Hi, I’m Liam, BikeRadar’s road and gravel presenter, and so far in 2023 I’ve spent almost zero money on entering bike races. Wow. That was hard to say.
Aside from a few hill climbs in October and the best bike event I’ve ever been to in spring, I’ve spent my time riding for fun and commuting, alongside running and picking things up before putting them down again in the gym.
2023 has also afforded me the opportunity to ride a gravel bike in some wonderful places.
I got my first taste of ‘proper’ gravel in Portland, OR on the Shimano GRX trip. Southern Portugal then showed itself to be a jewel in Europe’s crown when I went to see SRAM Force.
There were the rugged mountains above Denia on the East Spanish coast, where Robyn and I went pro cyclist spotting and, most importantly, the ever-wonderful mixed bag of gravel riding around my home in the South West of England.
Much to my bank balance’s horror, I’m planning on diving back into cyclocross and then getting back into some off-road competitive action for 2024.
So, this is a list of products I’ve discovered, loved and cherished in my racing sabbatical.
Specialized Crux Pro
If you want a lightweight gravel bike that climbs like a dream, this is it. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
£7,000 / $8,200 / €8,000
The Specialized Crux has always been a cyclocross race bike in my eyes, but when it became a gravel race machine, I saw it only as a good thing.
Most recreational riders such as myself have limited budgets, so having a bike that can be used for both gravel and cyclocross is good value.
Those recreational riders won’t typically have multiple bikes to swap between in muddy races, so if your bike makes it through an hour of racing, you’ll do better than if the wheels stop turning.
The Crux Pro offers plenty of tyre clearance. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
Key to this is tyre clearance and the Crux Pro has space for 45mm tyres, which I took full advantage of when racing the Battle on the Beach in the spring, a ridiculous mass-start race where the best gravel bikes meet the best cross-country mountain bikes for a sandy squabble.
The Crux benefits from a super-lightweight frame design that took learnings from Specialized’s Aethos road bike. Combine this with a long and low geometry and you have a very capable race bike.
The Crux is best suited to smoother gravel and faster riding speeds because the frame is quite stiff. But if you want a lightweight gravel bike that climbs like a dream, this is it.
Castelli Competizione Bib Shorts
The Affinity Pro Lycra is supportive and is showing no signs of wear after plenty of use. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
£110 / $140 / €100 / AU$168
The price that some brands – Castelli included – charge for top-end bib shorts can make your eyes water more than mistaking your deep heat for chamois cream.
Aside from my race team kit, I don’t think I’ve ever parted with money for top-end shorts. I prefer the model that is a few price brackets down and this year I’ve been reaching for the Castelli Competizione shorts more than any other.
If you’re spending a long day in the saddle, you can’t go wrong with the Kiss Air 2 seat pad. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
Castelli’s Kiss Air 2 seat pad is perfect for long days on the bike and the Giro4 leg grippers keep everything comfortably in place.
In fact, they’re so grippy you can dial in some razor-sharp tan lines if that’s your thing.
The £110 RRP is a lot of money to pay out for cycling kit, but they’re still a much better deal than top-end models and you can often find them reduced in price.
Look X-Track Race Carbon pedals
Look’s X-Track pedals use a cage design that is very similar to Shimano’s. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
£114 / $140 / €114
When it comes to pedals, I’ve always chosen Shimano’s SPD models for gravel and cyclocross duties.
The ground and trails in the West Country require pedals that you can trust to clear mud, so Shimano’s design was the one I stuck with.
Look’s X-Track peals use a cage design that is very similar to Shimano’s and it works very well.
After plenty of use and jet washing, the bearings show no sign of distress. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
The pedals’ biggest test was the recent South Regional Cyclocross Championships at a very muddy Keynsham course.
An ungodly amount of running through a technical part of the course saw my shoes and pedals quickly fill with tacky mud, but despite a number of small stones thrown into the mix, they continued to clear well enough to get my feet in.
The bearings show no distress, having been subject to plenty of jet washing, and the pedal body looks to be in good condition too.
Nopinz Pro-1 All Season Skinsuit
The Nopinz Pro-1 has a hydrophobic coating, which helps to retain heat and fend off some rain. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
The limited cyclocross racing I’ve done has seen me reach for the Nopinz Pro-1 All Season skinsuit.
It’s intended for use in the colder months for cyclocross, road racing and time trials. The main body of the suit is ever so slightly thicker than a regular skinsuit and it has a hydrophobic coating too.
This helps to retain heat and fend off some rain, but I wouldn’t call it warm or at all waterproof.
It is best layered with a technical long-sleeve baselayer for cold conditions, and in the depths of winter I used it with leg warmers too.
It is intended for use in the colder months for cyclocross, road racing and time trials. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
The long legs give excellent coverage, while there are grippers on the hems of both legs and arms to keep everything in place.
A dense pad is thick at the front end to make on-the-rivet efforts a little more comfortable and the number pocket in the back means no more pin holes in your nice new skinsuit.
It is comfy to stand up in, making running sections of a course slightly less uncomfortable.
And if you ride for a club that gets its kit through Nopinz, the custom option enables you to spec a shoulder pad for even comfier shouldering of the bike.
On CloudRunner shoes
The On CloudRunners use CloudTec Phase technology, which is claimed to give noticeable cushioning. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
£140 / $149.99 / €159.95
I’ve taken up running. There. I’ve said it.
Going for a run after work or at lunch is much more appealing to me than indoor bike training. I think it might be something to do with spending my working week sitting inside writing about bikes.
It also adds in some impact training for a bit of bone density that cyclists often lack and becoming a runner doesn’t really require much equipment. Aside from shoes.
Having dabbled in the dark arts (running) previously, I wanted to start with a decent set of shoes to have the best chance of being able to walk in the days following my first, second and pretty much every subsequent run.
A quick gait analysis at a well-regarded running shop showed no weird things were happening with my feet, so it was into numerous pairs of ‘cushioned’ running shoes.
I settled on the On CloudRunner, naturally selecting the most expensive shoes I’d tested.
They use CloudTec Phase technology, which is claimed to give noticeable cushioning. I would fully agree with the claim – they are easily the softest running shoes I’ve ever worn.
Using the On CloudRunner shoes, I have been running pain-free for several months. – Scott Windsor / Our Media
The only downside of the design I can find is that the sole squeaks quite badly.
This is mitigated by regular cleaning, but because these also act as my footwear of choice for airport days, it can be quite annoying.
On an odd note, the sales assistant in the running shop wouldn’t allow me to order in my preferred white colour choice.
It’s a strange sales tactic because I wouldn’t buy a bike if I hated the paint. Her reasoning was running shoes should be seen as a tool.
I briefly considered telling her about my meticulously organised tool box, but decided arguing wasn’t worth the effort.
The good news is I’ve been happily running pain-free now for several months and my distance is building. I might even do something whimsical, like join a running club, or enter a marathon.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
