BikeRadar.com Road

Bjarne Riis to promote autobiography in London next week

BikeRadar, UK — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Former pro cyclist and current Saxo Bank team owner Bjarne Riis will take part in a public Q&A next week in support of his autobiography, Riis: Stages of Light and Dark.

The book, already a best seller in his native Denmark, has been translated into English for the first time and following its publication earlier this month, the Dane will visit Sigma Sports in Kingston upon Thames, London at 7.00pm on 30 May to answer questions from the public.

In 1996, Riis made history by becoming the first Dane to take overall victory at the Tour de France. 11 years later, his win was struck from the record books (and subsequently reinstated, with conditions) after he admitted his win was fuelled by EPO.

His autobiography chronicles his life, from the shy eight-year-old who discovered the sport, to the champion cyclists turned banned substance user and finally the owner of his own professional cycling team. It's available now, published by Vision Sports Publishing, on 14 May for £12.99.

Video: Skoda Skills - how to ride in a group

BikeRadar, UK — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:55:00 GMT

Running in conjunction with the 'How to' section from our sister magazine Cycling Plus, here's the first in a multi-part road cycling skills series featuring pro tips from members of the British Continental squad Team Raleigh-GAC.

First up is a skill essential should you start riding with a cycling club - group riding. Here, Canadian pro Jamie Sparling talks through the essential things to keep in mind in a packed bunch.

The series comes from a coaching day courtesy of Skoda at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit in London, where six winners of a Cycling Plus competition were given a day's tuition from the guys of Team Raleigh-GAC.

The series continues in the coming weeks with tips on cornering and descending.

If you've enjoyed reading this, our new fitness site BikeRadar Training might be for you. It's a free online resource for you to record and analyse all aspects of your training, log your training routes, get yourself tailored training plans, see how you're doing on our leaderboards, set goals and plan your season with a comprehensive events guide.

Bike news round-up: Le Coq Sportif TdF yellow jersey

BikeRadar UK — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:47:00 GMT

From the latest product news to details of routes and events, our news round-up is a collection of short snippets of information in one handy article.

Today we bring you news of a change in manufacturer of the four Tour de France leaders jerseys, Rapha's Sample Sale heads outside London for the first time, a unique bike-themed stand-up gig, plus news from Profile Design and Bike Blenheim Palace.

Product and team news

Le Coq Sportif reunited with Tour de France

Le Coq Sportif have a long history with the Tour de France, having being the manufacturers of the yellow jersey in the days of Anquetil, Merckx and Hinault during a period spanning almost 40 years. After more than two decades away from the event, the French firm are back for 2012, replacing Nike as the makers of all four leaders jerseys. They are made from polyester, have almost full length zippers (don't tell Stephen Roche!) and cost £60 from stores including Wiggle, Evans Cycles and Cycle Surgery.

Rapha to hold sample sale in Manchester this weekend

The first ever Rapha Sample Sale outside of London is set for Manchester this weekend (26 May). End-of-line stock, returns and one-off samples will all be up for grabs at Thomas Street Post Office (M4 1NA) from 10am-6pm. To complete the weekend, they are organizing a ride from Manchester to Nonnas Restaurant in Chesterfield, arriving in time for the climax of the Giro d’Italia. See the Rapha Facebook page for more details.

Profile Design road wheel range given UCI green light

Profile Design’s full range of road wheels has been given the thumbs up by the UCI for use in competition. The governing body’s stringent process rules out scores of products each year which don’t pass muster, but all PD’s wheels, including the Altair 52 and 80 Semi Carbon Clincher, Altair 52 and 80 Full Carbon Clincher, Altair 52 and 80 Tubular and Armada 24 have been authorized in the “non-standard” category for road and track competition. The category includes rims higher than 2.5cm, fewer than 16 spokes and a spoke thickness of over 2.4mm.

Fox demo day at Mojo Suspension

Mojo Suspension is hosting a Fox demo weekend on 2-3 June at Cwmcarn Forest Drive. They’ll be setting up shop in the bottom car park with the latest Fox gear to try out, including the new DOSS seat post and Float CTD shocks. Staff will be there between 9am and 5.30pm on both days to answer any questions. Demo sessions are being run on a first come, first serve basis – email ashley@mojo.co.uk to book your place.

Routes, racing and rides

Off-road sportive added to Bike Blenheim Palace line-up

A 40km mountain biking sportive has been added to this year’s Bike Blenheim Palace festival (18-19 August). The route travels along the trails with the Blenheim Palace Estate as well as the surrounding Cotswolds. The £28 ride, which takes place on the Saturday, joins the 60/100-mile sportive, a 20km time trial , a bike polo tournament and the Brompton World Championships in an ever-expanding cycling extravaganza. www.bikeblenheimpalace.com

Stand-up comic to host unique bike-themed gig this Saturday

Stand-up comic Phil Kay will lead a bike tour around Grizedale Forest this Saturday, ending up at retailer Wheelbase’s store in Staveley for a unique one-off gig. Bike nut Kay will dish out his unique brand of humour through a megaphone during the ride, which begins at 5pm at the Cafe in the Forest at Grizedale, with the gig following at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £15; click here to buy a ticket.

BikeRadar Training: Wiggle Bournemouth Sportive

BikeRadar, UK — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:40:00 GMT

It looks set to be a scorcher this Sunday for the Wiggle Bournemouth Sportive, a ride for people who want to soak up sun, sea and cycling on the south coast.

Voted as one of the top 10 sportives by Cycling Plus, it's set across the counties of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire and balances quiet roads, sublime scenery and the challenge of climbs of Win Green, Bulbarrow and Milton Abbas.

There are two route options on offer; a standard 70-mile option (£24) or a more gruelling 100-mile route (£26). Entry includes showers, electronic timing, feed stations, parking, over £10 of free energy products, mechanical support, bike wash facilities and a marked route.

Century rides like this can be a tough ask for newcomers not used to all-day stints in the saddle and it could be worthwhile to check out one of our professional training plans designed to help prepare for upcoming events.

You can select plans based on your riding level and the type of events you want to improve on, whether that means sportives, time trails or road races. Our eight week plans have been exclusively designed by Koolstof Coaching and cost £9.99. The promotional code promo1 will get you 40 percent off any plan until the end of July, too.

Your plan comes with a free interactive training diary where you can enter and download all your training data, speed, GPS map data, heart rate and power readings. Also included is a 30-page booklet, A Cyclist's Guide to Riding Sportives, which will give you the inside track on the events:

Introduction to sportives
Training explained
Which bike and equipment to buy
Clothing and kit
Bike fit
Basic bicycle maintenance
How to ride in groups safely
Descending and cornering tips
Nutrition guidelines
Fuelling your ride
Why cyclists need to stretch
Event day checklist
Riding the event

Once you’ve got the training plan that's right for you, give it a go and put your new found fitness to the test by choosing an event from our calendar.

Video: Smart ENVE 6.7 Clincher - First look

John Whitney in Bath, UK — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

The fruits of the partnership between ENVE and aerodynamicist Simon Smart continue to bear fruit. Last month we brought you an exclusive look at two new additions to their SES range, the time trial-specific 8.9 Tubular and the 3.4 Clincher, and today it's the turn of the 6.7 Clincher.

As with models in the Smart Enve System range, the 6.7s are developed as a complete wheelset - hence the variable rim depths (60mm on the front, 70mm at the rear) and widths (26mm/24mm). The science behind this says that having a wider and shallower front rim maximises stability across a broad section of wind angles, while having a deeper and narrower rear rim minimizes drag of the trailing edge and cuts turbulence.

Weight of the complete set is 1,415g, complete with Chris King R45 hubs and Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes.

They are available now from UK distributor Saddleback for £2,400 per set (£1,100 front/£1,300 rear).

Boardman SLR 9.0 review

Cycling Plus — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Boardman's new entry-level SLR model boasts a semi-compact monocoque frame and full-carbon fork with a tapered steerer that comes from the same mould as the pro-level 9.8. The 9.0 only differs in the carbon layup around the bottom bracket, as the higher spec version has increased stiffness.

Highs: The SLR delivers a no-nonsense, performance-orientated frame with a great value component package
Lows: We could hear some cable rattle on rougher roads
Buy if: You like a firm and responsive ride from a bike that craves speed

Chris Boardman believes that the most efficient way of connecting two points on a bike is with a straight line, so there's no superfluous shaping here – and tube profiles focus on performance rather than aesthetics. Internal cables run through carbon inner guides that have stainless steel elbows, to prevent abrasion.

The seatstays are flat and straight, and the box section chainstays about as deep, thick and widely set as they could be, only stepping down in size for the carbon dropouts. Boardman’s own carbon seatpost has quite a lot of setback, and supports a Fizik Arione, still one of our favourite saddles. The Ritchey cockpit is very secure, with a good ergo drop to the bar.

Even with a 53/39-tooth chainset, the SLR climbs tidily in the big ring, such is the power transfer of the frame and wheels. Mavic’s Ksyrium Equipe wheels accelerate fast, and the Vittoria Zaffiro pro tyres give decent feel and consistent grip. The SRAM Force drivetrain performs perfectly and the lower-spec brake callipers don’t lack braking power.

With no concessions to curves, the Boardman has a directness and efficiency that'll please riders wanting to press on. Over rough roads it tracks confidently, but is unapologetically firm. Bigger hits are taken care of and there's no interfering road buzz, just a very communicative frame. The handling and riding position are very balanced, the SLR a bike you can feel a part of and get involved with, building confidence quickly.

Cornering is accurate and the bike holds a line well, but is stable enough for mid corner changes to not cause palpitations. Our large machine’s 16cm head tube gives options for the racer to get a low tuck, or a less aggressive position without too many spacers. The SLR 9.0’s lower stiffness around its bottom bracket won’t concern most of us, as there’s no noticeable flex there, and it didn’t affect our enjoyment.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Giro d'Italia 17: Rodriguez wins in pink

Cyclingnews.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:36:00 GMT

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.

Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) won a dramatic stage 17 at the 2012 Giro d’Italia, overcoming some of his closest rivals in the general classification as the race headed into the Dolomites for the first time.

A leading group of about 25 riders was dismantled in brutal fashion as it started the final big climb of the stage. Liquigas-Cannondale’s injection of pace resulted in a breakaway group of six riders for the final 25km, with all of them handily placed in the GC.

In the end it was Rodriguez who marginally handled the descent and small uphill finish best. He crossed the line in Cortina d'Ampezzo ahead of Ivan Basso (Liquigas Cannondale), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), Rigoberto Uran (Sky), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF), consolidating his lead in the overall standings and retaining the pink jersey after an epic mountain stage that captivated everyone who witnessed it.

With four uncompromising climbs ahead of them, each one woven into the folklore of the Giro, there was a palpable tension in the air amongst the riders as they waited at the start in Pfalzen, close to the Italian/Austrian border. Temperatures were in the mid teens and there was a generous covering of clouds, offering the riders protection in the early stages.

At the 50km point, a bunch of five broke away. Matteo Rabottini (Farnese-Vini), Branislau Samoilau (Movistar), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Astana), Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale), and Jose Serpa (Androni) pulled clear and steadily built up a lead of roughly five minutes as the riders got over the first big climb of the day, the Falzarego. Rabottini, who won stage 15 in dramatic fashion on Sunday, added more points here to extend his lead at the top of the mountains classification.

By the time they reached the top of the Passo Duran with 55km to race, the gap had come down to 1:30. Back in the main group, which by this point had shrunk to around 40 riders, Liquigas was in control and keeping Basso’s powder dry for the business end of the race and protecting him most effectively. But all of the main GC contenders were there, including both of Astana’s leaders, Roman Kreuziger and Paolo Tiralongo.

The next climb, the Forcella, came along fast, and by this time, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) had caught up with Seeldraeyers, who had been dropped by the leaders. Rodriguez’s position was starting to look precarious back in the main group, which had shrunk to 25 now and contained none of the pink jersey holder’s Katusha teammates. Moments later Kreuziger was the first of the big names to crack as he lost touch with his GC rivals and fell off their pace.

The excitement amongst the crowd was about to be turned up a notch as the main chase group swallowed up the breakaway riders as they started the final, gruelling climb, the Passo Giau. Before they had a chance to catch their breath, Liquigas made its devastating attack and within minutes the leaders were strung out like laundry on a line. When the dust had settled it was those leading six riders who were left to fight it out for the remainder of the climb and the fast descent that followed.

As they approached the top, Pozzovivo attacked. Scarponi cramped up and he and Uran were temporarily dropped. They managed to fight their way back to the wheels of the leading four with 2km left to go. As they wearily closed on the finish line, which was on a gentle final gradient that probably seemed much steeper after the sweat and toil they had left on the road, Basso and Scarponi took it in turns to attack. But Rodriguez was poised in behind and produced a devastating late burst to prevail, winning his second stage of the race and confirming his superiority over his closest pursuers for pink.

In the end, there wasn’t a great deal of change at the top of overall GC, with the exception of the Astana duo, who were the big losers on the day. To those simply looking at the bare result and the overall standings, the stage may look an uneventful one. But it was far from it, and we’ll know more tomorrow in terms of its impact on the well being of the men who pushed themselves to the limit in search of Giro glory.

BikeRadar Training: Story of a 1000 mile challenge winner

BikeRadar UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

The miles continue to be racked up on the BikeRadar Training leaderboard by an ever growing army of members.

With eight people now having completed the 1000 mile challenge, one competitor, Latimer.Todd (USA) is halfway again towards a leg-sapping 2,000. He spoke to us about the secrets to his mammoth mileage.

"Riding in Florida is a little bit of heaven and hell, much like marriage," he said. "The tropical climate allows year round riding, with only the occasional tropical storm or hurricane screwing things up. The only climbing you can really get here are the bridges and occasional hills, mostly caused by sink holes.

"With average temperatures in the high 80s the pavement usually hits 120-140 Fahrenheit midday - not fun. It adds third degree burns to road rash when you make a mistake! The wind is another real pain, with mostly variable winds trying to predict the direction is pretty tough and makes planning a ride a real toss of the dice.

"So yes I get to ride all the time and no I don’t have any climbing. But I do have to deal with the heat and without climbs I don’t get to enjoy the rest on the descent. So it’s a wash I guess, but the payoff is the ride. Good, bad, hot, fast or slow, it doesn’t matter, its all about saddle time".

Register for BikeRadar Training today for free

Cervelo P5 – First ride review

Ben Delaney, US editor-in-chief — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

The Cervélo P5 time trial bike has enjoyed success at this year's Giro d’Italia and Amgen Tour of California, under Garmin-Barracuda. And with the bike still in limited supply – only a dozen exist and only a few Garmin riders used it at the Giro; the others rode P4s – we were grateful to get a chance to test ride the UCI legal version of it in California.

There are five key elements to the P5: aerodynamics, ride feel, hydraulic brakes, fully integrated Shimano electronic Di2 design and fit adjustability. While we didn't test the bike's aero capabilities, Cervélo engineers know their way around a wind tunnel, so we’ll take them at their word that this is a fast bike. We can comment on the other four elements.

Ride & handling: Stiff and efficient

The high stiffness of the rear end and bottom bracket area of the P5 are immediately obvious when you're up and out of the saddle. It’s not a sprinting bike but it is a TT bike. That means efficiency and power transfer is everything, so the stiffness is welcome.

We big-ringed the P5 over rolling vineyard roads and even took it up some climbs that kicked to 28 percent – most certainly not in the big ring! The bike’s pedaling efficiency shone throughout.

It was harder to gauge the stiffness of the front end because there was some flex in the handlebars when we were riding on the cowhorns, pulling up for a sprint acceleration or cornering hard over rough pavement. But in the aero position – where you’re supposed to be on this bike – handling was perfectly confident, even with gusts of wind.

The bike’s substantial side profile makes sidewinds noticeable, but you feel a steady pressure, not sketchy gusts with rapid changes in pressure.

It should be noted that sidewind feel is largely affected by wheel choice. We test rode the bike with Mavic’s CC80 front wheel and Comete disc. The bike comes with 'training' wheels – a Vision Team30 set. That's because Cervélo assumes the typical customer will have their own aero hoops. The Mavic wheels felt great – fast and stable.

Video: Cervelo P5 - first look

Frame & equipment: Innovative braking and fitting can be complemented with Di2

We first test rode the Magura brake calipers at Sea Otter, using the company's mechanical-to-hydraulic converter. This was our first experience with the RT8 TT hydraulic levers. Will they change your life? Nope. But for anyone who's ever ridden a time trial bike with lousy, weak brakes there's a substantial difference. Braking is strong and controlled.

The Magura brakes don’t so much advance the stopping equation as eliminate a previous problem with many TT bikes – now, the brakes stop you securely. Nothing more, nothing less.

The calipers are adjusted at the lever with an Allen key. The levers also double as quick-releases. Flip them forward and the calipers pop open for wheel removal.

We rode the Cervélo P5 with Mavic's Comete disc and CC80 front wheel (the Garmin-Barracuda spec)

Cervélo’s design sets the aesthetic standard for a high-end bike with Shimano Di2 – the battery is invisible. It’s surprising how many $10,000 bikes have bolts (even zip ties) securing the battery like an afterthought. Tucking the Di2 battery into a hidden port in the down tube might not improve performance – though small aerodynamic arguments could be made – but it definitely improves the look substantially.

Speaking of Di2, the P5 comes as either a $4,500 (£3,499.99) frameset or with one of two builds: mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace ($6,000) or electric Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ($10,000). It feels incongruous to have relatively old school bar-end shifters on a bike this high tech.

Of course, the fastest bike in the world won’t do you a bit of good if it doesn’t fit you. At the saddle, the seatpost doubles the fore/aft adjustability of a standard saddle’s rails, making an extremely forward position possible.

The 3T Aduro aerobar comes in three heights – X-Lo, Lo and High-V. We test rode the High-V. The X-Lo has also had more reach built into it, after feedback from sponsored riders. From there, 5mm spacers can be used to fine-tune the height.

Fore/aft adjustment of the extensions is easy and pad width can also be set in a number of places. Fore/aft of the basebar, however, is what it is.

Triathletes looking at this bike should be aware that there's a triathlon frameset that retails for $6,500 (£4,499.99). It features the same frame but a more aero fork that also serves as a fairing over the front caliper. Cervélo have been working with TorHans and XLab for custom nutrition boxes that bolt on to the P5’s top tube as well.

Castelli unveil clothing tailor-made for mountains

BikeRadar UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:31:00 GMT

Today sees the Giro d'Italia hit the high mountains of the Dolomites, so what better time for Castelli, kit supplier to Team Garmin-Barracuda, to unveil some new garments tailor-made to tackle them.

First up is the 90g Climbers' jersey, which is made from the 'super light' Strada Light 3D mesh fabric and is cut to eliminate excess flapping in the wind. Castelli reckon, because of the mesh material, it's their quickest drying jersey yet and sacrifices 3 watts at 40km/h compared to the Aero Race jersey.

The matching Inferno Bibshorts are constructed from seven different fabrics and, like the jersey, is claimed to be their coolest and lightest yet. They contain titanium dioxide (the active ingredient in sunscreen) but because some fabrics are open meshes, they recommend you still use cream on the front and side of the legs. The seamless Progetto X2 Air seatpad, used in Castelli's Body Paint shorts, is also used here.

Pricing hasn't been confirmed yet for either garment

They've both been seen in the recent mountain stages of this year's Giro, worn by, amongst others, Ryder Hesjedal, who holds second place going into the final week. It will be some time though before the public can get their hands on them - they are part of the summer 2013 collection, which means next spring at the earliest.

Cervelo P5 – First ride

Ben Delaney, US editor-in-chief — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:35:00 GMT

The Cervélo P5 has enjoyed success at this year's Giro d’Italia and Amgen Tour of California, under Garmin-Barracuda. And with the bike still in limited supply – only a dozen exist and only a few Garmin riders used it at the Giro; the others rode P4s – we were grateful to get a chance to test ride it in California.

There are five key elements to the P5: aerodynamics, ride feel, hydraulic brakes, fully integrated Shimano Di2 design and fit adjustability. While we didn't test the bike's aero capabilities, Cervélo engineers know their way around a wind tunnel, so we’ll take them at their word that this is a fast bike. We can comment on the other four elements.

Ride & handling: Stiff and efficient, the P5 is built for TTs

We big-ringed the P5 over rolling vineyard roads and even took it up some climbs that kicked to 28 percent – most certainly not in the big ring! The bike’s pedaling efficiency shone throughout.

The bike’s substantial side profile makes sidewinds noticeable, but you feel a steady pressure, not sketchy gusts with rapid changes in pressure.

Video: Cervelo P5 - first look

Frame & equipment: Innovative braking and fitting can be complemented with Di2

The Magura brakes don’t so much advance the stopping equation as eliminate a previous problem with many TT bikes – now, the brakes stop you securely. Nothing more, nothing less.

The calipers are adjusted at the lever with an Allen key. The levers also double as quick-releases. Flip them forward and the calipers pop open for wheel removal.

Fore/aft adjustment of the extensions is easy and pad width can also be set in a number of places. Fore/aft of the basebar, however, is what it is.

Triathletes looking at this bike should be aware that there's a triathlon version. It features the same frame but a much more aero fork that also serves as a fairing over the front caliper. Cervélo have been working with TorHans and XLab for custom nutrition boxes that bolt on to the P5’s top tube.

Castelli San Remo Speed Suit review

Triathlon Plus — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

This high-end hybrid speed suit is basically a pair of Castelli Body Paint cycling shorts put together with an aero road racing jersey and offers some of the aero advantages of a time trial or track-style skinsuit with the practical features you need for the road, including a secure rear pockets and a zip down the torso.

The tight performance fit, one-piece design and silicone dots on the front and sides are designed to make it more aerodynamic, and Castelli say it can save 10-15 watts at 25mph. The incredible comfort and solid practicality are a draw, too.

The soft fabric, flat leg grippers and Progetto X2 pad show the quality of this kit and are really comfortable. It’s not as aero as a full-on skinsuit, though, and the thickness of the pad rules it out for triathlon use, but it's ideal for road racing. This was perhaps best exemplified by pro cyclist Johan Van Summeren, who wore one when he won the 2011 Paris-Roubaix, the toughest one day road race in the world, beating many more fancied riders.

It comes at a high price too, though to buy Body Paint shorts and Castelli’s Aero Race jersey as separates would cost more.

Nutrition round-up: USN Delite Bar packs big protein punch

John Whitney in Bath, UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:38:00 GMT

Only you can decide what balance of carbs, protein and fat you need from your energy snacks and nutrition products, but here's a quick round-up of the latest options to hit our desks.

USN Delite Bar

Heavier on the stomach than a sledgehammer to the midriff, USN's latest monster protein product, the Delite Bar, certainly packs a punch. Each bar contains a not insubstantial 30g of protein and comes in two flavours - Cookies and Cream (76g/315kcals) and Toffee Almond (96g/412kcals). The latter is the richer of the two, with more weight, more fat (16g against 11g) and more carbs (37g against 24g).

We found the chocolate and toffee certainly helps with palatability but there's still that non-specific protein taste once you get further into the bar. If you were hungry before eating one, you won't be for a while afterwards. But if you struggle to get your daily requirement of protein in, then these could help you.

They're not so light on your wallet, either. They come in boxes of 12 direct from USN for £41.88 (Cookies and Cream) and £45 (Toffee Almond), meaning each bar costs a maximum of £3.75. If we weren't feeling queasy before, we are now. www.usn.co.uk

Kinetica

This Irish firm's latest energy gel off the production line, Fuel Gel, is packed with several ingredients that claim to boost physical and mental performance. Each 35ml serving (110kcal), is filled with 27g of carbohydrates (Glucose, Fructose, Maltodextrin), L Carnitine (to help convert fat into energy), L Tyrosine (mental alertness and focus) and a reasonably high 81mg of caffeine.

It comes in Strawberry Zing and Fruit Punch flavours, and both had a medicine-like taste which wasn't such an issue when the hunger pangs came a knocking. We had some of our best rides of the spring with these stuffed in our pockets, which is pretty much all you can ask for from a gel. They are available in packs of 24 from Kinetica's website for £36. www.kineticasports.com

Maxim

Although 35mL is about the standard serving size for a gel, it's sometimes good to have a little bit extra. Step forward Maxim's whopping 100ml gel pouches, which has a screw cap in case you want to take it in doses. If not, each sachet contains 300kcal and 74.3g of carbohydrates, along with stimulants guarana and caffeine. As well as the orange here, they come in four other flavours (citrus fruits, grapefruit and orange, passion fruit and orange and strawberry). www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk

Sponser

Swiss firm Sponser are still relatively new to the UK, but are better known on the continent with their association to star athletes such as former mountain biking cross-country world champion Christoph Sauser. Their Recovery Drink (Strawberry-Banana), which comes in the sachets above (box of 6, £11.99) or a 1,200g tub (£34.99), contains casein and whey proteins (10g per sachet) and 39g carbs (218kcal). As with many drinks of this type, you're supposed to add water but we've always found that milk tastes much better. This drink is no exception. www.sponseruk.com

Video: SiDi Ergo 3 Liquigas edition

BikeRadar, UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

You may be familiar with the Wishlist section in our sister magazine Procycling, which uncovers the latest tech the pros are using.

Well, it's gone digital and in the first video they take a look at the Liquigas team edition SiDi Ergo 3. They are limited edition shoes, celebrating the long-standing relationship between the two companies and are currently adorning the feet of Giro d'italia GC contender Ivan Basso. Check out the video below for the full lowdown.

Gran Fondo New York draws 5,000 riders

Becky Ferreira in New York City — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:14:00 GMT

More than 10,000 cyclists came to the Bike Expo NYC, which ran from May 18^th-19^th at the Penn Plaza Pavilion, leading up to the 2^nd annual Gran Fondo New York on Sunday, May 20^th. Though the Expo was first organized as a place for the 5,000 Gran Fondo riders to pick up their race packages (which included Giordana cycling jerseys, chip timing, meals and more), thousands of people not registered for the ride showed up to browse through the 50 booths at the event.

"The expo was packed for two full days,” said GFNY founder and organizer Uli Fluhme. “It was exciting to have all these high profile road cycling companies exhibit in the heart of NYC. Pinarello, Giordana, ELITE, Limar, Campagnolo, Mavic, Vittoria, you name it.”

There was a strong Italian presence among the exhibitors.

“We are very proud and excited to be at the New York City Expo for the Gran Fondo,” said Chiara Pinarello of Pinarello bicycles, based in Villorba, Italy. “It’s a great occasion for us to be here and help out the 5,000 riders.”

A new Italian company, Granfondo Roma, also attracted crowds of GFNY racers to their booth, promoting their inaugural gran fondo in Rome, scheduled for October 14^th, 2012. Granfondo Roma’s course will feature many of Rome’s legendary monuments, including the Coliseum. In another popular nod to Italian culture, T. Edward Wines’ booth hosted tastings. All 5,000 riders received a bottle of their Sicilian red wine, to “aid the recovery.”

Pinarello had a big presence at the Gran Fondo New York, amplifying the Italian atmosphere

The gran fondo riders were lucky enough to snag the last sunny day before New York descended into a week of rain. With barely a cloud in the sky, riders were on their marks bright and early at 7am on the lower level of the George Washington Bridge.

Wladimiro D’Ascenzo of Bellante Stazione, Italy won the men’s competition, followed by Anthony Fatuzzo of Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Igor Volshteyn of New York City. Canadian Susan Jones won the women’s race relatively unchallenged, though Ana Maria Bonilla Paez of Bogota, Colombia wrestled second place off of Tara Kupersmith of Greenwich, Connecticut by a mere second.

The after-party took place nearby the finish line in Weehawken, New Jersey.

“The midtown Manhattan views were just gorgeous,” Fluhme said. “It was the perfect setting for riders to hang out and enjoy the Delverde pasta served from a coach bus that was completely rebuilt as a rolling kitchen.”

Registration is open for the 2013 race, and Fluhme is busy planning more improvements.

“The biggest change in terms of registration is the free addition of insurance. If a registered participant gets ill or injured, 365Competitor provides a full refund of the entry fee,” he said. “We expect to grow GFNY to 8,000 to 10,000 participants in the next two years.”

Great Manchester Cycle 26-mile ride sells out

BikeRadar UK — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:16:00 GMT

The Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle, a closed road mass ride on Monday 4 June, has reached its 2500 rider capacity for the 26-mile 'Rule the Roads' option. But with two weeks to go, there are still slots open for the 13-mile 'Get Out and Pedal' and 52-mile 'Test Yourself' rides. You can also win a place by entering the competition being run by our sister title Cycling Plus.

The routes are all based on a 13-mile loop which includes a stretch on the city's busiest road, the Mancunian Way, which will of course be closed to motor traffic for the duration of the event. All rides cost £10/£5 (adults/kids) to enter, with children between 3-7 able to ride for free.

The event is timed to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend and is being dubbed "the UK’s biggest street party."

For more information, visit www.greatcycle.org.

Giro d'Italia 16: Izagirre triumphs to Falzes

Susan Westemeyer, Cyclingnews.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:58:00 GMT

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.

Jon Izagirre soloed in to the finish line of the sixteenth stage of the Giro d'Italia, bringing in the victory for Euskaltel-Euskadi. The 23-year-old Basque rider had escaped out of a 10-man breakaway group on the final climb, and finished 16 seconds ahead of Alessandro De Marchi (Androni Giacattoli-Venezuela) and Stef Clement (Rabobank).

The peloton took the day off, more or less, and let the 10-man escape group carve out a nearly 13 minute gap. After a comfortable final climb, the field with the favourites ambled across the line nearly nine minutes after the rejoicing Izagirre. There were no changes in the top of the GC as Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) continues to lead the Giro d'Italia.

It was the second win of the year – and the second pro win – for the second year pro Izagirre. At the end of last month he won the time trial at the Vuelta a Asturias.

Another successful escape group

It took a while for the day's break to establish itself, but once again, the group came through to the end. After eighty-some kilometers, Alessandro De Marchi (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela), Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team), Jon Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Luca Mazzanti (Farnese Vini-Sella Italia), Lars Ytting Bak (Lotto Belisol), Nicolas Maes (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), José Herrada Lopez (Movistar), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Matthias Brändle (NetApp) and Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank) finally got away and moved quickly to a big lead.

With Herrada as the top ranked rider, at more than 32 minutes down, the field was happy to let them go and give themselves a quiet day to transition back into racing before facing the upcoming brutal mountain stages.

Fans come in all shapes and sizes

The race had started out very fast – which is why no group could come about – but once the break went, the peloton put the brakes on. The gap grew and grew, climbing all the way up to 12 and a half minutes before slowing coming down in the final 20km.

The attacks out of the group started almost as soon as they started the final climb to the finish. A cobblestone passage near the beginning of the climb didn't bring any changes, as Herrada led the way up. Izagirre was the next to try, and then Frank. Those two built up a small lead over Herrara with another gap back to the rest with 4km to go.

Izagirre took the lead, followed by De Marchi, as Frank and Herrada chased. The Basque rider ground his way up the climb, slowly building up his lead. He continued to pull away as the course flattened out near the end, as the three chasers, later joined by Clement, played for position.

The Euskaltel-Euskadi rider rejoiced as he crossed the finish line, and 16 seconds later De Marchi and Clement came in to fill out the podium.

The rest of the field was still to come, and it was a smaller group which tackled the final climb – but one which included all the favourites. They stayed together riding comfortably up to the finish. Liquigas-Cannondale and Garmin-Barracuda were most often at the front.

But then a Colnago-CSF Inox rider shot out of the of the field with about 1200 meters to go. Stefano Pirazzi was soon joined by Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha, and Flecha zipped around him at the end to take the eleventh place, nearly nine minutes after Izagirre, with the field almost directly behind.

Teenager reunited with his stolen £3K bike

Met Police — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:42:00 GMT

A teenage cyclist who had his £3,000 customised racing bike stolen was reunited with it, in time to compete in the UK National 10 mile TT Championships on Sunday 20 May.

Georg Mew Jensen, 13, built the bike over two years using his savings and money he won from competing. On his 13th birthday he was able to buy a frame using a grant from Tower Hamlets, completing the bike.

Originally, the family began a poster and media appeal to trace the bike stolen from Redbridge Cycling Centre on Saturday 5 May. This reached BBC radio DJ Robert Elms and Gary Kemp from the band Spandau Ballet, who together raised £700 to replace Georg's bike.

Meanwhile, an investigation was launched by police in Redbridge and supported by the Safer Transport Command's Cycle Task Force, funded by Transport for London, who circulated the details of a van containing the bike, which was seen leaving the cycling centre. The van was seized by Essex Police and the owner later arrested, however the bike was not recovered.

A few days later information led officers from the Cycle Task Force to a van parked in Islington, which was seized and found to have the stolen bike within.

As a result of Georg being reunited with his bike on Thursday 17 May, Georg won his age group at the RTTC National Championship 10 mile Time trial on Sunday 20 May.

The money raised by the BBC will now be used to improve the security at the cycling centre.

Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, Safer Transport Command, said: "The Cycle Task Force is dedicated to tackling cycle theft across London and we are delighted to be able to return Georg's bike back, especially in time for his important competition on Sunday.

"Bike thieves should be aware that we will use the full powers of the law and range of tactics to track them down and bring them before the courts."

Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing, said: "TfL will continue to work with the Met to reduce the rate of cycle theft in the Capital. Through TfL's funding of the Met's Cycle Task Force, the team continues to do an excellent job to tackle this issue so more people chose to cycle in London.

"We urge cyclists in London to help protect their bikes by parking their bike at a designated location, securely locking their bikes and ensuring that they are cycle security marked."

110% Play Harder Transformer Shorts: Video unboxing

BikeRadar, UK — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:14:00 GMT

It's been some time since Cycling Plus Editor Rob Spedding graced BikeRadar with his unboxing series but he's finally back. More of an unbagging than an unboxing, Rob has got his mitts on a pair of compression shorts with a difference from 110% Play Harder.

The theory suggests that using compression wear during and after exercise to help improve circulation and reduce swelling. Ice, often in the form of the dreaded ice bath, is used additionally to reduce inflammation and pain by restricting the blood vessels and preventing the accumulation of fluids.

110% Play Harder have combined the two with their 110% Compression + Ice range, a series of products that include a pocket designed to fit an ice sheet. The Transformer Shorts target the quads, hamstrings, hips and lumbar area without the unnecessary, torturous plunge into the ice bath.

The firm are well established in the US, where the shorts can be purchased direct from their website for $110. They've recently extended their reach into the UK, where they can be picked up for around £80. Click here for a full list of retailers. www.110playharder.com

2013 Ritchey road components - First look

John Whitney in Bath, UK — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year again where next year's products precipitously flood into the office and these new Ritchey Superlogic road components from do nothing to stem the tide.

All three - stem, bars and post - arrive in a new matte black finish, a change from the previous gloss aesthetic. The only addition comes in the stem, which is the first carbon version from their C-260 range. It's a design that sees the bar clamp wrap 260 degrees around the handlebar - a method that is said to distribute clamping stress more evenly through all the components.

The first thing that grabs you with the C-260 Carbon SuperLogic stem (£230) is its size. It packs some real heft into its lightweight 132g (120mm length) and its makers reckon it's the stiffest they produce - definitely one for the sprinters. It comes in 90-130mm sizes, 28.6/31.8mm steerer diameters and 84/6 degree angles. Along with the bars and post, it will be available from UK distributor Paligap from late August.

Filling out the matte black cockpit range are the SuperLogic Logic II bars (£275) and SuperLogic Carbon seatpost (£225). The bars, as with the post, are - aside from the finish - unchanged from the previous model and come in 40, 42 (192g) and 44cm widths and compatible with 31.8mm stems.

The carbon post (350mm/163g) comes in 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters, and 300, 350 and 400mm lengths. Unlike many fiddly seatposts it uses a single 5mm bolt for clamping, making it undoubtedly easier to install.

Koga Kimera Road UD Team review

Cycling Plus — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Road UD Team is derived from Koga's Kimera track bike, and it's a striking-looking machine. There are lighter bikes available at this price but the Koga offers such a great ride that weight isn't an issue and it makes a superb all-rounder. Just add faster wheels to create a flying Dutchman.

Highs: Fine blend of performance, stability and comfort in a great looking package
Lows: Such a good frame deserves some faster wheels to unleash its speed
Buy if: You want a rarely-seen bike with giant-killing potential

The Road UD Team's unidirectional carbon monocoque frame and fork are beautifully detailed with red, white and blue, with a smooth clear coat on top. The spine of the frame is a giant triangular down tube that has to lessen in diameter to make room for the chainset.

The equally enormous rectangular section chainstays leave the bottom bracket and sweep outwards to carbon dropouts. They’re so deep that the driveside stay has an indentation to clear the chainrings. Short seatstays join the seat tube as a wishbone for a tight rear triangle.

A gusset-like carbon tongue extends under the forward portion of the top tube for extra strength and to resist turning forces. The short head tube allows for a low racy position, and acts as a neat cable stop, the gear cables passing through it and exiting parallel with the down tube.

Even with such a huge down tube, Koga have extended the bottom bracket shell as far outboard as possible without fouling the chainset, resulting in an immensely stiff platform – the Kimera lapping up all the power you can muster and then some.

Acceleration is very urgent without a trace of flex, and might be phenomenal with race wheels. The stock 2TT Race 1700 hoops did all they were asked to, but don’t have the zip of a properly quick set. A frame as good as the Kimera demands something a little classier to really unlock the performance.

Cornering is very assured, the Michelin Lithion 2 tyres performing admirably throughout. The Kimera’s ride is refined when spinning, feeling utterly solid but efficient and composed over all surfaces. The roughest roads didn’t affect it one bit, and the Koga just ploughed on through without being deflected from its course.

You can tell this bike is from a country of big strong riders, as the frame is so rigid, but it still sucks up vibration effectively. The steering is light and extremely flickable, while still feeling rock solid at speed. The Koga truly has the mercurial talents of Dennis Bergkamp, with a delicate touch and other-worldly control. We found it hard to believe that a frame seemingly so overbuilt could be so nimble without ruining the ride.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Pro bike: Rory Sutherland’s NeilPryde Diablo

Ben Delaney — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:52:00 GMT

Having established a beachhead in the UK, NeilPryde is now making a push into the US market, and the company signed UnitedHealthcare to race its bikes for the 2012 season.

UnitedHealthcare team leader Rory Sutherland recently won the overall title at the SRAM Tour of the Gila, and last week finished 13^th overall at the Amgen Tour of California.

Click on the gallery at right for a detailed look at his NeilPryde Diablo, dressed up in SRAM Red 2012 components, ENVE Smart System wheels and a Ritchey cockpit.

For those of you unfamiliar with NeilPryde, the company began 40 years ago in windsurfing. The company recently entered the bike market as Mike Pryde, son of the company’s founder, is a big cyclist.

The company currently has two road bikes: the Diablo, and all-around race machine, and the Alize, an aero bike. Earlier this year the company also announced its plans for a third model, the Bura SL, the frame of which is targeted to come in under 750 grams. BikeRadar offered a first look at this bike from the Taipei Show in March.

Watch for news and a review of that bike on BikeRadar.com.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: NeilPryde Diablo
Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis, 140mm, -6°
Handlebar: Ritchey WCS Curve, 44cm (c-c)
Front brake: SRAM Red 2012
Rear brake: SRAM Red 2012
Shift/brake levers: SRAM Red 2012
Front derailleur: SRAM Red 2012
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red 2012
Cassette: SRAM Red 2012, 11-26T
Chain: SRAM Red 2012
Crankset: SRAM Red 2012, 175mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: SRAM Red 2012
Pedals: Speedplay Zero
Wheelset: ENVE Smart System 3.4 tubulars (clincher version pictured)
Front tire: Vittoria tubular (Maxxis Cormet clincher pictured)
Rear tire: Vittoria tubular (Maxxis Cormet clincher pictured)
Saddle: Ritchey WCS
Seatpost: Ritchey WCS Carbon
Bottle cages: Arundel Mandible (2)
Computer: Garmin Edge 500 (Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 pictured)

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
Rider's weight: 78kg (170lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 81.cm

BikeRadar Training: First month in numbers

BikeRadar, UK — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

BikeRadar Training isn't a month old yet but you wouldn't know that from the mind-boggling volume of miles its users have racked up since the launch at the end of April.

The 1,645 registered users are rapidly on their way to a cumulative distance of 300,000 miles, the equivalent of 12 times around the Earth. The 277,000 miles so far have been clocked up through 27,785 hours of saddle time, which is the equivalent to one cyclist riding for over three years straight.

Six riders have already completed our ‘1000 mile Challenge’. The winner, Alastair Reynolds, has seemingly put his feet up and basked in the glory of passing the landmark four figures and was recently overtaken by both 1tal (1206 miles) and Latimer Todd (1317). The first 100 breaking through the 1000-mile barrier will receive an exclusive BikeRadar Training t-shirt, so there are still 94 up for grabs.

Other eye-catching figures for May include Dougeeboy's highest average speed of 26.5mph, Bramstoker's phenomenal 161hrs of saddle time and Rob Hydon's staggering 57 individual sessions.

This is just the start though. The more people that sign-up, the higher the bar will be raised and the harder it will become to top the leaderboards. And that can mean only one thing - more cycling. To register today for free, click here.

BikeRadar Training promo

Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam raises over £2m for charity

BikeRadar UK — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Rugby and cricket legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Freddie Flintoff finished their 2872km charity ride across Europe - dubbed the Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam - on Friday, 18 May in London. In doing so they raised £2.012m, with the help of official partner Halfords, for various British charities.

Others who took part included ex-footballer Lee Dixon, Graeme Le Saux and Sam Branson, son of Virgin Group Chairman Sir Richard Branson. The latter even made a guest appearance during the ride, as did his wife Joan, ex-GB rowing gold medallist James Cracknell and ex-pro cyclists Frank Hoj, Jeremy Roy, and Claudio Chiappucci.

The Slam started in Olympia, Greece on 23 April and lasted 22 days, taking in the Italian Riviera, Strade Bianche, Swiss Alps and the Champagne region in France - including 153km of riding across the cobbles of northern France. The final leg was 100km from Ashford to the gates of the Olympic Stadium in London.

Lawrence Dallaglio said: "I can’t tell you how amazing this challenge has been. I’ve spent 11 hrs on a bike for 22 days. We’ve climbed up some of the most iconic mountains in cycling and tackled the cobbles of Roubaix which is where they finish the famous pro race ‘Paris Roubaix.’

"It has been a real physical and mental challenge for us all, and I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for the support and encouragement over the past 22 days. Thanks to the help and support of everyone here and the public, we are really close to hitting our fundraising target, so all the pain has been hugely worthwhile.”

Freddie Flintoff added: "It’s been so hard. You wake up every day and switch your head off and turn your legs on. Yesterday, we cycled on cobbles and there are parts of my body hurting I never knew I had. It’s been a long struggle, but worthwhile to go through half of the suffering the people we’re raising money for go through every day."

Dallaglio and Flintoff justifiably happy and emotional after the finish

The Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam 2012 will be televised in a two part documentary produced by Discovery, due to air this July.

To find out more and donate, visit www.dallaglioflintoff2012.com

Dallaglio Cycle Slam raises over £2m for charity

BikeRadar UK — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Dallaglio and Flintoff justifiably happy and emotional after the finish

The Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam 2012 will be televised in a two part documentary produced by Discovery, due to air this July.

To find out more and donate, visit www.dallaglioflintoff2012.com