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As full of ourselves as we are, this magazine can only be at its best when we make the effort to fill the pages with the bikes, products, places and people that reflect what the readers are interested in. To that end, we produce this “Reader Survey” annually, which helps provide your favorite cycling editors with a snapshot of who you are.

And sure, it will take a few minutes for you to fill out the questionnaire, but really, aren’t a few minutes spent with this worth the opportunity to win a free Shimano Ultegra-equipped Canyon Ultimate to dazzle all your friends with on the next group ride?

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THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

SRAM VS STRAVA

Many cyclists have used Strava and enjoy the vast number of services they offer especially given the focus on outdoor activities in the last year. With that said, things at Strava have been changing and it is pretty much a pay-to-play experience.  On top of that, there are lots of apps available that do very similar things that have not populated the same userbase. So why are we asking if the SRAM AXS app might be looking to move into the space that Strava has dominated, simple, because it’s SRAM.

THE GORILLA IN THE ROOM

SRAM has a well-deserved reputation for going all-in on something. If that means buying the competition or players they will, example #1 PowerTap and their P-Series power pedals that were discontinued following their acquisition by SRAM. SRAM is also known for doing pretty darn well with strong long-term strategies.

So when we were on a call with SRAM a few weeks ago discussing the now released eTap AXS Rival launch the conversation deviated for a moment to talk about the AXS app. The conversation was short and they asked how our user experience was. After a few quick back and forth we were left with a feeling of interest and SRAM almost hinting that its a big project waiting to make waves.

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TEN 2021 ROAD BIKES YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF

Keeping up with the hundreds of new bikes launched every year is no simple task. We rounded-up a quick list of the latest 2021 road bikes that might have flown under your radar.  Take a look a some of the flashiest and provocative bikes that we think you need to see.

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FIRST RIDE CANYON GRIZL

If you’re one of those people who think consumer direct  sales platforms  will never really take-off nor bring any tangible benefits to the world, prepare to have Canyon Bicycles wreck your day.  By now, most of you know the story – Canyon is a German bike brand that upended the industry by not just starting off as consumer direct (aka “mail order” back-in-the-day)  brand and offering lowered prices, but – and this is key – doing so with a level of design, innovation  and engineering that competes with the very best that the traditional dealer based bike industry had to offer.  In short, no other consumer direct brand has amassed the global race winning record that Canyon has  in every segment of pedaling.

Like everyone else, Canyon too has invested mightily in the gravel category with an eye to dominate the dual-purpose market. It was back in 2018 that their first official gravel bike, the Grail, was launched.

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THE UNGUIDED ADVENTURE OF MOTHERHOOD

To celebrate family and motherhood Wahoo Frontiers teamed up with Crystal Haggard as she reflects on how her relationship  with cycling and her son grows as he does. Check out the rest of the Wahoo Frontiers series below.

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A NEW FREE TOOL FOR OPTIMAL TIRE PRESSURE

You don’t have to own a set of Quarq’s TyreWiz to take advantage of the updated and improved pressure measuring app. SRAM made a few updates to their Recommended Tire Pressure chart. The update includes more options to let you refine the recommended tire pressures to the dimensions of your specific set up.

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AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

By Dan Cavallari

It’s been years since American cycling fans have allowed themselves a moment to contemplate seeing the stars and stripes atop the leader board of a WorldTour event. Since the heyday when American riders stood out decades ago, American cycling fans have been waiting a long time to find out which homegrown talent cannot only compete but also dominate at the WorldTour level once again.

Of course, with the near-total obliteration of domestic racing, the road to Europe has gotten longer and more complicated for the aspiring American riders. Hurdles notwithstanding, a healthy crop of American talent has managed to join the WorldTour ranks with the promise of reigniting American competitiveness in Europe.

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TIFOSI SLEDGE SERIES

With a perpetual focus on affordability and style Georgia-based Tifosi most recently designed a semi-rimless nylon frame intended to increase visibility without compromise. At 35 grams the Sledge Lite lives up to its name and Tifosi’s renowned total value package with the 3 lenses included in the glasses case. Four color options allow for a wide array of personalization when matched with the proper lens.

Tifosi’s original Sledge shades offer an over-sized, wide lens aesthetic with a full nylon-based-rim. Three lens options are available with well-placed vent to minimize overheating while preventing fogging and sweat smears.

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A CHAOTIC GIRO D’ITALIA STAGE 5 FINALE

Caleb Ewan won the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday in a sprint finish as Italy’s Alessandro De Marchi kept hold of the overall lead. Lotto rider Ewan overtook Giacomo Nizzolo to triumph in the final metres of a flat, initially uneventful stage that was suddenly hit by crashes as the race came to its climax in Cattolica on the Adriatic coast. Elia Viviani and Peter Sagan followed behind in a bunch finish

“The goal to start with was one win. I’ve done that and I’m pretty hungry to win as much as I can,” said Ewan.

“This is good confidence for the team and myself going forward and we’ll give the next few sprint stages a good shot as well.”

The most notable of the crash victims was Spaniard Mikel Landa, considered one of the potential contenders for overall victory, who fell heavily in the last 3 miles of the 116 miles ride from Modena. He was stretchered off the road by a medical team after colliding into Tuesday’s stage winner Joe Dombrowski, who fell into the peloton after hitting a traffic island.

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BIKE TEST: ORBEA GAIN M20i

For some cyclists, sometimes looking good on their bike is just as important as riding well on it. And, if the Orbea Gain M20i test bike is any indication, it’s obvious that Orbea seems to understand that quite well.

Clearly, Orbea is staying true to their legacy of designing eye-catching bikes, and here they’ve created another work of art with the Gain e-road bike. Orbea took many details into account when heading to the drawing board on the latest version of their e-road machine. If not for the e-factor alone, it’s at least worth taking note of the level of design and craftsmanship that the Spanish company has put on display.

THE BIKE

The Gain M20i starts off with a nicely styled monocoque carbon frame with integrated cables and a carbon fork that is flat-mount disc-ready and aerodynamically integrated into the downtube. The fork will allow for a maximum size of 40mm tires. Orbea is one of a handful of companies who (with an upcharge) allow you to choose your own personal color and component build through their Design Your Bike personalization program. This can be done through their elaborate candy-store-like Design Your Bike feature on their website. The full $6000 Ultegra build is just over 27 pounds.

READ THE FULL TEST

 

BIKE OF THE WEEK: EDDY MERCKX 525

If you don’t know the name, you should, and for 2021 the brand that bears the name of the “GOAT” has a new version of the 525 available with Shimano Ultegra, Dura-Ace and Campagnolo model options. Prices range from $7800 all the way to over $11,000 depending on the build. Best of all they offer the MyMerckx custom builder where you can make your unique bike all your own.

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OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES RULES: No purchase necessary. To enter the sweepstakes, complete the survey or hand-print, in block letters, the words “Road Bike Action,” your name, address, daytime phone number and age on a standard USPS postcard. Mail to Road Bike Action Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 957, Valencia, CA 91380-9057. Enter as often as you like, but each entry must be mailed separately and received no later than June 14, 2021. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by the official rules. No mechanically reproduced entries will be accepted. Sponsors not responsible for lost, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage-due, misdirected or delayed entries. All entries become the property of Hi-Torque Publications, Inc. None can be acknowledged or returned. The winner will be determined in a random drawing to be held June 21, 2021. Winner will be notified by mail no later than August 27, 2021. Sweepstakes limited to continental U.S. and Canadian residents age 18 or older as of June 21, 2021. Judges’ decisions will be final. The odds of winning will be determined by the number of entries received. Sweepstakes subject to local, state and federal laws and is void where prohibited. It is the sole responsibility of the winner(s) to pay any/all setup/preparation/shipping charges, taxes, license and registration fees. A substitute prize may be given; no cash equivalent will be paid. All winners must execute separate statements of eligibility, publicity and a liability release form for Hi-Torque and Canyon Bicycles. In accepting a prize, the winner grants Hi-Torque Inc. and Canyon Bicycles the right to publicize and promote his/her photograph and name. Employees of Hi-Torque and Canyon Bicycles and their families are not eligible for the sweepstakes.