Guides · 2026.07.30
Cycling Gloves and Socks: Small Items, Large Comfort
Hands and feet take the brunt of road buzz, sweat, and crashes. Picking the right gloves and socks is cheap insurance.
Read story →INDEPENDENT CYCLING JOURNAL
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FIT FIRST.
Guides · 2026.07.12
Your First Road Bike: A Practical Buyer's Guide
Fit, riding type, and frame geometry matter far more than the groupset on the spec sheet. Here's how to choose a first road bike you'll actually keep riding.
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Gear
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News · 2026.07.30
2026 Cycling Season Review: The Year Pogačar Made History
A look back at the 2026 professional cycling season — Tadej Pogačar's fourth Tour, the spring Classics, the Monument winners, the breakthroughs, and the storylines that defined the year.
Read story →News · 2026.07.30
Pogačar vs Vingegaard: Cycling's Defining Rivalry of the 2020s
Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have traded Tour de France blows since 2022 — the defining rivalry of the current era. How they match up, how each won their Tours, and why the 2026 chapter confirmed Pogačar's edge.
Read story →News · 2026.07.30
The Rise of Women's Professional Cycling in 2026
Women's professional cycling is in a golden era — equal-status Monument editions, growing prize money, live broadcast of every major race, and stars like Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky, and Marianne Vos. How the women's peloton caught up and what comes next.
Read story →News · 2026.07.30
Cycling Technology Trends 2026: What's Changing in Bikes and Gear
From the hookless wheel revolution to the electronic-everything present, what's new in cycling technology for 2026 — and which trends actually matter for regular riders vs which are marketing hype.
Read story →News · 2026.07.30
Cycling Infrastructure and Safety: How Cities Are Becoming Bike-Friendly
The global trend toward protected bike lanes, lower speed limits, and cycling-first urban planning is making cities safer and more rideable. Which cities lead, what infrastructure actually works, and what cyclists can advocate for.
Read story →Racing · 2026.07.30
Tour de France: The Complete Guide to Cycling's Greatest Race
Everything you need to understand the Tour de France — 21 stages over 3 weeks in July, the yellow jersey, the mountains, the tactics, and the history. The race that defines professional cycling.
Read story →Racing · 2026.07.30
Tour de France Tactics: How a Team Wins the Yellow Jersey
Winning the Tour isn't just about the strongest rider — it's about the strongest team executing a 3-week strategy. Domestiques, mountain trains, breakaways, and the chess match that decides who wears yellow in Paris.
Read story →Racing · 2026.07.30
How to Watch the Tour de France: A Spectator's Guide
The Tour is 3 weeks of daily racing — but you don't need to watch all 80+ hours. Which stages to watch, how to follow the GC battle, where to stream, and how to enjoy the Tour without it taking over your life.
Read story →Guides · 2026.07.29
Base Layer Cycling Guide: Merino vs Synthetic, and Why You Need Both
The layer against your skin does more for comfort than the jersey over it. Weight and material decide the climate.
Read story →Data · 2026.07.29
Altitude Training for Cyclists: Does It Work and How to Do It
Altitude training is the secret weapon of the pro peloton — more red blood cells, more oxygen-carrying capacity, more power at sea level. The science, the protocols (live high/train low), and whether it's worth it for amateur cyclists.
Read story →Guides · 2026.07.29
Saddle Sores: Causes, Prevention, and How to Heal the Cyclist's Curse
Saddle sores end rides, races, and seasons. What causes them (friction + pressure + bacteria), the prevention protocol (chamois cream, clean kit, saddle choice), and how to heal when you already have one.
Read story →WHY JULIAN RIDES
"Not chasing every new release — only the things that genuinely change the ride."
Independent judgement · Real experience · Long-term thinking