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100 Articles

Variety is the spice of life. So said the English poet William Cowper (and my lunchtime curry stall). And the multiple flavours of cycling are again evident in the pages of Cycling Plus this month, as our team checks out the quiet roads of southern Catalonia in Spain (p30), the aerodynamic opportunities offered by the new Catesby Tunnel in Northants (p64), and the making of Zipp’s new wheels in Indianapolis, USA (p98). And top of my own destination list for the autumn will be Cycling UK’s latest blockbuster route, the Cantii Way in Kent (p106). Once that lunchtime veggie biryani has digested, of course… Your experts Warren Rossiter Senior tech editor This issue our chief reviewer Warren rates four bikes complete with SRAM's Rival AXS groupset, from Cannondale, Canyon, Trek and Vielo. From p34 Laura Laker Cycling…

Variety is the spice of life. So said the English poet William Cowper (and my lunchtime curry stall). And the multiple flavours of cycling are again evident in the pages of Cycling Plus this month, as our team checks out the quiet roads of southern Catalonia in Spain (p30), the aerodynamic opportunities offered by the new Catesby Tunnel in Northants (p64), and the making of Zipp’s new wheels in Indianapolis, USA (p98). And top of my own destination list for the autumn will be Cycling UK’s latest blockbuster route, the Cantii Way in Kent (p106). Once that lunchtime veggie biryani has digested, of course… Your experts Warren Rossiter Senior tech editor This issue our chief reviewer Warren rates four bikes complete with SRAM's Rival AXS groupset, from Cannondale, Canyon, Trek…

I think it’s easy for every athlete – definitely me as much, if not more, than anyone – to get stuck in a routine. You end up sticking with the same old things and getting a bit bored. But I think it’s important to mix things up to keep things fresh and interesting. Variety is the spice of life, as they say, and that is definitely the case with training and racing. When I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics [due to being disqualified in a pre-games qualifying event], I decided to focus fully on long-distance Ironmans [3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run]. I’ve also enjoyed doing other types of riding, like gravel, and training with different people. It’s given me a new spark. The first half of this year has…

Other folders may be better for speed, distance, or touring. And cheaper. But the Brompton is unbeatable in two areas. First: the fold, so small you might lose it under the boardroom table. Second: the status. It’s a premium product (a new sub-8kg titanium T-line costs £4,000), a favourite of affluent commuting professionals – a trope lampooned in the BBC comedy series W1A. Nothing ventured… Folding bikes have been here before. In the early 1900s, soldiers used them for commuting around the battlefield. In the pre-supermarket 1970s, they were for shopping. Nearly all folded in half, horizontally. Simple. Clunky. Makeshift. But in 1975, Cambridge engineering graduate Andrew Ritchie became obsessed with making a better, more elegant folder. By flipping the back wheel vertically under the gracefully curved frame, hinged on the chainwheel, plus…

Newark Cycles, Nottinghamshire History ● Opened in 2016 as a small workshop with no grand business plan, just a love of bikes. It grew quickly into busy bike shop, absorbing premises next door. What makes this shop special? ● “We’re not businessmen, we’re cyclists!” says co-owner Simon. “We care about bikes and people, whether on a £12K Pinarello or a clunky shopper. We like to talk to our customers, understand their needs, and get them on the right machine.” What’s in store? ● Two shops knocked together: one side retail, the other a workshop. Brands include Raleigh, Moda, Lapierre, Forme, Eovolt and Neomouv. Also, fully Cytech-qualified mechanic, racer and time-trialler Jack, who’s a local legend, says Simon. Best local ride ● The ride out to the excellent Velo Verde cafe at Screveton. Thirty-mile round trip, taking in the…

Trek Madone SLR

“Isoflow allows the new bike to match the compliance of IsoSpeed on its stiffest setting while also being lighter and more aero by around three watts” The seventh-generation of this aero road bike is said to be lighter and faster than ever. How does it manage it? It boasts a striking new cut-out seat-tube and top-tube juncture and a new integrated handlebar for starters. 01 Lighter The Madone SLR is 300g lighter for a complete bike than the previous version, weighing “just shy of 1,000g for the frame and just over 400g for the fork,” says Trek. That means a complete bike weighs from 7.1kg for a size 54cm bike frame with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 for example. 02 Faster It’s also claimed to be around 60 seconds an hour faster, or 19 watts more…

Trek Madone SLR

Go figure The month in numbers 9 Days (and 14 hours) it took Christoph Strasser to win the Transcontinental Race in August 42 42.102, to be precise, in avg. km/h – 2022 was the fastest Tour de France in history 480 Points amassed by Wout van Aert in TdF’s green jersey competition – a new record 47 % March-July year-on-year increase in UK weekday cycling numbers, with fuel cost cited as factor 5.1 Million people – the peak viewing figures in France for the Tour de France Femmes…

Country retreat

During the last days of Boris Johnson’s premiership, the Government launched the second installment of its strategy to boost active travel in England. Unsexily dubbed CWIS2, the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, like its predecessor, was lacking in investment or strategy, and it was thin on details. Worse though, it somehow fudged or mislaid £450m in projected investment figures to 2025, as Cycling UK’s policy aficionado, Roger Geffen pointed out. While there is ambition around growing walking and cycling, there is, as Geffen notes, no requirement to fund that ambition - and the figures attached to the investment aren’t enough to meet its aims. Perhaps most pertinently, for the considerable proportion of us who live outside of cities, the document codified Number 10’s focus on cycle investment in cities and towns.…

Country retreat

Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

This district in the south of Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region seems to be a rather well-kept secret, even amongst the Spanish. Tortosa, the capital city of its Baix Ebre area, sits 150km south of Barcelona on the banks of the River Ebro, nestled between two national parks with very different topographies, which makes it the perfect base for some richly varied cycling routes. Els Ports National Park takes its name from the Els Ports Massif mountain range, which includes the formidable 1,441m Mont Caro. This is a classic climb that has featured several times in the Volta a Catalunya, the men’s pro race. Once out of town, the roads are super-quiet and beautifully smooth, and any drivers give you a wide berth. As you start the gentle climb to the base…

Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

? It’s a quiet there and back affair due to the dead end at the top of the mountain. You’ll ascend gradually out of town (just above sea level) for the first 10km, then it’s a steady climb (average 9% gradient), getting steeper just before the top, at 1,435m. 01 Bike shop ● Hire good-quality road bikes (carbon frame, 11-speed with Shimano Ultegra groupset) in advance from Marine Bicicletes in nearby Tarragona (marinebicicletes. cat) and have them dropped off at your hotel. Head to Sanvart & Ruedas de Carbono Balanzer on Carrer Poeta Vicent Garcia in Tortosa for repairs, accessories and more. 02 Lunch stop ● Book a post-spin meal at the Restaurant El Parc back in Tortosa. The regional tasting menu is a must. 03 Photo op ● Stop at the Mirador de lo Portell…

I think it’s easy for every athlete – definitely me as much, if not more, than anyone – to get stuck in a routine. You end up sticking with the same old things and getting a bit bored. But I think it’s important to mix things up to keep things fresh and interesting. Variety is the spice of life, as they say, and that is definitely the case with training and racing. When I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics [due to being disqualified in a pre-games qualifying event], I decided to focus fully on long-distance Ironmans [3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run]. I’ve also enjoyed doing other types of riding, like gravel, and training with different people. It’s given me a new spark. The first half of this year…

HERE’S HOW SRAM describes the groupset: ‘SRAM Rival eTap AXS features the technology modern riders want: intuitive wireless shifting, innovative gearing, integrated power measurement, AXS connectivity, and refined hydraulic disc brakes. It’s low on complexity, but rich with features’. It does have many plus points: just one button to go easier, one to go harder. No cables to stretch, no wires, nor housing to get clogged with dirt. It takes just 60 minutes to charge the batteries, then they’ll last many weeks (1,000km or so) of riding. You can also adjust the brake levers to your hand size and the way you want them to feel, with an Allen key. You can even add a power meter if you wish. Sure, it’s an investment, costing from just over £1,000. But…

Bike tech explained

SRAM eTap AXS eTap is bike-component company SRAM’s wireless, electronically controlled gear system, which has evolved from the brand’s original mechanical ‘double tap’ shifting system. An AXS-equipped drivetrain has no cables: the mechs and shifters have their own batteries. AXS (pronounced ‘access’) enables all of SRAM’s wireless products to communicate, so you can mix and match components from its different groups. SRAM’s electronic drivetrains also have app control and customisation plus a 12-speed cassette. SRAM AXS XPLR SRAM’s latest option for AXS groups is the adventure/gravel-focused XPLR gear ranges. Bringing wider-spread cassettes and a longer rear mech, the wider range means steeper slopes can be conquered. Stack The vertical distance between the top of the head-tube and the centre of the bottom bracket. A taller stack means a more upright ride position; a lower stack,…

Other folders may be better for speed, distance, or touring. And cheaper. But the Brompton is unbeatable in two areas. First: the fold, so small you might lose it under the boardroom table. Second: the status. It’s a premium product (a new sub-8kg titanium T-line costs £4,000), a favourite of affluent commuting professionals – a trope lampooned in the BBC comedy series W1A. Nothing ventured… Folding bikes have been here before. In the early 1900s, soldiers used them for commuting around the battlefield. In the pre-supermarket 1970s, they were for shopping. Nearly all folded in half, horizontally. Simple. Clunky. Makeshift. But in 1975, Cambridge engineering graduate Andrew Ritchie became obsessed with making a better, more elegant folder. By flipping the back wheel vertically under the gracefully curved frame, hinged on…

Newark Cycles, Nottinghamshire History ● Opened in 2016 as a small workshop with no grand business plan, just a love of bikes. It grew quickly into busy bike shop, absorbing premises next door. What makes this shop special? ● “We’re not businessmen, we’re cyclists!” says co-owner Simon. “We care about bikes and people, whether on a £12K Pinarello or a clunky shopper. We like to talk to our customers, understand their needs, and get them on the right machine.” What’s in store? ● Two shops knocked together: one side retail, the other a workshop. Brands include Raleigh, Moda, Lapierre, Forme, Eovolt and Neomouv. Also, fully Cytech-qualified mechanic, racer and time-trialler Jack, who’s a local legend, says Simon. Best local ride ● The ride out to the excellent Velo Verde cafe…

Trek Émonda SL 6 eTap

Weight 8.67kg (58cm) Frame 500 Series OCLV carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 OCLV carbon Finishing kit Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite 25c tyres, Bontrager Elite VR-C alloy bar, Pro stem, Carbon seatmast & Aeolus Comp saddle TREK’S TRIUMVIRATE OF road bikes used to be easy to distinguish from each other. The Madone was the aerodynamic racing weapon; the Domane, with its double Isospeed suspension, all about beating the road surface; and the Émonda was the choice of the climbers: ultralight to beat gravity. New generation The latest Émonda, however, has mixed things up a bit and brought aerodynamics into play. That means tubes with a kammtail profile (though not as extreme as the Madone or its Canyon Aeroad rival here) plus a neat, integrated…

Trek Émonda SL 6 eTap

Trek Madone SLR

“Isoflow allows the new bike to match the compliance of IsoSpeed on its stiffest setting while also being lighter and more aero by around three watts” The seventh-generation of this aero road bike is said to be lighter and faster than ever. How does it manage it? It boasts a striking new cut-out seat-tube and top-tube juncture and a new integrated handlebar for starters. 01 Lighter The Madone SLR is 300g lighter for a complete bike than the previous version, weighing “just shy of 1,000g for the frame and just over 400g for the fork,” says Trek. That means a complete bike weighs from 7.1kg for a size 54cm bike frame with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 for example. 02 Faster It’s also claimed to be around 60 seconds an hour…

Trek Madone SLR

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Weight 8.32kg (58cm) Frame Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss ARC 1600 carbon Finishing kit Continental GP 5000s 28c tyres, Canyon CP0018 Aero carbon cockpit and SP0046 Aero seatpost, Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow S saddle I HAVE TO CONFESS that while I admire the tech behind aero bikes and like having a fast-blast session on one, I don’t want to have to live with one day-to-day. The usual compromises for unabashed aero are increased weight, less comfort due to the torsional rigidity of the frame, and integrated cables that can make the bike complex to maintain and travel with. Then there’s the ride position, which is very low, long and uncompromised. However, with this new Aeroad, Canyon has confronted these issues. Take weight: the…

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Cannondale Topstone Carbon Rival AXS

Weight 10.19kg (L) Frame Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss G540 Finishing kit Vittoria Mezcall III 44c tyres, Cannondale 2 ShortDrop Alloy bar, 1 Alloy stem & SAVE Carbon seatpost, Fizik Terra Argo X5 saddle, SmartSense lights CANNONDALE’S ORIGINAL TOPSTONE Carbon brought the innovative Kingpin suspension rear end, inspired by the brand’s hardtail Scalpel mountain bike, with a single pivot at the point where seatstays and seat-tube meet. This thru’ axle-like design runs on bearings and the carbon fibre in both the stays and seat-tube is designed to allow controlled flex that promises 30mm of travel at the saddle. This new Topstone has the same technology, but Cannondale has refined the frame construction, reducing frame weight by 100g to a kilo. It’s also worked…

Cannondale Topstone Carbon Rival AXS

Country retreat

During the last days of Boris Johnson’s premiership, the Government launched the second installment of its strategy to boost active travel in England. Unsexily dubbed CWIS2, the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, like its predecessor, was lacking in investment or strategy, and it was thin on details. Worse though, it somehow fudged or mislaid £450m in projected investment figures to 2025, as Cycling UK’s policy aficionado, Roger Geffen pointed out. While there is ambition around growing walking and cycling, there is, as Geffen notes, no requirement to fund that ambition - and the figures attached to the investment aren’t enough to meet its aims. Perhaps most pertinently, for the considerable proportion of us who live outside of cities, the document codified Number 10’s focus on cycle investment in cities and…

Country retreat

Vielo R+1 Alto Rival e-Tap AXS

Weight 8.36kg (L) Frame Full Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Zipp 303s Finishing kit Schwalbe One TLE 30c tyres, Vielo carbon bar & seatpost, Selle Italia Boost SLR saddle WITH THE ADVENT of 12-speed for AXS (not to mention Campagnolo’s 13-speed Ekar), along with a huge variety of cassettes and chainrings, 1x is now very much an option for the road. Gateshead firm Vielo certainly thinks so: its road and gravel bikes are all designed around a single chainring, with an uncompromised back end that’s perfectly symmetrical, enabling it to concentrate on stiffness and low weight, rather than having to worry about chainlines and the like. This Alto version of the R+1 bears that out with a frame weight of just 880g (56cm painted and all hardware…

Vielo R+1 Alto Rival e-Tap AXS

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

THE REAL WINNER here is SRAM’s brilliant Rival AXS group. Its superb user-friendly operation and versatility is highlighted by a selection of stunning bikes. We’ve got everything from the most capable of off-road drop-bar bikes to a superb all-rounder, a bike built for the challenges of British roads and a cutting-edge aero road bike that still manages to be usable all day every day. “The Aeroad might just be the bike to change people’s preconceptions about what an aero bike should be” The Vielo R+1 is a compelling reason to consign the front derailleur to history. It’s an awesome bike that packs fun and performance in equal measures. The downside is that a micro-brand like Vielo can’t compete on costs with behemoths such as Trek, Cannondale and Canyon, but it might just…

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

This district in the south of Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region seems to be a rather well-kept secret, even amongst the Spanish. Tortosa, the capital city of its Baix Ebre area, sits 150km south of Barcelona on the banks of the River Ebro, nestled between two national parks with very different topographies, which makes it the perfect base for some richly varied cycling routes. Els Ports National Park takes its name from the Els Ports Massif mountain range, which includes the formidable 1,441m Mont Caro. This is a classic climb that has featured several times in the Volta a Catalunya, the men’s pro race. Once out of town, the roads are super-quiet and beautifully smooth, and any drivers give you a wide berth. As you start the gentle climb to the…

Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

Our 30th birthday, 400th edition and a fresh redesign of the magazine. 2022 is a major year for Cycling Plus. We celebrated by launching our debut retail range of branded jerseys and bibs in collaboration with HUUB Design of Derby in July, and now we’re upping the ante with our boxfresh collection for cooler and/or wetter climes. New for September is the Long Sleeve Jersey (£109.99), which features an elasticated four-way stretch thermal material to keep the jersey sitting close to your body while ensuring you stay warm when the weather turns. Also new is the All Elements Gilet (£109.99), a lightweight and stylish red number that co-ordinates with both jerseys and the bibs, and offers the triple whammy of windproofing, breathability and moisture-wicking properties, not to mention good visibility on the…

? It’s a quiet there and back affair due to the dead end at the top of the mountain. You’ll ascend gradually out of town (just above sea level) for the first 10km, then it’s a steady climb (average 9% gradient), getting steeper just before the top, at 1,435m. 01 Bike shop ● Hire good-quality road bikes (carbon frame, 11-speed with Shimano Ultegra groupset) in advance from Marine Bicicletes in nearby Tarragona (marinebicicletes. cat) and have them dropped off at your hotel. Head to Sanvart & Ruedas de Carbono Balanzer on Carrer Poeta Vicent Garcia in Tortosa for repairs, accessories and more. 02 Lunch stop ● Book a post-spin meal at the Restaurant El Parc back in Tortosa. The regional tasting menu is a must. 03 Photo op ● Stop at…

The Only Way is Ethics

Cycling is one of the greenest activities around but it’s far from perfect. Take a 2021 report by Trek who estimated that carbon emissions from its Madone model totalled around 197kg of carbon dioxide. (Chapeau to the American company for publishing such figures – many don’t.) Carbon bikes are near enough impossible to repurpose because of the structure of those fibres, many performance glasses are constructed from harmful polyurethane and the Haribo that comes with your latest Wiggle purchase is sheltered by plastic wrapping. In short, we can all do more. But where does your eco-trail start? Inner peace Pssst… yep, it’s the sound of deflation and a disrupted ride. After much effing, blinding and aching thumbs, you’ve succeeded in replacing your punctured inner tube with a new one. Ride on, arrive home…

The Only Way is Ethics

JAN ULLRICH THE BEST THERE NEVER WAS

While Tadej Pogačar’s seemingly unstoppable rise may have been checked by Jonas Vingegaard at this summer’s Tour de France, the Slovenian had perhaps already done enough in his short career to be the living embodiment of the equation for cycling domination referenced many times in Daniel Friebe’s Jan Ullrich biography: that if you took the physiology of Jan Ullrich and the psychology of Erik Zabel, or Lance Armstrong, or any other iron-willed rider of that generation, you’d have a 10-time Tour de France winner on your hands. Zabel, who like Ullrich, grew up in communist East Germany, was a team-mate of Ullrich’s on the German Telekom team for almost the entirety of Ullrich’s career and his six-year winning streak of the Tour de France’s green jersey was a sequence as metronomic…

JAN ULLRICH THE BEST THERE NEVER WAS

As soon as we’re in the door, Armstrong beckons me through the hall and invites me to take a seat at his kitchen table. Asks whether I’d like a beer. I hesitate but the fridge door is already half open. He grabs two bottles of Shiner Bock, the beer with which he’d always celebrate his return home after a stint of racing in Europe. He sits down and slides one of the bottles across the tabletop. Asks where were we, in the car. Ah, yeah, Ullrich – we were finally talking about Jan. ‘So yeah,’ Armstrong picks up. ‘I could see the media was exasperated. Like, “When’s he going to get his sh*t together?” But it endeared him to the fans – I mean, versus this robotic American.’ Armstrong takes a swig. Stretches…

HERE’S HOW SRAM describes the groupset: ‘SRAM Rival eTap AXS features the technology modern riders want: intuitive wireless shifting, innovative gearing, integrated power measurement, AXS connectivity, and refined hydraulic disc brakes. It’s low on complexity, but rich with features’. It does have many plus points: just one button to go easier, one to go harder. No cables to stretch, no wires, nor housing to get clogged with dirt. It takes just 60 minutes to charge the batteries, then they’ll last many weeks (1,000km or so) of riding. You can also adjust the brake levers to your hand size and the way you want them to feel, with an Allen key. You can even add a power meter if you wish. Sure, it’s an investment, costing from just over £1,000. But…

Bike tech explained

SRAM eTap AXS eTap is bike-component company SRAM’s wireless, electronically controlled gear system, which has evolved from the brand’s original mechanical ‘double tap’ shifting system. An AXS-equipped drivetrain has no cables: the mechs and shifters have their own batteries. AXS (pronounced ‘access’) enables all of SRAM’s wireless products to communicate, so you can mix and match components from its different groups. SRAM’s electronic drivetrains also have app control and customisation plus a 12-speed cassette. SRAM AXS XPLR SRAM’s latest option for AXS groups is the adventure/gravel-focused XPLR gear ranges. Bringing wider-spread cassettes and a longer rear mech, the wider range means steeper slopes can be conquered. Stack The vertical distance between the top of the head-tube and the centre of the bottom bracket. A taller stack means a more upright…

EVOLUTION OF SPEED

“CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1895 AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO BUILD. THE VICTORIANS USED AROUND 30 MILLION BRICKS AND IT’S ABOUT 2.7KM LONG. BRITISH RAILWAYS BOSS DR BEECHING CLOSED IT IN 1966 AND IT WAS LEFT TO FLOOD. ITS ONLY RESIDENTS WERE ROOSTING BATS” “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to one of the most cutting-edge aerodynamic facilities in the world.” That’s Brian Scott, tunnel operations manager at Catesby Tunnel in Northamptonshire, once an integral section of the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield to London, now a state-of-the-art testing facility for cyclists, cycling manufacturers and automobiles that opened in December 2021. “As far as I’m aware, there’s only one place similar to this in the world,” says Brian. “It’s Laurel Hill in Philadelphia and is predominantly for NASCAR [National Association for Stock…

EVOLUTION OF SPEED

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Trek Émonda SL 6 eTap

Weight 8.67kg (58cm) Frame 500 Series OCLV carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 OCLV carbon Finishing kit Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite 25c tyres, Bontrager Elite VR-C alloy bar, Pro stem, Carbon seatmast & Aeolus Comp saddle TREK’S TRIUMVIRATE OF road bikes used to be easy to distinguish from each other. The Madone was the aerodynamic racing weapon; the Domane, with its double Isospeed suspension, all about beating the road surface; and the Émonda was the choice of the climbers: ultralight to beat gravity. New generation The latest Émonda, however, has mixed things up a bit and brought aerodynamics into play. That means tubes with a kammtail profile (though not as extreme as the Madone or its Canyon Aeroad rival here) plus…

Trek Émonda SL 6 eTap

Ribble Gravel Ti Hero

Weight 9.57kg (L) Frame Triple-butted 3AL/2.5v Titanium Fork Carbon Gears SRAM Force AXS XPLR (40/10-44) Wheels Enve Foundation AG28 carbon 650b Finishing kit Carbon seatpost, alu stem, Halo GXD tyres, Level Gravel Riser bar, Brooks Cambium C17 saddle RIBBLE’S ELEGANT AND techladen triple-butted titanium gravel frameset is available as a complete customisable bike from £2,799. We however thought we’d splash out on the ‘Hero’ model to see if one of the world’s best-value bike brands can cut it when it comes to superbikes. The heart of the new Gravel Ti is a beautifully finished triple-butted titanium frame matched to a matt-finished, straight-legged carbon fork. The quality of the frame’s detailing is excellent. Clean welds, tidy fittings (all welded rather than riveted) and etched graphics on high-polished tubing all put this on a…

Ribble Gravel Ti Hero

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Weight 8.32kg (58cm) Frame Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss ARC 1600 carbon Finishing kit Continental GP 5000s 28c tyres, Canyon CP0018 Aero carbon cockpit and SP0046 Aero seatpost, Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow S saddle I HAVE TO CONFESS that while I admire the tech behind aero bikes and like having a fast-blast session on one, I don’t want to have to live with one day-to-day. The usual compromises for unabashed aero are increased weight, less comfort due to the torsional rigidity of the frame, and integrated cables that can make the bike complex to maintain and travel with. Then there’s the ride position, which is very low, long and uncompromised. However, with this new Aeroad, Canyon has confronted these issues. Take…

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Wahoo Powrlink Zero Power Meter Pedals

“I t’s almost seamless when it comes to pedalling a bike and measuring power” WITH A SIMILAR pedal body to the Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedal system (considered by some to be among the best road pedals available), the Powrlink Zero brings dual-sided power measurement to the Speedplay platform. While the road-focused Speedplay cleat system is quite pricey and complicated compared to the Look Keo or Shimano SPD-SL systems, it has highly adjustable cleat and float systems (0 to 15° of float, compared to a more normal 6°) and double-sided entry. The spring tension on the cleats is fixed, but you can buy ‘easytension’ versions for £49.99. Once everything’s installed on your bike and shoes, and you’ve clipped in, the small Powrlink Zero pedals feel secure. There’s no unwanted knocking or play, and you…

Wahoo Powrlink Zero Power Meter Pedals

Cannondale Topstone Carbon Rival AXS

Weight 10.19kg (L) Frame Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss G540 Finishing kit Vittoria Mezcall III 44c tyres, Cannondale 2 ShortDrop Alloy bar, 1 Alloy stem & SAVE Carbon seatpost, Fizik Terra Argo X5 saddle, SmartSense lights CANNONDALE’S ORIGINAL TOPSTONE Carbon brought the innovative Kingpin suspension rear end, inspired by the brand’s hardtail Scalpel mountain bike, with a single pivot at the point where seatstays and seat-tube meet. This thru’ axle-like design runs on bearings and the carbon fibre in both the stays and seat-tube is designed to allow controlled flex that promises 30mm of travel at the saddle. This new Topstone has the same technology, but Cannondale has refined the frame construction, reducing frame weight by 100g to a kilo. It’s also…

Cannondale Topstone Carbon Rival AXS

Vielo R+1 Alto Rival e-Tap AXS

Weight 8.36kg (L) Frame Full Carbon Gears SRAM Rival 12-speed Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Zipp 303s Finishing kit Schwalbe One TLE 30c tyres, Vielo carbon bar & seatpost, Selle Italia Boost SLR saddle WITH THE ADVENT of 12-speed for AXS (not to mention Campagnolo’s 13-speed Ekar), along with a huge variety of cassettes and chainrings, 1x is now very much an option for the road. Gateshead firm Vielo certainly thinks so: its road and gravel bikes are all designed around a single chainring, with an uncompromised back end that’s perfectly symmetrical, enabling it to concentrate on stiffness and low weight, rather than having to worry about chainlines and the like. This Alto version of the R+1 bears that out with a frame weight of just 880g (56cm painted…

Vielo R+1 Alto Rival e-Tap AXS

Also consider…

GARMIN RALLY RS200 £969.99 The Garmin Rally power meter pedal system is the world’s first native SPD-SL power meter pedal, and can be converted for use both on and off-road. Very adaptable and user-friendly for lots of cleat types, but not cheap. FAVERO ASSIOMA DUO £699 Dual-sided and easy to live with, the Favero Assioma Duo pedals are one of the best all-round power meters for the money. Installation is really easy and Favero’s similarly clear app updates firmware, checks battery levels and accesses product support. QUARQ DFOUR DUB £549 Quarq has earned a solid reputation for producing accurate, reliable and good-value power meters. The DFour DUB is a spider-based power meter integrated into SRAM’s DUB crank and bottom bracket ecosystem. It does the basics well.…

Pinnacle Race Helmet

THE RACE MISSED out on last issue’s sub-£75 helmets test by virtue of not boasting the MIPS safety system. What it does have is a racier focus than the Giant Relay and Specialized Align II (both £45) from that test, its aero-on-a-budget appeal reminding me of the winning Van Rysel Racer (£39.99). That Decathlon helmet reportedly received wind tunnel testing during the design process (and wasn’t humbled against some loftier lids in our own wind tunnel tests in 2020, albeit its success was largely at the more extreme wind angle of 20°), but Pinnacle/Evans Cycles make no such claims about the Race Helmet. What the major cycling retailer does claim is that the Race is a lightweight helmet, and it does tip the scales at a satisfactory 329g for a £35 lid,…

Pinnacle Race Helmet

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

THE REAL WINNER here is SRAM’s brilliant Rival AXS group. Its superb user-friendly operation and versatility is highlighted by a selection of stunning bikes. We’ve got everything from the most capable of off-road drop-bar bikes to a superb all-rounder, a bike built for the challenges of British roads and a cutting-edge aero road bike that still manages to be usable all day every day. “The Aeroad might just be the bike to change people’s preconceptions about what an aero bike should be” The Vielo R+1 is a compelling reason to consign the front derailleur to history. It’s an awesome bike that packs fun and performance in equal measures. The downside is that a micro-brand like Vielo can’t compete on costs with behemoths such as Trek, Cannondale and Canyon, but it…

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Disc eTap

Our 30th birthday, 400th edition and a fresh redesign of the magazine. 2022 is a major year for Cycling Plus. We celebrated by launching our debut retail range of branded jerseys and bibs in collaboration with HUUB Design of Derby in July, and now we’re upping the ante with our boxfresh collection for cooler and/or wetter climes. New for September is the Long Sleeve Jersey (£109.99), which features an elasticated four-way stretch thermal material to keep the jersey sitting close to your body while ensuring you stay warm when the weather turns. Also new is the All Elements Gilet (£109.99), a lightweight and stylish red number that co-ordinates with both jerseys and the bibs, and offers the triple whammy of windproofing, breathability and moisture-wicking properties, not to mention good visibility…

Van Rysel Racer £44.99

AS THE NAME suggests, the Racer arrives with a speed focus, including a close-fitting 'pro' feel and taut sleeves that extend to the elbow. Four rear pockets, including a zipped one large enough for a phone, aid mid-ride usability and snack storage, while the underarm ventilation panels and zipper guard are welcome too. The 22% elastane helps with flexibility, but the slimline cut comes at the cost of aesthetics, with my upper-body hair clearly visible (so I'd go for the navy blue option and lose visibility points). A top pick for the price.…

Van Rysel Racer £44.99

The Only Way is Ethics

Cycling is one of the greenest activities around but it’s far from perfect. Take a 2021 report by Trek who estimated that carbon emissions from its Madone model totalled around 197kg of carbon dioxide. (Chapeau to the American company for publishing such figures – many don’t.) Carbon bikes are near enough impossible to repurpose because of the structure of those fibres, many performance glasses are constructed from harmful polyurethane and the Haribo that comes with your latest Wiggle purchase is sheltered by plastic wrapping. In short, we can all do more. But where does your eco-trail start? Inner peace Pssst… yep, it’s the sound of deflation and a disrupted ride. After much effing, blinding and aching thumbs, you’ve succeeded in replacing your punctured inner tube with a new one. Ride…

The Only Way is Ethics

VeloElite Carbon Wide 350-50mm (Disc)

DEEP-SECTION WHEELS should help improve your performance, thanks to the gains in aerodynamics. The 50mm depth of these VeloElites is a popular all-round option: fast for flatter riding but still usable for hillier rides. At 30.1mm at their widest, these are one of the broadest rims around, at 28.5mm externally across the bead, 21.2mm internally, and 50.1mm deep. The profile features a blunt spoke bed to help with stability in crosswinds. Our 700c carbon wheels, with 12mm bolt-through axles front and rear and centrelock rotor fitting, weighed 722g front and 853g rear, which isn’t bad for this price. Although the rims arrived pre-taped to accept a tubeless set-up, no valves (or bags or rotor lockrings) were included. Build quality is very good, and mounting tyres isn’t too much of a fight; the overall…

VeloElite Carbon Wide 350-50mm (Disc)

Specialized S-Works 7 Lace

FOLLOWING IN THE footsteps of the S-Works Sub6, which garnered a cult following for its low weight, sleek profile and Warp Sleeve lace cover, the S-Works 7 Lace offers a marginally less performance-focused design. The aggressively narrow heel cup of the Sub6, for example, has been toned down to produce a shoe with a broader appeal. Yet it’s still a racy shoe, and replacing the dials with laces actually ensures more aerodynamic efficiency. At 494g (UK 11) per pair, the removal of rotary dials and mounting hardware has cut 23g versus a pair of standard S-Works 7 shoes. That’s still 64g heavier than a pair of Sub6s but these are negligible differences. Like the standard S-Works 7, you get Specialized’s lightest and stiffest carbon fibre sole (it’s rated 15 on its…

Specialized S-Works 7 Lace

JAN ULLRICH THE BEST THERE NEVER WAS

While Tadej Pogačar’s seemingly unstoppable rise may have been checked by Jonas Vingegaard at this summer’s Tour de France, the Slovenian had perhaps already done enough in his short career to be the living embodiment of the equation for cycling domination referenced many times in Daniel Friebe’s Jan Ullrich biography: that if you took the physiology of Jan Ullrich and the psychology of Erik Zabel, or Lance Armstrong, or any other iron-willed rider of that generation, you’d have a 10-time Tour de France winner on your hands. Zabel, who like Ullrich, grew up in communist East Germany, was a team-mate of Ullrich’s on the German Telekom team for almost the entirety of Ullrich’s career and his six-year winning streak of the Tour de France’s green jersey was a sequence as…

JAN ULLRICH THE BEST THERE NEVER WAS

As soon as we’re in the door, Armstrong beckons me through the hall and invites me to take a seat at his kitchen table. Asks whether I’d like a beer. I hesitate but the fridge door is already half open. He grabs two bottles of Shiner Bock, the beer with which he’d always celebrate his return home after a stint of racing in Europe. He sits down and slides one of the bottles across the tabletop. Asks where were we, in the car. Ah, yeah, Ullrich – we were finally talking about Jan. ‘So yeah,’ Armstrong picks up. ‘I could see the media was exasperated. Like, “When’s he going to get his sh*t together?” But it endeared him to the fans – I mean, versus this robotic American.’ Armstrong takes…

SURLY’S TUBELESS-READY Knard is a fairly aggressive gravel tyre with large-tread blocks positioned quite evenly across its 41mm width. It’s an open pattern, with good spaces between the square central tread blocks, and more distance still between the rectangular shoulder blocks. It’s robustly built on a 60tpi carcass, and also comes in 650b x 41mm size and a large 3” wide version for 29” and 27.5” MTB wheels. A 700 x 41mm tyre weighs 593g. A good fit Its heavy-duty construction helps the Knard retain its shape while fitting, but it’s still pliable enough to be easily eased onto a rim. The tyres inflated immediately and seated first time with a track pump, measuring true to size on our average-width gravel rims. Weighty issues There’s no hiding the Knard’s weight, and it needs coaxing…

EVOLUTION OF SPEED

“CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1895 AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO BUILD. THE VICTORIANS USED AROUND 30 MILLION BRICKS AND IT’S ABOUT 2.7KM LONG. BRITISH RAILWAYS BOSS DR BEECHING CLOSED IT IN 1966 AND IT WAS LEFT TO FLOOD. ITS ONLY RESIDENTS WERE ROOSTING BATS” “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to one of the most cutting-edge aerodynamic facilities in the world.” That’s Brian Scott, tunnel operations manager at Catesby Tunnel in Northamptonshire, once an integral section of the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield to London, now a state-of-the-art testing facility for cyclists, cycling manufacturers and automobiles that opened in December 2021. “As far as I’m aware, there’s only one place similar to this in the world,” says Brian. “It’s Laurel Hill in Philadelphia and is predominantly for NASCAR [National Association for…

EVOLUTION OF SPEED

HALO’S ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE’ tyre is built around a 60tpi tubeless carcass and has a harder area in the centre for speed and durability, with softer rubber on the shoulders. Five closely-spaced, offset lines of small arrow-shaped tread blocks line the centre, with angled linking ridges to shift water and muck. More arrow blocks precede two rows of larger, diamond-shaped blocks, which wrap around the shoulder. The 700 x 38mm GXC weighs 410g. Nice and light The lightweight and floppy Halos slipped onto a rim fairly easily and seated fairly quickly with a track pump. Despite seating more than once, one GXC has stubbornly refused to run straight. It doesn’t affect performance though [the same tyres were fine on the Ribble on p74]. Great grip After weeks of use on two sets of wheels, they…

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Features Bright, 600-lumen light Up to 44 hours runtime Cable-free recharging Cutouts for side visibility Nine modes Why subscribe? Save 30% off the UK shop price Pay just £54.49 every 13 issues by Direct Debit Every issue sent to your door or device 1 PRINT 13 issues of print & Lezyne light for only £54.49! 2 DIGITAL 13 issues of digital & Lezyne light for only £54.49! PLUS! Access to exclusive offers and competitions as part of our Subscriber Club! buysubscriptions.com/CPP397 03330 162 142 quote code CPP397 Or scan the QR code to subscribe Lines are open 8am-6pm weekdays and 9am-1pm Saturdays. Overseas orders please call +44 1604 973 751 or visit buysubscriptions.com Terms & conditions *Offer open to new UK customers subscribing to the print and digital editions only. Full details…

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Smith Shift MAG Photochromic

THESE FLYWEIGHT CYCLING shades (29g) follow the trend for oversized, wraparound shield lenses, but have fairly subtle styling plus a less aggressive curve than some. The lens dimensions, at 136mm wide and 57mm deep, aren’t hugely oversized but still provide full coverage. The slender arms are very well tensioned and highly flexible, providing great grip on your head, even when riding in the rough, helped by a two-position adjustable nosepiece that allowed me to get a perfectly secure fit. The Shift’s photochromic lens is rapid to change and has simply wonderful clarity with none of the distortion that can be found at the edges of some of the more steeply curved wrap glasses. ChromaPop technology filters light to keep definition and colour sharp too. However, where Smith really hits the mark is in…

Smith Shift MAG Photochromic

Sticklegs SL4 jersey & B-1 bib shorts

“ The SL4 jersey comes with technical details rarely seen on a jersey of this price” UPSTART BRITISH BRAND Sticklegs has been quietly expanding its range, adding women’s kit alongside its spread of men’s jerseys for all conditions and rider types. The SL4 jersey (in men’s and women’s versions) is designed for warmer days and comes with technical details rarely seen on a jersey at this price. The cut is close without being too second skin and my XL-sized test jersey is bigger than many cycling tops. The jersey has a full-length hidden YKK zip with a proper camlock. The arms and sides use a much more open-weave fabric than the main body, helping regulate temperature and wick moisture. On the rear, there are three well-shaped pockets and there’s a fourth weather-resistant zipped…

Sticklegs SL4 jersey & B-1 bib shorts

The Testers Warren Rossiter Senior tech editor Warren is one of the UK’s most experienced bike journalists and tech reviewers Paul Norman Multi-discipline rider A keen gravel rider, Paul has been writing about bikes for almost a decade Simon von Bromley Senior tech writer Simon loves nothing better than racing road and time-trial bikes, plus testing tech Emma Lewis Senior production ed An experienced product tester, Emma loves putting kit through its paces…

Hummingbird Single Speed Flax

Weight 6.9kg Frame Flax fibre mainframe, CNC alloy rear Fork Carbon Brakes CAest levers, Tektro R539 dual pivot brakes Wheels Tri-Spoke carbon ISO 349mm (16”) clinchers Finishing kit Brooks Cambium grips, Brooks C17 Cambium saddle, Schwalbe Kojak tyres HUMMINGBIRD FIRST HIT the headlines with its ultra-lightweight monocoque carbon-fibre folding bike a couple of years ago. Now it’s taken that lightweight template and applied a new leaner, greener material in collaboration with the high-tech and high-performance motorsport firm, Prodrive. Prodrive has built and raced cars for the likes of Subaru, Aston Martin and, more recently, for Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team in the offroad Extreme E Championship. The new material, which contains flax fibres, comes from Prodrive’s research into sustainability to meet the stringent forthcoming motorsport regulations. Matt Bradney, Prodrive’s business development director explains…

Hummingbird Single Speed Flax

Ribble Gravel Ti Hero

Weight 9.57kg (L) Frame Triple-butted 3AL/2.5v Titanium Fork Carbon Gears SRAM Force AXS XPLR (40/10-44) Wheels Enve Foundation AG28 carbon 650b Finishing kit Carbon seatpost, alu stem, Halo GXD tyres, Level Gravel Riser bar, Brooks Cambium C17 saddle RIBBLE’S ELEGANT AND techladen triple-butted titanium gravel frameset is available as a complete customisable bike from £2,799. We however thought we’d splash out on the ‘Hero’ model to see if one of the world’s best-value bike brands can cut it when it comes to superbikes. The heart of the new Gravel Ti is a beautifully finished triple-butted titanium frame matched to a matt-finished, straight-legged carbon fork. The quality of the frame’s detailing is excellent. Clean welds, tidy fittings (all welded rather than riveted) and etched graphics on high-polished tubing all put this…

Ribble Gravel Ti Hero

We all want to improve our riding, especially when it comes to fitness, which can come from heading out with friends or clubs. But the very best motivation can come from actually seeing improvements in your performance. Yes, you’ll feel you’re getting better when you’re besting a climb or railing a corner, but seeing proven data is the real spark to make you push harder and put in that extra effort. Something that gives you a reason to ride faster, longer, higher every time is the best motivation, and is a key reason why computers are a staple of the cyclist’s gear armoury. Fitting a bike computer allows you to track every mile of riding you do. When you factor in membership of cycling-tracking websites, such as Strava or Garmin Connect,…

Wahoo Powrlink Zero Power Meter Pedals

“I t’s almost seamless when it comes to pedalling a bike and measuring power” WITH A SIMILAR pedal body to the Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedal system (considered by some to be among the best road pedals available), the Powrlink Zero brings dual-sided power measurement to the Speedplay platform. While the road-focused Speedplay cleat system is quite pricey and complicated compared to the Look Keo or Shimano SPD-SL systems, it has highly adjustable cleat and float systems (0 to 15° of float, compared to a more normal 6°) and double-sided entry. The spring tension on the cleats is fixed, but you can buy ‘easytension’ versions for £49.99. Once everything’s installed on your bike and shoes, and you’ve clipped in, the small Powrlink Zero pedals feel secure. There’s no unwanted knocking or…

Wahoo Powrlink Zero Power Meter Pedals

Also consider…

GARMIN RALLY RS200 £969.99 The Garmin Rally power meter pedal system is the world’s first native SPD-SL power meter pedal, and can be converted for use both on and off-road. Very adaptable and user-friendly for lots of cleat types, but not cheap. FAVERO ASSIOMA DUO £699 Dual-sided and easy to live with, the Favero Assioma Duo pedals are one of the best all-round power meters for the money. Installation is really easy and Favero’s similarly clear app updates firmware, checks battery levels and accesses product support. QUARQ DFOUR DUB £549 Quarq has earned a solid reputation for producing accurate, reliable and good-value power meters. The DFour DUB is a spider-based power meter integrated into SRAM’s DUB crank and bottom bracket ecosystem. It does the basics well.…

Computer considerations

01 GPS guidance Cycling GPS devices were once primarily for riders who wanted ‘pure’ navigation and trail guidance, but these tools now combine navigation, regular bike-computer functions, connectivity to devices such as heart-rate monitors and power meters, and more, into one unit. Perhaps the biggest question when choosing a GPS unit is deciding whether you want it to guide you on a ride via maps and navigation, or if you simply want it to track your ride and give you the data to look back at after your ride. Generally speaking, navigational GPS units will cost more because they feature built-in maps, additional storage, navigation software and often a much larger screen to make use of all of this information. For many riders, all they want is live ride data with the…

Computer considerations

Hammerhead Karoo 2

Dimensions 100.6 x 60.8 x 19.3mm Weight 132g Screen 3.2” colour touchscreen Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels Battery life: 8-14hrs The Karoo 2’s generous size houses a large, high-resolution screen that uses a touchscreen. It’s really good, with its matt finish reducing reflections and the resolution making it easy to read in sunlight. Alongside the very responsive touchscreen, there are four physical buttons that can also be used to control the device. Under the bonnet, there’s 32GB of internal storage for data and maps, while Hammerhead provides biweekly software updates. There’s also a card slot for a 4G SIM so you can connect the Karoo 2 up to a wireless network without needing to carry your phone or use your phone data. The device reached 90% charge in 2.5hrs via the charge…

Hammerhead Karoo 2

Pinnacle Race Helmet

THE RACE MISSED out on last issue’s sub-£75 helmets test by virtue of not boasting the MIPS safety system. What it does have is a racier focus than the Giant Relay and Specialized Align II (both £45) from that test, its aero-on-a-budget appeal reminding me of the winning Van Rysel Racer (£39.99). That Decathlon helmet reportedly received wind tunnel testing during the design process (and wasn’t humbled against some loftier lids in our own wind tunnel tests in 2020, albeit its success was largely at the more extreme wind angle of 20°), but Pinnacle/Evans Cycles make no such claims about the Race Helmet. What the major cycling retailer does claim is that the Race is a lightweight helmet, and it does tip the scales at a satisfactory 329g for a…

Pinnacle Race Helmet

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2

Dimensions 77 x 47 x 21 mm Weight 68g Screen 2.2” colour screen Screen resolution 320 x 240 pixels Battery life 15hrs Wahoo’s second-generation Elemnt Bolt is an excellent bike computer that now offers a colour screen, smart navigation, USB-C charging and better battery life, in what is otherwise ostensibly the same aero-profiled package as the original version. The Bolt’s 2.2in colour screen is a marked step up from its predecessor. Wahoo has used colour relatively sparingly, but to good effect by improving clarity where it matters, whether that be road designations – main roads are orange, secondary roads are yellow, minor roads are grey and cycle paths are blue – or the heart rate zone you’re in during threshold intervals. The colour screen is most useful when navigating – and, if you’re…

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2

Garmin Edge 1040

Battery life 45hrs (solar); 35hrs (non-solar) Dimensions 118 x 59 x 20mm Weight 132g The Edge 1040 has a new trick: the option of solar charging, leading to an unparalleled 45hr battery life (even the non-solar 1040 will last for 35hrs). The Edge 1040 follows the Edge 1030 Plus in Garmin’s king-sized bike-computer format, and it takes up bar space if you use a standard mount. At 132g, it’s pretty weighty, but the display size (3.5”) gives plenty of data on each screen. The screen is responsive enough that it’s easy to swipe between pages, although the reflective surface can be difficult to read on sunny days. Garmin gives you great route planning both on-device and pre-ride via Garmin Connect, and you can use the Popularity Routing so you don’t ride on…

Garmin Edge 1040

7Mesh MK3 Cargo Bib Short £108-£200

THE MK3 COMBINE mid-weight compressive fabric throughout with a superb Elastic Interface chamois, this short is simply one of the best set of bibs I've ever tried. The raw-cut edges to the legs are tipped with a light gummy internal print that grips well. The broad bib braces hold in place superbly and the shorts have three good-sized rear pockets, plus useful twin pockets on the thigh panels. All-day comfort is paramount. Sizes are XS-XXL in men’s and XS-XL in women’s.…

7Mesh MK3 Cargo Bib Short £108-£200

Bryton Rider S800

Battery life 36 hours Dimensions 105 x 58 x 14.2mm Weight 104g The Bryton Rider S800 is an attractive cycling computer with good battery life and a large screen for its mid-sized format, with high contrast. The 3.4” screen is definitely a plus over competing devices such as the Garmin Edge 830 and the Wahoo Elemnt Roam, although it’s bested by the Hammerhead Karoo 2. The Rider S800 offers lots of functionality and does the basics well, but is slightly fiddly to use for more advanced functions. If you just want to set up, get out and record your rides, it’s a good option, but if you’re into fine-tuning your computer and using the bonus capabilities, you might find it a little frustrating. Bryton claims a lengthy 36-hour battery life for the Rider…

Bryton Rider S800

Van Rysel Racer £44.99

AS THE NAME suggests, the Racer arrives with a speed focus, including a close-fitting 'pro' feel and taut sleeves that extend to the elbow. Four rear pockets, including a zipped one large enough for a phone, aid mid-ride usability and snack storage, while the underarm ventilation panels and zipper guard are welcome too. The 22% elastane helps with flexibility, but the slimline cut comes at the cost of aesthetics, with my upper-body hair clearly visible (so I'd go for the navy blue option and lose visibility points). A top pick for the price.…

Van Rysel Racer £44.99

Sigma ROX 11.1 Evo

Battery life 18hrs Dimensions 66 x 47 x 20mm Weight 130g The Sigma ROX 11.1 Evo majors on training functionality, complemented by GPS navigation that works in conjunction with Komoot and the Sigma Ride app. The 1.77-inch display screen sits unobtrusively on the bars but packs in over 150 operations, including an emergency crash-notification feature. There’s no touchscreen, so you control modes via the four buttons. The Evo can pair with compatible ebike and e-gear sensors as well as working on manual bikes and you can set up screens manually or using the app: I’d recommend the latter. The format allows you to prioritise your key data (speed, distance and time) on the screen. In keeping with the display clarity, the Sigma Ride app shows ride stats exceptionally clearly. Rides also generate a…

Sigma ROX 11.1 Evo

VeloElite Carbon Wide 350-50mm (Disc)

DEEP-SECTION WHEELS should help improve your performance, thanks to the gains in aerodynamics. The 50mm depth of these VeloElites is a popular all-round option: fast for flatter riding but still usable for hillier rides. At 30.1mm at their widest, these are one of the broadest rims around, at 28.5mm externally across the bead, 21.2mm internally, and 50.1mm deep. The profile features a blunt spoke bed to help with stability in crosswinds. Our 700c carbon wheels, with 12mm bolt-through axles front and rear and centrelock rotor fitting, weighed 722g front and 853g rear, which isn’t bad for this price. Although the rims arrived pre-taped to accept a tubeless set-up, no valves (or bags or rotor lockrings) were included. Build quality is very good, and mounting tyres isn’t too much of a…

VeloElite Carbon Wide 350-50mm (Disc)

Battery life 11 hours Dimensions 46 x17mm Weight 25g The Velo 2 features a 1.28” LCD screen with rocker buttons and a larger display than the previous iteration. Once you’ve paired it with the Beeline app (available for iOS and Android), you can decide to either be routed to a specific destination or ride a loop with various waypoints. Once you’ve inputted a destination (easily done via the app, with GPX files also uploaded trouble-free), the app suggests either a fast or quiet route or a balance of the two. The device offers turn-by-turn navigation and tells you how far until the next direction cue. The Beeline app is also intuitive to use. Less positively, it’s not the easiest navigation to follow and it can lose its way sometimes, plus there were…

Specialized S-Works 7 Lace

FOLLOWING IN THE footsteps of the S-Works Sub6, which garnered a cult following for its low weight, sleek profile and Warp Sleeve lace cover, the S-Works 7 Lace offers a marginally less performance-focused design. The aggressively narrow heel cup of the Sub6, for example, has been toned down to produce a shoe with a broader appeal. Yet it’s still a racy shoe, and replacing the dials with laces actually ensures more aerodynamic efficiency. At 494g (UK 11) per pair, the removal of rotary dials and mounting hardware has cut 23g versus a pair of standard S-Works 7 shoes. That’s still 64g heavier than a pair of Sub6s but these are negligible differences. Like the standard S-Works 7, you get Specialized’s lightest and stiffest carbon fibre sole (it’s rated 15 on…

Specialized S-Works 7 Lace

Silca Mattone Grande pack £51

THIS SUPERSIZED version of the standard Mattone saddle pack design still has the clever wrap-around rubberised strap that threads through saddle rails and cinches down tight using a BOA ratchet (more commonly found on shoes). Inside the 13cm x 10cm x 5cm pack, there’s a large pocket in the lid top to store valuables while the main area is big enough to stow a multitool, tyre levers and a couple of tubes and CO2 cartridges. A waterproof zipper will help keep the contents dry.…

Silca Mattone Grande pack £51

Inside The Nest

Zipp’s base in Indianapolis in the heart of America’s Midwest is known as the home of speed. With the legendary Indy 500 raceway a stone’s throw from Zipp HQ, along with a wealth of engineering and design talent from automotive, aerospace and… composite (carbon) production, it seems apt that this pioneer of aerodynamic bicycle parts should hail from the region. With a few days to have a sneak peek at Zipp’s processes, my first port of call is with advanced development engineer Ruan Trouw. Ruan’s background is in carbon composites for the aerospace industry, but a love of bikes led to him joining Zipp (a common theme in Zipp’s advanced engineering team). Ruan heads up Zipp’s special NSW facility within Zipp’s factory. NSW stands for ‘Nest Speed Weaponry’, so called because…

Inside The Nest

Total System Efficiency

Zipp’s design direction is called ‘Total System Efficiency’ or TSE. The idea is to identify the needs of each type of rider and the corresponding riding conditions and tweak the design accordingly. Wind resistance Power loss created by the resistance of the air. More prevalent as the speed increases Gravity Power loss created by the weight of the bike and components. More prevalent as the slope increases Rolling resistance Power loss created by the friction and deformation of the tyres on the ground. Depends on tyre performance, but also tyre contact tyre patch and pressure Vibration losses Power loss created by vibrations from the road, that induce a vertical motion on both the bike and rider. More prevalent when the surface becomes rougher…

Total System Efficiency

TRI-FIT SYKL PRO EARTH Long Sleeve jersey £119

LOOKING FOR performance-enhancing kit? This great-looking top is worth the investment. With a second-skin feel and fit plus tech such as welded seams and internal support tape, this is impressive. It has two traditional back pockets plus two side-access pouches and regulated our temperature well when riding, with six fabrics doing their bit in the design. The wide, reflective rear hem didn’t budge and the minimalist neck is really comfortable.…

TRI-FIT SYKL PRO EARTH Long Sleeve jersey £119

The 808 and 858 NSWs

Zipp’s latest additions are the all-new 808 and 858, the last of the range to be revamped with the TSE design protocols. The new wheels both use Zipp’s hookless rim design for better aerodynamics, lighter weight, better flexibility and more. But, importantly, they’re also greener to produce since long-life, solid-metal moulds are used. Hooked rims have to use one-use silicone mould inserts for every rim, so this is a massive environmental plus as it means there’s less carbon waste and no silicone waste. It also has a direct positive knock-on effect for us, the customer: Zipp can now make the rims more efficiently and therefore cheaper. At £3,750 a pair for the 858s and £2,500 for the 808s, these new wheels are £622 and £230 less expensive per pair respectively than their…

The 808 and 858 NSWs

SURLY’S TUBELESS-READY Knard is a fairly aggressive gravel tyre with large-tread blocks positioned quite evenly across its 41mm width. It’s an open pattern, with good spaces between the square central tread blocks, and more distance still between the rectangular shoulder blocks. It’s robustly built on a 60tpi carcass, and also comes in 650b x 41mm size and a large 3” wide version for 29” and 27.5” MTB wheels. A 700 x 41mm tyre weighs 593g. A good fit Its heavy-duty construction helps the Knard retain its shape while fitting, but it’s still pliable enough to be easily eased onto a rim. The tyres inflated immediately and seated first time with a track pump, measuring true to size on our average-width gravel rims. Weighty issues There’s no hiding the Knard’s weight,…

HALO’S ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE’ tyre is built around a 60tpi tubeless carcass and has a harder area in the centre for speed and durability, with softer rubber on the shoulders. Five closely-spaced, offset lines of small arrow-shaped tread blocks line the centre, with angled linking ridges to shift water and muck. More arrow blocks precede two rows of larger, diamond-shaped blocks, which wrap around the shoulder. The 700 x 38mm GXC weighs 410g. Nice and light The lightweight and floppy Halos slipped onto a rim fairly easily and seated fairly quickly with a track pump. Despite seating more than once, one GXC has stubbornly refused to run straight. It doesn’t affect performance though [the same tyres were fine on the Ribble on p74]. Great grip After weeks of use on two…

Road bikes Four fantastic flyers for road riding and racing 01 Factor Ostro VAM £9,450 Issue 395 You’ll need big pockets, but this is a fast, light and comfortable bike that has a collection of the best spec around. 02 Giant Defy Advanced 0 £2,899 Issue 394 A very special frameset with a superb level of kit and fantastic wireless gearing. The latest Defy is very, very hard to fault. 03 Cube Attain GTC S £2,499 Great handling, great comfort, great value – the Attain GTC SL is a value-packed mile muncher worth serious consideration. 04 Lapierre Xelius SL 9.0 £6,999 Issue 393 Maximise your speed on this fasthandling and great-value road bike with high-spec kit and distinctive geometry. Gravel bikes This capable quartet will help you head off the tarmac 01 Ribble Gravel AL SRAM Rival 1x £1,999 Issue 396 This Ribble offers a more-than-capable ride that can handle the rough…

CANTII BUY ME LOVE

There’s no doubt, it’s a spooky place. It’s long after sunset on a path on the sea wall, between ocean and marshland, and beyond the glow of our front lights there’s someone down on the beach with a head torch. Probably hiding a body, I instantly think. He stands like a weird statue, the light from his head motionless as we pass. To make matters more bizarre, I think I hear intermittent laughter, a soft “chaa haa”, and I’ve no idea where it’s coming from. My ears are mostly filled with the sound of moving air and it’s otherwise a time of quiet contemplation, of digestion of the massive fish and chip dinner we’ve just eaten in Herne Bay, and I’m concentrating on following the rider in front, and avoiding…

CANTII BUY ME LOVE

Smith Shift MAG Photochromic

THESE FLYWEIGHT CYCLING shades (29g) follow the trend for oversized, wraparound shield lenses, but have fairly subtle styling plus a less aggressive curve than some. The lens dimensions, at 136mm wide and 57mm deep, aren’t hugely oversized but still provide full coverage. The slender arms are very well tensioned and highly flexible, providing great grip on your head, even when riding in the rough, helped by a two-position adjustable nosepiece that allowed me to get a perfectly secure fit. The Shift’s photochromic lens is rapid to change and has simply wonderful clarity with none of the distortion that can be found at the edges of some of the more steeply curved wrap glasses. ChromaPop technology filters light to keep definition and colour sharp too. However, where Smith really hits the…

Smith Shift MAG Photochromic

Sticklegs SL4 jersey & B-1 bib shorts

“ The SL4 jersey comes with technical details rarely seen on a jersey of this price” UPSTART BRITISH BRAND Sticklegs has been quietly expanding its range, adding women’s kit alongside its spread of men’s jerseys for all conditions and rider types. The SL4 jersey (in men’s and women’s versions) is designed for warmer days and comes with technical details rarely seen on a jersey at this price. The cut is close without being too second skin and my XL-sized test jersey is bigger than many cycling tops. The jersey has a full-length hidden YKK zip with a proper camlock. The arms and sides use a much more open-weave fabric than the main body, helping regulate temperature and wick moisture. On the rear, there are three well-shaped pockets and there’s a…

Sticklegs SL4 jersey & B-1 bib shorts

REACH YOUR PEAK

01 Harder, leaner, faster It’s commonly known that higher-intensity efforts help to raise your anaerobic and functional thresholds, resulting in a higher sustainable speed. What’s often forgotten is that harder efforts strike a match through fat stores, too, but just how much? More specifically, how does high-intensity interval training compare to the traditional fatburning template of longer, lower-intensity sessions? It was a question posed by Muhammad Atakan and his team at Victoria University, Melbourne, in a recent edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine using “18 fairto-good-quality papers” on the subject. “Our findings conclude that high-intensity intervals are effective at increasing fat oxidation among adults, with the expected coming in at around 0.04 and 0.12g/min,” the authors wrote. “This is comparable with moderate-intensity continuous training but requires two times lower time commitment.”…

REACH YOUR PEAK

Hummingbird Single Speed Flax

Weight 6.9kg Frame Flax fibre mainframe, CNC alloy rear Fork Carbon Brakes CAest levers, Tektro R539 dual pivot brakes Wheels Tri-Spoke carbon ISO 349mm (16”) clinchers Finishing kit Brooks Cambium grips, Brooks C17 Cambium saddle, Schwalbe Kojak tyres HUMMINGBIRD FIRST HIT the headlines with its ultra-lightweight monocoque carbon-fibre folding bike a couple of years ago. Now it’s taken that lightweight template and applied a new leaner, greener material in collaboration with the high-tech and high-performance motorsport firm, Prodrive. Prodrive has built and raced cars for the likes of Subaru, Aston Martin and, more recently, for Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team in the offroad Extreme E Championship. The new material, which contains flax fibres, comes from Prodrive’s research into sustainability to meet the stringent forthcoming motorsport regulations. Matt Bradney, Prodrive’s business…

Hummingbird Single Speed Flax

CUPBOARD CUISINE

Haven’t had time to go to the shops? Check your cupboards before pressing go on that Chinese meal and you’ll probably find the makings of a healthy dinner lurking in there. At only half an hour to make, the two recipes below will be ready to eat quicker than that delivery’s likely to appear. Not to mention being a whole lot cheaper and more nutritious. Spaghetti puttanesca (DF) This gutsy mix of tomatoes, capers, olives and salty anchovies is packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and fibre, plus slow-releasing carbohydrates. Details • Prep Time 5mins • Cook Time 15-20mins • Serves 4 Ingredients • 500g spaghetti• 2 tbsp olive oil• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced• 2 dried chillies, crushed• 50g tinned anchovies, drained and roughly chopped• 2 tbsp capers, rinsed• Handful of pitted…

CUPBOARD CUISINE

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

I had been a retired medical doctor for about 10 years when I decided, at the age of 70, to return to university. I wanted to follow up on an idea that exercise worked as a preventive medicine against many of the diseases that I had been taught at medical school were due to ageing itself. I thought that these common diseases could be wrapped up in one parcel and called exercise-deficiency diseases for short. The Scandinavians were way ahead of me on this idea but, being retired, I had not kept up with then-current scientific thinking. I came to my conclusion because, as I aged, I suspected that I’d become a victim of heart disease, or stroke or any one of 22 diseases that were due to ageing. However, neither…

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

We all want to improve our riding, especially when it comes to fitness, which can come from heading out with friends or clubs. But the very best motivation can come from actually seeing improvements in your performance. Yes, you’ll feel you’re getting better when you’re besting a climb or railing a corner, but seeing proven data is the real spark to make you push harder and put in that extra effort. Something that gives you a reason to ride faster, longer, higher every time is the best motivation, and is a key reason why computers are a staple of the cyclist’s gear armoury. Fitting a bike computer allows you to track every mile of riding you do. When you factor in membership of cycling-tracking websites, such as Strava or Garmin…

TRAIN YOUR MINDSET

The swearing starts, the shoulders stoop, the head begins to wobble and you start warbling The Smiths at top volume (maybe that last one is just me). The mid-ride meltdown can come quickly and sometimes with little warning, triggered perhaps by a change in the weather, a steep incline or a series of cyclists flying past with seemingly little effort. But is there a way to overcome or prevent mentally hitting the wall, the dreaded bonk or der Mann mit dem Hammer (the man with the hammer, in German) arriving? And can we actually flip these energy-sapping lows to our advantage? The first option is to think about why you’re doing the ride, says Kyle MacRae, the author of The Mental Cyclist. “If you find your morale flagging during a long…

TRAIN YOUR MINDSET

Computer considerations

01 GPS guidance Cycling GPS devices were once primarily for riders who wanted ‘pure’ navigation and trail guidance, but these tools now combine navigation, regular bike-computer functions, connectivity to devices such as heart-rate monitors and power meters, and more, into one unit. Perhaps the biggest question when choosing a GPS unit is deciding whether you want it to guide you on a ride via maps and navigation, or if you simply want it to track your ride and give you the data to look back at after your ride. Generally speaking, navigational GPS units will cost more because they feature built-in maps, additional storage, navigation software and often a much larger screen to make use of all of this information. For many riders, all they want is live ride data…

Computer considerations

SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESS

01 Sight for success It’s been proven that mental imagery can positively affect psychological states, such as decreasing anxiety, and enhancing self-confidence, self-efficacy and concentration. “Research shows that mental imagery stimulates electrical activity in that specific muscle and resembles that seen during the actual movement, so ingraining good technique into your neuromuscular system,” says The Science of the Tour de France author, James Witts. “Evidence suggests using imagery can also accelerate rehabilitation and recovery. There’s also evidence that mental imagery acts as a mini-workout because 20% of your daily calorie burn is down to the brain. Fitting in visualisation training is simple. Ideally you should spend 5-10mins each day focusing on a specific skill or ride scenario.” 02 Face the pain Dazed and confused, legs seemingly in shackles and talking to ourselves like…

SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESS

Session 01 Positive self-talk Coach Kyle MacRae Kit needed Pen, paper, quiet room The problem The mid-ride dark place is mental. It’s that self-destructive part of your psyche that tells you to throw your bike off the hill and admit that you’re a loser, baby. Negative self-talk is really powerful and can easily ruin your ride. The solution But here’s the thing. It’s just your mind messing with you. You don’t have to take it. You wouldn’t talk to a friend that way, so why do it to yourself? So counter this self-criticism and doubt with positive self-talk. The process First, write a list of all the negative nonsense you tend to tell yourself on a piece of paper: “I’m not fit enough for this… I don’t think I can do it…” Then flip each…

Hammerhead Karoo 2

Dimensions 100.6 x 60.8 x 19.3mm Weight 132g Screen 3.2” colour touchscreen Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels Battery life: 8-14hrs The Karoo 2’s generous size houses a large, high-resolution screen that uses a touchscreen. It’s really good, with its matt finish reducing reflections and the resolution making it easy to read in sunlight. Alongside the very responsive touchscreen, there are four physical buttons that can also be used to control the device. Under the bonnet, there’s 32GB of internal storage for data and maps, while Hammerhead provides biweekly software updates. There’s also a card slot for a 4G SIM so you can connect the Karoo 2 up to a wireless network without needing to carry your phone or use your phone data. The device reached 90% charge in 2.5hrs via…

Hammerhead Karoo 2

01 The Mental Cyclist Kyle MacRae’s book offers mind-training advice, self-development exercises, weekly challenge trackers and more with its 300 pages. Three formats are on offer in hardback, paperback, app and a deluxe carbon version. From £6.99. mentalcyclist.com. 02 Coffee To lower the perception of fatigue, you can consume caffeine. Drinking coffee in the morning helps with alertness and concentration, while research has shown that it increases memory and retention as well. 03 Dark chocolate Dark chocolate (70% and up) contains a small amount of caffeine (see above) and also boasts magnesium, which can help lower levels of stress. Chocolate promotes the release of endorphins and serotonin, which can heighten your mood. 04 Blueberries Research has shown that blueberries can aid concentration and memory for up to five hours after consumption due to the antioxidants stimulating the…

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2

Dimensions 77 x 47 x 21 mm Weight 68g Screen 2.2” colour screen Screen resolution 320 x 240 pixels Battery life 15hrs Wahoo’s second-generation Elemnt Bolt is an excellent bike computer that now offers a colour screen, smart navigation, USB-C charging and better battery life, in what is otherwise ostensibly the same aero-profiled package as the original version. The Bolt’s 2.2in colour screen is a marked step up from its predecessor. Wahoo has used colour relatively sparingly, but to good effect by improving clarity where it matters, whether that be road designations – main roads are orange, secondary roads are yellow, minor roads are grey and cycle paths are blue – or the heart rate zone you’re in during threshold intervals. The colour screen is most useful when navigating –…

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2

“I ‘ESCAPED’ FROM COLDITZ CASTLE ON A TANDEM FOR CHARITY”

“I was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease which, over time, robs the sufferer of their vision. I rode a bike as a kid and it wasn’t until I was diagnosed at 10 years of age that they told me I would eventually go blind.” “I wanted to join the army and go on adventures, but I was told I was exempt. I got very depressed for a couple of years before I decided I needed to deal with the hand I’d been dealt the best I could.” “When I lost my sight, I kept doing athletics and then, 10 years ago, I did the ‘top to toe’ John ’O’Groats to Land’s End on a tandem. All I did was pedal and ring the bell and realised I wanted to be…

“I ‘ESCAPED’ FROM COLDITZ CASTLE ON A TANDEM FOR CHARITY”

Garmin Edge 1040

Battery life 45hrs (solar); 35hrs (non-solar) Dimensions 118 x 59 x 20mm Weight 132g The Edge 1040 has a new trick: the option of solar charging, leading to an unparalleled 45hr battery life (even the non-solar 1040 will last for 35hrs). The Edge 1040 follows the Edge 1030 Plus in Garmin’s king-sized bike-computer format, and it takes up bar space if you use a standard mount. At 132g, it’s pretty weighty, but the display size (3.5”) gives plenty of data on each screen. The screen is responsive enough that it’s easy to swipe between pages, although the reflective surface can be difficult to read on sunny days. Garmin gives you great route planning both on-device and pre-ride via Garmin Connect, and you can use the Popularity Routing so you don’t…

Garmin Edge 1040

CYCLING NECK TUBE

8 versatile uses for your new neck tube NECK BUFF. Batch number: PR1008259. Manufactured by HMA Creative, HP19 8DZ, UK. HMA Creative (Ireland) Ltd. The Black Church, St. Mary’s Place, Dublin D07 P4AX, Ireland. Made in China. For Immediate Media Company Limited, London, W6 7BT and Mespil House, Dublin, D04 T4A6 THIS IS NOT A TOY. Intended for adult use only. Keep out of reach of babies and young children. WARNING! Not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts. CHOKING HAZARD. 100% polyester microfibre. One size. Hand wash only. Wash like colours together. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Do not dry clean. Do not tumble dry. Please retain this information for future reference. In exceptional circumstances the advertised gift may be replaced with an alternative gift of equal…

CYCLING NECK TUBE

Bryton Rider S800

Battery life 36 hours Dimensions 105 x 58 x 14.2mm Weight 104g The Bryton Rider S800 is an attractive cycling computer with good battery life and a large screen for its mid-sized format, with high contrast. The 3.4” screen is definitely a plus over competing devices such as the Garmin Edge 830 and the Wahoo Elemnt Roam, although it’s bested by the Hammerhead Karoo 2. The Rider S800 offers lots of functionality and does the basics well, but is slightly fiddly to use for more advanced functions. If you just want to set up, get out and record your rides, it’s a good option, but if you’re into fine-tuning your computer and using the bonus capabilities, you might find it a little frustrating. Bryton claims a lengthy 36-hour battery life…

Bryton Rider S800

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