We’re very excited about this new BWR kit with it’s subtle nod to the Lion of Flanders. We think it perfectly fits the festive spirit of returning to racing on the new BWR course with the largest field of riders an event like this has ever seen! It’s our 10th Anniversary, too!
Hard to believe that it’s been a decade since that first Belgian Waffle Ride. Order window closes on the California kits on May 2, 2021 so click the link and order up.
For those of us who ride mountain bike pedals ALL THE TIME, the new Garmin Rally XC200 power meters solve a power problem we’ve had for a while: double-sided SPD power with left and right metrics. Here, look at all the specs that Garmin is so proud about:
Rally power meters have undergone rigorous testing to increase reliability. Featuring a superior design with sensors housed inside, these sleek pedals install like any pedal. And they’re quick to transfer between bikes. . . In addition to total power and cadence, Rally XC200 measures much more. These metrics help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, so you can work to improve. . . Measure power from your left leg versus power from your right leg to get a better look at how symmetrically you’re producing power. . . Track the amount of time you spend in each position, and gauge position effectiveness. . . From road to gravel to cyclocross and much more, keep riding year-round with a transferable spindle that can be installed in the Rally™ RS/Rally RK road pedal body kits (each sold separately).
The pedals are for sale (in limited quantity) on the Garmin site right now and will only set you back $1,199 at the most (or $699 for one side). The pedals come in Shimano SPD, Look KEO, and Shimano SPD SL flavors and the pedals (can be swapped on the spindles). They really have thought of everything. (Pedal tops sold separately.)
Pocket Outdoor Media, the umbrella company that owns VeloNews, Backpacker, SKI, Climbing, and many other media properties, (we wrote all about them here) announced today (February 22, 20121) the purchase of Outside, parent company of Outside Magazine, Outside TV, Peloton Magazine and the rest from owner Larry Burke for an undisclosed sum, according to a story on Pocket Media’s SNews.com.
“Adding these businesses to our portfolio and rebranding Pocket is a transformative moment for us,” says Robin Thurston, CEO of the all-new Outside. “Together with our other category-leading properties—SKI, Yoga Journal, Backpacker, Trail Runner, VeloNews, Climbing, Warren Miller Entertainment, Roll Massif, FinisherPix, SNEWS, and more—these brands make our new company the world’s leading creator of active living content, experiences, travel, and services. We now deliver content to almost every home in America across every platform, screen, and device.”
Is consolidation good? When it keeps your favorite brand alive it may be. And with this purchase, the newly renamed Outside seems to have saved a bundle of brands from certain death. So, yay, Outside!
For those who love the 100 mile Strava segment: Peter Stetina and Amity Rockwell, roll out to see if they can be the king and queen of Moab’s White Rim Trail. Did they make it? Watch and see.
Sometimes new bike computer money might be better spent on a new watch. While Garmin’s new Forerunner 745 was designed with triathletes (ahem!) in mind, it works great as an on-wrist bike computer, too. Obviously it is also solid training partner thanks to a load of onboard tech.
To help athletes better prepare for a race or training cycle, the Forerunner 745 includes key performance monitoring tools from Firstbeat Analytics like VO2 max, training load, training status and aerobic and anaerobic training effects. Athletes will even receive on-device running and cycling daily workout suggestions based on their current training load and VO2 max.
But it’s not all training, the Forerunner 745 also includes Garmin Pay, and when paired with music from Amazon Music, Spotify or Deezer the 745 can hold 500 songs. Garmin says the battery will last for a week in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, and 6 hours in GPS mode with the music blasting. It is available now in black, neo tropic, magma red or whitestone and has a suggested retail price of $499.99. For all the official details from Garmin, please follow the jump.
The Belgian Waffle Ride Cedar City(The Hell of the South. . . Utah) is on for October 17, 2020. Here’s the word from the organizers:
We have been busy working with our partners, local health officials and city managers, organizing best practices and adjusting formats for our upcoming event in the Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride Cedar City, which is planned for October 17, 2020.
So if you’re in for an epic gravel race, then this is your event. There’s also a store full of pretty cool cams Belgian Waffle merch that is live and ready for orders. Click here for the store or here for info on the ride.
Swiftwick sent us some Pursuit Ultralight socks to try out. They look good and Merlino wool is a super plus. Here’s the lowdown from the manufacturer:
The Pursuit Ultralight wicks moisture and dries quickly, so your feet stay dry and blister-free wherever your adventures take you. The thin, breathable design also features a reinforced heel and toe to maximize durability. It has all the benefits of merino wool but is extremely lightweight, ensuring a great fit in any performance shoe.
We’re looking forward to trying them out on an upcoming roll through the hills.
Our favorite cycling shoe closure company BOA is announcing and even better, smaller, more durable dial for perfect fit on cycling shoes. It’s called the Li2. Here’s what they’re saying:
Li2 is the ultimate in fast, effortless, precision fit. The lightweight and low-profile dial platform offers unprecedented durability against impact, abrasion, and contaminants such as dirt and debris. Compact in size but packed with power, Li2 offers benefits designed to meet the needs of cyclists at every touchpoint during a ride. Multidirectional tightening and loosening allows for incremental adjustment to accommodate foot swelling on long rides, or a tighter fit for steep climbs and sprints.
Better is better, right? This dial is showing up on shoes from Fizik, Scott, Rapha, Gaerne, Lake and DMT this fall, with Bontrager, Giro, Louis Garneau, and Specialized jumping in for 2021. For all the official details from BOA, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Editors’ Update: United States of America Cycling announced today (July 1, 2020) that all the following National Championship events have been cancelled for 2020: Pro and Am road, mountain, Grand Fondo, and elite, junior, and masters track. If you have a title from last year, lucky you. You get another year to hold on to it!
May 13, 2020
Rather than post a growing list of events that have been cancelled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic take this as an reminder that EVERY SINGLE CYCLING EVENT that you were looking forward to riding, racing, watching live, or streaming online has been cancelled.
And while many event promoters have optimistically moved their events forward a few months, we’re going to guess that there will no mass start events going down for at least a year. Time to figure something else out. . . TTcross? TTmtb? TTcrit? TTgravel? Maybe? If anyone is hosting any solo racing events, please let us know. In the mean time we’ll be here tickling our keyboards.
The world famous Belgian Waffle Ride has partnered with 100% Eyewear on a collection of sunglasses in the classic colors of red, yellow, and the Belgian blue of the Belgian National team jersey. Here’s what the BWR has to say about them.
The Belgian Waffle Ride X 100% Collaboration was built stylishly and expertly to take on the harsh and punishing conditions of the most treacherous gravel racing in the world, the BWR. . . The BWR Special Edition sunglasses are available in the most popular 100% sport performance sunglass styles… Speedcraft, S2, S3; plus, the active performance style Hudson… for after the race, if you survive.
To check sunnies out in more detail, or to grab a couple pair before they’re all gone, please click the link.
