Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Cycling Plus

Those slender steel wires are one of many deceptively simple pieces of bike tech we take for granted, but they’re vital. The twunk of one breaking spoke can set off a domino effect, successive snaps warping a wheel into half Pringle, half Picasso. It’s one of cycling’s less welcome sounds; but, more melodiously, bike wheels have been played like a chaotically tuned harp by experimental musicians. (There’s a quaint b&w video of US rock legend Frank Zappa, pre-moustache, doing just that.) Wooden wheels first appeared in various places around 6,000 years ago, notably modern-day Iraq, no doubt quickly followed by arguments about whether narrower ones had less rolling resistance. Wooden spokes – hence the first broken spokes and tooth-sucking wheel-builders – arose about 4,000 years ago. But two Britons played…

● Morning ride to Lac de Mauvoisin and back from Verbier that encapsulates the best of Switzerland in miniature; hair-raising descents, undulating asphalt through sleepy Swiss villages, one of the world’s highest dams, and grinding Alpine climbs. Only possible in summer once the snow has melted. 01. Bike shop ● Verbier’s bike shops are more off-road leaning, but British ex-pat Adam Sedgwick runs Haut Velo (hautvelo.com) – a one-stop shop for guiding and tours – and is happy to help, whatever your requirements. 02. Lunch stop ● Café de la Promenade, Bonatchiesse (Rte de Mauvoisin 533) is a worthy reward before descending back down into the Val de Bagnes, although you might be better off saving the Swiss staples of fondue and raclette until you’ve finished climbing… 03. Photo op…

Pinarello F7 Ultegra Di2 This F range is a 2023 addition to the Italian bike giant’s line-up, with hints of the Dogma ridden by Pidcock and co at Ineos. £7,000 Ridley Falcn RS Ultegra Di2 The Belgian brand’s looking to create the ultimate all-rounder, balancing low weight and high aerodynamics. Have they done it? £8,599 Factor O2 VAM SRAM Red AXS A bike that turned heads at the 2023 Tour de France. But how much of a performance boost will you receive for 12 grand? £11,800…

Birds? They were all the same to me. I couldn’t tell a lapwing from a peewit, or a green plover from a pyewipe. (For good reason: they are all the same.) So: there are bird spotters (aka ‘birders’ or perhaps ‘twitchers’) and there are bird watchers. They’re different, just like Strava nerds are different from cafe/cake trundlers. Birders keep lists, tables and stats, and travel miles to bag a new species. They wear woolly hats and carry binoculars and flasks. Whereas watchers like, well, watching birds. It’s not about trophy lists; it’s the nature-vibe, the tranquillity and birdsong, the ambience. They wear woolly hats and carry binoculars and flasks. Well, now I’m a watcher, with binoculars in my panniers, just like I’m a cafe/cake trundler. My birds epiphany came at…

01 WHY ARE WOMEN BEATING THE MEN IN ULTRA EVENTS? A number of high-profile ultra-endurance events have recently seen women take the overall crown over their male rivals. Are these outliers or is there something physiologically favourable going on? American ultra-endurance cyclist Lael Wilcox is one of the evergrowing band of female endurance athletes who’s excelling in ultra-distance cycling events to such a degree that men’s testosterone-fuelled advantage is overcome. “In 2022, I set the overall record for the [827-mile] Arizona Trail in just over nine days,” Wilcox tells us from Montana where she was just about to set out on the 2,745-mile Tour Divide route from Banff to New Mexico parcours after having raced it in the past, but this time being a guide on an ebike tour. “In 2016,…

“I embarked on this quest partly because of my dedication to Paces, a charity that supports people living with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders. Working with this extraordinary team in Sheffield, I felt inspired to raise funds to sustain their critical work. I also did it for personal reasons. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2016, I wanted to prove that this life-altering disease isn’t an insurmountable obstacle when pursuing fitness goals. I’d long been familiar with the Sustrans Way of the Roses route, from Bridlington to Morecambe. It beckoned me with its rolling roads, challenging climbs and serene backdrops. To up the ante, I decided to do a round trip in a day. Seasoned cyclists usually ride the route oneway in a day, but going to Morecambe and…

Surrey Legs of Steel East Horsley, Surrey 40, 80km The Surrey Hills awaits at this 24 September sportive that’ll provide a testing challenge to finish your summer season on a high. From £39.50 Lakelander Gravel Grinder Belcoo, County Fermangh 50, 60, 100km Set on the Irish border in Belcoo, County Fermangh, NI, on 7 October, this is one of Ireland’s biggest off-road events, with 50, 60 and 100km options for gravel, cyclo-cross and MTB riders. From £55 UKCE Wye Valley Classic Chepstow, Monmouthshire 49, 81, 131km The Wye Valley Classic returns to SE Wales on 22 October, following the course of the River Wye over the three event distances up to 131km, with incursions into the Forest of Dean too. From £25…

Adventure means different things to different people. To a leisure rider, it might be exploring the local towpaths, while to an experienced road cyclist, it could be exploring backcountry gravel tracks. Meanwhile, to a mountain biker, it might mean swapping groomed bike-park trails for epic rides on natural singletrack and wild-camping overnight. These riders have very different needs when it comes to bikes, which is why we’ve included a broad range of machines here. However, all adventure-ready steeds share certain things in common – tyres designed for more than just tarmac, fixtures for carrying supplies, and a degree of built-in comfort, without sacrificing too much rolling speed. Whatever your budget and fitness, you should find something to suit you, from a light ‘all-road’ bike that’ll double up as a rapid…

Weight 9.93kg (L) Frame Custom 4130 multi-butted steel Fork Carbon Gears Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed (38t, 9-42t) Brakes Campagnolo Ekar hydraulic disc Wheels Fulcrum Rapid Red 500 DB 2WF Finishing kit Cotic bar, stem and saddle, CC Alloy seatpost, WTB Horizon Road plus 47c Skinwall TCS tyres The Peak District-based British steel specialist bike aficionados, thanks to its forward thinking design and love of all things steel. But it has also been designing interesting drop-bar bikes since the brand’s formative days at the start of the 21st century. The Escapade is Cotic’s go-anywhere, no-limits road bike. When launched in 2015 it featured horizontal dropouts that enabled it to be run with hub or derailleur gears or as a single-speed. On the fourth generation Escapade seen here, it’s thruaxles both ends,…

Weight 19.6kg (claimed), size large w/o pedals Frame Hydroformed 6061 aluminium alloy w/integrated battery Fork Fox 34 Performance GRIP, 120mm travel Motor Shimano STEPS EP8 RS Battery Orbea 540Wh (+ optional 252Wh range extender) Drivetrain Shimano Deore XT M8100 (1x12) Wheelset Race Face AR wheels, Maxxis Rekon 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 29x2.4in tyres Brakes Magura MT5 E-Stop, 180/160mm rotors Bar/stem Orbea OC, 780mm/Orbea OC, 70mm Seatpost/saddle Orbea OC MC20 dropper/Selle Royal Vivo Whealth, you’re dealing with an injury or ill or just fancy a bit of help on the climbs or with racking up the miles, an e-hardtail could be the answer. At first glance, it’s hard to tell the Urrun is even an e-bike, its slim, elegant shape accentuated by its quality finish. This is reflected in the price, although…

01 Schwalbe Wicked Will EVO Super Trail £62.99 Fast-rolling tyre with enough bite to have some fun Schwalbe tyres have a well-earned reputation for fast rolling speeds at equivalent grip levels to rivals, and this new Wicked Will is no exception. It permits close to XC racing pace while offering enough bite to push on at speed on more aggro trails. The 850g Super Trail version has good sidewall support and durability for aggressive riders slashing berms and jumps, too, without taking too much away from the energetic and zippy feel. It isn’t quite as comfortable and bump-erasing as the Maxxis Rekon, though, nor as grippy on dry hardpack or over wet rocks and roots. 02 Specialized Purgatory GRID 2Bliss T7 £37.50 Stable and grippy all-rounder, if not the fastest…

Tour de France Femmes Stage 7 29 July 2023 ● The second edition always looked set to be a tussle between the sport’s two dominant stage racers, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Demi Vollering (SD Worx). For these great rivals, it was a showdown on the Col du Tourmalet on the penultimate stage that settled matters, with Vollering putting 2.34mins into her Dutch compatriot. It gave her an unassailable lead at the top of the general classification. Tour de France Femmes Stage 2 24 July 2023 ● After second place at the Giro d’Italia Donne earlier in the summer, home favourite Juliette Labous (Team DSM-Firmenich) would have been looking for a podium spot after her 4th place at the debut Tour de France Femmes in 2022. She was very active…

73 Degrees Keynsham, Somerset History ● Founded 2013 in a small industrial unit in Bath, just offering workshop repairs. Now in a large building near the Bristol–Bath railway cycle path. Still run by the original owner James Cartridge “and team of five dedicated and very special employees,” says James. What makes this shop special? ● “It’s more than just a shop, it’s a community,” says James. “We try to create a rich and fulfilling retail experience for our customers. We have a very broad selection of some of the finest worldwide brands, but also some of the excellent smaller UK brands.” Why is a local bike shop so important? ● “Seeing and touching products is better than scrolling websites! Get your creaky bottom bracket fixed, talk about and feel confident…

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN a bike that virtually requires its own mortgage? Why is high-modulus carbon so beloved in top-end bikes? What spec should you expect? Read on to find out more… 01 Aerodynamics Aerodynamic tube shapes, components and wheels will help you slip through the air with less effort. This typically means wind tunnel tested, aero shapes, deep-section wheels and aggressive geometries, designed to put you in an aero riding position. 02 Carbon fibre lay-up A key difference between carbon fibre and metal is that the composite nature of carbon fibre makes it anisotropic, which means its physical properties are different in different directions. A piece of wood is anisotropic; you can easily split it lengthways, but it’s a lot harder to break across the grain. It’s…

WHAT A TREAT TO RIDE OVER £27,000 worth of bikes, especially as they all exhibited such different and vibrant personalities. So, where do we start when it comes to choosing the crème de la crème? Well, the Pinarello F7 is a very good all round race bike and, priced at a relatively moderate £7,000 given the other contenders, demonstrates that you can have much of the core performance of the flagship Dogma F bike without spending mega money. That said, the wheels are only acceptable, while the tyres certainly leave performance on the table. The wide bar options might also confound those who want to minimise their own aerodynamic profile – a legitimate concern if you’re investing in a race bike. The Factor O2 VAM excels on hilly terrain and…

There were no qualifying events, so how hard could it be? That was one of my initial thoughts when Cycling Plus, through holiday firm Sportive Breaks, suggested, close to Christmas last year, that I ride and report from the 2023 L’Etape du Tour. It’s a ride that, for 30 years now, has been giving amateur riders the chance to ride a key stage of the Tour de France, on closed roads. With thousands of riders taking part each Jly, it might not be the toughest one-day ride in the world, but it’s certainly the most prestigious and the most recognisable within the cycling community. I was new-ish to road cycling and had only heard about it second-hand, but knowing this was enough for me to instantly say yes… and then…

According to the British Heart Foundation, heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK. That’s an average of 460 people each day – or one death every three minutes. The good news is that cycling is fantastic for your cardiovascular health. A long-term study conducted by the University of Glasgow found that cycling just 32km (20 miles) a week reduces your risk of heart disease by a massive 50%. But even if you ride regularly, stale training habits or a sloppy diet can still leave you vulnerable to heart problems. So how can you make double-sure your ticker is kept in good working order? “You want a training plan that has a mix of exercise intensities to promote heart health and overall health…

While injuries are often a part of being a cyclist, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them seriously. Calling 111 or seeing your GP is a good idea if you’re unsure about how serious your pain is. Even niggles such as strains need time to recover, though, or they could get worse – and follow recommendations before taking painkillers. Obviously, you want to prevent injuries in the first place, however. Read on for proven ways – from yoga to training load, crank length to sleep patterns – to reduce your chances of overuse injury… 01 CUT CRANK LENGTH Tradition dictates that longer cranks equate to greater power output because of increased leverage. But at the top of the pedal stroke, your knee and hip need to flex more to struggle over…

The pub, the Ahsoka TV series and that Barbenheimer double bill all have their place, but nothing rivals being on two wheels armed with a pack full of snacks and just the open trails and mountain views for company, right? And yet, if you’re struggling for inspiration or tech guidance, you’ve come to the right place. Over the next 50 pages, our roving explorers offer the essential advice for powering your next adventures, from the best destinations and events (from page 6) to an array of trail-storming bikes (starting page 21) and the best kit to keep you dry, warm and safe on your off-grid excursions. We’ll see you on the remote tracks of the Scottish Highlands……

Weight 11.28kg (size XL) Frame Aluminium Fork Rock Shox Rudy Ultimate 30mm travel Gears SRAM Rival 1 (40t, 11-42t) Brakes SRAM Rival Hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss GR1600 Spline Finishing kit Nukeproof Horizon 60mm stem, AL-6061 500mm bar, Brand X Ascend 125mm drop 31.6 post, Nukeproof saddle, Schwalbe G-One Bite TLE ADDIX 40c tyres From its Michigan roots to its reimagining by Northern Ireland downhill racer Michael Cowan, Nukeproof has been associated with the more extreme side of mountain biking. But what kind of gravel bike would it come up with? At first glance you can tell the Digger is different. It’s a third-generation model that stems from a training bike co-developed with mountain-bike legend Sam Hill. The original long wheelbase and slack geometry remains, but it’s been pushed further…

Weight 14.56kg, large size w/o pedals Frame ‘Alpha Silver’ aluminium alloy Fork RockShox Judy Silver, 100mm travel Drivetrain SRAM SX Eagle (1x12) Wheelset Bontrager Kovee rims/Formula hubs, Maxxis Ardent EXO 29x2.4in tyres Brakes Shimano MT200, 180mm rotors Bar/stem Bontrager, 750mm/Bontrager, 50mm Seatpost/saddle TranzX dropper/Bontrager Arvada For adventures with more off-road trails than tarmac, a hardtail mountain bike is a good bet. The rigid rear end means no power is lost on smooth climbs or flatter sections, while the suspension fork, fat tyres, more upright ride position and stable geometry provide control and comfort on rougher trails and descents. A staple in the Trek range for years, the Marlin has had a big overhaul for 2023. Aimed at trail riders, it has features that make it adventure-friendly, too. The frame Constructed…

I’VE BEEN MOUNTAIN BIKING FOR OVER 30 YEARS, for much of which time I could regularly be found between lines of race tape. The events in question varied from Lycra-clad cross-country slogs to white-knuckle down hill races, along with some multi-stage enduros thrown in for good measure. But not once, in all those years, had I ever raced a bike with a drop bar. Until, that is, I agreed to enter the Dirty Reiver. For those not in the know, the Reiver is a timed gravel event on a 65km, 130km or 200km course through Kielder Forest, which spans the border of England and Scotland. Just how different could it be? And what, after three decades of racing mountain bikes, could I learn from 130km (yes, I didn’t do the full…

The Swiss Alps are home to some of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world. But come summer, the area transforms into a road cycling paradise – if you don’t mind the odd Alpine ascent along the way. If choosing one place to base yourself in, it’s hard to look beyond the Swiss chocolate-box village of Verbier. With panoramic views of the Matterhorn (of Toblerone fame) and Mont Blanc, you’re guaranteed stunning scenery as you pedal. You’re also sure to encounter some elevation. Situated roughly at the halfway point on the 1,339m climb from La Châlbe to Croix de Coeur (as made famous in the 2023 Giro d’Italia), the start of any ride involves going up or down. Whizzing down the 8.5km descent into the Val de Bagnes valley…

As the British summer blends into autumn, and the green landscapes of July and August begin their slow transition towards the glorious reds, yellows and golds of autumn, cyclists can continue to enjoy a winning mix of pedal-perfect temperatures, decent daylight hours and quieter post holiday-season roads, making September a beautiful time for two-wheeled adventures. However, many riders ease off far too soon, with Strava reporting a 17% drop in UK cycling activities in September 2022 compared to the previous month. At first glance, it’s easy to see why: September can certainly feel like the end of summer, with meteorologists bluntly marking September 1 as the start of autumn, kids shuffling back to school and many bike races in the rearview mirror. But curtailing your rides this early is like…

PRESENTED BY OFFICIAL SUPPLIER HOW IT WORKS NOW! Shortlists announced! NOW! Vote online here: tinyurl.com/4h74nzy6 13 OCT Voting closes 16 NOV Exclusive awards ceremony 24 NOV Winners announced in CP issue 413 ● Your nominations are in and our expert panel have conferred. And now we can reveal the shortlisted riders for our inaugural Rider of the Year awards, sponsored by Lezyne. These cyclists, unsung legends, content creators, activists and route planners are all worthy of huge admiration, but there can only be one winner in each of our categories. That means whittling the 15 cyclists here down to just three overall winners. Your opinion counts, so scan the QR code below to vote in the Rider of the Year and Newcomer of the Year categories. The winner of the…

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall is best known for his food, alongside campaigning for the environment, broadcasting and writing. In recent years, he’s rediscovered his youthful love of the bicycle, thanks to a fun collaboration with one of the UK’s finest custom bike builders. Fearnley-Whittingstall fondly remembers bikes bringing him a lot of freedom as a child. “As kids, we practically lived on bikes when growing up in Gloucestershire. We moved there from London around 1970, and for me [aged about five], it was like moving to the biggest playground in the world with its fields and country lanes, and my sister and I learned to ride bikes very quickly. I had a Raleigh Chipper [smaller version of a Chopper], then my mum and dad bought me a second-hand bike with the…

These nutrient-packed, easily digestible options are perfect to have post ride, benefiting your muscles and immune system and helping to reduce fatigue. You need to take on carbohydrate to replenish your energy stores, plus protein for muscle repair and electrolytes (think calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium) to replace the minerals you’ve lost through sweat. POWER PUNCH (GF, V, VG, DF) This smoothie gives you three of your five-a-day as well as essential nutrients. You could pre-prep your ingredients before your ride, then whizz and drink after. Prep 8mins Cook N/A Serves 2 Ingredients • 8 ice cubes• 1 ripe mango (or frozen equivalent), cubed• ½ fresh pineapple (or frozen equivalent), peeled, cored and chopped• 1 small banana, chopped• Juice of 1 lime• 1 tsp agave syrup (optional)• 250ml soya or…

1 BLUE LAGOON CHALLENGE Reykjanes, Iceland The Blue Lagoon Challenge (June 2024) is an annual mountain biking race through the volcanic scenery of Iceland’s south-western Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Reykjavík. The 60km off-road route heads from Hafnarfjörður to the famous Blue Lagoon resort, via gravel roads, brutal inclines and slippery lava rocks. A post-race recovery dip in the lagoon’s mineral-rich, volcanically-heated waters is the reward. There’s also The Rift for gravel riders (July 2024), which tasks hardy entrants with riding 200km in a day across the vast lava fields, active volcanos, snowy peaks, glaciers and waterfalls of the SW highlands. bluelagoonchallenge.is/en/ 2 TRAWS ERYRI/TRANS SNOWDONIA Machynlleth, Wales Cycling UK’s latest route kicks off in Machynlleth and finishes in Conwy, passing through some of Wales’s wildest landscapes along the way. It’s designed…

Weight 13.77kg (L) Frame Chromoly steel Fork Chromoly steel Gears Microshift M6205 rear mech, AdventX dual control levers (32t, 11-48t) Brakes Tektro Mira MD-C400 Wheels WTB STi40 TCS, Novatec Boost hubs Finishing kit Teravail Ehline 27.5 x 2.5” tyres, Salsa Cowchipper handlebar, Surly 80mm stem, WTB Volt 142 saddle, TransX YSP15 dropper post Surly Bikes of Minnesota certainly does things differently, making long-wheelbase haulage bikes, single speed cyclo-cross machines, fat-tyred tourers and this tall, chunky gravel monster, all in steel and all using tubesets of its own design. At the front, the Grappler is noticeably taller than most gravel bikes. My Large test bike frame has a stack of 641mm, with the 458mm reach being more than many of its gravel rivals. These numbers combined with a relaxed 69.5˚ head…

Weight 10.5kg, small size w/o pedals Frame ‘CC’ carbon fibre, 115mm travel Fork Fox 34 SC Factory, 120mm travel Shock Fox Float DPS Factory Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle AXS w/GX AXS shifter (1x12) Wheelset Santa Cruz Reserve 28|XC rims/DT Swiss 350 hubs, Maxxis Rekon Race 3C EXO 29x2.4in tyres Brakes SRAM Level TLM, 180mm rotors Bar/stem Santa Cruz carbon, 760mm/Syntace LiteForce Seatpost/saddle RockShox Reverb dropper/Juliana Segundo When the going gets rough, a full-sus bike gives you more comfort and control, at the cost of a little pedalling efficiency and more difficulty attaching luggage. The women’s-specific Juliana Wilder – and the men’s Santa Cruz Blur with which it shares its frame – has been designed to match the climbing prowess of a featherweight XC race bike with impressive trail performance. The…

Alpkit Koala 13L with Exo-Rail £89.99 & £21.99 A robust seatpack plus nay-sway frame THE KOALA IS handmade in the UK from a waterproof three layer laminate and tough 1100D Cordura. The seams aren’t taped but Alpkit’s Airlok Tapered dry bag (£15.99) can be used inside it. The Koala has the usual pair of nylon straps that loop over the saddle rails and attach at the rear of the stiffened base, and three compression straps by the rolled opening. Two Hypalon straps secure the pack to the seatpost. An upper sleeve allows the Koala to slide onto the Exo-Rail mounting system, whose 6mm stainless steel frame reduces sway and bounce. Together, the Koala and Exo-Rail weigh 434g. Quick fit Fitting the saddle rail and seatpost straps is quick. The Exo-Rail…

1 Take the path less trodden The trails that are most appetising to me are those that appear to go nowhere. They tend to be the ones that take you to the most inspiring places and are the most interesting to ride – a double-whammy no-brainer! For me, the backcountry almost always takes the upper hand over more populated areas. The trails are more exciting, the views more jaw-dropping and the people both happier and more hospitable. The only downside is the absence of street food. So, take the path less trodden and pack plenty of grub – who knows when the next village will be? 2 Keep your wheels rolling Wheels are important. I cannot emphasise this point enough. If you’re descending some godforsaken mountain pass, slap bang in…