Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x

We're quickly approaching that time of the year when mornings are cooler, and the sun sets earlier. Early signs of shoulder season are the perfect time to take stock of your cycling gear. Without fail, there's usually some go-to item that's on its last leg, but we're not ready—for any number of reasons—to let it go. Sometimes, you haven't found a replacement you like, you're not sure what's new on the market, or you're stuck in a cycle of comparing and over analyzing feature after feature. No matter the reason, we're here to help. We did the legwork to find everything from the latest bike light and heart rate monitor to nutrition options that are more than just drink mixes.

Bike Computer

1. COROS DURA Solar GPS Bike Computer

Knowing where you're going is helpful, whether you're riding for fun or training towards a goal. Almost any cycling GPS can track your ride or provide guidance on turns and climbs. Despite this oversaturated market, one cycling GPS stands higher than most—the Coros DURA. What makes the DURA  different? It boasts a 120-hour battery life. Yes, you read that right:  120 hours. We tested the DURA on a 6.5-hour weekend century, four  60—90-minute training rides, and an extensive software update. After all this time, the Dura still had 85% battery life.

Pros:

  • Solar charging 
  • Very high screen resolution
  • Easy-to-use screen controls
  • Touchscreen works well even in the rain
  • Supports Garmin, Bryton, Maijin, and IGPS radars

Cons:

  • Navigation cue volume not adjustable

Price: $249

Heart Rate Monitor

2. WAHOO TRACKR 

One of the leaders in heart rate monitors for - cyclists and runners, the  TRACKR, the third iteration in Wahoo's HRM line—preceded by the Tickr and Tickr X—this upgraded HRM is unlike its predecessors. After testing the TRACKR for over 30 hours, the following features stood out—larger electrodes improve device connectivity with GPS devices and indoor trainers. The TRACKR's chest strap—revised from previous iterations—hooks on the side instead of the center. This significantly improved the comfort, especially on longer rides.

Pros:

  • Rechargeable battery with over 100 hours of active battery life
  • Battery can be charged over 500 times before the capacity drops below 20%
  • Pairs quickly and syncs seamlessly with other Wahoo products
  • ANT+ and multi-Bluetooth connectivity

Cons:

  • Expands only to 50" (127cm)

Price: $89.99

3. Garmin HRM-Fit

For female athletes who loathe traditional heart rate monitors because of chafing or tightness with chest straps,  Garmin has the answer. The Garmin HRM-Fit does not have a chest strap. Yes, you read that right. Garmin revolutionized the heart rate monitor by equipping the HRM Fit with clips—three to be specific. The clips attach securely to the chest band of any medium to high-support sports bra. "The [Garmin] HRM-fit only sticks to your skin, rather than constricting your ribcage!" explained one user.

Pros

  • Clips directly onto sports bra
  • Eliminates constriction from chest strap HRM
  • Weighs only 54 grams
  •  Connects to both ANT+ & Bluetooth 

Cons

  • May not work with front closure sports bras
  • Clips may bulge under closer fitting shirts

Price: $149.99

Bikes Essentials

4. Trek CarBack Radar Rear Bike Light

Approximately 1,000 cyclists are killed by cars annually. CarBack, designed to alert cyclists of approaching vehicles, can detect cars from up to 240 meters.

Pros

  • Provides audio and visual alerts
  • Lights can be controlled from bike computer
  • Compatible with most bike GPS units
  • Visible charge gauge

Cons:

  • Larger than other bike radar

Price: $199.99

5. Garmin Varia

The Varia, the first cycling radar, detects approaching vehicles. Some versions serve double duty as tail lights to enhance rider visibility. The flagship model can also record what's happening behind your bike as you ride.

 Pros:

  • Notifies cyclist of approaching vehicle up to 153 yards away
  • Tail light increases ride visibility by up to 1 mile
  • Pairs with a wide range of GPS devices
  • Audible and visual alerts of single or multiple cars

Cons:

  • Cost

Price: $149.99-$299.99

6. Trek Commuter Pro RT

With 1,000 lumens, the Commuter Pro RT is equipped with wireless capability to ensure you're visible to traffic. 

Pros:

  • Fuel gauge shows available battery life
  • Chargeback capability-can charge your phone or cycling computer
  • Three light modes-flash, focus, and range

Cons:

  • Extended charge time
  • Weighs 217 grams

  Price: $129.97

7. Orange Seal Tubeless Bike Tire Sealant

If you've shifted to tubeless, there's a good chance you've heard of  Orange Seal, and for good reason. With a range of sealants for gravel,  road, and mountain biking tires there's an option for you. The Endurance tire sealant can seal punctures up to 1/4". 

Pros

  • Enables riders to run lower tire pressure
  • Can seal punctures at higher altitude and in cooler temperatures
  • Subzero option rated to seal punctures down to -20°F

Cons:

  • Shorter longevity compared to some competitors

Price: Varies 

Sealant Enhancers

Sealant additives like Vitamina CL from Effetto Mariposa and Highland Dust made by Hold Fast are intended to be added to your existing sealant to extend the product's shelf life and seal larger punctures.

8. Dynaplug Micro Racer

Dynaplugs are a rider's best friend when punctures exceed sealant capacity. The Micro Racer, one of the lightest and smallest plugging solutions on the market, weighs only 15 grams and can get you rolling in no time.

Pros:

  • Stores two pre-loaded plugs
  • Ones of the fastest options for plugging tubless tires

Cons:

  • Pricier than some competitors

Price: $49.99

Nutrition Options

9. Skratch Labs Hydration Drink Mix

It's easier to forget about hydrating when the temperature drops. This hydration drink mix provides a hydration option for athletes who need more electrolytes—sodium 400mg, calcium 50mg, magnesium 50mg, potassium 100mg—but not sugar.

Pros:

  • Can add to other hydration mixes to boost electrolytes
  • No sweeteners or artificial flavors

Cons:

  • May alter taste when combined with other hydration mixes

Price: $1.65-$22.95

10. The Rider Box

The off-season is the best time to try new nutrition options. With so many to choose from, it's hard to pick just one and commit to a bulk serving option. The Rider Box, sister to The Runner Box, curates a wide selection of newly released endurance-focused products, including on-the-bike nutrition, supplements, recovery essentials, and more.

Pros:

  • Each box contains 10-12 items
  • Build your own box or leave the selection to Rider Box
  • Practical items that you may not try otherwise
  • On-staff nutritionist
  • Option to try a singular box

Cons:

  • Subscription-based

Price: $32-$40 

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Wrestling

Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death

Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.

Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
NHL

Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial

Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton have been found not guilty by Justice Maria Carroccia in London, Ontario, according to reporting from The Athletic, after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving the 2018 Canadian men’s national junior team. Carroccia said that she did not find E.M.’s [the alleged victim] evidence “credible or reliable,” in explaining her reasoning. “Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,” Carroccia said. The allegations against Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart and McLeod first became public in May of 2022, when reports emerged that Hockey Canada had paid to settle a lawsuit with a woman, known in court documents as E.M., who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players “over several hours” in a London hotel room on July 18, 2018. No charges were levied as a result of the initial investigation by local police, which was closed in February 2019, but the case was reopened after the 2022 report. Formal charges were then brought against the five defendants on Jan. 30, 2024. The trial began on April 22, 2025, and the verdicts were reached solely by Justice Carroccia after two mistrials influenced her to dismiss the jury. The NHL does not have a formal policy for players accused of or charged with domestic violence, sexual assault or similar crimes. Instead, the four players who were under NHL contracts at the time – Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod – were granted indefinite leaves of absence by their clubs shortly before the charges were announced. All of them were pending restricted free agents on expiring contracts and were not extended qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents as of July 1, 2024. When asked about the playing eligibility of the defendants, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has continually deferred action until after a verdict was reached. While none of the players are formally suspended by the league, similar situations have routinely required some sort of permission from league offices for them to play in or return to the NHL. If teams approach any of them with a contract offer, they will presumably wait for that guidance before registering the deal.

Major Update On A Potential Goldberg AEW Retirement Match
Wrestling

Major Update On A Potential Goldberg AEW Retirement Match

Few names are more synonymous with Turner wrestling than Goldberg. However, it doesn't appear the WCW legend is likely to get one more match on the platform with AEW. The WWE Hall of Famer wrapped up his career with a retirement match against Gunther. He would lose to the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at Saturday Night's Main Event, seemingly bringing an end to his legendary in-ring career. Unfortunately, it does not appear all were happy with how the bout played out. Goldberg's retirement speech following the match was cut short due to broadcast restrictions, and while he had high praise for his opponent, he expressed major unhappiness about he match itself and its presentation. He made several thinly veiled shots at WWE management for the lack of promotion for the match, and expressed being upset over it not taking place on a Premium Live Event. Could a potential Goldberg match in AEW happen? The talk of his displeasure with the match immediately led to rumors over whether or not Tony Khan and AEW would bring Goldberg in to give him a more fitting sendoff. He made his name on the Turner platform while a member of the WCW roster, so a return to the airwaves on Dynamite or Collision could potentially bring synergy. That, though, appears unlikely. WrestleVotes reported on Thursday that AEW sources indicated there is no direct connection between AEW and Goldberg at the moment. It reports the 58-year-old is still believed to be a under WWE contract as is, so any contact would be risky territory for either side. Additionally, said sources noted it would be surprising to see AEW move towards bringing Goldberg in given its good standing with fans following AEW All In: Texas. AEW, of course, did serve as the landing space for Sting's legendary retirement run, one that came to a close at AEW Revolution in 2024. It is also not clear as to whether or not Goldberg would be healthy for one more match, as he revealed he broke his hand during his final outing.

Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
NBA

Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

The Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard sparked even more Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors on social media. There were already reports that Antetokounmpo was considering his options and potentially forcing his way out of Milwaukee, and the Lillard move did little to alleviate the situation. Nevertheless, the weeks have gone by, and Antetokounmpo is still a Buck. More importantly, the team believes that's not going to change any time soon. "We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world," a Bucks front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith. "We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done." Antetokounmpo trade rumors have cooled off around the league, and while anything can happen in the NBA, that doesn't seem likely at this point. "Do I think the star guys like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or LeBron (James) are going to go anywhere? Nope. Is it possible? Sure is," said a Western Conference executive. Giannis chose to stay in Milwaukee with one of the most lucrative contract extensions in NBA history. He was overly critical of the team's effort last season, and another early playoff exit may have driven him to the edge. Even so, he's talked about how he wants to win "the right way," as opposed to chasing rings. That said, with head coach Doc Rivers' long list of questionable postseason performances and a championship window that could be closing right before their eyes, Giannis trade rumors will flood social media again if the Bucks get off to a slow start during the 2026-26 campaign.