CyclistBig Ride: A ride through time in JordanThe Middle Eastern country of Jordan may be less than half the size of the United Kingdom, but its a place where stories seep out of every crack. Whether you want to see Biblical sites such as Mount Nebo and Madaba, the archaeological marvels of Petra and QuseirAmra, or just where they filmed Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Jordans history and beauty make it a must-visit destination, and best of all, you can take your bike with you. Cyclist gets a taste of Jordans unique charm over three breathtaking rides. Related Posts Big Ride: Turkeys giant killer Big Ride: The Turkish Alpe Big Ride: Colossus of Rhodes Day oneThe Umm Qais loopThe mounting trees and shrubs signal we are closing in on the Yarmouk River.Alice GoughOur first ride starts in the north of the country, two hours outside the capital Amman in a hilltop town called Umm Qais, home to the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Gadara. My cycling guide is Aref, a man whose impressive beard is matched by his jovial demeanour. He informs me that despite our route today skirting the border with Israel (or as he calls it, the area of Syria occupied by Israel) and the palpable political tensions in the region, were unlikely to have any trouble. I have my passport with me, just in case.I shouldnt have worried. The roads are mostly deserted save for the occasional farmer on a donkey tending to his sheep. Once out of Umm Qais, Aref points out the Sea of Galilee in the distance, through which the Jordan River flows on its way to the Dead Sea further south.We begin to descend into the Jordan Valley and pass an army training base in full swing, cadets marching with weapons in arms. Aref comments that Jordan is a peaceful country surrounded by danger.We pass olive farms and fig trees. Apparently tomatoes are Jordans biggest food export the country exports up to 600,000 tons per year, enough to fill 240 Olympic swimming pools. We slow for goats in the road but they seem unbothered by our presence. In the town of North Shuna, Aref orders us a Turkish coffee and tells me to drink only half as it is unfiltered so there is a thick sediment at the bottom. Its delicious, silky-smooth and rich, and just the hit I need.Back on the road we turn northwards and pedal alongside the murky water of the King Abdullah canal. A descent brings us close to the Israeli border and we reach the first border checkpoint. While were not crossing to the Israeli side, guards nonetheless come out from under the shade to check our passports before waving us through.Alice GoughAs we head further north and east, the landscape widens out into a gaping valley with luscious shrubs above us and the Yarmouk River far below. Were waved through a second checkpoint and begin a slow climb up a wide, beautifully tarmacked road that hugs the hillside. Its blissfully quiet and the views across the valley are far-reaching.The peace is shattered briefly when we pass through the bustling town of Al Mokhaba Al Tahta, where Aref gets us some lunch of hummus, bread, olives and tuna. Its just the energy we need for the final climb of the day approximately 5km and 400m of ascent to take us back to Umm Qais and a well-earned rest before our next adventure.Day twoHusban to the Dead SeaThe back roads of Jordan are endlessly oscillating and soothingly quiet, with a few potholes thrown in for good measure.Alice GoughA few hours drive south of Umm Qais is the ancient town of Madaba, which lies around 25km to the east of the Dead Sea. Today were riding between the two, in an area of farmland, desert and rocky escarpments.We start from Husban, about 10km north of Madaba, and make our way past dusty fields and polytunnels laden with the tomatoes Aref told me about. The going is relatively fast and flat, and as we speed southwards, closer to the Dead Sea, the rock changes colour slightly. Aref explains that this is because the rocks are exposed to minerals such as halite, gypsum and potassium, which transform their appearance.The salty shores of the Dead Sea shimmer in the sunlight.Alice GoughAt one point we stop in the middle of an endless vista of sandy hills and Aref points into the distance, telling me that over there is the Dead Sea. I have to take his word for it all I can see is a barren landscape to the horizon. He also tells me this region is called the Eye of the Wolf for its packs of wild dogs. I mentally prepare myself to pedal faster should the need arise.The road dips and climbs consistently like a giant pump track, except with extraordinary views and sunshine. Eventually the Dead Sea comes into view, sitting deep in a geological depression formed by the shifting African and Arabian tectonic plates. At 430m below sea level, it is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, which is how it gets its name the high salinity means no plants or fish can live in it.Aref informs me that the water level has been dropping by one metre every year because of increased water demand and neighbouring countries diverting the Jordan river, and if things continue it will disappear altogether.The village of Um Jereisat marks the halfway point and we swing west to begin a huge 20km descent that will take us to the shore of the Dead Sea. Aref gives me a grin and launches into a series of hairpins that catapult us down through a desert landscape while a hot wind whips against our faces.Alice GoughAt times the gradients top 20%, and despite some nerves about the quality of the brakes on my ageing Scott bike, Im just thankful were not doing this ride in the other direction. As we descend, the rocks become more purple, the soil more beige than brown and everything is drier.From our start point in Husban at 800m elevation we have descended to sea level, and in the final 5km we just keep going deeper and deeper. Finally we come to a halt, almost 370m below sea level and still looking down over the blue water of the Dead Sea. From our viewpoint, the mirror-like surface is almost mystical with its striking salt-rimmed shoreline. Its mesmerising.Day threeDana to Wadi NamalaThe sweeping road through the Beidha Valley, also known as the Little Petra valley, is the less travelled route towards Petra.Alice GoughFor our third ride were heading a few hours further south again. Our starting point is the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordans biggest nature reserve, a vast maze of limestone towers and ragged sandstone canyons that is home to hundreds of different plants and bird species. One of them a small, yellow songbird called a Syrian serin is so melodic you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to The Beach Boys.We pedal southwards along a lightly tarmacked road that affords expansive views over the Arabah Valley and its dry, rugged mountains. As ever, the Jordanian roads are reliably undulating with a sharp climb leading directly into a steep descent before the tarmac settles into an uneven rhythm.On leaving the nature reserve, we hit the main road of the Kings Highway. Its long, straight, flat, empty and exposed to the elements, so we put our heads down and ride for about 10km with only the wind turbines that loom overhead for company.Wind turbines loom overhead on the Kings Highway.Alice GoughIn the village of Shaubak, after about 30km, the road surface deteriorates dramatically and Aref tells me he thinks gravel riding is sure to explode in Jordan. I agree with him while trying to gingerly navigate my skinny-tyred road bike around loose rocks for the next few kilometres.After a brief foray back on the far better tarmac of the Kings Highway, the road tilts up again and we reach the highest point of our three days of riding at 1,700m. From our elevated position we take a moment to admire the brown expanse of the Arabah Valley pasted against the deep blue of the Jordanian sky. In the distance the road meanders through a faint splattering of wind-battered trees and small gorges. Aref points to Little Petra somewhere down below. Like its more famous namesake around 10km further south, Little Petra is an ancient city carved into the sandstone cliffsides only smaller.Alice GoughIts a magnificent descent to get there, exhilaratingly steep with some 18% gradients carving between rocky outcrops. The road surface is good now, so we can get some speed up as we sweep around switchbacks towards the village of Al Bayda.Passing through the village the road flattens out and we ride into Wadi Namala, a canyon formed of smooth and rounded rocks with hues of dusty reds, oranges and browns. Deep, winding channels lead off sideways and venture further into the canyon looming over us on either side. Its how I imagine Mars must look, and as our ride comes to an end I unclip my pedals, remove my helmet and just try to take it all in.Alice GoughA day in the capitalAmman is a historical gemDay twos ride starts about a half hours drive south of Amman, meaning Jordans capital is easy to work into an itinerary. Must-visits include Jabal Al Qala, a hilltop citadel that dates back thousands of years and includes the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th century Umayyad Palace. From there you can look down to the east on the citys Roman amphitheatre, the largest and best-preserved in the country. To the west lies another highlight, the King Abdullah I Mosque, with its large blue mosaic dome and elegant stone facade.Striking rock formations begin to rise as Cyclist nears Wadi Namala and it only gets more impressive from here on in.Alice GoughThe wonders of PetraA city carved in the cliffsSituated in the southwest of Jordan, and a short distance from the village of Al Bayda, Petra is one of the worlds most famous archaeological sites. Created between 400BC and 106AD, it was the centre of the Nabataean empire, but after an earthquake it lay abandoned and hidden from the outside world for centuries.The deep gorges and towering cliff faces of Petra were the faades that the Nabataeans used to carve intricate buildings into the pink sandstone rock using iron chisels and hammers. Access is via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, making the enormity of the sites creation breathtaking. Whats more, despite the wealth of temples and tombs, archaeologists believe that just 15 per cent of the city has been uncovered. The majority still remains underground and untouched.Alice GoughHow we did itThere are direct flights to Amman from London Heathrow and London Luton airports. The best times of the year to visit Jordan are spring and autumn, when the weather is warm but not roasting. Cyclist went in early October, which was perfect.Our thanks to Cycling Jordan and Aref for devising the routes, guiding us and lending us a bike. Also thanks to the Jordan Tourism Board for organising our trip and special thanks for Amjad for being a brilliant tour guide. For more information go to visitjordan.com. Related Posts Big Ride: Turkeys giant killer Big Ride: The Turkish Alpe Big Ride: Colossus of Rhodes The post Big Ride: A ride through time in Jordan appeared first on Cyclist.

When we look at the table of the most successful teams of 2024, we can conclude that there is a supremacy of the big projects over the other teams. UAE Team Emirates has achieved 81 victories this year and this was close to being the year where a pro cycling team has taken the most triumphs.In coll...

In addition to recent offerings from Haro Bikes like the Rivet road bike, Buzzard gravel bike, and the Saguaro 1 all-mountain hardtail, Haro continues the brands refresh with two new full-suspension mountain bikes. They include the aggressive, long-travel, enduro-focused Greer, and the all-mountain Daley. Both of these bikes are named after two of Haros local trails and tested by team riders like Colin Varanyak.Lets cut to the chase, and dive right in(Photos / Haro Bikes)The Haro DaleyThe Daley is named after a San Diego riding spot called Daley Ranch. Its said to have as much climbing as it does descending. This seems to be a perfect fit for Daleys balance of climbing and descending. Designed around 29 wheels, and sporting 140mm rear and 150mm front travel, the Daley would be a great choice for an everyday MTB.The Daley comes in four sizes, three build options, two colors, and size-specific dropper posts. The Haro GreerAlso named after a local, Southern California trail called Greer Ranch. This trail is steep, rocky, and technical. It sounds like the perfect proving ground for the mixed-wheel, 160mm (rear), and 170mm (front), playful, and maneuverable beast that is the Greer. The Greer also comes in four sizes, two colors, two build options, and size-specific dropper posts. Some More DetailsBoth the Greer and the Daley feature hydro-formed, double-butted aluminum frames and rear triangles. They both utilize internal routing and support UDH. The suspension platform is the tried and trued four-bar Horst link design with custom-tuned rear suspension for each spec level. Haro wants you to know that the alloy versions of these new full-suspension mountain bike offerings are paving the way for upcoming carbon and electric versions being released next Spring. The Greer Alloy Builds and FeaturesGreer Alloy 1Retail: $3999Haro Greer alloy full-suspension frame, 1-1/8 1-1/5 tapered head tube, 148mm Boost OLD, UDH derailleur hangerMarzocchi Bomber Air, 160mm travelMarzocchi Super Z with grip/damper, 170 mm travelShimano XT M8100 drivetrainVittoria Mazza 2.4, enduro G2.0 front & Vittoria Martello 2.4 enduro G2.0 rear tiresTRP Slate EVO 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. 203mm rotors, front & rearRace Face Chester 35mm rise bars and 40mm reach stemKind Shock I900 dropper post, size-specificIncludes tubeless valves and sealantGreer Alloy 2Retail: $2999Haro Greer alloy full-suspension alloy frame, 1-1/8 1-1/5 tapered head tube, 148mm Boost OLD, UDH derailleur hangerMarzocchi Inline shock with rebound and damping adjustment, 160mm travelMarzocchi Bomber Z2, Kabolt 110 x 15mm thru-axle, 44mm offset, 170mm travelShimano Deore M6100 drivetrainVittoria Mazza 2.4, enduro G2.0 front & Vittoria Martello 2.4 enduro G2.0 rear tiresWTB KOM Team I35, sleeved double-wall alloy rims, 28HTektro Gemini SL 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, with 2.3mm rotors, 203mm front & rearWTB Wavelength 130mm lock-on gripsKind Shock I900 dropper post, size-specificIncludes tubeless valves and sealantGreer GeometrySIZESMLXLSeat Tube (C-T)361mm410mm448mm473mmTop Tube (Effective)561mm593mm620mm646mmHead Tube Angle63.863.863.863.8Seat Tube Angle78787878Chainstay Length435mm435mm435mm435mmBB Drop30mm30mm30mm30mmWheelbase1210mm1244mm1273mm1303mmHead Tube Length90mm100mm110mm120mmStandover697mm701mm714mm714mmStack Height615mm624mm633mm642mmReach430mm460mm485mm510mmAxle to Crown584mm584mm584mm584mmFork Offset44mm44mm44mm44mmStem LengthBar WidthCrank LengthWheel Size29F / 27.5R29F / 27.5R29F / 27.5R29F / 27.5RThe Daley Alloy Builds and FeaturesDaley Alloy 1Retail: $3499Haro Daley alloy full-suspension frame, 1-1/8 1-1/5 Tapered Head Tube, 148mm Boost OLD, UDH Derailleur HangerMarzocchi Bomber Air shock. 140mm travelMarzocchi Bomber Z1 fork, 150mm TravelShimano XT M8100 drivetrainVittoria Mazza 2.4, enduro G2.0 front & Vittoria Martello 2.4 enduro G2.0 rear tiresTRP Slate EVO 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. 203mm front rotor, 180mm rear rotorRace Face Chester 35mm rise bars and 40mm reach stemKind Shock Rage-I dropper post, size-specificIncludes tubeless valves and sealantDaley Alloy 2Retail: $2699Haro Daley alloy full-suspension frame, 1-1/8 1-1/5 tapered head tube, 148mm Boost OLD, UDH derailleur hangerMarzocchi Inline R, 140mm travel shockMarzocchi Bomber Z2 fork. 150mm travel, Kabolt 110 x 15mm thru-axle, 44mm offsetShimano Deore M6100 drivetrainVittoria Mazza 2.4, enduro G2.0 front & Vittoria Martello 2.4 enduro G2.0 rear tiresWTB ST 30, TCS 2.0 pinned double-wall alloy rims, 28HTektro Gemini SL 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, with 2.3mm rotors, 203mm front, 180mm rearWTB Wavelength 130mm lock-on gripsKind Shock I900 dropper post, size-specificIncludes tubeless valves and sealantDaley Alloy 3 Retail: $1999Haro Daley alloy full-suspension frame, 1-1/8 1-1/5 tapered head tube, 148mm Boost OLD, UDH derailleur hangerMarzocchi Inline R, 140mm travel shockMarzocchi Bomber Z2 fork. 150mm travel, Kabolt 110 x 15mm thru-axle, 44mm offsetFSA Gamma Pro cranks, 165mm, 32T chainringShimano Cues 10-speed rear derailleurTektro Gemini SL 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, with 180mm rotorsKind Shock I900 dropper post, size-specificDaley GeometrySIZESMLXLSeat Tube (C-T)361mm410mm448mm473mmTop Tube (Effective)553mm590mm617mm644mmHead Tube Angle64.564.564.564.5Seat Tube Angle78787878Chainstay Length428mm445mm445mm445mmBB Drop23mm33mm33mm33mmWheelbase1172mm1237mm1266mm1296mmHead Tube Length90mm100mm110mm120mmStandover691mm685mm705mm705mmStack Height579mm610mm619mm628mmReach430mm460mm485mm510mmAxle to Crown544mm561mm561mm561mmFork Offset44mm44mm44mm44mmStem LengthBar WidthCrank LengthWheel Size27.5292929You can check out all of the details of these new mountain bike offerings by hitting the link below. HaroBikes.comThe post Haro Bikes Launches Daley All-Mountain & Greer Enduro Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes appeared first on Bikerumor.

Once the owner's 'Sunday best' the rim-brake carbon Canyon is now enjoying a second life on the hill climb circuit

Sven Vanthourenhout is Belgium's national team coach on the road and gravel at least where he has a very strong presence and has guided the team's to many World Championships and Olympic medals. After four years managing many egos and stars, he is set to make the step into World Tour where a top tea...

The Social Democrats have been praised for their engagement on the issue of language used in terms of cyclists in their disability policy. The praise comes after criticism over the weekend around the language used in the partys disability policy. As reported by this website, the language used mirrors that by some of Irelands strongest critics of cycle lanes. It said: Recent urban planning trends have seen a prioritisation of cyclists at the expense of pedestrian safety, particularly impacting those with mobility or sensory impairments, necessitating a more balanced approach to public space design.In a revised version of the document, the line has now been replaced with the commitment that the party will: Ensure urban planning processes should take account of the Hierarchy of Road users, and that people with mobility or sensory impairments have sufficient opportunity to contribute to new public space design.The Hierarchy of Road Users (see graphics below) is included in a number of State policies and guidance documents, including the National Sustainable Mobility Policy and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.This afternoon, Dave Tobin, vice chair of the Irish Cycling Campaign, said: A huge thank you to SocDems HQ for the incredibly positive meeting today with the Irish Cycling Campaign about their disability and cycling policies. So positive to hear their focus on the importance on ensuring safety for both people with disabilities and cyclists.I was so impressed with their very comprehensive response to the wording concerns in a particular section. Its rare to see a political party be so responsive and constructive. Huge credit to their policy team, he said.Tobin added: Left the meeting very happy with the commitment to tweak the wording and, in my opinion, I think it leaves them with the best disability policy Ive read to date. You should absolutely check it out.IMAGE: Hierarchy of Road Users in the National Sustainable Mobility Policy.IMAGE: Hierarchy of Road Users in the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.

Designed for fast-and-light riding on the Colorado Trail, the San Util Mini Panniers are delightfully simple roll-top panniers with a minimal 4.5L capacity. They weigh just 339 grams and use a straightforward Voile Nano Strap attachment. Find Miles' review after over a year of testing here...The post San Util Mini Panniers Review: When Simple Wins appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

If you visit this site regularly and you have groms in your life who love to ride, youve probably read our articles on Prevelo. Were big fans of the work they do. Heck, Jordans given them the 2022 Editors Choice and they made the list for the 2024 Sea Otter Best of Show. They make high-quality bikes and bits for kids and are committed to great customer service as a brand. This year, the Prevelo founders have introduced a sister bike brand to round out the family bike ride with Eaglebear Bikes.(Photos / Ron Frazelle)We teased about Eaglebear Bikes a bit back in April of this year at the Sea Otter Classic. But recently, I had the opportunity to drive down to their facility in Southern California to ride the bike and take a tour.While there I got a tour of the establishment and a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at the HQ. Plus, some bonus activities included riding to a favorite, local lunchtime spot to enjoy some delicious burritos. Win, win! Who Are Eaglebear Bikes?Eaglebear Bikes is a direct-to-consumer bike brand. It was created as a compliment to the wildly successful Prevelo brand. Sister company Eaglebear Bikes targets the parents of the kiddos that shred the lil gnar on their Prevelo bikes.Founded in 2024 by Jacob Rheuban, Jim Huth, and Owen Dickson, Eaglebear Bikes is run out of the same facility as the Prevelo brand. Thats important because Prevelo has a stellar reputation with its customers for impeccable customer service.Being part of the same facility means that Eaglebear Bikes is part of an integrated effort with Prevelo. Using the same team to manage Eaglebear Bikes fulfillment, quick and thorough order customization and top-notch customer service can just about guarantee the same success that Prevelo has enjoyed.The Eaglebear BlackRetail: $1300(Photo / Eaglebear Bikes)Black is the first model for Eaglebear Bikes. There were a lot of ideas around how the bike was designed and specd. Black was designed while thinking of people who want to try cycling with the family but dont want to spend a ton of money.Or maybe, the cyclist whose very expensive bike is a bit overkill for the family bike ride. Or maybe someone who wants more comfort than their mountain/road bike can offer for a simple ride to get burritos.The folks at Eaglebear specd the bike at the right junction of price/value. Black is a versatile, reasonably priced, well-specd bike to get out and ride, on just about any type of terrain.(Photos / Ron Frazelle)Black comes in the multi-use configuration (tested), with 700x 45c wheels/tires. Or, you can get the trail version that comes equipped with more MTB-focused 27.5x 2.2 wheels/tires.There is internal routing ready for a dropper post, if thats your jam. But, also there are a boat-load of accessories that are available to get all of your bike needs covered in one place. Optional riser bars. My Ornot bag and Spurcycle Original Bell fit perfectlyAccessories include colored lock-on grips, bottle cages, Mac Ride Child bike seat, front pizza rack, riser bars (tested), KS Rage dropper post, Eaglebear branded water bottle, kickstand, optional wheelset (with tires), The Bell of Justice, and for the after the ride BBQ an Eaglebear Spatula and Tongs.Eaglebear Black SpecsDeore 12-speed drivetrainFull sealed cartridge bearings Hubs, Headset, and Bottom BracketShimano Hydraulic BrakesFull Carbon ForkTubeless-ready Rims are pre-taped. Just add valves/sealant (optional add-on)Mounts for everything Racks, fenders, bags, etcCenter Kickstand mount If youre putting kids on a carrier, Eaglebear recommends a double-leg stand.Sizing: Small, Medium, Large, X-LargeEaglebear Black GeometryWhat Do I Think of the Eaglebear BlackIve been testing an XL version of the Eaglebear Black with 29 wheels and the optional riser bar. Eaglebear publishes a claimed weight of 24.4 lbs (size medium), and my XL weighs in at a smidge over 26 lbs.I think the bike is an awesome all-around bicycle. It has mounts for everything you need to attach. For instance, there are mounts for a top tube bag, three water bottle cages, fenders, front, and rear racks, as well as fork mounts.The fork is a full carbon fork and takes a bit of the edge out of the small chatter bumps. The bike has very comfortable geometry that offers a nice upright riding position and would be great on any terrain. The stock saddle is very comfortable. I didnt fully love the feel of the grips, but that is easy and cheap to fix.The Shimano Deore drivetrain is perfect for this type of bike. It is easy to adjust, and reliable, making perfect shifts all of the time. The 10-51 rear cassette provides a great amount of range. The non-branded crank gets the job done and should last a long time.The Shimano flat-mount hydraulic brakes are a nice touch on a bike at this price point. They look fantastic and stop with authority. In ConclusionOverall, the bike rides light, rolls well, and pedals effortlessly. The geo feels nimble and predictable. Its the perfect steed to go out with the family on a bike ride. The Eaglebear Black is a handsome bike for anyone who wants a simple no-fuss easy-to-use steed for everyday endeavors. And for $1300, the Eaglebear Black isnt priced out of reach. If you are in the market for a bicycle like this, I would highly recommend it.All direct-purchased bikes and tuned/customized before they ship, adding options that can be installed before the bike ships, like dropper posts, racks, and upgraded bars.For more info, to reach out for questions, or to grab an Eaglebear Black for yourself, hit the link below. Eaglebear.comThe post HQ Tour: Prevelo Team Branches Out with Eaglebear Bikes for Mom/Dad appeared first on Bikerumor.

The new 2024 PEdALED Odyssey Collection features several fresh pieces, including a highly compressible insulated jacket and pants and a jacket with removable sleeves. Learn more and check out their launch video here...The post 2024 PEdALED Odyssey Collection appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Some things never change. For example, did you know Iron Maiden is still touring?Also, the Livable Streets Culture War in New York City continues to rage on, with the NIMBY side deriding the YIMBY side as transplants:CM @VickieforNYC hurled insults at @chabot_jackson because he wasn't born in NYC??? pic.twitter.com/b0o6riWDi0 Open New York (@OpenNYForAll) October 22, 2024 And staunchly defending the Almighty Car:Transplants who just arrived in New York don't have the right to insist we redesign our entire city according to their agenda just because they hate people who own cars. Sorry we're not Barcelona or Amsterdam. Go be a transplant there if it's so great.I said what I said. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (@VickieforNYC) October 22, 2024 Having officially checked out of this stuff, I mostly just find the discourse around it all to be amusing, and so its impossible for me to muster up any real outrage here. However, while Councilwoman Vicky Paladino and her constituents are certainly entitled to their opinion regarding cars, shes absolutely wrong about what transplants who just arrived in New York can and cannot do. The fact is that this city belongs to the transplants, it always has. Just ask these guys with the pipes:Oh wait, you cant. Thats because the transplants took over and sent them packing. And its been that way ever since. So whether the transplant is a Dutch trader or a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Etsy, money talks in this town, and thats that.Also, while its only natural that vintage New Yorkers resent the newer models, they should also keep in mind the whole transplant thing isnt really applicable anymore. Consider bike lanes, which all real New Yorkers are supposed to hate, and which began appearing in earnest in 2007 when Janette Sadik-Khan began her reign of terror as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation:And the citys first protected bike lane appeared on 9th Avenue in Manhattan:[From here.]Now, sticking with the idea that the sorts of people who advocate for these things are a bunch of namby-pamby transplants with liberal arts degreeswhich undoubtedly a lot of them areits also true that at least some of them have been reproducing. Well, at least the ones who havent decided not to in order to save the planet, anyway:This means that a baby conceived when Sadik-Khan took office (and a lot of these people probably had celebratory sex when it happened) will soon be old enough to vote. In other words, the so-called transplants are well into their second generation now. So is a kid who was born in Brooklyn and grew up being carted around by a transplant in a bakfiets also a transplant? And if in a few years they too are carting their genderless kids around in bakfietsen and advocating for still more bike lanes, is it still accurate to say a bunch of whiny entitled transplants are trying to remake the city? Hardly. Whats happening there is that a bunch of whiny entitled native New Yorkers are trying to remake the city. Really, as Ive pointed out before, the only difference between a typical entitled livable streets advocate and a typical entitled NIMBY is they type of restaurants they prefer. (One likes expensive farm-to-table restaurants with bike corrals, the other likes expensive Italian restaurants with valet parking.) In fact, Im sure a few generations ago someone was equally disgusted with one of Vickie Paladinos transplant forebears for blocking Mott Street with his pushcart or something.Indeed, when it comes to New York, at the risk of leaning on a clich, the only constant is change. Consider that before-and-after photo of 9th Avenue I posted above. Before that bike lane, this was a great place to pick up a transsexual prostitute. (Uh, or so Ive heard!) Now its home to Google and an Apple store the High Line and a bunch of fancy galleries and hotels and all the rest of it:Maybe you resent all this money and corporate monoculture. Maybe you even miss the whores. But it happened, and its not because of the bike lane.Ultimately New York keeps New Yorking whether you like it or notand you probably dont, because nobody really likes it here, except the people who have managed come to terms with the first part of this sentence. Or, if you cant come to terms with that, you can at least come to terms with the idea that youve got to make your nut and then get out, and in that respect I suspect the transsexual prostitutes of yesteryear and the tech workers of today share a lot in common.Meanwhile, Streetsblog points out that New York can learn from other cities:Though theyre not always the utopias the smuggies make them out to be:Not by a long shot:The bike lanes arent necessarily greener on the other side.