Imagine this: you’re all set on spinning an epic tale, but nothing happens. Or you’re counting on your GPS, and it completely lets you down. Or you’ve flown all the way from Los Angeles to Stuttgart for an exclusive five-hour test ride, only to pull out halfway through with cramps. A nightmare? Not at all. This is where life truly begins.
No doubt about it – when you’ve honed every pedal stroke for the Tour de France and things go sideways, the frustration is real.. You had your sights set on a massive goal, gave it your all, and then the brutal realisation hits you: all that effort, and for what? Was it all for nothing?
Sure, most of us aren’t riding the Tour de France. But what about goals? We all have them. Big ones, small ones, crazy and even secret ones. And that’s a good thing. Goals give us direction. They get us moving. And they show us what really matters – even if, along the way, we change course, ease off the pace or end up somewhere completely different to where we’d planned.
But goals can also get in the way. Especially when they take centre stage and make us forget about life itself – whether it’s at work, with our favourite sport, in relationships or with that one dream bike we’d do anything to get our hands on. So why do they get in the way? Because too many of us want the results, but hate the process. And if we keep pushing our happiness and satisfaction into the future, always tying them to the next big goal, then we’re no better than a donkey chasing the carrot that’s dangled in front of its nose. But if we can learn to enjoy the ride, to embrace the process, then it doesn’t really matter where we end up. And that’s exactly how it was with this issue.
One of our biggest highlights this season was the grand finale for the Rari Racing Team: ten selected readers from around the world – USA, Spain, Iceland, the Netherlands and Germany – joined us to test the winning bike from our big race bike group test: the BMC Teammachine R01. But that was just the start. Alongside the folks from BMC in Switzerland – the team behind the bike – our readers stepped into two new roles. First up, they became product managers, tasked with designing their own bike. Then they turned into journalists, challenged to find the story they’d tell about the event. Because every story is about perspective. What we notice, what we focus on, and how we interpret what’s happening – all of that shapes how a story lands. Whether it moves you, inspires you or just falls flat.
Efficiency, acceleration, handling, comfort, grip, puncture protection – even aero gains. One wear-and-tear part on your bike affects all of the above. More speed per euro? That’s rare. We put 13 of the most exciting high-end road bike tires through their paces, both out on the road and in the lab. Which tire is the best? And the fastest? And what are the 7 key takeaways? Read our comparison test to find out.
Speaking of which: every great tire needs a great wheel to match. So we went straight to the Tour de France, joining Team Lotto and Basque wheel manufacturer OQUO for the Grand Départ. The catch? Great wheels don’t exactly make for gripping stories. But don’t worry – this one’s well worth a read.
When was the last time you got completely lost? Or cursed your bike computer? We’ve tested the three hottest top-tier models from Garmin, Wahoo and Hammerhead in a head-to-head showdown. And honestly, it was one of the most nerve-racking group tests we’ve done in ages. Some devices arrived still in beta mode, and constant software updates meant features and performance changed throughout testing. But each one still had its own character. So – what are they actually capable of, and which one suits your needs best? Which features really make a difference, and what’s just overpriced fluff?
When everything’s always within reach, sometimes we need to practise going without. Or put limits on ourselves. Just like ultra cyclist Jack Thompson, who decided to ditch modern tech and ride his own version of the 1903 Tour de France – with just two gears.
Maybe it’s not about the perfect outcome. Not about the most miles, the deepest reserves or the fastest bike. Maybe it’s about how the journey feels. What we learn when things go sideways. How we grow when we let go. And our new mate Dan from LA? Despite the cramps, he had an incredible time – because if the finish line isn’t what it’s all about, but the experience is, then you get the best of both worlds.
With that in mind – enjoy this issue and whatever goals you’re chasing next. Wherever they take you.
Enjoy the mix of articles that have made it into this issue, and grab yourself some inspiration! Get the latest issue directly on your device if you already have our app. Otherwise, simply install it from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or the Play Store (Android Smartphones & Tablets).
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Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: various
