The ENVE Melee came out four years ago and it’s still one of the most talked-about premium framesets on the market. In this video we unbox the Damascus colorway, go through what’s included, and put both the frame and fork on the scale to see how they stack up against claimed weights. Unboxing ...
When XDS launched X-Lab globally last month and started showing up in WorldTour press coverage, a familiar complaint surfaced in cycling forums: isn’t it unfair for a contract manufacturer to start selling its own bikes? Doesn’t XDS benefit from years of R&D feedback, tooling knowledge, and production secrets developed in partnership with the Western brands it built bikes for? It’s a reasonable question. It’s also one the cycling industry answered about forty years ago, when a Taiwanese company called Giant did exactly the same thing — and in doing so, built the largest bicycle manufacturer on earth while helping drive its most famous client into bankruptcy. ...
There’s a phrase cycling fans have heard for decades: “Made in China.” What’s newer — and more interesting — is “designed, developed, and racing under a Chinese brand name at the highest level of professional cycling.” That’s what XDS is doing with X-Lab in 2026, and the global launch that dropped in April makes it relevant to anyone shopping for a high-performance road bike. This isn’t a feel-good story about underdog brands or geopolitical cycling drama. It’s a product question: are these bikes actually good, and what do they cost? ...
Every few weeks there’s another article about some pro going to shorter cranks. Vingegaard on 150mm. Pogačar on 165mm. Van Aert experimenting with shorter lengths. The narrative is simple: short cranks are taking over. But when you actually look at the data across the whole peloton, the story is more specific than that — and more useful. GC / climber Classics TT specialist Sprinter The old rule For decades, crank length followed a simple formula: taller rider, longer crank. The accepted standard for an average-height male was 172.5mm, with bigger riders going to 175mm and climbers occasionally running 170mm. The logic was mechanical — longer lever arm, more torque. Indurain was famously on 180mm for TTs. Pantani reportedly used 180mm in the mountains. ...
The new Canyon Endurace CFR has Aeroad geometry, Aeroad aerodynamics, an identical fork, and the same cockpit. The only thing that separates it from the Paris-Roubaix-winning race bike is 3mm of extra tire clearance. Canyon still calls it an endurance bike. Make of that what you will. What it actually means for you as a buyer is that this bike is not what the name implies — and depending on what you’re looking for, that’s either exactly right or completely wrong. ...
The Factor Ostro VAM V2 is designed to be both lightweight and aerodynamic — a combination most bikes used to compromise on. I found this frame in almost new condition and built it up exactly the way I wanted. The build runs a mixed Shimano Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed groupset, a Quarq DFour power meter crankset, and BTLos Aerix Pro 52mm wheels with DT 350 hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes — coming in at around 1290 grams for the set. One detail I’m particularly happy with: a custom ASA 3D printed headset spacer I designed to match the Tavelo Avro integrated bar and stem setup. ...
Specialized Aethos The Specialized Aethos might be the most quietly brilliant road bike out there. It’s not aero. It’s not a race bike. And it’s definitely not one of those overhyped showcase bikes built to dazzle on Instagram more than real roads. But it is light, smooth, and a blast to ride—especially if you’re juggling work, family, and a tight training window. The Aethos isn’t trying to win races. It’s built for riders who just want to enjoy the road, feel fast, and get that little rush when the climb kicks up or the group ride speeds up. It doesn’t shout “pro-level performance,” but it definitely delivers it in its own way. ...
If you’re debating whether to upgrade from Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 to Dura-Ace R9200 Di2, you’re probably wondering: Is the weight savings worth the extra cost? In this post, we break down the weight differences for each component, the cost per gram saved, and whether Dura-Ace delivers the best bang for your buck. Weight and Cost Comparison: Dura-Ace R9200 vs. Ultegra R8100 Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset is its top-tier offering, boasting lighter materials, refined shifting, and marginal gains in performance. Meanwhile, Ultegra R8100 delivers similar performance but at a lower price point, making it an attractive choice for many riders. ...
Here is the list of 5 items I have in my tubeless road bike saddle bag Specialized Mini CO2 inflator with CO2 Specialized Swat Multi tool https://www.specialized.com/ua/en/swat-mini-co2-head/p/155763?searchText=53216-9180&color=228718-155763 Dynaplug Racer Pro https://amzn.to/3EseXYB Park Tire Lever https://amzn.to/40OVARa Tubalito Tube https://amzn.to/42MN5Za Seat bags can get heavy We spend thousands of dollars shaving small amounts of weight off our bikes, weigh them, then strap on a heavy filled up seat bag. Because most of us are’t racing, we will have a seat bag on our bikes 100% of the time. A great way to ensure you aren’t adding too much weight to your bike is to minimize the seat bag weight while still ensuring that you are ready for anything. ...
You want to start working on your own bike but are on a budget You have just made the decision to start working on your own bike, and there are many great reasons to do so. Some great reasons to work on your own bike are: Save time by not having to take your bike to the bike shop and wait for days for labor to be completed Save money by not paying for professional labor prices Increase self reliance: fix your bike on the road when an unforeseen mechanical comes up during a ride Quality, expensive tools will last for life, right? Yes it’s nice to own high quality tools and if you have the budget I would agree. Park tools makes great quality tools for about everything out there on a bike and usually you can’t go wrong with them. There are also a few companies that make beautifully crafted tools like https://www.abbeybiketools.com/ and https://silca.cc/ which will cost you, but they should last forever. A lot of these tools are for professional mechanics that wrench daily and as a home mechanic, your usage should be much less. So for getting started out on a budget, here are a few alternatives that can save you money and get you started on your way to becoming a mechanic. ...