December 2022

Cycling Plus

If you love to ride, then Cycling Plus is the magazine for you.

Cycling Plus1 min read
Ed’s Letter
Two of our key features this month focus on two near-silent and ubiquitous elements that can hugely affect the enjoyment of our riding. The first is a celebration of Shimano’s latest wireless Ultegra Di2 groupset, its slick shifting, compatibility an
Cycling Plus1 min read
Cycling Plus
Editor Matt Baird matthew.baird@ourmedia.co.uk The Mendips – Glastonbury Tor views & mid-ride Burns the Bread pasties Deputy Editor John Whitney The hills where I started riding in the Ribble Valley Senior Art Editor Rob Moxon The roads close to hom
Cycling Plus1 min readFinance & Money Management
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Subscribe & receive a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump* Worth £29 Why subscribe? ● Save 30% off the UK shop price ● Pay just £24.99 every 6 issues by Direct Debit Easy ways to subscribe buysubscriptions.com/CPP399 03330 162 142 quote code CPP399 Head to p62
Cycling Plus1 min read
Bone Of Contention World Championships
● Even nursing a fractured elbow, the indomitable 39-year-old Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) found a way to win her second Road Race World Championship, this year in Wollongong, Australia. Rather than her trademark long range attack, van Vleuten
Cycling Plus1 min read
What’s On
The BBC will screen live coverage of the first combined UCI Cycling World Championships, across seven disciplines, in Scotland next summer (3-13 August). These multi-discipline champs will occur in every pre-Olympic year… The 2022 longlist for the pr
Cycling Plus1 min read
Go Figure The Month In Numbers
Gianni Vermeersch and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot became the first gravel world champions British Cycling signed a controversial eight-year sponsorship with Shell UK Tadej Pogačar won his 2nd consecutive Giro di Lombardia. Fausto Coppi holds the record (5
Cycling Plus3 min read
Drag Race
Big challenges can feel impossible at first. When I saw Bradley Wiggins set his UCI world hour record in London in 2015, I did the maths and he was doing 16.5-second laps of the velodrome. Two weeks later, I raced at the British Universities Track Cy
Cycling Plus2 min read
The Puncture
In half the country’s garages, a bike languishes with a puncture, awaiting car transport to a bike shop. We know this thanks to Cycling UK figures that reveal 47% of the population can’t fix a flat. Punctures have dogged us since the invention of bik
Cycling Plus1 min read
One Shop Stop
History ● Started in 1955 by renowned mechanic Harry Hall, the man who helped a dying Tom Simpson in vain on Mont Ventoux in 1967. What makes this shop special? ● “We’re a local bike shop but with big-city-centre accessibility,” says Simon, an employ
Cycling Plus2 min read
Scott Foil RC Pro
Scott launched the super speedy updated Foil RC aero road bike just before the Tour de France and it was ridden by top-10 finisher Romain Bardet for Team DSM. Here’s why it’s better than ever. The new Foil RC features identical geometry to the Addict
Cycling Plus4 min read
Inflationary Pressures
I’ve helped two strangers this week on my bike, and I can highly recommend it. On Saturday afternoon I stopped a man from stepping out into the road, engrossed in his phone, just as a driver was coming round the corner. He called me his guardian ange
Cycling Plus1 min read
The Route
● A variation on the Fred Whitton route, this skips Kirkstone, Whinlatter and Newlands, but still takes you over the steepest trio of Honister, Hardknott and Wrynose. Head north of Ambleside past Thirlmere reservoir to Keswick, over Honister, then ou
Cycling Plus2 min read
Lake District
With few roads, most narrow and heavily-trafficked, the crowded Lakes might look more appealing for the walker or mountain biker than the road cyclist. But pick your routes wisely, and you can enjoy some outstanding tarmac climbs and descents through
Cycling Plus1 min read
Ultimate ltegra
Giant TCR Advanced Pro disc 0 £3,499 BH RS1 5.0 £5,799 Reilly Fusion £9,049 ■
Cycling Plus2 min read
Bike Tech Explained
● The Kamm tail (truncated tail, named after German aero dynamicist Wunibald Kamm) “cheats” the air into believing that the tail is still there, providing less air resistance than a round tube, and that means more speed for the same efforts. ● The ho
Cycling Plus2 min read
Need To Know
SHIMANO’S LATEST VERSION of Ultegra Di2 is exceptional. We’ve been testing the 12-speed electonic groupset for nearly a year now and think it’s Shimano’s best option for real-world riders. Not only is the shifting superb, but it hasn’t required adjus
Cycling Plus1 min read
Bikes On Test
Even more aero-optimised tube shapes on this top-notch carbon frame help it cheat the wind superbly £3,499 A slick-looking Spanish speedster that manages to combine aero and endurance qualities £5,799 An impeccably finished titanium frame with truly
Cycling Plus3 min read
Giant TCR Advanced Pro Disc 0
Weight 8.6kg (L) Frame Advanced-Grade carbon Fork Advanced-Grade carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc Wheels Giant PR-2-disc Finishing kit Giant Course 1 25c tyres, Ridesense Bluetooth/ANT+ sensor, com
Cycling Plus3 min read
Bh Rs1 5.0
Weight 8.54kg (L) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36, 11-34) Brakes Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc Wheels Vision TC40 carbon Finishing kit Hutchinson Epsilon 28c tyres, BH Evo monocoque ACR bar/stem, ProLogo Dimension saddle, R
Cycling Plus3 min read
Reilly Fusion
Weight 8.6kg (L) Frame Titanium 3AL-2.5v tubing, 6AL-4V investment cast head tube Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36, 11-30) Brakes Shimano Hydraulic disc Wheels Strada Carbon PAD-55 Finishing kit Deda Elementi DCR integrated bar/stem, Cont
Cycling Plus8 min read
Air Force Won
Invisible, unpredictable and unforgiving, wind is every cyclist’s ghostly nemesis. Gusty winds will steal your speed, blow you into danger and batter your will to keep riding. Long distances, however challenging, can be conquered with smart fuelling
Cycling Plus2 min read
The Winner Is… Reilly Fusion
ALL THREE OF THE BIKES TESTED here are superb showcases for Shimano’s brilliant Ultegra Di2. BH’s idea of combining an aero road bike with an endurance bike sounds odd on paper, but out on the road it makes so much sense. The aero-optimised design ma
Cycling Plus1 min read
The Route
Our ride began in Wilton, on the outskirts of Salisbury, at the Pembroke Arms. Gravel appears almost immediately, as you take an anticlockwise route north towards Salisbury Plain. At first the gravel is a hotchpotch of terrains, with rough back roads
Cycling Plus6 min read
Pain On The Plain
It’s the Saturday at the back end of the second spell of extreme heat, in August, and we’re riding in some of the most exposed terrain in England, high up on a tinder dry Salisbury Plain. The reason? Not only to test out the new gravel clothing colle
Cycling Plus7 min read
Dm Out Of Time
The word ‘retirement’ is a sensitive concept for a professional athlete. As a younger man, I once enraged an ageing professional cyclist so much just by mentioning the word that I had to plead for him not to put the phone down on me. In my defence, h
Cycling Plus1 min read
Quickfire Questions
Favourite race Lombardia. 2011 was my favourite edition, when I was second [even though he won it in 2014]. I think that was the best course. I love that whole Como area. Least favourite race Paris-Nice. So happy to get podium there [in 2017], it’s s
Cycling Plus1 min read
Dan Martin’s Biggest Wins
2013 Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2014 ll Lombardia 2008 Irish national championship Giro d’Italia Individual stage win 2021 Best overall 10th, 2021 Tour de France Individual stage wins 2013, 2018 Best overall 6th, 2017 Vuelta a Espana Individual stage wins
Cycling Plus1 min read
Ridden & Rated
Senior tech editor Warren is one of the UK’s most experienced bike journalists and tech reviewers Senior production ed An experienced product tester, Emma loves putting kit through its paces Cycling writer Oxfordshire-based Ian has been reviewing cyc
Cycling Plus2 min read
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Cycling Plus3 min read
Sonder Colibri AL
Weight 9.63kg (L) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Carbon Drivetrain SRAM Rival 22, 50/34t, 11-32 Brakes Hydraulic disc Wheels Sonder Nova i19 Aero Finishing kit Sonder seatpost, Abode saddle, Storc stem & Spitfire 42cm bar, WTB Expanse Comp 32mm tubeless t
Cycling Plus3 min read
Ridden & Rated Most wanted
£329.99 All-road, bump-smoothing suspension seatpost THE CANE CREEK EESILK+ suspension seatpost has been designed to reduce the chatter of long gravel rides without adding unnecessary weight or bulk. On test is the carbon version, but it also comes i
Cycling Plus2 min read
Met Veleno
MET’S VELENO DESIGN SITS between a lightweight vented road helmet and a deeper-coverage mountain bike trail helmet. The rear of the Veleno is deeper than your average road lid, extending right up to behind your ears with its extra coverage, helping t
Cycling Plus2 min read
Roval Rapide CLX II
THIS SECOND ITERATION of the CLX cuts the same silhouette through the wind as the original. The girthy 35mm wide, 51mm-deep front rim is designed to damp steering input and keep the rider from overcorrecting in crosswinds while the rear rim has a mor
Cycling Plus2 min readChemistry
Gtechniq Bike Ceramic
YES, £55 IS EXPENSIVE FOR A TINY 15ml bottle, but you only need a small amount of this special coating. For best results, it’s all about the preparation. First thoroughly clean and dry your bike. Then use the spray bottle of Frame Prep and one of the
Cycling Plus2 min read
Ridden & Rated Shootout – Autumn gloves
£79.99 High-performance, ultra-grippy gloves PROLOGO IS BEST known for its cutting-edge saddles, but since its CPC (connect – power – control) saddle surface technology came on the scene, it’s used the same vibration-absorbing, grippy tech in a range
Cycling Plus2 min read
Mythos Elix stem
THIS UNUSUAL-LOOKING STEM comes from Dimitris Katsanis’ company Metron Advanced Equipment. Dimitris was part of the original British Cycling Secret Squirrel Club that brought tech marginal gains to Team GB’s track cycling team (see right). According
Cycling Plus4 min read
Orbea Kemen 10 SUV
Weight 22.9kg (L) Frame 6061 aluminium Fork Fox Float 34 AWL 100mm Gears Shimano XT (36, 11-50) Brakes Magura MT5 E-stop hydraulic disc Wheels Orbea OC1 tubeless E-bike system Shimano Steps EP8 motor, Orbea internal 540Wh battery Finishing kit Droppe
Cycling Plus2 min read
Endura GV500 Jacket & Reiver Bibshorts
THIS INNOVATIVE RANGE is designed to blend the best bits from mountain biking and road cycling technical wear for use in gravel riding and on multi-day adventures. The jacket’s ExoShell 40 fabric is a super-breathable, three-layer material that can s
Cycling Plus2 min read
Poor-weather Outfits
It’s been a long time coming and our garden is yet to recover from the summer heatwave, but winter is finally approaching. Time to stick the bike on the turbo trainer and load up Better Call Saul, right? Think again. Winter cycling can be a glorious
Cycling Plus10 min read
Beat The Cold
“Layering up is an oldie but it’s true,” says cycling coach Liam Holohan of Holohan Coaching. “You want to layer up rather than rely on one big warm jacket. The reason being that in winter, when you set out first thing in the morning, it’s usually ar
Cycling Plus2 min read
Team Kit 2022
Our 30th birthday, 400th edition and a fresh redesign of the magazine. 2022 is a major year for Cycling Plus. We celebrated by launching our debut retail range of branded jerseys and bibs in collaboration with HUUB Design of Derby in July, and now we
Cycling Plus9 min read
All-Road Action
All-road bikes are causing a lot of excitement. But how do you define ‘all-road’? Well, it can be a road-based bike that’s capable of being ridden comfortably off-road, or a gravel-specific bike with a design that allows it to be ridden at road-bike
Cycling Plus2 min read
The Hit List
Four fantastic flyers for road riding and racing £4,949 Issue 397 This is a superbly specced and surprisingly comfortable aero bike that’s built with more than the pros in mind. £9,450 Issue 395 You’ll need big pockets, but this is a fast, light and
Cycling Plus6 min read
Ex marks The Spot
Witnessing a series of crumpled riders climbing into the broom wagon at the final feed station in Simonsbath was ample proof to back up the organisers’ claim that this, the Exmoor Epic, was the toughest sportive on their 12-event calendar. The UK’s H
Cycling Plus1 min read
Electric Bike Guide
→ Easy-to-follow explainers on ebikes, from the controls and frame design to the battery, motor and parts → How to choose the right ebike for you and your cycling needs → Tips on getting the most from an e-powered bike, riding smart and adjusting you
Cycling Plus1 min read
Local Knowledge
● Umberleigh is served by a train station, on the Tarka line between Exeter and Barnstaple. ● Along with several other riders at the event, we stayed at the Highbullen Hotel (highbullen.co.uk), a 10-minute ride away from the start line in Chittlehamh
Cycling Plus1 min read
Training Zone 12.2022
Reach your Peak The Science of the Tour de France author looks at the latest cycling research Fuel your Riding Kate is the author of Go Faster Food and the founder of Go Bites energy balls Performance wisdom Norman, 86, is a physiology professor, aut
Cycling Plus3 min read
Reach Your Peak
You pedal. That’s what you do. But have you ever dug a little deeper into the pedal cycle? Visualised your sinewy lower-limb muscles generating increasing power through textbook souplesse? More specifically, focused on your legs’ capacity to reach th
Cycling Plus3 min readDiet & Nutrition
It’s The Little Things…
When you’re training hard, your body uses up micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) at a higher rate so it’s important to eat well to keep them topped up. The usual suspects of fruit, veg, legumes, wholegrains and pulses are top of the must-eat list,
Cycling Plus1 min readDiet & Nutrition
Food Fight
● Both are from the legume family and both are swimming with health. Lentils are relatively low in calories but contain a hearty amount of ride-fuelling carbs and muscle-repairing protein – around 40g and 18g per cup, respectively. Chickpeas are simi
Cycling Plus1 min read
Cauliflower
● Choose seasonal and local where possible to max out on nutrients while minimising your envoronmental impact. This brassica shares an ancestor with kale, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi. Along with plenty of water and fibre, the cauli is packed with i
Cycling Plus3 min readDiet & Nutrition
Sick Notes
Nausea caused by exercise is not uncommon, especially in endurance events. In one 161km ultra-distance run, for example, it was found that 60 per cent of surveyed athletes reported nausea at some point during the race, and a quarter reported vomiting
Cycling Plus2 min read
Gravel Racing
Gravel riding and racing has surged in popularity over the last few years, seeing a coming together of cyclists from different disciplines to push their limits and have a good time. With more events and races than ever, could 2023 be the year you tak
Cycling Plus1 min read
Gravel Gear
● This ultralight 0.5l top-tube pack is waterproof with easy, magnetic flip-top access for race essentials. It’s available in Velcro and bolt-on styles as well as a bigger 1L size. ● The size-customisable aluminium adventure frame is handbuilt in Ita
Cycling Plus3 min read
Top Gravel-riding Advice
● Expect the unexpected and be prepared for different scenarios. “You’re completely self-supported out there [in ultras such as Dirty Reiver], so having tubeless plugs, canisters and tubes easily accessible is crucial. With a mechanical, you can easi
Cycling Plus1 min read
Gravel Speed Sets
Gravel hot laps Benefits Timed sectors require fast riding and razor-sharp skills. This session will help you explore the fastest lines, build confidence and improve speed. Kit needed A gravel or cyclocross bike and a bike computer. Nutrition Test yo
Cycling Plus2 min read
Gran Fondo Il Lombardia
Location Como, Italy Next date 8 October 2023 Distance 113km Price From €60 (2022) Set to host its sixth event in October 2023, Gran Fondo Il Lombardia in Cantù, near Como, Northern Italy, has become one of Italy’s biggest mass-participation cycling
Cycling Plus1 min read
Top Three Gravel Races
● Test yourself on four timed stages including hill climbs, singletrack and fast gravel roads as you navigate this stunning 100km course in the Eifel region. It started on 30 Sept in 2022, with the UK’s Grinduro event in July. grinduro.com ● A 750km
Cycling Plus2 min read
“I Rode To Help Stop Human Trafficking In Its Tracks”
“I’m not a club cyclist, just a keen, recreational one. I’ve been fortunate enough to do various sportives including London to Paris, Belfast to Dublin and through the Alps with the Raid Alpine and Classic Climbs. I’ve also cycled in Rwanda.” “During
Cycling Plus2 min read
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Cycling Plus1 min read
I Got 105 On It
Upgrades from Garmin & Roval Plus! The best kit of CP’s lifetime revealed 400km on £400 bikes… …to celebrate our 400th issue! Riding home for Christmas How to win the indulgent festive period Coastal elites An action-packed Morecambe-Scarborough coa
Cycling Plus1 min read
Nigel’s Know-how
As I had to cycle a long way, it was a case of not thinking about the finish, but just taking every lap as it comes. That stops it feeling daunting in any way, so break down your goal into chunks. I took the bike to a specialist beforehand to ensure
Cycling Plus1 min read
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Cycling Plus3 min read
Rewriting The Rules
This racing year just gone delighted and confused me in equal measure. The delight has come from the spirit of risk-readiness and respect with which the best riders in the world have set about their task. The confusion has arisen from the rule-breaki
Cycling Plus1 min read
Welcome
All of us will have found ourselves in training ruts at one time or another. Perhaps your numbers might not be progressing in the way you’d hoped, or you’re being held back by gnawing fatigue, or you find yourself stuck in a cycle of doing the same t
Cycling Plus8 min read
Next Level Tech
Traditionally, the choices for cyclists looking to improve have been: a) get a coach, b) join a club, or c) go it alone. Now, there’s a fourth option to consider – using tech to set your riding, assess your progress and adapt your programme to suit y
Cycling Plus7 min read
Reach Your Peak
It’s another Sunday-morning ride with your crew and you soon settle into your routine order. But is the hierarchy purely based on riding strength? Maybe not, according to a recent study in Nature involving mice. Groups of mice scuttled through an are
Cycling Plus2 min read
Turbo Trainers
Indoor riding used to have a well-deserved reputation for being excruciatingly boring. The idea of spending time on a turbo, self-flagellating to pumping music while you stared at a wall, all in pursuit of some intangible fitness gains, seemed like m
Cycling Plus7 min read
Smart Trainer Know-how
● Most of us will probably admit we don’t enjoy getting wet or cold. Furthermore, if you live in a busy part of the world, training indoors can be much safer. If you’re doing hard intervals to exhaustion or training in a time-trial position on the op
Cycling Plus7 min read
Affordable speed
This is one of my three laptops… and here’s a bag of sensors… and see those oscillations. That is what I’m interested in.” Steve Faulkner, sport scientist and senior lecturer in science and technology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), has just po

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