Table of contents for Summer 2020 in Cycling Plus

WARREN ROSSITER SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR I’ve been looking into Giant’s development of the all-new TCR, a bike that over the years has been one of the most influential race bikes on the planet. Turn to page 34 to find out if the latest racing lightweight is set to be its best yet. SIMON WITH ERS TECHNICAL WRITER This issue I got to spend some time with French manufacturer Look’s stunning 795 Blade RS Disc race machine, which it claims is: “the fastest, smoothest and most versatile bike [it] has ever made”. Turn to page 56 to see for yourself. ROBIN WILMOTT TECHNICAL WRITER I’ve been riding on BMC’s new gravel machine the URS ONE. With BMC’s cool integrated design, low weight and featuring a radical rear suspension system, it could…

01 STICKLEGS SL1 JERSEY £50 This British-designed but Italian-made jersey is packed with features for the modest price, including reflective piping across the three rear pockets, close-fitting Lycra cuffs, lightweight material with mesh inserts on the flanks, lockdown zips and even a weatherproof phone pocket (complete with audio cable port). 02 WOHO GORILLA CAGE £44.99 If you’re planning to go touring when lockdown is over, take a look at the Gorilla Cage – a clever little device that’s designed to fit onto adventure bike forks with three bosses. It’ll expand to carry anything from huge water bottles to five half-litre dry bags, thanks to the combination of Velcro straps and webbing. Perfect for long, adventurous trips out on the bike. 03 AFTERSHOKZ AIR £99.95 We’re big fans of the AfterShokz…

£70 Gravel-specific head gear WE SAY… Top marks for comfort and ventilation, and for being ponytail compatible too Met is a well-known and highly regarded name in the helmet market and its new Allroad is the brand’s first gravel-specific lid. But what exactly, you may well be asking, makes a helmet ‘gravel’ specific? Well, according to Met’s Allroad design you want a little more protection on the sides and at the rear, giving more cover to the occipital bone at the back, like you would get on a mountain bike helmet. However, you still want a breathable helmet and the light weight of a road lid, which is what the Allroad offers. Our large test model weighed in at 293.3g - impressively light for a £70 helmet. The rigid peak…

£60 £82.50 £60 WE SAY… Blending every day work wear with utilitarian style Rapha is well known for its stylish cycling wear but here the upmarket brand debuts its everyday work clothing. Shirt Designed to be durable and practical in daily use, the Mechanics Shirt comes in short-and long-sleeve versions. It’s 100 per cent cotton with a ripstop grid pattern that prevents any nicks from extending and it feels robust yet pleasantly soft against the skin. The divided chest pocket has a reinforced top, great for storing tools and the fit is quite relaxed for ease of movement. Jacket The jacket’s heavyweight, cotton twill construction feels like light denim and includes two per cent stretch, which gives it a very relaxed fit and it provided excellent freedom of movement. It…

£39.99 WEIGHT 28G LENS UV400 POLARISED EXTRAS SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Great-looking shades with awesome performance at a really great price Agu is known for its good-value, no-nonsense rainwear more than anything else but with its sponsorship of Lotto-Jumbo and a move into pro racing (with some of its team riders seen in these shades) things have changed. Aesthetically, the Bolds score top marks, featuring a squared-off shield design that blends the current retro 1980s trend with modern design very successfully. The full frame sits slightly back from the lens itself creating a small but important gap that makes the Bolds among the best-vented sunglasses on test; this, combined with the anti-fog coating, means they stayed very clear during rides. The minimal arms are well-sprung and…

£49.95 WEIGHT 30.9G LENS CAT 3 BLUE MIRROR, CAT 0 CLEAR, CAT 0 YELLOW LOW LIGHT EXTRAS SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Solid-fitting, good-looking and high-performing, sturdy glasses The Avenger’s large, sweeping lens provides a close wrap and the frame’s short stubby arms have plenty of spring. Because the grip is quite tenacious, these are a fine option for both on- and off-road use. The package includes three lenses with all using a nine-layer coating called MLC by BBB, which has a high resistance to friction. The blue-mirrored lens offers category 3 protection and plenty of contrast. In lower light conditions, they aren’t so dark that you can’t pick out contrast on the road surface. The two other lenses are a straight clear option and a yellow…

£49.95 WEIGHT 33.3G LENS REVO RED (CAT 3) EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Multi-hued, large shield lens provides superb protection The Polygon Revo’s styling is very close to that of Oakley’s classic Radar. The lens in particular has a shape that’s almost identical to the premium brand’s classic, half-frame shades. The deep (60mm) lens in Revo Red offers plenty of bold contrast, which greatly enhances vision in bright sunshine, while protection from the elements from the deep, wrapped lens is among the very best on test. The lens’ brow-line vents keep them clear of condensation and I had no fogging on the lens. The frame is nicely sprung and grips your head well, but they’re not as secure as some. They’re fine for road duties…

£50 WEIGHT 30.9G LENS MIRROR (CAT 3) EXTRAS CLEAR LENS (CAT 0), YELLOW LENS (CAT 1), HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… A bargain multi-lens package with slightly tricky lens switching The Omnicron’s shield lens is smaller than most at 42mm at its deepest, which makes them well suited to smaller faces. The curvature of the lens closely wraps around the face and the substantial arms have plenty of spring, so they grip very well with little movement even when riding on rougher surfaces. The arm tips are rubberised, which also aids grip, and the soft-touch nosepiece has plenty of adjustment too. They come with three different lenses and switching between them is a case of sliding a latch on the inside of the frame, which releases…

Looking for a silver lining in a pandemic is problematic, but the world of cycling can take solace in what the government has said is up to a 70 per cent increase, in certain places, in the number of people on bikes in the first seven weeks of lockdown. The government wants this trend to continue and to help alleviate pressure on public transport and prevent gridlock as the country gradually returns to work. Unveiling a £2bn plan to boost cycling and walking, transport minister Grant Shapps said: “Outside London, half of all journeys are under three miles. If cycling increased by five per cent it would result in eight million fewer car journeys, nine million fewer rail journeys and 13 million fewer bus journeys. You don’t have to be…

Marcus Elliott STARTING FTP: 348w WATTS PER KILOGRAM: 4.1 As a child, I’d pretend to be Chris Boardman and adopting an aero time-trial position on a Peugeot mountain bike was ‘fun’. However, football and rugby took over through my teens and twenties. After I stopped, I hit 100kg and my mental health suffered. I’d seen a relaxed charity bike ride (Castle to Coast to Castle), so I bought a bike. The first five kilometres almost killed me, but soon I was getting fitter, losing 10kg in the process. Six months later I’d done my first century. As a larger cyclist, living in flat Lincolnshire suits me. This year was about climbing. L’Etape du Tour was three times the elevation of any previous ride. Now my targets are about building a…

With the intake of some delicious fried beef often comes the cry of, ‘It’s high in iron!’ It may seem obvious to be pointing out that red meat is something that exercising meat eaters should consider eating more of in their diet but iron deficiency can be really common in cyclists. Super-hard turbo sessions during lockdown, spent inside while sweating massively, or a high training load outside during more normal times, can both contribute to iron deficiency and aenemia. A recipe like this provides a solid serving of protein with all your essential amino acids (35g of protein just from the steak), plus some moderate glycemic index (GI) foods to help replenish your glycogen stores and further aid recovery are useful after a hard training session. Steak will also give…

Ned is the main commentator for ITV’s Tour de France coverage and editor of The Road Book, now in its second edition. He also tours his own one-man-show Do I have to write a column about virtual cycling? I suppose I do. But I do so with a sigh as profound and sustained as the whirr of a turbo turning over in a garage. This is not the column I ever wished to be faced with. And now, you, dear reader, are charged with having to read it. In the interests of full disclosure: I have never tried Zwift, or any of the other seemingly legion platforms that allow people to pretend they’re pedalling through the world when in fact they’re stripped to the waste in a kitchen near Merthyr…

TOTAL CONTROL RACING A new Giant TCR always turns heads at Cycling Plus, and we’ve probably reviewed all eight previous iterations of this most influential of bikes. In this issue we look in depth at the development of number nine p34. WELCOME ABOARD All statistics suggest a huge uptake of cycling during the pandemic. If any new riders are reading this, welcome to the club. As the Royston Vasey town sign says, ‘You’ll Never Leave’, and we have everything you need to know on p88. GET IN TOUCH… If you’ve anything you want to say you can chat with us via @cyclingplus on Twitter, CyclingPlusMagazine on Facebook and cyclingplus on Instagram. And, of course, you can always email us at cyclingplus@immediate.co.uk. And don’t forget to visit www.cyclingplus.com!…

The longtime Cycling Plus staffer offers his take on all the comments and controversy on the frontline of the cycling scene A little over a year has passed since I was in a strobe-filled studio at BT Sport to witness something of an experiment: the first-ever British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships. Ten men and women competed for the newest British National Champion’s jersey, strapped into their Wahoo turbo trainers and propelling their avatars beamed onto a giant screen behind them. It had a lot of what we’ve come to expect from bike racing - big watts, doomed breakaways and even a winner subsequently stripped of his title in a public shaming. It’s tough, however, for anything new to break through in a sport as traditional and historic as cycling, so…

Empty singletrack roads hug loch shores, follow glens and occasionally vault over high lands between tiny villages with awesome views at every turn. Our base, picturesque, remote Tobermory has town facilities and accommodation. Day riding in Britain doesn’t get any more thrilling than this. ROUTE ONE ISLAND CIRCUIT 68 MILES SHORELINE SHOWCASE Lots of fast, flat coastal riding, surprisingly few climbs, but always mighty scenery. Main road down to Salen (cafe) is busy during ferry times, but quiet otherwise. Fabulous Glen More then lunch at Tiroran (42 miles); more stunning lochside and main road back to Tobermory. GET THE ROUTE: tinyurl.com/LKMullLong ROUTE TWO MULL IN MINIATURE 41 MILES LOCHS, MOUNTAINS, ISLANDS, FERRIES Half-day cycling plus half a day exploring: gravel/adventure bikes etc best. Hills to Dervaig (cafe), more hills to…

1997 The first production TCR makes its debut. It is available in three frame sizes (S, M, L) and has an angle-adjustable quill stem available in three different lengths (105mm, 120mm, 135mm) 1998 The Spanish Team ONCE debuts the new TCR at the Tour de France. Giant produces a complete Team ONCE replica bike for consumers with a Campagnolo Record gruppo 2000 Team ONCE replica bike features a one-inch threadless headset 2002 The first full-composite TCR makes its debut at the Tour de France 2003 The first commercial TCR Composite bikes are available 2004 The third-generation TCR debuts at the Tour de France with the T-Mobile squad, which goes on to win the Tour team classification three years straight 2005 The first TCR with an integrated seatpost (ISP) is commercially…

£199.99 (jersey); £249.99 Space-age jersey and bib set WE SAY… Supremely comfortable and light, high-quality road gear The PRO Air range from Pearl Izumi was designed to be the lightest and most breathable kit yet, with seasons of research into the construction, utilising cutting-edge bonding and taping methods to make ultra-light clothing with no stitching. On the jersey that means all of the main panels and sleeves are completely bonded, making for one of the best-fitting jerseys we’ve ever tried. The front panel uses a high-stretch weave and the rear features an ultra-lightweight PRO Transfer fabric for fast wicking. The jersey is also treated with an INRCOOL coating that helps to regulate body temperature when working hard. The front conforms to your shape and feels supportive, while the back stayed…

£3100 (frameset) £9600 (as built) Its fastest, most versatile bike ever, says Look “Its design focuses on stiffness and aerodynamics yet without a huge sacrifice in overall comfort” The Blade’s name refers to its ability to cut through the air – but there’s more to the new Look 795 Blade RS Disc than its ability to cheat the wind. According to Look, this is “the fastest, smoothest and most versatile bike Look has ever made”. The French manufacturer believes the era when aeroroad bikes focused only on aerodynamics is long gone. This Blade “is all about speed, with its design focusing on stiffness and aerodynamics yet without a huge sacrifice in overall comfort”. Not only does the Blade major on aero, Look says it also has an unmatched stiffness-to-weight ratio…

£34.99 WEIGHT 34.3G LENS CAT 3 SMOKE EXTRAS SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION RX INSERT COMPATIBLE WE SAY… These frameless shades boast good looks and top performance The closely wrapped curve of the lens sits well and the etched edging is a nice detail. The lens offers full UV400 protection from its category 3 (high UV protection) lens with dark silver mirror finish that belies the very modest price. With most frameless glasses, stability can be an issue because of the lighter weight and increased flexibility. However, Madison has cleverly combatted this with an adjustable nosepiece and arms with metal cored tips that can be bent and shaped to perfectly fit your head. It makes them a rock-solid fit. Only on a rare occasion did I have to re-sit them…

£39.99 WEIGHT 35.7G LENS CAT 3 FIRE MIRROR EXTRAS SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION RX COMPATIBLE WE SAY… Smart design and modern styling plus RX-insert compatibility These single lens Code Breakers certainly look the business and they have something of the Oakley Jawbreaker look about them, but without the vented lens and prominent ‘O’ hinges or, for that matter, the £178 price tag. What you do get for your penny shy of £40, however, is an excellent quality shield lens held in place with a clever system. The brow piece rotates 90 degrees, angle the arms at 45 degrees and then simply pop out the lens to clean or replace. It’s a smart system that works well. The other big standout feature with the Code Breakers is that they are…

£49.99 WEIGHT 28.9G LENS VARIABLE TINT UV400 EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… A great, all-round design that’s well suited for smaller faces Endura’s Snapper IIs are well-suited for all-round use and not just on the bike. The full frame design is like a classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer style that’s been curved to wrap closely around your face. The sizing is best suited to smaller faces and the lens depth of 40mm (including the frame) does a great job of shielding your eyes from the wind along with good sunlight protection. Endura has opted for a multi-tint running from dark at the brow to lighter at the base. Both sides of the lens have been treated with an anti-reflection coating so the view is clear. Because of…

£49.99 WEIGHT 32.1G LENS ENLIVEN BIKE (CAT 2) EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Well-equipped, smart-looking, top-quality budget shades Tifosi has built a great reputation for making glasses that have all the features found on premium brands but without the premium price tag. The Davos’s angular and well-styled frame is made from Grimalid TR-90: that’s the same material you’ll find on shades more than twice the price. It’s a nylon-based polymer that doesn’t brittle with age, resists stretching so they won’t get baggy with constant use and has great moisture and chemical resistance so they won’t stain from sunscreen or sweat. The design means they are closely wrapped to your face, and although the frame’s bottom edge is in the line of sight for me, those…

CADEX is a name resurrected by Giant Bicycles from way back in 1985. It was the model designation used to name the first ‘volume production’ carbon-fibre road bike. That means Giant has 35 years of experience in manipulating the black stuff we all take for granted today. For 2020, however, CADEX is a series of high-end, professional-level components that as soon as racing resumes, you’ll see on the bikes of the Giant-sponsored CCC team and its leader Greg Van Avermaet. The world of carbon road wheels is a busy one, with established brands such as Zipp, ENVE, Reynolds, Mavic, Lightweight, DT Swiss and Fulcrum all offering great products. Then there is a raft of up-and-coming brands, such as Roval, Bontrager, 3T, Vision and Hunt all vying for our upgrade cash.…

Burt spent 12 years as head of physio at British Cycling and five years as consultant physio at Team Ineos. philburtinnovation.co.uk In these challenging times of lockdown and restrictions on movement and exercise, many people have naturally turned to static/indoor cycle training. I have noted and commented before on the change in the injury profile presented by static cycling as the prevalence of Zwift and other online training apps took off. Now my inbox is full of enquires relating to new pains and issues that static cycling has thrown up. The two major issues seem to be saddle sores/pain and knee pain. Many find it confusing to be suffering after never having had these issues during their many years of outdoor cycling, but indoor cycling is different. Firstly, the loading…

At first glance you might not consider cycling and gymnastics to be particularly similar sporting endeavours. Cyclists ride hundreds of miles, while gymnasts tumble around a 12-square-metre gym mat. Cyclists focus on spinning their legs, while gymnasts spin their entire bodies around a pommel horse. But gymnasts know how to build rock-solid core strength without packing on the bulk that will negatively affect their acrobatic activities. That makes their training methods uniquely valuable to road cyclists who want to build core stability and lean strength without adding unwanted muscle mass. “As a gymnast, I don’t want or need bulk,” explains double Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Max Whitlock. “Most of gymnastics is about bodyweight exercises, so you have to be able to lift your own weight in different situations. We…

WHY DO WE NEED IRON? Iron is important for transporting oxygen in the blood and in the muscles, for the creation of red blood cells and its involvement in the electron transport system, which controls the release of energy from cells. It’s possible you are iron deficient if you suffer from any of these symptoms: chronic fatigue, frequent injuries, loss of endurance and power, recurring illness, irritability, loss of appetite and loss of interest in exercise. When you’re a cycling enthusiast, long weekend rider or training for a sportive, these are all detrimental to your progress and training goals. Iron deficiency can be caused in various ways, such as blood loss, heavy sweating, a prolonged high demand for iron – for example if you're engaged in heavy cycling training over…

Our 2020 Bike of the Year review is finally complete: the contenders have been photographed and videoed, and our testing analysed and written up, podcast and published, both in these pages and over on our sister website, BikeRadar. This year, however, we’re not finishing there. Normally, we’d be looking ahead to reviewing new bikes that brands want to show us, but given the coronavirus crisis has slowed us all down, we’re taking the opportunity to cover 2020’s winning bikes across the five different categories – budget, endurance, gravel, aero and superbike, plus the overall winner – in much more detail. Over the next 23 pages we talk to the people who conceived, developed and built these incredible machines, punching through the walls of modern bike design. The following pages will…

Rob wrote the Bluffer’s Guide to Cycling and 50 Quirky Bike Rides. He’s collecting international End to Ends yorkshireridings.blogspot.com. LAST YEAR, I was cycling from the Med to the Baltic. Now, I’m hardly getting beyond York’s ring road. My event-horizon has shrunk more than lycra in the hot wash. I’m no fan of virtual riding. No Zwift, no turbo trainer for me. Like fine art on the radio, it’s too removed from the real thing. So I’m still getting out every day, and loving staying local. I’ve been exploring my patch in microdetail, plundering council leaflets, Ordnance Survey Pathfinders, online maps and PDFs for ideas. Routes that hitherto seemed too muddy, dull, or cumbersome to bother with, are proving enjoyable. And now I can travel light – no need for…

£310 Shoes for big adventures WE SAY… Technically brilliant design that comes at a high price DMT’s KM1 is, by the brand’s own definition, a mountain-bike marathon shoe but they work well for gravel riding too. The KM1 was conceived alongside the road-specific KR1 shoe, using a material designed by DMT and based on the latest generation of running shoes with a three-dimensional seamless knitted structure. This kind of engineered knit upper has been around for a few years in non-cycling sports shoes but are a recent development here. Rival brands have knitted upper shoes, but most of those are a hybrid upper – so either a knitted skin over a formed base, or pairing knitted fabrics with more traditional materials and construction. The KM1 is very different because the…

£699.99 Xplova enters the smart-trainer market WE SAY… A stable, quiet, easy-to-use smart trainer with issues The Noza S is Xplova’s first smart trainer and is being sold under the LifeLine range on Wiggle/Chain Reaction Cycles. It’s simple to set-up and use with adaptors for thru-axles included in the box and no issues with connectivity, whether using Zwift or the Xplova Workout app. A cassette is not included, though, so you’ll have to supply your own. With axle adapters and the included quick-release skewer in place, the unit weighs 17.7kg. This is in line with its competitors and the weight no doubt contributes to the excellent stability. Using the Xplova Workout app for updating firmware and performing spin down calibration tests is easy. The app can also be used for…

“CORONAVIRUS HAS LEFT US REFLECTING ON OUR IMMUNITY. IN THIS STRANGE NEW WORLD, IN WHICH A TRIP TO THE SHOPS CAN SEEM HAZARDOUS, EVEN CYCLING CAN SEEM SHADOWED WITH NEW DANGERS” For decades Professor Neil Walsh has been researching how to keep athletes on their bike and out of the doctor’s surgery. The Liverpool John Moores University academic is an expert in immunology, nutrition and exercise science and has studied training loads, sleep quality, nutritional plans, psychological stresses, temperature extremes and lifestyle behaviour to work out how best to optimise athletes’ immunity. He is as worried about Covid-19 as the rest of us but he knows that any illness – from sore throats and colds, to gastric bugs and respiratory infections – can ruin a training block, a race or…

£34.99 WEIGHT 33G LENS CAT 3 SMOKED, CAT 0 CLEAR EXTRAS SOFT CLEANING BAG, HARDCASE PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Smart design and great value make these must-buy budget shades The RoadR 900 is typical of the value for money you’ll find from Decathlon’s Van Rysel road brand. The package comes with two lenses, a hardcase and cleaning bag for just £34.99. It’d be an impressive package at twice the price. The glasses have some excellent design touches, not least in the way in which you switch lenses. On each side of the arm hinge there is a small, second hinge. Simply rotate these down then pull the lens down and away from the frame. It’s cleverly held in place by a magnet at the nose bridge. It’s a fantastic…

£39.99 WEIGHT 28.4G LENS CE UV400 CLEAR PLASMA EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Superb lens quality sets these budget shades a part from the crowd The large Shield lens is 1980sinspired but the frameless design is very 21st century, as is the very light 28g total weight. The deep swept lens provides impressively clear vision with nothing to obstruct your view, regardless of head position. Usually, the downside of frameless glasses is that they lack the rigidity to stay in place on rougher surfaces. The Ardennes do a much better job than most, aided by a soft, supple and sticky nose piece and arms treated with a similar coating of tacky rubber. I still got a bit of bounce when riding really rough conditions but…

£49.99 WEIGHT 21.9G LENS CAT 3 DARK SMOKE, CAT 2 LIGHT SMOKE, CAT 1 PERSIMMON (LOW LIGHT), CAT 0 CLEAR EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Top-value package that comes with four lens options The Stingray’s twin-lens frame design is minimal with lenses at just 37mm at their deepest. The slender arms and slim, fixed-nose bridge make these best-suited to smaller faces and a good choice for female riders. Endura has done a sterling job to offer a good value package as the Stingrays come fully equipped with a hardcase and a soft bag, not to mention four lens options. I used the light smoke lens the most but the dark option was certainly most welcome on brighter days. The grip of the fit is good…

£49.99 WEIGHT 31.3G LENS ENLIVEN BIKE RED (CAT 2) EXTRAS HARDCASE, SOFT CLEANING BAG PRESCRIPTION OPTION NO WE SAY… Top-notch frame and lens; glasses that will stay put Tifosi’s Amok is a full-frame glass with a mid-size 44mm deep lens. The frame is quality Grilamid TR-90 and is both flexible and stiff. The sticky temple tips and adjustable soft nose bridge do a great job of keeping these glasses where they should be, and they stay in place even when riding on the roughest terrain. The red tint of the new Enliven lens brings a lovely warm glow to your view and the colours of the landscape pop, which means increased definition, thus making it easy to read road surfaces from tarmac to full-on rocky gravel. The Amoks feature a…

In January 2020, which already feels an age or two ago, the riders for Team Alpecin, the Europewide competition that sees riders throw themselves into some of the continent’s biggest events, were chosen. They could look forward to team training camps and long days in the saddle at the best sportives and gran fondos, perks that come with being selected to join the team. You don’t need us to remind you what happened next… Alpecin didn’t want to write off the year, however, and recalibrated the plan to focus on indoor riding, which has been a saving grace to cyclists throughout Europe’s varying levels of lockdown. Dolomites training camps were out, virtual ride outs with pro riders past and present were in, as team sponsors gave the riders everything they…

RACE RECOVERY “I ride six days a week, often doing three days training, then I will take one-day of recovery. During race season, one-day races are more intense but, without the back-to-back racing, it is easier to recover from sessions so less time is needed to get back to being 100 per cent again. In my off-season – which lasts a month – I rarely touch my bike. If I do it is most likely a chilled MTB ride with friends.” RIDE HOME “I live in Manchester and I train in the Peak District, which has amazing roads with a lot of variety in the lengths and gradients of climbs. It’s a great place to train. In normal circumstances I’d do a four-hour ride towards Hope Valley at the bottom…

1 RIDE FAST Cycling in a ‘fasted’ state is one approach to encouraging the body to burn fat but it may also be a motivation to ride in the first place. A Society for Endocrinology report from Japan found that increased levels of the hunger hormone – ghrelin – can initiate the urge to exercise. 2 BIKE BENEFITS Trials on football players revealed that cycling-based repeat sprint training – in the heat – improved running performance, says research from Canberra University. 3 SAFETY IN NUMBERS The more often you ride, the lower your risk of a crash, reveals a survey of 4180 cyclists published in the paper Accident Analysis & Prevention. 4 STREET STRESS University of California experts have used bio-sensing technology fitted to cyclists to measure how road environments…

Cannondale’s SuperSix race bike is only a dozen years old, but it already brings with it a rich history, in both its design and pedigree. In 2011 came an update, the first of the EVO models, which was significantly lighter and a race bike that explored comfort as a performance benefit. Then, in 2015, came the second-generation EVO, which was lighter still and had a vastly improved ride quality. This second-generation SuperSix EVO was a true milestone bike, one that defined the era of lightweight carbon – it’s still a flyweight proposition today, five years later. It wasn’t just this that set the EVO apart, however, but a perfect balance of lightness and handling with a ride that wouldn’t beat you up. That it did this with a traditional frame…