By Charles Pekow – Federal research on bicycle safety will include riding down some new paths in the new five-year plan. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is developing an FY 2024-2028 Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation that realizes research must meet with changes in infrastructure. New research for “vulnerable road users” will include initiatives focusing on ebike trails as infrastructure, economic benefits, and encouraging local governments to promote biking, among other priorities. FHWA also plans to study the relationship between bike riding, walking and undefined “rolling.”
Riders on Salt Lake City’s 9-Line Trail. The trail is a key part of Salt Lake City’s cycling infrastructure. Photo by Dave Iltis
The plan includes looking at how new technologies can improve safety for these users, such as vehicle-to-everything communication, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and automatic driving. Emerging technology can help road users detect bicycles as well as alert bike riders to hazards ranging from potholes to road closures caused by traffic incidents.
In addition to improving safety, FHWA’s research plan will also include equity among various groups (income, ethnicity), climate change and connecting trail networks.
Safety priorities include looking at ways to improve roadway design (such as making crosswalks as clear as possible), and designing transit stops to better coordinate them for cyclists trying to reach mass transit. FHWA also wants to further explore how managing speed limits can improve safety for vulnerable users.
FHWA also sees the need to design and share better assessment tools. “Many agencies struggle with having little to no multimodal exposure data, and no well-accepted national method exists for estimating vulnerable road user demand,” the plan says.
Separately; FHWA is proposing rules to clarify definitions for what Highway Safety Improvement Program grants can be used for. The rules clarify bicycling as safety priority. A public comment period expires April 22, 2024. See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-02-21/html/2024-02831.htm.
Women’s Stage 4 Criterium Recap: Skylar Schneider wins stage 4 criterium for a second year
REDLANDS, California (April 13, 2024) — Skylar Schneider catapulted herself around the DNA Pro Cycling’s sprint train in the final meters to cross the line, marking her first win of the season for Williams Racing Devo in Downtown Redlands. Schneider had won stage 4 last season in similar fashion in her Redlands debut. DNA Pro Cycling Makayla Macpherson was second, followed by Marlies Mejias in third.
Skylar Schneider wins stage 4 criterium for a second year Photo: Above Four Media / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“Every year is a new challenge; we always look forward to Redlands,” Schneider said at the finish. “It’s one of the first races we do all year, so it sets the stage to give us the momentum to keep going.
“DNA did a phenomenal lead out. They were very fast and very smooth; we knew exactly where we wanted to jump. They made it hard for us because they were going so fast but we were on a mission today to get this first win for WRDevo. Two weeks ago I was doing all-nighters in my bakery so I’m really happy to be here and feeling good.”
The professional women took to the stage at 2 PM local time, after a morning filled with cycling events including the kids’ school duel races and the Plain Wrap Charity Ride at 8 AM. The first race began with stage 2 of the junior stage race at one, followed by the pro women.
The 75-minutes of racing included five sprint competitions – four intermediate sprints and points offered at the finish. Virginia’s Blue Ridge Marlies Mejias led the classification by five points ahead of her teammate Emily Ehrlich, and 7 points ahead of Cynisca Cycling’s Chloe Patrick. With Mara Roldan (Cynisca) sitting in fifth on GC and the team focused on moving her up on GC, it would be Mejias jersey to lose.
Twenty24 sent Emily Ehrlich to monitor moves at the front of the race, keeping Marlies on her wheel to be ready for the first sprint of the day. The Cuban sprinter crossed first to earn top points in both the first two of five points available. Once she had gained enough points in the first few intermediate sprint to gain a healthy margin in the classification, she switched focused to the finish – eager to gain a stage victory before the race ends on Sunday.
“The goal was to maintain the lead with the jersey,” Mejias said. “The finish didn’t go as planned but tomorrow is another day where we will try again. We’re in a good position, so I hope tomorrow will be a great day for the team.”
DNA Pro Cycling controlled the pace of the field, following the first intermediate sprints. The squad made sure the yellow jersey of Nadia Gontova was kept safe and out of trouble. They monitored the front of the field and kept the race moving, making it difficult to go around them with such a tight and technical circuit.
As the laps began to wind down, teams began positioning themselves for the finish. DNA Pro Cycling was given the green light, ready to battle for the stage win. With one lap to go, Schneider was sitting sixth wheel just behind her older sister Sam and four other DNA jerseys. Rounding the final corner, Schneider launched her sprint, surfing wheels to get into the DNA slipstream before jumping for the win.
“I think the team did really, really well,” Macpherson said, despite missing out on the top step. “We wanted to keep Nadia safe. The team worked amazing in doing that, but we also wanted to get a result for the day. We were able to get on the podium so it was a great day out there.”
There were no changes in the overall top five on GC, with Gontova maintaining a 50-second lead heading into the final day of race.
“It was really hard, not my favorite day,” Gontova said. “I’m really grateful for some awesome teammates keeping me safe. I’m happy to have made it through today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, which is a little more up my alley. I really liked it last year, though I suffered a mechanical on the last lap. I’m hoping this year will be a better results in the end.”
There was no queen of the mountain points available on the stage, while Cecile Lejuene maintains her lead in the Best Amateur competition.
The finale for our pro women will begin at 10 AM in Downtown Redlands for the City of Redlands Sunset Road Race.
Men’s Stage 4 Recap: McGill Takes Third Stage Win for Project Echelon
REDLANDS, California (April 13, 2024) — Scott McGill stole a third stage victory for Project Echelon at the 2024 Redlands Bicycle Classic on Saturday. Denver Disruptors were just behind, finishing second and third with Noah Granigan and Tyler Williams. Project Echelon arrived in Southern California after spending time in Europe for a short block of racing to help gain racing fitness and strength before the start of the season back home.
Scott McGill steals third stage victory for Project Echelon Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
The Arrowhead Orthopaedics Criterium for stage 4 was a chaotic day of racing, with a massive crash in the peloton within 10 laps to go. After a short neutralization of the race to allow riders to visit the pit for service and others to be seen by medical, all riders were up and the race was started once again. Two laps were added to leave the peloton with 10 laps to go for another try. The stage 4 victory marks the third win out of the four days of racing for Project Echelon.
“The final few laps were probably the least stressful of the whole race, because I was just sitting behind the team,” McGill said. “When we were further back in the bunch, there was a lot of fighting for position. The team was super strong, we were just going to ride until two laps to go to keep the GC safe, but we were able to ride into the final lap with four guys. They were amazing today; I can’t thank them enough. We were able to win today and hold on to the GC so, yea a really stressful day.”
The team had dominated the race keeping a watch on the front of the field, marking any moves that escaped. A few riders tried their hand, including Will Gleason of CS Velo Racing, and Tyler Williams for Denver but were soon absorbed by the field.
“Tyler and I were going in it in the last lap; you can win it with three corners to go where we were one and two there,” Granigan said after the finish. “Scott is one of my really good friends, he was crafty and able to get by and get around Tyler in the head wind into the finish. It ended up working out for him. We had some small mistakes in those last two turns.”
Project Echelon kept their focus, keeping the yellow jersey safe at the front of the race. Other tactics came into play, marking the intermediate time bonus where Stites picked up two seconds behind Ryan Gorman (Voler Factory Racing) who held his lead in the sprint classification. Stites was happy, hoping to gain every second possible before the Sunset circuit finale.
“It was a stressful crit, quite a few crashes but after the restart we were able to take to the front as a team which really kept us safe,” Stites said after finishing. “It’s hard to pass a train once we’re up to speed on this course with so many turns. Scott was able to take the win, which was amazing.”
The last two years, the final stage on the Sunset circuit has delivered exciting racing for the finale, finishing within 30 seconds for the overall GC margin. Stites will start the final stage with a 43-second margin ahead of Ribble Rebellion’s Joe Laverick.
“It’s a really tough race where anything can happen,” Stites said. “We’ll need to come with our best legs and give it our best to defend.”
Meanwhile, after earning podium spots nearly every stage, Denver Disruptors will have one more chance for a stage win.
“We had the numbers [today], but it’s the first big stage race of the season,” Granigan said. “Scott’s a good rider so I can’t be too upset. I definitely wanted that one, but we’ll have numbers tomorrow so we’re looking for that.”
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (April 12, 2024) – Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 Emily Ehrlich rode to victory for a second year running in the time trial for the stage 3 Toyota of Redlands Lake Perris individual TT. She won with a blazing time of 24:21. Moving to a new course this season at Lake Perris, riders rode a technical, 11.7-mile course starting atop the lake dam, winding their way around the lake via portions on a bike path and taking a couple tight turns before powering up to the finish to complete the third stage at the 2024 Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Emily Ehrlich (Twenty24) wins the Lake Perris Individual Time Trial, Merlis Mejias (Twenty24) is second, with Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling) in third. Photo: Above Four Media / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Ehrlich arrived to Redlands following her first ever Pan American Track Championships where she earned two gold medals in the individual pursuit and team pursuit respectfully. Her teammate Marlies Mejias was second with a time of 23:05, followed by Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling) in 23:11. Ehrlich had been feeling under the weather, trying to recover from the effort on the track, not sure if she would be able to race through Sunday.
“It’s been really tough coming from the track, I’ve been just taking it day but day. I’m feeling a little bit better today, even though yesterday really wiped me out,” Ehrlich said before her start. Speaking of the course ahead for the TT Ehrlich was excited for the change in venue and the new course.
“I’m really excited about the course; it’s very technical but going to be fun. I think there are a lot of opportunities to gain time where a lot of people might not think. We’ll see what happens.”
The defending overall champion was sitting far out of contention on the GC recovering from illness. She started within the first group of riders rolling down the start house. The heat had finally subsided on Friday, with a slight wind keeping the riders cool but thankfully did not play much of a factor for the finish.
Current U23 National Road Champion, Natalie Quinn had a solid day racing with the USA Cycling Redlands Development squad. She finished 12th on the day with a time of 25:59, enough to move her into third overall. Emma Langley struggled after a tough day in the mountains on stage 2, finishing the TT in 27:26, dropping down to 9th overall.
Alia Shafi moved up to 2nd overall on GC after a strong showing in the time trial on Friday. The Fount Cycling Guild rider won the Joe Martin time trial last season, surprising her rivals and even herself. The confidence built from last season is evident this season, making her climb up the GC riding consistent each day. Shafi was 5th on GC at the start of the day, down 1:26 from Gontova (DNA Pro Cycling). The yellow jersey managed to defend her lead, with a 50-second advantage ahead of Shafi.
“It was a little scary around those corners but I pushed it where I felt I could and was safe,” Shafi said. “It was awesome to end on the podium. The wind played a factor a little, but I took that into account in my strategy moving up slowly on GC. We’ll see where I am for tomorrow.”
The race returns to Downtown Redlands on Saturday for a full day of festivities beginning with the kid’s school duel races. The pro women will take to the start later in the afternoon at 2:15 PM local time.
Nadia Gontova (DNA Pro Cycling) holds on to the yellow general classification leader’s jersey. Photo: Above Four Media
Men’s Lake Perris Individual Time Trial Recap: Project Echelon Goes 1-2 on Stage 3, Stites Extends Overall Lead
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (April 12, 2024) – Another change of the course was on the menu for the Lake Perris Individual Time Trial for stage 3. The past two years the Redlands Bicycle Classic has held the time trial on a traditional out-and-back course along Route 66. Race organizers decided to change it once again, moving it this time around to Riverside County for an 11.7-mile technical course beginning on the Lake Perris dam and winding around the lake before climbing up a short, punchy hill to the finish.
Tyler Stites (Project Echelon) wins Redlands individual time trial for the third year Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Project Echelon’s Tyler Stites won the stage for a third year in a row, dashing across the finish clocking a time of 22:20. His teammate Brendan Rhim was just behind in second finishing in 23:35.45, and Ribble Rebellion’s Joseph Laverick in 23:35.89. Denver Disrupter’s Stephen Bassett had started the day in second on GC after the queen stage, but struggled to find a rhythm, ending the stage in 23:54 over 1:34 down from Stites. The results dropped Bassett out of the top ten on GC.
“It was a really fun course today, lots of twists and turns which was completely different than last year’s straight out and back,” Stites said after finishing. “I didn’t know if I was going to perform the same. I had a lot of fun out there in the turns and giving it my all.”
The TT specialist has stepped up to the challenge each year, whether facing strong winds like last season, or a twisty, technical course set for this year. He ended the day gaining important time on GC, now holding a 41-second advantage over the new second place overall, Laverick of Ribble Rebellion.
“The time trial is something we focus a lot on; our sponsors give us great equipment so we’re able to excel in this discipline,” Stites added.
It was Project Echelon who dominated the stage, at one point leading the standings with fiver riders, with Rhim sitting in the hot seat for most of the day. Rhim has returned to Redlands after racing for several years overseas. His last participation was in 2018, while he made his debut 10 years ago in 2014.
“It was a tricky course, you had to really push on the slower sections, push on the headwind sections and float on the shallow/easier sections with the tail wind,” Rhim said of the course. “It was probably the least consistent effort I have done in a while in a TT. I definitely came close to the edge of the road a couple times, but everyone was dealing with the same course.”
The race moves to Downtown Redlands for the final two stages, beginning with the downtown crit tomorrow afternoon. The course offers a technical 9-turn, 1-mile circuit; set for 90 minutes of racing for the pro men.
It will be a day for the sprinters and crit squads, with five sprint lines on tap. Many of the GC favorites will hope to stay safe and get through the stage looking ahead to the Sunset Loop finale on Sunday.
“Anything can happen on Sunset,” Stites said. “We’ve got to show up with our best legs and give it all in defense.” Rhim agreed, flashing a big smile, “We’re going to have fun tomorrow and Sunday!”
SAN BERNARDINO, California (April 11, 2024) — The pro women showed up and showed out for the Queen stage, racing up to the Onyx Summit for the first time in Redlands Bicycle Classic history. Nadia Gontova soared to victory for DNA Pro Cycling in a similar fashion as last year on Oak Glen, finishing solo with a solid 55-second gap ahead of second place finisher, Emma Langley of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24. Langley also maintained the Queen of the Mountains classification lead, nearly doubling her points on stage 2. Eleanor Wiseman was third for Fount Cycling.
Nadia Gontova (DNA Pro Cycling) Soars to Victory atop Onyx Summit Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“The plan was to go for the win, try to get some time on the finish if I was feeling good,” Gontova said. “My teammates all rode such an amazing race from start to finish. It all played out so perfectly, I was really happy to have the legs to bring home the win in the end.”
The women raced for 40 miles, going full gas from kilometer zero. DNA Pro Cycling were one of several teams that had their riders warm up on the trainers prior to the roll out. The peloton saw the first and only intermediate sprint of the day at 5-miles into racing. Marlies Mejias of Virginia’s Twenty24 was first to jump, out sprinting her rivals to earn the first green jersey of the Redlands Classic. Many teams in the bunch were focused on the climb ahead, conserving their legs for the long trek up the mountain.
Daphne Karagianis of Denver Disrupters was first to test her legs, attacking the field shortly before the turn onto Highway 38 and the first mountain sprint line of the day. She managed to gain up to a 30-second gap, until the road began to pitch up ever so slightly and she was caught.
The climb had begun as one by one, riders began losing contact at the back of the peloton. Soon it was dozens, as riders were strewn throughout the caravan, trying to keep the field within their sights facing a long day ahead. Making their way up the climb, the field had dwindled down to roughly 40 riders from the 123 that had started the day.
“My expectations was that it was going to be hard, and it definitely lived up to that,” Langley said. “We knew all day that it was going to be a game of conserving and being smart on the wheels, and so especially through to the finish.”
Nearing the halfway mark and the second QOM of the day, DNA Pro Cycling decided it was their time to go. The plan from the start had been the stage win and yellow jersey, allowing other teams to battle for the QOM; they set their sights on the finish.
DNA Pro Cycling’s Sara Poidevin sets the tempo, with Emma Langley on her wheel Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Former Mexican National Road Champion, Anet Barrera, increased the tempo as more and more riders were losing contact. Soon it was Diana Peñuela’s turn for the team, taking over the pace near the feed zone. By then, the group had been cut in half, with roughly 25 riders following. Nearing 10km to go, Barrera dropped off having done her work for the day, letting Sara Poidevin take over.
“It was a pretty big field going in the last little uphill,” Gontova said. “I knew it wasn’t the best finish for me, so I told my team, whoever could really drilled it on the front to bring the pace up. It really whittled it down. I could see people were getting tired. When I saw 4km to go, I got out of the headwind a little bit, the road went up and I knew it was now or never. It was very difficult and hot. I was really feeling the altitude, but I just told myself everyone was feeling it so it ended up playing out well in the end.”
The yellow jersey of Mara Roldan (Cynisca Cycling) had managed to maintain the tempo in the front group, but after being isolated was dropped close to 3km to the finish. Gontova took notice and launched her attack with such strength no one was able to follow. Jenaya Francis (Orion Racing) was the only rider who attempted to follow. Gontova eyed the move, and launched a second attack, but this time Francis had spent her final matches and was soon pedaling backwards.
“There was a small group, so I was motivating us to keep working together,” Langley added. “I knew that we would be stronger if we were still rotating as much as we could, try and limit the losses at that point. Nadia was gone, but we emptied the tank, I know I sure did.”
Gontova will start the Lake Perris individual time trial with a 55-second advantage ahead of Langley. Emily Erhlich remains a heavy favorite for the TT stage win, though she is out of contention for the overall general classification. Katherine Lin of A Quick Brown Fox team will be the first rider out of the starting house at 10:45 AM.
First – Nadia Gontova (DNA Pro Cycling), Second (left) – Emma Langley (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24), Third (right) – Eleanor Wisen (Fount Cycling). Photo: Above Four MediaNadia Gontova in yellow (DNA Pro Cycling). Photo: Above Four Media
Men’s Trek Bicycles Onyx Summit Race Recap
SAN BERNARDINO, California (April 11, 2024) — “I’ve never won a mountain top finish in my career and to do it on a crit team full of sprinters, this is not expected for us,” Cole Davis said, following his surprising victory on stage 2 for Ribble Rebellion. “It’s been a tough year and a half. I thought about hanging it up but this team gave me an opportunity to continue my career; I’m just so thankful for that!”
Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion) takes the Queen stage victory atop Onyx Summit. Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
From the publication of the changes to the queen stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, all eyes were set on the Onyx Summit for Stage 2. Plenty of nervous legs were spinning at the start this morning, getting ready for the long day ahead. Despite plenty of effort from other teams, it was the Ribble Rebellion rider in the end who rode away to victory, leaving his fellow competitors speechless at the finish. Team California’s Nick Narraway finished shortly behind followed by Stephen Bassett (Denver Disrupters) in third for a second day running.
“I was dropped several times today, having been teammates with Joäo Almeida (2022 Giro d’Italia winner) throughout my career, I tried to use what he always taught us – a steady effort,” Davis said. “I love going from 1km to go but on a mountaintop, it’s way different.
“I have to apologize to my parents today because I told them why bother coming out here – I just have to roll and make time cut, best day – maybe top 20? I didn’t even bother looking at the stage profile because I thought I’m never going to win. I had come here to try and win stage one. So that was really frustrating but the upside is that I am 20 minutes down on GC so when I go, nobody has any reason to chase me so that played into the strategy today.”
The men began their 50.4-mile trek for the queen stage at 10 AM local time, with the sun shining and the temperatures beginning to rise. Two intermediate sprints were first on the docket, at 10.5 miles in with another at 15.5 miles prior to the start of the climb. Canel’s was the first to make a move with Sebastian Mata earning top points at sprint 1. The race suddenly took a wrong turn off course as the results were being announced, forcing the race to be neutralized for roughly two miles as officials scrambled to get the peloton back on course safely.
Teams settled back into tempo, conserving their legs on the last bit of flat road before the climb began. The warm temperatures and head wind played a factor, making it tough for any breakaways to get established.
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Landis/Trek Cyclery’s Stephen Schaefer was the first to go, hoping for some companions to tag along but looking back realized he was on his own. The Tucson native kept his head down and gained up to a 2:20 minute gap ahead of the field. Shortly before the first KOM, it was Canel’s – Java Efren Santos who launched a solo chase. The former Mexican National Road Champion would close a two-minute gap, catching Schaefer with 18 miles left to race. Schaefer did his best to hold Santos’ wheel but after such an intense solo effort for so long, he lost contact soon after.
Santos had been 19-seconds down on GC at the start of the day, and had gained up to a 1:15 gap on the field. Project Echelon lifted the tempo in defense of the yellow jersey, slowly closing the gap. Just as they rounded a curve and had Santos in sight, the Canel’s rider suffered a mechanical. The Shimano neutral service team was on the case within seconds, but it was too late. Santos did his best to keep a gap but the peloton was on the move, catching him seconds later.
“The peloton had been pretty calm when I first launched my attack,” Santos said after finishing. “I had the unfortunate mechanical at a bad time. Though I was helped by Shimano, by then the peloton was right on top of me.”
What was remaining of the front group had been reduced to roughly 30 riders, as the fireworks because to explode. Project Echelon maintained a solid pace at the front of the field, with the yellow jersey of Tyler Stites sitting comfortably on third wheel. Several teams tried their hands at disrupting their plan.
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Williams Racing Devo’s Eder Frayre attacked within 10km to go, with Team California’s Kellen Caldwell the only rider to respond. Project Echelon maintained their composer, with neither rider a threat to the GC. Frayre was racing with two broken ribs suffered in a training crash a week prior, and thus was not able to maintain the effort. Caldwell fought on, and would manage to gain 30 seconds before he too was absorbed with 1km to go.
Tyler Stites would finish in the front group, behind Davis and Narraway, four seconds down maintaining his lead on GC. Bassett moved up to second just five seconds down, after another consistent finish racing for the first time at altitude in several years.
Stites won the time trial last year, going into the new course tomorrow hoping to repeat his victory to defend yellow for another day.
“I have to thank my team, they rode amazing,” Stites said at the finish. “We controlled the riders up the road and brought them back. There were a lot of attacks in the final few kilometers that I had to cover. The last one kind of slipped away, but I was just happy to be in the little group on the same time. It was pretty tough, more of grind because it was so gradual, only really got into the high intensity in the last few km.”
ARLINGTON, Virginia (April 11, 2024) — Setting the clocks forward to better align the workday with the rising and setting of the sun makes pedestrians and bicyclists safer, though the net effect on overall fatal crashes is minimal, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.
“These findings won’t end the debate about daylight saving time,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “The benefits for bicyclists and pedestrians are important because that’s where the fatality numbers have increased the most over the past decade. However, they’re largely offset by an increase in crashes in which vehicle occupants were killed.”
A cyclist at dusk on 400 South in Salt Lake City. Daylight savings time increases safety for cyclists. Photo by Dave Iltis
The conventional wisdom is that Americans hate losing an hour of sleep when we switch to daylight saving time in the spring and — in the northern part of the country — don’t love how early the sun sets after the clocks are turned back in the winter. Meanwhile, citing sleep research and potential energy savings, Congress is weighing the benefits of the status quo against both permanent daylight saving time and permanent standard time.
To determine the effect of the current system on road safety, IIHS researchers analyzed fatal crash data for the five weeks before and after each time change over 2010-19. They then zeroed in on the crashes that occurred during the hours that the time change affected the level of light and separated those in which only motor vehicle occupants were killed from those that resulted in bicyclist or pedestrian fatalities.
When they considered all crashes that occurred between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., whether a vehicle occupant or bicyclist or pedestrian was killed, the net effect on fatal crashes was minimal. In the five weeks after the fall time change, fatal motor vehicle occupant crashes decreased and fatal bicyclist and pedestrian crashes increased. Then, in the five weeks after the spring time change, fatal motor vehicle occupant crashes increased and fatal bicyclist and pedestrian crashes decreased. As a result, the overall effect was 29 more fatal vehicle occupant crashes and 26 fewer fatal pedestrian and cyclist crashes.
The effects of the time changes were more pronounced when they looked specifically at the crashes that occurred in the early morning and late afternoon hours when the level of light changed because of the new time, however. The entire reduction in fatal bicyclist and pedestrian crashes and virtually none of the increase in fatal vehicle occupant crashes occurred during those time periods.
“There are several ways that the time changes could affect crash rates,” said IIHS Research Associate Amber Woods, the lead author of the study. “The disruption in sleep patterns could result in more drowsy driving or more people rushing because they’re running late. However, for bicyclists and pedestrians, the biggest factor appears to be the changing light conditions during key driving periods.”
This jibes with what we already know. Most pedestrian crashes occur during daylight hours, when the most people are out walking around. But most pedestrian fatalities happen at night.
Since 2009, when pedestrian deaths hit an all-time low, they’ve risen 80%. Bicyclist fatalities have risen 75% over approximately the same period. As a result, bicyclists and pedestrians now account for nearly a fifth of all traffic fatalities.
Addressing the problem with the clock is complicated, this study shows. Obviously, any gains associated with an extra hour of light on one end of the workday may be tempered by an extra hour of darkness on the other end. For unknown reasons, the effect on vehicle occupant fatalities is also opposite to the effect on pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.
“Although daylight saving time doesn’t seem to be an unequivocal safety win, this study reinforces the importance of visibility for preventing pedestrian and bicyclist crashes,” Harkey said. “Better lighting, especially at crosswalks, improved headlights, and reflective or light-colored clothing can help protect people when the sun goes down — whatever time that may be.”
By Tom Jow — If you have been shopping for a bike anytime during the last few years, you know that during Covid it was nearly impossible to purchase one, new or used. How things have changed in just a couple of years. New bikes seem to be quite available now, with many manufacturers already (or still) offering discounts. In addition, some of these same manufacturers introduced new models just as the bike buying frenzy was winding down. What, we might ask, does all this mean? Well, considering that the high-end bike market rarely misses a chance to upgrade to the newest model, this means that a strong buyer’s market for used bikes could be on the way. But before we rush to the classifieds and test ride it’s important to have a plan. This plan includes research, inspection, and negotiation.
Assuming we already know what type of bike we want; the first step is to research new bikes and prices. Pay attention to year models and component build specifications. Year after year some bikes may have the same frame design with new colors and different parts. In addition to manufacturer websites, also visit some of the larger online stores. Many times, these stores will have in-house custom builds that may offer an even better price than the manufacturers.
With prices and specification notes it’s time to begin searching for a bike. Sources for used bikes include friends, local classifieds, online classifieds (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, KSL, etc.), and online resale (eBay, etc.). As a used bike shopper, one of the most important things is information about the item. Therefore, what we like to see in an ad is a good number of quality photographs of the bike, components, frame, wheels, wear points (i.e., drivetrain, brakes) and any scratches or damage to the bike. In addition, text that includes a brief list of the components and both use history and service history will make our decision to move forward easier (note to sellers: more info and more photos = less time-consuming questions). If the ad does not contain enough information be sure to contact the seller. Any seller unwilling to provide additional information should instantly be crossed off the list.
Looks good from a distance. Photo by Tom Jow
What are the characteristics of a good used bike? A low price, obviously, and in good condition but there is more than that. Ideally, we will find a relatively young bike that has not been ridden much. In addition to that, a bike that has been well cared for. Even if a bike is young and has a good service history there is a big difference between “raced every Saturday”, “it’s not my primary bike” and “I broke my leg skiing before I could ride it a second time”. Also, a bike that has not been used much, or at least not abused will show few, if any scratches. It should go without saying that a bike that has not been used much will have very little wear to the drivetrain and brakes. Something to consider for future service concerns is a bike that is equipped with current generation components (especially drivetrain).
With research done and questions answered it is now time for the inspection. Things to take with you are measurements (you did get a bike fit or measure your old bike, didn’t you?), tape measure, flashlight, hex wrenches, tire pump, shock pump (for mountain bikes) and helmet (for test ride). Before beginning the inspection keep this in mind: metal is much more tolerant of scratches, impacts and the force of over-clamping. If we did our due diligence during ad selection, then inspection shouldn’t be too difficult.
It is not uncommon for rims to look like this after just a few rides. Photo by Tom Jow
Wheels and Tires
Spin the wheels. Tires should be relatively straight and round. Tires that wobble may not be seated correctly, or the casing might be damaged. To evaluate the casing, straddling the tread with your palm, run your fingers around the sidewalls of the tire. Any significant bulges or deformations indicates a damaged tire casing and will need replacement.
Watch for wobbles in the rim as it goes around. Visually inspect the rim for scratches, dents, and chips. Scratches aren’t so bad, but any significant dents or chips are a bad sign. Check carbon rims for cracks around the spoke holes. Test the spoke tension by going around the spokes and squeezing in pairs. The tension should be similar all the way around. A wheel that spins true with one or a pair of loose spokes may actually be bent beyond repair. Also, the wheel should spin smoothly, and for not a short period of time. In extreme cases, we may be able to feel vibration through the handlebars when the wheel bearings are dry.
Brakes and Handlebars
When the wheels were spinning was there a “ting, ting, ting” as the brake rotor spun around? If so, pay some attention to the rotors. They are rarely perfect, even out of the box but they shouldn’t be obviously bent. With the flashlight, look into the brake caliper. Is there visible clearance between the pads and rotor? How do the pads look? If the pad material (which is bonded to a metal plate) is less than a dime thickness they will require replacement. Scrape a fingernail across the lower edge of the rotor brake surface. If there is a significant ridge they probably need to be replaced. For those wanting an exact measurement, the minimum thickness is often printed on the rotor.
Inspect the brake levers. Are the lever blades free of damage? Are they in line with the lever body? Examine the brake lines. Are there any kinks? On flat bar levers, pull back the rubber boot where the line enters the lever. Damage can hide here. Actuate the levers. They should engage fairly quickly, and under pressure they should be firm. Spongy lever feel means a bleed may be necessary.
The handlebar tape or grips should be free of rips or tears. Torn grips or tape, along with scratched levers means crashes. Are the visible portions of the handlebars scratch free? More importantly, with carbon bars, is there any sign of over tightening in the stem clamp, and lever clamp areas? If necessary, use the flashlight for a better view. If necessary, loosen and move the clamp to get a better look.
Hidden paint damage behind the seat tube. Photo by Tom Jow
Frame and Fork
Every tube on a frame is subject to damage (if we did our homework well there shouldn’t be much to look at). As mentioned earlier, metal frames are much more tolerant of impacts and scratches. In most cases, a small dent is not the end of the world on a metal frame. Sometimes metal frames crack, usually along a weld or near the joint of two tubes. Carbon frames are much more susceptible to impact damage. Rocks kicked up from tires, crashing and landing on a sharp rock, or just falling over in the parking lot can crack a tube if it hits the wrong spot. Damage to a carbon frame may be split along a seam (rare), a spider web looking crack from a low-speed impact, or a tube may appear shattered from a high force impact.
More hidden scratches. Photo by Tom Jow
Start the inspection at the top and front and check every tube. If the paint is a dark color, use the flashlight if necessary. Pay particular attention to the top tube where the handlebar might come in contact. Check under the downtube from headtube to bottom bracket. A mountain bike can have a lot of chipped paint under there. Look behind the chainring(s) where the chain may have fallen off inside. Down low behind the seat tube hides paint chips. And finally, the lateral facing sides of the seat stays and chain stays are easily damaged in crashes, or just falling over.
Inspect the fork on the outside, and inside between the blades. Remove and reinstall the axles to make sure they function properly.
A well used derailleur and cassette. Photo by Tom Jow
Drivetrain
While looking around the bottom bracket and crankset, give the right crank arm a look. Is it scratched up on the face? If so, the chain could be coming off often on the outside. Inspect the ends of the arms near the pedal interface. Mountain bike cranks get scratched here from banging into rocks while pedaling. Not a huge problem for alloy cranks, but carbon fiber components do not like impact. Next, are the chainring teeth showing a lot of bright silver? If so, this is a sign of moderate to heavy use. Do the cassette teeth appear the same? The final part of the drivetrain is the rear derailleur. Is it heavily scratched? If so, another sign of heavy use, perhaps even crashes. Also, when the derailleur is scratched from crashes, it is possible that the right seat and chain stays in addition to the derailleur hanger may have been damaged. In that event be sure to give those things a closer look.
Seat and Seatpost
Remember to inspect the seat, seatpost and seat tube. Is the seat cover torn? Do the seat rails appear straight? Look at the seat from the back. Is it flat, without a dip on one or both sides? Torn seat covers usually mean some sort of impact. If the seat rails are carbon and the seat is torn, then the seat should be considered suspect. Loosen the seatpost binder bolt. Does the seatpost slide up and down easily? If the post and/or frame is carbon, it should feel a little gritty like sand. This would indicate a coating of carbon fiber assembly paste properly applied. Test the dropper seatpost. The upper tube should move smoothly down and up. Achieving full compression should require some force. The post should come all the way up with a firm snap. If neither is the case, ask if the air pressure of the seatpost is adjustable. Keep in mind not all brands have adjustable air pressure.
Suspension
For bikes with suspension, first visually inspect the components. Forks with small scratches to the lower legs may be fine, but scratches to the upper tubes are not ok. These scratches will greatly reduce the effectiveness and lifetime of the main seals. The same goes for the rear shock. The slider tube (the one that goes past the seal) needs to be scratch free. We also need to test the functionality of the component. Press down on the handlebars to compress the fork. If necessary, use the shock pump to let a little air out to be able to compress it about halfway. Does it move smoothly? Close the rebound adjustment and compress the fork again. Does it come back up really slowly? It should. Open the rebound adjustment and compress again. It should now come up fast. Next close the compression adjustment. Does it lock out the fork? Keep in mind that not all forks lock out. Generally, the greater the travel, and/or lower the cost, the less likely the fork has a full lockout. Repeat the procedure with the rear shock. Be sure to ask when the seals were (if ever) replaced.
Negotiation
If we like what we see, it’s time to negotiate. If the bike needs some work or parts, consider those costs when making an offer. How is the market? Are there a lot of bikes of this model for sale, both used and new? High used inventory equals better prices for buyers. What month is it? Sellers may be less motivated (desperate) in February than in August. We need to be fair to ourselves and (hopefully) not insulting with our offer. When I make an offer and the seller looks at me sideways, I just reply, “well, I have to ask.”
Being an informed shopper through research and paying attention to the details during the inspection makes the likelihood of an easy negotiation and successful used bike purchase very high. However, there is another factor not mentioned, patience. It may take some time before the bike we want appears in the ads. The first couple specimens may not be less than ideal. It can be difficult but keep your money in your pocket. In fact, when I make used purchases I leave my money in the car, or at home sometimes. So, with good practices purchasing a used bike can be fairly simple, and even fun. Happy hunting!
[Editor’s Note: It’s important to protect yourself against purchasing a stolen bike. If the price is too good to be true, it should raise red flags. If you are suspect, don’t feel an obligation to follow through with the purchase. You can also check the serial number against stolen bikes listed on BikeIndex.org. You can also ask for the owner’s original proof of purchase or receipt, although not everyone keeps those.]
HIGHLAND, California (April 10, 2024) — Mara Roldan stormed to victory for Cynisca Cycling, stealing the win in Highlands on the opening stage of the 38thedition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Cynisca had been laying low in the peloton, keeping a close watch on the movements of the race before Roldan attacked rounding the final turn up Base Line Road. Maeghan Easler was just behind in second for DNA Pro Cycling, with Alia Shafi rounding the podium in third for FOUNT Cycling.
Mara Roldan steals the stage 1 victory for Cynisca Cycling Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“I surprised myself a little today. I was showing some sickness coming into this so I was a little anxious about my preparation,” Roldan said at the finish. “We had a solid team and a positive mindset – everyone really gave it everything. I couldn’t be more happy with the team today.”
The field had remained together through most of the 14 laps around the 2.8-mile circuit in Highland, with temperatures soaring. Race organizers made a slight change to the start, excluding the traditional neutral roll out from the nearby San Manual Band of Mission Indians headquarters. Instead, the riders started on Base Line making the traditional finish, the start as well. The change saw many riders take to their trainers to warm up the legs prior to the roll out at 8:45 AM.
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
There were three queen of the mountain sprint lines available in this opening day of racing. Former USA National Road Champion Emma Langley winning the second QOM and earning three more points at the finish to lead the classification for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24. No sprint points were available.
With so many changes to the course for 2024, teams are faced with a change in tactics for the overall GC. The GC contenders in the field were focused on the two time bonuses available – the first intermediate offering three, two, and one second for the first three riders, and then 10, six and four seconds for the top three on the stage.
“I was quite surprised because not a lot of people went hard on the second to last climb,” Roldan said. “I was expecting people to go really hard. Things started to move down the descent. As we got into the chicane, Cara (O’Neill) came up and positioned me well towards the front of the pack and gave it everything she had to get me to the front. I just went, I used some other teams wheels a bit and gave it everything up the climb.”
The defending overall GC Champion Emily Ehrlich arrived feeling ill, hoping to be able to race through Sunday. The recent Pan American multi-gold medalist pulled out of the race within ten laps to go. The Twenty24 rider was able to complete enough laps to be eligible for the start on Thursday.
Cecile Lejeune racing for CCB presented by Levine Law Group was the top finisher on GC in 12th place to earn the Best Amateur jersey, similar to the Best Young Rider in other races. The Best Amateur competition is presented to the rider with the best time on GC who holds a USA Cycling category 2 license. The riders cannot be a member of a registered UCI team or part of the USA Cycling Redlands development team racing Redlands.
The women still start stage 2 Trek Bicycles Onyx Summit at 10:30 AM after the men start at 10, a brutal 29.9 climb up for a summit finish.
First – Mara Roldan (Cynisca Cycling), Second (left) – Maeghan Easler (DNA Pro Cycling), Third (right) – Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling). Photo: Above Four MediaMara Roldan in yellow (Cynisca Cycling), Photo: Above Four Media
Men’s Highland Circuit Race Recap
HIGHLAND, California (April 10, 2024) — Project Echelon’s Tyler Stites outsprinted his rivals, taking the stage 1 victory on the Highland Circuit for the opening stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. The two-time overall defending champion took the early lead on GC to gain an advantage ahead of the Onyx Summit on Thursday. His team worked hard throughout the stage, with Sam Boardman and Scott McGill chasing down any dangerous escapees. Tom Williams finished just behind Stites in second for the British squad, Thriva SCRT, with Stephen Bassett in third racing with Denver Disrupters this season.
Tyler Stites (Project Echelon) takes the victory on stage 1 Highland Circuit Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“It was good; I always love this course,” Stites said after finishing. “I’ve been up there a couple times on the stage but never been able to win. It’s pretty tricky timing on the hill, but I think I finally timed it right this year.”
The men took to the start at 11 AM following the awards ceremony for the pro women. With a lot of nerves looking towards stage 2, the race saw few attempts at breakaways. The temperature was also a factor with the heat increasing in the afternoon, making for a tough first day of racing. Several riders attempted to escape, but were soon caught after a lap or two.
Team Expeditor’s Kaler Marshall attacked shortly before the third KOM of the day. A group of four launched the chase, including Pablo Alarcon (Canel’s-Java), Tanner Ward (Williams Racing), Brooks Wienke (Aevolo), and Sam Boardman (Project Echelon). The field absorbed them all with three laps to go.
Speaking to various riders at the finish, most were relieved to have the first stage completed. The Redlands Bicycle Classic is typically the first big race of the season where the teams get to see how they measure up against their competition. However, they have never faced such an epic day of climbing so early in the season like the Onyx Summit on Thursday.
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“Historically this race has always been really close,” Stites said. “I don’t know if those 10 seconds are going to do much this year with the huge mountain we have to climb tomorrow. I think there will be bigger gaps.”
Bassett agreed. The Denver Disrupters are racing their first stage race as a team with several new riders on the roster, including Bassett.
“We’ve never raced together before, but we had great work from the boys,” Bassett said looking ahead to Thursday. “Tomorrow will be interesting having this one time hit of altitude, going up to 8300 ft. I think. It’s super long with a couple little dips in there. It’s good for me to take a couple breathers. We’ll see how that plays out, I’m looking forward to it.”
Brody McDonald was the top finisher in the Best Amateur competition, earning the first white jersey of the week for Aevolo Cycling. The pro men will start their 50-mile trek up to the summit for stage 2 at 10 AM.
First – Tyler Stites (Project Echelon Racing), Second – Tom Williams (Triva SRCT), Third – Stephen Bassett (Denver Disrupters). Photo: Above Four MediaTyler Stites (Project Echelon) takes the lead in both the GC and KOM classification. Photo: Above Four Media
April 10, 2024 (Redlands, CA) – The 38th edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manual Band of Mission Indians returns this week, starting on Wednesday, April 10 in Highland, with its finale on Sunday, April 14th in Downtown Redlands. The race has been a staple in the United States road racing circuit for decades. 2024 is no different with the launch of a 3-day junior stage race, a history making number of riders in the pro women’s field, along with a stacked men’s field set for a new addition on stage 2.
Redlands Bicycle Classic is set to go from April 10-14, 2024. Photo by VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
The five days of racing will commence with stage 1 in the City of Highland circuit race. The pro women take to the stage first, starting at 8:45 AM, ready for their 39.2 miles consisting of 14 laps around the 2.8-mile circuit. The men will race 58.1 miles, or a total of 20 laps around the circuit.
The circuit begins with a fast downhill after a quick turn soon after the start, before winding through some neighborhoods on the back end of the course. The riders will then round a park passing through the feed zone after which they will make the final turn to face the infamous Highland wall. The women will face it 14 times, while the men will have to battle up the climb 20 times before the road levels out ever so slightly, for what has historically ended with a sprint finish. Both winners from last season – Marlies Mejias (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24) and Noah Granigan (Denver Disrupters) – are back, hoping to done the first yellow jersey of the week for a second time.
Race organizers made the tough decision to move the climbing stage on day 2 from Oak Glen in Yucaipa, to San Bernardino, adding the Trek Onyx Summit Road Race. The Onyx summit sits at an elevation of 8,443 ft. (2,573m), and has never seen the finish of a pro bike race. It is the highest mountain pass in Southern California, and the second longest climb in the state at 29.9 miles in length. The stage is set for what will be an epic battle for the general classification. Riders will face close to 6,000 ft. of vertical gain, averaging 3.9% gradient with peaks at 8%.
The pure climbers in the bunch are itching to test their legs against the best, while the others will hope to simply survive to see stage 3. In the men’s race, riders to watch will include past podium finisher at Tour of the Gila, Toby Røed (Above & Beyond Cancer), Colombian Heiner Parra (Canel’s – Java), Stephen Bassett (Denver Disrupters) returning stateside after several seasons in Europe, along with his former teammate, Scott McGill (Project Echelon). Finally, former US National Road Champion Kyle Murphy, and Eder Frayre return with the newly formed Williams Racing, a composite team made up of several crit squads managed by the Williams brothers organization.
In the women’s field look out for last year’s stage two winner Nadia Gontova, racing now for DNA Pro Cycling. The squad will have former Mexican National Road Champion, Anet Barrera to back her. Emily Marcolini is back with team Boneshaker p/b Orange Seal (previously ROXO Racing); she will have third place finisher on Oak Glen last season, Colombian Lorena Villamizar racing alongside her. Triple threat Katie Clouse is swapping her mountain bike for road, joining the CMU Collegiate Team this week, while the U23 USA National Road Champion, Natalie Quinn will be racing with the USA Cycling Redlands Development squad.
After the shakeup on day 2, the individual time trial is up next. Recovery will have to be key for the GC contenders hoping to make up time lost on the previous day’s climb. The TT is moving from the Route 66 stage the past two years, to Lake Perris. The 11.7-mile loop around the lake will include a couple of tight turns that will add a couple of hiccups in setting tempo for the riders. The course is relatively flat with a few minor changes in elevation. The pro women will start first at 10:45 following the junior races, before the men take to the starting house at 12:30.
This is where Emily Ehrlich (Twenty24) took the yellow jersey with a dominant performance last season, keeping it to earn her first stage race title of her young career. Ehrlich will arrive to Redlands in top form following her first ever Pan American Track Championships in nearby Carson, CA. She won her first gold racing with the USA Cycling’s team pursuit team and at time of publishing this preview was getting ready to race for her second in the individual pursuit.
Tyler Stites returns to go for a third overall win for Project Echelon after taking home the yellow jersey the past two seasons and the TT win. The team is returning from Europe after a successful racing block overseas. Time will tell if he will be able to stay in contention after the Onyx Summit, or if Scott McGill will take the lead for the squad. Both will have a strong team backing them, including new addition Sam Boardman, previous yellow jersey, Ricky Arnopol, and Brendan Rhim.
For stage 4, the race moves back to downtown Redlands for crit day on Saturday. The day will be filled with events for the whole family beginning with the kids races in the morning. Amateur races will follow, before the juniors take to the stage, prepping for the big show featuring the pros in the afternoon. A vender expo will be set up near the finish line, with the VIP festivities across the street, along with other crowd favorite events in between.
The women will start at 2 PM racing for 75-minutes, followed by the men at 4 PM. L39ion of LA dominated the stage in 2023, taking the win in both the men and women’s races with Skylar Schneider and Cory Williams. A loss of sponsorships has changed season goals for the team but both riders are back with the newly minted Williams Racing Development Team for Redlands.
The final stage on the traditional Sunset Loop will take place following the return of the Redlands Mile running event in the morning. Bikes will take a rest while the runners will take to the crit course, running two races – a mile and a 5k – while a friendlier family fun walk will also be featured. The finale of the junior races will follow before the pros take to the road, beginning again with the women at 10 AM and then the pro men at 2 PM. Last year L39ion dominated once again, stealing the final stage wins with Skylar Schneider in her first participation at Redlands, and veteran pro, Robin Carpenter for the men.
In season’s past, the final day often resulted in a GC showdown with some winning margins ending within seconds. 2024 may prove otherwise with the Onyx climb in the mix. Either way, the punchy Sunset Loop will make for another great day of racing for both the men and women, before the final circuits in Downtown Redlands lined with racing fans on their way to crown the new overall champions of the Redlands Bicycle Classic!
by Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle (February 28, 2024) — The Oregon House unanimously passed a bill updating laws around electric bicycles in what the bill’s author described as the first of many steps to honor a Bend teen killed while riding his bike and make streets safer throughout the state.
Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, speaks during a House Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting on Sept. 28, 2023. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 4103, introduced by Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, would update a 27-year-old law to create three new classes of electric bikes based on the type of motor and how fast they can go. It’s a scaled-back version of what she originally proposed as Trenton’s Law, named for 15-year-old Trenton Burger.
The teen was riding an ebike on a sidewalk along Highway 20 in Bend last June when a van turned right, striking and killing him. His parents urged Levy and local elected officials to help protect other children.
“One of the most important things we do on this floor is bear witness,” Levy said as the House prepared to vote on the measure on Tuesday. “We bear witness to our constituent lives, and it’s a reminder that we do sacred things on this floor.”
The bill, which now heads to the Senate, creates three classifications of electric bicycles. Class 1 ebikes only provide assistance when a rider is actively pedaling and stops its motor when the bike reaches 20 mph. Class 2 ebikes can be propelled without pedaling and top out at 20 mph. And Class 3 ebikes require pedaling, come with a speedometer and top out at 28 mph.
Levy initially proposed allowing anyone, regardless of age, to use a Class 1 electric bicycle and making it a traffic violation for a child younger than 16 to use a Class 2 or Class 3 ebike. But as passed by the House, the bill would ban ebikes for anyone younger than 16 who doesn’t have a driver’s license or permit. Anyone 16 or older can use any ebike.
The bill is paired with a second proposal, House Bill 4067, which would create a task force to recommend laws on electric bikes, scooters and mopeds by Dec. 31, 2024. That bill carries a $200,000 price tag and is waiting to be considered by the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee.
[Editor’s Notes: HB 4103 was signed into law on March 7, 2024 and goes into effect on January 1, 2025. HB 4067 died in committee.]
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: [email protected]. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter.
PONCHA SPRINGS, Colorado (April 3, 2024) — by Don Stefanovich —Canfield Bikes, high-end boutique mountain-bike and component manufacturer, announced it has relocated to a new headquarters in Poncha Springs, CO, just outside the booming outdoor destination town of Salida. The new space includes a larger warehouse and connected office space. Future plans include customer-facing retail space and a demo/rental center. The move comes as Canfield Bikes celebrates 25 years in business.
Colorado mountain-bike brand announces new headquarters, including plans for retail space and demo center.
The larger warehouse with additional shipping bays will allow the brand to receive, store and ship a greater volume of product to better serve customers as the brand grows. It also features a fully stocked workshop with multiple workbenches and bike stands to better accommodate not only building bikes, but provide the ability to offer additional services to customers such as pedal rebuilds and linkage bearing replacement.
While not yet open to the public, Canfield will offer mountain-bike demos and rentals out of the new location beginning late spring/early summer 2024.
“We’re surrounded by breathtaking mountains, fantastic trails and an amazing community of mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts.” —Lance Canfield
“For the first time in our history, a full demo fleet will be available at our headquarters,” says Lance Canfield, owner, engineer and designer. “Riding is believing, and this will be a great opportunity for people to try before they buy or just rent a bike while they’re in town and experience the magic of Canfield Bikes for themselves. This area offers access to an unbelievable amount of riding making it a great place for customers to demo and for us to test new designs.”
With hundreds of miles of singletrack, from trails that can be pedaled to from downtown Salida, to the famous multi-thousand foot descents accessed by shuttle on Monarch Crest, to nearby Buena Vista and a host of other high-alpine backcountry rides, the Arkansas River Valley is a mountain-bike destination for riders near and far, most notably from Colorado’s Front Range. It’s also a stop-over for many through-riders along the Colorado Trail and Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR).
Lance Canfield riding S Mountain in Salida, CO. Photo: Tyler Whitworth
Since the brand’s humble beginnings when bike frames were hand-built in a garage in Layton, UT, in 1999, the company has called Victor, ID, and Bellingham, WA, home. Most recently, Canfield was based in Fruita on Colorado’s Western Slope after Lance took sole ownership of the company a little over four years ago.
“We love Fruita,” says Lance. “It was an amazing launchpad when we re-started the brand in 2020 and was instrumental in our growth. There is an incredible variety of trails, from desert flow to demanding technical riding. We will definitely be back to ride.”
“Definitely somber news but we wish Canfield Bikes the best and enjoyed the ride,” says Mike Bennett, city manager of Fruita. “We know we will cross tracks on the trails in the future and continue seeing Canfield bikes on Fruita singletrack.”
During its time in Fruita, Canfield Bikes successfully navigated the past four years of turmoil in the bike industry, including the COVID-19 pandemic boom, supply chain shortages and the inevitable downturn that followed.
“We made it through the last few years thanks in part to support from that community, including local riders, bike shops, the City of Fruita, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) and Mesa County,” says Lance. “We also made smart decisions during that time, and I’m grateful we’re in a position to move the company forward.”
“It has been a rewarding experience working with Canfield over the years,” adds Steve Jozefczyk, deputy director of GJEP.“Their absence in Fruita will be felt.”
While Canfield hadn’t planned on moving, an unexpected offer on the brand’s Fruita property set things in motion. Still unsure of selling, an impromptu riding trip to Salida ended with some property viewings. One residential location serendipitously had an old Canfield bike box sitting in an otherwise empty garage. Then, a commercial property with lots of potential presented itself, offering more space than the Fruita property Canfield was outgrowing.
“Things just sort of clicked,” says Lance.
Lance Canfield riding S Mountain in Salida, CO. Photo: Tyler Whitworth
In an effort to introduce itself to local riders, Canfield Bikes has already stepped up as a Gold Level sponsor of the popular Salida Enduro race series, now in its second year.
“We’re stoked to have Canfield Bikes as a sponsor,” says Mike Franco, race organizer and general manager of Absolute Bikes in Salida. “The brand ethos and culture perfectly complement the vibe of our races. We’re excited to welcome Canfield to the valley and grateful for the support.”
Long term plans also include a retail showroom where customers can pick up bikes in-person as well as purchase components and small parts. In addition to retail, demos and rentals, the brand hopes its new location will be a welcome addition to the local riding community, serving as a gathering spot before and after rides, perhaps even a pickup spot for local shuttle operations.
The new location can be ridden to as riders descend from the Monarch Crest trails, and is close to Elevation Beer Company, a popular post-ride stop in Poncha.
“We’re surrounded by breathtaking mountains, fantastic trails and an amazing community of mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts,” says Lance. “I’m really excited for our company’s next chapter here and what the future holds.”
As Canfield grows, the company will also create local jobs with anticipated roles in admin, sales, marketing and shop/warehouse support. Anyone interested in learning more or getting a resume on file for when positions are announced can email [email protected].
ROUBAIX, France (April 7, 2024) — Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Mathieu Van der Poel delivered a masterpiece in the 2024 Paris-Roubaix, pulling off a long-range solo attack and a number of records that now belong in history. Following his Tour de Flanders victory last Sunday, he becomes the 10th-ever rider to win the cobbled Monument double, and the second-ever to achieve it while wearing the rainbow jersey after Rik van Looy in 1962. His 60-kilometre solo ride to the Vélodrome André Pétrieux becomes the longest winning move in the 21st century, while his 3’00” winning margin is the largest in the last 20 editions of the race. His teammate Jasper Philipsen crossed the finish line 2nd, re-enacting the one-two that Alpecin-Deceuninck already sealed in 2023, with Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen rounding out the podium.
172 riders took the start on the 121st edition of Paris-Roubaix at 11:26, off to ride 259,7 kilometres between Compiègne and the Vélodrome André Pétrieux in Roubaix with 29 cobbled sectors to be covered. 2022 winner Dylan van Baarle (Visma | Lease a Bike) was a last-minute withdrawal, and so were UAE Team Emirates’ Michael Vink and Astana Qazaqstan’s Michael Mørkøv. It took ‘only’ 22 kilometres for Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike), Rasmus Tiller (Uno X Mobility), Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step), Marco Haller (Bora-Hansgrohe), Liam Slock (Lotto-dstny), Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) and Kamil Malecki (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) to go clear. Shortly after, Dusan Rajovic (Bahrain Victorius) and Dries de Bondt (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale) also took off in a bid to join the breakaway that was only successful 80 kilometres into the race. A big crash at kilometer 37 meant the end of the race for Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan and Ineos Grenadiers’ Elia Viviani, affecting as well the likes of UAE Team Emirates’ Nils Politt, EF’s Alberto Bettiol and Intermarché’s Laurenz Rex amongst others.
54,1 kilometres were covered in the first hour of racing as the riders benefited from remarkable tailwinds. The maximum gap for the break was clocked at 1’40”, 76 kilometres into the race, over a peloton led by Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck. The cobbles started with Sector 29, Troisvilles to Inchy (km 96 – 2,2 km) ***, upon which the break only had 1’25” on a pack that was blown the pieces by Alpecin-Deceuninck’s steady tempo on the pavé. The breakaway was eventually reeled in 120 kilometres into the race by a 40-strong group with Mathieu Van der Poel’s teammates at the helm. Meanwhile, podium contenders such as Visma’s Christophe Laporte, Soudal’s Yves Lampaert, Arkéa’s Luca Mozzato or Movistar’s Oier Lazkano and Iván García Cortina were dropped for good. Josuha Tarling’s race came to an end at sector 24 from Capelle to Ruesnes (km 129,3 – 1,7 km) *** as the race jury disqualified him for holding onto the Ineos Grenadiers’ team car following a puncture.
First attack by Van der Poel in the Arenberg Forest
Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen led the front group into the Trouée d’Arenberg (km 164,4 – 2,3 km) *****, where Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) launched a powerful acceleration. Only his teammate Jasper Philipsen, Mick van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike) and the aforementioned Pedersen could keep up with his effort, that was frustrated just out of the cobbles when Philipsen punctured. The front group reformed, and three riders rose to the occasion to establish a new breakaway out of Sector 18 from Wallers to Hélesmes (km 167.4 — 1.6 km) ***: Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) and Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The latter did not cooperate as he was protecting the chances of his leader, and the move was shut down by Lidl-Trek with 68 kilometres to go.
The rainbow jersey powered away 60 kilometres from the finish
Vermeersch led the front group into sector 13, Orchies (km 199,5 – 1,7 km) ***, where Van der Poel attacked with 60 kilometres to go to power solo up the road. No one could match his acceleration and the Dutch rider quickly built a sizable gap, clocked at 3’00” with 10 kilometers to go, and therefore defended successfully his 2023 victory. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates), Stefan Küng, Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) went clear from the chasing group during the Mons-en-Pévèle (km 211,1 – 3 km) ***** cobbled sector, fighting for the two remaining podium spots. Pithie crashed out of contention with 30 kilometers to go, while Küng got dropped in Gruson (km 244,8 – 1,1 km) **. In the three-up sprint that settled things down between the chasers at the Vélodrome, Philipsen took the best of Pedersen and Politt.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “This special moment won’t last forever”
What happened today is actually hard to believe. I won Roubaix again alongside my team, that was even stronger that last year. I’m super proud of the boys and super happy to finish it off. I’ve been feeling very good for a long time, and today has been my best day in this Classics season.
“I had not really planned to attack that early. I wanted to make the race hard from that point on, as I know that’s my strength, and I thought it was a good moment to attack because the group was too large and the cooperation was not really good. Once I got the gap, I knew I could make it to the finish line as I was on a very good day and the tailwind would help me keep my rivals at bay.
“In Roubaix, a setback or a puncture is never far away. But I had quite a gap, and the car behind me, so I was confident. I could really enjoy the moment more than I did last week in Flanders, when I was at my limit. Today I felt incredible and I could really enjoy the final part.
“It definitely isn’t normal to win Roubaix twice. When I was a child, I couldn’t imagine all the races I’m winning now. I was super motivated coming into this year, as I wanted to show the rainbow jersey in a nice way… but this has gone beyond my expectations. I am a bit lost for words. This special moment won’t last forever, and I want to enjoy.
“I hope Jasper will win Roubaix in the future. I believe he has proved yet again today that he is well capable of that. We will try to make it next year again… yet, before that, we are going to throw a big party tonight.
“If everything goes as planned, I will take part in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It’s a pity that a few contenders won’t be there in the Ardennes classics, yet it will be difficult to win there anyway and I will try to do my best in order to make it happen.”
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “What did we have for breakfast? We just had porridge and oat pancakes, nothing special!!”
“What did we have for breakfast? We just had porridge and oat pancakes, nothing special!! But yeah, everyone in team was on his top level today. Maybe I didn’t have my best day, as I did have in Milano-Sanremo, but I was riding on a defensive position and I was able to follow wheels for a long time. That gave me an edge in the closing kilometres. With Mathieu at the front, it was clear who was the strongest today.
“It’s the management and the riders that make the team great. You also need to have good luck, and to work hard and do things right. Our team succeeds in all this, yet you can’t expect to be first and second in Roubaix every year. It is really special and we need to enjoy it.
“I like Paris-Roubaix. It is a race that motivates me and I love the cobbles, so why not targeting it in the future. But, as for today, there was one rider who was clearly the strongest, and on top of that he was my teammate.
“We showed the strength of our team today. Everyone was committed and on his best shape. By setting a tempo earlier on we avoided a lot of stress while putting some pressure on the others. Yet of course you still need the legs to finish it off, like Mathieu did.
Mads Petersen (Lidl-Trek): “Mathieu was on a different league today”
“To be honest, I’m really happy. Mathieu [Van der Poel] was on a different league today. The way he was racing was impressive. When he attacked, we all were riding flat out not to allow him any gap, yet we couldn’t close in. At one point he was still gaining time and the race for second started. In the final, we were still riding all out and then [Jasper] Philipsen had a go in Gruson. [Stefan] Küng got dropped and from then on Jasper wanted to pull as well. Yet he is very strong and had been sitting on the wheel for a while. Defeating him on a sprint is already a tough ask for me, so losing the second place was not going to be a disappointment. I assumed I was sprinting for 3rd, and knew Nils could beat me on a sprint, so I was happy to secure the podium place at the finish.
“In the Tour of Flanders, I raced with my head in my own ass. Today I tried to play it better, yet Mathieu was impressive and I couldn’t follow his winning move. Can I beat him on a Monument? I don’t know yet. I have zero excuses today. I was definitely at my 100% and was defeated by better boys today.
I’m pretty sure having Jonathan Milan around would have changed things a lot. It would have been very nice to have yet another teammate with me. It was pretty bad for us that he crashed out, and I hope he is okay.
“We are going to celebrate this nice Classic season with the team tonight, and tomorrow I will go home to my wife. I haven’t seen her a lot since January. It’s time to rest.”
BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado (April 6, 2024) — The Boulder Roubaix Road Race powered by Wholesome was held on the mixed-surfaced roads of north Boulder County. This event, the original Paris-Roubaix tribute race in the United States, happens every other year and brings in riders from around the country.
This year, the notoriously unpredictable Rocky Mountain weather significantly influenced the race outcome. Shortly after the Men’s Pro and Women’s Pro categories commenced their 11:00 am race, the weather took a dramatic turn. Early-morning winds, initially blowing at 10-20 mph, increased to 25-35 mph with frequent gusts reaching even higher speeds as the day unfolded. High Wind Advisories were promptly issued along the Colorado Front Range. The challenging conditions posed a formidable obstacle for the racers, altering the dynamics of the competition.
After completing their second lap of the originally scheduled five, race officials and organizers made a collective decision to abbreviate the race due to safety concerns arising from strong winds. Consequently, the men’s race distance was reduced from 93 miles to a mere 36 miles. Meanwhile, the women’s race would now cover the same 36 miles as part of the initially planned 56-mile course.
Photo courtesy Boulder Roubaix
In the shortened Pro Men’s category, Finn Gullickson emerged victorious. As a budding gravel racer participating in his inaugural Boulder Roubaix, he expressed immense satisfaction despite the challenges posed by the hazardous conditions and the race’s curtailed length. According to Gullickson, the key strategy was to take the lead right from the beginning. This approach became evident during the initial lap of the 18-mile course, where three distinct groups formed on the road.
Anna Dorovskikh. Photo courtesy Boulder Roubaix
Meanwhile, in the women’s pro race, a crash occurred during the first lap when a rider encountered a loose patch of gravel, causing the women’s field to fragment. Each racer vying for a podium position found herself riding solo. The relentless wind further complicated matters, making it exceedingly difficult to catch up with any rider ahead.
Anna Dorovskikh clinched victory in the shortened Pro Women’s category. Remarkably, only four finishers emerged from the original field of twenty starters. Standing on the podium after battling the fierce winds, Dorovskikh succinctly stated, “I have gravel in my lungs.”
ROUBAIX, France (April 6, 2024) — All eyes were on Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) this Saturday, with the rainbow jersey on her shoulders and a status of hot favourite for the 4th edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift… And the Belgian icon delivered a stunning victory in the André-Pétrieux velodrome after an impressive performance all day long. She was the most active rider on the cobbles to make the selection. Eventually, as a group of six favourites entered the velodrome, SD Worx-Protime’s leader, a world champion on the road and on the track as well, made the most of her power to get the better of Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), with Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) finishing 4th. Kopecky is the first Belgian winner of Paris-Roubaix since Philippe Gilbert in the men’s edition, in 2019. She’s also the first reigning world champion to claim the winner’s cobble since Peter Sagan in 2018.
The start from Denain, with two loops to open up the race, is marked by strong winds. Already wary of the breakaway after Alison Jackson’s triumph in 2023, the peloton also fear potential echelons.The tension is high, leading to several crashes including Jackson’s, and the early attackers are kept under control. Victoire Joncheray (Komugi-Grand Est) sets off at km 15 and opens a gap of 1’50’’ after 25km, but the peloton get back to her some 30 kilometres before the first cobble sector, from Hornaing to Wandignies (km 66).
Kopecky unleashed
The tension and the speeds increase as the peloton get closer to the cobblestones. Marianne Vos’ Visma | Lease a Bike, Emma Norsgaard Bjerg’s Movistar and Pfeiffer Georgi’s DSM Firmenich-PostNL are among the teams involved in driving the peloton. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) quickly shows her rainbow jersey at the very front. Lidl-Trek also show their collective strength and participate in the early selection.
Kopecky pushes the pace on sector 15, from Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières (2.4km, 4*), to make a first selection with 70km to go. The world champion does everything, even fixing her handlebar with an Allen key provided by her team car.
And she goes on to the attack again on sector 12, in Auchy-lez-Orchies (2.7km, 4*). This time, only three riders can follow her, 53km away from the finish: Marianne Vos, Peiffer Georgi and Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck).
FDJ-Suez on the move
Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) makes sure they’re caught on the iconic cobbles of Mons-en-Pévèle (3km, 5*). Kopecky tries again with 45km to go, unsuccessfully. DSM Firmenich-PostNL, Visma | Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek take turns at the front of a 30-woman peloton.
Jade Wiel (FDJ-Suez) goes solo with 33.5km to go, just like Elisa Longo Borghini when she won Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift. The Frenchwoman opens a gap of 30’’ but she’s eventually caught on the cobbles of Bourghelles to Wannehain (1.1km, 3*). Her teammate Amber Kraak immediately counter-attacks and Van Dijk joins her.
A thriller until the end
Kopecky accelerates again in Camphin-en-Pévèle (Km 128.6 – Sector 5, 1.8km, 4*) and a group of six riders emerge on the Carrefour de l’Arbre with the Belgian world champion, Van Dijk, Kraak, Georgi, Vos and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek). Vos and Kopecky attack again and again but they can’t get rid of each other.
As a 10-woman chase group featuring Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) gets closer in the finale, Van Dijk sacrifices herself to drive the lead group into the velodrome with a gap of 20’’. Balsamo and Vos open up the sprint but they can’t resist Kopecky’s mighty sprint to claim her spot in the legend of the Hell of the North.
“Of course, I was nervous, but also quite relaxed, feeling how much confidence the team had in me. The feeling was not so good after last Sunday but I’m lucky to have really good friends and a really good team behind me. We wanted to stay out of trouble in the first 60 kilometres, then be in front in the first two sectors and then we knew there would be crosswinds. I attacked a first time and from that moment on, I wanted to go, but being with Marianne [Vos] was not ideal. Whenever I was with Marianne, I was playing Lorena’s ward in the sprint. I wanted to win myself but I was also 110% committed if a race situation came that we’d sprint for Lorena [Wiebes]. On the track, I knew that Marianne and Elisa [Balsamo] would fight against each other. They had to start the sprint pretty early, with headwind, so I just tried to stay calm. It was a pretty long sprint but that’s also in my advantage. The cobble will get a special place. I still believe the world championship last year is the biggest win I achieved, but winning Paris-Roubaix in this special jersey comes pretty close.”
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
“Actually, if you had told me at the start I would finish 2nd, I wouldn’t have believed it, so I’m extremely happy, but when you’re runner up in such a race, you can’t help to feel some disappointment. It’s normal, but ten minutes have passed, and now I have to say I’m super satisfied and I want to thank my team. We did a very good job to position ourselves and Ellen [van Dijk] was really really strong. She did an amazing race and then she worked for me in the finale. I always said I don’t really like this race but I have to say I felt really good today. I think I did a good sprint but Lotte [Kopecky] was just stronger after such a hard race. It’s okay. To hold on with such champions is incredible. I surprised myself. Now I need to believe in myself because I didn’t think I could do well here. I’ll try again in the coming years!”
Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
“When we crossed the line, I was not sure if I was 3rd or 4th and I was really hoping to get on the podium… So when it came on the screen, it was very emotional. It’s a Monumental race, a dream race of me and a big goal, so coming on the podium means a lot. I felt a lot of pressure coming in the velodrome because it’s a rare opportunity to find yourself in a position to win Roubaix. I didn’t want to mess up, I didn’t want to get boxed in… It was a tough challenge to win the sprint but in Roubaix anything can happen and I did a big launch to get on the podium. The first edition was crazy for me, I kind of wrote it off… But I got two top 10s in the last couple of years. It’s a love and hate relationship, it’s a dream race and I will keep coming back fighting for this stone.”
By Charles Pekow — The Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California Davis has highlighted a potentially significant but overlooked use of bicycles and other forms of micromobility. In disasters, these vehicles can serve as getaway and delivery options. The report “Bicycles and Micromobility for Disaster Response and Recovery” suggests that bicycles have the capability to evacuate people from various types of mass emergencies effectively.
A scene from the inaugural Disaster Relief Trials in Portland, Oregon (2012). Photo by Will Vanlue CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
The study underscores that bikes can navigate quickly and traverse informal trails, ensuring they do not impede the movement of emergency vehicles. According to the research, bicycles have played a crucial role in saving lives during hurricanes and earthquakes, and they could provide similar benefits in densely populated areas facing floods, tsunamis, or wildfires. Additionally, bicycles can maneuver through challenging terrain, and the use of bicycle trailers and cargo bikes enables the transportation of supplies to affected areas or the evacuation of passengers from hazardous situations.
While acknowledging the limitations, such as being ineffective in strong winds or intense fires or floods, the report emphasizes the potential of bicycles in disaster response and recovery efforts. To access the full report, visit https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68899
Since 2012, the Disaster Relief Trials (https://disasterrelieftrials.com/), originating in Portland, Oregon, have been a fun way for cyclists to test their own ability to provide assistance during a disaster.
By Peter Abraham — Like many physical objects in our lives, most of the bikes we ride are made in China. In 2021, 76 million bicycles were manufactured there. Even many Italian brands that project the aura of artisanal, handcrafted bikes are mostly made there.
American bike manufacturing took off, along with the popularity of the bicycle, in the late 1890s. Bicycles subsequently went through boom and bust cycles in the 1930s and the 1970s. Bike brands started to look for a cheaper manufacturing solution outside of the United States after that, and Asia is where they ended up.
An Allied bike at their factory in Arkansas
Chinese manufacturing for export took off in the ’80s and ’90s as the country opened up to the idea of business. Given the massive size of the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem, it’s amazing that the first business license in that country was not issued until 1979. The speed of growth in every Chinese industry has been extraordinary. One can understand how bike building got exported there: bikes are fairly low tech products that require lots of labor to build. So a manufacturing system with millions of workers who are paid a fraction of Western workers sounds appealing.
So in the span of 30 years, bike manufacturing took hold in China (and Taiwan as well) and became a huge industry. And even though performance bicycles mostly switched from steel & aluminum frames to carbon fiber, the Chinese system adjusted with it. Higher tech manufacturing was attainable there. Indeed at the same time the bicycle manufacturing industry was growing in China, tech products were exploding as well. Apple is responsible for about 5 million jobs in China, mostly tied to iPhone production.
The number of bikes made locally in various countries around the world has dwindled as the Chinese manufacturing system took hold. And so did the expertise and craftsmanship required to make a bike. Those skills largely disappeared as the jobs were exported to the Far East. As I started working increasingly for bicycle businesses over the last six years, I wondered if there was a downside to all of this Asian manufacturing. I went back and forth between, “Hey, we live in a global economy, this is how things get made.” and “Can we ever get high skilled manufacturing jobs back here to the US?”
Starting in 2019 I spent a lot of time thinking about these issues, and in 2021 I started visiting bike factories during my travels to different places. While Asian expertise has gotten very good with respect to making high performance bicycles, there are a bunch of challenges associated with making bikes that far from home:
Slower production process in general. Upcoming orders for a bike must be placed well in advance, years even, and demand forecasting is a full time position at most larger brands.
As the pandemic showed, producing a product in another country exposes any kind of business to a whole bunch of variables outside of their control. For bike production, there were many supply chain disruptions due to COVID issues, and then a resulting whipsaw effect that had product finally arriving in warehouses just as demand was falling off.
Chinese production of products destined for sale in Europe or the US requires packing bikes into boxes and shipping them across the ocean inside of a freighter. This is not great environmentally and opens up even more potential supply chain issues.
In the U.S., there are trade tariffs of up to 25% on lots of Chinese-made bikes and parts. While some of these were relaxed in 2022 (until the end of 2023) thanks to the hard work of the People for Bikes trade group, there are still many components and bikes subject to additional fees.
It’s better for the customer when they are in closer proximity to where the bikes are being made. The current distance between cyclists — whether in Australia, Europe or the United States — and the places where their bikes are built results in products that are less responsive to customer tastes and changes. Say a brand learns that a certain size or color or component build is selling better than expected. It’s just harder for them to respond to that given all of the in-between steps that happen with Asian production.
While it sounds good to just “make bikes locally” there are a lot of things that must change for that to happen at scale. Importantly, most bikes are currently made with a very labor intensive process that perfectly takes advantage of the much lower labor costs in Asia. Whether that’s welding aluminum tubes or painstakingly cutting hundreds of pieces of carbon fiber fabric for a single pre-preg carbon frame, the $3–5/hour that Chinese workers are paid makes these processes far, far less expensive than manufacturing elsewhere. So a less labor intensive, more automated process will help move bike manufacturing back onshore. These technologies, like 3D printing and resin transfer molding (being used by Time Bicycles) , are improving all the time and are on the way to becoming inexpensive enough for mass production. Change is coming and people are working to develop these (and other) technologies. (Full disclosure: I’m part of a 3D printed bike frame technology startup)
In this post I am talking about the frame of the bike, which is composed of lots of components (drivetrain, seat, wheels, tires, handlebars, etc.) that are mostly made in Asia. So even with a frame that is made domestically, those parts have to be shipped in from Asia to wherever the bike is being assembled.
While there are many small and medium size bike brands making bikes locally, here are three factories that I visited in order to learn more about what’s involved:
Festka Bicycles in Prague, Czech Republic
Our daughter Sadie lives in Prague, so when we started visiting her there in 2021, I’d call up the people at Festka and go for a visit. Their factory is tucked away in the upscale Vinohrady neighborhood of the city. If you know Festka, you are aware that their point of differentiation is the beautiful way their bikes are painted. They’ve had a creative director on board at the company from the start, and it’s clear there’s a designer’s point of view behind the look of each bike.
A beautiful Festka bike in their Prague, Czechia factory. Photo by Peter Abraham
While their bikes are not technically too sophisticated, using a wrapped carbon assembly process and round tubes, the bikes are entirely built in and around Prague, in the Czech Republic. This includes the tube manufacturing, the assembly and the painting. And Festka has fans all over the world: on my last visit to the factory, I saw bikes being shipped to the Middle East, to Taiwan and to Miami, Florida. The brand’s founder and owner, Michael Moureček told me, “An ugly bike costs just as much to build as a beautiful bike, so why not make a bike people are excited to ride?” Amen.
Brompton Bicycles in London, UK
I met Brompton CEO Will Butler-Adams at the Bicycle Leadership Conference here in California. He generously said, “Hey, Peter, if you’re ever in London, then stop by for a visit.” Well, I was in England in late September, so my colleagues Henry Furniss, John Hale and I rode our bikes across the city for a tour.
The Brompton factory in London is a beehive of activity and manufacturing. Photo by Peter Abraham
Brompton makes unique folding bikes that are ideal for multi-modal transportation: ride it from home to the train station, then fold it up to sit next to you on the train, the unfold it to ride to your final destination. Bromptons are functional, disctinctive and beautifully engineered. The first thing you notice walking up to their factory in the Greenford neighborhood is how big the building is. It’s a much bigger and more professional operation than we expected. Will greeted us at the front door and spent two hours showing us around the plant. They make 500 bikes per day in this one building, and their bikes are shipped all over the world.
The assembly line was more technically sophisticated than I expected. For example, every torque wrench is wired into a database, you could go back years later to understand who’d worked on a specific bike and to what torque setting a bolt was inserted. Will shared both his entire facility and his ideas with us. I loved that the brand’s mission statement was printed in large letters up on the wall of the main room: “We create urban freedom for happier lives.”
Overall, we were really impressed with their product and leadership.
Allied Cycle Works in Bentonville, Arkansas
I travel to Bentonville, the home of Walmart, a couple times a year for riding or work, or both. I love the transformation of that region to a bicycle led culture. (I’ve written a blog post about why the region is exploding, if you want to learn more). One of the important trends there is the number of bike-related businesses that are moving to the region. I believe this area has the potential to be a “Silicon Valley for bikes,” with lots of businesses in close proximity. One of those is Allied, which is owned by Tom and Steuart Walton (grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton) via their Runway Group holding company.
The paint department at Allied spends 13 hours prepping and painting a single bike.
I took a tour of Allied when I was in town for the UCI World Cyclocross Championships in 2022. Like Festka and Brompton, Allied was tremendously open about how they build bikes. Sales Manager Will Stoffel took a couple hours to show us the entire process.
Allied produces about 1,000 frames per year in this building, and they sell through a mix of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and wholesale (bike shops) channels. While their bikes are fairly traditional in construction (using the prepreg carbon fiber process), I appreciate that they have actually brought carbon fiber bike manufacturing back on shore to the United States. There are not many brands, if any, that produce this many carbon fiber bikes here.
This machine is cutting the 130 pieces of carbon fiber cloth that go into a single pair of forks
Taking a tour here reminded me how many steps are required to build a good bike. It’s a time-consuming process filled with hundreds of separate steps. Given their hands on process, labor costs are a continuous challenge for Allied, particularly with the number of other employers in Northwest Arkansas. But I found the visit really inspiring.
Overall, I believe bike manufacturing will begin to move back to countries closer to where the bikes are sold. Not all countries will do this, but expect to see more bike factories in Europe and North America. The brands that succeed with this strategy will figure out how to turn this manufacturing shift into positive changes for their customers. After all, if a significant business shift like this does not benefit the customer in some way, what’s the point of doing it?
