Table of contents for October 2018 in Cycling Plus

£3350 It’s aero Bianchi’s pro tour machine, the Oltre XR4 Disc, is the brand’s premium aero road bike, but the Aria is no watered down Oltre. It’s unique aero design and sharp handling make it the Porsche Boxster to the legendary 911 – you get 95 per cent of the fun for 70 per cent of the price. The Aria rides fast, handles sharply but with ease and feels every inch the superbike, despite its relative-to-the-XR4 modest price tag. To be honest we’d save money, look at some serious upgrades and opt for the Aria. It’s comfortable We loved the rim-braked Aria, but that one feels firm compared to a non-aero bike. The disc version allows for more tyre clearance and when running on plush 28mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slicks,…

It got me through L’Étape, and I love the electronic shifting, hydraulic discs and sorted frame My Canyon Endurace CF SLX Disc was delivered straight from Germany courtesy of Alpecin – I was the least important member of the reader team we’ve followed in the magazine – and I, like all other Canyon ‘customers’, had some simple spannering to do to get it ride-ready. But me and simple spannering don’t go, and I forgot a shim between the stem and steerer and crushed some carbon. Luckily, Canyon was very understanding and replaced my fork without fuss. Since then we’ve got along swimmingly. My CF SLX LTD isn’t quite standard – the Zipp 303 wheels aren’t an option on the full bike available in the UK, and the SRAM Red eTap…

The frame might not be as exotic as some here but it’s sensibly designed With the build, spec and design, the Metrix lends itself to enjoyable town riding The Metrix 20 has classic hybrid looks with its straight lines and oversized tubes. This more traditional design alongside the black and contrasting orange finish give it a racy feel. Costs are kept to a minimum by using a 6061 double-butted aluminium frame and Shimano’s Tiagra components. The frame might not be as exotic as some here but it’s sensibly designed, with Scott’s new-for-2018 endurance geometry. From the off the ride is stiff and there’s more feedback, but if you only want to ride for a couple of hours it’s fine. Anything longer and the difference between its aluminium frame and the…

For town use, and longer weekend rides, we’d consider cutting the bar down The geometry creates a flamboyance that makes you want to ride fast Cannondale has never shied away from creating bikes for all types of riders, whatever their needs. The brand has been making this style of hybrid for a while. The latest incarnation, with its slick-looking carbon frame, is a well thought out package featuring some top quality components such as the Shimano 105 gears. The first thing we noticed was the size of the sweeping handlebar on this cow-horned crazy horse, instantly making it feel like a downhill bike. We got over our initial reservations of the 66cm bar once we’d given it a go and actually enjoyed the control it offers. For town use, and…

ONE OF THE ORIGINAL AERO road helmets, the Evade looked fast, but Specialized designed it with software, only ratifying the finished product in its, then newly-built, wind tunnel. For the S-Works Evade II, aerodynamics took centre stage from the start. It’s said that of ventilation, light weight and aerodynamics, you’ll only achieve two in one design. Specialized went for a full house, and with our large sized 59-63cm example weighing 291g, it’s made a decent start. The Evade could never be feather light since it has fewer vents and more EPS and outer shell than a regular helmet, but its mass isn’t noticeable. Multi-density EPS foam and an internal Aramid-reinforced skeleton provide impact protection around the shell, and the Mindset HairPort 2 retention system adjusts to five heights as well…

YOU NEED A PACKABLE JACKET all year round, such is the prospect of a dry ride turning wet. The holy grail of their type must have a trio of features – it needs to be lightweight, pack down small and offer some degree of water resistance. Up until now it’s been two out of the three at best, but Gore has changed all that with the Shakedry. Our large test jacket weighs a paltry 134.3g, packs down into its own rear pocket at 15x8.5x7cm, which is plenty small enough to fit in a rear jersey pocket. Where it absolutely scores though is how well it protects you from the elements, the outer fabric feels almost waxy to the touch and it beads up moisture like it was made from one…

Weight 1520g (pair) Pick up 20° Internal width 16mm External 20mm Depth 20mm Spokes 18/20 Tyre OD 24.5x23mm With the Yksion Pro tyres fitted, to go tubeless just remove the valve core, fill the tyre with the supplied sealant and inflate. Mavic’s bearings and steel freehub are durable. The 3D bulged rims and tightly laced spokes create a light, stiff and responsive wheelset, compensating for the potentially gaping 20-degree engagement lag. Narrow rims and low volume tyres mean it’s no smoother than a standard tyre combination though. HALO DEVAURA £400 Weight 1570g (pair) Pick up 12° Internal width 19mm External 23.5mm Depth 30mm Spokes 20/24 Tyre OD 27x25mm If you’re looking for a proven, fast and wide ride at a decent price, you might find the Halos heavenly. The 31mm-deep…

You have brought your tent with you, haven’t you, Simon?” The silence and blushing, shamed expression on Simon’s face when met at the station by fellow rider Robin and photographer Russell said it all. Silently. Eloquently. Robin might be spending the night in a small bike-specific tent after a day’s dawdling around Dorset, but Simon had different plans, and canvas – or its modern equivalent – was playing no part of them. His lack of foresight also included failing to bring any tools, not even a pump, tyre lever or inner tube. He did at least remember his bike, helmet and clothing options for photography. Fortunately, the bike was the most important. Robin had spent a month getting in the miles on his 21st century gravel/adventure/bikepacking Whyte Glencoe. Simon was…

Rolling into the quintessentially English village of Aldbury, with its church, duck pond and rival pubs, you’d be forgiven for thinking that little has changed in this Hertfordshire outpost in centuries. You would be wrong, though. In former farm buildings just behind that village church, UK cycling and running brand Ashmei is revolutionising the way the kit we wear is made. In six short years Ashmei has muscled in on the established high-end cycling market with an approach born of independence, new thinking and the pursuit of excellence. “I’ve been designing sportswear for 25 years,” explains founder Stuart Brooke over coffee before we head out into the neighbouring Chiltern Hills, “and I have a consultancy that has been designing sportswear for blue chip brands for 21 of those years, but…

Distance: 78 miles/124km Grade: Moderate. There’s a surprising amount of climbing – more than 1000m in total – but it’s the wind that will be the biggest challenge, calm days are a rarity up here Download: https://www.strava.com/routes/14293350 GETTING THERE There are at least two vehicle ferries from Scrabster (nearest rail station Thurso) to Stromness (90 minutes) per day, and at least three from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (six hours) per week, both operated by Northlink Ferries. For timetables and fares, visit northlinkferries.co.uk WHERE TO STAY We stayed at the Ferry Inn in Stromness (ferryinn.com), which is literally across the road from the ferry terminal. It has comfortable rooms, a lively bar serving a good selection of local ales, and an excellent restaurant where we can heartily recommend the organic salmon risotto.…

60 mins £15 for degreaser, grease, lube ✓ Spoke key ✓ Grease ✓ Oil ✓ 3, 4, 5mm Allen keys ✓ Chain tool/measuring tool ✓ Pressure gauge/pump ✓ Torque wrench ✓ Pedal spanner We all know that before you start playing around with your bike you should have a to do list in your head. This should cover what to fettle, how to work safely and which tools to use. But a list of things not to do is just as important when it comes to getting the job done properly. Here are the 10 things you should try to seriously avoid. They’re arranged in no particular order but succumbing to any one of them could put you or (even worse) your beloved machine out of action for some time,…

WORLDS FAMOUS Online training platform Zwift has revealed its latest virtual reality course: the road circuit for the 2018 Innsbruck-Tirol World Champs. The 24km course includes a showpiece 7.9km climb. BOARDMAN DISEMBARKS Chris Boardman has quit his Tour de France pundit gig with ITV to focus on his role as Greater Manchester’s first cycling and walking commissioner. The planned investment for network upgrades is in the region is £1.5bn. QUIDS IN! Despite offers from elsewhere, Geraint Thomas will likely still be a Team Sky rider for 2019 and beyond. Winning the Tour de France while a new contract was being negotiated has surely added a few quid to his salary. ADRIEN COSTA One of the most talented riders of his generation, Adrien Costa, had part of his right leg amputated…

I live with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). It’s a genetic condition that causes multi-internal systemic problems and can mean that my joints dislocate. Five years ago my condition meant my husband was washing my hair for me as I had been pretty much bed bound since having brain surgery. Around then I first got my trike, using it as an alternative to a wheelchair to do my food shopping. The trike has since given me independence, physical strength and a chance to fulfil new dreams. Cycling is a safe activity for me, as it is a linear movement. In February 2018 I set off around the coastline of Great Britain to raise awareness of my condition, and see our wonderful country close up. I chose that time of year to start…

The jury’s out on the looks but you don’t notice this once you’re pedalling As a package the FastRoad is an extremely capable bike Giant has been making carbon composite bikes longer than most, and brings a huge wealth of experience to the table. Here, it offers the cheapest carbon bike on test with a sensible component package. As the name suggests this bike has been designed to pedal fast on the tarmac, combining road speed and competence with the comfort and forgiving ride of a flat bar bike. While the curved frame might look funky it’s designed to deliver a rider friendly and compliant ride. The jury’s out on the looks but you don’t notice this once you’re pedalling. These curved tubes give the illusion of the head-tube being…

The wide, flattened top-tube flows smoothly into the rear seatstays A rider-friendly bike that rolls well, descends like a dream and enjoys climbing Specialized has aimed the Sirrus Expert Carbon, from its fitness range, at those who demand high-end performance. The combination of a carbon frame and fork with Shimano 105 gears shows that the brand means business. The FACT 9r carbon frame has subtle looks with its matte black finish, and internal cable routing to add to its clean lines. Don’t be put off if you ride at night because the paint has a reflective coating. The wide, flattened top-tube flows smoothly into the rear seatstays and while it initially appears intimidating, and even sluggish, after a few pedal strokes you’ll enjoy a light yet forgiving ride. It’s not…

Hong Kong’s annual one-day cycling event is about to become bigger and better than ever. As well as the usual host of exciting amateur events, this year will also see 11 UCI WorldTour teams take part in Hammer Hong Kong, the finale of the 2018 Hammer Series. The Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon takes place on Sunday 14 October 2018. It’s a unique platform for amateur cyclists to take on a 30km or 50km route through a diverse cityscape – and against a backdrop of Hong Kong’s world-famous skyline. With events for individuals and teams, men, women and children, there really is something for everyone. The spectacular Cyclothon route takes riders from Tsim Sha Tsui to Tsing Yi, Ma Wan and back to Tsim Sha Tsui, passing some…

EVANS CYCLES HAS BEEN PRODUCING some great value, high performing products under its FWE – the initials of the company’s founder – label for a number of years. For 2018 it’s added two road shoes to the mix. The Comp, tested here, and £65 Sport both sit under the Beacon moniker which, according to Evans, is because they’re inspired by the South Downs climb of Ditchling Beacon not far from its West Sussex HQ. While the Beacon has been the downfall of many a London to Brighton rider it’s no Alpine giant, and the shoes don’t make any obvious concessions to climbers - at 320g for a size 44 they’re not lightweights. That said the Comp has plenty of features to make it a competitive choice at this price. While…

Seemingly all cutting edge road products claim to have been designed with at least some element of aerodynamic performance. Cycling-optimised wind tunnels are few, and expensive to run, meaning that most companies have to rent tunnel time, and plan how to maximise it. Specialized is rare in having its own on-site Win Tunnel, allowing almost unlimited time to develop concepts and designs. One development example from the Evade II is realising that improving the helmet’s ventilation by increasing air throughflow also reduced its aerodynamic drag, therefore making it both faster and cooler, and that really is a win win.…

Altura made its reputation with the affordable Night Vision range, which was aimed at commuters and majored on visibility, durability and value. More recently, Altura has expanded on this to include higher performance garments to become the NV2 Elite range. It combines its original visibility goals with very subtle high-vis touches. Jersey We wouldn’t usually describe an essentially all-black outfit, save for the pin stripe geometric graphics on the jersey, as high-vis but the NV2 certainly does its job. A fabric called Darkproof is used on the cuffs of the jersey and bib shorts. The 2in-deep detail appears slate grey in colour, but in the dark in the light of car headlamps it’s eye-squintingly bright. That’s not the only thing to recommend the NV2 kit. The jersey combines a tightly…

Weight 1630g (pair) Pick up 15° Internal width 17.5mm External 22.5mm Depth 22.5mm Spokes 20/24 Tyre Overall Diameter 26x24.5mm We’ve been consistently impressed by DT’s Spline family. The rim of this new entry level-priced model is relatively narrow by the latest standards but the shallow depth and well-tuned DT Aero spoke build keep it comfortable and help sustain speed across rougher surfaces. Pick up from the standard pawl system is slightly slow but it’s light enough to be encouraging when it does connect. It comes pre-taped with valves ready to add for tubeless use for an even smoother ride. RWS ratchet skewers are also included. KINESIS RACELIGHT RL700 £350 Weight 1730g (pair) Pick up 10° Internal width 18mm External 22.5mm Depth 27mm Spokes 28/28 Tyre OD 26x25mm Smooth-rolling wheels but…

Weight 1520g (pair) Pick up 15° Internal width 19mm External 23mm Depth 24mm Spokes 20/24 Tyre OD 27.5x25mm Specialized’s Roval wheels are consistently impressing us at the moment. The rounded rims of the SLX 24s come taped with valves fitted, begging you to go tubeless. Even if you stay conventionally pneumatic the 19mm internal width stretches tyre width for extra smoothness and stability on rougher roads and more aggressive cornering. The medium tension DT Swiss Competition spoke build with a two-cross driveside pattern gives a buoyant structural feel without squandering tracking accuracy or feeling soft under power. There is sometimes a pause in pick up from the DT Swiss-based hubs, which they share with Roval’s carbon wheels, but you can retrofit faster-reacting ratchet internals. They’re light enough to respond really…

As motivated as you might be about achieving an ultimate training target, you might fall short without short-term, incremental goals. This is where training plans or structured sessions come into their own and as a Zwift user, you’re not short of options. The most recent addition, Flexible Training Plans, takes into account your busy lifestyle, with windows to complete sessions in, rather than a rigid timetable. To avoid overtraining, if you have to skip a session, the plan restructures to ensure you get the most from your remaining sessions that week. New sessions can only be unlocked once you’ve completed the last, encouraging you to follow the plan. They’ve certainly appealed to Hannah this month, who is on the Fondo 60 three-week plan: “Like most people I like structure and,…

Kate Andrews, creator of train ticket comparison and booking site Loco2 (loco2.com) explains 1 PLAN AHEAD Places can be limited so book at least three months in advance to secure a space. 2 BOOK BIKE SPACE Bike reservations involve a separate booking process. Eurostars carry a limited number of bikes across London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Lille for £30 each way. Call the Eurodespatch to book your bike on the same train as yourself. 3 SECURE YOUR BIKE Most trains let you take a bike into the luggage or cycling compartment but you may have to store it in a zip-up bag with the pedals and wheels removed. Safeguard any valuables too. 4 ON THE DROPS On the day of travel, report to the Eurodespatch baggage drop at least an…

This summer, after completing my 16th Tour de France, commentating for ITV, I decided to take a holiday. The Tour de France is a giant road trip. The thousands of kilometres the actual riders are tasked with racing pale into insignificance when set against the billions of kilometres the rest of the Tour entourage has to negotiate as they wend their chaotic way from the Vendée to Paris via Everywhere Else In France. I am not complaining, of course… Well, actually I am. You see, I detest motor cars with a growing passion. As I age, my intolerance for these End of Days inventions increases commensurately with the middle-aged affliction of unfettered hair growth in my ears; unstoppable and uncontrollable. Having given up my motorised vehicle for good last summer,…

60 mins £15 for degreaser, grease, lube ✓ Bucket of hot, soapy water ✓ Brushes and sponges ✓ Old toothbrush and spoke ✓ Flat-blade screwdriver ✓ Degreaser ✓ Grease ✓ Chain lube ✓ Polish and rags (01) SCRUB CHAIN The chain is the most important part of the transmission. Fill a bucket with hot water, wearing rubber gloves will help you use hotter, more effective water, then add regular washing-up liquid. Alternatively use a pre-prepared bike cleaner. With the chain in the biggest gear, apply the mixture vigorously using a stiff bristle scrubbing brush. You’ll see a bright, shining chain emerge. (02) DEGREASE CHAIN With the chain free from dirt, apply a biodegradable degreaser to the chain and allow it to soak into all the links. This will remove any…

Over 60 mins Brake cable kit from £4.99 Gear cable kit from £4.99 ✓ 5mm, 6mm Allen keys ✓ Cable cutter ✓ Side cutter ✓ Small file ✓ Third-hand tool (optional) ✓ Gear and brake cable sets ✓ Outer cable ferrules ✓ Insulation tape (01) ROUTINE CHECKS Modern gear and brake cables require little maintenance except to occasionally index the gears and adjust the brakes. Inspect outer cables regularly for damage where they enter the adjuster, either at the rear derailleur or on the down-tube adjusters. Lubricating inner cables attracts dirt and could do more harm than good, and for this reason many manufacturers recommend not doing so. (02) LENGTH MATTERS Check that the outer brake cable length is correct – long enough from the levers and along the bar…

30 mins Disc brake cleaner £9.99 Truing tool £19.99 ✓ Multi-tool with 4, 5, 6mm Allen and T25 torx keys ✓ 8 and 10mm open end spanner ✓ Disc brake cleaner spray ✓ Sandpaper or emery cloth ✓ Truing tool or adjustable spanner (01) REPLACING PADS Replace pads when they’ve worn to less than 2mm thick. Remove the wheel and ensure the calliper is clean and free of oil. On hydraulic systems gently pry the pads open with a screwdriver or tyre lever to fully retract the pistons. Remove the retaining pin (split pin or threaded) using pliers or a hex key. Remove the old pads and return the spring. Clean off any remaining dirt before inserting new pads and spring. Reinstall the retaining pin. (02) LINE UP When refitting…

✓ Small and medium zip ties ✓ One or two SRAM power links of correct width (9 and/or 10-speed) ✓ Pump ✓ Small stretch of wire ✓ Multi-tool You’re midway through one of the best rides you can remember when fatigue and a momentary lapse of attention cause you to edge your front wheel into the rear of your riding buddy’s bike, catching his derailleur in your spokes. The consequences are a buckled front wheel and a broken rear mech 30 miles from home. Rather than facing the prospect of having to rely on thumbs and the generosity of strangers, or mobiles and a friend, most of us would prefer to be able to rely on our own skills to get us home. Although by no means exhaustive, we’ve tried…

With a strong triathlon and track bike pedigree it’s no surprise that Felt can make a pretty nifty aero road bike with features designed to help you cut through the air. Most noticeably the AR4 has a distinctly slippery wind tunnel-developed frame, and a rear wheel cutout that’s very tight even with the somewhat old-school 23mm tyres fitted. The seatstays and chainstays are designed to keep air moving smoothly around the bike, though the most obvious aerodynamic features are the smoothly curved bottom bracket shell, bladed fork, narrow sculpted down-tube and seat-tube and reversible aero seatpost. Felt claims these help make the AR4 frame quicker than the Cervélo S5, among other big-name competitors, in the wind tunnel. It certainly has a great sense of efficiency when you put the power…

1 IT’S A BORDO Abus’ Bordo design combines a compact size with an adaptable and large locking area. The design combines six 160mm long, 5mm thick steel bars anchored with flush-fitting steel rivets, making for a lockable area of approximately 250x250mm. Plenty of space to anchor your frame and wheel to a bike stand. 2 IT’S TOUGH Like all of Abus’ premium products the Bordo 6000 is a tough lock. Rated 10 out of 15 for its mechanical resistance, it won’t be broken by anyone but the most determined thief using serious tools. 3 IT’S PORTABLE The 6000 weighs a pretty hefty 1.392kg, but thankfully comes with a dedicated bottle cage boss-mounting bracket so your bike can carry the weight. 4 YOU CAN ADD MORE LOCKS The 6000 comes with…

Being everyday cyclists, we wear T-shirts rather than club jerseys. But if we did, they’d say ‘Samaritans CC’. Because, as we trundle around, we do good deeds every day. Mostly when in our home city of York we help lost tourists, frowning at their phone on a corner, 180 degrees from where they thought, wanting the Jorvik Museum but finding only Superdrug. We give them a city cycle map, and a ball of wool if they need to retrace their steps. Then there’s roadside assistance for infrequent cyclists: we tighten loose V-brakes, tweak mudguards, lend an adaptor linking their Schrader pump to the flat tyre’s Presta valve. Other interventions have included helping a wheelchair user in a bleak retail park who was stranded on the road by a rogue giant…

From the first pedal stroke the Cube is lively with superb power delivery The SL is a robust bike that has been built for speed Cube’s aluminium-framed SL Road is a hybrid in the truest sense, bringing together high-end equipment from road and off-road worlds, and is designed to be ridden at speed. With its battleship grey finish and angular tubes, the SL has a distinctly industrial feel. Perhaps because of the drab finish, we had preconceived ideas that this bike would feel slow and sluggish, but we couldn’t have been more wrong. The Cube is competitive weight-wise and, best of all, it pulls away like a bull on speed; we constantly found ourselves racing between traffic lights. As soon as you kick a leg over, it’s like you’re going…

On paper this carbon-framed speedster certainly looks like it should be special The Sport 6 is an extremely capable bike that is a joy to ride The FX Sport 6 is Trek’s top-of-the-range fitness bike, and with a £1900 price tag we were hoping for something special. On paper this carbon-framed speedster, with Shimano 105 gearing and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes certainly looks like it should be. Trek has employed its IsoSpeed decoupler technology on the lightweight 400 Series OCLV carbon frame. Along with the frame itself helping with road sting, this system allows the seat-tube to flex independently from the top-tube to smooth out the ride. This system was first seen on Trek’s Domane models in 2012 and was designed to help pro racers with the punishing surfaces found…

OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS or so DT Swiss has completely revamped its wheel line, offering new high-performance road wheels, super-light climbers’ wheels, and a myriad aero options for both rim and disc brakes. In keeping with the current trend for every thing all-road, the brand has also launched this very interesting gravel/cyclo-cross/go-anywhere option. The new CRC1400, as the name suggests, is a sub-1400g pairing (well 1389g for our test set), with the front weighing 622g and the rear 767g. The rims are a whole new tubeless compatible shape, with a wide internal dimension of 22mm and an external width of 28mm. That makes these 24mm deep rims some of the widest we’ve seen. The rim is also hookless, so there’s no struggle to get the bead to seat when…

TACX £1.59 Despite their spindly looks, these tyre levers from Tacx, sold in a pack of three, are very stiff, but don’t hold up well to being dragged along the rim as some other options. The tip on the levers is far too short and aggressively hooked to get a reasonable purchase on the bead of the tyre. TOPEAK LEVER SHUTTLE 1.1 £3.99 Topeak’s longstanding Shuttle levers are made from ‘engineering grade plastic,’ whatever that may be, but it feels very stiff and hard wearing. The rounded shape feels good in the hand and the spoke hooks are a useful and generous size. If you’re looking for something with a little more oomph, consider the larger Lever Shuttle 1.2. SKS £2.99 The sharp, chiselled tips of the SKS levers make…

RAPHA’S MOVE INTO BIKE COMPONENTS is quite a bold one, and one it’s taken seriously, developing this Classic model saddle and a flat, lightweight pro race version over two years. The Classic bears all the hallmarks of legendary Italian saddles of the 1970s and ’80s, with a curved profile, which isn’t unlike the San Marco Concor, the original Selle Italia Flite and now the modern interpretation of Fizik’s Aliante. Even the perforated microtex cover is reminiscent of classic 1980s saddles. Retro styling aside, Rapha’s Classic is bang up to date. The hull is constructed with carbon-reinforced nylon, with full carbon, oversized (7mm wide by 9mm deep) rail bonded on. The rail is a neat one-piece unit, which follows the rear edge of the saddle, leaving most of the hull’s widest…

Weight 1520g (pair) Pick up 7.5° Internal width 18.5mm External 23.5mm Depth 30.5mm Spokes 20/24 Tyre OD 27x24mm Retro looks disguise state-of-the-art alloy performance from UK direct-sell wheel specialist, Hunt. With an 18.5mm internal span and mid-V 30mm section they’re wide, aero and really light, which translates into exactly the effervescent, speed-sustaining ride you’d hope from the hype. Despite relatively low spoke tension (expect for super-tight offside rear lacing) they’re not the most forgiving ride but do come tubeless taped and valved. Hunt will even supply them with tyres fitted for ultimate user friendliness. Brake surfaces get wear dots and the fast-reacting freehub gets a single replaceable steel plate to stop spline damage. Skinny polished skewers with brass cams, spare spokes and spoke key are included too, leaving only adequate…

The Tour de France has, like every other sporting event, big or small, taking place in World Cup years, a difficult relationship with football’s showpiece tournament. The Grand Départ gets bumped a week, so to not go head-to-head with world sport’s behemoth for longer than necessary, but this doesn’t entirely compensate for keeping eyes on the cycling. Many fans come up for air at the end of the tournament, with normal life being largely on pause for a month, having had their fill of sport for the summer. Sports also vying for attention at this time, like cycling, are casualties. Particularly in France, who ended up winning the World Cup. Up to and including the Alps stages, French TV audiences were down 14 per cent on 2017 figures, and there…

AFTER ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL I didn’t have a problem with motivation after my success, as I just wanted to win more and more! The goal was always to push harder and achieve as much as possible in the most beautiful, fascinating and demanding sport in the world. DURING SERIOUS INJURY I’ve had two serious injuries, I broke my pelvis and clavicle. The rehabilitation process was difficult, and all you can think about is whether you’ll return as fast and as strong as before. I found watching races on television, when you have the passion to race, the hardest thing while injured. DURING ENFORCED ABSENCE My bans are well documented and not something that I’m proud of. The decision to take stimulants to enhance performance isn’t taken lightly. During my bans…

1 UNDO LOCKNUT For rear wheels, first remove the cassette. Undo the lock nut on the non-driveside using a cone spanner. Remove the locking nut and spacer by hand. 2 REMOVE CONE Hold the lock nut on the driveside with one spanner, then undo the non-driveside cone with another and wind it off by hand. Now remove the axle from the hub. 3 REMOVE BEARINGS Carefully remove the bearings from the race, a magnetic screwdriver will help. Clean the bearings and races using degreaser and some paper cloth. If there are signs of wear in cups and cones they’ll need replacing. 4 APPLY GREASE Apply a healthy dose of grease to the bearing race in the hub. Place the bearings into the grease to help hold them in place. Once…

There are few simple pleasures as enjoyable as riding a bike that almost effortlessly and silently glides along, free from annoying groans and grinding. Unfortunately, actually riding your bike exposes it to weather, grime and wear, so keeping it in tip-top condition takes varying degrees of knowledge, skill and time. One solution is to entrust your bike to the mechanics at your local bike shop. However, workshop costs can quickly mount up. The other way to look after your bike is to do it yourself, which is where this supplement comes in. If you’re reading this, chances are that you are the sort of person who wants to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain your own bike, or perhaps you’re looking to add new skills to your already…

30 mins £15 for degreaser, grease, lube ✓ Allen keys ✓ Torx keys ✓ Cable trimmers ✓ Lockring tool ✓ Wrench ✓ Grease, anti-seize ✓ Lube ✓ Copper slip ✓ Chain tool ✓ Rags ✓ Zip ties (01) CRANK BOLTS A common cause of creaking is loose crank bolts, particularly on square taper and splined axles. Two-piece-style external bottom bracket cranks, such as Shimano’s Hollowtech II, can creak if pinch bolts are loose. Remove and clean the crank bolts. Check if the bottom bracket has developed bearing play; if so, replace it. Check cranks with separate spiders for tightness because loose spiders will creak. (02) SHOE CLEATS Clipless pedal systems rely on the secure interface between the shoe cleat and the pedal itself; sometimes a cleat can work loose and…

15-30 mins £10 upwards for a new chain if needed ✓ Phillips screwdriver ✓ Pliers or third-hand tool ✓ 3mm and 5mm Allen keys ✓ Chain tool and lube (01) FIND STOP SCREWS With the front mech in place and the chain removed, locate the stop screws marked H (high) and L (low). On a top-swing front mech, the L screw is the inner screw, controlling the limit of the mech’s inward motion. The high screw is the outermost screw and limits the mech’s outward motion. On a bottom-swing mech, this is reversed. They are adjusted with a Phillips screwdriver. (02) SET FRONT SCREWS Set the L screw so that the front mech cage’s inner plate is roughly 4mm from the smallest chainring. Then, pushing the mech cage out by…

30 mins £16 for lube and degreaser ✓ 4mm, 2mm Allen keys for Shimano ✓ 5mm Allen key or 25T Torx key for Campagnolo ✓ Surgical spirit or citrus-based cleaner to clean rims ✓ Wipes (01) CHECKING FOR WEAR Brakes work through the friction between brake pad and rim, and over time the softer pad material will wear away. If the pad thins to beyond its wear indicator line, it’s time to change pads. If your pad doesn’t have an indicator line, change the pad when its grooves are approaching the halfway point. Poorly aligned pads may have formed a ridge – remove this with a file if you plan to keep using the pads. (02) CLEANING CURRENT ONES Regularly cleaning worn material and dirt from the pads means you…