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When the Avinox M1 dropped in 2024, it made everyone else look slow. A 1,000W mid-drive in a 2.5kg package — with better software integration than Bosch had managed in a decade — it genuinely changed what people expected from an eMTB motor. Brands rushed to adopt it. Riders lost their minds over it. Now Avinox is back with the M2S, and the headline numbers are even more absurd: 1,500W peak power and 150Nm of torque. That’s 50% more power than the M1 in the same compact form factor. On paper, it sounds like an instant winner. ...

The line between a gravel bike and a mountain bike has been blurring for years. But 2025 was the year it basically disappeared. At the Leadville Trail 100, two of the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s races were on drop bar mountain bikes — full suspension included. Keegan Swenson won on a Santa Cruz Blur with drops. Melisa Rollins podiumed on a drop-bar Liv full suspension. Dylan Johnson, the godfather of the drop bar MTB experiment, showed up on an Unno Horn with a Fox suspension fork and GRX shifters. ...

Update: it’s official. The new bike launched on May 28, 2026 as the Crux 5, and much of the speculation below turned out right: 55mm clearance, 1x only, aero shaping from the Tarmac. Full breakdown: Specialized Crux 5: The Gravel Race Bike Goes Full Aero. My take: The Crux 5 Is the Gravel Bike We Knew Was Coming. The current Specialized Crux has been around in essentially the same form since 2021. That’s a long time in a category that’s been moving as fast as gravel. Aero gravel bikes have gone mainstream, tire clearance expectations have climbed, and integrated cockpits are now table stakes at the top end. The Crux, for all its strengths — and it’s still one of the lightest gravel bikes you can buy — is showing its age. ...

The Avinox motor story has moved fast. DJI’s ebike division launched the M1 in 2025 and immediately made Bosch and Shimano look like they were playing a different game. Now the second generation is here — the M2 and M2S — and the number of bikes built around these motors has exploded. Over 60 brands have signed on, which means the hard part isn’t finding an Avinox bike anymore. It’s figuring out which one is actually right for you. ...

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. ...

If you’re shopping for your first gravel bike and trying to make sense of tire clearance specs, here’s the first thing to understand: the number on the spec sheet isn’t the full story. I recently tested this on the Specialized Crux. The stated max clearance is 47mm — but I mounted a 50c tire in the rear and a 2.1" up front to see what the frame could actually handle. Watch the full video here. ...

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. ...

intermediate bike tools Keeping a bicycle in top shape requires more than just basic know-how. Once past the beginner phase, investing in intermediate-level tools can make home repairs more efficient and help extend the life of any bike. The right intermediate bike tools allow cyclists to complete complex repairs, perform detailed adjustments, and maintain components that often require more finesse. Here’s a breakdown of the 10 most useful intermediate bike tools every cyclist should consider adding to their workshop. ...

Upgrading a hardtail mountain bike into a gravel beast with a drop bar setup is easier than ever with SRAM’s AXS wireless components. Here’s the complete list of parts needed to pull off a clean and functional hardtail gravel bike drop bar conversion. Choosing the right parts ensures your bike remains fast, durable, and comfortable across all kinds of terrain. Update (October 2026): here’s what I actually used. The finished build went with SRAM Rival XPLR AXS shifters and derailleur and Garbaruk’s 13-speed 10-52 cassette, not the GX Eagle AXS mix below. That gets you Eagle’s 520% range with 13 gears and road-style shifting. For brakes, I used Wolf Tooth post-mount-to-flat-mount adapters (+20mm) with standard road calipers, which is option 2 below. Full parts list, weight (18 lb 7 oz) and setup notes: Mountain Bike to Gravel Bike Conversion: Garbaruk 10-52 13-Speed Build. The GX Eagle AXS route below still works and is often cheaper on the used market. ...

2025 Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Alloy frame in raw aluminum finish, ready for component swap in workshop setting Wondering how to plan a mountain bike frame swap without replacing all your components? I’m preparing to swap my Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy over to the 2025 Stumpjumper 15 Alloy—and I’m sharing exactly what will carry over, what needs replacing, and what to look out for, especially if you’re running a mullet setup. ...