Father’s day is just around the corner and with only a few days left to shop, choosing the right gift shouldn’t be a situation of analysis by paralysis. Does he want Shimano, SRAM, or the thing that starts with a C. Fear not, we compiled a list of cycling gear that’s sure to make him happy whether he’s a roadie, gravel rider, mountain biker, or bike packer.
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Whether riding a few miles or bike traveling, one piece of gear that can be hard to substitute is sunglasses. There’s really no substitute for sunglasses especially if it's windy—think dusty headwind—or when the sun’s glare leaves you no option other than squinting. Finding the right pair of glasses can be a challenge but the biggest challenge can be keeping it from breaking. If any of this sounds familiar you should check out Ombraz Armless Sunglasses.
Ombraz currently offers six frame styles with four lens options including polarized and blue blocking options. Since these glasses are worn using Japanese nylon cords instead of traditional sunglasses arms, there’s no need to worry whether they might be too big or small, or whether the arm will break. Above all, the cord keeps the glasses on the body so this is one less thing for dad to put down and forget.
The type of tent that a bike adventurer chooses is very personal. However, regardless of the type of tent chosen the aim is usually to keep the weight to a minimum while remaining functional. The three-season MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepacking tent is prepared for almost any adventure and it easily mounts to any handlebar.
With the one-person Hubba Hubba Bikepacking tent weighing a smidge over 2 pounds, dad won’t need to worry about leaving any essentials behind to save on weight.
Not every rider wants to put in the miles wearing lycra. Comfort meets style in the breathable bike-specific Freewheel Ride Mountain bike shorts. Designed with extra abrasion resistance in high-wear areas, laser perforations in the back yoke to increase breathability, and sturdy four-way stretch fabric, these shorts are built to go the miles.
If your dad is into biohacking or simply geeks out on data, the Nix Hydration Biosensor might be exactly what he needs to hit his next fitness goal. Used by the EF Pro men’s and women’s cycling team as more recently the entire US Speedskating team, Nix biosensors can give every athlete–enthusiasts to pro–personalized insights around hydration strategies that could improve performance, recovery, and even sleep.
Nix integrates with Garmin bike computers and watches, Android devices, and Apple watches.
If your dad enjoys his spirits of choice from time to time then YETI’s flask and shot glasses are the perfect compliment for an after ride gathering. The 7-ounce flask and 1.7 ounce shot glass set are rugged yet substantial. When not in use, the four shot glasses fit into a capped storage container.
Order now and Yeti will cover the cost of shipment. Depending on your location, that could be a substantial savings
This multisport watch is equipped for whatever activities dad fancies. Of course it can track cycling, but it can do so much. With an extended battery life, fine-tuned heart rate sensor, and a litany of data, dad can know everything from how long he spent in REM sleep to whether his body has sufficient recovery to tackle the next ride effort. Off the bike, the watch features a hands-free flashlight that’s handy, especially when camping and the solar edition recharges from the sun so that’s one less cord dad will need to pack for his weekend adventure.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers were handed their first preseason loss of the year. On Saturday night, the Steelers fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 17-14. A preseason loss or win doesn’t mean much, but how the young players performed does. Early in the game, Steelers rising outside linebacker Nick Herbig suffered a soft tissue injury. With Alex Highsmith’s groin injury also lingering, this now could mean that rookie Jack Sawyer might be thrust into more opportunities than originally expected. One of the most respected NFL Draft analysts, Jon Ledyard, watched the Buccaneers versus Steelers game on Sunday and revealed some concerning updates about Sawyer’s game tape. While Sawyer displayed flashes of his strength and relentless motor, the tape also exposed areas of inconsistency in his technique. The analyst pointed out that Sawyer struggled to disengage from blockers on a few critical snaps and at times looked a step behind in recognizing run plays. For a defense that relies heavily on outside linebacker depth to keep constant pressure on quarterbacks, those mistakes stand out quickly. "Missed the Steelers-Bucs game live last night, so re-watching now," Ledyard shared to his X followers on Sunday morning. "Difference between [Nick] Herbig off the ball and [Jack] Sawyer off the ball is like watching a different sport. Steelers better pray Herbig and [Alex] Highsmith are good to go Week 1." Despite the concerning breakdown, the Steelers remain high on Sawyer’s upside. There has also been positive news about the rookie. He has the physical tools and raw talent that made him such a popular rookie among fans when Pittsburgh drafted him. With Herbig and Highsmith both dealing with injuries, Sawyer could find himself in line for more immediate snaps during the preseason and potentially into the regular season. The next couple of weeks will be crucial for him to clean up his technique, prove he can handle the added responsibility and show coaches that he’s ready to step into a bigger role if called upon. It seems that several pundits were not very high on Sawyer's showing Saturday night. Now, it's still early for the fourth-round prospect. He will surely continue to watch the tape and improve as he continues to adjust to the NFL level. Sawyer recorded just one tackle, and while he has put out some troubling tape over the first two preseason games, it is not enough to truly cause concern. If anything, it is reflective of a fourth-round pick still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL. The transition from college to the professional level is never easy, and Sawyer was a fourth-rounder in the eyes of many teams for a reason. He has the tools to develop, but it may simply take time for him to find his rhythm and consistency. Steelers Likely To Need Jack Sawyer In 2025 The silver lining for Sawyer is that the injuries at outside linebacker will give him a real chance to build momentum. With both Herbig and Highsmith sidelined, even temporarily, the Steelers will need depth and fresh legs at the position. Sawyer will have opportunities to get on the field and show progress, but he will need to sharpen his technique and improve quickly if he hopes to make a legitimate impact in his rookie season. The reality is that if Herbig and Highsmith do not return swiftly from their soft tissue injuries, the Steelers' outside linebacker group could be in a difficult spot. Soft tissue issues are unpredictable and can linger anywhere from days to months, making recovery timelines uncertain. That uncertainty puts added pressure on Sawyer, who suddenly finds himself facing a pivotal stretch early in his NFL career.
HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders began the preseason with a record of 0-1-1 after losing to their former Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, last night. I had the opportunity to review the film today, as did Pete Carroll. After discussing it with him, several observations emerged that can only be made with the clarity of hindsight. In our latest episode of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast, we take you to today’s joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers to highlight specific players who had standout performances, those who faced challenges, and those who may have secured a spot on the roster. You can watch the entire podcast below: Pete Carroll’s leadership has been phenomenal for a franchise desperate for a winner. He has been the exact prescription the Raider Nation needed After watching the film of the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Carroll addressed several questions, and below is a partial transcript of his responses. Head Coach Pete Carroll Q: I was curious on what your thoughts are on the play of your linebackers and your quarterbacks last night? Head Coach Pete Carroll: "Thought the linebackers were really downhill, really aggressive, flashy. I really liked the way those guys played. I thought we took a step forward in the run game and just attacking line of scrimmage like we want to. We played to the nature of our players, I thought, which is really good because we're aggressive in the tackling, and that showed up. Geno [Smith] was on the money. He was right on everything. Tempo was good. I thought Aidan [O'Connell] continued to little bit -- we're not quite as fast when he's playing. We don't play as quick from huddle to the snap, still trying to work that out. And he made a poor choice on the throw for the pick, unfortunately. It was a crucial time, that was tough. Just the guy was covered, and if he had to it throw away or take off, we would have preferred that." Q: I wanted to ask you about Geno Smith. Back when the two of you were in Seattle when he was playing backup to Russell Wilson, was there ever a time or a moment in practice or in the meeting room where you kind of had this idea that, if given the opportunity like he has the last few years he was in Seattle, now in Las Vegas, that he can be this quality star? Was there ever a moment when he was a backup under Russell that kind of gave you that idea that Geno had that potential? Coach Carroll: "Yeah, I think it was probably in the middle of those first couple of years, and you'd just see him maintain the competitive edge because it's kind of hard to believe that a guy could compete like he's going to play. What I keep telling you is the very next play, he knew he could be in. He seemed like he held onto that long enough, I sensed that and respected that. And his arm talent was always there, the ability to throw and rip the ball, so I was cheerleading for him. And that's kind of when he finally got his chance, I might have been his biggest cheerleader because he had waited and deserved it, and he came in and played really well and almost won a game that way, and then played well the next couple weeks. That was, at the time, when he finally got his chance, and he got out there, he demonstrated it, but you could sense it earlier than that just because he was so dedicated and he looked so good in practice all the time." Q: Obviously your offensive line has been performing well, but there's a clear drop off between the first and second team. How concerned are you about that second string offensive line? Coach Carroll: "Well, we're just so young on the second group. It's just going to take time. We feel like we move well. We have good movement by the young guys. They get out of their stance, and they get on people well. We're just not as accurate with our calls. We're not as clear with our technique stuff, but that takes time. And so I'm not worried about that. Athletically, we're okay, and we just need to find our consistency, and that's just going to take time. They won't play all at the same time very often. They'll spot in, and they'll have the benefit of experienced guys making calls around them and helping them play better. And so I think that the individual development is pretty good. As a group, they're still learning. That's going to take a bit." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Pete Carroll’s comments.
Earlier this summer, the Boston Celtics parted with the entirety of their center rotation for the 2024-25 season. They traded away Kristaps Porzingis and allowed Luke Kornet to leave via free agency, and while Al Horford is yet to sign with a new team, he isn't expected to return to Boston. With three bigs leaving in the same summer, Neemias Queta appears to have jumped from being the fourth-string big last season into the starting center role for the 2025-26 NBA season. And as the franchise is in a retooling year, it will likely try to develop the 7-foot rim-runner. Fortunately for Celtics fans, they're going to get a solid look at how Queta deals with starter-level minutes against high-level opponents in the coming weeks. The 26-year-old big man is with the Portuguese national team, where he will likely anchor the middle of the floor throughout the FIBA EuroBasket tournament. On Friday, Queta suited up against Iceland as part of Portugal's warmup schedule. He earned 14 minutes of playing time and quickly filled the box score, ending the contest with 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block. Queta has shown flashes of his upside since joining the Celtics. He played in 62 games last season despite being fourth on the depth chart. He's already proven that he's capable of making an impact against NBA-level opposition. However, there's a difference between earning some spot starts or making a splash against second units and to being a full-time starter. Queta will undoubtedly find himself working through a new learning experience, especially deep into the season, when games start to come at you fast. Fortunately for Queta and Celtics fans, the EuroBasket tournament will serve as a reliable proving ground. He will face some of the best bigs in the world this summer and could quickly squash any concerns Boston's fanbase may have. And with that in mind, Celtics fans will likely hope that Queta's performance against Iceland was a sign of things to come.
The Indiana Fever have been dealt several bad hands throughout the season, under head coach Stephanie White. Indiana has played a majority of the season without Caitlin Clark due to injury and they recently received news that Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson would be out for the rest of the season with injuries of their own. While Clark and a few other members of the backcourt have been out, Sophie Cunningham and several other stars have taken over. On Friday, the Fever were dealt an unfortunate loss, losing to the Washington Mystics 88-84. Cunningham shared a solution for the Fever after they lost back-to-back games. "Not a lot of teams can beat us," Cunningham said. "For us it’s just remembering who we are. Got to get back to being dogs. Got to get back to being on our front foot. Not allowing teams to come in here and outwork us." The Indiana Fever have clearly proven that they are championship contenders, but injuries have plagued their season. Throughout the 2025 season, Caitlin Clark has posted 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. All pressure lies on Sophie Cunningham and other stars on the team, but the Fever guard made it clear that as long as Indiana stays within their identity, they should find success. Cunningham has been strong for the Fever during her first season with the team, averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. She stars alongside Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard and others while Clark is on the sideline.