The Weekly Spin: TdF Femmes Drama, 13-Speed Leaks, and 32-Inch Wheels

August is in full swing, which means our weekend club runs are full of lively post-ride debates and our afternoons are spent stealthily catching up on race highlights while pretending to check emails. The cycling world has been in overdrive this week. From frantic Grand Tour finishes and tantalising tech leaks to a sharp reminder of why supporting local bike shops matters, there is plenty to catch up on before your next café stop.

Here is a quick summary of the top five stories you need to know.

1. Tour de France Femmes: Vollering Claims Yellow

What a finish in Nice! Demi Vollering secured her second Tour de France Femmes title after an absolute thriller of a final weekend. The closing stages delivered high-tension racing, with a controversial tactical dispute with Kasia Niewiadoma having comment sections debating peloton etiquette for days. Watching the women battle up the Col d'Èze was a magnificent reminder of why women's Grand Tour racing is delivering some of the most exciting sport on television right now.

2. Is Shimano 13-Speed on the Horizon?

If there is one thing we middle-aged amateurs love more than riding, it is endlessly speculating
about gear. A retailer slip-up briefly listed a new wheelset featuring an unreleased "Shimano 13-speed" freehub option before the page was quietly pulled offline. Naturally, Reddit and  tech forums erupted. Does this mean another freehub standard upgrade to navigate, or is 13-speed the sweet spot that will finally make single-ring (1x) road setups mainstream?

3. The 32-Inch Wheel Debate Goes Mainstream

Just when we thought wheel sizes had finally settled, Salsa officially launched an all-new 32-inch wheel gravel bike. Advocates promise unmatched rollover speed and comfort across rough terrain, which sounds very tempting for tired lower backs. Skeptics, however, are calling it pure marketing-driven standard creep. Whether it is a genuine game-changer or a solution looking for a problem, it has certainly reignited the great wheel size debate.

4. The UCI's "Aero Bra Padding" Ban

The UCI's endless crusade against aerodynamic "morphological hacks" hit a bizarre new chapter this week. Following complaints about riders using oversized bra padding to smooth chest airflow during time trials, race officials introduced pre-race kit checks. You truly couldn't script it, proof that pro teams will look for marginal gains in literally any corner imaginable.

5. A Reality Check for Local Bike Shops

On a more sobering note, news broke that Raleigh’s parent company filed an intention for UK administration, alongside the announcement that Bristol’s iconic 32-year-old Mud Dock bike shop is closing its doors. It is a stark reminder of the current financial strain across the cycling industry, and a great excuse to buy your next chain, inner tube, or mid-ride espresso from your local independent bike shop.

Over to You

Are you interested in 13-speed drivetrains, or are you completely content with your current setup? 

And more importantly, would you ride 32-inch wheels on your next gravel ride? Let me know in the comments below!