2022 has been yet another whirlwind year. We saw many cycling events and races return after a year or two away. The pandemic bike boom had massive ups and downs. This was also the first full calendar year since TPC merged with The Radavist, allowing us to bring you even more great magazine and video content through their lens. (Check them out if you haven't!)
TPC published over 200 new stories this year. That’s a lot! But of course, some got more attention than others. Without further ado, here’s a snapshot of our five most popular stories of 2022, plus five editor’s picks.
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The Top 5 Stories of 2022
1. Road Bikes Vs. Gravel Bikes: 6 Key Differences
This was far and away our most read story of the year, beating out second place with over 15% more readers. It makes a lot of sense. I wrote this piece because road vs. gravel is actually the most common question we get asked. For many riders, it’s the first major decision when buying a new bike. If everyone read this they wouldn’t have to ask!
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2. 10 Gravel Bikes You Should Know
Gravel again! This should come as no surprise since gravel is the fastest growing discipline in cycling. This story covers the top 10 modern gravel bikes that I think are worth riding or spending your money on. Of course, these are my personal picks, and since I limited it to 10, I had to omit some bikes. That clearly got some commenters a bit hot under the collar!
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3. Best-Selling Bikes of 2022 (So Far)
This is the type of story that is truly unique to TPC. Since we’re the world’s biggest seller of pre-owned bikes, we carry more brands and models than anyone. This means we can easily compare sale numbers to see what’s hot and what’s not. We updated our findings every quarter, and it seems that readers liked finding out what bikes were climbing the leaderboards. (Check back during the last week of the year to see the final rankings!)
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4. How To Tune Shifting, Index Bike Gears, or Fix a Derailleur in One Step
Rear derailleur indexing is one of the simplest and most useful drivetrain adjustments, but not enough riders know what it is or how to use it! This “how to” story (and video) explains what indexing is, and how to adjust it to get your rear derailleur feeling fast and crisp with every shift. It’s super easy to do at home, even if you know nothing about fixing bikes.
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5. Trail Ready: The Best Beginner Mountain Bikes
If you’re new to mountain biking, searching for your first bike can feel like learning a foreign language. This short guide breaks down the absolute basics of what to look for and how much to spend so new riders can (hopefully) keep things simple. It also includes a few of my picks for the best beginner mountain bike models which will provide a solid starting point for any rider.
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Editor’s Picks: My 5 Favorite Stories of 2022
The Stunning, Wildly Underrated Tour du Rwanda
If there’s a place where cycling media tends to have a blind spot, it’s Africa. But with Rwanda set to host the 2025 UCI World Championships, things are beginning to change. James Stout recently spent time in this beautiful country riding with up-and-coming racers and watching the hotly contested Tour du Rwanda. In his estimation, it's a real hidden gem and it represents the future of African cycling.
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Geno Villafano Is the Internet's King of Ride Finds
I didn’t follow Geno before reading this. My life isn’t “better” now that I do. But it’s certainly more interesting. The quick summary is that Geno documents the random roadside food that he discovers on his rides. He often eats it. I find it gross, a bit funny, and definitely entertaining. Hayden Coplen was similarly intrigued and got in contact to find out what exactly is going on in Geno’s weird curly head.
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What an ER Nurse Packs for MTB Adventures
I’m the type of rider that gets caught out on a ride without the proper tools and spares. But with some multi-day backcountry adventures in my future, I’ve started tightening up my ride kit. The one place where I really don’t want to be lacking is first aid. As luck would have it, Micah Ling got tips for putting together the ultimate first aid kit from an ER nurse who also lives and rides in Salida, one of Colorado’s MTB hotspots. I’m ready for anything now!
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Does 3D Printing Matter for the Average Cyclist?
I’m young(ish), but I’m not exactly up to speed with this whole 3D printing thing all the kids are into. Fortunately, David Shultz took notes in class so we don’t have to. (It turns out that the cool kids call it “additive manufacturing.”) He covers how 3D printing works, why it’s so groundbreaking, and how it might change bike manufacturing. As a layman, this story was illuminating, and it got me super excited about the future of bikes.
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What It's Like to Ride the Colorado Trail
Sometimes you just want to read about an epic sufferfest to get inspired. I’ve known and ridden with Seth for years and often thought we were well matched. This year though, he took a massive leap forward by conquering the 500+ mile Colorado Trail Race in 6 days. He explains what it took, from eating every 20 minutes to sleeping only 5 hours a night. Needless to say, I’m in awe, and I remember his story when I'm thinking about skipping training.
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