555 miles in 48 hours? Hank has done his fair share of challenges over the years on GCN, but this might be his most important! Raising money in memory of rugby legend Doddie Weir, to improve the lives of those living with MND & for vital research to take place. In the past, we’ve tried to break Hank, but this is a challenge where we’re cheering him & the team on all the way to Edinburgh!
From LompocRecord.com
Portions of the Santa Barbara County state highway system will be lined with cyclists during the annual Solvang Century Bike Ride on Saturday, March 4, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The non-competitive race features as many as 1,000 cyclists taking part in one of three different race routes — a 52-mile route, 68-mile route, and 101-mile route. Each route uses sections of Highway 1, State Route 135 and State Route 246 in the Buellton, Lompoc, Orcutt, and Los Alamos areas.
While no road, lane or shoulder closures are permitted during the event, according to Caltrans District 5 officials, signage along the routes informing the public will be visible.
Since our last community meeting in December of 2021, the team has been refining the project elements, and specifically the design for the bicycle facility.
Alex & Manon are joined by guest Samuele from Pirelli for a bike tire special on this week’s GCN Tech Show. We ask Sam everything we didn’t know about tires in this deep dive into one of your bike’s most important parts! We’ve also got news of new bikes from Pinarello, an extended version of Manon’s Comments of the Week rap, and, as always, we rate your Bike Vault submissions!
From CyclingWeekly.com
What makes a saddle good for gravel riding and should you consider one? We asked bike fit professionals to find out
BY
Gravel bikes are more popular than ever. In 2022, gravel bike sales shot up 109% from 2021, and popular gravel races like Unbound Gravel saw an increase of 1,400 registrants in the same period.
There’s no denying it: gravel is continuing to take the cycling world by storm.
With sky-high gravel bike sales comes a new frontier of gravel-related questions, like how a gravel bike fit differs from a road bike fit, if gravel-specific cycling shoes are necessary and for today’s consideration: if gravel-specific saddles are warranted.
There are countless saddle models on the market specifically designed for everything from beach cruisers to the most aerodynamic time trial bikes. And that’s because each riding position and each body has varying requirements in finding a comfortable saddle.
Image courtesy of Selle Italia
From PasadenaNow.com
BY KEITH CALAYAG
Picture the Arroyo Seco Parkway devoid of zooming cars, and instead filled with hordes of cyclists and pedestrians for a few hours.
It might sound like a radical concept, but it’s one that’s been realized before, and a local organization is planning to bring it back later this year.
Back in 2003, Professor Robert Gottlieb of Occidental College took the initiative to organize the inaugural ArroyoFest.
For the event, the Pasadena freeway was temporarily closed to cars, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to take over the major thoroughfare that links Pasadena and Downtown L.A, The Eastsider reported.
Fast forward to the present day, and the non-profit organization ActiveSGV is working to organize the second iteration of ArroyoFest, which will take place this October – provided they obtain the necessary permits.
“This would be the first since the original event in 2003,” said Special Programs Director with ActiveSGV, Wesley Reutimann said.
Six race days, five wins. Tadej Pogačar is on a tear in 2023, taking his career victories total past 50… and he’s still only 24 years old! How does he compare to past greats and are we now living in the age of Pog? Dan also rounds up the week’s action from the Algarve, Andalucia, the virtual world & more, as well as looking ahead to the cobbled classics, which are just FIVE days away!
From BikeRadar.com
A step-by-step guide to getting your bike into the air
By Nick Clark
The bunny hop is a useful mountain biking skill that can get you out of trouble, keep you moving forwards at speed and help you clear big jumps better.
The technique is also the foundation of learning how to jump, and will enable you to get airborne from features along the trail.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to pull off the smoothest, highest and most controlled hop.
Sometimes called the ‘American bunny hop’, bunny hopping involves getting the front wheel up first, then springing up and ‘scooping’ the rear wheel behind you (similar to an ollie on a skateboard).
It takes plenty of practice to perfect, but is a skill that all riders will benefit from learning.
The so-called ‘English bunny hop’ relies on using your clipless pedals to pull up both front and rear wheels simultaneously.
While this is a useful technique for jumping small obstacles on the trail, we’re going to focus here on learning the former, which can be done with either clipless or flat pedals. While it takes a little extra practice, it’s much more effective.
The first and most important thing to master is the pumped manual.
To start, coast at a steady pace with your cranks level and your forearms low. This position is usually referred to as the attack position.
Compress your suspension by quickly sinking your body and hips into the bike. This short burst of energy will prime your suspension, ready for it to spring the front end into the air.
Photo by Ashley de Lotz on Unsplash
From Spectrumnews1.com
Embarcadero, San Diego, Calif.
The Bayshore Bikeway, where brisk ocean waves meet the bike ride of your dreams. If you want to get to know San Diego’s very own little island of Coronado, then hop on a bike and head to the Bayshore Trail. Beginning at The Coronado Ferry Landing and continuing for a full 9-miles to Imperial Beach, this path includes a ride past the legendary Hotel Del Coronado and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Stop for some great views you don’t want to miss.
Long Beach Shoreline Marina and 54th Place and East Ocean Boulevard
Glide and ride along the water’s edge at the Long Beach Shoreline Bike path. This 3.1 mile scenic trail gives cyclists direct views of the Pacific Ocean and the city’s popular ships anchored in the outer harbor.
Riverside
Next is the popular Mount Rubidoux Trail, scaling just west of downtown in the city of Riverside. The 3.2-mile loop trail is a paved road, making it a beautiful place for a leisurely walk or ride. Mount Rubidoux Trail has also been designated as a city park and landmark, dating back to 1906. At the top, visitors are treated to panoramic views of local mountain ranges and even more historical attractions that the city has to offer.
Photo by Dário Gomes on Unsplash
Was cycling better back in the day? The likes of the Giant MCR, Lotus 110 and Pinarello Espada pushed the boundaries of bike design, we didn’t have the same obsession with data and aero everything, and Tom Last was a GCN presenter too! Si and Dan discuss the top cycling trends they want to see make a comeback, as well as bringing you all your other favourite GCN Show segments.
