Bicycling

Bicycling

Every so often, when I get into a groove and push the miles or intensity a little too hard, my shins let me know. That sharp, nagging discomfort tells me I've crossed the line into overtraining. These days, when I feel it start, I immediately back off fewer hills, easier cadence, maybe even an extra rest day. Within a few days, the pain usually eases up. It's a good reminder that recovery is part of training, not separate from it.

Paul Couderc's hometown and his spot in Bannes, France, played host to the third of five events this past summer, and the newly revamped course delivered some big hang time on even bigger features. Couderc's vision for 2025 was "chaos by design." And when you invite nearly 40 of the sport's heavy hitters over for a multi-day jam, you can bet that chaos was had.

The refreshed design makes it easier to start an activity and view stats while exercising. Pace, distance, time, and heart rate are all clearly visible on screen. As you approach a segment, a banner with the segment name and a circle indicator appear on the watch face. The circle updates in real time to reflect progress, and show whether you're ahead or behind your personal record.

The Mars 3.0 is an excellent companion for road trip adventures. It has an upgraded folding system that takes about 10 seconds to fold the frame in half. This is 3 seconds faster than the Mars 2.0. As a result, it takes less time to place your ebike in storage, and vice versa. The Mars 3.0 also has a torque sensor, replacing the previous cadence sensor.

Specialized continues to redefine what's possible in gravel cycling with the launch of the Diverge 4, a bike designed for those who thrive on adventure, embrace rugged terrain, and chase the kind of rides that last all day - and sometimes all night. Positioned as the ultimate escape machine, the Diverge 4 blends speed, comfort, and capability into a single package built for riders who demand performance on every surface, from washboard backroads to flowing singletrack.

Watch the GP de Québec and GP de Montréal this week as the men's WorldTour heads to Canada for two late-season one-day Classics, with all the details on live streams and TV broadcasts right here. GP Québec & Montréal: Key information ► Category: UCI WorldTour The action kicks off with the GP de Québec on Friday, September 12, followed two days later by the GP de Montréal on Sunday, September 14, with both events producing thrilling circuit-based racing on undulating courses.

Earlier this year, Giro quietly launched the 3rd generation of the Chamber clipless mountain bike shoes. Now known as the Chamber III, the latest version builds on the EWS and World Cup-winning foundation of its predecessor, with several updates, a lighter weight, and a notably slimmer profile. It doesn't stray far from the aesthetics of the Chamber II, and more importantly, the performance that made that shoe a go-to pick for many aggressive downhill, enduro, and trail riders and racers.

A while back in the summer, I took a look inside the Zéfal factory to see how one of the oldest accessory manufacturers in the cycling industry still makes a majority of their products in France. In a time where basic biking items like water bottles, bottle cages, pumps, racks, fenders, rearview mirrors, and even chain lube are often made far away in Asia to keep costs low, family-run Zéfal manages to still make them all in Europe.

"I asked my mom what she wanted for her 65th birthday," he said in a September 10 Facebook post. "She said it's always been on her bucket list to ride a century. I told her I'm free on Tuesday." Continuing his post, Pastrana explained that his mother is a public school teacher in Baltimore who never takes a day off. Apparently, when she does, she rides 100 miles!

Reserve Wheels, known for some of the more durable mountain bike rims on the market, backed by one of the best lifetime warranties available, has just released a limited-edition wheelset that combines the ever-popular Reserve HD|30 rims with the latest innovation designed to combat pedal kickback: the e13 Sidekick hubs. These ready-to-ride wheelsets are available for a limited time in North America and retail for $2,199 USD or $3,349 CAD at Reservewheels.com.

Built on the dream of being able to shift without removing your hand from the handlebars, SRAM has since built an empire of technology that has fundamentally changed how we ride. Nearly 40 years after the introduction of Grip Shift, the component giant is paying tribute to this history with a limited-edition groupset that honors the past while delivering today's most innovative tech in a bright and shiny new package: the 1987 Collection.

In the fourth iteration of Specialized Bicycles' flagship gravel bike, the beloved endurance platform receives revamped geometry, clearance for massive tires, and ample downtube storage, allowing you to carry everything you need while tackling big days in the saddle. Combining all these changes into one platform, Specialized Bicycles has created one of the most capable and versatile off-the-shelf adventure bikes the world has ever seen.

I've stopped asking myself if a vest is the right choice for me and consider myself converted to the cult of riders who swear by a vest-style backpack for mountain biking. Still, after going through the hassle of trying multiple running vests and a few dedicated mountain biking vests, it's become clear that I can never go back to a traditional backpack or hip pack unless absolutely necessary.

Apparently, 38 years is the 'Mostly Shiny Aluminum' Anniversary, because SRAM is celebrating with a limited-edition 1987 Eagle Transmission Collection that swaps carbon and dark anodized finishes for shiny alloy. This is what you would get if you took a wireless SRAM XX SL Transmission group, replaced all of the proper carbon with silver anodized aluminum, and left all the black plastic bits still there.

This setup employs Reserve's 30|HD Carbon rims, which are already well-liked among aggressive riders for their blanched ride quality, impressive durability, and lifetime warranty. Now riders have the option to buy them as a set with the unique e*13 Sidekick Hubs, which claim to eliminate pedal kickback, provide a chainless ride feel, and create less drivetrain noise. The Sidekick Hubs claim to isolate your drivetrain from suspension while freewheeling by creating a "deadband" area.

Much of the new tech is aimed at cyclists looking to improve their performance, starting with integrated Garmin Cycling Coach, which includes FREE plans based on course demands, and individual recovery patterns. Pair either head unit with a power meter and heart rate monitor and you'll get reasonably good coaching that adapts your training program based on progression, but that's just the start.

San Francisco Bike Party (not to be confused with Critical Mass) is a monthly celebration of biking for riders of different ages, types, and skill levels to enjoy. Every month is a different theme and you're encouraged to dress up. San Francisco Bike Party is held on the first Friday at 8:00 pm every month (meet at 7:30p, roll at 8p). The starting location and route also changes every month. Check SF Bike Party's Facebook page for updates.

San Francisco Bike Party (not to be confused with Critical Mass) is a monthly celebration of biking for riders of different ages, types, and skill levels to enjoy. Every month is a different theme and you're encouraged to dress up. San Francisco Bike Party is held on the first Friday at 8:00 pm every month (meet at 7:30p, roll at 8p). The starting location and route also changes every month. Check SF Bike Party's Facebook page for updates.

The course lived up to its legendary billing. Covering 125 km from Verbier to Grimentz, the route hugged alpine valleys, tackled high altitude-including the imposing Pas de Lona at 2,787 meters-and tallied nearly 5,000 meters of ascent. Imagine a marathon with climbing (and a nice hike-a-bike) worthy of the Alps, terrain that punishes battered legs and rewards calculated patience. The course was challenging enough; the stacked field didn't help the unprepared.

The Guardian Collection sets a new benchmark in the category of ultralight technical shells, combining best-in-class weight - notably with the featherlight Guardian Air, at 200g - with the durability and sustainability of next-generation Gore-Tex ePE fabric. Designed for dynamic, high-output movement across multiple disciplines, the collection goes beyond traditional rain protection with a thoughtful feature set

The humble bicycle bell is generally acknowledged to have been invented by John Richard Dedicoat in my home city of Birmingham, UK, back in the late 1800's. On the whole, the bell's design has remained largely the same for the last century or so. The need for cyclists to alert other road users and pedestrians of their presence to ensure the safety of all has long been present, and that's exactly the reason cyclists fit and use bike bells.

Kogel's latest round of anodized alloy pulley wheels come in 14-tooth sizes to fit the latest round of Shimano wireless derailleurs. And they come in six colors, letting you cage a little bling while gaining watts. Fitted with Kogel's Cross Seals to keep grit and dust out, they're available hybrid ceramic bearings - meaning, ceramic balls with a hardened steel race.

For a long time now, and especially for the past several years, Specialized's top-tier S-Works bikes have commanded some of the highest prices in the industry. The last couple versions of the S-Works Turbo Levo models launched with prices ranging from $13,500 to $14,500. When the latest Turbo Levo 4 came out earlier this year, it retailed for a whopping $13,500, and has since gone up to $14,000 due to rising prices and costs associated with tariffs and other economic factors.

When you need to transport a bike (or two or three), you might not want to try and shove them into your car. Dirty chainrings and interior finishes don't go together very well, even if that's not an issue, getting a bike into a car isn't exactly easy. You need a better solution and there is nothing that's simpler than a trunk-mount bike rack.