Sommaire pour April 2016 de Cycling Plus

SPECIFICATION Weight 10.21kg(55cm) Frame 6061-T6triple-buttedaluminium Fork s T700 UDcarbon disc, 15mmthru-axle Gears ShimanoTiagra, 50/34,12-28 Brakes TRP Spyrecallipers, 160mmfront, 140mm rear Wheels WTBSX17 rims, Novatecdisc hubs Finishing kit Vitusstem, bar, seatpostand saddle, 32mmKenda HappyMedium tyres GR stands for gravel, which, let’s be honest,isn’t yet a big thing in the UK. But beyondthe name there’s a great value, versatilealuminium bike – which is an idea we can grasp. The triple-butted, hydroformed alloy frame isneatly welded, with a full complement of mudguardand rack mounts, and satisfyingly chunky tubes. Threecables run along the top-tube, with an unbroken outercasing for the brake and slotted stops for the gears, butthe cable pulley low down behind the seat-tube willneed constant maintenance to prevent seizing. The beefy carbon fork has a tapered steerer and15mm thru-axle, which keeps the…

NEW HEIGHTS Responding to criticism that the 2015 race was too easy, organisers of the 2016 Aviva Women’s Tour have announced a longer five-stage route that includes a visit to the hilly Peak District. The race forms part of the inaugural UCI Women’s WorldTour. AUSSIE GRIT The Hour Record has gone again. Australian Bridie O’Donnell has set a new women’s record, riding 46.882km – an improvement of 608m over the existing record. UNFOLDING DRAMA British Cycling head honcho Ian Drake is aiming for his own Worlds glory at the Brompton Championships at RideLondon in July. He’s hoping to go better than his 32nd place last time out. RISKY BUSINESS The helmet debate refuses to go away and it’s back in the headlines. A University of Bath study published in Psychological…

The cream of the (riding) crop? Well, Creme has certainly created a stylish modern take on the 1980s road bike, right down to the use of lugged chromoly tubing and chromed one-inch steel fork from the Japanese company Tange, and wheels that homage the era’s Mavic GP4s. But the Echo does have more up-to-date Shimano 105 kit and those are clincher wheels, not the tubulars they’d have been back in the day. It’s yours for £1399.99 if you want to relive the time when you still thought you might have a future as a Tour de France pro……

Shimano 105 gears and hydraulic brakes are remarkable value on the second-cheapest bike here SPECIFICATION Weight 10.22kg (M) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon, with aluminium steerer Gears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-32 Brakes Shimano BR-785 hydraulic discs Wheels Alex Draw 1.9 Finishing kit Pinnacle stem, bar and seatpost, Pinnacle race men’s saddle, 35mm Kenda Small Block Eight tyres If we were writing this test straight from a spreadsheet rather than after a couple of months battering around bridleways, cyclepaths and back roads, the Arkose 3 would be a clear winner. The 22-speed Shimano 105 shifter and gear setup would be enough on its own to put it clear of the largely Tiagra pack, and that’s before taking into account the hydraulic 785 Ultegra brakes – complete with finned rotors. That’s remarkable…

The extra cost of steel is evident – at £1200 you’re still only getting Tiagra components SPECIFICATION Weight 11.99kg (M) Frame Steel Fork Steel Gears Shimano Tiagra 50/34, 11-34 Brakes TRP Hy-Rd C hybrid discs Wheels Alex Draw 1.9P TCS Finishing kit Genesis Road stem, Genesis RandoX Flared bar, Genesis seatpost, Genesis Road Comfort saddle, 35mm Clement X’Plor USH tyres The Genesis Croix de Fer is now in its 10th year of production and the 20 frameset has the look of a well-proven classic. The tank-green livery with gold details is matched with brass anti-corrosion cable adjusters either side of the slim ring-reinforced head-tube. The 725 chromoly steel is made by respected UK tube manufacturer Reynolds, and the frame is a mix of large 34mm diameter down-tube, 31mm top-tube and…

HIGHS ‘Pre-worn-in’ comfort; lower weight; easy to clean LOWS It’s pretty expensive for a 264g saddle BROOKS SADDLES HAVE BEEN HANDMADE in Birmingham since the 1880s. For much of that time its sprung leather designs have changed little, but this Cambium is every inch a 21st-century creation – lighter, slimmer and not made from handcrafted cow hide. Instead it features an organic cotton-infused vulcanised natural rubber top, which is both hardwearing and waterproof. But the biggest surprise is that its one-piece rail is made from oversized and braided carbon fibre, resembling that used by Brooks’ sister company Fizik in some of its saddles. Though in classic Brooks style it is still riveted to the top. We were lucky enough to be part of the Brooks testing team for the Cambium…

Price per 500ml: 49p Type: Hydration Carbs: 12g; Sodium: 0.1g; Sugar: 10g HIGHS Tastes great; good for all-day hydration LOWS Provides a simple sugar energy rush Skratch Labs is new to the UK but has quickly become one of our favourite drinks brands. Most hydration mixes are high in carbohydrates, but Skratch contains less than half the carbs of any of its rivals, so doesn’t need to be washed down with extra water. Sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium levels are also low, and the all-natural flavourings remained tasty no matter how much we drank. Be careful of overdoing it, though: the carbs are mostly simple sugar, which risks creating a spike then a lull in your energy and alertness if you drink too much at once. ETIXX ISOTONIC £24.99 FOR…

HIGHS Natural taste, performance, 3kg bag is good value LOWS Needs diluting further for highintensity riding Price per 500ml: £1.11 Type: Hydration Carbs: 30g; Sodium: 0.55g; Sugar: 10g Torq’s energy drink isn’t just effective, it’s also the tastiest on test, though it’s not cheap. The middling 30g carb quota in the concentration suggested won’t dry you out as you drink and the 2:1 maltodextrin to fructose split promotes faster, more efficient energy absorption without disrupting blood sugar levels. The wide range of natural, vegan-safe flavours are tasty and enjoyable to drink, totally masking any hint of the low-level sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium electrolytes. The strong flavours did cause some comments about how sticky they were when riding flat out, so it might be worth diluting it or sticking…

PLAN AHEAD “The key is to go in primed, which doesn’t necessarily mean you go in telling the person doing the fit exactly what you want,” says Lipski. “Rather it’s being able to tell them your own fitting history, whether you adjusted the position yourself, or did someone advise you, and if so what was their reasoning? Are you happy with your current position? Do you suffer injuries, if so where, when, how often?” KNOW YOUR PURPOSE “What is your discipline?” Lipski suggests you go to your fit with a purpose – how you’re hoping the fit will improve your performance and when you’ll start seeing results. “Remember your bike position will vary between disciplines and distances. If you are a speed monkey, interested in going as fast as possible…

EXERCISE BENEFITS 1 Studies have shown caffeine to have three core benefits for exercise in doses of 75mg per serving or more: it improves focus and mental performance, increases endurance, and reduces rate of perceived exertion. Caffeine also aids muscle recovery by increasing the rate at which your body replenishes muscle glycogen. WHEN TO DRINK 2 Caffeine takes about 45 minutes to fully absorb and has a half-life of 5.7 hours. So ideally, aim to drink coffee 30 to 45 minutes before a ride, then use caffeine gels to keep topped up during your session. Best of all, a post-ride cup with your friends is not only fun but will help accelerate recovery of aching muscles. HOW MUCH? 3 Too much caffeine can bring about jitteriness or heart palpitations, but…

NOT SO MELLOW YELLOW The ultimate signifier of cycling success is yellow –the jersey some rider gets to parade around France in each summer – and so is perhaps the greatest of all cycling rocket fuels. Easy to eat and easy to digest, bananas are full of fast-acting carbs and make the perfect pre- or mid-ride snack. GURT BIG HIT Dairy products are often a good source of carbohydrate, and yoghurt is an excellent choice for a quick hit of energy due to it having a high glycemic index rating. The glycemic index measures how fast and how much a food raises your blood glucose levels, and those with a higher index rating will give you a quicker energy boost. Go for a low fat yoghurt, though, and it’s generally…

1 MAD FOR IT New for 2016, this feels like a perfect fit for such a cycling-crazed island. Based out of Milntown Estate in Ramsey, the four-day festival has something for cyclists of all ages, abilities and disciplines. 2 CROWN JEWEL Arguably the main event is the Thursday night and the opening round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, the criterium jamboree of the domestic pro calendar. There’s a team time trial followed up with a circuit race in Ramsey’s Mooragh Park. 3 SKY HIGH For those that way inclined, there’s a mountain bike race on the Saturday: Battle of Sky Hill. You’ll grind your way up the steep climb before hurtling back down through forest-lined singletrack to the finish in the estate. 4 STORM IN A TT CUP The…

Spring is in the air, and a young (or not so young) cyclist’s thoughts turn to a summer of great riding. And central to that, for most of us, is to have a goal.So whether you are a novice out to tackle your first big event, or an old hand looking to tackle new challenges in 2016, there’s something to help you on your way in this guide. We look at 16 of the best events, at home and abroad, for you to enter, relive our experiences at the Etape and the Dragon Devil, and offer expert advice on getting your training, fuelling, preparation and kit just right.…

£3500 SPECIFICATION WEIGHT 8.29kg(55cm) FRAME Infinito CVcarbon FORK Bianchi FullCarbon CV Disc GEARS ShimanoRS685 shifters,Ultegra rear mech,105 front mech, 10550/34, 11-28 BRAKESShimano RS785hydraulic disc,140mm rotors WHEELS ShimanoRX31 FINISHING KIT Bianchi RepartoCorse alloy barand stem, BianchiReparto Corse31.6mm carbon/alloy seatpost, FizikAliante saddle,25mm VittoriaRubino ProSpeed tyres Its vibration-reducing frame Bianchi has exclusive use of Countervailcarbon, matching cutting-edge featureswith one of cycling’s most historicnames. Countervail ‘vibration-cancellingcomposite technology’ is built in to theframe in place of a conventional carbonfibre layer. It doesn’t just reduce roadvibration – it cancels it out. On roughtarmac its ride is supremely smooth, andeven on unmade gravel it’s composed,and surprisingly comfortable, even withnormal road tyre pressures. It’s extremely nimble That fine ride quality doesn’t mean theInfinito CV is flexible. As all the workis done beneath the skin, the framestill maintains great…

1 How much does it hold? The Commuter pannier swallows 18 litres of luggage, with an internal elastic and mesh sleeve for paperwork or a laptop. A slim, zipped pocket beneath the flap closure holds small items. 2 Hold on tight The Blade Helix universal rack attachment system fits either side of a rack, and has a pair of rotating clamps, operated centrally by a toggle pull. The bottom of the pannier is stabilised by a strong magnet that fixes easily to the rack support. 3 Hold your own A simple roll-top is fastened with a supporting flap and webbing strap, which passes through an inboard loop and is secured with a metal buckle. It’s simple, quick and very effective, with no plastic parts that can break. 4 Hold back…

Castelli is best known for trying to make us look good on our bikes. Well, the Italian cycling costumier has now branched out into skincare. Its range includes a dry lube chamois cream that dries once applied, leaving an effective antibacterial coating, plus two preevent embrocation creams – one warming, and one for foul weather. They come in 100ml pump-action bottles for £15 each, or all together in a mesh bag for £40. ON THE RADAR BIKE TECH OF THE NEAR FUTURE OUT OF THE ARC It took around 100 hours, but five students from Delft University of Technology in Holland have created the Arc 3D-printed steel bike. They needed robots, with their ‘multi-axis robotic arms’, but the future is now. NEVER MIND THE LOCKS Litelok reckons it has reinvented…

There are no problems with cyclists on the pavement down my street here in York. That’s because it’s entirely blocked by parked cars. The resulting obstacle course also makes the footway impassable to anyone with a walking stick, child buggy, sixpack, or any surplus inches round the waist (which means pretty much all my neighbours), so everyone has to walk in the road – to be hooted at by drivers looking for a parking space. As residents we’ve tried objecting, but the council refuses to do anything about pavement parking, arguing that the residents would object. England’s legal situation is curious. Depositing a skip on the pavement is illegal without a permit, but you can dump a car there indefinitely, no problem. It is, however, an offence to drive on…

The BMC’s vivid yellow colour is in your face, but the actual ride quality couldn’t be more subtle SPECIFICATION Weight 10.52kg (56cm) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Tiagra 50/34, 11-34 Brakes Shimano BR-517 cable discs Wheels Shimano RX05 Finishing kit BMC RST 3 stem, BMC RDB 3 bar, BMC RSP 3 seatpost, Selle Royal Saba saddle, 32mm Continental Sport Contact 2 tyres BMC always puts plenty of work into forming its frame tubes, so it’s no surprise that the GF02 is a study in sharp angles and thin-walled, oversized aluminium. Notable details include a faceted hexagonal top-tube, massive square down-tube, flat armpit brace, tapered rectangular chainstays with kick-up, boxy 3D dropouts and super-flat double-kinked seatstays. The full-carbon fork is shared with the premium BMC carbon Granfondo GF01 and has…

The bags don’t look much, but you’d be amazed at how much you can cram into them SPECIFICATION Weight 9.94kg (56cm) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon blades, alu steerer Gears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-32 Brakes TRP Hy-Rd C hybrid discs Wheels Bontrager TLR Finishing kit Bontrager stem, Bontrager Race Lite IsoZone bar, Bontrager alloy seatpost, Bontrager Paradigm 1 saddle, 28mm Bontrager AW1 tyres At first glance the Trek 720 is a bike that very much wears its heart on its sleeve – well, if by ‘sleeve’ you mean fork legs, since that’s where you’ll find the two custom neon-yellow dry bags and the giant plastic water bottle cages they sit in. That may fly in the face of the current fashion for putting weight up high in extended saddle packs, bar…

HIGHS Feathery weight, slick bearings, function LOWS You could buy several cheaper pairs SINCE THEIR LAUNCH, Time’s Xpressos have always been lighter than the competition, but shedding grams is expensive. The entry-level £39.99 Xpresso 2s only weigh around 100g per pair more than our top-of-the range 15s. Central to the Xpresso design is its carbon flexion blade, which, unlike a steel spring, is always open until cleat entry snaps it shut. You can easily adjust between its three tension settings using a screwdriver, turning an eccentric triangular cam against the blade. This customises resistance for the built-in +/- 5 degrees of smooth angular float that has always been a major selling point for Time pedals to riders with knee concerns. The iClic cleats are reasonably hard wearing, are easy to…

HIGHS Fantastic grip, super-supple casing LOWS Pricey, no tubeless option yet VITTORIA’S CORSA TYRE IS A LONG-TIME favourite of ours, its super-supple corespun cotton casing and soft gummy rubber making it a great choice for high-grip in dry conditions. But its high price made it an event day-only option. The new Corsa G+ contains graphene, an extraordinarily light and strong form of carbon, which Vittoria says will enhance wear, improve rolling resistance and boost cornering grip. Vittoria also claims that the qualities of the graphene-infused compounds change depending on how the tyre is loaded. When the tyre is rolling straight the rubber is at its hardest, but if you load it in another direction by braking, accelerating or leaning into a corner, the compound softens to offer significantly more grip.…

Price per 500ml: 67p Type: Energy Carbs: 29g; Sodium: 0.4g; Sugar: 20.6g HIGHS Fast-acting energy to offset sweat loss LOWS High sugar and salt content needs care PowerBar has mixed a fast-acting energy payload with a big electrolyte hit to create a drink that works at keeping you both rehydrated and refuelled – provided you can live with its mineral-rich taste. By keeping the carb load similar to most hydration drinks and adding sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium, Isoactive is absorbed quickly into your body. The high percentage of fructose also helps get the slower-release carbs into your blood faster, and with 69 per cent of the overall energy coming from sugars there’s a sprint in every slurp. Its proportions aren’t as obviously volatile as some other sugary drinks,…

Buying a top-of-the-range bike used to be an easy task. Providing you had the cash, you simply went to your local bike shop and asked for the best, the ‘one’ the pros ride. Job done. Now it’s much harder, because all the major brands offer multiple prolevel models. Trek has three in the form of the anagrammatically challenging Madone, Domane and Émonda. Fortunately, names aside they’re clearly distinct offerings designed for very different purposes. The new Madone is an aerodynamic superbike, the Classics-winning Domane 6.9 offers IsoSpeed smoothness, while the Émonda SLR 9 sees Trek shed the pounds to create an ultra-light col-conqueror. To test this high-end trio we decided on a route that took in the stiffest local climbs to favour the Émonda; some rough, broken surfaces, cobbles and…

SPOT SNACK TIMES “Cyclists can see a surge in appetite for up to three days after a long race. Even if you’re trying to manage your weight, avoid overly extreme notions like stopping snacking altogether, but plan to have healthy balanced meals and snack options for when you need them. This prevents common cycles of guilt and overeating.” STICK TO TEA TIMES “Never skip meals to lose weight,” Pigott advises. “Regulating mealtimes in a routine prevents snacking, as athletes feel more in control and ‘in tune’ with their hunger and satiety levels. “Be mindful and appreciative of what you’re eating too – turn off the TV and focus on your food and you’ll feel less likely to reach for the biscuit tin.” SELECT SUITABLE SNACKS “On training days snacks such…

When we put out the call for readers to join Team Cycling Plus and take on the challenge of the Prudential RideLondon Surrey 100 with us and Cannondale, we were overwhelmed by the response – perhaps it was us, or perhaps it was the offer of an awesome new Cannondale to ride and some great Sugoi team kit to ride it in. Painstakingly, we whittled the hundreds of entries down to just three riders we believe demonstrate both the breadth of our readership and of cycling in the UK today. In their own words, meet the men and woman of Team Cycling Plus 2016… Paul Balfe 59, Birmingham Coming up to my 60th birthday in June this year, I firmly believe that you’re never too old to take on a…

BIKE TEST Do fat-tyred bikes makethe rockin’ world go round?I put big-tyred bikes forroad, for mud… for justabout anywhere througha super-gruelling north ofEngland test on p52. Guy Kesteven,freelance writer BIKE AND KIT TESTS I test six small saddlebagsfor their cycle-friendliness(p76) before looking ata technology that mayfinally be about to make itspresence felt on the road –tubeless tyres (p128). Matthew Allen,technical writer BIKE AND KIT TESTS Don’t think disc brakes arenow mainstream? I testnew offerings from Italy’sBianchi (p24) and Britain’sMekk (p26), then takea pair of disc-specificwheels for a spin (p72). Robin Wilmott,technical writer RATINGS EXPLAINED EXCEPTIONAL A genuine class leader VERY GOOD One of the best you can buy GOOD It’ll do the job very well BELOW AVERAGE Flawed in some way POOR Simply put, don’t bother…

I cycle to get to work and to avoid having a heart attack at the age of 57. I cycle pretty much daily from home to work at the BBC near Oxford Circus, six and a half miles each way, which is 75 miles a week. I used to belong to a gym and couldn’t work out why I wasn’t getting fitter until I realised I was paying £80 each time just to use the Jacuzzi. So I left the gym and bought a run-of-themill Giant bike. My main concern is things that might stop me getting to work safely. One of those things, unfortunately, is the mindset of some car users. I’m not really a campaigning kind of person but I would quite like to stay alive in the…

SPECIFICATION Weight 10.54kg (54cm) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Tiagra 50/34, 11-34 Brakes Tektro Mira cable discs Wheels Araya AR713 rims, Formula hubs Finishing kit Saracen stem, bar and seatpost, Saracen Custom Road saddle, 35mm Schwalbe Spicer tyres The wellbalanced frame and component mix shines through however grim the conditions Saracen has taken a totally no-nonsense approach to both the name and the design of its rugged roadbased all-rounder, but that risks underselling what is a wellbalanced, vibrant and enjoyable ride. Patriots (potentially on both sides of the Channel) will certainly be drawn to the bold red, white and blue colour scheme, and on closer inspection the Hack has a few other design tricks up its sleeve too. The rear brake cable tucks into neat inserts on the…

The AWOL is designed not just to look like a survivor, but to ride like one too SPECIFICATION Weight 14.52kg (M) Frame Steel Fork Steel Gears Shimano Tiagra 46/34, 11-34 Brakes TRP Spyre cable discs Wheels Specialized double-walled rims Finishing kit Specialized 3D forged alloy stem, Specialized alloy bar and seatpost, Body Geometry saddle, 42mm Specialized Trigger Sport Reflect tyres There may be some neat detailing on Specialized’s steelframed AWOL Elite, but the first thing you notice about this ultra-versatile riding machine is its ready-fitted racks. The front rack has a broad ‘delivery bike’ design, with a 15kg weight capacity for boxes or bags. While the steel forks are too wide for conventional panniers themselves, they have bosses for low-rider racks so you can properly pack the front end of…

DHB MICRO £8.99 Its little extra height means the 30g Micro will take a pair of inner tubes at a push. It has a slightly more waterresistant construction than some, complete with an Aquaguard zip, and a single hook-and-loop strap that does up securely. You do need to remove the bag for full access, but once again it’s hard to fault Wiggle’s house brand for sheer value. ENDURA SEAT PACK (with LED) £14.99 This 122g bag feels better made than most of its competitors, but its wide attachment flaps don’t play nice with all saddle/seatpost setups. The external multitool pocket is a good idea but it’s not big enough and while the LED light is handy, it runs on button cells so you probably won’t want to rely on it…

FOR CYCLISTS, MASTERING the use of body fat as a fuel is something of a busman’s holiday. That’s because one of the key routes to increasing the muscle’s capacity to store fat (in the form of triglycerides) and use it for energy is to ride, and keep on riding. “Training on your bike in a variety of formats and fine-tuning your nutrition can make you more efficient at using fat as fuel at high intensity to preserve glycogen stores,” explains Nigel Mitchell, Head of Nutrition with Cannondale Pro Cycling. However, to do that properly, he says, you first need to have a clear understanding of some of the concepts involved. To lose weight, you have to create a ‘negative energy balance’ in your body – in other words, expend more…

HIGHS Fast-mixing; lots of flavours to choose from LOWS Chalky taste, slightly expensive Price per 500ml: 50p Type: Hydration tabs Carbs: 0.4g; Sodium: 0.36g; Sugar: 0g Nuun was the first company to create effervescent tablets that mixed into a minimal carbohydrate drink – and its tabs are a great light-use option if you’re fussy about flavours. No fewer than 11 flavours are available and though a few testers complained some had a slightly tart, chalky taste, the website’s ‘wine tasting’-style notes meant we all found one we liked in the end. The lack of sweetness was welcome when sweating buckets on the turbo, and the sodium levels are the lowest on test too. This helps keep stomachs happy on longer rides and makes it ideal for low-intensity riding or if…

Price per 500ml: 89p Type: Hydration Carbs: 40g; Sodium: 0.9g; Sugar: 8g HIGHS Very effective energy and electrolyte mix LOWS Lacking in flavour; high in salt OTE’s energy drink may have less flavour than most, and you’ll notice its high sodium level, but its carefully calculated pH-neutral formulation (to reduce the risk of stomach pain) and less aggressive flavouring come into their own in high-intensity hot or long rides where other drinks can taste sickly sweet. The high percentage of starch means a slower release rate, which is less likely to throw your blood sugar balance out, but the fructose content still gives a noticeable lift and improves gut absorption rates. It’s free of artificial sweeteners, colourings, preservatives and gluten, and is also suitable for vegans and vegetarians. APTONIA ISO…

KNOW YOUR ROUTE 1 Before you even approach a cycling coach, have a clear picture of what you’re aiming to achieve by employing one. “If you have a specific event in mind or a sportive you’re looking to complete, present this to the coach,” says Wise. “If you can pinpoint your aims, are honest about your starting point and the time you can commit to training, you’ll be more likely to have a successful relationship.” SHOP AROUND 2 “Contact a range of coaches – most have their own websites or Twitter feeds – and discuss your personal requirements. Communication and trust are the biggest part of coaching and they are the hardest things to get right,” says Wise. “If you feel you’ve got someone who you can bond with, ask…

WHAT IS IT? Aching or stiff muscles a day or two after exercise are characteristic of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It often occurs after a sudden increase in exercise levels or training, and is a result of microscopic muscle fibre tears. Eccentric exercises (e.g. lowering weights, squats, running downhill) are the most common triggers. Normal cycling is entirely concentric – the muscles are not lengthened against resistance – but a heavy ride can still cause DOMS. TREATING DOMS There’s evidence that active recovery can help with DOMS. After an intense effort, cool down with a spin on the turbo or a gentle ride around the block. Sports massage, or the use of a foam roller, has been shown to help, as has wearing compression clothing after exercise and even…

L ast Wednesday, which was by far the coldest day of the year to date, I left the house early to ride to Herne Hill Velodrome for that training session I bored you about in a previous column. Well, when I say I ‘left the house early’, it would have been a whole lot earlier if I hadn’t spent an eternity getting dressed. Normally, getting dressed is something I do en route from the bed to the bathroom; an afterthought, a mere adjunct to an actual process, allowing a T-shirt and jumper (the same ones I was wearing the previous evening) to fall over my head, and stepping into jeans in a single stride. It is done in seconds, even adding the socks, with a weary-middle aged sigh as I…

1/ Rain jacket Altura Podium £99.99 Altura 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. This excellent jacket is worth the asking price. 2/ All-weather jersey Castelli Gabba £140 The Gabba is designed not just for the wet but also for the cold. Its substantial construction meant we happily used it when the temperature…