Table of contents for Summer 2017 in Cycling Plus

SPECIFICATION Weight 7.25kg (57cm) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 52/36, 11-25 Brakes Shimano Ultegra Wheels American Classic Argent, tubeless Finishing kit Barelli carbon bar, stem and seatpost, 4ZA Cirrus saddle, 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres Derbyshire-based Forme launched in 2010 and offers bikes covering everything from road, to mountain bike to commuting. The Flash Ltd uses a lightweight Toray T800 carbon frame onto which hangs Shimano’s brilliant Ultegra Di2 groupset. To complete the spec, there’s a full complement of carbon components from Barelli, and tubeless-ready American Classic Argent wheels. The wheels and Michelin tyres are certainly the stars of the show here, with the 1400g a pair hoops having a super-wide 19.4mm internal dimension, which sizes up the sumptuous 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres to around 28mm…

BRUSSELS SPROUTS The Tour de France will begin again in Belgium in 2019, its most popular non-French destination. Its capital, Brussels, will play host, 50 years since Brussels’ own Eddy Merckx won his first yellow jersey. HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE 200 drivers a day were caught using their mobile phone at the wheel in the four weeks following the introduction in March of tougher penalties for the offence. Offenders are given a £200 fine and six penalty points. ITALIAN STALLION Cycling Plus was present for the 7th Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York in May. Ricardo Pichetta was the first Italian to win the race, with a time of 4:28:47 on the hugely hilly 100-mile course. OUT FOR THE COUNT Quick-Step Floors rider Matteo Trentin had a lucky escape from a…

Chris King, long-time purveyor of high-end shiny cycling goodies, also has Cielo bikes in its range. The made-in-the-US Road Racer Disc frameset costs £2499, but you will have to wait for delivery. Your money does get you a custom-made, custom-drawn oversize steel frame complete with a brass headbadge, flat-mount disc brake fittings and the versatile T47 threaded bottom bracket shell. It will accommodate 28mm tyres, can take mechanical or electronic shifting systems, comes in numerous colours and pump pegs are an optional extra. We’d spec ’em!…

My earliest cycling memories are of riding across Bodmin Moor alone at night. I grew up in Cornwall and got a Raleigh Grifter for my birthday when I was a nipper. As I got a bit older I wanted to go to school discos, so would ride across the moor seven miles each way on my own. On the way back I passed a graveyard, which terrified me. I think that’s where I grew to love riding on my own and at night, it’s a very meditative thing, plus the roads are much quieter at night. I moved to Manchester in 1989 to study percussion at Salford College of Technology. One night in 1995, me and my flatmate, another musician, decided on the spur of the moment to get on…

SPECIFICATION Weight 7.85kg (M) Frame Ultra Evo Carbon Fork Ultra Evo Carbon Gears Shimano 105 52/36, 11-28 Brakes Shimano 105 direct-mount Wheels Mavic Aksium One Finishing kit Deda Zero 2 bar and stem, Ultra Evo carbon seatpost, Fizik Antares saddle, 25mm Mavic Yksion tyres Weight - or lack of it - is the most compelling reason to pick up the BTwin B Twin’s Ultra 900 CF isn’t only the lightest bike here on your wallet, it’s also one of the lightest bikes on test, with a 7.75kg overall weight that many bikes twice the price would be proud of. The UCIapproved, 850g (claimed, size medium) Ultra Evo Dynamic frame has also got an Under-19 European Championship road race gold medal and a couple of French national wins on its mantlepiece,…

SPECIFICATION Weight 7.75kg (M) Frame C10 carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra, FSA Gossamer Pro 50/34, 11-28 Brakes FSA Gossamer Pro Wheels Boardman SLR Elite Five Finishing kit Boardman bar, stem and seatpost, 25mm Vittoria Rubino Pro tyres Shimano Ultegra kit is a benchmark of flawless, seemingly perpetual motion performance There’s seemingly a contradiction about combining SuperLightRace and Endurance in the same name but the designers at Boardman have managed to combine easy speed and epic efficiency in the same bike. A relatively long top-tube and tall head-tube mean the Boardman sizes up larger than some if you work off seat-tube measurements, but the geometry is sporty in terms of angles. Add a 100mm stem and you’ve got a speed-friendly stretch with classic road race front wheel weighting. Slightly longer…

HIGHS Extensive tool list, packed with value LOWS No chain checker WE SAY Brilliantly comprehensive semipro toolkit ideal for modern road bike mechanics PRO IS SHIMANO’S component and accessory sister company, so as you’d imagine the Toolbox XL mainly contains tools for Shimanoequipped bikes. SRAM users will also find everything they need, but Campagnolo owners will need to supplement a few extra items. The injection-moulded ABS plastic box is tough, with slots for each of the 38 tools, which include a cable cutter, chain quick-link pliers, needle nose pliers, disc calliper alignment tool, Phillips screwdriver, small flat-blade screwdriver, file, mallet, tyre levers, torx L-key set, hex L-key set, Shimano cassette lockring tool and Shimano cartridge, HollowTech II, Dura-Ace/Ultegra bottom bracket tools. The XL kit has some excellent disc brakespecific tools.…

HIGHS Accurate, easily transferable between bikes LOWS Weight, chunky shape, low battery life WE SAY We experienced nothing but good, clean data from this revised set THE POWERTAP P1 pedals first hit the market in 2015, promising the most practical packaging of any power meter and accuracy to match the brand’s highly regarded hub-based meters. We grumbled about the weight and the size, and the worrying tendency to over-read significantly from around 300W. With this revised version, Powertap says those issues have been fixed. The P1s house the batteries and electronics within the pedals, so there are no pods to worry about as with systems from Look and Garmin. The right pedal is the slave and sends data to the left, which packages it and sends it via ANT+ to…

You’ve been planning your ride for weeks, you’re well prepared, but miles from base something goes wrong with your bike and you’re left standing at the side of the road. It’s a scenario all cyclists face, but whether your bike has a puncture, a snapped chain, or a buckled wheel, being able to perform essential fixes will allow you to limp home, if not finish your ride as planned. Armed with just a few simple tools we show you how to carry out six typical roadside repairs, once you’ve moved away from traffic and are in a safe place... One Puncture predicament Mending punctures is the most frequent roadside repair you’ll face. Most riders will look to save time by carrying at least one spare inner tube, but disaster can…

Weight 33g Included 2 lenses, hard case HIGHS Great quality and easy-swap lenses LOWS Large lenses may not suit smaller faces WE SAY The latest version of the Scott Spur is another fine pair of quality cycling sunnies Winter sport expert Scott has delivered another fine quality pair of glasses with its newest Spurs, which are probably best suited to larger faces. One of our favourite features is just how easy it is to swap between lenses. You just slide out the little black section under the hinge, remove the lens and – hey presto! – quick and secure changes without contorting frame or lens. The distinctive dropped arms are designed to work with helmets that offer more temple protection. Combine these well-considered features with Scott’s usual high-quality lenses and…

HIGHS Great optics and highly adjustable fit LOWS Only one lens and its size won’t suit all WE SAY Tough glasses offering great coverage and swanky styling Weight 31g Included 1 lens, hard case Bollé’s website lists tons of high-tech features that doubtless contribute to the north-of-£150 price of its Italian-made Aeromax: we’re talking the B-MAX field of view, B-CLEAR lenses, B-SHAPE Temples, B-THIN Active Design. You get the idea. The B-Max just means these have a very large lens and the B-Shape that you can mould the arms so they fit your temples perfectly. In practice this translates to a wide and unencumbered field of vision through crystal-clear lenses that are made from Trivex rather than polycarbonate. This material was first developed for use in jet fighter canopies and…

A RIDE WITH.. . 1 BE HONEST Don’t overestimate what you’ve done, or underestimate the goals. With jobs and family commitments there is only so much training we can do. Anyone looking to target more than one goal in a year should first think, okay, what have I done and is it enough? Set the goals, but if you haven’t put in the training don’t try to go for the performance. Do the ride for fun, as training for the next goal. 2 START EARLY All my goals in 1987 were approached differently, although every year I used the first part of the year to build up the distance and the fitness for the new season, so December, January, February, even March, were about getting the miles in and building…

Author and cyclist Andrew P Sykes shares his advice 1 FIT SCHWALBE MARATHON PLUS TYRES “In three trips across Europe cycling over 15,000km, I have suffered from one deflated tyre, even then I wasn’t convinced it was the fault of the tyre.” 2 BOOK A BIKE DROP “I was happy for a courier company (Luggage Mule, luggagemule.co.uk) to pick up Reggie the Ridgeback Panorama from my door in Britain and deposit him in southern Spain.” 3 SOURCE LOCAL CYCLE SHOPS “The chap at Yep Bikes in San Pedro donated a bright orange t-shirt when I told him I was cycling along the N-340 ‘road of death’. It saved, perhaps, my life, and had me advertising the name of his company all the way to Nordkapp in Norway.” 4 CHECK THE…

£1375 SPECIFICATION WEIGHT 11.65kg (56cm) FRAME Brazed and lugged Reynolds 725 steel FORK Chromoly steel GEARS Driven RX mechs and downtube shifters, 50/34, 11-28, nine-speed BRAKES Dia-Compe 610 centre-pull WHEELS Halo Retro 32-spoke FINISHING KIT Genetic Heritage bar and seatpost, Hyoid quill stem, Gran Compe leather saddle and pack, ENE front carrier, canvas bag and guards, 29mm Halo Courier tyres The frame The slender tubing is Reynold’s thinwalled and butted 725 steel, which has been brazed and lugged to create this beautiful bike. With the chrome details, classy colour scheme and hand-painted lug lining, the St Johns looks like a bike that should cost more. Thankfully the more modern geometry and compliant ride mean this faux-vintage bike rides as well as it looks. Get into the groove of cruising along…

1 Solid works The Team Compressor pump features a large steel main barrel and stable steel foot. Its compact size and foot shape mean it sits neatly next to your existing track pump, and you simply attach that to charge the Compressor’s cylinder. 2 Power cell The main chamber can hold up to 175psi/12bar of air, and once you’ve seated your tubeless tyre on the rim, "ick the switch on the Team Compressor and a 175psi blast will push the tyre out to seat on the bead. You can also leave the Compressor charged to use later as the safety valve prevents any pressure loss. 3 Head games The EZ Snaplock head is dual sided for both Presta and Schrader valves with a simple push-fit design. Despite not having a…

The £189.99 EDAero is German brand Uvex’s take on an aero road helmet. It claims to have combined the aero advantage of a traditional time trial helmet with the comfort and ventilation of a lightweight road helmet, hence the EDAero name (Every Day Aero). At 270g it’s light for this type of lid, with a claimed saving of 1 minute 25 seconds over 40km at 38kph over a traditional helmet. We’ll be putting the EDAero to the test in an upcoming issue.…

Share your favourite climbs – email cyclingplus@immediate.co.uk DEVIL’S ELBOW The signature climb of both the Dragon Ride sportive (now rebranded L’Etape Wales since ASO acquired organiser Human Race) and Cycling Plus photo shoots, more than lives up to its name. We were there this issue, in fact, to shoot this month’s main grouptest (p52), and became familiar with every inch of tarmac. It can be approached from either side of the hamlet of Heol Senni in the Brecon Beacons, and the roads converge before you hit the climb, which can be seen, imposing, from a long way out down the valley. Climbing begins a few hundred metres after the roads meet, gently at first but not for long. Unlike Alpine passes where switchbacks offer respite, the two here are some…

SPECIFICATION Weight 8.79kg (M) Frame Gran Fondo Disc Di2 carbon Fork Gran Fondo Disc carbon Gears Shimano 105 52/36, 11-28 Brakes Shimano 105 disc, 140mm rotors Wheels Mavic Aksium Disc Finishing kit Deda Zero 2 bar and stem, Deda seatpost, Fabric saddle, 25mm Continental Ultra Sport tyres The relaxed 71- degree head angle gives it a calmly confident handling manner Ribble’s Gran Fondo has been the window we’ve held other distance-minded bikes up against for comparison for years. This latest version doesn’t just strap on a pair of disc brakes it also opens up the frame for bigger tyres and the promise of off-piste versatility. The new Gran Fondo disc frame will take 30mm tyres before you have to start worrying about trapped gravel. That’s a 5mm bigger tyre than…

SPECIFICATION Weight 8.38kg (54cm) Frame T700 HM-UD carbon Fork T700 HM-UD carbon Gears Shimano 105 52/36, 11-28 Brakes Shimano BR505 disc, 140mm rotors Wheels Fulcrum Racing Sport Disc Finishing kit Vitus Compact bar, Vitus stem, seatpost and saddle, 25mm Michelin Pro 4 tyres Lack of mudguard or rack fixtures puts the Venon in a more performance than utility bracket While the Vitus website says the company’s pitched its carbon fibre Venon disc brake bike at the endurance market, it only takes a few firm pedal strokes or the first decent hill to realise that it’s up for more than just meandering. The 73-degree head and 73.5-degree seat angles make the bike feel lively and alert, with a head-tube that feels short in proportion to the rest of the frame to…

HIGHS Smooth, grippy, good looks LOWS Pricey, sidewalls will stain over time THE HELL OF THE NORTH tyre was launched at Paris-Roubaix, and while Peter Sagan didn’t have much luck with punctures on his lower tpi [threads per inch] count tubular versions of the new tyre, our testing’s proved more satisfying. This new 28mm version of the Turbo combines a super-supple 320tpi cotton casing with Specialized’s own proprietary Gripton rubber bonded to it. The compound is in an updated and, Specialized claims, softer and grippier blend. The tyre is clincher only, so no tubeless compatibility here. That’s due to the supple natural casing, and we think it’s all the better for it as tubeless compatible tyres do tend to be a little more rigid in the sidewalls by necessity. On…

FWE T-SHAPE HANDLE HEX/ TORX KEY SET £29.99 Evans Cycles’ hardened steel tool set is great value, with 2-8mm hex keys, a T25 Torx, and wall or bench mountable steel stand. In lengths of 140, 200 and 250mm, there’s useful reach, ball ends on the five largest keys, plus ergonomic hard rubber handles. They’re a snug bolt fit, and have proved durable so far. PEDRO’S MASTER SET £144.99 The woven nylon hanging pouch holds seven hex keys from 2-8mm and T10, T25 and T30 Torx keys. Each 6150 steel alloy tool has three identical hardened tips, with three-position, non-captive, sliding T-handles for great versatility. Ranging from 125-250mm long for great reach and leverage, they’re superb to use, but the pouch can be fiddly. BIRZMAN T-BAR SET & STAND £59.99 These…

HIGHS Easy to set up; battery life; aero design; competitive price LOWS Black and white maps; requires smartphone for some set-up steps WE SAY Full-featured GPS computer with excellent battery life WAHOO’S NEW ELEMNT BOLT GPS computer has all the normal metrics and variations on speed, time, distance, power, heart rate, elevation and so on, plus integration with a host of devices, from your smartphone and Wi-Fi to eTap. The Bolt offers turn-by-turn navigation, Strava Live Segments, Live Track and a feature called ‘take me anywhere’ where you use your phone to search out a destination while on a ride and the Bolt will guide you there. It’s easily configured with a smartphone app (iPhone or Android). Instead of punching in loads of buttons on a computer, just use your…

Weight 33g Included Case, cloth, three lenses, nose-piece, white lower rim HIGHS Quality glasses for every circumstance LOWS Overly large case isn’t that practical WE SAY A high-quality, strikinglooking set of sunnies with customisation options Salice may be less well known than some other Italian eyewear brands but its glasses have been worn by the likes of Alessandro Petacchi and Mario Cipollini, so you’ll be in good company. Its new 016 RW sunnies (surely a year late?) come in probably the most complete package here, consisting of category 3, 1 and 0 lenses – enough for all riding conditions – along with a spare nose-piece and a spare white lower frame for maximum customisation options. The only downside to this is that the tough case is large and not that…

YORKSHIRE TRUE GRIT galloped onto the event calendar last year as a Yorkshire twist on the American ‘Gravel Grinder’ format. It’s open to any sort of bike, but the mix of moorland shooting tracks, singletrack and rough roads around the North Yorks Moors are perfect for the latest breed of ‘adventure/gravel/grinduro’ bikes. A good tally of steep climbs, technical descents plus a few cheeky bits of gully singletrack mean it’ll take most riders and rigs to the limits. We’ve assembled four quite different machines to see where the strengths and weaknesses of each one lie and which one offers the most as an overall package. Fork off It’s an eclectic mix, for starters there are only seven fork legs across the four bikes. Cannondale has continued its single-sided fork aesthetic…

BODY WORKS WHAT IS IT? The iliotibial band (ITB) is a tendinous sheath of connective tissue that originates on the iliac crest (hip bone) and runs down the outside of the thigh to the lateral condyle of the tibia (outer shin). HOW IT WORKS? The iliotibial band has an important role in stabilising the knee. It’s influenced by several muscles around the thigh region, such as the tensor fasciae latae, or TFL, at the top of the hip, glutes and quadriceps. WHAT GOES WRONG? Cyclists may develop a weakness and/or tightness in any of these muscles, which can affect the position of the iliotibial band, causing compression and aggravation of the tissue. This can lead to tenderness, tension and pain across the outer knee. Over time it can cause muscle…

MAINTENANCE YOUR EXPERT Freddy Vangoidsenhoven is team mechanic with the An Post-Chain Reaction UCI Pro Continental team 1 REAR WHEEL REMOVAL Remove the rear wheel by shifting the chain into the smallest sprocket and releasing the quickrelease skewer, allowing the wheel to drop out. You’ll need a chain whip or chain whip pliers and a lockring tool. 2 WHIP INTO SHAPE With the chain whip hold the cassette in place by wrapping the chain around the sprockets of one of the larger cogs. Fit the lockring tool into the lockring and loosen it by turning the tool anti-clockwise. 3 OLD CASSETTE OUT Remove the lockring and then pull the old cassette towards you to remove it from the freewheel. If you want to keep the old one, it’s a good…

David Bowie’s just waiting until things get even more uncool, then he’ll surprise us by returning to the world he left so suddenly bereft, and save us from ourselves through the power of slightly affected singing, flinty saxophone solos, and androgyny. It was with this in mind that I decided, at a recent appearance at a theatre in Lincoln, to ride onto the stage on a Brompton, accompanied by the thumping opening beats of Young Americans. Once the riotous applause for this stunning opening to the evening had subsided, I engaged in a highly selfindulgent riff about the possible existence of some previously unheard Bowie recordings, in which he muses about the sexy love cosmos of the Britishbuilt commuting bike. “Folding bike…” I sang, in warbling homage to the great…

NEW BIKES I’ve taken to the road on the Italian-bred Cinelli Superstar (p22), the vintage-inspired The Light Blue St Johns Retro (p26) and Derbyshire’s Forme Flash Ltd (p29). Warren Rossiter, Senior technical editor BIKE TESTS I’ve had a busy few months riding and rating a selection of six bikes priced at £1500 (p52), plus leaving the tarmac to try out four gravel bikes around Yorkshire (p117). Guy Kesteven, Freelance writer GROUP TEST When the sun finally showed itself, I tested 16 pairs of riding sunglasses to see which keep out the glare, resist fogging and will fit comfortably during your ride (p106). Simon Withers, Technical writer…

My dad didn’t need maps. Unlike many blokes, he wasn’t too proud to stop and ask people for directions. Frequently, en route, in pubs. On my childhood holidays, us kids sat in the car eating crisps while he diligently researched at the bar. It took us two days to get from Hull to Glasgow. One of my regular cycling chums is the opposite. He plans our routes in detail using online open-source mapping, and rides them virtually in Google Street View beforehand. This defeats some of the point for me, but it can be useful. When we planned a tour in Finland he could not only check that one village stop had a supermarket, but also confirm that it opened on Saturdays by zooming in on the A-board outside. Of…

SPECIFICATION Weight 8.81kg (M) Frame C5 high modulus carbon Fork FC 440 carbon Gears Shimano 105 52/36, 11-28 Brakes Shimano 105 direct-mount Wheels Vera Corsa DPM27 rims, Formula hubs Finishing kit Oval Concepts 313 stem, Oval Concepts 310 bar, Transonic Aero carbon seatpost, Oval Concepts 300 saddle, 25mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres Prices of this UCI-accredited machine are creeping lower every year Fuji’s heavily aero-influenced Transonic has been around for a while and as a result prices of this UCI-accredited machine are creeping lower every year. The most recent price drop from importer and country-wide bike chain, Evans Cycles, slices another £270 off this entry-point model. That puts this Shimano 105-equipped machine bang on par with other direct-sell/single outlet options, despite the fact you can walk into an Evans near…

SPECIFICATION Weight 7.67kg (54cm) Frame Triplebutted alloy Fork SL full carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra 52/36, 11-32 Brakes Shimano Ultegra 6800 Wheels Selcof carbon Finishing kit Selcof Zeta bar, stem and seatpost, Prologo saddle, 25mm Hutchinson Fusion 3 Kevlar Pro Tech tyres There’s no Di2 compatibility but it’s certainly not a crude chassis While some of the bikes here are multi-use allrounders, the Galibier is an unashamedly pure take-noprisoners race bike. In fact it was recommended to us by Planet X main man, Dave Loughran, as “the bike all my ‘proper’ guys (including ex-Premier Calendar series and National Hill Climb champion Mark Lovatt, and ex-number one rated Espoir and US Postal pro Jamie Burrow) are buying.” It’s easy to see why it appeals to hardcore former pros. For a start the…

1 SWAY TIME The 3ax’s ‘sway’ mechanism introduces a total of four degrees of side-to-side rocking motion, in addition to conventional float 2 BODY IMAGE The aluminium pedal body is powder-coated for durability but our pedals were showing bare metal on top fairly quickly 3 CLEATS The Edco cleat is a Look-alike – officially you should use 3ax cleats, but the standard Keo item works fine HIGHS Innovative design, purported efficiency gains LOWS Price, fussy engagement, durability Inside information SEND ME ON MY SWAY The theory behind sway is that it lets your feet find their own inclination throughout the pedal stroke rather than forcing them into a fixed position. Edco cites research, which found that this reduces energywasting lateral knee movement by an average of 17 per cent compared…

Weight 28g Included 3 lenses, hard case HIGHS All you want from a pair of sunnies LOWS Swapping between lenses is tricky WE SAY Decent quality lenses and a comprehensive package, though the case is overly large The Italian company Northwave keeps its costs down by manufacturing these glasses in China rather than at home, but there are few obvious compromises elsewhere. As with some other less expensive glasses you do have to apply a bit of pressure to change lenses, which is always worrying at first. The hinges also feel stiffer than some, and while they come with a hard case, it’s a somewhat bulky affair. The lenses are the usual trio: a dark category 3 lens for sunny rides and two lenses for lower-light conditions. Large slots at…

HIGHS Excellent lens quality; versatility LOWS Visible lower bumper when fitted WE SAY The fast-acting, wideranging photochromic lenses make these a pair for all occasions Weight 27g Included 1 lens, hard case When we first tried these we weren’t totally enamoured, as you really do notice that bright green lower frame when you’re riding. But the more you wear them the less aware of it you become, and then we read the instructions and found they’re actually removable rubber protectors! They’re well vented, have an excellent rubber nose-piece and while there are other lens options, the photochromic Impact X2 lenses fitted will quickly adapt from nine to 70 per cent VLT, making them ideal for day-long, year-round usage. They boast Rudy’s usual excellent lens quality and toughness too, though we…

The man who cycled the world, the Americas and the length of Africa has stopped at a cafe in a remote Scottish glen where the little old lady at the next table gets straight to the point: “You’re that cyclist, aren’t you?” she says. “Tell me, what will you do when you stop cycling and end up 35 stone?” Mark Beaumont has been asked many questions during his 10 years as a recordbreaking endurance cyclist, but this one leaves him slightly stumped. He is the consummate charmer though, and it isn’t long before the lady is asking for a photo and autograph before offering him half of her scone and jam. “You can say I’m your nutritionist,” she laughs. As we remount our bikes and start the climb up from…

FITNESS 1 STANDING START This exercise stretches quads and glutes and engages the hip flexors. Start with your hands on your hips (as you get more proficient you can add weights), feet far apart; one foot forward and other foot behind. 2 GET ON DOWN Squat by flexing the knee and hip of the front leg. Let the heel of the rear foot rise up while the rear leg’s knee bends to almost touch the floor. Keep your torso upright. 3 HOLD IT Hold for a few seconds then return to the start by extending the hip and knee of the forward leg. Work the glutes more by moving the feet further apart. Do 10 reps and change legs.…