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THE FAST,
FUN, SMOOTH
SPECIALIZED
ROUBAIX
CAMPAGNOLOS
NEWEST
WORTH IT?
P. 6 4
BEST
WINTER
WORKOUT
P.32
TIRES
FOR
MUD,
ICE,
SNOW,
& MORE
P. 86
The desire to go back is always there. Back to the place
where you are truly comfortablefree to be yourself,
speak your mind, invite people in, or simply close the
door to it all. You live here.
THE
Stories
15 An Insane Climb
44
Changed Everything
34 The Secret to
Sweat-Free Commutes
By AC Shilton
64 Campagnolo Potenza
Could this new group take on
Shimano Ultegra?
66 Open U.P.
This gravel bike goes all ways.
68 Specialized
Roubaix and Ruby
So much more than smooth.
76 Cleary Meerkat
A kids bike so fun it inspired
our rst comic-strip review.
82 61 80 Drama-Free
Dropper Posts
82 Felt VR2
Go ahead, ride there.
84 Bontrager Meraj
Sp ecialized and Felt : M at t Rainey ; Ethic and Fat Chance: R y an O lszew ski
S1 Womens Softshell
Crush winter with $150.
EVERY ISSUE
12 The Selection
100 This Way
On the Cover
Photograph by Mitch Mandel.
Alacer 2015 ^Based on using the USDA.gov nutrient database value for a large, raw orange.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
editor in chief
Bill Strickland
comfort equals speed executive editor design director digital director
Leah Flickinger Jesse Southerland Louis Mazzante
We do research in all areas to
help you be faster and more managing editor Jennifer Sherry
comfortable on the Road art director
deputy editor
Colin McSherry
Emily Furia
senior editor Gloria Liu
online gear editor Taylor Rojek
staff writer Caitlin Giddings
social media editor Elspeth Huyett
associate editor Hannah Weinberger
online associate editor James Hart
online editor Lydia Tanner
senior designer Tim Solliday
designer Jimmy Cavalieri
test editors Ron Koch, Michael Yozell
video producers Pat Heine, Gardner Raymond
mechanic Jol Nankman
editorial interns Claire Going, Danielle Zickl
CONTRIBUTORS
gear guru Matt Phillips
fuoriclasse Joe Lindsey
the fit chick Selene Yeager
inseguitori Molly Hurford
pundit Whit Yost
prepress Quad Graphics
librarian Lynn Donches
TEST KITCHEN
executive director, rodale food Melanie Hansche
manager Julissa Roberts
senior associate editor Jennifer Kushnier
associate editor Amy Fritch
FINANCE
Innovative vp, finance
manager, finance
Laurie Jackson
Jackie Baum
advertising finance manager Susan G. Snyder
advertising financial analyst Lisa Bowers
SINGLE-COPY SALES
vp
Products Michelle Tauber
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MARIA RODALE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
ONE
The community
of cycling forms
the center of my
friendships and
my day-to-day
life, and is the key driver of my
improvements as a rider. I read a
reliable study recently that said
about 21 percent of cyclists only
ride alonemissing out on that
connection. Some cant shape
their lives around set schedules,
or are put off by the character or
politics (or mandatory ugly kit) of
local groups. Joining the Rapha
Cycling Club is a way to belong
while also reaching beyond your
neighborhood. Among the most
notable fiscal paybacks of the $200
annual membership are free coffee
at any of the worldwide clubs (easy
to see cyclists drinking back their
membership fee in a year) and the
ability to book a $25 daily rental of
a high-end Canyon road bike (huge i bought a cotton/merino shirt from parker dusseau about five years ago. Its
if you travel a lot to major cities). the toughest, best-wearing good shirt I own, and it gets me through everything from wrench-
ing in my bike shop and ripping around town to pitching TV producers or explaining BICY-
CLING to mainstream ad execs with millions of dollars to spend. Its been caught on chainring
2 . When winter hits, I usu- teeth, accidentally run between chain and cassette, snagged on valve stems, and assaulted with
ally try out something fresh grease, cleansers, rain, mud, snow, slush, blood, sweat, and (yes) tearsand definitely shows a
for fitness. One year it was little character for all of that but never lets me down. We profile the brands founder, Vaughn
weights and plyo, one year
Brown, this issue. He and I also started talking about creating a custom BICYCLING version
a lot of running, one year an
of the shirt I love. The resulting collaboration has some cool new details and should wear (and
aerobic mishmash I refuse to
wear in) even better. Get the story on page 34, and see the shirt at shop.BICYCLING.com.
call Crossfit. One year I split
a lot of wood. This winter, I
really want to see what Zwift,
the online training/gaming/ 4 I grew upand discovered cycling
community platform Ive so
just outside of Chicago, so its spot
Por tr ait : B r akethroug h M edia ; Shir t : @ B IC YCLIN GDE SIGN
BIKES ARE MOST BEAUTIFUL TO ME WHEN THEYRE CLEAN BUT NOT PRISTINEAND MORE SO
AT THE DESTROYED END OF A HORRIBLE HARD RIDE WHEN THEYRE WAITING TO GET THAT WAY.
12 BICYCLING.COM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
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THE ONE THING
Once I heard about Everestingclimbing the total height of Mount Everest in a single ride, out and back
on the same routeI couldnt stop thinking about that number: 29,092 feet. I did my first attempt on
Sentinel Peak outside Tucson. I accumulated around 21,000 feet of elevation in 14 hours. I went through
THE
,
n ds e
r
, tre t a ly
e a
o p l s t h i e n d oo
7 p e d e a - fr e , t
e 1 s i ike els F
th eniu re bone G S TA
F
f g o
n o t- m ry L I S
N
F
or bike love with a Texas twang, head the vitality of your community, Price says. Bik- than 5,000 bike racks, but
to Fort Worth for one of Mayor Betsy ing became a huge piece of that. She launched youll find the coolest ones
Prices rolling town hall meetings. Each an initiative called FitWorth that includes pro- outside the Madrone Art
week, the 66-year-old hosts a casual, 7- grams devoted to wellness, including the Tour Bar at Fell and Divisadero
to 8-mile ride to meet residentssome de Fort Worth, which overlaps with the Tour de
on their own bikes, others using B-Cycle France and features 21 days of cycling events.
bike shareand chat about their ideas on Price rides them all. Youd have to be crazy to
how to improve the city. When you put span- be me, she laughs. In a good way.
dex on a body like mine, people will tell you Price says every member of her staff and city
just about anything, she says. On weekends, council has tried riding at least once, and shes
you might spot Price at a group ride, answering committed to bringing cycling to the masses,
questions from new cyclists. from her town-hall rides to a Complete Streets
The mayor got into cycling more than 40 program that aims to ensure that new roadways
years ago, when she and her husband bought are safe for all users. Since she took office, the
bikes to celebrate their first anniversary. In city has added 66 miles of bike lanes and put
2011, she brought her passion to the mayors $1.2 million toward building trails, to make it
office, pedaling to work events and talking to safer and easier for residents to exercise.
coworkers about riding. I realized if I was going Obesity is a creeping diseaseyoull end
to maintain an active lifestyle as mayor, it would up with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes,
be vital to find ways to incorporate it into my heart problems, Price says. And business-
city activities, Price says. She also wanted to es coming into the city want to know about
bring cycling to the city she loves. the health of the workforce. So if we can say
The health of communities is critical to your were the fittest community around, thats a
economic development, to your engagement, to big draw.Molly Hurford
E
metric designs appear in very two years we sift through Census and department of transportation data on more than
public spaces around the 100 cities, consult with experts from organizations such as People for Bikes and the League of
world.Emily Furia American Bicyclists, and talk with bike advocates and everyday riders to identify the 50 most
bike-friendly towns in the United States. We look at everything from miles of bike lanes to the
No. 4 percentage of cycling commuters who are femalea key indicator of safe bike infrastructureto
A MAN, A MAGNET, the number of cyclist-friendly bars. The goal is not only to help you plan your next relocation but
AND A DREAM also to inspire riders and municipalities to advocate for more of the forward-thinking changes
If you want to reduce your youre reading about on these pages. (Shaming works, admits one city planner we spoke to this
chances of getting a flat in year.) For detailed info on this years picks and our rankings, visit BICYCLING.com/bestcities16.
Austin, Texas, head for the
bike lane on East 51st Street.
Since July, Andy Jones, 56, RANK CITY 2014 RANKING " RANK CITY 2014 RANKING "
has been sweeping the 5-mile
1 CHICAGO 2 26 SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 24
stretch with a giant roller
magnet, which he drags 2 SAN FRANCISCO 7 27 BOISE, IDAHO 20
behind his Surly Big Dummy. 3 PORTLAND, OREGON 4 28 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 23
A bunch of friends were get-
ting flats there, says Jones, 4 NEW YORK CITY 1 29 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 37
and I thought, This is not a 5 SEATTLE 8 30 CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 34
hard problem to solve. He
6 MINNEAPOLIS 3 31 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY * 43
says hes picked up about
nine pounds of metal so far, 7 AUSTIN, TEXAS 11 32 ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 40
and plans to tackle other 8 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 10 33 GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 41
areas in town. Once people
understand what Im doing, 9 WASHINGTON, DC 5 34 ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 31
theyre excited about it, he 10 BOULDER, COLORADO 6 35 ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 39
saysespecially cyclists
11 DENVER 12 36 CINCINNATI 35
who see whats coming off
the road.D.Z. 12 FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 9 37 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 32
13 INDIANAPOLIS * 25 38 TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA NEW
14 SALT LAKE CITY * 26 39 COLUMBUS, OHIO NEW
15 PHILADELPHIA 14 40 MIAMI 29
16 MADISON, WISCONSIN 13 41 CLEVELAND 50
17 BOSTON 16 42 COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 44
18 EUGENE, OREGON 15 43 ATLANTA NEW
19 NEW ORLEANS 22 44 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA NEW
20 PITTSBURGH 21 45 TAMPA, FLORIDA NEW
21 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 27 46 MILWAUKEE 36
22 TEMPE, ARIZONA 17 47 SALEM, OREGON 38
23 TUCSON, ARIZONA 18 48 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA * 30
24 LOS ANGELES 28 49 THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 33
25 ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 19 50 DETROIT NEW
THE BIKES ARE ships for low-income riders. each year. But consider that
GETTING COOLER And Los Angeles recently US bike share has traveled mil-
The orange-and-silver town- received a grant to expand lions of miles, with more than
ies in Portland, Oregons its system in low-income 30,000 bikes. Bike share may
Nike-sponsored Biketown neighborhoods. even be making cycling safer.
system have a shaft (not The National Association of
chain) drive, stowable E-BIKES ARE City Transportation Officials
U-lock, and a solar-powered JOINING THE FLEET examined data from seven
LCD display. Nike even paint- Some bike-share systems are cities and found that cycling
ed some of them as classic starting to incorporate elec- becomes less risky as more
sneaker designs. So far, Delia tric pedal-assist bikes from people ride.Joe Lindsey
148% 1,900 2
No. 7 have to pedal, literally, on a
NEXT-LEVEL WATER freeway.Ian Dille
CROSSINGS
On September 12, 2015, No. 8
increase in
Portland, Oregon, opened BURRITOS BY BIKE
property values
Tilikum Crossing, a 1,720- In 2012, Tommy Clark, a for homes within
foot, cable-stayed bridge seminary student in Mem- a block of the meals for the needy donated
solely for cyclists, pedestri- phis, Tennessee, stuffed Indianapolis by cyclists during the 2015
ans, buses, and trains. The 15 bean burritos into his Cultural Trail, since Cranksgiving food-drive scaven-
largest non-car span in the
country is a striking addition
backpack, hopped onto his
fixed-gear, and rode around
its opening in 2008 ger hunt in Tempe, Arizona
MPH
Speed by which
3,000
to the Willamette River pan- the city handing out food
number of cyclists cyclists outpace
orama, with LED lights that to anyone who appeared to
who show up to the cabs in Midtown
change colors based on the be in need. People hugged casual Slow Roll ride in Manhattan
waters speed, height, and me and high-fived me, Detroit each Monday (according to Citi Bike)
temperature. But cycling- Clark says. One guy said,
mad Portland isnt the only Man, Im so thankful for you
place where new bike infra- tonight. Can I say a prayer
structure doubles as a local with you? It was one of
landmark. In just two years, the most spiritually moving
Philadelphias 15-foot wide moments of my life. Today, TH E 2016 BI K E CITI ES
HALL SHAME
Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk, his Urban Bicycle Food
which hovers over the water Ministry relies on hundreds
for a 2,000-foot stretch, has
become one of the citys
of volunteers who make
up to 400 burritos a week.
of
most Instagrammed spots On Wednesday nights and
look for it in the Rocky movie Saturday mornings, 15 to
Creed. In Austin, Texas, the 30 cyclists ride for about Not. Funny. // An to yield to motor- bike lane on Fol-
Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake, an hour and a half handing SUV in Columbus, ists, and that you som Streetjust 11
which runs along the Colo- out food, water, toiletries, Ohio's satirical July might want to be a weeks into the year-
rado River, became an instant and other essentials. When 4th Doo Dah Parade fairly experienced long pilot project.
tourist attraction when it someone comes up to us displayed a bike on cyclist before tack-
was unveiled in 2014. And a and says, You helped my the hood, a pair of ling Austin Bluffs. Dark comedy //
soon-to-be-opened bike-ped son, or You helped my legs sticking out of Because the $5.76
bridge spanning the gorge friend, or You helped me, the sunroof, and Blaming the million repurposing
a sign that read, victim // In July, of Philadelphias
of Austins Barton Creek will Clark says, it makes me
Ill share the road Matthew von Ohlen Manayunk Bridge,
give local riders safe passage never want to stop doing
when you follow the was killed while rid- a former railway,
on a route where they now this.D.Z.
rules. ing in a Brooklyn didnt budget for
bike lane, by a hit- any lighting, bike
#BikeLaneFail // and-run driver who commuters found
After widening Aus- appeared to have a locked gate when
tin Bluffs Parkway, intentionally struck arriving at the
a six-lane arterial, the cyclist. The next bridge after sunset.
Colorado Springs day police officers
striped a question- blocked the bike PLUS: THE 2016
mark-shaped bike lane at the crash WORST BIKE CITY
lane that forced site to issue tickets Charleston, South
cyclists to stop at to bike riders. Carolina, has one of
an off-ramp. The the countrys high-
citys transpor- Gone but not est bike commute
Bridge: Kur t Stricker/Get t y Images
No. 9
driving force is their employ- quickly gets close to its cus- help it improve conditions cars and bikes with less
ees and volunteers. Equally tomers. When families walk for cyclists. Area employers durable plastic bollards, to
important is their financial in and kids pull out of their are using amenities like bike curb-protected designs.
modelthey rent out two- parents hands to give us a parking to attract a younger The concrete barriers send
thirds of the building. Some hug, that feels great, says workforceand working an important message: Chi-
of the proceeds go toward Oil. Were privileged to be with the DMBC and other cagos commitment to safe
parts for kids bikes, which in this place in our custom- groups to ask city council for and low-stress cycling is
Freewheel services at no cost. ers lives. safer streets to match.J.L. permanent.I.D.
I
t was one of Pope Franciss more obscure years, says she fangirled at being personally Mash is beloved by locals
miraclesfor one weekend, in Philadel- called out. I felt like, Ive made it! she says. and visitors alike: People
phias typically car-clogged Center City, After Schneider reached out to him via Face- have told me they made
the streets were wide open for bike riding book, Bykofskywho insists that hes not anti- sure their road trip came
and other types of motor-free gallivanting. cyclist, just anti-bad cyclist behavioragreed through Eugene on the night
When the news came out that the Secret to meet with her. Together with the Bicycle of the ride so they could
Service would be closing 4.7 square miles of Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, they orga- attend.D.Z.
streets to cars in the so-called Pope Zone for nized Bykos Safe Bike Ride, an 11-mile, law-
the historic September 2015 visit, local cyclist abiding group ride through the city that raised
Alexandra Schneider saw a huge opportunity for $2,000 for an organization that serves home-
bikes. She sent out a call on social media: The less women and children. Bykofsky also agreed
streets will all be closedlets have a ride! to stop referring to cyclists as pedalphiles
Schneider expected to recruit about five to provided that local bike advocates refrained
P o p e a n d Cy c l i s t s : G e t t y ; M o o n l i g h t M a s h : C o u r t e s y
10 friends to join her on a 10-mile loop. But from describing him as anti-bike.
media outlets picked up on the PopeRide story. Schneider thinks more of that kind of dia-
Ultimately 3,000 cyclists showed up. Its suc- logueand more Open Streets eventshas
cess gave rise to an Open Streets campaign in the power to show people that everyday cycling
Philadelphia, and in July of this year, the city can be the norm.
announced that the first Philly Free Streets A lot of critics are people who still view
event would take place September 24. cycling as an activity for children, she says.
The Open Streets fervor also attracted the One of the best ways to engage those people is
ire of Stu Bykofsky, a Philadelphia Daily News to present an image of cycling thats like, Lets
columnist known for his hot takes on bike lanes go have a picnic and instead of driving, well ride
and scofflaw cyclists, among other things. therelets go about our daily lives, but with
Schneider, whod been reading his column for bikes!Caitlin Giddings
T
er center, and a handmade amika Butler distinctly remembers the had become that personclipped in, span-
wall-mounted rack from moment she became one of usor as dexed, worried about how much weight her
Soulcraft Woodshop. she puts it, one of those crazy bike water bottle added on a climb. When the posi-
people. Shed been driving for about tion of executive director at the Los Angeles
Des Moines, Iowa // two years in Los Angeles to her job at County Bicycle Coalition came up in 2014, she
Bici Flats, due to open a nonprofit foundation when a doctor put it applied.
this spring at the junction to her straight: Youre young, youre black, Initially the Nebraska native seemed like an
of three trails, includes a youre driving everywhere, and you fit into this outsider pick for the position. But her back-
bike-washing room, bike borderline-diabetic risk group. You have to do ground as a civil rights lawyer and social jus-
storage, and wider hall- something about that. tice advocate turned out to be a good fitand
ways that make it easier So Butler started riding a bike for exercise. her perspective brought more inclusivity and
to wheel your most prized Then a friend convinced her to train for the equity into the bike-advocacy conversation.
possession through the AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day fund-raising ride She was on a panel that discussed the subject
building.E.F. from San Francisco to Los Angeles. In the mid- at the 2016 National Bike Summit and gave
dle of a grueling training ride, she realized she the keynote speech at the continued on p. 92
MAKE
T HIS R IDE
F UEL
by Cycling
dad opened his velodrome, lots and Romano cheese) or use it
of cyclists came through our as a base for more complicated
house. When I was 16, I served recipes. A good tomato sauce
as Eddy Merckxs driver. (For- is kind of like a good bikeit
BY M A RIA RODA LE tunately he enjoyed risk, so we takes you where you want to go.
Cour tesy
PER CUP 67 calories / 3g protein / 11g carbs (3g fiber, 7g sugar) / 2g fat / 211mg sodium
T HE N N O W
Roller racing Deep in the
icon Charles pain cave
Mile-a-Minute at Sacred
Murphy (left) Tattoo in New
in 1901 York City
Theres no drafting, so
the races favor riders who
can churn out massive pow-
er for short intervals. The
body redlines immediately,
says Jonathan Morrison,
co-owner of OpenSprints.
With little to no wind resis-
tance, winners typically hit
40 to 45 mph. With very
high gearing, speeds of 60
mph or more are possible.
feels like a combination sor, roller racing, dates a beerprobably. The the final two competitors
of a punk show and a back to the early 1900s. 1999 Cycle Messenger World were a Lycra-clad roadie
cyclocross raceyoure One of the sports oldest Championships in Zurich fea- and a bike messenger. When
as likely to spot a Sex Pistols known photos (above), from tured a stationary bike race the messenger advanced to
patch as anything made from 1901, shows Charles Mile-a- sponsored by Swiss brewer the finals, he celebrated by
spandex. Riders pedal track Minute Murphy (left)best TurbinenBru. The poster stripping down to a pair of
bikes with forks mounted to known for drafting a speed- for the event featured Tur- bright pink underpants for
stands, and electronic rollers ing locomotive. Today bike binenBrus Gold Sprint beer, the finals. I dont know if
show each racers speed shops and clubs can build and according to roller rac- its a competition between
and progress on a projector their own hardware using ing lore, the name stuck. messengers, Fry says, or
screen for the benefit of kits sold by OpenSprints What we do know: Races between messengers and
a raucous crowd. of Salt Lake City. are often hosted in bars. everybody else in the world.
The
Secret to
No-Sweat
Style
Vaughn Brown, founder of
San Francisco-based Parker
Dusseau, on what inspires
his line of tailored adventure
appareland the one riding-
to-work trick he swears by
BY AC SHILTON
I
grew up skateboarding. It
was the mid 80s, and back
then it really meant some-
thing to be a skateboarder.
It was very much a fringe
sportthere was a specific
uniform and we wore brands
that identified us to each
other. Thats where I picked
up my interest in clothing.
2 Aesthetic is important
From there, choose to me. I put on a differ-
pieces that allow you to ent outfit when Im on
ride. Dont have a closet my carbon bike than I
full of Parker Dusseau? do when Im just doing
Reach for items that my daily commute, but I
breathe and will move always take pride in how
with you. Look for give
time. They were all very the market right now, nobody in San Francisco I look and what I wear.
across the back of a
classic pieceschinos, but our goal is to keep who could make a struc-
shirt. With pants, you
shorts, vestsin natu- things pretty simple, tured mens suit. For the want flexibility around
It sounds super ana-
ral fibers like wool and pretty classic, pretty core pieces in the line the knees, rear, and log, but one way to not
waxed cotton. Thats timeless. And we rely the shirts, the chinos through the crotch. arrive at work sweaty
really an inspiration for on natural fibers and we work with a great and looking like youve
me and for the line. He fabrics (like merino factory here in San Fran- 3 just been to battle is to
passed in 2004, before I wool) for performance. cisco. But for the suit we Good foundation gar- not put yourself through
ments are key. Brown
started the brand, but went to Shanghai, based battle. I see a lot of riders
wears merino wool
I think he knows what Clothing production on an introduction I got absolutely hammering
T-shirts, socks, and
Im doing. Its great to is super complicated, from a woman in the skivvies, which feel
on their way to work, but
have him as a muse. especially if you havent industry. Much of this good next to the skin, theres also the option
done it before. When I business is about getting are antimicrobial and to slow down and chill.
There are a lot of fan- started the brand in 2013, on the phone and asking temperature regulating, Just get on your bike,
cy, technical things on I found out that theres questions and trying to and dont retain odor. pedal, and relax a little.
EXCUSES
TRAINING
BUSTED
BUSTED
BUSTED
state records and
estimates shell
When Regan took
off on her 1,000-
3 FREE ARIZONA TRAIL RACE 300 miles, Parker Canyon Lake, AZ;
April 7, 2017 // ALMANZO 100 102 miles, Spring Valley,
ULT R A MN; May 20, 2017 // TRANS AM BIKE RACE 4,300 miles,
RACES Astoria, OR, and Yorktown, VA; June 3, 2017
(left to right) ASE CEO Pat Cunnane, Eduard Prades of Caja Rural,
and Milay Galvez, Fuji International Marketing Manager, celebrate
Prades win at the 2016 Philadelphia International Cycling Classic
Each year, Fuji also donates a fleet of bikes to the Cadence Youth
Cycling program, which helps Philadelphia youth train as part of a group
after school, and also supplies the programs elite athletes with race
bikes. Fuji also supports the Philly-based organizations Gearing Up and
Neighborhood Bike Works.
By supporting the city we live and ride in, we are provided with the
opportunity to experience firsthand the positive effects of cycling. By
encouraging cycling within our company, Fuji has cultivated a community fujibikes.com
of cyclists who are proud to be part of the Philadelphia cycling culture. @fujibikes
PLAN AHEAD Make personal health and medica-
tion info easy to nd. You can set up a Medical ID
on an iPhone and make it available from the lock
screen. Other options: Road ID, dog tags, or an
ICEdot crash sensor that you can enable to share
your location and medical information via text.
HEAD
You dont want to mess
with a possible concussion
or bleeding on the brain.
Get checked out if you have
a cracked helmet, headache
(even if it comes on later),
confusion, vision changes,
or if you lose consciousness.
CHEST
If it hurts to breathe deeply,
you might have a broken
rib and should see a doctor.
Cracked ribs can have
sharp edges, Martin says,
and if its an unstable
fracture and it shifts, it
can puncture a lung.
BELLY
Palpate your abdominal area
gently. A tender spot could
mean internal damage to
soft tissue or vital organs. If
your belly becomes distend-
ed or rm, thats a sign of
possible internal bleeding.
Seek medical attention.
SPINE
Spinal cord injuries need
immediate attention. If you
Stories
have numbness and/or tin-
gling in your ngers or toes,
or discomfort when turning
your head 45 degrees to the
left or right, get to the ER.
#WHYITRAIN
@KineticTrainer saved my season.
#whyitrain
@BenKing89
Team Cannondale-Drapac
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FALL
44 BICYCLING.COM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRUBER IMAGES
LAST YEAR
while scrolling through my phone on top of
some pass in the Pyrenees in the middle of
July, waiting for the tsunami of the Tour de
France to arrive and the chance to spring into
action for three minutes with my camera, I
areais that we had to start at the end. We
loaded up the van in Athens, then drove a
thousand miles north to Emmaus.
At one point, Thomas looked out the win-
dow and said, Weve been driving for 10
happened across a story about fall colors. hours, Jered. Its a long way home.
Interesting thing about fall colors: You My smile wavered for a moment, but then
can chase them down a mountain. The colors I saw a road twisting into the red leaves, an
change at higher altitudes before the lower old farmhouse tucked off to its side. Its going
ones. They also change at the higher latitudes to be fine. Well take it one day at a time. It
before the lower ones. Everything moves down. cant be that hard.
These ideas tangled in my head with the one
overriding thought I have that comes from too
many months on the road: I want to go home. MORE HURT THAN WE EXPECT
Colors and bikes and home. It doesnt matter how many big rides youve
What if Ashley and I ride from north to done, how many centuries, double centu-
south along the Eastern part of the United ries, Grand Tours, whatever. Any ride can
States, chasing the colors all the way home to hurtbadly.
Georgia? We could get some friends, invite On the first day, we roll out of Emmaus
people to join us through social media, and into a calendar page: a narrow road weav-
find someone to drive a support van. We could ing lazily down a broad slope with an aging
see all the things! cornfield to the right, a giant red barn to
That night, I drifted from editing images the left, and a forest of red and orange and
of the Tour to plotting away on my favorite yellow in the distance.
mapping software, Ride with GPS. Then we hit Amish country. We motor-
Its an idle game of procrastination that mas- pace behind a horse-drawn buggy clop, clop,
querades as work. I click and street view and clopping down the road. Young boys in white
drop my little peg man all over the world, and shirts, dark pants, and suspenders; and girls in
I get excited about the possibilities. dark blue dresses and matching bonnets come
Click, click, click. The red line roams across running to the fence to cheer us on.
the screen. The elevation profile emerges: We all hurt more than we expect to, but
Teeth pop uplarge, sharp ones. The line were so distracted by the world we have
grows longer, the teeth grow in number, my stumbled into, we miss the warning signs,
smile grows bigger. and when we arrive in York, Pennsylvania,
after seven hours of rolling hills, it hits all
its easy to make a route on a computer. at once. A storm of tired.
Fingers dont cramp, they dont keel over in I wake the next morning feeling like slow
exhaustion at mile 120. They dont ache and footsteps on an old wooden floor, wondering
moan, they dont get weary, they dont toss how were going to make it to Harpers Ferry,
and turn because theyre too tired to sleep. West Virginia, that day, let alone all the way
It was an immense distance from where home to Athens.
wed decided to start in Emmaus, Pennsylva- I run into an older guy on the way to break-
nia, the home of the magazine youre reading fast. We trade good mornings and he asks:
now, all the way to Athens, Georgia, the place How far are you going today?
that houses our hearts. 110 miles.
The funny thing about chasing fall or He nods, neither surprised nor dismayed.
riding homewe referred to it differently I like that. I ride my bike around my neigh-
depending on the day, our mood, or wheth- borhood sometimes. Its 3 to 4 miles. Its hard
er or not autumn had already liquidated the at first, but it gets better.
Nick Basalyga
wants to harness
the power of
cycling to help
people struggling
with addiction.
Meet the Forrest
Gump of Sober Cycling
Prior to this year, social worker Nick Basalyga had rarely traveled west of his hometown of
Scranton, Pennsylvania. That changed on a foggy day this past July when he embarked on
a ride from San Francisco to Philadelphia. When we checked in with him along the way, he
explained why he took to the road and how cycling has healed him. BY TR ACY ROSS
So you started in San Are others riding with you? A friend and I had been out free, confident, and at peace
Francisco, and youve No, but Im hoping for a slow partying and he got locked with the changes I had con-
never been there before? buildkind of like Forrest out of my apartment. He tinued to make in recovery.
Nope, Ive never visited Gump, but on a bike. called me 20 times trying to
any of the states or towns get in. Fortunately, he made it Did you ride continually
(with the exception of Penn- How did you get inside, but the next morning I after that?
sylvania) on my tour. into cycling? found the doorframe busted. By a year later [three years
I started riding when I was It was also Mothers Day, and into his recovery], Id become
Why is that? 4. Then in college, my mom I had such a bad hangover. what Id call a high-end rec-
I grew up with addiction. My bought me a Trek 3700. I used My mom had already dealt reational cyclist. My favorite
dad was an alcoholic. He made that to get to class but mostly with an alcoholic and now I game was to go faster than
poor financial choices, had for my job that summerI saw how shed have to deal the guys with the nice stuff.
trouble keeping jobs. My par- was a handyman for an elderly with another. So that day I But then in 2013 I went to
ents relied on family members couple outside of West Ches- stopped cold turkey. A year grad school for social work
to keep us afloat. And we ter, Pennsylvania. It was three and a half later, I purchased at New York University and
didnt always have extra miles from my apartment, so my Specialized Secteur. stopped riding. Perhaps as a
money for things like travel. a six-mile round-trip. I loved result, I made a rash of bad
the physical effort of biking Nice. And cycling decisions. I felt like my recov-
But now youre out to work in the morning, being helped you? ery wasnt in a good place,
West, and what exactly out in the sun doing yard It totally lifted my spirit. I and I didnt feel stable. Two
are you doing? work, and riding home in the mostly rode alone, but I felt years later, I got back on the
Im doing a cross-country bike late afternoon. I was training bike, doing a 30-mile round-
tour to raise money for a non- to walk on to the West Ches- trip commute to a job at an
profit I began called In the ter University soccer team in after-school program in Har-
Saddle. Its a play on the addic- the fall, so I was focused, lem. It was a great way to
tion term on the wagon, and getting in shape, and helping start my day and end it, and
also the sentiment Im doing people. I was happy. its been a staple ever since.
good. Im back in the saddle.
The other piece, of course, And then you BY LEARNING TO You eventually started
FIX BICYCLES,
is that bike seats are called started drinking more? working at a retail bike
saddles. Its for people who Yes. My drinking affected my shop, right? Bicycle
decide to get sober and spend soccer, which contributed to Therapy in Philly?
time in a drug or alcohol treat-
ment center, but who find that
they dont know what to do
me losing my starting position.
And my grades suffered. SOMEONE IN I did. And its funny. Because
they dont actually do therapy.
needed to get on the bike and
hammer for a couple of hours
and Id feel better. Even now, six
need more connections to
meaningful relationships. AFTER A LONG DAY ID WANT A DRINK,
years into being sober, I know if
Im not exercising, being around
people in recovery, and giving
How will In the
Saddle address this?
By developing the skills to ride
BUT ID KNOW I JUST NEEDED TO RIDE.
back to my community, I start to and fix bicycles, someone in
rationalize sliding back into bad recovery has the opportunity already a legal nonprofit, no mat- counselors will facilitate
behavior. And thats the model to reshape their self-identity. ter how much we raise on this group therapy sessions.
Ive used to build In the Saddle. By using these skills to posi- ride. By running at a smaller scale,
tively impact their group and well be able to collect data, and Now that youre a few weeks
When did you come community, they can develop then apply for city, state, and into the ride, whats one high-
up with the idea? purpose. And by meeting regu- federal grants, and establish our- light of your trip so far?
In November of 2015. I had seen larly and talking about personal selves as a recovery program. I met this guy Charlie, out on
too many people relapse after challenges in recovery, they Nevada Highway 50, who was
treatment, heard too many can develop relationships. And how do you plan to attract training for the 508-mile Silver
stories of people overdosing people to In the Saddle? State Race. He was driving by and
and dying. They had a common How much money are you This fall, well fund-raise, recruit saw me and stopped to talk. I was
theme: I stopped going to hoping to raise on your ride? at treatment centers, and coor- on my way to speak at a treatment
meetings, started hanging out About $250,000 will cover our dinate with other addiction/ center in Fallon, Nevada, that
with my old friends, and fell back first program year, help us secure recovery organizations to con- night. After that, for several
into addiction. I thought about a space, and buy cycling equip- nect with individuals inter- days, hed drive to meet me at
my recovery, the services that ment and parts. Were also ested in early recovery. the end of each ride and wed
are out there, and a program Id hoping to get donations to help grab dinner. Other than that, its
worked in as a social worker that pay for [things like] urine tests Whats the first thing people who see my shirt with the
was great but lacked group ther- to assure that everyone is sober. youll tackle? In the Saddle logo on the back
apy. You need all of the pieces: Well start programming during and tell me about people theyve
a group, an activity, community How much have you the winter with indoor rides and lost to overdose or addiction.
service, and therapy because raised so far? bicycle education so group mem- When they do that, I know Im
when someone is in active addic- Just a little over $3,500, but were bers can learn to build and repair doing the right thing, even though
tion, they struggle with their far from the end, so Im hopeful bikes for themselves and the sur- before this ride, the longest one
self-identity, lack purpose, and well get there. In the Saddle is rounding community. And our Id ever done was 63 miles.
The road
to recovery
doesnt have
to be lonely.
THINK OUTSIDE
T H E B OT T L E
a truste ami ran
FIND THIS AND OTHER INNOVATIVE RECIPES USING
OUR EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL ON COLAVITA.COM
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SAFETY
MEETS
SECURITY
ALLEY F-275
AVENUE R-19
Campagnolo
Potenza
Why your next new bike
could shift with Italian style
gap than its slight advantages in price
and weight. Of Campys mechanical
groups, Potenza requires the lightest
touch and is the smoothest shifting.
Im inclined to say it is Campagnolos
best-shifting mechanical group,
though it lacks some of the features of
the brands higher end groups.
Potenza upshifts only one gear per
press, while Record upshifts up to
five. And it lacks some of Campys
endearing character, like the distinct,
crisp mechanical feel and sounds.
Lever throws are shorter than
Ultegra, and the clicks are sharper
compared with Ultegras damped and
buffered quality. Shifts feel faster,
more robust, and only a little less
PRICE smooth. Even Potenzas front shift-
$1,050 ingwhere Shimano is usually clearly
WEIGHT
2,487 grams ahead of the competitionis fast,
(as tested, polished, and nearly equal. Ultegra still
with 11-32 has the smoothness and refinement
cassette)
that makes it the leader, but only just.
Shifts are announced with more
noise than Ultegra, but less than typi-
cal for Campagnolo. Once in gear,
CAMPAGNOLO HAS MADE no Potenza turns with a hush, save for
secret that its new midrange Potenza some noise from the chainrings at
group is intended to go shifter-to- extreme chain angles. To be fair, Shi-
shifter with Shimanos Ultegra. mano and SRAM groups do the same.
Its a tall order: Ultegra 6800 is Ergonomically, Potenza is a step up
a stunning combination of price, for Campagnolo. The hood coversits
weight, and performance that has best yethave good grip and some
made it the dominant drivetrain cushion, which is helpful for riding
on bikes costing (most commonly) without gloves. Newly shaped hood
about $2,500 to $5,500. For Campy peaks are an improvement as well,
to unseat Ultegra as original spec making the additional hand position
on more midrange bikes will require on top of the peaks more functional.
some behind-the-scenes business, Potenzas thumb buttons drop lower
but before that, Potenza has to than Campys other mechanical
match up against Ultegra in the stuff groups, mimicking the shape of its EPS
that matters to riders. electronic shifter buttons. Theyre also
So, does it? easier to reach from the hoods and
At retail, Potenza would cost drops. A lightly textured strip on the
you about $115 more than Ultegra front of the brake levers offers more
($1,050 versus $935). But bike manu- grip than a shiny finish, especially
facturers get volume discounts, so when your hands are wet.
its possible that a bike built with Campy has also introduced a new
Potenza could be the same price as and improved brake-pad compound
the same bike built with Ultegra. for aluminum rims: power is up, mod-
The Potenza group is about 80 ulation is smoother, and the brakes
grams heavier on my scale, mostly feel livelier. But Shimanos brake feels
due to the crankset, which has a bot- a little stiffer and modulates better
tom bracket for a BSA threaded shell. where it is most crucial: near lockup.
Ive ridden Potenza about 1,000 I dont think Potenza beats Ulteg-
miles so far, often back-to-back with ra. But it is very, very close to equal,
Ultegra, which comes out just ahead and, in every way, a legitimate alterna-
in performance, but with a smaller tive for all riders.matt phillips
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I started using road bikes. It shines most on dirt roads with tire that youre comfortable with in the dirt
my cross bike as my road bike. It allowed me 40mm-ish-wide tires, where it seems to float so that riding on the road is still efficient and
to piece together loops mixing paved and dirt over choppy sections that cause stiffer bikes to fun. I briefly experimented with 2.1-inch-wide
roads where I saw more squirrels, rabbits, and chatter and skip. mountain bike tires and found them to be a little
deer than cars. A skilled rider could take a regu- In very general terms, the Opens geometry overkill on the dirt and slow on the pavement
lar road bike with 28mm tires on routes like is similar to a cyclocross bike, but with roughly for my taste. But the bike handles well in this
these, but not everyone is comfortable with 5mm shorter chainstays and a bottom bracket setup, and some folks will appreciate it. I found
that, and some may want to venture into ter- that is about 5mm closer to the ground. It my sweet spots in Schwalbes G-One HS 38mm,
rain, like singletrack or rugged fire roads, that handles a bit quicker than youd expect, and has WTBs Nano 40mm, and Horizons new 47mm
would challenge even seasoned riders. Thats that sit-in feel that often characterizes bikes tires (which are 650b).
why the Open U.P. exists. It lets you match tires with a lower bottom bracketthe bike is more The slack, 72.5-degree seat angle is designed
and wheels to your skills and local routes. stable, a little easier to get on and off of, and to be used with a zero-offset seatpost, but I
U.P. stands for unbeaten path, and Opens the handlebar is effectively higher. prefer a steeper seat angle to get my fit right.
carbon, multisurface road bike took me to Open cleverly drops the drive side chain- On the flip side, I loved the aggressively short
places Id ridden by but never explored before. stay to create clearance for up to a 50-tooth head tube, but some may find themselves with a
It feels natural on pavement and somehow still chainring while keeping the chainstays to a short big stack of spacers under their stem.
takes to the dirt like it was designed for ita 420mm, with clearance for up to a 54mm-wide Gravel and adventure bikes are not for every-
blend Ive yet to experience with other bikes. tire. Much like the current crop of 29er moun- body. Compared with your typical endurance
The Open U.P. rides so beautifully that tain bikes with plus-tire compatibility, this road road bike, they tend to be a little overbuilt
I extended my routes farther than usual, bike can also accept 650b wheels with high- and too attentive to stability for people who
venturing to fire lookouts and abandoned volume tires because the outer diameter ends mostly stick to pavement. But the U.P. is special
campgrounds in the middle of nowhere. It feels up being similar enough to because it also rides so well as a road bike that
smoother than a race-bred cross bike, and PRICE a traditional 700c wheelset you can almost forget its capable of much more
thats particularly noticeable when its outfitted $2,900 to not upset the geometry with different tires. If you are lucky enough to
(framset)
with smaller tires on pavement. Flattened and and handling. Ive found live anywhere near rural dirt roads and ever
WEIGHT
curved seatstays promote rear-end and pedal- 19.1 LB (L, as
that the secret to setting up wondered where they go, the question really
ing stiffness and help generate an excellent tested with a bike like this is to choose isnt whether you should buy an Open U.P., but
ride quality that rivals that of many endurance Ultegra Di2) the smallest, fastest-rolling rather what color it should be.ron koch
Stuff
the carrefour de larbrethe last hard cob- The Roubaix has been updated since then, but the
blestone section in Paris-Roubaix, and one of the new modelalong with a redesigned womens Ruby
toughest overallopens with a serpentine, beat-up, is the first full overhaul of the platform.
crowned section of Belgian block dotted with wash- The standout feature of both frames is the Future
tub-size potholes that, on this day, was slippery Shock suspension cartridge. Comprised of a balanced
with recent rains. On a bicycle, the most difficult set of springs in a sleeve equipped with roller bear-
bit of the sector is the sharp lefthander at the T ings, which connects the stem to the steerer tube,
intersection that has a crater on the inside. If youre it suspends the rider from harsh jolts and hits that
taking the corner at speed and stray over the crown, might otherwise send you off your chosen line, and
you risk sliding to the right and catapulting into the allows the front tire to maintain better contact with
adjacent field. the road surface.
We hit the big stones at about 25 mph. Normally, The frame is also a radical departure. The Zertz
at this speed, getting through that turn would be a inserts in the stays and fork legs are all gone. On the
full-body-rattling, eyes-shaking-out-of-your-head mens version, the head angle now matches that of
daredevil maneuver you need to experience to truly the Tarmac (Specializeds carbon race bike), the rider
imagine. Instead, my line was jangly and rattlythis position is lower, and the wheelbase is shorter. The
is the Hell of the North, after allbut never uncer- Ruby keeps the rider position and womens geometry
tain or out of control. The completely rethought 2017 of the earlier version. On both, the frame is lighter and
Specialized Roubaix made all the difference. structurally stiffer than the previous model, accepts
Back in 2002, Specialized was one of the first com- up to a 32mm-wide tire, and is disc-brake only.
panies to create a completely new bike (rather than Both bikes benefit from Specializeds Rider-First
modifying an existing model for the teams) to tackle Engineered approach (the Ruby is the first womens
the Classics. That first version of the Roubaix had a model from Specialized to get this), which scales tube
longer wheelbase, taller head tube, and slightly more shapes and sizes for frame size and rider weights.
relaxed geometry than most race bikes of the time. According to Specialized, this makes bikes of every
It also had increased clearance for bigger tires (up to size ride and react the same instead of differing in
28mm). Most distinctively, polymer inserts (called stiffness or handling as the frames get bigger or small-
Zertz) were molded into the frame to damp the ride er than the sweet-spot norm they were designed for
and take the sting out of the cobbles. Best part: The (usually around 54 to 56 cm). In our experience with
bike was available to the masses. Rider-First bikes, this claim is accurate.
EXPERIENCE
VICTORY!
KOUNTACH ENDURANCE
Victory. It means different things to different riders. For some, it is winning the U.S. Professional criterium
championships for others its making up the steep hill in their neighborhood the first time. For whatever victory
you are chasing, the Kountach Endurance will help get you there. Dual layers of Aramid sheets laid across the
tread surface offer maximum tread protection, while a single layer protects the sides of the tire. The R2C rubber
compound keeps you riding fast and firm on the ground. Available in 700x28c, 700x25c, and 700x23c for all types
of road bikes. Experience your victory!
THE NEW FAT CHANCE Slim Chance is a TIG- Now Chris Chance has returned, and so has the The frame is springy, lively, and courses with
welded steel road frame, which isnt a big deal: Slim Chance. energy. I so enjoyed this bike that I pulled off the
Hundreds of builders all over the world crank The world around it has changed a lot, but the computer mount, because this bike made me
them out daily. Slim Chance 2.0 isnt radically different from the stop giving a crap about time, distance, speed, or
But 25 years ago, when the first Slim Chance original. Its still steel and still welded, the BB is watts. Riding it just made me happy.
arrived, a welded steel road frame was special. still threaded, and theres still a pump peg. Geom- Its heritage may be as a light racing bike, but
In the early 1990s, steel frames were almost all etry is even similar to the 91 bike (which is also in todays context, the Slim has the gravitas of
joined with brazed lug construction. TIG (which similar to a modern-day carbon race bike like, an elder statesman. It will not hold you back, but
stands for tungsten inert gas) welding is gen- for example, the Specialized Tarmac). However, it does not push you forward like the best high-
erally more difficult than brazing and requires the new Slims tubing diameters have increased performance road bikes do. Sure, you can ride it
great care and skill. But properly executed, it slightly, as have the fork steerer and seatpost hard, and of course a fast rider will still be fast on
results in a very light and strong joint. diameters, to improve stiffness. it. But this bike is about quality and freedomand
Though Chris Chance is mostly known for his But the Slim of today doesnt hold the same the experiences created by both.
Fat City/Fat Chance mountain bikes, he began his unique position in the bike market that it did 25 As a bike reviewer, I want to situate the Slim
framebuilding journey in the 1970s by training at years ago. The norm for performance is in another Chance among the many choices available to
Witcomb Cycles, a custom builder of high-end galaxy now. The new Slim is still a high-performance consumers and let you know exactly where it
steel road frames in Connecticut, with the likes steel road bike, but its not fast, light, or stiff like fits in. I dont know that I can. The Slim helped
of Richard Sachs, Ben Serotta, and Peter (J.P.) a modern carbon bike. If you focus your bike pur- create the world of welded steel bikes, but
Weigle. After Witcomb, Chance started Fat City chases on what theyll do for you on the Strava because that world is now so big and rich, the
Cycles in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1982, leaderboard, this is not your bike. Slim melts into it rather than stands alone. But
turning out lightweight mountain bikes. This back- What it is: a gorgeous steel bike, one of the it is remarkable that it can
ground enabled him to make the first Slim Chance nicest Ive ever ridden, custom or stock. Its PRICE be reintroduced, with rela-
road frame lighter than most of its peers (by for- delightfully smooth. I was hypnotized by the vis- $2,650, tively few changes, and still
as tested
going lugs), yet very strong and stiff. ible fore/aft oscillation of the fork legs moving (Classic feel like a fresh and modern
Fat Chance shuttered in 2000, and Chris in response to bumps. I melted with joy at the frame, craft-built steel bike. The
Chance took a 15-year break from the bike world. way the bike swooped wide arcs through turns. painted reasons have changed, but
Enve stem)
Today most steel road frames are welded, and its I giggled at how composed it was bombing at WEIGHT
the bike is still something
the lugged and brazed frames that are a novelty. over 50 mph. 17.0 LB (S) special.matt phillips
76 BICYCLING.COM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 BICYCLING.COM 77
78 BICYCLING.COM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Stuff
No More
Dropper
Dramas
Dropper seat-
posts make trail
rides way more
funbut some
can be notori-
ously unreliable.
We tested 10
popular models.
These three shot
to the top.
ROCKSHOX
REVERB STEALTH
overall performance at a months, it seems to PRICE $379 TO $429 control the up and down ence, but the 1x-specific
WEIGHT 557 GRAMS (30.9MM
relatively low price. The be more reliable. We did, movement have held up Southpaw remote ($35)
DIAMETER, 125MM TRAVEL)
only caveat: It is 10 to however, unanimously well in most cases, the is one of the best avail-
15mm longer than many dislike the push-button The LEV Integra is avail- bushings have a decent able: Its ergonomically
popular posts, potentially style remote that has able in most popular sizes life, and it doesnt gum superior and, because it
limiting how far it can be a smaller target and and drops, is reasonably up too easily. Routine sits under the bar like a
inserted into some seat requires a greater reach light, has minimal play, maintenance is easy, too: shifter, easy to actuate.
tubes.ron koch for your thumb.r.k. and is smooth in its travel It pops apart with basic matt phillips
Felt VR2
Endurance gets shreddy
Photograph by M AT T R A I N E Y
PRICE
$5,499
WEIGHT
17.7 LB
(58CM)
Jacket Thats why the $150 price tag of the new wom-
ens Meraj S1 Softshell caught my attention. It
your body heat to push moisture out into the air,
rather than simply pulling it to the surface like
#optoutside even if skips some costlier features like taped seams and some other wicking materials, says Bontrager
#outsideisfreezing a waterproof zipper, and the front-facing panels marketing manager Sam Foos.
are constructed of softshell material by 37.5, a The S1 is formfitting enough for road rid-
newer player in the market than Gore, the com- ing and has three roomy rear pockets. On the
pany that makes the Windstopper fabric used in mens side, the Velocis S1 Softshell provides
many premium jackets like the Strategy. the same construction and features at the same
The S1 is designed to keep you warm (between reasonable price. PRICE $150 , WEIGHT 346 grams
30 and 40 F) by keeping you dry. The 20,000mm (S) gloria liu
WIDELY recommended
Generally, the lower the pressure in your tires, the better your tractionless air allows the tire to spread
WHAT PRESSURE out and conform to the ground. But it also needs to be balanced with skill level to avoid tire squirm under
hard cornering, and pinch flatting or burping (when a tubeless tire temporarily unhooks and releases air).
SHOULD I RUN? No matter the tire, a good starting range for beginners is 24 to 35 psi. (Heavier riders should err on the high
side.) In soft conditions, you will benefit from lower pressure; on rougher tracks or those with higher-speed
corners, bump it up. To learn to ride at lower tire pressures, visit BICYCLING.com/ridelow.
SHOULD I GO the tire can fix small punctures sometimes even while youre rolling. Drawbacks include the lack of choices in treads,
though that is quickly changing, and the possibility of burping at too-low pressures. Also, sealant generally works for
TUBELESS? tire cuts up to only about 4mm long. Still, if you dont want to shell out for multiple sets of tubular wheels and tires,
tubeless is your best choice. And many tubeless-ready 29-inch XC mountain bike wheelsets work with cross tires.
FAST
GRASS,
ICE, OR
DEEP
SAND
M
ost riders will be set
with an all-rounder and
a mud tire. But if you
want to be prepared
for every possible condition,
add a file tread to your quiver.
The most specialized of the
three, file treads consist of
short (usually a millimeter or
so) clusters of pyramids simi-
lar to those on rasp files used
in woodworking. They have
low rolling resistance, but that
comes at the cost of traction in
wet terrain. Recently file treads
have undergone a resurgence,
with manufacturers adding
side knobs to bridge the gap
between dry surfaces and wet.
These are best for when corner-
ing traction is at a premium but
you still need to roll fastlike
dry, damp, or deteriorating
go with courses with off-camber sec-
recommended
Challenge Chicane Multiple
casing options, and maintains
decent traction if conditions dete-
riorate midrace. // a l s o g o o d
Clement LAS Fast rolling, great for
smoother grass courses and sand.
Smaller side knobs give less corner-
ing traction than other options.
Kenda Happy Medium Aggressive
side knobs and large file tread
center. Tubeless options and
multiple sizes available.
Recommended
A recurring, unequivocal, indefensible
endorsement of things that make us happy
1 North London
Thundercats
Black Metal Bike Club
2 Tenspeed Hero
TSH Storm Cap
This was the rst cy-
3 Resolute Bay
NX1 Jeans
I love wearing ashy
4 Panasonic DMC-
LX100 Camera
For me, capturing the
5 Maps
I always carry a phone
on a ride, but nothing says
Supporters Jersey cling cap I bought, and clothes for high visibility scenes of the ride is as adventure like whipping
To stand out in the pack, the word Merde! on on and o the bike. These important as the ride CHOSEN BY out a paper map. I like to
Im constantly seeking the underside of the jeans from Resolute Bay itself. The LX100 gives BICYCLINGs unplug from GPS and pick
video
eccentric, limited-run bill accurately summa- have a stylish, slim cut me all the controls of a producer a destination, not knowing
clothing and gear from rizes those What am that looks sharp while massive DSLRlike focus, Pat Heine, what Ill nd along the
who will
smaller companies. This I getting myself into? youre grabbing a beer aperture, RAW format, take on way. Sometimes I plan a
jersey lets me show my feelings I had on my with friends and also has and even 4K videoin a any route ride using a vintage map
in any
support for this group of early big group rides. reective accents that small package that ts in conditions, just to see how much the
London riders who are try- Plus, with all the dif- help keep the ride home my jersey pocket. Manual as long as area has changed over
the ride
ing to bring the dark side ferent types of clouds safe. Durable stretch buttons and dials let me ends with time. And the best part is,
to cycling. Even if Im not on the cap, I know Im cordura denim stays com- change settings with one French Im left with an awesome,
toast.
riding fast, Im still riding always dressed for the fortable and crisp over hand while keeping the inexpensive souvenir from
like hell. $65 weather. $24 multiple rides. $107 other on the bar. $700 the journey.
Its gonna be
YOUR YEAR
Every year there are 365
opportunities to get out and
ride. Conquer your New Years
resolution and plan your
first steps to a fi tter, faster
you with Bicyclings 2017
Calendar. On every page, youll
find stunning photography
and words of wisdom from the
editors at Bicycling.
X
ORDER YOURS TODAY AT:
202935001
www.bicycling.com/Ride365
No. 16 Older kids are benefitting, too. Los Ange- Last summer, the police department created
A BIKE IN EVERY CLASSROOM les is adding cycling to the PE curriculum in a new position to work exclusively on enforc-
According to the National Center for Safe some middle schools, and in March, Colo- ing motorist behaviors that endanger bike
Routes to School, only about 22 percent rados Fort Collins High School became the riders. Rheannon Cunningham, the officer
of kids in the United States walked or biked first secondary school in the nation to be and local bike racer appointed to the role, led
to or from school in 2012, down from 42 classified as a Bicycle Friendly Business by a 2013 undercover operation that educated
percent in 1969. But a handful of cities are the League of American Bicyclists. Students and ticketed drivers who violated the citys
taking steps to reverse the trend. In 2015, who commute can take advantage of bike safe passing law. Her current duties include
Washington, DC, became the first school parking, tools, free maintenance, and gear coordinating bike-related police training
district in the country to make bicycle edu- giveaways.E.F. and serving as the liaison to the cycling
cation a mandatory part of the elementary community.I.D.
school curriculum. The districts fleet of No. 17
nearly 1,000 Diamondback Mini-Viper BMX HOW TO MAKE DRIVERS GET IT
bikes rotates through DCs second-grade The city of Fort Collins, Colorado, offers BICYCLING (ISSN 0006-2073) Vol. 57 No. 10 is published
gym classes, where students learn bike a variety of cycling classes, ranging from 10 times a year (monthly except bimonthly in November/
December and January/February) by Rodale Inc., 400 S.
safety and, if necessary, how to take their riding with kids to a womens adult learn-to- 10th St., Emmaus, PA 18098. Periodicals postage paid
first pedal strokes. This fall Seattle public ride program. But the most popular is the at Emmaus, PA 18049, and at additional mailing offices.
schools started offering bicycle safety edu- Bicycle Friendly Safe Driver Certification Postmaster: Send address changes to BICYCLING, P.O.
Box 26299, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-6299. In Canada:
cation to all third through fifth graders. And Course, created in 2015, which teaches driv- Postage paid at Gateway, Mississauga, Ontario; Canada
in Boulder, Colorado, 2008 Olympic cyclist ers (including professional bus and truck Post Publication Mail Agreement Number 40063752.
Mike Friedman runs an after-school pro- operators) how to safely operate motorized Return any address changes to BICYCLING, 2930 14th
Ave., Markham, Ontario L3R 5Z8; GST #R122988611.
gram called Pedaling Minds, which teaches vehicles near cyclists. The city offers the Copyright by Rodale Inc., 2016. BICYCLING, incorporating
elementary school kids everything from classes for free and is aiming to instruct as Cyclist magazine, is published by Rodale Inc. Subscribers:
If the postal authorities alert us that your magazine is
bike skills to the science of cyclingusing many as 1,000 residents by 2017. undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless
bikes to demystify physics, engineering, and Vehicle operators in Austin, Texas, are also we receive a corrected address within 18 months.
chemistry. learning a few lessons about safe driving.
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15. EXTENT AND NATURE Average no. of copies SEP 2016 Single
each issue during issue nearest to
OF CIRCULATION preceding 12 mos. filing date
A. TOTAL NO. COPIES
(Net Press Run) 381,052 374,860
B. PAID CIRCULATION
1. Mailed Paid Subscriptions 197,028 185,277
JULIANA
JEWELS SMITH
35, comic book
creator and cofounder
of Red Bike and Green
cycling collective
NEW YORK CITY
or
Arriving 1 x Leaving
1
Classics x
1 1 Grand Tours
Breakaway 1 x1 Sprint
Caps 1 x1 Hats
Electronic 1 x1 Mechanical
Color 1 x1 Weight1
Climbing 1 1x Descending
x
Drop bar 1 1 Flat bar
Racing 1 x Riding2
1
Fast 1 x1 Strong
Flat 1 x1 Rolling
Pen3 x
1 1 Pencil
Chase 1 x Escape
1
How 1 x1 Why
Less 1 x1 More
DC 1 x1 Marvel4
x
Pack 1 1 Solo
Desire x
1 1 Necessity
Fashion 1 x Style
1
Melody 1 x1 Rhythm
Paved x
1 1 Unpaved
x
Dream 1 1 Plan
Fame 1 x Glory5
1
That 1 x This
1
Sunrise 1 x1 Sunset
East Coast 1 x1 West Coast6
1. Light bikes are less ridiculous to carry up stairs. I live in New York! 2. Im into community-oriented rides like Clitoral Mass. Being involved in organizing such a large womens ride in only a few
months was exciting. Creating a space for an intergenerational, interracial group of women to support women-owned businesses was a bonus. 3. In comic book art, a pen means the page is
inked and closer to being done. 4. Two words: Black. Panther. 5. Its really easy to get fame nowadays, but I want whatever I do to be dignied. 6. Always. Always. Always. Thats not a question.