bicycle Archives - usatoday24

If you want to buy a very cheap bicycle, it’s easy: go to Portugal

November 21, 2025 by usatoday24

Spain and Portugal share just over 1,200 kilometers of border, an extensive permeable ‘strip’, full of history, economy and coexistence which in 2023 the bicycle sector began to view with some suspicion from this side of the peninsula. The Association of Brands and Bicycles of Spain warned about this three years ago (AMBE) in a statement resounding statement in which he stated that this proximity and extensive border could become a poisoned gift overnight. The reason: around that time Portugal gave a severe snip the VAT that applies to their bikes. From taxing them at 23%, they went on to apply 6%. The problem is that in Spain (and despite the requests of the sector) the same merchandise bears a VAT of 21%. The other ‘cycle tourism’. The controversy It’s not exactly newbut The Confidential has shaken it again with an interesting article in which he warns of an apparently increasing phenomenon: Spanish cyclists who suddenly decide to take the car, travel dozens or hundreds of kilometers until crossing the border and, once in Portugal, buy a good bicycle. The reason? The savings. Yes, they spend money on fuel and invest hours behind the wheel, but the tax differences on both sides of the border make all of that compensate. After all, in Spanish stores they pay a VAT of 21%, while in those in Portugal that rate is three times less: 6%. And that difference is more than considerable when we talk about models that cost hundreds or even several thousand euros. @kom_rivas How to buy Van Rysel at Decathlon Portugal and save 15% 🚴🏻‍♂️ John Ravine 🎥 Rodi #cycling #cycling #cyclingvideos ♬ original suono – UMC “I have saved 500 euros”. The Confidential echoes several testimonies of two-wheel lovers. And they all point in the same direction: depending on where you live, traveling to Portugal may take more or less time, but it is worth it. “I got up at 4:30 in the morning. I drove five hours and crossed the border to buy a bicycle in Portugal. I spent 70 euros on gasoline, but I saved 500 euros on the bike,” says one. Another fan, an 18-year-old Spaniard who trains at a cycling school, explains how he “tied” his father to cross the border just to get an RCR Pro, a road bike. “We saved almost a thousand euros,” he boasts on TikTok. On the table from 2022. A quick Google search shows that these are not isolated cases. In forums, specialized blogs and social networks there is a good handful of references to the topic: cyclists interested in knowing whether or not it really pays to buy a bicycle in Portugal or what directly counts what has been saved there thanks to the VAT difference between both countries. Not all are new comments. Some date back to the end of 2022, just when AMBE raised his voice and warned the Government of the risks of not following in Portugal’s footsteps: “We put the future of thousands of jobs, stores, brands and Spanish producers at risk,” emphasized. In his day Brussels decided give green light to countries that want to apply a reduced VAT in the sector, a measure that a priori had the endorsement of the PSOE, but which has not caught on in Spain. Is it that common? Good question. Difficult answer. If we search on TikTok we find videos which confirm that the ‘trick’ of buying bikes in Portugal to benefit from its taxation is well known among fans. However, a more diffuse message comes from the sector. In fact, there are those who say that today it is something anecdotal, although things can change in a short time. “We receive messages from cyclists who are going to Portugal to buy a bicycle, but the risk is that this will get worse and affect the industry,” they point out from AMBE. Stock earrings. There would be several factors at play. Not all brands are the same, but if there is something that the sector is waiting for, it is how the market will respond when the stock accumulated after the pandemic is released, when there were a spike in sales (2020 and 2021) that deflated during the following years. To dispose of this post-pandemic surplus, businesses in Spain have not hesitated to resort to discounts, a practice that has softened the blow of the VAT reduction in Portugal. At the end of the day, buying there involves the cost of travel, which is higher the more kilometers the buyer must travel. In the union there are those who believe that as this stock adjusts the shadow of the VAT to 21% will weigh more on sales. In your opinion we will begin to notice it in 2026. The example of Portugal. Portugal has not only managed to stand out at the community level for your VAT reduction to bicycles, which went from 23 to 6% years ago. It also stands out for its producing muscle. It shows it clearly Eurostat. Its latest available data dates from 2023, but does not leave room for many doubts: of the 9.7 million bicycles manufactured in the European Union in 2023, Portugal contributed 1.8 million. In second place is Romania (1.5 million), followed by Italy (1.2) and Poland (800,000). Spain occupies seventh place. In Spain the group has asked from the beginning the reduction of VAT on bicycles, a claim in which he is not alone. A recent report The Institute of Economics of Barcelona points out among its proposals to achieve more sustainable mobility, reducing VAT on the purchase, rental and repair of bicycles, as well as a 50% deduction for businessmen and professionals who integrate them. In April AMBE published a balance which shows that in 2024 the industry recorded a drop in turnover of 6.5%, which distances it from the data it reached in 2021. Images | Martin Magnemyr (Unsplash), Eurostat and AMBE In Xataka | Portugal’s radical proposal to stop touristification: an underwater … Read more

The DGT has a fine of 200 euros for those who carry the bicycle in any way in the car: this way you can avoid it

October 22, 2025 by usatoday24

There are those who would leave their own child at home if in exchange they could put the bicycle in the trunk of the car. I know what I’m talking about, I know some practical cases. And beyond opening the debate on whether we should call the officials in charge of ensuring the care of minors, we can guarantee that the DGT is not going to have so many concerns. And that’s what to wear a bicycle incorrectly placed in the car is grounds for a fine. Specifically, a penalty of 200 euros for carrying the cargo poorly packaged, as stated in article 76 of the Traffic Law. Although beyond the possible fine, carry the bike correctly It is also essential to guarantee the safety of the passengers themselves. It must be taken into account that objects that are not properly secured can become real projectiles and in the case of a bicycle, which usually requires the seats to be folded down, it can be much more dangerous. To give us an idea, it is calculated that at 50 km/h an object multiplies its weight by 50 when thrown into the void. These are data from the DGT that are scary and that should make us think if we have the car seats folded down to carry the bicycle in any way inside. Having said all this, let’s review what the alternatives are. What can I do to carry a bicycle in the car? As the colleagues of Motorpassionnot everything goes when transporting a bicycle because we will be risking a good fine and our own integrity. In that case, there are three solutions that we must take into account to choose the one that best suits us. If what we want is carry the bicycle inside the carThe most effective thing is to use anchors. To do this we must have adjustable straps that attach to the vehicle’s fixing points that we can find on the vehicle seats themselves. In any case, they are points that are not always in the same places. However, if you can’t find these points or they are not entirely practical, you can always find some bike fixing kits that are sold for the interior of passenger cars. Of course, it is important to look at the size because they are often designed for vans. Another option is to mount the bike on top of the vehicle, on the roof. It is not the most recommended because the car will consume more but, above all, we will be more exposed to side wind, making the mobility of the vehicle difficult. Of course, regarding the regulations, we can rest assured because the General Vehicle Regulations allows the load to reach a maximum of four meters high. In this case we will need a roof rack or roof bars previously installed on the car. The kits to take advantage of this possibility are diverse. There are those that fix the bicycle frame, others in which we can mount the bicycle with both wheels on and, in the last case, turn it over and hold it by the saddle and handlebars, with the wheels facing up. In any case, it is very important to ensure that the bicycle is securely fixed. The last and most recommended option, but also more expensive, is to opt for a bike rack. There are those that are installed on the tailgate and, in this way, are easily dismantled and assembled and there are those that are hitched like a trailer. In this case, it must be reflected in the vehicle’s technical sheet and pass the ITV when installing the modification if the original vehicle did not have the tow ball. Despite this, if you regularly use the bicycle and want get the most out of the trunkis still the best option. However, keep in mind that the load cannot protrude across the width of the vehicle and lengthwise it cannot extend more than 10% of its total length if the load is divisible and 15% if it is not. Furthermore, in this last case you have to mount one of V-20 signal. If the load occupies the entire width of the vehicle, two signs of this type must be mounted (one at each end) and in no case can the car’s license plate be covered. It must be taken into account that driving with a poorly legible license plate can also result in a fine of 200 euros. Photo | Motorpassion and Gabe Pierce In Xataka | This titanium bike looks spectacular. It is also the first 3D printed that can be purchased

A surrounded soldier, a drone and a bicycle have turned a ransom in the most surprising scene of the war in Ukraine

August 1, 2025 by usatoday24

In Ukraine they had given themselves Moments that possibly They will be remembered at the end of the contest for the advance of the Wars of the future. One day the machines captured and they made prisoners Without human help, another, drones took a completely autonomous attack taking off from mobile houses. However, few scenarios can give both themselves and the one that occurred this week with a Ukrainian soldier caught in battle. An impossible rescue. Yes, the dramatic rescue of the Ukrainian soldier “Tankist”, surrounded by Russian and isolated troops For five days Behind the enemy lines, it offers a clear advance of how rescue operations are mutating before drone omnipresence and the impossibility of applying classical methods. The operation, conducted by the Rubizh Battalion of the National Guard, consisted of sending a 40 kilos electric bicycle Through a drone large to allow its flight. The mission. Apparently, the first two attempts They failed: one because the drone was shot down and another because the bicycle resulted Too heavy For transport. Finally, in a third effort, the vehicle reached its hands and Tankist undertook the escape, although a few meters after it detonated a land mine that fortunately alone It caused injuries minors Even so, he managed to continue until he reached a safe area thanks to a new bicycle launched by another drone and was finally rescued by his teammates. The episode, registered in a video Of sixteen minutes, it reflects both despair and inventiveness on a front where each meter is exposed to air and air ambush. The emergence of mobility. The case is also not isolated: the use of drones For evacuations doctors or fighter extractions He has shot In the last eighteen months, driven by the proliferation of short -range meloding ammunition that make human rescue teams. Both Ukrainians and Russians increasingly resort to Non -manned land vehicles To move injured, transport supplies or open escape routes under constant fire. The lethal risk combination, airspace saturation and mobility limitations has generated an unprecedented dependence on these technologies, in many cases improvised but effective. The example. This trend has extended even to civil areas. For example, he counted recently The New York Times The recent case of a farmer in China who was saved from floods thanks to An agricultural droneconfirming that rescue robotization is already a reality beyond war. The time factor. In this context, the speed is decisive. Health professionals stand out The “Golden Time”those first sixty minutes after a serious injury in which the life or death of the fighter is decided. Each delay implies an irreversible risk, and in scenarios where enemy fire prevents the intervention of traditional equipment, drones offer only viable option. The ability to deliver a light mobility means, such as Electric bicycles of the rescue, demonstrates how technology is redefining the Auto-Rescate conceptallowing the fighter to move to areas where extraction is less risky or possible. The soldier’s scene undertaking the escape by bicycle under the surveillance of his classmates through recognition drones seems taken from a science fiction movie, but is already part of the day -to -day life of the forces in Ukraine. Strategic implications. In fact, even the pentagon has Taken note of these transformations. In future scenarios, such as a hypothetical conflict in the Pacific, classical air rescue operations with helicopters could become unfeasible Due to the enormous distances and the dense anti -aircraft networks of the adversaries. Not even a poaching hunting could survive in certain environments, much less a slow helicopter loaded with rescuers. Hence they are studied New formulas Self-rescate based on air and terrestrial drones, light electric vehicles or even non-manned aircraft specifically designed to extract injured without risking more soldiers. In short, what happened With Tankist It is, in reality, a rudimentary version of these strategies: a tangible look at a future where the survival of a combatant will depend on both its ability to resist and the availability of autonomous technologies that connect it with salvation. Image | Rubizh 4th Brigade NGU In Xataka | Ukraine has turned drones into armed soldiers against Russia. It is no longer necessary to “sacrifice them” because they carry launched In Xataka | Ukraine has become a combat drones school. Even the Mexico Cartel has infiltrated classes

Ferrari had been demanding a toy company for 10 years. Everything for Testarossa to be a car and not a bicycle

July 5, 2025 by usatoday24

To whom we already comb some gray hair, the name Testarossa transports us directly to the Miami of the late 80s, when Sonny Crockettand Rico Tubbs they jumped from the yachts of the drug traffickers and put themselves at the wheel of a Ferrari Testarossa Blanco in the Mythical corruption in Miami (Miami Vice). In a good part thanks to that series, Ferrari turned the Testarossa in a legend Departure from Pininfarina pencils, causing all the children of the time to sigh to see the unmistakable lateral air intakes (they were known as cheese gradators) of this model. However, in an act of monumental awkwardness by Ferrari, the Italian firm lost commercial control of the Testarossa brand. According The published by Reutersa judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (TJUE) has been returned after more than a decade fighting for them. “A toy” that one day set up a V12 The nightmare for Ferrari with the Testarossa brand began just over a decade ago. AUTEC AG, a German toy company, appealed to the expiration of the Testarossa brand registration proving that Ferrari had not used it in any product between 2010 and 2015. The European trademarks They establish that, although trademarks have been registered, they must use them within five years since their registration. This loophole allowed to request the rights of uses on the Testarossa brand before the Office of Intellectual Property of the European Union (EUIPO) that accepted the petition. From that moment, the name of the Ferrari engineering jewel of the 80s, which mounted a 390 hp V12 engine That allowed him to touch the 300 km/h, it could also be an electric bicycle, razor machinillas or a radio -controlled car. In the late 80s, the new Ferrari Testarossa had an approximate price of about 145,000 euros, which is equivalent to about 419,000 today. Today, some of those cars They have come to auction for up to 241,000 euros. Not bad for a car with more than 35 years. The Ferrari Testarossa are eternal According to assured Andrea Scioletti, director of Used Vehicles of Ferrari A Drivemore than 90% of the Ferrari who have left the Maranello factory They are still in circulation. Paradoxically, That reliability It is the one that has saved the Italian manufacturer from losing his most legendary brand. The 7,000 units of the Ferrari Testarossa were manufactured between 1984 and 1996. Since then, that model has only been marketed through second -hand concessionaires or Distributors authorized by Ferrarias well as that of its spare parts. According to The criterion of the Court of Justice of the European Union, those resale of products under that brand can already constitute an effective use of the brand, either directly through its distributors, or authorizing your sale When it comes to third parties. With This sentencethe European Court revoked an earlier ruling of the Regional Court of Düsseldorf that, according to The published In the German Spiegelgranted AUTEC AG the right of use of the Testarossa brand by denoting the argument of second -hand cars and the spare parts that Ferrari wielded. “The use of the brand to guarantee the identity of the origin of the products for which it was registered, by reselling second -hand products, can constitute effective use,” the new sentence details. The cultural imprint that left in the young people of the time the iconography of the series, made years after the end of its production, continue to sell figures at the Testarossa scale graduated by Ferrari. Which has also been considered by the TJCE as a form of use of the brand. In Xataka | The Rocambolesca History of Ferrari 512 TR of Michael Jordan: 15 years lost and has appeared among the ashes of a fire In Xataka | Ferrari will expand its blacklist prohibiting “tuning” and other extravagances: it is not for bad taste, they are just business Image | Ferrari, Wikimedia Commons (Janderk1968)

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