Quick riding and quick folding performance make the M2i the ideal train commuting e-bike

Georg Steinhausers move to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe could become one of the most promising additions to support Remco Evenepoel in the years ahead. The German team has signed the climber from EF Education-EasyPost on a multi-year contract with a clear aim: to strengthen a squad targeting the Tou...

Its Veterans Day, my annual reminder of how deeply fortunate I am that so many people give so much so that I can do so little:Speaking of being lazy, as you know I commute to Brooklyn two whole times a week, and yesterday I undertook that commute by bicycle:I know what youre thinking: 18 miles each way by bicycle? Thats not lazy at all! Most peoples car commutes are shorter than your walk from the bike rack to your office. Well sure, that may be true. However, keep in mind that this time I commuted on an electric bicycle:Yes, thats right, an electric bicycle. And Im not even going to bother telling you its not mine, because you wont believe me, and anyway the truth is its my younger sons, which Im sure you think is even worse.They say the universe tends towards chaos, but this is not true; in fact, it tends towards irony. Consider, for example, the fact that Ive been obsessed with bicycles and the riding of them for as long as I remember, to the extent that Ive dedicated my life to writing about them on a daily basis for the enjoyment of four or five peopleand yet my own child doesnt really care for them, even though he learned how to ride one at the age of three in what felt like about 45 minutes. Now, a lot of people will mouth off about how you need to TELL YOUR KIDS WHAT TO DO GODDAMN IT, but it doesnt really work that way. Sure, you can make them do the things they have to do, like go to school and brush their teeth, and you can also refuse to give them the things they want but shouldnt have, like sportsbook accounts and hand grenades. But you simply cannot tell them what to like and who to be, it just doesnt work like that. So I cannot force my kid to love bikes and be a cyclist.The fact that he was born without the obsessive cyclist gene (which is really a blessing and not a curse, bikes have ruined my life, if Id spent all this time and money more responsibly I might actually be successful now) is one thing, but on top of that its very hilly where we live. People think of New York City as flat, but thats not true of the Upper Manhattan and the Bronxespecially this part of the Bronx, which sits at high elevation on a ridge overlooking the Hudson River, which is why it was a strategic location during the Revolutionary War. The upshot is that any ride will probably involve at least one very steep hill. If you love riding bikes thats not a problem; in fact its probably something you enjoy. In fact its one of the reasons I moved here from crpe-flat, boring-ass Brooklyn, the most pretentious place on Long Island. But if you dont love riding bikes, hills only strengthen your resolve to avoid doing so whenever possible. And my younger son belongs in that latter category.Still, sometimes you just want to be able to go places on bikes togethermaybe just to save time over walking or driving, or maybe because its a beautiful day and you want to go to the Botanical Gardens or something. So it seemed to me that in such situations we had three choices: not ride at all; force him to ride and turn disinclination into deep resentment; ormaybe try an e-bike? So back in the early spring we went to a bike shop and purchased a pedal-assist e-bike from a major bicycle brand. It did not turn him into a cyclist, contrary to the claims of some e-bike evangelists, nor did it turn him into a delinquent, contrary to the claims of some e-bike detractors:Mostly the e-bike has just been convenient, in that we can just ride places when we need to now with less of a fuss. Also, probably the best thing about it is that if I want him to pick him up someplace and I dont want to drive I can just ride his e-bike there and wheel my own bike alongside of me. This is something Ive done often on a regular bike, too, but its way easier with the e-bike in a hilly neighborhood like this one.Am I setting a pernicious example and inadvertently teaching him to always take the easy way out? Maybe, but I dont think so. Life will present him with all sorts of challenges as he grows up, and I doubt this alone will determine how he faces them. Am I just like those people who buy their 10 year-old kids $3,800 e-mountain bikes with dropper posts? In a way, sure, but hes in middle school and not 10, this is for getting around locally and not tearing up the backwoods, and he has put in plenty of time on a regular bicycle. (I say he doesnt ride, but Im a cycling obsessive, and even my non-cyclist child has spent more time on bikes than most children.) Believe me, Ive flagellated myself for being a hypocrite and a bad parent, but if theres one thing Ive learned as an American its that sometimes youve just got to give up and throw money at the problem.As for the bike, its a medium-sized step-through, so its easy for him to handle yet big enough that he wont outgrow it anytime soon. In fact, its big enough that even I can get away with riding itand while I rarely do, I decided to try commuting on it yesterday to finally see what all the fuss is about:Overall, it did not transform my bicycle commute, butsurprise!it did make it easier. In particular, the bulk of my route is along the Hudson River Greenway, which as all local cyclists know can subject you to very strong headwinds, as was the case that morning:[You cant see the wind, but it was there]Headwinds can be demoralizing, especially on a commute where youre just trying to get somewhere already. So yes, being able to remain in a comfortable upright position without having to get into an aero tuck or otherwise actively struggle to make forward progress was certainly a relief. So that was a big one.At the same time, it did not fundamentally change the way I rode. For example, I have frequently lamented the manner in which riders on the Greenway fail to yield to pedestrians. This day was no exception, though its less of a problem now that its getting cold and there are fewer people riding and recreating on the bike path:While youd think the faster e-bike might make me less inclined to yield, it actually had the opposite effect. Mostly this is because Im a morally superior human being who should be shortlisted for a Nobel Prize, but its also because with the assist its easier to get going again after youve stopped, so theres really no downside. The lesson here is that people on regular bikes who dont yield to pedestrians should merely be slapped, but people on e-bikes who dont yield to pedestrians on e-bikes should be repeatedly caned. Also, while I went faster overall, I really didnt go that much faster. It took me exactly an hour to get to Golf Tee Island, which is how I generally gauge my pace on my commute, and if I recall correctly I made about the same time on the Roaduno:Also, while I probably passed a few riders I might not have otherwise, I was still passed by, cut off by, and generally annoyed by all the riders on pedal-less e-motorcycles, high-speed stand-up e-scooters, and even e-Citi Bikers to the same extent I usually am.The same was true of the return commute:Though I saved more time because theres a lot more climbing on the way home:I didnt time everything very carefully, but Id estimate that going to Brooklyn I saved around 10 minutes, and coming back home I saved around 15 minutesnot nothing, but the ride still took me longer each way than the subway. As for how much effort I expended, I dont really keep track of that stuff, but as I type this I realize that my phone or my watch does, so I looked it up. Heres what yesterdays e-bike commute looked like:And heres what my last commute on the Homer looked like:I dont know how to read any of that. Clearly I worked harder on the Homer, but just how much I cant say. Perhaps some Fitness Fred can go ahead and analyze it for me.As for my perception, it definitely took the edge off, and Id be lying if I said I didnt appreciate working less on that final climb when I just wanted to be home and eating dinner already . However, as I say, it still took longer than the subway, which is the main reason I commute that way most of the timeand obviously youre just as exposed to the elements on an e-bike as you are on a regular bike, so in that regard theres no advantage. These days I only commute by bike occasionally, and when I do so I do it for fun, so for that reason an e-bike would be unlikely to make much of a difference in my routine or my preferences. Where it would make a difference would be if, say, the entire transit system went on strike and I had to ride. In that scenario I could certainly see opting for the e-bike over the regular bike at least some of the time.In short: hyper-fast e-contraptions that atomize cyclists on the bike path and off-label batteries that immolate families? Very bad. But pedal-assist e-bikes seem fairly harmless and convenient. I dont think theyll save the world, but they probably wont destroy it either.

The FOI also revealed that on one occasion the defects were not addressed because workers said they "couldn't access the job", while the council's inspection manual still does not list tree roots as a specific defect

Unibet Rose Rockets are on the lookout for new riders that can boost their chances in the classics, and to help the team achieve a wildcard towards the Tour de France. One rider, Florian Snchal, might be helping the French team towards both objectives. Unibet have had a relatively quiet transfer...

Yes, you read that right. Newmens new aero carbon 48mm-deep Streem G.48 gravel wheels come in three wheel sizes, two of which you dont even have a bike big enough for just yet! We already knew they were making 32 carbon gravel race wheels when we saw the carbon-spoked G.62 raced to a UCI win in Girona available for a few weeks now.But taking it to another level now, this lower profile and lighter mid-depth all-rounder G.48 gravel wheelset includes not just the traditional 28/700c size and a newer 32 option, but also the inbetweener 30.5 / 750d size that I test-rode two summers ago.Newmen Streem G.48 & G.62 aero gravel wheels in all sizesStreem G.62 32 on race-winning Avona Callis 32 (Photo/Cory Benson)Newmen is quickly expanding their gravel wheel range. A few weeks back, they officially added a 32 option to the 62mm-deep, 27mm internal G.62 family that debuted over the summer, and at no extra cost. (Photos/Newmen)Now, theres a shallower 48mm-deep, 27mm internal G.48 for more hilly riding and gravel racing. Its quite a bit lighter. And with an outer width & depth similar to commonly used 45-50mm gravel tires, it should be quite a solid aerodynamic performer while offering good low-pressure comfort.First, the G.48 will come in conventional 28 (thats what Germans like to call 700c). But hot on its heels, Newmen promises both 32 versions AND the middle size 30.5 / 750d that we almost thought had disappeared. Until a Cube rider raced 30.5 at the Enduro World Champs less than a month ago. Newmen calls the multi-size concept: The right size for everyone. (Eds.: Just not 650b.)The introduction of 30.5 is particularly noteworthy, as this wheel size is still relatively unfamiliar within the gravel segment. With this expansion, Newmen is responding to the growing interest in larger wheel sizes and offering riders more choice across its gravel range.Streem G.48 Tech Details48mm rounded aero carbon gravel rimwide 45mm outer width, aerodynamically optimized for modern 45-50mm gravel tires27mm hooked tubeless inner width, designed to preserve tire shape/size21 Vonoa Aero Wide Carbon spokes on both the front and rear wheels, or24 Sapim CX-Ray bladed stainless steel spokes front & rear (for a 17.7% cost savings)Newmen Fade R CNC-machined centerlock disc 12mm thru-axle, 3-pawl 36T / 10 hubshand-built wheelsets available with Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehubs (N3W & MicroSpline available separately)carbon-spoked wheels are built in Germany, steel-spoked wheels are built in Czechiaincludes Newmen hidden Aero Valve System & tubeless-ready: taped for tubeless, with valves & sealant!compatible with both hidden Aero Valve AND conventional tubeless valvestested to XC MTB wheel standards, rated up to 130kg rider+bike system weightwheelsets from 1400g (claimed with carbon spokes), or 1550g (with bladed steel spokes)Streem G.62 Details28 G.62s on a Rose Backroad FFdeeper 62mm aero carbon gravel rimsame 45mm outer width, aero-optimized for big gravel tiressame 27mm hooked tubeless inner widthalso available with 21 Vonoa Aero Wide Carbon spokes, or24 Sapim CX-Ray bladed stainless steel spokeswheelsets from 1530g (claimed with carbon spokes), or 1600g (with steel spokes)32 & 30.5 Details12x110mm Boost hub on race-winning Avona Callis 32 (Photo/Cory Benson)same G.48 & G.62 rim profilesRoad Boost 12mm centerlock hubs for added stiffness on the larger diameter rimssame aero carbon & steel spoke optionsalso XC MTB tested, rated to 130kg rider+bike system weight32 wheelsets from 1670g (claimed with carbon spokes)Newmen Streem G.48 & G.62 Pricing, options & availabilityBoth the newest Newmen Streem G.48 & the G.62s that came out this summer are available with either Vonoa bladed carbon spokes or Sapim bladed stainless steel spokes. Pricing is also the same for both rim depths 1690 with carbon spokes, 1390 for stainless spokes. And you can even pick from low-key black on carbon decals, or flashy silver logos.Streem G.48 700c & G.62 32Today, both rim depths are available in the traditional 700c/28 wheel diameter with carbon spokes to buy right now. The G.62 is also available now in 28 with steel spokes, plus the bigger 32 diameter in both carbon or steel spoke versions. The new G.48 with steel spokes will come in spring 2027. Thats also the assumption for 32 G.48 or 30.5 versions of either. Newmen has not yet shared an official availability date for these new sizes, beyond stating that Both the Streem G.48 and Streem G.62 will be available in 28, 30.5, and 32 in the future.Newmen-components.de

VecchioJo rides Rapha Muddy Hell as a duck

The 2027 Vuelta a Espaa will only have its route officially revealed in January 2027, however further details have been confirmed by race director Javier Guilln. The Vuelta's head figure also dreams of a Tadej Pogacar return, which appears to be on the cards. We are open to any and all feedback....

Jakroo-Handsling is set to have a new name and a new status for next season, after applying for Continental status for 2027.It's the culmination of a longstanding plan for the team, who began racing in 2025 as Raptor Racing and are set to compete next year as Pronto Bikes Racing by Promethean Pronto Bikes being the team's Frome-based sponsor and Promethean the management behind the set-up.If successful, they would become the first men's UCI Continental team since 2024, which Trinity Racing and Saint Piran were racing in the same category.This year its riders have posted strong results, with the team finishing second in the National Road Series, and posting three UCI podiums in European races. Some of its strongest riders this season include Jack Rootkin-Gray, who was second in the North Yorkshire GP, as well as the British Gravel Champs, and Oli Dawson, second in the UCI 1.2 GP de la Ville de Nogent-sur-Oise in July.The team is all about helping riders build towards the pro ranks, says team principal Tony Poole, and the move to Continental ranks is a further step in that direction."We had a target of being competitive on the National Road and Crit series domestically, but also trying to provide as many UCI opportunities for the riders," he told Cycling Weekly. "With riders trying to build a pathway into joining the pro ranks, they need the exposure against the WorldTour devo teams, and so they need those UCI race days alongside the domestic calendar."A move to the Continental ranks, said Poole, "enables access to races and events that we otherwise wouldn't get access to. Whereas, as an international British team, we were not always first among the UCI race organisers".Poole and his colleagues have provided British Cycling a fully-funded plan for next season, with all of BC's "red lines" such as the provision of bicycles and insurance catered for. He is confident the application will be a success, although, as he said, "Obviously it's not done till it's done, so we're still working on our side on delivering everything that's needed for the application, and that's the only way it can be."As to the team's goals next year, they have targeted 30 UCI events. But, says Poole, his main hope is just to see his riders develop."Personally, my goal is to see the progression of riders. That's what I want to see. I want to see us delivering riders into 2028 with better opportunities than they had in 2027. So that's the goal for us," he told CW.

Jai Hindley will return to the Tour Down Under for the first time since 2023, with the former Giro d'Italia champion confirmed for the opening WorldTour race of 2027 following his return to the Grand Tour podium earlier this year. The 30-year-old Australian is the first major name announced for Janu...