Shimano has expanded the options available in its GRX RX810 12-speed gravel groupset, offering more choices to configure the groupset to meet your requirements. First up, it will now sell 160mm and 165mm crank-arm lengths alongside the existing 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm cranks. When Simon von Bromley asked Shimano why crank arms are the length they are, as part of his detailed feature on the best crank length for cycling, the reply was: 170-175mm cranks provide an optimal balance between rotational inertia [the torque required to turn the crank], rotational speed [i.e. cadence shorter cranks have to be spun faster to achieve the same power output and vice versa], frame design [longer cranks require a higher bottom bracket to achieve the same pedalling clearance] and biometric issues [longer cranks place greater demands on joints and muscles as the turning circle is larger]. Shorter crank arms have several potential advantages for gravel riders. But theres a general trend for shorter cranks, with Jonas Vingegaard spotted experimenting with cranks as short as 150mm. Shimano states shorter cranks can enable riders to pedal more efficiently and at higher cadences, while reducing joint strain. It singles them out as an advantage in particular for long gravel rides and races. In addition, theyre likely to be a better choice for shorter riders and may improve ground clearance a little on more technical terrain. As tends to be the case, SRAM got there first, though. Its Red XPLR crankset and power meter are available with six crank-arm lengths, starting with 160mm and 165mm, and heading up in 2.5mm increments to 175mm. Force XPLR and Rival XPLR omit the 167.5mm length. Larger chainrings for gravel racers Shimano's larger 44- and 46-tooth chainrings are likely to appeal to gravel racers. The existing GRX RX800 series offers 40- and 42-tooth chainrings, which might be a little too small for gravel racing and those who ride predominantly in flatter places. So Shimano has added new 44-tooth and 46-tooth chainring options to enable faster riders to spin more efficiently. It claims a bonus of lower friction from less chain articulation. Thats not likely to be so significant at the crankset, but also tends to place the chain more towards the middle of the cassette, where there are more teeth engaged, and the effect of lower chain-link articulation and a straighter chainline are more pronounced. You can swap the new 44t and 46t chainrings into the current GRX 800 series and 600 series cranks. Again, SRAM got there first. Its Red Thread Mount 1x chainrings come in 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46-tooth sizes.

It's Wednesday and Dan Alexander is back from a few days off to bring you all your updates from around the cycling world as we head through the middle of the week

Shimano's expansive CUES range has until now lacked a good set of options for entry-level performance road bikes. Todays announcement of an all-new rear derailleur and HG 11-speed cassettes looks to address those omissions. In November, I wrote about how CUES had failed to ignite the entry-level road bike market, with most major brands ignoring Shimanos all-encompassing CUES range, which replaced Acera, Altus, Alivio, Claris and Sora. In its favour, CUES has established a good foothold in gravel, utility and urban bike specs. Read more: Road bike groupsets everything you need to know Hyperglide for CUES The 11-speed 11-36 cassette from new Tiagra. The new CUES derailleur is also designed to work with it. Shimano The new RD-U6040 2x11-speed Rear Derailleur, combined with the recently launched CS-RS400-11 1136T Hyperglide cassette (part of the revamped Tiagra group) look set to enable bike brand product managers to create much better options for lower-tier performance road bikes. The cassette forgoes CUES' adaptable and hard-wearing Linkglide, switching to the more familiar Hyperglide technology, which means a weight reduction of 200g. Rear 11-speed derailleur optimised for modern chainlines The RD U6040 works with a 47mm chainline, optimising it for larger tyres, which makes it ideal for modern endurance bikes. Shimano The cassette is joined by a new rear derailleur, the RD-U6040. It's noticeably more compact and slender than the off-road derived standard CUES derailleur. In fact, it bears more than a passing resemblance to Shimanos previous-generation 105 (R7000). That's no bad thing, because R7000 is a legendary groupset in terms of performance per pound. However, here the design is optimised to work with modern wider tyres and the existing CUES front derailleur and HollowTech II crankset. Like the cassette, the rear derailleur offers significant weight savings over the existing CUES example, dropping 100g. An affordable 2x11 option The new Shimano CUES FC-U6040-2 crankset. Jack Luke / Our Media The 2x11-speed option combines the new RD-U6040 rear derailleur and the 11-speed 11-36t CS-RS400 cassette, which launched alongside new Tiagra, with the existing UD6030 front derailleur, which has a 2.5mm outboard chainline design, allowing for wider tyres than Shimanos older 11-speed mechanical groups. It uses the FC-U6040 50/34 HollowTech II crankset, designed to work with the wider derailleur, along with the ST-6030 STI units. The 47mm chainline this creates should enable the use of up to 45mm tyres, dependent on frame design. That makes these additions to CUES ideal for the latest generation of wide-tyre optimised endurance bikes, and plenty of all-road options. With the rear derailleur priced at only 69.99 (USA and EU prices TBC), and the cassette an equally affordable 64.99 (USA and EU prices TBC), I expect these to be popular aftermarket as upgrades to older 11-speed components, as well as becoming commonplace on complete bikes. This prototype Genesis all-road steel road bike could benefit from the new CUES components. Jack Luke / Our Media Genesis, the UK bike brand under the same umbrella company as Shimano distributor, Madison told us it'll be bringing CUES road options to its range, with both new models and running upgrades in its plans.

Children across England are set to receive free cycle training as part of a new 108 million active travel funding package announced by the government today. The funding, revealed by Active Travel England and transport minister Lilian Greenwood at the end of March, will be rolled out over the next three years to deliver hands-on training, community programmes and school initiatives. The cash injection will also lead to "healthier lives, lower costs, and less pressure on our roads and NHS", according to Chris Boardman, the government's active travel commissioner. How to teach your child to cycle in 30 minutes The package includes a major boost for the Bikeability scheme, which has provided cycle training to more than five million children since 2007. Local authorities across England will receive a share of the funding, with Bikeability to provide support, advice and guidance. The wider package includes funding to help adults return to cycling, and support to encourage more families to walk to school as part of their daily routine. Our investment is about giving people of all ages the opportunity to choose healthier, more affordable and sustainable ways to travel, says transport minister Lilian Greenwood. Active travel plays an important role in strengthening pride in place, creating streets and neighbourhoods that people feel safer in, more connected to, and proud to call home. Bikeability will receive a 78 million boost as part of the package, which also supports a range of national active travel programmes, including: 8 million for Cycling UKs Big Bike Revival, which supports adults with a focus on disabled people and women to get back on their bikes 16.1 million for Living Streets Walk to School Outreach programme, which works with primary schools to help more children and families make walking part of their daily routine 3.1 million for Modeshift, to run the STARS (Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition) travel planning award scheme and Active Travel Ambassadors programme, which empowers secondary school students to encourage peers to travel actively 2 million to support Englands 10 National Park Authorities, with the goal of further developing accessible active travel networks Up to 1 million for selected ports and airports across England to develop active travel network plans The announcement comes as the cost of living and climate concerns continue to shape how people think about everyday travel. The investment will also ease pressure on the NHS and reduce congestion on roads, according to Chris Boardman, the former Olympic cycling champion, and now the governments active travel commissioner. This is a practical investment that changes how people move every day, says Boardman. Its a child gaining the confidence to ride to school, a family choosing to walk, or someone getting back on a bike because it finally feels possible. Those small shifts add up quickly to healthier lives, lower costs, and less pressure on our roads and NHS. You may like Tips for commuting with kids how to get your children cycling to school The Cycle to Work scheme has saved 1.6 million people up to 47% on a new bike here's how to join them

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