Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2026 i Bicycling

This special issue showcases the year’s must-have new bikes and gear, gives you exclusive training advice and workouts to crush your fitness goals, and offers tons of knowledge and inspiration that will help you get more joy out of every ride. On every page, our gear testers, coaches, storytellers, and trainers share their expertise, experiences, and perspectives on cycling with you. They bring you exclusive first-ride reports on the ridiculous (and ridiculously fast) 32-inch wheel size (yes, it’s happening!), their honest takes on why everyone should ride with a cycling radar, and five good reasons every cyclist needs a set of kettlebells. Plus: Why a trip to Montreal this fall could be the ultimate cyclist getaway, and the most groundbreaking aero, road race, and gravel bikes we tested all year.…

AT FIRST GLANCE LANCE, the ONE looks like an all-out exercise in shaping a bicycle frame for optimum aerodynamics. The wide-stance fork, the massively deep and narrow head tube, and the forward-projecting “chin” fairing make the ONE visually confrontational in a way that few modern road bikes are—you can’t not see what its designers intended. So it’s tempting to assume that Factor’s approach to aerodynamics with the ONE begins and ends in the wind tunnel, with engineers sculpting, shaping, and shifting around carbon to gain watt-savings from the frame. But after spending real time riding the ONE, I came to understand that the most important and impressive aerodynamic adaptations on this bike just might be in how the ONE fits the rider. For years, the aero conversation has largely treated…

ON A LUNCH-TIME RIDE IN EARLY JUNE, a driver passed me entirely too close. I was riding on a road I’ve been on dozens of times, and my wheels were at the edge of the asphalt. Still, the truck passed at what felt like double the posted 25mph speed limit and only millimeters off my left shoulder—certainly well within the four-foot distance mandated by New Jersey law. Like many other cyclists, I’ve been buzzed by my fair share of drivers, and I’ve been struck three times. Luckily, I escaped those incidents without major injuries. Tragically, many cyclists are not so fortunate. According to data published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the League of American Bicyclists, more than 1,150 cyclists died from crashes with motor vehicles on U.S.…

Ready to boost your speed and power, gain endurance, and reduce your risk of injury? It’s time to put in the work off the bike. Our Guide to Strength Training gives you all the tools you need to embrace your journey toward riding stronger, including four follow-along workouts that simplify strength training. Whether you’re a newcomer to the roads or a veteran rider, you’ll discover how to seamlessly fit cycling-specific strength work into your routine, unlocking faster, longer, and fatigue-free rides. Century season is finally upon us–which means it’s time for you to finally check that riding goal off your bucket list. Conquer 100 miles with us by utilizing our How to Master the Century program, packed with expert tips and training plans that make building your endurance and strength…

MATT PHILLIPS SENIOR TEST EDITOR THE VETERAN GEAR GURU Matt Phillips has spent three decades testing and reviewing cycling gear and bikes. He possesses an uncanny ability to remember the smallest tech details and measurements of thousands of new and old products. Over these years, he’s ridden and evaluated more bikes than anyone, ever. IN THIS ISSUE, I explain the trend toward larger, 32-inch wheels on mountain and gravel bikes. I was the first journalist to test a prototype of Cannondale’s forthcoming 32-inch XC race bikes and was impressed. Bikes with the new, larger wheel size are going to be fast and wild, and I can’t wait to see what the industry comes up with to meet the needs of this emerging category (page 66). I also continue my deep…

LIKE MOST CYCLISTS, I HOPE TO SOMEDAY WATCH the Tour de France in person, but it’ll have to wait. My big cycling trip this year is all about Montreal. This fall the city will host the UCI Road World Championships (September 20–27, 2026), the first time the race for the rainbow jersey has been in North America in over a decade. Whether or not you follow pro racing, Worlds is a must-see. There are 13 programs on the schedule, with a mix of men, women, and juniors competing in time trials and road races. The most anticipated events, the elite road races for men and women, happen at the end. But all the events share the same DNA: one race, one shot to wear the stripes for a full year. For…

FOR THE PAST DECADE, MARGINAL GAINS HAVE BEEN cycling’s favorite performance mantra. Shave a watt here, save a second there, and eventually it adds up to significant gains in speed. It’s an appealing concept. But when it comes to aerodynamics, marginal gains have been flattened into a buying decision, one that often assumes speed can be purchased in isolation, with no downsides or consequences. The reality is that, for most riders, how aero equipment is applied matters more than simply using it. For instance, in the last few years brands have turned to one-piece handlebar-stem combos to squeeze a few more watts out of their bikes in the wind tunnel. But this component can substantially impact your bike fit. If the upgrade compromises your position, it can wipe out all the…