Mark Cavendish has won stage 5 of the Tour de France. This is another victory in his extensive palmars but perhaps the most important of his entire career, as he finally achieved the ultimate record of 35 wins in the race.The start of the day was another very calm and slow one, with no-one intendi...

Now is the time for people, groups, and businesses who want progress to speak up loud and clear.Comment & Analysis: Whats happening with the Dublin City Centre Centre Transport Plan? Its a bit more complicated, but the main issues can be summed up as follows: A majority of councillors want the plan to go ahead without being watered down, but the chief executive is looking to appease people who still dont seem to be happy and is also waiting for a report from a lobby group set up to oppose the College Green Plaza.Dublin City Councils chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, told councillors on Monday that he is awaiting the report commissioned by the Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance before he makes any decision. Is a large part of the problem that he is only getting pressure from people who wish to delay or halt action?Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance members were listed in a recent letter to councillors as Brown Thomas Arnotts, Jervis Shopping Centre, Retail Excellence Ireland, Restaurants Association of Ireland, Louis Copeland & Sons, Irish Parking Association, Best Car Parks, and Fitzwilliam Real Estate Capital. Five of these have direct links to car parks, and Brown Thomas Arnotts, in particular, has a long history of wrongly claiming transport projects will cause doom to the city centre economy.The Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance was set up to oppose the College Green Plaza. As far as we know, all it has done is oppose public space, cycle lanes and bus priority measures. It has no website and no social media presence. It seems to mainly be in place to accommodate businesses unhappy with the more moderate or supportive stances of established business groups. Why are the council paying so much attention to them?Does Shakespeare need to feel pressure from people who dont want to see climate action, public transport priority, safer and more livable streets delayed and watered down once again?Looking at everything thats going on, I think thats exactly what needs to happen. People, businesses and groups who support the changes should politely but firmly email the chief executive at chiefexecutive@dublincity.ie asking for the changes to be started to be implemented in August and asking for the watering down of the plan to be reverted.This requires broad action from a range of people, businesses and groups who use all different modes of transport and want a more sustainable, safer, more attractive city centre in our capital. Now is the time to act email Shakespeare and CC the councillors local to where you live, work, or visit; ask others to do the same; ask city-based groups and businesses you are involved in to do the same.Dont wait until the plan is delayed or watered down to nothing. Act now.

What happens when some of the top wheel, tire, and aerodynamic experts get together? They make the worlds fastest tire, and then create some very fast wheel+tire systems. And the best part is, they work at normal speeds, not just pro peloton warp drive.The new Continental Aero 111 road bike tire is the result a collaboration between them, DT Swiss, and SwissSide. We covered the patent filing for this in early 2023, and now the tires are finally available. Heres how they workAero gains for allThe project came about as DT Swiss was looking for ways to further improve overall system aerodynamics. They say they were quite happy with their wheels, rims, spokes, and hubs, so the next level was the tire.They partnered with SwissSide to design it, then brought in Continental to actually make it. By using scooped divots along the tires cornering edges, theyre able to smooth the airflow to reduce drag. In their words:Specially designed aero cavities in the patented tread pattern function as vortex generators, creating turbulent airflow on the surface that enables the air to stick to the rim shape of the front wheel. The result is a maximization of the sailing effect by delaying the flow separation from the rim, resulting in the ultimate aero wheel tire system.Whats more impressive is that the benefit is seen even at normal human speeds:Straight on, performance is similar to the popular GP 5000, but it starts to get much faster with any crosswind, even creating negative drag in severe crosswind angles, which keeps it more stable, too. Yes, thats negative drag, also known as propulsionthis wheel/tire system actually makes you faster in crosswinds, but thats not even the best part.Most drag charts we see are at Pro Tour rider speeds of 40-50km/h. This one shows the drag reduction at 30km/h (18.64mph), a speed many of us cruise at all day long.In fact, they say what makes this tire really special is that it can reduce drag so much at low speeds. The chart below shows how its performance is consistent even as you increase your speed to 45km/h, but notice how the GP 5000 changes:Up to a certain point (about 15 wind angle), they say the beneficial sailing effect is more pronounced on standard tires at higher speeds, which is a good thing if you can hold 28mph. But for most of us, having a tire that produces improved aerodynamics at 18mph is far more beneficial. But wait, theres more:The aerodynamic benefits are exactly the same with the 29mm width, the curve just moves up slightlysorry, no negative drag here. Note that this data is with a shallower rim, but still shows benefits at 30km/h.Summary: The Continential Aero 111 tire is meant as a front tire only, you can use whatever you want out back. They say gains are achieved regardless of rim height, but its offered in 26mm and 29mm widths to suit personal preferences. The 26mm will be the most aerodynamic, but for long-distance riders who want something with a bit more volume to improve comfort, the 29mm will still offer more aero benefits than standard tires.Aero 111 tire detailsThe 48 cavities are the key differentiator. The rest should sound familiar for Conti fans. Their Black Chili rubber compound provides wet-and-dry grip and low rolling resistance. An ultralight and tough Vectran breaker sits under the tread cap to resist punctures. and a tubeless-ready casing lets you set it up without tubes for the least rolling resistance.Its tubeless compatible with both hooked and hookless rims. Max tire pressure is 72psi on hookless (TSS) rims, and 102psi on hooked (crochet) rims. Claimed weights are 250g (26mm) and 280g (29mm).Aero wheel-tire systems (WTS) shown with 26mm tires. Endurance WTS with 29mm tires also available with shallower carbon rims.Youll be able to get the tire on its own from Continental through its normal retail channels MSRP is around $/120 per tire. DT Swiss will offer complete wheel+tire systems with a slight discount for adding the tires compared to buying it all separately. Options are:CARBON 1100 DICUTAero 26mm/28mm and Endurance 29mm/30mm: + 150 for front AERO 111 + rear GP 5000 STR + 2 TPU tubes fully mounted.CARBON 1400 DICUTAero 26mm/28mm and Endurance 29mm/30mm: + 100 for front.ALU AR / ER 1600 SPLINE 30Aero 26mm/28mm and Endurance 29mm/30mm: + 50 for front AERO 111 + rear GP 5000 STR + 2 Butyl tubes fully mounted.ALU A / E 1800 SPLINE 30Aero 26mm/28mm and Endurance 29mm/30mm): + 70 (E) / + 80 (A) for front AERO 111 + rear GP 5000 STR + 2 Butyl tubes fully mounted.Additionally, SwissSide will sell the tire individually and as a wheel-tire system. Canyon will also spec the WTS on select bikes.DTSwiss.comThe post New Continental Aero 111 Road Tire is Fastest Ever, Even at Low Speeds appeared first on Bikerumor.

Mark Cavendish has won 35 Tour de France stages. See the map of where he won each stage, and how he won them

The local authority says the redesigned scheme will help eradicate the all-too-often toxic cyclists versus motorists polemic, that it claims has been fuelled by poor design and hurriedly installed cycleways

Stage 5 of the Tour de France 2024 promised a day of apparent calm for the overall favorites with a day that had to be decided by sprint, barring a surprise, and so it was, with a historic result after Mark Cavendish flew to the finish line to surpass, at 39, Eddy Merckx's record number of wins. Tad...

Mark Cavendish may be closing in on his 40th birthday but the British sprinter has today won another stage of the Tour de France, bringing his career tally to 35 and eclipsing the great Eddy Merck. Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) barged and bumped his way through the final sprint of todays stage 5 into Saint []The post Mark Cavendish (39) takes history-making win at Tour de France | Video appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

After today Ill be checking out for the remainder of the week in honor of our great nations annual sales event:On the Fourth of July we Americans celebrate our independence from the hated British. Oddly it took Canada like another century go gain their own independence, and yet their Independence Day comes before ours, which makes no sense:They like totally shoaled us.Meanwhile, Ive been riding in the golden light of dawn:And on a pair of seemingly down-filled tubular tires:Back in March, I incurred a flat on the Cervino:And in an act of profound generosity, a reader sent me four (4) beautiful new Vittoria tubular tires, which apparently he no longer needed:I was reluctant to deploy such fancy tires in early spring, when the roads are strewn with much debris, so instead I mounted a pair of Continental Sprinter Gatorskins:In addition to doing a really messy job of it, I found that once installed the tires made kind of a sticky ticking nose when rolling, which sounded like when you get a price tag stuck to the bottom of your shoe at the supermarket. So I peeled them off and reglued them, but the sound remained. At that point I figured Id just ride them and ignore the sound in the hope it would eventually disappearbut it never did. Moreover, I was unable to ignore the sound, for while I have no problem riding around on filthy, scratched, or even dented bikes, I have little tolerance for annoying sounds. So this week I finally said Fuck it and installed the Vittorias.As usual, I made a mess of it, and at one point I even mounted the tire only to find Id gotten my own t-shirt stuck between it and the rim. (Also, after gluing the Gatorskins on twice they were so hard to remove I wore holes in both my thumbs and now can hardly even operate a Campagnolo Ergo shifter.) However, overall the Vittorias were a lot easier to work with than the Continentals due to the fact that theyre a lot more supple and stretchy, and most important of all they run completely silently:Not only that, but they feel fucking fantastic, and it was like I had extra cogs in my primitive 6-speed 13-21 freewheel:Just check out these blistering speeds!As a contrarian Ive often been critical of Supple Tire Mania, and the Rene Herse tires I had on the Eye Of the Tiger Bike never completely won me over, but this bike with these tires evokes every cycling media clich youve ever read:Its like angels are carrying me through the heavens on silk ribbons theyve strung beneath my scranus.By the way, I know Ive mentioned this before, but not only does a 10-speed* chain work just fine on an old 6-speed drivetrain, but it transforms the shifting to such a degree that it rivals a modern system:*Not like it has to be a 10-speed chain, and Im sure a modern chain regardless of speeds would have the same effect, but the point is that this is easily the cheapest and most effective vintage drivetrain update its possible to make.Clipless pedals are also an improvement over lashing your feet to your bike:And while these arent exactly period-correct theyre the original iteration of the Look pedal and its perfectly reasonable to assume a typical Cervino owner would have upgraded to them a few years later after witnessing the exploits of Bernard Hinault:But yes, gluing a sweatsock full of air to your rim certainly enhances ride quality, go figure:Hopefully the holes in my thumbs heal before I get a flat and have to pull it off again.Happy 4th, and see you Monday!Love,Tan Tenovo

Elite has updated its Justo smart trainer, released a new mid-market smart trainer called the Avanti and unveiled a new indoor bike frame, the Square.Elite calls the Square a smart frame with "high-end virtual shifting that will enable you to customise the controls to replicate the gearing you use outdoors.The frames geometry is adjustable, so it will fit multiple riders in one household if required, according to Elite.At 1,250 (international pricing is to be confirmed), the Elite Square joins the recently announced Zwift Ride and Caveworks Rivet in the indoor bike frame market. These frames stand on elongated fork legs while the dropouts mount to a turbo trainer.The Square goes on sale in Europe in December and in the rest of the world in January.Priced at $849 / 749, the Avanti is claimed to match the performance of premium smart trainers at a more affordable price.The Avanti will be available in Europe in late August and in other markets shortly after.Meanwhile, the new Elite Justo 2 surpasses its predecessor, the Justo, with significant improvements, according to the brand.Youll be able to buy the Elite Justo 2 for $1,199 / 1,099 in late August in Europe and in September elsewhere.Elite SquareThe Square frame can be used on different smart trainers by multiple people. - Jack Luke / Our MediaThe Elite Squares modular design is claimed to ensure compatibility with most smart trainers, cycling apps and indoor cycling accessories, and lets you customise its components.Unlike the Zwift Ride, which comes with a Wahoo Kickr Core, Elite does not include a smart trainer in the price. Buying a smart trainer and a Square will set you back roughly as much as one of the best indoor bikes. But, with the Square, you can choose your preferred smart trainer and indoor training app you can't currently buy the Ride frame without the Kickr Core. The Elite Square smart frames belt drive gear system keeps the trainer quiet and minimises chain maintenance, according to Elite.Using the Square app, Elite says you can configure a virtual drivetrain.You can match the chainring sizes and cassette cogs to your outside gearing, or choose preset profiles tailored for flat, hilly and mountainous courses, according to Elite. Another off-the-peg option is Shimano's Di2 12-speed drivetrain with an 11-30t cassette.The controllers are for shifting, braking, steering and interacting with your training app. - Jack Luke / Our MediaThe handlebar features the same shifting and braking buttons and levers found on Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo groupsets, and you operate them as you would on the road, according to Elite.A controller sits on the end of each hood, enabling integration with Zwift Play and for you to adjust the screen of your training app without taking your hands off the bar.There are 10 buttons on each controller: four buttons for controlling Zwift or other indoor cycling apps; one to alter the intensity of Aria, Elites smart fan, directly from the Square if connected; one button for Zwift virtual steering; and two shift buttons, one for Campagnolo shifting, and one brake button, activated with the brake lever.The Elite Square fits riders who use frames ranging from XS to XL. - Jack Luke / Our MediaElite says the Square can fit cyclists from XS to XL frame sizes, thanks to its adjustable saddle height, tilt, fore-aft position, handlebar height and reach, along with the five crank lengths available.Elite Square frame geometryHandlebar height: 84.5-106cmHandlebar width: 42cmSaddle height: 57-88cmSaddle width: 150mmMinimum saddle setback: 170mmCrank lengths: 165 mm, 167.5 mm, 170 mm, 172.5 mm, 175 mmMinimum rider height: 152cm / 4ft 11inMaximum rider height: 198cm / 6ft 6inElite AvantiThe Avanti can simulate 18 per cent slopes while the Justo 2 takes you up to 24 per cent, virtually. - Jack Luke / Our MediaThe Avanti will slot in between the cheaper Suito and pricier Direto XR in Elites smart trainer range.Elite says the Avanto provides +/- 1 per cent accuracy and a realistic ride feel, and can simulate gradients up to 18 per cent.The Avanti can connect to Wifi and pair with smart devices, sensors and shifting, such as Shimano Di2, over Bluetooth and ANT+.A 12-month subscription to Elite's My E-Training app is included in the price.Max power: 920W (20kph) - 2,100W (40kph)Claimed accuracy: +/- 1 per centFlywheel: 4kgElite Justo 2The Justo 2 now comes with a preinstalled cassette and Wifi connectivity. - Jack Luke / Our MediaElites range-topping smart trainer now comes with a 12-speed Shimano cassette preinstalled.The Justo 2 also gains the ability to connect to your home WiFi, adding to its existing Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity.The price includes a 36-month subscription to the Elite My E-Training app.Max power: 1,100W (20kph) - 2,300W (40kph)Claimed accuracy: <1 per centFlywheel: 7.2kg

U.S.-based UCI Continental women's team DNA Pro Cycling will cease operations after the 2024 season, citing increasingly difficult-to-meet demands for time and resources to operate a professional women's team in the Americas.