Luke Friend
Luke Friend has worked as a writer, editor and copywriter for over twenty five years. Across books, magazines and websites, he's covered a broad range of topics for a range of clients including Major League Baseball, Golf Digest, the National Trust and the NHS. He has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and is a qualified bicycle mechanic. He has been a cycling enthusiast from an early age, partly due to watching the Tour de France on TV. He's a keen follower of bike racing to this day as well as a regular road and gravel rider.
Latest articles by Luke Friend
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I switched to these pedals after my hip operation to avoid toppling at the lights. These easy-to-use, dual-sided pedals are now 26% off during Prime Day, but hurry - all deals end tonight
Crankbrother Candy pedals might not suit everyone, but their wide range of float options, simple dual-sided design, and low weight make them one of the best gravel bike pedals
By Luke Friend Published
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"Don't screw up an already great bike" - Cervélo opts for evolution not revolution with new S5
Cervélo details a comprehensive nip-tuck for their flagship S5, resulting in less weight and a claimed 6.3 watts of savings in what was already a very fast bike
By Luke Friend Published
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The custom paint colour everyone wants at the Tour - Mathieu van der Poel's yellow Canyon Aeroad CFR
Bikes change colour overnight at the Tour De France. Mathieu van der Poel didn't let the fumes go to his head, as he headed out on a colour changed bike for stage 3 today.
By Luke Friend Published
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Cycling's best free and paid apps: There's a lot more than just Strava
We round up the most useful free and paid mobile apps for cyclists to assist with route planning, tracking your fitness, sharing your rides and much more
By Luke Friend Last updated
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Tour de France gold rush in Tech round up this week with special edition bikes from Bianchi, Look, Factor and more 'attainable' kit from Ribble
Tour de France always generates plenty of buzz - for new tech, it's the moment when the world's most famous brands get creative to mark the moment
By Luke Friend Published
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Swiss Side just launched a 68mm wheelset that could be banned in a few months time
Swiss Side's new Hadron 3 wheelset incorporates the brand's latest aero research, and adds ceramic bearings but shuns composite spokes in a 68mm wheelset UCI says will be illegal in sanctioned events come 2026
By Luke Friend Published
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We've seen Remco Evenepoel's Tour de France shoes and wheels, here's his $450 saddle
The Belgian will be sat atop a new S-Works Power EVO saddle in France plus UAE extends its deal with Enve, Vision launches an 'affordable' carbon road wheel and Tacx releases its Alpine gradient simulator
By Luke Friend Published
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Deeper at the front, shallower at the rear: Roval's new wheels just flipped aero convention around
New Rapide Sprint models feature different rim depths and claim to be even lighter and faster than ever before
By Luke Friend Published
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Is this the fastest climbing bike in the world? BMC says so, as it launches new Teammachine SLR01, just ahead of the Tour de France
BMC launch 5th Gen SLR01, a bike it claims to be world's fastest climbing bike, to be raced by Tudor Pro Cycling team at this year's TdF
By Luke Friend Published
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Can Raleigh's new ONE, finally entice you out of the car, and keep you and your bike safe, in the urban jungle?
Raleigh, the company that brought us the Grifter, Burner, and Sturmey Archer three-speed hub, has designed the ONE to make e-bike ownership easier – and safer – than ever.
By Luke Friend Published
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PNS collab with Colnago, Scarab handmade steel, and a reimagined classic in the latest Parlee P-Zero. Rouvy members read on to the end!
Updated models from Scarab, Parlee and Pearson, a limited-edition fashion forward Colnago, wider tyres from Hutchinson and new pricing plans from Rouvy
By Luke Friend Published
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UK brand Ribble just threw down a whole range of gravel bikes, and they're already taking podiums at some of the big US races
The carbon Ultra-Grit is used by the Ribble gravel team at UCI races while the Allgrit line-up includes titanium and electric options
By Luke Friend Published
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Cervélo claims its new Áspero-5 is the world's fastest gravel bike
Already ridden to victory by Marianne Vos, the bike features a new two piece bar, compatible with the S5's aero bars as well as downtube storage
By Luke Friend Published
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SRAM overhauls Force and Rival groupsets bringing Red performance to the whole range, adds a 1x13-speed XPLR option and goes wild with a purple chain!
With braking tech from Sram Red and the same shifting experience now available in the lower tier groupsets, you can now have your cake and eat it with Sram
By Luke Friend Published
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Ride it or hang it on the wall? The limited-edition Look frameset that costs $10,000
Each run-of-50 765 Blade RS is hand-painted by London artists Jay Kaes, plus a POC and Team Amani collection, handmade Ti gravel bikes and Fizik gravel race shoes
By Luke Friend Published
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We extensively tested the best electric bike pumps recently, then Trek shows up with it's own high-quality take, for under £80.
Trek is now making it's own rechargeable handheld pump which can inflate tyres up to 120psi with the press of a button, and the specs and pricing are right up there.
By Luke Friend Published
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Best commuter bike pedals 2025: for all weathers and any type of shoes
From flats to clipless SPDs, we've sorted through the best commuter bike pedals for your daily commute
By Luke Friend Last updated
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Leaked Aspero: Cervélo doubles down on S5’s Aero creds to create what must be one fast gravel bike
Marianne Vos stepped out this weekend in her newest rainbow jersey, with what also appears to be a very new, and pretty rapid, aero gravel bike from Cervélo
By Luke Friend Published
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Shimano's Q’Auto system brings battery-free automatic shifting AND machine learning, to everyday bikes
The Cues dynamo powered freehub, rear derailleur and shift switch utilise adaptive learning software
By Luke Friend Published
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SRAM and Bespoked Announce Third Annual Inclusivity Scholarship for European Framebuilders
The scholarship provides support for underrepresented talent with opportunity to showcase their work at Europe's biggest handmade bike show, in Dresden, Germany
By Luke Friend Published
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Pinarello celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first Grand Tour win with a limited edition Dogma F plus MAAP's latest Quoc collaboration, and new features from TrainingPeaks
The Dogma F Edizione Speciale will be ridden by INEOS Grenadiers on stage 14 at this year's Giro d’Italia
By Luke Friend Published
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Monitor your tyre pressure on the go: Zipp launches inbuilt pressure sensors with latest wheels
Zipps new integrated pressure sensor, gives you the green light to go ride, and opens up a world of geekery. The 353 NSW and 303 SW now come with built in AXS Wheel Sensor
By Luke Friend Published
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Best road bike handlebars: how to choose them and best reviewed handlebars
The best bike handlebars are an oft overlooked upgrade - we explain why they're so important and outline what to look for when you 're shopping for a new pair
By Luke Friend Last updated
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Best bike saddlebags for cycling essentials 2025
Offered in numerous shapes and sizes, we review some of the best saddlebags for holding your ride essentials and more
By Luke Friend Last updated