- 2017 National Bike Challenge announced by Bike League and 3M – The League of American Bicyclists and presenting sponsor 3M have announced the 6th annual National Bike Challenge. The Challenge expects over 60,000 riders to pedal a more than 30 million miles between May 1 and September 30 to focus on improved health, fitness & fun. Challenge participants will use Strava to record their commuting and recreational miles, then stats & leaderboards will show up over at the NationalBikeChallenge.org site. There’s no cost to join, and riders are encouraged to form teams at their workplace or school to motivate each other to log more miles or to start commuting for the first time. BikeLeague.org
Check out where you’ll ride in 2017 after the break…
Where to Ride
- Ride the Look Marmotte Granfondo Series – Three of the most famous European Granfondos get umbrellaed under the new Look Cycle sponsored event series for 2017. It will bring together three granfondo legends: the Marmotte Alps on July 2nd, the Marmotte Pyrenees on August 27th in France, and the newest of the bunch the Marmotte Hochkönig on June 17th in Austria. The Marmotte race was created back in 1982 at the request of Alpe d’Huez to kick off the summer season of riding and has since become a benchmark event for cyclists around Europe. MarmotteGranfondoSeries.com
Gear deals
- Fi’zi:k says Never stop riding, with warm toe deals – Fizik wants to keep everyone riding happy and warm through what’s left of the winter and wet spring to come, so they are running some deals on the winter foot accessories. Get winter cycling socks, stretch on toe covers, or full insulated winter overshoes all at 15% off from their website. The deals are all through the web-only and good until the end of February. Use the code KEEPITWARM2017 at checkout to get the markdown. Fizik.com
Industry news
- No more Road or Decline magazines – In a bit of cycling industry press news, H3 Publications is putting an end to the publications of Road and Decline magazines. After 13 years of running the two titles, which had both already made the switch to digital only issues for the start of 2017, the founder & publisher Dave House has decided to throw in the towel after they just wrapped up the e-March 2017 issues. H3Publications.com
- No more internally geared hubs from SRAM – We spotted it recently on industry news site Bicycle Retailer, but apparently due to a drop off in sales, SRAM will halt new production of internally geared hubs. SRAM had a few options from the simple i3 that came with a coaster, freewheel, or disc brake; their auto shifting Automatix hub; and even the E-Matic that added an e-bike motor into the same internal gear hub. If you still want to get ahold of one, it probably be best to act fast as distributors won’t be able to order them as of the start of March. SRAM.com
Race news
- Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team opens official fan shop – Fans of the new WorldTour team can now get all the official apparel and merchandise they could want over at All4cycling.com, which is a benchmark for cycling lovers due to the large variety of items available. From a not-so-subtle gold Rudy helmet to replica jerseys for kids to a team belt buckle, followers of Nibali & the rest can show support in red, gold, blue & white style. TeamBahrainMerida.com & All4Cycling.com
- Gunn-Rita is not done racing yet – Rumors of her retirement had been greatly exaggerated. Multivan Merida might not be around, but multi-world and Olympic XC champ Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå isn’t ready to quit racing yet. For the next two seasons, still partnered with her long-time bike sponsor Gunn-Rita will carry on racing in the newly formed ‘Team MERIDA Gunn-Rita’. GunnRita.com
