Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3 2022 i Bicycling

MAGGIE LOWE, 32 DAVIDSON, NORTH CAROLINA PUT YOUR F**KING HELMET ON. WHAT KEEPS ME RIDING I got involved with the Great Cycle Challenge (GCC), a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, in June 2019. Three months earlier, my best friend’s 2-year-old, Grace, died after an intense fight against cancer. That was one of the most painful experiences of my life. So I got on a bike I had only ridden three times in three years and pedaled 200 miles in a month. Grace and GCC taught me that you can get through anything. MUST-HAVE MUSIC GEAR I love music, but I also love nature. So I have a couple of things I do to stay safe while I jam out. Shokz headphones are a lifesaver, and I also have a Bose…

Postride, I often forget to eat…and then I get grumpy, so that’s not ideal. I know it’s a bad habit, but I’m often in a rush when riding during the week. On weekends, I like to splurge a bit and cook myself a big dinner after my ride. My riding besties Erin, Leslie, Rachel, Jenna, and I are always sharing photos of the baked ziti, lasagna, eggplant Parm, or sauce that we make after weekend rides. After races, I like to treat myself to something decidedly unhealthy. I try to get down with local treats: In New York City, that might be pizza or dumplings. If I’m coming home through Connecticut, it’s probably going to be Rein’s Deli (a long-time bike racer favorite) or pizza in New Haven from Modern,…

It sounds simple enough: To lose weight, you expend more calories than you take in, i.e., you create a calorie deficit. If you were to judge this weight loss tip on social media chatter, it would probably rank high in ways to shed pounds. But it can also bring more attention than necessary to calorie counting and take some of the joy factor out of eating. Plus, creating a calorie deficit is one thing—maintaining it is another. To stick with it long enough to see results, you have to undo that “diet” mentality or that pressure to cut foods left and right until all that’s left is bland chicken and broccoli. Instead, focus on creating a healthy calorie deficit while still eating the foods you love. “A healthy calorie deficit…

Supercharge your riding life with a Bicycling membership. We rounded up all of the tools, gear reviews and expert tips to make you a faster, healthier, more confident cyclist. Plus, Bicycling members enjoy access to exclusive deals and opportunities to join the test team! Join today for less than $1/week ENJOY ALL THE MEMBERS-ONLY BENEFITS OF BICYCLING INCLUDING: Unlimited digital access to indepth gear reviews, advice on how to shop for your next bike, off-saddle workouts and more Exclusive expert guides—AKA our very best advice—in a comprehensive, easyto-digest place Weekly newsletter with insider tips from our Bicycling coach, plus special deals from brands cyclists love Bicycling magazine delivered straight to your home six times a year Ready to ride? Head to bicycling.com/jointoday or scan to join…

With Specialized now on the Tarmac SL7, the SL6, as the name implies, is the previous—and still excellent—iteration of one of our favorite road platforms. All it’s missing are some aerodynamic aspects and integration, which also means fewer headaches for the home mechanic. The SL6 uses standard-fit parts like a round seatpost, separate bar and stem, and mostly external cable routing versus the wind-cheating refinements seen on the SL7. What the two have in common is nearly identical geometry and the excellent ride quality that has been the Tarmac’s hallmark for years. If you’re looking for the absolute cutting edge, the SL6 might not appeal, but riders looking for the ride and feel of a high-end bike without the matching price tag will find it here.…

With the new Synapse, Cannondale has simultaneously made its most and least Cannondale-like bike in quite a while. The original Synapse, introduced 15 years ago, was the first all-carbon road bike from the brand that popularized aluminum as a frame material for many riders. It was also one of the early bikes in the now-expansive “endurance road bike” category. This was essentially manufacturers quietly admitting that the geometry and features needed by most road riders were not the same as those for World Tour professionals. The new Synapse is a ground-up redesign of its predecessor. The design language is shared with other drop-bar Cannondale bikes—like the SuperSix Evo—with dropped seat stays and subtle aero shaping throughout the bike. What’s missing are many of the proprietary designs that, to some, represent…

Simply calling Otso’s Fenrir a gravel bike is an imperfect categorization. Otso says it’s a bike for bikepacking races and everyday adventures: an expansive definition that helps explain why there’s so much going on. You’ll see a healthy mountain bike influence on the Fenrir: 1x-only drivetrain compatibility, geometry that accommodates a 100mm suspension fork, Boost axle spacing, lots of tire clearance, dropper-post cable routing, and adjustable geometry. But there are also gravel touches including reach and top tube dimensions that work with a drop- or flatbar and multiple mounts for fenders, racks, and carrying cargo. The frame is built of stainless steel with etched graphics, so you can strap bags or gear to the Fenrir without fear of wearing away paint. Whatever the Fenrir is or can be, one thing…

Scan for Exclusive Bicycling Test Content and Explore More. Among BMC’s wide range of gravel bikes (three different configurations in aluminum or carbon), our favorites are the URS 01 models. We rode the $10,500, sub-18-pound, URS 01 One with a mix of SRAM Red/XX1 AXS, but the line starts at $4,000. Fully ready for use on burlier gravel roads or even singletrack, they feature 1x drivetrains with SRAM drop-bar shifters paired with SRAM mountain bike rear derailleurs and wide-range cassettes. To further their off-pavement capability, the URS 01 models also have a lightweight rear suspension system built into the frame. Though only 10mm of travel, it takes a bit of the sting off some of those unexpected hits from potholes or rocks, and helps to reduce fatigue during long days…

A sturdy and dependable way to transport cargo or humans around town, the Momentum PakYak E+ electric bike lets you enjoy the ride rather than deal with the frustrations of car traffic and congestion for those short- and medium-length trips. The PakYak E+, a one-size midtail-style cargo e-bike from Momentum, comes equipped with a front basket, rear rack, a heavy-duty kickstand, and lights. A wide range of optional accessories customize your PakYak’s cargo configuration based on what you want to carry. A class 3 e-bike, the bike has 80Nm of torque and pedal-assisted power up to 28 mph via five support levels. Paired with a five-speed Shimano Nexus internal gear hub, the bike helps you haul kids or cargo efficiently and comfortably without breaking a sweat…

This trendy, quirky, retro-BMX-themed e-bike will put a smile on your face when cruising or commuting. Like the BMX bikes many of us had as kids, the Power Performer inspires you to do skids, stay out well after the streetlights come on, and look cool all at the same time. The Power Performer doesn’t completely make sense until you take it for a ride; then you hit the little thumb paddle for the throttle and suddenly it all clicks. A BMX bike with fenders, an aluminum frame, 29-inch wheels, a nine-speed drivetrain, and a peppy, 250-watt Bafang hub motor? These are a bunch of great tastes that are not supposed to go together. But somehow, GT combined all these disparate ideas to make a really special bike.…

Tight on space but still want a bike for getting around town? The new P-Line from foldable stalwart Brompton is the ideal bike for busy city dwellers. Replacing the old, all-titanium Superlight, the P-Line features a ti fork and rear triangle to shave weight to a road-bike-esque 21 pounds, without bulking up price. The new wheelset is now stronger and lighter, and features custom four-speed gearing, and Brompton enhanced portability with new roller wheels and slimmer dimensions. When folded, the P-Line measures in at a mere 24x11x26 inches, making it easy to carry onto a train or bus, stash under a desk, or fit into the smallest of studio apartments.…

Yes, it has a motor, but to classify Yeti’s first e-bike as anything other than an enduro race bike is foolish. It rides like it was made to take the shortest, fastest line through every bit of terrain you can imagine; it unpuckers the pucker lines. Yeti’s new, and e-bike-specific, six-bar rear suspension is just short of a revelation, offering traction, support, control, and efficiency that’s close to a new benchmark for mountain bike suspension. But take heed: If you’re not going to pin it 100 percent of the time, you may be better off with bikes more suited to all-around riding. Yeti’s crew made the 160E for e-bike racing, and the ride experience leaves little doubt that they achieved their goal.…

SAM ARCHER, 37 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS THE BIKE IS A FREEDOM MACHINE. RIDING IN JAPAN I lived in Japan for 10 months with my wife, Danielle, who was a visiting Fulbright Scholar, and our then 3-year-old son. In Fukuoka, biking was part of normal life. Malls had huge parking lots packed with bikes. People biked in normal clothes and treated it like walking or taking the bus. Students and septuagenarians alike biked, coexisting peacefully with pedestrians, and my wife and I happily joined them, bringing our son to day-care and doing the grocery shopping by bike. WHAT I SEE FROM THE SADDLE When I’m riding, I see so much more of the side of the road and appreciate my surroundings than when I’m driving. What’s that shop? Where does that path…

It depends: If I’m doing a structured training, it’s some kind of chocolate/peanut-butter protein bar or shake right when I get off the bike, followed by a burrito bowl or something similar. If I’m not doing anything structured (and let’s be honest, that’s been more common lately), it’s a handful of peanut M&Ms or a Snickers, and then last night’s leftovers. I do try to eat within 20 minutes of finishing a ride, though.…

It’s easy to lose track of all the perks that come with your Bicycling membership, like exclusive training tips and tools, gear-testing opportunities, and deals from brands cyclists love. Here’s what you might have missed lately. (Not a member? Head to join.bicycling.com.) FIELD REPORT More than 600 members have signed up to field-test products—bikes, tires, helmets, shoes, bibs, sealant, and more—for Bicycling. Letrisa Miller of Bolton, CT, for example, just tried out Wahoo SYSTM. “I found myself really looking forward to my workouts, which is pretty amazing for indoors,” Miller says. “It was a fantastic experience.” (Sign up at bicycling.com/fieldtest.) THE CLEAT CHEAT In one recent video made for members, Test Editor Dan Chabanov demonstrated how to use the anatomy of your foot to properly install a bike shoe cleat.…

To keep you riding well and ache-free, Eleázar offers these key mobility exercises for cyclists. Add them to your routine immediately postride or as a stand-alone workout. Perform each exercise in order, for the number of reps listed. Do 1 set if you’re performing this workout after a ride, or 3 to 4 sets if you’re doing this workout on its own. 1. WALL ANGELS Why: Stretch the chest and front of shoulders, while strengthening the rotator cuff and stabilizers of the scapulae (shoulder blades). How: Stand facing away from the wall, with feet, butt, and back against it. Lift elbows to chest height, with your elbows bent and back of hands against the wall (or as close as you can get), like a goal post. Extend arms up overhead,…

Cervélo’s product team readily admits that the Jumbo-Visma professional road team was its main customer when redesigning the R5. Engineers retained the best parts of the previous version (geometry and handling), sampled heavily from the all-road Caledonia-5 (hidden cables and cockpit), and then spent the bulk of their time honing ride quality and tweaking the details. Those efforts paid off, with Belgian Wout van Aert and American Sepp Kuss taking mountain stage wins in the 2021 Tour de France. We quickly fell in love with the R5 beyond the sparkling paint and top-notch parts spec. This bike feels more comfortable the longer into a ride you get. With race frames on the market becoming increasingly stiff each year—whether purposefully or as a byproduct of added aerodynamic features—finding a purpose-built race…

Crust Bikes, founded in 2013 by Matt Whitehead and co-owned by Angelica Casaverde, was started after Matt discovered that touring on a modified steel cyclocross frameset didn’t quite meet his needs. Its first bike, the Evasion, was the perfect recipe, auspiciously timed for the resurgence in bikepacking: a trustworthy steel frame and fork with mounts aplenty and clearance for really big, really fun tires. The Evasion earned Crust a cult following among an emerging community of free-thinking, non-traditional riders who don’t dance to the beat of the often racing-focused cycling industry. As bikepacking and gravel riding evolve, Crust’s line has evolved along with it, if not a bit ahead of the needs of these riding groups. The Bombora joins the Evasion in Crust’s lineup, where it’s labeled as the brand’s…

Maybe no type of bike benefits more from pedal-assist power than cargo. Traditional cargo bikes are unruly when loaded. But add a motor to the mix and they become the perfect tool for grocery getting, hauling stuff, or carrying kids—exactly the kind of vehicle that can replace a car for some trips. If you’re looking for a heavy-duty bike just for this purpose, the One has you covered. With the One’s max load rating of 77 pounds (but no more than 55 pounds on one rack), we routinely carried large amounts of gear using a combo of the front and rear baskets. An optional platform rack can be used for transporting large or irregularly shaped items. The One’s feature set is optimized for commuting and utility. A Gates belt drive…

There are few feelings better than riding a bike where everything just feels “right.” That best describes everything about the Turbo Vado. From the motor, to the computer head unit and phone app, to the aesthetic design, to the parts selection, to the ride quality, the Turbo Vado 4.0’s details have all been thoroughly thought through to perform as a seamless package. This is a rare quality from which anyone—a lifelong cyclist or the person getting their first e-bike—can benefit and enjoy. Specialized is known for its ethos of continual R&D, but that focus is not limited to the brand’s competition bikes. On the Turbo Vado, it utilized those skills to make an elegant utility e-bike to carry you around town with aplomb and style. The Turbo 2.0 motor delivers…

No bike that we tested in the past year captivated our team the way YT’s Capra did. The 170mm-travel 29er arrived with the force of the firstgen iPhone—promising wondrous tech and rare utility. That tech comes from RockShox’s Flight Attendant smart-suspension system married to a surprisingly light and lively longtravel 29er. The bike is made for winning Enduro World Series races and rallying in bike parks. It feels nearly unflappable on all-out descents, with the stiff frame and supportive suspension providing precise control in corners. But the Capra also impressed us with how energetically it ascended techy climbs and happily cruised down flow trails. The bike’s inherent versatility makes it an excellent platform for RockShox’s Flight Attendant system. The new platform uses wireless sensors on the fork, in the shock,…

ISSUE3, 2022 Jeremy Schrauf of West Wardsboro, VT, recently completed the Tour de Grace, a fund-raising ride for a local hospital. “It started with a super steep paved downhill followed by a long downhill on a dirt road—then lots of dirt road interspersed by pavement,” he remembers. Why did the 82-year-old tackle the challenge? “Because I could still do it at my age.” When Evan Paine of Avon Lake, OH, first got into cycling, his older sister was in and out of the hospital for years. “Going on long rides on my bike gave me time to get away from that,” he says. “Since then, it’s become the activity I seek out when I need to center myself, burn off frustration, or get back into a better headspace.” Nancy Rosenblum…

Chances are, whether you got into cycling recently or you’re a seasoned vet, you’ve been exposed to the “pedal pressure” of choosing between clipless and platform pedals. Maybe it even made you reconsider your equipment choices altogether. Let’s take a step back and look at what these pedal types are, anyway. PLATFORM PEDALS // Often referred to as flats or flat pedals, these are typically made of plastic or aluminum. If you know how to ride a bike, you know how to use these pedals. They are incredibly versatile—bike commuters ride them to work, kids ride them around the neighborhood, and some of the world’s best mountain bikers ride them to downhill or enduro victory. Their versatility is ref lected in their price range. You can buy a basic pair…

Cycling equipment changes. Today’s bikes look different, with different features and technology, than the bikes did when you might have started riding. Our story about the death of the aluminum road racing bike with mechanical shifting and rim brakes touched a nerve, especially with the vocal contingent who say that’s what they want, even as high-performance bikes today are almost universally carbon-framed, with disc brakes and electronic shifting. For those still longing for that bike, there are few choices remaining from any of the larger brands. But Trek still sells a rim brake aluminum Émonda ALR frameset ($1,150 with full-carbon fork), and Campagnolo still makes its mechanical-shift, rim-brake Chorus 12-speed group (about $1,200). Add a decent set of rim-brake wheels— many options still exist—some aluminum cockpit parts, and your favorite…

Trends come and go in road cycling, but workhorse bikes like the AR 1 are timeless. A great aluminum frame, carbon fork, and Shimano 105 components combine to form a solid foundation for discovering the many facets of road riding. From long weekend rides, to exploring some light dirt roads, to centuries, or even trying some racing, the Avail AR 1 (or the similar Contend AR 1 from sibling brand Giant) is great for those new to the road, or those who simply want a dependable bike with modern conveniences. With hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless wheels with 32mm tires, front and rear thruaxles, and a wide-range drivetrain, the Avail AR 1 is a thoroughly modern road bike without the exorbitant price tag often associated with bikes that have these features.…

The SL range—slotting between the top-of-the-line SLR and the aluminum ALR—is the Checkpoint to buy. It has a carbon frame with internal storage on the down tube, tons of bag and cargo mounts (including three pack mounts on the fork legs), and good tire clearance (700x45mm or 27.5x2.1"). The SL has Trek’s proven IsoSpeed decoupler seat tube to smooth the ride (the ALR does not), but instead of the SLR’s proprietary seat mast, the SL accommodates a standard 27.2mm post and is dropper-compatible as well. This model has SRAM’s excellent Rival eTap AXS 1x12 drivetrain, which offers the range you need in an easyto-shift system, along with excellent chain security and mud clearance. It handles superbly on single-track and wide-open gravel roads, and has the performance for fast gravel rides,…

True to its name, the All-Road can handle a little bit of everything—bikepacking, trail riding, gravel, pavement, and maybe even light mountain biking. Priced at $900, with a steel frame and fork and an abundance of accessory mounts, the All-Road hits the sweet spot of affordability and versatility. State does use some generic, house-branded parts to keep the price reasonable, but riders still get mechanical disc brakes, a 1x 11-speed drivetrain, and Vittoria tires. You can also choose from 700c or 650b wheels (or both), and the drop bar version is the same price. The result: a bike that can handle almost any terrain and rides much better than its price point might indicate.…

Fully equipped with a rear rack, lights, fenders, and an internally geared drivetrain, the District 4 Equipped includes almost every amenity imaginable, stripping away off-bike maintenance and preparation in favor of a polished on-bike experience. Arriving at work or the grocery is more graceful than ever on this quiet, reliable utility bike. With a belt drive, quick-stopping hydraulic brakes, and an available step-through version (called Stagger), it highlights the reason so many of us prefer to commute by bike: the joy of motion.…

Part of Specialized’s long-running Sirrus lineup, the aluminum-framed X 4.0 is a competent, city-focused fitness bike that can handle any pavement or dirt track it encounters, with speed and grace. The Sirrus is billed as a fitness bike, and that’s where it truly excels. While spartan accessory mounts sacrifice some utility, the Sirrus X 4.0 is strong on performance features like hydraulic disc brakes, multisurface tires, and Specialized’s creative Future Shock stem suspension system. You get quality components throughout, like an 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, and internal cable routing one might expect on more expensive bikes. If the price is still too high, the Sirrus line starts at $650. Nestled at the apex of budget and quality, the Sirrus X 4.0 is an affordable bike for exercise or commuting. It’s…

Lots of bikes are built to get around city streets, but few do it with the basic simplicity of fixies. Just one gear, no brakes, no coasting. There are few better examples of the modern fixed-gear bike than the Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta Track. The latest version of this classic bikes features a chromoly frame and fork with updated geometry, removable brake bosses (in case you want to run it with brakes and a freewheel), and a headset. This special edition blue and high-viz color is an homage to the legendary Subaru World Rally racing team livery of the 1990s and early 2000s and is only available through King Kog in Brooklyn, New York. You can also pick up a Gangsta Track in neon orange or black.…

Aluminum hardtails are the unsung heroes of mountain biking. Often passed over for flashier carbon-fiber rigs or complex full-suspension designs, a good aluminum hardtail remains a great option for lots of riders hitting the trails. Whether you want to go fast but don’t need big travel or can’t be bothered with the extra maintenance of a full-suspension bike, if this sounds like you, the Chameleon might be your next bike. Offered in either dual 29-inch wheel or MX (29-inch front, 27.5 rear) wheel configurations, the $2,400 Chameleon D AL comes with 12-speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain, grippy Maxxis tubeless tires, and an SDG dropper post. The Chameleon frame has tons of standover clearance, and the dropouts can be easily swapped if you want to run the bike as a single-speed.…

Fun, like obscenity, is hard to define but always knowable. I don’t usually say a bike is “fun” in a review; riding bikes is inherently fun and therefore almost all bikes are fun. But there are bikes—like this SCOR 4060 ST—that make the word rise to the top of my brain. The feeling manifests as involuntary hoots that punctuate moments and features on the trail. I don’t know exactly what ingredients make a bike feel more fun than others, but it has something to do with a bit of extra quickness in the handling, a little more pop in the suspension, and a bit more whip in the frame—all qualities this SCOR has. I’m also mightily impressed by the 4060’s dual-link suspension, which pedals crisply for efficient climbing while also…