Only 35 riders finished women's event

Strava blames "sustained campaign of inauthentic content posted to the platform" but users have questioned the knock-on effect, particularly for those raising money for charity who now can't share fundraising links

The 2024 Simac Ladies Tour opened this Tuesday afternoon with an individual time trial around Gennep. In the end, the stage was won byZoe Backstedt, but it was an incident involving Team SD Worx - ProTime's Lorena Wiebes that caught the eye.As the Dutch sprinter star came powering around a bend wit...

The Curve Titanium GXR (aka Kevin) just received a major update that includes more tire clearance, increased load ratings, UDH compatibility, and some geometry tweaks. Find photos and details about the Curve Titanium GXR4 here...The post Curve Releases New Titanium GXR4 (aka Kevin) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Excellent gravel bike that is versatile enough to ride on gravel and Tarmac. 8/10

There will be no battle between the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel on the roads of Italy this Tuesday afternoon after the mid-race cancellation of Tre Valli Varesine due to adverse weather conditions. Earlier in the day however, the women's edition was completed, where Cedrine Kerbaol to...

Head of the councils parks department said they consulted with disability groups.Dublin City councillors failed to use the opportunity they had to amend the plan for Portobello Harbour Plaza to include maintaining a segregated cycle path as had been recommended after safety concerns were expressed.The Part 8 planning report for the plaza was approved by councillors at their monthly council meeting last night. The project was debated together with two other projects housing in Ballymum and a floodlight that were also being delivered under Part 8, the section of the planning acts that allows the council to approve its own projects. Leslie Moore, the head of the Parks section of Dublin City Council, claimed at a meeting on Monday night that the design reflected the feedback from public consultation. However, the councils Park departments plan goes against pedestrian safety concerns by adding shared space on the citys primary cycle network.These safety concerns were raised by the councils own planning section, a mobility review commissioned by Moores department, and submissions by the National Transport Authority, cycle campaigners in the Dublin Cycling Campaign and many members of the public.Moore claimed there was a greenway element in the plan, but there is no greenway-like design in the project drawings; there is a plaza area with planting areas and seating. He also compared it to the Dublin Port Greenway, which is a shared path in a totally different context away from the city centre and which does not include any commuter routes.He also claimed that a cycle track could be very simple to add to the new plaza if issues arise. However, the project drawings show that once the areas for trees, other greenery, and seating are built, the remaining space will not be large enough to retrofit a segregated cycle path with adequate space for park users beside it.Cllr Claire Byrne (Green Party) said the concerns by the National Transport Authority were not made clear when the project was presented to the local area committee. She said that signage and monitoring would be key to making the space work.Cllr Mannix Flynn (independent) said the issues with cycling would be sorted out in time without clarifying how that would be the case. He later asked if pedestrians would have priority.Cllr Danny Byrne (FG) said that the Dublin Cycling Campain had contacted him, and they said that their concerns and those of the NTA have been dismissed. But he said that the plan had taken a very long time for such a small square, and he just wanted the council to get on with it.Cllr Michael Pidgeon (Green Party) asked why the NTA and accessibility report feedback was not taken on board and whether it would be possible to retrofit a segregated cycle path if there were problems.Lord Mayor James Geoghegan (FG) said the project was positive and did not mention the shared space issue.Moore, the head of the councils Parks section, said: As has been said already, there was quite an in-depth consultation both with the local community and councillors in relation to Portobello Harbor and its future use as a space for the local community. I think the plan which went to Part 8 reflected the outcome of those consultations which were in-depth, he said.He mentioned widespread approval for the plans, but the issue of shared space was one of the largest issues raised, which was left unresolved.The issue the NTA raised, which was in relation to the shared space, the greenway element, which passes through the park. Now, greenways are, as youll have seen this week that there was one launched in Dublin Port, on the wall of Dublin Port, a shared space by cyclists, by walkers. These things work very well, they have been tried and tested elsewhere, and we believe theyll work well here too, Moore said.He made this claim directly after councillors mentioned Grand Canal Square, which includes a similar layout with planners and shared space and has been a recurring issue raised at council meetings over years because of the conflicts between people on foot and those cycling through the area.He claimed: Look, ultimately, if it doesnt work, it can be changed. There is a pavement there, it can be line-marked. Its very simple to reverse, to create a cycle track. But we believe its the wrong way to go to create a new park in Portobello.Responding to Cllr Flynns question of if pedestrians would have priority, Moore said: The essence of a shared greenway is that people share the space. So, you have to be respectful of other uses if youre cycling, you have to be respectful of pedestrians and thats the way a shared route goes.Moore added: Look, we have discussed access through the space with the disabled organisations, and were satisfied that it will work as a very effective public open space.An accessibility review commission by Moores department and written by Fionnuala Rogerson Architects included the following observations relating to research on shared space:A 2020 study on a university campus in Vancouver, where cyclists and pedestrians share public space, showed that while accidents resulting in injuries were rare and underreported between these users, tensions were frequent and had an impact on overall mobility experience. Cyclists were at least as concerned about intermodal conflicts and safety as pedestrians and preferred to avoid pedestrian-dominated areas, but that preference was weighed against travel time, ease of wayfinding and avoidance of motor vehicles. Both pedestrians and cyclists identified crowding and pedestrian inattention as major contributing factors, but they disagreed as to whether cyclist speed was a factor. This is borne out by other studies from both Australia and the UK.An URBACT European study also found that spaces shared by pedestrians and bicycles raise safety and comfort concerns as they allow for movements at very different speeds in mainly unregulated environments. The study found that interactions between pedestrians and bicycles, and particularly with e-mobility vehicles occur frequently and increase insecurity levels in shared space. Moreover, falls from bicycles and e-bikes were found to be frequent in shared spaces.The Irish National Cycle Manual Section 1.9 notes that shared facilities between pedestrians and cyclists generally result in reduced Quality of Service for both modes and should not be considered as a first option. Cycling for All.ie also recommends that walking and cycling generally need to be segregated.A study of four shared use paths in London, Sharing the Space Living Streets (2016) indicated that shared paths have a disproportionate impact on disabled people who may choose to avoid them. For many vulnerable and older users, it is the perception of cycle / pedestrian conflict that leads to them avoiding places where conflict may occur. People with hearing and/or vision impairment are particularly concerned about safety in shared environments. Similarly, parents or guardians of young children tend to avoid areas with perceived risk of cycle conflict.The report added that Where cycle numbers are low, unsegregated paths over 3m in width are preferred and the width of paths is a key determinant of comfort and harmony between path users. Generally, the path widths throughout the park are well in excess of 3m. However, the number of people cycling in the area is high, and the NTA maintains that it will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.As reported by IrishCycle.com on Sunday, the National Transport Authority wrote to the council and said that it wanted to work with them ensure that the redevelopment of Portobello Harbour is carried out in a way which supports [the councils] objectives to maximise cycle convenience, safety and connectivity in the city centre without compromising pedestrian safety, including the perception of safety, in particular for persons with disabilities.The authoritys submission said: The Share with Care approach leads to a lower quality experience for both pedestrians and cyclists. NTA does not concur with the assumption that the numbers using the park will be small and will be mainly local users and leisure cyclists. Fairview Park is not a comparable example as it is long established and recognised as a public park and there is an alternative high-quality segregated cycle facility alongside the park.The NTA added: In summary, the proposal does not fully align with the GDA Transport Strategy or with the Cycle Design Manual. Any redevelopment of the urban space on the site should facilitate the current and predicted high demand for cycling by persons of all ages and abilities and be designed according to the principle of universal accessibility.

Filling a niche that only bikepackers who've endured a grueling push up steep and rugged terrain are likely to appreciate, the Restrap Hike-a-Bike Harness offers a simple and effective way to take a walk with your bike. Evan Christensen tested one on the rocky slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and he reports in with this Restrap Hike-a-Bike Harness review. Read it here...The post Restrap Hike-a-Bike Harness Review: More Than a Gimmick appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Everyone knows coffee tastes better when it's in a nice mug and why wouldn't you want them in rainbow colours?

The men's edition of Tre Valli Varesine 2024 was not raced to a conclusion earlier this Tuesday afternoon in Lombardy as torrential rain made things just simply too unsafe for the riders on the road."At the neutralised start there were already 7 punctures and a couple of broken wheels. We tried to r...