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December 2019

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43 Articles

How to access your digital edition of Cyclist

The digital part of your subscription will officially begin with the next issue, however we have made the current issue available to you free of charge from today. You can use your order number or your Customer Number to log into the app. 1. Make a note of your Customer Number (you can find this on managemymags.co.uk) 2. Install the Cyclist app from the App Store or Google Play Store depending on your device. FOR IOS: Open the app and tap the cog or menu bar in the top corner. Select ‘Account’, then select ‘Existing Subscriptions’ and enter your Customer Number. FOR ANDROID: Open the app and sign in by tapping the person icon in the top corner, then tap on ‘Existing Subscriptions’ and enter your Customer Number in the…

How to access your digital edition of Cyclist

WIN A DRINKING SYSTEM FROM ZEFAL!

This may be the last-ever issue of BikesEtc magazine but that doesn’t mean you need to stop riding. And to help keep you going, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win this state-of-the-art drinking system from Zefal – the classic French accessories manufacturer who can claim to have made bicycle pumps for the 1910 Tour de France winner Octave LaPize. Consisting of two bottles and two cages it combines some seriously clever tech to ensure you stay hydrated in the saddle. The Sense Pro bottles, for example, are made from Zefal’s specially developed polypropylene that’s not only flexible but will keep your drink fresh and free from any nasty plasticky aftertaste. Its double-closure cap also ensures it’s 100% watertight while its over-moulded grip ring and soft silicon valve…

WIN A DRINKING SYSTEM FROM ZEFAL!

Hello dear reader and, alas, goodbye as I’m sorry to have to tell you that this is the final issue of BikesEtc. Reflecting on our past five years, however, I can’t help but humbly note our achievements. We’ve interviewed all the top names in cycling from Shanaze Reade to Sir Bradley Wiggins. We’ve met legends like Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman, and hung with round-the-world record breakers like Mark Beaumont and Jenny Graham. Heck, we’ve even had a stab at a world record ourselves when our columnist Pav Bryan came within a whisker of doing the equivalent of back-to-back time-trials across America’s Route 66. Inspiring stuff indeed and, for me, that was always the point of this magazine. When I came on board the title 50 issues ago, I saw…

The Light Blue Robinson V2

What is it? The Light Blue describes its Robinson model as an ‘all-round road sports bike’. Taking a Reynolds steel frame as its starting point, it comes with disc brakes and wide but slick 32c tyres. Giving it the ability to roll easily over a range of surfaces, it’s not a gnarly adventure rig, yet is far more capable than a standard road bike. Quick to get going, and with the space to fit racks and guards, you could certainly use it for touring, but the label of ‘touring bike’ doesn’t quite fit it either. Instead, it shifts expectations slightly to create something prioritising both versatility and speed over distance. Now on to its second iteration, as denoted by the V2 suffix, this latest version sees the bike’s finishing kit…

The Light Blue Robinson V2

Rapha teams up with Gore

Materials science company W. L. Gore & Associates can summon the weather on command. From arid deserts to freezing storms, its new testing facility in Maryland, USA even includes a rain tower that’ll shoot different types of droplet from a height of 25ft while simulating winds from 1 to 22 mph and temperatures ranging from 5 to 21°C. Famously ‘guaranteed to keep you dry’, as any hiker will tell you, it makes the best wet-weather fabrics you can buy. Now Rapha has got it together with the US brand to produce three new foul-weather cycling jackets, which marry typical Rapha styling with Gore’s high-science approach to material design. Spanning Rapha’s Pro Team and Explore ranges, the first of these uses Gore’s latest Shakedry material. Tested by the EF Education First…

Rapha teams up with Gore

SUBTLE SUSPENSION FOR YOUR BOTTOM

With a floating shell and unique vibration dampening foam, the Sagma saddle aims to keep you coupled to the bike, but isolated from the ground. Made by German firm BikeYoke, to achieve this its detachable rails sit atop two elastomer bumpers, allowing the saddle to absorb vibrations before they hit the base of your spine. At the same time, the design also allows it to pivot as you lean and pedal, supposedly reducing friction on your thighs while increasing the contact area between the two for more steering control. Interchangeable to suit the weight of the rider, the upper part of the saddle is just as clever and equally customisable. Coming in unisex 130 and 142mm widths to suit your pelvis, the saddle’s shell is topped with slow-rebounding foam padding.…

SUBTLE SUSPENSION FOR YOUR BOTTOM

Single-ring drivetrains hit the big time

When riders on 3T-sponsored Aqua Blue Sport team were obliged to use SRAM’s single-chainring drivetrain, the experiment ended in bitter recriminations. Branded a publicity stunt by some of the team when trialled last year, the idea that pros might make the switch to a single chainring looked dead and buried. However, the recent World Championships in Harrogate saw the idea resurrected, with multiple racers opting for similar set-ups entirely of their own free will. Seen in use across multiple disciplines, British racer Alex Dowsett secured his fifth place in the Men’s Time Trial on a single ring, while American Magnus Sheffield got bronze in the Junior Men’s Road Race aboard a 3T Strada bike. However, given the long and hilly nature of the Elite Road Race, it was Dutch rider…

Single-ring drivetrains hit the big time

PREPARED TO BLEED FOR YOUR INSIGHTS?

Want to dig deeper into your data? Many riders enjoy looking at their metrics on a screen, but short of chopping up your power data into different chunks, how much insight are you actually gaining? Claiming to be the world’s most advanced performance analysis software, INSCYD’s range of tools have been used by WorldTour pro teams, including Bora–Hansgrohe and Jumbo–Visma. Created by Sebastian Weber, former head of sports science at T-Mobile, the programmes are aimed at coaches rather than consumers. However, they’re now becoming more widely available to non-sponsored athletes. Breaking down the constituent parts of your performance including aerobic and glycolytic capacity, anaerobic threshold, lactate accumulation and recovery, fat-carbohydrate combustion, buffering capacity, and even creatine phosphate usage, it’s in-depth stuff. And partly why you’ll need a coach along with…

PREPARED TO BLEED FOR YOUR INSIGHTS?

Small bikes for big adventures

Bikepacking promises a lot of what’s always been great about touring holidays. Escaping the city, getting out into nature, and doing the whole thing without spending too much money, it’s no surprise plenty of parents would like to bring their children along, too. However, until recently there’s been few bikes for smaller riders dedicated to this type of cycling, meaning kids often find themselves doubly disadvantaged when chasing after adult riders. Now German brand Bombtrack has released a miniaturised version of its Beyond adventure bike. Called the Junior, its wheels may have shrunk from 29 down to 24 inches, but the bike’s personality and capabilities remain largely the same. Able to take on rough terrain, it’s made of aluminium for reduced weight, has chunky tyres and disc brakes, along with…

Small bikes for big adventures

VIRTUAL CHEATING LEADS TO REAL-WORLD SUSPENSION

As surely as every new mode of communication will be used to distribute nudie pics, so every innovation in cycling seems to be employed for cheating. This inevitability played out at the first-ever British eRacing National Championship. The event saw riders sweating it out on static bikes in a swanky-looking TV studio before Cameron Jeffers was eventually declared the winner. However, it later transpired that he’d used a hack to unlock the Zwift Concept Z1 bike, commonly referred to as the ‘Tron-bike’, on which he competed. Deemed by British Cycling as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage, the governing body charged him with unsporting conduct, disqualified his result, and hit him with a six-month ban and £250 fine. This ban for virtual misdemeanours will also extend to reality, meaning…

VIRTUAL CHEATING LEADS TO REAL-WORLD SUSPENSION

Christmas Wishlist Bikes

Superbikes may be just a dream to most riders, but the technology and design that goes into them often trickles down to more attainable price points over the years. For proof, look no further than things like internal cable routing and the aero design features that you can find on many more attainable road bikes these days. Which is why this month, we’ve tested three of the most desirable bikes currently available to see what advantages the current crop of high-end machines possess. Because even if these Christmas wish-list wonders are a lottery win away for you (and us!), they still have features that we could all be enjoying in the future. SEE PAGE 90 FOR OUR RIDE OUT REPORT! SRAM AXS 12 speed-–Is it the future? With two of…

Christmas Wishlist Bikes

S-Works Tarmac SL6 SRAM eTAP

For many, Specialized’s S-Works range is regarded as a benchmark, employing components, framesets and wheels all usually at the cutting-edge of design. Its SL6 incarnation of the Tarmac seems to tick all our wish-list boxes as its claimed to be lighter, more aero and comfortable than its rivals. Our test model features the very latest high-end SRAM Red AXS 12-speed wireless groupset. It also has an integrated Quarq power meter within the Red AXS chainset, which performs faultlessly. Although when your chainrings wear out replacing them (and the power meter) will set you back £700! Matching this lightweight bike (it’s 6.79kg) to a wide ratio 10-33 cassette makes it very capable, particularly on climbs. And as aerodynamics are clearly crucial to its design, it feels impressively quick to ride. It’s…

S-Works Tarmac SL6 SRAM eTAP

X-Lite Six Disc eTap AXS

Despite being established in 1907, Rose may not be a brand you’re familiar with. Based in Germany, these days it sells direct online to customers around the world and has developed a reputation for bikes that deliver high performance and excellent value for money. The X-Lite Six disc we have on test is the highest spec you can buy, but we think it might also be the cheapest road bike with full SRAM Red AXS that you can buy. Although its groupset does differ from the version fitted to the S-Works in that it has a different cassette ratio of 11-28 and no integrated power meter. When ordering online you can spec your bike out to suit your needs, with Rose offering a choice of gear ratios and handlebar widths,…

X-Lite Six Disc eTap AXS

No, this isn’t a new aero road bike from Orbea, it’s an update of its Orca, which it’s claiming is now lighter, and more comfortable with improved aerodynamics. And thanks to the MyO function on Orbea’s website, you can also improve its looks and performance by choosing from a variety of part sizes to better suit your needs – such as stem length – as well as create a custom paint job. It’s an impressively in-depth service that can help you create your ideal bike. On the road, the new Orca feels like a bike built for aggressive riding. It’s particularly impressive on the descents, where it’s incredibly agile through the bends, being quick to turn but secure. Comfort is also good. Although its front end doesn’t quite match that…

When it comes to forking out a fortune on a bike-–or indeed getting someone else to this Christmas – three things matter most: performance, brand prestige and value. The Specialized S-Works Tarmac is definitely a bike with the kudos to win you many admiring glances, but it also has a performance and spec to match. On the road, it’s so light and fast it offers a ride that’s little short of incredible. But then it does cost as much as some cars. The new Orbea Orca, meanwhile, may claim to be an all-rounder, but its sleek design gives it a thoroughly race-orientated look. And while it can’t quite match the others here for weight (it’s about a kilo heavier), it still offers a fast, agile, confidence-inspiring ride. It’s also the…

FROM MACHU PICCHU TO ULTRA SUPREMACY

In his local Peruvian Inca dialect Rodney Soncco’s surname translates to heart – which pretty much sums this ultra-cycling phenomenon up. The 29-year-old left his native Peru behind many years back in search of work and a brighter future in Italy. Not long after, he discovered cycling, which led him to chance his luck in the first-ever BikingMan Inca Divide race in 2017. Since then, he’s gone on to win almost all of the events in this thriving global ultra-race series, and next year he has his sights firmly set on having a crack at the hardest race in the world – the 4,800km Race Across America (RAAM). Here’s what he has to say about ultra racing and his route into cycling… BikesEtc: Peruvian bike racers aren't common, are they?…

FROM MACHU PICCHU TO ULTRA SUPREMACY

THE CYCLIST’S ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE

According to Cycling UK, 62% of Brits believe that cycling on roads is too dangerous. Our heavily congested highways no doubt play their part in people having that perception, but it’s simply not true. In fact, studies have found that, in reality, cycling is no more dangerous than walking. Not that riding a bike is an entirely risk-free exercise. Spills, sudden changes in weather, angry motorists and even spooked-out pooches all have the power to potentially wreck your ride. To be forewarned, though, is to be forearmed, so we’ve considered some of the most common hazards you’re likely to encounter when you ride a bike, how best to cope with them and how, ultimately, to make sure that wherever you’re headed you arrive alive… SURVIVING A CRASH Coming a cropper…

THE CYCLIST’S ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Take the sting out of punctures with Fumpa

There's no 10 minutes longer than those you spend pumping up a tyre after a puncture. Stuck alone at the roadside as the cars whizz by, or labouring under the reproachful eyes of your mates, Fumpa wants to give you a hand. To do this, it’s invented a pair of lithium-powered bike pumps that’ll effortlessly inflate a road bike tyre up to a rock-hard 120 psi in under a minute. Easier to use and more eco-friendly than C02, they also respectively perform better than either a mini pump or a track pump. Coming in standard and mini varieties, the pumps weigh just 380g and 190g each. In fact, the mini takes up about the same amount of room as a pair of CO2 cartridges and is designed to come out…

Take the sting out of punctures with Fumpa

Maintain focus with Optilabs’ prescription eyewear

Clamped to the face of every pro in the peloton, sports eyewear is a must for all serious cyclists. Protecting your peepers from debris, shading them from the sun, or enhancing your vision, for most riders they also make for a really thoughtful Christmas gift. If your eyesight isn't perfect, however, things can get tricky. Wearing them with contact lenses can be a fiddly business, while prescription sunnies are often pricey and can look a bit naff. But that's where Optilabs can help. Based in South London, Optilabs specialises in prescription sports eyewear that’s not only very stylish, but includes a range of cycling-specific glasses with prescription lenses. Starting from just £120, each pair is made in-house, allowing Optilabs to offer a bespoke service, a fast turnaround, and top quality…

Maintain focus with Optilabs’ prescription eyewear

Drink up with bottles and cages from Zefal

Looking for an inexpensive, Christmas gift that offers real value? Then a bidon and a bottle cage is a cracking combo that can help a cyclist perform at their peak all year round. Made up of 60% water, our bodies can’t function properly when they're running low on H2O. So here we look at the hows and whys of hydration and some of the best bottles and cages money can buy… 1 KEEP HYDRATED DURING THE DAY DURING THE DAY Failing to keep hydrated during the day will mean you’re already at a disadvantage once you get onto your bike. The NHS recommends you should aim to drink at least 1.2 litres of fluids every 24-hours, regardless of whether you’re engaging in sport or not. Water, fruit juice, or low-sugar…

Drink up with bottles and cages from Zefal

Christmas gifts to suit every pocket

From top-level racing down to just getting out at the weekend, dhb make gear that’s versatile, stylish, and always up for the ride. Its easy-to-navigate range features products to suit every purpose, and if you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas, something to match every budget, too. With cutting-edge fabrics from Polartec along with classic materials like warm and comfortable merino wool, each piece is tailored to provide low-key looks twinned with above-average performance. From glasses and jerseys to superb socks, we’ve rounded up six essentials that’d make a great gift for that special cycling somebody you care about, even if that person is you! 1 DHB MERINO LONG-SLEEVE JERSEY Perfect for cool weather, merino wool is both comfortable and helps you maintain the optimum temperature when working hard on the…

Christmas gifts to suit every pocket

Give the gift of not having your bike pinched!

The founder of Bouh had to have his bike stolen three times before deciding enough was enough. Sick of the spectre of bicycle theft putting him and others off commuting by bike, he decided to come up with a solution. The result is the SR600, a new anti-theft alarm system and powerful 600-lumen front light. Attaching via a cut-resistant metal band, the two-part SR600 unit combines a standard light with a motion sensor and 120-decibel siren. Fixed to the handlebar, the alarm turns on when the torch is unmounted. Making life much harder for anyone keen on pinching your machine, it’s a simple solution that makes safeguarding your bicycle easy and stress-free. Plus, with the lower half of the device containing the alarm drawing power from the removable lighting unit,…

Give the gift of not having your bike pinched!

Last-minute gift ideas

RAPHA TIE-DYE WIND JACKET The perfect present for fashionistas Tie-dye is set to be next year’s big trend, and this flyweight jacket, inspired by vibrant Vietnamese colours, will ensure its wearer is as on-trend as they are comfortable. Using one-third silk, it’s tailored for hot conditions. With a corded collar and zip placket to help maintain the jacket’s shape, its dropped shoulder seam also helps make for a comfortable ride. HUNT WHEELS 36 UD CARBON SPOKE WHEELSET The perfect present for proper speed merchants Claiming a 30% reduction in lateral flex over equivalent steel spoked wheels, the radical carbon spokes on Hunt’s latest hoops contribute to a sub 1,300g weight. Also employing low friction CeramicSpeed bearings and super-light skewers, only the best behaved can hope Santa might be wrestling these…

Last-minute gift ideas

THE AWARDS Meet the coveted gongs we lavish for excellence BEST VALUE The winner of this award may not have the highest overall score in the test, and it may not be the cheapest, but it will always represent especially good performance at its price. BEST IN TEST The overall winner in each group test. Scoring highly in all criteria, it will be an excellent all-rounder. Where two or more items achieve equally high scores, it will be the one that has that extra something – a touch of style, a special feature – that takes the prize. BIKESETC GOLD AWARD This prestigious award goes to bikes, accessories, components or items of apparel with exceptional levels of performance, design and build quality that make the must-haves. Don’t expect to see…

DESIGNER COCKPITS

Having a designer cockpit isn’t necessarily about having the most expensive brand of carbon trinket fitted to your bike, it’s more about having a harmonious set up that ties everything together and gives you just the right position for your contact points and build. We love a factory set up on a good bike. Somehow the style of those factory components ties everything together beautifully, yet find the right combination of aftermarket parts and you’ll go one better. Factory Plus, if you like. As you’re no doubt aware, fit is more important than style but as aftermarket manufacturers often have a wider range of sizes than bike manufacturers, you can seek to improve both your bike’s looks and fit in one go. DEDA TRENTACINQUE 35 WHAT THEY SAY: Deda Elementi…

DESIGNER COCKPITS

GRIPPY BAR TAPE

Just because we mention it a lot, it doesn’t make it any less true when we say that the fastest and cheapest way to breathe a bit of life into a tired looking bike is to fit a couple of rolls of fresh bar tape to it. Because treating it to some neat, crisp strapping will transform what is effectively the most prominent bit of the bike. With so many options on the market, this month we’ve focussed on bar tape that is classified by its manufacturer as grippy. Now we appreciate that may sound a little daft. After all, the primary job of bar tape is to make it easier to clutch your handlebars more securely, and we’ve certainly never heard of anyone trying to flog slippery bar tape!…

GRIPPY BAR TAPE

WINTER BASE LAYERS

Cycling through a winter wonderland isn’t everybody’s idea of fun. But while we’ll admit that it’s hard to beat riding in the summer, there’s still plenty of enjoyment to be had on your bike when temperatures dip. Although how rewarding your rides are at this time of year very much depends on the quality of your cycling wardrobe. With the right windproof, thermal and waterproof clothing to keep you dry and warm, you’ll barely be bothered by the cold and the wet. In fact, with the right layering – a technique which traps warm air between clothes – you may be surprised by just how snug you can keep. The foundation of successful layering is, of course, your base layer. So what do you need to look for in a…

WINTER BASE LAYERS

If you ride to work, the most important bit of kit to consider – after your bike and helmet, of course – is your backpack. Depending on your job, it’ll need to be big enough to hold all manner of stuff from your laptop to spare clothing. Ideally, it’ll do this in a way that ticks several boxes. Firstly, it’ll need to protect its contents from both the elements as well as accidental knocks and drops. Secondly, it’ll need to organise your gear for ease of access. Thirdly it’ll need to be secure yet comfortable to wear – you don’t want it so loose it’ll interfere with your ability to steer, but it’ll also need to allow your back to breathe. Other things to consider are how easily the pack…

£800-£900 CRACKERS

Why not save yourself the perennial festive disappointment of the conspicuous lack of a bike-shaped object under the tree this year by taking matters into your own hands? And if your significant other gives you any grief for ‘blowing’ something in the region of £800-900 on a new bike, you’ve the easy fall-back argument of ‘I got it on the ride-to-work cycles cheme’. For this kind of money, there are some particularly attractive options available, from winter-ready workhorses to racier steeds. Whichever way you cut it, in the final months of 2019, you can get an awful lot of bike for your money. This month, we’ve taken a representative cross-section of 2020’s latest models that offer something for every kind of rider. First up, we’ve the latest iteration of Specialized’s…

£800-£900 CRACKERS

SPEC FRAME: Specialized E5 Premium aluminium frame, FACT carbon fork GROUPSET: Shimano Sora BRAKES: Axis 1.0 CHAINSET: Praxis Alba, 50/34 CASSETTE: Sunrace, 11-32 BARS: Specialized shallow drop, alloy STEM: Specialized, alloy SADDLE: Body Geometry Bridge SEATPOST: Specialized, alloy, 27.2mm WHEELS: Axis Sport TYRES: Espoir Sport, 700 x 25 CONTACT: specializedconceptstore.co.uk ABOUT THE BIKE Specialized reckon no corners have been cut in the creation of a bike that’s unashamedly ‘entry-level’ yet offers light weight, refinement and reliability. It may seem a brave boast when they say the Allez Sport is ‘just as performance-packed as it is versatile’, but this bike has got previous… We’ve ridden many versions of the Allez Sport, and it’s not to be underestimated… THE RIDE First impression Forget everything you’ve heard about aluminium road bikes – they…

EnduranceAL Disc

SPEC FRAME: Ribble Endurance AL aluminium frame, carbon fork GROUPSET: Shimano Tiagra BRAKES: Tektro MD510 mechanical discs, 160mm rotors CHAINSET: Shimano Tiagra, 50/34 CASSETTE: Shimano Tiagra, 11-32 BARS: Level 1, alloy STEM: Level 1, alloy SADDLE: Prologo Kappa RS SEATPOST: Level 1, alloy, 27.2mm WHEELS: Mavic Aksium Disc TYRES: Continental Ultra Sport 2, 700 x 25 CONTACT: ribblecycles.co.uk ABOUT THE BIKE Ribble has upgraded the Endurance AL to a disc version for 2020. The lightweight alloy frame combines with mechanical disc brakes and a 10-speed groupset, offering two more gear ratios than our other two contenders. But will it be enough to make it stand out? THE RIDE First impression The Endurance AL’s credentials as a capable all-rounder become obvious fairly early in our test ride. The Prologo saddle, which…

EnduranceAL Disc

SPEC FRAME: 6013-T6 triple-butted aluminium frame, carbon fork GROUPSET: Shimano Sora BRAKES: TRP Spyre mechanical discs, 160mm rotors CHAINSET: FSA Omega Adventure MegaEXO, 48/32 CASSETTE: Shimano Sora, 11-32 BARS: Pinnacle 6061 gravel bar, alloy STEM: Pinnacle, alloy SADDLE: WTB Volt Comp 142 SEATPOST: Pinnacle, alloy, 27.2mm WHEELS: WTB ST i2l TCS TYRES: WTB Riddler Comp, 700 x 45 CONTACT: evanscycles.com ABOUT THE BIKE Now seven years into its life, the Arkose has been revamped for 2020. Pinnacle says it’s ideal for ‘those who want to explore the trails, or for the opportunist rider who goes where their mood takes them…’ And it’s all wrapped in a package that’s claimed to be as comfortable as it is adaptable. THE RIDE First impression It’s like wheeling an armoured assault vehicle out of…

On the face of it, you might expect the bike with the highest-level of kit fitted to it to walk away with the victory. And it nearly does. However, the Specialized Allez Sport has the most impressive frameset here, plus it’s complemented by a dependable Sora groupset and virtually indestructible wheels. The Allez is also the bike we’d recommend to those riders who like to return home with a smile on their faces, rather than just a contended smirk. The Ribble Endurance AL is a really solid road bike for anyone wanting to cover miles in comfort with no big surprises. Its Tiagra groupset is of real benefit to progress, and you could just as easily complete a century ride on this bike as you could commute on it daily.…

CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS AND CEREDIGION COAST

WHO’S RIDING MATTHEW PAGE BIKESETC GARETH JONES LOCAL RIDER & ULTRA-DISTANCE EVENT WINNER ANDREW POOLEY LOCAL RIDER & GRIMPEUR THE ROUTE GPS DOWNLOAD: strava.com/activities/2733331531 1 Starting from the southern beach and pier at Aberystwyth, head through the town centre and up the A487/Penglais Road and turn left near the top of the hill towards Clarach. Follow the minor road through Clarach and on to Borth. Within the town, turn left on the mini-roundabout and follow north towards the village of Tre’r-ddol. 2 Turn right onto the A487, towards Aberystwyth and continue for 2km to Tal-y-bont. Once you arrive, turn left after the White Lion and follow signs towards Nant-y-Moch. Follow the minor road up a long hill and continue around the reservoir and on to the village of Pontyrwyd at…

CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS AND CEREDIGION COAST

• WHERE: Redbourn, Hertfordshire • DISTANCE: 123km • ELEVATION: 1,550m • DIFFICULTY: 6/10 Where is it? One of the more neglected bits of countryside surrounding London, the capital’s cyclists are keener to head south into Surrey than north. More fool them. After the glories of the Essex badlands, the Chilterns are among BikesEtc’s favourite places to air out our blackened lungs. Stretching across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire, they’re even worth visiting if you live further afield. Designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, they form a chalk escarpment that cuts a sliver all the way northeast from Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Clearly defined by the steep escarpment along the northern edge, their southern slope is more gradual, and merges with the landscape before petering out into…

DELOITTE RIDE ACROSS BRITAIN

To call the Deloitte Ride Across Britain a sportive would be to do it a disservice. Cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats (LEJOG) is a challenge that must have occurred to every cyclist who’s ever looked at a map of the country. Not the quickest way to get from one end of the UK to the other, the 980 miles (1,577km) route used by the event is instead among the most scenic. With the roads open to anyone, signing up to the Deloitte Ride Across Britain means you can concentrate on the riding, while its team take care of the logistics. A big hit with our former Deputy Editor and ace audaxer David Kenning, this ride should be on every cyclist’s tick-list. • WHEN: 5th-13th September 2020 •…

DELOITTE RIDE ACROSS BRITAIN

SOUTHERN THAILAND

It was touch and go, a toss-up between what appeared to be a backwater slice of Southern Thailand and something a tad more extreme. For way too long I procrastinated over making a trip to Khanom, a small coastal region in deep Southeast Thailand. I’d been to the much hyped beautiful south many times, and have to say that I’d never really taken to it, not in the slightest. With Khanom lying just south of the gateway port for the infamous Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan islands (famed for their backpacker full moon lunacy), well, that just seemed way to close for comfort to me. With me being someone looking for something a tad more laid back and laced with a double shot of good riding that is. Scouring Google…

SOUTHERN THAILAND

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Where will your next challenge be?

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE RIDE LEEDS, YORKSHIRE 3RD MAY 2020 Ride the same roads as the professionals just hours before them and sprint across the same finish line in central Leeds. Three expertly designed courses wind through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales including large sections of the official Tour route so you can soak up the atmosphere. Ride like a pro and take on the Tour De Yorkshire Ride 2020. https://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-de-yorkshire-ride DRAGON RIDE MAGRAM PARK, NEWPORT 7TH JUNE 2020 The Dragon Ride, set in the Brecon Beacons challenges riders to the best alpine like climbing in the UK. Featuring the Dragon Devil the toughest sportive in the UK, at 300km and nearly 5000m of climbing. Whether you are looking for a new challenge or coming back for more the Dragon Ride will…

Where will your next challenge be?

Mathieu van der Poel

No rider was more hyped to win the recent World Champs in Yorkshire than Mathieu van der Poel. Despite riding for an obscure Pro Continental team, his amazing run of form and incredible bike handling skills saw the 24-year-old Dutchman emerge as favourite. When he managed to get away from the reduced bunch, 228-kilometres into the brutally cold and rainy race, everything looked to be going to plan. Then, with just 10 kilometres left, the lights went out. With the TV motorbike hanging back to exacerbate his misery, it’s a feeling that’ll have been horribly familiar to many riders. So, no coronation for ‘King Mathieu’ as he’s known to his fans, and no road World Championship stripes to add to the bands he’s already claimed on the cyclocross circuit. Still,…

Mathieu van der Poel

How to LOOK GOOD ON A BIKE

Almost as soon as you join road cycling’s merry tribe you’re offered all sorts of opinions about what you should (and shouldn’t) wear, You might even have seen a rather amusing book – The Rules by The Velominati – that’s partly dedicated to the subject. Here at BikesEtc, we’ve always taken the view that riding is far more important than how you look doing it. That said, what constitutes – for want of a less poncey term – sartorial protocol for cyclists clearly matters to some. So here is our take on the most frequently asked questions on the subject… Q: DO I NEED TO WEAR A HELMET? A: Not by UK law, no, but you’d be bonkers not to. And that’s a view shared by the British Medical Association…

How to LOOK GOOD ON A BIKE

5 ways to KEEP WEIGHT DOWN THIS WINTER

1 MUNCH MORE VEG Having a plant-based diet is one of the easiest ways to keep your weight the right side of healthy. If you just can’t live without meat, however, at least look to opt for a veggie meal a couple of times a week. Also, when eating out or filling your plate at the Christmas do, also plump for the veggie option, it’ll almost certainly be the least fattening and probably the most nutritious choice. When cooking with vegetables at home you can boost their flavour in several simple and healthy ways. Try adding lemon and thyme to asparagus, ginger and cumin to carrots, garlic and dill to potatoes, or chilli and lime to stir fries. Experiment until you find what works for you. 2 SOUP = COMFORT…

5 ways to KEEP WEIGHT DOWN THIS WINTER

Pav Bryan is a professional British Cycling level 3 road and time-trial coach. His book TheGuidetoTrulyEffectiveCycling(£14.99) is available from amazon.co.uk. Discover more about his services at spokes.fit, and follow him on Twitter @pavbryan for cycling-related wisdom. Q When you buy a new bike, should you degrease and re-lube the chain, or is it OK to use the lube that it comes supplied with? Gillian Maxwell, via email A In my experience Gillian, the lube manufacturers apply to the chains of new bikes is of excellent quality and spot on in terms of the amount. Degreasing the chain and then re-lubing it would be a waste of both time and money, while adding more lube will only attract more dirt and grit, which will ultimately shorten the chain’s life, as well…

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