rode the Team Edition Grifo H-TLR tires in a proper mixed-condition session and was very happy with the tire feedback. The Challenge Team Edition H-TLR tires are the closest you can get to a tubular feel. The softened and suspension-like feel of the tire is very close to a tubular, and the rolling sensation is right on the money.

Product Details — Challenge TE Red H-TLR

• Size 700×33 / 33-622, UCI-legal
• Color Red casing, black tread
• Treads: Grifo, Limus
• Weight 390-392g
• Retail Price $99.99
• Available: Now

Challenge H-TLR and Tubular 38mm Tires

For those outside the UCI — 33mm width only rule, Challenge has released a dedicated 38mm H-TLR and 38mm tubular version of their Grifo and Limus tires.

The construction and tread are identical to the 33mm version, with about 31mm overall tread coverage. The only real difference about this product is the 38mm size offered. Challenge Tires is one of a select few making a dedicated 38mm cyclocross race tire, especially in a 38mm tubular.

I still abide by the 33mm tread width rule, but I couldn’t help but wonder how the 38mm tubular would handle out on a twisty cyclocross course. Yes — 38mm and wider gravel tires are used to race cyclocross, but a tubular has a slightly different feel.

I frequently train and race gravel on 38mm tires, but I was intrigued by the thought of a 38mm tubular, especially in the Grifo tread. The 38mm plus sizing is popular with riders looking for extra cushion, surviving bumpy courses, and doubles nicely as a gravel go-to.

Unlike a clincher, the tubular has a specific width to which it will inflate and a dedicated glue base tape to which the rim will adhere, making it 38mm and no larger. Challenges use the same base tape for the 38mm tubular tires as they do for the 33mm version.

I understand this decision, as there are no super wide rims to glue a wider base tape onto. The only ones that come to mind are the Shimano XTR Tubular MTB Wheels and the now-defunct Vittoria Tubular MTB wheels (both excellent). Maybe we will see more emerge with the hopeful popularity of 38mm race tubulars.

For the wheels, I settled on one of my favorites, the Hunt Tubular Race Wheels with a modern 25mm width for the 38mm tubular Grifo review rides. The tire wasn’t too big for the rim, and the base tape was a perfect fit.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about getting the 38mm Challenge Tubulars set up and rolling. The tire needed a day of pre-stretch, and mounting was straightforward and required minimal adjustment.

Challenge 38mm Girfo Tubular — First Ride Impressions

I took the Challenge Grifo 38mm tubulars out on our regular training circuit for some laps with the crew. The tire boasts all the suppleness of a tubular (duh), and the 38mm size soaked up much of the bumpy, freshly cut track.

Pressure-wise, the 38mm width can take some time to fine-tune. I was running around 23-25psi in the mud and could balance the squish of the casing, and the excellent feel of suppleness and grip. Regarding turning, the front wheel has a slightly different feel but nothing that would be hard for most riders to adjust.

The tread sits very high on the casing and doesn’t wrap around like most tubular treads. This is likely from the 33mm and the 38mm using the same tread. The high tread doesn’t interfere with the performance; it looks like a Dugast Typhoon and performs just as well as the 33mm.

Yes – there is a slight weight penalty (485g for the tubular and 427g for the H-TLR), but the ride quality definitely balances that out. I’m excited to race these at some masters races this year, especially on bumpy tracks cut the day before. I can see 38mm tubulars making a big impression on those leaving the 33mm bubble and moving from the UCI fields. The comfort and planted pedaling sensation is enough to give them a try; just make sure you’re bike will accommodate.

Product Details — Challenge (H-TLR) and Tubular 38mm

• Size 700×38 / 38-622 (non-UCI legal) 700×38 tubular
• Color: Black tread, tan casing
• Weight ~ 427g Grifo / 422g Limus / 485g Grifo Tubular
• Retail Price $84.99 HTLR / $99.00 Tubular
• Available: Now

For more info and to purchase, check out ChallengeTires.com

The post CX Tire Review: Challenge Team Edition Red H-TLR Tires & 38mm Grifo Tubular appeared first on Bikerumor.

Sometimes riders get so caught up in the mechanical specs of their bikes that they neglect the components that take a much more significant toll on their bodies.

Sure, having the latest Di2 or eTap systems installed, saving a few grams with a set of carbon handlebars, or swapping out tires may seem like logical upgrade choices, but if your contact points on the bike are uncomfortable, little else is going to matter.

Bike saddles, pedals, shoes, and grips come in as wide a variety of options as the hands, feet, and backsides that mount them. But a lot of people gloss over these critical elements until they encounter a noticeable problem. Even when that happens, many riders resort to guesswork, trying tons of products with different widths, shapes, and sizes until they arrive at a Goldilocks moment, or at least get close to one.

SQlab, a leading industry purveyor of all things ergonomic including saddles, grips, handlebars, bar ends, pedals, and more, has worked for years to cut out that trial and error. For example, in 2002, the brand claims it was the first manufacturer to design a system that measures a rider’s sit bones, the key contact points with the saddle. This helps dial in the correct saddle width.

While that system used to require folks to travel to a local SQlab retailer, the brand now offers the aforementioned at-home measurement kit. which can help riders measure their contact points with the bike, including the sit bones, hands, and feet.

According to SQlab, its kit includes everything a rider needs to measure each contact point.

First, for the sit bone measurement, SQlab uses a piece of corrugated cardboard that riders place on a flat surface and sit on. After that, they can measure the distance between the imprint left by their sit bones to find their perfect saddle width. The last step assigns a value for the individual sitting position. This result matches the rider’s saddle size with one of the brands’ five different widths.

The right saddle can increase performance and blood circulation, keeping nerves, fibers, and blood vessels sufficiently supplied, according to the brand. A saddle that doesn’t fit right can lead to a host of issues including back pain, knee pain, and numbness.

Saddles with a flat, or even upwardly bent surface, can create high pressure on the perineal area, resulting in pain and numbness; (photo/SQlab)

According to SQlab, only an optimally sized saddle guarantees that the sit bones can fully be supported. This relieves the sensitive perineal area, which is a common area of complaints in both women and men.

The measuring kit can help with common misconceptions such as a softer saddle fixing comfort issues. SQlab states extremely soft bike saddles are only recommended for rides up to 30 minutes, as they cannot offer support and damping for the sit bones. Instead, the sit bones sink into the soft material, which irritates deeper-lying, sensitive tissue, such as muscle and tendon attachments.

Starting with a good idea of your measurements can help riders avoid nagging issues.

To measure the hands for the right grip, SQlab gives riders a sheet they can use to measure the distance from the tip of the middle finger to the crook of the thumb, which informs which diameter, length, and shape of grip will best suit a rider.

SQlab grips come in up to four different sizes, all of which vary in length, shape, and diameter. Finding the right fit can make long rides far more comfortable, and reduce the risk of injury from being in the wrong position.

Finally, SQlab includes another sheet that helps riders measure the shape of their foot, leg axis, and foot length. This measurement helps riders identify the best insole to fit the unique profile of their foot.

For a sport considered by most to be “low-impact,” a rider’s feet are subjected to a ton of pressure, shock, and vibration. A reliable, stable platform at the feet tends to translate to increased comfort throughout the rest of the body, while the same is true for an unreliable and unstable platform — discomfort.

The best news about the SQlab system is that it’s free throughout North America and the European Union. Anyone who wants to find a better fit on the bike can go to sq-lab.com to get a measurement kit.

Order your home measurement kit now for free:

North America

European Union

Once riders have their measurements, SQlab offers detailed explanations for each of their products and the concepts behind them on their website. To simplify the decision-making process, products can be filtered according to their area of use, and any further questions can be answered by SQlab’s specialist retailers.

You can find your next specialist bike shop through SQlab’s store locater for either North America or the European Union.

This post is sponsored by SQlab. Visit sq-lab.com to learn more about ergonomics and measurements.

The post SQlab Helps Dial in Ergonomics at Home appeared first on Bikerumor.

Back in April, I wrote about a really cool bike storage system by Stashed Products that I saw at the Sea Otter Classic. The system is called the SpaceRail Bike Storage System, and it’s a pretty ingenious concept that uses a weighted hook that can slide and rotate allowing the user to alternate the bikes in an ass-to-tea-kettle type of spacing, to get them as close together as possible.

And, look…I don’t know what ass-to-tea-kettle is – it’s something my dad used to say… but, I think you get the gist.

All of the parts that make up the Stashed SpaceRail System are 100% made in the UK, even the custom extrusion for the Space Rail itself. They are expanding into the US and are very proud of their innovative packaging.

They use only cardboard when packaging and shipping their goods which was surprising to me when they told me that they have a 100% success rate on the delivery of the last 1000 systems that were sent “across the pond”.

Stashed sent me two space rails and enough hooks for 6 bikes (4 of my own with 2 hooks left over for review bikes). The package came to me through DHL, and when I opened the box, I noticed there weren’t a lot of small, loose parts to deal with, and that the packaging was efficient, clean, and minimal.

Of course, I had just moved, the garage was a mess, and I was very excited to try out the system if anything just to get the bikes out of the way. Anywho, to my disappointment, I got it all installed without snapping one pic of the clever packaging. Sorry guys.

The SpaceRail System

Stashed Products offers three different mounting options for their SpaceRail system with a Ceiling Mount, Angled Mount, and Wall Mount. I was sent the Ceiling Mount. And as I mentioned earlier, it came with enough hooks to hang 6 bikes.

The parts to get the system installed were only a few, with the really small hardware organized in a separate bag.

• 2ea. SpaceRails (one Space Rail can hold up to 4 bikes)
• The bike hooks
• Spacer kits (for between the hooks)
• The specific mounts for the Ceiling application
• Two Space Rail end caps
• One SpaceRail Joining Kit
• All of the necessary small mounting and installation hardware

SpaceRail System Installation

The included instruction booklet… yes, a booklet, was complete and thorough, with really good illustrations. I started by getting all of the pieces laid out and separated.

I started by sliding the hardware for the Ceiling Mounts into place to match the distance of the ceiling joists where they will hang. When that was done, I added the rail’s end cap on the far end that wasn’t getting the extension. It was easy to mount the first rail to the ceiling by myself.

The actual SpaceRails are one-piece aluminum and I found them light enough to hold in place while installing the mounting plates to the ceiling. But, that being said, I’m not sure if that would be the case if you were attempting to screw the long wood screws in with just a handheld screwdriver… if that were the case, you’d need another person to hold the SpaceRail.

I did predrill pilot holes in the joists so that when using a drill to install the included wood screws, they installed quickly and easily without splitting the wood.

I then added the end cap to one end and the SpaceRail Joining kit to the other end of the installed SpaceRail. After making another joist location measurement, I slid one end of the second SpaceRail into the Joining kit and attached the mounting plates to the joists.

That was it. It took me approximately 30 minutes to get the two SpaceRails installed and ready to accept the six bike hooks. Hooks are easily installed by simply keeping one end free of the end cap and sliding them into the Space Rail. Once they are all slid in, install the end cap and it is ready to store your bikes.

SpaceRail Performance

Once I got the SpaceRails installed on my ceiling, and ready to install the bike hooks, I noticed that the instructions stated that I should measure the width of the axel/fork leg width. They said that if that measurement is less than 150mm, I won’t need to install the included spacers…. and if it’s over 150mm to install them.

I confess that I didn’t take the measurement… I just assumed I would need the spacers. So, I initially installed them on every other hook, but after a few days of placing and removing the bikes from the hooks, I found that didn’t actually need them.

Removing them (obviously) allowed the bikes to squeeze in tighter than they did with the spacers installed. And, having the bikes stored closer to each other is something that I felt I needed in my tight little area of the garage.

The hooks are, more or less, “locked” in place when there is no weight on them. This allows for the hook to stay stationary while lifting your bike onto the hook… keeping the hook from being bumped and sliding down the rail away from where you need it.

Once loaded down with the weight of the bicycle, the hooks “free up” to slide and rotate freely in the SpaceRail with very little resistance.

Stash Products Pedal Wraps

Believe it or not, one of my favorite items during my review of the SpaceRail System is the cool Pedal Wraps. These are handy little neoprene and Velcro wraps that conveniently wrap your pedals to keep them from damaging the neighboring bike upon sliding them together.

Stashed sent me a pair of large, medium and small. They are easy to install and remove from the pedals. I used the large size for my wife’s large DEV5 flat pedals…

…and the medium for my Shimano XT Trail pedals, and the small size for my Shimano XTR pedals. A very simple solution that works very well.

There are also little “outboard” hooks on the outside of the bike hooks that allow you to hang your helmet, wet jacket, gloves, or whatever you think of.

SpaceRail Storage System Features & Pricing

Features

• Free UK shipping over £50. Free European shipping over €350. T&C apply.
• Universal hooks to store every type of bike, including e-bikes
• Saves up to 50% space, with easy bike access
• Simple to install using just four screws & basic DIY skills
• A single SpaceRail (1200mm / 4ft) can hold 120kg (30kg / 65lbs per hook) *good for most eBikes*
• Easy Load system with Auto Lock Tech

Pricing

One 4′ section of SpaceRail can hold up to 4 bikes. You can add additional SpaceRail Bike Hooks to your one-bike system for an additional $83ea. This allows you to use just what you need, adding hooks as your quiver grows.

If you were to grow past 4 bikes, you would just need to buy the SpaceRail Extension Kit for an additional $128, allowing for up to an additional 4 bikes. See some examples below.

1ea. SpaceRail kit for one bike (includes rail, 1-hook, and mounting hardware): $204

1ea. SpaceRail kit for four bikes (includes rail, 4-hooks, and mounting hardware): $382

Pricing is set where you can store as many as 24 bikes for $2099

*Price as tested (includes 2-rails, 6-hooks, 1-SpaceRail Joining kit, and mounting hardware): $598

All Stashed Products carry a 2-Year unlimited warranty.

In Conclusion

Stashed Products’ ingenious system is easy to use, and won’t damage your beloved bicycles as you get them up and out of the way. I love that you can swivel the bikes to stagger them and get them really close. I’ve got 5 bikes stored that only span 4’7″ wide… that’s impressive and an overall pretty small footprint considering one bike has the 810mm wide Tumbleweed Persuader Bar and another bike’s got the Redshift Sports 50cm Kitchen Sink Bar.

I found the system a snap to install and even easier to use on a daily basis as it’s a breeze to slide the bikes apart, pick your steed and pull it down for a ride. The quality of all of the parts seems top notch and I have zero reason to believe that they won’t last a good long time.

The hooks have a replaceable protective polymer cover that doesn’t seem to be marring my rims. Also, the hook trolleys are rebuildable, which is refreshing.

I wouldn’t just recommend this system for anybody that is space challenged when it comes to storing their steeds, I would recommend it to anybody in need of bike storage solutions, as it is a well-thought-out, safe way to store your bicycles.

Check ’em out at the link below.

StashedProducts.co.uk

The post Hang, Slide & Rotate Bikes Effortlessly with the Stashed SpaceRail Bike Storage System appeared first on Bikerumor.

Throwing on a dropper seat post is one of the most significant changes any rider can make to a bike. Whether riding a downhill or enduro rig, or powering through XC or gravel courses, the ability to get the seat out of your way makes bike handling a breeze.

Even roadies are beginning to fall into line.

The folks at KS Suspension have long been a staple in the dropper post game, coming to the market with a litany of options for riders of every persuasion.

KS builds nearly 15 models of droppers ranging from 65mm to 200mm of travel, along with components including handlebars and stems to get bike fit and feel dialed in.

Most recently, KS has rolled out 27.2mm dropper posts perfect for bikes with narrow seat post tubes that need a bit less travel than bikes with more squish.

Just answer a quick five-question survey for a chance to win a brand-new KS Rage iS 27.2 post for your bike. Responses to all five short-answer questions are required to enter the contest.

Sorry, this contest is now closed.

SURVEY CONTEST RULES: By submitting your response, you agree to these rules, terms & conditions: Only one entry per person. Multiple entries from the same person will disqualify that person. All participants must provide a valid email address, as that is how KS Suspension will contact the winner(s). All entrants’ email addresses may be added to the email newsletter/marketing lists for Bikerumor.com and KS Suspension. Any emails sent from either party will contain “unsubscribe” options. The contest closes just before midnight (11:59pm) PST on Sunday, May 28th, 2023. The winner (s) will be selected at random and the results are final. Winner(s) will have one week from the date of notification of winning to respond, after which KS Suspension and/or Bikerumor.com reserve the right to choose an alternate winner and the original winner forfeits all rights to any prize(s).

The post CONTEST! Win a KS Rage iS 27.2 dropper post! appeared first on Bikerumor.

KS Suspension may be best known for its droppers, but with a litany of new components hitting the market this year, the brand is ready to outfit even more riders. They now offer precision suspension components, along with new and interesting cockpit options with gravel, CX, and other off-the-beaten-path adventures in mind.

Rage-iS 27.2

The Rage-iS 27.2 is built to take more of a beating.

The 27.2 diameter model features either 65mm or 100mm travel at lengths of 380mm and 415mm, respectively. The Rage-iS 27.2 shines under race conditions for anything from cyclocross to trail-style riding, but can easily handle recreational or enthusiast-level enduro-style riding too. It’s a solid choice for aggressive racers looking to tear into gravel with speed and poise.

The Rage iS lineup, which also comes in 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9 mm diameter options, includes the same air-sprung suspension, updated cylindrical upper clamp nuts, and more vertical head clamp angle included in the LEV Integra line.

The Rage-iS range also includes a dedicated cartridge architecture to keep action reliable and smooth, a lightweight, rotating actuator, and reduced actuation force.

Other features include:

• Alloy stanchion
• Weight-optimized alloy mast
• Air-sprung hydraulic cartridge
• Press-fit bushing and dust wiper

KG Drop 2.0

No dropper is complete without a remote that is comfortable, sleek, and easy to use. The KG Drop 2.0 is exactly that.

The KG Drop 2.0 is a drop bar-specific remote that focuses on ergonomics that cater to the needs of gravel, CX, and touring riders.

The remote works with the left hand, and can be placed where it is accessible from the drops or the hoods of a drop bar. Its dual-paddle design makes actuation more precise during rough sections, and it fits just about any drop bar multi-control lever system.

The remote attaches with a low-profile 22.2 mm hinged handlebar clamp that can be seamlessly hidden under bar tape and includes anti-corrosive nitride-coated hardware to increase longevity and reliability.

Ether Gravel handlebar

KS Suspension’s Ether Carbon Gravel Bar is among three bars in the brand’s lineup, including the Ether Carbon Riser Bar and the Ether Carbon Flat Bar.

The Gravel Bar, however, is the only drop-bar offering and is dialed for speed and performance whether hammering on smooth streets or chattering over gravel.

The bar features an ergonomic design that improves both aerodynamics and control. It has an 18mm rise for added comfort and stretches 420mm or 440mm in width with a flared handlebar design for added stability.

The 420mm option weighs in at 270 grams, while the 440mm weighs 275 grams. The bar also features internal cable routing, carbon fiber composite of varying thickness to dampen vibration, and a 31.8mm clamp diameter.

Ether Forged XC and Gravel Stem

The Ether Forged XC and Gravel Stem is the perfect companion to the Ether Carbon Gravel bar. Made with aluminum alloys and specific wall-thickness engineered for control, the XC and Gravel Stem is lightweight and an expert at giving riders feedback and reducing fatigue over rockier terrain.

The stem comes in a wide variety of rise options ranging from 6 degrees all the up to 17 degrees for those who prefer a more upright position on the bike.

It also comes in lengths including 70mm, 90mm, and 100mm.

GTC Flat Mount Fork

KS Suspension’s GTC Flat Mount Fork provides a comfortable, yet efficient 40mm of travel to smooth out even the gnarliest of gravel routes.

The fork includes a forged aluminum crown, along with high-modulus carbon fiber and alloy legs with an oil damping system and adjustable rebound and lockout.

The fork can accomodate 700c tires up to 50c in width, so it has plenty of space for a wide variety of gravel tires on the market.

Other features include a tapered steerer tube, flat-mount disc brake compatibility, a 46mm offset, and a 100×12 thru-axle.

While KS has long been known for its droppers, the latest line of equipment and an ever-expanding catalog of gravel and trail components point to a more developed future where KS products can be found on every part of a bike.

This post is sponsored by KS Suspension. Learn more about KS Suspension at kssuspension.com.

The post KS Suspension delves into gravel with bars, forks, stems, and droppers appeared first on Bikerumor.

Sad news from Wisconsin a few days ago, Waterford Precision Cycles will no longer be taking any new orders and plans to close its doors after fulfilling all current orders. As initially reported by Bikepacking.com, this closure will include Gunnar Cycles, as well. Waterford Precision Cycles has built custom bikes under the Waterford badge for four decades, and fabricated Gunnar Cycles frames and forks as an option for a lower-cost, production frameset available in stock, non-custom sizes.

It was way back in 1981 that Waterford took over the Schwinn Paramount production. Under the leadership of Richard Schwinn, the small bicycle frame manufacturer produced iconic hand-built custom, high-end, steel frames that became synonymous with quality craftsmanship.

After a large number of long-time employees are soon to be retiring, Richard Schwinn has decided to retire and close up shop to spend more time doing something else. I would imagine after “doing the bike thing” for as long as the Schwinn family has, it would be an attractive thought to find something else to do in your later years.

In some of the groups I follow, the word (aka, the bike rumor) is that in the email Richard Schwinn sent out to his existing dealer network, the implication was that somebody may take over the business, in whole or in part. But that it isn’t firmed up enough to disclose any specifics.

Fingers crossed.

So, this may not be the final end for them, just yet. Stay tuned.

WaterfordBikes.com & GunnarBikes.com

The post Waterford Precision Cycles/Gunnar Cycles Shutting Down appeared first on Bikerumor.

With a history in motocross and gravity-fueled mountain biking, Fox Racing is known for its aggressive aesthetic. So it may raise a few eyebrows then as they prepare to enter new territory for the brand. Call it what you wish – downcountry, gravel, aggro XC, whatever the nomenclature, the upcoming Crossframe Pro is ready for it. And according to Fox, it’s their first-ever/ visor-free helmet.

Even though it is technically visor-free, the Crossframe Pro still has a pronounced brow. Kind of like a visor that’s integrated into the EPS foam. On the underside of that brow, there are functional vents that are part of the 22 total vents on the helmet.

Inside, you’ll find a MIPS liner with a BOA retention system, as well as dual-density Varizorb EPS foam for improved impact protection. The helmet also features premium features like a removable and washable Ionic+ liner, rubberized sunglass grippers, and a Fidlock SNAP helmet buckle. Claimed weights are listed as 330-390g for S-L, with our medium pre-production sample weighing 346g.

Along with the Crossframe Pro Helmet, Fox is introducing a line of clothing for the same category in the Flexair Ascent line. Somewhere between baggy and tights, the clothing has a more aerodynamic cut than typical Fox clothing. Designed to be ultra light and cool, the shorts feature a fairly short 10″ inseam, and jerseys will be offered in SS & LS.

We got an early sample to check out and so far both the clothing and the helmet have been surprising in a good way. The fit on the clothing is excellent, and it all feels incredibly comfortable. I’m looking forward to getting some more miles on these this summer.

Dropframe Pro

The new downcountry/gravel gear may have been the star of the show, but the new Dropframe Pro is worth a look as well. Previously, Fox updated the Proframe RS with many of the features from the Proframe, and now those updated trickle down to the Dropframe Pro as well.

The 3/4 shell has an updated headform with a BOA fit system and MIPS, and meets the NTA-8776 eBike helmet certification. The visor has three poisitons and is compatible with goggles, and you’ll find an Ionic+ anti-microbial liner and cheek pads plus a Fidlock magnetic buckle. Claimed weight is listed as 620-710g.

All of the products above will be available later this year with pricing to be announced.

foxracing.com

The post Fox Introduces Their First Visor-free Helmet, the Crossframe Pro for Downcountry & Gravel appeared first on Bikerumor.

Solving multiple problems at once, the new Wheels Manufacturing Solo-XD single-speed cogs for SRAM XD driver bodies lets you put a true 1x drivetrain on your bike without having to find an HD freehub for your wheels.

Assuming you have a SRAM drivetrain and wanted to go single, then that’s one problem solved.

The second is the elimination of marring that some single-speed cogs can do on a Shimano-style HG freehub body. With all of the torque only driving one single gear, some designs can dig into the teeth on the freehub body, making it difficult to remove them.

The design uses a base sleeve that threads onto the XD body, just like you would with a cassette, and then the spacers and cog slide over that with a lock ring holding those in place.

It’s still in development, with a target launch date of August 2023. Pricing is TBD, expect them to have all the same color options as their headset spacers and other accessories.

They’re also playing with limited edition colors for their tools, with this multi-color anodized finish called Mystic.

Last up, they’ve made a cassette lock ring tool specifically for Bafang e-bike hubs, which have a big metal plug sticking out from the axle. Typical cassette removal tools won’t fit over it, so this one has a larger center bore that will. This one’s actually available now for $35.

WheelsMFG.com

The post Wheels Manufacturing adds Single-Speed cog kit for XD freehubs appeared first on Bikerumor.

Cross is always coming, and Challenge Tires is already preparing products for the upcoming season. We caught up with the Challenge Tires team at Sea Otter Classic and were treated to some excellent and wide offerings.

Challenge Team Edition TLR tires

If you’re a cyclocross fan, you know the Challenge Team Edition tires — the red casing that stands out amongst the tan side walls in the field. These tires were only offered in a tubular model — up until this point.

Challenge is now offering the red race (320 TPI sealed core-spun cotton) casing in a TLR version of the tire. For now, the treads offered will be Grifo and Limus, with more to come.

Challenge Team Edition TLR tires Details:

• Casing: 33mm 320 TPI sealed core-spun cotton
• Price: TBD
• Availability: Summer

Challenge 38 mm Handmade TLR

Along with the Team Edition TLR tires, Challenged showed off some very excellent and wide Grifo TLR tires in a 38mm size — perfect for the master’s racer in your life. These will have the same as the TLR tires released last year, with the same handmade casing and bead-locking side walls.

The available treads will be Girfo and Limus at first, but others will follow sure.

Challenge 38 mm Handmade TLR Details

• Casing: 38mm 300 TPI poly-casing
• Price: $89.00
• Availability: Summer

For more information, check out: Challengetires.com.

The post Spotted: Challenge Team Edition Tubeless Tires and 38mm TLR coming soon appeared first on Bikerumor.

Thule is starting the Sea Otter Classic a little early, unveiling an all-new rack with versatility, lights, and a ramp. The all-new Thule Epos is the standard EasyFold XT rack on steroids. It can carry up to three bikes of any discipline and has an impressive 66 lbs per bike (136 lbs for the 2-bike and 160 lbs for the 3-bike) weight limit.

What is it?

The all-new Thule Epos is a tray-loading bike rack with telescopic arms. The Epos holds the bike by the frame, wheel, or fork, allowing the rider to choose the best mounting solution.

The bike stays in place via new steel reinforced straps, the telescopic arm, and a pivoting head.

Will the Thule Epos fit my bike?

The shining point of the Epos is its versatility and safety. The Epos can fit wheel sizes from 16-29″, which is excellent for adult and kid bike transportation. As for tire width, the tray can fit road, gravel, cross country, etc — up to 3.2″ tires. If you’re looking to transport your fat bike, you’ll need a 5″ accessory strap, which Thule has.

Thule added extra length to accommodate all manner of bikes; the maximum wheelbase of the new Epos is a solid 1350mm (53.14″). So don’t worry about transporting those super-slacked 29″ downhill bikes.

Did you say ramp?

For those that don’t appreciate the heavy lifting e-bike ownership can entail. The new Epos folds up similarly to the EasyFold XT, and the addition of the wheels makes it much easier to move from the car to its storage slot. The new Epos offers an accessory ramp that makes loading easy. For easy storage, the new Epos follows the T2 and other Thule racks, adding two wheels to the bottom, aiding in transporting and maneuverability.

If you’re concerned about safety and visibility (who isn’t), the new Thule Epos also comes with an additional light and plate option. You can add the attachable Abus cable lock kit for those looking to double up with security.

Thule Epos Rack Specifications

• High load capacity with 66 lbs/bike and 132 lbs for 2-bike and 160 lbs for 3-bike carriers, enabling transport of all types of bikes, including heavy e-bikes
• It fits all frame designs from 20mm to 90mm in diameter
• Enables easy transport of larger bikes with generous bike spacing of 9.8 in and longer wheelbases up to 53 in
• Fits sizes from 16″ to 29″ and tire sizes up to 3.2 in and up to 5 in with accessory strap (sold separately)
• Prices:$1000 for the base two-bike model, $1,249 for two bikes w/lights, and $1,099 for the three-bike model.
• Available in MId-Summer from your Thule dealer.

We have a sample of the new Thule Epos on the way, so be on the looks for a full review and thoughts coming soon. For more information, check out Thule.com

The post All-New Thule Epos Rack Has a 160lb Weight Limit and Will Fit Any Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

The top tubeless DT Swiss CRC carbon cyclocross racing wheel family gets a solid modern update – moving from a single low-profile rim to either 35mm or 45mm deep aero-optimized rims developed for the tough life of cross racing. Pick a shallower wheelset for tighter or more technical races, or the deeper wheels for tracks with long straightaways, deep sand, or even heavy mud…

DT Swiss CRC 1400 Spline carbon cyclocross racing wheels

While many pros remain tubular holdouts, the majority of privateer CX racers around the world have made the tubeless transition, where they can change tires depending on race day conditions while still running super low pressure. So DT Swiss has given their workhorse CRC (carbon race cross) wheelset a significant upgrade: the choice of two deeper & much more aero rim profiles, improved stiffness, upgraded hub internals, and still close to the lightweight of DT#s top-tier tubulars.

More aerodynamic rims for cross almost seem like a silly idea – how fast are you really going around a muddy CX track after all? – but serious cross racers have often preferred deep aero rim profiles for the ability to cut through deep mud & sand, plus their generally improved stiffness. Not to mention all the examples we’ve seen of aero gains, even at lower average speeds.

And now that DT was able to make the new rims ~50-90% deeper while only adding 26-77g in total overall, more aero just made more sense!

Tech details

Both new DT Swiss CRC 1400 wheelsets feature new wide carbon rims optimized for cyclocross racing and specifically those classic 33mm tires. That means a hooked tubeless bead and a 22mm internal rim width that offers support and good tire volume, without pushing you over the UCI commissaire’s strict tire width limits… in most cases.

The new tubeless CRC wheels come in blunt-nosed aero profiles of 35mm or 45mm depth – up from just 24mm for the previous model that was wider than it was deep. But surprisingly, DT Swiss was able to keep the CX-ready wheels light even with the much deeper aero cross rims.

The new mid-depth CRC 1400 35 weighs a claimed 1415g for the pair (647/768g front & rear) for only 26g more than the old shallow wheels. The even deeper new CRC 1400 45 is less than fifty grams more at a claimed 1466g for the set (673/793g f/r).

The wheels also get upgraded to DT’s latest 36T Ratchet EXP tech with wider bearing spacing & simplified internals, now built around the latest generation 12mm thru-axle centerlock disc brake 240 hubs with 24 straight-pull Aerolite & Aerocomp bladed spokes laced 2x with ProLock hidden aluminum nipples. Sure, that means you would have to pull the (factory-installed) tubeless tape if you need to replace broken spokes, but at least you don’t have tires glued on!

DT CRC 1400 wheels – Pricing, availability & options

The CRC 1400 wheels are available now in both 35mm & 45mm depths, sitting in between the tubular-only 1100 series carbon wheels and the heavier but more affordable CR 1400 wheels with alloy rims. Both sizes are sold separately front & rear so you can mix and match if you want, retailing for $2400 / 2050€ for a pair ($1008/861€ front + $1392/1189€ rear). The wheels all come pre-taped for tubeless with valves. Rear wheels are sold with either Shimano HG11 or SRAM XDR freehubs, but use new 240 bodies so Campy & Campy N3W are also available separately.

DTSwiss.com

The post Upgraded DT Swiss Tubeless Carbon CRC Cross Wheels are Lightweight & More Aero appeared first on Bikerumor.

What’s New: Specialized S-Works Recon SL 

There are many updates to the new S-Works Recon SL, most notably the reduction in weight, updated wider fit, and a more Torch-like appearance. Still, the shoe is laser-focused on off-road performance but leans more into the gravel side than anything. 

Specialized moved the BOA dials slightly, eliminating the constricted feeling of the previous version of the Recons while still having a sturdy fit. Now there are two BOA dials and no extra Velcro strap near the toes. 

Looking at the bottom of the shoe, you can see most of the updates. The matte carbon sole of the shoe is sculpted. On the structural side of things, Specialized updated the sole with an internal I-beam like the Torch to add stiffness and strength. The I-beam eliminates the need for additional bracing while allowing the shoe to stay extremely lightweight. 

If you look at the toebox, you’ll notice zero spots for additional toe spikes. Cyclo-cross racers will be bummed, but this is an opportunity to shave weight and eliminate extra hardware.

If you look closer, you’ll notice the toebox is slimmer than the beefed-up section near the cleat. The front of the shoe is slightly flexible, while the mid-pedaling platform is super stiff. 

Updated Fit 

The new Recon SL and Recon ADV addressed a common thread among many riders: the width of the shoe. The new Recon SL and Recon ADV are 4 mm wider than the standard width and 8 mm wider than the previous S-Works Recon Mountain Bike Shoes. 

Why the change to wider? The design team at Specialized gathered more than 100,000 foot scans from RETÜL fit data. After studying the scans, the team recognized that a standard fit and a wide carbon base plate would best serve the spectrum of human foot shapes. 

The inside of the shoe is what you’d expect from the Specialized S-Works tier and includes a varus wedge, longitudinal arch, and metatarsal button. A new piece that Specialized is offering for the S-Work Recon SL is high-density pontoons (shims) that allow riders to tune their pedal interface.

Though we have yet to experiment with them, the shoes arrive with two options, threading into the tread. Additional 3mm, 6mm, and 9mm pontoon shims for leg length discrepancy and cleat stacker are available through Specialized Rider Care. 

Specialized S-Works Recon SL: Key Features 

• High-density pontoons and new shims allow riders to tune their pedal interface for maximum efficiency and a road-like pedal platform  
• Features Body Geometry technology by way of the varus wedge, a longitudinal arch, and a metatarsal button
• An asymmetrical heel counter supports the medial side while removing material from the lateral side, allowing for a lower collar
• Using an internal I-beam adds stiffness and strength — eliminating the need for additional bracing and allowing the shoe to stay extremely lightweight
• Zoned reinforcement across the quarter and forefoot maximize support while the updated BOA routing improves lockdown — eliminating the need for a toe strap
• Additional 3mm, 6mm, and 9mm pontoon shims for leg length discrepancy and cleat stacker available through Specialized Rider Care 
• For a wider fit — the new base plate is 4 mm wider than the standard width (8 mm wider than S-Works Recon Mountain Bike Shoes)
• Available sizes: 36-49 
• Weight: 288 g (size 43)
• Available now
• Price: $450

First Impressions

We’ve had minimal time on the S-Works Recon SL shoe. From our time in them, it’s safe to note — they fit astronomically better. I have a slightly wider foot and gravitate toward Shimano shoe lines. The updated fit is a significant difference from the Recon SL shoe. Those slightly shoehorned into the previous S-Works Recon version will be excited. 

Weight and fit are the most notable characteristics that stick out. They feel like road shoes when you put them on because of the weight and the locked-in sensation. The updated placement of the BOA dials is another huge update. 

Previously, the wire from the BOA dials would dig into my foot and create an over-tightened sensation that was not great. The new placement, however, eliminates that and adds a nice secure-wrapped feeling. 

The front of the shoe where the toe spike could/would be is slightly flexible. This slimmer toe area could reduce weight and offer off-the-bike comfort. I’m curious to know if this will withstand the demands of running and sloppy hike-a-bike sections of gravel races. 

There’s only one way to find out. We’ll put these shoes through the races and paces this spring and report back with a full review. Currently, the prospects look good; they fit excellent, are lightweight, and look very fast! 

The post S-Works Recon SL Shoe Goes Full Gravel, Gets Wider, and Adds a Tunable Pedal Interface appeared first on Bikerumor.

The new Industry Nine iRiX headset takes its CNC expertise and pairs it with Enduro bearings to create a lightweight option you can customize in any combination of 11 colors, three styles, and two top cap heights.

Inside, though, are details that make it even more adjustable and fully serviceable, giving you a very functional way to upgrade your road, gravel, or mountain bike.

Available in EC (External Cup), ZS (Zero Stack), and IS (Integrated), you can choose from any of the 11 anodization colors Industry Nine offers. Mix and match the lower cup, upper cup, top cover, and stem cap in any combination you want.

Top caps are available in 5mm and 15mm heights, and Industry Nine offers color-matched headset spacers (sold separately) in 2.5/5/10/20mm heights too. It’s worth noting that the 5mm and 15mm top cap measurements are for the IS headset. The EC and ZS will be slightly taller due to the external cups adding height (ZS use bearings that drop into the frame, adding no height to the design).

They’re lightweight too, saving up to 28 g of a typical stock headset. Compared to the 89g IS headset that came on my Niner RKT, the 5mm top cap combo weighed in at just 61 g (28g savings), and the 15mm top cap combo was 68 g (21g savings).

A few other features set its headsets apart. The crown race has a replaceable double-lip silicone seal …

… that creates a barrier against grit and grime getting into the bearing and frame. Bearings are stainless steel, made by Enduro, and come with a lifetime warranty.

Inside the top cover is another replaceable silicone seal, which sits just above a groove that the split compression ring snaps into. The silver spacer shown sitting in there is one of two included 0.2mm spacers, to be used to adjust the top cover clearance on the frame.

To install them, snap the compression ring out, then start sliding the spacers in through the notch until you’re able to snap them fully into the groove.

Then snap the compression ring back into place. A double-lip outer seal helps keep crud from getting inside here too.

While I loved the slammed spacer look, any slight out-of-tolerance issues or overly thick paint or clearcoat can cause the top cap to rub during steering rotation. The IS spacers let you lift it ever-so-slightly to provide enough clearance to prevent it from rubbing your frame.

Installed, the iRiX headset looks stellar, with the indented stem cap keeping things low profile.

It’s not just the bearings that have a lifetime warranty, the entire headset is guaranteed against defects for life.

MSRP from $160-190 for single-color headsets. Add $15 for multicolor combos.

IndustryNine.com

The post Industry Nine iRiX Headsets Debut: Details, Install, and Actual Weights! appeared first on Bikerumor.

8bar’s classic steel Neukln singlespeed has returned in a lighter, more modern update that retains all the simplicity you could hope for in an urban fixie, but with a few upgraded touches that make it a more versatile bike, able to go from city commuter to tracklocross racer. Fixed gear bikes are an exercise in stripped-back minimalism, but 8bar’s affordable Neukln manages to keep all of that while improving usability too.

8bar Neukln steel singlespeed bike

We reviewed the original Neukln frameset as a skinny tire city fixie when it debuted as 8bar’s first steel bike all the way back in 2016. But only two years later 8bar lumped it in with their other urban track bikes, dropping its individual name, but eventually;;y giving it bigger tire clearances too.

Now though, the Neukln is back as v2.0 in a rebirth that does everything the original did, only better…

What’s new?

The biggest functional update vs. the original Neukln is about 1/3 bigger tire clearance. Now with room for up to 700c x 35mm tires, the new Neukln will fit any real cyclocross tires (with plenty of mud clearance) for your singlespeed tracklocross racing dreams. Or push those limits with small volume gravel tires and explore roads of all surfaces.

But the big update over its previous Fhain Steel generation is just a move to lighter, more modern construction. It now gets an oversized straight 44mm headtube to fit 1.5″ tapered steerer or classic 1 1/8″ steerer forks. With that, you can now pick from a segmented steel fork or a couple of carbon fork options.

And the double-butted chromoly steel lighter tubeset drops a couple of hundred grams to a claimed 1700g now, while retaining the indestructible nature of the original. Steel forks add 920g, while 8bar’s two carbon fork options range from 400-420g for the Neukln.

Tech details

The new frame also now gets mounts for full-coverage fenders, or even a porteur rack on the steel fork, plus it now adds a single set of bottle cage mounts on the seattube for better usability. Plus, it adds internal cable routing ports in the toptube so you can get a cleaner setup with brakes.

The 8bar Neukln sticks with classic standards like the 68mm threaded BSA bottom bracket, 27.2mm seatpost with new integrated clamp, stainless steel horizontal track end dropouts, 9x100mm QR & 12x120mm bolt-on axle spacing, and brake drilling for modern long-reach dual-pivot rim brake calipers.

The Neukln now comes in just 4 sizes (S-XL) with slightly tweaked geometry to give for a racy ride feel to the versatile bike. Frame Stack numbers come down more than 2cm, and Reach increases just a bit, while the frame gets a steeper 73° head angle, a bit less BB drop, and the same short 410mm chainstays as before.

8bar Neukln steel – Pricing, availability & options

The beauty of the 8bar Neukln steel frameset was always low-cost and simplicity. Now it adds more modern versatility, too. Frames start at just 450€ in matte black, 50€ more for shiny red, or an extra 200€ for a custom color. Steel forks add 150€, while two 8bar carbon forks add 250€. (A few of the older, but similar Fhain Steel v3 frames are still available from just 200€, too!)

Like all 8bar bikes, the Neukln steel frame can be customized into many different build configurations via their online configuration tool.

Build up a bare bones drop bar fixie crit of gravel racer for as little as 1201€ with brakes (or more with fancy wheels).

Or maybe opt for a more sensible freewheeling singlespeed flat bar commuter for around 1400€, but you’ll need to add the rack & renders separately as 8bar doesn’t have them available in the bike builder tool at the moment.

8bar-bikes.com

The post 8bar Neukln Fixie is Back Modernized, Lighter & With Big Tracklocross Tire Clearance appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Elite Women prepped for a blistering start as the snow flurries started to come down. Defending nation champion Clara Honsinger (EF Education–Tibco–SVB) was the clear favorite, but the challenging course and conditions favored chance.

As the lights switched from red to green, the best in the country sprinted to hit the slick-rooted course first to get the best lines. Honsinger wasn’t first off the line, but that’s not her style.

The front group was a tight mix of riders, including dark horse Raylyn Nuss (Steve Tilford Foundation), Austin Killips (Nice Bikes), Caitlin Bernstein (Nice Bikes), and Regina Legge (Comp Edge Racing).

After the treacherous off-camber, pro-only section, the lead group solidified as Nuss charged ahead, with Honsinger only a few seconds back and Jenna Lingwood (Point S Nokian) pursuing fast.

Nuss waited for no one as she immediately started turning up the pace trying to put Honsinger on the back foot and force a mistake. Honsinger showed no signs of urgency, pedaling smoothly gaining back time with every feature.

As the first lap concluded, Honsinger was a second behind Nuss, eventually passing as they entered the course for lap two. As the laps ticked away, Honsinger’s lead grew steadily. With two laps to go, Honsinger had nearly a minute gap over Nuss, with third and fourth nearly 30 seconds from her.

Honsinger would eventually finish 1:37″ in front of Nuss in a dominant performance similar to her 2021 National Championship win, gaining her third Elite Cyclocross National Championship.

The Bike — Lil Clara

Clara Honsingers’ bike, dubbed Lil’ Clara, was more than up to the task of muddy conditions in Hartford. Honsinger has been in Europe racing most of the season and has identical bikes at the EF service course.

For the muddy conditions, Honsinger went with Dugast Rhino tires, a trusted tread by the best in the world. The Rhino is praised for its grip without sacrificing speed and is one of the most popular tires on the European circuit for muddy races.

As for gearing, the EF Education–Tibco–SVB team runs full SRAM Red AXS on their bikes, and Honsinger went with a standard 38T front and 10–33T rear. The gear is enough to climb the final hill before the finish and keep the power on for the road and drag strip sections of the course.

The EF Education–Tibco–SVB crew had many custom-painted Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX bikes for Honsinger in the pits and around the team bus, but the stars and stripes was the one for battle.

The custom paint job is stunning, mixing classic fades and color blocking to create a bike that stands out in the mud. As for components, Honsingers Supersix Evo CX supports an FSA K-Force cockpit and Vision Metron 30 SL tubular wheels.

Clara Honsinger’s Cannondale SuperSix Evo CX

• Frame/fork: Cannondale SuperSix Evo CX
• Groupset: SRAM Red AXS (38T chainring, 10-33T 12-speed cassette)
• Stem: FSA K-Force
• Bars: FSA Energy alloy, 42cm
• Wheels: Vision Metron 30SL Tubular
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension
• Tires: Dugast Rhino 33 tubular
• Pedals: Shimano XTR
• Computer: Wahoo

The post Pro Bike Check: Clara Honsingers National Championship winning Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX appeared first on Bikerumor.

The 2022 US Cyclocross Nationals in Hartford Connecticut came to a crescendo Sunday as the snow began to fall right before the Elite Men’s race. Eric Brunner (Blue Cycles p/b Build) looked to defend his National Champs jersey against a talented field of riders and ever-changing course conditions. Brunners’ most immediate threat was Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation), and White was laser-focused on a National Championship.

As the race began, it was apparent White and Brunner would be locked in a head-to-head battle. L39ION of Los Angeles Lance Hadet lead the Elite Men through the snow and slick mud, driving the pace and creating a selection immediately. The front group consisted of Lance Hadet, Scott Funston (Blue Cycles p/b Build), Eric Brunner, and Curtis White.

As the laps ticked away and the unpredictable conditions claimed riders, Brunner and White found themselves alone at the front. Each had a plan of action to execute for the day. Brunner is a powerful rider, and the wide open sections were perfect for him to turn the screws on White. As for White, technical skills and supreme technique would be his card to play with the ever-changing conditions.

With four laps to go, Brunner attacked, gapping White and going clear, pushing the pace. White pursued, staying patient to avoid making mistakes out of urgency.

With two laps to go, after the pit one, Brunner bobbled, washing his front wheel out over the slick ruts, landing him on the ground. White pounced on the opportunity, closing the gap to Brunner within a minute of the crash.

It was evident Brunner’s confidence was shaken, and White took to the front to push the pace. With one to go, the evenly matched pair crossed the start straight mere seconds in front of each other. Over the next nine minutes, the pair stayed no less than six seconds from each other, waiting for the other to misstep.

In the last quarter lap, White rode assertively, not taking chances but keeping the power on. Brunner only managed to make contact slightly on the pavement before White pulled away again. In the end, White held off Brunner, taking his first Elite Men’s US National Championship to a welcoming hometown crowd.

USA Cycling caught the emotional moment in the video below.

White rides a Trek Boone; the Steve Tilford Foundation Racing (STF) team made the switch for the 2022-2023 season from Specialized. The team rides full SRAM assortment equipment except for Shimano XTR pedals.

White opted for the Challenge Limus tires for the race, paired with Zipp 303 tubular wheels. Most of the STF team opted for a 10-36T wide-range SRAM 12-speed cassette, and Whites was paired to a 44T front chainring.

The unique sea foam green Trek Boone is a custom color you’ll only see under the riders from the STF team. Same with unique PAS Normal Studios custom kits.

If you want to hear what it was like behind the scenes leading up to Curtis White’s victory, check out Ellen Noble and Steven Hyde’s conversion with the newly crowned champ on Ellens’s new Podcast, This One’s For You.

Curtis Whites Steve Tilford Foundation Edition Trek Boone

• Frame: Trek Boone
• Wheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubular
• Cockpit: Zipp
• Saddle: Bontrager Arvada Ti-rails
• Groupset: SRAM Red Etap (44T chainring, 10-36T 12-speed cassette)
• Pedals: Shimano XTR
• Tires: Challenge Limus 33 Tubular
• Bike Wash: Muc-Off

You can rewatch the action on FLO-BIKES here.

The post Pro Bike Check: Curtis Whites National Championship winning Trek Boone appeared first on Bikerumor.

Walking around the 2022 USA Cyclocross Nationals expo, we noticed an exciting tire at the Challenge Tires booth. An updated Baby Limus is on the way, with a slightly tighter tread pattern and new side knobs.

What is it?

It’s no secret that Tom Pidcock is working with the design team at Challenge Tires to craft better cyclocross designs. One of the first updates from Pidcocks’ input is this newly imagined Baby Limus tread. The updated design takes the Baby Limus into faster “mixed terrain” territory without sacrificing grip.

\

What’s new?

The updated Baby Limus tread features a tightly spaced center to maximize rolling efficiency, it’s not certain, but the knobs look shorter (from the previous model).

The most notable change to the Baby Limus design is the side knob and shoulder tread. Departing from the Limus and Chicane treads, the updated design has characteristics of the Dugast Rhino, with less of a pronounced corning knob. The side knob is flipped and should offer a solid grip in off-camber sections.

One of the complaints with the previous Baby Limus design is clearing, especially in thick peanut butter mud. The new Baby Limus has ample room for mud clearing, and the updated side knob spacing helps.

When can I get it?

Currently, the Team Edition Baby Limus is only available to sponsored teams/athletes but were hopeful they will be available for the general public next season.

For more information on Challenge Tires, check out:Challengetires.com

Check out our Best Cyclocross Tires for answers to all your CX questions.

The post Spotted: New Challenge Baby Limus Cyclocross Tire appeared first on Bikerumor.

Outdoor gear and apparel company, Trxstle (pronounced “trestle”) has an interesting way for any bike to carry what you want. Introducing the Geryon Bike Rack System. The Geryon is a universal rack system that is designed to work with the fork steerer and seatpost as mounting points. This allows the Geryon to be used with just about any style of bike you might have in your quiver.

Judging by the photos, this rack can be used for anything like bikepacking, fishing, hunting, or just running errands. Looks like you could even find a way to affix some front and rear panniers and do some touring.

The Geryon has adjustable angles and positions to accommodate your bike and gear “like no other rack on the market”, Trxstle says.

The Geryon, Trxstle says, is designed to not hamper your steering like a handlebar bag might. Instead, it puts that weight on the bike’s frame, where they say it belongs.

Furthermore, Trxstle claims that the adjustable rack won’t block your dropper post’s travel like they say a seat pack could.

In addition, the Geryon looks like it’s designed to use any stuff sack or dry bag you already have and strap it right to the rack, alleviating the need to buy hyper-specific bikepacking bags.

This would essentially allow the user to turn any bike into a bikepacking rig… including full-suspension bikes, and carbon-framed gravel bikes without proper adventure nipples.

What’s more, it’s fully modular allowing you to really pick and choose how to configure it to fit your needs.

As you would expect, you can add the optional Utility Deck to carry bigger items like hunting tools or other bulky items, Kolpin Rhino Grip XL, Cinch and Utility straps, and even a BWC Fly Box. The Geryon will also accommodate all future accessories from Trxstle.

Finally, you can even take some of your favorite trail maintenance tools with you.

See instructions, tech info, and mounting info here.

The Geryon Bike Rack Features and Retail

Features:

• 30lbs of gear capacity (15lbs front + 15lbs rear)
• Easily mounts to our custom headset spacer and your standard seatpost
• Fully adjustable front and rear rack positions
• The front payload is carried by the frame of the bike, not your handlebars
• Your dropper post remains unaffected
• Doesn’t hamper your suspension
• 3lb total system weight with all hardware
• 6061-T6 anodized aluminum construction

Retail: $278

That includes:

• Front and rear racks
• Central control arm
• All mounting hardware
• Seatpost adapters for 27.2, 30.9, and 31.6 sizes
• (4) 12″ cinch straps

Trxstle.com

The post The Trxstle Geryon is a Universal Front & Rear Bike Rack for Any Bike! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Wahoo Fitness is bridging the gap between virtual and personal training, allowing athletes to peek behind the curtain to see how the world’s best train at the UCI World Cycling Center.

In collaboration with UCI World Cycling Center’s coaches, riders, and staff, Wahoo creates an immersive training experience. The new Wahoo X series, “A Week With the UCI World Cycling Center,” is available to watch and train with the Wahoo SYSTM training platform.

The training experiences cover a multitude of cycling disciplines, including; track, road, mountain bike, and BMX. The series examines what these different athletes do for training and the discipline-specific work needed to succeed at their craft.

Wahoo X UCI World Cycling Center Program

• UCI World Cycling Center – Tour: Ride and tour the UCI World Cycling Center with its Director, Jacques Landry, where he and others share its mission, stories, and insights into what the center offers.
• UCI World Cycling Center – Track: Get face-to-face with legendary track coach Craig MacLean at the UCI Velodrome. The workout includes a Scratch race and a series of high-intensity efforts with the track athletes.
• UCI World Cycling Center – Road: Join the UCI Women’s Continental Team as they take you out on a team time trial up the infamous climb of Torgon, a UCI rite of passage, before finishing up with a race simulation and long descent back home.
• UCI World Cycling Center – BMX Racing: UCI World Cycling Center Performance Manager Liam Phillips takes riders through an introduction to the sport and five flat-out laps of the track.
• UCI World Cycling Center – Mountain Bike: riders will join the trails in La Thuile, Italy, with the Mountain Bike Team Coach Charlie Evans and will do two laps of the race course, attempting to master the highly technical features, demanding climbs, and aggressive competitors.

Jacques Landry, UCI World Cycling Center Director, commented: “The A Week with the UCI World Cycling Center series is a great way for the Wahoo X members to get into the daily lives of athletes. These athletes come to us from many parts of the globe to improve their physical and mental development and acquire important technical and tactical knowledge to help them reach their goals in cycling. Participants in this series will be put through the paces of our athletes’ training and racing routines. Get ready to have fun, work hard and learn a lot with our talented riders and staff!”

Wahoo X UCI World Cycling Center Program — How does it work?

Anyone who completes the new Wahoo X UCI World Cycling Center series by Dec 23rd, 2022, will earn the UCI World Cycling Center badge in Wahoo SYSTM. The UCI World Cycling Center will offer exclusive prizes for these dedicated holiday cyclists.

How to sign up

For those looking to train/compete/win in the all-new Wahoo X UCI Cycling Center experience. You’ll need a subscription to the Wahoo X platform (only for those looking to ride). The membership is $14.99 per month, delivering two apps; Wahoo RGT and Wahoo SYSTM.

Wahoo X is available for US$14.99. For more information, visit: Wahoofitness.com

The post Wahoo X UCI World Cycling Center Program Lets You Train Virtually & Win Real Life Prizes appeared first on Bikerumor.

Celebrate fifty years of Tom Ritchey building steel bikes with a special limited edition 50th Anniversary Swiss Cross frameset that mixes classic styling with modern tech. The popular and versatile cyclocross frameset forms one of Ritchey’s longest-running bikes, offering on & off-road versatility with traditional slim tubing styling, quick CX geometry, and modern disc brakes.

Ritchey Swiss Cross 50th steel CX frame

It wasn’t long ago that the steel cyclocross Swiss Cross got its own 25th-anniversary model, having been first built in the mid-90s. I even wrote a quick review of it years before that in its original disc brake guise. Over the years, the Swiss Cross has really only slightly evolved, keeping much of what’s made it a sought-after bike.

What the 50th anniversary gets is a limited edition paintjob in classy Ritchey Red with white graphics harkening back to the frame builder’s Palo Alto, CA origins.

“As a mere teenager, Tom Ritchey welded up his first bicycle frame in his parents’ garage in Palo Alto, California more than 50 years ago. And he designed and built the first Swiss Cross cyclocross bike in the mid-1990s so that the bike’s namesake, Swiss cycling legend Thomas Frischknecht, had the best bike possible for his victorious cyclocross pursuits around the world.

The new 50th Anniversary Swiss Cross draws a direct line from that first bicycle frame Tom welded, to the bike Frischi piloted to so many championships, to a modern ‘cross and gravel racer.”

Tech details

The bike is still TIG-welded from traditional small-diameter triple-butted Ritchey Logic heat-treated steel tubing. It manages to tuck in a modern-ish straight 1 1/8″ headset by building the headset into the narrow headtube. It gets a classic 27.2mm seatpost inside a bi-lam seat cluster with an integrated seatpost clamp,  a classic 68mm BSA threaded bottom bracket, a replaceable stainless derailleur hanger, and fully external cable routing. It does succumb to a bit of modernity with a full carbon WCS Carbon Cross Disc fork, 12mm thru-axles, and flat mount disc brakes.

Tire clearance is 40mm, enough for the biggest cyclocross tires, fat all-road slicks, or some fast-rolling gravel treads.

Frame weight is claimed at 1950g (large), 430g fork (uncut), and it comes in six stock sizes (XS-XXL).

Ritchey Swiss Cross 50th – Pricing & Availability

The 50th Swiss Cross joins the 50th Anniversary Road Logic that debuted last spring (and quickly sold out). And two more anniversary edition frames will debut in the coming months – my money’s on an Ultra/P-29 mountain bike and an Outback gravel bike. But we could always cross our fingers for a Break-Away tandem, right?

The Ritchey 50th Anniversary Swiss Cross is only offered as a frameset for $1700 / 1713€ and is available now from global Ritchey dealers and direct from Ritchey online, while supplies last. No official word on how many framesets are out there.

But if you keep your eyes peeled next month, you can spot Ben Frederick racing his at the UCI CX World Cup & Superprestige series cross races in Belgium this coming month.

RitcheyLogic.com

The post Ritchey Swiss Cross 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Frameset is a Modern Classic appeared first on Bikerumor.