Cycling out of hibernation
Getting to grips with global chaos in 2025
by Robert, Kolja and Ben
This year has been more difficult than ever for many people to find motivation, and it’s not really surprising. We currently live in a uncertain and chaotic world, coupled with the January inauguration of Donald Trump as US President, and of the extra and frankly unnecessary uncertainty that this has brought to the world and to the global cycling industry and the community of cyclists around the world. Let’s be absolutely clear, for to do otherwise is frankly ignorant; Donald Trump’s tariff wars have hit consumers hard, and will likely continue to do so into the near future. After all, many products are made in the Far East, a manufacturing base that creates some of the world’s best cycling products, for many of the leading brands.
Yes, if you ride a modern, high-end, high-performance bike, then there’s a very good chance that all or part of it will be made in Asia – a place that has been hit hardest by Trump’s utterly ridiculous and stupid tariff policy. Why stupid? It’s quite simple – consumers always bare the brunt of tariffs. The costs have to be added to the retail price. And so, yes; as we continue through spring, towards an eventful cycling summer, with the spring classic races now done and dusted, cycle consumers are already weary and tired – tired of the economic uncertainties that come with an idiotic administration, run by a 6 times bankrupt businessman. Not really the best CV for helping to guide a global economic strategy.
The resultant mental stresses are therefore obvious, as cyclists have been slow to come out of hibernation, not knowing how far their money will spread. Bikes and cycling products become a low priority when measured against increasingly high food prices, fuel and energy prices, reduced investments and savings, and seemingly no end in sight to the randomness of decision-making.
Image copyright ENVE Composites
Finding the positive in every day
What does all of this have to do with cycling and with buying a bike, you may ask. It’s a reasonable question. However, when you unpick the layers of this debate, the current economic uncertainties and the US administration actions have everything to do with how we all feel as spring continues onwards. We are all now out of hibernation, and the sun is warming up, and short sleeved jerseys and bib shorts are becoming more common again on the roads and trails all over the world. Bikes are being cleaned and serviced and made ready, and new bikes are being dreamt of – and why not. Yes, even in… and especially so when in such times of uncertainty, we have to create a positive bubble around us, and to drive forward with a positive mindset.
We are each given 86400 seconds every day. That’s actually a lot of time… but, when it’s gone, we lose it forever. If we wake up healthy in the morning and are able to rise from our bed unaided, then it’s a good start to the day and we need to be positive. With wars taking place in Ukraine, in Gaza and elsewhere, if we wake up safe, then that’s another positive. And, if we and our families are in good health, then we should definitely be smiling. Six months ago, I underwent life-changing health issues myself. However, I’ve tried to stay focused and positive, and have adapted to a new way of living, and am now back out cycling myself – albeit with certain adaptations and necessary changes to things. Health is something that we take for granted, and yet it’s the most uncertain of all elements in life. If you can ride a bike, then do so and ride the fuck out of it and find adventures as often as you can, and spend those 86400 seconds that each day gives you!
Image copyright 3T Bikes
Buy wisely in 2025, with high quality bike brands
With so much going on across the world, and so much to consider, it’s more important than ever to buy wisely. A new road bike, gravel bike or mountain bike is a big investment, and you need that reassurance that it will perform for you for a long time into the future. Quality counts and that should draw cycling consumers away from the more well-known brands, and cause cyclists to look deeper – to find those bike brands who focus their attention on innovation and engineering excellence. Brands such as ENVE and 3T spring to mind, with an adherence on creating some of the best bikes in the worlds, and unrivalled cycling components.
3T bikes – borne in Italy
3T have been creating some of the best cycling components and bikes since 1962, and are currently regarded by many as making the best gravel bikes in the world, from their base in the north of Italy, where skilled artisans create sleek and stylish, modern carbon frames using their own filament winding techniques to improve strength and the finish. Their carbon Torno crankset is a work of engineering art, and has that unique Italian touch of excellence, whilst creating performance on the bike to take you to the front of the peloton. With their manufacturing base now firmly back in Italy, 3T bikes will give you that high-performance, high-quality cycling feel on the roads and on the trails, wherever you ride.
Bikes such as their 3T Strada Italia are setting the standard, with a road specific performance platform that excels on long and fast challenges, regardless of the quality of the surface. Thanks to the quality of the design and the build, it will also take on paved and badly paved roads without batting an eye; and with 3T’s new performance geometry, you have the right fit to maximize road performance with a geometry designed to excel with 30-35mm tires, giving you a more comfortable ride into the future.
For adventure seekers too, the latest 3T Extrema Italia gravel bike is regarded as one of the toughest and best gravel bikes in the world. The Extrema Italia is designed for the harshest adventures and toughest races. IT’s designed as an aero focused gravel bike, yet is dropper/suspension seat-post compatible, and can fit up to 700x57c tires for the ultimate in off-road comfort.
Image copyright Ben Thorpe
ENVE custom road, for a personal ride into the future
If you’re looking for the ultimate in high-tech cycling, then ENVE Composites may be the brand for you. After all, they currently make the wheels used by the world’s greatest cycling, Podajcar. Their high-end, ENVE custom road bike option allows you to create your own dream machine to last a lifetime. It’s a high-tech option where ENVE guide you from geometry to paint, to wheels and components, as each ENVE custom road bike is tailored to your specific wants and needs.
Further down the range, ENVE has a superb range of world-leading bikes, such as their race-bred and real-world fast Melee, road bike. With a geometry optimized around 27 to 32 mm tires, the Melee dials up the versatility, allowing you to tune your setup to meet the needs of the day. The ENVE Melee takes design cues from their Custom Road option, but where the Custom Road prioritizes customization, the Melee prioritizes efficiency and speed, using the expertise of the ENVE artisans to create your road cycling dream bike.
Image copyright ENVE Composites
Positive thinking creates endless smiles
Yes, there’s currently a chaotic feeling of uncertainty around the world and the global cycling scene. However, as I mentioned earlier, we all have to stay focused and to try to ride into a more positive future. I’m not advocating retail therapy as a solution. No, not at all. Rather, it’s simply time to accept that we need to pause and reflect on how we spend money on new bikes and new cycling products. We both want and need products that will last for longer, perform better and deliver more of what we need, over a longer timeframe. Brands such as 3T and ENVE are at the higher end of the cost spectrum… until you start to appreciate what they deliver and how long they will continue to deliver world-leading performance for.
We can sit at home, in front of the tv or searching the internet news and feel disheartened. Or, we can rise each day with a positive attitude, get those endorphins working and ride into a better, healthier and more fulfilled future. We made it through another year and another winter, and it’s time once more to ride. It’s time to dust off the cobwebs, to clean and service our bikes, and to start thinking about treating ourselves to some of the best bikes in the world. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal, and so let’s not allow an orange painted clown in Washington to direct our own individual pathway and positivity – it’s time to ride!
Image copyright ENVE Composites
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