Table of contents for April 2018 in Cycling Plus

£1799 The new frame The 2018 Cavazzo has smoother lines than earlier models, for a more elegant look. All the features you’d expect on a modern £1800 road-cum-gravel bike are present – carbon frame and tapered fork with internal cables and hoses, a chunky down-tube, slimmer top-tube and thru-axles. This also has three sets of bottle bosses, clearance for wide tyres and mudguards, plus fittings for front and rear racks. It’s also ready for Di2, EPS and eTap. The equipment Shimano’s 10-speed Tiagra comes with a wide-ranging 11-32 cassette, but the biggest improvement is that this has Shimano’s Tiagra-level flat-mount hydraulic disc brakes, with a 160mm front rotor and 140mm rear. The result is impeccable braking, smooth, controlled and powerful in all weathers. The Deda cockpit and Prologo saddle are…

MERLIN X3 TIAGRA £1150 Vs RALEIGH MUSTANG COMP £1500 What’s all this about? Merlin calls this a ‘Gravel Winter’ bike, which sums it up well. It’s currently on sale at less than a grand, and a 105 hydraulic disc model is available for £1500. This is a bike-for-all-needs – a commuter or winter bike with mudguards, and a gravelly all-rounder without ’guards, but we’d have liked rear rack mounts for more practicality. Raleigh’s Mustang Comp gravel bike is the most expensive option from a three-model range. Its plump 36mm tyres, 1x drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes are likely to win over mountain bikers looking to switch to the road but should appeal to anyone looking for a versatile daily commuter that has more than mere tarmac in mind. What’s driving…

1 Bottle stop At the heart of the Matchbox is a lightweight 35g nylon composite bottle cage. The sti! ‘wings’ hold a bottle tight and its skeletal base design makes room for the multitude of add-ons. The complete system weighs 194g, including bolts. 2 Holster that weapon Attached to the side of the bottle cage is a 14g holster for the included pump. The holster also features a rubber clasp to hold the pump in place securely during bumpy rides. 3 Pump it up Also included in the bundle is the Syncros Boundary 2.0HP pump. This 20cm-long pump is good for in"ating tyres up to 120psi and weighs just 80g. The head has a locking seal and the alloy barrel and plunger mean it’s built to last. 4 Tooled up…

Tarmac is the classic climb and distance option in the Specialized arsenal, which is reflected in the mix of chassis features. Fork blades are relatively stout rather than aero profiled and the hourglass head-tube feeds into a broad, boxy down-tube. The flat, wide top-tube flows out of curved cheek bones before curving gently back to split into two very skinny seatstays either side of the similarly skinny seat-tube. This holds a round, rather than aero, 27mm seatpost via a neat and user-friendly side-accessed internal wedge clamp. The seat-tube then swells twice on its way down to a threaded bottom bracket that will be appreciated by high mileage traditionalists who have had bad experiences with press-fit setups. The flat, wide top-tube flows out of curved cheek bones The frame shows its…

Like the Tarmac, the TeamMachine sits on the acceleration and altitude gain side of the frame shape fence. It’s also the frame with the most obvious differences between sections designed to make the ride comfortable and those optimised to put competitors into the pain cave. The thru-axle straight taper fork uses asymmetric leg construction but still looks skinny compared to the massive polygonal down-tube. The head-tube is stout and the toptube is bigger than the down-tube on some bikes we can think of. The asymmetric seat-tube is very broad at the base before tapering upwards to take the same shallow D-section shape as the seatpost. This shape is designed to promote back and forth flex between saddle and bottom bracket, and the post is clamped with a hidden Allen key…

WE’RE BIG FANS OF ETAP. The fuss-free fitting, intuitive shifting, reliability and quick charge time (just 45 minutes from any USB port) are all reasons to recommend it. The shift action is different to every other groupset; hit the right lever to shift down the cassette and the left to shift up; hit both together to operate the front mech, but its simplicity means it becomes second nature very quickly. On the downside, shifting between sprockets feels slower with eTap than with mechanical Red as the lever responds like a button and has to click back into place before the shift is initiated – the mechanical Red lever starts shifting as you swing it. To make every switch between chainrings smooth and precise the eTap front mech over shifts a…

Cycling Plus: A 1x road bike is a bold move, so what inspired you to create the Strada? Gerard Vroomen: I’m a big fan of French writer and poet Antoine de Saint Exupéry who said: “perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove.” Looking at the bike, the front derailleur is such a crude part; a bunch of plates pushing against the chain until it falls off. Whereas the rear derailleur is like a piece of art, like a Swiss watch. It’s not as if we wanted to remove the front derailleur come hell or high water, we simply wanted to combine ‘speed’ with ‘comfort’ so removing obstacles becomes part of the aerodynamic equation, just like bigger tyres help…

YOUR EXPERT Paul Hough (@the_hough) is an exercise physiologist at St Mary’s University and author of Advanced Personal Training WHAT IS IT? The wrist joint, also known as the radiocarpal joint, is the lower part of the arm where the forearm joins the hand. HOW DOES IT WORK? The wrist is a synovial joint, which allows the following movements: flexion, extension, adduction [movement of the wrist towards the body’s midline] and abduction [movement of the wrist away from the body’s midline]; these movements are initiated by the muscles of the forearm. WHAT GOES WRONG? Compression of the ulnar nerve in the wrist can cause a tingling sensation, numbness and pain in the hand. This is medically known as ulnar neuropathy and is relatively common among cyclists, particularly riders who spend…

I have a friend who used to be a spy. At first no one in my family knew that she had been a spy, a piece of subterfuge that was entirely in keeping with her former profession. Although we had known her for a couple of years, we had never found out what she did for a living. Then, one day, after she’d cooked us lunch, it just kind of slipped out. We’d been talking about assuming different names. Her boyfriend, one of my oldest friends, and the reason that we had been introduced to Agent X in the first place, had always worked under an assumed name. As a professional actor, he’d had to choose something slightly more exotic than the commonplace name he’d been brought up with, in…

B’TWIN TRIBAN 520 £499 B’Twin is known for delivering awesome value at an affordable level. The Triban 520 is a prime example, offering a package that doesn’t just kill on price but on performance too. The full Shimano Sora transmission features a triple chainset, which might seem odd to more experienced riders, but having a wide range of closely spaced gears is no bad thing for less trained or less experienced riders who might struggle on climbs without them. The B’Twin labelled Tektro brakes come with upgraded TRP (Tektro Racing Products) cartridge pads for sharper, more easily controlled stopping power. The ‘Aero’ rims have an angular profile rather than anything obviously drag-reducing. The Michelin Dynamic Sport tyres are fast rolling, slightly fatter than the stated 25mm and grippier in grim…

It’s no secret that, over the past decade, cycling’s popularity has grown at an unprecedented rate. Huge numbers of men and women, inspired by the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Laura Kenny, are clambering into cleats, climbing onto bikes and hitting the highways. There is, as you might expect, a ‘but…’ to this. It seems our enthusiastic crop of new cyclists aren’t all having smooth riding experiences. Time and again, new riders are robbed of their enthusiasm by a series of, often unnecessary, bumps in the road, ranging from road safety fears to the unwelcoming attitude of some clubs, and these need to be addressed head on. Pioneering cycle clothing brand Fat Lad At The Back has been at the vanguard of the response to these concerns. FLAB’s social rides,…

When you need to ponder life’s big questions, and put things into perspective, there’s nothing better than a bike ride. And there’s nowhere better to do it than to Tesco in York. That’s because it’s near to a 500-million-to-1 scale model of the solar system that runs seven miles down a railtrail, part of NCN65. The sun is near the supermarket, a grubby steel globe as big as a boulder. Who said nuclear fusion was clean energy? Within a few yards are the cherry-tomato-sized inner planets, including a gaudy sea-blue Earth complete with moon, and a rust-red Mars. A few hundred yards away, Jupiter is a swirly football in Bishopthorpe housing estate. And so on. It’s great for families. I’ve entertained several of our lot with a cod-Patrick- Moore spiel…

The Reacto is designed as a responsive and aggressive aero race bike and its geometric profiling certainly looks the part. The thru-axle fork deepens all the way up to a chunky crown that blends with a cutout on the deep, rounded base, rectangular downtube. The tall head-tube uses a teardrop section, which is chopped off square at the trailing edge like most of the Merida’s other tubes. It’s tall for an aero bike though, getting the less agressive CF2 geometry compared to the flagship CF4 race bikes, so you’ll definitely need to lose the teardrop spacers under the stem if you want to get low. The tall head-tube uses a teardrop section, which is chopped off square at the trailing edge The shield section top-tube narrows towards an aero seatpost…

The CAAD12 alloy frame has a string of awards to its name and is a superb showcase of just how far you can take metal tube technology. The hourglass headtube backs onto a super-thin wall down-tube that morphs and reshapes regularly before reaching the BB30 bottom bracket (BB) shell as a flattened oval. The asymmetric Delta seat-tube flattens and expands sideways as it drops onto the top of the bottom bracket shell, locking in anti-twist stiffness when you pedal hard. Together with the SAVE flat centred, brace-free seatstays and a top-tube that tapers dramatically from headtube to seat-tube, it’s clear to see where stiffness or comfort-boosting flex are concentrated. The SAVE chainstays use a flattened centre section for a leaf spring ridesoftening effect before ending in cowled quick-release dropouts. With…

UDDERLY SMOOTH £9.99 (227g) Main ingredients such as stearic acid, lanolin and the like are joined here by shea butter too. The name stems from the fact that this was first developed for use on dairy cows. Don’t worry, it contains no ‘milk or bovine products’, but is a thick white cream, long lasting, that resembles Assos’s offering, but this’ll cost you less for a bigger tub. CHAMOIS BUTT’R £12.99 (227g) This cream is based on mineral oil and includes lanolin and aloe in its ingredients. We got a lot of mileage from this, it’s easy and hygienic to apply from the tube, is minimally perfumed and long lasting. Also available in female-specific and cooling versions, but this is the crème de la crème of high-quality, budget-friendly creams. ASSOS CHAMOIS…

BEFORE LONG-HAUL RIDES Round-the-world cycling phenomenon Mark Beaumont knows a thing or two about long sessions in the saddle… 1 NEVER TYRE Check your tyre pressure for efficiency and comfort. When riding around the world I’d have 90psi on the front, 100 on the back, but on rougher roads reduced them both to 70-75psi. 2 OK, COMPUTER A bike computer is essential. Check all the GPS functions work. It won’t just transform your training, the social media element is great for building a community around your ride too. 3 THINK BIG The only things stopping you achieving greater distances are your confidence and ambition. If 50 miles is within your comfort zone challenge yourself to go 80. 4 ENJOY THE SILENCE We live busy, complicated lives so expect a singular…

It’s no secret that we love cycling here at Cycling Plus, in fact it would be pretty weird if we didn’t, right? But back in the mists of time we too were just starting out, and it was just as tricky negotiating all those horses and carts as it is dodging traffic today. But modern traffic is just one of the perceived barriers to the sport that Chris McGuire takes aim at on page 14, talking to riders who have overcome their own hurdles to become not just cyclists but ambassadors for the sport. As this guide hopefully proves, getting on your bike isn’t as dangerous, expensive, baffling or embarrassing as you might think. So come join us……

+ Poland’s NS is more widely known for its dirt jump, gravity full-suspension bikes, and its take on the ‘gravel’ bike bears plenty of influence from the more extreme end of cycling. RAG+, which stands for Road and Gravel Plus, means the frame has been designed to take up to a 45mm 700c tyre, or if you switch to a 650b wheelset you can get massive 2.2in rubber in with room to spare. The RAG+ doesn’t really need much more than the 43mm Panaracer Gravel King SK TLCs it comes equipped with. They are simply brilliant off road, their big volume and lower pressure capability making for a plush ride that offers superb grip on gravel and hardpacked dirt. The closely-spaced square block tread handles tarmac better than we’d have…

BACK ON TRACK Jason Kenny made his competitive comeback at the Revolution series in January, his first race since the Rio Olympics. Riding sportives in his downtime helped him rediscover his love for the sport. HARD FACTS Cycling does not negatively affect men’s sexual health or urinary function, according to a study published in the Journal of Urology. Cyclists were surveyed along with runners and swimmers, with results comparable across each. BRUSSELS ROUTES Brussels will host the Grand Départ of the 2019 Tour de France, the second time it’s done so and the fifth for Belgium. It will mark 50 years since local lad Eddy Merckx won the first of his five Tours. FRENCH FARCE Romain Bardet was unflinching in his belief that Chris Froome starting the Tour de France…

TIME’S NEW CLIMBERS Time has released two new climbing models. The Alpe d’Huez 01 and 21 are both handmade in France. The 01 has a claimed 840g frame weight, and is available with a damped fork. Disc models come next year. COLNAGO POWERS UP Iconic Italian bike brand Colnago has launched an e-bike, and the Impact-01 isn’t an electric road bike, but – whisper it – a hybrid with a stepthrough frame and front suspension fork. GETTING ’CROSS Cyclo-crosser Helen Wyman has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the entry costs to the 2019 UK National Champs for 100 femal riders. Via KickStarter ‘The Helen 100’ project hopes to raise £2500. FOR ALL THE LATEST BIKE & GEAR NEWS VISIT…

So many ex-rugby players have taken up cycling. Getting your head smashed in for a living has a unique appeal but it has a lifespan. Once I retired from rugby in 2008 I wasn’t all that excited about playing it again, at any level. I was happy to coach, teach and talk about it, but play? No. What I did have was a desire to keep exercising. It’s always been a huge part of my life and it’s probably dangerous to just stop. I wanted something that’s challenging but low impact. Cycling fit the bill perfectly. [Former Tour de France yellow jersey wearer] David Millar taught me a lot about how much cyclists suffer for their sport. When I started (in 2010) I spent a few days with him riding…

Opinions on a bike’s looks are personal and subjective, but the Aria got more than its fair share of complimentary cosmetic comments. It manages to blend contemporary and classic really nicely. Subtly curved and tapered fork legs bow out around the wheel to reduce conflicting airflow, in a trick first used on the Aquila time trial bike. They then sync neatly with the teardrop base head-tube at the prow with a fork notch and curved wheel-tracking scoop in the ovalform down-tube. Separate brake and gear cable insertions behind the head-tube keep control lines low and neat and the short head-tube has flat-back ride position potential. Subtly curved and tapered fork legs bow out around the wheel to reduce conflicting airflow There’s a flush-fit seat clamp for the teardrop seatpost and…

Scott was one of the first to adopt large volume, hacked tail aero tubes, and the FO1 principle that gives the Foil its name is still in evidence here. The designers have gone deep with aero and disc integration, starting with the thruaxle fork tips, which include a short tail tab on the driveside but a bigger fin sitting mostly below the calliper on the brake side. The head-tube has cutouts top and bottom to sync with the extended tail stem and fork crown. There’s enough room for oversized 1.25in top and 1.5in bottom fork bearings, which helps increase front end stiffness by 13 per cent compared to the previous Foil. The designers have gone deep with aero and disc integration The flat-backed boat-shaped down-tube takes the concept of chopped…

‘Self-talk’ strategies enabled riders to maintain their output and fend off fatigue 1 MINDSET PUT SOME F*$#ING B*££#KS INTO IT! Swearing in the saddle may come naturally when you’re cut up during your commute but save some of the foul language for your next big ride too. Psychologists from the University of Keele found that test participants who were asked to swear before doing an intense bike session recorded a boost in their stamina when compared to those who didn’t eff and Jeff. TWO MINDSET TALK YOURSELF UP Talking to yourself may be classed as a sign of madness, but when it comes to cycling in tough conditions it may not be such a bad thing. “I taught cyclists how to identify negative thoughts during cycling, and how to create…

MIX IT UP I aim to ride seven days a week in a variety of formats. Because I race on a tandem I look to train on one whenever I can, but I also train at home on a turbo and I ride on and off-road solo. Mixing things up in this way keeps training really interesting. LOOP THE LOOP I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2011, which means my vision is impaired, but I can, and do, ride on the roads. I stick to loops of quiet local roads near my home in the Calder Valley. This is a good approach as you can alter the length of your ride depending on the light, weather, training requirements and time of day. I’ll do two, four or six-hour loops.…

1 BREAK THE CHAIN To begin with, remove the chain. If you have a master link you can do this easily with a pair of master link pliers, otherwise use a standard chain tool. 2 CRANK IT OUT With SRAM Red you can loosen the left-hand crank arm with an Allen key. Some cranksets may require you to use a bottom bracket tool to undo a preload cap. 3 RING OUT Once you have loosened the left crank arm, pull it off and put it, and any spacers, safely aside. This will expose the bottom bracket spindle, which you will want to remove to get at the chainrings. 4 HAMMER BLOW If the bottom bracket spindle is at all difficult to remove, sometimes they can be seized, a common trick…

Endurance versus race bike geometry Road bikes fall into two general categories: race and endurance. Race bikes put the rider’s torso in a lower, more aerodynamic position and have steeper angles for quick handling. Endurance bikes position the rider more upright and the frame angles are a little more relaxed for confidence-inducing stability and long-distance comfort. Expect to pay between £500 and £700 for a quality, entrylevel machine. The best way to learn the difference between the two is to ride both, either through test rides at an event or a shop, or by borrowing a bike from a friend. As with any product, bikes come in good/better/best levels. The main points of difference are the frame materials (aluminium bikes are cheaper, while carbon fibre frames are lighter but more…

Helmet Is a helmet essential? It depends. Cycling is actually safer than you might think, especially if you observe a few simple techniques. Your chances of having a serious crash just riding around town are small, which is why you don’t see helmets on the heads of everyday cyclists in European cities. And helmets are only designed to offer protection in relatively low-speed crashes that don’t involve motor vehicles. On the other hand, many people find wearing a helmet reassuring. For types of riding where there’s a significant risk of a crash that doesn’t involve a motor vehicle, such as mountain biking, a helmet will probably save you from the odd minor concussion. If a helmet’s going to be effective at all, it needs to be properly fitted and securely…