Shift Cycling Culture began discussing how companies in the cycling industry could reduce their carbon emissions in 2021. The discussions led to the Climate Commitment letter, with more than 80 cycling companies pledging to reduce their CO2 emissions by 55 per cent by 2030.Released this week, the 2024 Climate Action Pulse Check, a survey conducted by Shift Cycling Culture, provides insight into how the industry including the original signatories and other companies is faring at reducing its climate impact.Set to be an annual report, the survey also shows opinions are divided on how committed the sector is to climate action among professionals and consumers, alongside changes in product development and targets moving forward.Consumers are less optimistic80 per cent of industry representatives say their companies are taking a strategic approach to climate action. Shift Cycling CultureThe survey reveals 80 per cent of industry representatives report their companies are taking a strategic approach to climate action, with 35 per cent having made considerable progress and being able to track the changes they've made.Generally, staff members tend to be more optimistic than top management about climate commitments, which Shift Cycling Culture suggests could be due to the bottom-up approach on sustainability, where driving positive change starts with employees.Despite this, Sandra Brandt, executive director of Shift Cycling Culture, a not-for-profit that drives climate action in cycling, says it's impressive how far the industry has come in the three years since the Climate Commitment letter.We didn't see companies taking responsibility for their environmental impacts and acting on climate change, she says, adding that its a huge success that we can get these results.However, the industrys efforts may be falling short of consumer expectations. The report highlights that industry representatives are more optimistic about their sustainability efforts than consumers. 60 per cent of the industry surveyed said they felt positive and only 24 per cent of consumers feel the same way.Consumers are less optimistic than industry professionals. Shift Cycling CultureEven more damning, the report says cycling consumers dont agree that climate action seems like a high priority for the industry, but think it should be.The companies are not communicating that much about their efforts yet. So maybe also consumers are just not aware of what is going on within the industry, Brandt speculates.Another interesting result that could also help to try and explain this gap in optimism is that when we asked the cyclist what is most important to you, then it came back to repairability, comfortability, those kinds of things.Brandt says this gap in optimism could also be due to what consumers value, which often differs from the familiar tale of watt-saving product innovation: It's not about having the latest [and] greatest for the cyclists, it's often just about I want to ride my bike as long as possible and wear my favourite gear as long as possible. So give me options to repair what I have.The survey also found 77 per cent of consumer respondents have switched brands because of sustainability. 98 per cent of the 240 surveyed consumers said longevity and durability were important, 95 per cent said repairability and compatibility were important, while only 65 per cent said climate advocacy was important.Many companies are still not talking much about what they're doing, says Brandt, explaining that part of the reason is a question of what should be communicated.In 2023, the European Commission introduced the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to bring transparency to sustainability efforts. This means larger companies in cycling will have to publish a sustainability report.It's definitely caused a lot of question marks or concerns with companies, Brandt says. The legislation means companies have to make sure most of the things they say and the terms they use are science-based and backed with real data, but that isnt the most translatable message.Great progress77 per cent of surveyed cycling consumers say they have switched brands due to sustainability concerns. Shift Cycling CultureEven if sustainability efforts are not being communicated effectively, Brandt says Shift Cycling Culture sees brands making great progress.One area is product development, where brands have begun integrating sustainability into their designs. In two case studies, the Climate Action Pulse Check highlights Bromptons use of recycled aluminium and Vittorias Terreno Pro T60 gravel bike tyre that uses 92 per cent renewable and recycled content.However, Brandt says Shift Cycling Culture wants sustainability to be embedded throughout organisations, which requires everyone to be on board.Quite often what we see is that a lot of employees have great ideas but dont actually know how they can contribute, says Brandt.Apidura is one brand that is getting everyone on board, according to the survey. The B Corp bikepacking bag company has rolled out carbon literacy training for its team. Apidura says this gives each team member the opportunity to help positive change at a company-wide cultural level, as well as in their personal lives.Brandt says some companies are taking the lead on sustainability and beginning to work together. Companies who are advanced in their climate journey now focus on the topic of collaboration and how can they actually come together to tackle some of their biggest challenges together, which is great to see, she says.Brandt says Canyon has initiated climate action training, which involved seven other brands including Scott, Trek and Schwalbe and focused on reducing emissions in the brands supply chains.Based on the feedback of 84 industry professionals, the Climate Action Pulse Check says engaging the supply chain is being seen as the number one enabled to scale climate action across the industry. This isnt so surprising when, according to Shift Cycling Culture, 95 per cent of a cycling companys carbon emissions result from extraction and producing bikes and components.The climate action training aims to equip companies with the skills to engage with suppliers to ask for energy and carbon emission data, which will help them with their CSRD obligations.But Brandt says the process is more of a stepping stone for Shift Cycling Culture so that companies team up with their suppliers and understand, OK, what are the things that we can do to help you as well to move forward with your climate agenda?.She says companies often share suppliers, so by teaming up, the cycling industry can work to drive down emissions at particular production sites.Accelerating climate actionProduct innovation is the biggest benefit of climate efforts, according to cycling industry representatives. Shift Cycling CultureShift Cycling Culture says the Climate Action Pulse Check results are inspiring and uplifting but reveal that so much more needs to be done.This doesnt just relate to tackling supply-chain issues or improving employee education. Brandt says that despite many companies engaging with climate issues, the survey also revealed that some dont have any support from the board level at all.We still see a role for us to play [in getting] more leadership on board, because we still think this or see that this is also missing in many cases or with some companies, she says.Reflecting on the Climate Action Pulse Check, Brandt says: We appreciate it's a small slice of the industry but we hope that everyone reading this Pulse Check will not only find it insightful but also recognise its power to accelerate climate action across the industry.Maybe it will go some way to changing consumers perceptions, too.

On the 20th of October, 2024, the peloton continues its Asian tour with the 31st edition of the Japan Cup inUtsunomiya. At the startline will be a number of notable names.Included on the provisional startlist for the race are such riders as: Christian Scaroni, Matej Mohoric, Jasha Sutterlin, Jakob...

Caoimhe OBrien has secured a new contract for 2025 with US Continental team Cynisca Cycling, which Irish elite road race champion Fiona Mangan rode for this year. OBrien has been competing for UK-based Continental team DAS-Hutchinson-Brother-UK but her new team should afford her more international racing experience next year. She was selected for the national []The post Irelands OBrien joins new UCI Continental team for 2025 season appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

With more and more bikes featuring downtube storage compartments, I initially thought Crankbrothers timing with their S.O.S. tools collection was a bit late. However, I quickly realized this allows MTB riders who dont have in-frame storage to enjoy the same convenience without buying a whole new frame or bike. I also realized while testing the tools some of them were quite well suited to gravel/touring bikes along with MTBs.Im impressed with how many functions Crankbrothers crammed into their compact multi-tools, and the quality of the tools, cages, and storage tubes is very good. I never had any functional failures with any part of the tools I tested. To see all the details of the whole S.O.S. Tools collection (including weights and all functions of each), check out my launch article from earlier this year. Since a few of the tools are very simple, I focused on the more deluxe models for testing.BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit $99.99Right away this was my favorite of the S.O.S. tool series because its the only kit that carries tools and water on one bottle mount. Assuming you have room for a large enough bottle, this kit allows you to ditch your hydration pack and remain well-equipped with trailside tools. However, I ride medium frames and I had trouble finding a bike that was compatible with the BC18. I first installed it on my Knolly Chilcotin and it seemed to fit, but only with my smallest water bottle. Unfortunately, after two rides I realized my piggyback shock was contacting the bottle. With no room to slide the kit forward, I had to remove it from the bike.Its important to note the BC18 kit requires more clearance than a standard bottle cage. Even with no spacers under it, the water bottle sits quite high off your frame.I later installed it on the Devinci E-Troy Lite eMTB. With two spacers underneath to clear the eMTBs wide top tube it fit but once again, only with a small water bottle. I did a few rides with it but soon pulled it off. Since eMTBs tend to encourage longer rides, I wanted to carry more water than one small bottles worth on the E-Troy Lite.Its an unlikely idea anyway, but FYI this tool will probably not fit on a bike with in-frame storage! I tried installing the BC18 on a Trek Slash and a Rocky Mountain Altitude, and both storage doors are too wide and flat. Even with two spacers, the tool kit will not clear the width of those frames. I guess if you were thinking about increasing your in/on-bike storage youre out of luck.One good thing about the BC18 tool kit is that the storage tube keeps the multi-tool clean and dry through muddy rides. I even submerged the tube in water for 15 minutes, and it stayed perfectly dry inside. I also like the fact that this kit can carry a larger 25g Co2 canister.TS18 Tube Stash Tool Kit: $89.99While Crankbrothers is primarily marketing the S.O.S. tools to mountain bikers, I installed the TS18 on a Kona Sutra touring bike (which runs tubed tires), along with the BC2 Bottle Cage. This combo covers all the essentials; The BC2 Bottle Cage takes care of water (a big bottle fits easily on this bike), and the Tube Stash Tool Kit provides a multi-tool, Co2 canister and spare tube. With both tools, I have two tire levers to work with.If you have another mount to carry a bottle, the Tube Stash Tool Kit will provide the essential tools for typical trailside repairs and you can kiss your pack goodbye. If your bike only has one mount, youre still stuck with a pack to carry water.TT17 Twin Tube Tool Kit: $119.99A few months ago, I put the Twin Tube Tool Kit on my Knolly. While it is slightly wider than my frame, the Twin Tube kit is not wide enough to cause any issues with pedaling. This tool should fit on any bike with a water bottle mount. Its three mounting slots offer plenty of fore-aft adjustment, and the tool is smaller than any bottle cage/bottle.Assuming youre looking to ride pack-free, this kit is ideal for a bike that can carry a water bottle and another accessory. Its not a great option if youre already committed to wearing a pack, as you can easily stash a far lighter, more compact multi-tool than the 257g Twin Tube Tool Kit. The Twin Tube kit does make its tools quick and easy to access during a trailside stop.I recently found out Im diabetic, and I now need to bring sugary snacks on rides so I tried carrying some Skittles in the TT17s storage tube. It held enough to keep me going for a shorter ride at least a big mouthful! If you put hard candies in the tube (or similar items), be aware they will rattle loudly as you ride! Later I put a Co2 cartridge in the storage tube, and the top cap (which threads onto the cylinder) held it tightly without rattling. The spring-loaded multi-tool in the other tube never made any noise while I rode.As for weather resistance, the Twin Tube tool easily fought off mud splatters and short bursts of light rain. Some water got into the mounting bracket in these conditions, but not into the storage tubes. Later I went for an hour-long ride in steady rain (see title photo). The multi-tool stayed perfectly dry, but a small amount of water did get into the side with the Co2 canister. It might be wise to check the multi-tool and Co2/storage tube after a very wet ride.The Tools:I did use the S.O.S. multi-tools several times and theyre good quality tools that offer all the essentials. The multi-tool is small, but you can leave the inflator head/chain tool clipped to it, or even use the storage tube for extra leverage if needed.I never had to plug a tire with the S.O.S. tools plug tool, but I did use the levers to swap a set of tires on my MTB. The only thing the levers lack is a hooked notch to hold themselves on a spoke. Aside from that, I had no issues working with them.crankbrothers.comThe post Crankbrothers S.O.S. Tools Offer Tons of Functions and On-Bike Storage Options appeared first on Bikerumor.

Life is complicated. Sometimes its beautifully complicated: the splendiferous colors of autumn, the many emotional hues of love, and the challenges and rewards of parenting and work all come to mind. Other times its vexingly so: doing your taxes, sorting your recycling, and extricating yourself from a marriage once the emotional hues of love have faded to a dull grey. It aint simple is all Im saying, and to get by in life we must recognize this complexity and above all be adaptable while still remaining fundamentally true to ourselveslaterally stiff yet vertically compliant, if you will.But thats not how it works on the social medias. Here, life is binary. Like or dislike. Republican or Democrat. Go around the truck to the left and die or go around to the right and die:Pick your poison: Swerving into traffic to avoid a box truck parked in the bike lane, or passing on the inside and almost getting left hooked by the driver of a lifted pickup truck.Paint is not protection on NYC's streets. #bikenyc pic.twitter.com/0cu46FDUJq Streetsblog New York (@StreetsblogNYC) October 15, 2024 In order to stoke outrage, advocates must perpetuate the idea that as cyclists were constantly beset with life or death situationsand yes, from time to time we certainly are. Furthermore, they are absolutely right that the current situation out on the streets is in many ways unacceptable, and that it is a basic responsibility of our municipal governments to endeavor to improve it. Basically its a shitshow out there, and painting more lines on the street isnt going to do much of anything.Nevertheless, theres a pernicious aspect to the way advocates present this, which is that it supposes cyclists dont have any agency. For example, theyre always saying that when drivers park in the bike lanes it forces cyclists into traffic. Now of course drivers shouldnt park in bike lanes, and we should do whatever needs to be done to prevent that from happening. But in the meantime, as Ive mentioned before, its more important to remember that you have choices and that these people cant force you to do anything at all.The same thing goes for this whole pick your poison scenario in the Tweet embedded above. So theres a truck blocking the bike lane:According to Streetsblog, you have two choices in this situation:Swerving into traffic to avoid a box truck parked in the bike lane, or passing on the inside and almost getting left hooked by the driver of a lifted pickup truck.This is absolutely wrong; its like saying if someone presents you with a pint glass full of vodka you must choose to either drink it all or throw it in the persons face. In fact, you have many choices, and the most conservative one is to dismount your bicycle and use the sidewalk:[Who remembers schluffing?]Im not saying its an attractive option, nor is it the one Id choose. In fact, when I see signs like this I get really pissed off, because nobody ever tells you to get out of your car and push it:Still, theres nothing more important than remaining alive, and if someone finds themselves in a situation where theyre genuinely concerned or uncomfortable, its far, far better than swerving into traffic. Yet I dont think Ive ever heard anyone whos advocate-adjacent remind new cyclists that if things get hairy or they feel like theyre in over their head that they can always dismount and walk, and that bicyclists should never swerve.As for more confident cyclists, there is no reason to pick one of those two poisons, nor is there a need to dismount and walk. (Though you may or may not want toGASPput a foot down.) The first thing to do is something else advocate-adjacent people never suggest, which is slow down:Please note Im not suggesting the rider in the video was going too fast. But I am saying that one thing drivers and cyclists share in common is they resent absolutely anything that requires them to slow down, even a little bit. With drivers this manifests itself in their passing you too closely or honking at you because they have to wait maybe five seconds to get by you safely. With cyclists this manifests itself in their cutting off pedestrians and shouting ON YOUR LEFT at people and saying they were forced to swerve into traffic because there was an obstruction in the bike lane. Okay, anyway, the reason you slow down is so that you can do something else which humans detest no matter whether theyre riding a bike or driving a car, and thats yield:Yes, it is inadvisable to squeeze between the truck and the parked cars due to the lack of visibility and the lack of space for maneuvering, as well as the possibility the driver of the truck is going to walk right out in front of you. But that doesnt mean you just have to swerve into traffic and take your chances with a lifted pickup truck. Thanks to the innovative slowing and yielding technique, you can then look behind you and ascertain whether theres a large menacing vehicle that is about to overtake you. If there is, you can let it pass. You may even opt to let additional vehicles pass as well. Then, when its safe to do so, you can ride around the truck on the right-hand side, re-enter the bike lane once youve passed the truck, and live to ride another day. Its not only simple but relatively stress-free, so much so that instead of making a video about it when you get home you might not even remember it.But yes, I realize all this requires coming to terms with the presence of the truck, which some people are unwilling to do. In that case theres also the Jeremy Vine technique, which is to position yourself as closely to the truck as possible and then allow it to run you over:But this is Advanced Smugness, and not for the amateur.

Mechanic Glen Whittington had the Hope hubs recommended to him over 20 years ago, and they're still going strong

Chris Froome was once the greatest rider on the planet.Throughout the 2010s, the Kenyan-born Briton dominated the world ofprofessional cycling, particularly in the Grand Tours. With four Tour de Francetitles (2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017), two Vuelta a Espaa wins (2011 and 2017),and a stunning Gi...

This year, Sofiane Sehili decided to "slow" things down and participate in Istra Landa 400km self-supported gravel ride across the island of Istriacompleting the route over three days. Find his reflection along with photos from Giuliano Koren and Andrea Securo here...The post Three Days at Istra Land 2024 appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Fizik ups the tempo with its new Beat, a snazzy SPD lace-up made for riding both on and off the beaten track

Shmidt hoping to help revitalise team backed by Jim Ratcliffe after season of woes and as star rider Tom Pidcock gets set to move on