Table of contents for December 2017 in Cycling Plus

£4999.99 Its handling The SuperSix Evo Disc maintains its rim brake sibling’s excellent handling traits, and refines them with better braking and under 150g extra frame weight. Sudden reflex braking while turning can be messy with rim brakes and carbon rims, but discs allow more consistent modulation. A front thru-axle ensures perfect alignment of the most effective brake, and adds steering precision. The result is composure when you need it and more time to make corrections. Its ride quality The change to a 25.4mm carbon seatpost, plus the vibration damping attributes of the SAVE seat- and chainstays, accentuate rear end comfort, while the continuous carbon construction of the one-piece fork helps it to ride over rough surfaces like suspension. Vittoria’s 25mm Corsa clinchers and Hollowgram Si rims give plush grip…

SPECIFICATION Weight 9.23kg (54cm) Frame Triplebutted aluminium Fork Full carbon Gears Shimano Tiagra 50/34, 12-28 Brakes Tektro Spyre cable disc Wheels Fulcrum Racing Sport Disc Finishing kit Vitus stem, handlebar 27.2mm seatpost and saddle, 25mm Michelin Lithion K-Guard tyres SPECIFICATION Weight 10.2kg (Small) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon, 11/8in aluminium steerer Gears Shimano Sora (ProWheel Ounce 50/34 chainset), 11-28 Brakes Tektro R315 Wheels Alloy double wall Finishing kit Pinnacle stem, bar, saddle and 27.2mm seatpost, 25mm Schwalbe Lugano tyres…

1 PACK IT ALL IN Measuring 46x35x35cm, and with a 56-litre capacity, the BLS Velo is one of the biggest race bags we’ve seen. With the interior space design you can pack everything you’ll need for race day. 2 GET ORGANISED The twin zipped openings and inner structure separate the cavernous Velo Racing bag into very handy compartments. With a slot for your shoes, a tray for your Lycra kit with a speci!c compartment for accessories and arm/knee warmers on top, plus a huge space for your helmet below, which is big enough to take a time trial lid, the BLS has everything covered. 3 DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF The helmet compartment also features a removable zipped box that will easily take spares, tools and your GPS device. BLS…

SUPER-DEEP ZIPPS Following its whale-tailinspired 454s, Zipp is launching the 858s. Made for triathletes and time triallists, their rims fluctuate from 77-88mm, and they come in rim and disc brake versions at £3730 per pair. CUBE’S NEW NU-ROAD Among Cube’s 2018 bikes is its new Nu-Road. This adventure/gravel/whatever aluminium bike has room for 40mm tyres. The three models range from £999 to £1399 and all come with mudguards and a rear rack. HED CLINCHES IT Minnesota-based HED has debuted its new Vanquish 6 wheels. Its first full-carbon clincher is a disc brakeonly, tubeless-ready design with 60mm-deep rims. They cost £2500 and a pair weighs a claimed 1589g. FOR ALL THE LATEST BIKE & GEAR NEWS VISIT…

Riding 100-mile days for four days on the bounce opened my eyes to what cycling can bring Injury got me back on a bike. As a kid I had a mountain bike. Me and a load of mates would go riding in the woods nearby, but it was only when I got injured as a footballer that I got into cycling again. I’ve had three cruciate ligament injuries – two in the right knee and one on the left – and for a big guy like me running for rehab isn’t an option. Riding London-to-Paris took my cycling up a gear. About four years ago I did my left knee. I was about six weeks into the eightmonth rehabilitation, training on a Wattbike, when the charity CureLeukaemia.co.uk asked if I…

The Tarmac has been incredibly successful for Specialized both in terms of race wins and sales. The new Tarmac replaces the curvy SL5 with a more angular design, with slimmer tube profiles and dropped seatstays, which follow on from lessons learnt on the Venge Vias and Roubaix. The new frame has lost weight over the last generation, now weighing 733g, over 200g lighter than the SL5. An all-new sub-300g fork is designed to be size specific, so the steerer tube profile changes across the size range to ensure consistent handling. On the road, the Tarmac feels very familiar, the supersonic speed of the SL5’s handling impressed us hugely, and the new Tarmac feels just as sharp. Where it betters its forefathers is in the hills, the 6.35kg weight is the…

The 2018 model Teammachine is the first to go disc in the bike’s history, although a rim version has been retained in the new design range. There are plenty of the previous generations’ styling cues, the angular tube shapes and dropped seatstays, but it appears tougher and more aggressive than version two’s slender looks. Asymmetry is the name of the game. The non-driveside chainstay is almost square in profile compared to the driveside. The shape and profile of each fork leg has been altered to compensate for wind forces and the thru-axle. So, whereas a standard disc fork adds 60g-plus over a conventional rim brake fork, the SLR’s only adds 18g. On the road, the SLR01 feels familiar; it’s imprinted with the same sharp stiffness that impressed us with the…

HUBS 1 The Cognition hub flanges also feature a Sawtooth profile, but no aero claims are made for these. NODES 2 Each rim has 24 raised Nodes to improve aero stability, and each is matched to a spoke. IMPRESS 3 Zipp’s Impress graphics are printed directly on to the rim, allowing the recessed dimples to work properly. HIGHS Unique design, fine hubs, turbulent weather stability LOWS Price, only available as a carbon clincher ZIPP’S 454 NSW wheelset’s unique profile looks extraordinary and isn’t cheap. The Centrelock disc brake 454 NSWs have widths of 17mm internally, and between 26.4mm at their outer edge and 27.72mm at their widest externally. That distinctive design is said to be based on Biomimicry – applying natural world solutions to manmade objects. Taking the lumpy tubercles…

AGEING, ISN’T IT WONDERFUL? Where once you nestled under a blonde coiffure to match Marcel Kittel’s, now the few hairs you have left are a whiter shade of pale. You also have to contend with wrinkles, worn cartilage and brain shrinkage – reportedly 2-3 per cent each year after 50. That you can handle. What’s more galling is that, if you believe some studies, you can ‘enjoy’ a 50-watt decline in power output every decade post-30 years old. It’s pretty depressing reading but, thankfully, it’s not written in stone. RAISE THE INTENSITY “There are three elements of training for a given sport that can be manipulated to produce fitness: workout duration, intensity and frequency,” says top American cycling coach Joe Friel, who’s now in his seventies and still riding strong.…

This was bringing a whole new meaning to the idea of cross-training. I wasn’t just cross, either, rattled, frustrated, you name it. My naïve assumption that, because I’d downhill skied in the past, I would take to cross-country skiing without much fuss was in tatters, and it was going to take longer than the day I had to get close to picking up the technique. My teacher, Claude Frautschi, was an expert, and photographer Henry wasn’t bad either, having finished the 54km Birkebeiner XC race in Lillehammer two years ago. I was moving with all the grace of an inebriated daddy long legs. We were in Saanenmöser, just up the valley from Gstaad, on prime cross-country track. I’d opted for skate skiing, the most popular with cyclists. The key to…

When it comes to cycling there’s always something new to buy, whether it’s the latest useful gadget, go-faster component or perfect item of clothing. It’s important to spend your hard-earned cash wisely whether you’ve got just a tenner or 400 quid to throw at your passion. At Cycling Plus we have a large team of experts who test ride a massive amount of components, accessories and clothing on a daily basis, in all weather conditions. The team has come to know what works for the cyclist who’s out there putting the miles in, just like us, on the daily commute, regular training or weekend rides. We put our heads together and came up with a list of products at different price points to help you get the best return for…

JUST DO IT Nobody likes waking up and seeing horrible weather outside. As a cyclist it’s more dangerous riding in wet conditions – and for some people it can be a real mental battle just to go out. As a rider who could handle wet and cold conditions, my morale didn’t take a big dive if I saw bad weather. I suppose that coming from Ireland I was used to it – and that should apply to all riders from our group of islands: get out there and get used to it. ADAPT YOUR RIDING You should ride differently in wet conditions, with more caution, and fuel differently. On a cold, wet day you’re not inclined to drink as much, especially if you just have the usual energy drinks, so…

BEFORE A CHARITY RIDE Andy Sallnow, cyclist and head of events for Prostate Cancer UK, reveals the essential moves to make sure your charity ride reaps rewards 1 PLANS PAY OFF Just like training takes planning, so does getting the most out of your fundraising. Set up your online sponsorship page, do cake sales and quizzes and think of any skills you could offer in return for a donation - an office puncture repair service? 2 CAN THEY CLICK IT? Make sure your online sponsorship page is clear about what your aims are and what you’re looking to raise. Try it yourself to make sure donating is a smooth process. 3 SHOW YOUR WORKING OUT Broadcast your training highs and lows on social media. Getting ready to ride further than…

With so much great gear available, welcome to our look at the best of the bunch from the wealth of kit we’ve been impressed with in 2017, and what we’re looking forward to in 2018. We’ve picked our highlights from the year’s biggest bike industry show, Eurobike, Bike Radar’s women’s editor, Aoife Glass, shares her picks of women’s kit and Bike Radar’s videographer, Joe Norledge, has sought out the latest weight-watching products to see his Fuji SL 1.1 all set for hill climbing. As 2018 is going to be a big year for new drivetrains we’ve got an exclusive look at the new Ultegra Di2 disc group from Shimano, plus the latest from SRAM, Campagnolo, and new kid on the block, FSA, with its electronic K-Force W.E. group.…

“Do androids dream of electric gears?” was a question sadly not posed by the late science fiction visionary Philip K Dick. But Shimano’s designers were dreaming of electrically operated gear shifting for a very long time before the Japanese giant launched its game-changing Di2 groupset back in 2009. This was way after Mavic’s failed but fondly remembered (by some) Zap and Mektronic electronic groupsets in the 1990s. Campagnolo also experimented with battery-powered shifting in the early 2000s, but Shimano has led the way in making electronic groupsets popular today – widespread in the pro ranks and increasingly common among the rest of us. Numerous iterations, tweaks and developments have led us to the newest 8000 series Ultegra, which incorporates R8000 (£1099) with mechanical shifting and rim brakes; R8020 (£1325.30) with…

It hasn’t exactly been Full Speed Ahead for FSA and its muchhyped but rarely seen semi-wireless WE groupset, which was due in the shops in May 2017. Whereas Shimano’s Di2 goes with cables and SRAM’s eTap is fully wireless, FSA’s engineers have split the difference – WE has wireless transmission from the levers to the derailleurs, with a frame-mounted battery linked to the derailleurs by wires, which FSA believes to be the best solution. The lack of a junction box and wires from the levers results in a bike with cleaner, more aerodynamic lines, but by using a larger, wired battery you get a claimed 4-6000km of riding between charges, which only take around 90 minutes. Unlike SRAM, FSA hasn’t developed its own wireless protocol but has gone with the…

How long did it take York-based frame builder Ricky Feather to build this cyan beauty? About 200 hours. “I think there were just seven parts on the bike that weren’t custom-made,” he says. “I made everything from the hanger to the jockey wheel, bar, stem and brake levers…” The most notable feature is the somewhat surreal ‘retro-direct’ gearing, a design that dates from 1903. Pedal forwards and you activate the high gear, pedal backwards and you engage a lower gear that still propels you forward! We think we can see why it isn’t a knockout in the 21st century… 1 Hmm! ‘Retrodirect’ gearing – with the emphasis on retro, we reckon… 2 Unique features abound, with even the humble rear mudguard customised 3 Oldest of old school, but the Feather’s…

Lapierre’s original 2015 Pulsium introduced the company’s Shock Absorption Technology (SAT), which interrupted the top-tube with a combination of three elastomers to damp road vibrations and offer comfort over cobbles; it was developed with the FDJ team for the Classics. The latest generation bike for 2018 strips back the elastomer to a single piece, while increasing the compliance over the previous version and lightening the overall frame. Lapierre also claims that a combination of the new frame design – curvier and more slender than the previous model – has increased stiffness through the bottom bracket, head-tube and chainstays to make the bike a more capable racer’s machine. The balance of the bike has also been considered, as Lapierre felt that mounting the Di2 battery inside the seatpost put weight at…

Trek’s Émonda was conceived as the brand’s lightweight race bike, it’s the model that was favoured by Alberto Contador, who rode the rim-braked version at this year’s Vuelta a España. It’s no surprise that a bike with a frame weight of 644g was his ride of choice for a Spanish tour littered with tough climbs. But this is a disc version, and we all know disc bikes are heavy, right? The Émonda disc frame shatters that misconception, weighing 665g. Add in a thru-axleequipped flat-mount disc fork at 350g and that’s a complete chassis at 1015g, and there aren’t many rimbraked bikes that can match that. The curves and sculpted surfaces of the previous Émonda have been retained, but the all-up weight of 6.65kg certainly shows that a lot has been…

HIGHS Great fit and finish, MIPS protection LOWS The price THE ORIGINAL VELOCIS was a more traditional looking helmet. It had all the features you’d expect, but was outgunned by Giro, Kask, MET et al when it came to aero considerations. The new model is based on the Ballista, Bontrager’s aero-road lid, but with more vents. The helmet also has a much rounder shape, and the fully covered EPS foam core extends further down at the back, in an almost mountain bike helmet style. In aero performance terms Bontrager claims that the Velocis is a full 10.8g of drag more efficient than a Giro Synthe MIPS at 30mph, which is a big slice of effort to save. The pads use a material from Boulder, Coloradobased 37.5 Technology, whose aim is…

HIGHS Light, brilliant shape, and smooth riding LOWS A great upgrade, but it will set you back a lot VISION IS FSA’S more aerodynamically-focused arm, and the new 4D bar implements plenty of aero optimisation into its design. Unlike most aero flat-sectioned road bars the 4D’s top wing section is angled forwards at 10 degrees from the clam section out to the drops, this creates a flatter forward-facing section, and when paired with a slender aero-styled stem, like Vision’s Metron, it offers drag-reducing performance. If, like us, aerodynamics take second place to ride feel and usability, the 4D still has serious advantages. That swept-forward top section with deep tear-dropped shape provides a comfortable on-the-tops position, with the slightly angled hand position making this a great bar when riding extended climbs…

Rob Brown, physiotherapist at the Centre for Health & Human Performance (chhp.com), takes a closer look at the role of the calf muscles. WHAT ARE THEY? The calf muscles are composed of two muscles located in the posterior of the shin. Both have a common insertion onto the heel via the Achilles tendon. The gastrocnemius crosses the knee joint originating from the back of the thigh bone and the soleus originates from the back of the shin bone, so does not cross the knee joint. HOW DO THEY WORK? During the power phase of the pedal stroke the calf muscles plantarflex/bend the ankle (pushing the toes down) applying power. As the gastrocnemius crosses the knee joint it will have a role in flexing the knee during the upstroke. With other…

YOUR EXPERT Freddy Vangoidsenhoven is team mechanic with the An-Post Chain Reaction UCI Pro Continental team 1 TIGHTLY WOUND Before you start, make sure that the barrel adjuster screw on the rear derailleur is wound all the way in (turn it clockwise as you look down on it) with no tension on the cable. 2 ON THE LIMIT Next, make sure the two limit screws are adjusted correctly. These prevent the chain from dropping off the cassette. Check that the lower limit screw is adjusted so the chain turns nicely in the smallest sprocket. 3 GENTLE PUSH Check the upper limit by pushing the derailleur towards the largest sprocket, making sure it doesn’t hit the spokes. Be careful as you could damage your bike and your fingers if you overdo…

The Vaya yearns to explore. Its triplebutted, size-specific Sanko chromoly Kung Fu steel tubing frame and 4130 chromoly steel fork are rugged rather than light, and come with a comprehensive collection of accessory mounts. Salsa’s pretty cast rear dropouts incorporate mudguard and rack eyes, with equivalent fittings up front. Its sloping top-tube gives good standover height, and the relatively tall front end suits the Vaya’s purpose, as does its short stem and flared bar, increasing control on gnarly surfaces and when laden. Salsa’s large flanged orange disc hubs are paired with WTB’s i19 alloy rims and fairly aggressive 40mm Nano tyres. Swift acceleration and fast climbing aren’t an option, but they cruise willingly and find grip even when things get sloppy. The Vaya manages a reasonable pace on flatter tarmac…

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE The 2018 Tour de France route has been revealed, with cobbles, gravel and short stages - as well as eightman teams - raising hopes for an exciting, unpredictable race. Stage 17’s 65km stage in the Pyrenees catches the eye. ARU TO UAE Italy’s Fabio Aru has joined UAE Team Emirates from Astana on a three-year deal. The 2015 Vuelta winner bolsters its Grand Tour roster further, after Ireland’s Dan Martin signed earlier this summer. YET ANOTHER WIN Perhaps the least surprising award for 2017 saw Chris Froome win the Velo d’Or - the cyclist of the year. Sky’s man became the first rider to win the Tour-Vuelta double in its current configuration. STAGE IS SET Thankfully, that 65km stage isn’t the route of the L’Etape du…

A year and a half on from when we first saw them, and some time after its main road component competitors, Campagnolo’s disc brakes have landed. The levers, callipers and rotors are beautifully engineered, and the disc-specific parts are termed H11 for the high-end carbon ones, or H0 for alloy. For the best chain line on disc framesets, Campagnolo realigned the chainrings, making the new specific cranksets necessary. The £3443 price combines the H11 parts with Record EPS, creating Record EPS DB.…

Uplands turn into fens, headwinds into downhills, gravel tracks into smooth tarmac You’ll never catch me on an e-bike, I used to say. Well, you won’t now, unless you’re on one too. After autumn trips to the Netherlands and Germany trying them out, I’m a convert. My problem was uncertainty over the e-bike’s role. Think of bicycles as footwear – a handy trick, I find, for convincing sceptics with lots of shoes who don’t understand why we need more than one bike. Some equivalents are clear. Hybrid = trainers; mountain bike = walking boots; road bike = running shoes. Folding bike? Sandals, maybe an easy-pack enabler for short-haul connecting trips. But e-bike... Battery-powered clogs? Plug-in Wellingtons? Rechargeable Doc Martens? The purpose wasn’t obvious to me. What is obvious is that…

Cervélo’s R series is the brand’s Grand Tour bike, designed for big climbs and high mileage days at fast speeds. The R series is also its most successful range, when it debuted in 2003, Carlos Sanchez and Tyler Hamilton both rode it to victory, and Fabian Cancellara won at Roubaix on the R3 in 2006. The new bike has been designed to improve the ride, so you’ll see simple things like an increase in the tyre clearance to enable use of 28mm tyres on a wide rim. From working with its pro team, Cervélo has also revised the geometry. Some riders wanted to get a lower, more forward position so were effectively sizing down, which could have a negative effect on stability and handling. Cervélo started the transition to a…

Merida splits the Reacto range into two versions. This, the flagship, uses the CF4 design, its low front end and long reach resulting in a truly aggressive ride. Lower models use the CF2, which adds a bit of height to the stack for an aero bike with a slight endurance bias. Our test bike is built for speed. The way this Reacto picks up pace is truly addictive; the rigidity through the drivetrain makes the 9000 surge forward with every stroke of the pedals. It holds that speed well, with the 65mm-deep DT Swiss rims taking some effort to get up to pace, but hold onto it with such tenacity over flat or rolling terrain that you’ll see an increase in average speeds over a standard bike. The DT Swiss…

HIGHS Responsive controls, full integration with third party apps LOWS A few quirks with the app NINE YEARS AFTER WATTBIKE INTRODUCED its indoor training bike, things have changed. Spin classes are increasingly popular and ‘smart’ things are seemingly everywhere. So, in the Atom, Wattbike has reinvented its popular exercise bike for the everyman. Looks-wise, the Atom makes a pleasing change from the chunkier Pro/Trainer models, and the hardware now sits on an aluminium frame, which resembles an actual bike rather than the profile of an early- 2000s step-through frame. One of the biggest changes over the original Wattbike Pro/Trainer is the inclusion of functional hoods, each with three buttons that control a variety of actions in the Hub app. The left shifter changes the active page during a ride showing…

TOPEAK AERO WEDGE (sm) £13.99 These come in three different sizes and with clip-on or buckle fittings. Our small 98g buckle-on bag has a 0.66L capacity and is made from tough Cordura coated with Teflon. We’d have appreciated reflective details on the sides as well as the rear, but that’s the only downside on a sturdy bag that’ll take two tubes, a multi-tool and more. DEUTER BAG 1 £15 With a rigid top and bottom, and sides that concertina, this 98g bag feels larger than its 0.8L capacity. This easily takes a couple of tubes and all the usual gubbins. It’s very tidily made, has a loop zip pull and our experience of Deuter bags suggests it should last for years. Velcro straps secure it to seatpost and saddle and…

HIGHS Photochromatic lenses, customisation, ventilation LOWS Alternate bumpers cost extra THE FOTONYK HAS A THERMOPLASTIC Grilamid frame, that’s hypoallergenic and shock resistant, with good flexibility and durability. Our 25g Crystal Graphite pair has a clear frame with a grey tint. There’s no additional grippy rubber to help retention, just the inherent flex of the frame, but they slide on and off easily without snagging on helmets, and have remained completely secure on every ride. Rudy’s simple but effective adjustable nosepiece makes the fine positioning of your glasses a cinch, offering great comfort with minimal bulk, and it’s replaceable. The central frame follows a classic upward sweep that gives good forward vision when your head is angled down, and maintains a useful gap between the brow and glasses to limit sweat…

“AFTER A LONG SEASON OF CYCLING, THE WINTER MONTHS ARE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT” Greg LeMond enjoyed cross-country (XC) skiing. Richie Porte likes to swim. For pros and amateurs alike, after a long season of cycling, the winter months are a chance to do something different. This idea, cross-training, needn’t be the preserve of the off-season. You could be at the end of a hard spell of training, recovering from an injury, or want to improve your all-round conditioning throughout the season. It’s just that winter is the most opportune moment to do so, with few events on the horizon and weather conditions lacking appeal. It’s not about doing things that will magically enhance your cycling. It’s about having the chance to recover from the rigours of a…

Top of the Rock is a new autumn ‘gravel sportive’. Set up and based around Sutton Bank Bikes, 1000ft above the Vale of York, it makes maximum use of the staff’s decades of riding experience and access negotiation skills to provide 27km, 36km or 60km riding from “rock-strewn gullies to fast gravel singletrack, forest tracks and wide open moorland trails”. Event organiser, Sophie Carter says: “Gravel and ’cross bikes are the most suitable machines for this course but short travel hardtail mountain bikes will be fine.” This makes it perfect for putting each of the broad quartet of test bikes we’re piloting into their happy place – at some point. By definition, it would also put them out of their comfort zones at times, hopefully helping us - and you…

BODY MOVEMENT MAKES YOU WIDER AND LESS AERO SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY STILL Tony Martin is a classic time trial rider who gets exceedingly aero and has fantastic sustainable power that he can put out almost robotically, which is what a timetriallist should be like. He’s a fantastic example – him and Fabian Cancellara, before he retired, are the two finest. Cancellara probably relied a little bit more on power, whereas Tony Martin relies more on that classic, dart-like aero front and flat back. There’s a YouTube video of Martin on a training ride with a bottle of energy drink on his back, and it just sits there for mile after mile, without even a wobble, because he has that great classic position. 1 If you…

1 Face Down Lie down with your elbows under your shoulders and feet hip-width apart. Draw in your belly button and tilt your pelvis backwards slightly. Keep your legs locked and glutes squeezed. Hold for 20-90 seconds. 2 Intensify Move to a plank with side rotation. Lie on your side with your legs straight and prop up your upper body on your forearm. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your ankles to shoulders. 3 Arms Up Raise your free arm, reach under and behind your torso with your hand, then lift your arm up to the starting position. Rotate from your upper back, and not from your lower back. Repeat for 30 seconds then swap sides.…

Distance: 74 miles (118km) Grade: Difficult. There’s more than 2000m of climbing before you even get to the final challenge, the 7.5km climb up Great Dun Fell, so pacing is vital. Download: strava.com/routes/9934564 GETTING THERE The nearest mainline railway station to Dunsop Bridge is Preston. From there you can either ride the 25 miles or take the local train to Clitheroe (via Blackburn) and ride 10 miles from there. From the top of Great Dun Fell, it’s 20 miles to the nearest railway station at Penrith. WHERE TO STAY The Red Pump Inn at Bashall Eaves is just five miles from Dunsop Bridge and offers luxury rooms or glamping yurts. The restaurant is the only venue outside London to get its meat from the renowned Ginger Pig butchery. Our fillet…

People often make a simple mistake. They think that cycling is a big deal. They think that because it’s on the telly from time to time, and it looks and smells like something shiny and elite, it must be a really developed thing. The assumption is that anything which involves multi-million pound salaries and large amounts of carbon fibre must be a very grown up, very professional concern. Cycling does have its grown-ups; people with properly scientific brains and laptops that seethe with graphs and power data. And, sure, it does look like it knows what it’s doing, from time to time. The sight of nine expensively-clothed chaps warming up on rollers, side by side, before a team time trial looks like a well-thought-out thing. Then the race starts and…