Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i Cycling Plus

FREE LEZYNE MINI GPS WORTH £79.99 when you subscribe to Cycling Plus See p96 This month we seem to present a bit of a conflict of interest. On the one hand we bring you a review of 16 apps designed to help boost your cycling performance by harvesting data. And then we promptly dive into a look at how too much information can have a detrimental effect on your riding! The good news, of course, is that apps like Strava – and yes there are at least 15 more – are hugely useful to cyclists as long as you use them properly and don’t become too obsessed with the numbers. Worrying about wattage has its place, but if you’re staring at your phone all of the time, rather than enjoying…

SPECIFICATION Weight 9.2kg (S) Frame 6061-T6 aluminium Fork Carbon with aluminium steerer Gears Shimano RS-505 levers, 105 mechs, FSA Gossamer 50/34, 11-28 Brakes BR-785 hydraulic disc Wheels Alex Draw 1.7p rims with unbranded QR hubs Finishing kit Pinnacle bar, stem, seatpost and saddle, 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyres Last year’s £950 Dolomite Six impressed us with its versatility and solid Shimano 105 build, and our one real criticism was of its sub-standard Tektro rim brakes. With similar kit apart from proper hydraulic discs, this year’s £1000 Dolomite 5 looks very promising... The braking upgrade has meant a few concessions along the way: the full carbon fork is no more, while the slick 105 chainset has lost out to a less shiny FSA unit. The weight’s gone up a little too…

My story begins 20,000 feet above the Indian Ocean, where I decided it was time for a change. As my wife and I returned from five weeks of gorging on curry in India on our honeymoon, I made a vow to get into shape and become physically fit. Little did I know that the decision would change the course of my life. What followed can best be described as 11 months of blood, sweat and (no) beers. At the end of it all, though, I had achieved my goal: I’d not only transformed my physique, I’d changed my entire lifestyle into the bargain. But that was simply the prelude to a far greater story that continues to unfold. It was one thing to look good with my top off, but…

BOARDMAN CX TEAM £999 The least expensive of our sextet, but the CX Team still features a triple-butted, smooth-welded aluminium frame paired with a carbon fork. It also comes with a full raft of branded components, most notably a similar SRAM Rival 1 setup to most of the bikes here – including the hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels are quickrelease offerings from Mavic, with Boardman’s name adorning most of the rest of the kit. VITUS ENERGIE PRO £1599.99 It’s goodbye to aluminium and hello to highmodulus T700 carbon fibre with the Energie Pro from Chain Reaction Cycles’ Vitus brand. But it’ll be no surprise that this is the third appearance of SRAM Rival 1 with its hydraulic brakes and 160mm disc rotors. The thruaxle wheels feature Novatec rims, with rims…

WE SAY The carbon Ksyrium puts Mavic back in the race, but there’s a lot of competition NEW FOR 2016, the 14 variants of Mavic’s Ksyrium wheels now include carbon fibre rims too. Billed as the lightest Ksyrium ever, the Pro Carbon SL is available in clincher and tubular versions, and for rim or disc brakes. Our tubular set came with skewers and Swissstop yellow brake pads, and just exceeded their claimed 1190g weight at 1228g. Add 110g for the skewers and they’re still astonishingly light. They’re supplied with Mavic’s 25mm Griplink and Powerlink 260g tubeless tubulars, made by Tufo in the Czech Republic. Mavic’s new 320g carbon tubular rim is just 25mm tall for agility, though its 23mm width is 3mm up on the previous generation and can accommodate…

WE SAY Versatile and roomy, with lots of trickle-down tech from Shimano’s pro shoes TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS MAY HAVE fallen out of favour these days, but trickle-down technology continues to have wide appeal, and Shimano’s new RP – that’s Road Performance – shoes show why. The RP5s borrow numerous design features from Shimano’s pro-level R321s, most notably the ‘Surround’ upper that wraps around your foot, rather than having a traditional tongue. The RP5s are secured by a pair of Velcro straps and a ratcheted anchor. The ratchet attaches to the strap rather than the shoe itself, a system that pulls the shoe in more evenly. At first we found the top strap a little baggy even when the ratchet was fully tensioned, but using a 3mm Allen key to adjust the…

Weight Stem 132g Bar 302g This Merida setup is a genuine cycling bargain. While the bar itself isn’t as well finished as some, it does have a good shape which translates to a pleasing, comfortable feel out on the road. The cost is kept down partly by doing away with flats or shapes designed for routing cables, but the resulting round tubular bar has a satisfying feel to it. Yes, it’s just a tube, but it is straightforward, well enough made and very attractively priced. The stem matches a decent lightness with sufficient torsional stiffness and makes an ideal companion. The only downside in the whole setup is the quality of the bolts, and we’d advise you to swap these for quality stainless steel, but replacement bolts are cheap and…

WE SAY A simple, refined shape with a no-fuss quality construction and plenty of comfort HIGHS Lightweight; very comfortable; great shape LOWS Limited finishes and colours Weight Stem 122g Bar 197g Light but not scarily light? Check. Stiffness where it’s required? Yep. Less stiff in the areas that need to offer comfort? Yes, again. A good shape that works with all hood types and no bonkers profiling? Once again, yep. Cinelli has absolutely nailed it with its Neos carbon bar and carbonwrapped aluminium stem setup. The first bend is early, with the flat section for cable routing extending up to where the hoods are mounted, which means no ridges when the cables are taped down. The bar is a simple, well-shaped, high-quality affair that performs without resorting to gimmicks, fancy…

1 COST Most apps here are free to download and use in basic form, but many are ‘freemium’ apps where a paid subscription is required to unlock features or download extra routes or workouts. Subscription prices vary widely, and annoyingly may be offered in pounds or dollars depending on where the service is based. 2 EQUIPMENT Some apps, such as Sufferfest, combine perceived effort with on-screen prompts, but most use data pulled in from other sensors (measuring speed, cadence, heart rate, power etc). Invest in the latest ‘smart’ turbo trainers and some can even directly increase resistance on virtual hills or simulate changes to road surfaces. 3 TRANSMISSION Reliable wireless transmission is vital for linking sensors and software. ANT+ has been the standard protocol for most bike computers and sensors…

Love it or hate it, Strava is the most talked-about cycling app by a country mile. That’s because it doesn’t just record your country miles like most GPS apps, it also ranks your speed against any other Strava users who’ve ridden the same userdefined ‘segments’. Whether you’re vying for a King/Queen of the Mountain crown, chasing a personal best or just looking for an indication of how fast you’re going compared to previous times, it instantly adds competitive motivation to any ride. The social side of the Strava community is enriched with ‘kudos’ and comment interaction, while privacy settings help enhance security and it syncs widely and easily with other software. The basic app is free but Premium membership adds ride and performance data review, plus various comparison tools and…

Sufferfest coined the term ‘enterpainment’ and if you want a surprisingly immersive indoor training experience without requiring any extra sensors or hardware, its videos are still a great way to sweat yourself stupid with someone else holding the whip hand. Perceived effort-based training prompts on a scale of 1-10 are superimposed over pro racing and scenic riding footage to provide motivation. Pop-up goading/encouragement ensures a genuine ‘Sufferfest’, and 25 different videos cover everything from intense intervals to sustained time-trial efforts. There are training plans based on the videos too – though at a cost of $29.99. Early videos are relatively roughcut, but more recent offerings are slicker, and more are being added all the time. Bundle offers reduce the cost and there’s now an unlimited $10-a-month mobile app too. HIGHS…

EMBRACE IT You probably know the feeling: you head out on a bike ride and it all feels far too good to be true. It then dawns on you that you’re being pushed along by a roaring tailwind, which of course can only mean one thing – a horrible headwind is waiting for you on your return journey. You could, of course, decide to cut your losses and head home then and there, but that won’t make you a stronger cyclist and it won’t prepare you for when backing out isn’t an option. Instead, you need to learn how to embrace the wind. BUILD POWER As a cyclist, you might as well accept the fact that unless you have someone else’s wheel to sit on, there’s no hiding when it…

Heaviest: 16st, 40-inch waist Now: 11st 9oz, 32-inch waist. Body fat: 9.8% WHAT WERE YOUR WORST HABITS? “Even though I’m a vegetarian, I was stress-eating sweets, crisps, bread, pizza, takeaways and the like (such as ploughing through eight Snickers bars at a time). When I wasn’t at work I’d typically just sit on the couch watching TV and eating crisps.” HOW HAS CYCLING CHANGED YOUR LIFE? “From small steps – literally – like walking more and running and cycling to and from work, I’ve changed my life. Cycling has taken me on to become an ultra-triathlete – I currently train on my turbo six times a week, and I’ll soon be starting my Ironman training plan. This year my training has focused more on cycling than ever. I decided that…

Since Christmas has been and gone, I’ve had progressively less work involving my natty red outfit and black boots. I guess it must be a seasonal thing. And no, before you say anything, I’m not talking reindeer and a glass of milk on the job, but my employment as a postie. My stint for Royal Mail in central Glasgow over Christmas was a great courier experience, but the hideously early mornings were draining and it didn’t take me long to realise that I was never destined to be one of those ‘25 years in the service’ kind of guys. It was, though, one of the first full-time jobs I’ve had since several years racing bikes as an aspiring pro in France, and little did I know a proposition was to…

*And this time it is a race! WHEN 25 June – 17 July WHERE France DISTANCE Various PRICE From £390 WEBSITE tourdeforce.org.uk A week ahead of the Tour de France’s Grand Départ, riders in the Tour de Force will themselves be rolling out of Mont Satint-Michel to follow the exact same route around France. Some will be opting for a ‘Tour Taster’ package of between two and nine stages, while braver souls will take on the ‘Lifer’ challenge of the full route, getting a unique first-hand insight into why the Tour is the greatest race on earth.…

It’s hard to believe after getting well and truly soaked on my ride to work today, but summer really is just around the corner. Which makes this the perfect time to preview some of the best summer clothing and kit around. We have summer-weight jersey and bib short combos from some of the biggest names in cycling as well as newer, quirkier companies. And we have the other cycling essentials that none of us can do without – shoes and eyewear. If you’re going away this summer you’ll need a bike box for your pride and joy, and we review four of the best, not forgetting a walkthrough on how to pack your bike and the tools to put it back together. Oh, and advice on how to survive hot…

Here at Cycling Plus we take our testing seriously and have been putting road cycling products through their paces for 23 years. Our test team, led by senior technical editor Warren Rossiter, is the best in the business. They’ve got decades of cycling experience between them and know what makes a good – and bad – bike, accessory, gadget or garment. That means you can trust us to bring you honest assessments of every product we feature. If it gets our seal of approval then you can be sure that you’ll be bagging a great buy! FIRST RIDE First Ride sees our test team bring you their first impressions of the most exciting new bikes available. As soon as they’re out, we’re riding! ROAD TEST Before you buy a bike,…

The first question this bike test answered emphatically is whether single-ring setups have a future – it’s a most definite yes. True, there are situations where a super-wideratio cassette will leave you cadence gaps when you’re riding on the road. Some brands address this by fitting an 11-28 cassette, though you will need serious leg speed and muscle power to make that work on varied or steeper terrain. But the simplicity of sequential shifting is a genuine joy, and it’s hard not to appreciate the lower weight and cleaner look – even more so if dirt is involved. The best spec on test can’t hide the fact that the Viner manages to be both uncomfortably stiff and soft under power. The Vitus is also slightly soft but as it’s extremely…

WE SAY Despite the fairly closed design, the venting and airflow are impressive AERODYNAMIC ROAD HELMETS have evolved and broadly separated into two camps: on the one side you have low-volume designs like Louis Garneau’s Course; on the other is larger, more wind tunnel-evolved designs like Specialized’s S-Works Evade. MET’s Rivale sits firmly in the former camp with its low-profile and low-volume shape tipping the scales at just 257g (for a Large). MET claims the Rivale will save 3W at 50kph, equating to a second’s advantage over comparable vented helmets at the same pace – not a huge amount, but free time is free time. The Rivale debuted with MTN-Qhubeka in the 2015 Tour de France and was on the head of Steve Cummings last year as he powered to…

It wasn’t as if I was Private Pyle, nor he the drill sergeant, but with Captain Rick Smith’s imminent knock on my door, this was a bit too close to Full Metal Jacket for comfort. The clock edged towards 6am, or zero six hundred hours as I now knew it, and I lay on my bed in the British Army’s Episkopi base in Cyprus waiting for Rick’s quite literal military precision summons to the gym. At any other time it would have taken the spittle-flecked verbal heckling of a Gunnery Sergeant Hartman figure to get me close to pumping iron at any time of day – counting on one hand back to previous weight sessions would take me all the way to year four school PE. This time, however, as…

Weight Stem 162g Bar 288g The Specialized stem has a clever trick that’s not initially obvious – a shim that fits between it and the steerer tube, allowing you to change the angle of the stem. It offers 10 different positions in two-degree increments, making it a versatile purchase if you think you might need to tweak your riding position. As with some of the other stems, we’d have liked better quality bolts, but that’s the only downside. The bar is really comfortable on the tops with a slightly flattened shape and a flat on the front for the cables to sit in. There’s a slightly odd-feeling flat section on the drops that you can feel if your bar tape is thin and tightly wrapped, but there’s little else to…

WE SAY Not the cheapest, but good to look at and comfortable to ride too Weight Stem 140g Bar 220g FSA’s carbon SL-K has arguably one of the most appealing shapes of any bar around, and we’ve never found a tester who didn’t find it easy to look at. The tops are slightly flattened, and there’s an early first bend before they sweep broadly outwards, providing a very comfortable place for resting your hands when you’re climbing. The drop starts off quite tight to begin with before widening out, which offers you numerous handhold options. The bar is very impressive at handling large and small bumps alike, which is something you’ll appreciate given that it’s been partnered by the slightly stiff SL-K stem. If you want more comfort, opt for…

Wahoo’s app is the control centre for its range of trainers – the ELEMNT GPS computer and the RFLKT bar display – but it’s a decent user-friendly standalone data display and acquisition system too. The best thing about Wahoo, compared to other apps, is how clear and intuitive the basic elements of setting up and syncing with other Bluetooth sensors/devices and coaching software is. Depending on which exercise setting you choose, you have four or five swipeable screens on your mobile device, giving you essential averages and ride, power and heart rate data, with detailed breakdowns running as side script. The screens aren’t as tuneable as some, but Wahoo’s mix is spot on for generalpurpose riding, and post-workout displays are intuitive rather than intimidating. WE SAY Clear and intuitive as…

WE SAY A rapidly developing, impressively slick, utterly addictive indoor riding experience It’s no exaggeration to say that the global population of Zwift avatars virtual-riding CGI courses has revolutionised indoor training. Requirements are a compatible trainer, a speed sensor and an ANT+ dongle connected to your computer, but using heart rate monitors, power meters or a smart trainer that can translate virtual hills into real resistance obviously enriches the experience. Once you’ve downloaded the software, on-screen speed is calculated by combining your power-to-weight ratio with gradient and drafting effects, and video gamestyle bonuses are built into the bufferand glitch-free operation (though you need a fairly powerful computer setup to achieve it). Having someone to ride or race with 24/7 creates a real sense of community, as does in-game texting, live…

INSTANT EXPERT Self-talk phrases can help you pass through the pain barrier 1 AVOID THE NEGATIVE “Some riders arrive at the start of a session warning that they’re ‘not feeling up to it’ or ‘haven’t trained for weeks’,” explains Dr Steve Bull, coaching psychologist at GamePlanCoach (www.gameplancoach.com). “Instead of getting your excuses in first, use more positive, affirming pre-ride self-talk.” 2 ZOOM IN Self-talk is often used in tandem with visualisation to get into the right frame of mind, explains Dr Barry Cripps (www.performance-psychology.com). “Imagine yourself in a spaceship 100 miles above the Earth, then come ‘zooming in’ to the start point of your ride to lock in focus.” 3 START A HABIT “Elite athletes will make self-talk as natural as getting on the bike,” says Bull. The athlete should…

MAVIC KSYRIUM PRO £72 JERSEY £105 BIBS The Ksyrium jersey has a slightly more relaxed cut than Mavic’s race-ready Cosmic range, so is ideal for endurance events. It’s made from multiple materials so that it dries quickly and offers UV protection. The front and back’s Ride Wick ST fabric draws moisture away, while the Hot Ride UV fabric on the shoulders and chest stops sunburn. The Ksyrium Pro shorts use Mavic’s Ergo 3D Pro pad, which one rider subjected to the ultimate test – riding 1000km non stop (yikes!). The main section’s Skin Power material supports your muscles while the grippy Ergo Grip Race fabric stops the legs from riding up. These are reviewed on p94 of the main magazine. LIGHTWEIGHT EDELSTOFF RAUSCHBEGLEITER & TRITTRAUSCH £119 & £179 Germany’s ultrahigh-end…

RAPHA CLIMBER’S SHOE £280 Super-light, highly breathable shoes, these feature Easton’s ultra-stiff EC90SLXII carbon soles, which, like the the SuperNatural footbeds, are some of the best around. Besides white, these come in black, a ‘full reflex’ finish (like Scotchlite), reflective blue and reflective fluoro lime. PEARL IZUMI PRO LEADER III £249.99 The Pro Leader’s unique co-moulded carbon sole eliminates the need for a traditional lasting board, thus reducing the gap between you and the pedals. The mesh body with fusedin polyurethane webbing keeps things light and airy, while its twin Boas, mounted on the padded tongue, handle tensioning. Climbing on a hot summer’s day? Then these are for you… VITTORIA V-SPIRIT £148.99 The V-Spirit’s upper uses huge mesh swathes to help keep your feet cool. Its carbon-reinforced sole has a…

01 WASH YOUR BIKE If you have a stand, use it. Before you travel is the perfect time for you to clean your bike thoroughly. This not only means that it will be ready to ride quicker when you arrive, but it also allows you to check the frame for cracks, and components for any signs of damage or wear and tear. 02 REMOVE PEDALS Using a pedal spanner or Allen key, unscrew each pedal in the opposite direction from the pedalling motion. We’d recommend tying the pedals to the top-tube of the frame after you’ve padded it. This way there’s no chance of loose pedals damaging the bike. 03 SECURE THE CHAIN You don’t want your chain moving about when your bike’s in transit, as it could cause a…

PEDROS RXM MULTITOOL £19.99 The RXM combines a usable size with a decent range of tools, making this a very sound choice to pocket or pack ready for any big summer riding adventures. It weighs just 163g and includes no fewer than 12 tools: 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex keys, a flat-blade screwdriver and an M7 spoke key. Oh, and a removable chain tool suitable for 11-speed chains, complete with integrated 3.2, 3.3 and 3.5mm spoke keys. This is enough to get you out of any roadside jam or for you to set-up up your bike after travelling. LEZYNE CNC TRAVEL FLOOR DRIVE £79.99 This fully featured track pump has an accurate 1.5in gauge and comes with Lezyne’s neat and fast-fitting Flip-Thread Speed Chuck. It offers all…

SPECIFICATION Weight 9.2kg (58cm) Frame 6066/T6 aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-32 Brakes Shimano BR-RS505 hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss R32 Spline DB Finishing kit Ritchey WCS Evocurve bar, Ritchey WCS 220 stem, Rose RS170 Flex seatpost, Ergon SRX30 saddle, 32mm Schwalbe Durano E tyres First things first: despite its name the Team DX Cross isn’t actually a cyclocross bike, with it sitting in the German online outfit Rose’s ‘gravel’ range (whatever that may mean…). Either way, its hydroformed aluminium frame features smooth welds – at least on the top half – and is heavy on detailing, with an asymmetric rear end, flat-mount disc brakes, rack and mudguard eyelets and even bosses for a kick-stand. At 135mm the 10mm thru-axle rear dropouts are narrower than some. That means…

The tifosi are being haunted by the prospect of the Giro d’Italia losing some of its lustre after Vincenzo Nibali said he was considering skipping his home Grand Tour this year following the cancellation of the queen stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in March because of a forecast of heavy snow (which never arrived). His Astana team coach Paolo Slongo said: “Vincenzo is a great climber and it’s not fair that he targets the Giro, and then the mountain stages are possibly taken out of the race. What happened at Tirreno-Adriatico could happen in the Giro, and that would compromise all our work. It would also compromise the Giro.” Bad weather has blighted recent Giros, but under the UCI’s Extreme Weather Protocol (EWP), the prospect of stages being cancelled purely on the…

Surrey has always been popular with London-based roadies looking to get out of the capital at the weekend, and after starring in the 2012 Olympics the county’s roads are busier than ever. But look beyond big-name climbs like Box Hill and you’ll find there’s great riding to be had on the network of quieter roads criss-crossing the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ROUTE ONE Dorking Dust-up 53 miles Survey the Surrey Hills This may not be an especially long ride, but it makes up for that by progressively ticking off many of Surrey’s best climbs. The route takes in Box Hill, which considering it’s the most famous of Surrey’s climbs is quite gentle. Then it’s on to Ranmore, Barhatch Lane, Leith Hill and more, with a route profile…

1 BROOKS BARBICAN SHOULDER BAG £215 The dandy about town can’t be seen with anything so gauche as a rucksack, but this posh satchel from Brooks is made from tough waterresistant cotton and vegetable-tanned leather. It measures 39x28x12cm – enough for a small laptop and various essentials – and includes a waist strap to keep it in check on the bike. 2 LAZER WAYMAKER 1 GLASSES £39.99 Wraparounds look a bit try-hard (or trihard?) when you’re going for coffee, so how about some casual sunnies from helmet king Lazer? The Waymaker 1 is available in a range of frames and lenses to suit all outfits. 3 WALZ COTTON CAP £17.99 Helmets aside, a true cotton casquette is the only acceptable headwear for the committed vélophile. Simple styling and a huge…

Standard road bikes have had double chainsets for years. The size of the rings has changed, the number of gears on the cassette has increased by more than the rate of inflation. But twin chainrings were seemingly sacrosanct. Not now. In the world of mountain biking, downhillers and a few of the more aggressive riders have been running single-ring setups for years. But when SRAM introduced its hightension Type 2 ‘clutch’ mechs, super-wide-ratio cassettes, and chainrings with alternating wide and narrow teeth, the change in the world of off-road shifting became seismic. Not only did dumping the front derailleur, front gear lever and a chainring or two save serious weight, bike designers were now free to create frames and position rear wheels without worrying about multiple chainline clearances or where…

Cast your mind back to your last long ride. Were you primarily focused on the road, the people you were with and the scenery speeding past, or were you fixated on a little box, checking your power, speed and cadence? Strava, Garmin and the like make obsessing about data a huge temptation for anyone with even a slight competitive streak. Combine that with recent technological advances, and the feedback available today, even to total beginners, is mind-boggling. These apps, monitors and GPS systems have revolutionised amateur cycling, letting you see – with incredible accuracy – how far, fast, and hard you’re riding, at the literal touch of a button. Perhaps as a result, coaches, athletes and keen amateurs are now starting to urge moderation, arguing that the over-use of technology…

Your bike’s cockpit – its stem and handlebar – may not have the oversized tubing or electronic trickery that’s become typical elsewhere on the modern machine, but it remains one of the most crucial parts of your bike. The handlebar is one of just three contact areas with the bike, along with the saddle and pedals, so it has a massive effect on fit, control and comfort. The cockpit is also one of the areas that companies often scrimp on when decking out new bikes, making it an ideal upgrade if you’re looking to reduce weight, boost performance or both. When buying a new cockpit, getting the handlebar width and stem length right is crucial – but that’s only the basic part of the equation. You also have to consider…

Weight Stem 133g Bar 248g Zipp is a big name in wheels, but has been producing quality cockpit components for a few years too. Its 70Ergo bar is a great blend of traditional shaping and modern compact geometry, while the well-made SL stem has plenty of stiffness exactly where it’s needed. Combined it makes for an impressive pairing, and if you didn’t know beforehand you’d swear you were riding carbon rather than an aluminium bar, and this sensation is backed up the data that we logged as well as our testers’ experience. It’s a quality bar with a decent shape and together with the Service Course SL stem comes at an attractive price – though ideally we’d prefer Zipp to ditch the Torx bolts, or at least fit better-quality ones.…

Love it or hate it, Strava is the most talked-about cycling app by a country mile. That’s because it doesn’t just record your country miles like most GPS apps, it also ranks your speed against any other Strava users who’ve ridden the same userdefined ‘segments’. Whether you’re vying for a King/Queen of the Mountain crown, chasing a personal best or just looking for an indication of how fast you’re going compared to previous times, it instantly adds competitive motivation to any ride. The social side of the Strava community is enriched with ‘kudos’ and comment interaction, while privacy settings help enhance security and it syncs widely and easily with other software. The basic app is free but Premium membership adds ride and performance data review, plus various comparison tools and…

If you want a vast range of userfriendly, personally tailored workouts or training plans at a reasonable price, Trainer Road is the way to go. The website and iOS app interfaces are really clear, well explained and intuitive throughout. There are over 800 training goal-targeted sessions to choose from at random or as part of a coaching plan, or you can create your own sessions. Workloads are calibrated on your Functional Threshold Power rating and you get prompts and motivational tips through each easy-to-follow bar graph session. It’ll fill in your power stats pretty accurately if you just use a speed sensor, automatically increases resistance on a smart trainer, and it interacts with speed and power meters on the road if you bar-mount your phone. WE SAY A comprehensive, clear,…

OAKLEY FLAK 2.0 PRIZM £140 Oakley’s original Flak Jacket offered a smaller half-framed wrap than its iconic Radars. While that worked well riding off road it wasn’t as well suited to the road. The new 2.0 version offers bigger lens coverage while retaining the same design. Oakley claims that its Prizm lens has its best optics yet, for greatest protection from UV rays and absolute clarity without distortion. The lightweight O-Matter frames are comfortable, while the grip of the softtouch ‘unobtanium’ nosepads and earsocks actually increases when they get wet. TIFOSI ELDER XL £59.99 Tifosi always manages to create great-looking shades with excellent technical features at a better price than that offered by its bigger-name rivals. The Elder’s halfframe design fits well and grips your face securely, and the vented…

STAY HYDRATED 01 “Cyclists can often go into a long ride insufficiently hydrated, so drinking around two litres of water throughout the day when you’re not riding helps maintain energy levels and reduces the risk of dehydration,” says Dr Sally Norton. “To check your hydration levels, look at the colour of your urine – too dark and you aren’t hydrated enough, almost colourless and you’re over-hydrated. A pale straw colour is just about right.” 02 “Research into the effects of hydration on cycling performance has grown almost as much as the products riders can drink. One endurance study focusing on an 80km time trial by the University of Cape Town found that cyclists who drank regularly through the test replaced 51 per cent of their sweat losses and improved performance…

EVOC BIKE TRAVEL BAG PRO £399 The Pro takes EVOC’s already highly respected Travel Bag to new heights. It has a built-in monocoque wheel chassis, a moulded hard-case bottom and protective aluminium side rails – resulting in impressive levels of protection. It’s big too, so it’ll take a bike with a 124cm wheelbase – a typical road bike is 100cm or so. The price includes Evoc’s neat road bike fork ‘Adapter’ , frame pad and clip-on wheel spares. Its 8kg weight means it’s light enough to lift even when full. And thanks to its tough cowled skate wheels it’s easy to move too. ELITE VAISON CASE £349.99 There’s nothing better than a hard case when it comes to protecting your bike. The Vaison’s hinged design makes packing a doddle and…

SUGOI ARM COOLERS £24.99 Long sleeves aren’t just for winter - you can protect and cool your arms when the sun beats down with these UPF50-rated sleeves. PEARL IZUMI HEAT TRANSFER CAP £14.99 The classic cycling cap updated with PRO Transfer Dry fabric and with In-R-Cool lining to manage your sweat, plus a peak to protect you from the sun (or, yep, rain). ELITE NANOGELITE BOTTLE £19.99 A revolutionary thermal bottle for hot and cold drinks. This is constructed from Nanogel, said to be the world’s lightest and bestperforming solid insulating material. Elite’s Nanogelite bidon will keep your drinks hot or cold for up to four hours. CRAFT COOL MESH SUPERLIGHT BASELAYER £28 Pro riders swear by a good baselayer, which regulate your body temperature by wicking away sweat. This…