Latest news with #bikes
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ellesmere bike circuit on track to launch next month
A pump track for bikes, skateboards and scooters in Ellesmere, Shropshire, is expected to be completed by the middle of than £70,000 was raised through crowdfunding to pay for the 240-metre (260-yard) track, with construction getting underway last and Kent Contractors said jumps and track features would be built this week ahead of stone and tarmac being laid later this track is being built on recreation land near Berwyn View, next to Lakelands Academy. Pump tracks are circular loops with rolling sections and curved banks, designed to be ridden without track in Ellesmere has been paid for by more than 200 residents, businesses and Council and Ellesmere Town Council each contributed £20,000 towards the town councillor John Howard said local children had also contributed."A lot of the young people had brought their pocket money into the council to put towards the project," he said."As they've contributed, hopefully they'll look after it." "This track will take four to six weeks to build," said Spencer Martin from the construction firm."In terms of the weather, these are good, dry conditions and the only thing that'll slow us down is torrential rain."Mr Martin said the Ellesmere track was the latest of around 250 bike and skateboard tracks built by the firm in the last 17 years, including the one used for BMX racing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
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Travel + Leisure
26-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
We've Tested 46 Pairs of Padded Bike Shorts—These Are the Best Options for Women
If you're heading out on your bike for longer than a few miles, chances are you're pulling on a pair of padded bike shorts. A good pair of bike shorts help distribute pressure from your weight on a bike seat, and women-specific models are designed with anatomically precise cutouts to further help reduce pressure and chafing. I have been wearing padded bike shorts for more than a decade, and rarely hop on my bike without them. I wear different shorts for bike touring than I do for town rides and mountain biking, but my favorite pairs are all comfortable for long distances, wick sweat, have antimicrobial properties, and don't ride up in the waistband or around the legs. During our tests, we considered everything from compression support to leg band stability to waistband elastic, and noted how the shorts wicked sweat during tough rides. I tested two of our top picks on gravel rides, a multi-day tour, and local road rides, then compiled my own notes along with the insights from other Travel + Leisure testers to come up with the best pairs of padded bike shorts for women. Credit: Terry $130 at Amazon View on REI View on Dicks Sporting Goods I had never worn Terry bike shorts before I tested these, and I was absolutely blown away by the material quality, chamois comfort, fit, and overall design. The side zip pocket was a lovely surprise, and came in handy on gravel rides where I wanted to store my phone and credit card securely. The material seemed thick at first, but wicked sweat well and never felt hot, while the silicon leg bands were a little tight, but kept the shorts secure around my legs. I never had to adjust the shorts or pull them down during extended rides. The chamois is really where these shine—it's one of the most comfortable I've worn, with precision cutouts and a form-fitting shape that didn't extend or bunch up while walking or riding. It breathed well and didn't absorb odors, and I felt no extra pressure or discomfort after long rides and extended climbs. The waistband did feel a bit tight; I would have been fine with a wider, more yoga-style waistband instead of the narrow, thick elastic. The Details: Size XS–XL | Polyester, nylon, and spandex | 8-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: The Black Bibs These bibs didn't just land as our 'top bib' pick, they're also the most affordable we tested without noticeable compromise in durability, comfort, and quality. The fit was accurate, and the inseam ranges in length based on the sizing, which was nice for scaled fit accuracy. The padding was secure and felt protective from front to back, and we never had to adjust them while riding. The chamois wicked sweat and didn't feel clammy, performing well in heat and humidity. We did find ourselves missing some of the added features of more expensive options like reflective details or pockets. But for a pair of bibs that cost a fraction of the most expensive models, these are a great choice. The Details: Size XS–3XL | Polyester and spandex | 7-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Giordana $225 $169 at Backcountry View on These breezy, lightweight shorts were a perfect antidote to sweaty rides, and we loved the feeling of the slim-fitting, smooth material. These bibs weigh just 6.5 ounces, and the fabric is quite sheer and thin. Despite their lightweight build, these provided enough coverage where we could bend over without feeling exposed, and still had enough support through the legs without feeling too compressed. These bibs breathed well and wicked sweat even on high-output rides, and the chamois was nicely shaped and padded to provide cushion without a diaper-like feel. The fit from bottom to top was a little funky though. While the shorts part of the bibs fit true to size, we had some issues with the straps being too short. We wound up riding without the straps for longer rides, and would recommend sizing up if you're between sizes to ensure a good all-around fit. The Details: Size XXS–3XL | Spandex and nylon | 8.5-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Wild Rye I've worn these shorts for the past two seasons, both under mountain biking shells and on their own for gravel rides. Designed by women from a women-led company, Wild Rye shorts generally feel more like athleisure and less like overly compressive cycling clothes. They still perform well—you'll just get a more comfortable fit during your rides. The Eleanor Chammy is among the more casual of Wild Rye's offerings, with an incredibly airy feel. They have a high, wide waistband reminiscent of yoga pants, and barely-there silicone bands around the legs. The chamois is nicely padded, but lacks the precision cut and shape of others we've tested, so it's not my first choice for long rides. But if you're looking for a non-obtrusive pair of padded bike shorts that you don't want to desperately rip off at the end of each ride, these are a solid choice. The Details: Size 0–24 | Nylon and spandex | 6.5-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure These comfortable, stretchy shorts don't restrict range of motion and have a mid-length fit that hits about an inch or two above the knees. The adjustable waist made it easy to dial-in fit during our test rides, and the fabric has a textured weave with reinforcements in higher abrasion areas along with double-stitched seams. We rode through mud and dirt and even had a good wipeout in these and barely noticed any signs of wear after several rugged test rides. The fit was true to size and the chamois was well-placed and protective, but we found the back to be a little low-rise for comfort, and had to adjust a few times to avoid feeling exposed. Our only other gripe would be yearning for more pockets. The front hand pockets felt shallow, and the sole zippered pocket left us wishing for one more to stash phone, keys, and a gel or two. The Details: Size XS–L | Nylon, polyester, and DWR | 12-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure We spent full days riding singletrack trails in these extra-coverage mountain bike shorts, enjoying rocky terrain, steep descents, and flowy trails that had us continually in and out of the saddle. These have an excellent fit through the waist with a minimalist closure system and a higher, gap-free rise in the back. The length is at least an inch or two longer than anything else we tested, but the articulated knees and gusseted build help maintain a full range of motion and didn't impede our pedaling in any way. The fit is slimmer through the thigh (but still true to size), and we were happy with the depth and placement of the pockets. We should note that these are shell shorts, and do not come with a chamois. We suggest pairing with a low-profile, padded liner or liner shorts for added comfort. The Details: Size XS–XL | Nylon and DWR | 13-inch inseam Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure
Times
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Times
Why I fell in love with a beautiful Italian road bike
There are cool bikes, there are nice bikes, there are practical bikes, but there are few bikes so beautiful that even noncyclists look at it and think, wow. The Basso's new SV is one of those — the Italian brand has created a grande bellezza. The SV stands for Sempre Veloce, meaning always fast, and that is accurate. This bike is rapid. The stiff, light frame makes it feel like there's nothing beneath you. You turn the pedals and the bike goes, there's no delay, no wasted watts, it doesn't feel like you're steering a barge. In fact it often feels like you're steering nothing at all — just your power, directed straight into the tarmac. But this is also a bike that Basso claims is correct for 95 per cent of people. It is its all-rounder, appealing to the current trend within cycling of having a do-it-all machine rather than an aero bike and a climbing bike and a winter bike. Does it do it all? Yes, and very well. • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts With such carbon machines you often trade ride comfort for lightness and stiffness. Pure racing bikes feel as if they'll break your back on any potholes or bumps in the road — and we have the odd one or two of those in the UK. But the SV is a fine ride, stiff in all the right places and softer where it needs to be. I tested it with 32mm Grand Prix 5000 S tyres that were perfect and when I hit our pockmarked Essex roads my back remained intact. It handles beautifully, even in fast-speed corners. The bike gripped the road, the balance of the ride was perfect. And out of the saddle on the climbs it was a joy. The only problem was the surroundings in which I rode — the grey sky, the damp road, this is not scenery befitting such a bike. But later on, rolling along a narrow country lane, the sun beginning to peek between the clouds, light twinkling on the bike's frame, I saw galloping deer in the rolling fields alongside me and suddenly everything felt all right. The components are as high-end as you might expect. While you can configure your bike with your own choices, the Dura Ace di2 groupset is as smooth and reliable as always and the DT Swiss wheels are the perfect companions. None of this really matters, though, because the bike is just so beautiful. I had the SV in the Viola Galaxy colour, a groovy, sparkly blue-orange. The front fork is subtle and low-profile and the down tube has a slight aero kink in it that gives it character. When I pulled up to a coffee shop for an espresso and a sandwich I left the bike outside to be admired by other cyclists and passers-by. If only we had been in its native Italy, among the ruins of Rome, perhaps, or the vineyards of Tuscany, they would surely have said: 'Che bella!' Basso SV as ridden £8,889, starting from £6,730;
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
A U.S.-based nonprofit is partnering with Uganda's health ministry to supply hundreds of grassroots health workers with steel-reinforced bikes. (AP video shot by Patrick Onen)
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment brazen yobs livestream themselves smashing police car before speeding off on bikes as baffled officers run after them
This is the shocking moment brazen yobs livestreamed themselves jumping on a parked police car and smashing its windscreen at a BP forecourt - before fleeing on bikes as baffled officers chased after them. Click above to watch the video in full.
