OUT NOW: The new GRAN FONDO Issue #022 is here – Read it now!
You can download the new issue now in our magazine app – free as always! If you don’t have the app yet, you can find it here in the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or in the Play Store (Android Smartphones & Tablets).
It’s fair to say that most people long for stability, a safe haven, continuity and predictability, locking in the perfect life partner, a secure job and friends who will always accept you as you are. But unfortunately, these expectations are not only virtually impossible to fulfil but likely to lead to frustration, disappointment, or even depression when you dwell on the circumstances in which you find yourself. Of course, we can’t foresee everything, but in the end it is our own decisions that determine how our lives evolve – and yes, doing nothing counts too. Just remember that, in the end, it is not your mind but your heart that tells you what the right choices are… So, whose fault is it when you don’t listen or choose not to hear?
Life is a never-ending process, a constant evolution – sometimes linear, sometimes disruptive, and sometimes spinning in circles. What may have been true yesterday may no longer be true today. For those who understand this, life is not a boring routine or a daily grind. No. Every day is new, every day is different. Every day there is something new to experience, to discover, and to learn! And that also applies to the fabulous world on two wheels.
In this issue, everything is under the sign of change. Don’t just allow the changes, invite them and welcome them. In this sense, 2023 marks the beginning of a new era for us as GRAN FONDO magazine and the entire scene! For this issue, we’re picking up on some of those changes and, more importantly, kicking off some of our own! Read the issue now and become a Transformer too!
The Highlights
- Which are the best cargo bibs of 2023? – 13 cargo bib shorts in review
- The suspension bible for gravel and road bikes – Understanding drop bar suspension elements
- Is he dead? – A ridiculous ride from LA to Palm Springs with Paul Ripke on the new Canyon Ultimate
- Trend vs. tradition? – Factory visit to the saddle specialists Brooks
- Will artificial intelligence change cycling? – An interview with ChatGPT from OpenAI
The free, digital magazine is at the heart of what we do and undoubtedly the best way to experience our content. It comes with lots of interactive features, high-resolution images and videos, and a unique design. We’re sure that if you like our website, you will love the app. By the way, you’ll also find all the back issues of GRAN FONDO in the app – there’s definitely no shortage of reading material!
Trends, innovations and potential – This issue is full of new perspectives:
Cargo bibs combine technology and style in equal measure, emancipating us from the tight constraints of the jersey, and offering a completely new experience and riding feel. We reveal the most exciting findings from our test of 13 cargo shorts from the hottest brands.
Drop bar bikes with suspension elements are taking the market by storm. What suspension concepts are there and what purpose do they serve? Why should drop bar suspension elements necessarily differ from MTB suspension? What does actually matter when it comes to suspension and aren’t there better ways to achieve the same results? In good old GRAN FONDO fashion, as true drop bar fans we welcome every opportunity that comes our way and use it as a chance to give you a thorough overview of the market, providing you with some exciting new insights, lots of surprises and several effective suspension alternatives to improve comfort and control, some of which we already own and are totally free!
In cycling, you usually hear legends about solo breaks, record climb times or nail-biting sprints. But not this time. This is a story of survival, of riding through a sauna for eight hours, of drinking 16 litres of water and still not being able to pee, and of a famous German photographer who found himself in California. As savage as it sounds, get ready for a hell of a good ride.
They do still exist, the companies that manufacture their products with passion and according to artisan tradition and are thus fully in line with the trend. We took a trip back in time to England and learned a lot about sustainability, zeitgeist and what a saddle has in common with a good friend at the saddle manufacturer Brooks.
For the developers Reserve Wheels began with the converted scooter, which is equipped with all kinds of measurement sensors, a new aero chapter. The Californians want to stir up the aero segment with an innovative approach. Bye-bye, aero. Clear the stage for turbulent Aero.
What does it take to turn a strong idea into reality? What does it take to make a start-up successful in the bike world? What risks, opportunities and potentials are there to consider? We are looking for prospective founders, start-ups, imaginative people and small companies who want to change the bike world with their visions and ideas.
Is artificial intelligence changing cycling? We did an interview with OpenAI’s ChatGPT about potentials, limits and the differences between human and artificial creativity!
Grab your favorite drink, sit back and enjoy the pages!
Enough with the spoilers! These stories (and many more) are just a few swipes and taps away. If you’ve already installed our app, you can download and enjoy the latest issue immediately. If not, we strongly recommend installing it from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or the Play Store (Android Smartphones & Tablets) and downloading issue #021 now. With that done, you can sit back and enjoy the latest stories and reviews (ideally with a well-tempered glass of wine or delicious coffee in hand)!
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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Diverse
About the Author
Mike Hunger
From slopestyle and landscape photography to enduro and action shots. Mike enjoys trying new things and loves action. He also loves craftsmanship, regularly going on road trips with his VW Syncro van, which he restored and converted himself. Of course, his bike and his camera are always with him so that he can ride the finest trails from Italy to the Alps and capture the most beautiful moments. Thanks to his training as an industrial mechanic, his experience in cycling and his photographic skills, he can apply his know-how perfectly as a bike journalist, testing the latest bikes and components and documenting his findings. As a photography nerd, he also captures the reviews with his camera and ensures that the magazine features only the best images.
