Irelands Dillon Corkery (Picnic PostNL) and young Liam OBrien (Lidl Trek) both expertly negotiated the crosswinds on stage 2 at AlUla Tour today to make the front group. But general classification hope Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello Q36.5) lost out. Dunbar got stuck, initially in the third group on the road, when the echelons formed as the []

CyclistCycling history in 6 items in the Vandystadt CollectionWith the Eiffel Tower visible through one oval window and Sacr Cur through another, Olivier Vandystadts Parisian pied--terre could be a set from Emily In Paris were it not for the cycling memorabilia hanging from the walls, covering every surface and filling each drawer. Located within a top-floor studio near the Champs-lyses, the tiny bedsit is a shrine to all things vlo.Pascal Poissons pioneeringly aerodynamic blue Gitane from his debut Tour in 1982 is mounted on the curved wall opposite a handmade brazed aluminium Andr Sablire bike from a year later. Below, a yellow Le Coq Sportif skinsuit worn by Bernard Hinault in a post-Tour criterium covers a mannequin bust alongside a Santini offering from the Badgers La Vie Claire teammate Greg LeMond and Sean Kellys white leaders skinsuit from Paris-Nice in 1987.The kitchen surface is littered with Banania tins, St Raphal ashtrays and various cycling ceramics; back editions of Miroir du Cyclisme, Lquipe and frayed Tour programmes are stacked high; Kraftwerk and Yvette Horner LPs take pride of place among other statues, toys, trinkets, trophies and bidons dating back to the 1930s, and an entire peloton of miniature figurines rides across the top of a fridge towards a framed Luis Ocaa yellow jersey, pursued by tiny support cars and a caravane of publicity vehicles.I like to sit here at my desk surrounded by all these mythical items, souvenirs, memories and legendary figures. I feel like theyre with me, that their souls are here too, says Vandystadt, looking over his shoulder at a framed photo of Fausto Coppi handing Gino Bartali a water bottle. Theres inspiration all around me. Sometimes I sleep here but theres not much space. I prefer to use it as a showroom.Incredibly, this collection only started in 2019 when Vandystadt spent 700 on Giuseppe Saronnis Italian national jersey from 1981.Of all my jerseys, this is maybe the most beautiful. And its still one of my most in-demand. A collector offered me 2,000 the other day. Related Posts Made in Japan: Inside the world's most particular cycling culture Tour of Flanders history in 6 items at the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen A history of cycling in 6 objects at the Koers Museum, Flanders Six years on, the 53-year-old estimates he now owns around 1,000 items. Loose familial ties with the celebrated photojournalist Grard Vandystadt who followed many Tours in the 1980s and 90s and an early childhood living in Roubaix provide the fitting backdrop to a life dedicated to cycling, but Vandystadt really caught the bug through an encounter with a certain Irish all-rounder at the 1982 Tour de France in Pau, where he had moved to live with his grandparents.Sean Kelly was my first idol there was no one else before and no one since. I just instantly fell in love with his style as a kid, he recalls. There was no protocol or press cordon back then. I was only 11 but I remember Sean taking the time to talk to me and pose for photos.When hes not hunting for new items, Vandystadt runs a luxury concierge business in Paris one successful enough to keep him in funds to pursue his collection: Every week I buy at least one item.He proudly runs through the colourful array of garments hanging from a rack behind his sofa. They include a Tom Simpson Peugeot jersey, Marc Madiots Renault-Elf jersey from 1983, King Kellys Amarillo jersey from the 1988 Vuelta a Espaa and Francesco Mosers World Champions jersey from 1978.I dont want hundreds of jerseys for the sake of it. Im focussed on legends from the golden age only the crme de la crme, he says. And this jersey belonging to Gary Wiggins.Oliver KnightPreserving cycling historyOn the day Cyclist visits, theres a sports memorabilia auction at Bonhams on the nearby Avenue Hoche. Vandystadt has his eye on a lot of Jacques Anquetil jerseys from each of the Frenchmans teams.Five Anquetil jerseys would be the holy grail you have all his teams but I have to be reasonable. Its a question of priorities, he says, revealing that the top-end estimate is 30,000. I would love an Anquetil jersey, and when the times right I will get one.He also admits to having doubts surrounding the lots authenticity: Five together in such good condition is perhaps too good to be true. Im a stickler for provenance and I have a network of trusted sources.These include one of Merckxs old soigneurs, journalists, fellow collectors, people who were in the loop during the 1970s and 80s, and the grandson of Kellys former mechanic. I check, double check and always try to find archive pictures of a specific jersey Im going to buy. My entire collection is 100% original.In the basement of his building Vandystadt keeps several bikes, as well as wheels, bike parts, framed posters, race placards and his extensive reference library. A leather helmet belonging to Toto Grassin, the French motor-paced champion in 1924, hangs from a peg.Little by little Ive become a historian and expert. Auction houses use me to help identify items in their catalogues. My reckless love for cycling now sees me with a collection that shows no signs of slowing down. Its crazy because I ask myself, Wheres all this going?His immediate plan is to produce an inventory of his collection in the form of a coffee table book.Then I want to buy a big farm and take my collection home to Pau the second most visited place in Tour history and a symbolic city for cyclists all over the world. Opening a free museum there would be a nice wink to that heritage.I dont really own my collection. Im just a guardian for a certain duration, Vandystadt says. I wont be buried with these things. Im just looking after them; Im helping to preserve the history of cycling by transferring it to future generations. By creating a museum I will leave behind a legacy that will reach many people. And its this human touch to my collection that I cherish more than anything.For more on Olivier Vandystadts collection visit biciclissima.comOliver KnightRare Eddy Merckx Molteni TT jersey with white sleeves from 1976Picture The Cannibal in your minds eye and hes either in yellow or the golden rust of Molteni with its black chest band. In 1976 the salami manufacturer was nearing the end of its sponsorship, and the budget was so small that many of Merckxs teammates were not being paid.Because of these financial complications, Eddy agreed to wear the same time-trial jersey for the Giros 28km TT which started at the Molteni headquarters in Arcore, near Milan as well as at the Tour de Romandie, the Six Days in Milan and an event at La Cipale velodrome in Paris, Vandystadt explains.Vandystadt bought this rare silk time-trial jersey from a Belgian collector for 6,500 in 2021 and has since turned down offers of double the money.Theres no way I would sell no, no, no because the white sleeves make it so rare, as well as the rainbow collar and of course the Vittore Gianni logo, which confirms that its the real deal.Shortly after Molteni left the peloton, the salami empire collapsed amid rumours of tax evasion and a scandal involving smuggled meat used to pay the riders outstanding salaries. Despite this ham-fisted withdrawal, Molteni remains synonymous with Merckx, who described the jerseys dark, rich Havana hue as pumpkin brown.Oliver KnightTour de France steel bidon from 1934I could make a lot of money from this single water bottle, Vandystadt says. Someone has already offered me 1,000, but I dont want to sell. First and foremost Im a collector, and as far as Im aware, Im the only person in the world to have an example of this.Made of tin-welded steel and sealed with a cork, the bidon is just over 17cm high and carries an advertisement for Bourcier Frres, a French drinks company with an eye-catching Lion King-style logo that sold anything from Champagne to liqueurs and syrups. One side of the bottle is peddling a Biskra Cristal orangeade, the other a Sorrente Cristal lemonade.At the time, riders placed their bidons in double bottle cages attached to the centre of the handlebars, enhancing their publicity potential.As far as Im aware, this is the first example of advertising on a Tour de France bidon, which makes this piece even rarer, says Vandystadt. Most collectors who have approached me have 1935 and 1936 versions of this bidon, but not this one from 1934, which I bought for 400. I count it as one of my most beautiful objects perhaps even in my top five.Oliver KnightYellow 1937 Tour de France bike with Super Champion derailleurWhen an ill Maurice De Waele won the Tour de France in 1929 thanks to Alcyon, the Team Sky of their era, Henri Desgrange was so miffed that he banned trade teams completely for the next decade. To level the playing field even further, every rider would use the same model of bike with an unbranded yellow frame whose only sponsor was the race-owning newspaper LAuto.Riders were obliged to buy their bikes from the Tour organisers and then sell them back after the race. There were adverts in LAuto where the public could buy a used yellow bike from the Tour after it had been returned, Vandystadt says.By 1935 bike manufacturers had introduced a four-speed derailleur, which the riders used for most races except the Tour, where it had been banned.Desgrange was under pressure from the constructors and riders because of the effectiveness of the Super Champion derailleur, and from the public too, because people wanted the latest gadget that had revolutionised riding, Vandystadt explains.Oliver KnightAfter struggling to sell the quota of yellow bikes in 1936, Desgrange was forced to back down.Its a beautiful story, no?Vandystadt has intentionally kept his rare example of a yellow Tour bike with the derailleur in its original state, complete with original components such as the aluminium rims, brakes and leather saddle. Only the tyres are not from the same era.I know seven or eight people in the world who have similar models, and the majority have chosen to restore them, he says. They have made something old new. But the results are not pretty. I prefer to keep mine as it is because you really believe its from 1937. Its in its own juice. Its a document, a real museum piece that should not be touched.Oliver KnightTour de France board game from 1949You too can ride the Tour de France with the new sensational game that will create all the adventures of the Tour de France, as if you were there.Eat your heart out, Pro Cycling Manager. Tapping into cyclings post-war popularity, this board game operates along the lines of snakes and ladders, with 100 squares outlining the route of the 1949 Tour.The game is dedicated to Henri Desgrange, whose steely visage adorns the front of the rulebook. Sheets of card depict riders from all the national and regional squads you pop them out to use as counters that you move along the board. There are even vehicles from the caravane, as well as cut-outs for Miss Tour de France and the French comedy actor Andr Raimbourg, known as Bourvil, who was very popular at the time.I spoke to a collector who told me that in his 30 years of collecting he had only seen this game three or four times, he says. Its ultra, ultra, ultra, ultra-rare. Its a showpiece item in any cycling memorabilia collection an extraordinary find.Among other board games in Vandystadts collection is a Monopoly-style Eddy Merckx game with a board representing Belgium that comprises key locations from the Classics season.Im buying lots of these board games. I even have an empty game box that is so sought after that its worth 200 despite having nothing inside.Oliver KnightLook KG196 monocoque prototypeThe aerodynamics arms race of the 1990s was given fresh impetus by French manufacturer Look with its first monocoque carbon frame, first integrated fork and first adjustable stem. Making the other bikes in the peloton pedestrian by comparison, the groundbreaking KG196 had all these innovations as well as internal cable routing and the magical Mavic Starfish crankset, with its smooth, bolt-free, futuristic look.You wont see that anywhere else its unique, vouches Vandystadt. The derailleur too is customised by Mavic. Its ultra, ultra-rare. Its mind-blowing.Beyond the industry-leading aerodynamics, the saddle came with exaggerated lumbar support, recalling the quirky Selle Italia saddle that helped Thierry Marie to victory in the prologue of the 1986 Tour. And like that innovation, the KG196 soon attracted the ire of the UCI, for whom cycling was the sport of athletes, not machines. As a result, the bike was promptly banned.What is exceptional about this particular bike is that its a prototype that has come directly from the Mavic factory. It was just for the showroom and it has never been used, so its flawless new old stock in a completely pristine condition. And I love that its entirely made in France.Oliver KnightPolka dot jersey inspiration worn by Henri LemoineIn 1975 Tour de France director Flix Lvitan introduced two new things that have since become part of the races folklore: the final day finish on the Champs-lyses and the polka dot jersey. The inspiration for the now-famous maillot pois described as the measles jersey by its inaugural winner, Lucien Van Impe came from Lvitans memories of watching the Six Jours de Paris track racing event in the Vlodrome dHiver as a teenager. In particular, he remembered a pint-sized pistard called Henri Lemoine, who was given the nickname Petit Pois on account of the red spotty jersey he wore on the track in the 1930s to make him more visible from the stands.A big fan of horseracing, Lemoine himself found his inspiration in the silks worn by some of his favourite English jockeys. Despite Van Impes measles quip, the polka dot jersey became so popular that its chief sponsor, the chocolate manufacturer Poulain, changed its original logo of a blue circle on an orange background to a red spot on a white background.This is the oldest jersey in my collection, says Vandystadt, who also owns Bernard Vallets polka dot jersey from the 1982 Tour de France as a comparison. Its really funky. I love that you can still see the cotton stitches where Lemoines wife sewed on each of the polka dots. Its almost 100 years old but theyre all still attached.The post Cycling history in 6 items in the Vandystadt Collection appeared first on Cyclist.

The sudden disappearance of Simon Yates from professional cycling is still being treated as an uncomfortable footnote. According to Danish cycling icon Brian Holm, that silence should no longer be accepted. Speaking on the Caf Eddy podcast, Holm challenged both the timing and the handling of Yates...

Reserve Wheels has already made a splash in 2026. A few weeks ago, they announced that they would be the first wheel brand to build with DT Swisss DEG DF anti-kickback hubs.And now they are at it again, but this time in the road-side of the industry. This time, they teamed up with Tune, a German hub manufacturer known for some of the lightest hubs available. Together, the two brands offer three road wheelbuilds that Reserve says have already won stages at the highest level.Reserve Uses Lightest, Most Aero RimsFor its partnership with Tune, Reserve chose its high-performing SL Tubulent Aero rims. However, they didnt limit the options to one size; they included all three aero profiles in their lineup: 34/37 SL TA, 42/49 SL TA, and 57/64 SL TA.Reserve designed its Turbulent Aero rims to withstand real-world racing conditions rather than the controlled airflow found in some testing environments. And the SL (Super Light) rims shave 60g off a wheelset while delivering the same performance.The ultimate, lightweight aero build is complete with straight-pull, bladed carbon Vanoa spokes. Tune designed its latest hub offering to align perfectly with Reserves spoke hole offset. This means the spokes dont need to be bent or twisted, resulting in a stronger, stiffer rim.Tune Pico HubsTunes latest hubs, the Pico, were created specifically for Reserves SL TA rims. They are machined from 7075-T6 alloy and share several smaller parts with the Micro and Nano hubs. Tune also machines the lockring for the centerlock rotors.All told, the Pico hubs weigh 275g per set, including the driver body and rotor lock rings. Tunes Pico hubs are compatible with both XDr and HG driver bodies. The hub axles are hard-anodized, with engagement starting at 69 POE (5.2). This can be increased to 138 POE (2.6) with an upgrade.DetailsAll wheelsets feature a lifetime warranty and have no weight limit. The rims come with tubeless tape and Fillmore valves, with both XDr and HG driver bodies included. Also included are four replacement Vanoa spokes and nipples.Reserve SL TA wheels and Tune hubs share a 24-hole pattern, front and rear. The wheelsets are offered in standard road spacing: 100x12mm (front) and 142x12mm (rear), and three rim profiles, 34/37mm, 42/49mm, and 57/64mm rim depths, front and rear.34/37 SL TA Wheelset34mm (F) / 37mm (R) rim depth22.8mm (F), 22mm (R) inner width29.8mm (F), 29.5mm (R) external widthWeight: 502g (F), 638g (R), 1140g combinedTire width: 25mm38mm42/49 SL TA Wheelset42mm (F) / 49mm (R) rim depth25.4mm (F), 24.8mm (R) inner width34.4mm (F), 32.1mm (R) external widthWeight: 564g (F), 726g (R), 1290g combinedTire width: 29mm40mm57/64 SL TA Wheelset42mm (F) / 49mm (R) rim depth25.4mm (F), 24.4mm (R) inner width34.3mm (F), 32.5mm (R) external widthWeight: 646g (F), 824g (R), 1470g combinedTire width: 29mm40mmAll Reserve/Tune wheelsets are priced at $3,499 each. See more at reservewheels.com.The post Reserve SL Wheelsets Feature Purpose-Built Tune Pico Hubs, Carbon Spokes, Eye-watering Price appeared first on Bikerumor.

The line between cycling and politics is not as clean as some commenters would like it to be

A few days ago, a fairly interesting item popped up on eBay. The item is listed as an Unreleased Sram Rockshox Boxxer Ultimate 52mm Offset 200mm Travel 29 Wheel. As of the writing of this piece, the seller apparently has five unreleased Boxxers available, with one already sold.The eBay sellers account is listed as Thejeffs Store, where they have sold nearly 3,000 items and have 99.6% positive feedback.Pretty dang good.According to the shipping location on the eBay ad, the seller is in Georgia and, if I were so inclined, could have my own unreleased RockShox as early as Monday.Hell, theyll even pick up the shipping! If I only had an extra $2,400 laying around. The seller is also open to offers.Assuming RockShox isnt StokedBeing on the media side of the bike industry, we are often privy to products before the general public is. When we receive information about these products, we agree not to publicly share it before the specific date the brand has set for releasing its new offering.Yes, sometimes you get a sneak peek at unreleased products at a bike show or race. However, these are usually calculated moves by the brand to generate buzz around something fresh and new in its lineup.Or, they are products on a professional athletes bike. Sometimes they are covered, and sometimes they arent.But I doubt unreleased Boxxers on eBay is how RockShoxs marketing team hoped to garner some product attention. So, curiosity got the best of me, and I reached out to the seller. My initial question was how they came across something like this.Through legal means, was the response I received from Thejeffs Store. I followed up, asking if they had a connection to RockShox?Through legal means was their response again, and I havent received a response to any follow-ups.Use at Your Own RiskIf youre interested in a one-of-a-kind (well, I guess one of six) DH fork, Thejeffs Store is the place for you. Thejeffs describes the RockShox Boxxers theyre selling as:These come straight from the manufacture in taiwan [sic], so they do not come in the original box.These are prototypes not intended for consumer sale, they are currently under testing. Please purchase and use at own risk.From the pictures, the fork appears to look like a relatively normal RockShox Boxxer. However, one picture shows a Linear XL appendage at the bottom of the left lower, right next to the brake mount.Linear XL appendage on left lowerRockShox introduced the Linear XL air can for their shocks last year. The additional air volume provides a more supple feel off the top and bridges the gap between more progressive shocks like the Super Deluxe and more linear shocks like the Vivid or a coil offering.So, the assumption is that this is a similar product for the Boxxer? One thing is for sure, Thejeffs isnt saying.So far, we havent seen any response from SRAM/RockShox. Well keep you updated if they address the issue.The post 5 Unreleased RockShox Forks are Currently on eBay, Seller Says They Acquired them Through Legal Means appeared first on Bikerumor.

A few years ago, I reviewed Aventons Ramblas eMTB. It was a fun bike with a mid-low-level spec. And I remember thinking the Ramblas could be so much better with just a little bit of upgrading to a few key areas. So, thats what I did. Taken right after I finished the build. (Photos / Ron Frazelle)Listen, the Ramblas is already a great eMTB at an affordable price. Priced at $2899, its one of the only sub $3000 center-drive eMTB hardtails out there. Aventons proprietary A100 center-drive motor is 36v, 250W (sustained) and 750W (peak), and has a claimed 100 Nm of torque. with an IP67 rating.The Ramblas comes from the factory with a decent spec. It sports a SRAM NX Eagle 112 drivetrain and a RockShox 35 Silver R, 130mm fork. It stops with SRAM DB8 hydraulic brakes with 160mm rear and 200mm front rotors.Wheel swap DT Swiss XM 1700 wheelset & the Teravail KesselThe unbranded wheels are pretty heavy and dont come ready to run with tubless tires. They do, however, come with a decent set of Maxxis Rekon 29 x 2.4 rubber. So, as you can see, its not bad, and the factory spec is great for that price point.What Upgrades?Aventon markets the Ramblas as its MTB/Urban eBike. It has all of the attachment points for racks and fenders, and would make for a great commuter. It even comes with integrated front and rear lights, as well as turn signals. Aventon controls and the PNW Loam Carbon Bar and Loam Dropper LeverSRAM GX T-Type AXS Shifter and a Spurcycle OG Bell, of course!Ive ridden it in its stock form for a few rides, and it was fun, but the stock RockShox fork and the dropper post left me wanting. Aventon says the Ramblas can be upgraded like a regular mountain bike, so I thought Id give that a try.So I scrounged around my shop and thankfully found a lot of parts that would swap right over. You may not have a number of spare parts lying around, but the key here is that the specs are all common MTB sizes. PNW Loam Dropper Post5DEV titanium two bolt stemAnd its nice to know that it can be done relatively easily on any type of budget. Upgrade List & Weight SavingsAnywho, heres a list of what I swapped in:Starting weight: 56 lbsHandlebar: PNW carbon Loam BarStem: 5DEV Titanium two boltFork: FOX 36 Performance Elite, 140mm travel, Grip XDropper Lever: PNW LoamDropper Post: PNW Loam, 31.6Grips: Ergon GE1 Evo FactorySaddle Ergon SM Pro Men in size M/LShifter: SRAM GX T-Type Eagle AXSRear Derailleur: SRAM GX T-Type 12-speedRear Cassette: GX T-Type 10-52tWheels: DT Swiss XM 1700 Aluminum, Hooked, Crotchet tubeless TC, 30mm inner width, 32H Hubs: Front: DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline, 110 x 15mm boost thru-axle. Rear: DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline, 148 x 12mm boost thru-axle (yes, the Ramblas has a Boost rear end)Tires: Teravail Kessel: 29 x 2.6 (front), and 29 x 2.4 (rear), setup tublessWeight after the above upgrades: 51lbs, 11ozHows it Ride?It rides fast and nimbly, and feels a boat-load lighter. The FOX 36 fork is a game-changer (as would a RockShox fork of equal quality compared to the stock 35 Silver R). I think the biggest change I notice is where youd expect it: swapping to lighter wheels. It feels like it just moves less heavily, if that makes sense. Before the upgrades, the Ramblas rode fine; it just felt a bit sluggish and cumbersome at times. But now, it feels a little more like an analog mountain bike, and feels more nimble and capable.The other noticeable change was swapping out a 130mm fork for a 140mm fork. The extra 10mm of travel has translated to an ever-so-slightly slacker front end. The FOX fork is a much higher-end fork, so the ride quality, adjustability, and shock absorption are way better than the stock RockShox. Plus, the FOX fork is a little more aesthetically pleasing and gives the bike a better look overall.I used the SRAM GX T-Type Eagle AXS rear derailleur, shifter, and cassette, but kept the stock front crank arms and chainring. The stock front chainring is a 34t, combined with the GX T-Type 10-52t cassette that I swapped in, gave me slightly more desirable gear inches for climbing. To be exact, it dropped from 20.1 gear inches down to 19.3. With pedal assist, you wouldnt think this would be a big deal, but it is. Not only better for your knees, but its also better for helping to prolong battery life. Take a look below at the Ramblas stock geo, in the XL size. Ramblas Stock GeometryIncreasing fork travel by 10mm generally results in a head tube and seat tube angle that is about 0.5 slacker, while raising the BB 3-4mm, and slightly decreasing the reach. Both the stock 130mm fork and the swapped 140mm fork have the same offset of 44mm.Frame SizeSmallMediumLargeExtra LargeWheel Size27.5292929Seat Tube Length380mm410mm450mm490mmTop Tube Length Horizontal594.5mm616.5mm642mm668mmBottom Bracket Drop55mm55mm55mm55mmHead Tube Length125mm125mm135mm135mmHead Tube Angle66.566.566.566.5Seat Tube Angle74.574.574.574.5Rear Chainstay Length465mm465mm465mm465mmFront Wheel Center720mm744mm770.5mm796mmWheelbase1179.5mm1203mm1230mm1256mmReach415mm432.5mm455mm481mmStack Height640mm656.5mm665mm665mmFork Length530mm547mm547mm547mmFork Offset44mm44mm44mm44mmTrail108.6mm117mm117mm117mmStandover683mm702mm712mm719.5mmRider Height (Range)155 165 cm 51 55165 176 cm 55 59177 188 cm 510 62188 195 cm 62 65In The EndThis was a fun experiment to see how easy it would be to upgrade an entry-level eMTB. The Ramblas makes for a decent platform to build upon.The Aventon Ramblas is priced at $2899, and it is a ton of bike for that price. And at that price, it still leaves you room for some nice upgrades. If you are looking for a hardtail eMTB, and you dont want to drop $5000+, then I would take a serious look at the Aventon Ramblas. You can ride it in its stock form for as long as you like, upgrading slowly as things break or wear out. At the very least, youll end up with a really fun eMTB. Check out the link for more of the details on the Ramblas.Aventon.comThe post Aventons Mid-Drive Ramblas eMTB is Even More Fun After a Few Upgrades appeared first on Bikerumor.

The most striking takeaway from Mathieu van der Poels cyclocross winter is not simply the results, but the trajectory. What began as a campaign won on control and experience has evolved into something far more decisive. According to a Dutch former professional, the version now on display is not on...

The Trofeo Ses Salines takes on a completely different format in 2026. The second out of the Challenge Mallorca races is a team time trial this year, taking place on the 29th of January, used by some to prepare for the Tour de France already. We preview the race, which is set to start at 14:00CET an...

The New Hampshire state motto may be Live Free or Die, but House Bill 1703 (HB1703) would make the states bike owners pay fee or get fined. This news comes a little over a week after New Jersey passed a new law requiring all e-bike owners to be licensed, registered, and insured. Its hard not to draw parallels, but unlike the New Jersey law, the New Hampshire Bill does not appear to be motivated by safety; rather, it was proposed as a means to increase funding for transportation projects.From the Analysis section of proposed House Bill 1703: This bill establishes a required annual registration fee for all bicycles and electric bicycles operating on state or municipally funded paths, trails, and roadways which bicycles and electric bicycles are permitted to be ridden on. The bill also establishes a penalty for failure to register and directs funds from said fees and penalties to the commissioner of the department of transportation for the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, or trails in the state.You can read the full HB1703 proposal here.In its current form, HB1703 would also require paid registration for kids bikes, too. (photo/Batch Bikes) In its proposed form, HB1703 would require ALL bike and e-bike owners to pay an annual $50-per-bike registration fee. That blanket requirement would include everything from kids bikes to class 3 electric commuters, and everything in between. Additionally, cyclists who fail to register their bicycles with the DMV would be subject to a $100 fine per violation. Per the quote from the HB1703 proposal, all of the funds generated would be used for the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, or trails in the state.The primary sponsor of HB1703 is Rep. Thomas Walsh, who is the Chairman of the states Transportation Committee. According to reporting by New Hampshire Public Radio, Walsh said the proposal was a way to address a huge funding gap in its long-term transportation plan. And, similar to motor vehicles, bike registration fees could help pay for cycling infrastructure projects, rather than diverting funds from the general transportation budget.At the same time, the proposal noted that it would cost between $300,000 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 to create the registration program and staff it. That would undoubtedly eat up a large portion of the funds generated right out of the gate, while potentially negatively impacting the finances of many cyclists across the state.For larger families or people like me who own lots of bikes, registration fees could add up pretty quickly. (photo/Jeremy Benson)In the past few days, the HB1703 proposal received significant criticism and pushback from the public. Critics of the bill argued that it would add an additional financial burden on many people who are already having a difficult time in the current economic environment. Others said we should encourage people of all ages to get outside, citing health and environmental benefits, and that this fee would potentially disincentivize biking by creating another hurdle for cyclists or would-be cyclists to jump over.At a public hearing on Tuesday, January 27th, Rep Walsh was quoted in an article by the Concord Monitor as saying, If youre expecting me to jump up and down and defend the way this bill is currently written, Im sorry to disappoint you. I will take responsibility for the confusion of the intent.According to the Concord Monitor article, Walsh said the bill was never meant to require registration for childrens bicycles. He was quoted as saying, The bill was simply proposing a reasonable user fee for those who choose this new bicycle infrastructure that we are creating when there is state money involved, very similar to the way we deal with [Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles] and snowmobiles.The Concord Monitor article goes on to say that because of its flaws and opposition, Walsh doesnt think HB1703 has much of a chance of moving forward. In that article, Walsh says, Personally, because of all these things, I dont see the bill moving forward either.For now, it sounds like the people of New Hampshire have spoken. While it isnt over yet, HB1703 appears likely to die in committee. It seems like New Hampshires Live Free or Die spirit is still alive and well. The post Proposed New Hampshire Legislation Would Require ALL Bike Owners to Pay Registration Fees appeared first on Bikerumor.