Electronic Upgrade for Shimano 105

Shimano group set

Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan Shimano’s 105 group set has been upgraded to electronic shifting, as the model celebrating its 40th anniversary. The move to Di2 electronic shifting technology for the 105 R7100 group also incorporates a step up from 11 speed to the company’s flagship 12-speed system. Shimano 105’s Di2 utilises a hybrid system, with a…

Letter From America: Rationale Behind the Great White Feeding Frenzy

Wheat Ridge Cyclery shop front

Santa Fe, New Mexico It’s as if someone tossed a ton of chum into the turbulent waters surrounding independent bicycle dealers, attracting a scrum of swift-moving sharks snapping up prime retail locations in the prosperous suburbs of major metropolitan areas. Look at a map and it’s easy to see where the Great Whites — Trek,…

Letter from America: Taking Stock of the Chaos

Sturm and Drang

Sante Fe, New Mexico So much change, so much disruption, so much unknown—that characterises much of what can be discerned from the steady drumbeat of economic news today. “Where there’s chaos there’s often opportunity, and it takes an optimist to find those opportunities.” Most of it has been decidedly downbeat. It’s a bull market for…

Bike Tourism Brings New Journey for Travel Cases

Cyclists riding through the countryside

Bike cases were once the almost exclusive domain of the travelling elite athlete but a surge in cycle tourism promises to bring a major market upheaval. It’s not that long since the appearance of a bike box or bag in an airport’s oversized baggage collection point could inspire a confident enquiry about the owner’s upcoming…

On the Pulse for Growing Massage Movement

percussive massage

~ Sponsored Content ~ More cyclists, from many disciplines, are giving greater attention to proactive recovery, and Pulseroll’s percussion guns offer an affordable, simple and effective way for riders to take recovery into their own hands. The UK company’s Pro Massage Gun and Mini Massage Gun strike a balance on price and quality, to provide…

Tech 4’s Big Power Boost Without Losing Trademark Hope Feel

Tech 4 brakes

~ Sponsored Content ~ New products are a particularly big deal for UK company Hope Technology.Despite its massive research and development team, brand new Hope products and updates to its existing lines are relatively few and far between. “Tech 4s deliver 30% more peak power, while maintaining Hope’s trademark calibration and feel.” “Hope isn’t the…

Bike Protection an Open and Shut Case with B&W

Person zipping up a bicycle bag

~ Sponsored Content ~ German manufacturer B&W has long been recognised for its premium, high-security cases. With a background in products for search and rescue, and the transportation of dangerous goods, B&W products have well and truly proven themselves for dependency when uncompromised protection is essential. Similarly, B&W’s bike cases and bags sit among the…

INGRID Components; Style Meets Precision & Functionality

INGRID component

~ Sponsored Content ~ Born out of Italy, INGRID is a small company that manages to combine unique styling with precision manufacturing to create a range of drivetrain components that really stand out from the crowd. They’ve been making cassettes and cranks since 2015 and more recently introduced their own rear derailleur, bringing them one…

Running Ryfe With High Value MTB Accessories

Ryfe Pedals

~ Sponsored Content ~ Ryfe, according to online reference site Urban Dictionary, is an expression of excitement when something is cool or exceptional value. “From the outset, our objective with Ryfe has been to create an Australian brand that supports the industry by creating value for riders.” Distributor KWT Imports thought those definitions perfectly summed…

Steadyrack; Revolutionary Aussie Design

Person putting bicycle onto Steadyrack

~ Sponsored Content ~ The original Steadyrack was created over a decade ago when founder and CEO David Steadman set out in search of a solution to his bike storage woes. Since then, this family owned and run Perth-based business has grown into global entity, with offices in the United States and a network of…