Bicycle Collective

Starting the week of Monday, April 3rd, our Open Shop hours will be Thursday-Sunday, 1:00-8:00. These are the times when you can come in and buy bikes, parts, and accessories, or get DIY help repairing your own bike. See you soon!

Crashes triple on Sydney's College Street

Data has revealed that crashes involving people who ride bikes along Sydney’s College Street have almost tripled since the cycleway was scrapped by the New South Wales State Government in 2015.

The data sourced from the City of Sydney reveals that since the removal of the lane, not only have the numbers of __bike riders decreased, a __bike rider is involved in a crash on College Street once every 92 days. When the lane was in place, a bike rider was involved in a crash once every 258 days.

However, even after the lane’s removal, College Street remains one of the busiest cycling routes into Sydney’s CBD with more than 2,000 riders using it each day.

Beyond the dangerous risk it poses to bike riders, College Street is an ongoing source of frustration for all road users, with motorists and bike riders fighting for space in a mess of merging traffic.

We can't stand by and let bike riders unnecessarily put their lives at risk. We're must increase the pressure on our leaders to do something before it's too late. 

We're ramping up our campaign to see a bi-directional lane reinstated along with a number of other improvements that will prioritise the safe and efficient movement of people, rather than solely cars along College Street.

It’s time to bring this critical piece of bike infrastructure back.

#Togetherwecan bring back College Street.

Learn more about our campaign to bring back Sydney's College Street cycleway

Don’t get caught in the dark: bike riders urged to light up

As daylight savings ends and winter gloom looms, Bicycle Network is urging __bike riders to make sure they have their bikes fitted with working lights to ensure they are visible as the days begin to get shorter.

To be visible while out on the roads, all riders need to have working lights when it is dark. Anyone riding without lights can also be fined by police.

Riding Editor of Bicycle Network’s Ride On magazine, Simon Vincett, says that it is easy to get caught out without lights at this time of year and that it is important to be prepared with the right set of lights.

“As the light disappears earlier you can suddenly find yourself in the dark, particularly riding home from work. To make sure you can be seen by car drivers and other riders, and are complying with the law, you need a front white light and rear red light when it is dark,” said Mr Vincett. 

“Your front light must be able to be seen from 200 metres away and it should be attached only to your handlebars, while your red light should be attached to the seat post.”

To make sure you are can get the best value lights available, Ride On has just published its annual lights test in the Autumn 2017 issue.

40 lights were tested and ranked under a number of categories by Ride On, including on-road visibility at different angles, waterproofness, durability and usability. The review recommends lights in ‘best in test’ and ‘best value’ categories.

“You want to know that your light works outside of factory conditions, and is also easy to use and won’t break down when the inevitable winter rain strikes,” added Mr Vincett.

“Durability and waterproofness is tested by an industrial design team from RMIT University in Melbourne, while brightness is tested on the actual road by a panel of judges. We too often find that lights which are marketed as being bright actually disappoint when used on the road at night.”

It is the 12th year in a row the test has been conducted and has become a bible for __bike riders. The Autumn 2017 edition of Ride On is now available in stores around the country and online at rideonmagazine.com.au.

23-year-old woman pleads guilty to hit-run

23-year-old woman Rebekah Emily Stewart has today pleaded guilty to the hit-run of Ballarat __bike rider Christian Ashby at Lake Wendouree in March last year.

At a plea hearing at Ballarat County Court Ms Stewart pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury, failing to stop after an accident, drive while disqualified and drive an unregistered car.

Ms Stewart had taken the drug ice the night before the crash which happened at 6:22am. She was disqualified from driving at the time and was on a suspended sentence. Mr Ashby was helped at the scene by other __bike riders and runners after the Ms Stewart fled.

Bicycle Network Chief Executive Officer, Craig Richards, was saddened by the incident and said that there are some people who shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car.

“Our thoughts are with Christian and the family and friends affected by this terrible incident,” said Bicycle Network 

“Occurrences like this are rare, but they are devastating for the bike riding community.”

“Driving is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. We need to do all we can to prevent people who flout this responsibility from having control of a motor vehicle.”

Ms Stewart will be sentenced this Monday at 10:30am.

See a report from the Ballarat Courier here.

10 Steps to Mastering the Art of the Paceline

While on a group ride or in a race, sharing the pace with others allows you to ride faster and with less effort. But it does take some practice, and the keys are working together, building trust, and paying attention.

At the elite level, pacelines become art forms. Riders move like a squadron of fighter pilots in a constantly flowing rhythm. Recreational riders may not be as graceful, but they can certainly enjoy the benefits of riding in a paceline, too. In a century ride, riding in a group will allow you to finish faster and fresher. Busting a headwind isn't much fun alone, but with a few others to help, the miles pass quickly. If you're new to pacelines or would like to get better at riding in one, these tips should help take you to the next level. (For a complete guide on how to improve your road riding, check out Jason's book on road cycling skills.)

First, there's the form: Rotating pacelines contain two lines of riders side by side, continuously in motion. This motion is achieved by one line going slightly faster than the other. Let's say that you're the lead rider in the faster line. You should cross over to the slow line after passing the front wheel of the rider beside you. Then you drift back with the others in the slow line. When the final position is reached at the back of the line, you drop in behind the back wheel of the last rider in the fast line (see tips to follow). When done right, this formation looks like a constantly rotating elliptical chain.

If you're confused, gather several friends and walk through the fundamentals in your living room. Try a single paceline first. Lead for 10 seconds, then pull off either to the right or left, then slide to the back of the line. Stay close enough to bump elbows, then move in behind the last person. Now try the double paceline. Form two lines, side by side. March up the faster line, pull over to the front of the slower line, then drop back with it. Practice both clockwise and counterclockwise rotations.

Need some advice on how long you should be pulling? Here are some handy tips:

Finally, go one step further and adjust for a crosswind. Wind direction determines which way to pull off. You always want to move into a crosswind. This way the advancing line, which is already working harder, gets some protection from the wind. In strong crosswinds riders become offset like geese on the wing. They also overlap wheels, which means a mistake can take down the whole bunch. The width of this type of paceline typically requires a completely traffic-free road.

10 Tips for Paceline Success

1/1 pd_whitney via flickr

10 Tips for Paceline Success

By walking through the basics, you have already started to form some trust with your group. But before you try these skills on the road, here are 10 tips for becoming a master of the rotating paceline.

1. Put weaker riders behind stronger ones.
2. A paceline is a team. It's only as strong as its weakest member, so help that person out by both encouraging them and by not letting them get upset if they need to sit out a turn from time to time.
3. Start by riding slowly in lower gearing to get properly warmed up.
4. Get used to following closely to get the benefit of the draft. Skilled riders feel comfortable riding within inches of the wheel in front. In a rotating paceline, stay just as close side to side.
5. Ride smoothly and predictably. Never accelerate or brake quickly. If you are running up on the wheel in front, slow down (without braking) by moving into the wind slightly.
6. Maintain a constant speed when you get to the front by glancing at your cycling computer or GPS device. The tendency is to accelerate, but this will break the rhythm of the group.

7. If the rider at the front charges off, let that person go and hold your speed.
8. If you tire, sit out as many turns as necessary by staying at the back. Let riders coming back know that you are resting, and give them space to move in ahead of you.
9. As the speed increases, gaps may develop because riders can't hold the wheel ahead, or they miss the last wheel as they try to get back on the end of the paceline. Strong riders need to fill these gaps in order to preserve the flow, even if it means jumping across and moving back up the line early.
10. Though it's a natural instinct, don't focus on the wheel in front of you. This gives you little time to react to problems. Instead, keep your eyes up and scan about 30 feet ahead, looking through and past the riders in front of you.

France Just Made It Illegal for Kids to Ride Without a Helmet

France is taking a bold stance on children's __bike safety: As of March 22, it is illegal to allow kids under 12 to ride bikes without a helmet in the country. Failure to do so results in a 90-Euro fee (about $97) for a child's parents. 

Most countries have helmet laws for youths under 18—nearly every state in the US has one on the books—but few places have enforced fines associated with the law. Manitoba enacted a law in 2012 with a $63 fine (that is waved for first-time offenders who take a short online course instead). Australia has an overarching helmet law, regardless of age, and the fines can be brutal: One cyclist reported a $319 fine earlier this month. 

The French helmet law, passed last year but newly in effect, has been met with mixed reception from cycling advocates. 

Emmanuel Barbe, the interdepartmental delegate for road safety and traffic at France's Ministry of the Interior, believes that this new law will increase helmet-wearing for adults in the process, French paper Le Parisien reports. "If a parent does not [wear a helmet], the child will ask, 'Why do not you wear a helmet?' We want to pass the message through the voices of children,” he told reporters.

Supporters of the law believe that it will help decrease cyclist fatalities, which increased by seven percent in France in 2016 (159 deaths, relative to 149 in 2015). 

There is evidence that helmet laws may lead to decreased head injury. One study of the effects of a Swedish helmet law found that the monthly proporotion of injured male riders 14 and under who were admitted to hospitals for head injuries dropped 7.8 percent after implementation of the law (though no change was seen in female riders).

Helmet laws have a checkered history, however well-meaning. Where they've been put in place, enforcement of the laws (and subsequent fines) tend to unfairly target minorities. For instance, when helmets were made mandatory in the '90s in Austin, Texas, data show that 92 percent of the tickets issued went to black and Hispanic children. 

Detractors also note that a mandatory helmet law makes using __bike share less convenient, which discourages people from riding regularly; in Paris alone, that affects 1,800 bike share stations and 23,600 bikes. Those opposed to the law also say that it avoids targeting the real safety issues cyclists face: a need for better bike infrastructure, and more youth education about cycling safety outside of simply strapping on a helmet.

Learn the safe way to make a lefthand turn in traffic in this video:

On the flip side, many countries with strong cycling demographics, including The Netherlands and Denmark, do not have mandatory helmet requirements for any age. However, in those countries, cycling infrastructure and early education on cycling safety are arguably part of the culture, and that increase in safety might help outweigh the need for helmet laws. (Additionally, enforcement of such a law on such a large part of the population would take a lot of police manpower: Wearing helmets is less common in places like Amsterdam, where most people commute by bike.)

Regardless, the jury is still out on the science of helmet efficacy in the first place: one recent metastudy showed that helmets "changed the probability of severe brain injury from extremely likely (99.9 percent risk) to unlikely (9.3 and 30.6 percent risk)." But unless children wear their helmets correctly, they won't offer the protection expected. Plus, last year, a different study showed that wearing a helmet can actually cause cyclists to engage in riskier riding behavior.

To say that the mandatory helmet law is a contentious topic is an understatement. Certainly, there are very few arguments against wearing a helmet for safety’s sake, but to make it mandatory and levy fines against perpetrators—well, that’s a different question entirely.

Keep up with the biggest news in the cycling world by subscribing to the Bicycling newsletter!

Carve Through the Competition with the Scalpel-Si Carbon 3

You get to know a lot about a __bike during a week-long mountain __bike stage race, where each day presents a fresh course complete with unforeseen challenges, which nearly inevitably include a blistering fast “neutral” roll out where you need to hang onto the pack for dear life to “make the selection;” endless techy climbs that culminate with vertical sketchy summits; and holy-crap-that’s-steep high speed rutted descents…among other things. It was just such an event—The Titan Tropic Cuba to be exact—where the Scalpel-Si and I had a 6-day date. I’m happy to report we got along brilliantly, as the updated version of this Cannondale classic lived up to its “extreme” cross country billing and ate up everything Cuba dished out. (Want to crush your next XC race? Check out Get Fast: A Complete Guide to Gaining Speed Whenever You Ride.)

Who It’s For
Cross country racers who prize light, stiff bikes, but want to rip down the technical terrain on today’s XC courses with more confidence. Also those who want a bike that lets them have fun trail riding with their friends when not on the racecourse.

What We Liked
In a word, the stability. Given the Scalpel’s high-speed pedigree, you expect this bike to be fast. You also kind of expect that, like its more nervous predecessors, it might turn around and cut you if you make a pilot error at speed. This redesigned Scalpel takes a slightly more laid back approach to fileting the trail, which allows you to stay off the brakes and literally go with the flow without worrying about going over the bars. That’s largely thanks to some brainy engineering tweaks, namely a slacker 69.5 degree headtube angle paired with an impressive 50 mm fork offset (on the 27.5 I tested; it’s 55mm for 29ers; the wheels are size specific), a sweet-spot combination that tightens the fork trail enough so the bike’s steering is still nimble and precise—going exactly where you point it—while delivering a more stable ride.

The bike also wastes no watts. You feel the power of each pedalstroke propelling you forward thanks to a stiff, tight rear that features shorter chainstays than previous models: 16.8 inches on the 27.5; 17.2 on the 29er.  There's also what Cannondale calls asymmetric integration, where the chainrings and front derailleur are shifted out 6 mm and the rear triangle is adjusted accordingly to allow the wheel to sit more evenly for greater stiffness and strength without the use of Boost spacing.

The 100mm Lefty 2.0 and RockShox Monarch XX feel lively and responsive with little discernible bob, even when charging out of the saddle with the suspension wide open. The Scalpel stayed high in its travel on stuttery climbs, helping keep the wheels firmly planted, and progressed seamlessly when the riding got rough down jagged, washed-out descents where the suspension needed to soak up a series of bigger bumps. 

Watch Out For
You control the Scalpel’s suspension with a handlebar mounted Full Sprint remote trigger, which has two settings: full lockout and wide open. Problem is, there are times I’d like the rear locked out for even more pedaling power, but rarely do I want a fully rigid bike on the trail, and it feels very rigid all locked out. My remote switch also malfunctioned midweek, only switching between the settings with a great deal of finesse, if at all. I ended up keeping it open the majority of the time, which wasn’t terrible, given the stiffness of the suspension, but for the long road stretches and paceline riding, I would have liked the lockout. 

The Takeaway
If you’re a cross country mountain bike racer who likes to go really fast, but also wants a bike that’s confident and fun on the rougher stuff, this fresh-faced Scalpel is a race and trail companion to consider. 

What You Need to Know

Cannondale Scalpel-Si Carbon 3

Price: $5,330.00

Weight: 23.9 pounds (S)

At A Glance

• XC racer that’s slack enough to be stable over the rough stuff while still offering precision steering
• Available in S (27.5, as tested), M, L, and XL (all 29ers)
• 100 mm suspension front and rear
• Room for two water bottles on all but the size small

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Wiggins Slams Marginal Gains as 'A Load of Rubbish'

Sir Bradley Wiggins has labelled the marginal gains philosophy said to underpin much of British Cycling's recent success as "a load of rubbish."

In comments reported by the Daily Telegraph on Monday, Wiggins was equally dismissive of the "chimp paradox" theory for dealing with pressure promoted by sports psychologist Dr. Steve Peters and said former British track teammate and fellow Olympic gold medalist Victoria Pendleton was a "bit of a milkshake."

Britain was seen to gain a technological advantage over its rivals thanks to research carried out under what became known as the 'Secret Squirrel Club' headed up by former Olympic champion Chris Boardman that looked for legal improvements in __bike design and rider equipment.

It all became known as part of the search for "marginal gains" but Wiggins, in what the Telegraph said were remarks made at a corporate event in the City of London, was unimpressed.

"A lot of people made a lot of money out of it and David Brailsford used it constantly as his calling card, but I always thought it was a load of rubbish," said Wiggins.

"It's a bit like the whole chimp thing," added the five-times Olympic gold medalist, who won several golds when Brailsford was in charge of the British Cycling team. He also won the 2012 Tour de France for the Team Sky outfit headed up by the celebrated coach.

"At the end of the day, chimp theories and marginal gains and all these buzzwords—a lot of the time, I just think you have got to get the fundamentals right: go ride your bike, put the work in, and you're either good or you're not good." (If you want to get stronger and faster, rely on tried-and-true training methods found in The Bicycling Big Book of Training.)

"Sometimes in life or in sport, whatever, you're either good at something or you're not," he said. "That's what makes you a better athlete: your physical ability and whether you've trained enough—not whether you've slept on a certain pillow or mattress."

Pendleton, who won cycling golds at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and four years later in London, has spoken of how Peters helped her career.

But Wiggins said: "Vicky's a bit of a milkshake (mixed up) anyway. You can over-analyse things but at the end of the day, it's about your ability and whether you're a better athlete than the other person or not.

"Whether you've come to grips with this other person living inside you, it's all a bit... well, each to his own," he continued. "That may work with some people, but as (former soccer player) Roy Keane would say: It's utter nonsense."

The Telegraph said Wiggins was not asked at the event about the ongoing investigation into whether he had broken anti-doping rules at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine race.

Last week Wiggins told Sky Sports he would have a "lot to say" and "shock a few people" when he finally comments in details on the allegations which center on whether he was given a legal decongestant or received an unauthorised injection of the powerful corticosteroid Triamcinolone without an official medical exemption.

Want to train smarter? Watch this guide to perceived exertion:

This Cyclist Rode the Trainer for 128 Hours

Thanks to virtual training apps like Zwift, competing indoors on bikes has never been easier. That might explain why in 2017, two women have already broken the Zwift distance record. Most recently, Canadian Jessica Bélisle took the Zwift distance title while pedaling her way toward setting the world record for longest indoor trainer ride.

In 128 hours, Bélisle pedaled 3,109 kilometers (roughly 1,932 miles), pausing for short sleep breaks (11 hours in total).

That's more than five days straight on a trainer.

Bélisle fittingly finished her ride on International Women’s Day, smashing the standing overall trainer record for both men and women.

But seriously: How do you ride for 128 hours indoors? We asked Bélisle to share her secrets. (Her number one tip? Have good WiFi.)

If you're looking for an indoor riding alternative to the trainer, you've gotta get rolling with this great tool:

BICYCLING: Did you plan the ride so you'd finish on International Women's Day? If so, why? And if not, how awesome is that?!
Jessica Bélisle: It was not planned at all! I didn’t think that I would break the record that early, so March 8 was not on my mind when I decided to do this challenge. A few hours before breaking the record, I realized which day we were at, and when it became possible to break the record before the end of the day, I put all my energy in that goal. I’m really proud of what I’ve done to prove women have their place in the cycling community. 

What was the hardest part of the whole ordeal?
The hardest part was when I lost the first 1,220km of my challenge because of a wifi bug. It was really difficult to focus on my goal after that. Fortunately, I came back stronger!

…And the easiest part?
I don’t think that there was a really easy part of that challenge. It was hard both mentally and physically. However, what makes my journey easier was the support of everyone around me. Also, to cut the big goal in some little goals made it easier because I had many little successes all week long.

How did you stay motivated and entertained for 128 hours?
All the support I’ve received from my family, my friends, my fans, and my sponsors has helped me a lot to stay motivated. Also, beating two world records meant a lot to me so I was determined to do my best to reach my goals. One of my strengths in ultracycling is that I can find the motivation in myself. I don’t necessarily need an external source of motivation. 

What the heck did you eat for five days on the trainer?
My parents helped me a lot with the nutrition. I had prepared every meal and snack before starting pedaling, but they went often to make sure everything was fine and to bring me everything I need. I ate quinoa, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and frozen fruits a lot! One of my goal was to drink a lot so I never got dehydrated.

Jasmine Muller said saddle sores were a major limiter when she broke the Zwift record. Was that a problem for you as well?
Saddle sores had been one of my biggest problems when I tested a long trainer ride in January, so I had found solutions for this time. I had three principal ways to avoid them: a very nice set of bibs with an efficient chamois, talc powder, and a gel saddle cover. (Read more about Muller's experience here.)

How did you stay awake, and how long did you sleep once you were done?
I think the thrill of attempting two records and all the media coverage helped me a lot with staying awake. There was always someone to talk to or something to think about during my journey. I had caffeine maybe twice a day and it was enough to keep me awake. It might seem weird, but it has been really hard to sleep after my challenge!

How does it feel surpassing the men's record as well as the women's?
It’s a really good feeling. Since I’m an ultracyclist, I try to explain to people that in endurance, women can challenge men after a certain point of effort. I hope that more women will become ultracyclists and believe in themselves. I want to continue to work hard to improve my strength and my endurance. In the future, one of my dreams is to be known as one of the best ultracyclists in the world.

What's next, now that you have those two records?
For sure, I have some new records in mind. However, my next goals are on the road.

I have some great races in mind for the future, beginning with the Ultra Revival Tour, a challenge that brings the participants to do the same journey that the first Tour de France cyclists did in 1903, six stages of about 400km each. In June and July, I will also participate in ultracycling races in Quebec that I won two years ago. I’m pretty confident I’ll get good results this year, too. Next year, I plan to explore other international races all over the world. 

Ride to Work Every Day with The Elby

During my half-a-year test period, all kinds of people asked to ride the Elby, an electric, pedal-assist __bike with unique styling that manages to look non-intimidating while also promising fun. (And the ride delivers). Everyone who tried the Elby loved it. I loved the Elby, too. I love it so much I like saying the words the Elby. Just saying the Elby makes me a happier person. I have extensive time on the Specialized Turbo, the Stromer, the Faraday and other pedal-assist e-bikes, and the Elby is by far my favorite non-cargo option.

Who It's For
Anyone who wants to make it a little simpler, easier, less sweaty, quicker, or more convenient to get to work or into town, do errands, or just enjoy a recreational spin.

What We Liked
 The Elby is the first e-bike that fully is what it is—it’s not trying to look moto souped-up and hard-ass, doesn’t masquerade as just an elegant bicycle by hiding the motor and battery in a traditional-looking frame, but also doesn’t awkwardly and visibly graft its battery and drive system onto a stock frame like some kind of goiter or parasitic abomination. By embodying its purpose—to help you ride around town comfortably, safely, and quickly—it achieves an admirable kind of coolness.

Matt Rainey

Most likely as a result of its pure-purpose design, the Elby is snappy but secure in corners, stable at all speeds (neither floppy at low or wobbly at high), good with heavy loads, and brakes smartly and predictably.

Its 500-watt BionX D-Series rear hub, handlebar control unit and display, and down-tube-integrated battery rival the Bosch Performance Line for torque, smooth power delivery, and range. (I routinely exceeded 50 miles on a charge when I carefully modulated between power levels.) Top speed is 20 mph, and there's an IOS & Android app to monitor and control stuff like setup, display, charging and navigation.

Lots of details take the __bike to another level: Superbright integrated LED lights front and back; a USB charging port; hydraulic disc brakes (paired with a 9-speed SRAM drivetrain); the ability to legitimately fit riders, with seatpost and stem adjustments, from 5-feet-nothing to 6-foot-5; a foolproof kickstand; and an integrated rear rack (and pannier mounts) and fenders.

One of the more interesting—and controversial—inclusions is the throttle lever, which lets you accelerate without pedaling. In one sense, this is a real departure from the idea of what a bicycle is—one ought to pedal. But two things: First, I learned that I only really used it in one scenario, and it was a common situation tht made riding feel much safer: to get up to speed after stopping at intersections. And second, every non-cyclist who tried the Elby said the throttle option gave them much more confidence and made the idea of riding more enjoyable and appealing.

Get where you're going in style in the Parker Dusseau x Bicycling Work Shirt. 

Watch Out For
Weight is the only real drawback. The Elby weighs 57 pounds, which isn’t unreasonable, and is spread so well that it never detracts from the handling or the ease of kickstanding the bike. Yet, it is enough that make the bike impractical for anyone who deals with stairs at home or work, or will need to manuever in tight spaces that require lifting the bike or pivoting it around. And if you do run out of battery power, the Elby is a lot to pedal.

The Takeaway
The Elby is a great choice for anyone interested in electric power, and one of the first to really integrate power into a complete, well-styled, and inspiring package.

What You Need to Know

Elby bike

Price: $3,700.00

Weight: 57 LBS

Read Our Full Review

At A Glance

• 500-watt BionX power system
• up to 50-mile range, with top speed of 20 mph
• integrated front and rear lights and USB charger
• fits riders from 5-feet to 6-foot-5

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Watch These Mountain Bikers Shred an Abandoned Mineshaft

Mountain biker and adventurer Kilian Bron is contantly exploring exciting, risky trails to ride, but he tends to stick to ones that don't come with a chance of cave-ins. That changed with his latest viral video: GoPro footage of his shred session through an abandonded mine shaft hundreds of feet below ground in the Colorado Provençal region of France. 

Finding the mine shaft, he says, was really just a happy accident. "It was a rainy day,” he told Bicycling. “We were really curious to explore this abandoned mine, lost in the middle of a forest. We found this place by chance. It was really strange to see, at the entrance, an inscription dating from 1923… But we needed to ride it!” (Document your own wild __bike adventures in the Bicycling Ride Journal!) 

With its narrow passageways, blind turns, and utter darkness illuminated by shaky __bike lights, Bron's ride might remind some retro gaming enthusiasts of the original version of "Doom." 

Definitely don’t try to ride any abandoned mine shafts near you, but do check out Bron's video for a reminder to try a new trail every once in awhile. (Can't shake the inspiration to ride beneath the streets? Consider checking out a subterranean route actually designed for cyclists, like Louisville’s Mega Cavern bike park, for a legal yet still-terror-inducing experience.)

State Government will not introduce MPDL in Victoria

Bicycle Network is disappointed following today's announcement that the Victorian Government will not follow recommendations made by a parliamentary inquiry and introduce minimum passing distance laws (MPDL) in the state this year.  

In responding to the Inquiry into the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 (Overtaking Bicycles) Bill 2015, the Victorian Government has outlined a two-stage approach to reduce the crash rate for __bike riders and promote a 'safe zone' around cyclists. 

The first stage involves a year long community education campaign designed to change motorists’ behaviours and attitudes towards cyclists. The campaign will be evaluated to examine the community’s response, its preparedness for a rule change and road safety outcomes, crash rates, road user behaviour and perceptions of safety. 

The second stage comprises a trial of a minimum passing distance laws. However, the trial will only go forward if the community education campaign is ineffective. 

Bicycle Network Chief Executive Officer Craig Richards reiterated his disappointment in today’s announcement. 

“We are disappointed that the Victorian Government isn’t following the lead of other states turning MPDL into legislation,” Mr Richards said.

“It’s clear that bike riders want a MPDL and today’s announcement is a huge missed opportunity to bring Victoria into line and further reduce to the risk to __bike riders on our roads.”

While Bicycle Network believes an education campaign is important, we're also concerned that unless the education campaign incorporates strong behaviour change elements, it could be a wasteful use of limited government resources. 

"At the end of the day, we want the best outcome for all road users and we hope that the government's new education campaign is strongly tied to behaviour change methodology." 

"Studies show that in isolation, mass education/awareness campaign are not an effective way to create real behavioural change," Mr Richards added. 

If the new Labor government in WA makes good on their election promise to introduce minimum passing distance laws, Victoria will be the only state without MPDL.

2017 Cycling Luminaries Awards

Nominations for the Cycling Promotion Fund's 13th national Cycling Luminaries Awards are closing very soon.

If you know someone, or an organisation, a school or a Council who are getting more Australians to ride a __bike and you want to recognise them – nominate them now for a Cycling Luminaries Award!

The Awards are nationally recognised and ensure our committed, hard working champions get the credit and recognition they deserve for their hard work, which is often over many years.

The three award categories are leadership, __bike culture and built environment.

Past winners have been teachers and schools in remote and urban areas, community and health workers using bikes to engage with communities as part of healthy living, and they have been the decision makers ensuring critical funding is devoted to building the infrastructure we all need, at all levels of government.

Winners will be announced at the Australian Bicycle Summit Gala Awards Dinner in Brisbane on Friday, 12 May 2017. A short list will be published and finalists notified in April.

The Cycling Luminaries Awards have been led by the Cycling Promotion Fund and celebrated by the bicycle community since 2002. The Cycling Promotion Fund is an initiative of Bicycle Industries Australia Ltd (BIA) which enables the bicycle industry to work collectively to promote and encourage cycling and to work with stakeholders around Australia to create a more bicycle friendly Australia.

Visit cyclingawards.org and follow the links to complete a nomination. Nominations close on Thursday 30 March.

Ride2School Day to remember – Tassie gets funding!

This year's National Ride2School Day will be one to remember, with the Tasmanian Government announcing funding so that the Ride2School program can continue in the state for another year.

As more than 350,000 students ditched the car or bus and jumped on their bikes for a national celebration, Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman made the $100,000 funding announcement at Clarendon Vale Primary School on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

He also presented 12 bikes to the school on behalf of Bicycle Network.

The announcement comes after some intense lobbying by Bicycle Network, its members and allies since funding for the pilot program ended in July 2016.

Mr Hodgman said his Government wanted to see Tasmania become the healthiest State in the nation and the Ride2School program directly supported this goal.

“Ride2School is a great campaign that encourages active and healthy school communities,” he said.

Since Ride2School was launched in 2015, many participating schools have reported an increase in the number of students being active.

“My Government is also a strong supporter of cycling safety initiatives with $5 million over four years to improve cycling safety on our roads,” he said.

“I commend Bicycle Network for the Ride2School program and their role in encouraging Tasmanians to keep active.”

Bicycle network Chief Executive Officer Craig Richards was at Clarendon Vale to hear the good news.

“Ride2School can now continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the Government’s Healthy Tasmania Five-Year Strategy achieves its target of making Tasmania the healthiest state in the nation by 2025,” Mr Richards said.

“This program shows just what can be achieved with a whole-of-government approach. Ride2School delivers on road safety, health and wellbeing and education where it counts – in the early years where we can build good habits that are life-long.

“This is a critical time for Tasmania in preventative health, and the Government has shown, with this funding support, that it recognises it will take community partnerships to achieve success.

“The National Health Survey of 2014-15 — the latest available data — shows an increase in the proportion of Tasmanian children who are overweight or obese, from 18.6 per cent in 2007-8 to 29.8 per cent in 2014-15.”

More than 3,000 primary school students from across Australia benefited from the Ride2School program in 2015-16.

“That number has continued to grow as we decided to continue with a pared-back program from July 2016,” Mr Richards said.

“As a not-for-profit, membership organisation, our resources were limited without Government support,“ he said.

“We could not have continued the momentum without the backing of the RACT over the past eight months.

“That partnership clearly recognises the road safety as well as the health and wellbeing benefits of Ride2School.”

“We have also had the backing of the North Melbourne Football Club, with players recently supporting the program at three southern Tasmanian schools.”

Mr Richards said Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding had rolled out significant cycling road safety initiatives and his support was critical in having the funding renewed.

“Our team in Tasmania will continue to work closely with the Minister to get maximum benefit from Ride2School in educating children about road safety,” he said.

For more photos from across the country, visit Flickr or check out all the action as it unfolded on Twitter using @bicycle_network and #Ride2School.

How to Survive 1,135.9 Miles on the Trainer

Jasmijn Muller recently made indoor cycling history by becoming the record-holder for most consecutive miles pedaled while using the Zwift, a popular virtual-reality training app.

Her whopping 1,135.9-mile ride—done in 62 hours, 4 minutes, and 30 seconds—happened in the (relative) comfort of her own home on a Wahoo Kickr trainer, with a pit crew hanging out in the kitchen and living room. Thanks to Zwift, Muller racked up mileage in the pseudo-company of cyclists around the world (including past record-holder Chris Hopkinson) who joined to cheer her on.

Until 2010, Muller was a casual cyclist at best, but the endurance bug bit her after a 100-mile charity ride she was persuaded to do at work. She started riding more, and more, and more—and joined a cycling club to participate in lots of events. By 2013, she says, "I seemed to be a bit of a diesel.” 

The now-time-trial expert and ultra-endurance cyclist filled us in on how she managed to make it through nearly three straight days of pedaling inside—and why she did it in the first place. (Learn more about the inspiring cyclists pushing bikes to the limit every month in the print edition of Bicycling!)

Photograph courtesy of Jasmijn Muller

BICYCLING: What were the most challenging aspects of the ride?
Jasmijn Muller: It definitely is a lot more challenging mentally. It is also harder to avoid saddle pain, as you move around a lot less than on the road and also spend a lot less time riding out of the saddle. To avoid getting everything too wet and sweaty, I had a fan blowing the whole time—but that is hard on your skin, your throat, and your eyes. And even though I had the curtains open the whole time, you still don’t get to experience the change of light from day into night and back again in the same way you do during, say, a 24-hour race on the road.

How did you stay focused?
The combination of Zwift and the Wahoo Kickr is just perfect and makes for a very enjoyable riding experience, but looking at a screen and staying focused on not letting gaps appear when people are letting you draft can be hard. Also, the sound of the Wahoo Kickr can become a little repetitive and soothing, almost like white noise sending you to sleep. So, instead of listening to podcasts as I often do in training (trying to train my brain and body at the same time), I listened to a lot of music, particularly cheesy 90s dance tunes with big uplifting beats.

"I went from being a complete Zwift novice who didn't even own a smart trainer, to becoming the new Zwift distance record holder, all in the space of less than two weeks."

You’ve done ultra-long-distance rides on the trainer and on the road. Was this ride more challenging than an outdoor ride, or did you find it easier on the whole?
The only thing that is definitely easier about an indoor ride is the logistics around it. It is very easy to jump off, go to the toilet, have a shower, and change your kit. It was also easier for the support crew in terms of feeding me. The kitchen was nearby; they could test various food on me. It was also very easy for them to communicate with me: I could press a wireless doorbell which would ring in the living room each time I needed something!

We have to ask: How did you avoid saddle sores?!
Unfortunately, I did not avoid saddle sores. I tried every trick I know: not shaving, using very good chamois cream (Elite Ozone endurance chamois cream), riding on my favorite saddle (Cobb V Flow Max), standing up and changing position regularly, wearing my favorite Alé bib shorts, washing myself and changing my kit every six hours... I even used the "second bib shorts inside-out" trick. But I still had saddle sores, which made it increasingly difficult to sit on the saddle—and that was what eventually made me quit. My legs were still fine, I still had the stamina, but my mental ability to push through the pain had reached its limits.

Days after the record attempt I am still walking (very slowly) like a cowboy and in search of antibiotics to treat my infected saddle sores, but at least I didn’t hospitalize myself this time.

Up the ante of your indoor rides by learning to ride rollers like a pro:

What did you eat on the bike?
I ate a lot of different things. We mostly tried to stick to food that would also be easy to hand up from the side of the road when I do the Land’s End to John’o’Groats (LEJOG) and 1,000-mile record attempt on the road in England this coming September. I drank quite a few Fresubins (mixed 50-50 with water); a lot of Precision Hydration electrolytes, to avoid cramping; some bottles with Ambrosia Rice Pudding whizzed up and diluted with water; some bottles of just plain water; and pumpkin soup served in a water bottle. I had a few bottles with an energy drink early on but I stopped that after a while as it didn’t sit well with my stomach. I ate a lot of bananas, but also loved yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, and grapes. I had a spell where I devored lot of nuts. Sweet potatoes always went down well.

It is a learning process. Everyone has their own things which work well for them, and as you can see some things I loved at one part of the ride, I would refuse later on.

Having spent so much time riding with Zwift, which aspect of it do you like best?
The absolutely best part of Zwift is the way it connects you with other riders around the world. I hadn’t really anticipated that, but having all these people from all different corners of the world ride with me during the Zwift record attempt was really something very special. I would like to thank them all as it turned a solo record attempt into one big party. I won’t be on Zwift—or on the bike, full stop—for a little while now as I let my saddle sores heal, but I hope to ride with many of them again soon.

"It was a proud moment to be able to prove that when it comes to endurance sports, women can be just as good as men—and sometimes beat them."

What does it mean to you to be a record holder?
When I set out to break the Zwift distance record, it was never about chasing the record for the record's sake. It was always meant as a learning event, as a stepping stone, as a practice session for my main goal for the year: breaking the LEJOG record and then continuing on for the 1,000-mile record, both of which are Guinness World Records.

Although the Zwift distance record was never just about the record itself, and I did learn a lot to better prepare me for my other record attempts on the road later this year, I am actually pretty chuffed to be able to now call myself the Zwift distance record holder—especially now that I fully appreciate Zwift for the fantastic worldwide community it is.

This record wasn’t a women’s record: It was overall. Did that change how pursuing it felt for you?
Unlike the LEJOG and 1,000-mile record, which are women's-specific records, the thing that appealed to me about the Zwift record is the fact that there are no separate records for men and women. There is just the one record and anyone is welcome to have a go. This provided a great opportunity to test how close women can come to men in endurance challenges.

It was a proud moment to be able to prove that when it comes to endurance sports, women can be just as good as men, and sometimes beat them. It felt amazing. There really is no better hashtag to use for a challenge like this than #ThisGirlCan [which supports women of all abilities in sports]. It was all about confidence: the confidence to go after my dreams, to not be afraid of anything (be that male competition or saddle sores), and to test and redefine my own limits.

I hope I did women around the world proud and gave them confidence to go after their own goals.

Who inspired you for this challenge, and why?
This Zwift record was very much inspired by its previous record holder, Chris 'Hoppo' Hopkinson. I know him from the UK time-trialing scene and have always been slightly dumbfounded by all his ultra-endurance pursuits. Hearing about his distance record and seeing the interactivity of the Zwift program completely changed my perception, and the seed was planted in my mind to have a go at the record myself in preparation for my other challenges this year.

I went from being a complete Zwift novice who didn't even own a smart trainer, to becoming the new Zwift distance record holder, all in the space of less than two weeks in the end.

What are your best tips for other people looking at a major feat of endurance?
I could give all sorts of tips about saddles, creams, bibshorts, nutrition, favourite music to listen to, etc. But it is all so personal.

Instead, my number-one tip would be to train your mind. So many people spend so much time and money on bikes, clothes, shoes, coaches, diets, you name it... But the area most people ignore is mental training. As the distance increases, the mental aspects become increasingly important.

First Look: New Smart ENVE System (SES) 3.4

ENVE is constantly developing and advancing its line of swanky and functional carbon bits, and its latest revamped product to roll out—a well-rounded remake of the brand’s SES 3.4, dubbed the “New SES 3.4”—makes an enduring favorite even more attractive.

The original 3.4 was one of the first wheels ENVE launched, and has been one of the brand’s best-selling wheels since its inception. The new 3.4 is designed to be an all-rounder wheel that’s geared at mountainous riding in variable weather conditions.

It’s available in both disc and rim brake versions. The new rim version sports a redesigned braking track that ENVE claims offers a 30 percent increase in stopping power and performs nearly as well in wet conditions as it does in the dry. 

The 3.4 has some major shape and performance upgrades that should allow it to continue to be a popular and competitive choice for those looking for a “do-it-all” wheel that performs in a variety of conditions. Plus, it comes with a five-year warranty.     

The Tech
ENVE’s wheels operate on principles of aerodynamics and shape that the company calls the Smart ENVE System (SES for short). 

Aerodynamics were a major consideration in the design and redesign of the 3.4. With a shallow-depth aerodynamic wheel such as the 3.4, the forces that are taken into account are critical to performance, and small changes create a large difference in handling characteristics.

Image courtesy of Ian Matteson

The new 3.4 has been updated to be more aerodynamic when used with many modern road frames. Engineered around wider tires, disc brakes, and updated geometries found in many of the latest frames, the new 3.4s are designed to be faster and lighter than the previous generation. ENVE conducted tests that show the new 3.4 is more aerodynamic across multiple yaw angles relative to the old version, which accounts for wind coming from a variety of directions, not just forward. 

The clincher version uses a hookless bead that’s starting to gain popularity among more road rims and provides a better tire-to-rim interface, according to ENVE. The rim and wheel system is designed around a larger volume 25c tire, and the wider inner-rim width is optimized to be set up tubeless and at lower pressures for a better ride quality. The new rim depth, 3mm deeper on the front wheel and 3mm shallower on the rear wheel, is more aerodynamically efficient, lighter, and more stable.

New to disc brakes on the road? Get the most out of them by learning how to dial them in:

The Ride
I put in around 100 miles on the new 3.4 outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, and was left with a positive first impression.

As soon as I stood on the pedals, the wheels felt noticeably stiff. Power transferred to the pavement immediately and there was a sense of efficiency and speed.

The first day of testing took us on a quick ride around town, where we encountered a variety of road conditions, including gravel and dirt. There were quick, punchy climbs and a series of rolling hills. The wheels were set up with 28c Hutchinson tubeless tires and at 80 psi. This provided a great bit of traction and a really good ride feel with no pinch flats.

Image courtesy of Ian Matteson

One 70-ish-mile ride included quite a bit of climbing, along with some sustained high-speed descending—a little bit of everything, and just what the wheels were designed for. The new 3.4s performed flawlessly.

We had a fast group of riders and rode two abreast most of the way out on a hilly route in the mountains. The wheels felt light on the climbs, although my legs did feel a little heavy, and they gave me confidence on the descents. Direction changes were easy and nimble; and the wheels were super capable at handling rough patches of road.

Stability is something that I notice some aero wheels suffer from at high speeds, especially when riding in the mountains with gusty winds, in a paceline, or in any sort of tightly spaced group. We battled crosswinds from all directions on the out and back ride and maintained high speeds while riding close together. Even with so much air movement, I experienced noticeably less feedback from the wheels than I was expecting. In crosswinds, I did not experience any issues with the wheels wanting to jump around or do anything other than go faster.

As we made our way back into town, tired, we sped down some gravel and loose terrain, dodging potholes and pushing the pace to get back to the house where food was waiting. Once again my feelings on their handling from the previous day were reinforced: The ride quality was simply superb.

What You Need to Know

ENVE Smart System 3.4 Disc Wheelset

Price: $2,900.00 (Disc Clincher, DT 240 Hubs)

Weight: 1,403g

At A Glance

●    Rims made in the USA
●    Disc, Rim, Standard and Thru Axle Compatible.  Clincher and Tubular Options
●    Tubeless ready
●    ENVE rims come with a 5 year warranty

Where To Get It

2016 model: $2,900 at Competitive Cyclist

Buy It Here

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Santa Cruz’s Chameleon Lives Up to Its Name

Santa Cruz’s redesigned Chameleon—the company's seventh iteration of the frame—combines tried and true elements with adaptability.

The 6000-series alloy hardtail has replaceable dropouts that adapt the frame to either geared or singlespeed use. Those dropouts feature a rocker design that allows you to tension the chain in singlespeed mode, or adjust the chainstay length to your preferred measurement when used with gears.

In true transmogrifying form, the frame—laid out around a 120mm fork—is compatible with both 27.5+ and 29-inch wheel sizes. Personalize the __bike even more by taking advantage of its ability to accept an S1-style low-mount front derailleur, or use internal routing for a dropper post. 

Image courtesy of Santa Cruz Bicycles

To accommodate both wheel sizes and drivetrain types, Santa Cruz uses a modular rear dropout with two different offsets. This keeps the BB height in the rideable range while easily allowing the frame to toggle between wheel sizes.

Like the Hightower and Tallboy 3 frames that use a flip chip system in the linkage to adjust BB height and head angle, the Chameleon’s dropouts raise or lower the head angle and BB height depending on the wheels you choose. 

Learn more about the widely versatile, 135mm-travel Santa Cruz Hightower in this video:

Geared drivetrains benefit from Boost spacing (148x12mm) and the SS versions stick with 142x12mm due to that lack of dedicated singlespeed hubs in the wider spacing. Got a geared set of Boost wheels you want to convert to a single cog? Don’t worry, all versions of the modular drops allow you to tension the chain.

Lastly, the Chameleon uses a threaded BSA BB for noise-free riding, is able to accept two waterbottles, and is available in Olive Green. Sizes run S-XL.

What You Need to Know

Santa Cruz Chameleon

Price: $1,599.00 ( for D and D+ build kit)

At A Glance

• Trail __bike Geometry
• 120mm travel fork
• Internal dropper routing
• 6000-series aluminum
• Threaded 73mm BB

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