The bike I'm borrowing is much lighter than my own, with tyres twice the width, and drop handlebars splayed out to the sides for extra control. The gearing goes much lower than I am used to, meaning even the steepest slopes should be eventually surmountable.
"Stretches of the float feel quite secluded and peaceful, while others pass parks and restaurants. I like the connection-it's always good to be reminded of the wild in the urban."
"Brooklyn has always been a place where movement is part of daily life. But today, Brooklynites, like all New Yorkers, are moving less, feeling more isolated and dealing with elevated rates of chronic diseases."
"Car-Free Earth Day is a reminder that we only have one planet-and that our streets play a critical role in our fight against climate change," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn in an official statement.
The Unity is on a mixed-wheel setup, which is somewhat out of the norm for a bike in this category, but what category is this bike? While mixed-wheel setups are often associated with enduro and DH, Kona chose it here for pure utility, and when you look at the point they're making, it all makes sense.
"This project is symbolic of what we've done over the last 12 years, reshaping the streets and the city," Christophe Najovski, the city's deputy mayor in charge of green spaces, stated during the opening ceremony.
Sam Schwartz Engineering in 2024 completed a 77-page report for the Central Park Conservancy, which found that 42 million people use the park annually, with pedestrians comprising more than half, including many who sometimes feel unsafe crossing roads. Esteban Doyle, of the Department of Transportation, said the study was done to improve safety and comfort in the park, better allocate space for users, create better separation and improve crossings.
Ruby Hill Railyard in Denver is now open to snowboarders and skiers and features 11 rails and boxes of varying configurations and skill levels. This terrain park can be found off South Platte River Drive and West Florida Avenue in the Mile High City and is free to use. "Rubyhill railyard is now OPEN!! Crazy to think we can open with the snow drought this year! The volunteers killed it! Snowmaking went incredible! Thank you."
South Korea doesn't immediately come to mind when you picture world-class singletrack, but with South Korea being mostly mountains, it makes sense that there would be plenty of mountain biking to uncover. When Giant Bicycles athlete Sascha Kim touched down in Seoul, he found himself connecting with a mountain bike scene bursting with life, a tight-knit community, and some seriously great trails.
Leading the pack is the Blackhead Range Traverse via Kaaterskill Falls in Haines Falls, with a near-perfect 94.14 score. The two-tiered waterfall, tucked into the eastern Catskill Mountains, has long been a favorite for painters and hikers. Now cyclists are getting in on the action. In fact, Kaaterskill routes appear four times in the top ten, as the dramatic cascade regularly stops riders in their tracks.
While most modern competitions recruit riders with similar skillsets and design courses to suit them, Natural Selection flips the script. By drawing riders from a wide range of backgrounds, NST creates a format that values creativity and individuality as much as technical execution. It is one of the few competitions where the structure of the contest comes secondary to the riders themselves.