Cycling World February 2017

February 2017 | 1

The Season of 1976

2017 TdeF Route

Cycling special

ESTABLISHED 1979

WORLD

NEW

REGULARS T E C H LATEST !

!

HEALTHY RIDING !

FEBRUARY 2017 - £4.75

2 | Cycling World

February 2017 | 3

CONT 4 | Cycling World

NEWS 12

2017 Tour de France: The Road Just Got

Steeper

14

Women’s Year Record Broken

REGULARS 16 Winter Products: Editor’s Pick 18 New Regular Column: Tech Latest 37 Ask Anita: Mind Over Frozen Matter 60 From the Workshop: Bike Tools 63 Recipe: Stevo's Post-Ride Pasta 65 Training and Nutrition: New Beginning 68 New Regular Feature: Healthy Riding 84 The Bicycle Diaries 20- ecyclist 22 Brits Fed Up of Overcrowded Daily Commute

26 27

Shimano Electrifies its MTB Offering

Outdoors on an E-bike

30

E-bike Reviews

1 in 4 Brits Want to Explore the

FEATURES 38

The Season of 1976: A World Shaken;

Cycling Stirred

44 52

Book Review: The Great Bike Race Riding Through the Dark

UK 46

Le Tour de Recovery: Leamington to

Sheffield

50

Sustrans’ Traffic-free Cycle Ride:

Sheffield to Rotherham

OVERSEAS 72 80

Global Challenge to Sweeten Diabetes The Rhone Valley: Tournon-sur-Rhône to

Valence

ENTS February 2017

February 2017 | 5

6 | Cycling World

CYCLE TOURING FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE The Atlas Mountains, Atlantic Coast, Sahara Desert …

Morocco is the ideal place to have an amazing cycling adventure this spring. Hire a bike or bring your own to enjoy the great weather and fantastic landscape of this exotic country on Europe’s doorstep.

visitmorocco.com

muchmorocco

- Sardinia here I come- by Gzzz

February 2017 | 7

RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS RESOLUTIONS REVOLUTIONS

February 2017

ED's LETTER B abylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. Good to get these out the way to make space for some cycling resolutions. I’m sure many will scrawl down what must be a cycling mantra: “ride more often.”

This year I am trying to widen my resolution remit beyond cycling: “I resolve to look after myself better.”

By this I mean spending more time doing the things that give me pleasure and living a healthier life. The things that give me pleasure…um… like riding my bike, cycling with the family, seeing good friends (who are mainly cyclists), reading more (normally books about cycling). A healthier life… more exercise (cycling) and stretching because of too much time spent either sitting in the saddle or at the computer editing a

David Robert

cycling magazine. There’s no getting away from it: I am immersed in a life of cycling.

Having admitted this I can get down to specifics.

“Cycle in a new European destination.” Has to be Sardinia as the Giro d’Italia visits for the first time too.

“Try a new UK ride.” I’ll go for the Dulux Trade London Revolution, two days discovering the history and beauty around the city I was born in. “Do more family cycling holidays.” We’re ideally placed to ride to Dover and take the bikes across to the north of France. “See a new event.” Ghent 6 Days, as my club is planning a coach trip over. Looks like 2017 is shaping up nicely.

And like good Babylonians we must return all the bikes we have borrowed for review. It will free up some office space.

8 | Cycling World

PUBLISHED BY Cycling World Limited Myrtle Oast Kemsdale Road, Fostall Faversham, Kent

PRODUCTION Editor David Robert editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Senior Designer Matthew Head Junior Designer Tim O'Dea

ME13 9JL Tel: 01227 750153 Publisher Colin Woolley colin@cyclingworldmag.co.uk

ADVERTISING Sales Manager Simon White simon@cyclingworldmagazine.com Sales Executive Alice Allwright alice@cplmedia.net

DISTRIBUTED BY COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton Middlesex UB7 7QE

Sales Executive Declan Wale dec@cplmedia.media Sales Executive Ryan Graves ryan@cplmedia.net Sales Executive Tom Thorman tom@cplmedia.net

CONTRIBUTORS

Marcus Pereda, Scot Christian, Jim Dickson, Martial Prévalet, Rebecca Lowe, Anita Powell, Iain Marshall, Simon Postgate, Amanda O’Hare, Martin Bailey, David Robert, Tim Ramsden, Mike Wells, Professor Robert Thomas, Wendy Johnson, Kajsa Tylen

Cycling World

FRONT COVER DETAILS:

Van Imp and Zoetemelk -summit of Puy-de-Dome, courtesy Offside/ L’Equipe from The Great Bike Race, Velodrome Publishing

@CyclingWorlduk

@CyclingWorld_uk

www.cyclingworldmag.co.uk

Although every effort is made to ensure the content of features in Cycling World is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy of photographic images. Thepublisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is printed in Cycling World. All material in Cycling World is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. ©Cycling World Limited 2015 ISSN: 0143-0238

February 2017 | 9

• Integrated High-Intensity LEDs • Washable Electronics • Rechargeable USB Battery • Rainproof • Breathable • Dupont Teflon® Coating Tel: +44 (0)800 788 0777 Geographical Tel: +44 (0)141 429 3751 http://www.ckl.uk.com sales@ckl.uk.com

10 | Cycling World

2017 Tour de France The Road Just Got Steeper Key Points

- Christian Prudhomme unveils the route by Phototheque ASO

- 30 years after the 1987 Grand Départ in Berlin, the Tour will start in the German city of Düsseldorf and later head to Belgium and Luxembourg - The 2017 course will feature France's five mountain ranges. The Izoard will host the last summit finish - Exceptional locations such as Marseille's Stade Vélodrome and the Grand Palais in Paris will roll out the red carpet for the peloton

The course of the 104th Tour de France (1–23 July, 2017) stands out for its atypical mountain stages.

Although there will be fewer climbs than usual, there are steeper gradients

which will see them ride indoors in the prestigious Grand Palais. The Champs-Élysées will see a fast-man apotheosis to cap a series of sprints which will start in Liège. Time to settle old scores…

osges, Jura, Pyrenees, Central Massif and Alps — the 2017 Tour de France will tackle France's five major mountain ranges in this order. 1992 was the last time this mountainous Grand Slam was in the race. The queen stage will tackle the Jura mountains between Nantua and Chambéry (Col de la Biche, Grand Colombier and Mont du Chat, for a total altitude gain of 4,600m); pretenders to the crown will go head-to-head in the Pyrenees in a 100 km stage from Saint-Girons to Foix; sections approaching a 20% gradient will provide fertile ground for attacks on La Planche des Belles Filles and Peyragudes; and the race will be decided in a spectacular climax on the Izoard, a fabled climb which will set the scene for the concluding mountain showdown in its first stage finish ever.

La Course: The Women Take on the Izoard

V

Mountain goats, however, will not have all the fun, as they fight for the yellow jersey in a time trial on the Mediterranean coast, with the finish line right in Marseille's Vélodrome stadium. Less than 24 hours later, the peloton will be in Montgeron — start of the 1903 Tour — for the final stage,

Since 2014, the Tour de France has leveraged its fame and know-how to support women's cycling by organising La Course, a prestigious event for the world elite, which has been held three times on the Champs-Élysées finishing circuit in Paris. This fourth edition will send them on a mountain quest: just

- Pinot, Bardet and Froome seem pleased by Phototheque ASO

a few hours before the men's peloton, they will light the first fireworks in the final 66 kilometres of the stage from Briançon to the Izoard. Sprinters will be nowhere to be seen on the final ascent, described by Jacques Goddet as "a harrowing trial which establishes the boundary between difficult and terrifying". The women will bring back memories of riders such as Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Louison Bobet and Bernard Thévenet as they tackle the 10 kilometres leading to Casse Déserte, which boast an average gradient of over 9%.

February 2017 | 11

12 | Cycling World

WOMEN’S YEAR RECORD BROKEN Kajsa Tylen, who set out to pedal 50,000 km (31,068 miles) in one year, has broken a 77-year-old long distance cycling record - Kajsa rides to Walkeringham

K

ajsa 40, from Nottingham, set out on New Year’s Day 2016 to beat the 1938 achievement.

Set 77 years ago, the old record was also set by a British woman named Billie Dovey (later married and named Fleming). She set out to ride as far as she could and to promote a healthy lifestyle for women. She rode every day, on a three-speed road bike, and achieved 29,603 miles, often finishing the day giving a talk on the health benefits of cycling. Certainly, an authority on the subject as she died aged 100.

Kajsa passed Fleming’s record on 25 November but will continue her challenge until 31 December, saying: “I'm approaching the last month highly motivated, it really is a sprint finish right now, to get to the Guinness goal of 50,000kms. Once I've cracked that, which will hopefully be on the 9th of Dec, then I can just enjoy it until the end of the year.

Kajsa has been accompanied during her journey by mother Tina Tylen in a caravan, acting as the support vehicle.

Ms Tylen, a business analyst originally

from Sweden, has battled through illness, bad weather and muscular pain to beat her hero's record. Her challenge took her to various parts of Europe including Sweden, Finland and Germany.

Kajsa has ridden in the spirit of the Fleming, the former record holder promoting women’s health. Rather than raising money for charity Kajsa has been asking for "Sweat Pledges" - promises to start taking more exercise.

Women's Year Record Broken Ms Tylen has been sharing her ride data with Guinness World Records and her achievement is expected to be verified at a later date. This is not as simple as it might sound.

Kajsa’s blogpost of Thursday 29 September 2016, illustrates the complications of validating records, and how Kajsa has shown strength and determination to overcome setbacks.

- Billie Dovey

“A few people have asked me how I feel about the American cyclist, Amanda Coker, beating Billie Fleming's mileage, so I thought I should share my feelings. I think what Amanda is doing is amazing and she is an incredible rider.

If she carries on racking up the miles for the rest of her year she will smash the overall (and men's) UMCA (UltraMarathon Cycling Association) record held by Kurt Searvogel and surely set an unbeatable women's record in the process. This is truly astonishing and is a massive boost for women's long distance cycling.

As for myself; I will carry on my record attempt for the Guinness record according to my original plan. I will clarify below: In October 2014 I contacted Guinness to find out whether I could make a record attempt and get it ratified by them. They confirmed I could.

I was made aware of the UMCA ratifying the attempt also, but I decided to go with Guinness as that was the record I wanted.

The guidelines for the two organisations are different in a few significant ways: the Guinness guidelines do not allow drafting behind other riders, and they allow only one bike to be ridden for the entirety of the attempt.

This attempt must be done on a standard, commercially available, bicycle and any modifications must be commercially available as well. The UMCA allow unlimited drafting and the attempt can be made on any bike, recumbents (non-faired) and tricycles included.

I began my Guinness World Record attempt on 1 Jan 2016 with the impression that anyone who wanted to take on the same record as me would need to go through Guinness.

- Into the sunset

February 2017 | 13

Kurt Searvogel completed a yearlong attempt at the beginning of January 2016 that was ratified by the UMCA. To my surprise, and against what I had been told by Guinness, Kurt's attempt with the UMCA was accepted by Guinness and he was given a Guinness World Record.

Subsequently, I contacted Guinness to find out what this meant for my record and was told that they would change my guidelines to match that of the UMCA. This was a huge disappointment for me as I had spent in excess of a year planning my attempt with the Guinness guidelines in mind. Had I decided to go with UMCA I would have planned it very differently. I appealed with Guinness who had meetings on the subject and consequently decided that the only fair way was to have two categories - one for UMCA guidelines, and one for Guinness guidelines. This fundamentally means that there are two records.

With regards to beating Billie Fleming's record - Billie's record was ratified by neither Guinness nor the UMCA, so it would be difficult to say that she set one or the other. As a result, I will be celebrating when I pass her mileage but will consider my record broken when I pass the 50,000kms that Guinness have set to secure their record.

Of course, it is up to each individual to decide how they see the records and I am in no way suggesting that the whole thing is not a bit of a mess. If, at some point, the records are merged, then I will be happy in the knowledge that I held the record for a few months, and that I achieved everything I set out to achieve - riding over 50,000kms in a year and in the process inspiring and motivating others to take on their own challenges.

For me this attempt is so much more than the miles; it's an adventure that I may never experience again, and I will have stories to tell for years to come.

Not only that, but I've made some lifelong friends in the process!”

EDITOR’S PIC

14 | Cycling World

WINTER PRODUCTS With temperatures getting low and icy winds getting strong, we look at some great winter kit

dhb Classic Long Sleeve Thermal Jersey £50.00 dhb's Classic Roubaix Long Sleeve Jersey is ideal for the cooler months of the year. Perfect to layer up with making it super versatile to suit a wide range of riding conditions. Using a warm and breathable wicking polyester fleece fabric, a warm microclimate is created. The fleece traps warm air while perspiration is transported away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable. If you become too warm during harder efforts, the full-length front zip can be utilised to expel warm air and allow for extra air circulation. www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-classic-long-sleeve-thermal-jersey

dhb Classic Thermal Bib Tights £55.00 The dhb Classic Roubaix is a new improved version of the top-rated Vaeon Roubaix Bib tights. They feature a Cytech Elastic Interface ‘Giro Air’ cycling pad which offers anatomical shaping, an excellent level of comfort and has been engineered to give improved airflow. High quality Lombardia Roubaix Lycra fabric ensures not only a super soft feel against the skin but also excellent warmth and insulation. www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-classic-thermal-bib-tights

dhb Classic Rain Shell Jacket £60.00 When the weather is doing it's worst to keep you from riding with wind and rain this jacket will serve you well.

The high waterproof performance (10,000mm) and high breathability (30,000m2/24hrs) comes at incredible value.

The jacket will keep you protected from the rain while allowing perspiration to escape keeping you dry and comfortable on the inside. www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-classic-rain-shell-jacket

February 2017 | 15

Armadillo Python Long Sleeve Merino Wool Crewneck £125 The Python claims to be the highest performing baselayer garment in the world; as the choice of NASA astronauts there could be truth in the claim. By spinning superfine merino fibre into a compact yarn, they have achieved a new level of durability and strength in a fabric (17.5 micron) with an incredibly smooth feel. This model is a crew neck with generous back length, long arms with long comfortable cuffs. There is a seamless underarm for no chaffing and seamless shoulders designed for load carrying. Range of other colours and other products available. www.armadillomerino.com

Sealskinz Neoprene Halo Overshoe £40 This high performance, water repellent overshoe features integrated LED lights to increase safety. The fit is very good - single layer construction makes it close, and a silicone leg gripper makes it snug.

Hard wearing neoprene material with a Kevlar toe and heal helps wear resistance and a lockable zipper with inner storm flap reduces water ingress. www.sealskinz.com

Sealskinz Halo All Weather Cycle Gloves £50 A powerful triple LED light is integrated into the back of the hand of a light weight, performance, three-layer glove. These gloves are designed to provide excellent grip and dexterity for conditions where waterproof breathable performance and added visibility are required. Soft, durable, synthetic suede palm with foam pressure point padding enhance grip and comfort. Most important- no pull out, even when wet. www.sealskinz.com

Tech Latest

16 | Cycling World

Tech Latest

In our new monthly column, Cycling World’s Technology Editor and Gadget Guru Martin Bailey features the latest cycling technology

1

Y-CAM Cloud

Price £179 Available from y-cam.com Around half of bike thefts occur near or at home, but you can deter or catch the thieves with a new wireless motion-detecting camera from Y-CAM. The outdoor version is weatherproof to IP66 rating, records in daylight or at night at 720p HD resolution and includes everything you need to install it yourself.

Just fix it to a wall, connect to a power source and then to your wired or wireless network and you can instantly view the live feed from anywhere in the world. Instant alerts can be sent to your iOS or Android handset if motion is detected and, unusually, they also include seven days of free rolling cloud storage, meaning that there are no ongoing costs.

2

Sound Glasses

Price £175 Available from getsoundglasses.com Buhel has combined two common cycling accessories into one with the Sound Glasses.

These stylish sunglasses hide a surprising secret. They utilise Bluetooth and bone-conducting technology to allow you to listen to music safely while cycling. It does this by transferring sounds via your cheek bones into your ears, keeping them free to still hear the world around you.

A built-in microphone allows you to take calls, and the glasses come with three pairs of interchangeable lenses of different tint strengths to suit the season.

1

2

3

February 2017 | 17

Martin Bailey is the author of The Useful Book of Gadgets, Gizmos & Apps, available to buy on Amazon www.theusefulbookofgadgets.com

3

Datatag

Price £29.99 Available from datatag.co.uk Datatag’s latest UV cycle anti-theft protection pack includes four UV stealth etches, visible deterrent labels and a new Datadot micro technology allowing you to place multiple dots over your bike and accessories. It will be virtually impossible for criminals to locate and remove them all.

4

Price Around £47 Available from Kickstarter.com Looking for new ways to customise your ride? Formy, currently crowdfunding on Kickststarter, is a 3D printed replacement grip that is as unique as you are. Conventional grips are solid rubber, whereas Formy takes advantage of 3D printing and includes a lattice interior. It’s actually made of a harder material than standard grips, but the lattice interior gives it more flex. When ordering they’ll take two measurements across your hand and offer a guaranteed replacement if you have any sizing issues.

4

5

Formy Grip

5

Bimp Air

Price Around £260 Available from bimpair.com If you ride for long distances and are tired of having to pump up tyres, forks and shocks then let the Bimp Air take the strain. It comprises of an energy converter fixed to the front wheel, an air compressor and canister.

It uses the bike’s motion to fill the canister, and riding for just six minutes at around 9 mph will generate 11 litres of air compressed to 50 bars.

It can inflate a tyre in 10 seconds, can be refilled an unlimited number of times as well as coming with a no-leak guarantee.

18 | Cycling World

February 2017 | 19

ecycling is the future. Navigant Research reports nearly 35 million e-bikes were sold in 2016, the majority of these in China.

The world’s second largest market is the European one, with 1.9 million bikes sold in 2016. Germany is the top European ecycling nation, with 720,000 sold. The UK lies fifth, selling an impressive 80,000.

Growing in importance in the world of cycling, our ecyclist feature keeps bringing you the latest news and e-bike reviews

20 | Cycling World

B R I T S

F E D U P of Overcrowded Daily Commute

One in three Brits consider an electric bike a potential substitute for public transport

O

February 2017 | 21

ur crammed tubes and buses offer increasingly overcrowded and uncomfortable commuting conditions. In addition, during summer time, temperatures on the tube can often reach 40 degrees plus, making for a very sweaty, unpleasant and unsafe journey to work. As a result of the ever-growing over capacity transport network, cycling has seen a huge rise in popularity in the UK over the last few years, and an increasing number of people are replacing their normal commute for a cycling trip instead. With public transport fares going up year on year, commuters are looking for even more options to bridge longer travel journeys and avoid expensive travel costs. Electric bikes are incredibly popular in many European countries and are now being considered as a genuine alternative to the traditional pedal bike in the UK. The most important reason for Brits to choose an e-bike is the ability to be at their destination quicker, even when travelling for many miles. Following a survey by Shimano - one of the biggest cycling brands in the world, in collaboration with OnePoll - 34% of Brits would choose an electric bike rather than public transport for their daily commute.

It seems that men (38%) are more weather hardened, and even more eager to step on an e-bike to race to the office than women (29%). Besides being a faster journey to their destination, other reasons for using an e-bike are more hygiene related. No-one likes turning up to work hot and sweaty, and riding an electric bike allows less physical effort compared to traditional bikes, avoiding this problem and the need for a shower once in the office. Another key factor is being able to go to work in smart looking business outfit or simply some ‘cool clothing’, instead of a neon sporty outfit that is not a look for everyone.

However, despite the crammed public transport and high prices, a group of commuters are still hesitant to switch to an e-bike. The main reasons include the perception that buses, tubes and trains are safer and more comfortable. To help facilitate a switch, survey respondents were clear that the best way for the government to support e-bike usage is by subsidising the purchase of e-bikes. In addition, once completed, the Cycle Superhighways should stimulate safe bike riding and test days could be organised so commuters can experience the benefits, including safety for themselves.

Electric bikes use a battery pack that needs to be charged when it runs low, just like many modern appliances. A majority of Brits consider urban transport locations the best locations for charging points. Retail venues come second, followed by recreational areas.

Surprisingly, business areas come fourth. Apparently having a charging port near workspaces is not a necessity for e-bike commuters.

Mark Greshon, Shimano Senior Brand Manager at Madison says: “The survey shows that Brits aged 25-34 years, who are most likely the people in the early stages of their professional career, are most in favour of e-bikes for their daily commute. This makes a lot of sense as this younger generation is open to new technology like Shimano STEPS which we’ve already seen make a real impact in other European countries already. We want to encourage the adoption of cycling in general and e-bikes are a viable option for many that would not have previously considered cycling. In the UK it could contribute to less crowded public transport, cost savings and an increasingly healthy lifestyle for our nation in years to come.”

22 | Cycling World

Lexham Insurance: comprehensive advice and products with competitive premiums, all backed by a first-class service

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exham Insurance is an independent insurance broker based in Norfolk specialising in Niche schemes providing insurance to tens of thousands of satisfied customers.

In 2014, having several cycling enthusiasts working for the company, we decided to branch into cycle insurance.

Two years later it has several thousand policies on its books and has developed a portfolio working closely with individuals, cycle clubs and cycle shop owners, with all policies tailored specifically for the individual. These include cycle insurance, cycle recovery insurance, public liability and personal accident insurance together with a bespoke electric bike and cycle shop policy for retailers.

With tens of thousands of bikes stolen in the UK every year and the cost of bikes ever increasing can you afford not to take insurance? We offer a policy for bikes valued from £200 to £10,000 as standard with a simple and easy quotation from on our website, plus bespoke quotations available for individual vehicles or collections valued above £10,000 by telephone.

Key Features 1 We offer new for old replacement on bikes up to 3 years old.

2 Our policies offer an accessories

option allowing you to cover riding kit as well as lights, spare wheels and carry cases up to £1,000.

3 Public Liability insurance of £1 million is automatically included, which gives you peace of mind should you damage something or someone while you are out riding: you will not be facing a costly claim from a third party.

4 The policy also provides access to

legal advice in the event of a nonfault accident providing help from a specialist team who will work on your behalf to seek compensation for not only any injuries you may suffer but any other costs you may incur.

Keen to promote cycle insurance, Lexham has been getting out and meeting its customers face to face by attending the main cycle shows in London, Manchester and at the NEC as well as various smaller events and sportives.

Client service is very important to us. The company has a very simple ethos which is the same today as it was when the company was founded in 2000:

‘To offer comprehensive advice and products with competitive premiums, all backe

Visit our website www.lexhaminsurance.co.u or call the team to get a quotation on 01379

ed by a first-class service.’

uk 9 646532

February 2017 | 23

24 | ecyclist Cycling World

Shimano Electrifies its MTB Offering The all-new Shimano Steps MTB components deliver maximum enjoyment

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himano Steps feature the lightweight and compact E8000 drive unit, designed around the concept of being intuitive and providing a natural feeling for the rider. The drive unit is compact so frame manufacturers can make e-MTB frames with shorter chain stays, giving riders better manoeuvrability on the trail. The cranks sit with a narrow Q-factor (the distance between the outer edges of the crankset) in line with DEORE XT cranks, helping to retain a natural feeling. And most importantly the lightweight unit is controlled intuitively by a lefthand power mode switch with three settings (Eco, Trail and Boost) for different types of terrain.   Shimano first launched its urban and leisure-orientated e-bike components (E6000) in 2013. Now, with the knowledge and experience that comes from many years of developing high-end MTB components, Shimano unites its technological expertise with the release of its E8000 components, dedicated towards the rigors and

demands of e-mountain biking but designed so that riders can experience the true sensation of the mountain bike.

The drive unit is held in a triangle formation around the bottom bracket resulting in secure, direct and efficient power transfer from the rider to the cranks. Its compact design incorporates cooling fins on the drive side for the heat dissipation from the motor.

Creating a natural feeling ride from the Shimano Steps MTB motorized drive unit was an important consideration. Riders pedal much like a traditional bike, yet they can choose to receive different levels of assistance Riders can also change gear too, much like a normal mountain bike, with 10 or 11-speed drivetrain and mechanical or Di2 shifting options available.

Power for the motor is delivered by a slim but durable, low profile and waterproof 500Wh battery on the

downtube. A secure mount keeps the battery firmly in place even over rough terrain, yet removing the battery for charging is simple with a sideways release mechanism.

Connected to the motor is either the hollow crankarm (FC-E8050) or the solid crankarm (FC-E8000), both of which are available with 34T or 38T chain rings (SM-CRE80-B/CRE80) for 10 or 11-speed cassettes. Chainrings feature Shimano’s Dynamic Chain Engagement technology and, together with an optional chain retention device (SM-CDE80), ensures chains remain on drivetrains.

The system is controlled by the compact Shimano Steps MTB colour LCD computer to offer riders their gear number, power assist mode and battery range information. The power assist modes are controlled by a dedicated MTB handlebar switch, allowing the rider to change between Eco, Trail and High Power modes, plus the Power Walk mode.

February ecyclist 2017 | 25

1 in 4 Brits Want to Explore the Outdoors on an E-bike The UK’s forests, parks and moors are seeing a growth in ecyclists year on year, eager to explore the great outdoors

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etting the roof racks on and heading to the peaks for a sense of adventure has become more common and opening up the outdoors for e-bikes is something manufacturers are keen to encourage. A survey by Shimano STEPS unveils that 25% of Brits would love to use an e-bike for recreational purposes on the weekends and holidays.

Getting less tired during an adventurous ride is for almost one in four (23%) the biggest advantage of using an e-bike. Another 22% truly appreciate being able to maintain a constant speed, even with a strong wind or climbing a hill – making it easy for everyone to test their skills on gravel paths and forest roads. An e-bike is predominantly considered for recreational purposes on the weekends or holidays, followed by commuting and sports/ exercise. Over a third (37%) would consider actually buying an e-bike for leisure purposes.

The knowledge that riding an e-bike not only boosts your health but also enables less fit people to conquer

longer distances, has meant that almost one in five Brits expect e-bikes to replace motorised vehicles like scooters in the near future. Another 14% think they will replace our current pedal bikes. The survey has revealed that it is predominantly the younger generation who are convinced that electric bikes will replace current bikes or motorised vehicles.

Mark Greshon, Shimano Senior Brand Manager at Madison says: “Knowing the huge interest in e-bikes for leisure and commuting, Shimano is making the step to electrify mountain bikes with the recent development of trailspecific Shimano STEPS technology.

Difficult terrain can make it extremely challenging for some riders to explore the great outdoors and get to the top of a trail, which can be an intimidating prospect for some people. Crossing generations, electric mountain bikes make the impossible possible as everyone now has the ability to explore new grounds at a more relaxed pace. No longer is there an excuse not to jump on a bike, either for leisure, commuting or exercise purposes.”

26 | ecyclist Cycling -World CUBE Promotional Feature

IT GOES WHERE OTHERS GIVE UP Snow, sand or gravel, the CUBE Nutrail brings a whole new riding experience Pedal assisted! CUBE Nutrail Hybrid!

T

rue freedom can only be experienced when you're willing to try something completely new - and the Nutrail Hybrid is the perfect tool for the job.

With 4.0 inch tyres and powerful Bosch CX drive it quite simply knows no limits, rolling on with nonchalant ease whether you're out in the sticks or in the thick of the urban jungle. This CUBE masterpiece - with an aluminium frame designed specifically around the needs of fat tyres and the Bosch drive system - contains all of our know-how and fastidious attention to detail. It's these high quality features that have produced a Fat e-bike that blends the fun factor with genuine everyday practicality.

Ready to take on anything. A complete 2017 Shimano XT component group - with its wide ranging 11-42 cassette - is combined with a lightweight RaceFace Aefffect SL chainset, giving the best possible shifting performance with an added touch of exclusivity.

Of course, there's also the legendarily powerful XT hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. The cockpit

setup consists of lightweight CUBE finishing kit. A DT Swiss system wheelset with 4.4 inch Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tyres rounds off the spec. This is, without a doubt, Fatbiking at its very best.

For limitless adventure and new experiences, the Bosch CX Drive Unit is an absolute must. This e-drive, with its 75Nm of available torque and huge power output, is the best-performing drive for this kind of application.

Combined with a 500Wh battery, the range is impressive. Schwalbe's 4.0 inch Jumbo Jim tyres provide traction on any surface, regardless of whether you find yourself on a steep trail, loose rocks, snow or sand. And Shimano's 11-speed XT transmission, with its 11-46 tooth cassette, provides an incredible gear range to tackle even the steepest of mountain trails. Rock Shox's Bluto suspension fork, specially developed for Fatbikes, transforms the Nutrail into a comfortable, ultimately versatile trail-taming machine that will turn any ride into a new experience.

February 2017 | 27

Commuting to work?

With a

With a

Tannus Tyre

Pneumatic Tyre

Use your bike as the tool it was designed for... tannus.co.uk

Airless

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28 | Cycling World

E-bike Review

by Simon Postgate

Kudos Stealth £935 The wail of sirens fill the air as searchlights flash across the darkening sky: something’s broken loose! Something sleek and cunning, sneaking away just beneath the thousandpound barrier, could it be... ‘The Stealth’?

I

f it is, you’re in luck because the Stealth is a useful bike, particularly if you’re looking to get the best out of both worlds, the physical and the er... electromagnetic.

You see, this is a bike that is designed for you to ride as fast as you like and then helps you up the hills with a kick-ass motor in the back wheel. Great concept and a good-looking bike too with a new generation-style frame and a long, slim battery tucked unobtrusively into the rectangular down tube. The finish is a nice dark gunmetal take-no-prisoners paint. It tips over on its side stand with a casual lilt like it’s waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.

Looking closely, the details are purposeful and unfussy with everything necessary. The brakes are conventional V rim blocks but are effective particularly on the Stealth’s narrow profile wheels shod with unusual buff-coloured tyres. There’s an informative and classy-looking digital display at the centre of the handlebar with simple ergonomic buttons on the left bar when you want it to do things such as alter the powerlevel.

So what’s it like to ride? Well, apart from the initial existential dilemma that seems to plague the start-off moment for many Chinese motors: it rides well. Once you’re moving the motor buckles down to the job

with an enthusiastic but muted whirr and away you go. The assistance only lasts until around 15.5 mph, thereafter you’re on your own, but, and this is the clever bit, the bike is built for you to take advantage of its relatively light weight of 19.2 kg (this is a budget bike, remember) and narrow profile tyres and give it a bit of muscle-based welly.

To be honest, the bike works best on smooth roads where the weight-based compromise of no suspension or fat tyres works best. The Stealth is an electric bike for someone who is clear about what they want, which is likely to include not spending too much money. I would also venture to suggest that not being too tall might be on the list because at 6’2’’ I found the Stealth to be a little, how shall I say... compact?

Kudos assure me that they sell plenty of these machines so maybe I’m the one with the problem, though I do think that if it were possible to supply the option of a larger size it would be a welcome addition to cater for the loftier brethren. There’s no doubt, however, that this is a very stylish, classy-looking bike for the money, an elegant machine that, from a few paces away could be mistaken for a bike costing three times as much.

So grab yourself a bargain while you can and pedal off under the radar.

February 2017 | 29

Specifications Frame Aluminium Motor Bafang 36v Brushless rear hub Battery Samsung 11.6ah lithium Gearing Shimano Acera 8 speed Derailler Tyres 700 x 28 Brakes Shimano V rim, Tektro Levers Weight 19.2 kg

30 | Cycling World

Rally DPS

February 2017 | 31

32 | Cycling World

E-bike Review

by Simon Postgate

Urban Arrow Family £4,385 When I first clapped eyes on the Urban Arrow Family I was immediately impressed by what a handsome, sturdy-looking machine it was, particularly in its black livery. In fact, the words that came to mind were “purposeful and well thought-out”

I

f you’re going to transport children, where do you want them? Where you can see them and talk to them if possible; there’s nothing like a description of the passing scenery from Mum or Dad, a game of I-spy or even a song to cheer things along and when a reassuring word is needed.

On the Arrow you’re right behind them. The compartment provides a padded bench seat with harness straps for two youngsters with the possibility of adding a child seat.

It’s surrounded with protective foam with tough-looking tubing around the top, the sort of thing you want in case of a bump.

With options for metamorphosis, the Arrow is also a very useful delivery/cargo bike.

The Urban Arrow is propelled by a 250w Bosch motor with a 500Wh Li-ION battery coupled to a NuVinci Stepless gear drive which means that gear changing is taken care of by twisting a band on the right handlebar. It’s a simple, fairly intuitive procedure well suited to this kind of machine. The motor is the new state of art Bosch CX with 75nm of torque, handy for upward inclines.

So what does it feel like to ride?

Well, as a cargo bike novice it took me a few minutes to get used to the different dynamics of a machine like this but after that, pas du problem! You can bop along in grand style, the upright stance perfect for taking in your surroundings and, when it comes to a hill, the stepless gearing and motor are well set up to get you to the top. This also applies to load situations as I made sure I tried the bike with an appropriate cargo in the form of the lovely

Alice from the Cycling World office who found the trip enjoyable and fun (at least, that’s what she told me). The Editor’s wife also used it to cart around their young son who even manged to fall asleep in it! Of course, I wouldn’t nurse aspirations connected with too much speed as this bike is set up for a reasonably sedate pace but that wouldn’t be sensible in the first place. And when you come to a stop you can pull the 43kg bike up onto its stand and back off again with perfect trouble-free ease: excellent!

So, any quibbles? Erm... not much; personally I would put a suspension seat post on, to keep the bumps at bay, possibly something like Suntour’s excellent SP12 NCX and indicators, the reason being that, with this type of machine, in certain situations I’d prefer to keep both hands on the handlebar and also for night riding it makes sense. Perhaps the manufacturer could consider adding high quality super bright blinkers as an option.

There are already lots of options for the Urban Arrow including the possibility of having it as a cargo bike for transportation or business with your company logo stuck on the side; how cool is that? You can add a rain cover to keep your tots dry and another other goodies.

Worth serious consideration as a form of transport? It’s certainly a quality piece of kit that should last very well if looked after. If you have a young family and can faction in transport like this it could be a total game-changer!

February 2017 | 33

Specifications Frame Aluminium (both black and white options) Fork Steel Motor Bosch CX Performance 250w Battery Li-ION 500Wh Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple Plus Wheels 20” front, 26” rear Gearing NuVinci N380 Stepless Brakes Shimano Hydraulic Disc Weight 43kg

34 | Cycling World

Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.

It’s good to get away and see somewhere new. And when you’ve finished a long ride, exploring new places, it’s good to have a little bit of comfort; a cold drink, a hot drink, a microwave, gas hobs, running water, a sofa, double beds with mattresses. The things we take for granted in our own homes. The 6-berth OPUS® Camper Trailer can offer you all of those comforts, plus a whole lot more, including the ability to carry up to 6 cycles on it’s roof. OPUS® takes care of the simple things, leaving you more time to concentrate on your routes.

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February 2017 | 35

Ask Anita

Mind Over Frozen Matter Anita loves discovering new places by bike, having explored many miles of the National Cycle Network, and taken her trusty Ridgeback to roughly twenty countries so far. She does the occasional sportive, commutes by bike in London and Surrey and dabbles in triathlons, mountain biking and visiting cycling cafes. She currently works for the charity Sustrans as a project officer. Anita’s main area of expertise is surrounding herself with experts, whose knowledge she will extract to answer all of your everyday cycling questions…

Dear Anita;

I

locked my bike in the shed in November, and I haven’t seen it since. I’ve started to miss it a bit lately. How can I get over my fear of the cold and dark so I can enjoy some riding between now and Spring, whenever that may come along?

Dear Reader;

It sounds as if you’ve made the first step – your mind is starting to think about the bike, to miss your trips out on it. Think about what it is that you’re missing now that it’s locked away. Is it the freedom you feel as cycling along, the outdoorsy glow it gives you, the social element of riding with friends? All of those things and many more can be just as good, if not better, over the winter months!

Red-nosed cyclists

There is no denying that your extremities feel the chill most when the temperature drops. Your everyday winter wardrobe is likely to have emerged towards the end of last year. With it you could introduce a few pieces of key cycling attire to get you through. A buff keeps your neck, head, chin, mouth and crucially, your nose warm (I have been unsuccessfully trying for years to invent a nose warming device). Gloves, obviously. As many pairs of warm socks as you can still get your shoes on over. Thermals to keep you toasty warm.

Mind over frozen matter

It can be hard to motivate

yourself to do anything except drink tea and eat buttery toast on these cold winter days, even though you know that once you’re out there on your bike, you’ll be grinning from slightly chilly ear to slightly chilly ear. Try to see the buttery toast as an end goal.

Arrange rides with friends so you all motivate each other.

Once you’ve done it a couple of times you’ll be itching to be out again. Find routes that work best in the weather and lighting. It may sound odd, but depending on your bike, and your preference, more off-road rides could be more enjoyable and practical.

Indoors/outdoors?

A lot of cyclists bring their bikes indoors over winter, and set up turbo trainers, to keep up the pedalling without the wintery conditions causing issues. I’ve never done this myself (partly lack of space, partly laziness, partly because I’m a weirdo who loves cycling in winter) but it seems to work for many. It could be an alternative way to maintain a good working relationship between you and your steed, without having to change your attitude to the cold and dark.

Personally, I can’t think of much that is more pleasing than the feeling of warming your chilled toes (no matter how many socks I wear, they always end up a bit icy) by a roaring fire after whizzing through some dramatic winter scenery.

A bike is after all a classic Christmas gift, and one to love and cherish. Shame they’re such a nightmare to wrap up!

- Some keep cycling in the snow

36 | Cycling World

From the Archives…

by Marcos Pereda edited by Tudor Tamas

Alpha and Omega.

Beginning and end

If one thing characterises the 1976 cycling season, it is its symbolism as the end of an unrepeatable generation; the moment in which the great monarch of the world of cycling, Eddy Merckx, stopped being a god and turned into a mere mortal.

But it was also the moment when relief took place, when Bernard Hinault recorded his first major win, when Cyrille Guimard forced a U-turn on the whole concept that had existed until that point.

- A King, A Legend (on Flickr by Ken Johnson)

THE SEASON OF 1976: A WORLD SHAKEN; CYCLING STIRRED

Enter the year’s protagonists stage left: Felice Gimondi, Luis Ocaña, Bernard Thevenet, Roger de Vlaeminck and the fabulous Freddy Maertens –stars and failures of a showy season like few others before.

The last bite of the Cannibal, the first claw of the Badger

On July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon. On the same day, the immortal Merckx won his first Tour de France.

-The Golden Years (on Flickr by ktk17028)

On December 19 1972 the Apollo 17 mission concluded with a perfect splashdown. Eugene Cernan, the last man to date to have stepped on the lunar surface, returned to earth. By then, Merckx had become the second rider to win the five big Monuments of cycling, already boasting a record of one-day races and Grand Tours that threatened to be unbeatable.

In 1976 humanity gave up on the idea of returning to the Moon and Eddy Merckx was stripped of his throne. The seventies were a rough, hard and frantic epoch. Even Merckx, the man who conquered everything, seemed to have slowed down. In that season, he would only win Milan-San Remo out of the big races (his seventh victory in La Classicissima, a record for any of the Monuments), proving to be impotent during the spring classics, overcome in the Giro d’Italia and missing out on the Tour de France due to health problems. His dream ended, marking a decade in which Merckx had held a firm grip on.

The King is dead, long live the King. If Merckx was nicknamed by riders and supporters the Cannibal, Hinault received the appellative le Blaireau, the Badger. Hinault was a small and strong Breton, but above all things, he was proud. This pride was the reason why Hinault, despite being just a twentyyear-old newcomer in the professional peloton, harassed Merckx in the 1975 Boucles de l’Aulne, never ceasing with his attacks throughout the one-day race held in his native Brittany, in Châteaulin. At one point, the Cannibal told Hinault’s Gitane teammate, Charly Rouxel, that his ‘friend’ should be calmed down. The Badger’s response came in the form of an aggressive, carnivorous smile, but Merckx starred into the rodent’s eyes and smiled back. He saw a brother, he recognised the one thing he always respected in the likes of Ocaña, Maertens or de Vlaeminck – panache. The 1976

- Eddy Merckx is better than you… (on Flickr by Franco Folini)

February 2017 | 37

version of Hinault only won a handful of small French races but already proved to be unapproachable. A year later, a new champion came to pre-eminence and it was the one to whom Merckx symbolically passed on his sceptre in the 1977 Critérium du Dauphiné. The Cannibal helped Hinault deal with the attacks of Lucien van Impe and Thevenet the day after the Badger nearly died in a fall on the Col du Porte. But that, of course, is another story…

The first battles of "Napoleon" Guimard

At the end of 1975, Hinault was determined to leave Gitane, where he had made his debut in professional cycling. The reason had a name: Jean Stablinski. Former world champion and winner of the Vuelta a España, Stablinski was like an institution in French Cycling, directing Gitane as he pleased. But he was old fashioned and clearly belonged to the old times. Stablisnki wanted to exploit Hinault in his first seasons but the Badger didn’t particularly enjoy it.

Therefore, he made up his mind: Hinault would leave Gitane unless the team changed its direction.

- Eddy in yellow, a common view in the 70s (on Flickr by Chris Protopapas)

Unsurprisingly, he was out of Gitane by 1978. The Breton would happen to be directed by another Breton, a man as sibylline and intelligent as Raymond Queneau, as extravagant and histrionic as Lezama Lima, as clever and deep as Man Ray's photos. Someone, to put it simply, beyond comparison. “Ladies and gentlemen, with all of you rise for: Cyrille ‘Napoléon’ Guimard.”

Despite only being 29, a ruined knee and other leg injuries forced Guimard to quit cycling the year before he became Hinault’s directeur sportif at Renault.

He had been a privileged witness of Merckx’s era and was extremely critical of the cyclists who were submissive to the Cannibal’s reign. He hadn’t been. He kept attacking and attacking, pushing his limits until exhaustion made him desist.

His phenomenal combative spirit waned prematurely for Guimard the cyclist, but it kept running through the veins of Guimard le directeur.

Guimard was very crafty and understood cycling perfectly, just as he understood the necessity of initiating a new age that would revolutionise the technical aspect of the sport. In this manner, he created an almost infallible winning machine at Renault, as the team tasted great success through Hinault, Greg Lemond and Laurent Fignon.

And besides all that, Guimard was as grandiloquent as Beethoven’s overtures.

He didn’t only want to win, he wanted to win in style, to leave his mark wherever he went and eventually go down in

history as one of the greatest directeurs – a venerable figure, an even better one than the road warrior.

Nothing would be the same again once Guimard had made his debut as a directeur, helping a small Belgian cyclist touch the sky.

Freddy Maertens' fabulous world

Imagine a cyclist who is able to win fifty races per season for two consecutive years. A rider with one of the top five number of victories in the professional peloton. A two-time world champion and winner of thirteen individual stages on the way to Vuelta a España success in 1977. A natural born sprinter, a one-day-cyclist boasting class and endurance and a perfectionist. A winning machine.

Now imagine another cyclist who alternates widely between successful seasons and long

38 | Cycling World

periods of draught. One who suffers bouts of depression, has affairs with the most desired actresses of the moment, courts friendships with progressive musicians and suffers drug problems.

One who even withdraws from Milan-San Remo, claiming he had seen the devil – Satan, not an earlier version of Didi Senft – hidden on one of the corners of the road.

Well, both imagined cyclists are one and the same – the great Freddy Maertens in his world halfway between fantasy and reality.

In 1976 the Oscar went to ‘Rocky’, a sweet and sour fable that depicts an attractive, charismatic fortune seeker who gets the opportunity of his life boxing for the world title against the man with his hands raised in the ring. In the cycling world of the late seventies, the soon-to-be knockedout Apollo Creed would be represented by Maertens.

In that year, the great Maertens conquered the World Championship and the Belgium National Road Race Championship, won the Gante-Wewelgem, the Flèche Brabançonne, the Amstel Gold Race, the Grand Prix des Nations, eight stages in the Tour de France (where he finished eighth overall) and the Super International Prestige Pernod – the UCI Classification of the epoch.

He was without doubt the best cyclist of the year, an authentic Concorde, the supersonic plane that made its maiden voyage in 1976.

Maertens even managed to improve in the following year, winning thirteen stages in the Vuelta and seven further Giro stages before his imminent fall from grace. The year 1977 was the moment when he registered more than fifty career wins for the second consecutive season, in spite of barely riding from June onwards.

Maertens quit cycling eventually. A hero with a tragic halo who never

- The fabulous Freddy Maertens (Hans Peters Anefo) managed to win a Monument, but someone who marked the legendary careers of others with his presence, carrying de Vlaeminck to the finish line, despite being disqualified, after both of them left Merckx behind in the 1977 Ronde van Vlaanderen was one such moment. De Vlaeminck became the third and last cyclist to date to win all the five Monuments on that day.

Maertens was an attractive man, blond-haired and stout-faced, with blue eyes gazing a sweating sadness for his destiny marked by tragedy. His best friend, Jean Pierre Monsere, died in the rainbow stripes aged only 22, after a collision with a car. Maertens looked after Monsere’s family like his own, protecting and helping them in any way he could.

He was also the godfather of Monsere’s son who suffered the same tragic fate that his father had, and died aged seven while riding a bike received from Maertens.

The Belgian suffered another brutal depression following the horrid incident, only sporadically showing remnants of his greatness, snippets of his enormous talent, signs of what could have been but was not.

Maertens was the exponent of Belgium as a cycling nation, a nation that dominated the sport during the seventies, with unrepeatable results recorded by the likes of Merckx, van Impe and de Vlaeminck, cyclists who left a legacy that was then perpetuated by Michel Pollentier, Johan de Muynck and Claude Criquielion. All these riders proudly carried the Flemish spirit while riding for Flandria, the team that spearheaded its way to the very top of cycling. But as everything else, their rule had come to an end and the downfall began with Pollentier failing a drug test during the 1978 Tour de France. The Belgians are yet to win Le Tour since van Impe’s victory in 1976.

February 2017 | 39

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- Luis Oca§a glory and fall from grace (Bastien Milanese)

40 | Cycling World

When the Tour was won by someone who didn’t want to win it

Can someone win a race by accident? A bizarre question but a reluctant cyclist did triumph in the Tour de France.

Lucien Van Impe had never really been an ambitious cyclist and was happy enough to register some small victories, considering himself unworthy when facing the big generals – at least until he crossed paths with Guimard. The Frenchman convinced him that his physique of an agile climber contained something more: the seed of a great champion. The Belgian believed his director and started the Tour with the intention of conquering it.

But Guimard's indications didn’t stay in his head for long. Van Impe was faltering in France, losing faith in his own strength, the race becoming more favourable for Joop Zoetemelk before the Pyrenees. And then, in the queen stage at Pla d'Adet, one of the most peculiar episodes in the history of cycling occurred.

There, on Col du Portillon, Guimard ordered van Impe to attack but the Belgian refused.

Van Impe ignored Guimard’s commands as if he was deaf. And deaf he was until the Frenchman harassed him with the car, struck his bicycle and threatened to stop him from racing. At that moment, oppressed, van Impe launched his attack, chasing down Ocaña who was riding ahead with Walter Riccomi.

Van Impe won in Paris, but all was not good. At the end of the year he quit the team as he couldn’t put up with the ‘dictator’ Guimard anymore. For his part, Guimard accused van Impe of being a money-grabbing egoist who didn’t bear the mark of a real champion. Their ways parted.

Gimondi and Ocaña, the end of a golden generation

The 1976 editions of Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia showcased the last displays of the era’s two cycling legends, Luis Ocaña and Felice Gimondi. And while the Italian got the victory in his home country, the Spaniard of Mont-de-Marsan could only write a new page in his tale of misfortune.

- Felice Gimondi…all around him Belgians… (on Flickr by Foto43)

- De Vlaeminck a Flandrien on home cobbles (Mick Knapton)

Ocaña had never forgiven Zoetemelk for causing him to abandon the Tour in 1971 on the descent of the Col de Mente. It was an accident in an apocalyptic storm, but Ocaña, with his passion and impetuosity, still bore a grudge. So on that day in 1976, Ocaña and madman van Impe rode together at a ferocious pace distancing Zoetemelk. It was a decisive move: van Impe won the stage, donned yellow and kept it until the Champs-Élysées.

- The future has name Badger (on Flickr by Anders).jpg

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- Protest Stage 7 to Mulhouse

42 | Cycling World

Book Review

The Great Race - Van Imp and Zoetemelk -summit of Puy-de-Dome

- The Hot Road to Bornem - Van Impe and Ocana- Stage 14 to Saint-Lary-Soulan

- Crit race on The Champs-Elysees for the final Stage

T

he Great Bike Race is a seminal cycling text, long-placed highly in the pantheon of great cycling books and now newly reprinted. This superb book has won so many accolades that it seems hardly necessary to add a further review. Recently established to 'create, develop and curate the highest quality books' for the cycling community, Velodrome Publishing have chosen this title as the launch volume in their 'Vintage Velodrome' series. The book is certainly a worthy flag ship for this specialist publisher.

Author Geoffrey Nicholson Published Velodrome Publishing April 2016, first published in 1977 Images Courtesy Offside/ L’Equipe Edition Hardback £12.99 Review by Jim Dickson

The new subtitle The Classic, Acclaimed Book that Introduced the World to the Tour de France, betrays the parochial nature of our times; during the 1970s, when the book was first published, the ‘world’ of continental Europe hardly needed an introduction to the Tour de France (TDF) and would have found it difficult to use one which illustrated the complexity of the race by comparisons with test cricket. This is actually a book which was aimed at the English speaking, Anglo-centric world. The original publication bore the subtitle A vivid account of the world’s greatest annual sporting event, which is perhaps a better strap line.

The Great Bike Race is generally agreed to be the first work in the English language to tell the story of the Tour de France. It was published at a time when the British public knew little of the race and road cycling in general. It is not a technical book, there are few details of group sets or performance sport science, rather it is beautiful exposition of combined history and legend which gives any reader a grounding in what might be thought of TDF lore. Taking the 1976 tour as a framework, the chapters alternate between the unfolding story of the 1976 edition of the race and the background, history and context of the TDF. A studious reader will gain an

February January 2016 2017 | 43

understanding of the complex sport of cycling stage racing, as well as familiarity with the famous anecdotes from the race since its inception in 1903. It is essential reading for any cycling fan.

The author of The Great Bike Race, Geoffrey Nicholson, was a correspondent for the Guardian and Independent who sadly passed away in 1999. His obituary in the Independent (3 Aug 99) reported that he was first seduced by the world of road cycling when asked to cover a cross Pennine stage of the Tour of Britain in 1959: ‘that was a rounded, selfcontained story with complex relationships, sudden shifts of action, identifiable heroes, a beginning, a middle and an end’. This is the spirit in which the Great Bike Race is written.

TDF enthusiasts are not your normal sports fans, the appeal of the Tour endures through controversy and is presented in this book as a three-week drama with all the power and appeal of Shakespeare. Those of us who followed the antics of Frome and Sagan last summer enjoyed something more than mere race and Nicholson tells us why, presenting the TDF as no mere ‘arena sport’ but a drama, a ‘series of tales … of disaster and deprivation, treachery and honest courage, extremes of heat and cold, and the triumph over man and nature’. Chapter 2, titled A Drama in Three Acts describes the stage and set, with characters and roles carefully introduced elsewhere. The fundamentals of the romance, tragedy and comedy that play out each summer in the TDF are conveyed in loving detail.

If you don’t know about the Tour and are wondering what all the fuss is about, read this book. If you are already bitten by the bug, this book will only enrich your experience of the race.

44 | Cycling World

Le Tour de Recovery Leamington to Sheffield Scot Christian visits substance misuse services and recovery communities, discovering true camaraderie on the way

O

n a chilly September morning, I arrived outside The Recovery Partnership (TRP) offices in Leamington Spa to begin a memorable, inspirational journey. On this occasion I was not here to utilise their life changing services but to pedal part of Le Tour de Recovery. The ride had been devised by Steve Bliss to raise awareness of the importance of communities in the building of effective and visible responses to sustaining recovery from substance misuse – and the continued need to keep harm reduction at the top of the recovery agenda. It involved five days of pedalling from Leamington to Durham, arriving conveniently in time for the ‘Recovery Walk’. The walk was organised to celebrate the achievements of individuals in recovery, and acknowledge the work of prevention, treatment, and recovery service providers.

Steve had contacted me several weeks earlier to see if I wanted to participate and with no hesitation I’d said yes, however I would only be able to commit to two days, so Sheffield would see me leave (reluctantly as it transpired).

The simple plan was to ride gradually north calling at substance misuse services and recovery communities along the way. Our lycra clad group were a refreshing mix of people in recovery, and workers from all over the Midlands, we were all treated as equals, the commonality was the passion for cycling.

The gang were equipped with a selection of gleaming carbon fibre frames, Giant, Merckx, Trek and my retro Ribble. Even some had slick gleaming legs, Steve and Stuart.

As we stood for one final photo, our team jerseys vibrant in the now early morning sunshine, I felt a little apprehension. Before I had time to contemplate the route and challenges that lay ahead, we were off! Next stop Coventry.

Ride One – Leamington Spa to Burton-on-Trent (70 miles) The early pace was sedate, due to the constant stop/start, a prerequisite of town centres with their annoying traffic signals and even more annoying drivers. Once out into the countryside we started to stretch our legs, breezing through Stoneleigh and arriving in Coventry in good time and most importantly good shape, where a rapturous welcome greeted us.

After a short rest we got back on the bike and tentatively negotiated the trudging city roads, which once again tapped into the frustration of the peloton.

Eventually we encountered some pleasant greenery as we approached Bedworth (never thought I’d ever say that!) allowing us to increase the speed and focus on getting to know each other.

There is something special about pedalling in a group, the chance to offer support, encouragement and chat freely can be really underestimated.

We weaved our way through Bedworth with ease, the traffic a minor inconvenience and within in no time we had arrived in Nuneaton and at another welcoming TRP building. Once again the crowds were out in force, they had prepared a hearty

February 2017 | 45

spread with a mix of tasty carbs and liquid energy. Special mention has to go to the tasty lemon cake, which tantalised the taste buds; bravo Wendy!

The next leg was going to test our stamina as we headed to our lunch stop in Leicester. Once out of the urbanised tedium, we were immersed in a delightful bucolic setting.

Quaint villages, open countryside with patchworks of colours and wonderful isolation. Unfortunately, we also encountered hills (the group would like me to refer to them as mountains) which we coped with resolutely, encouragement and alacrity reverberated between riders, the wheels and pedal strokes in a

rhythmic unison. Ok, the speed was not overly impressive but we were making headway, and importantly enjoying the solitude.

Regrettably the deserted roads were replaced by bustling thoroughfares as we pedalled into the outskirts of Leicester. We breezed along the city streets, chugging vehicles motionless in the endless traffic, our bikes where the perfect foil to this constant blockade of pollution. As we neared the epicentre, the roads became increasingly hazardous so we reverted to the pavement. Finally, we arrived, greeted by the melodic rhythms of a makeshift band, and our already buoyant confidence and positivity was increased by the

unexpected exuberant welcome at Widening Horizons.

Lunch was a mass of carbs and overdue caffeine, the conversation was flowing, dominated by the afternoon's itinerary. After another impromptu photo opportunity, we were off, and this time our numbers had increased. A stuttered start was followed by some rapid pedalling; our cadence was impressive as we interacted with the A50. This mundane mass of tarmac would not make the list of the ‘Top 100 cycling roads’ – the experience was miserable, cars whizzing by, the senses treated to an ensemble of engine fumes and burning rubber, but thankfully the weather

46 | Cycling World

was behaving, actually it was unseasonably balmy.

We arrived in Burton-on-Trent, slightly later than the itinerary expected, after a toilet stop in Coalville. My legs were surprisingly fresh, the urge to continue onwards was at times overwhelming as we whizzed towards our accommodation, however I reluctantly accepted my day in the saddle was coming to an end.

The day had been inspiring, the weather most welcoming and we had starting to gel as a group (roll on tomorrow) however not before some overdue electrolytes and a good (early) night's sleep, oh, not forgetting some more sausage rolls!

Ride Two – Burton-on Trent to Sheffield (50 miles) We were all up early, Dean (the team mechanic) had opened up shop before breakfast to deal with any issues, of which there were a few, mainly involving tyres but his skill allowed us to set off in good time.

The weather was grim, the temperature chilly and the sky dominated by a greyness which stubbornly looked set in for the day.

However, considering the weather, the gang exuded a vibrant positivity, like the attire and a kaleidoscope of bright cyclists dominated. A brief mention needs to be made to a pair of knee high red socks, more at home on Nora Batty’s infamous ageing legs, yet, they would conveniently act as a makeshift beacon, if anybody got lost!

We departed in good spirits, our immediate focus was Derby. First problem was trying to negotiate the network of one way streets before we followed the local cycle paths through a collection of parks and hugged the contours of the canal, emerging in the charms of Little Eaton.

As we climbed slowly, I took the opportunity to answer my phone, unfortunately as we descended at speed I decided to stop, confident I would not lose the riders up ahead.

I was wrong. In front the road was blocked so I followed the diversion (I later established the peloton didn’t). I was now on my own and I was torn – wait, or continue towards Chesterfield? There was no response via anyone's mobiles, so I jumped into the saddle, glimpsed the sign for Chesterfield and started pedalling. My speed was quick, my legs reminiscent

of pistons working overtime when I was buoyed by my first glimpse of the famous crooked spire. Chesterfield is a lovely market town, I found myself in the heart of the shops and after some local interactions I finally pedalled into the grounds of Hope Springs. The building is a stunning architectural delight, previously a hospital, and is now home to an innovative drug and alcohol recovery centre. Once again we were treated to an amazing welcome and a colourful spread (including another glut of sausage rolls) and plenty of hot beverages, before we reluctantly departed, Sheffield was only a mere thirteen miles along the A61.

Only a short distance from our lunch stop we encountered our first problem in the guise of a puncture, and while we waited for Dean to apply his mechanical magic I was visually violated by an elderly local who took a shine to my lycra clad buttocks, uncomfortable for me, humorous for my fellow riders!

Impromptu breather over, we continued onwards with renewed vigour. Endeavour and resilience were bubbling in all of us, if one of us was struggling, others encouraged. Words are magnificent tools, simple inner positivity is immensely effective. A great recovery ethos.

After a rather disjointed ride, we finally found ourselves in the hustle and bustle of Sheffield, it had been a hard mixed bag of a day, bumps and bruises were uncomfortably prevalent and the day was memorable for our proficiency at getting lost. It was in fact something that we excelled at, standing by the side of the road with quizzical looks had become a regular occurrence. I enjoy getting lost, life is all about experiences, good, bad and/or indifferent so that’s why I try to avoid a GPS, in favour of the wonderful tactile world of a map.

Once again the welcome and hospitality were amazing, even though we were late, we were plied with drinks and a dental cavity creating assortment of sweets.

Unfortunately, although my ride was prematurely over, my new friends had many miles left to reach their goal of Durham. As I prepared for my train journey home, I experienced a mix of emotions, I wanted to stay and complete the whole ride, I was going to miss my new pals, the humour, the positivity and the simple camaraderie.

February 2017 | 47

48 | Cycling World

SUSTRANS'

TRAFFIC-FREE CYCLE RIDE SHEFFIELD TO ROTHERHAM via Five Weirs Walk

A6135

TEXT BY WENDY JOHNSON www.sustrans.org.uk/CyclingWorld M1

B113

Chapeltown

Distance: 8 miles

B 86 60

M1

A 6 33

A62 9

Start: Sheffield Train Station

M1

9 08 B6

Finish: Rotherham Train Station

23 A61

Train station: Sheffield and Rotherham

A6

123

3 12 A6

B6087

NCN route number: 6

A6 33

A6 29

Grade: Easy A6 123

7 08 MASB ROUGH

M1

ROTHERHAM

PARSON CROSS

I CK LES

6

A6178

M1

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A5 7

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ATTERCLIFFE

SA L MO N PASTU R ES NATU R E R ESERV E

BRINSWORTH STEEL WORKS

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2 10 A6

TINSLEY

PITSMOOR

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67 PA R SO N C R OSS PA R K

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0 A63

February 2017 | 49 Five Weirs Walk by® Phil Gregory

DA LTON

TERRAIN, GRADIENTS AND ACCESS

Tarmac path, stony trail and fine gravel track with some road crossings.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

This riverside and canalside corridor through the Don Valley in South Yorkshire connects the city of Sheffield to Rotherham.

A6123 0 41 B6

M1

Start from Sheffield train station, where a traffic-free link leads you down to the River Don and over the Blonk Street Bridge to the river’s north bank. This is where the route joins up with the Five Weirs Walk, and you’ll soon reach the brilliant Cobweb Bridge, known locally as Spider Bridge. It’s suspended on web-like cables through the dark Wicker Arches, an old railway viaduct, and is a highlight in the ride’s opening mile.

Walk Mill Weir comes next, the first of the five historic weirs that give the route its name, and you’ll follow the river through the urban, built-up surroundings of Sheffield’s industrial East End. The river itself is gradually being brought back to life after a century of pollution and neglect resulting from the many steelworks, mills and factories that once surrounded the area. The Wildlife Trust’s Salmon Pastures Local Nature Reserve, around two miles in, is a particularly nature-rich spot full of birds, butterflies and insects that are steadily beginning to thrive on the Don, and the deep woodland that surrounds this part of the river is an especially beautiful spot through which to ride.

A618

A few miles later, a completely different experience

awaits as you pass the doors of the vast Meadowhall shopping centre, a good spot for some mid-ride retail therapy, before reaching Tinsley Waterside to join the Sheffield to Keadby Canal. The hazel trees and Mediterranean fig trees that grow here are an exotic addition to the canalside, and the final two miles are an incredibly peaceful and traditional towpath ride, especially passing the many locks of the Tinsley Flight.

At Holmes Lock Bridge, take a tiny detour off the path to explore the lagoons of Blackburn Meadows Local Nature Reserve, before rejoining the towpath and following it all the way to the route’s end at Rotherham train station.

LOOPS, LINKS AND LONGER RIDES

Sheffield and Rotherham both link to the popular Trans Pennine Trail, a 215-mile coast to coast route from Hornsea to Southport. NCN 67 Poolsbrook Country Park to Rother Valley Country Park.

STAY

Heavenly Nights Guest House, Sheffield (0114) 221 5342 | www.heavenly-nights.co.uk

EAT AND DRINK

In Sheffield, try popular cyclist hangout Amici & Bici café.

Carbrook Hall pub is in Carbrook near Meadowhall and claims to be Sheffield’s most haunted public house. There is a food hall in Meadowhall shopping centre, or try the popular Miele Delicatessen in Rotherham.

CYCLE HIRE

www.russellsbicycleshed.co.uk

50 | Cycling World

RIDING THROUGH THE DARK Iain Marshall commutes through London’s Richmond Park after midnight as part of his winter regime

N

othing beats cycling round south west London’s Richmond Park. I commute through it twice a day at all hours. We take our nephew and niece there for two-wheeled adventures.

And we spin round its perimeter with hundreds of other Lycra wannabes whenever we can spare the time.

Anyone with two wheels in west London knows about the park. It's a splash of cool green in the middle of suburban concrete.

Nothing compensates more, for dragging your carcass out of bed at four am for work, than the sight of the park, deserted in the pre-dawn, shrouded in a low-lying mist, through which the antlers of recumbent deer can be seen, poking upwards like fronds of petrified coral, sprouting still from their prehistoric seabed.

If it’s been raining at this early hour, flocks of startled parakeets who’ve been drinking at roadside puddles, erupt in front of my approaching wheel, flapping and squawking off, a swirling cloud of dazzling green plumage. One crisp winter morning an owl perched on a felled tree trunk, calmly tracking me as I cycled past on the empty path.

To be able to ride through this pristine, ethereal – and somehow, primeval – environment repeatedly, is both pleasure and privilege. There’s nothing frantic about pedalling serenely through this landscape. Being alone in the park, with only its creatures for company, provides a rare opportunity for idle meditation.

Nevertheless, when I mention in an offhand manner that I cycle through Richmond Park late at night, often in close to pitch darkness, people gawp in disbelief and concern. As a shift worker, I am regularly churning the pedals there at one am, en route from central London to Kingston upon Thames – a commuting journey of just under thirteen miles.

It’s assumed that the park is locked up every night. But apart from the months of November and February, when the deer cull is being carried out as a means of managing the population of some 600 red and fallow deer, it’s open around the clock to pedestrians and cyclists - but not cars.

Pushing open the heavy iron gates and creaking your way inside them in the forbidding darkness can be a daunting prospect. As tentative pedal strokes carry you into the eerie interior, twin dots of piercing light can be picked out floating in the blackness as the puny beam from your bike lamp reflects off the eyes of unseen deer and other animals. Thanks to the tapetum lucidum – the reflective coating many animals have behind their retinas – these creatures’ eyes glow with luminous intensity, suspended in the air - a disturbingly alien presence.

It’s easy to forget you are still just metres away from the buzz of urban London; Roehampton high rises sit right next to the northern edge of the grounds. Hairs bristle on the back of your neck as you up the pedal strokes, driven by irrational fear. It brings to mind Tam O’Shanter’s ill-fated journey, in Rabbie Burns’s eponymous narrative poem. While Tam was on a horse - his “stout mare” Meg, rather than a bike -, it’s still easy to imagine that warlocks, bogles and Auld Nick himself may be holding an unholy ceilidh in a nearby clearing. Such spooky fantasies help spur me on – boosting my average speed on Strava into the bargain.

Encountering other human beings at such an hour is guaranteed to give you pause. When three blackclad teenagers materialised from the gloom just as I came upon them, I experienced a genuine frisson of horror. They were sitting cross-legged in the middle of the small roundabout at Sheen Cross. As I sprinted up the incline towards White Lodge I could sense their appreciative laughter nipping at my spinning wheels – like the devilish sprites snapping at Meg’s

February January 2016 2017 | 51

52 | Cycling World

swishing tail as she raced for the bridge in the Bard of Aryshire’s famous poem.

When I spied two pinpoints of red light bobbing in the near distance, another wave of dread washed over me.

Apprehensively I continued pedalling, completely in the dark (pun intended) as to what they might be. It was only when I drew level that I saw a man strolling up the path keeping an eye on his two dogs who were off the leash and following their noses in time-honoured canine fashion. They quite sensibly had small lights clipped to their collars.

Colleagues are concerned that I might hit a deer in the park at night. But apart from the occasional close call with a stag’s antlers jutting into the road, as the animal bends to nibble at the edge of the grass, I’ve had little problem with the wildlife. In fact, on those moonless occasions when it really is close to pitch dark, I can smell the proximity of the deer as I cycle past without actually seeing them. It’s a warm, rich, sweaty – indeed, gamey - odour which is quite distinctive.

These animals never seem to sleep and at night and can be found in parts of the park – including in the middle of the roads or on the footpaths – where they are rarely seen during daylight hours. Rutting season is the only time I’m especially wary of these creatures. I’ve found myself doubling back and adding miles to my route in order to avoid coming too close to the testosterone-crazed stag I can hear – but not see – up ahead.

Maybe that’s erring too much on the side of caution as a park spokesperson confirms that the chances of coming to grief with a deer are slim. She tells me that, “cyclist collisions with deer are very uncommon… in the last year we are aware of only one.”

Not all the park’s animals are so belligerent. How many Londoners’ commute to work takes them through the ethereal, misty, landscape of the park just before dawn? I’ve encountered badgers, trotting along beside my bike, rabbits bobbing off into the grass and even a snake in the middle of the road. I gingerly picked the reptile up with a stick and deposited the animal in the undergrowth away from the risk of being squashed by car tyres. Once, a squirrel took evasive action on my approach but, after a moment of comical indecision, chose the wrong escape route and ran headlong into the side of my front wheel. He fell – cartoon-style, semistunned for a second - then shook himself off and scampered up a tree. If only he’d been a chipmunk, he could have starred in his own animated Hollywood blockbuster.

On another occasion, three laid-back mallards had decided to sleep in the middle of the dual-use path where I was riding. I slowed to wobbling velocity and inched past them.

They hardly ruffled a feather – my unwelcome intrusion was indeed water off their backs. Recently the same trail was virtually carpeted in rabbits. On my approach, two of them were so startled that they jumped vertically to improbable heights, twisting as they did so, before haring off (pun intended) in abject terror.

With an arguably higher potential for accidents involving wildlife and cyclists during the hours of darkness, you’d think the park authorities would discourage night-time pedalling.

However, the park press office described cyclists as, “part of the fabric of the park”. As long as you try to keep 50 metres away from the deer, let them cross the road if they start

February January 2016 2017 | 53

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54 | Cycling World

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February 2017 | 55

doing so and remember that they are wild animals, albeit ones who are used to being in close proximity to humans, the park accepts that people will and can come through their gates after dark.

The darkness and the silence of the park at night can play tricks on the senses. I have a theory that it actually helps you climb hills. Cyclists who enter

by Roehampton Gate heading for Richmond have to grind up the gentle but longish incline leading to Sawyer’s Hill. During the day it’s easy to flag as the gradient kicks up just a tiny bit just before that Sheen Cross mini roundabout. Once you’ve relented, it becomes psychological and before you know it, the energy can drain out of your muscles, leaving you floundering towards the junction at a snail’s pace. The effect is exacerbated if, as you are slowing down, a peloton of ‘whippets’ swoosh past. But – just like the deceptive electric brae in Scotland which plays tricks with your perceptions of gravity and gradient – ascending this hill can seem effortless - at night. Pedalling up here in the pitch dark, with no visual reference points and no overtaking cyclists, it’s possible to get your head down and concentrate purely on turning the pedals. I’m convinced that night-climbing like this is faster.

It’s on virtually this same stretch of road that one of those rare moments of night terror can sometimes assail me. A fan of the American zombie series, The Walking Dead, there’s one scene which has been incorporated into the opening titles. Two of the main characters drive past a field in which, in the distance, a lone, longhaired zombie, shambles slowly through knee-high grass. At the end of the episode the characters return, driving in the opposite direction and the solitary walker is still there shambling slowly through the fields oblivious to the fresh meat in the car.

Iain has been pedalling through London and Richmond Park since 1989. Along with his fellow Gurning Grimpeurs, he’s raising money for Bloodwise – the UK’s biggest blood cancer charity – in memory of brother-in-law, husband and father, Mike. You can help the Gurning Grimpeurs by visiting: justgiving.com/fundraising/gurneurs

Occasionally, just occasionally, when I’m cycling past the meadows near Roehampton Gate and the aptly named, Bone Copse, I imagine that that longhaired ghoul is out there on the sport fields, stumbling in his undead way towards me. That’s when I give my imaginary Meg a dig of the spurs and increase those pedal revs. It becomes a desperate gallop to get to Ham Gate and out of the darkness in one piece.

The sense of urgency induced by this imaginary threat is encapsulated in the phrase, “Deil tak the hindmost” – artfully employed again, by Rabbie Burns, in Address to the Haggis, to describe the speed and greediness of diners who gobble their food as if their very lives depended on it.

56 | Cycling World

TIPS FOR CYCLING AND TRAINING IN THE DARK When the nights draw in, far too many of us retreat indoors and believe that long rides are for weekends only. The team at Formby Cycles share top tips to help you open up a new world of dusk, dawn and night-time riding

R Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

iding long miles at night is a wonderfully liberating experience for riders who are well prepared, and winter sunsets are often incredible and not to be missed.

First and foremost, do bear in mind that there are less than eight hours of daylight every day between December and the end of January, so you don't want to be stuck inside, losing your fitness for two months.

Learn

Safe cycles lights are essential, especially if you are riding out in the countryside. Make sure your front light has at least 500 lumens. Ideally, go up to 1,200.

LED lights are bright and now more affordable - find a brand that gives you a long reach without dazzling oncoming drivers. Also, have a back-up light too in case your main one fails. Always make sure your lights have been charged up and have plenty of battery life.

Wrap

to

Love

the

Night

Whether you head out at dawn, make the most of your commute home or add night rides into your training, it's time to get outdoors and really experience the sensations of dark riding: the moon in the sky, the silence around you, the whiz of tyres on tarmac and the nods from fellow riders.

Forget training in heated gyms - when the weather is dry and ice-free, you'll feel wonderful, energised and more in love with cycling than ever.

Remember that the temperature will plummet once the sun drops, so layer up to keep warm. The countryside also tends to be colder compared to towns, so have warm contingency clothing and don't allow yourself to get a chill.

Have a hat to cover your ears and gloves to protect your fingers, as well as wearing reflective strips so that you are visible. A lightweight, waterproof jacket is a great addition in case it starts to rain.

Light

Up

Your

Bike

Safe cycles lights are essential, especially if you are riding out in the countryside. Make sure your front light has at least 500 lumens. Ideally, go up to 1,200.

LED lights are bright and now more affordable - find a brand that gives you a long reach without dazzling oncoming drivers. Also, have a back-up light too in case your main one fails. Always make sure your lights have been charged up and have plenty of battery life.

Know Your Route

Up

Make sure you stick to roads that you know well when riding at night. You will find that they look very different and take on exciting new twists.

However, alongside the excitement there can be risks from the potholes and wildlife - be prepared for foxes and rabbits running out in front of you.

Night riding is not a good time to start taking on fresh routes and adventures.

Know a good loop, and take your ride steadily. Go easy on descents, take it steady and really enjoy the experience.

You will find that you can approach spring with fantastic energy with your own batteries recharged and ready to go.

STAY SAFE AND HAVE FUN, MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NIGHTS CYCLING!

February 2017 | 57

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58 | Cycling World

From the Workshop

Tools for Your Bike

A decent toolbox is a good starting point

A brush allows the cleaning of parts. Use a different one to apply grease or oil

Spokes tension is measured with a tensionmeter

The key specific to your bottom bracket is essential when you want to take it apart

Every brand of cassette requires a specific removal tool

To run a wheel with aero spokes this tool is essential, otherwise the spokes will spin

February 2017 | 59

by Martial PrĂŠvalet - Martial is a mechanical engineer who has produced articles for car and bike magazines, including Le Sport VĂŠlo, Bike Magazine and Cyclosport

Of the tools that are needed to repair and maintain your bike, most are generic.

Some are specialised and can be bought online from the bike manufacturer or ordered at a bike shop

A crankset key is essential for changing and tightening chainrings

To change inner and outer cables you will need two cutters

Decent tyre levers are essential.

Carry with you on rides

A chain whip will help you remove cassettes

A decent spoke key is essential to maintain a wheel

A screw type chain tool allows you to take the chain apart

60 | Cycling World

Www.MountainChalet.co.uk

Email: tim@mountainchalet.co.uk

February 2017 | 61

Cyclist Recipe

S t e v o ' s Post-Ride P a s t a with Salmon & Broad Beans

S

teve Cummings had a great 2016 season.

He won the overall at the Tour of Britain and stage wins at the Tour de France, TirrenoAdriatico, Tour of the Basque Country and the Criterium du Dauphiné. Good nutrition kept him in good form. Steve Cummings had a great 2016 season. He won the overall at the Tour of Britain and stage wins at the Tour de France, TirrenoAdriatico, Tour of the Basque Country and the Criterium du Dauphiné. Good nutrition kept him in good form.

Nutritional facts Per Serving Kcal 874

Pro 53g

Carbs 84g

Fat 35g

Ingredients

Serves 2

Salmon is a good source of protein and supports muscle recovery.

2 fillets of salmon 160g-180g

It is also rich in omega 3 oils which, along with the basil, provides anti-inflammatories that support recovery. The vegetables contribute towards five-a-day. The wholewheat pasta is a complex carbohydrate which replaces glycogen and lost energy.

50g broad beans

100g peas 200g whole wheat spaghetti 1 bunch of basil leaves picked from stalks Pinch of salt 2 tbsp. olive oil

Directions

Benefits: Post exercise refuelling Fill two medium sized saucepans half full with water, add a pinch of salt to each and heat over a high heat until boiling.

Place the salmon onto a baking tray and season with salt, place into the oven at 180 ⁰C for 8-9 minutes.

Meanwhile into one of the pans of boiling water add the broad beans

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar and cook for 2 -3 minutes then add the peas and continue cooking for a further 1 minute. Into the other pan of water add the pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes or until soft.

Drain both the pasta and the peas and broad beans and mix both into one of the saucepans. Remove the salmon from the oven and flake

into the pan with the pasta.

Now place the basil, a pinch of salt, olive oil and balsamic into a blend and pulse until smooth. Pour this over the pasta and mix well.

Sprinkling over a piece of feta cheese will make this pasta dish even more delicious.

The Food Champions project is a collaboration between The National Lottery and the country’s top sports nutritionists from the English Institute of Sport. National Lottery players raise £36m each week for projects and sports funding allows 1,300 elite athletes to train fulltime and benefit from world-class facilities, coaching and leading medical and scientific advice through organisations like the EIS.

62 | Cycling World

Jo won’t let Parkinson’s win

join her Brighton Marathon, Sunday 9 April 2017 We’re in the race to find a cure and you can help us get to the finish line faster. Together, we can beat Parkinson’s. parkinsons.org.uk/brightonmarathon 020 7963 3914 Registered charity in England and Wales (258197) and Scotland (SC037554). © Parkinson’s UK 11/16 (CS2525)

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Training and Nutrition:

New Beginnings

by Tim Ramsden. Tim is an Association of British Cycling Coaches (ABCC) Level 3 Coach and owner of www.blackcatcyclecoaching.com

F

lashback to this coach as an eleven-year-old boy….knowing that a new cycling top, (wool and acrylic mix, bearing the name and colours of an exotic Italian sponsor) was POSSIBLY the soft-wrapped present under the Christmas tree, labelled “To Timothy With Lots of Love”….dreaming of riding my Falcon Reynolds 531 second hand racing bike up the East Chevin Road in Otley, W. Yorks, clad in this Continental beauty…despite the 1970’s snow on the ground (somehow it always seems that the 70s had more white Christmases … particularly in Leeds)…

Flashback to the coach as a young man…. overweight and with a twenty-a-day habit at eighteen-years-old, kicking the smokes on New Year’s Day and being “saved” by the local CTC section (Café-to-Café, as we used to affectionately nickname this fantastic organisation) with 70-90 mile regular all-day Sunday rides, always in great company….

Flashback to the coach in his 30s…. a winter of turbo training…. a new bike and deep section carbon wheels… enjoying the festivities but aching for Jan 1st and the chance to get fit for “just one more season” ….

New Year = New Beginnings.

And this month’s column is more about the mental side than the physical…. but one thing holds true, always. If you want to ride further or faster - whether that is club runs, Gran Fondos, touring or racing – you need to be fitter or lighter…or both.

And anything that gets you motivated to do either, or

both, of these things is a winner.

So… What do you need to kick start things? Well…new bikes/ wheels/kit are always great motivators, but what about specifics? And the physical side?

Using heart rate for bike training…invest in a basic heart rate monitor, use a hill to get your max heart rate, deduct 45-50 beats per minute from it and - hey presto! - you have your training “floor level” for 2-4hour training rides.

Running…. shift the excess Xmas Pud Kilos with some steady running x 3 a week… start off doing 1 min jog and 90 seconds walking up to 15 minutes, then build slowly from there…why not try a couch to 3k plan?

Treat yourself to a turbo trainer to do 30:00 sessions in January x 3 a week…that’s all you need to keep sharp at the heart rate described above, plus 10 beats per minute.

Home gym…. try some core and own bodyweight exercises – lots of them out there (I will describe an ideal circuit in the next column) and if you only cycle you should work the areas of your body that don’t usually get a workout…and improve your overall tone and posture.

And most importantly this New Year take one bicycle, add a group of like-minded friends with their own bicycles, wrap up warm, choose a route with a great tea or coffee stop at the end, and pop the cork on another year of enjoying the greatest sport and pastime in the world!

February 2017 | 63

64 | Cycling World

Healthy Riding

Prostate Health and Cycling -Is There a Link?

The debate whether cycling affects prostate health has taken renewed vigour recently since the publication of a study involving 5000 male cyclists. Professor Robert Thomas, a Prostate Cancer Oncologist, examines further

T

he recent study into prostate health reported a six-fold increase in prostate cancer among men cycling more than 8 hours compared to those cycling less than 3.75 hours a week1. Every statistician knows, however, this was only an association and does not prove causation especially as men were more likely to volunteer for the study if they or a relative had cancer, making it fundamentally biased. It is also known that cycling can increase the PSA blood test for 24 hours, so frequent cyclist are more likely get referred for investigation2. What was not highlighted in the media was that men in the study had a prostate cancer rate, which was three times less than the general population. This would be expected as there are over 180 beneficial biochemical changes that occur after exercise, which reduce the risk of cancer by protecting our DNA, blocking cancer growth and spread4.

How cycling could reduce the risk of prostate cancer?

Indirectly mechanisms – reduces obesity, improves psychological health and vitamin D levels which are all linked to lower cancer rates4.

Direct mechanisms – improved insulin sensitivity, lowering growth cytokines such as Insulin like Growth Factor (IGF); increased natural killer cells and lymphocytes, which improve immune recognition of cancer cells; reduced markers of inflammation such as prostaglandin 2.

Unfortunately there are always two sides to a debate. There are some factors, specifically related to cycling, which could potentially have an influence on prostate cancer risk, albeit, yet to be proven:

How could cycling increase the risk of prostate cancer?

Prostatic inflammation; Repetitive compression and trauma to the perineum leading to recurrent inflammation of the prostate, has been reported to be higher in cyclists3. Chronic inflammation is known to be a risk factor for malignancy2.

Testosterone increases immediately after intense exercise, which could encourage early prostate cancer cells to grow3. This increase, however, only occurs in the first 15-60 minutes unless banned anabolic steroids are taken and rarely occurs in men over 55 years.

Generation of free radicals. Strenuous exercise, particularly if unaccustomed, produces reactive oxidative species (ROS) that damage DNA, the first stage in cancer initiation and progression3.

Lifestyle factors to increase prostate health First, don’t stop cycling, as over time, with sensible training methods, adaptive processes reduce testosterone levels even below normal. Likewise, anti-oxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase are up regulated to compensate for the increase in ROS. Nevertheless, this highlights the importance of boosting the diet with anti-oxidant

rich foods, which enhance the formation of anti-oxidant enzymes or mop up free radicles directly. As well as a comfortable saddle; it would be sensible to consider diets, which reduce chronic inflammation, particularly cutting out refined sugars; avoiding carcinogens such as acrylamides formed by super heating carbohydrates (crisps,

February 2017 | 65

rye bread, even some cereal and energy bars); reducing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heterocyclic Amines exposure from processed and burnt meats. Above all, it’s important to eat plenty of polyphenol rich foods such as vegetables, spices, herbs, teas, berries, vegetables and fruits5.

Polyphenols provide the colour, taste and aroma of these foods but also act as natural antidotes to environmental and ingested carcinogens.

They also have anti-inflammatory and direct anti-cancer properties5. It is not a surprise then that the World Cancer Research Fund have reported that individuals who eat high quantities of these foods have a lower risk of cancer and that well conducted trials of polyphenol rich whole food supplements are beginning to demonstrate significant anti-cancer benefits.

The largest, and most notable of these, was the UK government backed national Pomi-T trial which investigated of blend of purified, high grade turmeric, pomegranate, green tea and broccoli with in a double blind randomised controlled trial (RCT). The results, presented in The American Society of Oncology conference, Chicago, showed that the supplement containing these ingredients prevented early prostate cancer progressing in a large proportion of men compared to men taking a placebo6.

- A healthy diet is important

- A good saddle is a must

As well as this obvious benefit for cyclist, polyphenol rich foods are generally very healthy - high in other nutrients such as plant proteins, minerals, fatty acids and vitamins essential for tissue repair including the cartilage within joints. Population studies have linked their higher intake a lower risk of arthritis, a finding supported by laboratory experiments showing they directly protect cartilage generating cells (chondrocytes) from physical trauma and chemical toxins. For this reason, the Pomi-t trials team in conjunction with the Department of Exercise Science at Coventry University and University of California are designing another double blind RCT, evaluating whether the ingredients in this supplement could reduce joint pains allowing greater exercise capacity.

This would be relevant for people at any level of fitness ranging from those recovering from cancer suffering treatment related joint pains through to elite athletes looking to improve their performance.

In conclusion, the biochemical changes, which arise after exercise, counting cycling, have significant cancer protection properties and current research, linking cycling with an increased risk of prostate cancer are fundamentally flawed1,4. Nevertheless, the generation of free radicals and local inflammation remain potential concerns with intense cycling3. Adopting a healthy polyphenol rich diet would be very sensible practice, especially foods with anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory properties such as green tea, turmeric, pomegranate and broccoli which have also demonstrated prostate cancer benefits within a UK national trial5,6.

Cycling

66 | Cycling World

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68 | Cycling World

Global Challenge to Sweeten Diabetes

By Amanda O’Hare. Photos by Riccardo Rocchi

Pedal partners Riccardo Rocchi and Chiara Ricciardi are halfway through a year-long global cycling challenge from Italy to Singapore in a bid to raise awareness about diabetes

T

February 2017 | 69

he pedal-powered challenge, called For a Piece of Cake, is an epic twowheeled challenge being undertaken by riders Riccardo and Chiara, who have set themselves the task of riding a total of 18,000 km from Cesena, Italy to Singapore.

The intrepid Italian duo dubbed their project For a Piece of Cake because construction engineer Chiara has type 1 diabetes and “a slice of cake is an obvious pleasure for many, but an achievement for others”.

The cycling couple are using pedal power alone to navigate their way through numerous countries over continents and aim to complete an average 1,600 km a month. To help them achieve their cycling challenge they have enlisted support and sponsorship from a number of businesses and organisations, including companies based in the UK. The pedalling pair decided to use bicycles to embark on their expedition as exercise can help reduce the daily insulin requirement for people like Chiara suffering from type 1 diabetes. They have been planning their trip since December 2015 having previously undertaken another cycle challenge which lasted 26 days. Rider Riccardo, a professional photographer, explained why they decided to embark on such a long journey aboard bikes.

“The bicycles are slow means of transport that allow and oblige you to see everything that is on your way, not just to jump from one highlight to another, missing the authenticity of the region. Also, the bikes mean daily physical exercise, therefore a healthy lifestyle, for diabetic and nondiabetic people. Chiara does not want to defeat diabetes but she does want to show that it can be a fellow traveller in every pedal stroke from Cesena to Singapore.”

During their cycling trek Chiara and Riccardo hope to inspire people living with diabetes and debunk some of the myths related to the condition which affects more than 400 million people worldwide. Chiara, who was diagnosed diabetic when she was eleven, said: “While on the road, we would like to emphasise the message that a healthy lifestyle and careful therapy can let anyone living with diabetes lead a life full of ambitions. On this project I want to better learn how to manage my diabetes under constant physical exercise and how to adjust a suitable diet to this effort. I don't think that my condition will be a barrier for any aspects of the trip and regarding the experience itself, our daily challenges might be bad weather, hard ascents and technical problems. Regarding diabetes, it could be difficult to adapt my therapy to all

70 | Cycling World

the different cooking traditions we will meet along the way and to correctly count carbohydrates of dishes difficult to even describe! Another challenge will be keeping insulin cool: we will have to plan our trip in order to find a freezer every 73 hours!”

Tackling some of the toughest terrains, often via routes in remote regions in extreme weather conditions, means Chiara has to have her essential diabetes medication and equipment on board her bike throughout the entire epic journey and ensuring it remains at the right temperature is critical. To maintain temperature stability for her vital diabetic drugs, Peli BioThermal, based in the UK, has supplied its Crēdo ProMed™, a robust, temperaturecontrolled portable medical transport bag designed for emergency first responders and medical couriers to ensure protected pharmaceuticals remain intact.

While the cyclists confessed they would enjoy ‘one year of pure travelling’, they knew there would be some tough challenges ahead when embarking on more remote regions in the saddle. Something that became all too apparent when they had to divert from their original planned route due to unrest in Turkey merely months into their year-long adventure.

Riccardo commented: “A difficult moment was when we discovered the situation in Turkey and had to completely review our plans. We decided to skip Turkey and added Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia to the list of countries to cycle through, but we were not at all informed about them.

“With suggestions from locals and some quick research,

we had a great time in these unplanned regions, but we could have studied better routes to cycle if we had known about the situation in Turkey beforehand.”

Chiara added: “We studied the diversion to Ukraine in order to still meet the best weather conditions along the road: it was our intention to enter Iran around the first ten days of September because that is a good compromise between its hot summers and cold winters.

“So we planned to take the ferry from Odessa instead of Constanta and to cycle through Armenia instead of Azerbaijan, to respect our original schedule. Therefore, the expected arrival to Singapore has not changed: we still plan to get there in June 2017.”

Cyclist Chiara explained her main motivations for taking part in the unique cycling challenge. “Making such a journey with diabetes on a bicycle is a big opportunity to show how this disease shouldn’t stop anybody. On the other side, it is the desire to discover new parts of the world thanks to our own efforts and the belief that the bicycle is a sustainable, self- powered means of transport that makes of us two friendly travelers.”

Needless to say, cycling such distances during different climates doesn’t come without its challenges and there have been highs and lows on route. Chiara said: “The highs have been all those times when we could find secondary roads to cycle, with little traffic and beautiful scenery; meeting people who have supported and encouraged us on the way. As well as all the satisfaction that we felt reaching the highest point of the day after many hours pushing the bikes up very steep roads.

February 2017 | 71

“The lows have been the days with no other choice than to cycle on big, chaotic highways, where we could not appreciate any landscape, but had to constantly concentrate on the cars and trucks around us. One day in Bosnia and Herzegovina we had to cycle on a road with 26 narrow tunnels, which were very dangerous for cyclists because there were no lights and no sidewalks. That was a stressful experience.

“In Ukraine we didn't meet much traffic, but the conditions of road were awful, with huge holes all over the asphalt.

This meant longer times to reach any destination and more hours under the sun.”

Another episode fraught with danger was when they were cycling in Northern Iran near a small village called Bastam and they were caught in a violent sand storm. Their route became impassable and perilous as it was impossible to see anything around them and they were unable to cycle any further because of the severe strong winds. On this occasion they were luckily able to flag down a passing vehicle, load their bikes on board and safely made it through the storm.

The cycling couple revealed how the often searing heat and high temperatures they have encountered while in the saddle is another hazard they have to navigate. Chiara said: “One of the main obstacles so far has been the hot temperatures. We are trying to wake up and start cycling very early in the morning to avoid being under the sun in the hottest hours of the day, but sometimes we don't get to our destination by lunchtime. So we stop in some shady places and get some food and after these breaks, going

back to the pedals is often very hard. The body is not very responsive after meals and a couple of hours of inactivity.

“Another difficulty is the fact that the we can never leave the bikes during the day, because the bags are too numerous and too heavy to be carried anywhere apart from when we eventually arrive at our final accommodation destination, a mixture of hotel rooms, warm shower houses and camping sites. This means that it is impossible to park the bikes and luggage somewhere and go visit some highlights of the place.”

However, the keen cyclists acknowledge there are positives to being in the saddle everyday as they make their way to their final destination of Singapore, which they scheduled to reach by June 2017 - a year after they originally set off from their native Italy. Riccardo said: “We can spend on food all the money that we don’t spend on gasoline.”

He revealed they cycle constantly and ensure they rest when they are feeling tired, however he confessed they don’t always stop as long as they should because they are so curious to cycle onwards to see what’s next to discover.

So far they have not had many maintenance issues when it comes to keeping the bicycles roadworthy. Riccardo said: “I’ve had four punctures in my back wheel, but these have been the biggest problems so far, so I would say that the bicycles are doing a great job. We have cycled in very bad conditions like off-road and muddy paths without any major problems. We are trying to regularly service our Ridgeback bikes so there have been no big issues so far.”

A plus side of being in the saddle so long on a daily basis means the pair is exploring parts of the globe they have

72 | Cycling World not visited before and at a pace where they can make the most of some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.

Riccardo said: “The most spectacular scenery so far has been in Armenia (Caucasus), with its 2500m passes and green, florid mountains surrounding us on 360 degrees. In the province of Sisian we decided to take a secondary road through the mountains to reach Tatev and finally got stuck because of mud, but we enjoyed the best views ever, with an astonishing lake reflecting the mountains around and the clouds above it. The border between Armenia and Iran is also incredibly beautiful, but very different from the previous: sharp, arid and uninhabited mountains with the only exception of a few little, green and dreamy oases along the valley of a small river.”

The two didn’t train a lot before starting their global cycling challenge in June and confess they do not consider themselves serious sport cyclists.

Chiara said: “We prefer considering the bike as a way to explore places, not a sport, but we are both athletic and have always played some sports.

After a few weeks on the road our muscles got used to the daily effort and our performance is still improving day by day.” Riccardo agreed: “I think that the training for such a long trip on a bike is more mental than physical.”

Spending so much time in the saddle can lead to physical problems but the pair avoid any injury issues by ensuring they take necessary precautions.

Riccardo said: “We are not suffering from any physical pain. We try to ensure we do stretching exercises after every pedaling day and take at least one day off per week. We realised that, at the end of the day, the most stressing factor for our body is the long exposure to the sun. We always use sunscreen and try to keep our heads covered and wet and ensure we try to avoid cycling in the hottest hours of the day.”

Riccardo concluded: “As a photographer, I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between the human activity and the landscape: this is a great opportunity to go deeper into this vision in such a long, slow journey.”

There are plans for a future exhibition and publication of a book capturing the unique challenge once the pedalling pair finally finishes their journey in Singapore next year.

February 2017 | 73

To track the For a Piece of Cake project progress go to www.forapieceofcake.com/en/statistiche

74 | Cycling World

The Rhone Valley

Tournon-sur-Rhône to Valence With the newly-announced Tour de France route entering the Rhone Valley, we thought we’d look at a wonderful ride there, courtesy of Cicerone Press

Start Tournon-sur-Rhône bridge (125m) Finish Valence, tourist office (128m) Distance 24km Waymarking ViaRhôna

- Frieze in Tournon commemorating General Rampon, an officer in Napolean's army

February 2017 | 75

T

he Rhone valley widens below Tain-l’Hermitage as the left bank opens onto the flood plain of the Isère river. This short, level stage follows flood dykes and riverside roads on the right bank, then crosses the river to follow the towpath of the Rhône canalisé past the intersection of Rhone and Isère. The route eventually leaves the riverbank to end in the centre of Valence, the gateway to the South of France.

Continue ahead at second roundabout and at third roundabout continue ahead again (Ave du Vercours) to cross bridge over Rhône canalisé.

Immediately over bridge, fork R on cycle track beside road then turn back sharply R to reach canal bank. Turn L beside canal and follow towpath past turn-off L for Pont-de l’Isère (12km, 117m) (accommodation, refreshments) to reach confluence point between rivers Rhone and Isère. Follow towpath back sharply L beside Isère then turn R on new cycle bridge over river. Turn N7

D5 3 2

Continue SW from pedestrian bridge in Tournon on Quai Charles de Gaulle (D86) to reach roundabout beside road bridge. Continue along riverbank (Quai Gambetta) and where this bears away from river continue on riverside cycle track past series of factories R. After 3km turn R across drainage ditch and L on quiet road for another 3.5km, passing Mauves (5.5km, 116m) and Pierrelles lake (both R). Emerge onto road (Ch de l’Île) in Glun and just after

R on cycle path along opposite bank and where asphalt ends, turn L away from river and R beside road (Rte de Marcerolles, cycle track R) passing Les Combeaux L (16km, 119m).

church R, bear L on cycle track beside drainage canal R. Pass under road bridge and bear L parallel with road.

Where cycle track ends, turn sharply L through barriers, uphill to road (D220A) and turn R across dam. After dam, go straight ahead at roundabout (Rue des Cévennes, second exit) into La Roche-de-Glun (9km, 117m) (refreshments, camping).

St Jeande-Muzols

The river Isère, which joins the Rhone at Pont-de l’Isère, is the Rhone’s second largest tributary. Rising above Val d’Isère it drains the south and west flanks of Mont Blanc, the highest part of the French Alps, before flowing down through Grenoble. It provides approximately 20 per cent of the Rhone’s total flow.

Follow cycle track bearing R beside Rte des Combeaux and continue winding through scrubland to reach canal bank. Turn L on towpath beside Rhône Crozescanalisé then dogleg past Bourg-lèsHermitage Valence locks and dam R. Cross dam approach road to continue between road L and canal R until asphalt ends.

Turn L away from river and L again

Hermitage

Mercurol

Tainl’Hermitage

h se p

er

r thi

on

e

A7

St Jo

Be

es ch Ro

Mauves N7

s Le

Rh

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Lac des Pierrelles

53

D1

Bassin des Mussard

Glun Plats

dam

0

1 mile 2 km

Châteaubourg N7

D86

Pic de St Romain de Lerps

Pont-de-l’Isère A7

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- St Apollinaire Cathedral in Valence was rebuilt by Hugenots

76 | Cycling World

onto road. Bear R, passing between hotel L and large carpark R, then continue ahead over roundabout and bear R (Rue du Rhône) into Bourg-lès-Valence (20.5km, 111m) (accommodation, refreshments).

Rho

Continue ahead at next roundabout (first exit, Rue Gay-Lussac) and follow road over motorway bridge. Go ahead again at next roundabout and follow Rue Gay-Lussac bearing R parallel to railway L. At next roundabout (Place de la République) take third exit onto dual carriageway (Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, cycle lane R) and continue uphill into Boulevard du Cire. Pass Jardin de la Préfecture behind high walls L and turn L at miniroundabout past modern préfecture of Drôme département L. Continue into dual carriageway (Boulevard Vauban) and bear R following bus and cycle lane past statue R of Compte de Montalivet (1766–1823). Pass through bus station and bear R past monumental fountain into Boulevard Bancel to reach end of stage outside g r i e tourist office R in centre of Valence (24km, 128m) (accommodation, refreshments, camping, tourist office, cycle shop, station).

ne N7

Cornas

dam

Ruisseau d e

Bourg-lès-Valence

Ho

Ruisseau de Hongrie

Guilherand-Granges

N

3

D5 3

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1 mile

VALENCE

D86

2 km

- Pope Pius VI died in Valence (1799) and his heart is kept in the cathederal

ala Mi

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Guilherand-Granges A7

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Maison des Têtes

Rh on

Valence (pop 65,000) regards itself as the gateway to southern France, a claim based on its location near the northernmost limit of olive cultivation.

This is reflected in a local saying: à Valence le Midi commence (‘at Valence the south begins’). Main sights include 11th-century St Apollinarie cathedral, which was badly damaged in the French religious wars and restored in the 17th century. Inside is a monument and the heart of Pope Pius VI (1717–1799) who died here in exile after being deposed when Napoleon captured Rome. The nearby maison des Têtes is a former 16th-century mansion that derives its name from the many carved heads decorating the façade. In the Champ de Mars is the kiosque Peynet, a highly stylised bandstand, while the nearby Jouvet park has views across the Rhone valley to the hilltop ruins of the Château de Crussol. An Armenian church and Armenian museum reflect the ten percent of the population of Armenian origin. Local delicacies include the Suisse, an orange flavoured pastry said to be named after the Pope’s Swiss guard. On a higher gastronomic level, Maison Pic restaurant, managed

by Anne-Sophie Pic who was French chef of the year in 2007, is the only Michelin three-star restaurant with a female chef.

Mialan

A7

n

Valence

St Péray

Jouvet park

kiosk Peynet

February 2017 | 77

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78 | Cycling World

February 2017 Stage

Sivrihisar – Gaziantep, Turkey (12 – 22 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,250 (5,230km)

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February 2017 | 79 February 2017 Stage

S

o, this is how it ends, I think to myself. Sprawled face down on a granite slab, rump in the air, being pulverised by a leathery female sumo wrestler with a troubling sadistic streak. It's not quite how I imagined it, I have to admit. I'd probably prefer not to be completely starkers, for a start.

Or surrounded by a group of equally starkers women, all eyeing me with wary curiosity.

I'd probably also prefer if the women weren't quite so disconcertingly enormous, if I'm honest. This is a little sizest of me, I know – but they truly are enormous. Not tubby. Not even fat. But unashamedly, lumpenly Leviathan; a raw, fleshy orgy of contour and crevasse.

They lord over me in the midst of my torment, voluminous and aloof, like a clique of imperial blancmanges.

Why on earth did I come here, I ponder as I'm wrestled into one particularly undignified contortion. I arrived in the spa town of Haymana just an hour ago, following a week of frosty slogs across central Turkey, and rashly decided to give myself a treat. I opted against a massage – mindful of the fact that every one to date has ended in disaster, including an incident in Uzbekistan that almost certainly should have resulted in some kind of criminal prosecution – and instead went for the more innocuoussounding 'deep clean'. Having now been straddling Maud for nearly half a year, my feeling was that it was not before time.

It's a decision both I and the spa drainage system swiftly come to regret.

As I'm brutishly scoured and buffed, torrents of inky sludge pour into vast swamps on the white tiled floor like some kind of faecal magic porridge.

Before a dozen pairs of increasingly alarmed eyes, I morph from brown to grey to red to pink, and lose about twothirds of my body mass. By the end I weigh barely four stone, lying weak and spindly on my stone plinth like a broiled baby langoustine.

- EAnother blasted puncture

Miraculously I survive the ordeal, however. And about an hour later, I'm feeling great. I've never felt so utterly violated and wonderfully clean in all my life. Unfortunately, my post-spa purity doesn't stand much of a chance against the £8 'pension' I've booked, located in a dilapidated tower block with a filthy bathroom and impressive range of ornamental body hair – but I vow to

enjoy it while it lasts.

I spend my one evening in Haymana with a twenty-year-old, Sydney-born Turk who recently moved home to enrol in Islamic studies at Istanbul University.

He is keen to undo the 'bad habits' of drinking and smoking he adopted in Australia, he tells me, and now prays five times a day. He shouldn't even be talking to me alone, apparently – the seductive, newly sterilised temptress that I am.

I tell A that I have a serious issue with women being seen as sacred sex objects to be avoided/protected/dominated, and he nods sagely. 'They are different from men, though,' he says, after a pause. Different meaning inferior, I ask?

He hesitates again. 'Um. Possibly.'

We get on to religion and I am told that this life is just a test for the afterlife.

There are seven levels of Heaven, and God tots up your sins when you die to decide which one's best for you. It's possible to hang out in Hell for a while until you qualify for the lowest rung of Heaven, apparently. Rich people have to wait 500 years, A says – though he's not clear on what 'rich' constitutes, or what happens to nice rich people who work hard and give lots to charity.

A describes Heaven for me. Everything is 'amazing', with constant sex, drugs and alcohol, and seven virgins to cater for every whim. They need to be virgins, he insists, because their vaginas are tighter.

That's also why he wants a virgin as his wife.

I'm beginning to wonder by this stage whether A is the unqualified Islamic authority I was hoping for. He certainly seems unusually preoccupied by vaginas, which crop up a few times during our chat, often without warning. He's on safer territory where ISIS is concerned.

When Muhammad speaks about killing infidels, he means it as a last resort of self-defence, A tells me. 'The Koran is very clear that you cannot murder or convert someone by force.'

I'm somewhat relieved to leave A and retire to my hovel for the night. I sleep badly, vacuum packed inside my sleeping bag, and am out by 8am the next day. It's now below freezing and my breath puffs thick and foggy in the glacial morning air. After just a few minutes, I find myself high in the clouds, carving my way through an anaemic,

79

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80 | Cycling World

February 2017 Stage

Sivrihisar – Gaziantep, Turkey (12 – 22 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,250 (5,230km)

watery landscape, barely discernible through the gloom. And then I get my first puncture – swiftly followed by my second.

Each puncture takes nearly half an hour to fix, my fingers numb and swollen like frozen chipolatas. By the time I've finished, I'm feeling particularly grumpy and go into a nearby cafe to warm up. Here I'm given free tea and a pair of (much-needed) earmuffs by the kind owner, and meet R, a 49-yearold veteran tour cyclist from Washington DC, who cycled here from Budapest. R is a friendly chap, and we decide to ride together to a pleasant, affordable hotel down the road run by the Turkish Automobile Association.

We part ways the next day near Tuz Gölü, Turkey's vast salt lake. I continue to Şereflikoçhisar, a grey, overdeveloped urban smudge that proves as unattractive as it is unpronounceable, and leave the next day for Ürgüp, Cappadocia. I then get another puncture, realise I've run out of patches, fail to find a shop selling any – and, knowing I'll now never arrive before dusk, jump on a bus.

It's a comfortable journey through craggy, russet-red terrain, and I'm picked up at the end by U, my Couchsurfing host. U is a cheery, balding 30-something, who immediately wins my heart by whisking me out for a glorious kebab feast. As we eat, he confirms my belief that Turkey is a country irreconcilably divided. 'You say Erdogan's a liar; they say he's fixed the roads. You say he's a dictator; they say he's strong. You say he's destroyed the legal system; they say he's created stability. It's impossible.'

I leave U the next morning to spend a few days in Goreme. It's a magical, otherworldly place, clustered with phallic, rose-tinted 'fairy chimneys' formed 30 million years ago, from the ash of three volcanoes: a kind of Narnia meets Disneyland meets Spearmint Rhino.

As it's close to Christmas, I treat myself to a snug guest-house run by an attentive, swarthy fellow called O, who grills a mean kebab feast each evening and emits a reassuringly gentle hint of lechery.

First on my itinerary is a quad biking tour, which I get for a huge discount as tourism is down 80% due to recent terrorist bombings and unrest. The brooding M takes me out: a lapsed Muslim who smokes, drinks and dates.

He is a great fan of Erdogan. 'I used to wake up and my money was worth half what it was the day before,' he says. 'Now I can afford things.'

What is Heaven like in Islam, I ask, thinking of

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- EAncient cave dwellings of Cappadocia

February 2017 | 81

82 | Cycling World

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February 2017 | 83 February 2017 Stage

my friend A and his genital preoccupations. 'It has nothing mind altering,' M tells me. 'You don't need it. It's just your perfect place, forever.'

I get my own brief taste of Heaven during my second Cappadocia activity: a hot air balloon ride.

This is P's Christmas present to me, and is truly spectacular. We drift up, up, up, high above the clouds in the early morning mist, where fluorescent streaks of pink and blue electrify the sky. It's magical, mesmerising – and only slightly ruined at the end by the unforgivably mis-sold 'Champagne', which transpires to be a distressing mix of Red Bull and apple juice.

Before I leave Cappadocia, I visit a Kiwi friend-ofa-friend, R, a who owns a carpet shop. She arrived here 25 years ago, when there were donkeys and chickens everywhere, and no tourists. Now the place is barely recognisable, she tells me ruefully, and 'anyone with money' is permitted to build a hotel.

There are no rules here, yet lots of rules, R says.

'You just need to know them.' She enjoys the licentiousness of Turkey after the officiousness of New Zealand. Here she can do business in cash, no questions asked – although the counterfeit notes in circulation can get frustrating, she admits.

How is it for women here, I ask? 'It's getting better, but domestic violence and honour killings remain serious problems,' she says. However, women are usually the dominant force inside the house, apparently – and are often not as innocent as they seem. Recently, a group of her friends decided to dress up as men and perform an erotic dance with a broom. 'Everyone thought it was hilarious. But I thought it was deeply pornographic and shocking!'

It's also possible to use being a woman to your advantage here, R points out. You can get two seats on the bus by refusing to sit next to a man, and 'for every crotch-grabber, there are four men who come to your aid'. I know exactly what she means. People often forget that with chauvinism comes chivalry: the other side of the patriarchal coin. Sometimes, as I'm struggling with a heavy suitcase or buying my own pint, I do wonder if we feminist sorts have pushed this equality thing too far.

It's just -5°C outside by the time I leave Cappadocia. Dressed like the Michelin Man in almost all my clothes, I spend the first 30km crawling up a succession of steep hills through a dense ice fog. I feel leaden and sluggish, but am spurred on by the knowledge that stopping would mean instantly freezing to death or being devoured by one of the many neurotic mutts on my tail.

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84 | Cycling World

February 2017 Stage

Sivrihisar – Gaziantep, Turkey (12 – 22 Dec)

Total miles cycled: 3,250 (5,230km)

Eventually, after six hours of unremitting dreariness, I stop in a small village called Ovacik. It turns out to be a lacklustre, barren hole of a place, filled with tractors, dung heaps and cement huts. After a brief search, I discover the entire male population in the café – about three dozen of them, in a collection of leather jackets, flat caps and beanies, some talking, most staring into space. All turn to me as I enter, and silence descends with a crash.

Have I misjudged this terribly, I wonder?

Have I stumbled into some malignant backwater where visitors are fed to livestock for sport?

No, as it turns out. Half an hour later I'm chatting pleasantly with the local mayor via Google Translate. One of the older men invites me to his family house for the night and I spend an enjoyable evening eating everything they own and meeting everybody they know. All the older women are housewives and stare at me fondly. Do they like Erdogan, I ask? An enthusiastic yes. Am I Christian, they ask?

No, I admit. Married? No. I detect a flicker of disappointment, but no judgement.

The maternal mollycoddling continues unabated.

I sleep well in their toasty living room, and leave by 8am the next morning after a feast of chips, bread, jam and olives. The chill continues to curl its spindly tentacles about my bones as street and sky meld into one, a white gossamer ghost.

Everything seems weak, brittle, blanched.

When the inevitable pfffffft occurs, I half expect it, but my heart sinks all the same.

It's clear that Maud's in desperate need of new tyres, but she'll have to wait until Beirut – a mere 500km down the road.

My morale remains low as I climb high into the Taurus mountains, only briefly uplifted by the whoosh of the Turkish Cycling Federation passing me by. Then, as my arse starts to pulse and smoulder from the strain, the fog suddenly lifts to reveal thrillingly bright blue skies. I turn my face to the sun and feel its warmth for the first time in weeks, its rays dappling my skin like electrolytes, its breath thawing my soul.

The next day, I reach the summit – and narrowly avoid plunging headfirst into the Mediterranean after a glorious, breakneck 50km plummet all the way down to the sea. Next stop: the Syrian border…

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Follow Rebecca's journey at thebicyclediaries. co.uk, on Twitter at reo_lowe, on Instagram at bexio8 or on Facebook at bexbicyclediaries. She is sponsored by Kona, Lightwave, Garmin, Arkel, Berghaus, Lenovo and Pedros.

- Galata tower, Istanbul

February 2017 | 85

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February 2017 | 87

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88 | Cycling World