Indholdsfortegnelse for September-October 2024 i Bicycling Australia

Fast-forward 13 years, and I’m still promoting the women’s pro peloton. I continue to be a massive fan of both the men’s and women’s events. I view them as the same sport but enjoy watching each for their merit. Women’s professional cycling has developed rapidly in the past few years, particularly with the addition of the multi-stage Tour de France Femmes. When I first started watching women’s pro cycling, the only races that were visible were the World Championships and Olympic Games. Now, thanks to streaming services and TV coverage, you can watch heaps more. Alongside this rise of women’s road cycling are numerous Aussie women who’ve had great successes, like Amanda Spratt and Grace Brown. While they haven’t gained household name status, like some of their male counterparts, they…

As cycling enthusiasts, we might be a little biased, but it’s clear that for far too many years our sport simply hasn’t received the recognition it deserves. Take for example the pre, during and post-Olympic coverage of sports such as swimming, soccer, skateboarding, squash or surfing, and it’s pretty obvious that cycling’s considered nowhere near as sexy … and they’re just the S sports. Aside from our incredible results on the track – more about that further on – my argument is that minimal mainstream media coverage contributes to a negative perception of cycling in Australia. The Olympics is the pinnacle for athletes worldwide, drawing the largest audience and having a positive societal impact. Yet, when Grace Brown won a stunning gold medal in the Time Trial, the coverage was…

Since I was in Norway for an adventure, it would be a shame not to test out a Norwegian brand bike brand that designs bikes with Norway’s adventurous spirit in mind. Fara Cycling is an independent local manufacturer that is relatively new to the market. Founded by ex-Canadian ex-Pro, Jeff Webb in 2015, the idea if to maintain the Scandinavian culture of simplicity and honesty in its product offers. Fara has three main lines of models, the F/Road, F/All-Road and F/Gravel. I have been supplied with the F/All-Road, a model that has been designed for everything. Now, ‘everything’ is a big ask. And yet, one that I felt the F/All-Road delivered in style. At first glance, the simple frame design is clean cut and pleasing to look at. Everything about…

I’ve been road testing the new S-ALL Carbon Ultra wheels made by the Chinese brand Superteam, and in an initial two words I’m ‘very impressed’. Given this wheelset’s price point, low weight, great handling and impressive ride – and the fact they’re a relatively unknown brand – they have really surprised me. Having never heard of Superteam and was somewhat skeptical early on, these wheels have proven to be a great, budget-friendly option in the competitive wheel market. First Impressions – Design and Build Quality Out of the box, the first thing that jumps out at you is the unique design. While waved rims are fairly common these days, the ‘Shark Fin’ imprints on the rims themselves were the first I’ve come across. These multi-sized nodules are said to improve…

We’ve recently been road testing a new all-in-one rear facing camera and light made by Singaporean brand TOOOCYCLING, the DVR80. Cycling cameras, front and rear, are quickly becoming a ‘must have’ accessory. As the roads get busier and drivers seem to be more and more impatient, recording a ride is not just a luxury but becoming a necessity these days. The unique, compact design of the DVR80 stands out and it’s a robust and well made unit. It’s also surprisingly slimline and tucks in nicely behind the seat post. The device comes with a charger, two seatpost mounts, an aero seatpost adapter, some rubber ties, a charger, and a protective silicone case for the camera. The footage comes out really well, with a wide angle and stable images. Capturing sound…

The tubeless tyre development space is a really dynamic and interesting one at the moment. In a previous edition of BA I reviewed some of Vittoria’s latest releases and here are competing products from one of the other biggest players in the market, Continental. It doesn’t seem like too long ago that my local bunch had an in-joke that informally enforced that everyone use Conti Gatorskins. At that time, tyre tech was not at the place it is now. As such, puncture protection was not nearly as good and tyres from many manufacturers would readily let pesky glass, wire, tack through their defences. Even then though Continental had developed the reputation (in my circles, at least) of being tougher and hard-wearing without sacrificing grip. Note: the ride dynamics of Gatorskins…

“He (Pogačar) has extended his lead, but not to third place. Jonas Vingegaard started the day at a minute and fifteen seconds (behind Pogačar); he’s (now) at a minute and fourteen seconds. Psychologically, that is the most significant second in this year’s Tour de France.” – SBS Television lead cycling commentator Matthew Keenan, following Stage 11 to Le Lioran It was, supposedly, the moment that defined the 111th edition of the Tour de France. Tadej Pogačar, the bookies’ favourite, had already taken the lead on Stage 4 from Pinerolo to Valloire, as the race crossed the border from Italy to France. It was the first mountain stage and the Slovenian won solo, 35 seconds ahead of second-placed Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and two seconds more in front of Jonas Vingegaard…

New Giant Revolt Giant have introduced the newest generation of its Revolt composite-framed gravel bikes, the Revolt Advanced Pro and Revolt Advanced. Both new bikes are built on re-engineered framesets that the company say “balance race-winning speed and efficiency with Revolt’s characteristic compliance and control.” The framesets are complemented by purpose-built components including handlebars, saddles and specific gravel wheelsets. A quick and simple adjustment on the new Revolt allows riders to fine tune the ride. A two-position flip chip on the rear dropout changes the wheelbase, along with rear-wheel tire clearance to help provide the best performance depending on terrain and riding style. A shorter wheelbase results in a quicker, more agile ride quality. This is a great option for mixed terrain that combines paved roads with smooth, fast gravel…

LACHLAN MORTON From riding club races around Port Macquarie, on to riding in the WorldTour, to U-turning back through the outback in search of a fresh life direction, and then to returning to racing in the USA and ultimately stepping back up to the WorldTour. It’s some class act, in any terms, and yet that was just a lengthy chapter of Lachlan’s amazing life journey, the rest? Only he will write that. Full against the odds of cycling tradition, he took the reins and put a whole new slant on his own personal approach to pro bike racing, and for the past few years he has been taking on a dusty mix of epic record attempts, ultra-races, and the biggest gravel and MTB endurance races around. Recently he beat some…

You have to admire the Kiwis. When they set their minds on something, they tend to do it well – cycling very much included. There’s no better example than the Koko from Chapter2. Quick, yet obedient. Stiff, yet comfortable. Muscular, yet elegant. Familiar, yet somehow also a little different. An aero bike to be sure. But somehow even more. Styling The review Koko arrived in the classic Chapter2 ‘Tuhua’ colour way, glossy black with turquoise highlights. However, as with most Chapter2 road and gravel offerings, the Koko is also available in several other eye-catching liveries. The closer you look, the more little flourishes you’ll find too. On the review build this includes subtle Māori inspired graphics on the down tube, chain stays and even the bar tape. In an era…

With high end bikes now selling for eye-watering sums of money, they no longer deserve to be hidden away in your garage. That’s what I keep telling my partner anyway. How can you neatly display your bike in the living space though? Most solutions on the market have unremarkable and even ugly setups that crowd rooms and overshadow the bikes they support. In comes Ghost Racks. Initially only selling racks to showcase surfboards and skateboards, founder Shane saw an opportunity to expand into the cycling industry, helping cyclists showcase their pride and joy in their homes – all whilst keeping the rack understated and barely noticeable. Ghost Racks are clear acrylic, custom-made bike racks that let you store your bike neatly and without visual interference. The idea behind them is…

He says… Pete Maniaty (178cm, 75kg) HIGHLIGHTS? I’ve always appreciated MAAP kit and this lightweight ensemble looks and feels fantastic; modern and stylish, but not lairy. The fit of the System Pro Air jersey is sheer, and the mesh fabrics are high quality, feathery light and offer excellent ventilation. Riding along, you really have the sensation of slicing through the air. The Italianmade Team Evo bib shorts are a real highlight. Whilst the cut feels quite firm at first, they’re actually extremely comfortable. SURPRISES? The relatively low level of sun protection for a ‘summer’ jersey was a bit surprising. According to MAAP, the main body of the jersey has a UPF rating of just 15, whilst the sleeves and side panels have no UPF rating. Obviously, this isn’t an issue…

CLIMBING HOOPS “Weight goes lower, performance goes higher, riders go faster. So states a recent press release from Reynolds. It’s a pretty logical proposition. It’s also the raison d’etre for the new Reynolds AR25 DB wheelset – the base model in a trio of 25mm ultralight carbon road hoops designed to get us climbing like mountain goats. When launching the 25mm range earlier in 2024 Reynolds explained: “While much attention has been paid to the deeper section rims in the market … the lower profile and its undeniable advantages has been overlooked more for reasons of style and aesthetics than anything else.” In other words, they may be shallow to look at, but the potential benefits are anything but. First impressions If this wheelset was a person, it would be…

EDITORIAL It started about a week before Christmas in either 1976 or 1977 – the exact year I can’t be sure of – but the excitement remains just as relatable. The brick house sat atop sandstone blocks on sloping land; there were a couple of steps at the front and two flights at the back. It’s still there too; I rode past a couple of years ago. Stopping out front to peer over the fence, I looked down the driveway, recalled riding laps around the house, and remembered those longer trips to the shops and back. But back to the week before Christmas: putting two and two together and having somewhat of a hunch, I found a torch and headed down the back steps to warily venture under the house.…

Gerry Ryan has been and continues to be the greatest sponsor of Australian professional road and track cycling in the modern era, yet, by his own admission, he is not a keen rider. His first exposure to competitive cycling was during his childhood in Bendigo, Victoria, where he grew up as one of nine children. Bendigo was and still is a big track cycling town, and in his formative years, he enjoyed watching his mates race their bikes on the road and local track but was never tempted to join them. He even watched as the Sun Tour, which he would go on to sponsor, whizzed through town. “Like most kids, I pedalled a bike around, but let’s just say I have lots of ambition but no ability, so I…

Something’s up with Njord, the Norse God of the wind and the sea. He is making his presence strongly felt as we prep our bikes outside St Olav’s Church at Aveldsnes on Karmøy Island. This hilltop location looking over the Karmsundet Sound was where Viking King Harald Fairhair made Norway’s first royal seat, and it is said that ‘Karmsundet’ was also called ‘Nordvegen’, which as this was the first royal settlement, the old name gave Norway its modern name. It is only fitting then that I start a cycling tour around Norway’s southern fjords from the Viking royal seat that marked the beginning of Norway. I had come to Norway to ride the roads and to experience the beauty of the fjords by bike, and not even the gale force…

It’s the hero bike from one of the world’s flagship manufacturers, and this year it celebrates its 22nd birthday. Since Pinarello’s first Dogma in 2002, there have been 12 updates to the iconic bike, some major, others more subtle. And just like the Team Sky / Team Ineo’s ‘marginal gains’ mantra, the sum of those small but important incremental improvements will eventually lead to significant results – both at a major bike race or with the release of a new model bike. Taking a quick look back over the 20 or so years history of the Dogma, that very first model was a magnesium framed Pinarello. The first carbon Dogma appeared in 2009, the mysteriously monikered 60.1. The name was a reference to the Torayca carbon fibre used, 60HM1k. Jump…

EGB 55 Volume: 55L Weight: 965g Dimensions: 60cm × 34cm × 30cm With 60 litres of volume, The Evoc Duffle Bag 60 is a hugely spacious, lightweight duffle that can be packed down into a tiny built in pocket for storage. It is available in three colours: Dark Olive – Black, Carbon Grey – Black, and Curry – Black, the model we tested. After taking it on the road a few times now, I have to say that I’m a huge fan. It can easily fit all your cycling kit, including a helmet and shoes, with plenty of space left over. A wet weekend at this year’s Mudgee Classic let me test out the ‘Waterproof’ claim this bag comes with. To its credit, the bag performed extremely well, and the…

‘The Rolls Royce of bike helmets’. That was my first impression when sliding open the white KASK box and removing a stunning Beetle Green Elemento helmet from the packaging. The helmet oozes style, class and quality, and looking closely at the details in the strong early morning sunshine, it is pure perfection. Loosening the Octofit dial and putting the helmet on the head, and the comfort and fit feel fantastic. The Elemento seems to sit a little lower than others I’ve used, and both the inner padding (more on that in a mo) and rear cradle surround the head in a comfortable and reassuring way. Like pulling on a favourite pair of boots, the fit is familiar, soothing and very motivating. Inside the Elemento, and the padding resembles the 3D…