Table of contents for February 2017 in Cycling Plus

WORTH £79.99! FREE CYCLOPS JOULE BIKE COMPUTER when you subscribe to Cycling Plus See p92 While the picture above provides ample evidence as to why I’ve never been asked by the magazine’s art team to appear on the cover it does, at least, prove that I achieved another cycling first in 2016 to accompany my recent attempt at cyclo-cross. In late November myself, senior art editor Steve and ad man Adrian raced a duathlon. For me it was, like CX, ticking off a discipline that I’d long promised to do. And, like my time racing in the mud, I came away with that warm glow of satisfaction you get from doing something that – perhaps to your surprise – you thoroughly enjoy. I’ll be looking for other bike-based firsts in…

£8500 › Tech-laden speed machine SPECIFICATION Weight 7.85kg (58cm) Frame FACT carbon Fork FACT carbon Gears SRAM Red eTap HRD 52/36, 11-28 Brakes SRAM Red hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors Wheels Roval 64 tubeless + The Venge Vias isn’t a bike you’d buy off the peg or unseen. The complexity of the design means that a professional fit is a necessity. Its multitude of fitting options would make it very tricky to buy even if you’re confident of your ride position. The Vias is a showcase of the best of the latest road bike aerodynamics – and it’s undoubtedly fast. We’ve shaved time off our best solo 40km time, and on local test loops have consistently matched or beaten PBs. Get into the sweet spot of 20mphplus and it comes alive,…

1 SHIMANO ULTEGRA 6800 CASSETTE £74.99 Shimano’s Ultegra cassette is available in five options from a flatland- or time trial-friendly 11-23 to a more alpineflavoured 11-32, with the 11-28 allrounder in between. Do make sure your mech will cope. 2 BTWIN 700 CHAIN WHIP £11.99 BTwin’s novel ‘chainless chain whip’ reinvents something you wouldn’t have thought needed any reinvention. You use it in conjunction with a lockring removal tool, its pegs slotting neatly into the teeth of the smallest sprocket, on seven- to 11-speed cassettes. 3 HOY HG CASSETTE REMOVER £19.99 Expensive but more convenient than a separate lockring removal tool and adjustable spanner, the Hoy tool has an American ash handle (‘inspired by the velodrome, ’ apparently) and a steel shaft. It has a pleasing look and feel to…

Carbon makes the world a better place, right? It makes things lighter, it looks stealthy and futuristic, indeed there isn’t a widget that couldn’t be improved with a little bit of the black stuff. Life would be terribly dull if we stamped out variety entirely, however, and this month we’re banishing carbon completely, or rather, we’re banishing it as a frame material – forks get a pass on this one. We’ve all observed the renaissance that metal bikes have been experiencing in recent years, and this month we’ve got six bikes from four different countries, every one with a metal frame. At one end of the scale, club-run stalwart Ribble supplies a familiar aluminium model with the latest in affordable groupsets, while home crowd favourite Genesis serves up a retro…

1 SHOES Stiff carbon soles with prominent cleats are for racers. The rest of us are better off with shoes we can actually walk in for more than just a metre or two. 2 SAFETY Helmets and glasses are the obvious places to start. Make sure you try before you buy, or if buying online, make sure you can swap if it doesn’t fit you. 3 LIGHTING Compulsory at night – though you might not believe it! Make sure your lights are well mounted and charged, and carry a back-up in case of emergencies. 4 SECURITY Buying a lock’s fine, but if you just lock your wheel to a bike stand, don’t be surprised to find the rest of the bike gone. And just the locked wheel remaining… 5 PEDALS…

THE TIME IS NOW Foundation training encourages positive changes in your body. The process increases red blood cell volume and trains a stronger heart feeding better quality muscle. Its primary objective is to improve aerobic fitness, which allows you to cycle for longer and absorb greater training load later in the season, making you faster. It’s done in a measured way, as you can’t keep thrashing threshold and VO2 max intervals for 12 months. FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES Other areas covered in foundation training include improving pedalling technique, body position, cornering and descending: all improve economy and give you extra speed for free. A coach will work on rebuilding or developing strength, both on the bike and, if possible, in the gym. Building strength will increase the force you can put through…

Becoming a cyclist transformed my body. I’m leaner, fitter and healthier Heaviest: 15st 4lb (98kg) (Body fat approx 38 per cent) Now: 11st 3lb (72kg) (Body fat 12 per cent) WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE THE BIKE? “I was a rugby player so I was fit but I admit I was eating all the wrong things. My waist size was 40in, now it’s 30/32.” HOW DID CYCLING CHANGE YOUR LIFE? “I got on the bike to do a charity endurance ride from London to Paris (and then onto Geneva) for Marie Curie (mariecurie.org.uk) after my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I got hooked straight away. I trained hard, lost weight and raised over £4500. I’ve kept at it ever since. I can’t imagine not cycling now. When I started training…

Given the way that professional cycling, in particular the Tour de France, dominates our perception of Europe’s mountains, it’s the cols of the French Alps and Pyrenees that hold the cachet. From many perspectives, however, whether it’s aesthetic, difficulty or even the mastery in which they have been created, there’s a strong case to be made for the Swiss Alps to be the ultimate destination for road cyclists in Europe. They are certainly less well known to the masses but even high-mountain passes like the Furka (known for its appearance in James Bond film Goldfinger), Gotthard (its cobbles) and Nufenen (its steepling height) are mainstream in comparison to the alternative gems in and around the idyllic mountain resort of Gstaad. For Brits the easiest route to the town is from…

There are kilometres,” my guide, Aitor Sukia says. “And then there are Basque kilometres.” In the way that Christmas Day kilometres count double, given that most cyclists are at home indulging in turkey and pudding, a kilometre in the forever undulating terrain of this region of northern Spain is worth more than the same distance elsewhere. “Even if you make the decision to stay away from the climbs, you’re still going to climb 1000m in a 100km ride. There’s no avoiding it.” Why the riding is harder here isn’t just a matter of climbing, you can climb in Europe’s mountain ranges for far longer and higher than the Basque Country. It’s because the climbs are often super-steep here, and, as such, the descents too. Don’t be fooled into thinking that…

It’s like Scotland… Only better,” says fellow rider Sean, as he sits back with coffee in hand. These are strong words – fighting words, some would say – to fall on a Scotsman’s ears, and in normal circumstances they could lead to a sharp response, or even a light scuffle. But in this case they are actually spoken by a fellow Scot. We are sitting outside our hotel on the north west coast of Norway, cradling a last steaming coffee before setting off on a ride up the famous Atlantic Ocean Road. The sun is out, the roads that we have seen on our drive here, snaking along the coastline through rocky islands above deep blue water, are beautifully smooth, and the drivers – what little of them there are…

BUYING ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST Look out for our Best On Test award. We only give this to gear that really deserves your attention CYCLING PLUS BEST ON TEST CYCLING PLUS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CYCLING PLUS 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…

Wind power forms a dramatic backdrop to pedal power during photography for our anything-but-carbon bike test on page 48, where we pit six metal machines against each other. In these eco-aware times, wind farming seems to be replacing sheep farming in South Wales. The Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project will feature 76 turbines on its completion, though in this shot one looks like a giant track pump to us.…

£105 CYCLING BEST ON TEST HIGHS Construction, visibility, durability, weight LOWS Still requires a waterproof liner WE SAY Rapha’s Brevet makeover has made a great saddle pack even better Rapha’s collaboration with British bike packing pioneer Apidura has produced a distinctive version of the 11-litre Apidura Compact Saddle Pack. Construction The main body uses fourlayer, laminated Dimension Polyant VX21 fabric that’s light, doesn’t stretch and is tear-and abrasion-resistant and waterproof. Even so, the seams can let in water during prolonged rain, so an impermeable liner is advisable. There’s a roll-top closure with compression strap, two rear light points and useful bungee cord storage on top, and it’s light at 355g. Stability Requiring 20cm beneath your saddle rails to fit, a single broad Velcro strap tightens the seatpost against the anti-slip…

£129.99 › Lezyne’s feature-rich GPS gets a facelift MEASURE UP 1 It weighs 69g (inc mount) and measures 70x48mm, standing 34mm tall on your stem AMPED UP 2 Recharging is via a standard micro-USB plug concealed under a water-proofing rubber flap MOUNT UP 3 The ultrasecure X-Lock mount releases via a push and a twist, rather like a childproof bottle HIGHS Value, on-thego navigation, connectivity LOWS Dated design, tall mount, occasional freeze-ups  BEST KNOWN FOR posh pumps, lights and tools, Lezyne has gone from nought to 60 in the blink of an eye with its range of GPS devices in the last couple of years, releasing a bewildering array of models. We reviewed the Super GPS in issue 314, and seemingly before the ink had dried, Lezyne released an Enhanced…

1 FIT Designed to be close fitting to make them aerodynamic and race efficient with a flap-free ride. The fit aids breathability as being closer to the skin means sweat can be wicked to the outside for evaporation. 2 SLEEVES Long sleeves make sense for the winter, providing more insulation when temperatures are typically cooler. Short sleeve versions work well for milder days and can be used with arm warmers for a more versatile setup. 3 STASH SPACE You don’t need to worry about carrying additional waterproofs, but easy access pockets are important for carrying food and spares. Zip pockets are useful for storing valuables and keys. Some feature waterproof phone pockets too. 4 TEMPERATURE CONTROL Regulating temperature is vital in race situations where conditions vary. The technical fabrics these…

INSTANT EXPERT Let a bit of air out of your tyres for more traction 1 GET A BIKE FIT FOR PURPOSE Key components are designed for strength over speed, so a road bike won’t cut it. For a first mountain bike, spend £500–£600. Anything cheaper and you’ll probably spend more time fixing it than riding. 2 CONVERT YOUR KIT You may not ride for the same amount of time as a road ride, but you’ll still be exposed to the elements. I’d advise merino socks underneath waterproof socks, mountain bike boots and gloves. On top, wear a base layer under a micro fleece, a waterproof outer layer and windproof gilet. Three-quarter length shorts with padded bib tights underneath or padded inner shorts are a sensible choice. 3 MAINTAIN YOUR BIKE…

Earth, wind and fire sums this Canary Island up well, even if it’s not got quite so much of the latter these days, what with the volcanoes in the Timanfaya National Park largely dormant. The greatest volume of eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736, shaping the west side of the island as it is today. It’s this volcanic activity that makes Lanzarote such a unique, exhilarating place to ride a bike, as silky smooth tarmac winds its way through the debris of violent volcanic activity. Unlike neighbouring, famed cycling destinations of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Lanzarote is lighter on serious climbs, though elevation comes close to touching 2000ft near the highest point of the island, Peñas del Chache. At the very northern tip is the Mirador del Rio, a viewpoint…

Agetaway for the cyclists of Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula is one of the planet’s iconic stretches of road. Tracing the route of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the March sportive and one of the biggest in the world, will give you the best of it, though that event is held on closed roads and takes you down highways at the beginning that you’ll want to avoid at any other time of year. It’s best to ride our tried-andtested route, heading out of the city along the coastal road, which sticks close to the sea while undulating deliciously through local landmarks such as Chapman’s Peak and the town of Camp’s Bay. Beyond Noordhoek you can jut inland and do a figure of eight loop through Simon’s Town and head back…

The Umbrian people will tell you that they have a special connection with the land around them –_this is an area of farming, viticulture and olive oil production – and when the land is as spectacular and varied as it is here in the heart of Italy it is easy to understand why. Stunning, historic towns and villages – such as Todi – sit atop steep hills, while mountains loom on the horizon in all directions sheltering the tobacco fields of the Tiber valley. From here the river flows to Rome, just a few hours away, while in the opposite direction the Appenine mountains lead you into Tuscany. Our ride will take us away from Todi, across the Tiber and into the Fluviale del Tevere National Park. The roads here…

SPECIFICATION Weight 8.46kg (56cm) Frame Scultura Disc CF2 Fork Full carbon, 12mm thru-axle Groupset Shimano RS685 hydraulic levers, Ultegra, 50/34, 11-28 Brakes Shimano RS805 callipers, 160mm rotors Wheels Fulcrum Racing Expert DB Finishing kit FSA Gossamer alloy bar, Merida Expert stem and carbon seatpost, Prologo Kappa 3 saddle, 25mm Continental Grand Sport Race tyres + Creating a disc version of a rim-braked model isn’t simply a case of shifting brake mounts, as the brake forces involved necessitate re-engineering much of the frame and fork to counteract them without ruining the ride. As one of the world’s biggest bike manufacturers, Merida doesn’t do things by halves, but economies of scale do mean that it can offer excellent quality for a reasonable price. Following 2015’s launch of the latest Scultura World Tour…

It’s that time of year when many of us review our annual mileage or set targets for the next 12 months. And that’s sometimes the problem with cycling – the numbers can get in the way of the riding. Over in the US in September, Amanda Coker smashed Britain’s Billie Fleming’s annual mileage record for women of 29,603 miles, despite only starting in May. A commendable feat of endurance, sure, but riding laps of a park (Flatwoods, Florida) for double century after double century is hardly one for the purists. Last year, Kurt Searvogel, broke the men’s record, achieving a total of 76,229 miles. He was derided by some for occasionally riding a recumbent and following favourable weather. Coker must have liked what she saw, because she used the same…

Share your local knowledge – email cyclingplus@immediate.co.uk Sweeping mountain and lake scenery, epic climbs and descents on mostly car-free back roads.... Just mind the gates, sheep, and poo. None of those on the railtrail from Barmouth (with train station) though. Characterful Dolgellau, with all town facilities and hostels, is our base. Welsh culture flourishes, and the ancient language thrives in pubs and shops. Iechyd da! ROUTE ONE Lakes and mountains 62 miles Big climbs, descents and views If you make an early start, the A494 will be quiet. The real fun starts at Llanuwchllyn, riding steadily up to Bwlch y Groes (585m/1920ft), North Wales’s highest pass. You’ll experience two wonderful downhills, featuring good sightlines, scenery and a distinct lack of cars down to Bala. From there take in the hilly…

My bike held up well to the challenge, even though we were run off the road a few times Setting off in a kayak from Tower Bridge for France was the starting point for an adventure of a lifetime. There were setbacks, of course, such as being plucked from the Pacific Ocean after tropical storm Mawar broke my boat. I returned to Japan with a new boat – becoming the first woman to row solo from there to Alaska – then cycled through Canada and across North America in winter before attempting to row the Atlantic to return home. One of the most memorable moments was when Gao, a young Chinese guy who met me when I stopped for a snack at a service station, decided to join me. We…

£2198 › Dolan Titanium ADX The Dolan nails the complete package out of the box and does so irrespective of price Much like at your school sports days, the one where you tripped over in the 100m sprint and had to be carried over the line to receive your medal for taking part, there are no losers here. Our tour of carbon alternatives covered a range of budgets and types of bike, and if you were in any doubt that there are worthwhile, interesting machines that aren’t made of the black stuff, we hope we’ve eased your mind. It was a pleasure to revisit Ribble’s classic wintery offering and despite its analogue nature and dated features, it was a useful reminder that there are still affordable ways to keep riding…

£259.99 › Cushioned carbon for increased comfort HIGHS Weight, ride feel and comfort LOWS Cost, could be flared more WE SAY It’s expensive, but Bontrager’s IsoCore bar will improve your cockpit comfort BREAKING DOWN THE lengthy name gives the Pro quality level designation (and price), while VR-SF stands for the shape of the drops - variable radius shallow flare. Following on from the bumptaming IsoSpeed elements of several Trek framesets, IsoCore is described as continuous inner-laminar technology, which in layman’s terms means the company has added something to the bar’s OCLV carbon layup. Our 42cm example weighs just 240g, and has wide tops with a very square bend in to the short reach, mildly flared drops. Bontrager offers a compact drop version for the same price, but our shallow bend…

£230 › Giro’s Synthe gets Rapha’d HIGHS Solid colours, subtle style, performance LOWS Limited colour options WE SAY Rapha has added typically timeless but practical style to an already great helmet GIRO’S POPULAR SYNTHE’S SIMPLE, ALMOST classical looks and low-volume shape – with a design that mixes clean lines with aero considerations – has proved to be a winning formula. It can also be styled to match a variety of outfits, which has not gone unnoticed by Rapha. Expanding on their long-standing shoe collaboration, Rapha has restyled Giro’s MIPSequipped [Multi-Directional Impact Protection System] Synthe, by painting all of the shell in white, black or chartreuse. Less obviously, the ventilating aero mesh on either side of the silicone-edged sunglasses ports has been replaced by a finely ribbed plastic. The Giro logo…

Hola Cycling Tours Explore Andalucía with our winter training camps and mountain bike tours while enjoying the ideal winter climate. Based in the lively town of Osuna which has many tapas bars to choose from. We offer routes up challenging climbs and rides through the olive fields. Return home a stronger cyclist. E info@holacyclingtours.com W holacyclingtours.com Vamos! Cycling Come and train in the Alpujarra mountains, southern Spain! Whether it’s for a specific event, or you just want a week of smooth, quiet roads, long climbs, stunning descents and a home from home base, Vamos! has it all! We also offer sportive weeks and winter training weeks in Mojacar. E vamoswilliams@gmail.com W vamoscycling.com Andalucian Cycling Experience Road cycling holidays and training camps on the smoothest roads ever, in Andalucia, southern Spain. The Vuelta…

FOR MOST CYCLISTS, the months of September and October represent gentle transitions from summer events and racing. To more masochistic riders, September means the start of pain, hill reps and obsession over the weight of body and bike. Welcome to the British hill climb scene, a happy (some would say strange) band of like-minded individuals, of which I’m a fully paid-up member. The concept is simple, find a hill and ride up as fast as you can. This has been going on since the 1920s forming a vibrant, albeit niche, scene. Names such as Sydney, Dangerfield and Henderson sit alongside venues such as The Rake, Dovers and Jackson Bridge. You may not have heard of them, but to a hill climb fanatic, these names and locations hold as much sway…

We go for a spin in the hilly region of southwest Scotland dubbed the ‘Ayrshire Alps’ to discover whether it’s worthy of such a famous name Two of the three roads out of the pretty Ayrshire village of Barr tilt upwards at alarmingly steep angles. Situated on the bank of the river Stinchar, some big hills crowd around us. In the community store and cafe where we’ve stopped for some tea and cake, I ask Libby behind the till if the village is ever cut off from the outside world. “It can be tricky getting out when it’s icy,” she replies. Barr has definitely got a bit of The Land That Time Forgot vibe. There’s no mobile signal, the village pub is defunct, and among the reading material on offer…

My face cramps before my legs do,” Stephen says, three hours into our ride and four bites into an enormous cinnamon roll. “It’s weird, but it’s my precursor.” We’re sitting with two other friends outside the Glen Haven General Store, one of only two buildings left standing on Main Street from a mighty flood three years ago in the tiny Old West town high in the thin air of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Large-scale geological violence created the Rockies, and Mother Nature’s ongoing upheavals continue to reshape the mountain valleys with forest fires, floods and landslides. Road engineers battle back, building and rebuilding dirt and paved roads that lace up into and through the Colorado mountains, which top out at 4400m. As cyclists, we are beneficiaries of both creative forces.…

Ihave every reason to hate the Strada dell’Assietta. This 30km dirt road between Sestrière and the Colle delle Finestre in Piedmont, Italy was a mandatory section of the 2015 Transcontinental, an unsupported bike packing race between Geraardsbergen, Belgium and Istanbul, Turkey, which I completed that year. The race covered 4400km. In that epic context it made sense to ride a road bike and suck up 30km of whatever hell awaited on the gravelly Assietta. As it transpired, that hell was multiple pinch flats and a walk up the final 5km of the climb to save my last intact inner tube, though it was hard to be too upset by such a savagely beautiful stretch of road, almost entirely above 2000m altitude and reaching just over 2500m. At the summit I…