Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Cycling Plus

For our fifteenth Bike of the Year showpiece, we’ve taken a leaf out of the Hollywood playbook (hello, Dune: Part Two) and split our annual tech colossus over two editions instead of one. Screening first in BOTY 1.0 are the year’s best budget road (p20) and e-commuter (p33) buys, before a final act that delves into the past, present and future of female-specific bikes (p42). In next month’s sequel (out 10 May), it’s the turn of 2024’s finest race, endurance and gravel rides, and where we’ll also open the shiny golden envelope to reveal this year’s category winners and our overall Bike of the Year champion. Enjoy! matthew.baird@ourmedia.co.uk Your experts Katherine Moore Tech writer Reviewer and presenter Katherine is our resident women’s Bike of the Year expert. In something a…

You may wonder “How does someone who only bought her first road bike in her early 40s end up as Chair of Cycling Time Trials (CTT), the national governing body for time trials in England, Scotland and Wales?” Good question! After buying my first road bike second-hand, and happening to get the right size, I turned up for my first club run. I quickly learned that, if I wasn’t one of the first to reach the top of the hill, I wouldn’t have a chance to eat or drink as it took me several more weeks to master removing the bottle from the bottle cage whilst pedalling, or even freewheeling. Oh, and a couple more to get it back in again! After that, it didn’t take long for time trialling…

Weight 10.8kg (XL) Frame 6061 T-6 aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Microshift R9 9-speed (11-34t, 50/34t) Brakes C-Star Rush mechanical disc Wheels Vitus Shining, alloy Finishing kit Vitus 6061 aluminium bar, stem and seatpost, Vitus saddle, Kenda Kwickroller Sport clincher 700x28c tyres The Razor is Vitus’s entry-level road bike range, with three disc-brake models and one rim-brake version. The Razor Disc VR is the joint-cheapest of the disc bikes, with a flat-bar sibling. The fact that Vitus is – at the time of writing – wrapped up in Wiggle/CRC’s administration woes may make you a little nervous, but if you can get hold of one, the Razor Disc VR is a great-value bike. The chassis is built from aluminium and the frame tubes have been double-butted to provide strength and stiffness…

Weight 10.6kg (58cm) Frame Alloy Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Claris R2000 8-speed (11-32t, 50/34t) Brakes Tektro MD-C550 mechanical disc Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL, alloy rims Finishing kit Elite alloy stem, Comp alloy seatpost, Verse Short saddle, all Bontrager; Specialized Comp alloy bar, Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite 700x32c tyres The Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4 is the latest aluminium version of the brand’s endurance road bike platform. The cheapest model in Trek’s new range, the AL 2 Gen 4, on paper, has a very similar specification to the closely-priced Specialized Allez and Cube Attain Pro (the ‘2’ in its name refers to the component spec level). It has one eye on light gravel, and comes with a full suite of fittings for the commuters and bikepackers among us. Fully featured…

Weight 27.09kg (L) Frame Aluminium Fork RST air sprung, 80mm travel Gears Microshift Mezzo 9-speed (38, 11-36t) Brakes Alhonga hydraulic discs Wheels WTB SX19 rims, Shimano hubs Motor system SportDrive MD250S 250W motor, 500Wh battery, display, remote Finishing kit Ridgeback Alloy stem & bar; ONE1 Alloy suspension seatpost, WTB Ninelinne 29x2.25in tyres The Ridgeback Arcus 3 is aimed at commuters who want a versatile ebike that can also handle light off-roading and woodland trails at the weekend. The components aren’t from familiar brands, but this helps to keep the price down. Its stylish aluminium frame has a removable 500Wh battery in the down-tube, while the angular hydroformed tubing and a low-slung shape give the Arcus a hardtail mountain bike aesthetic – and lots of standover height. The ride position is…

Weight 16.69kg (L) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon Gears SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed (44t, 11-50t) Brakes Tektro HD-R510 hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss R500 rims Motor system Specialized SL 1.1 custom motor and 320Wh battery, remote, colour integrated display Finishing kit Stealth alloy stem, alloy seatpost, both Specialized; Stout Mini Rise alloy bar, Bridge Sport saddle, Nimbus II Sport Reflect 700x38mm tyres Specialized has taken a fast, flat-barred all-road bike template and infused it with an ebike motor. This gives ample power and a good range yet doesn’t spoil the ride when the motor’s off. Plus it’s keenly priced and comes ready for year-round riding. The Turbo Vado SL is lighter than the standard Vado, with geometry to match its flat riser-bar cockpit. This alloy bike’s still tough enough for the…

In 2019, I rode the 213km Dragon Ride Gran Fondo in Wales: my first-ever sportive. I’d taken up cycling after running the London Marathon because it seemed less painful than running. I was soon doing 100km rides with Oxford Cycling Club, and some lumpy rides in the Cotswolds. I also visited Provence to try some longer rides. But a 213km sportive felt new, daunting and exciting. I did the sportive with three club members. We stayed at the Wetherspoons in Bridgend the night before and had steak and chips. After all, we were going to burn 7,000 calories the next day. But we took boil-in-the-bag porridge and overnight oats so we had a reliable pre-ride breakfast. The forecast looked good, and when a friend told me he wasn’t wearing a…

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Giro tout this for riding in 4°C to 16°C temperatures. I certainly wouldn’t do that lower number in the Chrono without multiple layers below and a cup of tea close to hand, but it’s adept at handling double-digit temps with just a single layer beneath. When the mercury rises, the rear perforated section aids the breathability and rarely did I overheat when riding in the Chrono. There’s a DWR coating that’ll hold off drizzle, but anything harder will break through. At 85g, it’s up there as the lightest wind jacket around and easily fits into a jersey pocket when stuffed into the included pack sack (there are no pockets, however). There are reflective details, but the black here isn’t the most visible (a red/orange is also available). Verdict Very light…

Ultra-lean and lightweight (94g), the Aria Shell is a proven contender for riding on windy days or in light rain. Aided by mesh panels on the sides and a woven microfibre main body, the breathability is also top of the wind-shell-jacket class. There’s a full-length zipper guard for deflecting chilly breezes from sneaking inside, while minimising the chance of chafing. That zipper is also easy to undo on the move. The limited colourways (two greys and a brown) won’t suit everyone and there are brighter options elsewhere, but it’s a classy and comfy number that compresses into the included sack and into a jersey pocket-friendly bundle. It’s pricey, pocketless and water-resistance is limited, though. Verdict A breathable and lightweight performer for windy days…

01 Tubeless or clincher? Will you run a tubeless or clincher set-up? A clincher system, which needs inner tubes to inflate, is the system most of us will have grown up with. It’s still one of the best and fastest options, and is relatively easy to fix by replacing an inner tube. It can be used on any kind of hooked (as opposed to hookless) rim. Tubeless tyres are better when it comes to built-in puncture resistance and avoiding pinch punctures, simply because there’s no inner tube to pinch against the rim. A well-maintained tubeless system should seal small punctures from thorns and flints, as well as enable you to run lower pressures, resulting in more compliance. The downsides include the installation learning curve, potential mess by the side of…

Designed to cope with road and gravel riding, cyclocross and bikepacking, the alloy-rimmed Drove Line is built to last, with MTB-tested hubs, corrosion-resistant brass nipples and a high spoke count. It also comes in 650b size. Rims are a generous width to help optimise it for stable and sturdy performance rather than aerodynamics. Halo says the hooked rims can take 25-45c tyres, and are tubeless-ready (rim tape is fitted, but tubeless valves aren’t). Its brass spoke nipples and steel spokes have a protective electrophoretic deposition (ED) coating. If you use disc rotors with the Center Lock standard, annoyingly you’ll need to swap in six-bolt rotors. The Ridge Line freehub uses a four-pawl system with a 36-tooth ratchet ring for a 10˚ engagement angle. The bearings are sealed. With Deda Elementi…

The UK-based brand claims this wheelset’s “the fastest alloy disc brake wheelset in the world” (though the test was run by Hunt in 2019). While most brands have largely concentrated on developing carbon rim technology instead of alloy since then, there are a few new contenders in this test. Hunt has used knowhow from its Aerodynamicist range of carbon wheels for these wide alloy road rims. They say a 25c tyre is most efficient, but we’ve tested it with a 28c tyre. The alloy used is 6069-grade aluminium, which Hunt says delivers 69 per cent more tensile strength than 6061 alloy, meaning they can use less of it. Spokes are Pillar Wing 20 aero-bladed stainless steel, which attach to the rim via alloy nipples, and to Hunt’s Sprint SL hubs.…

Plenty of top athletes swear by a vegan diet and it’s known to have many health benefits, plus it’s becoming harder ignore the virtues of eschewing meat for our ailing planet. Here are two simple recipes that should appeal to hungry cyclists. BRAZILIAN AUBERGINE STROGANOFF (VE, DF, GF) This creamy stew with mustard as a key ingredient uses bought sauce to make it a practical midweek meal and contains three of your 5-a-day. Serve it with green veg and rice. Prep & Cook 40 mins Serves 4 Ingredients • 2 medium aubergines, cut into bite-sized pieces• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar• 2 tbsp olive oil• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or grated• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped• 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped• Salt, to taste• 400g shop-bought…

01 Keep fuelled “I sip water constantly. I also try to eat normal food that I can grab (a baguette, pie, quiche…), and then not eat for a few hours so my energy can be used for cycling, not digesting.” 02 Comfort first “I use Ergon GP3 handlebar bar ends to avoid pressure points on my hands, and an Ergon SM E-Mountain Sport Saddle, which prevents me from having a sore bottom!” 03 Be mentally strong “There are times when my mind falters and I question why I’m doing it or almost succumb to the pain. I’ll then revert to my state of ‘nothingness’ where I don’t allow myself to think.”…

Weight 10.71kg (XL) Frame 6061 aluminium alloy Fork Carbon blades/alloy steerer Gears Shimano Claris R2000 8-speed (11-32t, 50/34t) Brakes Tektro R315 mechanical rim Wheels Unbranded alloy Finishing kit Alloy stem, handlebar and 27.2mm seatpost, unbranded saddle with steel rails, Schwalbe Lugano 2 clincher, 700x25c tyres The Laterite 2 has an interesting mix of components, including an 8-speed Shimano Claris R2000 groupset (which bigger brands would charge you £200 or more extra for), and rim brakes, which sounds a little outdated in 2024. The bike comes with an all-alloy frame plus carbon fork with aluminium steerer, plus Laterite rim brakes and not-quick-release skewer axles (as opposed to now-common thru-axles for disc brake bikes). However, the frameset still has space for 28mm-wide tyres with mudguards – full mounting points are supplied –…

Weight 10.37kg (60cm) Frame 6061 alloy Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Sora R3000 9-speed (11-34t, 50/34t) Brakes TRP Spyre MD-C610 mechanical disc Wheels Cube RA 1.9 Aero Disc, alloy Finishing kit Performance SLX alloy stem, Compact Race alloy handlebar, Performance 27.2mm alloy seatpost, Natural Fit Venec Lite saddle, all Cube; Continental Ultra Sport 3 700x28c tyres Cube’s Attain Pro is the German brand’s fifth-tier offering among | six alloy-framed models. It packs in a Shimano Sora R3000 drivetrain – a competitive choice at this price – and a TRP Spyre C610 mechanical brakeset. The frame uses Cube’s Aluminium Lite alloy – a heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminium alloy – with double-butted tubes bonded together using its Smooth Welding process to create smooth transitions between the tubes, offering a cleaner aesthetic than frames without…

“Shimano’s EP6 motor can deliver a massive 85Nm of torque” Weight 30.2kg (L) Frame Aluminium Fork Suntour Mobie A32, 75mm travel Gears Shimano Cues U6000 11-speed (38t, 11-50t) Brakes Shimano Mt410 hydraulic disc Wheels Merida Comp TK Aluminium Motor system Shimano Steps EP6 motor, 750Wh battery, Shimano SC-EN610 display unit, bar remote Finishing kit Merida Expert bar, CT stem, TK II saddle, 40mm-travel suspension seatpost, Maxxis Crossmark II 27.5x2.25in tyres Merida’s eSpresso CC models are designed to take on towpaths and forest trails as well as streets, and the 675 EQ is top of this range. The hydroformed alloy frame has a hugely oversized single-spar design, and the step-through shape makes it easy to get on board. The upright ride position, with mid-width riser bar suit urban riding. Shimano’s powerful…

I got my first gravel bike during lockdown and loved getting out of London onto trails in Hertfordshire and the Surrey Hills. I’m a triathlete so my fitness is good, but my first gravel race was at the 2023 British Championships [the King’s Cup in Sussex], so I went in at the deep end. In the elite event, people like Alex Dowsett are riding. I entered the age group event and was astonished at the pace. The course is four 15km laps, and it’s non-stop. At times, we were hammering 35-40kph. For the first 10 minutes, my average heart rate was 162bpm: far too high to sustain through the race. “THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS TECHNICAL. NEXT TIME, I’D PRACTISE USING MY REAR BRAKE MORE SO THE FRONT WHEEL DOESN’T SKID”…

The 2022 Haute Route Alpe d’Huez – a three-day race with 7,900m of climbing – was my first multi-day event. Although I’d cycled when I was younger, I took a hiatus until five or six years ago, when I heard people at work talking about road cycling. I thought it sounded fun. So I started riding, and I built up from the 80km Garmin Ride Out sportive to the 180km Fred Whitton Challenge. But preparing for a stage race involved evolutions of everything I’d done before. I knew basic mechanical skills, but now I learnt much more. At the race, I saw people struggling with broken chains, punctures and shifting issues, but I was comfortable giving the bike a once over. And, using my power meter and heart rate monitor,…

The Testers Matt Baird Editor, Cycling Plus Matt has been testing bike and triathlon kit for over 15 years, for CP and 220 Triathlon Ashley Quinlan Technical editor, Bikeradar Ash covers all things road and gravel for our sister website Bikeradar.com Oscar Huckle Technical writer Oscar has close to a decade of cycling-industry experience under his tyres Warren Rossiter Senior technical editor Warren’s been testing bikes and kit for 20 years, rating over 2,500 bikes along the way…

The focus of Van Rysel’s windbreaker is firmly in the breathability camp, with a large mesh back area and opening offering plenty of ventilation. That opening also means you can easily access your jersey pockets underneath. Weight’s a reasonable 123g, helped by a lack of pockets, and it compresses neatly into its stash compartment. While the fabric will briefly deflect water, the ‘waterproof’ claim in the online title description looks to be a mistake. There are no reflective details but the bright colourway aids on-road visibility. In terms of windproofing, there are stronger fabrics on test, but as a cape for changeable and largely dry summer riding, this is a budget contender. There’s no women’s version sadly. Verdict Not for the windiest or wettest days but a nicely-priced buy…

Okay, there’s something a little hazmat suit about the aesthetics, but this is a fine jacket (and there are six other colours). The white here offers the dual benefits of adding on-road visibility and the ability for race numbers to be read through its translucent shell, with the addition of reflective detailing also aiding visibility. The quality construction includes a full-length zipper garage, a pack sack, cosy collar and classy cuffs, but no rear pockets. As for wind-stopping, it held its own on blustery rides and it’s better at deflecting water than most windproofs, aided by the taped seams, secure hems, and those cuffs. Weight is a reasonable 120g. Despite the lack of mesh areas, breathability is satisfactory. Verdict The best here for wet-weather riding and race days…

It’s rare to see an alloy rim deep enough to be considered an ‘aero wheelset’. A 40mm depth, as with the Explorator’s hooked rims, isn’t super-deep, but is a good compromise between aerodynamic efficiency and handling stability. It does, however, weigh a portly 1,893g, with rim tape. The Explorator’s rims are 21mm wide internally and 24.5mm externally, and are designed for up to 40c tyres, with 26-32c as optimum. This is narrower than many modern carbon aero rims, but may have been done to save weight. The rims are made of heat-treated ‘Niobium’ alloy, designed to up durability, and maximum rider weight is 130kg. The rim comes taped, and with eight spare spokes and nipples. The hubset is an in-house design, the Ere Iona X12, which features a four-pawl freehub…

The middle-of-the-range Ksyrium S Disc has a relatively narrow hooked-rim design. Mavic says the Ksyrium can take from 23c tyres up to as wide as your bike could handle, and beyond, though. The rim is tubeless-ready and doesn’t need tubeless rim tape, then there are steel straight-pull, broad-bladed spokes and oversized alloy nipples. The freehub uses Mavic’s Instant Drive 360 ratchet design (not pawls), with 9˚ engagement. My test tyres slipped on relatively easily, but getting a tubeless seal took some serious pumping of my track pump. The Ksyrium’s responsiveness was its strength. It’s not far behind the Hunt, just like the DT Swiss. Out of the saddle on steeper climbs, the Ksyrium offers satisfying immediacy, and it feels stiff when giving it the beans on the flat. Holding faster…

Lanzarote loop Club La Santa have created the Vuelta Ciclista a Lanzarote sportive (28-29 Sept), with a total of 189 km and 2,840m ascent over two days. Find out more and book accommodation deals at clublasanta.com/events Joy rider Cycling journalist Peter Flax has written a book, Live to Ride: Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle. Flax explores what he believes are the shared reasons we ride: adventure, utility, self-expression and more Guiding stars Cycling holiday firm Sportive Breaks have launched self-guided road cycling holidays for 2024, in locations such as Majorca, Girona and Calpe. Routes, accomodation and bike hire are included Hot Rod Rod Ellingworth, having left his role at Ineos Grenadiers, has been appointed as Race Director of the Tour of Britain events. British Cycling have brought them…

Can you get a decent road bike for less than a grand? Do I need an e-commuter? Just what is a women’s bike in 2024? These were the questions ringing in the ears of our testers as they rode many miles this winter. The result is a major round-up of the best budget and commuter bikes of 2024, and a deep dive into the women’s bike-building market. For 2024, we’ve split Bike of the Year over two editions of Cycling Plus to give every bike and genre the space they deserve. Look out for part two (10 May) for 2024’s greatest gravel, race, and endurance bikes, and our overall category and Bike of the Year winners. Enjoy!…

Weight 10.28kg (XL) Frame Aluminium alloy Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Claris R2000 8-speed (11-32t, 50/34t) Brakes Tektro MD-C550 mechanical disc Wheels Axis Sport Disc, alloy Finishing kit Allez 27.2mm alloy seatpost, 3D Forged alloy stem, Shallow Drop alloy handlebar, Body Geometry Bridge alloy saddle, Roadsport clincher 700x30c tyres, all Specialized The Specialized Allez is about as ‘famous’ as a bike can be, with a long-term reputation for offering good-value performance. The latest Allez bikes are designed to give a slightly more relaxed and practical, yet still sporty, ride experience and the E5 is the entry-level build in this range. The Allez geometry now leans more towards endurance road bike and, with clearance for 35mm-wide tyres, and mounts for full-length mudguards and a pannier rack, Specialized claims the bike can handle…

Weight 18kg (one size) Frameset Alloy Gears Microshift 39-8R 8-speed (48t, 11-34t) Brakes Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc Wheels Cannondale alloy 20in rims Motor system Hyena MRC-250 250W rear hub motor, 250Wh battery, LED display Finishing kit Cannondale seatpost, saddle and bar; TranzX folding stem, Kenda K-Rad tyres The Cannondale Compact Neo has been conceived as a fun, compact and lightweight ebike for round-town riding. With a one-size-fits-all frame, rear-hub motor and small 250Wh hidden battery, it’s all about urban versatility. Its compact shape is enhanced by folding pedals and a quick-release stem to reduce the bike’s footprint when storing. That, plus its relatively low 18kg weight, makes it a great choice for mixed-mode commuters. The frame’s low stepover height of 59cm makes it easy, even for riders down to 4ft…

Weight 23.5kg (one size) Frameset Aluminium Gears Shimano Nexus 5-speed internal hub Brakes Magura MT4 hydraulic disc Wheels Kinetix rims, Shimano hubs Motor system Bosch Performance 65Nm motor, Bosch Powerpack 500Wh battery, Bosch Intuvia display Finishing kit Andros stem, Sweep alloy bar, Physis handlepost, suspension seatpost, all Tern; Tern/Velo saddle, Schwalbe Big Apple Performance Line 20in tyres Tern’s NBD (No Big Deal) is designed to be easy to ride. The alloy frame’s super-low, step-through design makes it a doddle to get on and off, and you can put your feet flat on the ground when you’re sitting on the bike. It’s designed to fit riders from 4ft 10in (147cm) to 6ft 3in (183cm), thanks to the saddle moving back as it gets higher, plus the stem’s adjustable height and angle.…

Could the group going off first move forward to the front please,” bellows Philip Whiteman, events organiser and club stalwart at Droitwich CC and architect of this morning’s reliability ride. With Philip’s instruction, a telling parting occurs, as the riders with rapid deep-section carbon wheels and sleek carbon racers accepted the invitation and those with winter steeds rigged up with mudguards stood their ground, waiting for a group better suited to their form and ambitions today. Some 70 riders had pitched up at Salwarpe Village Hall, to the southwest of Droitwich in Worcestershire, for the club’s second-ever reliability ride. It was an excellent turnout, too, for a club only five years old and, pleasingly for Philip, a more manageable number than the 170 riders who’d expressed interest on the club’s…

2002 The Tour of Qatar is launched, backed by Tour de France organiser ASO. 2009 The event adds a women’s stage race. 2010 ASO creates the Tour of Oman stage race. 2014 Ran Margaliot and Ron Baron co-found Continental team Israel Cycling Academy, which becomes a WorldTour squad in 2020. 2014 Giro d’Italia organisers RCS debut the Dubai Tour, which runs for five years. Fernando Alonso and Diego Maradona are at the first race. 2015 Abu Dhabi Tour makes its debut. 2016 The UCI Road World Championships are held in Doha, the capital of Qatar. UAE cyclist Yousif Mirza competes in the Olympic road race. 2017 The Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team launches. UAE Team Emirates also starts life, taking over the WorldTour licence of Italian team Lampre. 2019 The…

“Virginia Tech has given the Velocis MIPS a top, five-star safety rating, and ranks it 15th out of 224 helmets it has safety tested” This is Trek’s latest take on the lightweight road racing helmet, replacing the Bontrager Velocis MIPS lid, although the biggest update is arguably the switch from Bontrager (Trek’s in-house components brand) to Trek for its name, which it’s also done with its shoes. The Velocis MIPS is said to be the lightest road helmet Trek has ever produced. My size Medium sample weighs 247g: 11g lighter than its key rival, the Specialized S-Works Prevail 3. Like the Prevail 3, the Velocis MIPS features MIPS AirNode technology, designed to enable the padding inside to move independently of the outer shell. In theory, this should help reduce the…

The Airstream’s low-ish price is evident in the dated reflective trims, the collar build and mesh material, and lack of rear pockets. The windproofing is less effective than the pricier numbers here, but the mesh panels at the rear do aid the breathability, if not the water protection, and there’s a DWR coating to help repel water. I’d prefer it if the smooth black fabric on the cuffs extended all of the way around the wrist to stop beastly breezes escaping up the sleeves. The ‘semi-fitted’ build sits easily over a jersey and proved unrestrictive, while there’s a wide array of sizing options. It packs down into the chest pocket in a medium-sized shape, but there are smaller and lighter bundles elsewhere on test. Verdict Not the classiest but bright…

The Nebula is better suited for cooler and damper conditions, its weightier 149g build courtesy of a two-layer membrane. That shell offers impressive windproofing and a modicum of resistance to light rain, but you’ll need more aquatic protection for extended sojourns in showers. The downside of the excellent windproofing is that there’s less breathability than a wind shell boasting either mesh panels and/or venting channels, meaning sweat did build-up internally. It packs down reasonably well into the middle rear pocket. Reflective touches abound on the rear but there’s little on the front. Disappointing for the price, there’s no full-length zipper guard and there are classier cuffs elsewhere on test. Verdict Not the lightest or cheapest, but there’s quality windproofing…

This is the top alloy wheelset in DT Swiss’ aero range, with a 30mm-deep hooked rim and highly-regarded 350 ratchet hub design. The parts of the wheelset are all designed or made by DT Swiss, which in theory should help create a better-integrated, optimised build. The tubeless-ready Spline has a 20mm internal width, ‘AERO+’ shape and hidden Pro Lock alloy spoke nipples attached to Aero Comp II straight-pull spokes. The freehub has a 36-tooth ratchet (not pawl) design, the aim being greater efficiency and robustness. There’s a two-year warranty for manufacturing defects. Installation of the test tyres was straightforward, as was tubeless set-up and inflation. The rims do seem more aerodynamically efficient than a non-optimised rim and feel no slower than the Hunts on test on the flat, despite the…

This aero alloy wheelset is cheaper than those on test from DT Swiss, Hunt and Ere Research and the rear-wheel rim is beefed up on the drive side for improved distribution of power. Miche’s upper tyre width limit for this wheelset is 34c, which isn’t enormous, though. The hubs use sealed steel bearings and the three-pawl system gives a 12˚ engagement angle. The rear hub has an adjustable-bearing preload ring so a standard Shimano Centerlock rotor lockring won’t fit and you’ll need the SM-HB20 model and specific tool to fit it. The hubs and rims are attached via 24 stainless steel, bladed straight-pull aero spokes. The wheels are heavier than the similarly-priced Hunts, which have slightly wider and deeper rims. Miche’s UK distributor offers a 40 per cent discount on…

Seven summits ride Start at Langdon Beck Hotel pub – Swinhope – Harthope – Coldberry End – Killhope Cross – Black Hill – Nunnery Hill – Yad Moss – Finish at Langdon Beck Hotel pub. Summits in riding order: Newbiggin-Westgate Road (no 3=, 609m); Chapel Fell (no1, 626m); Grasshill Causeway (highest motorable unpaved road, 674m); A689 (no2, 623m); Black Hill (no3=, 609m); Dowgang Hush (no5, 599m); B6277 (no6, 598m) Getting there ● There are three scenic train-then-bike possibilities to get to Langdon Beck, thanks to stations at Bishop Auckland (28 miles); Haltwhistle (31 miles) and Kirkby Stephen (32 miles) 01 Where to stay ● Langdon Beck Hotel, DL12 0XP; Langdon Beck Youth Hostel (yha.org.uk) 02 Where to eat ● The Hive Community Cafe, Nenthead, CA9 3PF. Open Thurs to Sun…

01 Adopt a standing position. Now, bend your knees and hips as far as you can go without lifting your heels from the floor. 02 In this crouching position, look to keep your feet facing straight ahead. However, you can angle them out slightly to help you ease lower if needed. 03 When you’ve reached as low as you can go, extend your fingertips along the floor ahead of you. 04 You should then dip your head and straighten your legs to push your hips upwards as far as possible with your fingers still touching the floor. 05 Finally, fall back into the squat and raise your head. Bring your hands to your chest, then stand upright. Do two to three sets of 10-20 reps – you’ll feel it!…

I was mildly surprised recently to find myself in a discussion with a pair of well-respected cycling journalists, both of whom I count as friends, that started off with a harmless observation and ended in something which almost felt like passionately held and opposing views on what the point of bike racing was. The whole disagreement lasted only a few minutes and we exited the debate on the best of terms, but we had reached a kind of logical impasse. Though we quickly changed the subject and left it behind us, I’ve found myself reflecting on the issue, trying to figure out whether I’ve been labouring under a naïve misapprehension all along. The point of contention was the minor detail of the King of the Mountains competition on the final…