The Madison Roam Waterproof 25L Rack Top Bag is a simple roll-top bag that attaches to a separate Velcro pad, which is then strapped to the top of a traditional rear rack. It’s a simple design that lacks the finesse or tech-forward thinking of modern bikepacking – but then it’s totally waterproof, will fit pretty … Read more
Photos and words by James Startt, creative director at inGamba Bike ToursEver since I covered my first Paris-Roubaix back in 1993, I quickly understood that this was a race like no other.That year, defending champion Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle had a mechanical before the first cobbled stretch and hit the Troisvilles sector several minutes behind. Game over, … Read more
Paris-Roubaix, they say, consists of hundreds, if not thousands, of untold stories. On Sunday, the television cameras may have focused on the thrilling battles at the front: Van Aert and Pogačar’s duel, Koch’s superbly executed coup, toppling the might of Visma, Van der Poel’s Arenberg meltdown and subsequent desperate, ultimately futile chase.But the Hell of … Read more
With the 2026 Paris-Roubaix behind us, let’s head all the way back to the 2012 edition of this legendary race and check out the then-new Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 that Belgium’s Tom Boonen rode to victory, complete with rim brakes, mechanical shifting, and Zertz inserts that were said to smooth the ride.To say that the … Read more
The Lusso Paragon Deep Winter Bib Tights keep you shielded from the very worst of the weather with an excellent combination of technical fabrics and membranes. They’re not cheap, but they are excellent – plus they’re heavily recycled and made in the UK.Manchester in the depths of winter has some weather and Lusso, which is … Read more
Wout van Aert has won Paris-Roubaix for the first time in his career in a men’s edition defined by mechanicals bike changes, wheel replacements, and dodgy neutral service.In an edition raced at breakneck speed that didn’t allow a break to get away, punctures were reported from the first of 30 cobbled sectors, with Van Aert … Read more
At the end of a 45-minute discussion focused on wind direction, feed zones, and tactical plans, Picnic PostNL’s sports director Callum Ferguson decides to strip everything back to basics. Ferguson shuts off VeloViewer, looks across the bus to his team leader, Pfeiffer Georgi, and says: “I want you to tell us what Paris-Roubaix means to … Read more
Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes promises to be an open, unpredictable race, aided by a reshuffled, cobble-heavy start and a wide variety of contenders – ranging from defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to Lotte Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, and British hopeful Zoe Bäckstedt – all entering the Queen of the Classics with a realistic shot at victory.However, despite the … Read more
Adrie van der Poel, much like his son, doesn’t hang around. As I haphazardly navigated the Carrefour de l’Arbre, bouncing, shaking, and generally careening over its sodden, misshapen cobbles, the Dutchman stood passively at the side of the road, before nonchalantly glancing in my direction.‘Come on, hurry up, it’s cold and wet. We need to … Read more
If you’re into bike racing in Belgium and northern France, it can all be a bit overwhelming. Every day for about a month, there’s either a bike race on – most of the time a classic, or even a monument – or the local roads are jammed with pros on recon rides, getting ready for … Read more
