Cycling

Short survey asks for your experiences of sharing the road with cars

Rider gives thumbs-up to Avon & Somerset Constabulary as it proves determination to stamp out bike theft read more

Bike To Work, Bike At Work from East Side Compost Pedallers on Vimeo. I really dig this video out of Austin, Texas of the East Side Compost Pedallers. I worked for a similar organization in Indy at my last job, except we delivered organic groceries instead of picking up the scraps…and we did it in gas-guzzling vans instead of carbon-nuetral bikes. Regardless, the program seems to be a success and it’s great to see bikes put to work in such a synergistic manner. And hey, if you’re in the Austin area, they seem to be hiring!

Video highlights world class trails in inaugural event

Photo submitted by Joe Garcia, “This picture was taken at Santiago Oaks Regional Park located in Orange County, Ca.”

Robert Gesink's GC hopes faded in the Giro's mountain stages last weekend, but he's still shooting for a top-10 result. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.comMORI, Italy (VN) — Robert Gesink (Blanco) is racing to set his Giro d’Italia right after a rocky few days. The tall, blond Dutchman began with hopes of a podium, maybe even a win, just over two weeks ago in Naples. Now his goal is placing in the top 10. “I had a really a bad day on the Jafferau climb [in stage 14] and after losing four minutes, I’d just settle on a top 10,” Gesink told VeloNews Wednesday. “To achieve that in all three grand tours would be something.” Gesink boasts a Tour de France fifth place and two Vuelta a España sixth places in his palmarès. Ahead of today’s mountain time trial from Mori to Polsa above Lake Garda, he sits 10th at 7:24 behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). He spoke of a podium finish while sitting with 2012 champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the race start in Naples. Hesjedal and Wiggins have since abandoned and Gesink has suffered his own problems. On the stage to Jafferau, Gesink lost time to his competitors and slipped behind by 4:16. Before that, he was within reach of third place with Rigoberto Urán (Sky). Having already raced the Tour and Vuelta several times, Gesink finds the Giro difficult. “The race has had spectacular stages every day. The only day that seemed normal was when Cavendish won [stage 6 in Margherita di Savoia],” Gesink said. “The rest of the days, the organizer always seems to find a climb to put in the final.” Gesink took in the day’s sun, but looked up to see what was rolling in. He said if the weather forces the upcoming mountain stages to be canceled, he will have a hard time winning a stage. A top 10, though, remains on his radar. Kelderman ‘learning a lot’ Blanco swings more of its might toward 22-year-old Wilco Kelderman. Last year, the young Dutchman debuted strongly in the professional ranks. He won the white jersey in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Amgen Tour of California, placing eighth and seventh overall. “Wilco is good,” Gesink said as Kelderman adjusted his helmet. “He doesn’t have to, but he listens to me. He tries to learn from my mistakes and has a lot of power. He’ll go far.” Added Kelderman: “I’m learning a lot from him in my first grand tour. He’s already had a lot of top 10s in these races.” Kelderman spoke quietly and in short phrases. On the bike, however, he is aggressive. Blanco gave him free reign on stage 15 to Galibier and the following stage, after the rest day. He failed to win both, but he gained experience that will serve him well when he leads a grand tour team. “There’s not a goal to reach a certain placing this year, it’s more to help Robert,” Kelderman said. “As the year goes on, I want to have more top 10s in races like the Tour de Romandie. Just to keep improving every year.” An eye on the sky Gesink looked over Kelderman’s shoulder to the horizon and the Alps. Over the next few days, the race heads upwards for its final test. Not only will Gesink try to secure his top-10 finish — Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale) trails him by just 10 seconds — but he will also aim for a stage win. “A stage win is within reach,” Gesink said. “I just have to hope snow does not force the stages to be canceled.”

Emma Way, the trainee accountant who knocked a Norwich sportive rider off his bike and then boasted about it on Twitter, has apologised. “It was a spur of the moment, stupid tweet,” the 21-year-old told ITV. “I didn’t realise it would ever escalate to this.”On Sunday, after knocking Toby Hockley into a hedge during the Boudicca Sportive, Way tweeted: “Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier – I have right of way he doesn’t even pay road tax! #bloodycyclists”Asked what she would say to Hockley if he were in front of her, she said: “If I did cause any damage to him I would obviously apologise but I didn’t feel him even touch my car … If I knew that he was hurt I would never have driven off. If I could take back doing that tweet I would, you know my whole career is at risk now, and any damage caused to the cyclist.”The firm where she works have suspended her, she said, the contract “now possibly over”. Hockley, although he laughed off the incident with friends in the immediate aftermath, said he was lucky to be alive after Way’s tweet attracted national attention. Norfolk Police are still investigating the incident.

Halo’s unique street tyre has been around for a while, with a lot of very loyal users – and more recent fixie fans – who love its combination of longevity, straightline speed and colours. The Twin Rail name comes from the fact that it uses two raised centre strips rather than a single one, but it still goes well in a straight line once you’ve heaved the hefty weight up to speed, and the big carcass and thick tread pay back in terms of puncture, pothole and general wear and tear resistance. They come in black, white, green, pink, purple and black/skinwall colour options and a dual-compound black/grey, which is the version to go for if you’re after grip in the wet.This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Built in light + GPS and Bluetooth connectivity, all from your cockpit read more