Mattias Skjelmose made clear his main for 2024 was the Vuelta a Espana. 10 stages in however, and things haven't exactly been going to plan for Lidl-Trek's Dane with him 13th in the general classification, over seven minutes down on the Red Jersey wearing Ben O'Connor.A staple of the first week in...

Continuous footpaths are in the news after Dublin City Council launched a videooutlining whats expected from motorists at side street designs. So, what is a continuous footpath?Basically, its a footpath that continues past a side street and across entrances, such as driveways or entrances to businesses. It is designed so that it is at the same level and uses the same design as the rest of the footpath. An important point is that both the footpaths level and its design pattern are continued through the junction. Continuous footpaths are used between main roads and residential streets, housing estates, and low-volume shopping streets. The design is also used at junctions that would typically not be controlled by traffic lights.The raised nature and making it clearly designed as pedestrian space. It is aimed at adding safety and giving priority to pedestrians. This is an example of a continuous footpath from Dublin City Councils Clontarf to City Centre Cycle and Bus Route blink, and youll miss it in this short clip: As a side note, if you Google continuous footpaths, you might mainly get coverage of that Dublin announcement and some Australian websites. The design is called continuous footways in the UK and continuous sidewalks in the US. So, if you only search with the word footpaths, youll likely miss out on a great Not Just Bikes video,The Dutch Solution for Safer SidewalksContinuous Sidewalks, as well as a report from Living Streets in the UK. The concept is not totally new to Ireland, and the Clontarf route is not the only recent project that used the design. For example, it was used by Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils Eden Park Road and Drummartin Road project:Its worth noting that tactile paving for blind and partially sighted people is used in the Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown project but not in the Dublin City project. The report from Living Streets, a UK charity which is focused on walkability and pedestrian safety, outlines a range of views on including or excluding tactile paving slabs on continuous footpaths.The stakeholders Living Streets talked to ranged from saying that tactile paving should not be needed at continuous footways if these are working properly to people outlining that tactile paving is as much above navigation as it is safety in other words, even if the continuous footpath is working safely, in the absence of a kerb or drop to carriageway level, the tactile paving is used by blind and partially sighted people for wayfinding.On the opposite side of the road, as the Drummartin Road example in the last image, are shops, so it uses paving slabs. It also gives a different example of a ramp from the carriageway level up to a continuous footpath:The Clontarf to City Centre project uses a two-step design, which is commonly used in Copenhagen street design. On the other hand, in the Netherlands, there is usually just one ramp from the carriageway to the footpath.Usually, this is a larger, steeper ramped kerb formed by pre-cast kerbs called Dutch entrance kerbs (which the British have copied with local suppliers providing them too). This example is a continuous footpath with the entrance kerb:This is a city centre example with a cycle path cycle paths at this point are usually at grade or with a marginal kerb:The design is also used where there is no cycle path or where theres an on-street cycle lane:Continuous footpaths away from junctions, such as at driveways, are somewhat different but worth covering, too.In the Netherlands, continuous footpaths with standardised entrance kerb are also commonly used at the entrances to driveways or even often at other vehicleaccess points: As this website covered in 2022, Irish guidelines say footpaths must remain level at driveways and minor side roads. This requirement is in the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, which is mandatory, yet local authorities have largely not followed it. Maybe unhelpfully, the Design Manual referred to the National Cycle Manual for visual images of how to deal with driveways. Including with kerbs:Or with bitumen (tarmac-like), shown here in grey:It can be done with concrete formwork too although the results will likely vary more than a pre-made kerb:Strangely, while the Clontarf to City Centre project uses continuous footpaths at side streets (including some reasonably busy ones, some private entrances and driveways have footpaths dished for motorists. Examples of these can be found between the Howth Road and the Alfie Byrne Road, including at a school.At a stretch, if children are cycling from the cycle path into the school at this point, it might be an example of where dipping the footpath reduces the risk of children kitting the kerb and is therefore justified. But the treatment at driveways nearby does not have that excuse. It is hard to see from images, but the problem with dipping footpaths is there is a fall in two directions, which can be disorienting for some people.

Wout van Aert has done it again at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, tkaing his third stage win of the Grand Tour stage 10, this time after a brilliant breakaway performance, outsprinting Quentin Pacher for the win.With the peloton's legs rested and their minds refreshed, many riders had big hopes for toda...

Baum Cycles latest DBM titanium gravel bike is actually a mountain bike, a drop bar mountain bike. Fully embracing the fact that modern adventure gravel bikes are pretty much just reworked old-school rigid mountain bikes, Baum goes full MTB with their latest drop bar bike. In other words proper modern wide XC bike tire clearance, low gears to climb steep mountain grades, and a dropper to send it off sick jumps even in the drops! Baum DBM titanium gravel bike is a drop bar mountain bike(Photos/Baum)Baum Cycles calls their latest DBM a gravel bike with MTB DNA. Founder and CEO, Darren Baum loves riding the inevitably steep local powerline tracks from Baums HQ southwest of Melbourne, Australia. But those steep climbs and downhills are also more technically demanding than most gravel bikes can handle, so he wanted ever-wider tires to maintain grip and control.I normally ride in the Brisbane Ranges along McLeans highway. Whoever McLean was, he didnt know what a highway was. Its got 20%+ pinches in it. Ive wanted a bike to handle that kind of ride for a long time. Weve been doing it for the last 20 years.His solution is 29 x 2.25 or 2.4 mountain bike tires and a proper wide-range 1x MTB drivetrain with a UDH. And instead of trying to just squeeze that into an existing bike, Baum created the new DBM from the ground up for maximum off-road capability. He kind of Frankensteined an XC rear end onto a gravel front triangle, then tweaked the geometry to balance the handling of the bigger tires.I did the working design drawings for this bike 8 years ago I actually designed it at the same time as the Orbis [Baums disc brake road bike].Plus-Size Gravel TiresBaum says lightweight XC race tires work best, and low-profile treads still feel fast like a plus-size gravel tire. Its up to you how wide you want to go. Baum will build the DBM with standard 12x142mm rear spacing to give you max 2.25 tire clearance. Or go for a Boost-spaced 12x148mm DBM and get 2.4 clearance like most modern XC or even trail bikes.They created a new wider T47 bottom bracket shell and 3D-printed chainstay yoke to set the chainstays and chainline wider for the bigger tires. That does also mean you end up with MTB cranks instead of road/gravel cranks. But theres still room for up to a 44T 1x chainring, so top-end speed is still there with a 10T cog out back and the larger circumference of the bigger MTB tires.Plus-Size Gravel GeometryThe DBMs geometry is specifically designed to deliver a road-oriented riding position, ideal for grinding over long distances. Therefore, the DBM has more bottom bracket drop (~80 mm) than a MTB because there is not the same need for obstacle clearance. The head angle [69] is nowhere near as slack as a modern MTB either, but there is a longer top tube, shorter stem, and wider handlebars to compensate for the extra front tyre grip.Tech detailsGeometry is typically stock in 6 sizes (XS-XXL). But even then, how Baum finishes off your frame and overall build is entirely up to the buyer. Type of fork rigid or suspension, accessory mounts, integrated routing, and much more are up to your imagination (and purse strings.)Standard specs:Butted 3/2.5 Titanium seamless tubingSix standard sizes3D-printed yokeSemi-integrated Cane Creek 110 headsetEnve Adventure fork (12x100mm thru-axle) or Curve Seek 430 FM (15x110mm)Proprietary 6/4 Titanium thru-axle dropouts with UDHAxle spacing: 12x142mm standard or 12x148mm Boost92mm T47 bottom bracket shell1x MTB cranks with max 44T chainringChainline: 52mm (standard) or 55mm (Boost)Routing for Di2, AXS, or 1x mechanical shiftingFlat mount 160 rear disc brake tabsMaximum tire size: 29 x 2.25 (standard) or 29 x 2.40 (Boost)Optional upgrades:Tailored build: personalized fit & handling (custom geometry), tube selection and butting profilesOrbis Integration, fully internal cable routing (which we first saw at MADE Australia)Alternative fork, for example a Lauf Grit or up to 100mm XC fork?Rack eyelets and additional mounting pointsBaum DBM Pricing, Availability & OptionsThe new drop bar mountain bike is available to order now in either frameset or complete bike builds. Baum DBM fuselage pricing starts at $13,450 Australian Dollarydoos (~$9150 USD). For that price you get the titanium frame, either Enve Adventure or Curve Seek 430FM carbon forks, Cane Creek headset, and a carbon Enve stem & seatpost.The standard complete Baum DBM build runs AU$16,192 ($11k USD). That then also gets the same rigid carbon fork choice, stem & seatpost, plus a SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission wireless build and alloy DT Swiss G1800 wheels. Plus, Baum has a full range of other pre-configured complete builds and individual upgrades to adapt the dropbar mountain bike to your style of riding (and bigger budgets).No official word from Baum about how long it will take to get a DBM for you. Still, they simply say that lead time is subject to demand and availability.BaumCycles.comThe post Baum DBM Ti Gravel Bike Drop Bars the Mountain Like Its Hot appeared first on Bikerumor.

Wout van Aert is often a rider who is very consistent but somehow lacks the big wins, but that can't be said of his debut at the Vuelta a Espaa. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider has indeed finished second and third on three occasions; but he also took two wins in the first week of the race and n...

Ruair Byrne of UCD Cycling Club has been racing in Belgium of late and has used his form from that stint abroad to good effect this evening in Mondello Park, taking victory in the final round of the Mondello Series 2024. Byrne (20) was collecting his second win of the series, as he also won []The post Ruair Byrnewins final round of Mondello Series 2024 in Co Kildare appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Lance Armstrong is back with his podcast The Move to analyze the first week of the Vuelta a Espana 2024. Along with his regular contributors, George Hincapie and Johan Bruyneel, they assessed what happened in the first days of competition in the Spanish Grand Tour, highlighting the brutal victory of...

From the 28th of August to the 1st of September, the Renewi Tour provides extra World Tour action. In Belgium and The Netherlands the peloton will tackle a five-day stage- race which will feature opportunities for the sprinters, time-trialists and classics specialists. Here's the prize money availab...

Im really excited to reintroduce ourPolicy & Design Committee! A group of policy experts and policy enthusiasts that have been meeting for a long time to discuss local/state policies, make recommendations on potential new infrastructure, suggest changes, and lead initiatives like the Safety Sunday Bikeway Cleanups amongst others. This group meets every month and is currently co-chaired by Charlie Thomas and yours truly. It also includes some of our Board Members and community members, and IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!If you would like to join the discussion, reply to this email and Ill add you to our invite, or keep an eye on our socials for dates, times and location. Weve hosted speakers from local and state agencies and do our best to host a space to voice concerns and encourage dialogue for change. To learn moreclick hereAlso want to remind yall that the next Complete Streets Working Group is taking place on Monday, September 9th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pmat 1300 Perdido Street (8th Floor Conference Room). This group gathers city and non city agencies AND IS OPEN TO THE PUCLIC. Join us and hear updates on the Safe Streets for All planning project, the protected bikeway measures funded by the recently awarded Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, and planned improvements to N. Rampart Street, among other initiatives. Also, If you missed reading the 2023 City of New Orleans Complete Streets Annual Reportclick hereI want to take this moment to reintroduce Charlie Thomas from Bike Law Louisiana who has been one of our longest standing Community Partner, and a continued supporter of our work. On a personal note, he has also been a strong encourager including on that cold morning a couple of years ago when I braved doing NOMA to NOMA to experience what it was like to ride around the lake! Read more below:Our resident bike lawyer is Charlie Thomas. Hes ridden tens of thousands of miles in New Orleans since he was a child. He hopes that every bike ride ends as intended rubber side down and with a smile.But if thats not the case, hes here to help. From his downtown New Orleans law firm of Huber Thomas, Charlie represents bicyclists. Youve probably seen his Bike Law insignia on water bottles, posters in bike shops, or even emblazoned on race support cars. Charlie practices law in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Washington D.C. andhas dedicated his practice to helping riders when things dont go as expected. Hes seen just about every type of incident involving a bike since he became involved with his first bike case nearly 20 years ago, in 2005.There was a need for legal representation in the bike community. Most attorneys dont know how it feels to have a parked car door open right in front of you, have someone aggressively swerve at you, or what happens when your front tire tracks into a road groove, says Charlie. Those are critical concepts to understand when presenting in court.The experiences of bicyclists are not lost on Charlie, who has been a part of the bike community for nearly 30 years. He raced in the Pro/1/2 category of USA Cycling and served as President of the Texas A&M Cycling Team. He grew up in New Orleans, working at Bayou Bicycles starting at an age young enough that would now be frowned upon.In 2015, Charlie was personally harassed by a driver. He was out for a ride on Esplanade Avenue with his young daughter. Charlie pursued a case against the driver and set the standard for compensation if someone harasses a bicyclist ($4,500). He donated the funds to Bike Easy.Bike Law was formed in 1998 after the founder, Peter Wilborn, lost his brother Jim. Jim was killed while riding his bike by a driver who blew a red light. The Wilborn family hired a lawyer (the best in town, they were told), who asked the grieving family if Jim had a DUI. Peter stammered No. Why do you ask?! The lawyer responded, Why else would a grown man be on a bike? Peter knew in that moment that our community deserved better: lawyers who actually care, who stand up for cyclists, and who fight for every sliver of justice.Of course, the larger goal is for people to be able to ride around safely.I would love nothing more than to put us out of business if the need for Bike Law stops, Charlie said. Unfortunately, were as busy as ever right now.There is nothing inherently dangerous about riding a bike. However, things can go wrong when someone makes the decision to text and drive. This is also why Charlie, alongside Bike Easy, advocates for better infrastructure on our roads (such as protected bike lanes). Charlie served on Bike Easys Board of Directors from 2014 2017 and has continued since that time as Co-Chair of the Policy and Design Committee.Charlies professional racing days are over, but he remains competitive in the fight for his clients. Hes handled more than 1,000 cases. But hed much rather meet you socially on a bike ride or at a Bike Easy event than after youve been involved in a crash. Of course, hes there for you if you need him as he fiercely protects the right for everyone to get around safely.If the need arises, Charlie welcomes you to reach him atcharlie@bikelaw.comor 504-274-2500.Upcoming Events9.7.24 Adult Learn to Ride 9:00 am to 11:00 am NORD Clubhouse (1891 St. Louis Street) To learn more and to registerclick here9.21.24 The Not-So-Easy Bike Easy Scavenger Hunt 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave) Compete as a team of 3, 4 or 5 and complete as many challenges in 2 hours for a chance to win a 250.00 gift card to a bike shop of your choice. To learn more and to registerclick here10.19.24 Annual Bicycle Second Line Powered by Entergy 10:00 am to 3:30 pm The Broadside Pre-Registration is Open!Click hereto learn more, pre-register AND pre order yourt-shirtLooking forward to seeing yall at our events this Fall!In Service,Allene La SpinaExecutive Director

Just as the breakaway was about to reach the intermediate sprint in the town of A Barroca, Marc Soler went down to his team car to get a water bottle. He grabbed it with his right hand, put it on his bike... and, just a few metres ahead,Wout van Aert used this opportunity to launch an attack, to se...