News from Revel Bikes! Revel is going big with the El Jefe Grande, a titanium hardtail rolling on 32 wheels. The new El Jefe Grande is a supersized take on the OG El Jefe. The original Jefe has been a staple of Revels lineup since 2020 and can do everything from local singletrack to multi-week bikepacking routes.(Photos / Revel)Titanium is in Revels blood. The founding team launched Why Cycles back in 2016. They had a simple mission of a modern take on traditional titanium. Why Cycles merged with Revel around three years ago, in 2023. And the El Jefe Grande is the latest product of that lineage.Sea Otter ForeshadowingIf the bike looks familiar, you may have seen a 32 prototype at Sea Otter. It was there as part of Revels Concept Labs program. Revel says the production bike is a different animal, thanks to experimentation, more prototypes, and most importantly, a lot of riding. And Revel completely reworked the geometry to deal with the quirks of giant 32 hoops.Also, that Headtube ThoughI think the story here is the 3D-printed titanium head tube that is beautifully smooth-welded to the top and down tubes. This technique is a first for a production Revel. Big wheels can mean a short head tube being paired with a very long fork. This puts a long lever arm on the front of the frame.Revel says standard Ti welding techniques dont generally provide the strength needed there. Their printed head tube is ISO-tested beyond standard mountain bike requirements. And Revel claims its significantly stiffer, stronger, and more durable. It also allows cleaner cable routing, which is a nice bonus.El Jefe Grande GeoEl Jefe Grande Retail & DetailRetail: $3,499The El Jefe Grande is available as a frame only. Reservations open today. And a $500 deposit gets yours reserved now. Modern geometry, specifically for 32 wheelsInternal cable routingSliding dropouts with 17mm of adjustment for tuning wheelbase or running singlespeedUDH-compatible titanium dropouts, the same as other Revel Ti modelsPlenty of bottle and accessory mounts, five sets on every sizeA 3D-printed head tube, smooth-welded to the top and down tubes, a first for a production RevelThe frame is designed around a 100mm fork and comes in four sizes. Sizes medium through XL get 32 wheels in both front and rear. The small gets a mullet setup, with a 32 front and a 29 rear. A large frame weighs a claimed 4.76 lb (2.16 kg), and the complete bike as pictured weighs 24.9 lb (11.29 kg). Hit the link below to reserve your El Jefe Grande today.RevelBikes.com

A planning application for the Royal Canal Greenway between the Co Kildare border and just before the M50 at 12th Lock has been lodged with An Coimisin Pleanla, the national planning board.Fingal County Council has named the 8.1km project the Royal Canal Urban Greenway. The route will link areas of Dublin 15 for commuting trips, for example to and from Kildare and Dublin City, and also enable leisure and tourism trips from the River Liffey to the River Shannon. The planning permission has just been lodged, and, at the time of writing, the planning file has not yet been published on An Coimisin Pleanlas website. However, a notice has been published in a local newspaper, and the projects webpage was updated today with the following details.The council outlines that the Royal Canal Urban Greenway will run as a shared pedestrian and cycle route from the Kildare County Council boundary to Talbot Bridge at the Old Navan Road, where it will connect with the completed Ashtown Greenway.The route runs along and adjacent to the Royal Canal through west Dublin 15. The proposed development follows the Royal Canal corridor from the Fingal/Kildare County boundary in the west to Talbot Bridge at the Old Navan Road in the east. It passes through and serves the Clonsilla, Coolmine, Castleknock and Blanchardstown areas and connects with completed greenway infrastructure at both ends, the council said. The council said that the shared path will generally have a 4 m wide bituminous route surface from Talbot Bridge to Kennan Bridge on the Porterstown Road, a 34 m wide bituminous surface from Kennan Bridge to Hansfield Railway Bridge, and generally a 23 m wide unbound surface from Hansfield Railway Bridge to the Kildare County boundary at the eastern edge of Leixlip.The unbound inter-urban rural section in County Dublin will contrast with the bounded inter-urban sections between Maynooth and Leixlip and leading up to the Kildare/Dublin border.Unbounded surfaces, made of compacted stones and dust, are seen as more natural, but this surface tyep increases maintenance costs, increases surface-related inaccessibility and risk when maintenance is not carried out, and increases bicycle maintenance costs, especially for regular users. Unbounded surfaces are also seen as more environmentally friendly, as not just the runoff from the surfaces, but also parts of the surface can end up in canals. The first two sections will include parts with concrete cantilevered or raised boardwalks where required by local topography. A new bridge, called Quarry Bridge, a 30 metre single-span composite steel beam and concrete deck bridge, is planned to facilitate the route switching from the south side of the canal around Castleknock railway station to the north side of the canal where it will continue on that side to Co Kildare.An underpass is also planned beside Castleknock Station it will run from beside the station and beneath Castleknock Road on the southern side of Granard Bridge.The council said that the work is planned to include constructing embankments and retaining structures where required to stabilise ground conditions and support the greenway alignment.There are set to be three toucan signal-controlled crossings and one zebra crossing at road interfaces along the route, and lighting will be provided along the urban section, with west of Hansfield Railway Bridge remaining unlit. The council said the planning application includes removing two residential properties and associated ancillary structures near Hansfield Road to facilitate the greenway alignment and pocket park. The pocket park at Hansfield is planned to include a wildflower meadow, native hedgerow, informal play features, seating and associated landscaping.Access points which have been a contentious issue for residents associations, while seen as key to enabling active travel and better local access to train stations are not mentioned in the application summary, but improving boundary fences is. Ground-level adjustments are planned adjoining Delwood Park, including lowering the greenway and providing a 2 metre high timber palisade fence with anti-climb mesh, the council said.At the Brompton green area, the plans include provision of privacy planting and railings to supplement the existing boundary treatment. The update said that the application also includes landscape and reinstatement work, including removal of selected trees, hedgerows and vegetation where required, replacement planting, drainage, utilities, fencing, boundaries, signage, road markings, traffic signals, temporary compounds and construction access arrangements.IrishCycle.com will cover the details of the application further after it is published online. The final urban section of the Royal Canal Greenway between Dublin and the midlands to be progressed is the Dublin City Council section between Ashtown and Glasnevin/Phibsborough. This section is generally passable but needs upgrading. Waterways Ireland is also expected to make short-term improvements soon, ahead of other upgrades (more on this soon in another article). IMAGE: An artists impression graphic from the previous public consultation rounds which may or may not represent the current plan. Used for illustration only.

CyclistHow by women, for women brands are pushing the cycling clothing industry forwardAcross many sports, women feel short of suitable options: a survey of around 500 women by Womens Sports Store found that 82% of active women said sports products did not fit them properly.In cycling, some women are responding to the issue by creating their own performance apparel, challenging a market they see as treating womens clothing as an afterthought, with womens ranges often amounting to a more feminine version of mens kit: the shrink it and pink it approach.But with many established brands now offering extensive womens ranges and testing their kit on women, are by women, for women brands genuinely doing things differently?What is a by women, for women brand?Madbees is founded by two experienced triathletes who wanted to help women feel confident and empowered on their bikes and in their kit. MadbeesBy women, for women brands are women-founded brands that cater exclusively to women, or that started with women in mind, and whose founder is the target market. These have multiplied in the last decade, often emerging from frustration with the lack of well-designed, thoroughly tested womens cycling clothing and a desire to build products around womens own ideas of what cycling kit could and should be. The result can be new products, or redesigned versions of known products, often with more inventive colours and patterns.Iris, Madbees, Viva Velo, Jelenew, Luca and Trail Bloom are among the brands taking this approach, while Velocio is an earlier example of a company that pioneered technical womens cycling apparel.What connects these brands is not necessarily that they make better cycling clothing. Rather, they tend to start with problems that have been overlooked by the wider apparel industry: how women use their kit, how different bodies need it to fit, and what might make more women feel comfortable and confident on bikes.Their impact can therefore be seen in three areas: product innovation, more considered approaches to fit and inclusivity and the communities they build around their products.A driver of innovationLucas All-In-One suit is one of a few genuine innovations created by by women, for women brands. LucaOne of the clearest markers of the added value of by women, for women brands is their role as innovators in the world of cycling apparel.Velocio was created in 2014 by Kristy Scrymgeour and Brad Sheehan and originally only offered a womens line. One of the first brands to design highly technical cycling gear specifically for women, it was a pioneer in selling bibs that allow for nature breaks without removing most other clothing. Quick-release bibs have since been adopted by many apparel brands.Newer brands have been showcasing innovations on a similar scale since. In 2020, Veloine, a German brand, was the first performance-oriented brand to produce maternity cycling apparel. While it has since gone out of business, the concept is slowly being picked up by other manufacturers. Jelenew came up with the idea of a sports bra with a cutout for a heart rate monitor to avoid chafing caused by two competing bands at the same level. Wilma created a removable, quick-dry menstrual chamois.Some garments are redesigned from the ground up: Luca manufactures an all-in-one, a chamois-equipped one-piece suit with a crossover front instead of traditional bibs with braces that often get in the way of breasts and are revealing with an open jersey. This has become a flagship product and customers are now wearing it as a standalone piece without a jersey. A conventional bib design assumes a particular way of using a jersey; Luca questioned that assumption and designed the whole garment around womens experience.All of these innovations represented major changes for users and perhaps more importantly, showed that there is still much scope to improve womens riding experience.Fits and cuts designed by women, for womenIrisStarting from womens needs doesnt necessarily mean inventing a new product. It can also mean reconsidering existing models to solve an issue or serve women better.Lucas cycling shorts are short-legged and high-waisted, a combination previously unheard of in performance apparel, although high-waisted padded shorts are increasingly common in by women, for women collections, mirroring what already exists in female-dominated apparel industries such as yoga or pilates.Trail Bloom founder Emily Hughes encountered the problem in mountain biking, where she says many women were resorting to mens clothing or generic sportswear. One example she gives is the wide neckline of many mountain biking tops, which can sit loosely around a womans neck. Her criticism is not necessarily that brands deliberately design badly for women, but that womens patterns sometimes begin with an existing mens garment rather than with the body they are intended to fit.The existence of womens bibs marketed for endurance or ultra-endurance that still require the wearer to remove most of their clothes for a toilet stop illustrates shortcomings in conventional design: a feature that seems fundamental to the use case can still be treated as optional.The offer of a wide range of sizes is another common feature of many by women, for women brands. Including very small and very large sizes comes at an extra cost, as these are not just zoomed-in or zoomed-out versions of the average model and necessitate an adapted cut to fit different body proportions, and they also sell in smaller quantities, which can result in leftover stock, but is instrumental in fostering inclusivity.Community buildingMadbees is a brand focused not only on kit, but on creating a space for like-minded women to feel confident cycling and be free from intimidation and judgement. MadbeesThe biggest difference from mainstream brands, however, is not always in the garments themselves. For many of these businesses, the idea of designing for women extends beyond what they sell to the kind of cycling experience they want to create around it.For small brands, organising group rides is often a way for founders to get direct feedback from consumers, and founders report that many of the improvements they make to products are the result of remarks wearers have made during group rides or similar events. From a commercial standpoint, having such an accessible feedback mechanism is very valuable, but this is more a side-effect of the community building effort than its intent.Madbees founder Maddy Adamson explains that apparel is one part of Madbees, but our wider aim is to create an environment where women feel confident getting on their bikes, meeting other riders and pushing themselves without feeling intimidated or judged.Communities created by these brands often target inclusivity and confidence building: many organise social no-drop rides; Viva Velo offers brunch & bike workshops, a social space for women to build mechanical knowledge and independence around their bikes; Iris runs the Cheer Squad, a womens fan zone designed to bring together the worlds of recreational cyclists and professional racers, welcoming cooperation with other cycling brands.The role of style in womens cyclingIrisFinally, it is worth asking whether marketing terms such as cute, soft and stylish sometimes used by these brands serve women or whether it pressures them to be attractive while exercising and performing.Viva Velo director Lisa Hofmann argues that wanting beautiful, thoughtfully designed apparel is not trivial; it can be part of feeling confident and excited to participate in sport. Women deserve both functional excellence and design that feels expressive and considered.Whether fun designs, increasingly present in mens and womens lines alike, encourage impulse buying and consumerism remains a valid question. Sarah Leishman, GM of Velocio, considers that fashion screams lack of sustainability and explains that Velocios approach is to deliberately use more traditional and timeless colours to avoid this, making sure that each kit issue offers colours that can be mixed and matched with previous editions.Performance-oriented by women, for women brands are often highly transparent about the choice of materials, operate a model of small production runs to limit waste, and reject the traditional yearly discount model. These practices may have more to do with being small, founder-led and direct-to-consumer than being women-led, as they are also true of other emerging small brands, like Kostme or GRVL. When asked about this topic, female founders often explained that they see a link between being community-led and relying on ethical values.Madbees Adamson considers that there is a natural connection between community-led businesses and thinking carefully about what we produce. For us, that means thinking about the longevity of products, producing thoughtfully rather than encouraging people to constantly buy more, and considering how and why we manufacture what we do.What are the true strengths of by women, for women brands?LucaMany mainstream brands have come a long way and are taking the womens market more and more seriously, so the strongest evidence is not that by women, for women brands make better cycling clothing.Claims related to better-designed women-specific fit and more extensive testing are difficult to verify without investigating the design and production process of every other brand.However, the availability of truly inclusive sizing, pregnancy and menstrual designs remain dominated by by women, for women brands.Finally, while body-specific design and innovation remain important pillars, the communities these brands build and their confidence-building initiatives may be their biggest point of difference. Their real strength is identifying overlooked needs and turning them into products, services and communities built around how women actually ride.The post How by women, for women brands are pushing the cycling clothing industry forward appeared first on Cyclist.

Giulio Ciccone's questions over the photo finish that denied him the European title have been met with a blunt response from Belgian commentator Renaat Schotte. Ciccone was beaten by Remco Evenepoel in one of the closest championship finishes in recent memory, the Belgian recovering several metres i...

UPDATED October 7, 2026 BY Guest Author IN South American Epic no comments A Football Pitch And A Church What We Really Need To LiveBenjamin Levin is the Content Creator on the 2026 South American Epic.I have not showered for three days. Admittedly I have gone longer, but usually when I am at one of the few places I call home I shower a little more consistently. Nonetheless, here I am in Salinas de Garcia Mendoza, the self proclaimed Quinoa capital of Bolivia, smelling my feet as I write this blog. The last two days we have spent in Ardamarca and Santuario de Quillacas. Heard of them? I had not either until we camped there. Picture a town, 50 km away from any other town. It might have paved roads, it might not. It might have a hotel, it probably does not. It might have a shop, it probably does actually have a shop. But you know what it definitely does have? It has a football pitch and a church. 50 km away from the middle of nowhere in Bolivia, the small town you are picturing has a football pitch and a church.So, what do you really need to live? I do not really need to shower every day. You come to learn, or remember, that sort of thing when you travel like this. On a cross-continental cycling expedition, your idea of what is essential and what is not, starts to change.And over the course of these trips, your opinion on what you need changes. That 4 kg of skincare products you have hidden in your permanent bag becomes a four-in-one shampoo-conditioner-bodywash-facial cleanser Those 4 pairs of rest-day jeans become an overseas express package back to Europe that will arrive after you get home in 2 months. On these trips you are stripped down to the bones of who you are and what you need. And in facing the reality of this, you find that you really do not need so much.Today riding into Salinas we saw some dogs on the road that looked keen to chase some riders and snap at some ankles. We stopped and Cristiano and our Bolivian local support Ana-Marie walked over to chat with their owner to see if she would mind locking them up for a while in order to let our cyclists pass unaccosted. She lived in a stone house. There was no running water, no electricity. When we first saw her, she was walking with a few litres of water from a well 200 metres from her house. She lives by herself with no form of transportation, 10 km from the closest town. None of us can imagine living like that. She does. She lives this way every day. It makes me reflect on what I need.Now I sit in that town, 10 km away from this woman tending her llamas and dogs. And you know what they have in this town? They have a football pitch and a church. And you know what I am hoping to have later? A shower, maybe.RELATEDTOURSouth American Epic This challenging expedition offers you the best opportunity to explore the vastness and diversity of South America by bike. In keeping with the TDA... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "A Football Pitch And A Church What We Really Need To Live" Cancel reply

Giant and its sister brand Liv have just announced new builds for their XC mountain bike platforms, the Anthem (Giant) and Pique (Liv). Both models were completely redesigned for the 2026 model year, and they now come in new Advanced Pro and X Advanced Pro builds. Additionally, both are being made available in top-of-the-line Advanced SL Special Edition builds. These feature specs normally reserved for World Cup XC racers and include CADEXs brand-new Max XC WheelSystem and exclusive, limited-edition paint jobs.To avoid any potential confusion, well be discussing Giants Anthem and Livs Pique models as if they are the same bikes, because in many ways, they are. But its important to point out that while it is nearly identical to the Anthem, the Liv Pique has been developed with a women-first approach, including input from Liv athletes, and frame sizing and suspension tuning that cater to female riders.The Anthem Advanced SL SEAnthem and Pique Advanced SL SEThe new Advanced SL SE (Special Edition) models build on the World Cup-proven Anthem and Pique platforms introduced last fall with an elite-level component package and exclusive limited-edition paint schemes. These builds go all-in with speed-focused specs, including RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, SRAM XX Transmission, Motive Ultimate brakes, and Giants Contact SLR XC integrated cockpits. If that wasnt enough bling, theyre rolling on CADEXs brand-new Max XC WheelSystem with bonded carbon spokes.The Advanced SL SE models come with CADEXs fancy new Max XC WheelSystem and integrated carbon cockpits.And if that werent enough, the Advanced SL frames with 120mm of FlexPoint Pro rear suspension get some truly eye-catching limited-edition paint. And its not just the frames; the graphics extend to the suspension decals, brake levers, and brake calipers for a full custom look. And each frame has been finished by hand, so theres some natural variation and no two are exactly the same.The Pique Advanced SL SE comes in an exclusive Stella Storm colorway.The Pique Advanced SL SE comes in the exclusive Stella Storm colorway: Electric purple runs through layers, nebula-like effects, and raw splatter textures to create a finish that reflects the energy and intensity of racing.The Anthem Advanced SL SE gets a similar treatment, although its referred to as Stormfire Spirit.The Anthem Advanced SL SE comes in the unique Stormfire Spirit colorway.Key Special Edition HighlightsRockShox SID Flight Attendant suspensionSRAM XX SL Eagle TransmissionQuarq power meterAll-new CADEX Max XC WheelSystemExclusive Stella Storm (Pique) and Stormfire Spirit (Anthem) colors and graphicsCustom RockShox Flight Attendant suspension decalsExclusive detailing on SRAM Motive ULT brake calipers and leversThe top-tier Advanced SL Special Edition bikes retail for a cool 14,000.Advanced SL Special Edition PricingThe Giant Anthem Advanced SL SE and the Pique Advanced SL SE represent the pinnacle of XC performance, and they come at a pinnacle price to match. They are listed at a retail price of 14,000.Anthem and Pique Advanced Pro and X Advanced ProThe Pique Advanced Pro (left) and Pique X Advanced Pro (right) bring XC performance down to a much more accessible price point.The Advanced Pro and X Advanced Pro models are built around Giant/Livs Advanced-grade composite frames. These frames aim to provide lightweight XC performance and incorporate the same modeling technologies used for the Advanced SL frames, but with a different grade of composite material to keep the price down.Both frames get 120mm of FlexPoint Pro suspension travel and feature adjustable geometry via a flip chip in the upper shock mount.The Advanced Pro version of the Anthem and Pique (pictured) are still speed-focused, just less expensive.With 120mm of travel front and rear, the Advanced Pro aims to provide the same speed-focused cross-country performance as the Advanced SL at a more accessible price point. Its aimed at riders who prioritize speed, efficiency, and responsive handling. The X Advanced Pro builds on that same responsive, efficient platform, but bumps up to a 130 mm travel fork to add a bit more trail capability and confidence on rougher, steeper, or more technical terrain.The X Advanced Pro models get more fork travel for more aggressive riding, plus in-frame storage.With the longer-travel fork and more trail-oriented use case, the head tube angle of the X Advanced Pro model is about 0.5 slacker than its XC-oriented Advanced Pro counterpart. In the high geometry setting, the Advanced Pros head tube angle is 67 while the X Advanced Pro is at 66.5. Also speaking to that trail-oriented, adventurous use case, the X Advanced Pro frames also include in-frame storage for tools, tubes, snacks, and more for self-sufficiency on longer rides.Crest SuspensionThe Crest FloTrac XC shock on the Pique Advanced Pro.The Advanced Pro and X Advanced Pro both rely on Giant/Livs own Crest suspension components. This includes the Crest FloTrac XC rear shock, which has been custom-tuned around the FlexPoint Pro suspension platforms suspension kinematics. It includes Triple Flow Path technology, which manages damping across different shaft speeds to balance pedaling efficiency, small-bump sensitivity and support over larger or repeated impacts.The 130mm Crest XC Comp fork on the Pique X Advanced Pro.The Pro models use the Crest XC Comp fork: 120 mm on the Advanced Pro and 130 mm on the X Advanced Pro. The Crest XC Comp uses a twin-air spring system and XC-tuned damper to combine initial sensitivity, traction, and controlled support under power. These in-house suspension components also help to keep the price of the Advanced Pro models more accessible.SpecsIntegrated alloy cockpits on the Advanced Pro models.Beyond the aforementioned difference in fork travel, the Advanced Pro and X Advanced Pro models share almost identical component specifications. Another difference worth mentioning is that the Advanced Pro comes with a remote lockout for the rear shock, while the X Advanced Pro has a three-position switch. In that same vein, the Advanced Pro comes with speed-oriented Maxxis Rekon Race tires front and rear, while the X Advanced Pro switches to a Rekon in front to add a bit more grip. Otherwise, the specs are the same.The Praxis Cadet cranks and 12-speed mechanical Deore drivetrain on the Anthem X Advanced Pro.Advanced Pro and X Advanced Pro Spec HighlightsAdvanced-grade composite frame, 120mm FlexPoint Pro suspensionCrest XC Comp Fork: 120mm Advanced Pro, 130mm X Advanced ProCrest FloTrac XC shock: 120mmShimano Deore M6200 mechanical 12-speed drivetrainPraxis Cadet cranksTektro Orion HD-M6041 hydraulic disc brakesGiant XCA 2 WheelSystemGiant Contact SL XC integrated handlebar stemGiant Contact Switch AT DropperThe Anthem and Pique Advanced Pro models bring XC performance to a more accessible price point.Advanced Pro PricingWith Advanced-grade composite frames, in-house Crest suspension components, and budget-friendly builds, the Advanced Pro models land at the other end of the price spectrum compared to the Advanced SL SE described above. They retail for 3,900.AvailabilityThe availability of the Giants new Anthem and Livs new Pique Advanced Pro and SL SE models varies by region. Head to the Giant or Liv websites to check availability in your region, complete build specs, and geometry details.giant-bicycles.comliv-cycling.com

Tadej Pogacar did more than simply entertain the idea of defending his European title on home roads. UAE Team Emirates - XRG CEO Mauro Gianetti says the Slovenian pushed hard to make an extraordinary comeback little more than a month after the crash that ended his Vuelta a Espana. Pogacar ultimately...

The cycling market has just produced one of the most surprising stories of recent weeks. Daniel Benson, one of professional cyclings best-connected journalists, raised the possibility on Wednesday, 07.10, that Egan Bernal may be considering retirement. It is unexpected news for a rider who is still...

On the 8th of October, the Italian autumn classics continue with another one of its main races: Gran Piemonte. The hilly race has a history of sprinters, climbers and classics specialists winning in it - and this year it is wide open. Below, you will find the startlist of the race. Download the star...

The Department of Transport has defended freezing active travel funding at its 2020 level, effectively amounting to a 29% cut over the last six years.Yesterday, campaigners and an opposition spokesperson criticised the unwillingness of the Government to keep active travel in line with inflation.As reported by this website, to keep pace with inflation since October 2020, the 360 million-a-year investment in active travel would need to rise to over 510 million today. This is based on the Society of Chartered Surveyors Irelands construction Tender Price Index, as most active travel funding goes to planning and building walking and cycling infrastructure.A spokesperson for the Department said: The Department of Transport welcomes its Exchequer allocation of over 5.5 billion in Budget 2027 in light of strong competing demands across Government. This significant overall investment in transport allows for the maintenance of the high level of funding for walking and cycling into next year, totalling over 360 million.The continuation of this funding demonstrates the Governments ongoing commitment to the delivery of safe and connected walking and cycling infrastructure across the country, supporting healthier communities, reducing transport emissions and providing people with more sustainable travel choices, the spokesperson said, The Department of Transport said it recognises the inflationary pressures faced by all areas of public investment and, as a result, is aiming to ensure that the funding made available is used as effectively as possible. In this regard, it pointed to the National Transport Authoritys Cost Management Guidelines, which it said should be referred to by local authorities to both ensure value for money and to maximise delivery while remaining within budget.It also said: In tandem, all Active Travel projects are subject to robust appraisal, cost control and oversight arrangements.The funding allocated to the Active Travel Programme allows for the continuation of support for a substantial pipeline of projects nationwide, at all stages of development, design and delivery. The benefits of such investment are evident, from health to environment to economic benefits as outlined in a recent report commissioned by the NTA. This report found that every 1 invested in Active Travel generates 4 in benefits for society, the Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson added: The Departments focus remains on sustaining record levels of investment in walking and cycling and continuing the rollout of walking and cycling infrastructure across Ireland, over 1,200km of which has been delivered since the start of the decade.As reported yesterday, Ciarn Ferrie, a founder and spokesperson for I Bike Dublin, a campaign group, said: The Government has once again failed to invest adequately in active travel. The capital funding allocation of 360m for 2027 is exactly the same as it has been every year since 2020.In 2013 the NTA published the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan which promised to expand the cycle network from 500km to 2,800km by 2021. Now, 13 years later, most of that network remains unbuilt as the plan gathers dust, he said.Ferrie added: If the government is really serious about helping people with rising fuel costs, they need to invest in sustainable transport to offer viable alternatives to the private car.READ MORE: Budget 2027: Active travel funding still frozen at 2020 level effectively means its a 29% cut