Table of contents for February 2016 in Cycling Plus

GET 5 ISSUES OF CYCLING PLUS FOR A FIVER! when you subscribe to Cycling Plus See p96 One of the real joys of being a road cyclist is the opportunity it frequently offers for meeting new, interesting and like-minded souls. Join a club and you’ll make friends for life, walk into a remote cafe with your helmet under your arm and, chances are, another roadie will come over and start chatting; stand at the side of the road struggling with a puncture and someone will stop and help. Over the last few years, we’ve done our bit to bring cyclists together through Team Cycling Plus and we’re doing the same in 2016. We’re teaming up with Cannondale to offer three lucky readers the chance to get the best possible preparation…

SPECIFICATION Weight 9.6kg (S) Frame 7005 aluminium Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Campagnolo Veloce, Miche 50/34 cranks, 12-25 Brakes Miche dual pivot Wheels Miche Reflex Finishing kit Cinelli DNA stem, bar and seatpost, Selle Italia X1 saddle, Vittoria Rubino Pro 25mm tyres, Flinger mudguards SPECIFICATION Weight 9.57kg (56cm) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears SRAM Rival, 50/34, 11-32 Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic disc Wheels Maddux RD 2.0/Formula hubs Finishing kit Cannondale stem, bar and 25.4mm seatpost, Cannondale Stage Ergo saddle, 25mm Schwalbe Lugano folding tyres, Custom mudguards…

Leamington Spa gained its ‘Royal’ appellation when Queen Victoria visited for a dip in the town’s mineral spring baths. The old bath house is now an arts centre and museum, but there’s still the opportunity to enjoy the restorative properties of taking to two wheels on the lovely lanes around the town. The Cotswolds are just down the road and historic houses and castles abound. ROUTE ONE Cotswolds Approach 54 miles Historic Houses and Hills Leaving Leamington on a fairly busy road, this route quickly picks up quieter lanes and gets lumpier with the steep climb to Burton Dassett country park, where spectacular views are to be had. There’s plenty more climbing approaching the Cotswolds, before a flat and easy ride back to Leamington. Get the route tinyurl.com/cplus-cotswolds ROUTE TWO…

The rule, basically, was that if it was light, we were in the saddle Tired? I’m absolutely smashed to pieces. We have ridden 10,600km from Cairo to Cape Town, experienced all manner of trials and tribulations, and it’s a huge relief to make it here with the record in the bag. ‘We’ are the CAROCAP team, six guys who embarked on a team trial from Cairo in Egypt (the CARO of our name) to Cape Town in South Africa (the CAP). We’re proud of our world record, but it was just the means to the real end of raising funds for the Safari Simbaz Cycling Academy in Kenya and the provision of 1,100 bicycles. Covering 10,600km in 38 days meant about 10 to 12 hours of riding a day. The…

1VENTING Twenty-two vents in the ARX Plus keep it cool at the front, but it can get a little sweaty at the rear during warmer rides 2 MIPS Sits between the helmet and your head, and is designed to improve safety. The ARX Plus still adheres to the EN1078 standard 3 HARD SHELL In addition to MIPS, Scott’s ARX Plus has the usual inmoulded construction with a hard shell and an EPS interior HIGHS Increased protection, great fit, good price LOWS We prefer a little more air at the base of the rear WE SAY Great priced helmet with the latest safety features WE’VE ALWAYS LIKED Scott’s ARX helmet, thanks to its 22 large cooling vents and its reasonable price. The new Plus version adds MIPS to an already impressive…

THINGS TO CONSIDER... 1 WARMTH Staying warm is extremely important during the winter months. If you’re able to keep warm on the bike, you’ll be far more likely to maintain a training regime or daily commute, and it lessens the chances of illness or injury. 2 WEATHERPROOFING Staying dry doesn’t just help you to function properly, it also protects your bike, so whether it’s winter clothing or things you can fit to your bike to keep the elements at bay, they all add up to a better ride experience. 3 CONTACT POINTS Take care of your contacts points – your feet, hands and behind. Whether it’s using products to improve general comfort or just keeping your extremities warm, happy contact points mean a happier time in the saddle. 4 SAFETY…

WE SAY High-end looks and performance at a bargain price HIGHS Affordable, elegant, well made LOWS On the heavy side Weight 270g Sizes S, M, L Giro’s Foray packs a huge punch when it comes to head protection. This 21-vent helmet boasts high-end looks – you’d be forgiven for comparing its styling to Giro’s range-topping Synthe (£199.99). Giro’s RocLoc 5 twist retention system makes fitting easy, and it’s also simple to adjust on the move, even with winter gloves on. Its internal pads are comfortable and easy to remove for a wash. The main compromise Giro has made to reach such an affordable price point is weight: the Foray tips the scales at 270g for a medium, which while heavy is only 45g more than the Synthe (and at a…

THINGS TO CONSIDER... 1 SOLE Exclusively carbon fibre at this end of the market, the sole is where designers seek to maximise stiffness, minimise weight and preserve comfort. A low stack height (thickness) for biomechanical efficiency is desirable. 2 FASTENING Velcro used to be used for fastening but now cable systems dominate as they distribute pressure better and are easier to adjust finely. Some dials are handed (forward for tighter), others not (righty-tighty on both shoes). 3 WEIGHT A good fit is more important, but the weight of your shoes does matter. The lightest shoes here weigh 240g less than the heaviest, and as with wheels, it’s a rotating weight that you have to accelerate with every pedal stroke. 4 VENTING On hot days your feet can really suffer so…

Weight 248g Fastening Dual Boa S2 dials + Velcro Size range 39-48 Mouldable No WE SAY Specialized has boldly revisited its S-Works shoes, and claims significant aero gains HIGHS Close fit, stiffness, weight, heel hold LOWS Now less plush and more costly The previous S-Works shoe was hugely popular so it’s brave of Specialized to make such major changes with version 6. The new shoe is slimmer and fits more positively, closing around your foot like Ironman’s suit and needing only fingertip tension on the two-way Boa dials for an exceptionally secure fit and direct connection to your bike. So long as you don’t over-tighten them, they’re comfortable for hours and Specialized claims the aero shape will save you 30 seconds over 40km. The heel hold is very firm, the…

This might come as a bombshell to my parents, but I once skipped school. It was just for the afternoon, and it was only to head into town – which as acts of rebellion go is pretty minor. But as a (largely) strait-laced youth it was far enough out of my comfort zone that it had a bit of an edge. Truancy never much suited me, though, since all I could think about was the prospect of being hauled in front of the head, with my ‘disappointed’ parents watching on. I didn’t do it again after that – not as a pupil, student or employee. Until now. Question was: what would I do with a day bunking off now, as a grownup? At the very least I’d want to make…

From New York to... Majorca, Australia – twice – and Ireland 1 LOOP THE LOOP Majorca 312 30 April A formidable challenge at any time of year, the 312’s position in the calendar only adds to its fearsome reputation. The 312 in the title refers to the route’s distance in kilometres-one full lap of the island. Beginning at the crack of dawn, final riders aren’t expected back until gone 9pm. mallorca312.com 2 BITE THE BIG APPLE TD Five Boro Bike Tour 1 May Forty miles, five boroughs, one day, zero cars; those are the headline figures of this 32,000-rider charity ride through the empty streets of New York City, held on the first Sunday of May each year. It’s one of six events in the newly formed World Association of…

Snappy shifting and positive brakes set the tone for an invigorating ride SPECIFICATION Frame 3Al-2.5V titanium Fork Tifosi full carbon Wheels Campagnolo Khamsin Transmission Campagnolo Veloce, 50/34, 12-25 Brakes Miche Performance tifosicycles.co.uk The Duro’s butted titanium frame is finished with satin main tubes and logos that stand out in a contrasting mirror polish. The oversized tubes are rigid and Tifosi hasn’t felt the need for an oversized head-tube or bottom bracket. The carbon fork has mudguard eyes and the CK8 comes with full ’guards as standard. The rear also has mudguard eyes, as well as rack mounts and a neat threaded brake bridge, which allows the rear ’guard to be mounted directly. Both frame and fork have been designed around clearances for 28mm tyres with ’guards, so the CK8 could…

Look out for our Most Wanted award. We only give this to gear that really deserves your attention Here at Cycling Plus we take our testing seriously and have been putting road cycling products through their paces for 23 years. Our test team, led by senior technical editor Warren Rossiter, is the best in the business. They’ve got decades of cycling experience between them and know what makes a good – and bad – bike, accessory, gadget or garment. That means you can trust us to bring you honest assessments of every product we feature. If it gets our seal of approval then you can be sure that you’ll be bagging a great buy! FIRST RIDE First Ride sees our test team bring you their first impressions of the most…

SPECIFICATION Weight 7.45kg (56cm) Frame 24, 30, 40 & 60-ton carbon fibre Fork Full carbon Gears Campagnolo Super Record 52/36, 11-25 Brakes De Rosa direct mount Wheels Pininfarinabadged Vision Metron 81 Finishing kit FSA Plasma integrated carbon bar and stem, De Rosa SK carbon seatpost, De Rosa Selle Italia SLR saddle, Vittoria Open Corsa SR 24mm tyres, De Rosa Elite Mejio carbon bottle cage De Rosa is one of those names almost guaranteed to make cyclists of a certain age get a little weakkneed and nostalgic. With heritage as rich as an oligarch, the Italian brand has occasionally struggled to find its feet in today’s fast-paced carbon-everything landscape. But fast-paced is precisely what De Rosa is aiming at with its new SK Pininfarina. This abbreviates the Super King name, and…

Now athletics’ chickens have come home to roost, is it time to say ‘I told you so’? Hardly When Lance Armstrong’s cheating was revealed in 2012, the US Anti-Doping Agency labelled it the “most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. Given its charasmatic, flawed frontman, the Armstrong doping case remains a gripping scandal, but in terms of grand deceptions, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) unflinching report into alleged wrong-doing in Russian athletics tops the Texan in the treachery stakes. Former WADA president Dick Pound’s report accused Russia of running a state-sponsored doping programme, with the international federation, the IAAF, alleged to be complicit in failing to follow up on suspicious tests. Russia has been suspended from the sport and recently departed IAAF president Lamine Diack…

1 Mavic Cosmic Pro SO H20 jacket £165 Mavic’s stylish softshell is designed to be waterproof, breathable, and highly visible thanks to its reflective piping. Its rear pockets are hidden inside a zipped compartment, so your valuables are protected from the downpour. 2 RRP Rearguard/CX-Guard £19.95 Ideally we’d all have dedicated winter bikes with fulllength mudguards, but when needs must, mini-guards like these from RRP are better than nothing. The Rearguard fits most saddles, while the CX-Guard attaches under your fork crown to reduce spray from the front wheel. 3 Polaris Cascade waterproof socks £32.99 When even a pair of overshoes aren’t enough to keep the rain and muck out, socks likes the Cascade from Polaris come into their own. A breathable waterproof membrane is combined with inner and outer…

YOUR TESTER Robin Wilmott Tech Writer Robin followed several bike shop years with 10 years of Forensic Science, interspersed with contributions to Cycling Plus and race photography. He’s raced road, time-trial and mountain bikes since, but his real love is cyclo-cross. These days he’s never happier than when running his forensic gaze over new bikes, or fettling them in his workshop RATINGS EXPLAINED It used to be that we rode time trial bikes to cheat the wind, and road bikes for everything else. But over the past decade or so, the lines have blurred, and now most major manufacturers have a road bike model purposely designed to cut through the air like some sort of two wheeled diving falcon. That’s mainly down to the unstoppable rise of carbon fibre, which…

HIGHS Water capacity, versatility, washing power LOWS Power bank use restricts cable-free washing WE SAY An effective washer with good capacity and useful options for the roaming rider AT THIS TIME of year, your bike’s going to get dirty no matter where you ride so if you want it to last you’ll need a regular cleaning regime. Aqua2Go’s Pro washer weighs 5.22kg, stands 48cm tall with a footprint of 28cm x 35cm – not bad considering that includes the six-metre hose, spray gun and battery. Most of its volume is taken up by a 20-litre water tank, which is above average for this type of washer. Filling it up obviously adds considerable weight, and there are a pair of skate wheels on one side and a fold-out handle for pulling…

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” So said Doc Brown to Marty McFly at the end of Back to the Future in 1985, before whisking him through time to, er, last year. Even a few months later, only the most committed of eco-activists would deny that we do, actually, still need roads. But could the wild-haired inventor of time travel have been right after all, at least in one respect? Do we really need roads to get better at cycling? “I wouldn’t be as daft as to say only train on your Wattbike,” says the static trainer company’s founder and chief sports scientist Eddie Fletcher, “but people do, and you can go a long, long way by doing so. And if you can’t get out on the road –…

WE SAY They’re a bit fiddly to fit but work with most bikes, even those with tight clearance HIGHS Great protection, cheap, light LOWS Fiddly to fit Weight 150-200g (depending on setup) Mudguards might not look or sound cool but they do a great job of keeping your behind and feet dry. Crud’s Roadracers are a little fiddly to fit – ours took about half an hour to set up – but they work with most bikes, even those with tight clearance. They attach with frame-friendly elastic O-rings using a single stay, leaving the all-plastic mudguards themselves floating around the wheel. Soft brush strips on the stays rub gently against the rim to dampen vibrations and keep them aligned, but this is all but unnoticeable as you pedal. The Roadracers…

Weight 260g Sizes 700x23, 700x25, 700x28 WE SAY The supple rubber offered a quality ride in both dry and wet conditions HIGHS Good value, robust casing, quality ride LOWS No punctureproof layer MUC-OFF 8-IN-1 CLEANING KIT £40 Contents Biodegradable bike cleaner, bike spray, four brushes, sponge, tub/washer Regular cleaning not only keeps your bike looking like new, it also helps it run smoother and last longer. Muc-Off’s 8-in-1 kit has all the cleaning gear you need in a single box, which also doubles as a bucket. You get several brushes – including one for hard-to-reach places, a chain cleaner, sponge and Muc-Off’s superb Nano Tech cleaner, and all do a top job of removing road grime and restoring your bike to its former glory. It’s simply a case of spray…

Weight 268g Fastening Dual IP1 Boas Size range 36-50 Mouldable No WE SAY Forget the name – the Course Airlites are stiff, comfortable, light and extremely well priced HIGHS Light, stiff, universal, unfussy, great value LOWS Er, limited colour choice? The Course Airlite was a dark horse in this test as LG doesn’t have the pedigree of most of its rivals here, but this shoe is brilliant. It has a great shape that fits like a sock – form-fitting rather than boxy – and the dual IP1 Boas provide a precise fit with micro-adjustment each way. The heel hold is solid without being aggressive and the venting is the best here. It comes with two sets of insoles, for hot and cold weather. The sole is extremely stiff, there’s good…

Weight 270g Fastening Dual SLW2 dials Size range 36-48 Mouldable No WE SAY They’re Extreme in both name and looks, but they’re light, stiff and perform well too HIGHS Light, stiff, adjustability, heel hold LOWS Not plush inside, low arch The shouty Extreme is one of the slimmest fitting shoes here, so suits low-volume feet but did also fit colleagues with high-volume feet – the sign of a well crafted last. We do have some small niggles: the arch is a little low, it’s quite firm inside and the dials could be easier to use. But performance is good, the Extreme is light, very stiff and the ‘cat’s tongue’ fabric in the back gives excellent heel hold. If you thought this version is bright, wait until you see the fully…

INSTANT EXPERT Drinking hot drinks on a ride can help prevent dehydration 1 FROST AFFECTS OUR THIRST “Exercising in the cold can dry your respiratory system, reducing your inclination to take on fluids – meaning you’re more likely to become dehydrated,” says British Cycling nutritionist Nigel Mitchell. As you exhale, you lose significant amounts of water. “Those extra clothing layers mean you’re losing more fluid through sweat, too.” 2 HOT DRINKS HELP HANDS Winter dehydration can compound fatigue and the sweating and water loss can result in your blood volume dropping. “This means dehydration also affects the flow of blood to your fingers and toes. If you take a hot drink in an insulated flask on your bike you’ll rehydrate, warm up and help maintain a thirst when your body…

FIND THAT SWEET SPOT Boosting your lactate threshold will allow you to produce more power for longer, which means you’re faster and stronger for longer. “This can be done through ‘sweet spot’ training – intervals designed to build lactate threshold during a ride of just over an hour,” says Wakefield. Here’s how: Warm up: 10 mins Z2 100rpm Drills: 5 minutes Z4 102rpm, 5 min recovery 5 x 5 minutes sweet spot Z3/4 with 3-minute recoveries 100rpm Cool Down: 5 minutes Z1 Total Time: 62 minutes HILL STARTS In the build-up to a sportive, incorporate these shorter, sharp hill climb sessions into your training. “You needn’t spend a great deal of time on these in one go, but they’ll improve your climbing and recovery ability. Gradually increase the duration of…

I came away thinking that the GF Roma felt, well, very Italian... Were rides judged purely on the goody bag, the Granfondo Campagnolo Roma would be one of the best, with a bottle of local wine and a quality Sportful jersey included as part of the €58 entry fee. The whole field lining up at the start in uniform attire made for some good photos, as did starting in front of the Colosseum. But while a lap of Rome on closed roads and over cobbles is a lovely idea, 5200 riders doing it together meant some big bottlenecks. Once out of the city centre, though, the roads opened up as the field headed for the hills. And having seemingly left my climbing legs at the hotel, it was tough going.…

Orro is another of the new(ish) outfits trying to crack the British bike market. It is part of i-Ride, which distributes De Rosa, Fulcrum and Northwave among numerous other big brands, so it should know its stuff. But will this turn us all into Pyro-maniacs? Orro’s latest creation is aimed squarely at the endurance rider, but that doesn’t mean the Pyro is a big, lazy barge of a bike. Yes, it’s a little higher at the front – the 200mm head-tube on our XL/58cm makes it around a centimetre taller than a typical race bike – but the reach is pretty much race-machine standard. When you’re riding on the hoods the position is still reasonably aggressive, but without stretching you out and putting pressure on your lower back. Get down…

The new Foil is still a hard and fast bike but it is now blessed with cosseting comfort too NEXT MONTH Another year, another raft of developments in road cycling. We test machines from Eastway, Cube, Bianchi, Tifosi, Vitus and Wilier – priced from £1300 to £2000 – to see what 2016 has in store. What’s new? Well, as the UCI gives the thumbs up to disc brakes in road races, four of our six feature disc brakes in one form or another. With such a mixed bunch, price was always going to be a factor, and while a higher price alone doesn’t guarantee performance, it usually tells. Felt’s AR3 is the old boy in this line-up, but carries its age well and still produces a decent ride. We felt…

WE SAY The 30 Course DBs let you benefit from Zipp’s finest hubs and aero nous for much less HIGHS Overall quality, strength and versatility LOWS There are lighter, cheaper competitors ALTHOUGH BEST KNOWN for its deep carbon rims and disc wheels, Zipp has produced a number of aluminium wheels over the years. The latest 30 Course is available for rim or disc brakes, and in clincher or tubular rim versions, and with the cyclo-cross season in full flow, we’ve tested the tubular disc model. Manufacturer’s claimed wheel weights are usually optimistic, but our wheels hit the combined 1615g total exactly – the clincher version is 1650g. The ergonomically curved and helpfully long alloy quick-release skewers, with alloy nuts and brass seats, are superb quality and add just 88g. For…

WE SAY The Nekkar is racy without being a complete razorblade HIGHS Shape, comfort and toughness LOWS At 33og it’s not that light Weight 330g Size 134x280mm You can spend a fortune on a saddle, with no guarantee that your backside will appreciate the choice. Sub-£50 saddles that we have appreciated in the last few years include the Charge Spoon and Madison Prime – and Selle Italia’s Nekkar has now joined that list. A quick change to the Nekkar could mean miles of smiles this season, thanks to its forgiving nature on your cheeks. At 330g it’s not that light but we reckon the saddle is the last place you should look to lose weight. The Nekkar is racy without being a complete razorblade and its anatomical cutaway removes pressure…

Weight 145g (pair) WE SAY A robust, powerful and practical light set ideal for both commuting and training HIGHS Versatile, robust, powerful, USBrechargeable LOWS Power-hungry in its brightest mode Making sure you’re clearly visible in dark and dismal conditions is a winter safety must, and the 300XL light set gets the job done in style. It’s machined from aluminium and has seven light modes, from an economical 50-lumens setting with a 10-hour ride time, up to a mighty 300 lumens mode that sees battery life fall to an hour. Both lights are USBrechargeable. The moulded plastic rear Strip is well sealed against the elements and fits a wide range of seatposts, including modern aero posts. It’s a robust, powerful and practical light set ideal for both commuting and training. POLARIS…

You may have heard about the Strava stats that show an 82 per cent increase in the number of female UK users between June 2014 and 2015; or about clubs such as Ilkley CC with its 40 per cent female membership. Even if you just count the number of women out riding, it’s hard to ignore the fact that more and more of the road-riding population aren’t men. We’re not just participating, either. As we pedal out today, I can see Sutton Bank on the Yorkshire Moors – home to Sutton Bank Bikes, the state-of-the-art shop set up and designed by Sophie Carter and her family team. As we spin over the first summit in beautiful November sunshine, Otley comes into view at the far side of the Washburn Valley,…

Weight 203g Fastening Laces Size range 39-48 Mouldable No WE SAY Laces may be low-tech, but they never slip and give a level of adjustability cables can’t match HIGHS Super-light, stiff, supple, precise LOWS Tricky to tension perfectly This shoe is so light we found ourselves having to contribute to the swear box the first time we picked one up. Despite this, the Easton SLX2 carbon fibre sole is one of the stiffest here. But it’s the laces that are the big story here: they never slip, give excellent upward support and allow a very precise fit in combination with the supple Evofiber uppers and adjustable arch support. You have to do them up tight to allow for your foot to compress slightly – it takes practice to nail the…

SAFETY FIRST If you have to store a bike outside, you need to be able to lock one or – ideally – both wheels and the frame. This is critical – if it’s just locked by a wheel, for example, the chances of the bike getting stolen increase significantly (which is why you sometimes see lone wheels still locked up). Even if you don’t have quick release skewers, professionals carry the tools to simply undo wheel bolts. Ideally, a rack with a shelter and gates is the most secure method, but this is an expensive solution if it’s just for home use. SPACE ODDITY If space is at a premium, try hanging your bikes from the wall. We have a product called the Wall Dock that mounts to the wall…

SPECIFICATION Frame 3Al/2.5V titanium Fork Enve 2.0 full carbon fibre Wheels Campagnolo Neutron Ultra Transmission Shimano Ultegra, 52/36, 11-25 Brakes Shimano Ultegra no22bicycles.com This bike is named after the watershed that runs along the line of the Rocky Mountains in the US and divides the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic. Well, the No.22 Bicycle Co also crosses borders – it designs its bikes in Canada and has them built by American craftsmen. This frameset is finished to the highest level we’ve seen in titanium. It combines traditional elements, such as the round tubes and cowled dropouts, with a PF30 bottom bracket and a tapered headset hidden within a straight 44mm diameter headtube. The titanium tubes are either double-or triple-butted, and CNCmachined on a lathe prior to mitring and welding. The…

Expert witness John Franklin, author of Cyclecraft, gives us his top tips for safer cycling. “Good positioning is key. Position yourself as a driver with the rest of the traffic, not hugging the kerb. The ‘primary position’ is in the centre of the moving traffic lane. That way, you’re obliging others to acknowledge you as another user of the road and not someone they can ignore. You’re causing them to think. “Improving safety has a lot to do with changing people’s perceptions, rather than just their actions, although the latter follows the former. When people take cycle training, fear is addressed in a rational way. It’s like removing chains from them.” You must be brave. If you cycle in the city you’ll probably have heard someone say that, or at…