The Radavist

Stainless steel is a remarkable material for chainrings. This is why Tumbleweed Bicycle Co, the makers of award-winning touring bikes, made its first-ever chainring out of the material. It’s designed for Shimano direct mount cranksets except for 12-speed Shimano HG+ chains. Tumbleweed chose this platform because the crank design is great for touring since preload is easily adjustable, and you can remove the cranks with just an Allen wrench and a small plastic preload cap tool, and the 24mm steel spindle is strong and stiff.

The Tumbleweed Wagon Wheel Chainring is available in both stainless ($110) or black alloy ($85) and in 32t sizing only right now.

Check out more at Tumbleweed Bicycle Co.

Watch as Scotty Laughland gives us a guided tour of a 10-day long adventure ride through Italy.

Spencer adds up the short list of his favorite products of 2024 as the year comes to a close. This year, he adds in his favorite ride(s) of the year, what he’s learned, his favorite albums, new and old, and something new for the year. Check out his list below…

UNSUNG is a video tale that follows three of the unheralded heroes who make events like Unbound so special. Linda Guerrette, Michelle Duffy, and Wayne Smith all contribute in their own way to the gravel community. Whether in their role as a photographer, an event organizer, or rider support/mechanic, they all infuse their passion and incredible energy into the greater gravel collective. In doing so, they ensure the bright future of the sport…

See more at Shimano.

For Chris Cosentino, celebrated chef and avid cyclist, there are several ways to connect with the Bay Area of California, the place he calls home. At local markets and in the kitchen, Chris explores ways to deepen his relationship with the area’s produce, both vegetable and animal. Likewise, while cycling on some of the world’s finest roads, gravel tracks and mountain bike trails, Chris experiences firsthand the climate that produces these amazing culinary possibilities. Integrating these is the essence of Chris self-expression and exactly what is captured in “Food I Think I About When I Think About Cycling.”

If you like riding at a spinny cadence, you probably rely on 28t chainrings for 1x drivetrains. Until today, one of the leading component manufacturers had yet to make that ring size in SRAM and Shimano direct mount. Wolf Tooth just announced its new 28t rings for SRAM T-Type and Shimano direct mount.

Note: these rings will not work with SRAM’s T-Type bash guard.

Check out the offerings at Wolf Tooth.

Shimano is proud to announce its new Trail Born Fund, aimed at helping increase and sustain mountain bike trails and trail access around the world. Shimano will donate $10 million USD over the next 10 years, to support and facilitate trail projects and trail advocacy organizations. 

Although the luster of mountain biking has never dulled for Andy McKenna, it’s been several years since he’s ventured back to the foreboding mountains of Torridon where he once thrived as a mountain bike guide. The time has come to confront his foe.

Andy’s enlisted an inspiring ally to take on these Torridonian giants: In Episode 4 of the ‘Evolution Stories’ series, Small Steps to Big Things, Andy teams up with ultra-endurance adventurer Jenny Graham in one of their beloved bothies to plot rides and chat about the ingredients for living life and setting world records.

In this episode of Race Metal, Miguel talks us through why he ditched his 1x setup for Shimano’s 2x Di2 GRX groupset.

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Shimano GRX gets a new Di2 2×12 kit today with RX825 as well as some software updates. Let’s check out what this 2×12 electronic shifting gravel groupset looks like…

In Episode 3 of Shimano‘s ‘Evolution Stories’, Andy meets Katy Winton. Katy’s been a presence within the top flight of enduro racing for a decade – but in this film, it’s not her awesome bike riding skills that are explored. Katy is neurodiverse. Watch to find out what dyslexia means to her.

What could be a better mode of transportation for five young B.C. shredders embarking on classic southern B.C. roadtrip than an old skoolie dubbed the Cool Bus? With the legendary freeride TV shows from the 2000s serving as inspiration and Shimano’s new gravity shoes on their feet, Jacob Murray, Natasha Miller, Lucy Van Eesteren, Mateo Quist and Ryder Bulfone climb aboard the Cool Bus and set out on a four-day, 1,000-kilometer pilgrimage into the past.

Today, Shimano debuted an all-new 8-speed 1x drivetrain dubbed ESSA. This new kit is an update to the existing 8-speed lineup; it is versatile, robust, and priced to target entry-level bikes. Best of all, ESSA is compatible with current 8-speed flat-bar ACERA, ALTUS, and TOURNEY TX systems. Let’s look at the key components below.

Kogel Bearings brought low friction and precise shifting to GRX 12-speed gravel bikes with this Kolossos oversized derailleur cage ($474.99). This upgraded cage fits mechanical 12-speed (RX820 series) drivetrains for Shimano GRX 1X rear derailleurs and is designed to enhance chain retention and reduce friction while shifting, even under load.

The overall length of the Kolossos is within a few mm of your stock cage, so ground clearance is not a concern. It is also equipped with road seals for optimal efficiency, but can easily be switched to cross seals for wet riding conditions.

See more at Kogel Bearings.

After a long and decorated career at the top level of professional road racing, Svein Tuft returns home to the coast of British Columbia to rediscover his love for adventure and the outdoors. Spawning from tales of childhood wanderlust, Svein searches for simplicity in life away from the travel and high-pressure racing world to get a new sense of normal. From short family outings to grand adventures deep into the Canadian Rockies, Svein is inspired by two-wheel adventuring and finding the path less paved. 

Check out the full article at Shimano.

Prioritizing longevity and smooth shifting, Shimano’s LINKGLIDE technology offers an alternative to the weight and speed focus of most 12-speed drivetrains, with a new cassette designed to last 3x longer than their HYPERGLIDE+ technology. It uses an 11-speed chain, a new tooth design, and Shimano’s legacy HG freehub to achieve these feats. Whether it’s going on a new bike or bringing an old rig into the 1x world Shimano’s new LINKGLIDE technology might just be the right fit for you.