I have no idea how to structure this post so I’m just gonna get into it. Things got kind of strange at times, probably a function of American fans in our Editors’ circle. When your favorite sport delivers the best it has before lunch, you have all sorts of time to indulge the ideas knocking around your head. Keep in mind that the online cycling content alternatives consisted of CyclingNews and VeloNews, not known for weird humor (stupid editorial standards!). A lot of our ideas seemed to get ripped off over the years, or maybe they weren’t so original such that the similarities were inevitable. I don’t even need to cite the FSA Directeur Sportif, our fantasy cycling game that Clydesdale and I dreamt up and SuperTed Supercharged into the current staple it has become. Anyway, stuff we got up to, you can find elsewhere now.
But some items, nobody was going there but us.
The Grisly Death of Girbecco
The 2009 Giro d’Italia was a memorable affair, as the organizers threw themselves a 100th birthday party, full of special events. The race switched its general orientation, starting in Venice and staying up north before finishing in Rome. It included a Milan criterium, a Coppi stage from Cuneo to Pinerolo, the resurrectioin of the Block Haus, a climb of Vesuvio, and a concluding time trial ending at the Roman Colosseum. To spice it up further, the Giro brought on a mascot, Girbecco, and… I don’t know why we became so obsessed with him(?) but we did.
After several posts seeking commentary from the cartoon goat of the Apennines, where Girbecco was given space to chirp our coverage, we then decided that the whole thing was a huge success and began lobbying the Tour de France to come up with its own mascot. Hearing nothing, we did the job for them. And I present…Tourbecco.
Then, well, things got dark. First, Girbecco was reported missing the night of the Rome stage, with little information to go on. Tragically, his murdered body was found a couple days later, under bizarre circumstances. The following week, Tourbecco was introduced to the media in France, and displayed his own brand of edgy commentary not unlike his cousin. He then participated in covering the 2009 Tour de France, but shortly after he too went missing. Rumors started flying about who was or was not a zombie, and whether Tourbecco’s death was staged. Vueltabecco went into hiding shortly after being unveiled in Madrid, and has remained out of the public eye. The Becco family had suffered enough. But nobody could forget the haunting images from that time.
It was a very distressing time for the sport. Fortunately, the various events wound up in the Italian justice system, where the matter is still pending after a series of convictions and reversals.
[Images were a collaboration between Jimbo and Crashdan, swapping photoshop details til perfection was achieved.]
Playing With Dolls
Not all of the long-running hijinx here involved acts of extreme violence. One of the sport’s compelling characters in 2009 was Heinrich Haussler, a dual citizen who shared German Cycling’s love of hair styling with Australian Cycling’s … Australian-ness. With a great season, Haussler was in the news enough for us to find out that his nickname was Barbie, because of the Ken doll hair look. But we couldn’t ignore the Aussie cliché opportunity, and before long Barbie Barbie was born. And brought to life.
The full Adventures of Barbie Barbie seems to be inactive but several editions can be found here, here, and here.
[All images, doll positions, clothing creations, dialog… hell, this was a Majope joint through and through.]
Know Your Cow
WillJ, a/k/a CyclingChallenge (@cyclingalps) is a presence all his own, the most active member when it comes to exploring the famous climbs of the Tour de France, plus all the hidden ones you really need to know about. If you have a checklist of iconic roads to tackle yourself, chances are Will has ridden them and will happily give you the download on what you need to know. Visit his wonderful website or follow him on social media for a sense of what I mean.
But by far his most unique contribution was introducing us to the real inhabitants of the Alps. And they Pyrénées. And the Dolomites.
Will J
Mountain passes look like fun in spring (sometimes) and summer, but they aren’t generally human-friendly on a large, year-round scale, for all the obvious logistical reasons. You know who doesn’t need roads, or restaurants, or walkable shopping? These guys. The bovine inhabitants of Europe’s large mountain ranges have all they need in each other and plenty of delicious, delicious grass. They do seem to find the summertime trickle of humans entertaining, however, and Will — having spent about as much time at their altitude as to qualify for Swiss citizenship — has discovered what makes them entertaining as well. Any Belgian could have told you that cows and bikes are inseparable, but to the North Americans (outside of Colorado), this was news.
Enter the Cow Calendar. Let me emphasize that this was not a Podium Cafe bit, it was all Will. But we were happy to host any and all of Will’s photo projects. The Cow Calendar existed every year through 2023 (AFAIK) and sold online to Cafe-sters and others. I had one on my office wall and got a couple requests from co-workers for the purchasing info. I’m counting on Will to add in whatever he wishes to share.
And then there were the Marmottes…
Marmottes Without Contracts
Inevitably, Will’s love of mountain creatures met Majope’s love of dolls. There was an additional tie-in via the FSA DS, where Will’s teams carried the Marmotte name and… well, Majope was not going to just let that pass. She adroitly seized upon the pitiful performance of the Lady Marmottes, Will’s 2011 Women’s DS team, as the team members opened a dialog with their disappointed (or complicit) directeur. These riders were largely left off of the next iteration of Will’s team and the Marmottes Without Contracts series was born. See the midseason check-in, and don’t miss the series finale… a star-studded affair!
The Binary Nature of Existence
Are you sensing a trend? Like, that maybe Cycling is about bigger things than just winning races? And that, with Majope’s help, they can be best explained through dolls? Through the White Unicorn and the Black Unicorn, who are still available for advice concerning your team. Some gifts just keep on giving. Although I asked both about Tadej Pogacar, and while the White Unicorn was supportive, the Black Unicorn told me to stay away, in no uncertain terms. Does it know something about the 2025 pricing? Never underestimate the Black Unicorn’s access to life’s hidden secrets.
To be fair, before they became fantasy savants, the Unicorns were known for their commentary on the sport’s big questions. Everyone has a little good and bad in them, whether they know it or not. And while we could see shades of it on our TV screens, the Unicorns helped us go deeper in exploring the many shades of cycling morality.
And Now For Something Completely Different: A Look Back At Civility
Risking getting into humblebrag world here but one of the first things I bring up when talking about the site is how civil the community is. Some of what I know about this is second hand — people coming in here and saying that they are glad to have found a more positive space than wherever they came from. I can’t confirm those descriptions, but I do know very well that the tone is a big thing. Always has been. A few things to consider…
Timing is a part of it. By the time things got rolling here in 2006, even in the early stages of social media we had been through a few spasms of incivility to see what the negative potential was for disrespectful behavior was. We weren’t so green as to ignore the issue. But we didn’t just lash out at anyone who crossed a line. Not because we are therapists by training, but because of him. He who must not be named. Rhymes with Schmance Shmarmstrong.
Just about everyone coming here in those early years was spurred on by Armstrong, the dominant figure in the sport — even registering in American pop culture — from the start of the new millennium, and still hovering over it in 2006, retired or no. Most American fans loved Armstrong at some point, but the doping murmurs were deafening, and we parachuted into a divided atmosphere. It quickly became apparent that people had intractable positions and disagreement was baked into the community, so we forbid commenters from bringing up either Lance or doping generally in certain places, particularly the live threads. Here, preserved for posterity, were The Lance Rules. We created posts specifically for people to wade into the controversy (see What We Talk About When We Talk About Lance), creating a venting space rather than letting it pop up where it wasn’t welcomed. So yes, we owe Armstrong a wry thanks for making us reckon with civility practices.
Oh, and I would be remiss for not giving some credit to the nature of Cycling. Compared to ball sports, there are a lot more heroes than villains, to the average fan. Cycling teams used to have stronger national identities and it was possible to exult over the home crew, while disdaining everyone else. But it’s not a sport where you have to pick sides. I personally find myself rooting for about half of the big names. Or I did before we started playing the FSA DS anyway. But you get my point — there isn’t the built-in compulsion to pick sides and attack, not to the degree of ball sports.
But a lot of the positivity is just a reflection of the personalities at the Cafe. I think I’m a pretty positive person, for better or worse. Gavia too. Jens, by Scandinavian standards, is downright ebullient. Conor, Andrew, Douglas Ansel — the editors have tended toward the light side. That matters.
Finally there are THE Editors, people who actually assumed some editorial responsibility, or spent enough time commenting or posting as to gain a sort of de facto leadership place here. I don’t want to try to name them all, but let’s just say we have people across Europe and North America who were capable of upholding the site’s civility rules. For practical purposes, the geography part mattered. When tempers flared, someone was usually able to respond and defuse it quickly. I can’t tell you how many times I woke up on west coast time having slept through the occurrence and resolution of a potential conflict. Had it been up to me, the comment threads would have burned to the ground before I could respond. Don’t underestimate how important this was!
So that is some background. I am grateful to everyone over the decades who came to this site with the right spirit, or at least found it quickly, and contributed to it being the friendly confines that it has been. I take pride in there being some more prickly personalities that eventually were brought around to our ways, which I can understand is not easy. Text isn’t a suitable substitute for in-person communication, especially among strangers. I get that it’s easy to take things the wrong way (you might be surprised to learn just how defensive I can be? or maybe not), and not just reflexively make the effort to turn around a negative interaction. So I appreciate people’s ability to make this as pleasant as it has been, whether that came naturally or through deliberate effort.
*****
Please feel free to bring up other nonsense that happened here, I am sure I am forgetting plenty. Oh and I love that this post will live on the front page indefinitely.
In September 2022, the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died in police custody after she was detained by the morality police for wearing a hijab “improperly,” sparked widespread protest around Iran. Authorities claimed Amini died of a heart attack while in custody, while her family said she was beaten. The demonstrations over her death quickly morphed into wider discontent with the regime.
In the six months since, Iranian security forces have routinely used draconian tactics to try to suppress protests, going so far as to arrest children. In a report released Thursday, Amnesty International found children arrested during and after protests had been subject to electric shocks on their body, had their heads held underwater, been sexually assaulted, and been threatened with rape. Many children were released only after they signed “repentance” letters and promised not to participate in further protests, according to the human rights organization. The Iranian government has not responded to the report and did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment.
A mysterious wave of suspected poisonings across the country has also landed more than 1,000 schoolgirls in the hospital. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, whose department is spearheading investigations into the poisoning reports, said in early March that 90% of the hospitalizations came from “stress and worries caused by the news.” Many Iranians have dismissed that explanation, calling Vahidi’s claim “ridiculous” and criticizing the regime for not taking action on the reports despite widespread surveillance of residents.
In a Thursday press release, the United Nations called the poisonings “deliberate” and condemned the government for failing to protect the girls and swiftly investigate the cases.
“There is a stark contrast between the rapid deployment of force to arrest and jail peaceful protestors and an incapacity spanning months to identify and arrest perpetrators of large scale, coordinated attacks against young girls in Iran,” UN experts said.
I grew up just 50 miles south of Ventura County, California and have so many fond memories of this retreat from LA…Mission San Buenaventura was my 4th-grade project, Oxnard was our spot for strawberry picking, Ventura Beach is where I had my 17th birthday party, Camarillo Outlets got me decked out for prom, and the Channel Islands was home to my summer camp for years. With so many awesome childhood experiences and things to do in Ventura County, it was time to see what new wonders were in store!
While there are numerous towns in Ventura County, we honed in on their coastal cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, and Port Hueneme, plus the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary for a proper sand and sea getaway. We spent nine days road-tripping and sailing between these destinations to pinpoint the best things to do in Ventura County for beach lovers! From surfing their epic breaks to whale watching in the “Galapagos of the North” to taking the wildest scenic flight of our entire lives, our time on the Ventura County Coast was packed with adventures.
Check out our Ventura County Coast travel guide and start planning your own trip to one of Southern California’s best beach destinations!
THINGS TO DO IN VENTURA
We kicked off our trip in the county’s namesake town of Ventura. With its roots as an 18th-century Spanish Mission town, it has nearly 250 years of history, yet its rugged location at the foot of the Los Padres National Forest and the Pacific Ocean kept it hidden from travelers for the better part of the 20th century. Until the Ventura Freeway came in 1969, it was a working-class town and a mecca for surfers in the know. What we love about Ventura is that, even though it’s become a popular beach destination, it’s remained down to earth, preserving its natural beauty and small-town vibe.
With a lively Main Street, just three blocks off the beach and the mountains, the day flows between cultural offerings to outdoor fun and a nightlife that pulses. Below you will find our favorite things to do in Ventura, including the best places to eat, drink, and sleep!
Tour Mission San Buenaventura
To get your bearings on this historic city, start at Mission San Buenaventura right on Main Street. I’ve long had a connection to this mission…we share the same birthday of March 31st (exactly 200 years apart) and I made a model of this colonial beauty for my 4th-grade project on California’s Mission History…so I know and love every inch of this place. With a nominal entrance fee, you can explore the museum to learn about the mission’s founding by (recently canonized) Franciscan Father Junipero Serra, the impressive aqueduct work by the Chumash Indians that allowed the town to thrive, and the beautiful church still in use today. We wandered the lush courtyard and caught the tail end of a service to soak up this city oasis.
Shop Main Street Ventura
Forget traffic and parked cars, Ventura has turned five blocks of its Main Street into a pedestrian-only zone with tons of outdoor cafes, artisan pop-ups, vintage shops, and one of the most pleasant places to stroll, shop, and dine. Better yet, 90% of their businesses are locally owned…including Patagonia (this is where the eco-conscious gear company opened its first shop and is still headquartered). The thrill of the strip is popping in and out of stores that call to you, but here is our must-shop list:
Iron & Resin Garage for the coolest clothes
The Refill Shoppe for eco-friendly household & beauty needs
Latitudes Art Gallery for awesome local photography and gifts
El Jardin Courtyard for the serenity of this shopping area’s green space
Cat’s Cradle Rescue, Bargain Box, and more thrift shops that support charities and sustainable fashion
Explore the Ventura Botanical Gardens
In the hills above City Hall, 107 acres have been reserved for natural beauty, education, and recreation. Founded in 2011, the Ventura Botanical Gardens are just in phase two of a 40-year masterplan, but have already cultivated over 100,000 plants! Mindfully designed with fire-adapted, drought-resistant species from Mediterranean zones around the world, it’s an incredible showcase of gardens inspired by South Africa, Chile, Southern Australia, the Mediterranean Basin, and California.
What we love most about Ventura Botanical Gardens is the community aspect. This non-profit is supported by 2,100 Perrenial Society members who donate, and volunteer their time. Pocket gardens are enhanced by sculptures, inspiring quotes, and benches to further encourage people to take a closer look. Entrance is $7, or get in free on Fridays or while volunteering in their lovely gardens. Enjoy the diversity of flowers, hiking trails, sweeping coastal views, and spirit of this special place!
Surf Mondos Beach
As a native Californian, I’m embarrassed to admit I never really surfed. Mike and I took lessons back in our first country of Brazil, but it never stuck…until Ventura! We signed up with the Mary Osborne Surf Academy, founded by this pro-surfer and champion longboarder, and hit the gorgeous Mondos Beach. The quality of the waves, instruction, and scenery made something click for me! I was up by the second round and Mike and I were hanging ten for a full morning of fun. Mary Osborne’s school has taught over 1,200 kids and nearly a thousand women over 40 how to surf, so it’s never too early or late to catch a wave. And no matter what, you gotta get to Mondos Beach to watch the surfers and soak up one of the prettiest beaches in SoCal.
Best Restaurants in Ventura
Ventura has an impressive food scene with a focus on local ingredients and their multicultural influences. As plant-based eaters, we found a ton of fantastic options, from ethnic restaurants to pure vegan eateries.
Beach House Tacos: More than Mexican food, this is a classic Ventura outdoor dining experience on the city’s 19th-century wooden pier, where you can watch the surfers as you savor every spicy bite. We loved Beach House Tacos‘ veggie Burrito Bowl, washed down with a Ventura Coast Pale Ale.
Seed Ranger: Aka, “The Great Vegan Food Station,” this 100% plant-based restaurant has an unbelievable amount of options, from Mexican to Hawaiian, Japanese, and American comfort food. More of a to-go joint or for a quick bite on the patio, Seed Ranger nails it when it comes to friendly service and fresh plant-based eats, particularly their sushi and “spam” musubi!
Rice by Mama: If you ask any Venturan for their favorite restaurants, Rice by Mama makes the list! This family-owned Thai restaurant has all the classic curries, noodle dishes, and unique twists for a flavorful feast. On the heart of Main Street, their patio also offers some great people-watching.
Harvest Cafe: We absolutely adored this health-conscious restaurant and its slew of plant-based options and globally-inspired dishes. Harvest Cafe’s airy contemporary space is perfect for breakfast lunch or relaxing over coffee. Vegans, don’t miss their unbelievable “cheese” platter!
Rumfish y Vino: Our Ventura County friends said this Belizian-fusion restaurant is their go-to for date night and it was as romantic as they said. Rumfish y Vino’s expansive outdoor patio and airy dining room had Caribbean-cool vibes and, considering their first location is actually in Belize, this place is authentic!
Historic Bar Crawl: Not only do these watering holes mix a mean drink, but they are in some of Ventura’s prettiest old buildings. Beer lovers head to Finney’s Craft House, discerning mixed drinkers go to Italy Cocktail Trust, and for those who want it all, Fluid State has such good vibes and libations. If you’re still up for a fun nightcap, The Saloon pulls in great DJs and a dancing crowd.
THINGS TO DO IN OXNARD
The Strawberry Capital of the World, Gateway to Channel Islands National Park, and home to 2023’s “Best Beach on the West Coast,” Oxnard has a lot going for it! Downtown has a ton of character, from its Victorian Homes, funky old theaters, grand Plaza Park, and top-notch taco scene. Oxnard is the most diverse city in Ventura County, with particularly vibrant Latino and Asian communities, that have historically supported the farming and shipping industry at Port Hueneme (the only deepwater port between LA and the Bay Area). With a long history of community organizing in the civil rights and farmworker movement, Oxnard pride runs deep and comes through in everything from the food to the street art!
Stroll Plaza Park
This European-style square anchors downtown with an expansive green space, a beautiful pagoda, and the grand Carnegie Art Museum. It’s a lovely place to sit or play any day of the week, but most lively at their Thursday farmer’s market, summer concerts, and festivals throughout the year.
Get Cultured at Heritage Square
When some of Oxnard’s most unique and historic buildings were at risk of being demolished in the 1980s, citizens banded together to safeguard them in what is now Heritage Square. Today 11 Victorian houses, a church, a water tower, and a storehouse have been turned into 25 fabulous businesses and event spaces. We happened to meet one of the Heritage Square directors while strolling this lovely block of buildings, and he tipped us off to the Rancho Ventana artisan winery in the Scarlet House, the ultra-cool Pipiripau clothing brand making modern Mexican heritage designs, the Square’s summer concert series, and themed tea parties (Steampunk and Celyon anyone?). Drop by on a Saturday for their history and architecture tours or book a private hour any other day of the week for just $2 more.
Beach Day at Oxnard Beach Park
USA Today 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards for “Best Beaches on the West Coast” gave Oxnard Beach Park the #1 spot!!! Framed by the Channel Islands, mountains, and towering sand dunes, this beach is a stunner! Plus it’s an outdoor recreation heaven with great surf, volleyball courts, bike paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, and beautiful grassy knolls.
Sunset at Hollywood Beach & Channel Islands Harbor
Hollywood Beach was a favorite of early 20th-century stars for their movie shoots and vacation homes. We came for a cerveza at the awesomely old-school Rudder Room and a sunset beach walk. It was one of the best sundowners we’d had all year, with the Channel Islands in the distance, birds playing in the glowing surf, and the lack of crowds! Adjacent to the Channel Islands Harbor, Hollywood Beach is also a fun place to watch the boats or take out a watercraft for yourself. Multiple rental companies in the marina offer SUP boards, jet skis, electric boats, kayaks, and even parasailing.
Nosh Along The Oxnard Taco Trail
With arguably the densest concentration of Mexican restaurants, food trucks, and taquerias per capita, Oxnard is contending to be The Taco Capital of The USA. They have so many, that Visit Oxnard narrowed down the top 15 into an interactive pass to help people navigate all this deliciosa. We started at Tacos La Bonita, a food truck so successful it’s turned into a proper outdoor restaurant across from Plaza Park. Their homemade tortillas melt in your mouth and their salsa bar has just the right kick.
We’re a sucker for micheladas and mariachis so after dinner, we went to El Chilto. The beer creations at “El Rey de Micheladas” come out like works of art, with everything from chamoy gummy worms, fire Cheetos, and a sparkler light show, with a Norteña serenade! If we weren’t stuffed to the gills, we would have hit up the highly recommended House of Tacos and La Huerta. If you can visit all 15 eateries on the Taco Trail you win a T-shirt boasting your glory…send us a photo if you do!
Best Restaurants in Oxnard
You could certainly eat Mexican the entire time in Oxnard (we would happily), but Oxnard has far more than tacos. Here are our favorite restaurants in Oxnard.
Honey Cup Coffee: With beautifully crafted oat lattes, gooey Nutella pastries, and a tree-shaded patio, this is a great place to start your day. Save a little Honey Cup coffee for your stroll along the adjacent Channel Islands Harbor and watch the sea lions basking in the morning sun.
La Jannelle Natural Cafe: This new eatery in Silver Strand Beach is a health-food dream for vegans, gluten-free, and organic devotees. The husband-wife team has a background in soil biology and wellness, and puts so much love into their food! We ordered La Jannelle’s Nard Nachos with jackfruit carnitas and El Capitan BBQ Pulled Porc with plant-based gouda cheese and slaw on a pretzel bun and savored every bite!
Tierra Sur at Herzog Wine Cellars: Did you know the largest producer of Kosher wine on the West Coast is in Oxnard? And that within Herzog Wine Cellar’s headquarters is a gourmet restaurant that draws kosher diners from around the world? Walking into the corporate office, we weren’t sure this was the right place, then a long hall led us to white tablecloths and candlelight. We ordered Tierra Sur’s Grilled Lion’s Mane with toasted quinoa and red pepper emulsion, followed by the rigatoni with honeynut squash puree and toasted hazelnuts. Each dish, including our poached pear dessert, came with a complimentary wine pairing to bring out the flavors…and they were all divine!
Tacos La Bonita: While we did not conquer the whole Oxnard Taco Trail, we can say Tacos La Bonita were some of the best tacos we’ve had in the USA! Plus, it’s unusually atmospheric for a glorified taco truck, with cafe lights and views of Plaza Park.
Ox & Ocean: Tucked within Zachari Dunes Resort, Ox & Ocean’s outdoor patio with lounge chairs and firepits is so sexy for sunset apps and cocktails. Plus, they run great happy hour specials. Their fine dining restaurant would delight any omnivore, and plant-based peeps will adore their mushroom bao buns.
THINGS TO DO IN CAMARILLO
Famous for Camarillo Premium Outlets, this town draws people from all over Southern California to shop their 160+ stores. I came here in high school to gear up for back to school (and even my prom dress) but made the common mistake of overlooking Camarillo’s Old Town, atmospheric farms, and unique opportunities for adventure. Surrounded by mountains and 15 minutes from the beach, they still get ocean breeze and 300+ days of sunshine, for an awesome outdoor lifestyle that we totally got into. Here are the best things to do in Ventura County’s very own Camarillo.
Shop Old Town Camarillo
A tree-lined street with historic buildings filled with boutiques and cafes, Camarillo’s Old Town is classic, with some edgy surprises for a town known to be more conservative. For example, the American Pie Records vinyl shop is doing so well, that it’s adding a second location as a listening room and late-night coffee shop. Across the street is Studio Channel Islands, a fantastic free art venue with exhibits that rotate every two months, cultural events, regular classes for kids, and a great boutique. Then the shop that really made us headbang was The Rockin’ Edge, a clothing store run by the fashion queen of 80s Metal. Melissa Cantor has made clothes for Slash, The Doors, Megadeth, and one-of-a-kind threads for the rockstar in all of us.
U-Pick Garden & Wine Tasting at McGrath Family Farm
Founded in 1868, the McGrath property is the oldest organic farm in Ventura County and is still run by the same family…five generations later! In their early days, they had land all the way to the sea (hence McGrath State Beach), and the remaining 300 acres are still thriving with sustainably grown vegetables, flowers, and a winery in the works! We checked in for our McGrath Farm tour at the charming farm store, with produce from the grounds and local sellers, specifically women or minority-owned! The store’s mother-daughter team Hilary & Kennedy explained more about their regenerative practices as we explored the rows of microgreens, flowers, berry patches, and outdoor tasting room. The McGraths have been in the wine business for years and are excited to announce that their label Public Domain is going to open a winery on the farm in the coming year! With our freshly picked produce, we cracked a bottle of their rosé for the freshest picnic.
Tip: McGrath Farm has a year-round U-pick garden and in March and April they are always looking for volunteers for harvest if you want a truly organic experience.
Hike Point Mugu State Park & The Chumash Trail
The Santa Monica mountains span from the Hollywood Hills to Camarillo, with Point Mugu State Park as the grand finale. We drove through Camarillo’s veggie farms to the Pacific Coast Highway and reached the popular Chumash Trail. Hiking switchbacks up through cactus groves and vista points to the sea, we reached a stunning valley. Another short and steep climb led us to Point Mugu Peak for sweeping ocean views and jagged mountains that I couldn’t believe were in my home range! With a 2.5-mile round-trip hike, this is the fastest and most rewarding way to enjoy the state park. To dive deeper, continue along the ridge to the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail through the Natural Preserve.
Ultralight Flying
Bungee jumping, skydiving, gorge swings…we’ve flown through the air in a variety of batty ways. When it comes to experiencing the adrenaline and beauty of flight, nothing, and we mean NOTHING, compares to this Skyrider Ultralights flight. Taking off from Camarillo Airport just before sunset, our open-sided aircraft banked the Santa Monica Mountains and skimmed the Pacific Ocean for breathtaking views and serious thrills. Read the full post and watch the video above for one of the absolute best ways to see the Southern California Coast!
Best Restaurants in Camarillo
Check out our favorite eats in Camarillo, from old-school restaurants to modern food courts to do-good cafes.
The Mark: Old Town’s hottest new hangout brings together a brewery, wood-fired pizzeria, bakery, and creamery to satisfy all your cravings. These four businesses face inwards to a common seating area for a modern food court and great community hang space. The Mark was packed on a Thursday night, with Topa Topa Brewing pouring a steady stream of craft beers and Freda’s Artisan Pizza tossing pies in the air for a happy crowd. The plant-based pizza was excellent and washed down nicely with a Nitro Milk Stout.
Old New York Deli: Serving some of the best bagels this side of New York and showing their NYC pride with subway maps and Yankee decor, this place brought us back to our Manhattan days with the good schmear and dough.
Braxton’s Kitchen: Comfort food with a farm-fresh twist, Braxton’s is a winner for breakfast and lunch. Better yet, a portion of their monthly sales go towards local animal rescues and nonprofits! Continue looking out for the animal kingdom with their vegan offerings like Soyriz Power Bowl and the Somis Sammy.
Lamplighter: We love a dive bar and we could tell from the neon sign and windowless stone facade that this was a good one. Order Lamplighter’s legit bloody marys and play a round of pool. There are a few sharks in here, but none of them bite 😉
Adolfo Grill: Named after the founder of town, Adolfo Camarillo, this restaurant plays into the history with old-time photographs and classic decor. Upscale American fare with a Ventura County sense of place makes Adolfo Grill a particularly great dinner option.
THINGS TO DO IN CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Fondly called The Galapagos of the North, the eight Channel Islands and National Park are a biodiversity dream with over 2,000 species of plants and animals. Just 12 miles off the Ventura County Coast, yet never connected to the mainland, these isles evolved in isolation, leaving 145 species found nowhere else on Earth! Layer on the fact that people lived here for 13,000 years (with the oldest human bone ever found in North America to prove it!) the Channel Islands are a place of epic proportions.
Note: Channel Islands National Park has virtually no facilities (lodging, restaurants, shops, or first aid), so come prepared! Santa Cruz Island is the most “developed” with a visitor center, bathrooms, potable water, and regular ferry service. Outside of summer, days are short and the ferry is infrequent, so make the most of your time on the island and keep track of it, so you don’t miss the return boat…or you’ll be camping!
Scenic Ferry with Island Packers
We headed to the Ventura Harbor to catch the official national park ferry, Island Packers. They’ve been cruising this national marine sanctuary since 1968 in the name of recreation, research, and education, and they treat this hour ride to Santa Cruz Island as an opportunity to introduce The Channel Islands and spot wildlife! A third of cetacean species worldwide can be seen in these very waters, so we saw multiple whales and, no joke…a pod of 600 dolphins (watch the video above)! We got off at Santa Cruz, but Island Packers also runs trips to the outer islands for dedicated wildlife watching, pelagic birding trips, and can help facilitate overnight camping trips.
Hike Cavern Point Loop
The best short overview hike on Santa Cruz Island, Cavern Point Loop offers incredible vistas of Scorpion Harbor, sea cliffs, and neighboring islands. If you have time continue two more miles to the beautiful Potato Harbor. If you want to keep your hike nice and easy, start at the campground near site #22 for a more gradual ascent and a clockwise two-mile loop back to the Visitor Center.
Sea Cave Kayaking
Channel Islands’ wave action has carved incredible sea caves into their cliffs, making it a kayaker’s playground! We joined Channel Islands Adventure Company for their 2.5-hour Discovery Kayak Tour from Scorpion Anchorage. The first thing that struck us was the incredible kelp forests swaying in the teal waters. We paddled along the sheer cliffs and timed the waves to ride through the rock arches. Dipping into a sea cave we saw a family of sea lions playing in the surf. What a morning!
Tip: The Discovery Tour offers the perfect amount of time if you want to fit in other activities like hiking or snorkeling and still make the afternoon ferry. Even though we love to kayak, we are glad we split our time so we could also explore the park by land.
Snorkeling the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is known to have some of the country’s best snorkeling and diving. With cold currents traveling down from the North Pacific and warm currents moving up from the tropics, there is an upwelling of nutrients that make the waters’ biodiversity off the charts! Channel Islands Adventure Company runs snorkel trips (some you can combo with kayaking for a full-day adventure) and the responses we heard from snorkelers made us jealous! Swimming through the kelp forests and sea caves, they saw girabaldi, lion sharks, and playful baby sea lions!
The towns on the Ventura County Coast are only 20 minutes apart, so you can easily base camp in one to explore the whole area. Though for us to get to know the county better and give our hotel recommendations from experience, we stayed a few nights in Ventura, Camarillo, and Oxnard. So whether you like to mix up your accommodations on a trip or nest into one, here are three fantastic Ventura County hotels.
Ventura: Waypoint Vintage Trailer Hotel
Retro-cool campers just blocks off the beach and Main Street? Waypoint Vintage Trailer Hotel had our name all over it! Started by a brother-sister team in 2014, the twins have been curating and renovating their perfect collection of travel trailers–from a 1946 Spartan Manor to a 50-foot tour bus with stories to tell, and more in the works! We stayed in the 1948 Palace Royale, with its original stove and fridge, birch interior, and candy-shell blue exterior. Waypoint’s attention to detail was spot on, from the s’mores kits, complimentary bicycles, cornhole courts, and sculptural firepits that had us gathering round with our fellow glampers. If you have your own swanky camper, you can also BYO and join the neighborhood.
Oxnard: Zarchari Dunes
During our three days in Oxnard, we made our home base at the gorgeous Zachari Dunes Resort, set right on the sugar-sand Mandalay Beach with views of the Channel Islands. With Spanish-style architecture and a recent renovation, this all-suites hotel has done a fabulous job with the decor and amenities…multiple restaurants, an expansive pool, modern gym, fun rec room, and a robust activities program. At Henry’s Gear Rental, we took out a complimentary hoverboard, SUP Skate, and skateboard, plus two Polaroid cameras to capture it all. Fun, romantic, and perfectly situated on the beach, Zachari Dunes is the best hotel in Oxnard!
Camarillo: Sonesta Select
We stayed at the Sonesta Select and this recently renovated, affordable, and conveniently located hotel was a great jumping-off point and soft landing from our Camarillo adventures.
Ventura Land Trust
In every place we visit, we try to find awesome environmental nonprofits that are keeping wild spaces beautiful and making them even more fun for residents and visitors, like Ventura Land Trust. This org is preserving thousands of acres for public recreation and education, with so many awesome programs. We joined their Harmon Canyon naturalist-led hike and they made us fall in love with the area. Hike or bike Harmon’s trails any day or join VLT for a variety of awesome events around Ventura, from their Wild & Scenic Film Festival, River Restoration Days, Lecture Series, Beach Cleanups, and weekly wildlife restoration.
#VCCvibes
We absolutely loved our time on the Ventura County Coast! To show our gratitude to the locals and help preserve the area’s natural beauty, we have donated to the Ventura Land Trust, Channel Islands Restoration, and Ventura Food Share. Many thanks to Ventura County Coast and their amazing towns of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Camarillo, for inviting us to their region and supporting our storytelling. For more on this incredible slice of California, check out VenturaCountyCoast.com and see our VCC Vibes Instagram Highlight Reel.
Welcome to Music Business Worldwide’s weekly round-up – where we make sure you caught the five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days. MBW’s round-up is supported by Centtrip, which helps over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their income and reduce their touring costs.
Elsewhere this week, HYBE dominated the news cycle. On Tuesday (May 27), we learned that it’s selling its entire 9.38% stake in rival K-Pop firm SM Entertainment to Tencent Music for nearly $180 million. The next day, HYBE America sold Big Machine Rock.
On Thursday, news broke that HYBE’s HQ had been raided as part of a probe into alleged insider trading. In a separate story, South Korea’s financial regulator was reported to be ramping up an investigation into HYBE’s Chairman. Meanwhile, HYBE also confirmed its expansion into China.
In other global expansion news, Live Nation boosted its presence in Latin America via the acquisition of Dominican Republic-based promoter SD Concerts. Meanwhile, Downtown Music Publishing rebranded Johannesburg-based Sheer Publishing Africa as Downtown Music Publishing Africa.
And finally, Spotify has hit 100 million paying subscribers in Europe…
Taylor Swift has successfully acquired the master recordings of her first six studio albums from investment firm Shamrock Capital.
The deal brings to a close one of the music industry’s most high-profile ownership disputes. Swift confirmed the news on Friday (May 30) in a handwritten letter to her fans.
The transaction involves the master rights to Swift’s albums Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation – recordings that have been at the center of a six-year battle over artist ownership rights. (MBW)
HYBE has officially launched a subsidiary in China, the world’s fifth-largest recorded music market.
A HYBE spokesperson has confirmed that the South Korea-born entertainment giant set up an office in Beijing last month.
HYBE is behind superstar acts including BTS, ENHYPEN, Seventeen, and others.
The launch of an office in Beijing marks HYBE’s fourth global market presence outside of South Korea, having expanded into Japan, followed by the United States and, most recently, LatinAmerica over the past few years.
Live Nation is expanding its presence in Latin America via the acquisition of SD Concerts, a live entertainment company in the Dominican Republic.
Founded in 2001, SD Concerts is behind many of the region’s most prominent live events, promoting Latin and international talent across the Dominican Republic, as well as supporting shows in Aruba, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Puerto Rico.
Live Nation said on May 29 that the concert industry is seeing continued momentum across Latin America, with the company seeing fan attendance in the region up over 25% in the first quarter of 2025.
The company added that “growing demand for live experiences is supported by the global rise of non-English language artists”, who, according to Live Nation, now represent twice as many of its top 50 tours compared to 2019.
When it comes to energy generation, we often hear about the increasing efficiency of photovoltaic panels. They surpassed the 20% mark some time ago, and with innovative materials such as perovskites, may soon leave current records far behind. But wind energy is also making major strides. In terms of size, design and materials, wind turbines are becoming more efficient every day. This time, the breakthrough has come from solving an equation that dates back a century—and the person behind it is an aerospace engineering student from the United States. Here, we explore her discovery and why it could mark a turning point in wind energy.
The Glauert equation
Hermann Glauert was a pioneering aerodynamicist in the early 20th century, renowned for his work on airflow around wings and propellers. As aviation began to take off and with the later advent of wind power, Glauert developed a formula based on blade element and momentum (BEM) theory to calculate the maximum power coefficient a turbine could achieve under ideal conditions. His equation enabled estimates of how much wind energy could be converted into electricity by analysing airflow distribution and blade geometry.
However, Glauert’s model, while revolutionary at the time, relied on major simplifications. It excluded key variables such as blade deflection and the full range of forces and movements acting on the rotor. In practice, this limited its relevance for today’s large-scale turbines, where the dynamics are far more complex—though that did not stop it from being used for decades. Now, an engineer named Divya Tyagi has fundamentally reworked it.
Efficient wind turbines thanks to a new mathematical approach
While studying for her undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University, Tyagi developed an extension to Glauert’s model as part of her thesis. In essence, she found a way to incorporate more variables to produce a more accurate efficiency calculation—in other words, to determine the total loads a turbine experiences, something Glauert’s original equation did not address. Her updated model, based on variational calculus, makes it possible to define the optimal flow conditions for maximising wind energy output.
Tyagi says she spent between ten and fifteen hours per week for several months developing the new solution. But the effort paid off, as this optimisation could significantly improve wind power generation. Her work has been published in the scientific journal Wind Energy Science, where the full study is available.
According to Tyagi, increasing a large turbine’s power coefficient by just 1% could have a major impact on its energy production. Beyond boosting output, the breakthrough could also lower the costs of building and maintaining wind turbines. This tangible impact earned Tyagi the prestigious Anthony E. Wolk Award for the best undergraduate thesis in aerospace engineering.
The development of more efficient wind turbines is transforming wind farms around the world. Thanks to refined designs, advanced materials, and the deployment of taller, larger turbines, more energy can now be generated in a smaller footprint. Consider that the first turbines in the late 20th century produced just 0.5 MW, while today’s can reach up to 20 MW—a dramatic shift in only a few decades.
This evolution has given rise to what is known as wind energy repowering: replacing outdated or less efficient turbines with state-of-the-art machines. The process makes use of existing infrastructure while reducing the total number of turbines needed to generate more electricity. And who knows—Tyagi’s refined calculations may soon help shape this new generation of high-efficiency turbines.
People asked to avoid swarms of stinging insects after truck hauling 250 million bees rolls over near the Canadian border.
A truck carrying millions of honeybees has overturned in the northwestern United States, prompting emergency warnings from local authorities.
The truck, carrying approximately 31,751kg (70,000 pounds) of active beehives, overturned on Friday in Washington state’s Whatcom County – a rural area near the Canadian border, about 48km (30 miles) south of Vancouver.
“250 million bees are now loose,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) announced on its official social media page. “Avoid the area due to the potential of bee escaping and swarming.”
Authorities sealed off parts of the area and urged the public to keep a safe distance of at least 200 yards (182 metres) as officials and bee experts helped recover, restore and reset the hives, according to the sheriff’s office.
The goal, officials said, is to safely re-hive the bees and help them locate their queens, a process that could take up to 48 hours.
While some beekeepers focus solely on honey production, many others lease their hives to farmers who rely on bees to pollinate their crops. The loss of millions of bees, even temporarily, could threaten the productivity of nearby farms during the growing season.
“While there is no general health risk to the public, anyone who is allergic to bee stings or has concerns should check the State Department of Health webpage on bees and wasps,” WCSO said.
Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating more than 100 crops including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years, and experts blame insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply.
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly sponsored the first “World Bee Day” on May 20 to bring attention to the bees’ plight.
Beekeepers often transport millions of bees from one location to another because leaving them in one location for too long can deplete resources for other pollinators, The Seattle Times newspaper reported.
In 2015, 14 million bees escaped a truck north of Seattle on Interstate 5 and started stinging people, the newspaper reported at the time.
Time. There just never seems to be enough of it. It always seems to move too fast (and, every year, it seems to just move faster).
Time is something people always tell me they don’t have enough of and is one of the main reasons why they don’t travel as much as they would like. (Money is also an issue, which I’ve talked about here.)
While there are more digital nomads and remote workers now that COVID has changed the concept of the office, not everyone is able to work remotely these days.
But, even if they don’t want to be nomadic, most people I know with office jobs (specifically Americans) want to travel more than they do. They just feel like they don’t have the time.
They are wrong.
Here’s why.
Let’s say you work 50 weeks a year and get two weeks of vacation. (Not American? Then you probably get a lot more and that’s wonderful.) Counting your vacation time and every weekend brings the total number of days per year you can travel to 110 (104 weekend days plus the 10 days in your two-week vacation). That’s a lot of time to travel. Throw in three-day weekends and holidays, and we can add even more days to our total. It may not be all continuous, but you can do a lot with that much time.
Let’s think about that for a second: 110+ days of free time per year. That’s close to four months of potential travel time per year! Four months! The world is your oyster with that much time.
When looking at it this way, our busy schedule becomes a lot more open. What are you doing with that time?
Everything is about priorities. Yes, there are certain obligations we have in our day-to-day lives that take up time but if you really want something, you find a way to make it happen. It’s like when I say I don’t have the time to go to the gym. I have plenty of time to go to the gym; I’m just spending that time elsewhere.
Because the gym just isn’t a priority for me (though it probably should be).
That’s not really their fault. It’s just how the travel industry tells us we need to travel because long and big trips mean people will spend more money. We internalize that concept and never consider other options.
However, if COVID has taught us anything it’s that there are TONS of things to see and do close to home. Even when you don’t have months to travel, as we’ve seen, you still have 110 days of potential travel per year. If you make it a priority, you can certainly travel more.
But what do you do? What kind of trips can you take on a smaller time scale that still have a big impact? Here are some trip ideas to help you plan to travel when you have limited time:
1. Take a weekend getaway
Spend a weekend away somewhere. Two days isn’t a lot of time, but it’s still enough to explore a city, town, or camp in a national park close to you. I used to spend a lot of time in New York City. From there, weekends away would include trips to Atlantic City, Fire Island, the Hamptons, the Berkshires, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC — and those are just the ones a few hours away!
Try to incorporate more weekend trips away. It can help break up your routine and keep your wanderlust in check until your next big trip. Even a couple of days somewhere are better than no days anywhere!
2. Go somewhere close
Only have a week? Don’t travel halfway around the world, wasting tons of time getting to your destination. Go somewhere a short distance away.
Living in Miami and Fiji is too far? Head to Central America!
In Sydney and Los Angeles is too far? Go halfway and stop in Hawaii, visit New Zealand, or pop over to a Pacific island nation!
In Europe? Well, 90% of the continent is a three-hour flight away so you’re set!
Stay close and you’ll need less time to do what you want. Additionally, the best flight deals you can find are often for destinations close to you. So be flexible.
Anywhere you haven’t been is a good place to visit.
And, when you travel, less is always more.
3. Be a local tourist
I don’t think people are tourists in their own city often enough. How often do you visit the museums, explore new areas in your town, or visit the major attractions of your city? I know New Yorkers who have never been to the Met, Bostonians who have never walked the Freedom Trail, and Amsterdammers who have never wandered through the red-light district.
Take the weekend, move out of the house and into a cheap place to stay, and be a tourist. I love playing tourist in my own city because it helps you learn and understand where you come from.
There’s so much around you that you probably don’t take advantage of when you’re busy leading your regular life that, when you stop and look for a second, you can find plenty of exciting activities to fill your time.
After all, travel is about seeing and learning about new things – and that can take place right in your own backyard!
Important: If you are going to do this, stay somewhere that’s not your house so it feels more like a vacation. Otherwise, it will be too tempting to wake up, run some errands, and then “run out of time.” For this to really work, you need to break your routine — and not staying in your house is important to do that.
4. Maximize your time
Don’t try to see everything under the sun. You’ll run around too much. I field a lot of emails from people who want to see half of Europe in two weeks or want to conquer all of South America in a month.
When you think that is how you have to travel and try to cram everything in, it’s easy to get burdened by your itinerary. You look at all those destinations, get overwhelmed, realize there is not enough time, give up, and hold off until you do “have” the time.
I get that you don’t have a lot of vacation and want to see a lot, but don’t! Sticking to just one or two places suddenly opens up a lot of time and opportunity! You’ll never be able to see it all. Even with my open schedule, I still can’t see everything I want. I stopped trying long ago. In travel, less is more. Quality over quantity.
****
You may not have months to travel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel at all. There are a plethora of ways to get out and travel the world on a budget without having to be a nomad like me. Telling yourself you don’t have time is just an excuse.
You do have the time and you can learn the skills to travel better. The problem is you probably aren’t thinking of how to spend that time beyond the typical “two-week vacation.”
So the next time you think “I don’t have the time,” think of all the places nearby you could explore. Yes, you’ll have errands to run and things that require your attention. But by using your time productively, prioritizing travel, and thinking outside the box, you’ll find you do have time to explore the world.
Travel is about exploration, and that exploration can happen anywhere for any length of time.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
The return of the 100 per cent mortgage is gathering pace in the UK as lenders loosen their criteria in a bid to boost homebuying.
April Mortgages and Gable Mortgages launched no-deposit deals this month with mortgage brokers predicting more will hit the market soon in a move reminiscent of the pre-financial crisis property market.
“The demand is clearly there, and as lenders compete more aggressively, it is likely we will see more low or no deposit offerings appear in the months ahead,” said Nicholas Mendes of brokerage John Charcol.
Specialist lender April launched a no-deposit mortgage available to people with a salary of £24,000 or more at a 10- or 15-year fixed rate. A few days later, Gable Mortgages introduced a similar deal on a five-year fixed rate targeting first-time buyers and those looking for newly built homes.
Other lenders that offer zero-deposit loans include Skipton Building Society, Halifax and Barclays, although the deals of the last two come with conditions.
These deals, which were mainstream in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, have largely disappeared as lenders have become more conservative in the face of more stringent regulation and increased scrutiny.
“We’re starting to see the re-emergence of 100 per cent mortgages but there will be a lot more affordability checks in place, which is a very good thing,” said Simon Gammon, managing partner of Knight Frank Finance.
Such deals come with higher borrowing costs. Gable and April are offering rates of 5.95 per cent and 5.99 per cent on their no-deposit mortgages, respectively. By contrast, the average rate on a five-year mortgage is 5.09 per cent according to Moneyfacts.
The new loans could “play an important role for renters who have strong, stable incomes and good credit histories, but have been unable to save due to the high cost of living”, said Mendes.
Demand for lower deposit requirements has risen in recent years as aspiring homebuyers with few or no savings struggle to get on the property ladder. The average deposit to buy a property in the UK is more than £60,000 and more than £100,000 in London, according to Halifax.
Mortgage experts who remember the 2008 financial crash point out the risks linked to such loans, which might deter large lenders such as Lloyds and NatWest from making these offers.
One concern is the risk of negative equity for buyers in the event of a fall in house prices as the value of their home dips below what they owe.
“The big mistake that was made [before the financial crisis] was that people just assumed house prices would keep going up and it wouldn’t be a problem to borrow 100 per cent,” said Gammon.
The new loans might work in specific circumstances, he added, such as for people who think they can improve the value of their home, or for those aiming to pay down some of their debt in the near future.
“I would not recommend it to someone who was just going to assume that house prices were going to go up over time,” he added.
Maeving is one of the rare EV manufacturers that has remained committed to traditional motorcycle design. The company’s new limited-edition café racer, the RM1S Blackout, is its latest testament to that ethos.
This special edition gives the standard RM1S’s classic silhouette a moody, all-black makeover. Limited to just 300 units globally and priced at a premium over its stock sibling, it offers something I personally love — you no longer have to settle for a Tron-inspired, alien-looking ride just to go electric.
Let’s start with the design, because that’s the centerpiece of this limited edition. A round LED headlight merges retro charm with modern function. The diamond-stitched bobber seat and analog speedometer subtly nod to traditional styling, while bar-end mirrors, matte carbon trim, and a blacked-out battery housing round out the details.
It’s limited to just 300 units globally
Maeving
The RM1S Blackout is powered by two swappable LG battery packs, each with a 2.73-kWh capacity. In Eco mode, they offer a combined range of up to 90 miles (145 km), while Sport mode drops that figure to around 52 miles (84 km).
Charging is flexible: you can plug the bike directly into a standard outlet or remove the batteries and charge them separately. It takes 2.5 hours to go from 20% to 80%, while a full charge takes about six hours.
With a top speed of 70 mph (112 km/h) and eligibility for CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) riders in the UK, the Blackout retains the performance profile of the standard RM1S. The brushless hub motor might produce just 15 horsepower, but it’s the 193 lb-ft (261.6 Nm) of torque at the rear wheel that delivers that punchy, electric acceleration.
The bike is powered by with two swappable LG battery packs, each with a capacity of 2.73 kWh
Maeving
The bike features a CrMo steel frame, non-adjustable 37 mm front forks with 4.3 inches (110 mm) of travel, and K-Tech Razor Lite shocks at the rear, offering 3.1 inches (80 mm) of travel with preload and rebound adjustment.
Braking is handled by a 300 mm front disc and a 180 mm rear disc. With a seat height of 31 inches (787 mm) and a curb weight of 311 lb (141 kg), it’s an ideal commuter for urban environments. It rolls on spoked wheels wrapped in Dunlop K70 tires for added retro flair and grip.
Practical extras include a 2.64-gal (10-liter) storage tank with a USB-C port for device charging, as well as an analog speedometer with a digital screen for ride info. A GPS tracker adds a layer of security.
The Maeving RM1S Blackout starts at £8,995 (around US$11,200), with an estimated delivery time of 8–10 weeks. The first production unit is going to Ashley Walters, star of Top Boy and Adolescence.
The diamond-stitched bobber seat and analog speedometer add to the traditional design
Maeving
The bike is sold directly via Maeving’s website and servicing handled by mobile engineers. Rather than pumping out bulky scooters with an identity crisis, the Coventry-based company continues to focus on making elegant electric bikes that feel like real motorcycles – and the RM1S Blackout is a shining example of that mission.
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