Table of contents for February 2023 in Cycling Plus

● From Cowes through flat, quiet villages to Yarmouth’s rough railtrail (I prefer the parallel roads to the west). At Freshwater, sidetrip via Alum Bay to car-free lane and Needles viewpoint. Busyish but viewful Military Road, then back lanes to Yarbridge Cross: climb to clifftop Culver Down, and curiously isolated pub. Flattish coast run past boathouses back to Cowes. 01 Bike shop ● TAV Cycles, Ryde (PO33 2RE, tavcycles.co.uk, closed Sun) is a full-spec, well-regarded local place with workshop, sales, hire, and range of machines (road, ebike, gravel etc). 02 Lunch stop ● Pedallers Cafe (PO36 0NP, pedallerscafe.co.uk) is a classy cyclist-oriented place with lunches and drinks, right on the car-free railtrail in the village of Newchurch. Open 7/7. 03 Photo op The Needles viewing platform west of Alum Bay…

Weight 8.1kg (58cm) Frame Carbon Fork Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Soloist Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Ultegra Hydraulic brakes Wheels Reserve 44/40 Finishing kit Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR G 28c tyres, Cervélo AB07 Alloy bar, Cervélo ST36 Alloy stem, Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo SuperFlow Manganese saddle, Cervélo SP27 Carbon seatpost Accessories Cervélo Faceplate Front Computer/Accessory Mount and Rear Accessory Mount THE NEW CERVÉLO SOLOIST is a do-it-all, aero-inspired bike designed for amateur racers and fast road riders. It’s been 20 years since the original alloy Soloist debuted. Back in 2002, the Soloist was a game-changing frame design. Extruded aluminium tubes had been based on true aerofoil shapes until the Soloist’s ‘aero’ tubes simply flattened round tubes into a shorter approximation of an aerofoil (for lighter results but similar aero…

My back wheel is being held aloft by a giant cow standing up on two legs. I’m unable to achieve forward momentum and start swaying from side to side, my feet trapped in my pedals and fingers furiously gripping the brake hoods. It seems I’m having that dream again. Only this time I’ve remembered to wear my bib shorts… ‘Go, go, go!’ I’m pushed forward by the black and white Friesian, who turns out to be the Smithams Chimney Hill Climb race organiser Mark Jerzak in a cunning disguise, and swiftly become pitched into battle with my Sunday-morning nemesis, a local legend that’s been tormenting West Country cyclists for decades. Standing 2km in length and with an average gradient of 7.4%, Smitham Hill in East Harptree, Somerset, might not trouble…

01 BIKE Merida Scultura Team The Scultura Team, our 2022 Performance Bike of the Year, is everything a proper cutting-edge race bike should be. Light, devastatingly fast, and with an equipment specification that wouldn’t be out of place sprinting for the line on the Champs Elysees come July – and all at a price (£7,750) that no other superbike can match. 02 CLOTHING Santini Delta bibs & jersey This Delta jersey and bibs combination from Santini (£215) works well in temperatures from the low teens to the hottest centigrade of high summer, but it also performs well as a base for spring and autumnal rides. There are windproof elements on the jersey and compressive fabric on the legs, adding to the reasons that this is one of our most versatile…

Weight 10.5kg (L) Frame 725 Reynolds steel Fork Carbon Drivetrain SRAM Rival AXS eTap XPLR (40t, 10-44t) Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Mavic All Road alloy Finishing kit Halo GXC Tubeless ready 27.5 X 1.75 tyres, Level 90mm stem, Level alloy gravel riser bar, Level HM carbon seatpost, Fizik Taiga saddle RIBBLE’S GRAVEL RANGE NOW includes three 725 Reynolds-steel-framed versions, ranging from the £2,099 Sport to this one, the Pro, at £2,899. This steel is stronger than 531 and 853, and Ribble has further reinforced things by The Good Versatile frameset; great value; great stability on technical terrain The Bad using triple-butted tubes on the frame, and adding a large gusset between the downtube, seat-tube and bottom bracket shell to increase the strength and stiffness in this critical area. The…

THE ECO REACT LOOKS QUITE different to your average urban helmet. The dropped rear has hints of mountain bike trail style about it as well as offering more coverage. The helmet’s design features many more vents than your average city helmet too, with five forward facing vents, four more large vents on top and a further four exhaust ports at the rear. The biggest difference, however, is in the construction. Bollé has tried to reduce the environmental impact of the helmet. The core is now a blend of EPS foam and natural cork, rather than being wholly expanded polystyrene (EPS) as many others are. The shell includes recycled plastic, while the webbing straps include recycled cotton. The removable brow-pad peak is cork and there’s a bamboo-fibre lining. The fit of…

01 Van Rysel Women’s Baselayer £29.99 Sizes XS-XL Colours Black THE CHEAPEST OF THE OPTIONS, this tight-fitting, waffle-patterned number from Decathlon was certainly warm and I was pleasantly surprised that it wicked away sweat effectively. It didn’t ride up and the seams were very minimal, but it’s fully synthetic and I found that if I wore it all day, it started to get itchy and the waffle pattern marked my skin around the elbows and armpits. I’m a grubby bikepacker who’s looking for multi-day comfort, but if you’re not, this has all the hallmarks of a good baselayer and you could definitely do worse. 02 Endura Transloft Baselayer £42.99 Sizes S-XXL Colours Black THE UNISEX TRANSLOFT HAS A breathable panel up the back which I liked aesthetically and practically, and…

They’re getting less frequent, but every so often Cycling Plus gets emails from our dear readers questioning, in the politest ways, our enthusiastic coverage of gravel bikes and rides. Since I started writing for the magazine a decade ago, our publication has evolved from a title that was, in keeping with the mood of the times, very much into sportive bikes and carbon racers. It has now branched out into pretty much anything pedal-powered on two wheels that isn’t a mountain bike. Across CP’s 30-year history, we’ve been following trends, occasionally setting them, but above all trying to spread a love of life on two wheels. So, coming back to that question about gravel bikes and riding, my answer to those emails would be a question of my own: “Have…

Carbohydrates are your main source of energy in a healthy, balanced diet and are broken down into glucose then absorbed into your blood, entering your body’s cells with the help of insulin. It’s then used for energy, or converted into glycogen and stored in your liver and muscles. Wholegrain, unrefined carbs release glucose into the bloodstream more gradually than highly refined, processed foods, providing longer-lasting energy as well as additional nutrients. Stuffed peppers (*V) These are bursting with nutritious ingredients and contain slow releasing carbs to fuel your body. Details • Prep 10mins • Cook 55mins • Serves 2 Ingredients • 2 large red or yellow peppers• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil• 1 onion, finely chopped• 1 celery stalk, finely diced• 1 clove garlic, crushed• 4 mushrooms, sliced• 1…

01 Conquer the logistics Every multi-day ride has unique logistical challenges. The Haute Route features pro-level support, including in-race mechanics, post-race massages and hotel accommodation. DIY tours or self-supported trips require more planning, but you can adapt your route and stay in campsites. Will the event organiser transport your kit each day, or will you need to add panniers? Will you get in-race food, or do you need to plot feed stops en route? Do your homework in advance to avoid any shocks. “DO YOUR HOMEWORK IN ADVANCE TO AVOID ANY SHOCKS. WILL THE EVENT ORGANISER TRANSPORT YOUR KIT EACH DAY?” 02 Crank up the miles Riding 60-140km on back-to-back days can be challenging, so focus on your stamina in training. Start with slow endurance mileage, then crank up the…

For all the Christmas survival guides on getting through the festive period without feeling as stuffed as a turkey, in truth you don’t need to look beyond the Rapha Festive 500. Since it began in 2010, largely as an internal challenge at Rapha, the Festive 500 has been a popular calorie-burner through this eating-to-excess period. The premise is simple: ride 500km in the eight days between 24 and 31 December and upload your rides to the ride-tracking app Strava. Aside from a story to tell on your social media accounts, for your efforts you’re awarded the Strava Festive 500 badge and go into the hat for the prize draw. In 2021, Lee Sangmin from South Korea won the biggie, a brand new Cannondale Synapse, while daily prizes are on offer…

AS WE USHER IN A NEW YEAR we have high hopes for new models and equipment, such as Shimano’s more cost-effective 105 Di2. There are new wheels, tyres and tech on the horizon too. For this month’s bike test, we’ve picked four exciting new road bikes and given them a closer look. Alongside updates to current favourites such as Giant’s groundbreaking Propel aero bike, Canyon’s flyweight all-rounder the Ultimate, and Trek’s classics-focused endurance bike the Domane, we also have Cervélo revitalising its classic Soloist as a ride that brings aero gains to real-world riders like us. 01 Going solo Cervélo has revived the Soloist from the original that debuted 20 years ago and inspired the whole aero-road bike genre. The Soloist was a legendary design for Cervélo and the new bike…

THESE FOUR BIKES REPRESENT where road bikes are heading for 2023, and all do it exceptionally well. Canyon’s flagship Ultimate is almost impossibly light in this elite build; it’s also claimed to be more aerodynamic, more efficient and more comfortable than before. That taps into a common trend for 2023: bikes that manage to be more focused and yet more versatile. In this build, the Ultimate is perhaps a little too focused on pure climbing. The lightweight wheel and tyre combo make sense on epic continental climbs but suffers a bit on home terrain. Another build could hit the mark if ultimate lightness is your priority though. “This range-topping model is thousands cheaper than its rivals here, but it’s on a performance par” Trek’s lighter new Domane brings the Wisconsin…

He is the bike rider who can do it all. After his best road season yet, just how does Pidcock manage his ambitions across three sports? HE FLOWED LIKE WATER SKIPPING DOWN A PRECIPITOUS ROCK FALL. HE CARRIED HIS SPEED EFFORTLESSLY AROUND BENDS. HE CAUGHT, PASSED AND LEFT RIVALS BEHIND LIKE THEY WERE OUT ON A CASUAL RIDE TO THE SHOPS. Watching Tom Pidcock race down the Col du Galibier was mesmerising, and it still is. Months later, fans from around the world share videos and rave about it on social media. The young master in full flight sparks awe, disbelief and a little fear (we’d all love to ride like that, but please don’t try it at home). Transmitting a special feeling to everyone watching is one mark of…

Since Orbea launched the Terra in 2017, the gravel scene has evolved at an unstoppable speed. As a result, the celebrated Basque brand has designed a lightweight and customisable new model that’ll thrill gravel fans: a sporty bike that’s capable and comfortable on asphalt but still reactive, efficient and easy to ride on gravel. And all this without sacrificing the fun that comes from riding at speed. Here are six reasons you need the Terra in your riding life in 2023… 01. A WHOLE NEW DESIGN Orbea’s motto for the launch of the Terra was ‘Gravel from the Ground Up’. It’s a project that started with a blank slate in terms of materials, geometry and components in order to come up with a bike that brought fun and capability. The…

“Yes, in that study they used cadavers to test the safety of helmets. They impacted the cadavers’ helmeted heads at 10 milliseconds. Allegedly, if you’re an inmate in China, the government can use your body for science. It’s why there are plenty of experiments with Chinese cadavers.” Luca Viano, product director of Italian brand Kask, knows everything about what goes into that often neglected but essential item of cranial cycling wear – even the lost souls whose bodies keep us alive. The Italian company doesn’t rely on the dead. But it does collaborate with Ineos Grenadiers, nay Team Sky, which projected them into the consciousness and upon the heads of UK riders. Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Sir Bradley Wiggins all wore Kask helmets to Paris while adorned in le…

REACH YOUR PEAK p114 NUTRITION p116 MASTERCLASS p120 Your Experts James Witts Reach your peak The Science of the Tour de France author looks at the latest cycling research Kate Percy Fuel your riding Kate is the author of Go Faster Food and the founder of Go Bites energy balls Norman Lazarus Performance wisdom Norman, 87, is a physiology professor, author and former audax champion Mark Bailey Masterclass maestro Top cyclist Mark takes you through how to plan for a multi-day event…

WHITE ONION VS RED ONION Over 40 million tonnes of onions are grown annually. But which is healthiest – white or red? When it comes to calories, they’re both low options, with 100g of red delivering 37cals compared to 42cals from white. Red’s slightly higher in fibre – 2g vs 1.2g per serving – which helps to lower blood pressure. Both are a fine source of vitamin C to help your body make collagen (a protein that helps with wound healing) and to boost immunity. However, a 2017 study published in Food Research International found that red onions were more effective at killing human cancer cells compared to white onions due to having higher levels of the antioxidants quercetin and anthocyanin. Quercetin’s also linked to fighting pesky colds. VERDICT RED…

Session 01 Sweet Spot Matches Benefits On a multi-day ride you need to recover quickly post ride – but also mid-ride. “A short acceleration may be needed to make it up to the back of the group to save energy,” explains Rollinson. Kit needed These accelerations can be performed through perceived exertion, but a power meter will help you hit the right zones. How to do it Warm-up 3mins @56-76% FTP (comfortable pace, easy to speak) 3mins @76-88% FTP (a tempo pace, possible to speak in short sentences) 3mins @95-105% FTP (a hard effort, short of breath, at time trial or hill climb pace) 5mins @30-56% FTP (a light spin) Main set 6 x 5min efforts @88-95% FTP (sweet spot, a 7/10 effort so you can talk in short phrases)…

ETAPE DU TOUR 2023 STATS Location Annemasse, France Date 9 July 2023 Distance 152km Price See tour operators One of the original mass participation sportives, L’Etape du Tour – a standard bearer as far as organisation and sporting challenge goes – will run for the 31st time next summer. Mimicking a stage of the Tour de France, this year it’s earmarked stage 14 of the great race, from Annemasse to Morzine. Its age and association are two of the reasons for its status as a bucket list ride. By choosing a challenging mountain stage, the organisers cater to both the serious racer wanting to test their limits and more green riders wanting to build their year around an unprecedented test. PRE-RIDE PREP If the 152km doesn’t quite hit the imperial…

Kisharon North London History ● ‘In 2000 a few people began repairing bikes in a London garage,’ says co-manager Natalie Kennard. ‘It was an exciting new activity for individuals with special educational needs. The Bike Shop is run by me and Raymond Bonham with three full-time staff with learning disabilities.’ Why is this shop special? ● ‘We have 15 training places, adding up to 400 hours of training a month, for people with special needs to learn basic repairs, customer service, banking and stocktaking. They come to us from learning-disability organisations and schools.’ Why is a local bike shop so important? ● ‘You can’t use the internet to get your bike fixed!’ What’s in store? ● ‘A full workshop, new and secondhand bikes, and a range of spares and accessories. We’re…

Weight 6.3kg (L) Frameset Canyon Ultimate CFR Gears Shimano Dura-Ace (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace R9270 hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss PRC 1100 Mon Chasseral Finishing kit Schwalbe Pro One TT, tubeless-ready tyres, Canyon CP0018 Aerocockpit bar/stem, Selle Italia C59 Carbon saddle, Canyon SP0064 zero setback seatpost BILLED AS ACHIEVING THE ‘perfect balance’, the new Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2 blends low weight, high stiffness, aero performance and comfort and features the highest-spec carbon of the three offerings in the Ultimate range. The frame and fork are impressively light, at a total claimed 1,082g in a size Medium, and my Large test bike feels almost surreally light in my hands, at 6.39kg. The bike’s had an aero refresh to the tune of five watts at 45km/h, thanks to a slightly more angular…

From your first dash around the garden as a toddler, to relaxing post-retirement rides in your 70s, cycling is a gloriously age-defying sport. The road to older age is full of potholes, however, from declining muscle mass to slowing metabolism. But if you adapt your lifestyle, training and diet as you age, you can buffer these effects and reach the finish line in good shape. At Cycle Fit (cyclefit.co.uk) in London, Phil Cavell - author of The Midlife Cyclist - and Nichola Roberts - owner of Velophysio - have been helping ambitious cyclists navigate the ageing process for years. “You can still perform at a very high level as you get older,” insists Cavell. “You just need to compensate for any deficiencies.” Riders who pedal into older age will enjoy…

THE ECLIPSE SPHERICAL FROM Bell’s sister brand Giro was one of our very best new helmets of 2022, its fresh approach to the MIPS system and Giro’s aero pedigree making it a surefire winner for cyclists seeking both speed and safety. As the name suggests, Bell’s XR Spherical Road Helmet also offers that Spherical MIPS tech, but the titular ‘Road’ limits the broader appeal offered here. What’s the Spherical tech? It’s essentially a helmet within a helmet, with two layers of EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam held together by elastomer ‘anchors’ to create a ball-and-socket effect. The proprietary idea is to allow the outer liner to rotate around the inner during a crash and redirect impact forces away from the brain. The Giro Aether Spherical was awarded a five-star safety rating…

Topeak Flashfender Deluxe Duo Fixer £18.99 A useful addition to the Duo Fixer System THIS COMES AS A PAIR of very lightweight guards (56g total) that are compatible with the Topeak Duo Fixer system (the Duo Fixer is included). Once in place, this system means you can instantly mount guards, lights, a saddlebag and other accessories in the range and build a system around it. Click on, click off The Duo Fixer attaches easily to your saddle rails using two Allen-key bolts. It’s quickly done and once in place the guard just clicks into position, making it simple to either add or remove depending on conditions. There are upper and lower slots and the accessory the guard is paired with determines the position. Using the light? Slot the transparent guard…

Weight 23.76kg (L) Frameset Aluminium Gears Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub gear Brakes Tektro HD-M275 Wheels: Momentum 27.5in aluminium rims Motor system Yamaha SyncDrive Life motor (60nM, 250W) and Panasonic 500Wh battery Finishing kit Alloy bar, stem and seatpost, Selle Royal Essenza Moderate saddle, CST Metropolitan Pal Bay tyres THE MOMENTUM IS CERTAINLY a striking-looking machine, with its low-slung top-tube and massively oversized down-tube giving it an almost beach cruiser appearance. Choose one of the bold frame colours: golden yellow, royal blue or red/orange in particular, and combined with the all-black components and massive tan-wall balloon tyres, it creates a funky and chunky look that’s quite appealing. The Transend comes in the standard shape seen here or with a low, curvy top ‘Mid-Step’ design, and in three sizes: Small, Medium and…

“CLIMBERS WEIGHED AN AVERAGE 64KG, ALL-ROUNDERS 68KG AND FLAT AFICIONADOS (SPRINTERS AND DOMESTIQUES) 75KG” 01 Horses for courses Will your Little Geraint become a professional cyclist when they grow up? Are they looking to win the Tour de France? Or perhaps looking to be an über domestique, protecting the leader from the wind and reeling in any breakaway? If so, it’s good to work back from the physical identikit required to race at WorldTour level. Which is where recent research featured in the European Journal of Sport Science comes in. A team of Spanish researchers analysed the anthropomorphic characteristics of 76 professional road cyclists (all male so sadly impossible to disseminate the results for female riders) to spot trends among the peloton. One of the researchers was Mikel Zabala, former…

Signing up for a multi-day bike event is the closest you can get to sampling the heroic challenges and exhilarating rewards of the Tour de France. Yes, riding on back-to-back days may be a gruelling undertaking, but it will enable you to cover epic distances across shifting landscapes, unlock your full endurance potential, and leave you with a dazzling kaleidoscope of memories. You’ll gain serious kudos in the cycling community. And learning how to manage your body and mind over consecutive days of riding will make you a much more savvy and steely rider. But above all else, you’ll enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. There are lots of different multiday rides to choose from. You can sign up for an organised race like the Haute Route Alps – a…

JANUARY 15 Jan 2023 Sonder Winter Gravel Series Edinburgh, Scotland 2-4hrs Leaving from Edinburgh’s Alpkit store, this self-supported ride explores gravel routes around the capital. From £10 29 Jan 2023 Sonder Winter Gravel Series Bristol 2-4hrs The Sonder Series moves to Bristol’s Alpkit store, and the best gravel routes around the West Country city. Expect mud. From £10 FEBRUARY 12 Feb 2023 Sonder Winter Gravel Series Keswick, Cumbria 2-4hrs Keswick takes in the railway trails, fells and bridleways of the Lake District. From £10 26 Feb 2023 Sonder Winter Gravel Series Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia 2-4hrs The lost lanes and forest gravel of Snowdonia provide the finale of 2023’s Series. From £10 26 Feb 2023 Hell of the Ashdown 2023 Westerham, Kent 100km Now run by Westerham Cycling Club, this is a lumpy 100km route through the…

“My motivation for this challenge was my mum. I told her when she was ill that I was going to embark on this challenge to raise awareness for her disease. She looked at me oddly as I had never really cycled in my life.” “Simon’s daughter lives with type 1 diabetes so he wanted to raise awareness for that too. We wanted a challenge that would mean us both being at our physical and mental limits – but that we would hopefully push through no matter how much it hurt, as our pain couldn’t compare to what my mum went through or what Simon’s daughter faces on a daily basis.” “Simon and I discussed various options. I suggested walking the Three Peaks via ridge routes. We then said, ‘Wouldn’t it…