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First Ride Review: Introducing Shimano GRX Mechanical 12-Speed Components

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First Ride Review: Introducing Shimano GRX Mechanical 12-Speed Components

Today, Shimano released the long-awaited mechanical 12-speed versions of their popular GRX gravel-focused drivetrain. With three 12-speed varieties to choose from (two 1x configurations and one 2x) and a list of desirable accouterments (optional dropper lever, interchangeable derailleur cages, refined wheelsets, updated ergonomics, and more), Shimano is covering a lot of ground in this new generation of gravel components. Josh recently had a chance to click through and pedal the wide range GRX RX820 groupset and, below, details the full product launch along with his first ride review…

A Last Minute Chance: Win this Argonaut Cycles and Chris King Fundraising Raffle for Maui

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A Last Minute Chance: Win this Argonaut Cycles and Chris King Fundraising Raffle for Maui

We interrupt your Friday evening with a special announcement from our friends at Chris King and Argonaut Cycles:

“WIN this bike! Help the communities of Maui devastated by recent wildfires by entering this raffle to win this custom @argonautcycles RM3. It’s a truly one-of-a-kind bike, painted to match our Splash LE component color. The winner will also receive a color-matched @brooksengland C15 Carved saddle, and a really special Network MIPS helmet from our friends @smithoptics (there’s only one of these!).

Here’s the link to the raffle tickets.

All proceeds will go directly to the Hawaii Community Foundation. Winner will be drawn at the @made.bike happy hour tomorrow night(Saturday, 8/26, 9pm) must be present to win. Don’t miss your chance to win this unique build!

Come down to the MADE show to see it in person at the Chris King booth.”

The Hero We Need: A microSHIFT Sword 1x Drivetrain Review

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The Hero We Need: A microSHIFT Sword 1x Drivetrain Review

MicroSHIFT’s new Sword group came into Travis Engel’s life at the perfect moment. He had been noticing that his Ratio-12-speed-converted SRAM Force shift quality would degrade quickly, as the cable housing wore and friction increased. It’s a sad side-effect of the Ratio conversion’s decreased cable pull per-shift. Also, the hydraulic brakes had too much dead stroke for Travis’ discerning index fingers. He was looking for something new. That’s when, like the sexy stranger disrupting a rom-com protagonist’s unhappy European vacation, microSHIFT Sword bumped into Travis with a very timely meet-cute.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink: Redshift Sports Comfort Components Review Roundup

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Everything and the Kitchen Sink: Redshift Sports Comfort Components Review Roundup

Founded in 2013 by a group of mechanical engineers with a bad cycling habit (or, maybe the other way around?), Redshift Sports specializes in designing and manufacturing component systems to increase speed and comfort on the bike. In this review round-up, Hailey Moore assesses a handful of Redshift’s products—the Quick-Release Aerobars, Shocktop Pro Suspension Seatpost, Cruise Control Drop Bar Grips, and the Kitchen Sink Handlebar—and how they might benefit road and gravel-oriented riders as part of Redshift’s intended systems, or as standalone additions to any all-road setup.

AhHa Toaster Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bike Rack Review

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AhHa Toaster Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bike Rack Review

Keeping your bikes organized in your home, apartment, office, or while on the road usually requires many different solutions. Wall hooks, ceiling-suspended racks, and cheap stands from eBay or Amazon certainly do the trick, but I’ve never seen something as well designed as the AhHa Toaster for all the above bike storage solutions.

This unique bike rack folds from flat into a sturdy, secure 5-bike rack, designed to fit up to 2.6″ tires, and still fold down to be tucked away under a bed, behind a desk, or even in the trunk of your car, your van, or road-trip mobile.

Last week I took delivery of the AhHa Toaster and immediately put it to use in my home office where I stash my vintage bikes, so let’s check it out in detail below.

Ride. Reuse. Recycle: GREPP Gripper Bar Tape Review

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Ride. Reuse. Recycle: GREPP Gripper Bar Tape Review

Gripper Bar Tape, produced by the good folks at GREPP, is an adhesive-free, durable, and washable handlebar tape. Based in Sweden, GREPP founders Jan and Thomas initially set out to produce a milled cotton cloth tape (like many other classics in the market) but very quickly found that with the use of innovative new materials, they had an opportunity to produce a much more sustainable, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly product for the market.

Continue reading Sam and Bec‘s thorough long-term review of this innovative bar tape…