Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i Cycling Plus

SUBSCRIBE! NEW SUBSCRIBERS CAN RECEIVE A LEZYNE POCKET DRIVE MINI PUMP AND SAVE 30% OFF THE UK SHOP PRICE, P102 ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? ENTER THE SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY CANNONDALE COMPETITION P102 FROM THE EDITOR… Fun, filthy and friendly? Check. A luxurious 1pm start time? Yep. A race-day compère who relented to my song requests for dated stadium rock? Yes sirree Bob! It took me all of eight seconds to fall for the charms of cyclo-cross racing (pictured above) at the ShamXross series this winter in Keynsham, Somerset. And it seems like I’m not the only one getting ’cross, with growing participation from a wealth of demographics, rising pro superstars and major televised races spreading the joy of CX. Our beginner’s guide to the sport begins on page 50. Enjoy! SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR…

In these inflationary, potentially cash-strapped times, it’s good to see that you can buy a quality road bike without bankrupting yourself. A grand? None of our four steeds reach even three quarters of that price, but all promise to offer a much better riding experience than you’ll get from the notorious ‘bike-shaped object’ (a low price, poor quality bicycle). Two come from brands that will be familiar to many of us, then there are two names that are less well known… Wizard is one that you’ve likely not heard of before, but the brand behind it is Lancashire’s long-established Merlin Cycles (ahh, Merlin the Wizard…). Merlin describes its Spark 2.7 as ‘the perfect bike for the first-time road cyclist’. It has an aluminium frame, a steel fork and a nine-speed…

WE SAY… Versatile and well-specced bike for both road and off-road adventures Decathlon’s Triban brand is no stranger to our tests of bikes at real-world prices. The newest incarnation of the RC500 looks like it will keep up the French brand’s reputation for producing very good bikes at prices few companies can match, even if it has gained over £100 from the 2019 and 2020 models. And, in spite of it not being the most expensive bike here, the Triban has the highest-grade groupset. It also has cable disc brakes, much the largest tyre clearance and the carbon fork even has fittings for a front rack and a 9kg carrying capacity, upping the versatility factor further still. While the other three bikes in this test are overtly road bikes, Triban’s RC500…

Would you believe, this year is the 10th anniversary since (Sir) Bradley Wiggins, ably assisted by Chris Froome and the metronomic train, helped Team Sky and (Sir) Dave Brailsford win Great Britain’s first ever Tour de France. Wiggins’ subsequent 2012 London time trial triumph not only kick-started our country’s pro cycling revolution, but also lionised the concept of ‘aggregation of marginal gains’. Soon, a day didn’t pass without training partners, coaches and business gurus espousing the benefits of small changes reaping significant rewards. We could all hit our peak performance with the smallest of tweaks. Goodbye failure, hello goal-getting. Hmmm… “I feel the whole marginal-gains thing was somewhat hijacked by the media,” says world-class bike-fitter Phil Burt, who was central to the team’s progress and now runs his own clinic…

WE SAY… Top-quality build and great performance at a light weight FREEHUB 01 DT Swiss’ Ratchet EXP freehub simplifies the ratchet design by building one ratchet ring into the hub shell itself. The brand says this improves durability and reliability. BLADED SPOKES 02 The wheels use DT Swiss’ own Aerolite II and Aero Comp II bladed spokes, which have been made thinner and deeper for lower drag. RIM PROFILE 03 The ERC’s revised pointier-but-wider rim shape is said to be more stable and more aero with 28mm tyres than the previous-generation ERC wheels. In spite of its otherwise race-focused product catalogue, these second-generation DT Swiss ERC carbon wheels remain geared towards serving regular riders on normal roads. That said, DT Swiss has amped-up several of the revised wheelset’s design features in an attempt to…

WE SAY… Restrap’s pack doesn’t budge, despite its generous volume 01 ZÉFAL Z ADVENTURE R5 £49.99 VOLUME 5L WEIGHT 399G Zéfal’s Adventure R5 has a robust TPU plastic, polyester and Hypalon (synthetic rubber) construction that’s hardwearing and resilient to muck and moisture. The base has a rubbery layer to add extra spray protection, there’s a light loop, and several reflective elements too. Its saddle rail and seatpost straps keep this compact pack perfectly stable, plus adjustable straps neatly secure each side of the roll closure. The red, heat-sealed interior is waterproof, and ideal for a couple of extra layers, plus a spare inner tube or two. Two Velcro straps on top allow you to carry a little more behind the saddle as well. Overall, this pack is nicely made, easy to…

The chain was returned to SRAM’s chain manufacturing facility in Portugal for it to investigate the breakage. A fully detailed report came back, and identified that two outer plates on either side of the chain had cracked and failed. The report surmised possible causes as: 1 STRESS CORROSION CRACK Previous analysis by SRAM’s Materials Research Group and external material research laboratories showed that the most probable root cause for this type of failure is stress corrosion, where corrosion appears in small (microscopical) cracks around the plates’ holes. This is an issue that’s dependent on the riding conditions, such as salty roads, and maintenance/lubing practices. 2 CLEANERS/DEGREASERS The use of alkaline or acid degreasers is also known to cause this type of crack. As it states in SRAM’s user manuals, “Do…

Protein with a punch p108 Event focus p120 Ride your first century masterclass p112 THEEXPERTS TECH MASTER ROB KEMP Journalist and author Rob explains the latest sports science news to boost your cycling PROFESSOR & CYCLIST NORMAN LAZARUS Columnist Norman, 86, is a physiology professor, author and a former audax champion RIDELONDON GUIDE ALISON HAMLETT Alison is an endurance sports athlete and Head of Content at London Marathon Events CENTURY GURU MARK BAILEY Sports writer and four-time Haute Route finisher Mark is our resident performance expert…

WORKOUT 1 AEROBIC ENDURANCE BUILDER BENEFITS This 2-3hr endurance ride will feel hard as you push yourself but it’s well worth it as it will help you sustain a stronger pace for longer during your century ride. “It’ll be helpful early on in your century training, but also to complement those longer 4hr training rides you’ll be doing later on,” says Paterson. NUTRITION Make sure you take on 60g of carbs and one 500ml bidon of water per hour. WARM-UP Start with 20mins of easy riding to gradually elevate your heart rate and warm up your muscles. MAIN SET Your aim here is to maintain a strong average speed – slightly higher than your normal training pace – for 2-3hrs, whatever terrain you encounter. “The key is to select a…

RIDELONDON-ESSEX 100 STATS Location London and Essex Next date 29 May 2022 Distance 102.4 miles (165km) Price £89 Established by the Mayor of London in 2013 as a legacy event from the London 2012 Olympics, RideLondon has since become an impressive festival of cycling. At its heart is the RideLondon-Essex 100, but there will also be 30- and 60-mile rides on Sunday 29 May, and a free family-friendly event on closed roads in central London. You could also watch the RideLondon Classique women’s pro race that takes place in Essex and London from 27-29 May. PRE-RIDE PREP Most of the RideLondon-Essex 100 route is fairly flat as it passes through London’s suburbs and into the leafy Essex countryside, making the event a great option for riders of all abilities and…

2022 looks set to be the year where we finally, after several false starts, get moving again. As we’ve seen in this magazine over the past two years of pandemic-enforced staycations, we’re spoilt rotten with the riding terrain right across the UK. After putting in the hard yards at home, however, it’s a special reward to be able to unleash your hard-earned form somewhere completely different, whether that be at a showstopper of a sportive, a point-to-point tour of a hulking European mountain range or the fast-changing terrain of a compact island paradise. This European rides special is packed with it all. On p4 Mark Bailey gets under the skin of the pull mountains exert on us and our changing relationship with them over the centuries; on p10, we profile…

Throughout Bianchi’s 137-year history, the Specialissima has always been the pinnacle of the Italian brand’s road-machine line-up. Built for racing, the previous model, which came out in 2016, was an ultralight, round-tubed, rim-braked carbon masterpiece that bagged Cycling Plus’s Superbike of the Year accolade. The latest Specialissima’s frame is the result of aerodynamic lessons learned from the brand’s Oltre Grand Tour-winning machine. So that means aerodynamic, profiled tubes and a smoothly integrated fork that combines with FSA’s clever ACR bar and stem system, which routes all cabling through the bar, stem, and down through the headtube. Not that this Speciallisima has that much to hide with its all-new, 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset that features a wireless connection from the shifters to the derailleurs. Adding aerodynamics and disc brakes to…

WE SAY… A comfortable and practical bike with a very modest price tag Wizard is a new name to me and it’s the first of the company’s bikes I’ve tested, but the Wizard name offers a bit of a clue, as it’s actually the moniker Preston’s long-established Merlin Cycles uses for its own-brand budget bikes. Merlin describes the 2.7 Disc as ‘the perfect bike for the first-time road cyclist’, and the same bike is also available as the Spark 2.5 for £429 (RRP £599.99), with calliper rim brakes rather than cable-actuated discs. As with most budget road bikes, the Spark 2.7 is based around a 6061 aluminium frame, though rather than carbon or aluminium, Wizard has paired the frame with a curved steel fork. But perhaps the most striking features of…

WE SAY… A fast and lively steel ride with good choice of components Mango is a Northern Ireland-based company that has earned a reputation for its super-colourful, eyeball-burning steel fixies and singlespeeds. But Mango also makes the OG 2X8 road bike, which is not only available in flat bar, riser bar and the drop bar version we tested, but you can also choose different wheel and tyre options (and colours). The flat bar OG starts at £529.99 with the drop bar version starting at £579.99. We upgraded to the Vision Team 30 wheels with 28mm tyres from Vee Tires. We also went for a comparatively muted single-colour design too, though if you want clashing frame, fork and rim colours, you can unleash your inner artist and customise away. But do think…

The 2022 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships on the BBC. British stars in Zoe Bäckstedt and Tom Pidcock. The UK Cyclo-Cross National Champs in January drawing thousands of spectators. And reports of a surge in race entries. Cyclo-cross is enjoying a moment in the sun. Well, usually in rain, hail and sleet, but you get the idea. “We’ve noticed a growth in interest,” says Kev Brewer, the co-director and course designer of ShamXross events. “We’ve had record numbers of entrants over the past few seasons. Part of that’s because of the big pro rider names racing ’cross, but also our league is relaxed and approachable. It’s a great way for kids to learn bike skills and have fun away from traffc.” Cut to the morning of Tom Pidcock’s maiden elite CX…

The wild west that was the pro peloton of the ’90s and noughties has proven fertile ground for writers. These years of excess have produced so much material that fans might question whether there’s room for more in 2022. Journalist Andy McGrath got a similar reaction from several interviewees for his latest project, a biography of one of the sport’s great lost talents, the Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke, who died in mysterious circumstances at just 34 on holiday in Senegal in 2009. With, by McGrath’s count, six books about his life already available – albeit all in Dutch or French – the suggestion was whether another was needed? His superb book God is Dead: The Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke answers it emphatically. There have been other great books from…

You get the plush, smoothing effect of big balloon tyres without the sluggishness Swiss smoothy BMC URS LT One £7600 Super-comfortable, high-performing gravel bike The URS LT has evolved out of this innovative Swiss brand’s original URS (for ‘unrestricted’) gravel machine. Now for some more capital-letter abbreviations: the new model uses BMC’s MTT (micro travel technology) suspension at the rear (which was first seen at the rear of the URS), but also uses this technology at the front of the bike with the new MTT integrated suspension fork, hence the moniker URS LT (long travel). Got it? At first glance, the back end looks standard for a modern gravel machine: robust chainstays mated to low-slung seatstays. Look closer, though, and you’ll notice something in the seatstays just back from where…

WE SAY… The comfort and durability of the Lake M332 edged it ahead, despite the weight £350 The detail The Lake MX332 Helcor combines a carbon outsole with a leather upper and has been designed to deliver comfort and durability. The Helcor leather has an abrasion-resistant finish while the carbon sole has exceptionally deep rubber lugs. The shoes fasten with a dual BOA, which adjusts in both directions. Box fresh It’s all about the fit with a ThermaForm technology heel cup that can be warmed in the oven and moulded to your foot shape (there is a helpful video on the website), ensuring a no-slip, snug hold. The dual-direction BOA allows you to tighten and loosen with clicks in either direction, and the small increments either way allow you to dial…

Today’s cyclist has more saddle choice than ever, whether it’s short or long, padded and plush, with or without channels, cutouts, grooves… you get the picture. The biggest change of the last decade has been the rise of short saddles, especially after Specialized introduced its Power saddle in 2015. The thinking A short saddle will reduce the pressure on your perineum in the tuck position behind the design is that a short saddle will reduce the pressure on your perineum when you’re riding in a tuck position. While they were initially the preserve of the more aggressive rider, many leisurely riders have found they work just as well for them. Here we’ve tested eight saddles to find our favourite. While all our reviews contain an element of subjectivity, this is…

FROM THE EDITOR… Flicking through a magazine that’s just come through your front door, coffee in hand, is one of life’s simple pleasures. And, crazy as it sounds, subscribing is much cheaper than buying Cycling Plus in the shops. Those in our subscriber club also enjoy extra perks such as competitions and offers. Still wavering? OK, we’ll throw in a gift this month. The Lezyne Pocket Drive Mini Pump can fit in your back pocket in case of disaster on your rides. We think that’s a pretty good deal. PLUS ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE OFFERS & COMPETITIONS AS PART OF OUR SUBSCRIBER CLUB! WORTH £25 FEATURES • Just 140mm in length • Handle is lightly knurled for slip-resistant operation • Overlapping handle and integrated ABS Flex Hose • Maximum inflation pressure of…

“It was an idea that came out of Lockdown and became an amazing reality in September 2021. Eight years before, I’d created an Iron-distance triathlon route (3.8km swim/180km bike/42.2km run) on the south coast of England. My new challenge was to cycle across Scotland, climb Ben Nevis and swim a loch.” “Because I’d done the Ironman distance before, I thought I’d do a double Iron-distance challenge this time. I mapped out a route that involved cycling a total of 360km from Aberdeen to Ardnamurchan (the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain).” “I knew that the route was going to be beautiful. I was riding it with my best mate and fellow trainee in medicine, Ed Foster, who has previously been with me on endurance challenges. My dad and his best…

In the past I’ve enjoyed combining trips with nips on Scotland’s whisky trails Yorkshire can feel like a country – England’s Scotland, if you like. Same population (5.5 million); outstanding natural beauty; strong sense of identity. OK, unlike Scotland, with its 120 whisky distilleries, we have no ‘national spirit’. But – thanks to some unashamed cultural appropriation – we have the next best thing. After booms in microbreweries and artisan gin, whisky makers are turning up the heat, literally, in England and Wales. Now Yorkshire boasts three distilleries: Spirit of Yorkshire, Whittaker’s and Cooper King. Spirit of Yorkshire released the county’s first whisky, Filey Bay, in 2019. The other two will sell their first bottles in 2024. Meanwhile all are making gin, because that takes weeks rather than years. In…

The Komoot file of this Bristol gravel event was labelled ‘Slop Fest’, and for good reason, with this stretch near the Tyntesfield National Trust estate one of the stickiest on the 75km route. The event, which played out like a greatest hits of Bristol and North Somerset’s off-road routes, was part of an eight-date sell-out series across the UK, with proceeds from the thrifty £7 entry fee going to the Alpkit Foundation.…

WE SAY… One of the best road bikes you can buy for this money Boardman bikes need little introduction. The brainchild of ex-pro rider and world-record holder Chris Boardman MBE (surely he should be a ‘Sir’, by now?), the brand has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2007. The SLR 8.6 sits at the bottom of Boardman’s extensive road-bike range but it still manages a well-appointed, triple-butted aluminium frame and a full-carbon fork – both the blades and steerer are carbon – though the steerer is not tapered. The frame is semi-compact with a gently sloping top tube, it has dropped, keyhole-profile seatstays for rear-end comfort, front and rear mudguard fittings as well as fittings for a rear rack. It’s also the same price as it was a…

If you want one budget-friendly bike for commuting to light bikepacking, this hits the sweet spot Nearly all of my reviews end with me saying it was a close-run thing and, if anything, this test is even tighter than usual. And I’d also argue that bikes in this price range are better value than 2022’s higher-end machines. I really did think Merlin’s Wizard Spark might be trying to do too much ‘aero-ness’ for its limited budget, and that its narrow rims, steel fork and overly squidgy saddle might hamper its ride quality and comfort – but, somewhat to my surprise, it really would make a very good entry-level road bike. In spite of the latter being steel-framed and the other aluminium and carbon, the Claris-equipped Boardman and Mango bikes are…

The Impulso E-Allroad is Bianchi’s commuter special that’s built to carry you to work every day and get you out into the wilds too. To do this, it has borrowed a chassis from the E-Impulso gravel bike and added a set of quality SKS full-length mudguards, an SKS Infinity GT3 rear rack and front and rear Lezyne lights powered by the e-motor system. You’ll also be sitting in a more upright position than the drop-bar gravel version, thanks to a different cockpit design. What gives the Impulso its zip is its X35 Plus rear hub motor and internal 250Wh battery from Mahle SmartBike (E-Bikemotion was taken over by electrical-equipment giant Mahle). You’ll also get a new version of the impressive app (now called My SmartBike), which gives you three standard…

WE SAY… The Air Stratos is a versatile, classy and well-priced helmet In the pursuit of creating the lightest and/or most aero road helmets, Bergamo-based Limar has long been at the vanguard. Our own independent wind-tunnel tests have regularly seen the Italian’s top-end aero road lid, the £180 Air Speed, positioned near to the top of the aero-road-helmet podium (usually just below the S-Works Evade), a result no doubt stemming from the company’s long-standing collaboration with the Astana UCI WorldTeam and painstaking hours on the track and in the Magny-Cours wind tunnel, while Limar’s 180g Ultralight+ was one of the lightest lids around for a long time. Unlike the Air Speed, the Air Stratos on test here is targeted at the multi-terrain – if still speed-focused – market, with the reinforced…

When I first got the chance to ride SRAM’s most affordable wireless groupset on Cycling Plus’s 2021 Bike of the Year winner, the Boardman SLR 9.4 AXS, I came away impressed with Rival’s performance. I’ve since had the 9.4 as a long-term test machine and put over 1600 miles into the bike. In that time the Boardman has had nine wheel changes plus lots of other upgrades, with the only consistent component being the Rival AXS group – and I’m still impressed by it. WEIGHTY ISSUES Yes, Rival AXS is heavier than SRAM’s other groupsets, Force and Red, and Shimano’s electronic offerings, but remember that it sits a level below everything else electronic on the market. At 6ft 2in/1.88m and 92kg/14.4st, I’m not exactly a flyweight myself and am far…

It’s easy to rustle up your usual chicken, beef or egg dish when you want to eat enough protein to help with muscle repair, but could your repertoire have a spring clean? Not only will this give your tastebuds a treat, it’ll mean your body gets a bigger variety of nutrients. Win, win. Spiced turkey burgers with pea guacamole This smoky chipotle turkey burger is quick to make, really tasty and contains much less fat than its red-meat equivalent. The pea guacamole is a fresh change as well. INGREDIENTS SERVES 2 BURGERS • 200g turkey mince• 2 tbsp red onion, grated• 2 tsp chipotle paste• 2 tbsp coriander, chopped• 2 slices emmental• 2 buns, plus salad to serve GUACAMOLE • 100g frozen peas, blanched• 1 tbsp onion, roughly chopped• ¼…

01 TIME YOUR TON You can ride a century at any time of year, but your first attempt will be more enjoyable in the traditional May to September sportive season when the roads are drier and the weather’s warmer. “You can pick a flatter route with a couple of café stops, or go somewhere hilly for an extra challenge,” says Paterson. 02 GET KITTED OUT Your existing road bike is your ideal two-wheeled companion for your century ride, but make sure you have a good fit as a high saddle or elongated reach will cause aches when you crank up the miles. Fit two bottle cages and an extra frame bag to carry your supplies. And make sure you pack arm warmers, eyewear and a rain jacket. “You’ll need a…

“When we cycle up mountains we have to confront our inner demons… it is the psychological challenges that represent our eternal search for self-improvement – both on and off the bike” To cycle up a mountain is to pedal into a world of paradoxes. Mountains are a playground and a torture chamber; an opportunity for wonder, a guarantee of pain. A mountain can drag you to despair but leave you soaring with joy. When we think about cycling, mountains erupt into our imagination: a snaking Alpine pass or the curling grey ribbon of a Pyrenean hairpin. The most iconic moments of the Tour de France have taken place at altitude; photobooks of snow-capped cols adorn our coffee tables and riders make pilgrimages to legendary peaks. But we rarely pause to…