Created for lightweight road or gravel bikes, absoluteBLACK is calling the Aethers the lightest tubeless valve that exists. There is more to these valves than just the lack of weight: They also use an interesting core design.But come on. 2g carbon fiber tubeless valves? You know you already want them!absoluteBLACK Aether carbon composite tubeless valves(All photos/absoluteBLACK)Despite their featherweight construction, absoluteBLACK says the Aether valves maintain everyday durability. Their carbon-reinforced polymer composite construction offers lower density than aluminum, but also allows for more design freedom. Shapes that would be difficult to make with CNC machines are possible with the composite construction. Without getting too specific, absoluteBLACK says their method allows for more refined internal geometry. And the valves seals are made from traditional rubber, to ensure reliable air retention.Partly to keep weight to a minimum, the Aether valves use a bottom-sealing mechanism instead of a traditional valve core. This design was inspired by an early valve design from way back in 1915. This keeps the internal valve design simpler, provides a larger air channel to reduce clogging, and offers a more direct internal air path. Rest assured, these valves are fully compatible with normal Presta pump heads, and with all rims drilled for Presta valves.absoluteBLACK points out that the Aether valves were not specifically designed for increased airflow vs. traditional valves (as several MTB tubeless valves have trended towards recently). So, likely youd expect pretty standard airflow. Instead, these are intended for weight savings at the wheels, incrementally reducing rotating mass where it matters most.Real weights of 2.6g or 3.1g with valve capsTwo lengths are available. One for 18-30mm rim depths, and one for 30-50mm deep rims. The shorter size weighs just 2.6g, including the valve cap, and the longer option hits the scale at a mere 3.1g. The construction of these valves is patent-pending. And the external design is already protected by patents. MSRP is $29.95 per pair, which seems like a surprisingly good value for what might just be the Worlds Lightest tubeless valves!absoluteBLACK.ccThe post Worlds Lightest? absoluteBLACKs 2g Aether Carbon Tubeless Valves Shave Grams appeared first on Bikerumor.

An emergency motion to only allow safer trucks in the city centre was agreed by a full meeting of Dublin City Council at the councillors April 2026 meeting, but the latest update on the issue outlines how council officials want to discuss the issue further at the citys mobility committee meeting after the Summer. The update to committee members was provided ahead of the next committee meeting, which is to take place next week. The motion called for Dublin City Council to require all Heavy Goods Vehicles applying for a vehicle permit to enter the citys 5-axle area restriction area to have a minimum one-star Direct Vision Standard rating in 2027, and rising progressively every year until a five-star rating is required in 2031 and onwards.The motion was in response to the death of 27-year-old Johnny Santos Xavier De Abreu, who was killed on April 1st after only three weeks in the country. The Brazilian student was cycling an electric bike at the corner of Middle Abbey Street and OConnell Street when a driver of a cement mixer was turning left. Most cement mixers are 4-axle, so are excluded from the 5-axle ban regulations (see map of ban area below). The motion said that the star rating was to be calculated using the same system used for Heavy Goods Vehicles in London, although any system in Ireland is more likely to follow the EUs General Safety Regulations, which is a similar system. In cities, a disproportionatelylarge number of fatal left-hook turns involve trucks, often involving blind spots or zones where people cycling are obscured from the view of truck drivers. A similar issue happens with pedestrians, including those walking close to the front of trucks.The package of direct vision and related measures consists of improved mirrors, cameras, and sometimes glass in the lower part of truck doors. The screens for cameras with wider or lower views are placed within the passenger-side mirrors line of sight, and alert systems are sometimes used as well.The EUs General Safety Regulation requires direct vision measures for all trucks sold after 2024. London takes a proactive approach and requires older trucks entering most of the city to be retrofitted.As reported last month, Brendan OBrien, head of the councils transport department, said he welcomed the motion, but said that using the permit system for larger HGVs to drive into the city centre would limit the direct vision requirement to 5-axle trucks, and only in little more than the city centre, compared to the London system that applies to most of Greater London.He said the council wants to make sure that the trucks that are using our city are as safe as possible, but that the suggestion, as written in the motion, would only affect a small proportion of trucks. In an update to the committee, OBrien repeated his concerns about the limit of the motion and said: Within the EU the relevant legislation is the Vehicle General Safety Regulations, which set out the requirements for the different types of vehicles. Since July 2024, all new HGVS have had to be fitted with blind spot detection, and approximately 20% of HGV permit applications are from HGVs which are covered by this regulation.He added: As this is a complicated area of EU regulation, it is proposed to have a discussion on this issue at the September SPC [committee meeting], where we will invite an expert on HGV regulations to present on the current state of EU safety requirements for HGVs.Responding to this, Cllr Ray Cunningham (Greens), who proposed the motion, said: I welcome the chance to discuss this in more detail at the SPC meeting. I would argue that the limited area and time period covered by the permit scheme should not be seen as a blocker to moving forward.HGV owners will want the capacity to deliver to all locations at all times, so the requirements we set will have a broad reach. I would also argue that sensors are not a substitute for direct vision, and only 20% of vehicles having sensors is plainly inadequate, he said. He added: Finally, we have to ask if the existing permit scheme is adequately enforced? I have a council question in June on the number of permits applied for, and Roderic OGorman is asking a question on my behalf about the number of vehicles without permits that were issued with penalty notices.IMAGE: Generic file photo of a large HGV.

The Giro dItalia is not only shaped by attacks in the mountains and sprint finishes on the road, but also by the decisions made behind the scenes by the race commissaires. Across three weeks of racing between 8 May and 31 May, fines, time penalties, relegations, and other sanctions can quickly infl...

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Rs Tailteann 2026 Stage 2 ReportStage 2 of the 2026 Rs Tailteann delivered one of the toughest and most dramatic days of the race as the riders tackled the demanding route from Rathmore to Banteer through the mountainous roads of Kerry and Cork. The stage featured iconic terrain including the Caha Pass, Tunnel Road and Cougane Gap, with repeated attacks splitting the race throughout the day. The harsh climbs and relentless pace quickly reduced the peloton, with small groups forming and reforming over the exposed roads. Riders fought not only for the stage victory but also for control of the general classification as gaps began to open on the major ascents.As the race entered the closing kilometres into Banteer, the leading selection had been heavily reduced after a long day of aggressive racing. The finale came from a select front group of 6 riders rather than a full bunch sprint, reflecting the attritional nature of the stage and the damage done by the terrain.British rider Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli claimed victory on Stage 2 after surviving the decisive attacks and producing the strongest finish from the elite lead group. The result also reshaped the overall standings as Adam Lewis of APS Pro Cycling now leads the race by 34s over Tim Shoreman in second place.Rs TailteannStage 2 Photos by Lorraine OSullivan [See image gallery at www.irishcyclingnews.com] Results Rs Tailteann

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Rs Tailteann 2026 Stage 3 ReportStage 3 of the 2026 Rs Tailteann brought a fast and tactical day of racing from Mitchelstown to Enniscorthy, with the peloton covering over 155 kilometres across Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. After the brutal climbing of Stage 2, the tempo remained aggressive from the flag drop as teams looked to control the race ahead of the technical finale into Enniscorthy. The stage featured repeated attacks and several attempts to establish a successful breakaway, but the pace in the bunch stayed consistently high. Crosswinds and rolling terrain stretched the peloton at various points, while general classification contenders remained alert after the time gaps created on the previous stage.As the riders approached Enniscorthy, positioning became critical on the narrow and technical roads leading toward the uphill drag to the finish. Sprint teams and GC riders battled intensely for control entering the final kilometres, with the front of the race heavily reduced by the pace and constant accelerations.Liam Flanagan of APS Pro Cycling powered to victory on Stage 3 after timing his effort perfectly on the uphill finish in Enniscorthy from a reduced leading group of 17 riders. The selective finale produced important time gaps and further reshaped the overall standings heading into the decisive mountain stages later in the race. Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli now wears the leaders yellow jersey after his victory yesterday and second place finish today.Rs Tailteann Stage 3 Photos by Lorraine OSullivan [See image gallery at www.irishcyclingnews.com] Results Rs Tailteann