Buying advice

Counsellor

- Specialized in Morgan Hill offers an insight into design, prototype construction, machinery and its own wind tunnel for development work.  
- Since 1974, founder Mike Sinyard has built Specialized from a one-man hippie company into a globally significant bike manufacturer.  
- Customised designs for stars, in-house suspension tuning and wind tunnel tests for athletes and helmets characterise the company's technical expertise.

Specialized home visit: guided tour from Schwarzenegger bike to wind tunnel

- Road bikes are legally normal bicycles; StVO applies in full, including choice of lane, use of cycle paths and prohibition of certain roads.
- Mandatory equipment: bright bell, approved front and rear lights without flashing in poor visibility, plus various mandatory reflectors.
- Offences such as missing equipment, ghost cycling or riding hands-free can result in fines and considerable liability risks in the event of an accident.

Road bikes in road traffic: these regulations apply

- Flashing rear lights can be very annoying for passengers on a Group Ride, causing headaches, for example, even though they are only a few metres away.
- According to the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), rear lights must be permanently lit; pure flashing without a continuous light is generally not permitted.
- Flashing lights make it difficult to judge the distance in a group and provide little added value; continuous lights and consideration in the group are recommended.

Flashing tail lights in the Group Ride: why they are more annoying than useful

- Ubiquitous beeps from devices distract from the experience and educate people acoustically instead of just informing them.  
- Enthusiasm for technology leads to complete, loud documentation of life, which means that silence and direct experience are lost.  
- The author calls for more silence in the forest and in nature, less music and device sounds in order to consciously perceive natural sounds.

Continuous sound when gravel biking: Why do electronic devices have to interfere with cycling?

- In terms of production, wear and tear and recycling, organic road bikes and gravel bikes are ecologically more favourable than e-versions.  
- E-road bikes and e-gravel bikes replace car journeys much more frequently, especially for commuting over longer distances.  
- If they consistently replace cars, e-bikes can overcompensate for their higher CO2 production ballast and are ecologically more favourable than organic bikes.

Biopower versus battery boost: life cycle assessment of e-bikes

- Within the first hour: search the area, take photos of the crime scene, look for witnesses and, if necessary, video recordings, only use the GPS tracker with the police.  
- Immediately file an online report and inform the insurance company; have the frame number, coding, photos, proof of purchase and file number ready.  
- Monitor online marketplaces and flea markets in the following days; prevention with a good lock, tracker, coding and insurance is key.

Behaviour after bike theft: what to do in the first 60 minutes

- Cannondale Topstone: KingPin micro suspension with structural carbon flex and Lefty fork for 30/40 mm travel, comfort and efficiency.  
- Canyon Grizl Rift: stiff carbon frame plus specially tuned 40 mm gravel suspension fork and flexing seatpost for race-orientated use.  
- Lee Cougan Innova Super Gravel: full-suspension dropbar bike with 100/30 mm travel and ISS concept for maximum off-road adventure use.

Gravel suspension: Three of the most innovative gravel bikes with suspension

- Household contents insurance is inexpensive basic cover for everyday bikes, usually only covers theft and often only €500-1200 per bike; check the night-time clause.
- Special insurance (fully comprehensive) is suitable for expensive bikes/e-bikes, covers theft, wear and tear, battery protection and often a pick-up service in the event of defects.
- Important are replacement value compensation, lock obligation, co-insurance of accessories and explicit cover for crash and competition damage.

Bicycle theft, part 3: Plan B against the super-GAU - economic total loss

- GPS trackers (AirTags, real GPS modules) enable active tracking of stolen bikes, sometimes with live location and motion alarm.
- ADFC/police coding with engraving or special stickers acts as a deterrent, makes stolen bikes more difficult to steal and makes it easier for the police to identify them.
- Security devices for components, digital bike passports and fake GPS stickers increase protection and make it easier to report theft; always leave recovery to the police.

Combating bicycle theft - Part 2: Deterrence is most effective

- The author is looking for a Specialized Diverge gravel bike for touring and is faced with six models ranging from € 2,299 to € 7,999, some of which are very heavy.
- Compared to direct-to-consumer bikes, Diverge models offer less equipment for the money; the author is wavering between Comp (€ 4,499) and Expert (€ 6,499).
- At 1.78 m, Specialized recommends a frame height of 56; smaller sizes offer more agility and comfort, larger sizes more sportiness and a stretched posture.

Gravel bike buying advice: I'm buying the Specialized Diverge - but which one?

- Bicycles must always be locked to fixed objects, as high as possible, so that bolt cutters cannot be supported on the ground.  
- The choice of car park is crucial: railway stations, backyards and short café stops harbour a high risk of theft despite the apparent security.  
- A combination of two different high-quality locks and correct guidance through the frame and bike increases the effort involved and deters many thieves.

What to do against bike theft, part 1: Why "locking" is not the same as "connecting"

- Abus Yarnit 4004K is a multi-layer textile chain lock with steel core, hybrid textile steel cable and knitted look in four colours.  
- Advantages: frame-protecting, rattle-free, flexible design, automatic locking, designed for short stops in everyday urban life.  
- Disadvantages: visibly dirt-prone textile surface, relatively high weight, a U-lock is recommended for parking expensive e-bikes for long periods.

Rope lock from Abus: The new Abus Yarnit bike lock is this good

Finding the right size road bike, legal tips, bike insurance or road bike transport: We answer the most important questions about the cycling hobby

Buying advice: Guide

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        All relevant referral links are marked with <icon></icon>.
    

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Counsellor

Counsellor

Specialized home visit
Guided tour from Schwarzenegger bike to wind tunnel

Road bikes in road traffic
These regulations apply

Flashing tail lights in the Group Ride
Why they are more annoying than useful

Continuous sound when gravel biking
Why do electronic devices have to interfere with cycling?

Biopower versus battery boost
Life cycle assessment of e-bikes

Behaviour after bike theft
What to do in the first 60 minutes

Gravel suspension
Three of the most innovative gravel bikes with suspension

Bicycle theft, part 3
Plan B against the super-GAU - economic total loss

Combating bicycle theft - Part 2
Deterrence is most effective

Gravel bike buying advice
I'm buying the Specialized Diverge - but which one?

What to do against bike theft, part 1
Why "locking" is not the same as "connecting"

Rope lock from Abus
The new Abus Yarnit bike lock is this good

Counsellor

Counsellor

Specialized home visitGuided tour from Schwarzenegger bike to wind tunnel

Road bikes in road trafficThese regulations apply

Flashing tail lights in the Group RideWhy they are more annoying than useful

Continuous sound when gravel bikingWhy do electronic devices have to interfere with cycling?

Biopower versus battery boostLife cycle assessment of e-bikes

Behaviour after bike theftWhat to do in the first 60 minutes

Gravel suspensionThree of the most innovative gravel bikes with suspension

Bicycle theft, part 3Plan B against the super-GAU - economic total loss

Combating bicycle theft - Part 2Deterrence is most effective

Gravel bike buying adviceI'm buying the Specialized Diverge - but which one?

What to do against bike theft, part 1Why "locking" is not the same as "connecting"

Rope lock from AbusThe new Abus Yarnit bike lock is this good

Specialized home visit
Guided tour from Schwarzenegger bike to wind tunnel

Road bikes in road traffic
These regulations apply

Flashing tail lights in the Group Ride
Why they are more annoying than useful

Continuous sound when gravel biking
Why do electronic devices have to interfere with cycling?

Biopower versus battery boost
Life cycle assessment of e-bikes

Behaviour after bike theft
What to do in the first 60 minutes

Gravel suspension
Three of the most innovative gravel bikes with suspension

Bicycle theft, part 3
Plan B against the super-GAU - economic total loss

Combating bicycle theft - Part 2
Deterrence is most effective

Gravel bike buying advice
I'm buying the Specialized Diverge - but which one?

What to do against bike theft, part 1
Why "locking" is not the same as "connecting"

Rope lock from Abus
The new Abus Yarnit bike lock is this good