Fórum Solving The Dreaded Creaking Bottom Bracket Issue

There’s a big difference between being impressed by a bike on your first ride and still being impressed after you’ve spent serious time riding it. When I first built the Evolve CIMA, I was impressed by almost everything. The finish was excellent, the build process was surprisingly straightforward and the numbers looked very promising. A claimed 650g frame, a lightweight fork and a complete bike that tipped the scales at just 7.14kg made for an impressive package. After swapping the Ultegra crankset for Magene’s carbon TEO P515 power meter and making a few other changes, I managed to get the build under 6.9kg. But lightweight numbers and a good-looking frame only tell part of the story. After many hours aboard the CIMA, I can now say with considerably more confidence that this isn’t simply a lightweight frameset offering good value for money. The CIMA is a genuinely excellent road bike. In fact, the more time I spend on it, the harder it becomes to identify where it gives away meaningful ground to some of the big-name race bikes I’ve ridden over the years – bikes costing several times what this complete build does. Fast, responsive and confidence-inspiring The CIMA feels like a proper performance road bike from the first ride. The position is fairly aggressive, but I found it easy enough to settle into once I had the fit dialled in. It feels like a bike built to be ridden hard, rather than a race bike that’s uncomfortable unless you’re racing. What I really like is how quickly

Planning a cycling trip is usually pretty straightforward: pick a route, work out where to stay and make sure you’ve packed enough tubes. But finding somewhere secure to leave the bike, a decent café for that post-ride coffee, or a shop that can sort a mechanical if things go pear-shaped can take a little more research. That’s where the newly launched Ride High Country Preferred program comes in. Designed to make travelling with your bike easier, Ride High Country Preferred brings together a network of cycling-friendly businesses across Victoria’s High Country. Look for the Ride High Country Preferred logo and you’ll know you’re dealing with a business that understands cyclists and what they need before, during and after a ride. The program covers five key categories, starting with Cycle-Friendly Stays . These accommodation providers offer guaranteed secure bike storage, along with extras such as bike wash facilities, e-bike charging, laundry and recovery equipment, depending on the property. Image: Ride high Country Image: Ride High Country Then there are the Eat & Drink businesses , where the welcome starts before you even step inside. You’ll find secure bike parking, complimentary water refills and a bicycle pump, along with plenty of local food, wine and beer. In other words, you can roll in, park the bike and get on with the important business of refuelling. Image: Ride High Country Image: Ride High Country If you do need a little more than a coffee, the Bike Hire, Servi

Elite road racing will return to the nation’s capital in 2027, with the Tour of Canberra confirmed as a round of the Hertz ProVelo Super League . The event will form Round 4 of the 2027 season from February 26-28, replacing the Harbour City GP, which remains under consideration for future seasons. The three-day Tour will feature Elite Men’s and Women’s racing, along with PSL17 categories, across four stages: Stage 1: Time Trial, Friday morning Stage 2: Twilight Criterium, Friday Stage 3: Circuit Race, Saturday Stage 4: Queen Stage Road Race, Sunday The Canberra Cycling Club first staged the Canberra Tour in 1983, with the event going on to become one of the better-known races on the Australian domestic calendar before elite racing moved away from the capital. Canberra has also played a role in developing riders including Michael Matthews , Mat Hayman, Jay Vine, Chloe Hosking, Michael Rogers and Gracie Elvin. Canberra-raised Hayman, who won Paris-Roubaix in 2016 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games road race, welcomed the return. “Having grown up racing and spending the early part of my career in Canberra, it’s exciting to see racing returning there,” Hayman said. “We always looked forward to the Canberra Two-Day Tour, and the Commonwealth Bank race used to finish in Canberra also, so it’s great to see high level racing back in the ACT.” Hertz PSL co-founder Aaron Flanagan said there had been growing demand for the Tour’s return since the league launched in 2025. “We are thrilled t

Have you ever returned to your bike outside a cafe to find a mysterious fresh scratch on the frame? Or carefully packed it into the car for a road trip, only to discover later that it had been rubbing against something for hours? Or been ripping into a race, only to have a touch of wheels three bikes in front of you cause a domino effect, leaving your bike interlocked with the one next to you? No? Maybe it’s just me… For the last two scenarios above, I had my bike wrapped with RideWrap, which helpfully took the brunt of the damage, protecting my less-than-12-month-old frame. RideWrap is a protective film that can be applied to your frame, cranks, fork and wheels, putting a layer between your investment and the nefarious elements out there trying their darndest to damage it. The concept is relatively simple: put a clear sacrificial layer on that can be replaced if damaged, while also making your bike easier to clean. Image: Luke Meers Image: Luke Meers RideWrap has developed its proprietary LotusPro film. This is pretty cool; it is made from at least 77% landfill-diverted recycled materials and is “superhydrophobic”. That’s right, it is very, very scared of water. Hydrophobic materials repel water, so in a bike context that means they should generally stay cleaner and be easier to clean when they do get dirty. Image: Luke Meers RideWrap is available in three coverage levels. Essential Protection covers around 30% of the frame, focusing on high-impact and wear-prone areas such

Trek has pulled the pin on IsoSpeed. For a decade it was the Domane’s calling card – the little decoupler at the seat tube junction that let the frame flex independently and soak up road buzz. Gen 5 ditches it entirely. That’s the headline, and it’s the thing every long-time Domane rider is going to ask about first. New 27.2mm seatpost adds another layer of compliance. A cleaner rear end, with IsoSpeed gone for Gen 5. The old system worked, but it added weight, complexity and real estate to do one job. Trek’s gone back to basics – a reworked 900-series OCLV carbon layup tuned to flex vertically, bigger-volume tyres (35mm standard, up to 40mm clearance), and a new round 27.2mm seatpost designed to absorb road chatter on its own. Three things doing what one used to do. The numbers are interesting: the SLR frameset is 305g lighter than Gen 4, while Trek claims vibrational comfort is within 5% of the old bike. On paper that’s a decent trade. On the road it’s better than that. Clean, streamlined frame design for Gen 5. First impressions The new Domane looks noticeably cleaner without the IsoSpeed hardware. There’s less going on around the seat tube and the overall frame has a simpler, more conventional appearance. My SLR 7 test bike weighed 7.66kg in ML with tubes, which is a respectable number for an endurance bike running 35mm tyres, disc brakes, electronic shifting and carbon wheels. The 35mm tyres are also a substantial change from the previous generation, and there’s clearanc

Just two years after receiving a life-saving heart transplant, 25-year-old Wollongong cyclist and coach Cameron Butcher is back racing, and this week he is competing at the 2026 Australian Transplant Games in Launceston. The 18th Australian Transplant Games are underway in Tasmania from 26 September to 3 October, bringing together hundreds of transplant recipients, living donors and donor families from across Australia. Competitors are taking part in 17 sports, including cycling, as the Games celebrate what is possible after transplantation while raising awareness of organ and tissue donation. For Butcher, simply being there represents a remarkable turnaround. A cycling coach and Exercise Science student, Butcher’s life changed dramatically in 2022 when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. His condition progressively deteriorated and, by the end of 2024, he was relying on a pacemaker and had endured seven defibrillator shocks. Image: Cameron butcher/Supplied Eventually, his health had declined to the point where he could no longer work, ride or exercise. Placed on the urgent organ transplant waiting list, Butcher received the news he had been hoping for just one week later. A donor heart had become available. Two years on, the transformation has been extraordinary. Butcher has returned to cycling and competitive sport, finishing second at the 2025 Road Nationals in Perth and winning his age category at The Willo, a 60km mountain bike ra

Michael Matthews has claimed his fourth elite men’s road race World Championships medal, taking silver in Montréal as American Brandon McNulty produced a stunning solo victory. Matthews finished 13 seconds behind McNulty after the American launched his decisive attack with around 32km remaining and held off the chasing group to claim the rainbow jersey. Mathieu van der Poel took bronze. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UCI (@uci_cycling) For Matthews, the result adds another medal to an already remarkable World Championships record. The 35-year-old previously claimed silver in Richmond in 2015, before taking bronze in Bergen in 2017 and again on home soil in Wollongong in 2022. Matthews was one of the riders left in contention as the race entered its decisive stages on the demanding Montréal course. With the peloton progressively reduced by the repeated climbs, the Australian’s ability to survive the tough terrain while retaining his finishing speed once again made him a major factor in the finale. McNulty, however, changed the complexion of the race with his late attack, breaking clear from the leading group with around 32km to race and quickly establishing a significant advantage. While the riders behind attempted to organise a chase, McNulty continued to extend his lead. Image: Craig Render/AusCycling There was a moment of hope for the chasers when McNulty’s advantage came down on the final circuits, but the 28-year-old held his nerve to complete the solo ride

There had been plenty of speculation in recent months, and now it’s official. The latest UCI Congress in Montreal has confirmed the 2032 UCI Road World Championships will be held in Pune, India – which of course is a rather big deal in more ways than one. Pune sensationally beat off a rival bid from the far more cycling-oriented Dutch regions of Groningen and Drenthe who were instead awarded the 2034 event. In announcing the decision UCI president David Lappartient diplomatically described both bids as ‘very, very solid’ in an understandable retort to the eye rolling of cycling traditionalists everywhere. But back to India. As every Australian knows, the world’s most populous country is famous for its love of cricket, not bikes. This isn’t just anecdotal. The nation of 1.48 billion has never produced a WorldTour rider, male or female. The closest it has come to the Tour de France is 19-year-old Harshita Jakhar, one of eight riders from the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme who appeared at the ceremonial start of Stage 2 of this year’s Tour de France Femmes in Aigle, Switzerland, home of the UCI no less. Jakhar is no mug, she rode the junior women’s time trial (39th) and road race (56th) events at last year’s Worlds Championships in Rwanda, but she’s absent in Montreal. In the men, 40-year-old Naveen John is the only Indian to have even been listed on a UCI Continental team (State of Matter/MAAP here in Australia back in 2016 if you’re wondering). He still leads India’s natio

The Bowral Classic is turning 10, and the milestone celebration is set to be bigger than ever, with a huge weekend of riding, local experiences and more than $9,800 worth of prizes up for grabs at the 2026 event. To mark a decade of The Classics , registered riders will have the chance to win one of 10 prizes worth more than $9,800, with the giveaway taking place at the Bowral Classic Event Village at Loseby Park from 2pm on Saturday 17 October. The prize pool includes some serious cycling prizes, including a Cervélo Soloist Bike Frame valued at $5,900, a JetBlack Victory Smart Trainer plus six months of Zwift, and a custom cycling kit from Bowy Active. Image: Bowral Classic But it’s not all about the bike. The giveaway also shines the spotlight on some of the Southern Highlands’ local businesses and experiences, giving riders even more reason to explore beyond the Event Village. From a cocktail class for four at MillSheds Distillery & Bar in Bowral and a $500 Lucette Bistro voucher thanks to Duncan Hill Property, to a Bendooley Estate voucher and a Bowral Eats Prize Pack featuring start-line favourite Janeks, there’s plenty on offer. For riders travelling from Sydney, Canberra and beyond, the Bowral Classic is an opportunity to turn a day on the bike into a full Southern Highlands getaway. With the Event Village running across Saturday and Sunday, visitors can arrive early, explore Bowral, discover local cafés, restaurants and cellar doors, and soak up the atmosphere before

Australian sprinter Kaden Groves will join Tudor Pro Cycling from 2027, leaving Alpecin-Premier Tech after four seasons. The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Swiss ProTeam, keeping him at Tudor through to the end of 2029. Groves has established himself as one of the world’s leading sprinters, with 21 professional victories and stage wins at all three Grand Tours. He has been particularly successful at the Vuelta a España, where he has won seven stages. The Sunshine Coast rider’s move comes as Tudor continues to build its roster and target bigger results on the WorldTour. Groves said returning to the Tour de France to compete for stage wins and the green jersey will be a major goal with his new team. “I’ve followed Tudor Pro Cycling for several years and have seen their impressive growth and development,” Groves said. “I’m thrilled to join the Tudor Pro Cycling family and contribute to the next big goals. Continuing the upward momentum is our primary goal. Personally, I’m eager to take the next step in my career – returning to the Tour de France to fight for stage wins and the green jersey is at the top of my list.” Groves turned professional in 2020 after switching from motocross to cycling following an injury. He has since become a regular Grand Tour stage contender and one of Australia’s most successful active road sprinters. Tudor CEO and co-owner Raphael Meyer said Groves would add firepower across more than just traditional bunch sprints. “Kaden brin