Home/Sports/Cycling Plus/May 2015/In This Issue
Cycling Plus|May 2015FROM THE EDITOR...FREE CATEYE STRADA BIKE COMPUTER when you subscribe to Cycling Plus See p98A change, they say, is as good as a rest and it’d be fair to say this issue’s theme is, indeed, change. For starters, we’ve spruced ourselves up – smart new Santini kit and a fresh look for the magazine. Of course, we’re still delivering the same great content – and in the case of the kit, filling it with the same varying degrees of cycling ability. If you’re thinking of changing your bike, then you definitely need to read our Bike of the Year supplement – you’ll find your next ride here. We’ve a feature about the tweaks you can make to your training and the big results that this will achieve. We’re also delighted with another…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CUBE LITENING C68 SLTTHREE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT THE...£3799.99SPECIFICATIONWeight 6.38kg (56cm)Frame CarbonFork CarbonGears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, 52/36 chainset, 11-28 cassetteBrakes Shimano Dura-AceWheels Mavic Cosmic Carbone 40 ClincherFinishing kit Syntace F109 stem, Syntace Racelite CDR Carbon bar, 27.2mm diameter Syntace P6 Carbon Raceflex seatpost, 23mm Mavic Yksion Pro tyres, Fizik Antares R3 Carbon braided saddleIt’s a World Tour-worthy chassisWith a claimed frame weight below 750g, our 56cm model minus pedals is a UCI-bothering 6.38kg of totally focused design. Its Advanced Twin Mould Technology carbon design is formed into a sloping frame with a solid head-tube, epic squared down-tube and asymmetric bottom bracket shell and chainstays. It’s electronic shiftingspecific, and even has an attractive diamond pattern outer weave.It goes like the proverbialThe Litening lives up to its name, with addictive acceleration that makes you feel…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015FROM THE EDITOR...FREE CATEYE STRADA BIKE COMPUTER when you subscribe to Cycling Plus See p98 A change, they say, is as good as a rest and it’d be fair to say this issue’s theme is, indeed, change. For starters, we’ve spruced ourselves up – smart new Santini kit and a fresh look for the magazine. Of course, we’re still delivering the same great content – and in the case of the kit, filling it with the same varying degrees of cycling ability. If you’re thinking of changing your bike, then you definitely need to read our Bike of the Year supplement – you’ll find your next ride here. We’ve a feature about the tweaks you can make to your training and the big results that this will achieve. We’re also delighted with…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015PEDAL-O-METERCASH INJECTIONThe legacy of the Yorkshire Tour de France Grand Départ continues to deliver as Nick Clegg announced a £500,000 cash boost to British Cycling to build closed-road circuits across the county.GRAN PLANSBritain’s first-ever gran fondo, the Tour of Cambridge-shire, on 7 June, is aiming high: £1500 first prize to the winning male and female, a route that’s the envy of Belgium, closed roads and what they’re hoping will be a world record for a time trial field (700+).CITY SLICKERSEight British cities, including Leeds and Bristol, will split £114m over the next three years to improve cycling infrastructure as part of the Cycle City Ambition scheme.BAD MENThe marketeers promoting E3 Harelbeke came under fire for a poster showing a rider pinching a podium girl’s bottom. The ad played on the…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ST ANDREWS, FIFELOCAL KNOWLEDGEShare your local knowledge – email cyclingplus@immediate.co.ukThey say that cycling is the new golf, so why don’t you try riding your bike over the third green at the Royal and Ancient? (Actually, don’t.) In fact, there’s as much to attract cyclists as golfers in this corner of Scotland, which can often be overlooked by riders who are set on conquering the high passes. The coast is always in view, either near or far, framing a pleasant and modestly hilly landscape.ROUTE ONEA bunch of Fife 90 miles A full tour of the Eastern reaches of FifeHeading north-west, you lift yourself over a low, easterly spur of the Ochils to reach the Firth of Tay. It’s much easier going until the turn inland at Newburgh, for the long rise into the…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015BRITAIN’S BEST CLIMBSCHEDDAR GORGE SOMERSETCheddar Gorge is number one in climbing Clouseau Simon Warren’s book, 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs.It also holds a special place in our hearts, given its proximity to our Bristol office; not only is it a great climb to train on, it’s also a dramatic location for photography, as our bike test (p52) demonstrates.Rising out of the town of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills, it’s famed more for its aesthetics than its difficulty. Its craggy cliff faces and switchbacks give it more of a Continental feel than many of the up and over variety usually found in Britain, and it’s this that makes it so popular.It averages around 4 per cent over 2.6 miles, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s very steep at the bottom, and this…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TAKE AWAY KARMALIFE CYCLEI’ve been cycling in Sri Lanka. Partly to do its End to End, partly as an excuse to eat curry three times a day. Very good it’s been too: friendly people, lovely scenery, and frequent roadside stalls selling 50p fresh-fruit smoothies.Travel opens up the mind. And other parts, depending on the purity of the ice in that smoothie. It’s about insights into other cultures, with cycling the best way to do it. And my biggest cultural enlightenment was on the streets.Sri Lanka’s roads can be chaotic. Usually – a legacy of British colonisation from 1802 to 1948 – vehicles drive on the left. But buses – perhaps as a nod to the Portuguese, who also once ruled – often drive on the right. While the ubiquitous, clanky, rusty old…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015THE BIKES ON TESTLAPIERRE AUDACIO 400 £899.99Our cheapest contender is an entry-level racer from Lapierre with suspiciously Team Sky-like paint adorning its 6061 aluminium alloy frame. A full Shimano Tiagra 10-speed groupset is accompanied by budget cup and cone hub wheels (traditional hub bearings, formed by ball bearings in a cup, held in place by conical nuts) and some unassuming aluminium finishing kit from Ritchey.FUJI ROUBAIX 1.3 £990No, it’s nothing to do with the ‘big S’ (Specialized), but this Roubaix is American too. It has a good looking alloy frame and a full-carbon, thoroughly modern tapered fork (the steerer is wider at the bottom than the top, targeting stiffness and strength where it’s needed). Shimano 105 11-speed takes care of shifting, and with name-brand finishing kit and Shimano R500 wheels, the Fuji certainly…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015FUJI ROUBAIX 1.3This is no cobble-calmer. In fact, the ride quality errs towards the firm sideSPECIFICATIONWeight 8.52kg (M/54cm)Frame Fuji A6-SL custom-butted aluminiumFork Carbon, alloy steererGears Shimano 105Brakes Shimano BR-561Wheels Oval 327 aeroFinishing kit Oval 313 stem, 310 bar, 300 seatpost and R500 saddle, 23mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick tyresFuji Bikes can trace its history back more than a century and the firm entered bicycle manufacturing as the Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company in 1919, in its homeland of Japan. Since then, the brand has sailed the choppy seas of boom and bust with varying degrees of success, and in the late 90s, the Fuji Bikes we know today emerged, headquartered in the USA.The Roubaix 1.3 is Fuji’s entry-level aluminium model, and while its frame doesn’t look overly elaborate, it has some neat design…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SCOTT SPEEDSTER 10The Scott’s threaded BB shell is a boon to those happy to wield their own spannersSPECIFICATIONWeight 9.32kg (M/54cm)Frame 6061 aluminiumFork Carbon, alloy steererGears Shimano Ultegra/105Brakes Shimano BR-R561Wheels Syncros Race 27 AeroFinishing kit Syncros FL2.0 stem, RR2.0 bar, R1.4 seatpost and Road Endurance saddle, 23mm Kenda Kriterium tyresScott has grabbed many headlines over the years for its trend-setting race bikes. The original CR1 heralded a new era in carbon monocoques, the Addict set the benchmark for flyweight frames, and the Foil helped usher in a generation of lightweight aero machines. All the while, though, the company has been quietly selling thousands of its Speedster aluminium road bikes.The Speedster 10 is the top-of the-line model, and at £1 short of a grand it’s an obvious pick for this test. It’s a striking…4 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SENSA TRENTINO SL COMPSubtly profiled and manipulated tubes give the bike a clean, modern lookSPECIFICATIONWeight 8.96kg (52cm)Frame Triplebutted aluminiumFork CarbonGears Shimano 105Brakes Shimano BR-561Wheels Supra RA ProFinishing kit Supra Speed Line stem, bar and 31.6mm seatpost, Supra Comp Line saddle, 23mm Schwalbe Lugano tyresBrought to UK shores by Merlin Cycles, Dutch brand Sensa offers bikes for every budget. The Trentino SL is a full-on aluminium racer. At £1000 exactly, it’s bang on budget and looks to offer a decent spec for the money.Thanks to some beautifully smoothed welds and a satin black finish, you could be forgiven for thinking the Sensa has a carbon frame. You have to look very closely indeed to see any evidence of joins at all, and the subtly profiled and manipulated tubes give the bike a clean, modern…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SUPERSTAR PACENTI SL23/ICON ULTRAUPGRADECOMPONENT BRAND SUPERSTAR’S Icon Ultra hubs have an 11-speed freehub and decentsized and well shielded cartridge bearings. The ‘tubeless friendly’ Pacenti SL23 rim follows the trend for increased width, measuring 24mm across, and 18mm internally. A blunt 26mm deep section guarantees safe crosswind handling, and claimed average weight is under 450g, so they can be built into respectably light wheels. With Sapim Race spokes (20 front, 24 rear) and the heavier brass nipples we requested for durability, this build comes in at 685g for the front and 829g for the rear, a total of 1514g, or 1560g after we installed the stock rim strips.Said strips make tyre-fitting a struggle and, as it turned out, were prone to shifting sideways, which exposed the spoke holes and led to punctures. We asked…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015BELL STAR PROCUTTING EDGEInside InformationVARIABLE VENTILATIONIf you like the concept of aero road helmets but can only justify having one lid, two companies have been rather inventive by designing helmets with adjustable vents that control the volume of air rushing across the head – the Kask Infinity and Bell Star Pro featured here.If you’re climbing, or riding on a hot day, you can open extra vents to vastly increase the helmet’s cooling effect, and if it’s cold or you’re trying to maximise speed, you can keep them shut to save both warmth and aerodynamic drag.It might not be absolutely the best of both worlds, as there are some compromises to be accepted from both sides, but it does expand versatility and value.Exterior vents only suggest how well ventilated a helmet can be,…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015FUJI ROUBAIX 1.3This is no cobble-calmer. In fact, the ride quality errs towards the firm side SPECIFICATION Weight 8.52kg (M/54cm) Frame Fuji A6-SL custom-butted aluminium Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Shimano 105 Brakes Shimano BR-561 Wheels Oval 327 aero Finishing kit Oval 313 stem, 310 bar, 300 seatpost and R500 saddle, 23mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick tyres Fuji Bikes can trace its history back more than a century and the firm entered bicycle manufacturing as the Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company in 1919, in its homeland of Japan. Since then, the brand has sailed the choppy seas of boom and bust with varying degrees of success, and in the late 90s, the Fuji Bikes we know today emerged, headquartered in the USA. The Roubaix 1.3 is Fuji’s entry-level aluminium model, and while its…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TRAIN SMARTER GO FASTERTry to add an extra hour to your ride to benefit from sharing the workload1 FRIENDS WITH BENEFITSCycling is fun, and rarely more fun than when you hit the road with a few friends at the weekend. But if you want to get more than a few laughs out of these rides, you should keep your long-term targets in mind and make the most of the drafting opportunity afforded by working with a group of riders. Not having to take the wind the whole time will help you conserve energy so you can ride for longer. Eddie Fletcher, head sport scientist at Wattbike (wattbike.com/uk), explains: “Those weekend rides with friends can be difficult if all the riders are not of the same ability, and they can tend to result in…13 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015STOPDepending on who you believe, disc brakes are the greatest thing to happen to road bikes since carbon fibre, or the most over-hyped and overrated development since, well, carbon fibre. In five years’ time, will rim brakes be museum pieces or is the humble dual-pivot calliper here to stay? And what are the real pros and cons of making the switch to disc brakes?Dawn of the discFirst of all, a bit of history. Disc brakes might be fairly new in road biking, but they’ve been well established in mountain biking for years. The ProStop disc brake first appeared as far back as 1989. Hayes introduced the Mag disc brake in the late ’90s, and over the next few years brands like Avid and Shimano followed suit.Changing from a rim brake…11 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TRP HY/RDWeight 324g Rotor 160mm Semi-hydraulicTRP’s hybrid brake has proved outstanding. Putting the hydraulic fluid reservoir on top of the potentially scalding calliper sounds risky, but our Bikeradar colleagues in Colorado have dragged this down 20-mile-plus descents without boiling it, and it’s survived tandem testing too. It works with a conventional lever, and a barrel cable adjuster and lockable actuator arm make setting up very easy. Lever feel and modulation are noticeably better than TRP’s own Spyre brake and close to a full hydraulic system when used with Tektro’s compressionless brake outer. Weight is relatively high, but pads are widely available and the price is reasonable.HIGHSConsistent power and controlLOWSHeavier than a conventional cable disc setupHAYES CX5 EXPERT£44Weight 318g Rotor 160mm Cable-operated/mechanicalThe cheapest disc brake here is bulky and needs careful setting…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015M5 BLACK SERIES RBC-150WE SAY These Low Countries stoppers are high on power, precision and priceHIGHSRock-solid precision and powerLOWSVast price, limited widthWeight 94g Max rim width 26mm Max rim drop 50mmDesigned by Dutch recumbent specialist M5, these super-light, super-stiff callipers are a hard stopping work of art – if they fit your rims. The broad space frame ‘Powerarch’ arms are each machined from a block of aluminium billet, interlocking for maximum width and stiffness rather than sitting one behind the other. But that does limit pad span, so Zipp Firecrest and other wider rims are a very tight fit unless you trim the pads. The stainless steel spring is excessively strong, too, which caused hand ache for some testers, but power and precise feel is exceptional.DIA-COMPE BRS 100£24.99Weight 189g Max rim width 33mm…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SRAM RED 22WE SAY SRAM’s Red cable callipers minimise weight and drag without compromising controlHIGHSAero profile and low weightLOWSNot as powerful as ShimanoWeight 127g Max rim width 30mm Max rim drop 50mmSRAM’s sleek, slipstream-aligned QR cam may only save fractional drag, but it all helps. The additional anchored (rather than roller) cam ‘Aero Link’ brings the pads in fast before boosting power at the point of contact to give more bite than the average dual pivot. Deep-set, cold-forged arms give accurate feedback however hard you pull, and these top-of-the-crop rim stoppers come with SwissStop Flash Pro pads as standard for consistent control. There’s plenty of room for the widest rims, and at under 130g these save a few grams over most of the competition.FSA SL-K£115Weight 152g Max rim width 28mm Max rim…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015PACKABLE JACKETS1 PACKABILITYAll the jackets on test fold up small enough to fit into a jersey pocket. Some pack into a pocket of their own but this can make them harder to carry; folding or rolling them might be easier.2 VENTINGJackets like these tend to focus on keeping weather out, with breathability secondary. In some cases venting is provided, but depending on the fabric and how long you’ll be wearing it, it’s not essential.3 FABRICSWith a number of manufacturers submitting jackets made from materials more like jerseys in touch and stretch, innovation means that traditional shells are no longer the only option available for riders.4 CLOSURESMany of the jackets have toggles or pulls to their zips to make them easier to use wearing gloves. Many packable jackets have limited breathability, so…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ALTURA PODIUMWE SAY The Podium lives up to its name, grabbing number one spot with its blend of fit and performancePockets 1Altura is well known for its commuter products, but its packable Podium is every inch a road product. It packs very well into a cylinder shape perfectly designed for a rear jersey pocket, and uses Altura’s proprietary React Fabric to impressive effect, providing a good barrier to the elements while retaining decent breathability. The sizing is very good with a slim race fit and nice long tail, while the stretch cuffs ensure a good transition to your gloves and help to keep the elements out. It may cost 100 quid, but this excellent jacket is worth the asking price and deserves its podium positionHIGHSFit, performance, packability, cuffsLOWSNothingENDURA EQUIPE COMPACT SHELL£64.99Pockets…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015PLAN YOUR SPORTIVEKNOWLEDGE IS POWERBeing organised and ensuring you, your kit and bike are all in good working order is a basic but key component. Aim to ride a similar distance to the event prior to entering – you’ll get the best insight into how much fuel you’ll need and the kinds of demands a full sportive will have on your body. Study the route plan in detail, noting gradients and feed and mechanics stations.PICK YOUR PACEThe best way to monitor your effort is through a power meter or heart rate monitor, though you will need to have trained with one to find your levels or zones. Failing that, if you’re riding at normal pace and can hold a conversation, this usually demonstrates you aren’t pushing yourself too hard. It’s always best…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015MERIDA CYCLO CROSS 500OUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 10.02kg (56cm) FRAME 6066 aluminium FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105, 11-28 cassette, 46/36 FSA Gossamer chainset BRAKES Tektro Spyre discs WHEELS Merida Comp FINISHING KIT Continental Cyclocross Race tyres, Merida Pro bar, stem and seatpost, Merida Race saddle Despite its recent success in the pro peloton with Lampre, producing well over two million bikes a year and boasting over 350 dealers in the UK, I’m willing to bet that – if asked – there’d be plenty of other bike companies you’d list before you got to Merida. Specialized, for instance. The American brand that the Taiwanese giant owns 49 per cent of. True story. So, a sleeping giant then? Well, we’ve been impressed with Merida’s road offerings in the past few years and both the…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ANALYSE YOUR RIDEKNOWLEDGEGOOOOOOOAL!If you use a power meter, you clearly need to look at the data to ensure that you did your workout properly. But most importantly, every session should have a goal in mind, so the numbers can show you how well you worked towards that goal. If you were supposed to spend your time mostly in power zone 2, did you? Did you hit the sprint intervals at the power numbers you wanted? Even better, you can use the data being sent to your head unit to see if you are hitting appropriate numbers during the ride.STORMING NORMALAverage power is rarely the indicator of a good workout. Normalised power, which takes into account the physiological cost of higher efforts, shows the power output you would have produced if your effort…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CARRY MORE KITWHAT TO PACKFor a quick training or leisure ride close to home you might not need to carry more than a spare inner tube, a couple of tyre levers, a patch kit, a multi-tool and a frame-fitting or mini-pump. Venture a little further afield, however, and you’re going to need a bit more… if you’re out there all day (or longer!) you’ll need food for starters, a decent waterproof, arm and leg warmers, dry socks and gloves to change into, perhaps a map…WHERE TO PACK ITYour cycling jersey pockets can accommodate a lot, but the more you carry the more sense it makes to carry some of your kit on the bike. A small saddle pack will take your inner tube, levers and multi-tool, but for spare clothes you’ll need…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015DEAL WITH CRAMPWHAT IS CRAMP?Most endurance cyclists will experience ‘paraphysiological’ cramp at some time. Usually brought on by long or hard rides, cramp is characterised by strong muscle spasm. The muscle can be sore for up to 24 hours. It tends to be more common in hot weather, and dehydration seems to be an influence. Electrolytes in the blood become imbalanced, and low magnesium is thought to be involved. This causes the nerve endings in the muscles to become over-sensitive.FOOT AND CALF CRAMPCalf cramp is the most common cramp to affect cyclists. The position of the foot contributes to this. Poor bike setup can be to blame, particularly a saddle too high and incorrect cleat position. Foot cramp is particularly painful. It usually involves the intrinsic muscles in the foot. It’s thought…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015NO. 22 BICYCLE COMPANY GREAT DIVIDESPECIFICATION Weight 7.96kg (56cm) Frame No. 22 Great Divide Ti Fork Enve Road 2.0 Gears Shimano Ultegra, 52/36 with KCNC PF30 adaptor, 11-25 Brakes Shimano Ultegra 6800 Wheels Campagnolo Neutron Ultra Finishing kit Zipp Service Course SL stem and seatpost, SL-88 bar, Chris King headset, Fizik Arione VS saddle, Lizardskins tape, 23mm Michelin Pro 4 Service Course tyres THE GREAT DIVIDE is the line running the length of the Americas that separates water flowing to the Pacific Ocean from water destined for the Atlantic. In the USA and Canada, it follows the line of the Rocky Mountains, home to the challenging and gloriously beautiful roads that inspired the designers of this titanium machine. The Rockies are a cross-border link that mirrors the way No. 22 operates: it’s a Canadian company,…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015Distance LearningFourteen years ago, I set off to ride the route of the Tour de France without ever having cycled more than 100km in any single day. Unburdened with experience or the entrylevel basics of common sense, I cheerfully bulged my carriers with such featherweight touring essentials as the 1124-page Rough Guide to France, several cycling magazines, a waterproof toilet-roll holder and a full wardrobe of aprèsvélo wear to suit a variety of evening moods. Wobbling tearfully up my first French hillock, I thought, I’m never making this mistake again. Not with so many others to choose from! And so a couple of summers back, much older and at least slightly wiser, I pedalled away from Milan with everything required for a self-supported, five-week retracing of the 1914 Giro crammed into…8 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015BRAKES1 LEVERS All the cable brakes here are designed to work with the cable pull of an STI shifter. We tested every cable brake with Shimano Ultegra 6800 levers. Hydraulic brakes work with a dedicated lever, Shimano using mineral oil, SRAM using synthetic DOT brake fluid – so there’s no mix and matching. 2 CONTROL LINE Most brakes come with an outer cable that uses a coiled metal wrap under the skin. The cable compression when you brake can make disc brakes’ longer cable runs feel mushy. That’s why Tektro produces a slightly spiral inline cable outer that doesn’t compress when squeezed between lever and brake. There have never been so many ways to stop your bike. This is great in terms of choice, but a nightmare in terms of…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TRP HY/RDWeight 324g Rotor 160mm Semi-hydraulic TRP’s hybrid brake has proved outstanding. Putting the hydraulic fluid reservoir on top of the potentially scalding calliper sounds risky, but our Bikeradar colleagues in Colorado have dragged this down 20-mile-plus descents without boiling it, and it’s survived tandem testing too. It works with a conventional lever, and a barrel cable adjuster and lockable actuator arm make setting up very easy. Lever feel and modulation are noticeably better than TRP’s own Spyre brake and close to a full hydraulic system when used with Tektro’s compressionless brake outer. Weight is relatively high, but pads are widely available and the price is reasonable. HIGHS Consistent power and control LOWS Heavier than a conventional cable disc setup HAYES CX5 EXPERT £44 Weight 318g Rotor 160mm Cable-operated/mechanical The cheapest…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015RACE NUMBERSLAPIERRE CYCLE CLASSICSWHEN 10 May, 7 June, 12 JulyWHERE Black Country, Cheshire, OxfordshireDISTANCE 100-115kmPRICE £25WEBSITEcycleclassics.co.ukWhy travel to Europe to sample the Classics when we have these three events in our own back yard? It’s a series inspired by three pro one-day Classics: the long gravel and cobbled sectors of Paris-Roubaix (Tour of the Black Country, 10 May), the short, steep cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders (Cheshire Cobbled Classic, 7 June) and the chalk roads of the Strade Bianche (White Roads Classic, 12 July).90Distance at which the final climb of Swiss Hill appears during the 105km Cheshire Cobbled Classic. The 400m segment, which averages close to 10 per cent, made it into Simon Warren’s book, 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs3National themes for each sportive. The White Roads Classic, for example,…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015THE UK’S BEST TESTSCYCLING MOST WANTEDCYCLING BEST ON TESTCYCLING BEST VALUEHere at Cycling Plus we take our testing seriously and have been putting road cycling products through their paces for 23 years. Our test team, led by senior technical editor Warren Rossiter, is the best in the business. They’ve got decades of cycling experience between them and know what makes a good – and bad – bike, accessory, gadget or garment. That means you can trust us to bring you honest assessments of every product we feature. If it gets our seal of approval then you can be sure that you’ll be bagging a great buy!FIRST RIDEFirst Ride sees our test team bring you their first impressions of the most exciting new bikes available. As soon as they’re out, we’re riding!ROAD TESTBefore you…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LOOK 795 LIGHTSPECIFICATIONWeight 6.4kg (L)Frame CarbonFork CarbonGears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (50/34, 11-25)Brakes Shimano Dura-AceWheels Mavic Cosmic Carbone UltimateFinishing kit 23mm Mavic Yksion Pro Tubular tyres, Selle Italia SLS saddle, Look Zed 2 carbon chainset, Look integrated carbon aero stem, Look E-Post, Look carbon bottle cage, 3T Ergonova Team Stealth Carbon barThe 795 is Look’s take on the aero bike. It’s available in two versions, the Light and the Aerolight, which has integrated brakes. The Light is the more ‘affordable’ option – relatively speaking, as we are talking out-and-out superbike here.The chassis has 16 patents associated with it, with clever touches throughout. Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 drives the bike, and the frameset has been designed around using it. The Look Aerostem sits within the head-tube, and just behind it a carbon-covered housing hosts the…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015THE UK’S BEST TESTSCYCLING MOST WANTED CYCLING BEST ON TEST CYCLING BEST VALUE Here at Cycling Plus we take our testing seriously and have been putting road cycling products through their paces for 23 years. Our test team, led by senior technical editor Warren Rossiter, is the best in the business. They’ve got decades of cycling experience between them and know what makes a good – and bad – bike, accessory, gadget or garment. That means you can trust us to bring you honest assessments of every product we feature. If it gets our seal of approval then you can be sure that you’ll be bagging a great buy! FIRST RIDE First Ride sees our test team bring you their first impressions of the most exciting new bikes available. As soon as they’re…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TOPEAK TRANSFORMER XWHY YOU WANT1 Pump in disguiseThe Transformer X combines a track pump with a bike stand, saving on storage, floor and boot space, and is ideal for events.2 By hookRubber-lined hooks support your bike’s stays, and adjust by folding inwards and sliding within a track up to a maximum height of 59cm. Their low profile shape doesn’t foul spokes, and a secure fit is simple.3 All about the baseThe pump foot rest is 22cm wide, but for using it as a stand, a quick release lever extends a pair of tripod feet, giving a rock solid base for bikes up to 25kg.4 Got any hose?With your bike propped on the stand, the Transformer X can easily inflate both tyres with its extra-long 130cm hose.5 Under pressureThe fast-inflating aluminium-barrelled pump has…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TERN VERGE X18BIKE CURIOUSDo you take the train to work, but miss riding your road bike? Are you flexible about retaining your dignity? Tern promises a ‘complete road bike experience’ from the public transportfriendly, drop-barred Verge X18. For £1700 you get a 10.4kg speedster that folds down to 16.5x30x28in in just 30 seconds (allegedly). Still not convinced? It also has a posh Syntace adjustable stem, Tern’s super-stiff DoubleTruss rear end, and one of those pairedspoke front wheels that brings all the girls to the yard.…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015VERENTI TECHNIQUE CLARISSPECIFICATION Weight 10.11kg (L) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon blades Gears Shimano Claris, 50/34 unbranded chainset, 11-28 Brakes Tektro R312 Wheels Jalco 32 spoke Finishing kit 4ZA stem, bar, seatpost and single density saddle, 23mm Kenda K196 tyres We’ve no idea where the Verenti name comes from, but if the online behemoth Wiggle continues to defy the laws of economics with bikes like this, it’s fine by us. Even Carrera’s pretty similar Vanquish costs more. The Technique is based around an understated aluminium frame and Shimano’s 16-speed Claris groupset. The 10.11kg weight is very good for the price, the fork has carbon blades and Claris is a class above 2300 and Tourney, with decent lever ergonomics and a good-looking rear mech. The 11-28 cassette means largish jumps, but paired with…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015PEDAL-O-METERCASH INJECTION The legacy of the Yorkshire Tour de France Grand Départ continues to deliver as Nick Clegg announced a £500,000 cash boost to British Cycling to build closed-road circuits across the county. GRAN PLANS Britain’s first-ever gran fondo, the Tour of Cambridge-shire, on 7 June, is aiming high: £1500 first prize to the winning male and female, a route that’s the envy of Belgium, closed roads and what they’re hoping will be a world record for a time trial field (700+). CITY SLICKERS Eight British cities, including Leeds and Bristol, will split £114m over the next three years to improve cycling infrastructure as part of the Cycle City Ambition scheme. BAD MEN The marketeers promoting E3 Harelbeke came under fire for a poster showing a rider pinching a podium…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SHAUN KEAVENYI’M A RIDERI do try to meditate on the bike by clearing my brain of all thoughts. What a hippie!London is still asleep when I cycle into workIt’s a lovely time to ride, especially in the summer; not so much in the sleet I’ve been experiencing recently. My route means I don’t have to cycle into the death zone, I just skirt round Regents Park, so I rarely get into trouble. Though I have been knocked off. Just the once!The soundtrack to my commute doesn’t come out of headphonesIt’s from my own relentless internal dialogue, in which the good and evil Shaun battle for supremacy. Seriously, though, I do try to meditate on the bike, by clearing my brain of all thoughts but for the count from 1 to 10.…4 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015REAL RIDERSMy Tour de France illustration project began in 2010 shortly after emigrating from New York to New Zealand. It was late June and I was looking forward to watching the whole Tour de France when I had a brainwave: why not combine my passions – design, illustration and cycling – and produce a poster for each stage. I try to turn each poster around within 24 hours of each stage, otherwise I lose track of the race narrative. Adding to the difficulty is that it’s the middle of the night in Auckland when the race is on, though it helps that it’s winter, so there are fewer distractions than if it were summer. The response has been better than I ever expected – I’ve sent posters to six continents now.…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015BRITAIN’S BEST CLIMBSCHEDDAR GORGE SOMERSET Cheddar Gorge is number one in climbing Clouseau Simon Warren’s book, 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs. It also holds a special place in our hearts, given its proximity to our Bristol office; not only is it a great climb to train on, it’s also a dramatic location for photography, as our bike test (p52) demonstrates. Rising out of the town of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills, it’s famed more for its aesthetics than its difficulty. Its craggy cliff faces and switchbacks give it more of a Continental feel than many of the up and over variety usually found in Britain, and it’s this that makes it so popular. It averages around 4 per cent over 2.6 miles, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s very steep at…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015WINNERThe Fuji makes us want to go riding – there’s no greater accolade than thatWhen we’re testing, ride quality trumps all else, and this is true no matter the budget in question. Even if a bike has a two grand Italian groupset or carbon wheels that cost more than your car, if the experience on the road is an unpleasant one, we still don’t want it.On that front, both the Lapierre and Sensa were disappointing. Though fine looking, built with good quality components and neither unduly heavy nor obviously lacking on paper, in the real world, on real roads, we just didn’t like them.The Scott occupies the middle ground. It’s almost wilfully inoffensive in its road manners and it’s a contender for the prettiest bike on test, but some irritating…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TORQUE WRENCHESSHOOTOUTM:PART TORQUE WRENCH£49.99THE M:PART comes in a zipped case, with a good range of seven quarter-inch drive bits covering 3-10mm hex and T25 Torx bolts, all set in EVA foam. Its 22cm length offers good purchase from its ergonomicfeeling handle, and the 3-15Nm torque range is controlled by pushing in a simple rotary adjuster at the base. There are six incremental stops for each Nm and the window displays the selected torque clearly and accurately.LIFELINE PROFESSIONAL£64.99THIS IS THE same size as the M:Part, and looks outwardly very similar, but the seven quarter-inch bits its hard plastic case includes are 2-6mm hex and T25 Torx, although 2mm bolts don’t usually require a torque wrench. The 3-15Nm range adjusts with identical increments via a knurled push-in adjuster at the base, which is…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SCOTT PREMIUMUPGRADEWE SAY The Premiums have the fit, performance and cooling of higher priced rivalsIN THIS ORICA-GREENEDGE option, Scott’s Premium shoe is very striking. The synthetic leather upper is only stitched at the heel, with one welded seam above the ball of the foot avoiding irritation from stitching. Three welded airmesh panels and extensive perforations ensure ample airflow through the uppers.The tongue is perforated and firmly padded, with a neoprene lip that conforms comfortably to your ankle. Boa IP1 dials allow fine adjustment from toe box to ankle with single-click increments, and total release by pulling up on the grippy, rubberised dial that’s easy to operate with gloves on or through overshoes.Increasing ventilation is a giant intake port at the front of the HMX carbon sole. The sole is stiff and…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LOOK ILLUMINATE VESTTECH STYLEAT THE HEART of the Illuminate Vest is a front panel constructed with Plastotex’s Reflect technology fabric, which glows phosphorous white when lit up in the dark. It’s also highly elastic and highly water resistant, and here is used as a shell with a traditional fleeced polyester inner, making this close, race-cut gilet ideal for cooler days and dull conditions. The mesh back helps breathability, and the three rear pockets have a substantial reflective central panel for further high-vis goodness.FIZIK LIGHT OVERSHOES£34.99WHEN YOU’VE SPENT an arm and a leg on posh cycling shoes you want to keep them looking good, and the Fizik Lights are ideal for such a job, keeping road spray and grime off, as well as helping to protect your feet from the cold. The thin…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CANNONDALE SYNAPSE CARBON 5OUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 8.52kg (58cm) FRAME Carbon FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105 BRAKES Shimano 105 WHEELS Shimano RS11 FINISHING KIT Cannondale C3 seatpost, bar and stem, Prologo Kappa Evo saddle, 25mm Schwalbe Lugano S tyres, FSA Gossamer BB30a chainsetI love the carbon Synapse. The lighter, stiffer hi-mod version is great, but I prefer this more comfortable standard model. I also have to admit to making last year’s Bike of the Year now quite possibly the most expensive Shimano 105-equipped bike on the planet. That’s thanks to a succession of upgrades (of kit I’ve tested), creating my perfect all-day riding companion.I can see it’s quite mad upgrading an £1800 bike with over £4000 worth of extras, but it’s lost a kilo in weight – even with pedals, bottle cages…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015NO. 22 BICYCLE COMPANY GREAT DIVIDESPECIFICATIONWeight 7.96kg (56cm)Frame No. 22 Great Divide TiFork Enve Road 2.0Gears Shimano Ultegra, 52/36 with KCNC PF30 adaptor, 11-25Brakes Shimano Ultegra 6800Wheels Campagnolo Neutron UltraFinishing kit Zipp Service Course SL stem and seatpost, SL-88 bar, Chris King headset, Fizik Arione VS saddle, Lizardskins tape, 23mm Michelin Pro 4 Service Course tyresTHE GREAT DIVIDE is the line running the length of the Americas that separates water flowing to the Pacific Ocean from water destined for the Atlantic. In the USA and Canada, it follows the line of the Rocky Mountains, home to the challenging and gloriously beautiful roads that inspired the designers of this titanium machine. The Rockies are a cross-border link that mirrors the way No. 22 operates: it’s a Canadian company, but it draws on American craftsmanship to build…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015BRAKES1 LEVERSAll the cable brakes here are designed to work with the cable pull of an STI shifter. We tested every cable brake with Shimano Ultegra 6800 levers. Hydraulic brakes work with a dedicated lever, Shimano using mineral oil, SRAM using synthetic DOT brake fluid – so there’s no mix and matching.2 CONTROL LINEMost brakes come with an outer cable that uses a coiled metal wrap under the skin. The cable compression when you brake can make disc brakes’ longer cable runs feel mushy. That’s why Tektro produces a slightly spiral inline cable outer that doesn’t compress when squeezed between lever and brake.There have never been so many ways to stop your bike. This is great in terms of choice, but a nightmare in terms of choosing. Luckily our ultra-experienced…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SHIMANO R785WE SAY Whatever shifting you combine it with, Shimano’s hydraulic disc is the current state of-thestopping artWeight 528g Rotor 160mm HydraulicWhatever shifting you combine it with, Shimano’s hydraulic disc is the current state-of-the-stopping art. We’ve tested the Di2 electronic shifting version here, but the mechanical version (R658) is identical in terms of the brake, and £10 cheaper per unit. Impressively, there’s no obvious change in external dimensions or even lever pull distance compared with conventional STIs. The super-light, ultra-consistent, any-weather control is definitely hydraulic, though: single-finger power is ample and the finned IceTech pads and bi-metal sandwich frilled ‘Freeza’ rotors (£50) dissipate heat very effectively. They are heavier than the SRAM competition but they are significantly cheaper even if you get your local shop to fit and bleed them rather…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SHIMANO DURA-ACE 9000WE SAY Shimano’s flagship rim brake is superpowerful, highly adjustable and silky smoothHIGHSOutstanding power and controlLOWSHeavier than conventional dual pivotsWeight 150g Max rim width 30mm Max rim drop 52mmDura-Ace 9000 introduced Shimano’s SLR EV dual-pivot design, which effectively creates a central mount-compatible direct mount brake. It significantly boosts leverage, making these brakes more powerful than standard dual pivots. Stiff architecture, super-smooth pivots and a roller-guided upper arm mean fine control is outstanding. The indexed cable clamp also allows fine clearance adjustment on the fly. It’s worth noting that while they physically open wider, Shimano lists 25mm tyres and 28mm rims as their maximum capacity, and Shimano’s wide-rim-fit pads are carbon only.CAMPAGNOLO ATHENA DUAL PIVOT£45Weight 167g Max rim width 33mm Max rim drop 50mmAthena carries the Skeleton biplane arm design of…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CHEAP THRILLSWe’re halfway through our first day and I’m spinning sedately up the Porlock Toll Road in Somerset. Riding BTwin’s Triban SE 500, I wasn’t in any danger of taking a Strava KOM, or even of catching the two riders pulling away in front of me. The elastic had snapped. As Lance Armstrong might have put it in his pre-persona non grata days, ‘it wasn’t about the bike’.I was riding the lightest of the three bikes, a machine with a much lower bottom gear than the Claud Butler sister magazine Procycling’s Sam Dansie was riding. He’s 20 years younger than me, with greater fitness, and given the bike’s overly tall gearing he didn’t have the option of twiddling. Our third and youngest rider, Simon Greenacre, of our testing department, wanted to…10 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CASTELLI VELOWE SAY Traditional shell jacket lifted by Italian styling but the fit won’t suit allHIGHSGreat styling and highly packableLOWSFit won’t suit the slimmest ridersPockets 0Italian styling lifts Castelli’s good, if somewhat traditional, packable jacket. Windproofing is courtesy of the ripstop fabric, which combines with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating to deter water ingress. There’s ventilation on the back of the shoulders and neck, though it’s less breathable than the best jackets, and the fit was a little loose around the shoulders and flapped in use on our slim tester. In spite of being devoid of pockets, the Velo packs neatly into its collar, and we also like the colour – an attractive alternative to the neon yellows favoured by some manufacturersDHB WISP WINDPROOF£33Pockets 0DHB has built a well-deserved reputation…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015RAPHA CLASSIC WIND JACKETWE SAY Aptly named, a classic packable that looks good and is a great performerPockets 1Rapha’s Classic Wind Jacket is a good looking garment, and as you’d hope when you’re forking out this kind of money, it also performs extremely well. So well in fact that it’s unlikely you’ll be needing the 30-day money-back ‘Classics Guarantee’ offered. The Classic Wind Jacket packs well, offers strong wind protection, and good water resistance and breathability. It features a long tail, valuables pocket, reflective details, taped seams on the shoulders and windblocking cuffs. If your budget can stretch this far then it’s a terrific outer layer to add to your collection.HIGHSDesign, performance, fitLOWSNothing, if you’ve got the budgetODLO MUD HARDSHELL TRANSPARENT£75Pockets 0Want to show off the kit beneath your jacket? The aptly named…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015HOW TO PERIODISE YOUR NUTRITION...NUTRITIONDEFINING MOMENT“Periodisation is about changing the intensity and frequency of your training at different stages to ensure the right adaptations occur,” explains Nigel Mitchell. “In the buildup to a targeted event it is key to plot the periodisation of your training and nutrition.”THREE NEW CYCLESPeriodised training is broken down into macrocycles (large phases): base building, transition and tapering. “A coach will help, but there are general ‘rules’ you can apply,” says Mitchell.BASIC RATIONSThe first phase training features more volume and less intensity. “Fuelling at this point focuses on encouraging the body to source energy from fat and protein stores,” says Mitchell. Some trainers advise limiting the calories you get from quality, low-GI carbs to provoke greater fat usage, with a 40/30/30 ratio of carbs, fats and protein each meal time.IN…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CHANGE A TUBE WITHOUT TOOLSSKEWER YOURSELF1 First, beat yourself soundly over the head with a mini pump (you did remember to bring the pump, didn’t you?). Next, loosen the quick release mechanism and take the wheel out of the bike. Make sure all the air is out of the tyre, then remove the quick release skewer from the wheel and keep it handySQUEEZY DOES IT2 Hold the wheel vertically and, starting at the top, use both hands to squeeze the tyre beads away from the rim hook and into the centre of the rim channel. Gradually work your way down both sides of the wheel until your thumbs meet again at the bottom of the wheelLEVER-AGE3 You should now have just about enough slack in the tyre to be able to pull the bead…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015VITUS BIKES VENON VRLOUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 8.44kg (52cm) FRAME Carbon FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105, 12-30 cassette, 50/34 FSA Gossamer Pro chainset BRAKES Tektro R315 WHEELS Easton AXR FINISHING KIT Vitus Elite Compact bar and Elite stem, Vitus saddle and seatpost, 25mm Kenda Kriterium tyres There’s nothing quite like testing heavy bikes to make you appreciate the pleasure of a lightweight carbon job. When I first rode the Vitus, its acceleration was quite astonishing after my beautiful but not light steel Paulus Quiros. Now, after testing a 10.84kg Liv and a 12.5kg Pendleton, when I hop back on the Vitus it reminds me what fun it is to speed along on a lightweight road bike. Hello big ring, I remember you! When the Vitus first arrived, it had already been tweaked…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015TRAIN SMARTER GO FASTERTry to add an extra hour to your ride to benefit from sharing the workload 1 FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Cycling is fun, and rarely more fun than when you hit the road with a few friends at the weekend. But if you want to get more than a few laughs out of these rides, you should keep your long-term targets in mind and make the most of the drafting opportunity afforded by working with a group of riders. Not having to take the wind the whole time will help you conserve energy so you can ride for longer. Eddie Fletcher, head sport scientist at Wattbike (wattbike.com/uk), explains: “Those weekend rides with friends can be difficult if all the riders are not of the same ability, and they can tend to…13 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ASK THE EXPERTIn association with wattbike www.wattbike.comEDDIE FLETCHER, WATTBIKE’S LEAD SPORTS SCIENTIST, SAYS:It all depends how much prior training has been done. In principle, if you have ridden 30 miles then 50 miles is doable (even if slowly).My main recommendation would be to start putting structure into the training. First, you’ll need to understand the training zones (see http://bit.ly/1EmLdV1) and do a test to establish your heart rate and power training zones (see http://bit.ly/1vVMbpB).With six weeks to go, you’ll have four to five weeks of training, with tapering and recovery taking one to two weeks. Getting through a 50-mile ride is not about riding 50 miles in a single training session, but about the accumulation of training hours in the build-up to the event.You need to put in at least one long…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015Blanc canvasThere are 21 mountains to climb and over 21,000 metres of elevationI stand paralysed at the window as the rain rattles against the glass like bullets from a machine gun. “There are some things in life you just don’t mess with,” I shout, “and Mother Nature is one of them. Agree?”There’s no time for Deborah, my girlfriend, to answer before a flash of lightning and a million volts of electricity hit the ground nearby, followed by the most deadly sounding thunder we’ve ever heard. It’s so deep and twisted it’s as if the grim reaper is trying to tear the roof clean off our apartment.It’s far from a joke. The forecast is despicable, and if I’m caught in conditions like this there’s no way I’ll survive.Calm before the stormQuite how…12 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015Discover the Rugged Cotswold HillsThis NEW 180-mile 7-day Circular Cycling route covers some of the finest countryside and villages in the UK, allowing you to experience pretty towns and villages and stunning scenery.The variety of terrains ranges from thegentler slopes of the Severn Vale, to the sharper escarpments of the Cotswold Hills. The route takes you along country lanes, canal sides and some traffic-free routes.“Last year’s Tour of Britain hit the Cotswolds passing through towns and villages that sit on the cycling tour which included Gloucester, Broadway, Winchcombe, Upper Slaughter, Burford, Bibury, Cirencester, Tetbury, Stroud, Nailsworth, Wotton under Edge and Berkeley”.…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015POLOCINI WINTER SPRINTERWE RODE IT!Following the tradition of previous years, the fifth edition of the Winter Sprinter was another sell out. The mixture of fast roads, quiet lanes and a couple of cobbled sections are a tried and tested recipe for organiser Polocini, the Manchester-based sportives and tours company.Even the early March weather lottery could not dampen the spirits as the 300 riders headed out west along the quiet and flat Cheshire lanes towards Tatton Park. The first 30 miles or so were a relatively flat and fast affair, before Alderley Edge marked the start of the hillier half of the route.The only adaptation to the ride over the years has been the removal of Swiss Hill from the course, a steep, often mossy and slippery cobbled climb. The alternative route up…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015MAYCALENDARTackle the cols of Yorkshire, the flatlands of Norfolk or some west country undulations1 BROAD APPEALPedal Norfolk, 2-4 MayLike a music festival, but with fewer tunes and more cycling. It’s a weekend of camping and riding on the Holkham Estate, designed for all the family, with 100-mile sportives for the adults, gentler rides for the kids and 50-mile rides for those who want a more relaxed Bank Holiday weekend. pedalnorfolk.co.uk2 GOD’S OWN SPORTIVE?Tour de Yorkshire Ride, 3 MayTracking a portion of the route of the third stage of the Grand Départ legacy event, the Tour de Yorkshire, on the morning of the race itself, this multi-distance ride begins and ends in Roundhay on the edge of Leeds. Like the Tour de France last year, the climbs have been given a…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ORRO OXYGENSPECIFICATIONWeight 8.15kg (L, 56/57cm)Frame CarbonFork CarbonGears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-25Brakes Shimano 105Wheels 3T Accelero Pro 40Finishing kit 3T Arx Pro stem, Stylus Pro seatpost, Ergosum Pro bar, Prologo Kappa Evo saddle, 25mm Continental Ultra Sport tyresDoes today’s consumer need another new brand? Well, the respected distributor i-ride thinks so. It’s best known for its high-end brands – think De Rosa, Argon 18, Fulcrum and 3T. So it was a bit of a surprise when it launched its own new in-house brand, with prices as competitive as bikes bought online, while still being sold through ‘real’ bike shops.The frames are designed by Orro in the UK and manufactured in the Far East. No shocks there. But unlike most companies’ bikes, these are finished and assembled in the UK at Orro’s own…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015VERENTI TECHNIQUE CLARISSPECIFICATIONWeight 10.11kg (L)Frame 6061 aluminiumFork Carbon bladesGears Shimano Claris, 50/34 unbranded chainset, 11-28Brakes Tektro R312Wheels Jalco 32 spokeFinishing kit 4ZA stem, bar, seatpost and single density saddle, 23mm Kenda K196 tyresWe’ve no idea where the Verenti name comes from, but if the online behemoth Wiggle continues to defy the laws of economics with bikes like this, it’s fine by us. Even Carrera’s pretty similar Vanquish costs more.The Technique is based around an understated aluminium frame and Shimano’s 16-speed Claris groupset. The 10.11kg weight is very good for the price, the fork has carbon blades and Claris is a class above 2300 and Tourney, with decent lever ergonomics and a good-looking rear mech. The 11-28 cassette means largish jumps, but paired with a 50/34 compact chainset the range is very good,…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CHANGING FORTUNESTHE SPINFebruary felt like a telling moment in the history of British cycling. On the road, Chris Froome overcame a strong Alberto Contador to win Ruta del Sol, Geraint Thomas the Volta ao Algarve and Mark Cavendish the Dubai Tour. But while our roadies are in rude health, the track team is bent double, wheezing for air. The Paris Worlds yielded just three silver medals, a meagre haul not seen since 2001. At the same point in recent Olympic cycles, GB were in fine fettle: nine medals in Apeldoorn in 2011, 11 (including seven golds) in Majorca in 2007.Technical director Shane Sutton was in bullish mood prior to Paris, believing his team were starting to “sniff the outcome” of the Olympics, but there was little evidence on show. He claimed…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ORRO OXYGENSPECIFICATION Weight 8.15kg (L, 56/57cm) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-25 Brakes Shimano 105 Wheels 3T Accelero Pro 40 Finishing kit 3T Arx Pro stem, Stylus Pro seatpost, Ergosum Pro bar, Prologo Kappa Evo saddle, 25mm Continental Ultra Sport tyres Does today’s consumer need another new brand? Well, the respected distributor i-ride thinks so. It’s best known for its high-end brands – think De Rosa, Argon 18, Fulcrum and 3T. So it was a bit of a surprise when it launched its own new in-house brand, with prices as competitive as bikes bought online, while still being sold through ‘real’ bike shops. The frames are designed by Orro in the UK and manufactured in the Far East. No shocks there. But unlike most companies’ bikes, these are…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LOOK 795 LIGHTSPECIFICATION Weight 6.4kg (L) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (50/34, 11-25) Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace Wheels Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate Finishing kit 23mm Mavic Yksion Pro Tubular tyres, Selle Italia SLS saddle, Look Zed 2 carbon chainset, Look integrated carbon aero stem, Look E-Post, Look carbon bottle cage, 3T Ergonova Team Stealth Carbon bar The 795 is Look’s take on the aero bike. It’s available in two versions, the Light and the Aerolight, which has integrated brakes. The Light is the more ‘affordable’ option – relatively speaking, as we are talking out-and-out superbike here. The chassis has 16 patents associated with it, with clever touches throughout. Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 drives the bike, and the frameset has been designed around using it. The Look Aerostem sits within the head-tube,…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015REAL RIDERSMy Tour de France illustration project began in 2010 shortly after emigrating from New York to New Zealand. It was late June and I was looking forward to watching the whole Tour de France when I had a brainwave: why not combine my passions – design, illustration and cycling – and produce a poster for each stage.I try to turn each poster around within 24 hours of each stage, otherwise I lose track of the race narrative. Adding to the difficulty is that it’s the middle of the night in Auckland when the race is on, though it helps that it’s winter, so there are fewer distractions than if it were summer.The response has been better than I ever expected – I’ve sent posters to six continents now. My personal…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LOOK AFTER HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKESHOW TO...1 SRAM CENTERLINE DISC ROTORS £33 Good quality rotors are essential for top braking performance and longevity. SRAM’s Centerlines are made from stainless steel and are designed so the friction centre (where it brakes) remains consistent throughout the rotation. Centerlines are available in both six-bolt (shown) and Shimano Centerlock configurations.2 EPIC BLEED SOLUTIONS BLEED KIT £14.99 Spongey brakes or too much lever travel are signs that there could be some air in your system, and a bleed is in order. Make sure when you do bleed it you use the correct replacement fluid!3 UBERBIKE COMPONENTS FINNED BRAKE PADS £13.99/PAIR Are your pads wearing too quickly, or are you worried about them overheating? Try a different type. These Uberbike Components pads are designed with finned backs to increase cooling from…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015GRAND JURYROAD TESTDepending on who you ask, £1000 could be an absurd sum of money to spend on a bicycle which doesn’t power itself, or it’s nowhere near enough. In any case, it’s a very typical outlay for a first ‘serious’ road bike and it’s also the cut-off point for most cycle-to-work subsidy schemes.So what does £1000 actually buy these days? In most cases, a metal frame with a mishmash of dependable rather than blingy components, which have been chosen to maximise value for money, sometimes at the expense of aesthetic harmony. Carbon frames are rare at this price and of the six bikes we’ve tested here, five are aluminium and one is steel.At the bottom of our price range, the Tiagra-equipped Lapierre Audacio looks like a solid sportive contender, while…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LAPIERRE AUDACIO 400SPECIFICATIONWeight 9.29kg (49cm)Frame Audacio 6061 aluminiumFork Carbon, alloy steererGears Shimano TiagraBrakes Shimano TiagraWheels Shimano R501Finishing kit Ritchey Comp Curve bar, 4-Axis stem, Selle Italia X1 saddle, Ritchey seatpost, 25mm Michelin Dynamic Sport tyresA full Shimano Tiagra groupset offers clunky but dependable shiftingLapierre has been in the business for almost 70 years, and its premium carbon models see action in pro races the world over, beneath riders from team FDJ.fr. Its entrylevel Sport range includes three Audacio models, of which the 400 is the most expensive.We reviewed an Audacio 400 CP a couple of years ago, and this is outwardly a very similar machine. Look a little closer, though, and there’s one noticeable difference -where the 400 CP had slim, gracefully curved seatstays for maximum compliance, the newer bike has fairly…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015GENESIS VOLARE 10The tubes are double butted, the overall appearance of the frame one of qualitySPECIFICATIONWeight 9.75kg (52cm)Frame Genesis Mjölnir chromolyFork Carbon, alloy steererGears Shimano TiagraBrakes Shimano TiagraWheels Fulcrum Racing Sport CXFinishing kit Genesis seatpost and saddle, Genesis Road stem and Road Compact bar, 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyresShould you venture down to your nearest purveyor of hipsterapproved bicycles and artisanallyconcocted coffee, you may overhear someone posit that ‘steel is real’, and they may do so without a hint of irony (which is itself ironic, because, y’know, iron...). The thinking goes that carbon frames are mere disposable novelties; aluminium is but a young pretender; and steel is above all the connoisseur’s choice, the timeless tipple of gentlemen with a taste for authenticity.This is nonsense, of course, and broad brush generalisations about the…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CATEYE STRADA SMARTMOST WANTEDCATEYE’S UNASSUMING-LOOKING STRADA Smart computer has a lot more going on than meets the eye. Harnessing the technology inside your smartphone, the Cateye aims to give you all the data of a GPS unit for a fraction of the price and handlebar real estate.The Strada Smart can talk directly to the bundled HRM and speed/cadence sensors via Bluetooth for times when you’re without your phone (in a race perhaps), but it’s in sync with your mobile that the Smart really comes into its own. Simply download the free Cateye Cycling app to your phone to transform it into a top drawer training partner, then match it to the computer, HRM and speed/cadence sensors to ensure it can collect all the necessary information. Your phone’s own GPS capabilities will also…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015THE BIKES ON TESTLAPIERRE AUDACIO 400 £899.99 Our cheapest contender is an entry-level racer from Lapierre with suspiciously Team Sky-like paint adorning its 6061 aluminium alloy frame. A full Shimano Tiagra 10-speed groupset is accompanied by budget cup and cone hub wheels (traditional hub bearings, formed by ball bearings in a cup, held in place by conical nuts) and some unassuming aluminium finishing kit from Ritchey. FUJI ROUBAIX 1.3 £990 No, it’s nothing to do with the ‘big S’ (Specialized), but this Roubaix is American too. It has a good looking alloy frame and a full-carbon, thoroughly modern tapered fork (the steerer is wider at the bottom than the top, targeting stiffness and strength where it’s needed). Shimano 105 11-speed takes care of shifting, and with name-brand finishing kit and Shimano R500 wheels,…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015LAPIERRE AUDACIO 400SPECIFICATION Weight 9.29kg (49cm) Frame Audacio 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Shimano Tiagra Brakes Shimano Tiagra Wheels Shimano R501 Finishing kit Ritchey Comp Curve bar, 4-Axis stem, Selle Italia X1 saddle, Ritchey seatpost, 25mm Michelin Dynamic Sport tyres A full Shimano Tiagra groupset offers clunky but dependable shifting Lapierre has been in the business for almost 70 years, and its premium carbon models see action in pro races the world over, beneath riders from team FDJ.fr. Its entrylevel Sport range includes three Audacio models, of which the 400 is the most expensive. We reviewed an Audacio 400 CP a couple of years ago, and this is outwardly a very similar machine. Look a little closer, though, and there’s one noticeable difference -where the 400 CP had slim, gracefully…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015UNIOR 1693A BIKE GATORUPGRADEIF YOU HARBOUR ambitions of looking after your bicycle yourself rather than relying on the local bike shop in times of need, a workstand is all but essential. For everything from the simplest jobs like oiling the chain or swapping the tyres, right up to building a bike from a box of parts, a stand raises things to a comfortable working height, and it allows free operation of brakes and gears as well as easy access to all areas.The Bike Gator comes from Slovenian firm Unior, and the fit and finish of all its parts is excellent, the action of its sliding and telescoping components being smooth and satisfying.Setting it up is very straightforward: the stand’s two legs unfold to sit about 80 degrees apart, with rubbery plastic feet protecting…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015MERIDA CYCLO CROSS 500OUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 10.02kg (56cm) FRAME 6066 aluminium FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105, 11-28 cassette, 46/36 FSA Gossamer chainset BRAKES Tektro Spyre discs WHEELS Merida Comp FINISHING KIT Continental Cyclocross Race tyres, Merida Pro bar, stem and seatpost, Merida Race saddleDespite its recent success in the pro peloton with Lampre, producing well over two million bikes a year and boasting over 350 dealers in the UK, I’m willing to bet that – if asked – there’d be plenty of other bike companies you’d list before you got to Merida. Specialized, for instance. The American brand that the Taiwanese giant owns 49 per cent of. True story.So, a sleeping giant then? Well, we’ve been impressed with Merida’s road offerings in the past few years and both the aero Reacto…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015VITUS BIKES VENON VRLOUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 8.44kg (52cm) FRAME Carbon FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105, 12-30 cassette, 50/34 FSA Gossamer Pro chainset BRAKES Tektro R315 WHEELS Easton AXR FINISHING KIT Vitus Elite Compact bar and Elite stem, Vitus saddle and seatpost, 25mm Kenda Kriterium tyresThere’s nothing quite like testing heavy bikes to make you appreciate the pleasure of a lightweight carbon job. When I first rode the Vitus, its acceleration was quite astonishing after my beautiful but not light steel Paulus Quiros. Now, after testing a 10.84kg Liv and a 12.5kg Pendleton, when I hop back on the Vitus it reminds me what fun it is to speed along on a lightweight road bike. Hello big ring, I remember you!When the Vitus first arrived, it had already been tweaked to suit…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SCOTT SPEEDSTER 10The Scott’s threaded BB shell is a boon to those happy to wield their own spanners SPECIFICATION Weight 9.32kg (M/54cm) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Shimano Ultegra/105 Brakes Shimano BR-R561 Wheels Syncros Race 27 Aero Finishing kit Syncros FL2.0 stem, RR2.0 bar, R1.4 seatpost and Road Endurance saddle, 23mm Kenda Kriterium tyres Scott has grabbed many headlines over the years for its trend-setting race bikes. The original CR1 heralded a new era in carbon monocoques, the Addict set the benchmark for flyweight frames, and the Foil helped usher in a generation of lightweight aero machines. All the while, though, the company has been quietly selling thousands of its Speedster aluminium road bikes. The Speedster 10 is the top-of the-line model, and at £1 short of a grand…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015GENESIS VOLARE 10The tubes are double butted, the overall appearance of the frame one of quality SPECIFICATION Weight 9.75kg (52cm) Frame Genesis Mjölnir chromoly Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Shimano Tiagra Brakes Shimano Tiagra Wheels Fulcrum Racing Sport CX Finishing kit Genesis seatpost and saddle, Genesis Road stem and Road Compact bar, 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyres Should you venture down to your nearest purveyor of hipsterapproved bicycles and artisanallyconcocted coffee, you may overhear someone posit that ‘steel is real’, and they may do so without a hint of irony (which is itself ironic, because, y’know, iron...). The thinking goes that carbon frames are mere disposable novelties; aluminium is but a young pretender; and steel is above all the connoisseur’s choice, the timeless tipple of gentlemen with a taste for authenticity. This…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SENSA TRENTINO SL COMPSubtly profiled and manipulated tubes give the bike a clean, modern look SPECIFICATION Weight 8.96kg (52cm) Frame Triplebutted aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano 105 Brakes Shimano BR-561 Wheels Supra RA Pro Finishing kit Supra Speed Line stem, bar and 31.6mm seatpost, Supra Comp Line saddle, 23mm Schwalbe Lugano tyres Brought to UK shores by Merlin Cycles, Dutch brand Sensa offers bikes for every budget. The Trentino SL is a full-on aluminium racer. At £1000 exactly, it’s bang on budget and looks to offer a decent spec for the money. Thanks to some beautifully smoothed welds and a satin black finish, you could be forgiven for thinking the Sensa has a carbon frame. You have to look very closely indeed to see any evidence of joins at all, and the subtly…3 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015WINNERThe Fuji makes us want to go riding – there’s no greater accolade than that When we’re testing, ride quality trumps all else, and this is true no matter the budget in question. Even if a bike has a two grand Italian groupset or carbon wheels that cost more than your car, if the experience on the road is an unpleasant one, we still don’t want it. On that front, both the Lapierre and Sensa were disappointing. Though fine looking, built with good quality components and neither unduly heavy nor obviously lacking on paper, in the real world, on real roads, we just didn’t like them. The Scott occupies the middle ground. It’s almost wilfully inoffensive in its road manners and it’s a contender for the prettiest bike on test,…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SPORTFUL FIANDRE LIGHT NORAIN TOPWE SAY A fine alternative to the traditional shell, offering extra warmth for cooler daysPockets 0Sportful’s Fiandre Light NoRain Top is a fine example of how new fabrics and thinking are transforming some of cycling’s traditional apparel for the better. Yes, it sacrifices a little packability, though it will still easily fold into a pocket, but in return you get a technical jersey-cumjacket that’s water-resistant, windproof – particularly on the chest – and offers some warmth too. Sportful uses its WindShield 3L on the chest, shoulders and upper arms and NoRain Light fabric on the forearms and back. You do get more air on your arms, but the NoRain’s stretch helps with the slim, typically Italian fitIt’s a great looking top, and can be used in a range of circ*mstances.…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015ALÉ KLIMATIKWE SAY Newcomer Alé changes the rules, creating a fusion between a jacket and jersey£165Pockets 0Alé is a relatively new Italian brand and perhaps this has allowed it some freedom to bring new ideas to the market. The Klimatik Premium Class Race Fit, to give it its full name, is very different to your typical shell and excels in wet and cold conditions. A fusion of jersey and rain jacket, it offers excellent windproofing, a fine race fit, as the name suggests (you might need to size up), good water resistance and breathability. Alé uses eVent DVL, a highly water-repellent fabric – it’s rated at 10,000mm H2O, which is acceptable for a rain jacket – that’s also breathable. This is further enhanced by armpit ventilation and different fabrics on the…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015RIDE IN THE WETKNOWLEDGE1 THEM’S THE BRAKES“Wet roads increase stopping distances for cyclists and for other vehicles,” says Jones. So it is important not only to take into account your own need to squeeze the brakes earlier, but also to be aware that other vehicles willtake longer to stop. Don’t forget to give brakes a good wipe after a wet ride to clear grit that’s splashed up.2 POOL YOUR RESOURCESIt can be tempting to make a splash, but be careful: “Puddles can conceal broken glass, potholes, kerbed edges and dangerous ironworks in the road surface,” says Jones. And it’s not just the obstacles you should worry about: “In deeper puddles you might be deflected off your course,” Jones adds, and this can easily mean a swerve into the kerb if you are not…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CANNONDALE SYNAPSE CARBON 5OUT OF THE BOX WEIGHT 8.52kg (58cm) FRAME Carbon FORK Carbon GEARS Shimano 105 BRAKES Shimano 105 WHEELS Shimano RS11 FINISHING KIT Cannondale C3 seatpost, bar and stem, Prologo Kappa Evo saddle, 25mm Schwalbe Lugano S tyres, FSA Gossamer BB30a chainset I love the carbon Synapse. The lighter, stiffer hi-mod version is great, but I prefer this more comfortable standard model. I also have to admit to making last year’s Bike of the Year now quite possibly the most expensive Shimano 105-equipped bike on the planet. That’s thanks to a succession of upgrades (of kit I’ve tested), creating my perfect all-day riding companion. I can see it’s quite mad upgrading an £1800 bike with over £4000 worth of extras, but it’s lost a kilo in weight – even with pedals,…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015PERFECT YOUR SPRINTTRAININGGO FOR INDOOR SPRINTS1 I do my sprint training on the road, but if it’s icy or so cold that you have to wear a lot of layers and can’t get the required effort then the turbo is great for low-cadence, high-torque efforts – you can get a really good workout compared with what you’d get from the same time on the road.DO VARIABLE INTERVALS2 Sprinting is a maximal effort, so you can’t sprint for super-long intervals. It’s a case of holding it at your max for as long as you can, bearing in mind a sprint is never typically longer than 20 seconds. But sprint interval training can add to the mix. Not all sprints are superfast, sometimes a corner creates a slow, high torque sprint, so you have…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015USE WEIGHTS FOR BETTER CYCLINGTRAININGBIG UPPER YOUR BODYI’m very traditional and will do bench presses - lifting a barbell or dumbbells while lying face-up on a bench. I’ll also do reverse flyes (below) using dumbbells and I always do them together. I’ll use a Swiss ball to help work my core during reverse flyes. I think that you need to balance these two out. I do three sets of 12 reps.BIT OF A SQUATI prefer free weight moves to using machines when it comes to lower body drills. Squatting is great! But if you’re not into it because of your back, Bulgarian squats (above) are great. They can be done with body weight, then with additional weights held against your chest. I’ll do the same routine as with the upper body – three sets…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015DO ONE THING THIS MONTH...WARM UP & COOL DOWNToo many riders neglect to warm up and cool down properly, but rest and recovery are the most important parts of any training plan and getting your pre- and post-workout routine right is crucial. The warm up prepares the body for the workout, while cooling down helps to speed up the recovery.RECOMMENDED WARM-UPS/COOL-DOWNSThese will differ depending on the type of session:Recovery session - Warm up 5mins slow pedalling in an easy gear at 60rpm; repeat for cool downBasic endurance/efficiency - Warm up 5-10mins at a very relaxed level; repeat for cool downIntensive - Warm up 10mins progressively, very relaxed-relaxedworking; cool down 10mins relaxedMaximal - These sessions require a serious 20-minute warm-up, using different cadences at a resistance level set to suit your power – see Wattbike.com/uk…1 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015STOPDepending on who you believe, disc brakes are the greatest thing to happen to road bikes since carbon fibre, or the most over-hyped and overrated development since, well, carbon fibre. In five years’ time, will rim brakes be museum pieces or is the humble dual-pivot calliper here to stay? And what are the real pros and cons of making the switch to disc brakes? Dawn of the disc First of all, a bit of history. Disc brakes might be fairly new in road biking, but they’ve been well established in mountain biking for years. The ProStop disc brake first appeared as far back as 1989. Hayes introduced the Mag disc brake in the late ’90s, and over the next few years brands like Avid and Shimano followed suit. Changing from…10 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015Campaign trailShivering outside a quaint Cotswolds cafe, waiting for photographer Joby to be served his pricey latte, I curse the fact that general elections always happen in May. It had seemed like a great idea, this election ride between party leaders’ constituencies, but as the slow drip of details revealed themselves I’d started to wonder whether it was such a sound one.For starters, to get it done in time for publication we’d have to ride it well before Britain goes to the polls on 7 May, at some point in the grip of winter. And as with the TV election debates, there was the question of how many constituencies to visit. Do I include the Greens leader Natalie Bennett’s Holborn and St Pancras patch? What about the extra legwork involved if…11 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015CYCLE WILTSHIRESPORTIVE IN 60 SECONDS1 SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODYThere’s a 20-mile route, a 100-miler, and one in between at 64 miles, and you don’t need to commit at the start. If you had your eye on the 100 or 64 but change your mind during it, you can always opt for a cut-off.2 NO KILLER CLIMBSIt’s not just the length options that mean there’s something for everyone – all three routes are manageable. This is Wiltshire, not the Lake District!3 SPOT A ROCK STARFor music buffs, we pass Sting’s gaff, Lake House, in the village of Lake. He and his wife, Trudie Styler, have been there since the early ’90s.4 ANCIENT ATTRACTIONSThe 100-mile route runs close to several historic sites, including the stone circle in Avebury, the roads close to Stonehenge, and…2 min
Cycling Plus|May 2015SHIMANO R785WE SAY Whatever shifting you combine it with, Shimano’s hydraulic disc is the current state of-thestopping art Weight 528g Rotor 160mm Hydraulic Whatever shifting you combine it with, Shimano’s hydraulic disc is the current state-of-the-stopping art. We’ve tested the Di2 electronic shifting version here, but the mechanical version (R658) is identical in terms of the brake, and £10 cheaper per unit. Impressively, there’s no obvious change in external dimensions or even lever pull distance compared with conventional STIs. The super-light, ultra-consistent, any-weather control is definitely hydraulic, though: single-finger power is ample and the finned IceTech pads and bi-metal sandwich frilled ‘Freeza’ rotors (£50) dissipate heat very effectively. They are heavier than the SRAM competition but they are significantly cheaper even if you get your local shop to fit and bleed…2 min
