How Much Fitter Did I Get In 6 Weeks of Training for Flanders? We catch up with Cillian, our resident statistician here at GCN, as he trains with Wahoo SYSTM to tackle the Ronde Van Vlaanderen! With 20 gruellingly steep cobbled climbs and 160 kilometres of road ahead, the challenge is immense. So far, he’s been smashing it, but the question remains: will he be fully prepared for the Tour of Flanders next week?
By MADISON HART
The 38th annual five-day Redlands Bicycle Classic returns Wednesday, April 10, with new highlights like a junior race, more local riders, a time trial course around Lake Perris, an Onyx Summit road race and a record number of female racers.
“We’re always looking for new and exciting venues to challenge the racers,” race spokesperson Scott Welsh said.
More than 150 female racers will join this year’s classic, Welsh said.
The new races came to fruition this year, while the junior race — for youths under 18 — is something organizers have wanted to do for years, Welsh said. The hope if that the junior race can help mold young riders who might someday become professionals, he said.
From MomentumMag.com
In bustling bicycle-friendly cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam and many other cities worldwide, cycling is not just a mode of transportation; it’s a way of life. However, with the convenience, quality of life and health benefits of cycling come unique challenges, chief among them being the prevalence of theft, wear and tear, and inadequate bike parking facilities. In such environments, investing in an inexpensive “beater” bike for commuting emerges as a pragmatic solution to safeguarding against potential losses and inconveniences. And, really, seems a natural to help people from stressing too much about their bicycles while at work or play.
The Peril of Theft
One of the foremost concerns for cyclists in urban areas is the rampant theft of bicycles. Amsterdam, often hailed as a cycling paradise, like many urban centres around the world, also grapples with a high rate of bike theft. Despite the presence of large bike parking facilities that leave cyclists around the world in awe, security measures are just as lax as other areas, leaving bikes vulnerable to theft. The sad truth is that even the most robust locks cannot guarantee the safety of a valuable bike in such environments.
But that’s just the thing that Amsterdam and Copenhagen residents know but North Americans for the most part are still figuring out, many commuters opt for inexpensive “beater” bikes – sturdy, functional bicycles that serve their purpose without breaking the bank.
Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash
Rainbow Ronde? The Big GCN Tour of Flanders Preview The Tour of Flanders is a prestigious but brutal race, with sharp climbs and rough cobbled roads. Last year saw Tadej Pogacar and Lotte Kopecky ride to victory, but who will be the champion of the cobbles this time around? Dan and Si run through the race history and route ahead of De Ronde.
From MomentumMag.com
From USA.Streetsblog.org
Can sports cyclists and utility riders become a powerful coalition to make our streets better? This author argues they must.
This week, we’re bringing you an interview with former Bicycling Magazine editor and cycling journalism veteran Peter Flax, to talk about Flax’s new book, Live to Ride: Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle.” Flax and guest host Gersh Kuntzman, of Streetsblog NYC fame, dig into the reasons why so many of us love to spend time on two wheels, and why people on bikes from all backgrounds come together around the simple joy of pedaling — as well as how they might come together as advocates to build coalitions that win real policy change.
Peter Flax: I’m excited to be here because I have been a longtime fan of Streetsblog. I just feel like your outlet is a really important voice in bike culture.
Gersh Kuntzman: Let the record show that I did not tell him to say and that he’s not compelled to say that, but I appreciate it. So let’s just start with the big thesis of the book, which is basically that all of us riders have more in common than we might realize when it comes to addressing bicycling’s place in society. It’s hard for me to get my head around that because I don’t even really think about other cyclists when I’m on the road; I’m thinking about car drivers, and they’re the worst. So explain to me what your what you mean.
Is this bike the pinnacle of cycling engineering? Si thinks he’s found the ultimate bike… a vintage Pinarello Dyna, ridden in the Tour de France by climbing legend, José María Jiménez. Si tests this spectacular Pinarello Dyna against the latest Dogma to see whether his peak bike theory rings true.
From CyclingNews.com
Choosing the best bike brands is a tough ask. A quick brain dump here at Cyclingnews identified close to 100 different bike brands. There are some very large players, with global networks of bike shops. Others are niche, specialising in one type of bike. Some are so desirable and produce their bikes in such limited volumes that you’ll wait months or even years for a bike.
A local bike shop may not have in stock the bike that you’re interested in, while some of the best bike brands only sell direct over the internet. That makes it tough to narrow down your selection.
Fortunately, we get to ride many of the best road bikes and best gravel bikesavailable here at Cyclingnews, so we’re well positioned to help. Although we may not have ridden exactly the bike that you’ve shortlisted, and probably not in precisely the spec that you want, there are some brands the majority of whose products tend to score well in our reviews.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Join us for our 51st Los Angeles Open Streets Event: CicLAvia—Venice Blvd. This CicLAvia is presented by Metro. Click HERE for the map.
Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024 / Domingo 21 de abril 2024
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Connecting Palms, Mar Vista, and Venice.
Choosing the right size bike frame is essential when buying a new bicycle. Bike sizing guides can be confusing, but you don’t want to get the wrong size bike. Hank explains how bike frame size affects your riding position, and what measurements to focus on when picking a bike size.