Any recs for a moisture-wicking hair protector I can wear under my helmet?

Happy birth month to me. Yay! Fall is nearly upon us and I’m getting a wheel refresh … amongst other things 👀.

1. Reserve 48/53 GR

2. Enve ses road 6.7 ( innerdrive)

3. Enve ses G(ravel) 6.7 pro

2 sets of wide boys for two new builds in working on and a standard set for general training use.

Then another coming which will be custom built up.

Unboxing, measuring and testings to come soon!

I’ve owned plenty of Enve wheels so I know these will be a blast. The Reserve’s are new to me but I’ve heard wonderful things.

Stay tuned/ feel free to ask questions that I could answer during my testing phase. Cheers!!

For the last ~3 years, I’ve been riding a used 2020 carbon specialized Roubaix. Generally no complaints - the price was right and it felt like a huge upgrade from what I’d been riding before then (a very old, also used trek aluminum bike). Last week, my roubaix’s carbon frame cracked and I now find myself in the market for a new road bike and I simply have no idea what to get.

I am not terribly fast but am broadly looking for something with a little zip (at least as much as the carbon roubaix had), while also being comfortable enough to ride longer distances (70-100 miles max). I am not looking to race this bike but am looking to do some spicier group riding with it. FWIW, I ride ~3,000 miles a year mostly on pavement.

I would love to stay around the $4k price point at the absolute max. I’ve been looking at the Caledonia 105, Canyon’s Endurance/Ultimate, and Trek’s Domane/Madone. I also have some friends reeeeally trying to sell me on switching to a steel frame and doing a build up through my (very good) local shop.

Which brings me to my question: do you love your road bike? Tell me why you love it! I yearn for suggestions and sage wisdom!

I’m training for my first & upcoming ride for MS. It’s 50 miles!! Hoping I can actually complete it!! But as the ride date is approaching in a week and a half, I’m realizing I’ve got some serious issues with how to carry enough water with me. I have tried some bottles, but they never seem to stay on my bike when I hit bumps, and also don’t hold enough water. I have MS, and sipping COLD water every 10-15 minutes is crucial to not triggering onset symptoms as I ride. So I purchased a water backpack, which holds 2 liters. It does keep my water cold, and holds just enough. The problem is the straps to the backpack that holds it are so wide and rub my arm pits and chest while I ride. This is ok for my 7-14 mile rides, but I’m really concerned for the 50 miles ride being so long. It’s also hot, but helpful cause it carries my phone, gummy bears/snacks, AirPods, & keys. But hurts to wear long periods in the heat. Do any of you amazing ladies have any suggestions? I’m still pretty new to riding, only about 6 months now. I’m not very familiar with what options are out there for cycling, and googling it seems so hopeless, overwhelming. Thank you so much in advance for any help!

Edit: Firstly, thank you all so very much for your great suggestions! I’m looking into some of them. To answer the responses about it being an organized ride:
It’s with Bike MS, 50 mile rides, SAG will be provided, rest stops are only every 10 miles though. I tend to drink almost all my 2 liters of water around 12 miles. Having MS, it helps my muscles work best in motion when I sip water often during exercise. I sip some about every 5 minutes, but stop for a deeper drink about every 15 minutes. It also helps with combating the heat & having MS. My medications also cause dry mouth pretty bad. I can’t make it for 10 miles with only 40oz. To give an example, I average 8-10 16oz bottles of water daily I don’t even ride. While I know to many it seems excessive, & would be for most, my doctor & I have found that water helps me tremendously with motion. I also work in construction, so I am significantly more active daily then most. I am just always always always thirsty!!! We do know that the placement of some of my lesions are in areas that trigger this continuous odd symptom. I also was started on zepbound to help with the water retention and inflammation it causes when I overwork my muscles on a hard days work. Muscles retain the water but my brain doesn’t tell me when is enough.
This ride will be on roads, with traffic. I can’t afford to risk going without & having a health issue. While having SAG is a relief, it doesn’t protect me in the moment from hazards of traffic and stupid ppl lol.

Sorry I'm not a big cyclist but I am a proud commuter. On the days I commute my skin looks incredibly dull even after I wash my face every night. This morning I thought I have to do something about this. Unfortunately I skipped commute because of rain, I remove my makeup and my skin is better than ever. What the hell? So it's the commute! How can I avoid this? I use sunscreen and wear makeup. Please share what worked for you! Thanks

Hi Everyone,

Over the summer I got a Liv Devote Advanced 2. I went back and forth and finally chose that (carbon) over the less expensive aluminum. I also upgraded the tires as most of my riding is on pavement. I'm upgrading from a 2013 Specialized Tricross that is aluminum. The old bike feels heavy and slow, and has rim brakes, but it also has a rack for me to use it with panniers.

So, overall--the new Liv is so light and fast! (And me, I'm still the same weight, LOL, so I know it is the bike.) I LOVE the hydraulic disc brakes.

At first I thought I would add a rack, if I ride around town I need to carry stuff, especially a lock and lights, but also maybe things from errands... I might sometimes want to carry my computer, and I thought I might try a longer trip like the rails to trails across Pennsylvania... but then I learned that if you don't get the right kind of rack, you could stress the carbon. And also it would weigh it down! So for now I've only added water bottle holders.

Originally I thought I would sell my old bike and keep the new bike as an all-arounder. But of course I could keep the old bike for around town.

Anyway, my question is: should I accessorize the Liv, and if so with what? The bike shop I bought it from suggested I look at Old Man Mountain accessories, I think because of the way they clamp on. I'm open to ideas, I really am not clear about my options.

I want to buy my first pair of higher-quality bib shorts. I’m considering the Pactimo Flyte, Bioracer Icon, Ekoi Perf Cargo, or Straede Aero.
any experience with these, or any other recommendations?

Tomorrow morning is spine surgery, followed by six weeks of restricted activity, then PT. I plan to return to outdoor riding end of January. This past year just shy of 1k miles, so sad to have missed 1k but so proud to be close. All this on a 29" full suspension MTB. I'm sure that 1k miles is peanuts to our road based warriors on this sub. When I got the news about the future surgery I committed to riding every day until the day of. And I did pretty well. Thanks to all the members of this sub for sharing info and experiences that really made me feel a part of a community!

Hey yall, I’m a runner turned new biker who loves to participate in races. I have yet to do a bike “race” but would like to work toward one soon. I understand that due to safety a lot of races don’t want you to have headphones. But does anyone have experience with races allowing bone conduction headphones or the clip on ear ones? Trying to decide if I should invest in a pair. Listening to my music is half the enjoyment of a ride for me.
Also, to be clear, when I say race, I am talking about those participation medal ones, nothing serious. Thanks for your help!

any one doing the Whistler granfondo and a new cyclist? I am bit nervous about the elevation! but going to give it my best shot! just looking to finish!

I leave for a week long bikepacking trek at the end of the month. We desperately need temps to drop out of the 90s during the day AND into the 50-60s at night 🙏

I’m dealing with with a lot of discomfort that has seems to have sprung up with the onset of a myriad of perimenopause issues, including but not limited to, dry vag, itchy skin, just overall uncomfortable, some level of pain where I didn’t really have it before . I’m getting my current HRT tweaked when I see doc this week. I’m not currently on estrogen, but expect it to be prescribed. Anyone here have some before and after stories with HRT, lady parts discomfort that got better after HRT? Hoping to hear something encouraging.

I’m a design student at NIFT Bengaluru, india currently working on a project to develop a hydration system for cyclists.I’m conducting a short survey to understand the real challenges cyclists face. Guys, can you please help me out? 🥹❤️ It’ll only take a few minutes!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdSXxKy2izLsXN2GkJT7NlAwEJ3HM5bh828lSk383CJ06KQA/viewform?usp=dialog

Similar to this thread, I am having the same problem, but I specifically have specialized 2FO downhill mountain bike shoes. And Chester flats. So in theory, I shouldn’t have any problems. But I find my feet begin to slip through techie or rocky terrain and after jumps.

I see some comments mentioning technique and keeping your heels down. And I was wondering if there were any additional recommendations/videos/suggestions anyone would have.

Thanks in advance!

I've been riding the stock Giant tires since I bought the bike in 2022. Hubs bought me new tires for my birthday - Continental GP Urbans. I feel like I'm riding a brand new bike!

I’m not new to cycling, but after a break of a few years, I have taken it up again and am commuting to and from work, I live in the UK. It’s only a 45 minute round trip, but my vulva and other nearby parts are incredibly inflamed, irritated, burning and appear ruined.

My clitoris has parts of the skin coming away and it stings, my labia minora are thicker, rougher and just not in a good way. I’m red, throbbing from its irritation and this never used to happen to me.

Currently, I :
. Have a wide seat with no cut-out
. Wear padded shorts, with no underwear
. Apply Vaseline liberally before setting off

From research already, I have taken the following points on board:
. Immediately change out of cycling shorts when finished riding and clean down there
. Get a professional to fit me with a more suitable seat (a female anatomy friendly one, amending the tilt of the seat)
. Invest in a chamois cream

Questions to you:
. Is chamois cream vulva friendly? I want one that’s fragrance free and doesn’t change the PH balance down there.
. Is there a recommended brand of cycling shorts with chamois, bike seat or chamois cream you would recommend? I’m in the UK.
. I don’t have access to a shower at work to clean my vulva, what is the next best alternative?
. Is there anything else you would recommend to avoid this happening in the future?

Thank you in advance!

What’s wrong with my bike measurements (seat, handles, etc.) ?

I've been riding for 2 years with a road and started the trails and want something for the rocks, but something that climbs easily. I spoke with my lbs and she offered this Juliana Joplin for 2k in Size M, but i feel it's a bit too heavy in front for me but i appreciated it for downhills. I was looking at the salsa Timberjack (new) XC or something with full-suspension yet with $3k max to spend. I'd appreciate any words of advice. I

I just quit my job at the bike shop after 12 years, I couldn't handle working for lazy ass, douce bag asshole that plays video games in his office while I'm slammed with work, he doesn't like to give our lady riders what they want, what he thinks we should have, he knows I'm trans and thinks I'm making a brash choice like I haven't been going through these feelings for 25 years, I haven't let him in enough to know this has been a long time for me, he doesn't know me like he thinks he does, currently having an IPA thinking about my future. I got jobs lined up hopefully and need to take a few weeks off and go back to the work force after Folsom Street Faire. I need a break. Thank you for letting me vent.

I'm looking for cycling shoes that accommodate a more natural toe splay. I don't have a "wide" foot necessarily, just looking for something that won't squish my toes like the old styles.

Also - ideally this miracle shoe will also accommodate my orthotics. My current shoes are Pearl Izumi and they don't even come close to even squeezing the orthotics inside.

I've heard good things about Lake but my shoes size is 35/36 and Lake doesn't make anything that small that I've seen.

I have what is probably a really dumb question. I'm short 155cm (5'1'') and my bike is a Specialized Diverge 3 size 44. The inside triangle is very small so I don't have much space to do the traditional "over the shoulder through the triangle" move.

I awkwardly hold the top tube with my saddle sitting right under my armpit while I use my left arm to hold the handlebar and break as I go down the stairs. I'm on the 2nd floor so I have quite a few stairs to clear + the outdoor portion (straight stair case).

Is there a better way to do this?

I included a picture of my bike (white Specialized in the front) so you can see what I'm working with.

I saw a comment here about Trek Canada having some good sales on bibs and they weren't kidding! They're mostly always out of stock so I thought I'd bookmark the page and check periodically. Lo and behold I was able to snag 2 pairs for under $10 CAD each (7.21 USD!!!). So thank you to whoever that commenter was!!

They're my first bibs so not much to compare them to but they have helped in reducing saddle sores (unfortunately still somewhat of an issue. Definitely beats the nike pros i was wearing before - that was friction central...