Journal

Cobalt Marauder AXS
Meet the 2027 Cobalt Bikes Lineup: Built Around Your Ride
Meet the 2027 Cobalt Bikes lineup: carbon road, all-road, gravel, XC and trail bikes, titanium frames, custom builds and a new website to explore it all. Read more...
The Mid South 2026 gravel race
The Mid South 2026 Race Report
Stillwater, Oklahoma Mid South 100 – 2026 Race Report Mid South always carries a reputation that hangs over the start line before the race even begins. Some years it is... Read more...
SM100K mountain bike race
SM100K Race Report
Stokesville Shenanigans: Some Suffering & Savoring the Singletrack The Stokesville campground woke me up with a brisk slap this morning – 47 degrees in August? Rude, Virginia. But hey, first... Read more...
Leadville 100 MTB
Leadville 100 MTB – “Fun” above 10,000 Feet
Leadville 100 MTB Race Report: Grit, Wind, and Gratitude August 9, 2025 The day started in that perfect Colorado way: a crisp 40 degrees that had most of us bundled... Read more...
SRAM Force AXS components
New SRAM Force and Rival Reviewed
SRAM Force AXS & Force XPLR Here’s a comprehensive review of SRAM’s new Force and Rival groupsets for both road and gravel. Overview: SRAM’s latest Force AXS (road, 12-speed) and... Read more...
Cycling in the Cotswolds
🚴‍♀️ Pedaling Through Time: A Cycling Adventure in the Cotswolds
Golden hills. Quiet lanes. Villages frozen in time. The Cotswolds offer one of the most scenic and peaceful cycling experiences in England—and we soaked up every glorious mile from the... Read more...
SRAM RED AXS XPLR 13-speed groupset
Review of the SRAM RED AXS XPLR 13-Speed Groupset
The SRAM RED XPLR 13-speed groupset represents a significant evolution in SRAM's offerings for gravel riders, introducing features specifically tailored to meet the needs of this fast-growing cycling discipline. By... Read more...
Cobalt Marauder and Warhawk comparison
Marauder vs. Warhawk: Unraveling the Difference
Introduction : As the popularity of gravel riding continues to soar, we at Cobalt Bikes strive to produce frames that offer the perfect balance of performance and adventure. We have... Read more...
SRAM RED eTap AXS
New SRAM Red eTap AXS: Shifting Gears and Expectations
SRAM's Red eTap AXS groupset isn't just an upgrade, it's a rethink. With completely redesigned shifters, brakes, and derailleurs, this Red groupset is optimized for road racers, all road riders... Read more...
SRAM Reverb AXS dropper post
A Dynamic Duo: SRAM Reverb AXS and Reverb AXS XPLR Dropper Review
I know the Reverb AXS dropper post has been out for a few years. I also know it's one of the best dropper posts and one of the best upgrades... Read more...
Cobalt Warhawk riding in the Dolomites
Four Days in the Dolomites
280 mi and 29,000 vertical feet As part of our new 2024 bike line development, I took to the hills of Italy with a group of friends to finalize the... Read more...
SRAM Eagle Transmission drivetrain
SRAM's Transmission-Type Eagle Drivetrain
Or, How I Learned to Love not Having a Rear Derailleur Hangar SRAM has recently released a new drivetrain system called the Transmission type or T type, which promises to... Read more...
Cycling in Amsterdam
Amsterdam By Bike
To say that one is going to see Amsterdam by bike is not a unique thing, It is afterall, called 'Bike City' for a reason. Over 800,000 bikes are estimated... Read more...
Cobalt gravel bike and tires
What Tire Size and Pressure are Best for Gravel Rides?
Gravel riders like to talk about three things- the epic gravel ride they just did, what tires they use or plan to use for the next ride, and tire pressure.... Read more...
Zipp 353 NSW wheels
Riding Zipp 353 NSW Wheels
Strong, Light, Fast, what else is there? The Zipp 353 NSW are Zipp's lightest tubeless wheelset yet. This top of the line, do it all wheelset is designed for both... Read more...
Breck Epic mountain bike stage race
Breck Epic
Race Report- An Amazing MTB Stage Race Planning and Travel The thought of doing a MTB stage race in far off places has always interested me. I’d seen pictures and... Read more...
Unbound Race Report — original story photograph
Unbound Race Report
The instructions for Unbound are simple: WATER will be provided at TWO water oasis at Texaco Hill and Hamilton. Absolutely NO support crews are allowed. Support crews are allowed at... Read more...
Gravel in Portugal — original travel photograph
Gravel in Portugal
Planning- As with many of my adventures to new places, I start my trip research with a quick google search of the region and then invariably go right to Ride... Read more...
Whiteface mountain bike race
Whiteface MTB Race Report: A Gateway to Leadville
Wilmington Whiteface is one of the qualifying races for Leadville 100 MTB and the only one on the east coast. If you’re not familiar, it is one of the best... Read more...
Training for Unbound Gravel
Hurt me and I’ll pay you for it
Chapter 3 The mind-bending misery at Leadville convinced me I should consider professional help. My therapist told me to act my age. I decided to get a different professional opinion.... Read more...
Unbound Gravel race
Unknown unknowns enroute to Unbound
Chapter 2 “there are known knowns; there are known unknowns; there are also unknown unknowns” “D. Rumsfeld (2002)” In 2019, two cycling friends (Buckles & Mr. GoFast*) suggested I throw... Read more...
The Road to Unbound Gravel — original story photograph
The Road to Unbound Gravel
Chapter 1 by Luke Swift I’m going to do a 200-mile one-day gravel race on my bicycle next June. Between now and then I’m going to ramble on about it.... Read more...
Rebecca's Private Idaho: Stage Race Report Part 2 — Cobalt Journal
Rebecca's Private Idaho: Stage Race Report Part 2
After a trip back up to the hot springs after Friday’s stage, it was time to relax and enjoy the great views of the mountains, rest the legs a bit... Read more...
Rebecca's Private Idaho stage race
Rebecca's Private Idaho: Stage Race Report Part 1
RPI Stage Race Report The Queen’s Stage Race is made up of three timed races over four days, covering 196 miles and 12,600’ of climbing. Rebecca and team have been... Read more...
Bikepacking in Virginia
Bikepacking Virginia
Day One Last year I attempted a 4-day bikepacking trip in early June. COVID restrictions made it nearly impossible as all camping was closed and even hotels were not taking... Read more...
Carbon and titanium bicycle frames
Carbon vs Titanium
By Hans Lellelid What frame material best suits your riding ? I’m not a bike-industry professional, but I spend a lot of time riding and building up bikes and I... Read more...
Cobalt Bikes
New Bike Owners Set Up Guide
Congratulations on your purchase of a new Cobalt Bike! We are excited to have new members of our biking community to share our experiences with. If you recently received your... Read more...
650b and 700c gravel wheels
650b vs 700c Wheels: Which Is Best For Your Gravel Bike?
Wait, there’s different wheel sizes? So many options these days. But there’s a good reason for so many choices as it gives riders a chance to customize their ride and... Read more...
1x versus 2x bicycle drivetrains
1X versus 2X?
Which Drivetrain to Choose for your Cobalt Warhawk? Whether you're trying to decide how to configure your gravel dream bike or you’re just getting into gravel riding, deciding on the... Read more...
Gravel cycling in the United Kingdom
Castles, Rivers, and Bridleways: Gravel in the UK
Sometimes the best way to get through a tough time is to look to the future. Creating a to do list of epic events or adventures gives one something to... Read more...
Ride Allegheny bike adventure
Looking Back on Ride Allegheny 2020: 350 miles in 4 Days
I had the opportunity to participate in the 20th version of the Ride Allegheny Pittsburgh to DC bike ride to raise awareness and money to support Operation Second Chance .... Read more...
SM100K mountain bike race
SM100K MTB Race Report
Story by Jack Levine The morning started off cold and I didn’t want to have to change into my skinsuit. I was a little nervous not wanting anything to go... Read more...
Gravel riding in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Gravel
With the pandemic raging across the south and parts of the west, I decided to take a trip to New England and explore some gravel. Lighter travel restrictions and promises... Read more...
Stoopid50 mountain bike race
Stoopid50 Race Report
Endurance MTB Racing During the Pandemic It has been months. Like many of you, I haven't been on a group ride or been in a race in months. Many of... Read more...
Heart rate variability training
Heart Rate Variability: A Tool for Optimizing Your Training
With more sensors connected to our bodies, technology can now measure and give us feedback on the subtle things happening in our bodies and impact on our performance. After a... Read more...
Rotor hydraulic 1x12 groupset
Rotor Hydraulic 1x12 Groupset Review
I had my first exposure to Rotor's drivetrain components at the Philly Bike Show back in November. They were featuring the world’s first hydraulic shifter and the first groupset that... Read more...
Cycling motivation
10 Things to Keep You Motivated While Isolating
It hasn't hit the entire U.S. yet, but those on the east and west coasts are two weeks into social distancing, and in Virginia there’s a stay at home order... Read more...
Monster Cross gravel race
MONSTER CROSS 2020 Race Report
Mike and Chris Shue So there I was, after a week of being sick, wedged in between 650+ other idiots at the start of a mid-February FIFTY MILE bike race.... Read more...
Cobalt Diablo mountain bike
Diablo First Date
Reviewed by Scott Fulton New Bike Day - we all look forward to it, even if just mentally, when you're due a new whip. The planning, the research and, oh... Read more...
Gravel riding near Joshua Tree
Top Gravel Rides Series, Part 1
Over the last several years, gravel events have been popping on the calendar, and they have been selling out. There are great lists of gravel events across the US. These... Read more...
Shimano GRX on a Cobalt Warhawk
Shimano GRX Review, I Was Wrong
There’s been a lot of buzz out there about the new Shimano GRX group set that hit the streets in 2019 and are now coming out as the standard configuration... Read more...
Nittany Mountain Works Fastpack frame bag
Review | Nittany Mountain Works Fastpack 1/2 Frame Bag
Have you been looking for a frame bag that fits your bike, provides lots of storage, and doesn’t block access to your water bottles? After meeting the Nittany Mountain Works... Read more...
Mountain bike festival riding
Mountain Bike Festivals 2020
Mountain Bike Festivals 2020 This week I am going to share with you some of the top Mountain Bike Festivals across the U.S. Of course, there's always a debate about... Read more...
Archer Components D1x electronic shifter
D1x Electronic Shifter
I had a chance to try out a Archer Components D1x aftermarket electronic shift system this past week. Archer developed this as option to the expensive electronic shifting systems from... Read more...
SQ Labs ergonomic saddle
SQ Labs Ergonomic Saddle Review
Recently, I had the chance to try out two new saddles: SQ Labs Ergonomic 60X ergonomic saddle and SQ Lab 611 Ergowave Carbon saddle – both retail for $169. Read... Read more...
Everesting DC cycling challenge
Everesting D.C.
Could You Climb Mt Everest on a Bike? During our post Tuesday AM Hills coffee meetup at Café Kindred, two of my riding buddies announced that they were going to... Read more...
Epic cycling event
One Day Epic Events for 2020
EpiCurious but not ready to commit to a multi-day event? Let’s explore some of the one-day epic bike adventures out there for 2020. Dirty Kanza has become the battleground for... Read more...
Multi-day cycling event
2020 Biking Calendar- Epic Multi-day Events
It’s that time of year, the clocks rolled back an hour this weekend, the Nats won the World Series, and the chair lifts aren’t moving yet on the east coast... Read more...
Cobalt Bikes 2020 lineup
Cobalt Bikes 2020 Line up; Gravel Bikes, Hardtail MTB & Road Bike
Cobalt Bikes is rolling out three new models for 2020. Here are the highlights: Warhawk Gravel Bike We are really excited about our new gravel adventure bike, we call the... Read more...
Bikepacking near Washington DC and Montgomery County
Introduction to Bikepacking: DC and MOCO
Planning Your First BikepackingTrip Bikepacking is a great way to experience a large natural area in a relatively short period of time, and it brings a new appreciation to trails... Read more...