Elite-level cross-country racing isn’t just a platform for the best riders in the world to test their mettle, but also a melting pot of advanced technologies, some of which come to dominate the sport. Tom Pidock’s Pinarello Dogma XC is but one, however, few bikes and components are quite as well represented as the Scott Spark RC … Read more
Bearings make the world move. Nearly ubiquitous is any mechanical component that rotates, bearings on a bicycle come in many configurations and for off-road cycling, they are crucial. Without bearings your handlebar’s headset doesn’t rotate, your wheels don’t turn and your crank doesn’t spin on its bottom bracket. Are ceramic bearings worth it? Best gravel wheelsets … Read more
The Spex4Less SPT13 Sports Glasses can be made to a bifocal prescription, matched exactly to your pupil distance. With options for hydrophobic and anti-glare coatings and built into a very sturdy and good-looking frame, they are a solid option for riders needing to see close-up and far-off in one frame. The lenses could be larger to … Read more
Finnish gravel roads might be renowned for creating rally World Champions such as Tommi Mäkinen and Marcus Grönholm but it’s an F1 driver who’s helped create gravel events in his hometown of Lahti. Five things that weren’t cool – until gravel happened How to prepare for your first gravel race – kit, bike setup and training … Read more
Specialized is no slouch when it comes to bicycle frame innovation. The Morgan Hill-based company has a long history of creating off-road products that push the boundaries of contemporary engineering but the brand hasn’t forgotten where it all started – alloy fabrication. Following in the tracks of the Allez road bike is the Specialized Crux DSW, which is said to … Read more
The Rockrider Feel 900 S is the French brand’s latest carbon-framed 29er trail bike aimed at riders looking for a super-fun bike that’s fast and efficient on the climbs and offers a confident and playful ride on the descents. With dialled geometry, 130mm of rear suspension and a burly 140mm fork, the Feel 900s is a proper little trail … Read more
The Northwave Corsair 2 is the Italian shoe giant’s latest trail shoe. The brand has brought a mega-versatile clipless shoe to the market ripe for year-round riding. Upping its usability is a blend of flex and stiffness that makes it solid on the bike and easy to walk in. However, it’s not without flaws as … Read more
Fashion and mountain biking often intersect far beyond just colourful jerseys and functional baggies and that’s best shown by Zara. This high-street fashion brand created its own MTB apparel. However, in his latest edit, Kriss Kyle, Red Bull and Prada have stepped things up a notch. Video: Boys on E – Specialized riders shred the brand’s … Read more
This week’s tech news focuses on the gravel discipline with Fulcrum launching its wavy all-road hoops and Bianchi unveiling its latest gravel bike that takes inspiration from endurance road bikes. SRAM has also made headlines once again with its new AXS shifter. In case you’ve missed it, here’s this week’s top tech news. Gravel bike racing … Read more
This week ushered in another host of Five Cool Things from all corners of the off-road cycling world. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Crankbrothers cross-country and gravel-going shoes, Topeak’s dip-of-the-toe into bikepacking, Pirelli’s super fast tyres, as well as some down-country, focussed rubber from Maxxis. But before we dive into the good … Read more
