BikeRadar.com Road News

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 Q and 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 cyclist 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.

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

Video: Hesjedal down but not out at Giro d’Italia

Barry Ryan, Cyclingnews.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:24:00 GMT

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.

A tired Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) reached the summit of Pian dei Resinelli 39 seconds down on Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) but he remained upbeat about his chances in spite of losing the maglia rosa on stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia.

The Canadian was defending a narrow 9-second lead overall coming into the day’s stage, a testing 171km into the heart of Tour of Lombardy country that was made all the more difficult by constant rain and treacherous roads, including the descent of the Valcava.

While Liquigas-Cannondale succeeded in controlling the tempo of the pink jersey group most of the way up the final climb above Ballabio, the racing ignited inside the final three kilometres, as first Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and then Rodriguez attempted to jump clear.

Mindful of his own qualities as something of a diesel, Hesjedal understood immediately that the best option was to continue at his own pace rather than attempt to match the ferocity of Rodriguez’s acceleration.

“I can’t get sucked in to trying to accelerate with those guys, especially today as I didn’t feel that good,” Hesjedal told reporters shortly after wheeling to a halt beyond the finish line. “But if today was my bad day then I can be happy with that.”

As Hesjedal covered up his mud-splattered pink jersey with a jacket, Rodriguez was preparing to mount the podium to accept a pristine version. However, with just 30 seconds separating them and with a 30km time trial still to come in Milan, Hesjedal was bullish about his chances of staying in the hunt through the Dolomites.

“It was a good finish for him again today, very explosive at the end of a hard day,” Hesjedal said. “It’s clear that he’s in good shape and we’ve got quite the little battle shaping up here.”

Hesjedal explained that he was still suffering the effects of his acceleration on the previous day’s stage to Cervinia, when he had upset the odds by clipping off the front of the group of contenders and moving back into the pink jersey. In such circumstances, he declared himself satisfied to have limited his losses in the mountains overlooking Lake Como.

“I didn’t feel that good today all day so I’m pretty pleased with the ride today,” he said. “I had some problems. I had to ride my spare bike today and it was wet and cold. Plus it was a big effort yesterday. Tomorrow’s the rest day so I’m happy because I don’t think I lost too much time.”

The weight of defending the jersey now passes to Katusha, while Hesjedal’s brief will be to stay as close as he can to the Catalan and the other favourites in the troika of stages in the Dolomites next week. The strongest of the overall contenders in the time trial, he is aware that he has a 30km test to come in Milan to try and recoup any additional losses.

“The team was awesome again on a real tough day to be in the jersey and I enjoyed it again,” Hesjedal said. “It was exciting to take it back yesterday and I’ve got no problems giving it back.”

There was a brief moment of levity as Hesjedal prepared to ride off to his team bus, parked at the foot of the final climb. Asked if his Norwegian ancestry had helped him to cope with the mountains and the cold, Hesjedal managed to raise a smile in spite of his fatigue. “Yeah, probably it’s in the genes.”

Pro bike: Robbie McEwen’s Scott Foil

Ben Delaney — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:26:00 GMT

After 17 years of getting paid to race a bicycle, Robbie McEwen will bow out Sunday at the conclusions of the Amgen Tour of California. Here is a look at the set-up of his Scott Foil, which, like the man himself, is fairly straightforward.

Scott first showed prototypes of the Foil in 2010 with HTC-Columbia at the Tour de France. It was dubbed ‘FO1’ at the team. Scott continued to work with its sponsored athletes until 2011 to refine the design.

Today, there are seven Foil models, ranging from $1,400 to $10,000. All feature tubes with a distinctive truncated airfoil shape that Scott claims achieves the same aerodynamic benefit as a full airfoil shape. The top three models feature a higher grade carbon fiber.

McEwen races a stock frame, with a Shimano Di2 electronic drivetrain, an aluminum PRO cockpit, Shimano C35 wheels and Continental tubulars.

McEwen will remain with Orica-GreenEDGE going forward, only now as a sprint coach for the team.

Cyclingnews summed up his career well, noting that he “took his wins the hard way, as a scrappy, opportunistic sprinter who was as generous with his post-race analysis as he was with his elbows in the final 200 meters of a sprint.”

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Scott Foil
Stem: Shimano PRO Vibe 7s, 120mm -6°
Handlebar: Shimano PRO Vibe 7s, 42cm (c-c)
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-7970
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-7970
Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-28T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace, 172.5mm, 53/39T (Dura-Ace with SRM on race bike)
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace
Pedals: Look Keo Blade Carbon Titanium (Shimano pedals are team spec)
Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace C35 tubular
Front tire: Continental Competition tubular, 22mm
Rear tire: Continental Competition tubular, 22mm
Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro TR
Seatpost: Scott Foil
Bottle cages: Elite Custom Race (2)
Computer: SRM

Video: Victoria Pendleton on the Olympics and beyond

BikeRadar UK — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Victoria Pendleton, one of the UK's leading cyclists, will be going for multiple gold medals at this year's Olympic Games in London. A top favourite for the women's track sprinting events, Pendleton wants to crown her career with success in front of her home crowd.

"It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. I can't wait to get out there and get it done," she says in this video, taken at the launch of the Samsung Hope Relay, a free app for logging miles that Samsung will turn into charity donations.

After the Olympics, Pendleton says she's hanging up her wheels after the better part of a decade as the world's leading female track cyclist. Then what?

"First of all I'm going to go on holiday beause I never allow myself to go on holiday and really relax," she says. "I always end spending my time in the gym, finding a gym, going for a bike ride. Also I want to plan my wedding and finally get married so that's something that's going to take a little bit of time too."

For the full interview, click on the video below (click here for a larger version).

BikeRadar Deals of the Week – Road Bikes

BikeRadar — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online deals from our recommended retailers could save you both time and money.

If you just want to get to the bargains, skip to the end of the article to see the deals listed as Quick Links.

Otherwise, read on for more details including pictures, BikeRadar reviews and your opinions wherever possible – so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Some of these offers won't last forever though, so be quick if you want to bag yourself a bargain.

1. Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp is a popluar bike riders who relish the challenge of road riding and testing their fitness. Get the advantages in performance from the Avanti custom designed carbon frame without the expense of a top-level groupset. Coupled with the carbon frame are the Avanti custom designed direct response carbon forks ensuring a balanced ride. Quality is maintained throughout with the inclusion of Shimano CN-500 chainset, Shimano FC-5600 cranks, Xero CXR-330 wheelset and Continental Ultra Race tyres."

2. Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The full-carbon frame is powerful, the down tube is massive and the bottom bracket, heart and fulcrum of this triangle, is unyielding to the power you'll unleash when you stand on the pedals. The distinctive features are all there: the Onda fork will guide you safely through the most demanding curves. 24HM carbon with 12K finish. The frame is available in six colours and seven sizes. Components include a Shimano 105 groupset, Shimano WH500 wheelset and MOST Ewiva tyres."

3. Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,235.00 and save 35 percent

"Comfort and quality of ride underpin the Ghost Race Lector. Built on the Race HM carbon frame and matched with CG carbon front forks results in a cycle that offers a lightweight and smooth ride. Gearing is provided by Shimano Ultegra chainset that utilises a Shimano Ultegra compact crankset set. The bike rolls on an Easton Aero wheelset wrapped up in Schwalbe Ultremo tyres. Brakes are Tektro R 741. A bike perfectly suited for beginner to intermediate cyclists."

Quick Links:

Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent
Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent
Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1235.00 and save 35 percent

Offers courtesy of: Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and Winstanleys Bikes

Subscription Offer:

Cycling Plus – Buy Now from myfavouritemagazines.co.uk for as little as £45.99 (£3.54/issue) and save 21 percent

Cycling Plus is for anyone who appreciates the all-out effort of racing, the freedom of touring or the cut-and-thrust of commuting. Read more & subscribe.

Pro bike: Dave Zabriskie’s Cervélo R5 VWD

Ben Delaney, from Boulder, CO — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Garmin-Barricuda’s time-trial ace David Zabriskie moved into the leader’s jersey at the Amgen Tour of California thanks to his skills against the clock on the new Cervélo P5, but he’s racing the remainder of the event on a Cervélo R5 RWD.

There are a few notable things about Zabriskie’s road rig: custom frame modifications, and — as befits a champion time trialists — time-trial chain rings and a time-trial saddle. Zabriskie also run a double thickness of handlebar tape.

As Cervélo’s R series bikes do not come with internal routing for Shimano Di2, Garmin-Barricuda mechanic Alex Banyay took matters into his own hands, and drilled a hole in the top tube to run the wiring through. (Don’t try this at home, kids — it voids your warranty).

Where the wiring comes out at the bottom bracket area, Banyay took advantage of the existing hole in the frame for the front derailleur cable to run the Di2 wire up to the front derilleur. Then he ran the rear wire back to the rear derailleur, taping and zip-tying it down along the way.

Banyay also drilled mounting holes for the Di2 battery on the bottom of the down tube.

Zabriskie is using Rotor’s aero time-trial chain rings and spider cover, with a standard 53/39 configuration. Rotor general manager Kervin Quinones said the TT rings are a little bit stiffer (and a little bit heavier) than the regular road rings, and of course also offer a bit of an aero advantage.

The Rotor 3D+ cranks are mounted with Rotor’s version of the PF30 bottom bracket, using ceramic bearings. The set-up features a lock ring that preloads the bearings with a 2mm Allen key.

See how Zabriskie fares on his P5 VWD at the Amgen Tour of California with complete coverage on Cyclingnews.com.

A professional custom modification by Garmin-Barricuda mechanic Alex Banyay tucks the Shimano Di2 wires into the top tube

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Cervélo R5 VWD, 54cm
Headset: FSA Orbit IS-2 integrated, 1-1/8in
Stem: 3T ARX Team, 13cm x -6°
Handlebar: 3T Ergonova Team Carbon, 42cm (c-c)
Tape: Double wrapped on tops; single wrapped on drops
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-7970
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-7970
Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-25T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
Crankset: Rotor 3D+ TT, 175mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: Rotor Ceramic
Pedals: Garmin Vector (without power-meter internals)
Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
Front tire: Mavic Yksion GripLink tubular
Rear tire: Mavic Yksion PowerLink tubular
Saddle: Fi'zi:k Ares
Seatpost: 3T Doric Team, zero setback
Bottle cages: Arundel Mandible (2)
Computer: Garmin Edge 500

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.83m (6ft)
Rider's weight: 67kg (147lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 78mm

BikeRadar Training 1000 mile challenge leaderboard

BikeRadar UK — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:47:00 GMT

How long would it take you to cycle and log 1000miles? Reckon you could do it in 16 days?

For the month of May, in association with the launch of BikeRadar Training, we set a challenge to our community, creatively dubbed the ‘1000mile Challenge’.

On Wednesday we had our first rider completing it: Alastair Reynolds from the UK. Congratulations Alastair for achieving the target so quickly!

A hardened commuter, covering over 50 miles each day and close to 200 on the weekends. Very close on his tail is 1tal who has recorded 954miles in May alone; he rides 5 days a week with a mixture of turbo sessions and road rides keeping his average mileage at an impressive 315 a week during the summer months.

The 1000mile Challenge is still on, who’s going to be the second person to reach the target? Below is the latest leaderboard - see how you fare in comparison.

Remember if you’re one of the first 100 (out of our 1600+ strong global community) to log a 1000miles you’ll receive an exclusive BikeRadar Training t-shirt.

The May leaderboard to date

Five inner tubes for £10

BikeRadar UK — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:30:00 GMT

This weekend’s Daily Deal – a pack of five Kenda road or mountain bike inner tubes for £10 - is back by popular demand. You'll likely need to act fast though, as it ends on Monday 21 May or until the tubes are sold out.

Inner tube options available are 700x18-25c Presta valve (suitable for road bikes), limited to 500 packs of five, and 26"x1.75-2.25" Schraeder valve (for mountain bikes), limited to 250 packs.

The deal is open to UK and US readers.

To find out more, visit our Daily Deal page now.