16 minute read
This is Cycling UK
NEIL RUSSELL
Neil took up handcycling after entering a paratriathlon. He hated the swimming and wheelchair racing but loved the cycling section
Great Rides HEBRIDES BY HAND
Cycling UK member Neil Russell spent May exploring the islands off the west coast of Scotland on his electric-assist handcycle
Those 30mph winds last night were pretty impressive!” I said to the campsite owner on the Isle of Coll as we packed up our tent. There had been little shelter from the gusts: the island’s landscape is beautiful and rugged but wide open. “Well, the forecast is for 50mph winds on Tiree for the next couple of days,” he replied, with a look of concern. Tiree was the next island on our trip, and the one we were getting the ferry to in the next hour. The islands off the west coast of Scotland are renowned for their azure waters, brilliant white sands, and communities of warm and welcoming people. When the weather is equally hospitable, there are spectacular views from quiet roads and endless opportunities for adventure. It’s no wonder that so many cyclists visit. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t particularly warm or welcoming for my own handcycling tour. That wind! Nonetheless, as a wheelchair user and adaptive rider who continues to explore the opportunities and freedom that handcycling returns to me, it promised to be the trip of a lifetime. I’d be exploring from Arran up to the Isle of Lewis, and seeing my homeland in a way that few adaptive riders have done before. Unsupported long-distance bikepacking is a logistical challenge I’ve yet to master, as it requires the transportation of a wheelchair as well as a whole host of other additional gear. So I was lucky to rope in two family members to drive a support vehicle. My partner, Jess, joined me for the first leg of the trip. After driving up from our home in North Wales, she accompanied me across Arran, Gigha, Islay, Jura, and Mull. My dad, Ken, took over the baton as driver for the second part of the trip through Coll, Tiree, Barra and Vatersay, and all the way up the Hebridean Way before our return to the mainland at Ullapool. Despite their support, it was a little daunting to tackle an adventure of this length. “However things pan out,” I told myself, “it’ll all be fine.”
CHIMING WITH THE ARRAN BELLES
We couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming start to the trip than meeting with Janice and Murray on arrival to Arran. Janice had kindly offered to meet with us and give us a place to unload and put together my handcycle before starting the journey. After a good chat about our shared love of cycling and all it offers over a glass of Scottish blend, we set off to meet up with more members of the Isle of Arran Belles. This all-ladies cycling group not only guided me around the south of Arran from Brodick but also provided us with the loveliest lunch and conversation. They set the bar very high on day one. I always like to talk with other cyclists, often informing them about adaptive riding. So it was
Feature
YOU’RE SAM JONES Cycling UK’s communications and media manager WELCOME
EVERYONE WINS WHEN LOCAL BUSINESSES GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR CYCLISTS. SAM JONES INTRODUCES CYCLING UK’S CYCLE FRIENDLY PLACES PROGRAMME
Pierrepont Farm, Surrey: real ale and artisan cheese alongside KAW
The air was brisk and my fingers felt the nip of winter from aluminium brake levers. Pedalling pal Ian and I were 20 miles into a loop around the Surrey countryside near Frensham. Wondering where to stop for a bite, I spotted a sign on the trail pointing into what looked like a farmyard.
We’d stumbled upon Craft Brews UK, a local brewery based in a Countryside Restoration Trust property, Pierrepont Farm. Soon we were warmly welcomed by the proprietor and placed by the open fire with a beer and some cake, our bikes in easy sight – alongside others. Clearly we weren’t the first cyclists to pass this way. Master brewer Joe Wood told us that he’d come to appreciate the trade from passing off-road riders, which had risen sharply since 2020. Craft Brews sits right on Cycling UK’s popular King Alfred’s Way (KAW) bikepacking route, which we launched that year. “We love the camaraderie of the cycling community,” Joe said. “Their presence all adds to the vibe and helps bring the brewery alive.” The patio outside the brewery now features fingerposts telling you how far it is to Winchester, the start and finish of the route (97km or 253km away, depending on direction – see cyclinguk.org/ kingalfredsway). There’s secure cycle parking for responsible riders who have one too many and take a taxi home rather than riding while under the influence. When Ian and I told him we were from the charity behind the route, Joe couldn’t thank us enough for including Craft Brews on the route. His genuineness was as warming as the fire, and we could have happily stayed longer to talk about beer and bikes if we’d had the time.
BREWER JOE WOOD SAID HE APPRECIATED THE TRADE FROM PASSING OFF-ROAD RIDERS
KING ALFRED’S WHEY
As it was, we set off again. We hadn’t gone 20 metres before we were whey-laid [sic] by another sight: an artisan cheese maker on the same site. John Brown from Cheese on the Wey was offering samples, and seeing our bikes gave us a piece of the cheese he’d made to commemorate KAW: King Alfred’s Yellow Jersey. This puntastic celebration of curds and cycling was made from the milk of Jersey cows, and he couldn’t think of a more apt name given the flow of bikepackers he’d witnessed along the new route. We enjoyed the samples and loaded our saddlebags with more to be savoured at home.
CYCLOPEDIA Knowhow
Making sense of commonly misunderstood subjects
DAN JOYCE
Dan sometimes wears a helmet, which seems to annoy everyone
Headwear
How to wear a cycle helmet (if you choose to)
Photo: trekbikes.com
In short: not on the back of your head like a bonnet or with loose straps. To work as intended in a fall from your bike, a helmet needs to fit correctly, be adjusted correctly, and be worn correctly.
THE RIGHT SIZE
Cycle helmets generally come in only a handful of sizes: one or two children’s sizes, for example, or small, medium, and large adult sizes. Each will have a range in centimetres, showing the head circumferences it should accommodate.
Measure your head before going to the shop. Hold the tape horizontally around your head, above your ears and eyebrows. Your head is probably 50-something centimetres, with men having larger heads than women on average.
Try on helmets at the shop. The most comfortable may be a size up – or a different model entirely – because different designs suit different head shapes, some fitting rounder heads best, others longer heads.
Men’s and women’s helmets may look different (for which you can thank the brand’s marketing department) but the only real difference is that the S/M/L size bands for women’s models may be smaller. Get whichever fits best, regardless of its supposed gender. If you have a particularly large head (over 60cm), try Bontrager: its helmet sizes go up to 66cm.
ADJUSTING THE FIT
There may be a choice of foam pads to fine tune fit and comfort. Most helmets have a strap that cradles that back of the head, adjustable via a ratchet or dial. Adjust it until the helmet feels snug but not uncomfortable. Leave the chin strap undone for now.
Shake your head from side to side, like you're indicating “no”. The helmet should
Heads don’t come in just three sizes. Adjust those straps
move with your head and not come loose. Then bend over gently so the top of your head is pointing at the floor. Even with the chinstrap undone, the helmet should be snug enough that it stays on.
HOW TO WEAR IT
The brim of the helmet should be no more than a couple of fingers’ width above your eyebrows. If your forehead is exposed, it’s unprotected.
Finally adjust the chin strap. The twin straps at each side should meet in a V under your earlobes. The strap under your chin should be loose enough that you can yawn comfortably but snug enough that you can get only a finger or two underneath. It may take a while to sort this out, as you faff with sliders and strap lengths. Take this time. Be aware that the straps can work loose over time, so you may need to readjust them later.
ACCESSORIES
A cycling cap or a stretchy snood will fit fine under most helmets. You may need to adjust the chin strap and probably will need to adjust the rear ratchet strap.
Anything fitted to the exterior of a helmet must be able to snap free instantly in the event of a crash. Visors are designed to do this. Lights and cameras may not be. If they snag the ground or road, your head could be spun around, exacerbating (or causing) neck injuries or rotational brain injuries.
Care & replacement
The foam pads in helmets absorb sweat. Take them out and handwash them if they start to niff, or put them in a mesh bag in the washing machine. If the helmet itself gets dirty, you can handwash it tepid water. Let it dry out naturally.
Cycle helmets are designed to crumple. If you have a fall and bang it, you should replace it. Even if it’s not visibly damaged there may be hairline cracks. Some manufacturers have a crash-replacement policy; ask about this at the shop.
Even if you don’t crash your helmet it will have a limited lifespan, due to sweat, sunlight, and general wear and tear. Manufacturers suggest a use-life of three to five years – a fair guideline.
Helmet policy
Cycling UK has a prochoice policy on helmet use and campaigns against compulsion. See cyclinguk.org/helmets
Biketest
LIZ COLEBROOK
Liz holds the brazing torch at Beaumont Bicycle and is a qualified occupational therapist
Not carbon copies
Spend £2k on an endurance road bike and you can expect carbon fibre. Liz Colebrook tests women’sspecific models from Decathlon and Cube
Both of these road bikes are designed for women. The Van Rysel is also designed by women. Whether women need a women’sspecific bike is a moot point: see cyclinguk. org/article/cycling-guide/women-need-womenspecific-bikes. The last time I reviewed one, the women’s-specific aspect amounted to a change of handlebar, saddle, and colour. I was curious what differences these two would exhibit.
They’re both ‘endurance’ road bikes. The industry is always inventing new names but I like ‘endurance’; it’s more obvious than ‘sportive’. Essentially, such bikes are designed to offer more comfort without compromising much on the aerodynamics and weight. So you can expect a slightly higher handlebar position, lightweight wheels, and a super-light, shortwheelbase frameset.
Van Rysel is Decathlon’s relatively new performance brand. The name means ‘from Lille’, paying homage to Decathlon’s HQ in French Flanders, near the border with Belgium. There are two women’s-specific Van Rysel road bikes: the aluminium Women’s Road Bike EDR AF 105 (£849.99) and this, the carbon Women’s Van Rysel EDR Carbon Disc 105 (£2,299.99).
Cube’s Axial WS GTC Pro (£2,049) is one of six women’s-specific road bikes designed by the German brand. As with Van Rysel, the less expensive models – such as the entry-level Axial WS (£949) – are aluminium rather than carbon.
Frame & fork
The science of carbon fibre is complex. Basically, carbon fibres are layered to dissipate riding stresses while optimising strength and stiffness where they’re needed. The design process is heavily computerised and the high construction costs reflect bicycle designer Keith Bontrager’s well-known maxim: “strong, light, cheap – pick two”.
First look
Lightweight and sporty for a ‘budget’ carbon bike, thanks largely to its lighter wheelset
Carbon's high construction costs reflect Keith Bontrager’s maxim: “strong, light, cheap – pick two"
Carbon frames can fracture dramatically in a collision where an aluminium or steel frame would crumple or bend. But in the normal course of events, where the stresses are predictable, a carbon frame and fork can have a better strength-toweight ratio than any metal frame yet still dissipate some road vibration. This (potential) combination of performance and comfort helps explain why carbon fibre is the dominant material for higher-end road bikes – including endurance ones.
Both the Cube Axial and the Decathlon Van Rysel feature a full carbon frame and fork. The Cube is a kilogramme heavier overall than the Van Rysel, mostly due to variances in the wheels rather than the frames. The other significant difference is the sizing availability: the Van Rysel seems only to be stocked in XS and S sizes (although XXS is listed), whereas the Cube is offered in a full range of sizes. This may be a result of production problems stemming from recent upsets in global manufacturing and transportation.
The Cube has a wide protective strip under the down tube to limit potential damage to the frame from stones flying up from the road. It’s a small but important detail on a carbon bike. Meanwhile, Decathlon helpfully provides an Allen key torque wrench with the bike so you can tighten any bolts that clamp onto carbon – such as the Top: An 11-32 cassette is fine, stem – just right. given the bike’s low weight Neither bike is designed Bottom: The full carbon fork underscores the Van Rysel’s for conventional framesporty aspirations: it won’t fitting mudguards. The take a conventional mudguard Cube can be equipped or a tyre bigger than 25mm with the brand’s Cubeguard Attain Disc guards, while the Van Rysel would require SKS Raceblade Long or Crud Roadracer guards.
Components
Both bikes feature Shimano’s 105 groupset but the spec isn’t identical. The Van Rysel has a 140mm rear disc rotor, which makes sense for small-to-medium riders and saves weight. The Cube employs Shimano’s hydraulic 105 brake levers for smaller hands – commendable on a women’s-specific bike.
Tech Spec
DECATHLON WOMEN’S VAN RYSEL EDR CARBON DISC 105
Price: £2,299.99
Sizes: XXS (not currently available), XS, S (tested)
Weight: 8.2kg (18lb)
Frame & fork: high-modulus carbon fibre frame with pressfit bottom bracket, 142×12mm dropouts, and fittings for flat mount brake and two bottles. Full carbon fork with tapered steerer and 100×12mm dropouts.
Wheels: 25-622 Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance tyres on Fulcrum Racing 700 DB tubeless-ready wheels.
Transmission: basic resin pedals with toe-clips, Shimano 105 R7000 chainset (50-34t, 170mm), 86mm pressfit bottom bracket, KMC X11 chain, Shimano R7000 11-32t cassette. Shimano R7000 STI shifters, rear derailleur and ‘braze-on’ front derailleur. 22 ratios, 28-122in.
Braking: Shimano hydraulic R7000 STI levers, R7070 callipers, Shimano Centerlock rotors (160mm front, 140mm rear).
Steering & seating: Van Rysel Racing aluminium handlebar, 80mm Van Rysel Racing stem, integrated threadless stem, carbon spacers. Van Rysel Ergofit women's saddle, 27.2×350mm Van Rysel seatpost, Allenbolt seatpost clamp.
Equipment: tools for assembly, battery lights, bell, pair of tubeless valves. decathlon.co.uk
Dimensions in millimetres and degrees 647 543
680
47 770 73.5˚ 505 52
585 408 142
Grouptest Bikepacking bar rolls
Soft bags that strap to the handlebar have become a staple for bikepacking off-road. Guy Kesteven tests four models
GUY KESTEVEN
Guy has been a bike tester for 25 years. He’s a freelance technical editor for paper and online media and talks to himself while riding bikes at YouTube/
GuyKesTV
Traditional handlebar bags have been popular for day rides and touring for years due to their ‘under your nose’ convenience, easy-to-organise box design, and their capacity to accommodate maps and light mounts. They’re rattly on rough ground without a support frame, however, and their boxy, lidded construction can make them hard to stuff bulky gear into. That’s where stuffsack-style bar rolls come in. Perfect for cramming with bulky but light kit like sleeping bags, bivvy bags and down jackets, their soft, rounded design can also strap directly onto the handlebar to keep them more stable and quieter. If you’re going far enough, fast enough then they’re arguably more aerodynamic than traditional bar bags as well. Different sizing, strapping, weatherproofing and accessorising priorities mean that choosing the right one for your bikepacking needs isn’t always easy. Hopefully this test of four medium-capacity, standard drop-bar-compatible bags will help.
Cycle’s test promise Details
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1Capacity
We’ve tested smaller bags from 9-litres volume and up, but most have 12-15L or larger siblings. Watch out for handlebar space with those.
2Mount
Direct strapon mounts are the simplest but leave no room for hands on the bar centre and are more likely to rub on cables/frames. That’s why many designs/riders use soft spacer blocks to give a grip gap.
3Harness or all in one?
All-in-one, direct-strap designs are the most weight/bulk efficient. A separate harness/ holster/hod can be left on the bike while the bag goes walkies with you, however.
4Weather Resistance
Finding your warm layers have got wet while you’re riding is a potentially dangerous disaster. Look very closely at what the waterproof/water resistant descriptions actually mean. If in doubt, double bag.
5Durability
Bar rolls don’t get as filthy and rubbed up the wrong way as seat packs, but anything sawing around on your bike on rough terrain can wear. Grapevine recommendations count for a lot, but it’s worth buying from a company with a good warranty service as well.