Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i Cycling Plus

WELCOME… Deep-rim carbon wheels, teardrop frame shapes and £115 bottle cages (yes, really, head to p76) will all make your bike more aerodynamic, compliant and/or lighter. But the biggest performance gains will come from changes, both big and small, to your own riding regime, nutrition and lifestyle choices. That’s why we’ve given our Training Zone section (from p103) a shiny overhaul starting this month, complete with your essential cycling questions answered, winning recipes, advice on riding in a pack, and an exclusive training plan to get you big-ride-ready in just six weeks. Good luck! matthew.baird@ourmedia.co.uk Your experts Simon Withers Tech reviewer As well as partying like it’s 1999, newcomer to the sexagenarian club Simon has been testing commuter bikes to discover which can also handle weekend rides. p26 James Witts Sports…

A new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is being planned for my local area. If you’ve been following some of the drama around Oxford’s 15-minute neighbourhoods – that means being within a 15-minute walk of things like bus stops, a post office or medical practice – then you will likely know what happens next. We have been blessed with lively social media debates, a factually inaccurate petition, unquestioningly reported in the local press, and some ‘No to LTN’ signs in windows – though no physical protests yet. It’s your textbook response, repeated up and down the country. I for one am excited – we already have a handful of LTNs in Newham, east London – and they’ve transformed my neighbourhood. Streets that were once hostile are now calm and quiet. Cycling increased…

Monoblade fork ● It looks unusual, but Cannondale’s Lefty monoblade fork isn’t a case of form over function. Chris Boardman’s gold medal-winning Lotus also had a single-bladed fork and that bike’s designer, the late, great Mike Burrows pioneered its use on more utilitarian bikes such as his ‘Gordon’ city bike – which also had a monoblade rear triangle – and his Eight Freight cargo bike. Why? The ever-innovative Burrows called them “lighter, stronger and better” and went on to explain that your bike already has two monoblades – the cranks, and they’re clearly built to withstand a lot of force. A further advantage is that you can take the tyre off to repair a puncture without removing the wheel. Neat. Reynolds 725 ● A Reynolds 725 steel frame (as seen…

Weight 9.8kg (54cm) Frame Reynolds 725 double-butted steel Fork Carbon blades, 1 ⅛in alloy steerer Gears Shimano 105 50/34, 11-32 Brakes Tektro R737 rim calliper Wheels Kinlin XR22 rims, Bitex hubs Finishing kit 700c Schwalbe One 28mm tyres, FSA Wing compact handlebar, FSA Omega OS-168 stem, Spa Navigator saddle, Deda Zero 1 27.2mm seatpost THE YEAR IS 2023: WEREN’T STEEL bikes supposed to have been consigned to the scrap heap and we’d all be commuting using our own personal jet pack? Maybe I just watch too many sci-fi films. Actually, steel has never gone away entirely as a material for building both high-end and entry-level bikes. And why not? It’s reasonably easy to manufacture, it’s easier to repair than most other bike-building materials and, if you look after it, your…

My earliest memories of the Giro d’Italia are tied to Marco Pantani, Il Pirata, the late, great climber and winner of the Giro and Tour de France in 1998. I was only a little child, but these were boom years of professional cycling in Italy and everybody was talking about it. I remember seeing the pink caravan of the Giro for the first time, together with my father, from the side of the road. What an emotion. For a little child, it was the spectacle of colours and sounds that were so alluring. Later, when I started riding and racing, the Giro became a time to get excited, to impersonate the champions I saw on my television. From age 10 onwards, I didn’t miss a single stage when the Giro…

REMCO EVENEPOEL ● This Belgian prodigy, 23, has unfinished business with the Giro, having endured a bruising debut in 2021. In fairness, he wasn’t quite match fit, having fractured his pelvis in a horror crash at the 2020 Il Lombardia race. While competitive, he struggled to live up to the huge expectations and withdrew in the final week. He returns in 2023 following the finest season of his short career in which he won Liege–Bastogne–Liege and La Vuelta a Espana on debut and became road race World Champion for the first time. The route, heavy as it is on time-trial kilometres, is in the favour of Evenepoel, who won the competitive Belgian national championship last year. GERAINT THOMAS ● He’s another rider whose luck has often deserted him on Italian…

Kentish Killer Date: March 2024 If you can’t make HOTA (or are feeling particularly sadistic by doing both back-to-back), the Kentish Killer, held on the following weekend to HOTA and closely associated with it, is another great chance to test your winter training’s progress down in the South East. At 111km long and with 1,800m-plus elevation gain across a mixture of climbs and rolling terrain, it’s one for the puncheurs. Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Date: March 2024 Take on the dusty white roads of one of the WorldTour’s most iconic Classics. Starting and finishing in the Tuscan city of Siena, the 130km route features seven sectors of gravel and some incredibly punchy terrain before concluding in Piazza del Campo – scene of the legendary Palio horse race, and Tom Pidcock’s…

THE MISSION 22’S SIZE OF, YOU guessed it, 22 litres, is about par for the course in bike commuting bags (we’ll be testing eight next issue), but the drawstring-closed single compartment makes its main area feel pretty cavernous. Having a sole main compartment does mean your dirty kit or lunchbox sits alongside nearly everything else in there, however, even if the moderately sized and padded laptop sleeve can also handle any documents or any copies of Cycling Plus, of course. The zipped pocket at the front is arguably the best bit, hosting a wealth of dividers, pen sleeves, a key carabiner and a mesh pocket for snacks – it’s a simple and effective organisational solution that I want to see on more backpacks. The 600g weight is decent enough, it…

STYRKR (SAY ‘STIR-KUH’) HAS made a good start with this tasty rice bar that’s designed to boost endurance. The apple, caramel and sultana combo deliver a sweet hit while the soft, chewy texture is appreciated, and it’s not too dry either. It delivers a hefty 294cals, of which 57.2g comes from carbs and only 6.2g from fat – a good split for such a high-energy morsel. The only moot point is the lengthy ingredients list – brevity often equals healthier – but the bar is ‘all-natural’, gluten free and vegan.…

Rapha Indoor Training T-Shirt £45 Sizes 6 sizes XS-XXL WHETHER YOU’RE CONFINED to a hot box of a bedroom or the relative luxury of a cool garage, pedalling furiously nowhere is one of the sweatiest activities there is, up there with public speaking. Indoor turbo tops such as this do dial down the temperature and keep you riding harder for longer. Fit is tighter than a gym shirt but looser than an outdoor base layer and as such is very comfortable attire for the turbo. The absence of sleeves means more bare flesh is exposed, keeping you cooler at the end of a hard session when the rest of your tee is sweaty. But why is there no pocket, for storing that all-important, boredom-busting turbo accessory of your phone? It’d…

Just like previous versions, the Reserve 25GR is designed to be compatible with higher-volume gravel tyres, but this one is even more durable on harsher terrain. As part of its ‘engineered to keep you faster for longer’ tagline, externally reinforced spoke holes are used to strengthen the area around the spoke nipple without adding extra weight. The offset spoke holes are also said to allow the tyre to push past the bead bumps for easier seating of tubeless models. The specification and build quality is backed up by a lifetime warranty and no-fault crash replacement service. You have to apply the rim tape, which is never optimal. The quality supplied is thin, doesn’t stick well and has a tendency to bubble. There was also an issue with one of the…

Getting there ● Norwich, the official start of the route, is well served with direct trains from Cambridge and London Liverpool St, but an alternative start and finish for train travellers can also be King’s Lynn. 01 Where to stay ● Norfolk has plenty of hotels, motels, B&Bs, camp/glamp sites; and charity Cycling UK works with many to get them accredited as ‘cycle friendly places’. We stayed at Green Rabbit Glamping near Diss (greenrabbitglamping.co.uk) and the Pig Shed Motel in Newton by Castle Acre (thepigshedmotel.co.uk). 02 Where to eat ● We cooked up a fireside feast on our first night, but grazed along the way as we passed cafes and teashops en route. After supping down a brew at Duration Brewing in West Acre (durationbeer.com), which supplies beer to the…

How do I find my fat-burning zone? 1. Figure out your max heart rate (Roughly 220 minus your age). Your fat-burning zone is 60-70% of your max heart rate. 2. Use a fitness app, such as Wahoo Fitness, to calculate your five heart-rate zones. 3. Do a test, or home test with the Wahoo Fitness app, to identify your Burn and Burst zones. How do I stop my toes going numb? Try the following: 1. Look at altering your shoe size. 2. Buy a shoe with a different strap set-up. 3. Adjust your cleats; loosen your toe strap. 4. Get a bike fit; or change your pedalling technique. Also consider if you’ve changed your training significantly. Can I increase my testosterone naturally? 1. Exercise regularly, including weightlifting. 2. Eat a…

Let me take you back to a day in late September last year. My 87th birthday was just around the corner and I was another step closer to being a nonagenarian. I had managed to persuade some of my work colleagues that their company would be much appreciated while I tested my continued ability. The challenge on this day? To ride my age in kilometres. This was a bit like an old golfer trying to shoot his age. As you know from these pages, I’ve spent much of my cycling life on my own, turning the pedals in the tranquillity of solitude in a multitude of audax and long-distance riding. There are occasions, however, when I enjoy the presence of friendly minders. I was delighted that they agreed to accompany…

Santini Guard Nimbus £149 Aim to keep yourself visible to other road users when riding. For example, this Santini rain jacket offers both reflective details and bright colours in its women’s and men’s versions. Specialized Flux 250R £65 This simply-designed model kicks out a lot of light (240 lumens) for visibility not only to the rear, but the sides too. There are four modes and it's well protected from both the weather and road spray. SKS Bluemels Longboard £39.99 These well-priced mudguards simply refuse to rattle and their curved profile and generous lengths with rear flaps mean little spray escapes. They come in black, silver and latte.…

New gear Buyer’s guide What to look for in a commuter backpack Also inside… The power of the dark side Embrace the sensory thrill of night riding Lizzie Deignan The racing legend on her return to the peloton after pregnancy Tour of Flanders We head to the Belgian cobbled classic’s sportive Find your form Master your position on the bike for speed and comfort On sale 12 May 2023…

The 2023 race was indeed a vintage edition of Milan-Sanremo; one that will be remembered for many years to come. It wasn’t just about the winner, Mathieu van der Poel, and the way in which he won. It was as much about the insane quality of the group he left behind, forced to squabble without dignity for the right to sit either side of the victor on a tiny couch behind the podium while they waited for the ceremonial protocol to begin. I cannot remember a time when there were so many riders in the men’s peloton who actually inspired awe. The sight of Mathieu van der Poel ripping past Tadej Pogačar, Filippo Ganna and Wout van Aert on the very last few hundred metres of the race’s final climb,…

One day like this Peter Cossins’ 2014 book The Monuments, an account of the history of the five biggest men’s one-day races, has been updated with a revised edition, published in March through Bloomsbury in paperback, ebook and audiobook Women’s Tour worry The Women’s Tour announced its 2023 route in March, alongside a call for sponsorship to fill holes left by departing partners. According to the Press Association, without it the 2023 event could be cancelled Bjørn again Bjørn Andreassen and Loes Adegeest won the men’s and women’s UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, staged in February on Zwift’s new Scotland world Power garb Fans of the Tour de France’s iconic bright green jersey will have to get used to the new forest green version, which debuted at Paris-Nice in March.…

Weight 14.42kg (M) Frame Alpha Gold aluminium Fork Dual Sport alloy Gears Shimano Altus shifters and rear mech; Shimano Acera front (46/30, 11-36) Brakes Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc Wheels Bontrager Connection Finishing kit Bontrager GR0 Comp 650x50c tyres, Bontrager Comp 31.8mm Blendr compatible stem, Bontrager Alloy 31.8mm bar, Bontrager Sport saddle, Bontrager Alloy 27.2mm seapost THE NAME MIGHT BE A BIT OF A mouthful and Trek’s Dual Sport range is confusing to navigate your way around – 24 models including step-through frames, suspension forks and women’s models – but this well-priced machine gives you a lot of bike, and kit, for a quite modest outlay. Apart from the full complement of kit, the other thing you notice about the Trek is it’s a weighty beast. Okay, it’s not as heavy…

Weight 9.75kg (M) Frame 6061-T6 Heat-Treated Aluminium Fork Full carbon, tapered steerer Gears Shimano 105 (50/34, 11-32) Brakes Shimano 105 hydraulic disc Wheels Ribble Level 1 Finishing kit 700c Continental Ultra Sport 28mm tyres, 31.8mm Level 1 6061 alloy bar, 31.8mm Level 1 6061 alloy stem, Prologo Kappa RS saddle, Level 1 alloy seatpost 27.2mm THE RIBBLE ENDURANCE HAS been in the line-up of this long-established Lancashire-based bike brand for a few years now, and the semi-compact aluminium frame – with its dropped and kinked seatstays – has remained unchanged for the last couple of years. The range starts at £1,199 for the 10-speed Tiagra-equipped model, with our test bike coming with 11-speed Shimano 105 complete with the groupset’s hydraulic brakes. Shimano 105 is the Japanese brand’s long-established workhorse groupset,…

In the early days, cycling for me was Italian cycling. I loved Paris-Roubaix, Belgium and the rest, but I had this love affair with the Giro d’Italia because it was the first race I’d been to. To watch it in the Dolomites, it was love at first sight. It was actually football that had been my way into it. I was a fan of the rubbish team in Turin, Torino, and would fly out from England in the early ’90s to watch them play. I was living in Lincoln at the time. My dad had raced bikes and my brother was into it too. One year we combined football with watching the Giro. I loved it. In my late 20s, I bought a bike, as my best mate was into…

“The ride quality outperformed my expectations and the stiffness isn’t harsh” BLACK INC IS THE COMPONENT arm of Factor bikes, a brand that has never shied away from doing things differently with radical designs such as the Vis Vires with its split down-tube or the current aero-optimised One race bike. The Five wheels, with their one-piece five-spoke carbon design, ignore the UCI rules despite their pro-level price tag. The idea is that these have the aerodynamic advantage of a mid-depth set of aero wheels (think 58mm deep Zipp 404 or Enve SES 5.6) but with the weight of a lightweight climbing wheelset. And they are impressively light. With tubeless tape and valves my test set tipped the scales at 643.3g front and 769.6g rear, for a total of 1,412.9g; close…

MADE FROM A CASHMERE-SOFT, lightweight Merino and nylon blend that’s designed to be durable, the Ashlu is slim without being race-fit tight. At the rear, (five, two with zips) structured pockets are made from a stretchy polyester/elastane blend to help prevent sag. On the bike, this is the perfect spring jersey: light enough so you don’t overheat, but not too minimal. It wicks well, has natural anti-odour properties and has become an essential ride companion for me this spring, but it doesn’t come cheap. It also comes in a women’s version.…

Ultimate Liner £149 Trail Baggy Short £149 Merino LS Jersey £149 CASTELLI’S UNLIMITED range brings the brand’s pro Tour technical know-how to this premium gravel wear. For instance, the Ultimate Liner (£149) features the same range-topping Progetto X2 pad and minimal mesh straps as the brand’s premium Free Aero bibshorts (£175). The legs are lightweight mesh as is the Y-shaped back, and the rear of the midriff has three storage pockets. These undershorts are superb, with minimal material so you don’t overheat but are structured well enough to get the best performance from one of the best pads available. The Trail Baggy Shorts (£149) are cut well, with a high rear waist and the unrestrictive thighs aren’t too baggy as to flap or catch on brambles. The lightweight four-way stretch…

The Hunt 25 Carbon Gravel Race looks to combine ride versatility with low weight for use over varied terrain. It credits the low weight to its hookless rim technology and all-new Sprint SL hub, which is made from an alloy with an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio to better maintain power transfer. It also incorporates 3x treble-tooth pawls, resulting in just 7.5° of engagement, which they say improves climbing and out-of-the-saddle responsiveness. These are wheels that come with rim tape fitted, but sadly it didn’t reduce set-up effort on my part because it leaked and I had to replace it. Leaky tape isn’t a problem exclusive to Hunt but it didn’t prevent a moment of sweary despair. Happily, though, these were the only wheels on test (apart from the Campagnolo Levante)…

The Levante is Campagnolo’s first gravel-specific wheel and its 30mm profile, 25mm internal rim has been designed to maximise stiffness on challenging climbs, with stable reassurance on loose descents. It incorporates Handmade Ultra Light Carbon (HULC) rim technology for optimal strength, stiffness and light weight. The upper bridge of the Levante rim uses Campagnolo’s patented MoMag technology, which means there are no holes. The spoke nipple ends are enclosed on the rims so the inner channel is smooth and there’s no rim tapeto fit, maintain or replace if you want to run tubeless tyres. This is not only blessedly hassle-free, it gives a high-quality, lightweight finish that’s easy to clean and maintain on tyre changes. I found that tyres were easy to fit and inflate by hand. The downside is…

1970 Vitus starts out as the brand name of the highest-grade steel tube set from French maker Ateliers de la Rive. The lightweight double-butted steel tube set rivals anything from Reynolds and Columbus. 1978 French bike maker Bador buys the Vitus name and it becomes a bike name rather than ‘just’ a tube brand. 1979 The tech marvel of the Vitus 979 becomes one of the most successful racing framesets of the 1980s. It’s raced by Ireland’s Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche, Britain’s Graham Jones and America’s Marianne Martin. 1988 Sean Kelly wins the 1988 Vuelta a España aboard the 979, becoming the world’s No.1 ranked cyclist of the era. Vitus is now the largest maker of aluminium frames. 1990s Vitus investigates aero design with the original ZX-1. This true…

Your Experts James Witts Boost your riding The Science of the Tour de France author and more provide A's to your riding Q's Anna Gardiner Group-training masterclass Journalist, cyclist and soft-tissue therapist Anna has expert tips on group riding Norman Lazarus Performance wisdom Physiology professor and author Norman, 87, debates whether it's time for an ebike Heidi Blunden Six-week training plan The founder of Parallel Cycle Coaching has devised a cunning group-riding plan…

01 A warm-up isn’t strictly necessary if you start with no weights, but you could tag squats onto the end of an easy ride to ensure that your limbs are warmed up nicely. 02 Stand with back straight, your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing ahead at a slight outward angle. Your arms should be straight at your sides. 03 Initiate the move with your hips. Squat back and down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Extend your arms to aid balance and keep your heels on the floor. 04 Hold the squat position for 2secs before pushing up through your hips to return to the standing position. Gradually increase the time you squat. 05 Remember to keep your chest up, back flat and don’t let your…

GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE: Subscriptions from Continue to make great savings after your trial period Enjoy easy and convenient delivery direct to your door Never miss an issue of your favourite magazine 2 EASY WAYS TO ORDER Visit buysubscriptions.com/SP23HA Call 0330 053 8660† quote code SP23HA *This offer closes on 10th May 2023 and is valid for UK delivery addresses and by direct debit only. The discounts shown are savings calculated as a percentage of the full shop price. For overseas rates visit www.buysubscriptions.com. Should the magazine ordered change in frequency; we will honour the number of issues and not the term of the subscription. You are free to cancel your subscription at any time – if you cancel within 2 weeks of receiving your penultimate issue you will pay…

Every so often, extraordinary talents come along, and Eileen Sheridan was indisputably one of these. For a decade from the mid-1940s, she won nearly every road-cycling event then open to women, including bagging all 21 of the Road Records Association’s. Five of these remain untouched. Sheridan, dubbed the ‘Mighty Atom’ due to her diminutive 4’11” height, took women’s cycling records to another level during her brief career, forcing many to revise what they thought women capable of in the sport at a time when opportunities and recognition were distinctly lacking. Eileen joined Coventry CC with her husband Ken and was often the only woman on club runs. She said initially she felt like she and her bike had “strayed into a world where they were sadly out of place”. But…

Weight 12.7kg (M) Frame SmartForm C2 alloy Fork Lefty LightPipe rigid, integrated SuperNova LED Lightstrip Gears Microshift levers, Microshift M36L rear mech, Microshift Dual Pull Compact front Brakes Tektro M275 hydraulic disc Wheels Cannondale Double-Wall 32h Finishing kit WTB Byway 650c x 40b tyres, 31.8mm Cannondale 3 Riser, 6061 alloy bar, 31.8mm Bad Boy 6061 alloy stem, Cannondale Urban saddle, 31.6mm LightSKIN with integrated rear LED light seatpost CANNONDALE’S BAD BOY HAS been around since the tail end of the last century. The 2023 Bad Boy consists of a three-bike range, each with 27.5in wheels and Cannondale’s Lefty monoblade fork. Cannondale describes the Bad Boy as the ‘ultimate urban ride’ with a ‘traffic-slaying performance’, a bike for ‘leisurely rides on urban streets’. When the bike was delivered I still had…

I turned professional in 1966, and I’m not going to pretend I didn’t have aspirations of being a champion. I’d won a lot as an amateur, a stage at the Tour de L’Avenir and suchlike. I thought I was good, and in reality I was good. However the real champions are born, not created, and immediately I turned professional it became apparent that my “good” wasn’t so good after all. So I started out as a gregario – a support rider – with Molteni, one of the biggest teams in Italian cycling. I didn’t like it at first, because I wasn’t used to being told what to do. I thought I was better than that, and that I knew better. The issue was that we had Gianni Motta, who won…

“YOU’VE SIGNED UP FOR AN EVENT WITH HELL IN THE NAME IN FEBRUARY AND THE ONLY FLAT BIT IS THE 30 YARDS UP TO THE FIRST JUNCTION – WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!” Scottish former pro cyclist-turned-commentator Brian Smith is standing on the start line at the Hell of the Ashdown sportive, trying to gee up the group of 30 riders I find myself among in the start pen. Glancing down at the sticker of climbs and their profiles I’ve attached to my top-tube, I can see he might have a point. The first major ascent of the day – Toys Hill – is just 2.3km in, and its 7.3% average gradient for just shy of 3km will have to be tackled with cold legs. Not for the last time, I…

The Testers Katherine Moore Cycling journalist Gravel and bikepacking expert Katherine is a freelance journalist and guide Tom Marvin Technical editor Gravel bike and MTB fanatic Tom has been testing bikes for nearly a decade Russell Burton Cycle photographer Photographer and rider Russell is used to testing kit to the max on long, tough days John Whitney Deputy editor John’s been on the mag since issue 290, so it’s fair to say he knows his stuff about bikes……

THE DYNAM COMPLEMENTS Cannondale’s new lightweight race bike, the Super Six Evo (p18) and has a whole new shape compared to the company’s previous headwear, thanks to its ‘Biomap’ fit, which evolved from a wide range of data on head shapes and sizes. The helmet features three large vents that run from front to back, broken into sections by three transparent polymer strips that Cannondale calls ‘PolyRail’ supports. These act like a skeleton to reinforce the EPS liner and also amplify the venting air flow and lower the weight (my Large sample helmet’s weight is just 362g). It’s a similar design to Giro’s Aries Spherical, featured in issue 404. The Dynam also uses MIPS (multidirectional impact protection system), which is claimed to deal with rotational forces as well as straight-on…

Although designed with the durability to pair with Black Inc gravel-racing bikes, the Thirty Four emphasises strength at low weight to deliver performance across all terrain. Its hookless rims have been optimised to help the tyre stay seated and provide an aerodynamic performance from a large-diameter tyre. It also comes with ceramic bearings as standard rather than an upgrade option, and that’s reflected in the price. The rim tape of the Thirty Fours arrives factory applied and fitting the tyres is easy, although I didn’t find the bead area had any additional enhancement over that. Set-up is true and there were no spoke pings, or bedding-in time required. Considering the fairly deep rim depth, I was expecting a rather stiff ride but this is a comfortable wheel on all but…

Enve puts these wheels in the ‘race or explore’ category, aiming them for use on country back roads, hitting the trail or race conditions. Technical analysis and rider feedback has helped the brand focus on finding the sweet spots between responsiveness and compliance, stiffness and comfort. A shallow rim depth of 21mm is used to improve vertical compliance and vibration damping while the rim cross-section has been optimised for stability and power transmission. These Enve wheels are handmade in Bristol and come with a lifetime warranty and crash replacement (as you might expect for the price). I really wish that when you pay a lot of money for a set of wheels, the rim tape would come already expertly applied as, with my less-than-expert technique, even with much care, I…

The Zipp 101 XPLR (short for explore) is a gravel wheel set aimed at providing all-day comfort over more challenging terrain. It uses MOTO technology to try to create a smooth, compliant ride that gives more control and durability when the going gets really harsh. The single-wall rim is designed to suck up vibration, reducing fatigue and allowing you to ride for longer. Want to head out on all-day or multi-day adventures with no thought to the conditions you’ll encounter? These could be the wheels for you. The wide internal rim width does restrict tyre choice to 40mm and above, but also gives a good profile to the tyre and maximises contact with the ground. The single-wall construction means that the protruding spoke nipples make it harder to achieve a…

01 WHAT’S THE CORRECT PSI FOR TYRES? Why PSI matters Your tyre is the sole contact point with the ground, so inflation apathy results in an uncomfortable ride. Your ideal PSI (pound-force per square inch) for the terrain and weather can make you more efficient with studies showing up to 70-watt gains depending on speed and ride duration. And then there’s avoiding pinch flats. Tools of the trade Track pumps start from £10 and should feature: a gauge; ideally Presta and Schrader options; be able to reach high road pressures; and have a stable base. Tyre levers are another must-have, while spare inners (if you use traditional clinchers), mini pump and a puncture-repair kit are all needed. Impact of bodyweight Tyre pressure must be high enough to minimise leaching energy…

Performance coach and founder of Parallel Cycle Coaching parallelcyclecoaching.co.uk This progressive six-week plan contains a mixture of structured sessions to develop the technical and physical demands of group riding, working towards a target event such as a century ride, sportive or audax. Cohesive group riding requires good observation and communication skills, the ability to pedal smoothly while following a wheel, and occasional accelerations to fill gaps and maintain pace. Building on an established aerobic base, there are four cycling sessions per week. Skills sessions should be completed outdoors to remain relevant to group riding. For improved results, the off-bike strength session can be repeated on a Friday if time allows, but this can be a rest day if not. The training plan uses British Cycling’s Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale…