Can you really do things like that? Those that know us are well aware that this is the exact question we didn’t ask ourselves while creating issue #006. And that’s what is important. Cycling is a different sport today to what it was for decades. It’s reclaiming the attributes of creativity, freedom and ease – traits that were lost amongst the relentlessly competitive mindset and patriarchal hierarchies within elite and amateur sports.

If everyone would just kick back a little more often and treat themselves to some finer times then society wouldn’t just be a more laid-back place, but the whole world would turn for the better. Never grow up, lead don’t follow: when we’re out on a ride, channeling our inner kids as we tear up the terrain, we’re holding the key to escape daily life and embrace the naivety and curiosity that kids have. Whatever sort of riding you do, cycling unlocks this sort of freedom – but one shouldn’t overlook the importance of boundaries and game rules. So ‘Define the Game’ is more than just the title of an article in here; it’s an appeal to a way of a life where you’ll ride and live as you please.

  What’s the best gravel bike? 12 bikes put to the test  
  Electric Road Bikes: are we ready for the revolution?  
  Trek Project One Ultimate: the € 25,000 bike  
  Tesla X GRAN FONDO: Open up your mind  
  It’s hard to forget the Transcontinental Race  

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All bikes in this issue

Festka One Gravel | Focus Project Y | Legor Cicli LWTUA | Merida Silex 9000 | Moots Routt RSL | OPEN U.P. | Orbea Gain | Rondo Ruut CF2 | Salsa Cutthroat Force 1 | Scott Addict Gravel 10 Disc | Scott Addict Gravel 10 Disc | Specialized Sequoia Elite | Specialized Men’s Diverge Comp | Trek Procaliper 9.9 SL RSL | Trek Crockett 7 Disc | Votec VRX Elite

For this issue our Spanish contributor Alberto Alvarez penned an essay recommending we ‘find something new.’ A call-to-arms that led editor Hannah out to the Dolomites with our resident mountain biking fanatic-cum-art director Julian, armed with two Scott Addict gravel bikes. The idea of new bikes unlocking new routes was also on the agenda for the whole GRAN FONDO team as we tore up Stuttgart’s neighbouring trails on 12 of the current most exciting gravel bikes. The results were pretty astounding, and testified to the on-going presence of a not-insignificant gulf between cyclocross bikes, mountain bikes and gravel bikes.


Bikes can also serve a soul-searching purpose–although the sort of therapy given by the Trek Project Ultimate will set you back € 25,000. Our research took us to Trek’s stateside HQ where we delved into the motives behind exactly why this billion-dollar company are focusing on custom bikes and craftsmanship.


In the heart of the Dolomites we joined Open and Tesla to wrestle with the question of what does it take to be a pioneer, embarking on conversations about visionary ideas that have the propensity to change the world – whatever the scale.


Continuing the topic of e-mobility, this issue sees us grappling with the first serious electric road bikes and putting them on test. When these controversial rigs aren’t bringing traditionalists to tears, they find a lot of advocacy by those calling for the democratisation of road riding and those keen to focus on the shared experience. Time, fun, range, power and even KOMs – electric road bikes are ushering in the opportunity to redefine mass sport.


Thirteen days, nineteen hours and 25 minutes – journeying 4000 km across a continent on two wheels powered by your own strength and willpower is an adventure that mentally stays with you. The Transcontinental Race is one of the more renowned long distance pilgrimages of the endurance cycling world, but nevertheless is still shrouded in mystique to the many a mere mortals amongst us. You think you have what it takes?

But you see, we weren’t the only active ones in the past few months as we chased stories across the globe – cycling has been busy too. There’s a lot of momentum right now – some radical, some critical – and it’s all able to shake up the current situation. We’ll reiterate our stance here on why it’s so important to meet these new developments with an open mind. Test them out before making your own opinion.

 

As of right now, all the exciting articles can be downloaded from our interactive tablet or smartphone app, and they’ll make their way onto the website over the next few weeks. Have fun reading!


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