The Journal

What's actually worth spending money on, what's mostly marketing, and when the cheap stuff is genuinely fine.

Millions of people are quietly struggling with isolation. It turns out the answer might be two wheels and a willing group of strangers.

In the world of cycling, performance and camaraderie go hand in hand. While training, strategy, and equipment are essential for success, there’s one often-overlooked element that plays a crucial role in creating a cohesive team: custom cycling kits. 

Cyclists have their own lingo and language. Hopefully this list will help make sense of  it all. A aero: Slang for aerodynamic or streamlined. Anything that helps a cyclist combat wind. Aero devices include handlebars, bullet-shaped […]

Over the final two weekends of his 2024 cyclocross season, Colorado-based racer Sam Brown wrapped up his year with a string of gritty performances at the Pan American Championships, DCCX, and the long-awaited return of the Boulder Cup UCI weekend. 

It's 42°F outside, potential snow ahead and you've got 2 hours of climbing intervals ahead. What the heck do you wear?! This is probably one of the more popular questions one is thinking about pre-ride or asking fellow buddies and teammates.

While discrepancies between indoor and outdoor power may exist, they don't have to hinder your progress. By optimizing your indoor training environment, establishing reliable power data, and embracing the challenge, you can effectively utilize the trainer to build a strong foundation for the upcoming season.

Warmers are a great choice for any cyclist because they are compact and lightweight, making them easy to pack and carry, while also being extremely effective against chill.

Many people think that the pros don’t work on their handling skills but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Most professionals routinely do handling drills to keep their skills at the highest level.  Being comfortable and competent on your bicycle allows you to focus on making gains in training and in competition.

Base layers are one of those items you seen on cycling apparel sites, but you’ve probably never thought about buying one since you weren’t sure exactly when to use it or why.

Bighorn Gravel has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most demanding and rewarding gravel races in Colorado. 

Gravel isn’t just a surface. It’s a test—of strength, patience, resolve. At Unbound Gravel, North America’s most iconic gravel race, every mile writes its own story. And this year, Pactimo was proud to ride alongside the Mountain Pedaler/Dusty Boot Team as they added a powerful new chapter.

Riding in a pack can be intimidating, and even dangerous at times, but it’s an essential skill for racing and participating in large rides and events. There are good reasons for cyclists to ride in a peloton – efficiency chief among them. And if you’re racing, it’s a skill that is simply not optional.

People think it’s this magical thing that only lucky or skinny people can do. This is a misnomer. Anyone can climb. Anyone who likes to ride a bike, can ride up a hill.

Like any skill, the best way to become better at something is to really work on it. Ask someone that is good at descending to ride with you – follow that wheel while descending. You can learn a lot of things that way.

The primary purpose of cycling shorts is to provide comfort. Designed specifically for men and women, cycling shorts make sure that padding is in the right places and seams are strategically placed to reduce chaffing.

Wet roads present a whole host of possible dangers for cyclists. If you watched the Tour de France this year you’d have seen even the best bike handlers in the world crashing out in the rain.

Cyclists seem to always be fretting about their weight… Maybe it’s the skin tight clothing. Or, maybe it’s watching as a rider half your size bombs past on an intense mountain climb–as if you were standing still.

Founded in late 2019, the Cumberland Valley Collective (CVC) is a crew of veteran racers who believe the best part of cycling isn’t just competition—it’s community. While they still show up to throw down and crush some souls, they do it with style, purpose, and a whole lot of camaraderie.

Major Alexandra Benda flew Marine One, earned a U.S. gravel national title, and now leads innovation in defense tech—all while racing at the elite level. From global missions to off-road podiums, she brings purpose, grit, and performance to everything she does. This is what relentless looks like, on and off the bike.

Whether it’s a team ride, weekend bunch ride or race, we all fear getting dropped. It’s either slowly losing the wheel in front of you bit by bit or knowing that the moment the road turns up, you’ll be moving backwards until you’re riding on your own.