Table of contents for May 2016 in Cycling Plus

£1399 SPECIFICATION WEIGHT 8.45kg (59cm) FRAME Reynolds 853 steel FORK Carbon, aluminium steerer GEARS Shimano 105, 50/34, 11-28 BRAKES Tektro Quartz R737 callipers WHEELS Halo Evaura FINISHING KIT Genetic SLR stem, Genetic Creed compact drop bar, Genetic Syngenic seatpost, Gusset Black Jack saddle, 25mm Schwalbe Durano tyres It’s a marriage of old and new Light Blue is one of the oldest bike brands around, having started in Cambridge way back in 1895. But its Wolfson is every inch a 21st-century machine, with up-to-date handling courtesy of its 73-degree seat angle and 72.5-degree head angle, and it’ll take 28mm tyres or 25mm with mudguards. The Shimano 105 groupset, quality Halo wheels, decent finishing kit and reasonable overall weight come in at an impressive price considering the quality of the frame. It’s…

1 Overhead Locker Overhead Locker With external dimensions of 54x35x25cm, this compact case is designed to meet most airlines’ cabin baggage requirements. 2 Space - the Final Frontier The Castelli’s 43-litre volume will swallow your helmet, shoes and enough cycling and casual clothing for a couple of days’ riding. 3 Thick skinned Protection comes from a semirigid base with moulded skid plates, and tough outer fabric that’s waterand stain-resistant. Low-profile rubber wheels run silently, and there are chunky top and front grab handles, and a two-position telescopic handle. 4 Divide and Conquer Each side has a zipped mesh cover to hold everything in place, there’s a zipped mesh sleeve for flat items, and Castelli says the all-red interior makes it easier to see black kit – and it’s handily ‘on-brand’.…

Polar, one of the original innovators in heart rate-measuring technology, has launched an all-new bike-specific computer. The Polar 450 (£154.50) includes a precision barometer, power meter connectivity, accurate multi-source GPS tracking and innovative testing software that monitors your training load. The Polar app, in conjunction with your smartphone, can carry out ‘orthostatic testing’, taking your base-level measurements that should help you balance your long-term training and recovery needs. It also comes with a forwardfacing LED for night-time riding visibility. ON THE RADAR BIKE TECH OF THE NEAR FUTURE KNOGGY, OI! KNOGGY, OI! Quirky Aussie component outfit Knog has reinvented the humble bicycle bell. The Oi’s hollow cylinder design wraps around the bar and Knog says it sounds ‘like an angel playing a glockenspiel’. Strewth! GRAVEL ENVE High-end US kit purveyor…

Last year saw me do a lot of bike touring – visiting Cuba, France, Sri Lanka and the US. Much of this involved getting lost, and relying on the helpful directions of friendly old locals. The furthest I’ll get this year, however – thanks to various DIY requirements around the house – looks like being the remoter aisles of York B&Q. In other words I’ll still be getting lost and relying on the helpful directions of friendly old locals; they’ll just happen to be working there. Being a devoted everyday cyclist, I’m doing all the travelling involved by bike. Anything transportable by a car is transportable by a bike trailer: worn carpets, dead mattresses, broken beds and the like to the dump one way; paint, ladders, flat-pack furniture from the…

£750–£1500 BIKES German online value-packed race machine Take a look at the complete bike price of the SL-3000 and then take a look at the parts, which we reckon would cost over £1500 on their own – without the aluminium frame and carbon fork. So does the German online retailer just throw in a poor off-the-peg frame to complete the package and hit that price point? That’ll be a very definite no in the case of the Pro SL. Rose’s original Pro SL impressed us with its combination of classleading rigidity and an excellent weight for the price, often being much lighter than more expensive machines. But the frame was fairly basic looking with butted, round tubes. The new incarnation features hydroformed main tubes that transform from ovalised at the…

FORME HOOKLOW 2 £799 Forme’s Hooklow has an attractive aluminium frame partnered by a disc-specific carbon fork, and at 800 quid represents decent value. Kitted out with mudguard and pannier mounts and with clearance for 40mm tyres – if comes fitted with 28s – it’s a good commuter option. The fork and big rubber create a smooth ride, though you do feel its 11.5kg weight when you hit the hills. But the wide gear range helps and the nine-speed Sora groupset shifts well, and once over the top the Hooklow is a formidable descender. Off road, the Kenda Kwest’s chevron treads cut into slimy mud surprisingly well and doesn’t pack easily, while the wheels, though weighty, can handle plenty of abuse. SPECIFICATION Weight 11.55kg (56cm) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork 7000…

This is not a traditional road machine, ’crosser, gravel or adventure bike. Nope, GT calls this is an ‘Enduroad’ bike (‘whatever, dude’), and there’s little conventional about it. But it has been going for a while, GT having got the Grade design concept spot on first time. The Grade’s geometry is distinctive, its handlebar is distinctive, but its constituent parts come together as a unified whole. The levers are 42cm apart, but the bar flares out to 50cm on the drops. This maximises control on fast, bumpy descents, the added width ensuring minute adjustments are simple. Everywhere else, getting on to the drops just seems to incite a more flamboyant riding style, since the action needed to swing the bike from side to side is accentuated by the extra width.…

BOARDMAN SLR ENDURANCE 9.2 £2699 The new-for-2016 SLR Endurance 9.2 is one of few bikes in this price bracket with flagship Dura-Ace components, and its tidy frame follows all the current design trends. The SLR Endurance is fun, stiff and racy on the road. The ride tends towards the firm – not unpleasantly so, but it’s resistant to flex under hard pedalling and you’ll certainly feel the hits from unanticipated potholes. Riding was initially marred by vibrations from cables in the downtube, but this was quickly rectified and Boardman says customers won’t be affected. Another disappointment was a smidge of rear brake rub when we ran the pads close to the rim. SPECIFICATION Weight 6.9kg (small) Frame Boardman SLR Endurance C10 carbon Fork Boardman SLR Endurance full carbon Gears Shimano…

According to Canyon’s very comprehensive website, the mechanical shifting Ultimate CF SLX frameset retails at £1999.99. Now it doesn’t take Professor Brian Cox to work out that there’s been some serious cost cutting in order to offer such highly specced complete bikes. Welcome to direct retailing, where LBS is just an acronym – and a place that you’ll ultimately need to visit for help with your Ultimate. This bike’s popularity has been helped by its use by the Movistar team, and almost surprisingly for a German bike, it’s a disarmingly plush ride. The front end is lively, but it’s stable at speed and the ride position is comfortable. SPECIFICATION Weight 6.73kg (M) Frame Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Fork Canyon One One Four SLX Gears Shimano Ultegra, 52/36, 11-28 Brakes Shimano…

£2750-£10000 BIKES Trek’s radical all-new Madone debuted last summer and saw action in all the major races. Along with the likes of the Scott Foil and the Specialized Venge, the Madone showcases the latest trends in aero road bikes. Trek’s Madone, however, has another trick – the Isospeed decoupler that’s long been a feature of the company’s comfortorientated Domane. Trek’s Isospeed is a mechanical ‘pivot’ at the intersection of the top-tube, seat-tube and seatstays that allows the seat-tube to flex. It makes the back end of the Madone the most comfortable aero bike that we’ve tried. In fact, its comfort is up there with the best race machines generally. Trek has managed this, at least in this near-£10k version, without adding noticeably to its mass, with the claimed 950g frame…

The standard Izalco Max is one of the latest generation of superlight carbon machines, mixing a sub-800g frame with a 300g fork. This is a great achievement, especially as our experience has shown it such an involving bike to ride. And for 2016? Up steps the new Max Disc, with its 790g frame and 320g thru-axle-specific fork. Focus claims that this is the lightest disc chassis presently available. Focus’s use of its patented RAT – ‘Rapid Axle Technology’ – 15mm/12mm thru-axles helps keep the weight down, and the Dura-Ace/RS805 brake combo is only broken by FSA’s carbon SL-K Light chainset – itself a quality lightweight unit. The result is a bike that’s a very determined climber, thanks to the frame and DT Swiss R23 DB Spline wheels. It’s a similar…

Robin Townsend, 46; Andrew Hastings, 36; Jason White, 42; Gabriel Evans, 18. What links these relatively unknown cyclists? The answer is that they’ve all failed doping tests in the past year. And disturbingly, they’re all amateur racers. This ‘recreational’ drug taking isn’t confined to the UK, either. The winner of the 2015 Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York, Oscar Tovar of Columbia, tested positive for synthetic testosterone, was stripped of his title and received a two-year ban. There’s also the case of 60-year-old Italian jazz musician Gigi Cifarelli, who was recently suspended for four years after testing positive for performanceenhancing drugs at an amateur race. It begs the question: is this the tip of the iceberg or just an occasional pothole on a long, smooth road? “It’s difficult to identify a…

Features Sidi’s Millennium 4 Carbon Composite sole is a nylon matrix injected with carbon, and has standard three-hole drilling, moulded PU toe bumper and replaceable rubber heel bumper, but no vents. The glossy microfibre uppers are heavily perforated, with a soft, less perforated wicking liner. Our size 46s weighed 789g. Fit Like its Tour-winning Wire shoes, these are fastened with Sidi’s Tecno 3 system, adjusting a cord across the mid and forefoot area with a flip-up dial, released by pinching two small switches. Ankle adjustment uses a ratcheting buckle with the wide Soft Instep 2 adjustable, cushioned pad at the top to reduce pressure, and the tongue is also well padded. The standard Sidi shape is long and thin – not for those with hobbit-like feet. Ride performance The Sidis…

The Ksyrium Pro II shoes offer Mavic’s customary comfort and lightweight performance in two colour options. Their carbon-reinforced composite sole is stiff enough without feeling aggressively hard, and vented for comfort it’s ideal for the endurance rider. Fastening is via two elastic Velcro Ergo Straps and an Ergo Dial lacing system over the comfortable Endofit tongue, and adjustment is both simple and rapid. The Ortholite 3D ergonomic footbed cushions and supports well, and we found the overall fit and cooling from multiple mesh panels and perforations very good during a relentless, dusty 75-mile ride on a sweltering day. Mavic’s 18cm tall Cosmic High socks come in four colours, and use Meryl Skinlife fibre for its antimicrobial benefits. Reinforced and cushioned areas protect your feet, while an open mesh top breathes…

WE SAY A heavy but distinctively smooth fat and tubelessfriendly wheelset Weight 880+1140=2020g Pick-up 24° Width 18mm internal/23mm external Novatec’s parent company makes hubs for many of the world’s wheels and its own new entry-level wheels are a solid, durable choice for larger tyre fans. They’re the only wheels here that come in at over 2kg, and with a big gap between each catch on the steel freehub and mid/low spoke tension, they’re slow to get going. But once you’ve wound them up to speed the rounded 30mm-deep rims add a slight aerodynamic edge to help them sustain speed. The wide rims are compatible with fat tyres and you can go tubeless – if you add your own tape and valves – to flatter the already noticeably smooth ride. Spare…

WE SAY A good all-round wheelset that combines build quality with a responsive ride Weight 750+940=1690g Pick-up 15° Width 16.5mm internal/22mm external Giant has been making wheels for its own bikes for a while, and the wide, stout bodied hubs on these tubeless-ready allrounders don’t just look good, they also serve to give a really wide stance to the straight-pull spokes, which translates into impressive tracking stiffness up front. Two driveside spokes to every offside lacing, and slightly differential ‘Dynamic Balanced Lacing’ spoke tension on the rear, levels out under drive torque for a very planted and responsive feel. The rims have a very tight tubeless-ready fit, with sealing tapes and valves included in the price. The quickrelease skewers are top quality and our last Giant wheels lasted two hard…

THE SOONER THE BETTER “I got back on a bike as soon as I could after a training accident that punctured my lung,” explains King of a horror crash in late 2014 that nearly ended her career. “I was back on my bike while still actually in the hospital a couple of days after the crash. It was good for the lung to do some exercise to reduce the risk of a chest infection.” FIND YOUR FEET “It was 10 weeks before I was training properly again. At first I took my bike in the car to a quiet stretch of road where I knew I wouldn’t be worried about cars flying by. I took a wide position away from the kerb so that any vehicles that wanted to pass…

1 SHORT GAME Many modern chains will come with a masterlink to aid fitting and removal, but you will still need a chain tool to shorten the packaged chain to the length you require. It will also come in handy out on the road should your chain break and need to be shortened to get you home. Chainlinks are held together by pins that press into place, and these are what you will need a chain tool to remove. 2 LOW PRESS Place your chain in the chain tool cradle (the lower one if your tool has two) and adjust the pin of the tool until it lines up with and presses against the pin in the chain at the link you wish to remove. Now continue to wind the…

1 VARY THE AERO “Different disciplines and regulations mean pros especially have to know how to adjust their best aero position from race to race,” says Tennant. “I have a checklist for whatever bike I’m riding, which involves whatever I need to adopt the ‘turtle’ position, tucking the head and neck down and shrugging the shoulders.” 2 PICTURE THE PRO “Look at [Olympic team pursuit gold medallist] Ed Clancy, who has a great aero position on the bike despite having pretty broad shoulders. He gets close to the top-tube and stays there,” says Tennant. “You need to find the position that works best for you, but the principles of tucked arms and low body are the same on track and road for pros and amateurs alike.” 3 TRY THE TRACK…

WHAT IS IT? One of the more nerve-wracking consequences of riding a bike, bicycle seat neuropathy is also one of the more common cycling injuries. One study reported 21% of men suffering numbness of the nether regions after a long ride, while 34% of female members of a Dallas cycling club reported perineal numbness after cycling. Symptoms are usually shortlived, although 6% of the male cyclists were affected for more than a week. Advanced symptoms include pain, incontinence, erectile dysfunction in men and sexual dysfunction in women. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? Prolonged sitting on a narrow saddle squashes the pudendal nerve – the nerve that gives feeling to the genitalia – reducing its blood supply and affecting its ability to work properly. New cyclists are probably most at risk, although…

Tucked away in the heart of the country, north of Birmingham and south of Derby, is St George’s Park – home of the English national football team. The story of its construction is a long, drawn-out affair, covering at least a decade’s worth of disappointing World Cup/European Championship performances, but turning into its vast grounds outside the brewing town of Burton-upon-Trent it quickly becomes apparent that with this facility at their fingertips, England have few excuses. And without wishing to put undue pressure on the brave souls of Team Cycling Plus as they begin their journey, the same will be the case for them at the Prudential RideLondon Surrey 100 in August. One-by-one our Team Cycling Plus members, both readers and staff, were measured, weighed, pricked for blood samples and…

The Haydon Hundred When 04.06.16 Where Northumberland, UK Distance 60, 100 & 140 km Includes three spectacular routes. The longest Skyrider Route includes 5 of the 6 highest roads in England. The 100k Classic tackles the cobbled climb of Alston and the 60k Challenge crosses beautiful Plenmeller Common. E entries@haydonhundred.co.uk W haydonhundred.co.uk Midland Monster When 15.05.16 Where Burton on Trent, UK Distance 44, 75 & 104 miles This well-established CC Giro Sportive offers riders three challenging rides on quiet and attractive lanes. All routes are fully signposted and include regular feed stations with motorcycle assistance if needed. E jperks30@gmail.com E tomtomtwo1@gmail.com The West Riding Classic When 30.04.16 Where Yorkshire Dales, UK Distance 33, 60 & 75 miles The West Riding Classic is a non-competitive road cycle over the beautiful Yorkshire…

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE NEAREST STATION Ulverston FOOD AND DRINK We’re unusual fans of curry the night before a sportive, so check out Naaz on Queen Street in Ulverston. naazrestaurant.co.uk WHERE TO STAY Ulverston is one of the bigger Lakeland towns, so check out visitulverston.com for a huge choice of hotels, B&Bs and campsites. BIKE SHOPS The event has a mobile bike mechanic, John Clutterbuck (cyclewright.co.uk). There’s also DC Cycles and Velo Ulverston within walking distance of the start at The Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston. WEBSITE sportivelakes.co.uk 1 ALL SMILES If this reminds you a little of L’Eroica, then that’s because its organisers, Alan and Ali Brenton, got the idea after riding the Tuscan vintage bike sportive. They wanted to bottle its fun and inclusivity and bring it home. 2…

We gradually upped the mileage – 12 miles, 15, 17, 20 – and at that point I knew it was time for a racer Cycling came out of the blue A year ago, I knew nothing about cycling. I’d not used a bike during my playing career, and other than the one my parents got me as a kid, I’d never been on one. The extent of my knowledge was that they had two wheels. What I did know, though, was that I wanted to get fit Towards the end at Aston Villa I started to change my diet, but when I left the club I knew I needed to exercise, too. Being an ex-footballer, one of the big things you miss is how fit you were. It’s likely that…

VITUS VENON VR DISC £1481.49 Vitus has a new line-up for 2016, including this endurance-biased VR Disc, which has been cut in price to squeeze below £1500. It fits the brief of a modern racy endurance machine too, and feels silky smooth. The slim fork is capped with a 12mm thru-axle, while an Ultegra drivetrain is paired with TRP’s capable Spyre cable discs. The Vitus kit is decent except for the slender, stiff aluminium bar, which spoils the otherwise smooth ride. The Vitus shines on ascents and rolling terrain, where the great wheels and classy Continental tyres make brisk progress, but that floaty smoothness makes for a slightly disconnected feel when descending. Overall, though, it’s a very capable endurance machine for long days out. SPECIFICATION Weight 8.6kg (58cm) Frame Carbon…

Wiggle’s takeover of the Eastway brand has seen it move into more road bike arenas, with cyclo-cross, track, gravel and urban bikes also on the horizon. We got our hands on the first of the new range, the Emitter R4 race machine based around a 1kg carbon frame and matching fork – which is an impressive achievement for 50 quid less than a grand. All the more so when you add in a complete all-new Shimano Tiagra groupset, Shimano wheels, Ritchey components, and classy kit such as Continental tyres and Fizik’s Aliante saddle. The Emitter’s 73-degree head and 73.5-degree seat angle, short 99cm wheelbase and low front end put it at the racier end of the road bike spectrum. The aggressive position is backed up with a low weight for…

£1500–£2000 BIKES You’d probably expect a £1700 bike to be made from carbon fibre, though as with some of the less expensive offerings earlier, aluminium seems to be making a comeback even at this price. But Bianchi has been making bikes for over a century, so it should know how to make a good machine regardless of material. This frame, with its sloping toptube and short head-tube, seems to echo the company’s bikes from the late 1990s. Bianchi has even revived its EV tubeset that propelled Marco Pantani to victory in the 1998 Tour de France, and the colour doesn’t get more Bianchi than Celeste. The big question, however, is just how exciting can aluminium be? Well, we needn’t have worried. We felt instantly at home on our first test…

MEKK POGGIO 2.8 £2000 Mekk’s endurance-focused 2.8 mid-ranger boasts a sound specification, with a complete 105 groupset and Saturae C50 carbon clinchers that were £799.99. The frame’s lower elements favour performance, while the upper section improves the riding experience, but this is no upright cruiser. Speed is effective on the flat, and the Poggio gains speed swiftly and climbs better than expected – though it’s better suited to shorter hills. The brakes are powerful and precise, but wet-weather braking from the rims was hit and miss. Ride quality is generally good, though a little jarring over big bumps – a 27.2mm carbon seatpost and possibly a saddle swap would help. SPECIFICATION Weight 8.27kg (56cm) Frame T800 HM Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra, 50/34, 11-28 Brakes Shimano 105 Wheels Saturae…

PINARELLO DOGMA K8S £8799 With a trio of Tour de France wins in its bloodline, the Dogma K8S uses mainly the same front end as last year’s F8. It is unbelievably rigid with all the handling prowess you’d expect from a full-on superbike. The fork is reshaped for bigger tyres and it comes with Vittoria’s velvety Open Corsas. But the K8S’s biggest USP is its cobble-smoothing rear suspension, which allows you to ride harder and faster over pitted surfaces, aided by the Dura-Ace direct-mount brakes that work very well with Fulcrum’s Zero Nite wheels. It is pricey, but the unique K8S is an excellent bike with impeccable manners over poor road surfaces and superb handling everywhere. SPECIFICATION Weight 7.2kg (58cm) Frame Torayca T1100 carbon with elastomer suspension Fork Carbon T1100…

THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE seen huge steps forward in power meter technology and a massive increase in the choice of power meters available to the non-professional cyclist. This has also helped to bring the cost come down from their previous stratospheric levels. Seemingly every month another new, supposedly innovative design appears… crank-based, wheelbased, shoe-based, one-side only, both sides – from well-known brands and Kickstarter-funded projects alike. The INpower is from the long-established Spanish company Rotor, which is best known for its non-round Q-Ring chainrings. WE SAY Rotor’s INpower is a big improvement over its Power LT – and better value too The INpower is a fresh design approach for a power meter. While other crank-based powermeasuring systems position the strain gauges in the crank arms or the spider, Rotor’s…

ITALY’S WILIER-TRIESTINA has more than a century of distinguished bike-making history in its palmares, but has garnered all sorts of unexpected publicity in recent months. Wilier bikes featured in a cycling-themed episode of ITV’s quirky Midsomer Murders, and a Wilier was also chosen by a young Belgian rider for her unauthorised experiment in motorised cyclocross. Perhaps more pertinently, Wilier makes some cutting-edge pro-level road bikes such as this Zero.7, with its sub-800g frame. In creating the Zero.7, Wilier’s designers took the integrated cabling (1), integrated fork and improved aerodynamics they had developed for the company’s Cento bikes, this time using smaller diameter – and thus lighter – carbon fibre tubing, which is allowed by the use of a ‘special thermoplastic material’ during the manufacturing stage. This ‘helps to create a…

WE SAY A convenient package that’s high on value when it comes to drive and durability Weight 820+970=1790g Pick-up 20° Width 15mm internal/20.5mm external With £60 worth of tyres and £11 worth of inner tubes as standard, the Aksium Elites certainly score well for convenience and value for money. The rims are narrow and they’re not tubeless compatible, and pick-up is quite slow. Once locked in, though, transfer through the big bladed spokes is direct and purposeful, and differential two-cross driveside/radial offside spoke tension was exceptional even after a lot of riding. The steel-reinforced freehub stops scarring, and bearings are well sealed and long-lived. However, the firmly accurate feel means comfort can be compromised on rougher surfaces and the Yksion Elite Guard tyres are sturdy rather than supple. HIGHS Stiff,…

It’s a staple of all endurance sport, but carb-loading correctly means more than just stuffing your face at the pre-event ‘pasta party’ – or eating everything in sight the week before your trip to the Alps. So just what should you be doing? REASONS TO LOAD UP “Carbs are stored in the liver and muscle tissue as glycogen but they’re quickly depleted during exercise, so carbloading helps you to top up your energy levels and fend off fatigue,” explains Andy Tennant, bronze medallist in the individual pursuit at the London World Championships and pro road rider with Team Wiggins. “Our team nutritionist, David Dunne, advises a highcarb diet but one with high-quality carbs – not getting them from convenience foods.” TIME IT RIGHT “Loading on the day of the race…

A PERFECT MATCH If you’re turning to clipless pedals for the first time, you need to make sure your shoes will take the cleats required. Shimano SPD-SL, Look and Time pedals are the most common systems and all require a three-bolt cleat on the shoe, while Speedplay cleats require a four-bolt fixing. Not many shoes are made that way, so Speedplays come with an adapter that can be fitted to three-hole fixings. Shimano’s SPD commuter/off-road system, meanwhile, uses just two holes and a smaller cleat. Cleats will also be colour-coded to show if they allow ‘float’ and if so how much. Float allows your feet to move around a little, while zero-float cleats lock you into position. TURN THE SCREW Before attaching the cleat to the shoe, grease the threads…

After almost two decades (two decades!) of working in sports journalism, it was inevitable that I’d eventually have to go to Dubai. And so to Dubai I went, albeit with a heavy heart. Given that its fossil fuel-based dosh has been oiling the wheels of global sport for a good while now, it was a little surprising that I hadn’t been sent there before. And, like one’s first glimpse of the Alps from the window of an aeroplane, it both exceeded and conformed to my expectations. For those of you who are not aware: the sun-scarified Emirate state of Dubai has been widely criticised for its record on workers’ rights... at least, I think that’s what they say on their tourism website. Its unbroken sunshine, limitless desert coast, huge piles…

Long associated with affordable carbon, the Focus Cayo range has expanded to include alloy frames, replacing the old Culebro in the German maker’s line-up. The Cayo AL borrows styling cues from its carbon big brother and it’s undeniably a good-looking thing. Its triple-butted tubing is slim and elegant, and the full-carbon fork’s crown has a pleasing angularity to it that flows into dainty, gently curved legs. The cabling forward of the bottom bracket is all internal, and that brings us to our first complaint: the fulllength brake outer in the top-tube is not secured properly, and it rattles infuriatingly over the smallest bumps. Shimano Ultegra is its usual personable self at least, while the finishing kit is inoffensive and the wheels serviceable, if rather old-school-narrow when it comes to rim…

HANDY ANDY 2010 Tour de France winner Andy Schleck has opened his own bike shop in Itzig, Luxembourg. Injury forced him out of the pro sport in 2015, but his love for cycling lives on in his new venture, which he’ll work in full-time. THEY’VE REBADGED IT! CTC – the Cyclists’ Touring Club – is getting a new name from April, for the first time since 1882. The switch to Cycling UK comes after consultation with members, though not all are happy with the change. CONTINENTAL SHIFT British Cycling is hoping history will repeat itself after resurrecting its endurance academy’s Italian training base. It previously helped to launch the careers of Cav et al in the mid-noughties. SUPER MARIO Mario Cipollini copped some flak for posting a photo of himself…

Forget bank account-emptying bikes, Fixation’s Wembley – which ‘is meant to represent the industrial nature of London’, apparently – costs just 325 quid. Not even a monkey in Cockney slang. This’ll nab you a hi-tensile steel frame with geometry designed for the hustle and bustle of urban riding. Its riser bar gives a cityfriendly head-up riding position, and its flip-flop hub allows it to be run either fixed or freewheel. The 12kg weight isn’t light, but this should prove a tough beast and, better still, 10 per cent of Fixation’s profits go to charity.…

British brand Orro’s latest addition to its range is aimed squarely at the endurance rider, though its geometry is still pretty racy. The head-tube may be 10mm taller than a full-on race bike’s, but the reach is similar – so when you’re riding in the drops the Pyro feels every inch the racing bike its looks suggest it to be. Orro’s designers have also done their homework with regards to the ride quality. Stiffer carbon fibres are used in the bottom bracket shell, chainstays, downtube and head-tube, for responsiveness when you really crank up the power. These combine with the more flexible carbon fibres that are used in the toptube and seat-tube, and the Pyro’s slender bridgeless seatstays, for a ride that, though on the firm side, does a top-notch…

EASTWAY ZENER D1 £1800 The D1 is the top of the three-bike Zener range now under Wiggle’s umbrella, and you get a lot for your money – full Ultegra plus highquality Ritchey finishing kit. The Zener’s frameset has an angular shaped head-tube and squared-off tube shapes but has dropouts rather than thru-axles. Thankfully, Mavic’s Aksium One disc wheels keep any movement in check. They’re not light, but the straight-pull flange ensures there’s little side-to-side flex. Although targeted at the endurance rider, the Zener still has a reasonably aggressive position, tempered by a slacker head angle. This means you need to anticipate high-speed corner entry earlier than on some rivals, but the brakes are well up to the task. SPECIFICATION Weight 8.5kg (58cm) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra 50/34,…

Boardman’s SLR acronym stands for ‘Super Light Racing’, and at 7.37kg this is at the lighter end of what you can get for £1800. Its geometry and build, meanwhile, leave no doubt as to its competitive aspirations. And while Boardman has long offered you a lot for your money, the brand’s purchase by Halfords seems to have upped the value further. The Road Pro Carbon SLR props up the SLR Race range, but this is very far from entry-level fodder. Its C8 carbon frameset is kitted out with a SRAM Force 22 groupset and Mavic’s Ksyrium Equipe wheels, creating a seriously appetising prospect. The top-tube is long, the head-tube on the short side – so if you like an aggressive saddle to bar drop, you’ll feel right at home here.…

Let’s play a game. Here’s an Italian bike. Looks pretty nice, right? We’re going to review it without talking about passion or flair or soul, and we’re not going to mention pedigree or call it thoroughbred. The GTR SL is Wilier’s latest comfortable-butfast, sportive-esque frameset, the poshest version of a new design that’s also available in two heavier versions (the GTR Team and GTR), as well as a disc model. To make matters even more complicated, the GTR SL is available in two different geometries: the Race on test here, and the Endurance. The GTR SL’s frame and fork weigh a claimed 990g and 390g respectively. The frameset carries all the hallmarks of a modern sportive bike, with tubing that’s fat in the right places for stiffness (head-tube, down-tube, bottom…

SCOTT FOIL 20 £2699 At what price aero? The Foil has been asking that since 2011, but for 2016 Scott has completely redesigned it. With a greater nod to comfort, Scott has dropped the seatstays and integrated the front end more. It still retains truncated aerofoils but it now has a rear brake hidden behind the bottom bracket, and our testing was marred by brake rub that could only be prevented by backing off the pads significantly. Performance-wise, the new Foil is still very much a firm and fierce race bike, with satisfying power transfer that makes for spirited climbing and determined sprints. The effort put in to adding compliance has paid off, but its other aero-related compromises remain hard to accept. SPECIFICATION Weight 7.4kg (54cm) Frame Foil HMF carbon…

Our erstwhile Bike of the Year is back to defend its title and it’s as good as ever. In fact, it’s changed little aside from a switch to 25mm tyres from 28s. This version comes in BMC’s signature red-and-black paintjob with 105 headlining the kit line-up. The shifters are actually Shimano’s non-series R785s which are sortakinda Ultegra level; suffice to say they do the job very well. Things are rounded out with modest Shimano RX-31 wheels, an alloy cockpit, and the bump-taming ‘Compliance’ seatpost. BMC makes great play of the thought that’s gone into producing an ideal blend of stiffness and comfort, a system it calls ‘Tuned Compliance Concept’ (it’s even written on the chainstays…). But in the real world it’s hard to define what makes the GF01 such a…

A former longtime favourite of ours, Cube’s Agree has been reworked for 2016 after it had started to show its age. It has most of the features we’ve come to expect now: stiffer hi-mod carbon fibres in the highstress areas, with lowermodulus fibres elsewhere, along with the increasingly common dropped, skinny seatstays. It’s all for comfort, donchaknow? Disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles are the other obvious new arrivals. The wheelbase is short for a disc-braked bike, which may contribute to the Agree’s rock-solid handling and its slightly firm ride. Thankfully though, this firmness never translates to harshness, some of which will be down to the superb Schwalbe One tyres and the PMP carbon seatpost that takes the sting out of hits and naturally dulls harsh road buzz. And though Cube…

Picking the best bike of 2016 was, unsurprisingly, a tough task. All 55 in this test are very, very good. We argued about the winners in each category and corners were fought. Deciding which of the ‘big four’ should take the top honour was harder still – a lot rests on our decision. We love Bianchi’s Specialissima, a bike we’d happily display as a work of art, if it wasn’t such a beautiful ride; Wilier’s GTR SL is a smooth-riding, long-distance special; the BMC Teammachine SLR02 is its Swissdesigned near-equal. But it’s the Cannondale CAAD12 105 that we’re crowning Bike of the Year 2016. There’s a chance that this will surprise you – it’s aluminium, has ‘old-fashioned’ rim breaks and it costs less than £1300. But mark our words –…

ENDURA THERMOLITE WINTER A Repel Teflon protector adds water repellency to Endura’s Thermolite fabric. It doesn’t make the shorts waterproof, but light spray won’t trouble your rear. The eight-panel design, generous mesh bibs, silicone and elastic leg gripper and a gel pad keep things comfortable, and the brushed inner surface keeps you warm if the temperature nears zero. SPORTFUL NO RAIN £80 Sportful’s thermal shorts are thicker than average, with a snug brushed inner face, and effective NoRain water-repellent finish. They have just three panels, but fit very well, helped by a lightweight mesh bib and wide Lycra and silicone leg grippers that are perfect over leg warmers. Ride comfort is guaranteed by the variable density pad, and they’re super warm. ALÉ PRR PONENTE £95 We’ve come to expect high…

CURRENT WEIGHT 10.45kg (including XT pedals, original weight 9.8kg) (XL) FRAME Smartform 6069 Alloy FORK Carbon Lefty Oliver with 30mm travel, 45mm offset GEARS Shimano Ultegra 52/36 rings, 11-28 cassette WHEELS Slate 650b disc, with lefty front hub BRAKES Shimano BR-RS805 hydraulic disc FINISHING KIT Surly Knard 650b 41c tyres, Fabric Scoop radius saddle, Cannondale C2 seatpost, Cannondale C2 compact bar, Cannondale C1 stem, Cannondale Si chainset with 52/36 Spidering, RaceOne bottle cage, SRAM out front Garmin mount, Upgrade mini-bell. When I first laid eyes on the Slate at Cannondale’s SuperSix launch last summer, I was intrigued and disappointed in equal measure: intrigued by the bike itself, but disappointed that they wouldn’t let me have a go. I’ve managed to get it in for a test since then (see issue…

France’s Alpine cols have an almost mythical status in the world of road cycling. The sport’s most famous riders have battled up and down countless mountain passes, some to glory, some to ignominy – others to their death. For many of the Tour de France’s 102 editions racers tackled these climbs when they amounted to little more than dirt roads. At their most extreme, the Hors Catégorie climbs were so severe that the following motorcade was not even allowed to pass. Regardless of that, the peloton had no option but to push on where the more mechanically advanced machines could not. In the cushier days of the 21st century all the main routes up the cols are smoothly surfaced, their tarmac brushed and hoovered in preparation for the race, reducing…

Cycling has five Monuments – one-day races that stand above all others. Of these five, only one exists as a de facto ‘national’ day, and the region it celebrates just happens to be the most cycling-mad place on Earth. Throw in cobbled climbs so steep and narrow they have forced even Eddy Merckx to get off and push, and it becomes increasingly difficult to argue against the notion that the Tour of Flanders is the greatest one-day bike race in the world. This year the Belgian institution celebrates its 100th edition. To get you in the mood for the latest showdown on 3 April, we look back at six of the best that have gone before… 19 —13 IT HAS BEEN estimated that more than 40 per cent of Belgium’s…