Reader Cody asked, “have you ever written a post on how you would approach budgeting purchases from an enthusiast’s standpoint?” This is it.
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Guides
THE BEST ONLINE BIKE STORE RANKINGS
Here are my rankings of nearly 100 online bike stores I track and rate based on their prices, selection, customer satisfaction, and support.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BIKE WHEELS FOR YOU
I’ve ridden and compared more than 100 road and gravel bike wheelsets in recent years. In addition to rating and reviewing each wheel’s performance, I’ve
CHAIN WAX – FASTER, BETTER, CHEAPER WAYS
You can now chain wax faster than ever before with measurably better results and at a quantifiably lower cost than using an oil lube.
Wheelsets
THE BEST GRAVEL WHEELS
Gravel bike wheels are bred for riding dirt and gravel roads in ways that most road wheels can’t match on mixed and off-road surfaces.
THE BEST VALUE CARBON WHEELSET
Looking for the best value carbon wheelset selling between US$900 and $1500? Here are my price and performance ratings and reviews.
THE BEST CARBON ROAD BIKE WHEELS
I’ll tell you which are the best carbon road bike wheels of the many we’ve tested for different types of riding at three price tiers.
THE BEST AERO BIKE WHEELS
Aero bike wheels look, ride, and race fast. Here’s my review of the best aero wheelsets for flat and rolling riding, road racing, and crits.
THE BEST ALL AROUND CARBON DISC WHEELSET
Our reviews and ratings of the best all-around carbon disc wheelsets for riding a wide range of road terrain and racing disciplines
THE BEST ALL ROAD WHEELS
What if you could ride one set of “all road” wheels that performed as well as the best road and gravel wheels and save money?
Tires
THE BEST TUBELESS BIKE TIRES
If you want the best tubeless tires for your road bike, there’s a lot to consider. I’ve reviewed what matters most and rated the top tires.
HOW WIDE WHEELS AND WIDE TIRES CAN MAKE YOU FASTER
Wide wheels and wide tires can help you ride faster when you choose and set them up in the right combination for how and what your ride.
BEST ALL-SEASON BIKE TIRES
Read how I rated three all-season bike tires sold by companies whose top tubeless racing and training tires are among the best.
THE BEST GRAVEL TIRES
Picking the best gravel bike tires for the surfaces you’re riding can be the difference between a fast, confident ride and a slow, shaky slog
Bikes
New Cervelo Aspero – A $4K Gravel Race Bike
Conor and I discuss our experience riding and racing the newest, $4,000 model Cervelo Aspero, what we like and don’t, and who it’s best for.
TREK MADONE SL 7 GEN 8 – FAST AT HALF THE PRICE?
Does the $6,500 Trek Madone SL7 Gen 8 at half the price of the top-of-the-line SLR 9 perform well enough for an aero or endurance bike rider?
CERVELO SOLOIST – YOU DON’T NEED A $10K BIKE
The 2024 Cervelo Soloist proves you don’t need to spend US$10,000 to $15,000 to win at the highest amateur road racing levels.
LIV DEVOTE ADVANCED PRO GRAVEL
Is the Liv Devote the right gravel bike for an accomplished roadie and experienced mountain biker new to riding gravel?
Apparel, Shoes, Helmets, Glasses
THE BEST ROAD CYCLING SHOES
If you are a serious roadie, riding one of the best road cycling shoes is worth the added performance and enjoyment they can give you.
THE NEXT BEST ROAD BIKE SHOES
See how the next best, 40% less expensive road bike shoes from Shimano, Specialized, and Trek compare to their best models and to each other.
BEST CYCLING BIB SHORTS
A good pair of cycling bib shorts is key to a great day on the bike. Here are my reviews of the best ones for 2+ hour rides from known brands.
THE BEST AERO HELMET FOR ROAD CYCLISTS
A well-fitting aero helmet for roadies can not only keep our heads safe, comfortable, and looking good, but it can also help us go faster.
Drivetrain & Cockpit Components
SRAM RED AXS – SHOULD AN ENTHUSIAST BUY IT?
Would Nate, one of my fastest fellow enthusiasts and testers buy the SRAM Red AXS groupset? Watch the video in this review to see.
BEST ROAD BIKE PEDALS
While road bike pedals may not be sexy or expensive, they are vitally important to your performance, comfort, and safety out on the road.
SRAM FORCE AXS – WHAT I LIKE AND DON’T LIKE ABOUT IT
After riding the SRAM Force Group AXS for months, there are a lot of things I liked about it, and a few things I didn’t. Watch my review.
3D-PRINTED SADDLES AND THE SEARCH FOR COMFORT
Are 3D-printed saddles the way to get better comfort for your butt and improved performance from your unique anatomy?
Electronics
THE BEST POWER METER
Choosing the best power meter is now easier than ever. Prices have stabilized, performance has equalized, and options have normalized.
THE BEST BIKE COMPUTER
Which is the best bike computer? I rate the Garmin Edge 840, Hammerhead Karoo 2, and Wahoo Roam V2 against what matters most.
Nutrition
ENTHUSIAST’S GUIDE TO CYCLING NUTRITION
Cycling nutrition practices have changed a lot in this decade. I’ll tell you which ones enthusiasts should follow to get the best performance
BEST CYCLING NUTRITION MIXES, GELS, CHEWS AND BARS
After testing a range of cycling nutrition products, we chose the best drink mixes, gels, chews, and bars for different types of rides.