MID-WEEK REPORT: THE LATEST NEWS, PRODUCTS AND EVENTS
Take a look at our top trending stories from this week, covering the latest bikes, tech, pro racing and more in the cycling industry.
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VIAIR TLC MOBILE POWERED AIR
When it comes to cycling, tire pressure is one of the most important factors. As we have said countless times, modern road tires are increasing in volume, which means less pressure is needed, but it also means that 3-4 psi is a big difference. This is even more true when it comes to gravel tires with even more volume. For cyclists that are always on the move and travel to events or rides in their vehicle, Viair has a new line of mobile compressors to eliminate the need for a physical hand or floor pump.
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OLYMPICS MEANS NO PARIS FINISH FOR TDF
For the first time since 1905, the Tour de France will not make its usual finish in Paris in 2024, closing instead with a time trial in Nice, organizers announced on Thursday. Although the race has been brought forward one week to avoid clashing directly with the Olympic Games, which are being hosted in 2024 by Paris, it will still finish on July 21, just five days before the opening ceremony. Hence the decision to move the finish to Nice on the Mediterranean coast. The city has hosted the Tour 37 times previously with two starts, in 1981 and 2020.
“Nice is a city that shines. It’s known around the world,” Tour director Christian Prudhomme told reporters.
“There is the beauty of the setting and the mountains nearby. The city offers an exceptional setting and a great course.”
As with Paris, Nice is also has iconic avenues, with the race likely to culminate on the Promenade des Anglais.
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THE MODERN PARTS PROBLEM
Q: I have been doing my own service and repairs for years, but recently my shifting seems unfixable. I live pretty far out of town, but made the long trip to the closest bike shop. They said my drivetrain was just tired and would recommend me replacing most of it. When I asked how much it would be, they said they couldn’t fix it any time soon due to the parts shortage. What’s a guy to do?
A: This is a real problem at the moment as manufacturers have almost ceased production on replacement parts
in an attempt to keep up with demand on new product, and even that is way off schedule. Some have even hinted that they aren’t planning to produce replacement parts for discontinued or older systems.
If it were me, I would comb all of the local shops (even if far away) for parts they might have just hanging on the wall. You won’t likely get everything from the same place, but take anything you can get that could work. I recently found a brake caliper that I needed on Facebook Marketplace all the way across the country. A few bucks in shipping was worth it. Ebay is also a gold mine if you know what you are looking for and all the different terms the individual component might be called.
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ZDENEK STYBAR SAYS GOODBYE TO RACING
After over a decade with the Quick Step team, former cyclocross world champion and proven road racer Zdenek Stybar is bidding the squad goodbye when his contract ends this month. Stybar made waves when he transitioned from a celebrated cyclocross career, but proved his detractors wrong with a Tour de France stage win in 2015.
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UNBOUND GRAVEL LOTTERY IS OPEN
It is without a doubt the biggest gravel spectacle in the world. If there was a Daytona 500 analogy for gravel racing to make, this is is. Unbound Gravel is on for next June and the all-important lottery dates to gain an entry have arrived. First up will be all those looking forward to ride 350 miles alone and unsupported – fun huh? January is the month when the lotteries open for the 200 and 100 mile events. All in all – we hope to see you in Emporia next year!
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BIKE OF THE WEEK: VAN NICHOLAS ZEPHYR
Designed to keep you fresh in the saddle for a full day’s competition, this finely poised endurance geo puts comfort at the forefront. And delivers exceptional handling and power transfer. Suitable for 35-622 (700x35C) tires. The legendary vibration-damping qualities of titanium already offer significant performance and comfort advantages, with the thin, supple stays helping to soak up a lot of the road ‘buzz’ you would experience with other frame materials, but by re-working the geometry to accommodate larger volume road tires (up to 35mm), they have added another level of comfort to help iron out the lumps and bumps of any road surface.
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