Gear Closet: TheraGun G2Pro Review

As a runner who puts in quite a few miles each week, and mixes in both road and mountain biking on a regular basis, it is safe to say that my legs sometimes take a beating. It is not uncommon for me to walk around with sore muscles on an almost constant basis. In fact, it has gotten to the point that I almost don't notice anymore and have just learned to deal with it in day-to-day life. But, a new tool has shown me that there are ways to help manage this pain and even prevent injury and soreness in the process.

The TheraGun G2Pro is a device that somewhat resembles an electric drill, but with hard rubber balls – called "AmpBits" – on the end. When turned on, the AmpBits rhythmically move up and down like a small, yet powerful, jackhammer. And when they're placed against your muscles and joints, they provide a deep tissue treatment that can help relieve soreness, fatigue, and chronic pain.

Physical therapists have used similar tools as the TheraGun in the past, but they often have proven ineffective simply because they are so painful to use. But, this device uses a unique form of both frequency and amplitude to trick your brain into shutting off its pain receptors, allowing you to use the TheraGun for far longer than you normally would be able to tolerate. The result is that you can give yourself a deep tissue message just about anywhere and at anytime.

When I received a test unit to review, I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical. The TheraGun has garnered quite a following with NFL, NBA, and Major League Soccer players, but I wasn't sure exactly what it could do for me. After using it for a month however, I've come to appreciate what it brings to the table and how it can help outdoor endurance athletes too.

The TheraGun G2Pro can be used in three ways: to warm-up, to stay loose, and to recover after a workout. The product works great as part of a pre-exercise stretching routine, using it for 30 seconds or so on each of the muscles you're going to be focusing on. This helps to get the blood flowing in those areas, which are often stiff and sore from previous workouts. For me, that usually means running a mile or two before I really start to find my groove, but with the G2Pro, I felt like I was already well on my way to being warmed up before I ever headed out the door.

Using the device mid-workout allows some athletes to keep the blood flowing to their muscles and joints, preventing them from tightening up. For instance, an NFL quarterback could use it on his shoulder during halftime to help keep the arm loose and ready to go for the second half. This wasn't as much of a concern for me, as I wasn't going to stop running or cycling to use the TheraGun, but it makes sense for athletes who find themselves in these types of situations.

Finally, you can use the G2Pro after your workout and shower, during your cool-down phase, to help your muscles relieve tension and tightness. The user can spend 15 minutes or so using the AmpBits on their legs and arms for instance and it ultimately should help them to not only feel better, but avoid longterm soreness and even prevent injuries.

I can honestly say that the device worked as advertised. The soreness in my legs was greatly diminished and I felt much better prior to my workout the next day as well. During my test phase with the TheraGun I also avoided picking up any nagging injuries and didn't aggravate any existing ones either.

Using the device is easy and intuitive. You simply pick it up, select the right sized AmpBit, turn it on, and apply to your sore muscles or joints. That's really all there is to it. How long you use it is entirely up to you and is based on what you're doing. As a post-workout massage, I found that it delivered a powerful impact to my sore muscles that was at times painful, but in a "hurts so good" kind of way. And afterwards, the relief was quick and evident. Best of all, the next day when I headed out for my next run or ride, my legs felt fresher.

The G2Pro is a high quality device, but it is also fairly pricey too. At $599, it is more expensive than what most people can afford. But serious athletes will find it it well worth the value. Not only do you get the tool itself, but it comes with four different size and shaped AmpBits, two rechargeable battery packs, and a charger. Those batteries are each good for about 40-45 minutes of use, which should be about 2-3 full sessions of post-workout therapy.

The TheraGun and all of its accessories fit nicely into a high-quality carrying case that looks extremely professional, which is of course the point. This is a device that physical therapists, personal trainers, and other sports medicine professionals will want to have at their disposal. It can and will deliver real benefits for their clients, and can make a huge difference in managing pain on a daily basis.

The TheraGun G2Pro is available online in a variety of outlets, although Amazon is the one that I found had it most readily available.

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Video: The Last Hill (Until the Next One)

This fantastic short documentary comes our way courtesy of the folks at Patagonia, and it follows a team of skiers and snowboarders who set out from Reno, Nevada on bicycles. Carrying their skies and other gear with them, they set out for Mt. Whitney, exploring some epic backcountry along the way. The only problem is, they are definitely better skiers and snowboarders than they are cyclists.

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Video: How to Patch a Bike Tube

Today's "how to" video from REI is aimed at the cyclists and mountain bikers amongst us. It shows us how to quickly and easily patch a bike tube, which is certainly a handy skill to have in your arsenal. If you ride with any regularity, chances are you've had a flat tire at some point. This will show you how to fix the tube and get back on the road ASAP.

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Outside Presents 8 Adventurers Who Changed the World

If you're looking for an interesting read today, look no further than Outside magazine. The iconic publication has posted another article that celebrates its 40th Anniversary, this time taking a look at 8 adventurers who have changed our world.

As you can imagine, the list is filled with distinguished and very worthy outdoor athletes, some of which have become household names. There are also several whose exploits we cover regularly here at The Adventure Blog as well, including the likes of Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, and Jeb Corliss. Beyond that, I won't say too much about who else earned a spot on Outside's list, but it is safe to say that there are some true legends here.

Narrowing down the list of iconic adventurers to just 8 couldn't have been easy. Personally, I can think of at least a half-dozen other men and women I would have put on here in addition to the ones that are named. But, it is safe to say that these athletes have certainly had an impact on the world of outdoor adventure, breaking new ground in their various fields of endeavor while also pushing boundaries in ways that we may not have ever considered before.

To read the entire article and find out who made the list – and why – click here.

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4-Time Tour de France Winner Chris Froome Under Scrutiny Following Positive Drug Test

Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has found himself at the center of controversy. The rider who many feel is boring to watch out on the road thanks to his systematic, focused, and no-risk approach to the sport, has suddenly become the subject of scrutiny after it was revealed last week that he tested positive for elevated amounts of a drug used to battle asthma while riding in – and winning – the Vuelta a Espana earlier this year.

To be clear, the drug is not a banned substance, and Froome does suffer from asthma. He even had an attack while riding in the Vuelta. But, the anti-doping rules state that riders can only have 1000 nanograms per milliliter of salbutamol in their bloodstream. Froome had more than double that, calling into question his performance. The drug is a bronchodilator that is commonly used to fight asthma, but could potentially allow athletes to improve their ability to breathe during aerobic exercise in an unnatural way.

For their part, Froome and Team Sky have denied any wrongdoing. The cyclist says he was only following doctors orders to increase his dosage to help battle the condition while competing in the race. But, the rules are quite clear on the subject and unless they can come up with compelling evidence to the contrary, he could face a 12 month ban from cycling, taking him out of next year's Tour. He'll also be stripped of his Vuelta win as well as a bronze medal from the time trial world championships from a few months back.


Questions about Froome's performance have dogged him since he first started winning the Tour five years ago. His methodical style and reluctance to attack on the course have made him divisive figure in the sport, with some loving him and others hating his approach to cycling. As his performance only continued to improve, while rivals cracked under the pressure, there has been some suspicion that perhaps doping was helping him ride so strongly. Until now however, he had never tested positive for any banned substances.

The last thing the sport of cycling needs right now is another doping controversy. It is still reeling from the Lance Armstrong revelations from a few years back, and despite claims that things have improved, their continues to be regular bans for positive tests. But most of those incidences have been with rank file riders, not the world's best cyclist. If Froome isn't cleared of these charges, a shadow will hang over his wins and the sport will take another step backwards in the eyes of many.

For now, we'll just have to wait to see what happens. But it seems a ban is likely. I'm not sure what kind of evidence Froome could produce to clear his name and regain faith from his detractors. It is starting to look like he will probably be on the sideline for much of 2018, which will blow the Grand Tours wide open to say the least.

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Gear Closet: Binoreal Radius F1 Smart Bike Light

Road cyclists and mountain bikers listen up – your search for the perfect cycling light might be over. The Radius F1 comes our way courtesy of Binoreal and it delivers some really great features to help us stay safe on our rides.

What makes the Radius F1 so special? For starters, it has built-in sensors that can detect when you're in motion and when you're stopped, and will adjust the light accordingly. It can even tell how fast you're going, increasing the brightness to match. The faster you ride, the brighter it gets – up to 450 or 650 lumens depending on the model. Slow down, and it the light dims to conserve battery life, but still manages to put out an impressive 200 lumens of illumination.

If all of that wasn't enticing enough, the light will also sense when you're slowing down and will switch to a pulse mode when taking corners or flash mode when you come to a complete stop. And if you are stopped for more than three minutes it will first drop into a stand-by mode until it senses that you are moving again, at which time it will automatically turn itself back on. After an hour of inactivity it switches itself off completely.

The Radius F1 is well built, durable, and water resistant. It also attaches to nearly any handlebar in a matter of seconds and comes with a magnetic charger that makes it a breeze to power up again. Battery life is about 2 hours on its brightest setting, although in real world testing it latest considerably longer than that thanks to its auto-sensing, brightness adjust capabilities.

At the moment, the Radius F1 is still in its crowdfunding phase. Binoreal launched its Kickstarter campaign last week with the aim of raising $15,000 to get the light into production. It has already easily surpassed that goal, which means it should start shipping in April, 2018. The 450-lumen version will sell for $80 while the 650-lumen model will retail for $100. Both can be preordered for half-price as part of the crowdfunding campaign.

I've had a chance to test a pre-produciton version of the Radius F1 and can attest to how well it works. The light is bright, has good battery life, and smoothly adjusts to your speed as advertised. In fact, I'm very impressed with how well it performs. This is a great product for bike commuters in particular, helping to make them safer and more visible out on the road.

Considering the Radius F1 can be had for a little as $40 during the crowdfunding campaign, this is a no brainer to recommend to anyone looking for a great light. Find out more here.

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My Experience with BikesDirect.com (Updated!)

Bikesdirect.com is an online outlet that promises to save customers up to 60% off the price of a bike, and indeed the site does offer name brand bikes at substantial saving. Recently, I was approached by the promotional team from Bikes Direct about trying out the service, with company offering to send me a bike in exchange for me sharing my thoughts on the experience. Here's what I found out.

Bikes Direct ships bikes directly to consumers, cutting out the middle-man allowing them to cut substantial amounts of money off the price. In the video below, I share my experience of how the bike arrived at my door, and as I took it out of the box and went about assembling it. As you'll see, it was mostly a good experience, with a few minor issues.

The first challenge I had was that the box that the bike shipped in arrived at my door already damaged. The guy who delivered it, also propped it up at a weird angle, despite the box being clearly marked with a "This Side Up" label on pretty much every surface. This isn't Bikes Directs fault of course, as it was the shipper is responsible for getting it to our doors safely and securely. Still, it was a bit disconcerting to find the box damaged upon arrival.

Thankfully nothing inside the box was actually damaged, and when I took everything out the bike seemed to be just fine. But, after unpacking everything, I discovered another issue. It didn't ship with assembly instructions, despite the box actually listing the tools needed and stating that instructions would be included inside. Fortunately, this wasn't the first time I put a bike together, so I went about putting everything into place.

Assembly was fairly quick and easy for the most part, although inexperienced customers may find it more challenging without any instructions. Still, before long I had the semblance of a working bike. A fat tire model from Motobecane no less!

The bike is excellent in every way, with terrific components, disc brakes, large knobby tires, and a lightweight, yet durable frame. There was one small problem however. One of the pedals simply refuses to seat into its slot no matter what I do. The other pedal slid right into position and tightened up nicely, just as I expected. But the other one, simply won't tighten down, so I'm left with a bike with only one pedal at the moment. Replacing the pedal should be an easy affair, but it was disappointing to not be able to zip right off on my new bike after getting it together.

(Update: I've since learned that one of the pedals is threaded in the opposite direction. Turns out it was user error, with me actually trying to tighten it in the wrong direction. Once I learned this (Thanks Sean!), the pedal tightened down nicely.)

So what are my thoughts on bikesdirect.com at this experience? Mostly good. The bike itself is fantastic and the site does indeed offer great pricing for customers. But, the lack assembly instructions in the box could be problematic for some, although I suspect that most customers will receive them just fine. The broken pedal is a bit more of a challenge, but hopefully customer service will sort that out for me quickly enough. Other than that, the bike is ready to ride and looks like it'll be a lot of fun. What more could you ask for?

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A Holiday Shopping Guide for Outdoor Athletes

Yesterday I posted a holiday shopping guide for hikers and backpackers, sharing my picks for the best gifts for those groups of outdoor enthusiasts. Today I'm back with a selection of items for the outdoor athlete in your life. Whether they are a cyclists, mountain biker, or trail runner, we have some some suggestions on what they want this year. Here are my favorite gear items for the active outdoorsman and woman.

Apple AirPods ($159)
For listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks during a run or ride, Apple's iPods are quite simply the best true-wireless earbuds I've come across so far. Lightweight and offering great sound, the AirPods have excellent battery life (5 hours), are a breeze to set-up, and come with a handy charging case that extends their life to more than 24 hours. They also fit comfortably in your ears and have yet to fall out on any of my workouts.

Osprey Duro 6 Trail Running Pack ($110)
Every trail runner needs a good pack to take with them on their workouts. That pack not only allows them to carry extra gear and supplies without hindering motion, but it should play a vital role in keeping them hydrated too. The Osprey Duro 6 is  vest-style running pack that is comfortable to wear, offers plenty of capacity, and won't slow you down when things start to get intense.

CamelBak Palos 4 LR Hydration Pack ($75)
Staying hydrated on a mountain bike ride can be a real challenge, and while some riders like to carry bottles on their bikes, a hydration pack is often a better option. CamelBak's Palos 4 LR is a lumbar pack that offers plenty of capacity, the ability to carry 1.5 liters of water, and even comes with an integrated tool organizer. And since it sits low on the back, it leaves the riders shoulders and arms free to control the bike.

Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Running Shoes ($120)
Altra's zero-drop, natural-fit running shoes have become a favorite with nearly anyone who has tired them. One of the company's flagship models is its Lone Peak 3.5, which is a wonderful option for trail runners looking for good traction, plenty of support, durability, and agility in a single package. Put them on once and you'll wonder what took you so long to try Altra's to begin with.

Light & Motion Vibe Pro Bike Light ($60)
Staying safe out on a bike ride means staying visible, and few lights help you to do that better than the Light & Motion Vibe Pro. This light quickly and easily connects to any bike, offers 100 lumens of light, and comes with onboard sensors that detect motion and automatically turn on when placed in the mount. Battery life is a solid three hours of runtime between charges and at $60 it is an affordable piece of mind for any cyclist.

Buffs ($20-$45)
I've been touting the usefulness of Buffs for years now, and I continue to stand by those sentiments. The most versatile headwear on the planet, Buffs are a must-have for any outdoor athlete. They can be worn as headbands, bandanas, kerchiefs, balaclava, and many other items, making them indispensable in both the heat and cold. Made from high-tech fabrics designed to wick moisture and keep sweat and dirt from getting in our eyes, I rarely ever leave home without one in my pack.

G-Form Elbow and Knee Pads ($70)
Lets face it, crashes are a part of mountain biking. They happen to everyone from time to time. But, you can limit the damage by wearing protective gear from G-Form. The company has been making compressions shorts, tops, and knee and elbow pads for years, and they remain a must have for any rider. The Pro-X Elbow Pads and Knee Pads are my recommendation, although adding a pair of Pro-X Compression Shorts is a good idea too.

Powerdot Smart Muscle Stimulator ($249)
After an intense workout, even the most well conditioned outdoor athletes need to go into recovery mode. But now days, we're a lot smarter about focusing on that recovery and we have a slew of tools to help us get back to training and competing more quickly. Take for example the Powerdot, a muscle stimulator that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and allows athletes to target their recovery process more intelligently. Simply attach the Powerdot to the muscle group you want to work, select that same group from the smartphone app, and let it do the rest.

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Video: Cyclists Ride Across the U.S. Collecting Trash as They Go

In this video, we join friends Seth Orme and Abby Taylor as they set off across the U.S. by bike, riding from Georgia to Washington State. But, this wasn't just an amazing way to see the country, but it was also a way for the two riders to leave their mark as they went. Their route took them through a number of national forests, scenic byways, and campgrounds, where they hosted trash clean-ups and conservation events as they went. The entire trip took five months to complete, during which Seth and Abby managed to pick up more than 2100 pounds (952 kg) of trash. Check out their story below.

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Outside Picks the Most Innovative Gear of 2017 (So Far!)

The outdoor industry often moves at a rapid pace, introducing new gear that is better, lighter, safer, and more environmentally friendly than what we've used in the past. In fact, over the past few years, it seems like we've seen some true breakthroughs that have made a big difference in how our gear is made and how well it performs. With that in mind, Outside magazine has taken a look at what they see as the most innovative gear of 2017, with some truly interesting products making the cut.

You'll find a little of everything on this list, ranging from gear for skiers and cyclists to runners and surfers too. Some of the gear that earns a spot on Outside's "most innovative" run down include Columbia's OutDry Ex Eco Jacket, which is almost entirely of recycled materials, and Altra's Torin IQ running shoes, which has embedded sensors to track all kinds of data about our running styles. There is even a smartwatch from Samsung on the list, as well as a versatile backpack from The North Face.

Were I picking my most innovative gear of the year, I would probably add a few more gadgets to the list. For instance, recently I've been testing the Gnarbox, which is a mobile editing station for photos and video, that was built for the backcountry. It's a pretty handy device for those of us who live on the road quite a lot. I've also been impressed with some of the high-tech lanterns that have come out of the outdoor industry as well, many of which not only provide light for the campsite, but do a host of other things too.

To check out the rest of Outside's most innovative list, click here.

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Video: Pedal to Peaks Across Norway

In this video, we join a group of friends as they set off on an adventure across Norway by bike, climbing, and skiing. As with any good adventure, not everything goes as planned and they hit more than a few challenges along the way. But, they also discover amazing scenery, beautiful landscapes, and wonderful people as they traverse Lofoten archipelago, learning more about themselves and each other along the way.

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105-Year Old Cyclist Sets New World Record

If you're looking for a dose of inspiration to get your new year off to a good start, look no further than    Robert Marchand. Yesterday, the Frenchman rode a total of 14 miles in one hour, setting a new world's record in the process. Now, I know what you're thinking. 14 miles in an hour isn't particularly very far and that you could probably cover that same distance in less time. But, here's the real meat to this story: Robert is 105 years old.

Yep, that's right. At the age of 105, Marchand set a new mark for the longest distance ridden in an hour by someone in his age group. And, he says he could have gone faster had he not missed a sign telling him that he had 10 minutes left in his ride. While conserving his energy for the final push, he failed to see the notification, which meant the didn't give it his all when he was in the final stage of the event.

Robert says that he picked up cycling at the ripe-young age of 68, when he rode from Paris to Moscow back in 1992. He also leads a healthy lifestyle and doesn't smoke, rarely drinks, and recently gave up eating meat after learning about how unethically some animals are treated. He lives in a small apartment in Paris, where he rides a stationary bike every day.

If a man who is more than a century old can lead this kind of active and energetic life, why can't the rest of us? Think about that the next time you're climbing on your own bike or lacing up your running shoes.

Congratulations to Robert for setting this record. You're an inspiration to us all.

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Video: Danny MacAskill's Wee Day Out

This video was released while I was away in Majorca, but it is so good that I thought that it was still worth sharing anyway. (And if you've already seen it, it's worth another look!) It follows biking phenom Danny MacAskill on his day off exploring the rural landscapes near Edinburgh. Travel along with Danny as rides through a series of pastoral settings in unique ways that only he can. Definitely a fun and entertaining video.

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Outside Gives Us the 5 Best Pieces of Gear From Interbike

A few weeks back, some of the top brands in the cycling industry descended on Las Vegas for the annual Interbike International Expo conference. Each year, that convention lays out the latest trends in the cycling industry and gives us a sneak preview of the best new products that are coming in the months ahead. And while reports indicate that attendance was a bit down this year, there were still some interesting things to show of. In fact, Outside magazine has collected their five favorite items that they saw at Interbike, and has posted them online for eager cyclists to discover.

The list includes a $20 bell from Kong, a sweet bike from Rawland Cycles, a new hitch-rack from RockyMounts, a light from Fabric, and a bike helmet with bone-conducting technology that allows you to safely listen to your tunes on a ride. Each of the products on the list is distinct and different, but each brings some good innovation to the table as well.

While not quite as exciting as Outside's list of favorite gear from Outdoor Retailer back in August, cyclists will no doubt appreciate these items nonetheless. After all, technology is making our rides safer and more enjoyable than ever before, and this is just a small sampling of what is to come in the weeks ahead. Plus, each of these five products was impressive enough to catch the attention of Outside editors, which should tell you that they are all very impressive in some way.

Fall may be in the air, but it isn't time to hang up your bike just yet.

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Adventurers to Attempt Atlantic to the Pacific Crossing of Amazon

We've seen some pretty impressive expeditions through the Amazon Rainforest over the years, and it looks like we can soon add another interesting one to the list. Filmmaker Reza Pakravan is joining forces with journalist Pip Stewart on an epic adventure that will take them across the Amazon starting  at it's Atlantic coast and ending in the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, they'll pass through remote sections of Brazil and Peru, while spending time living with the indigenous tribes that still inhabit this part of the world.

The duo, who are planning on starting the expedition today, hope to create a four-part documentary series about their journey, which will look at the way various changes to their environment is impacting the lives of the Amazon people. Severe deforestation, climate change, and other factors have become a severe threat to the lifestyle of these tribes, potentially ending a way of life that has existed relatively unchanged for centuries.

Reza and Pip will be traveling by bike and boat across the Amazon. They'll start at the mouth of the mighty Amazon River in Belem in Brazil and eventually ending in Lima, Peru. Most of the journey will be done on bike (both are accomplished adventure cyclists), but they will take a boat up the Purus River in order to cross one very remote section of the route.

Dubbed the Transamazonica expedition, the plan is to follow a road of the same name that was built in the 70's to help open travel and commercialization of the rainforest. That road covers some 4000 km (2485 miles), and has been a major boon for companies who have logged and developed the Amazon Rainforest. The hope is that this expedition will help raise awareness of the challenges that are currently faced by the people living in the rainforest basin, which is undergoing significant changes.

It should certainly be interesting to follow Reza and Pip's adventure, which you can do on both of their websites linked above.


Transamazonica ver Crowdfunding from Samarcanda Film on Vimeo.

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Video: Taking the Tour de France Off Road

There is no question that the riders in the Tour de France are amongst the best cyclists in the world. Still, even those guys would be hesitant to attempt some of the things that freestyle rider Sam Pilgrim pulls off on his road bike in this video. Everything from hopping up stairs to riding along the sides of high bridges are fair game for Sam, who seems to know no fear or have any cares about the road bike that he is abusing along the way. Even Peter Sagan would be jealous of some of these moves.

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Video: Inside the 2016 Tour de France (Stages 1-7)

Last year, many of the bikes used in the Tour de France were equipped with action cameras from GoPro for the very first time. These tiny cameras captured some amazing footage from inside the peloton, and the videos were so successful, that they were used again this season. In this clip below you'll get an up close and personal look at what it's like to ride in Le Tour, with some scary, crazy, and down-right amazing images from the roads of France. Think it's easy to ride in this world's most famous bike race? Think again!

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Chris Froome Wins 2016 Tour de France

Since I was out of the country for the past few weeks, I wasn't able to follow this year's Tour de France as closely as I would normally like. As usual, it was filled with lots of unique achievements, impressive individual performances, and crazy events. But, judging from the reports, it was also a race that lacked much in the way of drama, as Team Sky's Chris Froome rode to a third victory with few challengers emerging.

The biggest challenge to Froome's dominance was expected to come from Team Movistar's Nairo Quintana. The Colombian rider has looked strong in the past two Tour's and seemed poised to break out this year with a performance that would push Froome to the limit. That never happened however, and for the most part it seemed that Quintana struggled to keep pace. In fact, if not for a herculean effort in the final few days, he would have finished off the podium altogether. He did manage to claim third place, finishing behind Froome and Romain Bardet of Team AG2R.

For Froome, this was his third win in four years. His string of dominance began in 2013, although he crashed out of the race in 2014 and was unable to defend his championship. Over the past two years however he has looked untouchable, with every challenger being turned away. His most vulnerable moment came this year however, when the British rider (by way of Kenya) actually ran up the slopes in Stage 12 of the race after his bike frame broke during a crash. It was an odd scene to say the least, but it showed his fighting spirit and unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity – something that has helped endear him to cycling fans who have been slow to embrace the champion. 

In other Tour news, Tinkoff rider Peter Sagan went home with the Green Jersey once again. The current world champion showed why he is one of the most talented and versatile cyclists in the world, easily amassing enough sprint points to outpace his rivals. Russian rider Rafal Majka claimed the Polka Dot Jersey for the King of the Mountain's classification, which is given to the best climber each year, while Aussie Adam Yates took the White Jersey awarded to the best young rider under the age of 25. 

While I didn't get to see much of this year's race, the complaints I've ready mostly center around the fact that there was almost no drama at any point. Froome's rivals didn't challenge him much at all, and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that he would win the Tour by the midway point of the event. That doesn't make it very interesting to watch. Some of the riders were clearly playing safe since the Olympics are now just a few weeks away, and they'll be competing for gold in Rio instead. But still, it would be nice to see someone – anyone – attempt to unseat Team Sky and their leader. Sadly, we'll now have to wait until next year to see if that can happen. At this point however, it looks like barring an accident, the only person who can beat Chris Froome is Froome himself. 

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Video: Why We Love the Tour de France

It is tough to explain exactly why I – and other cycling fans – love the Tour de France to someone who has no interest. But this video, from Specialized Bikes, goes a long way to explaining it. It is three weeks of intense competition with some of the best back drops anyone could possibly ask for. It is a challenge that requires both mental strength and physical endurance, and it is perhaps the toughest bike race in the world. You'll discover all of this and more in the clip below, which serves as a good introduction to Le Tour to newcomers, but a wonderful reminder to those of us who already love it as to to why it is such a special event each year.

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The 2016 Tour de France Begins Tomorrow!

July is here, and that can mean only one thing for cycling fans – the 2016 Tour de France can't be far off. In fact, the most famous and popular bike race int he world gets underway tomorrow, with some very familiar names expected to battle it out for the win.

The race will officially begin with a 188 km (116 mile) stage that runs from Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. This is unusual for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is its length. Typically, the first stage of the race is a short time trial that helps to establish who will ride int he famed Yellow Jersey for the early stages of the race. This long, opening day ride is part of the Tour's attempt to shake things up however, with some changes to the format designed to inject some energy into the early days of the race.

Expect the day to belong to the sprinters. None of the eventual contenders are likely to vie for the stage win, or put themselves in jeopardy in the early days of the race. There are sprint and climbing points to be earned however, so those looking to go after the Green or Polka Dot Jerseys will be in the hunt early on.

And just who can we expect to be in the Yellow Jersey heading towards Paris in three weeks? Two-time winner Chris Froome is the odds on favorite, although the course does favor Nairo Quintana as well. If both men can stay healthy, we can expect some epic duels in the mountains in the later stages of the race. Should they falter or face injury, the race opens up to dramatically, giving a new rider the chance to take center stage.

As long-time readers know, I'm a big fan of Le Tour, and usually cover it extensively throughout the month of July. I know that there are some of you who don't appreciate the race as much as I do however, and simply tolerate my TdF updates. For those folks, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I won't be following the race nearly as closely as I have in the past, so there won't be daily updates on the event. The bad news is, I'm leaving the country to a remote region next week, so there won't be any updates at all for awhile. Personally, I'm bummed I won't be able to watch the race on a daily basis, but duty calls and other adventures await.

Fans of the race will be able to get all the news and information they need at the official Tour de France website. Good luck to all the riders.

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