Your complete guide to Shimano road bike groupsets

A groupset is a collection of bike components designed to work together. These days it usually means the  gears and brakes on your bike. The term once included the hubs and headset too, but threadless headsets knocked the traditional groupset makers — Shimano and Campagnolo — out of the market.  Nevertheless, the groupset  is where a lot of the money in a new bike goes.

Japanese company Shimano is the most popular groupset manufacturer with a range of groupsets at different prices. It’s constantly updating the groupsets too, with the newest features debuting first on its top-end groupset, Dura-Ace, before eventually filtering down through the range.

Whether you’re buying a new bike, or looking to build one from scratch, it’s good to know what your options are. The more expensive groupsets are lighter and usually offer smoother gear shifting and superior braking performance, and you get more gears and with the more expensive groupsets, 11-speed on Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105, down to 8-speed on entry-level Claris.

Here’s an overview of the entire lineup, with the most expensive at the top of the list:

• Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 Di2
• Shimano Dura-Ace 9100
• Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2
• Shimano Dura-Ace 9000
• Shimano Ultegra Di2
• Shimano Ultegra
• Shimano 105
• Shimano Tiagra
• Shimano Sora
• Shimano Claris 

The range includes six mechanical groupsets, using cables to operate the front and rear derailleurs, and there are two electronic groupsets. First introduced in 2011, electronic groupsets have proved to be extremely popular, with precise gear changes, long battery life and good durability. Whether you choose mechanical or electronic comes down to budget and personal preference.

At the moment (early October), both the 2017 Dura-Ace 91XX and the previous 90XX components are listed by retailers, though it looks like we're still a few days off actually being able to buy the new parts. We've therefore covered both here.

Shimano's flagship component group gets a major facelift and some new options for 2017. The mechanical and Di2 electronic groups share the same chainset, brakes and other non-shifting components, but with Di2 you get switches on the brake levers, derailleurs with built-in motors and the battery, wiring and control box that ties it all together.

The major new feature of Di2 is Synchronized Shift, a technology borrowed from Shimano's mountain bike Di2 components. Rather than buttons controlling front and rear derailleurs independently, one pair of buttons moves up and down the gear ratios, making shifts at the front or rear derailleur, or both, as necessary.

Shimano says this is “designed to simplify gear choice and reduce decision making in racing situations.”

There are two modes. If you go for the Full Shimano Sychronized Shift, the front derailleur reacts based on the rear derailleur’s shift action. You don’t need to use two separate shifters, you just use one. Press one button and the gear will get harder to turn, press the other button and the gear will get easier. If that requires a front shift, the system will take care of that automatically; you don’t need to worry about it.

If you go for Semi Shimano Synchronized Shift mode: the rear derailleur reacts based on the front derailleur’s shift action, shifting to the next most appropriate rear gear when the rider makes a front shift.

A new junction box is not only very tidy — it can be hidden inside the end of the handlebar — it provides wireless ANT Private connectivity to third-party devices. The system also offers a Bluetooth connection to phones and tablets running Shimano's E-Tube software so you can program the shifting behaviour.

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/206768-your-complete-guide-shimano-road-bike-groupsets

Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Lite arm warmers – review

Lightweight arm warmers ideal for cool to mild (and dry) conditions

The Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Lite arm warmers offer a good level of warmth for their low weight and, as a result, are ideal for cool to mild (and dry) weather.

The first thing you’ll notice about the arm warmers is the insanely bright colour. It is, quite literally, blinding, but does team up with a number of other items in the Pearl Izumi range, if you want to match your kit. That aside, visibility is a clear bonus here, but Pearl Izumi also offer the arm warmers in a range of four other colours, including all black.

The warmers have a seamless, knitted construction and are made from a mix of 79 per cent nylon, 18 per cent olefin and three per cent spandex, so they have a softer feel than typical lycra warmers, and feel good next to the skin.

The fabric offers enough compression that the warmers stay in place without any trouble, and they’re a good length, too – extending down to the wrist and, if you’re wearing them gloves, and up to the top of the arm, without bunching on the inside of the elbow. There’s also a gripper at the top of each arm which, once again, does its job well without being too loose or tight, though that may naturally depending on your particular arm size.

As the name suggests, these are lighter than a typical ‘thermal’ arm warmer, which may also have a fleecy Roubaix lining or similar. That makes these Pearl Izumi arm warmers a good option for cool spring and summer mornings or evenings, or when it’s a bit breezy, because you won’t necessarily need to whip them off as soon as the temperature warms up.

However, in the wet the material soaks through quickly, with almost zero delay to water ingress – no beading or such, they just get wet. The fabric will still hold some warmth for a while but for long damp periods, they don’t offer as much wet weather protection as a Roubaix fabric or similar.

Conversely, the thinner material and light weight makes the warmers great for stashing in a pocket until needed. I found them good under tree covered lanes as evenings turned dark, adding some welcome visibility and warmth.

The warmers are left and right arm specific but I have to confess to not feeling a huge difference and there didn’t appear to be a massive difference when I examined the cut – if any at all. It’s mostly down to where the graphics sit on the arm.

Conclusion

As an option for dry and cool to mild conditions, the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Lite arm warmers are really good. They’re perhaps not as versatile as Roubaix-lined warmers, particularly given the limited performance in the wet, but they work well for their intended purpose and come in a wide range of colourways.

https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/pearl-izumi-elite-thermal-lite-arm-warmers-review.html

Want a Better Bratwurst? Just Add Pimento Cheese

There's an answer to cooking better brats. And that answer is pimento cheese — melted. 

Jonathan Schnipper, chef at Schnippers, created this delicious recipe, and the world is lucky enough to be able to make it at home, too, whether it's in the kitchen or over some charcoal in the backyard.

Pimento Cheese Bratwurst

Recipe courtesy of Chef Jonathan Schnipper of Schnippers 

Serving Size: six bratwursts

For the Bratwurst

Ingredients:

• 6 raw bratwurst links
• 1 Spanish onion, sliced thinly
• 1 12 oz can PBR beer
• 1 quart cold water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. In a baking dish, line up the bratwursts in a single row, be sure they’re not on top of each other.
3. Cover them evenly with the sliced onion on top.
4. Pour the can of beer over them, as well as the water. Make sure onions stay mostly on top.
5. Cover tightly with foil and place in the oven. Cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, this will take between 30-45 minutes.
6. Transfer bratwursts and onion to a cool baking dish, leaving the liquid behind. Refrigerate all until cool. Pour the cold liquid back over the bratwursts then cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until needed. They will last this way for about 3 days.

For the Pimento Cheese

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup mayo
• ¼ tsp cayenne
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 cup finely diced roasted red peppers
• ¾ lb grated sharp yellow cheddar
• ½ tsp sriracha
• 1 tsp smoked paprika

Directions:

1. Add mayo, cayenne, salt, pepper, sriracha, and paprika to a mixing bowl. Mix well with a whisk. 
2. Add cheddar and diced roasted peppers. Mix very well with a spoon or rubber spatula. 
3. Put in a container and cover well. Refrigerate. Will last for 1 week.

For the Pickled Shallots

Ingredients:

• 20 oz (weighed) shallots, sliced 1/8 inch thick
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 1 ½ cups water

Directions:

1. Slice the shallots and weigh to proper amount (20 oz).
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well in a bowl or container.
3. Refrigerate until needed. They taste best when refrigerated for at least 24 hours before use. They will last for 1 week in the refrigerator.

To Assemble the Pimento Cheese Bratwurst

What You'll Need:

• 6 precooked bratwursts
• 6 long brioche rolls
• pimento cheese
• pickled shallots
• smoked paprika, to garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven or toaster oven to 300°.
2. Remove bratwursts from refrigerator and cook on a grill or skillet over moderate heat. Cook until golden brown on all sides.
3. Slice brioche buns from the top down through the center to the bottom and place one bratwurst in each bun.
4. Top each bratwurst with a generous amount of pimento cheese (about 2 tbsp each). Place in oven or toaster oven to melt the cheese, should take a 3–5 minutes.
5. Remove bratwursts from oven. Sprinkle each with a small amount of smoked paprika. Then top with some pickled shallots (about 1 tbsp per bratwurst). Cut in half, if desired, and eat right away.

Get the latest gear reviews, deals, and more directly to your inbox. Sign up now for the Men’s Journal newsletter. 

http://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/articles/want-a-better-bratwurst-just-add-pimento-cheese-w467652

Sportful’s No-Rain arm and knee warmers are ideal for the British spring. They’re warm, fit like a glove and – now this is where they come into their own on these shores – are water resistant.
We’ve been impressed with Sportful’s No-Rain range in the past – the Italian firm’s Fiandre and Fiandre Light jackets saw us through winter – and the No-Rain arm and knee warmers live up to the same billing now the weather is more clement.

Sportful’s proprietary No-Rain nanotechnology uses silicone particles in the fabric to repel water and it works to good effect. Water quick beads off the surface when riding in light rain and drizzle, or if there’s spray kicking up from the road, and the fabric only becomes saturated during more persistant, heavier rain.

The ability to pair the arm and knee warmers with a water resistant gilet on days where there’s a spot of drizzle in the air, or to see off a short shower, is ideal for this time of year. That combination has allowed me to avoid pulling on a rain jacket for much of the month.
There’s little more annoying than loose arm and knee warmers which constantly need pulling up but, crucially, the fit is superb thanks to a slim, anatomic cut which closely follows the contours of your limbs. Silicone grippers also help lock them in place and other details include reflective tabs and a reflective Sportful logo.

Sportful No-Rain Arm And Knee Warmers – Review

• Cycling Clothing

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Sportful’s No-Rain arm and knee warmers are ideal for the British spring. They’re warm, fit like a glove and – now this is where they come into their own on these shores – are water resistant.

We’ve been impressed with Sportful’s No-Rain range in the past – the Italian firm’s Fiandre and Fiandre Light jackets saw us through winter – and the No-Rain arm and knee warmers live up to the same billing now the weather is more clement.

Sportful’s proprietary No-Rain nanotechnology uses silicone particles in the fabric to repel water and it works to good effect. Water quick beads off the surface when riding in light rain and drizzle, or if there’s spray kicking up from the road, and the fabric only becomes saturated during more persistant, heavier rain.

The ability to pair the arm and knee warmers with a water resistant gilet on days where there’s a spot of drizzle in the air, or to see off a short shower, is ideal for this time of year. That combination has allowed me to avoid pulling on a rain jacket for much of the month.

There’s little more annoying than loose arm and knee warmers which constantly need pulling up but, crucially, the fit is superb thanks to a slim, anatomic cut which closely follows the contours of your limbs. Silicone grippers also help lock them in place and other details include reflective tabs and a reflective Sportful logo.

Both the arm and knee warmers are lined with a Roubaix fabric made from a nylon/elastane mix which is both stretchy and breathable. The soft, fleecy lining means they’re fairly warm, good up to, say, temperatures in the mid-teens, when you’ll otherwise look to pull something lighter out of the wardrobe or, dare we say it, ride in short sleeves.

Arm and knee warmers are versatile in their own right but these, with the added water repellancy, are even more so. I’ve pulled the Sportful No-Rain arm and knee warmers from the wardrobe on days when there’s no chance of rain but still a nip in the air, and they then really come into their own when, as is so often the case, there’s rain on the horizon.

The Sportful No-Rain arm warmers cost £26 and the knee warmers are £36. Both are available in four sizes (S-XL) and come in three colours (black, red and white).

https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/bontrager-aw3-hard-case-lite-tyre-review.html

NEW RADAR-BASED BE-SEEN TECH FOR CYCLISTS LOOKS PROMISING

Never have I received an email about a new cycling product launching on Kickstarter, dropped everything and read the entire Kickstarter product page – then started a 2-day email Q&A with the company CEO. Until last week. That's exactly what I did on news of the launch of Ilumaware's new Shield TL.

The Shield TL is a reflector/tail light that uses a car's collision avoidance system (CAS) radar to, in effect, gather and amplify the signal that bounces back to the car – making the bike and rider "bigger" and more easily detected at a greater distance. It is made of metallic material, molded plastic and silicon, weighs approximately 55g and is 1.5 x 3 x 4.5 inches.

"OTR Technology [which stands for "on the radar"] is a passive radar reflector. The shape and construction of the technology has been specifically engineered to enhance the reflected radar signal transmitted from the vehicle back to a car. In short, we reverse-engineered stealth technology," says Geoff Godsey, CEO of iLumaware LLC. 

How it Works

The key to understanding how this works is understanding at a cursory level how radar works. Radar waves are transmitted and then "bounce off" or reflect from an object and return to the source. The time it takes for the signal to return is used to measure the distance to the object and plot its position. Reflection is measured in radar cross section (RCS) values. RCS values are affected by the size, shape, material and angles of objects. Large, fairly flat, metallic objects (like vehicles) have very high RCS values. Smaller, less dense, organically shaped objects (like a person riding a bicycle or running) have much lower RCS values. (See chart.)

The Shield TL, in field testing, boosted a cyclist's RCS value to a level (+5.2dB RCS) that makes the cyclist visible to a driver with a CAS system at nearly 200 meters. Without the device, that same cyclist (-2dB RCS) is visible at less than 70 meters. The upshot is: The driver can be warned of the cyclist in plenty of time to avoid the cyclist – and cars that have the ability to "take over" and make adjustments on their own can do likewise.

Highlights from Ilumaware's field testing of the Shield TL:

• Avg. (RCS) Value of a cyclist using OTR Technology = +5.2dB
• Avg. Range of Visibility of a cyclist using OTR Technology = 198 meters
• Avg. (RCS) Value of a cyclist w/out a device = -2dB
• Avg. Range of Visibility of a cyclist w/out a device = 66 meters
• "What our objective is at iLumaware is to prevent collisions from happening," says Godsey. "We are developing technologies that increase the communication between cars and riders (even at some level mitigating the need to rely on drivers) so we can reduce and/or even eliminate the number of “close calls” or collisions on the road because cars see us, track our position and ultimately recognize us as significant objects a car wants to avoid."

  How Many Cars Have CAS Tech?

  This technology is quickly becoming a de facto standard, and federal regulation will only serve to speed up the already rapidly increasing percentage of CAS-equipped autos.
  Approximately 83% of 2016 model cars sold in the U.S. are equipped with collision avoidance system (CAS) technology. That's up from about 60% market saturation only three years ago, according to Ilumaware. The technology is quickly trickling down from luxury models into economy cars, much the same as navigation systems and touch-screen technology have in recent years.
• Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced plans to change requirements for cars to achieve the coveted 5-Star Safety Rating. In the near future, a car will have to come standard with specific CAS technologies to receive a 5-star rating.

  It's Not a Panacea

  Of course, this is a forward-looking technology. Even as more and more CAS-equipped cars take to the road, for years to come there will remain millions of older model cars without CAS on the road. And, to be clear, the Shield TL's founders and execs – all cyclists – are proponents of using a variety of safety devices while cycling. Which is, in part, why they incorporated a tail light into the device. The 80-lumen tail light is micro USB-rechargable, with a 25-hour run time on high mode, and 76 hours on flash.
• 
• As for mounting the device, they've also given some thought to the various approaches cyclists take in mounting their traditional tail lights.
  "We have designed a seat post mount [with variations for aero posts, etc.] because we do want the product to sit as flush and level as possible for optimum performance," says Godsey. "The Shield TL will include a 'clip-on' system so that a rider could easily mount to a seatbag like many do with their tail lights now. However, the Shield TL is compact enough that it should easily mount to a seatpost underneath a saddle bag on the bike. The only consideration at that point would be not to allow the saddle back to lay over or cover the device, no different than what you do with a current tail light."

• Final Thoughts

  What excites me about this approach to cycling safety is that it does, as Godsey says, "communicate" with drivers (and cars) in a way that nothing else does. I am a proponent of cyclists doing everything they can to stay as safe as possible on the road: running full-time flashers front and rear, avoiding dark monotone clothing, running camera lights, etc.
  A problem we've pointed out recently is The Danger of Distracted Riding. In some cases, even technology meant to warn you about, and protect you from, approaching vehicles can in some cases actually distract you from paying attention to the road and the various other hazards you face. The Shield TL requires none of your attention, yet it actively works on your behalf to make you more visible to drivers and the cars they're "piloting" – and works to warn them – even if they're not necessarily paying attention.
  That's a leap forward. No bright flashing light, neon jersey or reflective material has the power to get inside a driver's car and beep, buzz, shake or otherwise warn them to your presence.
  For more information on Ilumaware's Shield TL, visit the company's Kickstarter page. Supporting the project can save you up to $50 off the $89 MSRP of a Shield TL. If the project reaches its $70,000 funding goal, the first production units are expected to ship next April.
• https://www.roadbikerider.com/tech-gear/category-specific-tech/parts-equipment/2423-new-radar-based-be-seen-tech-for-cyclists-looks-promising

Move Over, Craft Beer: Starbucks is Now Barrel-Aging Coffee

On Monday, March 6, Starbucks Coffee Company announced its first barrel-aged coffee, a special Starbucks Reserve offering available exclusively at its Seattle Roastery. The roastery and tasting room, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill region, is dedicated to roasting the company’s Reserve brand coffees.
The new offering, Starbucks Reserve Whiskey Barrel Aged Sulawesi, will be available for a limited time in the form of two new specialty beverages: Barrel Aged Cold Brew, featuring the new barrel-aged variety brewed cold and sweetened with barrel-aged vanilla syrup; and Barrel Aged Con Crema, served as a pour-over with barrel-aged vanilla syrup and a cascara sugar cold-foam topping.According to Starbucks, the coffee company’s first barrel-aged coffee is made in 800-pound batches of green coffee beans (unroasted Starbucks Reserve Sulawesi beans) and aged for several weeks in American Oak Aged Whiskey Barrels from Woodinville Whiskey, a small-batch brown spirit maker based in Woodinville, Washington.

“Exploring the potential of coffee and marrying nontraditional experiences and techniques is something we’re experimenting with daily,” says Duane Thompson of Starbucks beverage R&D. “We start with the bean first and go from there.”

After aging, the beans are roasted by Starbucks master roasters, resulting in a coffee that yields whiskey aroma and flavor, while not containing any alcohol, the company noted. (Any residual whiskey from the barrel is burned off during the roasting process, Starbucks says.)

The coffee comes at a time when consumers are seeking “an immersive, sensorial experience,” adds Thompson.

“The process takes time, care, and patience, ensuring we deliver a distinct experience that stays true to the specialness of the coffee while imparting the complementary, distinguished flavor of the oak-aged barrel,” Thompson says. “You get those earthy notes mingling with the oak to create a cup that’s unlike any other.”

Starbucks Barrel Aged Cold Brew and Barrel Aged Crema will be available exclusively at Starbucks’ Seattle Roastery for a limited time. 

http://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/articles/move-over-craft-beer-starbucks-is-now-barrel-aging-coffee-w471303

Your Deadlift Is Weak — Here’s How to Improve It

If there’s a single lift that deserves to be heavy, it’s your deadlift. That’s because a big pull with proper form means your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back are well-developed — and the stronger those muscles are, the less likely you are to develop lower-back pain or injury. But if you're failing on your heavy lifts, don't get discouraged. Try these seven tips next time to step up to the barbell.

Keeping a tight midsection is like wearing internal armor: It helps prevent injury, specifically to the low back, because it keeps you from rounding your spine. Second, it will help you lift more. When it comes to lifting heavy things off the floor, the tighter your body stays, the more weight you’ll be able to lift. To brace your abs properly, take a deep breath in right before the lift and push out on the abs for the whole rep. It should feel like you’re trying to take a dump (just don't, you know, do that).

Lock in Your Lats

Surprisingly, the lats, those big wings that make up most of your upper back, play an important role in maintaining a good form during deadlifts. To engage them, stand in front of your barbell, grab the bar with one hand, and pull up just enough so you can feel tension on the bar (you’ll hear the barbell ping, which lets you know there’s no more slack in the bar). Reach down with the opposite hand and do the same. Your lats and upper back should be tight, so that when you begin your lift, there's no wiggle room, which could throw off your movement.

Squeeze Your Glutes

Your glutes are responsible for hip extension, which is the function you want at the top of your deadlift. Thus, a stronger butt means being able to finish the full range of motion. To activate your glutes, concentrate on squeezing your butt as hard as possible with each rep. Imagine firing your hips forward, much like you would with a kettlebell swing.

Control On the Way Down

Dropping the barbell from the top of the deadlift is for competitive lifting, not your workout. When you drop the bar, you’re missing out on the negative half of the lift, which is where you develop bar control. Just make sure you maintain tight form on the way down, too. Releasing your core and rounding your back with serious poundage on the bar is a recipe for disaster.

Ramp Up Before Your Rep Work

Having patience is one of the toughest skills in deadlifting. If you’re working up to a 400lb deadlift for the day, make sure to pull 135 pounds, 225 pounds, and 315 pounds on your way up — don’t make 200-pound jumps. These ramp-up sets allow you to warm up properly, practice the movement pattern, and add volume to the workout.

Use Different Variations

Different versions of the deadlift can be a great way to target your weak points. Struggle with pulling the weight off the floor, but crush the second half of the movement? Try deficit deadlifts by standing on a plate to increase the range of motion (only if you’re flexible, though). If you struggle with the lockout at the top of the deadlift, try rack pulls by placing the bar in a squat rack on the pins or on blocks at a higher starting position than the floor, and lifting from there.

http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/articles/your-deadlift-is-weak-heres-how-to-improve-it-w478503

Sportful’s Spring/Summer 2017 Clothing Range

Sportful R&D Cima jersey and bibshorts

Sportful’s R&D range is its cutting-edge product line and sits at the top-end of the brand’s price point.

The R&D Cima design is a new addition to the collection and features a lightweight jersey, bibshorts, mitts and socks that are designed for hot weather and long mountain ascents.

The R&D Cima jersey is available in either a red or fluorescent yellow finish on a predominantly black design. The stretch-woven fabric of the jersey has only three seams plus a full length zip, resulting in less fabric, and will stay drier from any sweat in the summer heat.

Inspired by time trial and track aero-suits, the jersey has a very low neck line and is in a very athletic fit.

The R&D Cima bibshorts continue both the colour theme of the jersey as well as its lightweight and heat management properties.

The majority of the legs on the shorts are constructed from an aero stretch fabric, which yes, is see-through, but will help with wicking sweat and features a raw-cut leg.

The rear of the shorts, which lies over the lower back, is a double-layer perforated outer and mesh lining that works together for wicking sweat and ventilation. The shorts also feature the TC Pro seatpad, Sportful’s top of the line chamois.

To complement the R&D Cima jersey and bibshorts a lightweight glove and sock are also included in the range.

• Sportful R&D Cima jersey: £95 / $TBC / AU$TBC
• Sportful R&D Cima bibshort: £90 / $TBC / AU$TBC
• Sportful R&D Cima glove £35 / $TBC / AU$TBC
• Sportful R&D Cima 8 sock: £15 / $TBC / AU$TBC

http://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/news/article/sportful-spring-summer-2017-range-overview-49718/

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport.^[1] Persons engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists",^[2] "bikers",^[3] or less commonly, as "bicyclists".^[4] Apart from two-wheeled bicycles, "cycling" also includes the riding of unicycles, tricycles, quadracycles, recumbent and similar human-powered vehicles (HPVs).

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number approximately one billion worldwide.^[5] They are the principal means of transportation in many parts of the world.

Cycling is widely regarded as a very effective and efficient mode of transportation^[6][7] optimal for short to moderate distances.

Bicycles provide numerous benefits in comparison with motor vehicles, including the sustained physical exercise involved in cycling, easier parking, increased maneuverability, and access to roads, bike paths and rural trails. Cycling also offers a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, less air or noise pollution, and much reduced traffic congestion. These lead to less financial cost to the user as well as to society at large (negligible damage to roads, less road area required).^[8] By fitting bicycle racks on the front of buses, transit agencies can significantly increase the areas they can serve.^[9]

Among the disadvantages of cycling are the requirement of bicycles (excepting tricycles or quadracycles) to be balanced by the rider in order to remain upright, the reduced protection in crashes in comparison to motor vehicles,^[10] often longer travel time (except in densely populated areas), vulnerability to weather conditions, difficulty in transporting passengers, and the fact that a basic level of fitness is required for cycling moderate to long distances.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling

What Carbon Fiber Did for Bikes, Polartec Is Doing for Bike Apparel

For too long, technical advancements for cyclists focused solely on what went onto a bike—agonizing over every gram shaved off, every potential for drag adjusted. Meanwhile, their apparel kits were, technologically speaking, analog. Breathability, waterproofing and insulation were challenges. Riders were forced to carry extra pieces of clothing, just in case.

Cue Polartec, the performance fabric company that, over the past five years, has been instrumental in upending prior assumptions of what cycling clothes can be. Polartec innovations ensure every rider has the correct clothing for the occasion, be they hot days on the open road, warm-to-cold mountain climbs, or mid-trip precipitation. Owing to Polartec’s dedication to engineering through fabric construction, each piece keeps the rider temperature-regulated, comfortable, dry and safe.

“What carbon fiber and titanium have done for hardware innovation in cycling, Polartec has done for cycling apparel through fabric innovation,” says Polartec CEO Gary Smith. “Polartec is enabling people to get out and be more comfortable year round, from staying warm in the winter to staying cool in the summer. Polartec fabric science allows the rider to focus on the ride and not their kit.”

The catalyst for these innovations was the cycling experience itself; Smith is an avid cyclist who knew firsthand the limitations of even the most expensive kits, particularly when it came to waterproofing and insulation that didn’t feel suffocating. Since a bike is only as good as its rider, Polartec got into the mind—and body—of cyclists through building meaningful relationships with brands that sought to give their customers a better riding experience. (This is Polartec’s approach across industries. To wit: Polartec has created over 900 different fabrics for customers ranging from the U.S. military to sports enthusiasts, often to solve a specific problem for the user.)

The world’s best cyclists have taken note, including Alberto Contador and his U23 and Junior Teams. The kit they use leverages several Polartec fabrics in thoughtful, custom designs to make riders feel their best physically throughout their excursion. The 19-piece kit takes all conditions into account, including in it lightweight, next-to-skin jerseys that breathe and wick better than traditional Spandex; insulation long-sleeves that use Alpha technology originally developed for U.S. Special Operations Forces; plus arm and leg warmers for the in-between times. The collection Polartec created and manufactured is the result of a close collaboration between the company and the team. For a sport in which a podium finish is counted in fractions of a second, the incremental gains achieved by performance-enhancing fabrics can be crucial.

http://www.mensjournal.com/gear/articles/what-carbon-fiber-did-for-bikes-polartec-is-doing-for-bike-apparel-w469587?sr_source=lift_outbrain