The publication of the results of the Gendarmerie raid at the last Tour de France at Team Bahrein-Victorius made quite a lot of noise. According to French newspapers, an analysis of the hair of three team riders, carried out at the National Center for Biotechnology, showed the presence of tizanidine, a drug that is normally used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It should be noted that this drug is not on the list of products banned by Wada (the international anti-doping agency) and considered doping. The French professor Jean Pierre de Mondenard, former doctor of the Tour and involved in the analyzes, stated that the drug is a muscle relaxant and could be used after the competition to soothe pain in the muscles. After intense and prolonged effort, in fact, the so-called muscle asphyxia occurs, with consequent severe leg pain due to the stiffening of the muscles. The drug limits this tension and its effects. However, Professor Mondenard also added that this molecule is very similar to those that stimulate growth hormones and he was bothered learning that it is used for sport. The circumstance has boosted the detractors of Team Bahrein- Victorius who have raised doubts about the performance of its athletes after an exciting season: 30 victories including stages in the great laps and podiums at the Giro d'Italia, the Paris-Roubaix. Emerging young people such as Matej Mohoric, Mark Padun, Gino Mader; established athletes such as Domenico Caruso and Pello Bilbao; a finally matured Sonny Colbrelli have reached the top of the world. It must be said that they are all riders who have had a constant improvement in their careers and have shown talent since the lower categories, so they did not come out of nowhere. Far be it from us to overshadow spots or even less to talk about doping (which, moreover, is not configured for tizanidine as mentioned above). All the insiders indeed agree on the fact that today's pro cycling is pretty clean, both for the reform of the bodies responsible for control and for the updating of the list of prohibited drugs. Also the acceptance by the athletes of the protocol that allows unscheduled checks and blood tests in every place, associated with the obligation to declare where you are on every day of the year have allowed serious checks strongly discouraging the doping. Last but not least, the transparency in publishing all the data relating to training and competitions which can be an alarm bell in the event of abnormal performances. Finally, a renewed ethics on the part of the teams, who immediately fired the athletes in the few cases in which they were found positive for the use of banned substances. The latest case dates back to 2017 with Ruffoni and Pirazzi, immediately resigned by Bardiani team. Having said all this, a doubt remains. To shed light on that gray area that is medical-scientific, but even above all ethical, of the use in sport of drugs, even powerful ones, for purposes other than the treatment for which they are indicated. The thought cannot but go to Chris Froome and many others who abused anti-asthma drugs, or to the present story where it is difficult to demonstrate the need for a product against multiple sclerosis for an athlete in full shape. These are substances that perhaps do not increase performance, but there is a need for transparency on the part of teams and doctors: what is the real benefit? What effects do they have on the health of cyclists in the long term? What and how many other drugs are abused that are not on doping lists? The team called into question defended itself by declaring: “Team Bahrain-Victorious and none of its riders have been officially or unofficially informed of any results found relating to tizanidine or other substances. The Team is keen to underline that the authors of the scientific article to which all the accusations refer have unequivocally underlined that tizanidine is not a banned substance in sport " In addition, the team is consulting the lawyers to verify the method of publication that has had a negative impact on the image of the team " We will see the developments: the hope is that the whole cycling movement that made so much effort to get out of the dark years of doping will not be tainted, but it will be an opportunity to improve research and the ethics of sport. On EurekaBike.it the bicycle marketplace, you will find interesting articles in the blog section about road racing, mtb, downhill, technique, curiosity, lifestyle and many price lists and tecnhical sheets of the top brands in the world of cycling!

The world of cycling is occasionally shaken by innovative and creative proposals: new technologies, hybridizations of different models, alternatives of use, simple aesthetic or functional quirks of strange bikes. But this realization is destined to occupy a special place because it completely overturns the concept of the bicycle! It looks like one of those crazy and futuristic vehicles created by the brilliant mind of Gyro Gearloose in the stories of Donald Duck .. Behind this bicycle, called hubless, there is the inventiveness and practical ability of a young engineer who calls himself The Q. It is not a model on the market, nor a product built by a professional manufacturer of bicycles, but just born from the passion and creativity of an individual. Building the bike of the future On Youtube you can see all the construction phases of the hubless bike, which starts from a normal fat-bike on the market. Our young engineer removes the hubs and the spokes and hooks the frame directly to the wheel rims. The result is amazing: the “empty” wheels seem to move by magic with a frame suspended on them. But how did The Q achieve this? The construction process is accurately documented by the video. As for the front wheel, first the spokes and hubs were cut and ball bearings were applied to the outside of the wide rim. Then it is necessary to mount special tires that you will arrange on it. Finally, the fork was cut and welded directly to the rim. The rear wheel has undergone the same modification, with the addition of a gigantic sprocket of the same size as the rim: the chain is attached to it so as to move the wheel directly. The disc brake hinged solidly to the crankset in the middle of the frame completes the work! A vehicle that certainly does not go unnoticed thanks to the absence of any visible connection between frame and wheels and the black and fluorescent blue color. Moreover, the performances and any constructive advantages or benefits are all to be evaluated. In the video the hubless bike shows an agile and light pedaling. If the project is destined to have a commercial future, it will probably be an urban or light off-road bike, to have fun and amaze observers with its originality. Moreover, the plan of an e-Bike with this setting should not be ruled out, which would allow you to enjoy the innovative system without being penalized in terms of performance. For now, praise to The Q who has earned a place of honor in terms of number of views and who has made headlines around the world. Always follow us on EurekBike.it, the market place of the world of two wheels, with up-to-date price lists, offers and technical data sheets of top bike brands in the world and a rich blog section with articles on professional road cycling, MTB, downhill, BMX , technical articles and curiosities from the world of cycling!

The market has seen the spectacular emergence of gravel bikes in recent years. An increasing number of enthusiasts are opting for the purchase of this type, not to mention the increase in competitions or non-competitive events. Gravel road are dirt or non-asphalted paths, so the construction philosophy of these bikes starts from the assumption that they are suitable for such routes. Everything was born, as very often in the world of bicycles in recent times, in the USA where the love for two wheels is combined with vast natural spaces with the presence of long dirt roads. And then the introduction of fascinating races in many American states characterized by paths in the boundless nature, without too many altitude difficulties and on rather compact eartyhy roads, which can easily overcome 100 miles up to the Ultra races such as the Trans Iowa that exceeds 500 km!The stars and stripes manufacturers have therefore launched on the market a type of bike specialized for these routes, which however is also excellent for use on asphalt roads.About 4-5 years ago the first gravels arrived in Europe and now it is a well-known product of many houses. Temporary fashion? Carefully planned commercial strategy? We believe not: the numbers prove it to us, but above all the constructive analysis of these bicycles. The technical characteristics of gravel bikes In general, the basic concept to start from are road racing bikes which are modified in some basic elements to obtain strength and solidity without sacrificing too much speed. An eclectic two-wheeler that combines road bike, cyclocross and touring characteristics. Obviously on the market we find a wide range of gravel bikes ranging from 500-600 Euros for entry models up to over ten times as much for top-of-the-range bikes.The frame, depending on use and price, can be steel, aluminum or even carbon. However, what differentiates it from its road-racing cousins ​​is its geometry. A slightly more "comfortable" structure: slightly higher head tube, less steep down tube and longer rear stay (up to 20 mm), to ensure a posture that is not "lying down" as in road racing, but more raised on the saddle. This translates into comfort for tackling dirt roads and greater readiness on bumpy roads. The greater weight of the frame is needed for strength, but as mentioned, those who opt for gravel do not seek the exasperation of road racing bikes. The wheels are 28 ”, the same size as the road, but what changes are the tires: larger section (30-35 mm) and you can opt for a more or less “clawed” tread pattern. The brakes are obviously disc brakes and the transmission is designed ad-hoc for rough routes with the presence of gravel, dust or mud (long rocker arm and high shifting fork). Furthermore, the ratios are more agile than the road cousins: the combination of 50/32 tooth chainrings is quite common, but the single chainring is becoming increasingly popular, with sprockets from 10-11 up to 34. In the case of the BMC URS 1 One, top of the range of the Swiss manufacturer, the largest sprocket is a frying pan-like 50-tooth! The major manufacturers such as Trek, Giant, Scott, Cannondale, BMC, Triban all have more gravel models in their list. Let's see some proposals: The Scott Speedster Gravel 40 has an aluminum frame, disc brakes and Shimano group with CS-HG500 # 10 11-32 cassette and double chainring at the front. An excellent mid-range vehicle at a price just over 1200 euros. Moving up the category to the top of the range, we meet the Giant TCX Advanced Pro 1 model 2021. Carbon frame, sturdy Giant SLR-2 42 wheels fitted with 33mm all-terrain tubeless tires and the Shimano Ultegra group, 11x34 with single chainring. The price is 3799 Euros. Fun, adventure and more In conclusion, a bicycle that is easy to use and not exasperated, robust and solid. You can travel many kilometers on road and on unpaved paths, preferably with hard and compact surfaces: gravel, light mud, compact earth. Obviously they are not made for difficult off-road and/or with important altimetric differences: for these routes the various MTBs are still the most suitable. However, gravel bike has a versatile use: there are those who use it mainly on asphalt (with ad-hoc tires) to have more strength and maybe save money compared to a very special road racing model. There are those who use it for mixed routes, those for adventure or even short trips: some models can install luggage racks and luggage racks and even indicators and mudguards. Finally, those who opt for the purchase of these bikes for the numerous gravel events that are beginning to appear in Italy. These are the multi-day events halfway between cycle tourism, adventure and pure challenge: among the most popular we remember the Veneto Gravel (690 km and 3900 m in altitude), the BAM of Mantua and the Tuscany Trail Experience. Cycling more in contact with nature, adventurous and with a touch of re-enactment of the past, when gravel or dirt roads were the norm, not the exception. A love for the heroic era of cycling, and perhaps more authentic, that the world of road professionalism does not disdain: just look not only at the success of the Strade Bianche and the classic-monumet Roubaix, but also at the fascination for the ancient of less known races such as the Paris-Tours which takes place among the dirt roads of the vineyards of the Loire, or the Tro-Bro Léon in Brittany which takes place on large stretches of ribinoù, characteristic paths with an earthy terrain.

Early in October 2021 the new RockShox integrated electronic suspension, called Flight Attendant, was launched on the market. With a justified expectation from the world of bikers and the press, we finally have the feedback on a product that, although not the first to use electronics, is also innovative in technology and concept. Only history will tell if it is enough to revolutionize the MTB market, surely the top Enduro models will be more attractive. A concentrate of technology The RockShox Flight Attendant is an integrated suspension system which, through microsensors housed in the fork, crankset and rear shock, is able in real time to adapt the suspension parameters to the terrain being traveled. First of all, it is wireless, greatly reducing the complications of maintenance and breakdowns. But the big innovation compared to existing products is that the Flight Attendant behaves in a "predictive" rather than "reactive" manner. This is a function of algortithms created on the basis of thousands of km traveled in each condition in the research and development phase, which lasted 7 years: the system is able to decipher and read the terrain in 5 milliseconds and adjust the suspensions for the situation. Every little bump, hole, wrinkle, jump, change in ground will be predicted and the shock and fork will be adjusted in real time. This translates into maximum performance efficiency, especially in climbing. When the path flattens, there will obviously be a proportional hardening of the suspensions, while if the sensor detects the descent, there will be a softer setting, but always adjusted according to the surface of the ground. But how does the RockShox Flight Attendant work? The system is connected to an App equipped with a useful tutorial and step-by-step instructions. The initial operation is to calibrate the system according to your weight: it can be done from a standstill and once registered, it is no longer necessary to do it. From this moment on, the system is manageable with the buttons on the fork itself: the three possible settings are Open, Pedal and Lock, going from the softest to the hardest. As we can imagine and as specified in the introduction, the “intelligent” system prevents or adapts in real time to the conditions, so it is capable of loosening if a deep hole is encountered in a compact terrain, or vice versa. Furthermore there are three modes: the Auto in which the computer is free to automatically change the settings during the ride, the Manual in which it is changed by the rider, and the Override. An excellent additional option is to be able to fine-tune the system: if by default the bias is 0, we can set it to +1 or +2 towards the Open position or -1 or -2 towards the Lock. For the moment, RockShox has not published the prices of the product that can be purchased as a separate part. The manufacturers who will be using this system are for now Trek, Canyon, YT and Specialized and on average they will have a surcharge of about 2000 € compared to the equivalent model without the Flight Attendant. The Enduro models are favored, in the belief that the new electronic system will be more useful for long and varied trails, where maximum performance in all conditions is important, both uphill and downhill. The models equipped with this system will be the YT Jeffsy Uncaged 6, the YT Capra Uncaged 6, Canyon Neuron CF SLX LTD, the Canyon Spectral 29 CF LTD AXS, the Trek Slash 9.9 XX1 AXS Flight Attendant and finally the Specialized S-Works Enduro, the latter equipped with SRAM AXS drivetrain and AXS Reverb Dropper Post. Advantages and disadvantages of the new system First of all, many practical tests show that the performance is increased. Bikes equipped with RockShox Flight Attendant have a suspension system that works perfectly in all conditions, but especially on undulating terrain with short, challenging punches. Secondly, the ease of use and adjustment, with a very wide range. It takes time and practice to find the right set-up, but we believe this is an opportunity rather than a limit. Moving on to the critical points, the first is the price, even if it is largely justifiable given the amount of technology and research used, and in any case destined to decrease over time. Weight might be a small negative, although around 300g doesn't impact too much on vehicles that are quite heavy in nature. The electronic buzz that distinguishes the change of setting while driving (in Auto mode) can be a bit annoying. Finally, a minus is the amount of batteries: as many as three that are respectively housed in the fork, in the crankset and in the shock absorber. This requires additional time in charging them. On EurekaBike.it, the bicycle marketplace, you will find the blog section with interesting articles on road racing, mtb, downhill, technique, curiosity, lifestyle and many price lists and cards of the top brands in the world of wheels!

Trek and SRAM have just released a video where they show master mechanic, Sean Murphy, of Fluid Function in Squamish, B.C. assembling one of the two builds Brandon Semenuk will be travelling with to the Red Bull Rampage, seeking an unprecedented fourth title. Brandon Semenuk's 2021 Red Bull Rampage build is the bike you'd expect a five-time Joyride and three-time Rampage champion to ride. With big travel, and big trick potential, his custom 27.5/26 mulleted Trek Session is set up with a one-of-a-kind BlackBox AXS drivetrain, and a 190mm single crown RockShox Zeb Ultimate.   Trek Session SRAM Rampage build details Frame: custom built Trek Session 27.5" / 26" Mullet Derailleur: BlackBox XX1 Eagle AXS short cage Controller: SRAM AXS Cassette: SRAM X01 DH Chain: SRAM Eagle Crankset: SRAM X01 DH DUB | 165mm, with custom crank damper Fork: RockShox Zeb Ultimate | 190mm, 44m offset, 3 Tokens, 63.5 PSI, HSC open, LSC 9 clicks to closed Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH with MegNeg air can | 270 PSI, 4.5 tokens in Positive, 2 Bands in Negative, Rebound 5 clicks to closed, LSC 9 clicks to closed. Front Brake: SRAM Code RSC | Routed through Zeb steerer tube. Rear Brake: SRAM Code RSC | Extra long brake hose for 3 full rotations of handlebars. Rotors: SRAM HS2 200mm (front & rear) Wheels: Industry Nine 27.5" / 26" Handlebar: Chromag OSX LTD Stem: Chromag Ranger V2 Seatpost: Truvativ Noir T40 Front Tire: Maxxis Assegai 27.5 x 2.5" EXO+ Maxx Grip Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHR2 26 x 2.4" DH Casing Maxx Grip Saddle: Chromag Overture LTD Grips: Chromag Clutch Pedals: Chromag Synth Check out the video  See how Brandon's mechanic builds up this stunning rig piece by piece with sharp accuracy.     Follow us on EurekaBike.com, the bicycle marketplace with updated listings of thousands of bikes, bike offers near you and tech specs from the World's most famous bike brands. Plus, a rich blog section with articles about road professional cycling, MTB, downhill, BMX, tech issues and curiosities from the bike industry!