The Hollowtech crank recall is a nightmare for riders, shops and Shimano. How did we get here and what happens next?

From BikeRadar.com

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Shimano’s worldwide recall of 11-speed Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranksets now affects 2.8 million units globally.

The original recall was issued after a reported 4,519 incidents of cranksets delaminating in the US and Canada alone, resulting in six injuries.

The recall is set to have an enormous impact on riders, shops and Shimano itself – and it’s not off to a good start.

Muddled communications and unanswered questions have fostered an environment of confusion that Shimano will need to resolve. Bike shops are also frustrated by the expectation they will mop up the mess of an issue that’s been in the public eye for years.

BikeRadar first reported on this issue in April 2020. In that piece, we outlined the possible causes of the failure, which sees the two-part Hollowtech cranksets split in two, sometimes catastrophically.

Here, we analyse what happened in the hours following the announcement and what impact the recall will have on shops and riders.

We also examine the questions left unanswered by Shimano and speak to the man who has arguably done more than anyone else to bring this issue to light.

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West Hollywood adds bike repair stations

From BeverlyPress.com

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West Hollywood will soon add a component to support its bicycle sharing program, which the council hopes will improve conditions for riders. Bike repair stations will be installed in the city, meaning flat tires, broken spokes and other bicycle malfunctions can be solved with a basic repair kit.

“People commuting through the city by bike should have access to stations where they can make minor bike repairs when necessary,” Councilman John Heilman said. “Installing these repair stations is important to address the needs of cyclists, in the same way we’ve installed electric charging stations for those driving electric cars.”

A similar program has already been implemented in Beverly Hills, with stations equipped with screwdrivers, various types of wrenches, tire levers and a bike pump.

“The city has installed two bike repair stations in Beverly Hills: one in the Third Street parking structure near the Farmers’ Market entrance and one in Beverly Gardens Park adjacent to the North Santa Monica Boulevard high-visibility bike lanes,” Beverly Hills transportation planner Jessie Holzer Carpenter said. “The bike repair stations provide publicly accessible tools for cyclists to make minor repairs to their bicycles, such as pumping tires and adjusting brakes. The feedback we have received from cyclists has all been positive – they have told the city that the tools make it easier to choose to bike instead of drive since they know they will have access to them if they need them.”

There would be two bicycle repair stations total in West Hollywood.

The program was spearheaded by Mayor Pro Tempore John Erickson, who tries to use green transportation options whenever possible.

Photo by Yaw Afari on Unsplash

 

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StreetLight Data Reveals Latest Bicycling Trends in Top 100 U.S. Cities

From PRWeb.com

Select findings from Bike Boom or Bust? Metro & Statewide U.S. Bicycle Activity Trends, include:

National Trends

  • Nationally, annual average daily bicycle trips per year grew a considerable 37% between 2019 through 2022. The biggest year-over-year (YoY) uptick was in 2020.
  • Biking activity in dense urban regions increasingly drove national trends. The top 100 metros increased their share of national bike activity, from 72% in 2019 to 77% in 2022.

State Trends

  • All of the top 10 U.S. states by population saw at least a 25% increase in biking activity between 2019 and 2022.
  • More than half of states saw average daily bicycle trips per year increase by at least 25% between 2019–2022.
  • The East Coast states of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware were the only states where bicycling activity grew by over 50%. North Carolina and Illinois ranked fourth and fifth for growth, respectively.

Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash

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9 Money Saving Tips For Cycling On A Budget

Top-level bikes, fancy kit and all sorts of accessories mean cycling can become very expensive. But it doesn’t need to be! Manon and Conor have 9 top tips and tricks for you to make cycling more budget friendly without losing any of the enjoyment. So, here’s how to stop wasting your money and have a great time riding your bike!

 

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L.A. Bike Fest

LA Bike Fest is BikeLA’s 2nd annual fundraiser and celebration of bike-minded people from daily commuters to weekend warriors and everyone in between.

As a Pedal-Powered Party, we encourage our attendees to ride to and from LA Bike Fest via the healthiest, happiest, most sustainable, and equitable transportation available – THE BICYCLE. Of course, we will provide a free bike valet, and the event is a hop, skip, and a roll away from the Chinatown Station for those who plan to ride first and last miles via Metro.​

The event is open to all ages, but you must be 21+ to be served beer. Speaking of beer, the first one is on us! Highland Park Brewery will have a bar in our designated area where additional beer can be purchased. For food, our friends at Highland Park Brewery will have a special menu (including a vegan option) also available for purchase. We’ll have music, a 360° photo booth, and our biggest online auction ever stacked with unique experiences, premium subscriptions, fabulous bike accessories, and much more donated by bike-friendly Angelenos and businesses. You could even win one of several brand-new e-bikes! Mark your calendars for when our online auction goes live the week of September 25th!

Check out LA Bike Fest 2022, where we successfully raised vital funds to CREATE a more Bikeable Los Angeles for everyone.

 

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