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2020-11-01 Cycling Plus Flipbook PDF
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CDF 30 Our original go anywhere bike. Imagined in 2009 with adventures in mind ever since, the new Croix de Fer is more versatile than ever. There’s clearance for up to 700 x 45c, with an option to run 650b x 44c for ultimate all-terrain adaptability. For more information visit genesisbikes.co.uk
BEST BIKE LIGHTS HEADLINING HEADLIGHTS THAT’LL HELP YOU SEE FOR LESS THAN £100 P68
THE UK’S BEST-SELLING CYCLING MAGAZINE
ISSUE 372
NOVEMBER 2020
BIKETEST
NUTRITION
FOUR EBIKES RIDDEN & RATED 10 RIDE-TO-WORK RULES
12 FOODS TO BOOST YOUR MOOD
INDEPTH
No.1 FOR NEW GEAR
P82
OVER 4 0 PAGES OF E X PERT R E V IE WS INSIDE !
HOW TO…
GET A PERFECT FIT P110
SPRINT LIKE A PRO P108
BEAT FOOT PAIN P112
THE STORY BEHIND THE GRANDEST OF CANYONS P88
INSIDE ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80s…
BUT DOES THE TI-RALEIGH STILL CUT IT IN 2020?
P60
FEATURED BIKE: TOPSTONE CARBON LEFTY 1
off-road capable and on-road comfortable road bike ever made. cannondale.com
smoothness of our KingPin suspension and new Lefty Oliver fork make this the most
The gravel bike to beat all gravel bikes. High-volume 650b wheels and the bump-erasing
Topstone Carbon Lefty More give More go More Lefty
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Distributeur: SHIMANO BENELUX B.V SHIMANO BELGIUM N.V. www.bikegear.cc
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Distributeur: SHIMANO BENELUX B.V SHIMANO BELGIUM N.V. www.bikegear.cc
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ISSUE 372
NOVEMBER 2020
HIGHLIGHTS CARRY ON COMMUTING 62 Tame the winter beast on your ride to work
GOOD MOOD FOOD 82 How to adapt your diet and bolster body and mind
TWO TO TANGO Trevor Ward locks horns with Winnats Pass on a visit to Eyam P122
98 A glorious weekend of bikepacking in the Cambrian Mountains
BIKERADAR.COM
NOVEMBER 2020 5
ISSUE 372
NOVEMBER 2020
54
34
Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4 Les Classiques
Ebike commuters
56
SunGod Vulcan
GEAR & BIKE REVIEWS… NEW BIKES
NEW GEAR
12 Is BMC’s new Teammachine the bestlooking bike of the year? And how do we rate Trek’s Emonda SL 6 Pro?
48 Specialized S-Work Power saddle, Giant Control Tower Pro Boost pump, Fizik Tempo Overcurve shoes & more
BIKE TEST
LIGHTS TEST
34 Commuting to work isn’t all about leg power and endurance. Sometimes, that bit of extra power is needed...
68 It’s that time of year again when natural light fails us and back up is called for. We test nine of the best available today
INSIDE EVERY MONTH… Rob Ainsley is trying to crack the (Highway) code 30
HUB
TRAINING CAMP
22 In The Spin we float the idea of pro cycling being the best spectator sport in the world, introduce three routes in Winchester and take coffee and cake at Maglia Rosso in Bury St Edmunds
107 How to sprint like a pro, Katy Marchant’s lockdown training guide, find the correct size bike, protect your heart, how cycling changed Dave Walker’s life and a recipe for salmon and sriracha veg
BIKE SHED
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BIKE TEST
60 To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Raleigh’s win at the Tour de France, they’ve brought the bike back!
88 Canyon’s Ultimate Evo has set the benchmark for lightweight race bikes. Does the latest model live up to the name?
6 NOVEMBER 2020
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THE BIG RIDE
Ned Boulting prays for a result at the Tour de France 130
122 Via the steepling Winnats Pass, Trevor Ward visits the Peak District village of Eyam, best known for its residents’ heroic social distancing acts during the bubonic plague outbreak of 1665
120 Senior technical editor Warren Rossiter has closely followed Kinesis’s titanium Tripster ATR range since it launched in 2012. Find out how he’s getting on with the latest Volume 3 iteration
I can’t do this.
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COMPUTERS POWER RADAR LIGHTS TRAINERS
NEVER STOP CYCLING
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FROM THE EDITOR... I’m going to provide a personal positive from our troubled recent past – I’m back on the bike with something approaching regularity! I’ve been taking part in our back-to-the-office trial, which means I need to travel 15-miles each way, three times a week. The answer is, of course, to ride it. And I’m loving it – it feels normal, I don’t have to wear a mask and I’m losing my lockdown lumpiness. Let’s hope, as normality slowly returns, plenty of others will do the same and the bike boom continues.
Rob Spedding Content Director
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HIGHLIGHTS… ELECTRIC AVENUES
One way more people will be able to enjoy riding to work is for them to try an electric bike. I’ve already seen one bikephobic colleague become addicted to powered pedalling. We test four e-commuters this issue. p34
LISTEN UP
Our colleagues on BikeRadar. com have created the BikeRadar Podcast, packed with top tech chat and interviews. Start with Ned Boulting and his thoughts on lockdown without pro cycling. Find it on Apple, Google and all good podcast providers!
GET IN TOUCH…
If you’ve anything you want to say you can chat with us via @cyclingplus on Twitter, CyclingPlusMagazine on Facebook and cyclingplus on Instagram. And, of course, you can always email us at [email protected]. And don’t forget to visit www.cyclingplus.com!
EVERY SINGLE DETAIL AND COMPONENT DESIGNED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A SINGLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE WHEEL.
RAPID RED 3 Fast on the road and unstoppable off-road. Here is our new Rapid Red 3, a versatile and responsive wheel made to explore. Enjoy your next adventure. 2-WAY FIT™ Ready Tubeless ready profile CUP and CONE bearings Reflective Stickers 700c / 650B rim size options 1740 g / 1640 g
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OUR AWARDS THE UK’S BEST TESTS FOR OVER 25 YEARS BIKE-BUYING ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST... We take our testing very seriously at Cycling Plus. For more than 25 years – an age when disc brakes, Di2 and super-wide 1x gearing weren’t even a glint in a designer’s eye – we have been putting road cycling products through their paces. Our Senior Technical Editor Warren Rossiter, has nearly a quarter of a century of riding experience in just about every discipline. He can separate the great from the also-rans when it comes to bikes, clothing, accessories – and more. If it gets our seal of approval you can be sure that you’ll be bagging a great buy!
THE TECH TEAM’S SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR PREVIEWS HIS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS... WA RREN ROSSI T ER
SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR I have long been an advocate of electric bikes as the ideal way to arrive at the office without looking dishevelled. In this month's Bike Test on p34 I had the pleasure of testing four ebikes from some of the biggest brands to see which one would take me serenely from home to work. Even better is that they all come in around the £2000 price point, so they're within a realistic price bracket. A bike that doesn't sit within most people's budgets is the BMC Teammachine SLR01 TWO (p12). At £9800 it might not be cheap, but this beauty is a master of industrial design and I certainly had a good time testing it. The Trek Emonda, on p18, proved to be fun too as a go fast bike.
10 NOVEMBER 2020
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Look out for our Best On Test award. We only give this to gear and bikes that really deserves your attention
Beat the Crosstown Traffic with one of these four affordable ebikes p34
Lights out: or rather it's time to put them on as we test nine of the best p68
Woz gets a taste for adventure with the Kinesis Tripster ATR Vol 3 p120
THE RATINGS EXPLAINED +++++
EXCEPTIONAL
A GENUINE CLASS LEADER ++++ VERY GOOD
ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY +++ GOOD
IT’LL DO THE JOB VERY WELL ++ BELOW AVERAGE
FLAWED IN SOME WAY + POOR
SIMPLY PUT, DON’T BOTHER
BLINDINGLY SIMPLE S TICK IT ON AND S TAND OU T.
Stick Drive – Incredibly thin and only 23g. The minimalist design is optimised for compact versatility and ease-of-use and packs 30 lumens of wide-angle light output with up to 23-hours runtime. The simple magnetic attachment allows the Stick Drive to be quickly detached from the O-ring mount system for cable-free charging via the integrated USB stick. PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK | 01403 711 611 | WWW.LEZYNE.COM UPGRADE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL #BIKEISBEST CAMPAIGN
Attention to detail is top-notch and the SLR01 is an absolute masterpiece of industrial design The Teammachine is as good a climber as you’d expect for a bike of this calibre and price
12 NOVEMBER 2020
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Two’s company BMC Teammachine SLR01 TWO £9800 Probably the bestlooking bike launched this year he classic BMC silhouette of dropped seatstays has been a mainstay in the range since the 2010 SLR and now it’s been adopted across pretty much every design of BMC’s rivals. Ditto for integration and internal cable routing, from handlebar to rear mech. Even the comfort and aero combining D-shaped seatpost is a contested first between Giant (TCX ’cross bike) and BMC. It’s clear that BMC’s influence on road bikes far exceeds the brand’s profile, which is impressive stuff when you consider that BMC is less than 25 years old. This Teammachine looks simply beautiful. Its svelte design and clean lines have not been scarred by anything that looks out of place, no mean feat when running Shimano’s wired Di2. Attention to detail is top-notch and it’s an absolute masterpiece of industrial design. It has a rich heritage and is the latest BMC project by celebrated bike designer Torgny Fjeldskaar (see our feature on Torgny in issue 370). Wherever you look, thoughtful scrutiny has been given – not only to the style but also its aero details. We’re not sure if there is any other bike builder that would go to such lengths. Of course, detailing such as this comes at a cost and, accordingly, the SLR01 TWO doesn’t come cheap. Its £9800 price tag is one hell of a price to pay, and this isn’t even the range-topping model (the SLR01 ONE will set you back a cool £10,250). A bike at that sort of money and these looks better be good, otherwise we’d be staring at the most crushing disappointment from Switzerland since Fabian Cancellara crashed out in yellow at the 2015 Tour de France. Thankfully, brand ambassador and test pilot Spartacus can rest easy because the new SLR01 TWO certainly lives up to its appearance. Weightwise, at 7.09kg it might not beat the new Giant
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NOVEMBER 2020 13
The 11-30 cassette gives a good range of gears Mavic’s Cosmic SLR 45 wheels perform well
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight 7.09kg (56cm, including two bottle cages) Frame Premium Carbon Fork Premium Carbon with stealth dropouts Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace hydraulic disc Wheels Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Finishing kit ICS bar/stem combo, 42cm wide, 120mm equivalent stem length; Selle Italia Flite Boost saddle; Teammachine D-shaped carbon seatpost; Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tyres Extras Integrated computer mount, 2 x Aerocore bottle cages, tubeless valves
14 NOVEMBER 2020
TCR (6.78kg) or Trek’s Emonda SLR 9 (6.92kg), but on the road it’s a match when it comes to sheer unadulterated pace. The chassis is unflappable when sprinting and it is well matched by Mavic’s Cosmic SLR 45 wheels with a broad-profile 45mm-deep carbon rim and taut build using bladed spokes and straight-pull hubs. The bottom bracket’s unflinching stiffness is matched by the head tube’s, and when going full gas wrenching on the bars the bike holds firm so you can’t detect a single millimetre of flex. The riding position is pure race with a low 565mm stack (the vertical height between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the centre of the head tube) and long 392mm reach (the horizontal distance between the same points) on our 56cm test bike. The metre-long wheelbase adds a good dose of agility to the bike’s behaviour under direction changes. The steep 73.5-degree seat angle puts you efficiently over the cranks, yet the 72.3-degree head gives a 63mm trail (the horizontal distance between the tyre’s contact patch and the line of the steering axis on the ground; more trail calms
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Dropped seatstays are a classic BMC design
down the steering response while less trail makes for more reactive handling), which adds stability to the reactions of the SLR. As a comparison, Cannondale’s faster-steering SuperSix EVO has a shorter 58mm trail. When compared against the EVO, TCR and Emonda, the Teammachine is certainly the most stable of the bunch, with a similar feel to BMC’s out-and-out aero bike, the Timemachine Road. Where this bike shines very brightly is when damping down poor road-surface vibrations. It has the unmistakably firm ride of a thoroughbred race bike, like its rivals, but it doesn’t transmit or convey any fatiguing road noise through to your fingers or seat. The smooth ride is aided by great contact points: the saddle, ICS cockpit (featuring fantastic bar tape, which is thick and impregnated with gel to provide superb comfort), which all score high marks with our testers. Meanwhile, the graphene-infused 25c Vittoria tyres (that measure up to 27mm wide, mounted onto Mavic’s rims) offer supple comfort, producing speed in a straight line and control in the corners. In all, this is one very well-sorted machine.
It has the firm ride of a thoroughbred race bike but it doesn’t transmit any road noise to your fingers or seat The stiff chassis and awesome handling combine to deliver a fantastic, and fast, ride
BIKERADAR.COM
NOVEMBER 2020 15
When standing it feels like all your effort is channelled through the pedals unhindered
Dura-Ace Di2 is what we’d expect to see on a bike at this price, although BMC has deviated away from a full Shimano groupset with Rotor’s ADHLU 24 chainset. Its industrial CNC-machined appearance certainly stands out and the directmount chainring design is undoubtedly clever. We did, however, discover that dropping down to the smaller, 36t chainring was Dura-Ace swift and smooth, but the reverse was occasionally laboured as the chain hooked in but didn’t settle until the cranks had rotated more than 90 degrees. It could, of course, simply be the result of new rings and chain that haven’t quite worn in together, but it’s not something that we’ve experienced with the HIGHS full Dura-Ace. Stunning looks; The Teammachine’s Dura-Ace explosive speed; brakes are wonderful, and the dependable chassis stiffness means there are handling no annoying rubs, ticks or noises from the rotors, even after long LOWS descents and when braking in It’s a lot of money; front all weathers. upshifts are On the ascents the SLR01 TWO slower than is as good as you’d imagine a we’d expect flyweight bike at this price to be. We particularly like that BMC BUY IF... You want a has given the SLR01 TWO the bike that rides broadest cassette option available as good as it in Dura-Ace, with an 11-30. looks and are prepared to Combined with the pro-compact pay the asking 52/36 chainset it gives a fantastic price range for both speed and slopes.
16 NOVEMBER 2020
BIKERADAR.COM
The integrated cockpit hides the cables for a super-clean finish
The efficient stiffness in the bottom bracket and head tube makes the Teammachine simply awesome to climb on – the solid feel through the bars when standing creates the feeling that all your effort is being channelled through the pedals unhindered and with no frustrating powersapping flex. However, it’s when you hit the descents that this bike really comes into its own. The stable handling inspires confidence and when combined with how taut the chassis feels, we were completely confident when leaning heavily into corners and sprinting out. As soon as our current global situation eases and we can travel again to the great European climbs, and descents, we want an SLR01 as a companion for a proper head-down, full-chat alpine descent. The new SLR01 TWO has retained many of the factors that made the 2018 model great: its light weight, ride smoothness and awesome handling. However, what it has gained in aerodynamics and stiffness it may have lost in the ultra-smooth comfort of its predecessor. It’s not that it’s an uncomfortable ride, it’s just a little firmer, which is a recurring theme of the new wave of light and aero bikes that we’ve seen launched this year.
THE VERDICT
Lives up to the prestigious legacy of the Teammachine SLR name Dura-Ace brakes provide excellent stopping power
PHOTOGRAPHY RUSSELL BURTON
You’ve got no excuse not to be leader of the pack if you’re riding one of these dream machines
PINK IS THE NEW GREEN —
AS THE 2020 GIRO D’ITALIA MAGLIA ROSA LOOKS TO THE FUTURE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT A GRAND TOUR THE LEADERS’ JERSEYS ARE MANUFACTURED USING ECO-SUSTAINABLE FABRICS. NOW A VICTORY IN THE GIRO D’ITALIA IS ALSO A VICTORY FOR THE PLANET.
CASTELLI-CYCLING.COM
A phoenix rises Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro £3350 From climber to do-it-all race bike he new 2021 Trek Emonda sees a marked shift away from a purely climber-focused bike to a more allround package with the de rigueur aero shaping to match. While at £3350 the SL 6 Pro is by no means cheap, it does represent fairly good value for money in the context of the wider market. For that cash, you get a full Ultegra R8020 groupset, a Bontrager Aeolus 35 Elite carbon wheelset, a perfectly inoffensive alloy cockpit and a very plush Bontrager saddle. The 56cm bike weighs 8.13kg on the nose with no pedals. Picking two comparable bikes, the Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 Disc costs roughly the same (£3499) for a broadly similar build, as does the Rose X-Lite Six Disc (approx £3450 plus shipping). Trek has significantly altered the geometry of the Emonda for 2021, and it is now only available in the brand’s middle-of-the-road H1.5 fit, which sits pretty much in the middle of Trek’s super-aggressive H1 geometry and its endurancefocussed H2 fit. The resulting shape strikes a nice balance between real-world usability while allowing the sportier riders among us to get a low and fast setup should they so wish. The stack (the vertical height between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the centre of the head tube) for the new Emonda is on
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18 NOVEMBER 2020
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It’s a pricey bike but you do get a plush Bontrager saddle
Close to perfect Shimano Ultegra R8020 groupset
the lower end of the spectrum for a 56cm bike at 563mm. The reach is fairly average, at 391mm for a 56cm bike. The 56cm bike ships with a 100mm stem. While the reach of the frameset is fairly average, when matched with the 42cm-wide Bontrager Elite VR-C bar, which has a hefty 100mm reach, the fit of the bike feels suitably long and low. We like the overall profile of this bar – there’s loads of room in the drops so you can actually spend some time down there comfortably without your hands getting smooshed up, and the extra reach offers additional useful hand positions. Adding reach to the bar (rather than increasing the length of the stem) also means the tops stay a touch closer to you, giving a really comfortable position for seated climbing. The ride of the bike is exceptionally stiff and incredibly fun in the way that a proper race bike can be. It’s got that addictive ultra-efficient feel with a totally unyielding pedal response that is amazing on the climbs – you are giving up nothing to the frame when mashing yourself into a lactic oblivion. The overall feel is almost a little old school, with a super-stiff ride that’s reminiscent of early carbon bikes. This will be polarising for some riders, but we personally really like it. It feels rapid and responsive, and going fast is always fun. While perhaps divisive, this super-stiff ride also goes some way to differentiate the bike from
Lots of room in the drops gives extra comfort
The Emonda’s new aero shaped tubes Still skinny: Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite 25mm tyres
A stiff ride that simply shrugs at braking when cornering
the others in Trek’s stable. The line between the Emonda and Madone – and to a certain degree, the Domane – is now fairly blurred with this new bike. But by keeping it simple, with no IsoSpeed, a racy ride and a lighter overall package, the Emonda stands out in the range. That stiffness also translates into a really engaging and enjoyable ride on the descents. The bike shrugs at irresponsibly heavy braking into corners, remaining accurate. It’s no surprise that this stiffness results in a firm ride. It’s not a rough ride, per se – the Emonda still provides that pleasingly damped feel that any quality carbon bike gives on imperfect surfaces, while the integrated seatmast brings a degree of rear-end comfort. However, on larger bumps, the front end can feel quite jarring. The alloy handlebar will contribute to this, but the stock 25mm tyres are the main culprit: 25mm-wide tyres were
It’s a firm ride but still provides that pleasingly damped feel that any quality carbon bike gives on imperfect surfaces
BIKERADAR.COM
NOVEMBER 2020 19
SPECIFICATIONS Weight 8.13kg (56cm) Frame Ultralight 500 Series OCLV Carbon Fork Emonda full carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Wheels Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 carbon wheelset Finishing kit Bontrager Aeolus Comp saddle, Bontrager Pro stem, Bontrager Elite VR-C alloy bar, Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite 25mm tyres, Bontrager carbon seatmast
20 NOVEMBER 2020
considered progressive a few short years ago, but the majority of new road bikes these days ship with 28mm tyres (or wider), and with good reason. Wider tyres have consistently been shown in testing to have lower rolling resistance than narrower tyres and, as they can be run at lower pressures, they also improve comfort. Being more comfortable means less fatigue, which means increased speed. This is well-trodden ground, so to see 25mm tyres here is a little bit disappointing. Trek is clearly trying to pander to the hill-climb kids with the tiny reduction in weight 25s will offer, but 28s would be better for most riders in nearly all situations. Keen to see how much of a difference wider rubber would actually make, we swapped the stock Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite tyres in favour of a pair of Panaracer Race D Evo tyres. These measure bang-on 28mm when inflated to 70psi
Given the new Aeolus wheels are tubelesscompatible, it’s a pity that the included tyres aren’t at least tubeless-ready
BIKERADAR.COM
on the Aeolus carbon rims. Unsurprisingly, the wider tyres smoothed out the ride of the bike significantly without making the ride feel mushy – you can focus on getting the most out of the bike’s stiff frameset without having to worry so much about potholes or broken road surfaces. The larger tyres also increase grip on descents. It was also a little disappointing to see the bike come set up with tubes. The likes of Giant are now shipping complete bikes tubeless out of the box and given the new Aeolus 35 Elite wheels are tubeless-compatible, it’s a pity that the included tyres aren’t at least tubeless-ready. Trek claims that this new bike sits between the outgoing Emonda and the Madone in terms of aero performance. We can’t quantify these claims, but the bike does feel fast on the flats. This possibly has more to do with the fact the bike’s geometry has been changed because it’s possible to get into a properly long and low position. The Emonda is built around a full Shimano Ultegra R8020 groupset. It’s nigh-on impossible to level criticism at R8000, offering nearly all the performance of Dura-Ace at a considerably lower price point. The 52/36 crankset is paired with an 11-30 cassette. For a go-fast, all-round climbfriendly bike, this is perfect. However, it’s worth noting that the bike is equipped with a short-cage mech, which officially limits the drivetrain to a
We suggest changing to 28mm tyres
Top-notch finishing kit from Bontrager
Go fast, all round climb-friendly bike with R8020
30t cassette. This means you would have to go for a smaller set of chainrings if you require lighter gearing. Even so, the gearing has more than enough range to climb comfortably in the saddle on most climbs. The SL 6 Pro is the ‘cheapest’ bike in the new Emonda range to feature carbon wheels. At 35mm deep, the Aeolus 35 Elite should, in theory, give a bit of aero advantage without sacrificing too much on the climbs in terms of weight. A 35mm wheel is unlikely to present serious problems in crosswinds, and they feel perfectly wellmannered and stiff. The wheels are based on DT Swiss’ Ratchet EXP freehub, which are easy enough to service with widely available spares. Again, it would have been great to see these set-up tubeless out of the box as it would allow you to run lower pressures, improving both comfort and grip, which is never a bad thing.
HIGHS
Amazingly stiff ride; raceready long and low fit; exceptionally fun to ride
LOWS
25mm tyres exaggerate harsh ride and harm performance on imperfect road surfaces; weight isn’t competitive for price
BUY IF...
You want a fast, fun do-itall race bike with a firmfeeling ride
Make no mistake, the Emonda is an uncompromising race bike, and it’s all the better for it. In a world of squashy do-it-all bikes, its wonderfully moreish super-stiff ride stands out and we’ve really enjoyed our time testing it. Speccing standard 25mm clincher tyres in 2020 is an odd move, and the weight for this particular build isn’t that competitive. You also lose out on some (claimed) aero benefit with the standard cockpit versus the fancy new integrated Bontrager Aeolus RSL VR-C bar-stem combo. But, if you enjoy endlessly tweaking your position and cockpit setup, this might not be such a bad thing. A few small spec niggles aside, if you’re after a delightfully fun go-fast race bike, the 2021 Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro is just short of true greatness and very unlikely to leave you wanting.
THE VERDICT
Uncompromising, spectacularly stiff all-round race bike that is a hoot to ride
BIKERADAR.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY RUSSELL BURTON
The Emonda SL 6 is built around a full Shimano Ultegra R8020 groupset, offering nearly all the performance of Dura-Ace
NOVEMBER 2020 21
EDITED BY JOHN WHITNEY
22 NOVEMBER 2020
BIKERADAR.COM
THE BIG PICTURE IMAGE JUSTIN SETTERFIELD/GETTY
G IN THE GIRO It was a shock to see Geraint Thomas’s name missing from Ineos Grenadiers Tour de France line-up, but his admission to The Guardian that the lockdown had, like many of us, left him “running a little heavy” went some way to explaining it. The Tour’s loss is the Giro d’Italia’s gain, however, and the extra five weeks of racing in his legs, such as here at the start in the Tirreno-Adriatico, will help sculpt a grand tour-winning body that he’s often admitted isn’t easy for him.
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NOVEMBER 2020 23
THE SPIN
THE SPIN
FREE’S A CROWD
This summer has reinforced pro cycling as the purest spectator sport in the world ong before I fell for professional cycling, I’d had a soft spot for it. I distinctly remember on a family caravan holiday in eastern France in 2002, stumbling across the final Tour de France time trial in Mâcon and cheering on Lance Armstrong. We’ve all done things we are embarrassed about. He was all set to seal his fourth consecutive yellow jersey and had become a true cross-over star he was the only rider there that I could put a name to a face. Tight up against the metal barriers and close to the finish line, it was a captivating spectacle, which was quite probably made more so, as the willing recipient of countless bags of Haribo, Solero ice creams and other sugary treats tossed out of the back of another type of caravan - the long line of promotional vehicles of the sponsors of the race. As it turned out, I wasn’t the only person there jacked up on substances that were no good for me. Fast-forward 18 years to the Covid-19-beset 2020 edition of the great race and, despite the hole the world finds itself in, not too much had changed for the cycling fan. Though the caravan operated at a reduced capacity, the noise made by fans muffled by ubiquitous face masks, fans weren’t packed in at
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24 NOVEMBER 2020
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JOHN WHI T NE Y FE ATURES EDITOR
The longtime Cycling Plus staffer offers his take on all the comments and controversy on the frontline of the cycling scene
finishes as per their usual sardine impersonation and key sections of the route were limited in the number of fans that can watch from the roadside, yet the spectating experience looked largely intact. That’s certainly not been the case elsewhere in the sporting world this summer. Monumentally expensive Premier League football stadiums remained closed throughout the elongated 2019/20 season, turning them into little more than billion pound windbreaks. Test match cricket was played out in atmospheres that made the experience in my former life as a lower league chucker almost cacophonous in retrospect. The solution was to pump fake crowd noise through the televisions of viewers at home, which succeeded to varying degrees. With the football it worked because it was nuanced: the puppet masters behind the scenes mixing the fan noise like a DJ set, laying down actual fan chants and have them cheer at the right times. My favourite moment was when a player shot into the side netting and parts of the crowd, as they do in real life, went up to celebrate the goal. Whether by accident or design, it had me fooled. The cricket worked less well, with it being a constant hum - the ‘crowd’ would offer the same, disinterested noise for a batsman letting the ball go through to the wicket-keeper as biffing one straight over the ropes and into the car park. As I’ve written about here before, a travelling circus like the Tour de France has obvious downsides in a pandemic and at its worse could be nothing less than a moving petri dish. But on the upside, there is the benefit of it coming to us, rather than us going to it. Rather than being crammed into a social distancing nightmare, fans can still ride out to and disperse along a 200-kilometre stretch of road and get their fix of racing without putting their health in jeopardy. Watching on television, you won’t find any artificial crowd noise, because it’s never had or needed it. There’s all the visual and auditory stimulation that there’s ever been, whether it’s of the fabulous scenery, historic architecture, Ned Boulting and David Millar’s incisive commentary and, of course, the bike racing. Were anybody ever in any doubt, this summer has reminded everyone of the indispensable role of fans, and how much many sports rely on them for spectacle. As other sports institutions continue to fleece their patrons with exorbitant admission costs, be grateful for professional cycling. While its free-towatch model might causes its bean-counters sleepless nights, know we’ve got a great thing going.
ILLUSTRATIONS DAVID MAHONEY, MICK MARSTON
“A travelling circus like the Tour has obvious downsides, and at its worse is nothing less than a moving petri dish”
EXPLORE EVERYTHING. SUPERGIARA Free yourself to ride further and faster without compromise
SPORTFUL.COM
W H Y YO U WA N T 01
COVER
02
01
An outer rubber cover protects your bike from scratches and scrapes
CASING
02
The outer casing is made from high-grade hardened steel with anticorrosion protection, making it suitable for outdoor use
03
INNER SHELL
03
The inner shell is also made from hardened steel and is rated to Gold standard for both bicycles and motorbikes
WHY YOU WANT...
HIPLOCK ANKR £69.99 Secure anchor for your bike ost wall or floor anchors look a little industrial – the sort of thing you’d be more likely to find in a tool shop than in your home or office. However, wearable lock innovator Hiplok, has come up with the ANKR, a solution that combines Sold Secure Gold levels of security with an undeniably stylish design.
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Its outer casing and reinforcing inner are made from high-grade hardened steel. You simply mount the outer casing to a wall or floor using the four included fixings, which attach to wood, concrete or masonry. Then thread the inner onto the boss on the outer, tighten up and press on the rubberised outer cover, which protects your bike from scuffs and scrapes. You can easily reposition the ANKR by reversing
the fitting process, so if you move home or office the ANKR can come with you. The rectangular opening is 75mm x 44mm, which is more than big enough for even the most substantial chain locks. Hiplok recommends the use of the Hiplok Homie (£109.99) or Homie Silver (£79.99), and the ANKR is usable both indoors and out. Hiplok also backs the ANKR with a lifetime warranty.
W H Y YO U N E E D WHY YOU NEED...
FOUR ESSENTIALS 01 FÜD ENERGY DRINK £1.95
03 FABRIC HEX DUO TAPE £26.99
Unlike most canned energy
Fabric’s Hex bar tape is
drinks, Füd doesn’t contain
available in split colourways
any artificial ingredients.
or solid black, and features
Rather, the energy kick
a small hexagonal textured
comes from fruit juices and
pattern with a larger,
the naturally occurring
overlapping hexagonal
sugars within. Each can
design. The Kraton rubber
contains 25 per cent of your
top offers exceptional grip
RDA of vitamins B5, B6 and
in all weathers and is
B12, along with electrolytes
backed with foam for great
from magnesium, plus a big
shock absorption.
kick of natural caffeine (80mg). Füd is available in two flavours: Berry and Coconut, and Pineapple and Ginger.
04 MEGMEISTER DRYNAMO BASELAYER £54.95
01
02
02 ENDURA WOMEN’S HUMMVEE LITE WITH LINER £64.99
The Drynamo is a
These light baggies are cut
those areas where sweat is
so they don’t flap, with the
most prevalent (so it wicks
four-way stretch fabric
faster) and closed where
moving with you as you
you need support. Raw
pedal. The seamless liner
seams reduce bulk, while
short adds some welcome
the rear is substantially
padded comfort, making
longer than the front so it
these shorts ideal for a
won’t ride up when you’re in
range of uses: commuting,
the saddle. A smart, high-
gravel riding, or just days
performing piece of kit
when you don’t want to be
that’s an essential addition
completely Lycra clad.
to your cycling wardrobe.
03
lightweight undershirt 3D-knitted from Dry Yarn polyester fabric. The weave pattern is more open in
04
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RIDES LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
WINCHESTER Rolling lanes, short climbs and plenty of history
The magnificent ancient capital of England is a great base for day rides with beautiful, compact downs landscape all around. Traffic is rarely far away, but the manicured villages and well-tended countryside make every mile a scenic delight. No epic climbs, but several stiff little ascents and picture-postcard pubs and cafes aplenty.
ROUTE ONE
EASTERN LOOP 66 MILES SOUTH DOWNS SPECIAL A full day of hills and scenery. Ride along lovely Itchen valley, then to West Meon (cafe) and a climb up Old Winchester Hill to enjoy fine views. Then on to pretty East Meon and a stiff climb to Butser Hill’s panorama. Downhill to Hambledon, then up Meon Valley and a climb up Beacon Hill before enjoying the country lanes back. GET THE ROUTE: komoot.com/ tour/238661992
ROUTE TWO
NORTHERN LOOP 52 MILES FAST RURAL ROMP Easy lanes ride through lush landscapes and villages. Test Valley to Whitchurch, and back roads to Hurstbourne Tarrant (cafes) and short climb to highest point just after Upton. Enjoyable run back along quiet roads with downhill trend. GET THE ROUTE: komoot.com/ tour/238662519
ROUTE THREE
WESTERN LOOP 34 MILES HALF-DAY GRAVEL JAUNT Mostly tarmac with several chalky tracks – gravel/hybrid are ideal. Out to Sparsholt and hilltop views, before descent to Test Valley. Lanes to Barton and good tracks before quiet lanes to Kings Worthy. Walk over river footbridge; back to Winchester. GET THE ROUTE: komoot.com/ tour/238662917
STOP FOR CAKES BEECH CAFE
GET SPARE TUBES HARGROVES CYCLES
FANCY A PINT? BISHOP ON THE BRIDGE
HAVE BREAKFAST HANDLEBAR CAFE
WITH FAMILY? ABBEY GARDENS
Cyclist-friendly favourite at Sustainability Centre. Veggie and vegan menu; lovely food. Open Thursday to Sun. WHERE: East Meon GU32 1HR
Well-stocked local chain, with workshop etc, on edge of city centre. All bike types. Closed Sunday. WHERE: Winchester SO23 7FA
Smart pub near Winchester Cathedral with cask beer, good food and riverside terrace to watch over bikes. WHERE: Winchester SO23 9JX
Cycle cafe with workshop, spares, free tools etc, right on the river path. Ideal for morning fuel-up. WHERE: Winchester SO23 9PA
Had enough riding? Picnic and run around in this lovely central green park. Cafe, mill, river, toilets and cat. WHERE: Winchester SO23 9GH
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ILLUSTRATION TOM WOOLLEY
INSIDER TIPS
power
your roads!
NEW BETTER GRIP - CLASS-LEADING WET CONERING AND BRAKING FASTER ROLLING - TUBELESS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES PERFORMANCE LONGER LIFE - X-RACE COMPOUND OPTIMISES TREAD WEAR STRONGER - 4X120 TPI CASING IMPROVES ROBUSTNESS AND COMFORT
LIFE CYCLE
CODE COMFORT
A new Highway Code is coming. Together we can crack it, says Rob Ainsley...
lightly easier to understand than the Enigma code. A bit more credible than the Da Vinci Code. Yes, the Highway Code is back – and this time it’s personal! Coming to a kerbside argument near you! The manual for playing nicely on the roads is being updated, and there’s a consultation over some proposed changes. Some would affect us, almost all positively. We have until 27 October to respond (Cycling UK’s website summary helps you do so – rb.gy/xssf3s). After that, cyclists’ views will be ignored. Before that, we’ll probably be ignored too, but at least we’ll have tried. The Highway Code – part law, part best-practice, part common sense and part committee-produced camel-shaped nonsense – has been around since 1931 when it detailed how horse-drawn cabs should signal turns using their whip. It still makes for entertaining reading. For instance, Rule 206 tells us, on the authority of HM Government, that “children are more interested in ice-cream than traffic”. No doubt the new revision will acknowledge parental fury about veganism and lactose intolerance.
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ROB A INSLE Y
WRITER & JOURNALIST Rob wrote The Bluffer’s Guide to Cycling and 50 Quirky Bike Rides, and collects international End to Ends. yorkshireridings. blogspot.com
There’s a system behind the Code’s language. Anything with ‘must’ or ‘must not’ is law: you ‘must’ keep to the cycle side on a segregated path shared with pedestrians, for example. (Not easy on a certain path here in York, which had contradictory signs at either end.) Similarly, you ‘must’ obey ‘traffic signs’, though it’s not always clear what constitutes a ‘traffic sign’. A ‘CYCLISTS DISMOUNT’, for instance, often put up by dozy contractors at bike-hostile roadworks seems to have no legal force. Equally debatable are Code pronouncements involving ‘should’ or ‘should not’. These aren’t law, but could count in court. For example, you ‘should’ wear a helmet; but you also ‘should’ wear reflective clothing, including white shoes (Rule 59, made explicit by a photo). Not doing so could work against you in case of an accident. Sometimes the Code waffles and starts to smell of fudge. For example: “Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer” (Rule 63). Well, technically, yes they can. Just as, in theory, you can make a fortune on the National Lottery. And sometimes it states the blooming obvious: “Remember that traffic on most dual carriageways moves quickly” (Rule 75). Apparently, at night it gets dark, too. But, anyway, here’s our chance to try to improve it for cyclists. Or, at least, stop it getting worse. For instance, the Code currently says we “should ... never ride more than two abreast and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends”. The proposed change asks us to ride single file when traffic wants to overtake, unless we think it’s safer to stay in pairs. Is that better, or worse? It’s like having an eye test: I’m not sure about ‘better’, just different. Other proposals work more definitely in our favour. A strengthening of the hierarchy of priorities based on vulnerability: pedestrians > cyclists > horse riders > motorists. A clarification of what constitutes close passing with distances and speeds. Better cyclist priority at junctions. Our right to take the centre of the lane. The standard of road craft affects us directly for many hours a week. A tighter Code, and the PR around its appearance, may help improve our well-being: fewer close passes, fewer contretemps at the lights. So you should respond. Because we should be able to enjoy our cycling in safety. No: we must. See you at the ice-cream van. I’ll be the one in black shoes.
ILLUSTRATION JOE WALDRON
“The Highway Code - part law, part best-practice, part committeeproduced camelshaped nonsense”
FURT HE R.
FAST E R.
Featured Lights: Sirius Mk9, TraceR ReAKT Mk2 (available as a pack)
SA FER .
C A F E C U LT U R E CAKE STOP
MAGLIA ROSSO, BURY ST EDMUNDS From its culinary delights to its friendly ambience, this bustling eatery is a must-stop for all riders…
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uses mainly local suppliers with ever more homemade cakes and puddings, a developing menu and seasonal themes. It’s busy with cyclists at the peak weekend morning times, but whenever you pop in there’ll be a local rider happy to share route tips over a light lunch or cake – maybe even an espresso martini. magliarosso.co.uk SIGNATURE DISH Gourmet sausage rolls (chilli, sage, apricot); £2.50 SHOWSTOPPER Cooked breakfast with two of everything, unlimited toast and smiles; £7 I’M A COFFEE SNOB, HOW’S THEIR LATTE? Top-notch, from Coffee World in Newmarket; £2.20 KEY STRAVA SEGMENT Col du Little Whelnetham, 0.93 miles, average grade 3%, elevation gain 131 ft KOM Dale S 2.20, 15/06/2013 QOM Georgia Williams 2.46, 10/06/2019
S AT I S F I E D C U S T O M E R S
uffolk’s gentle countryside provides few summitbagging opportunities, but offers plenty of picturesque day rides. The handsome town of Bury St Edmunds – at the junction of National Cycle Routes 13 (London to Fakenham) and 51 (Oxford to Colchester) – is a great focus for rides, and on its outskirts is one of East Anglia’s friendliest cycle cafes. Six years ago this was a derelict pub. Now it’s a lively and welcoming multipurpose cyclist haven with holiday pods, a bike workshop, HQ for local sportives, events and regular rides and a showroom where you can covet gravel, road and ebikes. If you impulse-purchase anything too big for your back pocket, such as a Trek Domane, they’ll post it to you. It’s also a super cafe that’s ideal for that fuel-up, open 7/7 from 9am. There are plenty of covered (and heated) outside tables and a cosy indoor space complete with sofas, bike-book library for browsing, and bike decor. Matt, who owns the cafe with his father, got back into cycling eight years ago; they’re both keen cyclo-crossers. The cafe
“Friendly, fun place, great staff” Bob “Unique destination cafe and bike shop, and some of the nicest roads around” Tom Ashworth
GOT A FAVOURITE CAKE STOP? Let us know on [email protected] 32 NOVEMBER 2020
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“The coffee is great and the spicy sausage rolls were to die for” Surrey Bike Boy
PHOTOGRAPHY Rob Ainsley
“Lovely ride out and great sausage rolls!” Karen Eaton
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC Investing in an ebike can you get you fit and save you money and time. Here are four options around £2000 that’ll get you to work feeling fresh PHOTOGR APHY RUSSELL BURTON
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The electric motor only engages when you pedal and stops assisting at 25kph/15.5mph (though the EU law allows a 10 per cent margin, so that could be as much as 28kph/ 17.5mph). If you ride an ebike as hard as you would a normal bike you’ll get a proper workout, it’s just that you’ll be going that bit quicker on the hills than you would under your own power alone. I rode each bike from 100 per cent charge down to zero across multiple rides, and included the type of terrain you’d normally encounter on a commute: roads, towpaths, bike paths and city traffic. I also tested in
The demand for commuting bikes is on the increase with ebikes a popular choice
For cyclists who think an ebike is a ‘cheat’, think again: these are pedal-assist machines, not mopeds
all weathers. Unlike the usual racy bike tests we run, here I was more concerned with comfort and a traffic-friendly riding position plus components to ease your commute, such as wide-range gearing, great brakes and tough tyres.
YOUR TESTER
espite the reported cycling boom, a recent survey revealed only 4 per cent of workers in England and Wales, 2.8 per cent in Scotland and 1 per cent in Northern Ireland commute by bike. One of the biggest hurdles is arriving at work fresh, so being able to ride in your work clothes means an electric bike makes sense. Financially, too, ebikes are an attractive prospect. In London the annual Travelcard covering Zones 1-4 is £2080, about the same cost as the bikes on test here. Here I’ve reviewed four ebikes at around £2000. With the Cycle To Work scheme no longer having a limit, these bikes can all be had for less through your company scheme. For cyclists who think an ebike is a ‘cheat’, think again: these are pedal-assist machines, not mopeds.
WA RREN ROSSI T ER SENIOR TECH WRITER
Warren has been a long-time advocate of ebikes. Spending lots of time commuting on his own ebike the 30 miles each way to the Cycling Plus office, he has also convinced his partner to commute by ebike, and his retired mum to the extent that she has sold her car.
COMMUTING EBIKES
THE BIKES ON TEST... CARRERA CROSSFUSE £1899 Halford’s in-house brand Carrera offers one of the cheapest Bosch motor-equipped bikes available with the Crossfuse. It shares the same big-capacity Bosch 400 powerpack battery as the Raleigh but with an uprated Active Line Plus motor delivering 50Nm of torque, which is 10 more than the Raleigh. That extra power, however, does rob a little of the range with the Crossfuse having a claimed 80 miles.
RIBBLE HYBRID AL E FULLY LOADED £2099 Ribble launched a full range of ebikes in 2019 all based around Mahle’s ebikemotion system. Ebikemotion uses a slimline internal battery and a rear hub-based motor to provide a welcome boost, and it links up to a clever app to give you total control over the available power. This Fully Loaded edition includes full mudguards, a colourmatched rear rack, lights and a sharp-looking, one-piece bar and stem for the most stylish bike here.
BOARDMAN HYB 8.9E £2199
THE RATINGS EXPLAINED +++++
EXCEPTIONAL
A GENUINE CLASS LEADER ++++ VERY GOOD
ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY +++ GOOD
IT’LL DO THE JOB VERY WELL ++ BELOW AVERAGE
FLAWED IN SOME WAY + POOR
SIMPLY PUT, DON’T BOTHER
Boardman’s HYB is the sportiest bike here with road-bike angles and a more aggressive riding position, and the same is true of its power system. The Fazua Evation, built into the HYB, is usually found on premium road bikes from the likes of Pinarello, Trek and Lapierre, among others. But how will this lightweight option fare on Boardman’s more modest commuter bike?
RALEIGH MOTUS TOUR £2200 Raleigh’s Motus Tour comes in both standard crossbar frame design and a low-step version (£50 more). Both come fully equipped with lights, full mudguards, a covered drivetrain and a rear rack. Everything you need to get you to work quickly and cleanly. The power assistance comes from Bosch’s everreliable Active Line, crank-based motor combined with a large capacity 400w/h powerpack for a claimed 99-mile range.
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01
02
03
WE SAY...
CARRERA CROSSFUSE
Classic hybrid position makes this the perfect bike for negotiating traffic
£1899 Mixed surface special arrera has done well with the price of the Crossfuse as it’s one of the cheapest Bosch-equipped bikes on the market. It hasn’t used the base-model Bosch system (like the Raleigh) either, opting for the next level up, which gives between 5 and 10Nm of extra torque depending on the mode. The system is controlled by the small, simple Purion display that sits on the bars. You move between the Bosch system’s levels of assistance from completely off, through Eco (40w assistance/35Nm torque), Tour (100w/40Nm), Sport (180w/45Nm) and finally Turbo (270w/50Nm). Unlike the bulkier Intuvia display on the Raleigh, the Crossfuse’s Purion keeps information to a minimum, with current mode and a graphic display of the battery level split into five segments. It also offers the Walk+ assist mode for when you are pushing the bike. The Crossfuse’s ride is classic hybrid stuff with a mountain bike-style ride position, albeit a little more upright, which gives you a great
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TOP The Purion display is clear and it’s easy to navigate through the modes ABOVE The powerpack battery locks to the bike so no fear of theft here
view ahead; important when navigating your way through traffic. The 27-inch wide riser bar (1) capped with shapely ergonomic grips is comfortable too. The Selle Royal Lookin gelfilled saddle is more slender than most leisure saddles, which may cause apprehension from more casual riders at first sight. They shouldn’t worry: the deep, squashy gel padding proved comfortable even in civilian clothing. The Crossfuse is the best-suited bike here for mixed-surface commuting. The big Schwalbe Tyrago tyres have a more aggressive tread that gives some bite on loose surfaces. Don’t expect mountain bike, cross-country race tyre levels of grip, however, as the Tyrago is built for the rigours of commuting with a Kevlar protection belt and pretty stiff sidewalls. I took the Crossfuse on some pretty challenging rocky gravel trails and it handled everything I threw at it. I even appreciated the Suntour NEX fork (2) with its 63mm of travel over the lumps and bumps, and I liked the fact that this NEX unit comes with a lock-out so you can stiffen up the
COMMUTING EBIKES SPECIFICATIONS Weight 20.3kg (19-inch/large) Frame Aluminium Fork Suntour NEX HLO suspension fork Gears Shimano Acera 9-speed (42, 11-34) Wheels Carrera silver alloy disc rims on Shimano hubs Brakes Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc Electric motor system Bosch Purion multifunction display with walk assist, Bosch Active Line Plus motor, Bosch speed sensor, Bosch Powerpack 400 Finishing kit Schwalbe Tyrago K-Guard 700 x 40c tyres, Selle Royal Lookin 3D Skingel saddle, Carrera alloy stem, riser bar and seatpost, Bosch mains charger
The ride is incredibly comfortable, the e-assist is peppy and the range is very good LEFT Good in an urban setting and off-road too
RIGHT The Crossfuse is not bad looking either!
BELOW Power courtesy of the Bosch system
BELOW RIGHT Comfy 27-inch wide rider bar
fork when riding on tarmac and eliminate the irritating bobbing you get when standing up and pedalling out of the saddle. The power delivery from the Bosch system has plenty of pep, and even though the claimed range is reduced compared to the standard Active Line motor, I found the opposite to be true. The fact that it delivers that bit more torque lower down meant I got to the cut-off speed of 25kph much sooner and therefore managed to extend beyond the Raleigh’s best combination of distance and elevation by no small margin, hitting 94.63km (58.88 miles) with 900m (2952ft) elevation. That’s 11km further and over 152m more climbing than the Raleigh, although the Raleigh’s extra accessories mean that it’s carrying 4kg more standing weight. The Powerpack 400 battery included with the Bosch system can either be charged in place on the bike or removed and charged separately. It locks to the bike when in use, so you don’t have to worry about this expensive essential being stolen when parked up. Recharge time is a claimed 6.5 hours using the standard Bosch charger that comes with the bike. The Crossfuse’s drivetrain and brakes are all supplied by Shimano; the MT201 hydraulic disc brakes (3) offer great power and plenty of progressive control. The Acera gearing is a well-chosen 1x system with a 42-tooth
chainring combined with a wide 11-34 cassette; it’s a good range for commuting and the 1x simplicity is welcome. Its LOWS shift action is very light and Occasional the trigger shifter is adequately gear shift responsive. I did find, however, hiccups that the budget chrome-finish BUY IF... HG cassette had a tendency not You want a to quite settle the chain quickly peppy ebike to enough on the upper reaches of ride on any the cassette. I could tune it out surface with a bit of workshop fettling, but it still reared its ugly head under more pressured shifts on steeper climbs. The ride is incredibly comfortable, the e-assist is peppy and the range is very good. To make it a great commuter option you’ll need to add mudguards, possibly a rack (it has fittings for both) and lights, so that’ll add a couple of hundred pounds to the price tag. Be a little wary too of getting oil from the exposed drivetrain on your work clothes.
THE VERDICT
Superbly comfortable and Bosch power rarely comes at this price
ALSO CONSIDER...
HIGHS
Comfortable and capable of more than tarmac riding
A LITTLE LESS…
CARRERA CROSSFIRE E £1399
Built around Suntour’s 36v rear-hub drive system with a down tube-mounted 417w/h battery. The alloy frame is completed with disc wheels shod with 700c tyres, 9-speed Shimano drivetrain and hydraulic brakes.
A LOT LESS…
CARRERA VENGEANCE E £1099
The Vengeance is a 650b hardtail mountain bike powered by Suntour’s 36v rear hub drive and a 417w/h battery. It’s off-road ready with 2.1-inch tyres and a Suntour XCT suspension fork with 100mm of travel.
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01
WE SAY...
RIBBLE HYBRID AL E FULLY LOADED
This bike comes with all the extras and an easy to use system making it a wise commuting choice
£2099 Sharp-looking, well equipped commuter ibble’s Hybrid AL e is a greatlooking bike with its metallic copper finish (1) (it also comes in petrol blue). Add in ebikemotion’s subtly integrated motor system and internal battery, and you have a stealthy ebike that cuts a sharp image on the road. Ebikemotion’s system is based around a 250w rear hub – rather than bottom bracket – motor combined with a slim integrated 250w battery in the down tube. This system provides just enough assistance when you need it: more of a gentle push in the back than a surge of torqueladen power. The Ribble, much like the Boardman, is more of a cyclist’s choice of power assistance than the leisure rider’s options from the Bosch-equipped bikes on test. Control of the motor system is incredibly simple. Press the top tube button (called iWoc) to turn it on and the LED light shines white; press and hold and it turns green (low assistance), orange (medium), red (full). This is also the battery level indicator; white is 75-100
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TOP Ribble’s Classic saddle looks the part with its vintage aesthetic ABOVE SRAM 1x drivetrain: all the gears you could ever want!
per cent, green 75-50 per cent, orange 50-25 per cent, red 25 per cent; flashing red indicates less than 10 per cent battery charge remaining. The ebikemotion system is also Bluetoothcompatible and the controller flashes blue as it connects to your phone via the free ebikemotion app. The app offers a wealth of information with accurate battery level, distance travelled, altitude, average speed, cadence, gradient and current speed. You can pair the app with both the bike and a heart-rate monitor and set heartrate-based assistance. It also uses GPS mapping and has functional navigation, and will upload any recorded activities to Strava. The Ribble and the Boardman both have a much enhanced experience when combined with their apps, so both would benefit from a phone mount to give you full information at a glance (see page 48 for six of the best phone mounts available). The Ribble’s ride position is undeniably sporty but the head angle (2) is nice and relaxed, which adds a stable feel to the handling
COMMUTING EBIKES SPECIFICATIONS Weight 15.5kg (large) Frame 6061 T6 alloy Fork Full carbon Gears SRAM NX 1x (42/1142) Wheels Mavic Aksium Elite EVO UST Brakes SRAM Level flatmount hydraulic disc Electric motor system Mahle ebikemotion X35 M1 250w, internal Panasonic 36v/250w/h battery Finishing kit Schwalbe Marathon 700c x 35c tyres, Ribble integrated alloy 620mm wide bar, Ribble Level Classic grips, Ribble Classic saddle, SKS 45mm guards, with mudflap, Ribble rack, Wellgo MTB pedals, Ribble FL300/ RL150 lights (not fitted), Knog Oi classic bell
For cyclists who want to buy a commuter that rides like their Sunday-best bike with extra assistance LEFT Star of this test when it comes to looks
RIGHT A stable, sporty ride with all the extras
BELOW An agile ride with its short stem
BELOW RIGHT You have to plug in to charge
especially when you ride on rougher surfaces. Ribble has cleverly made the stem length on the one-piece bar/stem short, which speeds up the steering and makes this bike an agile beast for cutting through traffic – an essential asset if you’re looking for a good commuter. It feels nimble, thanks to the relatively light Mavic wheels (the best wheelset of any of the bikes on test here) and the tough, but fastrolling Schwalbe Marathon (ebike rated) tyres. The SRAM 1x drivetrain offers all the gear range you could want and when combined with the motor system it makes for a fun ride. The power assist feels natural through all of its levels and in all weather conditions, such as riding with a forceful tailwind. The maximum setting will see you ascend the steepest of inclines when combined with your own efforts (you don’t get away scot free!). My only niggle with the system is the placement of the iWoc control button on the top tube. Its position means that you have to take your hand off the bars when you want to change modes, which can feel a little cumbersome. Ribble should be applauded for this Fully Loaded edition because it includes good-quality full SKS mudguards (3) complete with a sprayreducing mudflap on the front, as well as a matching rack, chainring chainguard, lights and even Knog’s good-looking Oi bell.
The Ribble’s range (again, much like the Boardman) is far more about you as a cyclist riding cleverly with assistance. LOWS A reasonably fit cyclist will get You can’t plenty of range out of the remove smaller capacity (than Bosch) battery for charging 250w battery. At its best I managed 94.27km (58.58 miles) BUY IF... with 1120.77m (3677ft) of You want a elevation. It’s pretty impressive stylish bike at a and much beyond most people’s great price daily commute. The handling is both stable at speed and nimble enough to navigate traffic. Combined with a specification that’s a serious step above its rivals (plus Fully Loaded extras and great looks), it’s the perfect choice for cyclists who want to buy a commuter that rides like their Sunday-best bike but gives you that additional bit of assistance so that you arrive at work ready for the day ahead and looking forward to the ride home at the end of your shift.
THE VERDICT
Superbly equipped bike with everything a keen commuter needs
ALSO CONSIDER...
HIGHS
Swift riding; smooth handling; great looks
A LITTLE LESS…
RIBBLE HYBRID AL E £1999
The Hybrid AL e is a stripped version of the Fully Loaded, so you get exactly the same sharply designed frame and integral ebikemotion system and 1x SRAM NX drivetrain for a swift commuter for those who like to travel light.
A LITTLE MORE…
RIBBLE ENDURANCE SL E SPORT £2799
If you want your commute to be more road sporty than upright commuter, this will tick your boxes. The same ebikemotion system but with a 2x Shimano Tiagra drivetrain, Mavic wheels and Tektro disc brakes.
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01
02
03
WE SAY...
BOARDMAN HYB 8.9E
An ebike for regular riders who want something that feels natural to ride
£2199 Slick alloy frame and a carbon fork for this electric commuter oardman’s HYB is a sporty commuter: the angles are road-bike steep and the ride position is aggressive too. It makes sense, then, that it’s powered by the lightweight Germanengineered Fazua Evation drive system, more commonly found on carbon e-road bikes than easy-going commuters. With a claimed weight for the Evation of 4.6kg, it’s easy to see how Boardman has managed to keep the full bike weight down to a manageable 16.2kg. The Evation motor delivers 250w, which is accessed through a bar-mounted controller that has an on/off switch, +/- switches and 10 LED lights notifying charge level (along with your current mode). I tried the iOS version of Fazua’s accompanying app and this provides a much more thorough breakdown of the system with mapping, route navigation and plenty of metrics: power used, system temperature, distance to empty, cadence, rider power, rider torque and a direct Strava link.
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TOP The Evation system is concealed on the down tube ABOVE A firm ride with its Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard 35c tyres
Using the app you can switch modes between Eco, Moderate and Performance. In Eco mode it drops power to extend range, so green (which signifies low power) is 70w, blue is 140w and red is 200w). In Moderate, green is 100w blue puts in 210w and red gives you 250w. Performance mode delivers 120w in green, 260w in blue and 300w in red, although this obviously has a detrimental effect on the range. The system is very smart: it matches your pedalling input so that what you feel is a gentle push from behind, not a big dump of torque fuelled e-power. It feels very natural and the range is impressive at 104.6km (65.02 miles) with 841.42m (2760.5ft) climbing. The Bosch bikes on test will take the lead and power you along, whereas this feels like more of a push down the road from a powerful friend. It’s far more suited to sporty-style riders than those coming from a more casual riding perspective. I recommend that you use the power system much like you’d use gears, using the extra power to enhance the Boardman’s 1x drivetrain when
COMMUTING EBIKES SPECIFICATIONS Weight 16.2kg (54cm/large) Frame X7 alloy Fork Full carbon Gears Shimano Deore M6000 (11-42) Wheels Boardman Alloy disc Brakes Tektro hydraulic disc Electric motor system Fazua Evation 1.0 with bar-mounted control unit Finishing kit Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard 35c tyres, FSA CK-746 chainset for Fazua, Boardman lock-on grips, Boardman 24.5-inch flat bar, Wellgo flat pedals, Boardman alloy seatpost, Boardman alloy stem, Boardman saddle
What you feel is a gentle push from behind rather than a big dump of torque-fuelled e-power RIGHT A bike for cyclists who want a sportier ride
RIGHT The angles are road bike steep
BELOW Design niggle: its key-operated system
BELOW RIGHT Bar mounted controller
you need a bit of extra help. Fazua claims the Evation delivers a class-leading 60Nm of power. That may be true, but it never feels huge because it’s so well matched to your input. The HYB’s design is also more suited to cyclists with other, more racy, bikes. The ride position is aggressive, the narrow bar (1) suits zipping through traffic and the contact points are perfect for regular riders. The Boardmanbranded saddle is long and narrow and comfortable if you’re wearing padded shorts/ undershorts, but in civilian clothing it feels pretty hard. The narrow bar is courier cool, but the slender lock-on grips just don’t have the comfort of the ergo grips found on its rivals, especially in ungloved hands. The HYB has all the fixtures and fittings for a rack and mudguards and provision for two bottles (2) so it’s great for weekend leisure outings as well as commuting. The ride is quite firm even with 35c tyres while the handling is fast and position sporty, again suiting it to seasoned riders. The battery level with its 10 LED lights representing charge is the most ‘honest’ system here. Each LED step provides a gauge of equal measure, while the Bosch system promise plenty but drop down to zero fast when the battery level is showing a single bar. One irritation is that you have to drop the battery out to access the ‘on’ button (it auto-
turns off when idle) so you’ll always need to carry the keys with you. I have it on good LOWS authority that the next You have to drop the firmware update will allow the battery out to app to turn on/off the system. turn it on/off The Evation (3) is concealed in the down tube and bottom BUY IF... You want a bracket. It’s a smart way of bike that feels compacting the system and just like your gives a sleek look, like the road bike Ribble. You can remove the battery to charge it, and even ride it without as a ‘normal’ bike – a few kilos less and with no drag. Boardman has done an excellent job here with good components and a ride that’s spot on for roadies. Unlike the Raleigh and Carrera, you’ll arrive to work in a sweat as the HYB is a bike that likes to be ridden fast and is at its best working hard when you’re working hard too. If a natural bike-like feel is what you’re looking for in an ebike, then you won’t find many cheaper Fazua options.
THE VERDICT
A commuter that rewards your efforts rather than relaxes them
ALSO CONSIDER...
HIGHS
Feels like a standard bike
FOR THE SAME…
BOARDMAN HYB 8.9E WOMENS £2199
For no extra cash you get exactly the same bike on test here , but Boardman offers a women’s specific option where all the contact points have been tailored to be a better fit for female riders.
A LITTLE MORE…
BOARDMAN ADV 8.9E £2699
The ADV has the same Fazua Evation motor system on this aluminium and full carbonforked gravel chassis. It runs on SRAM Apex 1x and rolls on Boardman ADV gravel wheels and 38mm wide Vittoria gravel tyres.
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02
01
03
WE SAY...
RALEIGH MOTUS TOUR
Top-notch equipment and the best bike on test for riding in civilian clothing
£2200 Bells and whistles for added comfort owering the alloy Raleigh Motus is a centrally mounted 250w Bosch Active Line motor. This is driven by a removable Bosch Powerpack 400 battery that’s fully guaranteed for two years and/or 500 charge cycles (replacements are available from around £500). The Active Line motor delivers 40Nm of torque, which provides a smooth level of assistance that’s best suited for urban use. The system is controlled via Bosch’s Intuvia display where you can turn the system on and off, operate the integrated lights, reset the trip computer and scroll through the information on the screen. You select power output using the Intuvia remote control that sits on the bar within easy reach of your left thumb. Here you can also scroll through the head unit information and, more importantly, move between the Bosch system’s levels of assistance from completely off, through Eco (40w assistance/30Nm torque), Tour (100w/35Nm), Sport (170w/38Nm) and Turbo (250w/40Nm).
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TOP Comfort first with a telescopic suspension seatpost ABOVE Comes fully equipped with an integrated rear rack
The power assistance from the Bosch unit is smoothly matched to your pedal cadence, so there’s no jerking as the motor dumps heaps of torque in as you start to pedal. Stepping between the assistance levels is key to getting the best out of the Bosch system. On the flat you can roll along using Eco, or switch it off. Step up through the modes to get up to speed from a standing start, or use Turbo to boost up slopes or power past traffic. The Motus is quite a weighty machine at 24.8kg and for this reason Bosch includes a Walk button on the controller so that when you’re pushing the bike you can engage the motor to help roll it up ramps and slopes. Raleigh claims a 159km/99 mile range for the Motus Tour, but even on a flat route and riding only in Eco mode that is optimistic. We’ve achieved at best 83.77km (52.05 miles) with 754m (2444ft) of elevation. That’s plenty for most commuters with the average commute length reportedly under 32km (20 miles) per day. It took 6.5 hours to recharge the battery using Bosch’s standard charger.
COMMUTING EBIKES SPECIFICATIONS Weight 24.8kg (52cm) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Suntour NEX suspension Gears Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub Wheels Unbranded black alloy disc rims on unbranded front hub and Shimano Nexus 7-speed rear Brakes Tektro T285 hydraulic disc brakes Electric motor system Bosch Intuvia controller, Bosch Intuvia multifunction display, Bosch Active Line motor, Bosch speed sensor, Bosch Powerpack 400 Finishing kit XLC Suspension seatpost, Comfort XLC handlebar, Selle Royal Milo + saddle, Trelock rear light, alloy rear rack, alloy mudguards
The steering is quick at slow speeds, yet superstable when riding at a more spirited pace LEFT Mitas Flash tyres with reflective pinstripes
RIGHT Commuter friendly upright riding position
BELOW Bosch’s Intuvia display is... intuitive!
BELOW RIGHT All inclusive: lights onboard
Riding the Motus is a very pleasant way to cut through traffic as the upright riding position and backswept, 26-inch wide XLC bar allow you a commanding view of the road ahead. The gearing from the grip-shift-driven Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub gear gives great spread, with a lightest gear that makes even steep slopes a breeze, and a top gear that’ll see you way past the 25kph (15.5mph) cut-off for the motor. The shifting isn’t without issue, though. Moving down to a harder gear is quick and crisp but stepping up can often be met with inaction, only activating the shift when you stop pedalling or backpedal. It doesn’t really hamper progress but you can get caught out on steeper gradients if you forget to anticipate a gear shift in time. The Motus rolls along on tough reinforced Mitas Flash tyres (1) that have commutefriendly reflective pinstripes on the sidewalls. It delivers a very comfortable ride, thanks to the 56mm travel suspension fork up front paired with a telescopic suspension seatpost. An angleadjustable stem means you can easily alter your ride position, either lowering the bar and lengthening the reach or heightening the bar and shortening the reach for a more upright position. The Selle Royal saddle (2) is plumply comfortable with gel-based padding, even for long distances without wearing padded shorts. In fact, the Raleigh is one of the best-suited
bikes here to riding in civilian clothes, thanks to the comfortable saddle, full-length mudguards and a full chain LOWS case (3) to keep oil from fouling Sluggish gear your trousers. Add in the front shifts; heavy and rear lights, an integrated lock and a rear rack so you don’t BUY IF... You want a have to carry a backpack or bike with every courier bag, and the Motus is extra included the bike that’ll ensure you arrive best dressed to the office. The Tektro hydraulic brakes equipped with big 160mm rotors do a great job of slowing and stopping the hefty Motus, and the way the bike handles is well pitched too. The steering is quick enough at slow speeds to be able to navigate through traffic, yet super-stable when riding at a more spirited pace. The Motus may not have the extra punch of the Carrera’s motor, or the lighter weight of the Ribble or Boardman, but it’s equipped better than every other bike here for the rigours of year-round commuting.
THE VERDICT
A comfortable bike that rides smoothly and comes fully equipped
ALSO CONSIDER...
HIGHS
Massive equipment levels for the money
A LITTLE LESS…
RALEIGH MOTUS £1800
Shares the same frame, fork and Bosch Active motor system, but this one uses a Shimano rear derailleurbased drivetrain rather than a hub gear. With full ’guards, a rear rack and a chain case it’s well equipped for the price.
A LITTLE MORE…
RALEIGH MOTUS GRAND TOUR £2300
Features Bosch’s powerful Active Line + motor system and an uprated 500w/h battery for a claimed range of 135 miles, and uses Shimano’s 9-speed Alivio drivetrain in place of the 7-speed Nexus.
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“The ride position is sporty with nimble handling, combined with great contact points for comfort” A worthy winner that got us to work in a jiffy and drew admiring comments
AND THE WINNER IS...
RIBBLE HYBRID AL E FULLY LOADED EDITION Good looks, comfort and plenty of punch ll of the bikes here surpassed what I expected. In years gone by, lower-priced ebikes were unwieldy to handle, heavy and more likely to discourage cycling than promote it, however, in this test all of the bikes were great fun to ride. The bargain-priced Carrera Crossfuse delivers a big dose of power, a comfortable commanding ride position and with a few additions, such as mudguards and a rack, it would make an awesome commuter 52 weeks of the year. For those new to cycling, or those yet to experience the joy of an ebike, the Carrera offers plenty of helpful power at a keen price. The Raleigh may have a little less punch than the Crossfuse but the Motus Tour comes equipped with every extra you could ever want and gives the plushest ride in this test. If you’re
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looking to recommend an ebike to a non-sporty cycling friend, we’d say the Raleigh offers everything a commuter needs, all included. Boardman’s HYB is the sporty option with Fazua’s Evation system delivering assistance that complements your own power. However, to make it a worthy year-round commuter you’ll need to add plenty of accessories. Our winner is the Ribble Hybrid AL e. The ride position is sporty with nimble handling, combined with great contact points for comfort. Mahle’s ebikemotion system is lightweight but offers plenty of punch and ample range (and you can buy a booster battery to up the range to a claimed 120km with 2200m of elevation). It’s the one bike here that drew admiring comments too. You just need to be able to park or store it near a power source because the battery can’t be removed for charging.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS...
COMMUTING EBIKES CARRERA CROSSFUSE £1899
RIBBLE HYBRID AL E FULLY LOADED £2099
BOARDMAN HYB 8.9E £2199
RALEIGH MOTUS TOUR £2200
SIZE TESTED
L
L
L
L
SIZES AVAILABLE
M, L, XL
S, M, L, XL
M, L
S, M, L
WEIGHT
20.3kg
15.5kg
16.2kg
24.8kg
FRAME
Aluminium
6061 T6 alloy
X7 alloy
6061 aluminium
FORK
Suntour NEX HLO suspension
Full carbon
Full carbon
Suntour NEX suspension
FRAME ALIGNMENT
Perfect
Perfect
Perfectº
Perfect
ELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM
Bosch Purion multi-function display with walk assist, Bosch Active line plus motor, Bosch speed sensor, Bosch Powerpack 400 (400w/36v)
Mahle Ebikemotion X35 M1 250w, internal Panasonic 36v/250Wh battery
Fazua Evation 1.0 with barmounted control unit
Bosch Intuvia controller, Bosch Intuvia multifunction display with walk assist, Bosch Active Line motor, Bosch speed sensor, Bosch Powerpack 400 (400w/36v)
CHAINSET
Bosch 42t, 170mm
SRAM GXP 42t
FSA Fazua 44t, 170mm
Raleigh Alloy Bosch Crankset
BOTTOM BRACKET
Bosch Active Line
SRAM GXP
Fazua Evation 1.0
Bosch Integrated
CASSETTE
Shimano Alivio 9-speed 11-34
SRAM PG-1130 11-42
Shimano HG500 11-42
Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub gear
CHAIN
Shimano E-bike 9-speed
SRAM PC1130
KMC E10
KMC
DERAILLEUR
Shimano Alivio Shadow
SRAM NX
Shimano Deore M6000
Shimano Acera
GEAR LEVERS
Shimano Acera 9-speed
SRAM NX 11-speed
Shimano Deore M6000 10-speed
Shimano grip-shift
FRONT AND REAR
Carrera silver alloy disc rims on Shimano hubs
Mavic Aksium Elite EVO UST
Boardman alloy disc
Unbranded black alloy disc rims on unbranded front hub and Shimano Nexus 7-speed rear
TYRES
Schwalbe Tyrago K-Guard 700 x 40c
Schwalbe Marathon 700 x 35c
Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard 700 x 35c
Mitas Flash 700 x 40c
WHEEL WEIGHT
2.07 (f); 2.73 (r)
1.87 (f); 4.37 (r)
1.79 (f); 2.48 (r)
2.53 (f); 3.91 (r)
STEM
Carrera alloy
Ribble integrated alloy
Boardman alloy
Unbranded alloy adjustable
HANDLEBAR
Carrera alloy
Ribble integrated alloy
Boardman 24.5-inch flat bar
Comfort XLC
HEADSET
Ritchey Logic Zero 1 1/8
Level 52
FSA
Low stack - semi integrated
SADDLE
Selle Royal Lookin 3D Skingel
Ribble Classic
Boardman Hybrid by Velo
Selle Royal Milo+
SEATPOST
Carrera alloy
Level 1 Alloy 27.2mm
Boardman alloy
XLC suspension
BRAKES
Shimano MT-01 hydraulic disc
Shimano GRX400 with Shimano RT10 rotors
Tektro hydraulic disc
Tektro T285 hydraulic disc
TRANSMISSION
WHEELS
COMPONENTS
SPECIFICATIONS & MEASUREMENTS
60cm
Carrera Crossfuse 71.5˚
73˚
115.6cm
70˚
48cm
113.8m
71.5˚ 74˚ cm 50.4
106.8cm
72.5˚
NEXT ISSUE
Boardman HYB Cockpit 72.3cm Standover 82cm BB height 28.7cm Fork offset 48.5mm Trail 68mm
43.7cm
Cockpit 69.2cm Standover 83cm BB height 29.3cm Fork offset 43mm Trail 83mm
61cm 71˚
cm 44.5
Standover 78.5cm BB height 30.4cm Fork offset 46mm Trail 74mm
Raleigh Motus Tour 3cm 47.6
48.4cm
56.5cm
Ribble Hybrid Cockpit 70.2cm
69.5˚
cm 47.7
Geometry is probably the most important factor when buying a bike but, as you can see from these tables, even bikes nominally the same size can vary considerably. All reputable bike retailers – high street and online – should ensure the bike fits you.
Cockpit 71.4cm Standover 83cm BB height 30.7cm Fork offset 40mm Trail 90mm
59.5cm
42.5cm
108.2cm
£100 ALL-ROAD COMMUTERS A mix of all-road, adventure and gravel bikes for those on a budget. The perfect machines for opening up your commute to traffic-free bike paths, tow paths and, for the suburban commuters, byways and bridleways.
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PHONE CASES
£13 – £50 Keep your phone secure and accessible
LEFT The Zefal attaches securely to either the bar or stem with O-rings
01 BTWIN RIVERSIDE 500 £13
02 BIRZMAN ZYKLOP NAVIGATOR III £20
WEIGHT 120g INCLUDED Top tube mounted case with two bags OPTIONAL EXTRAS None
WEIGHT 78g INCLUDED Top tube mounted bag OPTIONAL EXTRAS None
WEIGHT 76g INCLUDED Stem/bar mount, weather cover OPTIONAL EXTRAS Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
Not very sleek or hi-tech, but we found ourselves warming to the Riverside 500 way more than anticipated simply because the tube-mounted twin bags are very convenient. The phone goes in the top, wallet and keys one side, spare tube and tools the other. And all for £13. The kicker is that the straps could be longer, which means some ingenuity is required to fix it securely in place. The phone goes into its holder easily, but because it isn’t held firmly against the cover, reflection from the plastic can sometimes make it hard to see the screen. Also, the touchscreen connection isn’t always spot-on. But for the budget-friendly price of £13 you get something that holds your phone secure, plus two stash bags. decathlon.co.uk
The Zyklop Navigator doesn’t look as sexily tech as some of the other options on test, but as with the other bag/holder models it’s very practical. The padded bag sits on the top tube, attaching around that and the stem with Velcro straps. The phone goes easily in the lid section and is held firmly in place against the cover by Velcro flaps, which help to ensure a good connection with the touchscreen and reduce reflection. We’ve been using the bag to stash wallet and keys. It would be a tight fit to get a spare tube and tools in there too but a small grab strap makes it easy to take all your valuables with you when you leave the bike. There’s nothing not to dislike about this little bag, it’s easy to fit, easy to use, doesn’t need upgrades and won’t break the bank either. birzman.com
A no-tools-needed setup that uses rubber O-rings to attach the mount to a bar or stem making the Zefal a cinch (if a bit fiddly) to fit and a system that proved to be rock-solid in use. The snapon phone case has an integral fitting that allows you to swap it between different mounts and uses – although it’s too much on the chunky side to persuade us to leave it on all the time. The phone goes onto the mount with a simple twist through 45 degrees and a good positive lock. Two buttons on the underside must be depressed in order to release it, so there’s no chance of doing that accidentally. The inclusion of a weather cover in the standard kit makes this great value, and we’d also be persuaded to upgrade to the better out-front mount kit that allows for a light/camera too. zefal.com
It fits a phone, plus wallet and keys one side, tube and tools the other. And all for £13
The lid ensures a good connection with the touchscreen and reduces reflection
The phone case has an integral fitting so you can swap it between different mounts
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03 ZEFAL BIKE KIT £25
PHONE CASES
LEFT Topeak’s system is very versatile and lets you adjust the phone angle
04 TOPEAK RIDECASE £45 WEIGHT 100g INCLUDED Stem/bar mount OPTIONAL EXTRAS Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
The standard fitting on this mount is adaptable enough to be fixed on handlebars or stem or will even replace the stem cap. You’ll need a 4mm Allen key to fit it but it’s easily done and solid once fitted. The mount is also fully angle adjustable and lets you use landscape or portrait orientation. The phone goes into a snap case, which in turn slides into the mount. It is straightforward, however, a more positive click once it’s in place would add some reassurance. Unlocking is via a lever. The mount on the back of the case can be used as a stand – it works better in portrait mode but is useful enough to consider leaving on permanently, removing a faff factor when setting out. There is an upgrade bracket available as an extra that holds the phone out front, with space for a light or camera. It adds to the cost but the versatility is worth it.
The mount is also fully angle adjustable and lets you use landscape or portrait orientation
LEFT SP Connect is the only snap-case holder here to come with a weather cover
05 SP CONNECT BIKE BUNDLE £50 WEIGHT 100g INCLUDED Stem mount, clamp mount, weather cover OPTIONAL EXTRAS Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
LEFT We found the Quad Lock’s basic stem mount the best on review
06 QUAD LOCK BIKE KIT £50 WEIGHT 60g INCLUDED Stem/bar mount OPTIONAL EXTRAS Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band, weather cover
We tested the Bike Bundle version of the SP Connect, which includes a stem cap/bar mount – plus a weather cover as standard, making this good value. The mount includes an angleadjustable arm that you can choose to use (we didn’t here). For another £10 the Road Bike Bundle has an improved mount that holds the phone out front, with space for a light/camera. In our opinion, it’s worth trading up for the improved position and flexibility of use. This is one of the better phone cases: it has a tactile feel and the integral mount is low profile enough not to get in the way during everyday use. But, there isn’t a positive click when locking it in place and it requires a firm hand to release it. sp-connect.co.uk
Quad Lock is really a system that you build to suit your requirements and budget. We tested the basic stem mount (which can also be fitted to bars) and snap-case combo, but you can select from the two out-front mounts to suit and build your kit from there. The case is sleek, even with the mount on the back, meaning we just left it on even when not riding. The stem mount we tried attaches securely using rubber O-rings. Once in place it doesn’t move, with a push-and-twist locking system that’s smooth to use. To release, pull down the retaining ring and twist – even though the lock is firm, it’s an easy operation. This was our preferred mount on test. With its high-quality construction and a kit system that allows you to buy only the parts you need, the Quad Lock feels worth its relatively high price.
The case’s mount is low profile enough not to get in the way during everyday use
Once in place it doesn’t move, with a push-andtwist locking system that’s smooth to use
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01
MOST WANTED
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS POWER WITH MIRROR SADDLE £350
3D-printed perch
ast month, we tested Fizik’s Adaptive, which, like this Specialized saddle, uses technology from Californian company Carbon 3D in place of traditional foam padding: a polymer matrix originally seen in Adidas’s running shoes. Specialized has based its design around the short Power saddle shape. The upper is a complex structure of 14,000 individual struts and 7799 nodes, all of which are tuned to offer different levels of elasticity. At 188.2g (155mm width), it’s a little heavier than the standard S-Works Power (145g), but is still light. On the bike, the Mirror saddle is very special. The variation in padding ‘tension’ throughout the entire upper makes for a different feel to a standard one. We used to judge a good saddle on whether or not it became ‘noticeable’ after a few hours of continuous riding; it’s a good sign if you’re not feeling any discomfort. The Mirror, though, is something else. You know it’s there because it’s moving perfectly in unison HIGHS with you, providing Incredible comfortable support at every comfort point in your pedal stroke. It is without doubt one of the best LOWS Pricey; keeping saddles we’ve ever used on a it clean road bike. It combines the
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brilliant shape of the original Power with a textured surface that adds in a level of compliant padding that boasts simply outstanding performance. It’s a truly fantastic piece of equipment, but it’s not without its downsides. The first – and biggest – barrier is the price: £350 is a huge amount to pay for a saddle, even though Specialized tells us of professional riders who have ridden well over 10,000km on it and it’s still performing as new. The second is the nature of the upper: with its open matrix-style design, in summer conditions it’s perfect. But introduce rain and road grime and it’s not going to be quite so easy to clean. Specialized explains that the matrix is designed with water channels throughout so you can hose or spray muck and grime from the upper. Given the changeable UK weather, we’d be wary of fitting one to a ’cross bike or gravel machine. The saddle does have SWAT (storage, water, air tools)-compatible threaded mounts on the rear, so it’ll take a SWAT saddlepack or directfitting lights. We’d like to see a direct-mount guard added to the range to protect rider and saddle alike from the elements. The Mirror is truly one of the most comfortable and supportive saddle we’ve ever tried. Hopefully, as 3D printing tech matures, the price will fall accordingly.
03
ALSO CONSIDER...
M O S T WA N T E D
WE SAY...
GOT THE NACK
A top-drawer saddle, but the price prevents a full five-star rating
02
PROLOGO CPC AIRING NAGO EVO NACK £249.99 The Nago Evo is shaped for long-distance rides, but the real point of difference is the patented CPC cover. This latest generation of its unique 3D volcano-shaped polymer is claimed to offer superior grip, plus better airflow and cooling. At a flyweight 206g, this could well be the high-performance perch for you.
COMFORT AND JOY
FIZIK VERSUS EVO 00 ADAPTIVE £369.99
MIRROR MIRROR…
01
So named as it “perfectly reflects your anatomy”, Mirror technology is 3D printing a polymer to create a matrix of tuneable density
BODY GEOMETRY
02
This saddle incorporates Specialized’s Body Geometry design characteristics, such as the cutaway, for assured comfort
CARBON CUES
03
It has carbon composite rails and a carbon shell that features SWAT-compatible mounts on the rear for attaching lights or a seatpack
The Versus Evo Adaptive is based on Fizik’s popular Aliante design and, like the Mirror, uses Carbon 3D’s polymer padding technology for a supremely comfortable saddle. At 160.6g, it’s lighter than the Mirror, but its upper is more of an open matrix, so keeping it clean is even trickier. And it’s a pricier option too.
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WE SAY...
Good-quality, powerful pump that offers pleasing value for money
GIANT CONTROL TOWER PRO BOOST £89.99
Beefed-up power pump
iant’s Control Tower Pro Boost is undoubtedly a quality floor pump for the money. Its all-metal barrel and base add heft (it weighs in at 1.9kg) and, when combined with the 27cm diameter of the triplefooted base, it’s certainly stable. The large 10cm analogue dial displaying psi and bar scales is easy to read, while the 115cm hose is just about long enough to reach your bike when mounted above ground in a workstand. At 695mm tall, plenty of air is displaced by each stroke (369cc claims Giant). The barrel is the reverse of a standard track pump, so HIGHS This is a pump instead of having a thinner rod that’s stable, attached to the handle leading sturdy and down to the plunger, it sits secure outside of the wide 28mm barrel, making for a very stable LOWS Gripping stroke even when pushing to issues with the high pressures. We inflated a plastic handle 28c road tyre to 80psi in 25
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strokes, and the large barrel diameter means it doesn’t take much effort to pump the plunger. The dual-fit chuck works on both Presta and Schrader valves, and the flip-lock holds it securely in place so you can tune your pressure using the blow-off valve button at the base of the hose. A neat feature is the lever at the foot of the barrel which, when pressed, converts the pump into an air-tank designed for fast inflation to help seat tubeless tyres. With the lever down, you can charge the pump up to 200psi on the gauge, then flip the lever up to deliver a shot of air to quickly inflate and seat a tubeless tyre. The only issue we have with the Control Tower is the plastic handle. It’s well-shaped enough, but the lightly textured surface isn’t that great to grip and on hot days it can be a little slippy. We modified ours by reusing some old bar tape to make for a better handhold. Giant may not be the first name you think of when it comes to pumps, but this one is wellmade, stable, sturdy and fully featured.
ORRO TUBELESS KIT £26.99 If you’re going to make the switch to tubeless, then Orro’s all-in-one kit has everything you need: two valves (in 50mm or 70mm lengths), a valve key, two bottles of 60ml sealant (one per tyre) and two 22mm-wide tubeless rim strips. And it’s attractively priced compared with the competition.
L L A D E T I A W ’I VE FOR THIS E D K I R E WE
THE
No matter where you ride, why you ride, or who you ride with; there’s a product For Every Ride at Chain Reaction Cycles. www.chainreactioncycles.com
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MUD GLORIOUS MUD
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Fizik’s muddy motif is an inspired choice, and beneath lies a hardwearing yet ventilated mesh/ PU upper
BOA CONSTRICTOR
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A single Boa IP1 dial tightens each shoe, and the asymmetric lacing pattern follows the Overcurve construction
INSIDE INFORMATION
These shoes are an homage to the Spring Classics, but beware of possible fitting issues
SOLE STORY
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The carboninfused nylon R4 outsole is comfortably stiff and has three channelled vents to aerate your foot
CUTTING EDGE
£189.99
Italian shoes that are ready to race
nspired by the Spring Classics, these shoes are special editions of Fizik’s new Overcurve R4 and come complete with a mud-splatter print design that hides a multitude of sins for those of us who don’t stay on top of keeping our shoes clean. The print also disguises a clever construction that bonds a polyurethane material over a mesh upper, allowing the shoes to breathe better than ones with a PU upper. This is further enhanced by a laser-cut matrix of dots running along the flank of the shoe. The design of these Overcurves has the same offset cuff as the Tempo R5 HIGHS Great balance Powerstrap shoes, meaning the of stiffness and outer edge of the tongue’s throat compliance extends further back than the in the sole inner edge, while the throat curves from the outer edge to LOWS Fitting issues the inner to follow the natural with mid-foot shape of your foot. The closure pinching is a single Boa IP1 dial that
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draws the shoe together and reduces its volume, thanks to a large triangular shape on the instep. The heel-cup shape holds your foot in a stable position, but the Boa adjustment just wasn’t good. Tightening the dial to get the mid-shoe and heel to fit closely meant uncomfortable pinching on the instep, just behind the base of this tester’s big toe. On releasing it enough to prevent pinching, the rear of the shoe didn’t feel secure enough. Shoe fit is quite personal so we’d recommend trying before you buy. The R4 outsole offers mid-level stiffness and its 15 per cent carbon-infused nylon material is ideal for longer endurance rides. The matt sole looks great and the channelled vents do a good job of pushing air through the mid-foot, keeping the temperature regulated. A substantial toe and heel rubber bumper saves against scratching when walking, while the weight of 556.4g a pair for size 45s is welcomingly light. If the fit works for you, then the R4s are up to the company’s usual quality standards. For this Fizik-admiring tester, these are a rare miss.
The Boa dial is a patented system that first found favour in snowboard and ski boots. It works by tensioning a superstrong (metal or Kevlar) lace/wire that’s routed through a web pattern on the shoe upper. The benefits are the ability to micro-adjust to a fine level. Boa claims finetuning adjustments of a single millimetre. The low friction and locking means that once you’ve dialled in the fit it stays that way too.
ALSO CONSIDER...
FIZIK TEMPO OVERCURVE R4 LES CLASSIQUES
BOA CONSTRICTOR
FIZIK TEMPO R5 POWERSTRAP £109.99 A simple Velcro strap closure criss-crosses over the forefoot but, when strapped up, draws the volume of the shoe in equally. The even tension and fit are excellent, and although the nylon-infused outsole and a more traditional PU leather upper make these a little weighty at 626g a pair (size 45), we’d still recommend them.
WE SAY...
Great performing custom glasses with a myriad options UPGR ADE
£150
Custom riding shades
unGod’s approach is a little different to other glasses brands. Instead of offering set colourways for its designs, you choose each element of your glasses from eight colour options for the frame, the lower lens protectors or the half-frame nose bridge, the logos and the rubber tips to the arms, as well as 10 lens options. That adds up to thousands of colour combinations. What also impressed us was that they arrived within three days. For £150 the package is pretty good, including a selection of soft nose-bridges, a zipped hard case and a soft cleaning bag. The glasses themselves follow the current trend of retro/modern aesthetic. The shield lens extends to your brow line offering huge HIGHS Awesome lens; coverage – it is 62mm at its great deepest. The lens itself (we performance, opted for the Fire colour) is superior fit made of a new material called 8KO, just 2mm thick. It is LOWS Colour not claimed to be both lighter and what we stronger than standard expected polycarbonate lenses. SunGod
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also states the frame material is lighter than that used in its premium-priced rival’s frames. It does make for a super-light pair of shades with ours weighing in at just 25.1g with full frames. The shield lens is shaped to curve smoothly both vertically and horizontally, which keeps the clarity high with no distortion even at the outer edges of your peripheral vision. The lens quality really does impress as much as Rudy Project’s RX series lens, Oakley’s Prism and the Carl Zeiss lenses in the Spektrum shades we tested in issue 330. Under SunGod’s lifetime eco- and walletfriendly guarantee it will repair your glasses free of charge. The frame fit is good, with plenty of tension, and the grippy, sock-like tips hold them in place even when you’re sweaty and the going gets rough. The lens is coated hydrophobically, so it doesn’t tend to fog. Finish-wise the main frame looks superb, but the red lower frame came out a little milky and flat and just doesn’t ooze the same class as Oakley or Rudy shades. Overall, though, the SunGods combine a great buying experience with superior quality lenses and fantastic on-bike performance.
BENCHMARK
SUNGOD VULCAN SUNGLASSES 100% HYPERCRAFT £139 These stripped-down shield lens shades come in at just 23.1g thanks to the carbon fibre-infused nylon used in the minimal frames. The frameless lens offers excellent clarity and despite the svelte design these shades are built tough. Lenses can be interchanged and, even though they are ultralightweight, the frames do a great job of keeping the glasses securely in place when riding on the road.
COBBER
330° LIGHT WITH SIDE VISIBILITY
S ILV ER F I S H -U K .C OM
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SPECIALIZED RBX ADVENTURE CLOTHING £100 bibs, £75 overshorts, £55 jersey t the heart of this RBX collection is the bib short, which offers more storage than any bib we’ve seen: two large mesh thigh pockets, five around the midriff plus a zipped pocket. The three large pockets are substantial. We fitted in a multitool, two CO2 cartridges, a banana, two energy bars, tube, patch kit, phone and wallet, with room to spare. The pad is thick and generous, as it’s designed for long distances. The main body and leg are a compressive four-way stretch material that’s supportive and comfortable, and the raw-cut, silicone hems stay in place well. The lightweight mesh Y-shaped back and braces are welcome in the heat, but they have a tendency to rollover on each other, especially when the shorts are loaded. The casual RBX Over-Shorts use a hardwearing yet comfortable twill weave with a little stretch, and they look good too. We wore them on the trail and in the office without feeling out of place. Jean-style front pockets hide a zipped security pocket. The waist is lined with a soft fabric and has belt loops. Specialized has got the tech/casual balance absolutely spot-on with the RBX Adventure jersey. It’s great-looking and supremely comfortable. The stretchy drirelease fabric is very fast wicking, HIGHS wool-soft (it contains 11 per Bib storage; durable cent merino) yet formovershorts; fitting so doesn’t flap in the comfortable wind or go baggy when wet. jersey We like the elasticated hem, flatlock seams and lining at LOWS The bib braces the nape of the neck. We can roll up found the zipped pockets and irritate can sag if loaded though.
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WE SAY...
Well made, comfortable and good-looking kit for gravel or leisure riding
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ENDURA CLOUD LTD JERSEY & PRO SL SHORT
WE SAY...
Another winning addition to a great summer wardrobe from Endura
£69.99/£119.99 ndura’s annual limitededition designs always throw up something interesting and this year’s Cloud jersey is no different with its tie-dye pattern. The form-fitting style has very impressive features for its price. Flatlocked seams prevent irritation, and the sleeves run over your bicep with laser-cut raw edges and a thin band of silicone to hold them in place, although the highstretch material does an impeccable job of this anyway. A highly elasticated hem means the jersey doesn’t ride up, and there’s a high collar and minimal lock-down zip. The three rear pockets are generous and joined by a useful fourth mesh pocket to store empty gel wrappers and the like. Add to this the quickdrying fabric, and you have the equivalent of a jersey twice the price. The Pro SL bib short is another winner. It’s been reworked for 2020 but the fundamentals of the design haven’t changed. At the core is Endura’s approach to the pad: you first select your short size then choose from one of three pad widths: small (145mm). If you know your saddle width, it makes choosing the ideal bib short simple. Endura also offers two leg lengths, a longer leg that ends on the knee or a standard size that’s 4cm shorter. As for the body, high-compression fabrics on the legs hold and support well and a similar wrap of fabric through the midriff offers lumbar support. The braces are seamless and broad and conform well to your shape, plus they don’t HIGHS Great roll up. Cut from an performance open mesh material, and price the Y-shaped back keeps you dry and LOWS comfortable when The Cloud design won’t working hard. In be around all, it’s a brilliant for long technical bib short.
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Cloud Ltd socks £14.99 Coolmax socks for fastwicking performance that will keep your feet comfortable, they share the same tie-dye Cloud graphics as the limited-edition jersey for a coordinated look.
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VERY IMPORTANT BIKE
Ti-Raleigh £2500 Limited-edition replica ack in July 1980, when Olivia Newton-John, Bob Marley and Kate Bush had hits in the UK top 10, the Ti-Raleigh-Creda team was riding steel bikes handmade in Nottingham. Dutch rider Joop Zoetemelk claimed overall victory in the Tour de France, while his team-mate and compatriot Johan van de Velde SPECIFICATIONS won the race’s Young Weight 9.79kg Rider classification. Fork Reynolds The bright-red Raleigh that custom 753 Zoetemelk rode became an Gears Campagnolo instant design classic and a much Veloce with Dialusted-after bike. And if you Compe down tube shifters were one of the kids in 1980 for Brakes whom this was an unobtainable Campagnolo dream machine, here’s some Centaur with Dia-Compe good news. To commemorate classic levers the 40th anniversary of that Wheels Mavic Open Pro C victory, Raleigh has built a Finishing kit replica of the iconic bike, which Cinelli 1a quill can be yours for £2500 (or if you stem, Cinelli Giro D’Italia bar, want to build your own retro Selle San Marco replica, a frameset is available Turbo 1980 saddle, Alloy for £1500). aero seatpost, The original Tis were built Challenge open using Reynolds 753 steel tubing, tubular 23c tyres, MKS Quill which was expertly brazed and pedals finished at Raleigh’s special
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Skinwall Challenge tyres are matched with Mavic Open Pro alloy rims
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bikes division in Ilkeston. For the 2020 replica, Raleigh has found inspiration from the original specification, using custom-specification Reynolds 753 tubing throughout, all brazed to original Raleigh design lugs (Raleigh did produce a replica back in 2015 using a lesser 525 Reynolds tubeset). The frame is lovingly finished to the exacting standards of the original, even using a 1-inch Campagnolo Record headset to mount the 753 steel fork. The company has looked to Italy to source period-style components. The bike features Campagnolo’s polished, silver Veloce 10-speed groupset, while the stem is a classic Cinelli 1a and clamps Cinelli’s classic Giro D’Italia bar. The seatpost is a polished, aero design topped with the vintage-styled San Marco Turbo 1980 saddle. There is some beautiful attention to detail on this Ti: the Mavic Open Pro alloy rims bear period-appropriate Mavic diamond logos and are wrapped with skinwall Challenge highcotton content tyres. The bike even comes with a set of retro-style MKS Quill pedals, replete with leather toe straps. If you’re looking for a retro ride for events such as L’Eroica, or you just want to fulfil a childhood dream, then the Ti-Raleigh will tick all your boxes. Be quick, though. We don’t think this limited edition will be around for long!
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Modern 2x10 Campagnolo Veloce: an upgrade on the gears of Joop Zoetemelk’s day
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This retro delight’s Dia-Compe brake levers come with era-specific rubber hoods
T I - R A L E I G H VIB
Zoetemelk won the 1980 Tour on his bright-red Raleigh, which became an instant design classic
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WORDS Mark Bailey
Bike commuting has soared in popularity, but boredom and bad weather can soon shatter the habit. We reveal how to stick with your commute so that you keep riding all year long 62 NOVEMBER 2020
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CARRY ON COMMUTING
IMAGES on Russell Burt
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CARRY ON COMMUTING
Will G irling
ith commuters tentatively returning to their place of work, the UK has witnessed a surge in bike travel. Cycle use rose by up to 300 per cent during the spring lockdown, with one in five commuters now more likely to travel by bike. Plus, applications for the Cycle to Work scheme rose by more than 50 per cent in May alone. With the government committed to investing £2 billion in active travel, there is real hope of a national cycling revolution. The benefits of cycling to work are extraordinary. A study in the British Medical Journal found that bike commuters have a 52 per cent lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 40 per cent lower risk of dying from cancer. Bike commuters typically weigh 4.4 to 5kg less than car commuters. And studies suggest cycling to work could save you up to £3000pa. Nevertheless, boredom, fatigue, poor nutrition, bad kit or the cold winter weather can all cause bike commuters to slip back into the world of trains, trams and cars. But with some smart planning and fresh ideas, it’s easy to make
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The UK has witnessed a surge in bike travel. Cycle use rose by up to 300% during the spring lockdown
your bike commute a healthy year-round routine. To help you do so, here’s our 10-step guide to becoming a committed commuter.
Discover new routes to work After the initial buzz of commuting by bike, you can soon get bored of riding the same roads every day, so now is the perfect time to explore. “Once you have mastered one route to work, experiment with other routes,” suggests Ruth Chiat, Acting Head of Behaviour Change at the cycling charity Sustrans (sustrans.org. uk). “Even if your usual route takes in stunning scenery, it can get monotonous doing the same thing. You’d be surprised how many interesting places you can find on the way to work. This will help to cement your love of cycling.” Cycling coach Matt Clinton (clinterval.co.uk) recommends exploring parks, canal paths and side streets to unlock new terrain.
Google Maps, the National Cycle Network, apps like CycleStreets and bodies like Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester all have route planning tools online to help you find cyclefriendly routes. “The most direct way isn’t always the most fun,” says Clinton. “Find out if there are any canals or bridleways. Stick to quiet roads and explore little loops off them wherever you can.” It might take a little longer to get to or from work, but you will enjoy fresh scenery and discover new sights and coffee shops.
Convert your commute into a workout Finding new routes will keep things fresh, but making your commute more challenging – with interval efforts, park circuits or longer distances – can also boost your focus and motivation. “The key to preventing boredom is to mix it up,” says Connor Murphy, a sports scientist at TrainSharp
CARRY ON COMMUTING
LEFT Connecting with fellow bike commuters at your place of work will further strengthen your commitment
winter. “A vitamin D3 supplement to aid immunity is recommended too.” If you can top up your energy intake and avoid illness, you will be more likely to carry on cycling.
Construct healthy habits
(trainsharpcyclecoaching.co.uk). “Have four or five routes of varied length and intensity. Adding structure to these can help, such as some intervals, cadence changes or even hitting some Strava segments.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Simon Klima, UK Country Manager at Strava (strava. com), insists tracking apps can make you feel more invested in your daily commute. “It can be really motivating to record your commutes,” he says. “Looking back at your stats, particularly distance covered, is really satisfying.”
Increase your fuel intake If your bike commute leaves you feeling drained, you might not be getting enough energy to fuel your daily double dose of exercise. Nutritionist Will Girling (willgirling.com) recommends a chopped banana on toast for breakfast, but porridge or
overnight oats are other energydense options. Opt for a lunch with 20 to 40g of protein, two 80g servings of veg and some carbs and healthy fats, such as salmon with veg, olive oil and couscous. “Eating two to four hours before your journey home, and having a piece of fruit 15 minutes before you leave, is ideal,” adds Girling. Aim to eat dinner shortly after you get home to speed up your recovery for tomorrow’s ride. “A quick-cook dinner that’s enjoyable is sea bass. It’s moderate in fat but high in omega-3 and protein.” Flavour the fish with 5g of butter, some lemon and chopped parsley and serve it with tenderstem broccoli and wild rice. On cold days, you can carry a hot drink in a thermos bottle to keep your spirits up. “Consuming hot liquids will positively affect your core temperature so that can be nice,” says Girling. And make sure you eat plenty of fruit and veg to boost your immunity over the
Your motivation will inevitably rise and fall but, by developing good routines, you can increase your chances of riding to work. “The big difference between summer and winter commuting is the time it takes to get ready,” says Murphy, “so prepare your kit the night before. Also, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to snooze the alarm and go back to sleep. And try keeping some prepared food and spare clothes at work so you don’t need to take a bag every day. This will make your commute much more enjoyable.” Meeting up with a friend or work colleague for some of the journey can also help you to stay motivated. “Riding with company always makes the time pass quicker,” says Connor Murphy. Ruth Chiat agrees: “The more people that take up cycling in your workplace or community, the more it will encourage you to keep going. Link up with other people who are cycling and set up a social media group to share highs and lows.”
Give yourself a break The key to commuting by bike is to make your routine sustainable. And that means giving yourself a break now and again – for
Connor M u rphy
“Try keeping some prepared food and spare clothes at work so you don’t need to take a bag every day” BIKERADAR.COM
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CARRY ON COMMUTING
Frozen fingers and toes will make you miserable and leave you pining for a cosy seat on a train
“Don’t be tempted to overdress. If you get too hot and start sweating, you can actually end up colder when the wind chill hits” Na ss rin Cha m a n ia n
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example, by taking the train on Wednesdays. It’s better to ride four days a week, all year round, than to ride every day for six months, then spend six months off your bike through fatigue and boredom. “Regular cycling doesn’t have to be every day,” concurs Chiat. “There may be reasons why it’s impractical on some days, or you just don’t feel like it. Cycling most days, or when you can, is still a great thing to aim for. Don’t worry
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if you miss a day. You can always get back on your bike tomorrow. If you find your motivation decreasing, take a break and reset. You might find that a bit of time away from the saddle makes you fall in love with cycling again.” Simon Klima suggests mixing your rides with the occasional run or walk to work instead. “My own commute isn’t exactly heroic – it’s 5km each way and on the way in it’s all downhill – so I normally cycle, but sometimes I throw in a run when I have a bit of extra time.”
Upgrade your wardrobe The secret to staying comfortable as the seasons change is to use layers so you don’t get too hot or cold. “Don’t be tempted to overdress,” cautions Wiggle’s Content Manager Nassrin Chamanian (wiggle.co.uk). “If you get too hot and start sweating, you can actually end up colder when the wind chill hits. Even if it’s cold
when you set off, daytimes during October and November can be surprisingly warm. Arm and leg warmers and merino base layers can extend the life of your summer kit to later in the year and give you more options so you don’t end up feeling muggy.” Nevertheless, getting cold or wet on your commute will soon sap your motivation so, as the winter weather turns sour, make sure you are prepared. “Always pack a rain jacket, ideally with hi-vis or reflective details, so that you’re not caught out,” says Chamanian. “Deep into December and January, layering becomes extra-important. Always wear a thermal baselayer and look for tights and jerseys with thermal and waterproof properties.”
Protect your fingers and toes With so much high-quality kit available today, there’s no need for your body to feel cold on a winter
LEFT Varying your journey to work will ensure that boredom doesn’t set in on your two-wheeled commute
commute. But frozen fingers and toes will make you miserable and leave you pining for a cosy seat on a train. “A good pair of gloves is the most important bit of kit for me as I generally get cold hands,” says Connor Murphy. “For some, it may be a warm cap under their helmet, or a pair of overshoes.” But what kind of overshoes and gloves should you buy? “Wet feet are extra-miserable,” confirms Chamanian, “so thermal and waterproof shoe covers make a massive difference. If you can afford them, winter-specific cycling shoes or boots are even better. A good pair of winter gloves will see you through most of the season but, for cold days, a pair of glove liners will make a massive difference as they trap a pocket of warm air. They also keep the chill off if you need to take your outer gloves off – for example, if you’re locking your bike up.”
Stay safe and stay confident Dark winter nights and wet roads can leave you feeling nervous and tempt you into packing your bike away for the winter. But a few simple safety upgrades will boost your confidence so you keep on commuting. “Never leave the house without lights,” says Chamanian. “Even in daytime, low light means you need to make an extra effort to stand out in traffic. And if there’s water on the roads, road spray makes it harder for drivers to see you.” Matt Clinton recommends rechargeable lights that can be topped up via USB. “But I would always have at least one back-up light. It’s not fun when your batteries run out.” Some commuters switch from a road bike to a sturdier gravel/ adventure bike over winter. “I keep a gravel bike and a hybrid with mudguards for the 30-minute commute to the station,” says Manchester Cycling and Walking Commissioner Chris Boardman. “I like bigger tyres of about 50mm, so I can be on a canal towpath or a rough-ish bit of road but it
A survey by Cycleplan found that 75% of people enjoyed better mental health after taking up cycling
still rolls nicely on tarmac. That’s a good compromise for me. An adventure bike is probably about the right bike for most people.” If you prefer to keep riding your road bike over winter, consider upgrading your tyres. “It might be worth buying winter-specific tyres as rain washes even more debris onto the road so there’s a greater risk of punctures,” says Chamanian. Clinton recommends releasing some air from your tyres too: “I would drop the pressure by a few psi in the winter, or run slightly wider tyres for extra grip and puncture protection. I used to ride 25mm for my commute, but recently switched to 32mm.”
“Drop your tyre pressure by a few psi in the winter, or run slightly wider tyres for extra puncture protection” to realise this, but I’m now totally sold on not arriving at the office with mud and grit everywhere.”
Winter-proof your bike
Conquer the morning mind games
Mechanical issues cause irritation and expense, and it could take a while to get your bike fixed. Plus, you’ll always be more motivated to ride a clean bike with smooth gear changes than a filthy machine with creaking parts. “Clean your bike and check it over as often as you can,” advises Chamanian. “Winter road grime can wear out components surprisingly quickly.” Dry your bike with a towel and disperse any water from moving parts with WD-40 or GT85, then add some fresh oil to the chain and gears. “Make sure you use a lube that’s made for wet weather so it doesn’t wash off easily in the rain.” Simon Klima recommends adding mudguards to make your commute cleaner and more enjoyable. “It took me way too long
If one morning you find yourself debating whether or not to ride to work, consider how much better you will feel if you do. A survey by Cycleplan found that 75 per cent of people enjoyed better mental health after taking up cycling. And research suggests just 30 minutes of cycling can improve your cognitive function, memory and reasoning, making it the perfect pre-work activity. “I’ve commuted by bike for six years and it does me so much good,” admits Klima. “I get a guaranteed dose of outdoor time every day, which keeps my spirits up, and it certainly helps me to be a better person at work and at home. A workout on the way home is the perfect way for me to decompress And it beats sitting in traffic.”
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Matt Cli nton
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FRONT LIGHTS
Now is the time to get your glow on with lights in the £100 price range
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fter what feels like the longest summer, we find ourselves hurtling towards winter with its combination of murky morning starts and dark evenings. Yes, now is the time to review your bike lights setup and invest in a new set if your lights are weak or you are in need of an update. In order to get the best fit for your needs it helps to be familiar with a few key elements that will help whittle a shortlist from what can seem like a dizzying array of lights available, and this test looks at the best lights for around £100. Lumens are the measure of the amount of visible light. Intuitively, going high feels better, but for dedicated road use we found that around 700 is more than enough. Higher outputs (1000
to 1500 lumens) with a greater spread are good for areas with no street lights and little traffic, or off-road, but if they allow a lot of light to escape upwards – that is they don’t have a distinct cut-off at the top of the beam – they will dazzle any oncoming cars. We also measured brightness for all lights at a standard five-metre distance (Lux rating) in order to more easily make a real-life comparison. Mounts tend to be either rubber strap systems or fitted clamps. It’s probably an obvious statement, but if you swap lights between bikes don’t go for something that requires tools each time. Having waterproof lights is important too. This is the UK, it will be wet so opt for a minimum waterproof rating of IPX4. If your likelihood of regular soakings is high, IPX7 is good for immersion to a metre depth.
Now is the time to review your bike lights setup and invest in a new set if your lights are weak or you are in need of an update
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9 OF THE BEST… FRONT LIGHTS 01 VERSATILITY
The shining: which of these nine lights are worth the investment?
To switch between road and trail riding opt for higher lumens (up to 1500) with the option to turn down the beam or adapt the pattern for safe road use so you’re not blinding drivers.
02 EASY CHARGING
Most road lights now come with a standard micro USB cable, making for easy office charging. Some have a dedicated lead, which might not be the best bet if you tend to lose stuff.
03 RUN TIME
Manufacturers’ run times refer to minutes at full power. On high output lights you will significantly increase run time by selecting a lower lumen mode. It goes without saying you should always go for a run time that will easily cover the length of your ride.
04 WATERPROOFING
Look for IPX4 rating, which protects against spray from all directions. Any number higher than 7 means the light is waterproof. Some IPs include a dust rating, so will have another number: IP67 will be dust-proof and waterproof.
05 MOUNTING
Not just how userfriendly the bracket is and whether it’s easily interchangeable between bikes, but the quality of construction and stability on the bar.
06 SIMPLICITY
How easy is the light to use, especially with gloves? Not just turning it on/off but changing between modes, and is there the option to shortcut to full power? BIKERADAR.COM
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WE SAY...
A powerful light that will meet all your riding needs
TOP The light is fixed in one position on the bracket so there’s no lateral adjustment BELOW The distance reach is excellent, with good peripheral vision too
BONTRAGER ION PRO RT £100
High-specification versatile light
LUMENS 1300 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 323 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 90 minutes IP RATING 4 BATTERY CAPACITY 4900 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 178g MODES Five including day flash / night flash
Bontrager’s Ion Pro RT achieves the gold standard combination of a high-lumen output with a consistent and well-focused beam pattern. The yellow beam produced does not appear to be the brightest when viewing the night shots, but it creates a warmer light without glare that is easier on the eye. Plus, the quality of the beam is very even with no obvious ‘stepping’ or hard edges. The distance reach is excellent and there’s enough spread to give good peripheral vision without leaking too much light upwards, so less risk of dazzling pedestrians or other road users. There are five modes that allow you to run at three lumen outputs from Power; quality the full 1300 to 800 or of beam; warmth of light 400 as appropriate – dialling down will extend the battery run time too. No lateral It also includes a day time adjustment and night time flashing
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mode that enhance visibility. A feature that is unique to this Bontrager light is Bluetooth compatibility, which means if you use a Garmin you can control the light from that as well as monitor its battery life. Small amber lights positioned on the sides increase visibility at junctions with joining traffic – enough to be seen but not so bright that they create a distraction for the rider. Control is via a large central button for on/off, or cycling between modes if you’re not linking to a Garmin. This is a slim unit that doesn’t hog space on your bar. The mount was the easiest on test to fit, with a simple hand-
Enough light on unlit roads and transitions well to a more urban environment too
tightened hinged clamp that has an integral rubber bar-protector. It’s a small detail but it made it so much less fiddly to fit and there’s no chance of losing it. There is a reassuringly positive click when sliding the light onto the bracket, while a raised grip pattern on the sides makes it easy to remove, even with gloved hands. Together with the quality of the light, it’s the considered detail like this that elevates the Ion Pro RT. Our only gripe is that there is no lateral adjustment – the light is fixed in one position on the bracket – but that feels like a minor objection to what is an otherwise incredibly well-specified and designed light. Belting out enough lumens for confidence on unlit roads with little traffic, it transitions well to a more urban environment, and in contrast is bright enough for off-road use too. If you regularly switch between bikes and terrain it will work as well on your commute as on weekend club outings or mountain bike night rides. The Bontrager Ion Pro RT is a powerful, versatile, solidly constructed light and a worthy winner.
VERDICT
Powerful and versatile light that will meet almost any riding need
9 OF THE BEST… FRONT LIGHTS
EXPOSURE SIRIUS MK9 £100
Compact and lightweight
LUMENS 850 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 185 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 90 minutes IP RATING 6 BATTERY CAPACITY 2900 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 97g MODES Four including day flash
The latest offering from Exposure, the UK-based lights brand, is the svelte little Sirius MK9, which has been specifically designed to meet the needs of road and urban riders. While the beam pattern has less spread than the Bontrager, there’s plenty enough peripheral illumination that you don’t feel like you are riding into a tunnel, and the light has a strong, consistent-quality focus that makes it easy on the eyes. The housing is shaped to give a harder cut-off at the top of the beam, to prevent dazzling other road users, and also has side cut-outs to provide be-seen side visibility. Do however take care to position the light in the bracket the High quality; right way up or all that made in the UK; directional functionality lightweight will be lost. The bracket itself is Requires its own easy to secure to your charging cable handlebar with the
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supplied strong rubber O-ring, and the light just pushes and satisfactorily clicks into place. Despite the simplicity of the operation, it holds solid and security has never been an issue through testing. Like the Bontrager Ion, the mount has no lateral adjustment. You can buy a plethora of other mounting options – for the stem, helmet or in combination with a bike computer. It’s worth noting that the light weight of this model makes it a firm choice for helmet-mounting, where you will hardly be aware of its presence. The Sirius MK9 has four modes: High, Medium, Low and Exposure’s DayBright pulse. There are also eight programmes
The beam is strong with consistent-quality focus that makes it easy on the eyes
WE SAY...
A favourite for its slim profile and performance combination
TOP The housing is shaped to cut off the top of the beam, saving oncoming drivers’ eyes BELOW This lightweight model has various optional mounts, including helmet
that give a mix of run times of the different modes. Select the programme with the combination that’s best for you and the likelihood of battery anxiety is all but gone. It sounds complicated, but honestly it’s really not. To remind you, the programmes and run times are etched onto the body of the light. A rather helpful indicator on the back of the light moves through green/amber/red to indicate remaining battery life. To charge the Sirius MK9 you use the dedicated cable, so no ubiquitous micro USB charging here – if you have a long commute and need to recharge in the day you’ll have to remember to take it with you. A rubber seal protects the charge point when not in use. It creates a good seal but needs lining up exactly to push into place – perfecting the technique will save much swearing! The light has a high IP6 water-resistance rating. A worthwhile investment, this new MK9 is lightweight, well-made (in the UK) and comes armed with a high-quality beam, making it an excellent all-round choice for general road and commuting use.
VERDICT
Compact and lightweight, this is a high-quality road-specific light
TOP Swivelling the bracket mount laterally enables you to angle the light in the direction you wish BELOW Blinded by the light: you won’t need to run this light on Boost if you’re in a built-up area
WE SAY...
Great for singletrack, but not our first choice for the road
NITERIDER LUMINA 1200 BOOST £100
At home on road and trail
LUMENS 1200 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 280 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 60 minutes IP RATING N/A BATTERY CAPACITY N/A WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 187g MODES Seven including Pulse, Fast Flash, Walk and Boost
A small light with a solid feel, the NiteRider Lumina 1200 Boost kicks out a powerful beam for its compact proportions. The light has a bright white hue and a good reach. There is reasonable peripheral visibility but the brightness does fall away at the sides quite rapidly – or at least it appears to. The central beam is so strong that we suspect the periphery just appears darker in contrast. It’s worth noting the Lux measurement, of 280 at five metres, which is a serious level of fiercely channelled light. The directness of that beam can make it feel a little like you’re riding down a tunnel – but this is when it’s in the highest Boost setting, and of course Bright; useful it can be run at a lower features; high quality lumen level. Running the light on full triggers a lot of memories of Could use more mountain-bike night peripheral light riding and it is ideal for
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transforming dark singletrack into day, but unlikely to be the default mode for general road use. Unlike most of the other lights on test, this model does not have any cut-outs in the housing to provide side illumination. It’s probably not a deal breaker, but it is a feature that we’ve come to expect in a road-specific front light. The Lumina 1200 has seven modes: Low, Medium, High, Boost, Fast Flash, Pulse Flash and Walk. The maximumpower Boost mode can be accessed smoothly and quickly from any of the other modes by simply double-clicking the on/off button, which is a handy
Running the Lumina on full triggers a lot of memories of mountainbike night riding
shortcut. A further useful feature is a lockout operation that ensures the light isn’t switched on by accident when stored in your bag – press and hold for eight seconds to lock and unlock. It is charged via a standard micro USB cable. The bracket is a classic clamp style that is tightened easily by hand even when wearing gloves, and the light body slides onto the mount with a reassuring positive click. The mount swivels side to side so you can angle the light to suit your own riding preference, or move it temporarily to avoid dazzling another rider – very handy. A helmet mount is available separately although the Lumina’s relatively high weight makes this is a light that we’d prefer to keep on the bar. The NiteRider is well made and its Boost mode means it’s equally at home off-road as it is on the urban commute. Therefore, it’s versatile across a mixedterrain collection of bikes. Would it be our first choice for the road? Probably not, because for the equivalent cost there are other lights that (in our opinion) have a better beam pattern, but it is compact, well-featured and high quality.
VERDICT
A good light with strong trail leanings but there’s a lot of competition at this price
9 OF THE BEST… FRONT LIGHTS
RAVEMEN PR1200 £100
Innovative beam feature
LUMENS 1200 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 145 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 120 minutes IP RATING 8 BATTERY CAPACITY 5200 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 237g MODES Seven including eco flash and turbo flash
Ravemen has designed the PR1200 with an innovative dual-lens configuration that allows you to quickly switch between high and low beam settings, which respectively offer longdistance visibility, primarily for off-road use or unlit country lanes, and anti-glare performance for road riding. To this end there are two main modes: Road and Mountain. The Road programme has four modes from High (600 lumens) to Eco (100 lumens). Mountain has High (1200 lumens) to Low (300 lumens). Its ‘HiLo’ dual-LED Mountain mode emulates a car headlamp on full High/low beam beam, with a far-reaching operation; wide range of use; high beam. In the beam battery readout image below, taken at 1200 lumens in Mountain mode, you can see the Wired remote could have tree canopy is lit, which better is great for on the trail functionality but will dazzle other road
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users. That’s where Ravemen’s clever beam feature comes into play. Hit the top button and it will instantly change to low beam (single LED) Road mode, with a close-range floodlight and strong cut-off line above the light to stop any glare for oncoming traffic. Ravemen recommends running at 600 lumens for road use and 1200 off-road, and this anti-dazzle feature can be used at both brightness settings. In maximum (1200 lumens) output the beam has excellent reach and spread without any ‘stepping’ at the edges. However, there is no cut-away in the bulb housing to allow ‘be seen’ visibility from the side on this light. On quiet roads
Hit the top button and it will instantly change to low beam, anti-glare Road mode
WE SAY...
A flexible friend that will serve you well wherever you like to ride
TOP The dual LED configuration makes going from unlit paths to urban streets a breeze BELOW The light slides into the bracket and remains solid and secure once positioned
we’d be inclined to run at full beam to overcome this. Helpfully, there is a clear digital readout on the top of the light that shows available battery life in minutes for each brightness level instantly, which eliminates guesswork. The PR1200 boasts an excellent IP8 rating so should survive the heaviest downpours. The Ravemen comes with a wired remote button so you don’t need to remove your hand from the bar. It’s a nice extra to have, but it only enables you to switch between brightness levels, and we found ourselves wishing that we could use it to alternate between the high and low beam options because that’s the change you want to effect most quickly in the majority of situations on the road. The bracket is secured with a 4mm Allen key. It’s simple and solid once in place, but not as quick to switch between bikes as tool-free clamps. The light simply slides into place but, unlike the NiteRider, there is no lateral adjustment. Recharging is via a micro USB connector and it also has a standard USB outport so you can use it as an emergency power bank to charge your phone or another device.
VERDICT
Powerful light for all types of riding with a clever anti-dazzle beam feature
TOP The mounting bracket uses a silicone stretch strap. Brace yourself when first attaching! BELOW In its Overdrive setting the Macro Drive is a bright beast of a light
WE SAY...
Works for any riding; top performance and versatility at a good price
LEZYNE MACRO DRIVE 1300XXL £85
Powerful, versatile light
LUMENS 1300 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 291 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 150 minutes IP RATING 7 BATTERY CAPACITY N/A WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 227g MODES Seven including flash and pulse
Lezyne’s Macro Drive 1300XXL delivers a beast of an output in its 1300 lumen Overdrive mode. In the beam shot you can see not only the reach but the wide angle and height that lights up the tree canopy. On an unlit road with little traffic or on gravel/trail, that is a whole lot of light to navigate. For general use, however, it’s not that friendly to oncoming traffic and, for that reason, it makes good common sense to select the Blast or Enduro settings instead, which deliver 800 and 450 lumens respectively. As with Powerful other lights of this quality, Overdrive beam; a cut-away in the housing range of modes; versatility allows for side illumination and therefore increased visibility. Mounting strap; There are seven high contrast modes in all from the between fastprogramme powerful Overdrive down settings to the battery-saving
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Femto with its minimal 15 lumen output. If you need the power of Overdrive but need to switch it down quickly from time to time, then there is a programme option that allows you to preset the light to simply switch between that and Economy mode just by a press of the button. However, be warned it is a big step down in brightness and the sudden contrast isn’t that user friendly. Having the option to fast switch between the two modes would make this a near-perfect light to use across almost every cycling circumstance, but we appreciate that’s a complicated and demanding request. For most riders,
As with other lights of this quality, a cut-away in the housing allows for side illumination
running in Blast mode (850 lumens) for everyday – or rather, ‘everynight’ – use with the reassurance of the 1300 lumen backup will be enough. The Lezyne has a useful feature – to prevent overheating, which might happen if you’re stopped for a while, the light will automatically cool itself by adjusting the mode. On one ride, we mistook the slight flicker that signifies this is happening for the battery losing power, but as soon as the light cooled down it automatically reset itself to the original mode. Recharging is easy and via a standard micro USB cable. The mounting bracket is a silicone stretch strap, which is simple enough to use and great if you want to remove the whole thing quickly. From new, however, it does need fingers of steel to get it tight enough. The light then engages in the mount with a twist through 90 degrees to lock it into place. The 1300XXL is a powerful light with the reach, spread and consistency of quality to take you off-road with confidence should you wish, but with versatile, road-friendly modes too.
VERDICT
Powerful, high-quality light that can be used in any setting from off-road to urban commute
9 OF THE BEST… FRONT LIGHTS
KNOG PWR ROAD £85
Practical light/power bank combo
LUMENS 700 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 95 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 140 minutes IP RATING N/A BATTERY CAPACITY 3350 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 158g MODES Six including pulse, strobe and flash
The Knog PWR Road has the lowest lumen rating on test and, if you were to judge by that and the beam shot alone, you would be forgiven for thinking it less of a light. However, the beam quality is excellent with a gradual taper to the periphery and a strong cut-off point that prevents dazzle. True, it doesn’t have the same distance reach of some more powerful lights tested here, but it has proved to be enough and, simply put, it’s just pleasing to ride with. A cut-out in the housing provides side Beam quality; illumination for better versatility; on-road visibility. system options; It has six modes: Max, ease of use Mid, Stamina, Pulse, Strobe flash and Eco Not our first flash, which can be choice to take programmed using the off-road but Knog ModeMaker app. hardly a low in the context of a However, cycling through road test the modes manually could
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not be easier as it’s a straightforward twist of the head to switch on and then subsequently scroll through the different settings. We’re pretty sure this will prove to be particularly handy for cold or gloved hands during the winter months. There’s a practicality that is written through every aspect of this light, which is unsurprising when you learn that the PWR system is a group of products designed to work together utilising the same charging system. Pop the bulb off the end and inside you’ll see the charging point, plus two USB ports that allow the battery to be used as a power bank. Additional power banks can be
With its power bank and charging options, this is a good choice for multi-day rides
WE SAY...
The Knog PWR family makes charging on the go easy. It’s our touring choice
TOP A strong cut-off point at the top of the beam means there is no distracting dazzle BELOW Easy to attach and light enough in weight to consider using with your GoPro
purchased separately and there’s a double charging pod available if you decide to go all-in for the system, which includes not only a range of lights but torches and a lantern attachment. To check the amount of battery power remaining when the light is off, just tap the end of the light. In use four LEDs on the side indicate time remaining – it’s a detail that seems unimportant, but positioning these on the side means you don’t get the usual glare from them on top when you’re riding. The bracket can be attached above or below your bar – or for those that prefer it, the light also allows for central mounting over the stem. Once the bracket is in place the light slides on and locates with a positive click. It’s light enough to consider using it as a head lamp if you do night running. A GoPro/ helmet mount is available separately. The Knog PWR Road is a well-made and versatile light that, along with its power bank and charging options, makes it a good choice for touring or multi-day rides where charging opportunities are limited.
VERDICT
High-quality light/power bank system that’s particularly suited to touring
TOP Easy to fit and the light is solid if a little on the heavy side BELOW The beam has a consistent quality of spread that’s true to the Cateye brand heritage
WE SAY...
You can’t go wrong with the dependable Cateye heritage but there’s a lot of other eye candy at this price
CATEYE AMPP 1100 £95
Reliable light that’s a little lacking
LUMENS 1100 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 165 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 90 minutes IP RATING N/A BATTERY CAPACITY 2500 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 223g MODES Five including flash
Cateye is a brand that has long been associated with bike lights and the AMPP 1100 does exactly what you’d expect, considering Cateye’s heritage, and throws out good amount of light. The beam pattern is bright with a decent distance reach and a wide periphery with a consistent quality of spread. On the highest setting you can see from the image (above right) that it does light up the tree canopy, which is good for an unlit road but in order to avoid the dazzle factor you’d need to run it on a lower setting for general road riding. Some lateral play in the mount means you can tweak the optimal beam Versatile, easy angle too. to use, solid Deep horizontal mount cut-outs in the side housing allow generous slices of light out to Feels expensive against the the sides for improved competition visibility at junctions.
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The AMPP has five modes: High, Middle, Low, Daytime and Flashing. Cycling between them takes a simple click of the power button, with the added advantage of a double-click switching to full power mode. It’s big enough to operate with gloved hands and the same central button glows blue, yellow or red to indicate battery life remaining. Charging is via a micro USB cable. The bracket is a really simple fixing with a plastic strap that wraps round the bar and pulls through a slot to tighten. It’s held in place with a knurled wheel. Okay, we’re nitpicking here as it’s the tiniest of aggravations, but the fact that the wheel
A good all-round light with enough range for both road and off-road use
is separate means that we know for certain we’re going to lose it in a drawer. Our solution would be to fix it in place and leave it. The light slides into place with a firm positive click and requires the press of a button to remove it, so there’s no danger of it rattling loose. The locating part of the light that slides onto the mount is quite chunky though – this is not one that pops unobtrusively into a pocket. Centre stem and helmet mounts are also available, although we’d opine that there are lighter weight and sleeker options you can choose if you want to run a helmet light. The Cateye AMPP 1100 is a good allround light with enough range for both road and off-road use. It is practical and easy to use. In short, there is really little wrong with it and you’re unlikely to be disappointed by its performance. However, at the same price point there are lights available that deliver more in terms of additional features, light weight and battery size. Ultimately, it feels like it lacks some of the refinement of similarly priced models.
VERDICT
Dependable, versatile light but lacking against the competition
9 OF THE BEST… FRONT LIGHTS
BLACKBURN DAYBLAZER 1100 £85
A little basic for its price
LUMENS 1100 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 165 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM 60 minutes IP RATING 7 BATTERY CAPACITY N/A WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 144g MODES Five including pulse and strobe
The Blackburn Dayblazer 1100 offers a good maximum lumens output but, although the resulting beam has a consistent and even quality, it doesn’t have much spread or depth. Interestingly, when we reduced power there was not much visible difference between high and low mode. For general road or urban commute use and on reasonably well lit streets that isn’t so much of a problem. On country roads or routes lacking street lighting, we would miss the option of more powerful and far-reaching illumination. Underlining the Dayblazer’s better suitability to an urban setting is the cutaway in the light housing to allow visibility from the side at junctions. Consistent There are five modes in beam; additional mount included all: Blitz (maximum 1100 lumens), High, Low, Plus and Strobe. All modes are Lacking accessed by cycling in power through the power button
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on the top. Unlike some other lights, however, there is not an option to shortcut to full power mode from whichever mode you happen to be riding in. For all the times you don’t need it, the lack of that feature isn’t so much of a problem, but when you do need to hit full beam you can guarantee it isn’t usually prompted by something that means you want to take your time cruising through the other modes to get there. The same power button acts as a battery life indicator that runs down to flashing red as a final warning. Charging is via a standard micro USB cable, which is both practical and efficient.
Underlining its better suitability to an urban setting is the cutaway in the light housing
WE SAY...
Well made and easy to use but doesn’t match the competition in terms of features
TOP The light beam is a little lacking in spread and depth with scant difference in modes BELOW The strap-style mount is not a favourite but it also comes with a GoPro adaptor
The rubber watch-strap style handlebar fixing bracket is not a favourite of ours – in fact, it is a struggle to get it properly tight. For most road use that hasn’t proved to be too much of a problem and it stays put well enough. But, venture onto a bumpy towpath or the rough of the trail, and the mount is not quite as rock solid as we’d like. A plus, however, is the GoPro-style mount adaptor that comes included with the light package – we would always opt to use that in conjunction with our Garmin bracket, rather than the bar strap fixing. This aside, the Blackburn Dayblazer is a well-made and easy-to-use model that delivers a consistent beam. Supplying it with an additional mounting option as standard makes it more versatile and is a nice touch that usually only comes as an extra. However, there are more powerful lights with a better range of modes that make them stronger contenders for your disposable income and they come at the same price, or a few pounds more. As much as we found it simple to use, those competitors make the Dayblazer a harder choice to opt for.
VERDICT
Decent enough road light, if not the brightest, but lacking in features
WE SAY...
Excellent quality at a value-for-money price point
TOP Switching between the five modes is easy via the big accessible button on top of the light BELOW There are more powerful lights than the Magicshine but the beam pattern produces a nice usable balance
MAGICSHINE ALLTY 1000 DRL £70
Great value light that really delivers
LUMENS 1000 LUX (5M AT FULL BEAM) 180 RUN TIME (FULL BEAM) 108 minutes IP RATING 7 BATTERY CAPACITY 4000 Li-Ion WEIGHT (INCLUDING MOUNT) 145g MODES Five including two flash
The Magicshine Allty 1000 DRL has the accolade of being a Red Dot Design Award winner (a celebrated international design competition) and that is apparent in its sleek profile, light weight and ease of operation. It is definitely not a case of style over substance though. The beam pattern, while not having the greatest reach on test, manages to still combine depth with a good spread of peripheral vision with lack of glare from the top of the light. The beam spread is consistent with a gradual taper to the edge and it’s very High-quality easy on the eye to ride by. performance at Despite the fact that, on a value price; simplicity of paper, this isn’t the most operation powerful light for road or off-road, it turns in a good performance on both. Upgrade to outfront mount for Cut-away edges on the better bar housing allow for light position visibility to the side.
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There are five modes: High, Medium, Low, flashing and DRL (daylight running). The daylight running option is the strip that is visible across the top of the light. Cycling between them is simple enough and is operated via the single button on the top of the light, which is chunky enough to hit first time even with gloved or cold hands. A double press switches from solid beam to flashing mode where there is then a further strobe option. The same button glows green, red or flashes red to signal roughly the amount of battery life remaining. You will need a 4mm Allen key to fit the bracket, although if you have a Garmin
A nice balance of depth and spread wherever you take it to ride: road, gravel or trail
mount already in place, this light will fit onto that too. Attaching the light to the mount is a 90-degree twist and once done it is a solid setup that doesn’t move. A familiar issue that we’ve experienced with other lights that use the same twistand attach operation is that it can be hard to fit this close to the stem for a more central position. Light and slender enough to consider running as a head lamp, there is a helmet mount available as an optional extra, together with an outfront mount too. There are more powerful lights than this on the market and there are models with more features, modes or programmable complication. However, the Magicshine Allty 1000 DRL simply throws out a good quality beam that has a nice balance of depth and spread wherever you take it to ride, be that road, gravel or off-road. You can of course pay more for additional lumens (and you might need them depending on your riding), but the Allty 1000’s balanced performance will suit most riding, and at £70 it is very deserving of our value winner badge.
VERDICT
A high-quality light that punches well above its weight for the price
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Nutrition
GOOD MOOD FOOD Bolster body and mind by taking a close look at our diet
Words Nicola Smith
Photography Getty images
It’s more important than ever to eat well as the stress and strain of modern life can have a negative effect on our bodies and minds. It’s vital, then, that we eat to support our mood, energy and health. As well as keeping us energised enough to enjoy cycling, a good diet is key to helping our minds and bodies cope with tough times. Here, three nutrition experts suggest 14 foods to keep you upbeat and active...
01
BROWN BREAD, PASTA AND RICE
“Did you know that our brain uses as much as 20 per cent of all energy required by the body to function?” asks nutritionist Lily Soutter. “Unlike other organs, it requires a steady supply of glucose, ideally coming from starchy carbohydrates, to function. All carbohydrates break down to sugar, but it’s the fibre-rich, slow-release carbohydrates that
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provide a steady supply of glucose to the brain all day long.” Opt for wholegrain carbohydrates, such as brown bread, pasta and rice, as well as flour products, beans, lentils, chickpeas and potatoes with the skin left on. Potato skins are full of vitamins and minerals, including many of the important B vitamins, which provide energy, reduce stress and improve mood.
02
KEFIR
Kefir is a cultured, fermented dairy product that resembles a drinkable, albeit tart, yogurt. The fermentation creates a product rich in probiotics, which are helpful gut bacteria. “The more diverse your gut microbiome is in probiotics, the less likely you are to suffer a range of health conditions, including mental health issues,” says Lori Russell, elite cyclist and performance dietitian at Hungry For Results. “Pour it over berries and granola or use it to replace buttermilk in dressings and baked goods.”
03
SALMON
This fatty fish is rich in Omega-3 acids, which make up roughly 18 per cent of the brain’s weight. “Research has linked Omega-3 consumption to decreased depression and suicide,” says Russell, “while deficiency can promote mood swings, poor memory and fatigue. Salmon also has vitamin D and B6, which both influence mood and emotion.” Salmon is also rich in essential fatty acids, containing Vitamin B12, which Rick Hay, anti-ageing food and fitness nutritionist, says boosts immunity and promotes mood by aiding the synthesis of serotonin. Lily Soutter suggests “aiming to consume two portions of fish a week, one of which is oily, such as salmon, mackerel, herring or sardines”.
04
HERBS AND SPICES
Herbs and spices are not just for flavouring or aesthetics — they actually pack a large nutritional punch, as Lori Russell explains. “Adding herb salads and chopped blends of fresh herbs to eggs, pizzas, grilled proteins and stir fries, for example, can offer phytonutrients [natural chemicals or compounds, such as flavonoids and carotenoids] and aromatics that help relieve anxiety, calm nerves, and boost wellbeing. Try thyme, basil, parsley, chives, or whatever you can get your hands on!” Sage, too. It’s been shown to improve mood and cognitive performance, as well as containing high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Add it to your omelette or to homemade pesto.
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Rick Hay says that herbs and spices boost metabolism, cognition, memory and circulation, especially those that are thermogenic (that is, fat-burning), such as turmeric. A cousin of ginger, turmeric is a major source of curcumin, a polyphenol, which research suggests can help in the management of anxiety. Suggested consumption includes blending one or two teaspoons of ground turmeric into your morning smoothie, adding half a teaspoon to the water when cooking rice, or grating fresh turmeric into salad dressings.
05
BREAD AND BUTTER
The number of recipe downloads from the National Trust’s website show that, between lockdown in mid-March and the end of April, home baking increased by almost 900 per cent compared with the same time last year. As well as offering a tasty and comforting snack, the ritual of making your own bread calms an anxious mind. “Make it wholegrain bread and you’ll benefit from chromium, a trace mineral that plays an essential role in metabolism and regulation of the brain’s emotion neurotransmitters,” says Lori Russell.
06
BEEF, OATMEAL, DARK CHOCOLATE, LENTILS
Iron is an important constituent of haemoglobin in our red blood cells, which carry oxygen around our bodies, delivering it to our organs, including our muscles. Iron also plays a key role in some of the processes that allow us to produce energy. Russell says iron is the most common mineral for us to be deficient in, especially athletes. “Low levels
Research has linked Omega-3 consumption to decreased depression and suicide
09 CAFFEINATED COFFEE – IN MODERATION!
are associated with fatigue, mood changes and depression. Make sure you’re getting enough each day from foods like beef, oatmeal or porridge, dark chocolate and lentils.” Lentils also contain complex carbohydrates, which boost serotonin levels and help to improve mood. “They are a good source of prolonged energy too,” says Rick Hay.
07
BANANAS
Bananas contain the amino acid tryptophan, which the body uses to create the chemical serotonin, a well-known contributor to wellbeing and happiness. While increased consumption of bananas won’t directly increase levels of serotonin, research has shown that tryptophan can be an important determinant of mood, cognition, and behaviour, and therefore low intakes of these nutrients may contribute to low mood. Soutter adds that tryptophan needs to be combined with carbohydrate in order to cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted into
serotonin. Of course, bananas also contain potassium to help replenish the electrolytes lost through sweating, as well as carbohydrates for topping up energy levels. In short, no cyclist should be without one.
08
TEA
Part of the staple British diet, three quarters of UK consumers drink a cup of tea at least once a day, but it’s more than a ritual. As Hay says, “Black and green tea contain L-Theanine, [an amino acid] that helps produce alpha waves and which can improve your mood and relax you.” Herbal teas can also aid relaxation, in particular lemon balm tea. Research shows this is generally associated with improvements in mood. The humble cuppa works wonders.
10
FIBRE PROVIDERS
“Did you know that 90 per cent of our serotonin is located within the gut, and only 10 per cent is located within the brain?”
Research suggests that caffeine can help limit depression and improve alertness and attention, with some studies concluding that, particularly when in coffee, caffeine has a protective effect against depression. The chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid in coffee can reduce the inflammation of nerve cells that takes place in the brains of people with depression. It is thought that this may be the cause of its protective effect, but the jury is still out. That said, too much caffeinated coffee can cause anxiety. As Hay says, “Caffeine can make you jittery and may lead to adrenal exhaustion and insomnia.” It’s advisable to drink no more than two cups in an hour.
If workouts have slackened off during the pandemic, taper off the excess sugar too
14 LEAFY GREENS
asks Lily Soutter. “Scientists are now referring to our gut as our second brain and the health of our gut microbiota may influence mood. “Fibre is our gut’s best friend and the primary fuel for our good gut bacteria. While we should aim for 30g per day, many people within the UK are only consuming between 15 and 18g.” Add broccoli and carrots to your stir fry, use wholemeal or granary breads for your sarnie at lunchtime, and reach for unsalted nuts when peckish. As Rick Hay says, “nuts and seeds are nutrient-dense to help power you up”.
11
BEWARE SIMPLE SUGARS!
Lori Russell says that many athletes are accustomed to consuming simple sugar sources — such as energy bars and drinks, Jelly Babies and Jaffa Cakes — before and during workouts to promote fast energy production. Cyclists should be mindful of the possible change in routine due to Coronavirus, though. “If workouts have slowed during this time, taper off the excess sugar as well. Consuming high amounts of sugary foods can lead to mood swings, energy crashes and weight gain, and can work against long-term health goals.”
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12
ALCOHOL INTAKE
Regular, heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that are vital for good mental health. So while we might feel relaxed after a couple of drinks, in the long run alcohol can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. In the UK, men and women are advised to not drink more than 14 units a week. If you regularly drink as much as this, spread your drinking evenly over three or more days. Introduce several drink-free days each week, and avoid binge drinking.
13
OATS
“Oats are rich in Vitamin B,” says Rick Hay, “and will help to stabilise your blood sugar, which means a steadier mood and more energy.” There are many types of Vitamin B. Oats are a particularly good source of riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which helps the body release energy from food, as well as Vitamin B6, which allows the body to use and store energy from protein and carbohydrates in food. Add a bowl of porridge to your daily diet, or make flapjacks to sustain you on your rides.
There is some evidence that magnesium, an essential mineral, reduces anxiety and can be effective in treating mild-to-moderate depression in adults. Additional research has shown that, in mice, low-magnesium diets were found to increase anxiety-related behaviours. Foods naturally rich in magnesium may, therefore, help to promote a sense of calm. Rick Hay recommends leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, as a rich source of magnesium to include in your diet, particularly during tough times. Try adding a couple of handfuls of kale to your morning smoothie, or toss a bag of spinach into your curry, or sautée some chard in olive with a little garlic.
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BEST ON TEST
Canyon’s Projekt bikes have set the standard for lightweight performance. We find out how Canyon is improving on its premium product... WORDS WARREN ROSSITER IMAGES RUSSELL BURTON
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W
The Ultimate CFR: a weight weenie's dream of a bike
hen we first saw the press release for Canyon’s latest range topper, we assumed that it included some mistakes. The numbers the German company were quoting for its new Ultimate disc road bike seemed barely believable. Sure, we were used to Canyon’s showstoppers boasting impressive stats, but a frame and fork weighing just 950g and a complete bike weight of just 6kg? Surely that’s a typo – there are bikes in the pro-peloton being raced right now that have frames that weigh more than that! But, perhaps as you’d stereotypically expect, that press release was indeed accurate and precise – the 2021 Ultimate CFR (formerly the Ultimate Evo) really is a featherweight masterpiece of bicycle engineering. To be honest, we’re not surprised as Canyon has been producing jaw-dropping ‘halo’ bikes for well over a decade. When brothers Roman and Franc Arnold started Radsport Arnold in Koblenz, Germany, in 1985, it was as a supplier of bike parts. After a decade or so the Canyon brand appeared on bikes that the company sold directly to riders. The Canyon name was adopted for the company in 2001 and it brought in Lutz Scheffer, an innovative
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frame designer responsible for some truly radical bikes from German brands Bergwerk and Votec. It also added more experts to the team including Christian Smolik, a respected author on bike design who came up with an integrated brake/shifter for road bikes in 1981 a full nine years before Shimano! But Canyon’s most radical move in 2004 was that it started selling directly online allowing the company to keep prices lower than bikes brought at brick-and-mortar stores. At the time this was a truly radical approach, and not just for a bike brands – Amazon was just 10 years old and only on the way to becoming the behemoth it is today! A great team and a unique selling proposition didn’t necessarily mean instant success though: conservative bike buyers, especially in the road market, are much more likely to purchase from wellestablished brands and, of course, selling from the web meant riders couldn’t see a bike, let alone test it out, before buying. So, Canyon needed something to showcase its technical abilities and innovations and, in 2004, the Projekt series was born to do just that. Canyon decided to go big or go home and unleashed the Projekt 3.7 – the 3.7 representing its weight in kilograms, which made it the lightest road bike in the world. People noticed. “From the company’s inception engineering has been a key part of our brand,” explains Matt Leake
The lightest frame and fork at just 950g; Canyon was the first to introduce disc brakes into the road bike market
BIKE TEST
Canyon’s road product manager. “The 2004 bike was indeed a statement to show what we can do, and to put Canyon on the map as a performance bicycle brand, not just a value, direct-sales option. “From then on Projekt bikes have formed an important part of our R&D process” says Leake. “They serve as a platform for us to test theories and take our engineering to the next level and, in many cases, features found on Projekt bikes many years ago now appear on our production bikes. “Often, our bike ranges ‘start’ with the development of the CFR [before that Evo] version. Once we have that toplevel bike, we’ll look for ways to build a portfolio of that platform to cover a range of price points and spec options. In some cases, they may even share an identical frame mould, such as on our new Exceed mountain bike. But in every case at least some design features of the top-level CFR version will appear on the whole range.” A great example is 2006’s Projekt 6.8. At a time when the idea of disc brakes on road bikes was still deemed pretty outrageous – sacrilege even – Canyon
WE STILL WANT TO KEEP PUSHING OUR OWN ABILITIES... WE WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE AT THE LEADING EDGE OF PERFORMANCE
produced a disc-equipped road bike that would hit the UCI weight limit. Fourteen years later and discs on the road are ubiquitous. (But only a few bikes can get close to that UCI number!) The Projekt bikes, plus pro-team sponsorship and, of course, the quality, range and value offered by Canyon’s consumer bikes means that the brand is now firmly established as a leading global bike builder. Surely that means it doesn’t have anything left to prove and the special ‘Projekts’ are no longer needed? “On the contrary,” says Leake. “We still want to keep pushing our own abilities. These bikes give us the opportunity to offer our customers the best that we can produce. Moving forward, we will always strive to be at the leading edge of performance.”
NEXT YEAR’S TOP MODEL As previously mentioned, the numbers around the Ultimate CFR are astounding – a medium frame weighs just 641g and is combined with a fork at 285g to achieve that incredible 6kg total weight. It goes without saying, then, that this is Canyon’s lightest-ever production, road-disc frameset. At sub 700g it’s lighter than Canyon has produced in the disc- or rim-brake era and it’s made from carbon materials specially sourced by Canyon’s engineers. It uses a combination of UHM (ultra-high modulus) and a new UHT (ultra-high tension) carbon fibre, that
CANYON ULTIMATE EVO 10 £7499 SPECIFICATION
Weight 6kg Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears SRAM Red AXS 12-speed 48/35, 10-33 with Quarq powermeter chainset Brakes SRAM Red hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss PRC 1100 Dicut Finishing kit Schwalbe Pro One TT Evo 25mm tyres, Canyon CP20 cockpit CF, Schmolke TLO UD carbon seatpost, Selle Italia SLR C59 saddle
HIGHS
Incredibly light; rapid responsive handling; amazing spec
LOWS
Skinny tyres and a slippery-when -wet saddle
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weighs just 90g a square metre in a woven and preimpregnated with resin form. That’s mind bogglingly light – standard 12k woven carbon commonly used in bike frames weighs 450g a square metre! The rest of the bike is similarly svelte. Canyon’s CP20 carbon cockpit tips the scales at 270g and the handmade Schmolke carbon seatpost 95g. It rolls on DT Swiss’ PRC1100 Mon Chasseral disc wheels that weigh just 1283g a pair, which are shod with lightweight time-trial special Schwalbe One Evo tyres at 205g each. All of the hardware is gram-saving titanium and the SRAM Red AXS groupset shaves weight further, the fact that it includes extra grams in the form of a Quarq powermeter-equipped chainset makes the low weight even more remarkable. The 2021 models eschew SRAM in favour of Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Campagnolo Super Record EPS, which both come in slightly lighter than AXS Red with a powermeter. It’s hard to describe just how light this Ultimate feels out on the road, weighing in at around a kilo lighter than its rivals – the new Trek Emonda SLR9 is 6.92kg, Giant’s TCR Advanced 0 6.71kg and the BMC Teammachine SLR01 TWO 7.09kg. It’s when you’re climbing that the lack of weight really shows. The DT Swiss PRC1100 wheels, for instance, seemingly offer no resistance, which makes climbing an absolute joy and at a pace higher than you’d ordinarily expect. The wheels, with their
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BIKE TEST A BRIEF HISTORY OF CANYON SPECIAL PROJECT ROAD BIKES 2004 –– CANYON PROJEKT 3.7 CONCEPT The young company wanted to shout out its intentions to the cycling world and what better way to do it than producing the lightest bike in the world at just 3.7kg! The Canyon F10 frame was designed and built by Hans-Christian Smolik. The 818g frame was combined with a 260g fork, with cutting-edge components from Propeller (Titan cranks at 296g), a Syntace stem, Schmolke bars (125g) and Shimano Dura-Ace and an 823g wheelset. It was a bike available in very limited numbers and is now very hard to find.
2006 –– CANYON PROJEKT 6.8 Back in 2006 most brands were just trying out disc brakes on road bikes. Canyon, however, saw them as the future of road bikes and set out to produce a disc-brake equipped road bike that would hit the UCi weight limit. A feat that plenty of its rivals are still trying to achieve today. Another very limited model and a rarity.
2019 –– THE ULTIMATE EVO In 2019 Canyon brought the knowledge gained from the lightweight projects to a full production bike with the launch of the Ultimate Evo, a 6kg disc road bike available in very limited numbers. It showcases a 675g frame, 285g fork and a flyweight one-piece bar that’s just 270g. The Evo has became part of the range, albeit in much more limited numbers than Canyon’s standard bikes.
IT’S WHEN YOU'RE CLIMBING THAT THE LACK OF WEIGHT REALLY SHOWS. THE DT SWISS PRC1100 WHEELS, FOR INSTANCE, SEEMINGLY OFFER NO RESISTANCE...
2020 –– CANYON ULTIMATE EVO DISC BECOMES THE ULTIMATE CFR
The latest ultra-light bike from Canyon, as tested here. It has been renamed the CFR for 2021. Two new CFR models have been added to the range (DuraAce and Campagnolo EPS). It’s built on knowledge gained from the brand of 15 years of lightweight bike development and one that still retains Canyon’s bestknown core value, which is a lot of bike for the price. You won't find an equivalent specification bike for the same from any other brand.
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Light in weight with a lightness in touch to match
24mm deep carbon clincher rim and lightweight DT 180 hubs are perhaps the ultimate choice right now for those looking for an out-and-out climbers wheelset. The combination of flyweight handlebar and fork means the front end has a lightness to the touch that’s almost dainty, although it does imbue the Ultimate with handling responses that require razorsharp reactions and your utmost concentration, particularly when riding on poorer road surfaces and on fast descents. The bike is unashamedly a racing machine with our medium test bike having super-aggressive angles of a 73.25-degree head and a 73.79-degree seat angle combined with a short wheelbase of just 996mm, a slammed stack (the height between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the centre of the head tube) of 567mm and long 391mm reach (the horizontal distance between the same points). A taller stack and shorter reach will create a more upright riding position while a lower stack and longer reach will create a more stretched out aggressive and aerodynamic racing position – which is exactly what Canyon has achieved with the Ultimate’s geometry. Ultralight bikes can give you the feeling of fragility, that the material making up the bike is more ceramic than carbon fibre. This bike, however, doesn’t feel fragile, in fact, its stiffness is one of the chassis’ real
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highlights. You get no flex through the fork and no brake rub from flexing extremities at either end, even when up out of the saddle on sprints or turning big, lean-angle corners. The overall ride feel is one of stiffness – it’s not an uncomfortable bike but it certainly does transmit a lot of the road surface through the bike. This doesn’t mean a jarring or tiring ride: the Ultimate just lets you know the quality of the road surface you are riding on. The 25mm wide tyres certainly run and roll fast but if it was our money, we’d look to switch up to a wider tyre to improve the feel over poorer surfaces. Even if you add a few extra grams with a 28c tyre, this will still be pretty much the lightest complete bike on sale today. The same can be said of the Selle Italia SLR C59 saddle – this slither of carbon fibre weighs in at just 61g (the original prototype weighed in at 59g hence the C59 moniker). The super-wide cut out and flex in the carbon top makes it far more comfortable than its razor sharp looks would suggest. It’s far from perfect, though, as the slick carbon surface means
WE’D SWITCH UP TO A WIDER TYRE TO IMPROVE THE FEEL ON POORER SURFACES EVEN IF YOU ADD A FEW EXTRA GRAMS
SRAM Red AXS 12-speed 48/35, 10-33 with Quarq powermeter chainset; Selle Italia SLR C59 saddle
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The best climbing bike that we've ever ridden
THE TIMES ARE A CHANGING
it’s slippery against Lycra, especially in the wet, and while the featherweight helps make for a headline grabbing overall mass, we’d opt for a more practical saddle choice. While it may seem crazy to use words such as ‘bargain’ with a £7499 bike when you compare it to its pro-level rivals – for example, the Giant TCR Advanced 0 at £9499, Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod DA Di2 for £9500 or the Pinarello Dogma F12 Disc DA Di2 at £12000 – it soon becomes clear that this bike coming in with a £2000 plus saving to its nearest competitor is good value. And even at this ‘bargain’ price, is it really worth it? Well, we’d say that if you can afford it then most definitely, yes! The Ultimate is a bike that’s just so nimble and agile it makes every excursion a thrill. It’s not a machine for lazy Sunday cruises or for faint-hearted riders as the handling is quick and the responses of the lightweight front end rapid too: ultimate lightweight requires ultimate concentration. It will make you feel like a cycling superstar every time you ride it.
THE VERDICT
Canyon’s commitment to lightweight performance is truly impressive
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Aggressive angles make this a pure racing bike; SRAM is replaced by Shimano and Campag for 2021
Our test of the Ultimate Evo 10.0 Ltd Disc has come at a time when the bike industry is in a state of flux. The fallout from Covid -19 has affected bikes both negatively and positively. Sales of new bikes have risen in the UK but manufacturing stoppages during the pandemic have also led to shortages on both frames and components. It means that some re-jigging of plans from the big brands has been inevitable and the Ultimate Evo is not unaffected. Just as we went to press the Ultimate Evo 10.0 Ltd disc was renamed the Ultimate CFR, in keeping with Canyon’s future plans for bringing its engineering pinnacle machines into the larger Canyon family range. It has also meant that Canyon has brought forward its updated Ultimate CFR models. Notably, Canyon still has the Evo Ltd disc frameset that's been tested here at the reduced price of £3279 (RRP £3749) if you want to build your own flyweight machine. Otherwise, you can opt for one of the 2021 models using the same chassis (frame, fork and bars) with new CFR graphics, as opposed to the understated Evo. Plus, you get a choice of either Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (£7149) with the same wheels and finishing kit as the bike tested here but with a Canyon seatpost, rather than the exclusive Schmolke post to accommodate the Di2 battery. Or there’s a Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed EPS groupset- equipped bike with exactly the same components as the bike tested here, for £8499. The CFR range now includes two mountain bikes (Exceed and Sender) and there will be additions to the road range coming soon (October). The future of Canyon’s finest bikes looks bright and the company is expanding beyond rarefied bikes too.
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TWO TO TANGO In the second in a series of multi-day off-road adventures, Adrian Miles ramps up the difficulty with two days in Wales’ Cambrian Mountains WORDS Adrian Miles PHOTOGRAPHY Joseph Branston
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Above It wasn’t long before the trio found themselves in Welsh wilderness
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here was only one thing for it. The shoes were coming off. I’d been heaving my bike on foot as long as it takes to do an FTP test on my road bike, and at least twice as demoralising. The day had been a long one and stiff-soled cycling shoes were about as useful as a 10kg weight strapped around my waist. Earlier that day, there had been promise aplenty. We were in mid-Wales, amid weather that wasn’t quite the mini-heatwave beating down on parts of the country. And that was just fine by us. The route we had planned was a challenge enough without onerous heat to handle, so were grateful for the hand we were dealt. After last issue’s introduction to gravel cycling, part two of Komoot Adventures saw us ramping up the difficulty, testing out how far our Bombtrack bikes – and, for me at least, newlyacquired skills – could take us. We’d also be venturing further from our homes in south west England to somewhere completely new. Last issue’s ride was mainly road with some gravel thrown in – this month we’d flip that on its head.
T
I was keen to use the skills I’d learned in a demanding off-road environment. We’d unquestionably find that with the TransCambrian Way. Snaking across mid-Wales from the English border to the coast in a most indirect 175 kilometres, the route is, nominally, one made for mountain bikes, but on an appropriate gravel bike (wide, big tread tyres/possibly some sort of suspension) you’ll still feel, if not quite at home, then certainly in a neat, well-provisioned Airbnb. To do the whole Trans-Cambrian route would have been stretching the concept of gravel riding, so for our two-day loop we’d make it an integral feature, while also including part of the largely tarmac National Cycle Network Route 8, which runs from top to bottom through Wales, from Anglesey to Cardiff.
Water world To include both we’d start and finish in the market town of Rhayader, close to the Elan Valley’s collection of humongous reservoirs and dams, which supply Birmingham with its water. It’s amazing how something with such an industrial function can also double up as stunning scenery. Like last time, I was joined by Rob Marshall, Komoot’s media manager, and Joe Branston, intrepid photographer, who would once again attempt to ride the entire 154km route
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with a posture-compromising camera bag on his back. I can only conclude that he has a spine made of steel. After a coffee in the Caban-coch reservoir’s visitor centre we were, in short order, catapulted from all vestiges of civilisation into Welsh wilderness, with very few villages left on the route until we returned the following evening. We were carrying everything we’d need, though a further coffee or two further down the track wouldn’t have gone amiss. That said, unlike last issue’s adventure, there’d be no wild camping this time around, no braving it in the two bothy shelters on our route – we’d booked in to a warm, dry pub for our night on the road. It would prove a sage decision soon enough. The step-up in difficulty from last issue was immediately apparent, with progress achingly slow. Terrain was always varied, with regular river crossings and hike-a-bike sections keeping us honest. If I was here to seek out my limits, I had failed, for at times, I was well beyond them! I’d say I was a fish out of water, but for it being a phrase that struck too close to home, given all the rivers we’d had to wade through. Rocks of all sizes were strewn across the trail, killing any speed we built up. It was no hassle for Rob, who brought with him a background in mountain-bike racing and, indeed, experience in
Above The reservoirs and dams are masterful, beautiful engineering
Above right Rob chose to ride through rivers while Adrian, meanwhile...
all things two-wheeled. Joe and I on the other hand… Rob managed to not put a foot down, whereas we must have looked, to any passers by, as though we were out taking our bikes for a walk. But watching him seemed to rub off on us, and over the following hours of day one, our confidence showed signs of green shoots, our boundaries and knowledge for this type of riding felt like it was expanding.
A crossing to bear It doesn’t take too long before you start to realise what you can cross on your bike – and what you can’t. Small streams can be tackled with a decent amount of speed, providing you stick to your line, but faster-flowing rivers demand further inspection before you commit to anything rash. I’ve fallen foul of ford crossings on my road bike before, so needless to say that walking is now my first option, even if theoretically my gravel bike would make light work of it. Rob would almost always try to pedal across a river, but having watched even someone like him, with bags of knowledge and experience, slip and slide over treacherous rocks, then walking, despite all the obvious downsides, was still my preferred option. For me, at least, it’s a toss-up between a guaranteed soaking of your feet or a possible whole body dunking.
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“As the day wore on I was learning more about what I could and couldn’t do. As I better understood my bike, enjoyment increased the deeper we went into rural Wales”
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We survived some of the hardest riding of my limited gravel adventures and got rewarded with some friendlier sections that made the novel choice of travelling around several stretches of water. Away from villages and other people, we felt true isolation in the best possible sense, and could palpably feel our confidence soaring.
Speed freaks Speed is a two-headed beast. Sometimes it’s exhilarating but when you reach what you believe to be your limit your brain changes tack, flipping from terrific to terrifying. If only you could switch off that side of your brain, training yourself to relish the higher speeds and crave the danger. Speed is one thing on the road, but at least you can have confidence in the surface. Speed off-road heightens the issues – touching the brakes doesn’t always mean a regaining of control. Quite the opposite. But as the day wore on I better understood my bike, and speed and enjoyment increased the deeper we went into rural Wales. For Joe, however, it was hard to make that same assessment, particularly with the extra weight he was carrying on his back, which by this point was taking its toll. I’m sure he won’t mind me sharing his time-out at the top of one climb, where he, how can I best put this... untethered himself from his digesting lunch.
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Above Not too posh to push: walking is part of the British gravel experience
Given the tough, varied terrain, there was much chat all day about what gravel riding in Britain actually is. The thrust of Rob’s point is that any off-road ride here means there will be sections where you must jump off and push, and that if you set out with that mindset then you will have a much better time of it. I’d come to accept this way of thinking. Having come from the road, and having very much a performance-related outlook on the sport, you really do need to park it at the door on your way out when it comes to gravel. It took me some time to adjust to this slower pace and new style, and though I’m by no means there yet, I am learning to adapt. Such open-mindedness evaporated, however, on the final climb of day one. My computer initially told me we had a 10 per cent climb to negotiate over 3km. Demanding enough, but it then increased to 15 per cent over 2km, then 20 per cent one 1km. We were back on the TransCambrian Way, with our route pointing us straight up and over a mountain. Not a switchback to be found here. The weather was closing in, misty and murky as the three of us trudged up an unerring hill, with the gradient going all the way to 30 per cent – not the numbers you want to see after eight hours in (and often out) of the saddle. The higher we got the steeper it felt as grass turned into rock, which gave way underfoot. Only electric assistance would have
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Top right Refreshment stops were few and far between
got us up without pushing. Fortunately, the descent was smooth and winding, a delicious dessert after a rotten main. On reaching our lodgings, we’d wash it all down with several hard-won pints.
Take two Above The TransCambrian Way proved a test for gravel bikes
Day two saw us setting off in dirty and slightly damp kit, but no matter – we were well into the groove of the ride by now. We opened on NCN 8, which made for much faster progress, trundling over hills and through valleys. We even found a shop to refill our depleted food reserves and chat about our final adventure in next month’s issue of Cycling Plus. Although there is no shame in choosing a pub for our overnight stay, I had unfinished business with wild camping. We decided our next ride would be unsupported and self-sufficient, maybe knocking back the extreme terrain but ramping up the wilderness. We decided on the Scottish Highlands and began plotting our route. As we continued the final leg back to the Elan Valley it felt like we were riding back towards civilisation, encountering more cyclists enjoying the sunshine. Traditional cycle tourers, mountain bikers, ebiking groups, all appreciating the tranquil surroundings that Wales has in spades and showcasing just how diverse this incredible sport truly is.
PACK A PUNCH How to plan your bikepacking adventure on Komoot Map overlays – Switch to Google satellite and zoom in to check out wild camping spots. Fitness type – Drop your Komoot fitness type to get a better idea of the estimated duration for your ride once you have a loaded the bike with all your bikepacking kit. Offline maps – Download Komoot map regions while at home so you have them on your phone ready to use when out on the ride without any concerns about phone data. Try navigating with Komoot in ‘flight mode’ to save your phone battery. Search bar and points of interest – Click on the Komoot route planner search bar to add points of interest
and services to the map. You can then either include these in your route or, if you are already on the road, you can navigate directly to them. • POI – Includes churches, which often have outside taps that can be used for refilling water bottles, public transport, bike shops and camping grounds GPS devices – If needed you can re-plan on the go and easily add any new routes to your computer by syncing with your GPS device. Trans-Cambrian Way – To download the full route, visit: komoot.com/ collection/899090
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116 ISSUE 372 NOVEMBER 2020
ADVICE BEGINNER P108
PHYSIO HEALTH
P 11 0
P114
108 LIKE A PRO…
Be a contender and learn how to sprint with our expert advice
P112
110 BEGINNER
How to make sure you buy the right size bike for you
118 LIFE CHANGER
Dave Walker got fitter and found a new hobby with his son
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ADVICE
LIKE A PRO...
SPRINT LIKE A PRO How can you make sure you’re a contender to be first over the line?
01 CORE STRENGTHS “There’s a lot more to efficient sprinting than stomping on the pedals as hard as you can. Like lifting free weights, you need good technique, starting with your core. To be efficient out the saddle sprinting, you need a strong core. It should be tensed, with your hips hinged, back flat, arms bent locked into the drops.” 02 POSITIONAL SENSE “This position will allow you to transfer the power efficiently without losing watts through a spaghetti-like core. Bending your elbows will also enable you to adopt an aerodynamic position on the bike. This is crucial as, at sprinting speeds, around 90 per cent of your energy will be used to overcome that air resistance.”
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The reduction in traffic on our roads during the lockdown period made it an ideal time to work on one of the harder-to-practise skills – sprinting. Without access to a track or a clear stretch of road, it’s not always easy to break into sprint mode with 100 per cent confidence. Grabbing the opportunity is definitely worth taking if you can. “Even if the high-octane bunch sprint isn’t for you, it’s still a crucial element of cycle racing,” says Liam Holohan. “Races are most often won in those last few hundred metres. A strong aerobic engine will get you to the finish of the race, but a strong sprint is where you’ll most often win it.”
03 SWAY TO GO “Think about how you time the sway of the bike too. Much like a metronome, you need to time that swing with each downstroke of the pedal. The key with learning these techniques is to start out slow. Something around 70 per cent of your usual sprint power, with the emphasis on technique.” 04 BUILD THE POWER “In order to increase your watts, you’ve two options. Up your revolutions per minute (RPM) or increase your torque (rotational force). You need to train both. 05 GYM FOR RPM “Gym sessions, with cycling-specific exercises, are a great foundation for sprint training. This is best emphasised in the off-season, when your
training is least demanding on the bike. But you need to keep it going year-round – you can’t just build up your strength in the winter and expect it to last all season without any maintenance!” 06 TALK TORQUE “Once you’ve developed good base fitness, work on increasing torque on the bike. A great exercise is a standing start-style sprint
THERE’S A LOT MORE TO EFFICIENT SPRINTING THAN SIMPLY STOMPING HARD ON THE PEDALS
A D V I C E TRAINING CAMP
THE GOLDEN RULE
A RIDE WITH...
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Having some sprint competence is a must for any competitive cyclist, but it takes practice and works best if you master the basics before bringing it all together with specific workouts.
Katy Marchant Team GB track cyclist and Rio Olympic medallist Katy Marchant reveals the upside to training during lockdown…
Ex-pro rider for UCI teams Team Wiggins, Rapha Condor and Madison Genesis. Now coaching in Shrewsbury at Holohan Coaching
PRO EXAMPLE: Mark Cavendish’s dominance in the sprint has been mastered over time by including a burst at the end of every ride. He’s on record offering this tip: “I get to the bottom of a slight downhill just rolling at about 40kph, then I hit it. Boom! I hit it, and I go 70kph and I try to hold that for 300 metres.”
from a low speed in a big gear. Your cadence will be very low, but your torque very high.” 07 SPEED SIGNS “If you’re in the wrong place, or mis-time your effort, a more skilful sprinter will triumph. To practise sprints and anticipation, use a road sign as a start and finish point. Use these sessions to learn how gradient and wind change the timing of your sprint.” 08 TAKE A LEAD “Another classic workout you can do as a team is the lead-out. This again adds another level of specificity; more often than not, you’ll launch your sprint from a high speed when you’re already working hard. Take it in turns to lead out and sprint.”
HILL SPRINTS “As a track cyclist, much of my training is sprint-focused, so during the road rides I’ve been targeting a few stretches – especially shorter hills – where I can really open up. I know plenty of riders who love the undulating terrain around where I live in the Yorkshire countryside. I enjoy it, but for a sprinter it’s not quite got the same appeal.” ROAD RED “I’ve been road riding with my fiancé – getting him out on the bike has been fun. Or I’ll ride with friends locally and team-mates, but they’re all based in Manchester. I’m not really a bike geek – I have a Cervelo S5 with Di2, but other than that, I just know it’s red and black
and looks great after a clean-up, and that’s it!” CHANGING TRACK “I’m not from a cycling background. I trained as a heptathlete under Toni Minichiello, Jessica Ennis-Hill’s coach. He spotted my cycling potential during Wattbike tests and recommended me to British Cycling. I now train at Manchester Velodrome and in the gym – which is tough for an outdoorsy type – but our coach takes us out on the roads where possible.” COAST RODE “We’ve done a few winter training camps in South Africa – mainly in velodromes – but my dream ride would be on the coastal roads out there. As much as I used to love running, I find cycling so much more enjoyable when you want to explore a place, especially when the sun’s out.” Katy is one of a number of pro athletes using Levitex sleep-for-sport recovery products; levitex.co.uk
IMAGE CREDIT GETTY
MEET THE COACH
LIAM HOLOHAN
NEW OPPORTUNITIES “Lockdown provided unexpected opportunities to explore new areas of cycling for me. Obviously, we’d be having a different conversation if the Olympics had gone ahead, but I did get a chance to explore road riding much more and I feel I’ve physically and mentally benefitted from it.”
W O R D S O F W I S D O M ...
BALMAMION: THE EAGLE OF CANAVESE BY HERBIE SYKES
“Last year they said I was lucky, that I won by chance. They said, time and again, that it was simply because the circumstances worked in my favour. That was fine... They stated they wanted me on the back foot, that fortune had favoured me again. I didn’t complain when things went against me, when I was ill, when I was suffering, when I had to grit my teeth and chase down the attacks. I just rode.” Rapha Editions, £25.00
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RE ADER’S TIPS FOR NEW CYCLISTS
ADVICE
@SdicksonC “Get a proper bike fitting by a qualified person at a bike shop... Right sized frame and saddle fitting is a must” @Clrees84 “Find an independent shop who not only allows but encourages you to take a bike for a test ride”
Avoid buying a bike patently too small by measuring yourself correctly
ROOKIE RIDERS
HOW DO I GET THE RIGHT SIZED BIKE FOR ME?
PATRICK WALLACE, BUYER FOR EVANS CYCLES “There is no definitive right or wrong size. It all comes down to personal preference and what feels comfortable. To find the bike that fits best, you’ll need to measure your height and inside leg. For your height, stand against a wall and mark the wall with a pencil so it’s level with the top of your head. Then measure from the ground up to the mark. For your inside leg measurement, stand against a wall and hold a book between your legs into your groin, making sure it’s flat against the wall. Measure the height from the book to the floor (it might be easier to get a friend to help!. If your height is on the cusp of the size range, your reach is often the deciding factor in which size to go for. To find out if you have short or long reach, you’ll need to measure your ape index – your arm span minus your height. If you
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have a positive ape index, go for the larger size, or go smaller if your ape index is negative. Bikes are measured by their seat-tube length. This measurement is normally from the centre of the bottom bracket or the centre of the bolt that attaches the crank arms. This differs by brand: some measure to the top of where the top tube meets the seat tube, or even the centre of the top tube. Mountain bikes are measured in inches or descriptive sizes (small, medium, etc), road bikes are in centimetres or descriptive sizes, and hybrids can be any one of the three. Bikes also get longer as they go up in size, but different brands can be inherently longer or shorter than others.” JAMES TRIGG, BIKE BUYER HALFORDS.CO.UK “In an ideal world, you’d go along to a bike shop and sit on one to find your size. At the moment, there are some amazing online tools and
size guides to give you a good indication as to which size bike you should be on. Measurement is based on the rider’s height – which is indicative of both leg length and reach – though we recommend you get the saddle height checked by an expert as soon as possible because it’s essential to efficiency on the bike. You’ll notice a huge difference with just an inch or so adjustment. As a guide, we’d recommend that your heel should reach the pedal with a straight leg, ensuring that when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal you’ll get a slight bend in your leg. It pays to return to the store about six weeks after purchase for a check (dependent on usage). By then, the cables, headset etc would have bedded in and you’ll be able to flag up any discomfort that might be affecting your ride. The biggest mistake that buyers make is to blow their entire budget on the bike and not have enough for the supporting gear, such as a helmet, lights and a lock – plus the clothing and luggage racks which are crucial for commuting by bike.”
THERE ARE SOME AMAZING ONLINE TOOLS AND SIZE GUIDES TO GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF SIZE NEEDED
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We ask the questions that beginners are dealing with and get answers from the experts...
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