It was a week that proved to ease some of the wounds in the world of professional racing as Olly Bridgewood and Manon Lloyd returned to the studio for the latest edition of the GCN Tech Show.
The 2024 World Tour season has so far been marred by some very high-profile crashes, but as we discussed on last week's show, this is partially due to new technology leading to faster speeds. It may be promoted by We received a lot of comments on this subject, so Manon and Olly decided to discuss some of them to dig a little deeper into the issue.
In other news, BMC recently announced its latest generation Roadmachine, which made headlines with claims of “resetting the standard” for endurance bikes. It packs a lot of performance, but it's the versatility and practicality that caught our attention.
The eye-catching numbers include 40mm tire clearance, which exceeds even some gravel bikes, and the ability to transform into off-road shapes. Add in downtube storage space and an integrated seatpost light, and BMC seems to have created a bike that stands out from the crowd.
However, this is not the case. This week alone, ENVE released his Fray with 40mm tire clearance, while FiftyOne's new his Sika bike is said to offer performance “tuned for real riders, not pros.” There seems to be a strong demand for versatile bikes rather than specialist bikes, but is the era of all-rounder bikes coming?
Do you prefer all-rounder bikes or specialized models? Let us know in the comments.
hot and spicy technology
In addition to the three bike releases, there was a lot of interesting new technology unveiled last week. We will introduce the products that caught our attention.
Van Rysel RCR available for purchase… but sold out immediately
Van Ryssel, who owns Decathlon, will participate in the Pro Proton for the first time in 2024, sponsoring the Decathlon AG2R La Mondial.
The partnership came with a number of new bikes, including the RCR Pro, which was first available for pre-order on April 16th. Those who were hoping to get their hands on this bike will be disappointed to hear that it sold out in minutes, but we're sure there will be more available in the future.
read more: Already sold out: Decathlon opens pre-orders for Van Rysel RCR Pro replica bike
Get your hands on GCN's new water bottle
Over-in GCN At our headquarters, we've been busy working with Camelback to develop new types of water bottles, including a high-performance Podium option and a stainless steel model designed for added durability.
You can purchase the full range of GCN x Camelbak water bottles on the GCN website
Reynolds releases new 25mm rims
British wheel manufacturer Reynolds has released a new lightweight 25mm road wheel. The shallow depth helps keep weight to a minimum, and surprisingly it looks small compared to the 30mm external width of the rim. This extra width is optimized for wider tires, which are becoming increasingly popular.
Win a bike box in our latest contest
We are currently running a contest to win Topeak merchandise, including the PAKGO EX Bike Box.
Check the contest details.
bicycle storage
After some issues, the Bike Vault uploader has restarted and is now running. So you will be able to submit a photo of your horse for the presenter to judge. If you're not sure how the process works, check out this guide.
As always, there were a lot of posts this week, starting with Brett Barnett's Canyon Grail in the Colorado Mountains.
