Naked Carbon Cycling Shoes £299
A light, breathable, durable, water-resistant, seamfree, sock-like build designed using Natex and hemp aims to keep feet comfortable in our ever-hotter climate. The nylon sole contains carbon powder for a good stiffness-to-comfort balance. The outer uses recycled materials.
The minibus pulls up outside the futuristic façade of UYN HQ in Asola, Italy, while robot mowers tend to the immaculate lawns outside under an azure sky. I'm clutching what feels like a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory golden ticket inviting me on 'a tour of discovery of the most advanced research academy in the textile industry'.
I received my hot ticket as part of the worldwide launch of this sustainable apparel and footwear brand. UYN, by the way, is pronounced 'win' and stands for 'unleash your nature'. We're ushered into the imposing entrance hall of the large showroom building and assigned to groups, each with different-coloured wristbands. Then we're swept off in different directions by our guides for the day: ours is sales and marketing executive Stella Varchi, who, though she has buckets of enthusiasm for her task, thankfully isn't as eccentric as Willy Wonka.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2024 de Cycling Plus UK.
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Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.
No limits
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UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
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Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
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Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
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Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
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We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
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GOLD RUSH
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