From a joyful new childrens book to a manatee-powered apparel drop, Marley Blonsky is bringing the same message to both: you do not have to fit the old mold to belong on a bike.(All Photos/Jordan Villella)On the surface, bikes can be intimidating. When most people think of a typical cyclist, they think of skinny, leg-shaved elitists, trying to drop you from the social ride. A culture of being as fast as possible and at any cost. Cycling-curious consumers are pummeled daily by bike and gear ads that render previous models obsolete, making cycling feel inaccessible. But once you dig deeper (or just quit reading the bait-and-switch headlines), youll find that the bike world is filled with wonderful people. Most are just chasing the feeling of freedom they discovered as kids. Rather than putting their effort into pushing the latest bike gadget, some opt for the simplicity of the bike and the magic it creates.(Photo/Shreddly)That is where Marley Blonsky is right now. She has two new projects that may look different on the surface but are actually doing the same work underneath. The first is her debut childrens book, The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club: A Story About Riding Your Own Way. The second is the newFast as a MF Manateecapsule collection with SHREDLY. The partnership totally makes sense. The women-founded apparel brand is a natural choice, with sizingthat reflects the sizing needs of real riders and folks looking to start their fitness journey.Taken together, both projects land in the same place: making bikes feel bigger, friendlier, and a whole lot more fun.Bikes Bring AdventureBlonskys new book introduces readers to a group of different kids who are not typical cyclists, just kids looking to ride. The book leans into the freedom and joy of riding in all its forms. That means racing, popping wheelies, riding to a friends house, or just pedaling in search of ice cream (yes!).To a lot of kids, the biggest barrier to feeling like they belong in sport is not whether they can do it. Its whether they can see themselves in it at all.This doggo wanted the book cake so badbut dont worry, she got a treat during the reading (Photo/Jordan Villella)Thats what The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club does so well. It widens the picture, makes space, and reminds young readers that there is no one right way to do what you love. More importantly, there is no one right kind of body, background, or style required to get the invitation to play.Cake & Books I got to attend a small party/reading of the book at this years Sea Otter Classic, and it was magical. Not in some overcooked, content moment kind of way. In the real way. Kids were locked in. Adults were smiling. A doggo wanted to eat the cake! The room felt warm and open and easy. That may be the best thing you can say about a childrens book reading. This is Blonskys first childrens title, and it feels like a natural extension of the work she has already done.SHREDLY CollabOn the apparel side, Blonskys collaboration with SHREDLY takes that same message and gives it a little more sass.The new Fast as a MF Manatee capsule is inspired by Blonskys now-familiar mix of humor, confidence, and body liberation. The unbothered energy of the manatee is the perfect essence of the line. The collection is built around speed and confidence. That is the real win here. The phrase is funny, sure, but it also hits a deeper note. It rejects the old assumption that if you are not the fastest, the lightest, or the most traditional-looking rider in the bunch, then you are somehow doing it wrong.Whats in the collection?The capsule includes five pieces, all designed with an inclusive fit and practical ride function in mind. Plus, all come offered in sizes XS to 3X and 00 to 24.The headline piece is the Biker Bib. SHREDLYs bib opts for a drop-tail for easier bathroom breaks, cargo pockets for snacks and ride essentials, and a breathable mesh upper. The bibs use ombr straps that give the whole thing a little visual punch without getting weird.There is also the Limitless 7-inch Stretch Waistband High-Rise Short. Its a versatile short built around SHREDLYs signature waistband and finished with the manatee logo in the collections custom colorway.The Short Sleeve Explorer Shirt brings a lightweight, cropped tee into the mix. Its aimed at the everyday rides, errands, hanging out, and whatever happens after the bike gets leaned against the porch.Then there is the Beyond Tech Long Sleeve Cargo Top, which may quietly be the sleeper hit of the collection. It mixes a soft ombr look with rear cargo pockets; more pockets are always welcome.And yes, there are matching socks. Because if you are going to commit to a manatee-themed ride kit, halfway would be a real mistake.Doing the Real WorkCycling loves to talk about growth, community, accessibility, and getting more people on bikes. However, the follow-through is usually left in the conference room. Marley Blonsky just keeps finding ways to actually do it.Put it all together: With The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club, Blonsky has helped create the kind of bike story more kids should know. SHREDLYs Fast as a MF Manatee gives riders a rallying cry that is funny on the surface and powerful underneath. This feels like a very good reminder that the bike world gets better the more people can see themselves in it.Now available at Strong Girl Publishing, along with many more rider-themed books for kids and young teens.The post Marley Blonsky Brings More Joy to Cycling with New Kids Book and SHREDLY Collection appeared first on Bikerumor.

London is in the midst of a series of tube strikes, disrupting transport across the city and leaving commuters to find other modes of transport. Transport for London told BikeRadar that Santander Cycles and its e-scooter rental trial saw a 60 per cent increase in usage this morning, after members of the RMT union walked out for a 24-hour strike from midday Tuesday. The rental electric bike provider Forest also said it had seen a surge in demand, although it did not provide any figures. Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, said: [W]e have increased our on-street resources, including upping our battery swapping capacity by 80 per cent, increasing the number of teams dedicated to tidying bays by 70 per cent, and stepping up fleet redistribution, so our bikes can be found in areas where they are needed the most. Berwin said Forests team of 'battery swappers' are using cargo bikes to navigate London in particularly busy areas, such as Westminster and the City, to maximise the availability of its electric bikes. A second 24-hour period of industrial action will begin on Thursday and end at midday on Friday. The Piccadilly and Circle lines will close entirely, as well as the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate. There will be no Central line services between White City and Liverpool Street. Hal Stevenson, director of policy at Lime UK, said the company was proud to be helping so many Londoners get to where they need to be this week. Lime said it would provide data and insights into the impact of the strikes on its dockless ebike rentals later this week. But the company said that during the tube strikes in September 2025, it saw a 54 per cent week-on-week increase in trips. Lime said trips on its bikes were also longer, suggesting commuters were using its bikes for their full journey rather than connections with public transport. With YouGov, Lime surveyed 1,027 London adults following the September strikes and found 28 per cent of Londoners were more likely to consider cycling in the future as a result of the strikes. 21 per cent of Londoners said they cycled during Septembers strikes. This weeks strikes differ from the tube strikes in September. The dispute is over a voluntary proposal to allow train operators to move to a compressed four-day working week. Only the RMT union, which represents around half of Londons tube drivers, is on strike, whereas ASLEF, another tube drivers' union, is still working. This will likely mean the uptick in cycling due to the strikes this week will be lower than during the September strikes. However, cycling in London is on the up generally. TfL revealed that cycling journeys increased to an estimated 1.5 million journeys per day in 2025. Limes revenue jumped by 75 per cent in 2024, with Londoners making 16 million journeys during commuting hours, while the company saw an 85 per cent increase in total journeys.

From the 20th to the 24th of April the riders will take on the Tour of the Alps. This is often used as the ultimate preparation race towards the Tour of the Alps, whilst in itself it is a very prestigious race with plenty high mountains and its international course, often crossing borders. We previe...

Giulio Pellizzari held firm on a chaotic Stage 3 of the Tour of the Alps, keeping control of the general classification despite a crash-hit day that saw the Italian lose a key domestique and face sustained pressure from his rivals. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader finished safely in the reduce...

Ben Tulett produced one of the standout rides of La Flche Wallonne 2026, finishing third on the Mur de Huy behind winner Paul Seixas after a disrupted build-up that had left his participation in doubt. Riding for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the Brit arrived at the final climb in perfect position and...

The Esker Solitaire is a rigid steel frameset with room for burly tires and some nostalgic design cues that harken back to simpler times. The Minnesota brand has fewer than 30 remaining in a fresh "Digging for Gold" colorway, and when they're gone, they're gone for good. Learn more about the 2026 Esker Solitaire here...The post There are Fewer than 30 Esker Solitaire Framesets Available appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Mauro Schmid produced a standout ride on the Mur de Huy to finish second at La Flche Wallonne 2026, charging through from deep in the group to emerge as best of the rest behind winner Paul Seixas. The Swiss national champion looked out of contention at the foot of the final climb, but a decisive ea...

Moritz Mauss, one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents in German cycling, has shared images on Instagram that make even hardened fans swallow hard. Blood, shock, reality. No filter, no sugarcoating. A moment that could have ended everything and yet became only a brutal pit stop. The accident...

At this years Sea Otter Classic, I had the opportunity to meet with Will Talbot. Will was one of the founders of 5DEV. Now, hes partnered with another brand to launch a new consumer-facing division called Projekt 1919.The parent company that Will has partnered with is a German precision drivetrain component manufacturer by the name of THUN. THUN was founded in 1919, hence the Projekt 1919 nomenclature.(Photo / THUN)(Photo / THUN)THUN has spent more than a century operating primarily as an OEM supplier, flying under the radar, so to speak. They specialize in bottom bracket systems and drivetrain components. Through the dedicated brand 1919 Components, the company is stepping out from behind the curtain. Their goal is to bring their manufacturing expertise directly to cyclists through the new brand.1919 Components will focus on CNC-machined cycling parts designed for performance and durability across multiple disciplines. This includes road, gravel, e-bike, eMTB, and mountain biking. This move represents THUNs effort to connect more directly with riders. While also building on its well-established manufacturing foundation and engineering standards that theyve developed over the decades in the industry.Projekt 1919 Square Taper Launch at Sea OtterAs part of the launch, Projekt 1919 released a limited run of 50 Square Taper, 8-Bolt, 165mm cranks. Plus, a 42t chainring. I have no information on pricing at the moment. Expect to see the new components in late spring.All Projekt 1919 components are produced in strictly limited quantities. Cyclists interested in these components can join a waiting list through the projects dedicated website at the link below.1919components.comThe post Projekt 1919 Is the Latest Component Brand to Offer High End Square Taper Cranks appeared first on Bikerumor.

Axel Laurance produced one of the most unusual moments of La Flche Wallonne 2026, briefly abandoning his bike and running up the Cte dEreffe in scenes that immediately brought back memories of Chris Froomes infamous Tour de France incident. With the race entering its decisive phase, the INEOS Gr...