It would cost 18.62 billion and take 12 years to repair all the local-authority controlled tarmac in England and Wales, according to a report published today by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). Each year, the AIA commissions an independent survey of local authority highway departments in England and Wales to take a snapshot of the general conditions of the local road network. This year, the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) report found a total of 1.9 million potholes were filled in 2025 more than 5,200 every day at a total cost of 149.3m. But local authorities say they do not have the budget to maintain their networks, despite a 17 per cent increase in the average annual highway maintenance budget. Read more: Ending the UKs pothole plague "will save lives" but government funding boost is only the start National disgrace David Giles, chair of the AIA, says: [O]ur ageing network has become more fragile. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images David Giles, chair of the AIA, says in his introduction to the report that the condition of local roads in the two countries has become a national disgrace. Tracking ALARM data over the last decade shows that the amount needed to bring the carriageway up to scratch has increased dramatically, not helped by the inconsistent funding levels that local authorities have reported over this period." Meanwhile, our ageing network has become more fragile and vital resurfacing takes place less frequently now reportedly only once every 97 years on average, adds Giles. The report says that just over half of the local road network is now reported to be in good structural condition, while 49 per cent of the network is said to have less than 15 years structural life remaining. AIA says its estimate of 18.62 billion to fix the backlog of local road repairs has increased by more than 54 per cent from the 12.06 billion reported in 2016. The report found there is a 1.37 billion shortfall in the total carriageway maintenance budget, which is roughly 8.1 million per local authority. The government has allocated 1.6 billion to local highway maintenance for this financial year, and has pledged to allocate 7.3 billion over the next four years. Alongside additional allocations from local authorities own sources, this financial commitment has led to an increase in the average highway maintenance budgets in England and Wales. But this has only resulted in marginal improvements in condition, with highway engineers telling the AIA that it is not a silver bullet that will clear the backlog of repairs any time soon. The risk to cyclists The condition of roads in England and Wales can pose particular risks to cyclists. In February, the cycling insurance specialist Cycleplan revealed that the damage to bikes caused by potholes leads to costs that are 50 per cent higher than the average claim. After analysing a decade of internal claims, Cyclepan found pothole-related incidents such as buckled wheels and twisted bicycle frames result in an average repair cost of 1,017.74. Many cyclists reported being forced to ride over potholes after vehicles passed too closely or at speed, leaving them little room to manoeuvre safely, Cycleplan said. Another concern highlighted by the data is delayed awareness of damage. Riders often did not realise their bike had been compromised until days later, sometimes continuing to ride with hidden faults that could pose safety risks, it added. Alan Thomas, CEO of Cycleplan, said: Potholes remain a major frustration for everyone on the road, but cyclists can face far greater consequences. Beyond repair costs, there is a genuine risk of serious injury when a rider hits a pothole particularly during colder months when freeze-thaw cycles worsen road surfaces. Read more: This UK county has the most potholes, with 66,000 reported in 2024

A snowy mountain bike ride helped Simon Worley get a cancer diagnosis

For more than a decade, Addy Engels was part of the inner machinery that helped transform what was once LottoNL-Jumbo into one of the most dominant teams the modern peloton has seen. But after ten years inside the project, the experienced Dutch sports director felt it was time to step away. Speaking...

2018 Tour de France winner saddles up behind Greg James to provide a power boost to charity challenge

Idea for cycling hub followed 86 per cent of King's Lynn residents stating that cycle storage could be improved, and facility would have also featured e-bike charging, lockers and a repair station

Tadej Pogacar has made no secret of the race he still wants most on his palmares, and ahead of Milano-Sanremo 2026 the world champion once again admitted the first Monument of the season remains a major ambition. Its no secret that Milano-Sanremo is a race I would love to win, Pogacar said as UAE...

Batch continues to bring quality and affordability together. A few weeks ago, we saw them do this on the mountainbike side of the market, releasing the MB.1 and MB.2. The hardtails retail for $600 and $700, respectively, and feature modern geometry and affordable yet modern components.Now, Batch aims to repeat the process, now in the gravel corner of the industry. Now, surely, these new gravel offerings wont completely knock your socks off, but that isnt Batchs intention. However, will they get new riders out on two wheels without the incredible cost barrier?Absolutely.Batch GB.1This bike is Batchs entry into gravel. The GB.1 features a 6061 double-butted aluminum frame, a clutched 9-speed derailleur, and tubeless-ready rims and tires. The frame comes in four sizes50cm, 53cm, 56cm, and 59cmand features integrated rack and fender mounting points.Here are some key features:Fork: 1-1/8 Aluminum Gravel with flat mount brake mountsBrakes: Tektro MD-C310 mechanical discRotors: 160mm (F/R)Shifters: MicroShift Sword BlackDerailleur: MicroShift Sword RD-G7005M, 9/10 speedCassette: Index 9-speed, 11-46TCrankset: Forged alloy / 38T chainringTires: 700 x42mmWheels: 700cPrice: $999.99GB.2The Batch GB.2 starts where the GB.1 leaves off. They share the same 6061 hydroformed double-butted aluminum frame, but save some weight with a bit higher component spec. Helping shed some weight and absorb light trail chatter, the GB.2 is equipped with a carbon fork. Like the GB.1, four sizes are available.Fork: 1-1/8 1-1/2 carbon gravel forkBrakes: Tektro MD-C310 mechanical discRotors: 160mm (F/R)Shifters: MicroShift Sword BlackDerailleur: MicroShift Sword RD-G7005M, 9/10 speedCassette: Index 9-speed, 11-46TCrankset: Forged alloy / 38T chainringTires: 700 x42mmWheels: 700cPrice: $1,299.99batchbicycles.comThe post Batch Introduces a New Gravel Bike, Two Builds, Both Affordable appeared first on Bikerumor.

Further to a recent post, one or two of you took issue with the fact that I had zip-tied a water bottle cage to this bicycle:Hey, you may find it unsightly, but at least its not as bad as what this guy did:[Via here.]I dont know who he is, but he clearly has no respect for fine hand-crafted bicycles:As for the bike Im riding, one reader even said I should contact Richard Sachs himself and ask him to install bottle bosses for me, though as I noted, someone of his stature (my elder son has even referred to him as the Karl Farbman of Bicycles) has far more important stuff to work on than that. In fact, a quick look at his social media reveals just how busy he is:For chrissakes, leave the guy alone and let him focus.Plus, in between hes even managed to publish two new installments in his series of books, which I look forward to reading:Ive already read and enjoyed the first one, which he was kind enough to send me awhile back:He sent it after I reached out to tell him I was riding one of his bikes, which was a pleasant surprise, since I expected a response more along the lines of, Arent you that bike blog guy? Please do not let anyone see you riding one of my bikes. Heres a page I just opened up to at random:That one hits close to home:[Industry Standard Gravelling Appliance]I certainly dont mind a utilitarian, appliance-like bike, nor would I ever suggest you need a beautiful bicycle in order to properly appreciate cycling. A purposeful, businesslike bike has its own charm. Furthermore, if anything, most of us found our love of riding astride bicycles that many might consider appliance-like or utilitarian, if not downright ugly, and many of us continue to ride and enjoy ugly bikes today, whether by necessity or by choice. For example, many years ago I used to ride a bonded aluminum Trek, and I remembered it so fondly I went so far as to acquire its doppelgnger from Classic Cycle:Is a ride on a bonded aluminum Trek as profoundly enjoyable as a ride on a Richard Sachs? Absolutely. Would I choose a bonded aluminum Trek over a Richard Sachs? Absolutely not. That would be stupid. But thats not the point, because I happen to have both so I dont have to make that choicenor, frankly, should I be forced to make that choice. After all, a personage of my standing in the cycling community must ride a bike befitting of his stature, and anything less would be unbecoming. Celebrities, royalty, bike bloggerspeople expect us to maintain certain standards, and whilst those standards may be difficult to uphold, it simply wouldnt be fair of us to let the rest of you down, now would it?At this point, you may be wondering how I reconcile these so-called lofty standards of mine with something like this:Or, for that matter, this:To that I say unto you, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I dine with publicans and sinners so you dont have to. Youre welcome.Never mind that once-healthy bikes seem to get sicker and sicker the more time they spend with me, aesthetically speaking:To wit:Though Id argue that the bike hasnt become ugly; rather, it has acquired beausage, which is a portmanteau of the words beauty and sausage. And of course the degree of beausage a bicycle acquires is in direct proportion to the extent to which is is loved. This is because the more you use it, the more beautifully sausaged it gets.For a long time, Andy White of Fyxomatosis has espoused this credo:That always used to bother me. If anything, I always thought life is too short not to ride shit bikes. What are you supposed to do when youre young and of limited knowledge, experience, and means? Sit on your ass until you can afford your dream bike? Of course not! You get your hands on any bike you can and get out there! There are no shitty bikes, there are only shitty people. And shitty weather:I still dont think life is too short to ride shit bikes, but I do think its too short to refrain from riding fancy bikes in shit weather:Of course a fancy rain jacket helps. Thanks, Pearl Izumi!As for the disappearance of bicycle components that are functionally and aesthetically suited to these types of bicycles, thats why Rivendell is increasingly producing their own:For years I took this stuff for granted:Now its disappearingand quickly:Life really is too short, isnt it?

Shimano faces an $11.5 million penalty after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) concluded the company failed to promptly report a defect in its 11-speed road cranksets. The regulator claims Shimano received thousands of warranty claims globally between 2013 and 2022, alongside reports of injuries including bone fractures, joint displacement, and lacerations. According to the CPSC, Shimano possessed information that reasonably supported the conclusion that the bicycle cranksets contained a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, but did not immediately report this to the commission as required. The issues saw more than 2.8 million cranksets returned. Jack Luke / Our Media The penalty follows a large-scale recall announced in 2023, which saw a reported 2.8 million11-speed Shimano cranksets returned globally as part of an inspection and replacement programme. Affected cranks commonly saw the compound bonding the two cast halves fail, leading to delamination and potential crank failure. Read more: Understanding an unusual Shimano crankset failure In addition to the civil penalty, the settlement requires Shimano to maintain internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. The company has also agreed to submit annual reports on its compliance programme, internal controls and audits. The settlement has been provisionally accepted by the CPSC and remains subject to public comment. A Shimano representative told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News the company could not comment beyond what was included in the public settlement.

The Slovenian's agent says he collided with the team car ahead of stage 18