Table of contents for January 2022 in Cycling Plus

SUBSCRIBE! NEW SUBSCRIBERS TO CYCLING PLUS CAN GET 51% OFF A ONE–YEAR SUBSCRIPTION ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? Get access to exclusive content, competitions and offers. Turn to p102 Usually to no avail, I tell my kids that they may have to try a food (hello sardines and sprouts) 12 times before they like it. The same can apply to bikes, with the subtleties revealing themselves over time. Yet it took just one ride on the Mycle Classic to convince me of the benefits of going electric. I knew the practical boons of ebikes, but what I’d missed was the pure fun the power modes produce, the thrill of having a permanent tailwind when riding to work or cruising around town. There was even a basket for my next round of sardine…

WE SAY… You’re getting a lot of bike for not that much money with Mycle’s wellequipped Classic UK-based Mycle’s range used to consist of a pair of ‘functional’-looking bikes – a simple folder and a 700c-wheeled hybrid. Both were good value but unexciting. Its new Classic has shaken things up. The Classic’s step-through frame stands out against contrasting black components. The walnut-coloured ‘vegan’ leather grips and saddle and chunky 1.75in butterscotch-coloured tyres mean the Classic doesn’t look like a hastily thrown-together collection of parts. Its 250W 36v rear hub motor is powered by an integrated lithium-ion battery housed in the bike’s oversized seatpost. An LCD display lets you switch between power modes and displays speed, distance, time and battery level. The Classic is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ design for riders from around…

WE SAY… The Whippet manages an impressive range in spite of it having the smallest battery The Whippet looks much like any workhorse commuter bike, with a skinny-tubed steel frame and unicrown fork features that wouldn’t be out of place on a getaround-town machine. But Bristol-based Revolutionworks has integrated a 250Wh motor into the rear hub and fitted a compact 200Wh battery on the down tube bottle bosses. The battery is more compact than on most ebikes, which helps with its non-ebike looks. Those aesthetics continue with its shape. It has a longer riding position than its rivals, a lower handlebar and a shorter wheelbase. This makes it clear that the Whippet is aimed more at the regular cyclist than the newbie commuter. Factor in slim 32mm tyres and 700c…

Ultra-endurance cyclist Chris Hall, who has cycled everywhere from Romania to the Atlas Mountains, insists winter is the best time for fresh experiences. Here Hall, an ambassador for route-planning app Komoot (komoot.com), reveals how to enjoy more winter adventures. Start putting the ‘train’ into training On shorter winter days, it’s okay to cheat. “Try riding to a city you have never visited, then get the train home,” says Hall. “It’s a great way to see somewhere new, sample local cakes or a hot meal, then enjoy the train journey home.” Set off later “This is my big winter tip, especially when the temperatures have plummeted,” insists Hall. “Setting off an hour later, when it’s lighter and warmer, will allow more black ice to thaw and give you time for an…

A mid-afternoon Tuesday in late August in a southern part of the northern hemisphere is a peculiar time to be shivering uncontrollably in a steaming-hot shower. Except I was in Alpe d’Huez, the ski station of Tour de France renown, close to 2,000m above sea level, having just come in from one of those filthy Alpine storms that can transform temperatures in a moment. This was the end of the third stage of seven on the Haute Route, a cycling event forged in the mountains of Europe that, in the 10 years since its 2011 debut, has established itself as one of the world’s must-do rides for cyclists. As we approached the final climb to Alpe d’Huez, the lesser-known back door of the Col de Sarenne, the rain had closed…

The old saying ‘here for a good time, not a long time’ might apply to hill climbing enthusiasts’ experience of indulging their hobby in Britain. We might not have the vast mountain roads of Europe in our back yard but the climbs we do have are mighty steep. And while a ‘good time’ might not be the words you’d choose shortly after coughing up a lung at the top of one of these climbs, for those riders who like to pit themselves against them and laugh in the face of gravity, conquering them is a feather in the cap.…

Taking its name from the Victorian smoke stack that once stood above the mines near the summit, Rosedale Chimney or Chimney Bank, is arguably the most famous cycling climb in Britain, its legend cemented in the fabric of the sport thanks to its inclusion in the Milk Race and previous incarnations of the Tour of Britain. In a region famed for its steep roads and where there seems to be a 1-in-3 sign around every corner, Chimney Bank stands apart. Where many of climbs here flirt with 30 per cent gradients, Chimney Bank wallows in it. When you arrive at the base the warnings are writ large on a giant sign leaving you under no illusions that what you are about to face is terrifying. Creeping gradually upwards between tall…

£1680 British born alloy all-rounder Brighton-based brand Kinesis UK knows how to put together a quality road bike, from its origins in cyclocross to today’s top-end titanium machines. But its reputation was forged in its great-value, do-itall aluminium bikes – and the R2 is the latest incarnation of that. Its R1 predecessor was a firm favourite of ours and a previous test winner. The main difference with the R2 is the switch to a 2x drivetrain without any loss of its all-road capability. The R2 has a double-butted aluminium frame, a full-carbon fork and fittings for racks and mudguards, which will suit tourers and commuters, while it will also appeal to those wanting a sporty main bike or fast winter trainer. Its geometry is sportier than that of most bikes…

I’ve always enjoyed cycling, but mainly just as a good excuse to spend a few hours outside and keep fit. I’ve never raced and have preferred to build up my experience in a fairly low-key manner, just going cycling whenever I fancy it. of several places that looked as though they’d be a great ride I started working as a Deliveroo cyclist, as I knew it’d be an easy way to increase my weekly mileage. Zipping around town on deliveries essentially acted as sprint sessions, too, and it provided some variety to my training. For the challenge I rode a Genesis Delta 20. It’s an entry-level road bike so nothing especially exciting, but a lot of the UK roads are also in fairly poor condition, so it took a fair…

“If your exercise is more than 45 mins or so I’d advise a carbohydrate drink with electrolytes” 01 ALL THE GEAR To tap into online cycling games, you’ll need the basics of a bike, computer or smartphone, and a set of rollers or a turbo trainer. It’s this last one where, increasingly, the magic happens, as smart trainers like those from Wahoo wirelessly sync to an app for terrain-specific, real-lifemimicking changes in resistance. If you don’t have a smart trainer, an ANT+ or Bluetooth speedcadence sensor should do the job. 02 BIG-RIDE GUT You’ve signed up for 2022’s Fred Whitton and don’t think training indoors will help you refine your nutritional strategy? Fair point. No one wants to spend nine hours on a turbo slurping gels. “Few people are going…

THE SERIES’ STATS Location Nationwide Next date Nov 2021-Feb 2022 Distances Approx 45km Price £7 Winter has tended to be a fallow period for British roadies when it comes to organised events and until recently it’s largely been limited to the occasional and sporadic cyclocross events. The rise of gravel riding, however, has engineered further options in the realm of off-road adventure and at the opposite end of the spectrum to the frenetic, foot to the floor racing of cyclocross, comes this, the Sonder Winter Gravel Series. THE 2021/2022 SERIES Sonder is the in-house bike brand of British outdoor clothing and equipment outfit Alpkit, who have created the series. There are eight rides in the series in total, with each one being run out of Alpkit’s eight British stores. The…

Electric bikes really should be the next big thing. For many of us, the ebike could replace short car journeys and expensive trips on public transport, while still getting you to work fresh and on time after some moderate but healthy exercise. It really is a win-win-win. The downside is that ebikes are still usually more expensive than a non-electrically assisted ‘acoustic’ commuter bike. So, this is the perfect time to round up four of the latest bargain-priced commuter ebikes, to see if you can now get genuine electric performance for pedal-powered money. The new Classic from the British online brand Mycle comes with a step-through frame, 24in wheels and wide tyres. It’s assembled in the UK and comes with an impressive range of commuterfriendly accessories, especially considering its sub-£1000…

WE SAY… The Flux frame is very well put together, it’s great value, simplicity itself and fun to ride British high-street mobility retailer Pure Electric stocks a huge range of ebikes along with scooters, cargo bikes and more. And Pure has now launched its own range of ebikes, with its £999 Flux one of the least expensive ebikes you can buy today. Urban ebikes don’t come much more stripped down than the Flux One. This has a singlespeed setup based around a fuss-free Gates belt with a 55t ring and 22t sprocket, giving you a gear that’s easy to get up to speed and keep you flying up to 35km/h or so–when you’ll spin out. Vision’s rear hub motor is rated at 250W with 35Nm of torque, and inside the…

The IM-2 is a great ride that mixes comfort and handling, the motor delivers plenty of power and it’s well equipped The main thing I took away from this test is just how much better budget ebikes have become in such a short time. Not long ago virtually all inexpensive ebikes were dreadful – heavy, ugly-looking machines with ranges that gave them little real benefit. Our four test bikes all delivered well-matched assistance, and their ranges impressed. The charge times are reasonable and modern ebike chargers have also become compact enough to carry. And when it comes down to choosing a winner, it’s more about finding the bike that most suits you and your particular commute. In spite of its bargain price, the Mycle Classic comes with an Abus lock,…

Thanks to digitally-connected smart trainers and online racing platforms such as Zwift, indoor racing can inject a winning dose of camaraderie and competition into dark winter days. You’ll get to swap dull turbo rides for exhilarating races and turn bleak winter nights into fun group rides. Eric Schlange of the Zwift Insider community website (zwiftinsider.com) reveals how to join the party. * Choose the right category “Most Zwift races have multiple category options, which requires knowing your functional threshold power (FTP) in watts/kg, so do a quick FTP test before signing up,” advises Schlange. Zwift offers several built-in FTP tests, including a simple high-power 20-minute effort. *Know the rules “Read the event description so you know how the race is set up,” says Schlange. “Is it a points race with…

Asked to name a steep climb, most British cyclists would choose Hardknott Pass. There is no more daunting sight for a rider across the whole of Britain than what greets you on the approach to this monster through Eskdale. You know it’s coming, there is no other way out of the valley and throughout the run-in your eyes are scanning the horizon for that unmistakable sliver of tarmac. When you do finally do, you immediately want to unsee it. You rub your eyes, you gulp, your heart pounds and from the moment you pass the 30 per cent sign at the bottom you run out of synonyms for ‘hard’ to describe its depravity. Crossing the cattle grid the 25 per cent lower slopes are awkward but merely a prelude to…

While the ink was still drying on a piece this writer had done on Afon Ddu entitled ‘Britain’s steepest road’, it turned out the tarmac was still drying on another climb that would move the goalposts once again. We’d heard murmurings over the summer that contractors were going to surface a crazily steep track nearby but didn’t pay it much attention until in early September when our inbox became flooded with pictures of the 35 per cent gradient signs that had been placed at the top and bottom, a figure that, if true, would make it the country’s new steepest road. From the summit, staring down at the immaculate asphalt, it’s a climb that, for all hill climbing completists, demands to be ridden. From the midsection, a slope that’s already…

WE SAY… Two different lights but both with closely targeted use. Greedily we’d like both please! LUPINE SL NANO AF £272 LUMENS 1,100 RUN TIME 150 mins at max power IP/WATERPROOF RATING 8 MODES Three: High, Low, Daylight WEIGHT 299g (bracket, battery & remote) They say The SL Nano AF is StVZO approved. In other words, the light complies with German regulations that govern the beam’s cut-off so that it doesn’t dazzle other cyclists and drivers. Considering a light that puts the beam directly where you need it, but doesn’t spill into the sight line of your fellow road users, is important if you regularly ride at night in a built-up area or on busy roads. How usable? The quality of the clamp mount and its quick release is excellent,…

While it’s possible to spend far more on bicycle lights, what do you get if you set a budget of £100? You’d assume the more lumens the better, but we find that 700 is enough for most road use, and you’ll see that some lights with lower ratings still have a good quality of light. If your routes include unlit or rural roads, a good balance of reach and spread is just as important as power. Lights with only ‘spot’ beams provide a narrow spread and tend to have a greater contrast between what’s illuminated and what’s not. If you only ride in an urban area where there are plenty of street lights together with ambient light from buildings, the narrow spread is less of an issue and will do…

Chickpea and sweet-potato soup The carbohydrates and protein in this flavoursome dish pack your muscles with glycogen and stimulate muscle protein synthesis. The stock will help hydrate you as well as cranking up your electrolyte levels. INGREDIENTS SERVES 4 • 1 tbsp olive oil• 1 diced onion• Thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated• 4 medium garlic cloves, crushed• 1 tsp turmeric• ½ tsp paprika• Juice of ½ lime• 1 large sweet potato, diced• 400g tin chickpeas or any beans• 200g dried red lentils• 1.25L vegetable stock• Handful of spinach• Salt and pepper METHOD 01 Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens. 02 Add the ginger, garlic, turmeric and paprika, and stir with the onion. 03 Add the lime…

WORKOUT 01 THE SLOW RAMP COACH Spencer Smith, S2 Coaching TIME 60mins BENEFITS This session stops cyclists from going out too hard and focuses on speed endurance. The small increases in power and intensity are an excellent way to build your performance. KIT Indoor trainer, bike, towel, water, heart rate monitor and/or power meter. WARM-UP 10mins @ perceived exertion 2-3/10 (light), 90-95rpm (revolutions per minute); 5mins @ PE 4-5/10 (moderate), 85rpm down to 75rpm. Use slightly larger gears as the 5mins progress; 2 x 30secs building so last 5secs @ PE 7/10 (hard) with 1min easy spin between. Now drink, gather yourself and let your heart rate drop before starting the main set. MAIN SET You’ll perform 2 x 20min efforts where you start under 80% of HR but finish…

THE BIG PICTURE NATIONAL EXPRESS Not since 2017 had a member outside of the Swift clan won the men’s British National Road Race title. In Lincoln city centre in October, Ben Swift (Ineos Grenadiers), with his second consecutive capture of the national jersey (if you discount the cancelled 2020 edition), ensured non-Swifts would have to wait yet another year. Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM) took the honours in the women’s race, prevailing from a 12-rider group that broke away early.…

01 CLOSETHEGAP COVERMYBACK2+ £32 This is a clever combo to keep you both dry and visible. It features a rigid 29cm-long by 7.5cm-wide guard to stop the worst road spray hitting your backside, with a bracket that attaches to both round and oval saddle rails and incorporates a fitting for the powerful and USB-rechargeable 30-lumen rear light. 02 THE ROAD BOOK 2021 £50 Our columnist Ned Boulting is the man behind The Road Book, the acclaimed almanac that returns this year with more drama, intrigue and entertainment than ever before. Across 848 pages, 174 races and 517 stages, this is the authoritative account of the 2021 race season, with exclusive first-person accounts from inside the peloton. 03 DEXSHELL ULTRA WEATHER GLOVES £40 When the weather is bitingly cold, you need…

Aero road bikes are so all-pervading these days in professional and recreational cycling, it’s easy to forget they evolved from the world of time-trialling and triathlon. This is certainly true of Orbea’s striking new Orca Aero, which took many of its design cues from its Ordu triathlon and TT bike. In fact, visually it shouts ‘multisport’ – from its geometry and aero water bottle to its down tube-integrated aero storage box. That’s no bad thing, of course, as Orbea claims this will save 15 watts at 40kph over the outgoing Orca Aero on a straight, flat road, though Orbea is confident it handles and climbs just like a road bike. Orbea says these aerodynamic improvements are down to optimisation. This takes in the updated fork, which has been specifically designed…

MYCLE CLASSIC £999 The British web-only brand Mycle’s new 24in-wheeled Classic is among the least expensive ebikes you can buy. But you’re getting a lot for your money in this townie-style stepthrough commuter machine. It’s assembled in the UK and the price includes full mudguards, front and rear racks, a basket, lights and even an integrated ‘nurse’s lock’ from German security specialist Abus. PURE ELECTRIC FLUX ONE £999 The Flux One is available from one of Britain’s fastestgrowing bike chains, Pure Electric. This hybrid-style commuter comes with large size 700c wheels, a 250W rear hub motor, cable disc brakes and a well-finished 6061 aluminium frame. It doesn’t have that many accessories – no mudguards or rack – but it does have an oil-free Gates belt drive and its overall weight…

WE SAY… Carrera’s Impel IM-2 is better than the sum of its parts and its ride is absolutely spot on The Impel IM-2 is the latest addition to Carrera’s growing electric assist range, which also includes Bosch-equipped mountain bikes and hybrids, a drop-bar road bike and even electric scooters. The IM-2’s frame is nicely finished with tidy welds, hydroformed tubes and a battery neatly integrated in the down tube, a detail only usually found on much more expensive ebikes. The battery locks in place and is easy to remove, making off-the-bike charging possible. The power-assist system is based around a 45Nm/250W rear hub motor by the Taiwanese ebike specialist Hyena. I haven’t come across Hyena before but, according to research plus product managers I’ve spoken to, Hyena has a good…

ENJOY A CHRISTMAS DAY RIDE 25 December miles count double On Christmas morning the roads are beautifully quiet, you are brimming with childish excitement, and you get to look forward to a plate of turkey, pigs in blankets and roast potatoes when you get home. No wonder pros relish a Christmas Day spin. “For me Christmas week has traditionally been 50:50 between bike riding and eating out and seeing friends and family, but my Christmas Day rides are a highlight,” says Ineos Grenadiers rider Geraint Thomas. “If I get out and smash myself for two hours, I feel like I’ve earned my Christmas dinner so I can eat and drink whatever I want.” BOLT ON ANOTHER SPORT After a summer of cycling, welcome winter as a chance to cross-train with…

Many riders adopt a relaxed upright position on long winter rides then struggle to alter their set-up when they strive to pick up the pace in spring. So train your stamina and silhouette at the same time. Dov Tate, founder of aero wheel experts Parcours (parcours.cc), reveals how to sharpen your shape this winter. Lower your head When riding in winter winds you’ll quickly notice the effect your head position has on your aerodynamics. “By holding your head in line with your shoulders, you will immediately reduce your frontal area,” says Tate. “Removing any spacers under the stem can also help to lower the front end of your bike.” Tuck your elbows in Casually sticking your arms out on slow winter rides will haunt you when you try to ride…

Top sports nutritionist Will Girling (willgirling.com) reveals how to spice up your cycling cuisine this winter. Breakfast “Adding blueberries, raspberries and strawberries to your porridge will add antioxidants and Vitamin C to keep you healthy over winter,” says Girling. “Just warm up some frozen berries to turn them into a compote. Add flaxseed, which is high in Omega 3s, or chia seeds to thicken it. A banana or some nuts will add extra carbs before a long ride. And pomegranate seeds will add antioxidants and vitamins.” Ride snack “I make flapjacks with a 2:1 ratio of glucose and fructose to get slow-release energy for long winter rides,” says Girling. “Adding orange zest aids saliva production to prevent dry mouth, which is an issue when training in cold air.” Ingredients: 180g…

Unlike many of the other climbs here Trooper Lane falls shy of the magic 30 per cent mark. But it has something none of the others do, something that makes it significantly harder to ride: cobbles. There are myriad such climbs around Halifax, from the better known Shibden Wall to the fearsome Old Lane but Trooper Lane takes the cobbled climb to the next level. Starting on the giant smooth stones of Swan Bank Lane it then returns to the comfort of tarmac for its first half. It’s still no stroll in the park, rarely dropping below 20 per cent as it thrashes back and forth up the valley side. 300 metres in and you hit the perilous cobbles, with added steepness for good measure. Round the bend and it…

£7750 Pro-level bike loses weight and becomes more aero This is a bike that feels devastatingly fast. Stamp on the pedals and the Scultura rises to the challenge with ease This is the fifth generation of Merida’s Scultura Team. Historically the Scultura has been the bike pro riders used for hard mountain stages, the lightweight foil to Merida’s more aerodynamic Reacto. The latest Scultura brings in more aero elements than ever, taking cues from the likes of Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO, Specialized’s Tarmac SL7 and Giant’s TCR, bikes that aim to blend lightness and aero efficiency to create the ideal all-round racer. The new Scultura frame features lots of aero touches. The down tube has an ovalised profile that I can only describe as ‘Kammtail-light’ – aerodynamic, almost D-shaped tubes with…

Twmpa Cycles is named after the mountain on the west scarp of Wales’s Black Mountains, which stands a few miles from Twmpa’s workshop near Hay-on-Wye. Twmpa is the brainchild of engineer Andy Dix and his business partner Miguel Ferros, an expert in product management with a background in technology industries. What unites them in their unlikely wooden machine is their shared love of cycling. Miguel scored top marks in his Cycling Proficiency Test back in 1976, starting a long-term love affair with all things cycling. It’s fitting that the brand is named after a local landmark, as locality is Twmpa’s touchstone. Andy tells me that the ash wood used in his handcrafted frames comes from a sawmill just five miles away. This family-owned concern sources its ash from the UK,…

THE EXPERTS NUTRITION EXPERT RICHARD TUCKER Richard is a physiologist and performance nutritionist at the Human Performance Lab. PROFESSOR & CYCLIST NORMAN LAZARUS Columnist Norman, 85, is a physiology professor, author and a former audax champion. EVENT GURU JOHN WHITNEY Need event advice? Our deputy editor is your oracle. He previews the Sonder gravel series. INDOOR MASTER MARK BAILEY Sports writer and four-time Haute Route finisher Mark is our resident performance expert.…