Spring:summer catalogue 2014 by Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative Ltd.

Free spring/summer Catalogue 2014

IT’S SUMMER TIME With the wet winter surely behind us, it’s time to cast off your cool-weather cocoon, and start looking forward to those glorious days when you’ll feel the sun on your back again. Days when you can get away with wearing little more than a short sleeved top and a pair of shorts. Days to develop crisp tan lines to be worn like badges of honour.

charity ride you’ve always thought about, your first sportive, or it might simply be the time when you make a resolution to ride to work more often.

Whilst we make a good case for riding all year round, summer truly is the season when most of us look forward to enjoying the best time on our bikes.

First off, we are really excited by our Revolution revamp and the redesign of our entire own-brand bicycle range. To cap it all we decided it was time to set the bar even higher with the introduction of outstanding new Revolution models such as the Wraith - our first carbon road bike for under a grand. And the Revolution Flow - this season’s best spec’d 29er mountain bike.

It’s a time when you can enjoy longer hours of restorative sunlight and feel your fitness returning. This summer might be the time you make plans to watch The Tour on English roads. Its a time to consider new challenges: a coast to coast ride, a 24 hour mountain bike enduro, that

This is also the time of year when we produce our Spring/Summer Catalogue to give you a brief introduction to our offer for this season.

We hope this little catalogue might go some way to inspiring you to enjoy the summer the best way we know how - on two wheels.

04 Revolution - Time For A New Look 06 Road Bikes 14 Road Commuter Bikes 16 Our Bike To Work Scheme 18 Commuter/Hybrid Bikes 24 Mountain Bikes

PRICE MATCH We want you to shop with confidence at Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op, hence our Price Match Promise.

32 Our Customer Offer

If you are interested in any item from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op which is available from a comparable UK retailer at a lower price, we will match the competitor’s price.

34 Getting The Right Fit For Summer

For full terms and conditions visit edinburghbicycle.com/pricematch

31 The Co-op Way

36 Standing The Test Of Time - Classic Equipment 42 What Makes Specialized So Special? 46 Tour de France / Le Tour Yorkshire 48 Summer Clothing - Staff Choices 50 Fuel Your Ride With Torq 52 JOGLE - A Great British Challenge 54 Technology We Have A Lot Of Time For 56 Essential Spares - Ride Savers 58 A Workshop In Every Branch

symbols designed to help Male symbol

0% APR TYPICAL INTEREST-FREE CREDIT 6, 10 or 12 months interest-free credit available on any bike from £500 purchased in store or online. 10% minimum deposit required. Example: To pay for a £500 bike over 10 months, we would require a £50 deposit, then 10 monthly direct debit payments of £45, making the total amount payable, £500. Visit edinburghbicycle.com/if for full terms and conditions.

Female symbol

Men’s & Women’s versions available

Women’s specific

Items of exceptional value Purchase any saddle and if you’re not happy with it, you can return it within 30 days and we will replace it with an alternative saddle (or a gift voucher) to the same value.

Illustrations of fellow Bike Co-op workers courtesy of Rachelle, Canonmills shop.

Ideal for those who like to get their hands dirty.

Time for a fresh new look Last year, we celebrated the 10th birthday of the launch of our exclusive Revolution range. Over the past decade, Revolution bikes and equipment have earned a cluster of excellent reviews, which reaffirm our Revolution manifesto - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;making quality bicycles, clothing and accessories more affordableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Anniversaries being a time of reflection, once the Revolution 10th birthday cake candles were blown out, we began planning how to make the next decade even better. We decided the time was ripe for a Revolution makeover, starting with the logo. Our new lower case revolution logo (pictured on the frame tube above) reflects the low-key,

smart design philosophy that informs Revolution equipment. This new logo is not shouty. It just works, thus reflecting the experience we want you to enjoy when you ride a Revolution bike, wear a Revolution jersey, use a Revolution workstand... WHat to look out for Bikes Have you ever painted a room, only to realise your whole house could do with a similar refresh? We trialled the new logo on samples of two of our debutante bikes for 2014: the Revolution Wraith road bike and the Revolution Flow 29er MTB. We agreed the new livery looked so good, we redesigned the complete 24-model Revolution bike range.

Packaging Wherever possible, we are continuing to reduce packaging to the bare minimum required to ensure you receive the goods in perfect condition. We have also strived to make the packaging cleaner and to describe the goods therein more clearly. Team kit Our Revolution Team Jersey and Team Bibshorts are also in the process of being redesigned (sneak preview on the foot of page 4). To keep abreast with the continual evolution of the Revolution range, visit edinburghbicycle.com and sign up for our free weekly email news bulletin.

making quality bicycles, clothing & accessories more affordable

ROAD BIKES Web Ref: 17017

Revolution wraith £999 OUR FIRST CARBON ROAD BIKE - WELL WORTH THE WAIT

road bikes Our Revolution Continental road bike has been a staple of our range since the ‘90s, and was voted Budget Road Bike of the year 2000 by Cycling Plus. In 2013 we launched an even more accessibly priced road bike - the Revolution Sabre - which achieved a very respectable 4/5 rating in the same magazine. Never ones to rest on our laurels, for 2014 we have revamped, refreshed and upgraded every bicycle in the Bike Co-op’s exclusive Revolution range.

We held back from releasing our first carbon road bike till we were absolutely confident we could offer something that rivalled anything out there at this price. One glance at the Revolution Wraith’s sculpted frame should convince you this bike was worth the wait. Its full carbon frame and fork come very respectably (Shimano Sora 2x9) equipped. Its inch and a quarter to inch and an eighth tapered carbon steerer is bang up to the minute. So is the frame’s internal cable routing, which is Di2 & EPS electronic shifting compatible, making this purposeful speed machine primed for future upgrades. Sizes: 54, 56, 58cm. Colour: Black/Carbon. Weight: 9.45kg.

Then to top it all, we have introduced two brand new road bike models designed to outclass anything in their price range. 1. The Revolution Continental Sport Disc with disc brakes and carbon fork. 2. The Revolution Wraith with a full carbon frame and fork.

MAKING QUALITY BICYCLES MORE AFFORDABLE

You can purchase any Revolution bike in the confident knowledge that it was designed, assembled and quality controlled at the Bike Co-op’s Edinburgh HQ, and that it is covered by a (we believe unique) lifetime warranty on the frame and the components.

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Revolution sabre £429 SHARP LOOKING ROAD BIKES START WITH THE SABRE

With its lightweight butted aluminium frame, its fast 700x25 tyres, its Tektro dual pivot brakes and its Shimano A070 Tourney 2x7 Dual Control gear shifters integrated with the brake levers: the Sabre is a sound introduction to the performance and sheer fun you can enjoy when you take ownership of such a classy, contemporary road bike. ‘Great looks, great value and a balanced confident ride.’ Cycling Plus, August 2013. Sizes: 52, 55, 58cm. Colour: Black/Green. Weight: 11.5kg.

TAPERED HEADTUBE

1,020 GRAM FULL carbon frame

INTERNAL CABLE ROUTING

Di2 READY

480 GRAM FULL CARBON FORK

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Revolution continental £499

Revolution continental sport disc £699

CONTINENTAL WITH CLASSY NEW SHIMANO CLARIS SHIFTING

FIRST DISC BRAKE EQUIPPED REVOLUTION CONTINENTAL

Like the Revolution Sabre, the Continental is built on a butted aluminium frame, which is full mudguard compatible to make it a road bike for all seasons. The Continental frame is further upgraded with neat internal gear cable routing. Then the Dual Control integrated brake & gear levers are elevated to new Shimano Claris 2x8 level, where the return lever operates by nudging it inwards in true Shimano 105-like STI style.

Spring 2014 sees the intro of another brand new model - our first ever disc brake-equipped Continental. Its Tektro Lyra brakes are ball bearing actuated to ensure smooth performance and low-maintenance reliability. Further significant upgrades include the carbon forks, which reduce both weight and road ‘chatter’, while the gearing is upgraded to Shimano Sora 2x9 level.

Sizes: 52, 55, 58cm. Colour: White/Black. Weight: 11.5kg.

Sizes: 55, 58cm. Colour: Black/Red. Weight: 11kg.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

ROAD BIKES AWARD WINNING Cycling Plus magazine hailed the Giant Defy 1 as the best £1,000 road bike they tested in both 2012 and 2013. Their test riders loved the bike’s ‘precise handling, purring ride and permanently ready character.’ Cycling Plus agreed that Giant had pulled off their ambition to create the ultimate endurance road bike, which combined performance with comfort, with the Defy. If you would rather spend less, Giant’s unique frame building capacity enables them to produce Defy 2, 3, 4 and 5 models, starting at £499, which boast fundamentally the same Aluxx butted aluminium frame design as the award-winning Defy 1. If you would prefer an even more refined and lighter weight Defy, check out the carbon Composite and Advanced models from the complete 12-model Giant Defy lineup at edinburghbicycle.com

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GIANT DEFY 4 £599 AWARD WINNING DEFY ALUXX FRAME + CARBON FORK

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Metal Blue, Wht/Grn. 10.3kg. Web Ref: 16181

GIANT DEFY 1 £999 SHIMANO 105-EQUIPPED BIKE OF THE YEAR

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Black/Red, Blue/Blk. 9.5kg. Web Ref: 16591

GIANT DEFY COMPOSITE 3 £1,099 MOST AFFORDABLE GIANT CARBON ROAD BIKE EVER

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Comp/Red. Weight: 9.2kg. Web Ref: 16589

GIANT DEFY COMPOSITE 1 £1,599 ULTEGRA 2x11 EQUIPPED CARBON HEAD-TURNER

Sizes: S-L. Colour: White/Red. Weight: 8.8kg.

Giant Defy 1

The Giant Avail shares the same design ethos that has made Defy the go-to endurance (AKA comfort geometry) road bike of the decade. The Avail difference is that Giant have fine tuned the geometry to create a perfect female fit. If your last bike was somewhat leaden, it’s time to defy ‘ladies bike’ convention and avail yourself of something better. You’ll discover that there are few pleasures that delight as much as taking flight on a bike this well-fitting and light. To make the Avail as versatile as possible for all weather use, touring and commutes, Giant produce a set of full-length mudguards specifically for their Avail and Defy Aluxx frame bikes. Looking for the ultimate dream bike? The Avail Composite 3 is Giant’s most accessibly priced ladies’ carbon road bike to date, while the Advanced 2 is the women’s version of Cycling Plus magazine’s 2013 Bike of the Year.

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GIANT AVAIL 3 £699 ALUXX FRAME & CARBON FORK - SORA 2x9 EQUIPPED

Sizes: XS-M. Colour: Black. Weight: 9.74kg. Web Ref: 16573

GIANT AVAIL 1 £999 GIANT’S NUMBER ONE ALLOY ROAD BIKE FOR WOMEN

Sizes: XS-M. Colour: White/Blue. Weight: 9.4kg. Web Ref: 16580

GIANT AVAIL COMPOSITE 3 £1,099 SHIMANO TIAGRA 2X10 EQUIPPED CARBON FRAME

Sizes: XS-M. Colour: White/Purple. Weight: 9kg. Web Ref: 16577

GIANT AVAIL ADVANCED 2 £1,899 SHIMANO 105 EQUIPPED ADVANCED CARBON FRAME

Sizes: XS-M. Colour: White/Green. Weight: 8kg.

Giant Avail Composite 3

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

ROAD BIKES WHEN TIME MATTERS The road bike is a classic design, universally revered as the fastest form of human-powered transport a man or woman can enjoy. Two distinct approaches to bicycle design dominate today’s road bike scene. 1. Pure road race bikes are similar in design and geometry to the bicycles you’ll see the top pros riding in stage races such as the Tour de France. 2. Endurance road bikes can be as fast, but with extra comfort dialed in.

ROAD RACE BIKES

SPORTIVE/ENDURANCE ROAD BIKES

The road race bike is designed to convert your pedalling output into forward motion with maximum efficiency. Handlebars mounted below saddle height encourage you to adopt the most aerodynamically efficient, flat back, racer tuck riding position. Steep frame angles enable a more forward position ‘on top of the cranks’ to maximise power output. The shorter wheelbase enables lightning steering response.

An endurance road bike is made to be ridden fast on sportive-like 100 mile rides. The frame’s longer wheelbase, taller head tube and more relaxed frame geometry translate as a more comfortable ride for us everyday riders who don’t necessarily boast a pro racer’s flexibility. The fact that Specialized’s genre-defining Roubaix (P.13) is a 4-times Paris-Roubaix race winner goes a long way to proving the speed potential of this style of road bike.

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genesis volant 00 £599

specialized secteur triple £650

STRIKING CLARIS 2X8-EQUIPPED FIRST ROAD BIKE

HOMAGE TO PARIS - ROUBAIX’S COBBLED SECTEURS

The fact that it looks like a bike Greg Lemond might have ridden in the ‘80s does this bike no harm whatsever. In truth, the bang up-to-date Genesis Volante frame is a fusion of two distinct triple butted aluminium alloys to optimise stiffness where required (the 44mm oversized head tube) and compliance where you want it via its carbon fork blades and skinny seatstays.

Specialized’s carbon framed Roubaix range, name checked above in our intro to endurance road bikes, starts at £1,300 for the Shimano Sora 2x9 equipped model. With its butted aluminium frame and its Shimano Claris 3x8 gearing the Secteur is half the price but shares the Roubaix’s proven geometry and its carbon forks with Zertz cobble-smoothing elastomer implants.

Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm. Colour: Grey/Orange/Turquoise. Weight: 10.4kg.

Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm. Colour: Black/Silver/White. Weight: 10.9kg.

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focus culebro sl 2.0 cp £899

van nicholas ventus apex £1,649

SHIMANO 105-EQUIPPED TRIPLE BUTTED ALLOY FRAME

TRY Ti - YOU’LL NEVER LOOK BACK

Looking for a pure road bike with a solid racing heritage? Check out the Culebro which boasts the same geometry as the Focus Izalco Team SL, featured below, but with a more affordable aluminium frame. Having said that, the Culebro boasts a new-for-2014 triple-butted hydro-formed alloy frame with internal cable routing. Shimano 105 STI levers ensure the gears shift as fast as this bike.

Van Nicholas are famed for one thing - titanium bikes of the highest quality. It’s the only frame material they use, hence the Van Nicholas by-line: The Titanium Bike Company. Their range includes trekking bikes, hybrid bike, touring bikes and mountain bikes, but they are most famous for road bikes such as this SRAM Apex 2x10 equipped unpainted (titanium does not corrode) beauty.

Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm. Colour: Magic Black/Blue. Weight: 9.6kg.

Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm. Colour: Titanium. Weight: 8.9kg

exCeptionally light

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Cervélo s2 105 £1,899

focus Izalco team sl 4.0 cp £2,499

GENRE-DEFINING AERO ROAD BIKE

UCI-REGISTERED FRAME & FORK + SRAM FORCE 22 GRUPPO

The S2 is your intro to aero road bikes - a concept Cervélo pioneered. The S2’s carbon frame boasts aerodynamic features previously reserved for time trial bikes, such as an aerofoil seat tube shaped to shelter the rear wheel, whilst retaining the familiar handling of a conventional road bike. The happy result of this marriage of aero and road is a machine, tested and proven to make you go faster with no extra effort.

UCI-registered means this bike boasts the same Izalco Team SL frame that Focus AG2R rode to 2nd place in the Team Classification in the 2013 Tour. That’s significant because most bike companies reserve their best carbon for their £4,000+ race frames, and employ a less exotic filament, which won’t offer quite the same strength-tolightness ratio, for their less expensive carbon bikes.

Sizes: 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm. Colour: Red/Black. Weight: 8.6kg.

Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm. Colour: Carbon/Blue. Weight: 7.5kg.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

ROAD BIKES

SPEED COMFORT

IN OUR OWN TIME If you’re into bikes you will appreciate that cyclists don’t all sing from the same hymn sheet. We’re a broad church made up of individuals, each of us with strong opinions of what works best for us, and what doesn’t. This diversity is mirrored by the people who make up our co-op. This motley crew includes hairy mountain bikers and roadie leg shavers, BMXers and Bromptonites, Shimano shifters and Campag clickers. This individualistic theme was borne out when we asked four random roadie co-op members to tell the world about the fast bikes they go out on. Each one chose a bicycle from a different company. Just shows: stocking such a wide range of bikes helps us cater for the most diverse range of tastes.

ANDY - BUYING MANAGER, DALMENY Web Ref: 16865

Cervélo S3 ULTEGRA £3,299 Every year I look at thousands of bikes for the Bike Co-op as an essential part of the process of selecting the best 200 bikes for our shops. Being exposed to so many bikes, most years I go through the processing of trying to decide on a favourite bike from a fantasy short list of 20 or so models. This year was different. I saw the Cervélo S3 and I knew I had to buy one. As a bike obsessive, to me, aero road bikes are like supercars – they look and ride fast. Normally, however, they are too racy to be comfortable, but not the S3. When you pull on the cranks you experience the BB stiffness, but on the road the ride is supple and pushes you to go faster and harder. I just hope by summer my stamina will be able to keep up. Sizes: 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm. Colour: Red/Black. Weight: 7.7kg.

OUR FULL RANGE OF HAND PICKED ROAD BIKES CAN BE SEEN AT: EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

VICKY - ONLINE Web Ref: 16255

WILIER IZOARD XP 105 £1,299

SPEED

This was my first venture into carbon road bikes and It didn’t disappoint. Stiff, light and sub £2k, what more can you say. Venturing out with a friend I headed for The Lang Wang. Having been of the bike for a while I expected a lot of discomfort, I was however pleasantly surprised. The bike was great when climbing and handled brilliantly. I changed the tyres, personally I prefer Continental Gator Skins on my road bikes. I found the saddle comfortable and didn’t see the need to change it. The 105 components delivered smooth gear changing as you would expect. If you are looking to get into road cycling but don’t want to go over the top then a Willier Izoard is the right choice.

COMFORT

Sizes: XS-XXL. Colour: Matt Black/Red. Weight: 9.6kg.

IAN - BIKE TO WORK GURU Web Ref: 16536

FOCUS CAYO EVO 3.O CP £1,599 After trying a colleague’s carbon road bike at a charity ride, I knew I just had to upgrade to carbon. After much deliberation I settled on the Focus Cayo Evo 3.0 feeling it offered fantastic value for money without compromising on spec. The fact that it is a great looking bike also played an important part in my decision.

SPEED COMFORT

Having owned the bike since 2012 I can safely say I love it. It is very quick off the mark, comfortable, handles great and the gear changes are very slick. It comfortably deals with any hills I throw it at and descending at the other side is always great fun. Sizes: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60cm. Colour: Carbon/Green. Weight: 8.8kg.

ALAN - CANONMILLS Web Ref: 16346

SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX COMP SL4 £2,200 In late 2013, when looking for a new road bike, the benefits of working for the Bike Co-op were immediately apparent - I was able to test ride both Specialized’s Tarmac and Roubaix models, and also had a spin on a colleague’s Venge. Whilst I do compete, my events tend to be longer (and slower), and comfort is king. Unsurprisingly I chose the Roubaix - and I couldn’t say it felt any slower than the others, just smoother! Riding since then has borne that first impression out - the frame is utterly solid under pedaling and the cornering feels incredibly secure - presumably due to the clever SL4 carbon-lay up, which also minimizes road buzz. SPEED COMFORT

Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm. Colour: Red/Black/White. Weight: 9kg.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

ROAD COMMUTER BIKES TIME TO ESCAPE THE DAILY GRIND

You want a fast bike with drop bars, which help you punch through the wind when needs be, whilst offering respite when you shift your hands from the drops to the bar tops. However, you’d like a drop bar bike that’s more versatile than a pure road race bicycle. A bike that rolls on more forgiving 700 x 28-35mm tyres. A bike with cantilever brakes or, better still, low maintenance disc brakes, so it is mudguard and rack compatible. A bike with a wider gear range to make hills more climbable. This is a style of bike that has long been asked for by seekers of more practical bicycles, but has scarcely been available. Until now. Read on.

Cross bikes are the best selling bicycles in our Revolution range, thus offering further proof that a road bike that can double as a commuter bike or a fast summer touring bike or a winter training bike or an entry-level triathlon bike or a towpath gravel grinder is a bicycle that near anyone can appreciate and enjoy. Launched as a single bike in 2008, the Revolution Cross concept has developed into a three-bicycle range. The Revolution Cross is built on a 7005 alloy frame with Shimano Tourney 3 x 7 Dual Control shifters and cantilever brakes. The Cross Disc is upgraded with Tektro Lyra disc brakes and Shimano Claris 3 x 8 STI shifter/brake levers. The lighter weight Sport Disc delivers improved performance, courtesy of its carbon fork, Avid BB5 discs and Sora 2x9 STIs.

REVOLUTION CROSS £425 Sizes: 52, 55, 58cm. Colour: Black/Silver. Weight: 11.6kg. Web Ref:17019.

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REVOLUTION CROSS DISC £525

REVOLUTION CROSS sport DISC £749

DISC BRAKES = LESS MAINTENANCE

A LIGHTER CROSS TO BEAR

Sizes: 52, 55, 58cm. Colour: Grey/Red. Weight: 12.9kg.

Sizes: 52, 55, 58cm. Colour: White/Black. Weight: 11.3kg.

Web Ref: 16670

GIANT REVOLT 2 £799 DON’T PUT UP WITH LESS VERSATILE ROAD BIKES. REVOLT!

The Revolt 2 is built on a Giant Aluxx-SL double butted 6011 frame which is even lighter than their benchmark Aluxx 6061 frame. Its tight rear triangle ensure a sprightly ride on road, as does the lightweight carbon fork. Giant P-RX2 puncture-resistant 700x35 tyres ensure the Revolt 2 is equally fit for gravel tracks. Its SRAM BB5 disc brakes can be operated from either the Shimano Claris 2x8 STI drop bar levers or the Tektro bar-top levers. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Charcoal. Weight: 11.9kg.

Web Ref: 16667

GIANT INVITE 2 W £849 GIANT’S NEW ROAD BIKE INVITES YOU TO EXPLORE FARTHER

The Invite, like the Giant Revolt, is built on an exquisite lightweight Aluxx-SL frame with a carbon Composite fork. However Giant believe in conceiving their women’s bikes from scratch, rather than simply ‘shrinking and pinking’ an existing gents’ bike. That’s why they equip the Invite 2 with better quality, wider-range Shimano Sora 3x9 gears; narrower bars for a more comfortable hand hold and 70x32 tyres that roll that bit faster. Sizes: XS-M. Colour: Black/Purple. Weight: 11.3kg.

Web Ref: 16223

WHYTE SUFFOLK £1,199 BEST IN TEST. 4.5/5. CYCLING PLUS MAGAZINE.

Featuring TRP’s innovative cable-operated HyRd (hydraulic road) disc brakes, the Suffolk is the best bicycle in Whyte’s new RD7 Road Disc Bike range.

‘Whyte’s Suffolk stands atop the podium. Its combination of quiet racy geometry, high levels of comfort and excellent hydraulic disc brakes means it’s much too good to be kept only for winter. 4.5/5.’ Cycling Plus. Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58cm. Colour: Matt Granite/Burnt Orange. Weight: 10.4kg.

with every bike purchased

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

BIKE TO WORK SCHEME

This example of a women’s-specific Bike to Work order is based on an employee paying basic rate income tax over a 12 month hire period in tax year 2014/15. We can create similar money-saving packages for men.

TIME TO SAVE MONEY

he Cycle to Work Scheme is a tax-efficient incentive that enables you to enjoy serious savings off the price of a new bicycle and/or related safety equipment such as a helmet, cycle clothing and lights. Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op’s own scheme is called Bike to Work. We have ten year’s experience offering our Scheme to the staff of more than 1,000 organisations, ranging from the smallest businesses to the largest local authorities and universities. Employers appreciate our streamlined process because it means staff get their bikes with minimal delay. Employees also appreciate our scheme because staff are entitled to take full advantage of any sales, discounts or special offers available from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op when they order the bike.

NO BIKE TO WORK SCHEME AT YOUR WORKPLACE? WHAT TO DO NEXT. The Bike to Work Scheme is a unique staff benefit in that it also saves employers money. Urge your employer to visit edinburghbicycle.com/biketowork where they will discover how easy it is to introduce a Bike to Work Scheme at your workplace. Alternatively, you can go on the website yourself and request our Bike to Work Scheme brochure for you to pass on to your employer. If you have any specific queries, feel free to email our dedicated Bike to Work team any time at: biketowork@edinburghbicycle.com

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES You can also make serious savings on cycle clothing and accessories (and spread the cost) whether or not you order a new bike on the scheme. Any item purchased through the scheme must be ‘cycle safety equipment’. In practice, this category takes in a very broad range of cycle equipment and includes any clothing with reflective trim, panniers, racks, bungees, pumps, tools, child seats, helmets, bells, lights, mudguards, mirrors and locks.

WE ALSO TAKE CYCLESCHEME CERTIFICATES Many employers operate their Cycle to Work Scheme via an agency called Cyclescheme. If that’s the case at your workplace, you can redeem Cyclescheme Certificates at any branch of Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op. If there is no Bike Co-op branch near you, you can still order your Cyclescheme bike from us if you phone our mail order/online team on 0845 257 0808 or 0131 331 5010.

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REVOLUTION STREETFINDER £299

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ALTURA NIGHT VISION WOMEN’S JACKET £69.99

REVOLUTION NARINA SHORT SLEEVED WOMEN’S JERSEY £34.99 (was £39.99)

REVOLUTION ELVAN 6 PANEL GEL WOMEN’S SHORTS £34.99

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SPECIALIZED SIeRRA WOMEN’S HELMET £29.99

KRYPTONITE S2 + 4’ KRYPTOFLEX LOCK £34.99

REVOLUTION VISION LIGHTSET £24.99

COMMUTER | HYBRID

We believe that the commuter / hybrid bike can be the smartest, healthiest and most enjoyable way to get around. One of the very first own-brand bicycles we produced was a commuter bike called the Edinburgh City. That was back in 1986, years before anyone had even coined the term, hybrid. We launched that bike to satisfy frequent customer requests for a simple, dependable runaround that offered the best value for money. These values continue to this day with the two Revolution hybrid bikes featured below. Our ‘sit up and smile’ Heritage is fully fitted for the short hop. The Shadow showcases some of today’s most tantalising new technologies to create a cleaner and more reliable machine, made for maximum mileage and minimum maintenance. Both bikes are best buys in their class and, like every Revolution, backed up by our lifetime warranty. MAKING QUALITY BICYCLES MORE AFFORDABLE

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REVOLUTION HERITAGE £349

REVOLUTION SHADOW £999

OLD-SCHOOL CHARM + NEW-SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY

SHIMANO DISC BRAKES & ALFINE 8 + GATES BELT DRIVE

The Revolution Heritage is a bicycle that invites you to hop on, sit upright on its plush saddle, and enjoy the ride - perhaps with a wee picnic in its wicker basket. This basket epitomises this bike. For all its old-school charm, the basket’s click-fix bracket (which enables instant fit and removal) is bang up to date. So is the bicycle’s 7005 aluminium frame and its Revo twist-shift grip lever, which clicks sweetly through its Shimano 7-speed gears.

The Shadow matches the power of Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, the lightweight performance of a carbon fork and the utility of Shimano Alfine 8-spd hub gears, made even more clean and reliable, courtesy of Gates wonderful carbon belt drive. Farewell to oily chains! Maintaining the clean machine theme, the Shadow’s redesigned 2014 alloy frame makes it one of the few belt drive bikes that is mudguard and rear rack compatible.

Sizes: 16, 18”. Colour: White. Weight: 15kg.

Sizes: 55, 58cm. Colour: Black. Weight: 11.8kg.

We launched our first Courier in 1999. By 2002, this slick-tyred urban MTB was voted Cycling Plus magazine’s Budget Bike of The Year. Today, our Courier bike concept has evolved into a four-bike range: each model now rolling on faster 700c tyres. With their stripped-down single shifter, single gear mech, single chainring, Shimano Acera 1x8 transmissions and their quick 700x32 Kevlar tyres, our three Courier Race models maintain the original Courier’s keep-it-simple vibe. Each of these bikes fulfils the urban flatbar promise of delivering a fast ride - more road bike: less comfort hybrid. As an alternative, with its wider 700x38 tyres, 3x8 gears, hydraulic disc brakes and suspension forks, the Courier Pursuit stands out as a commuter bike that’s equally fit for light trails.

SEE OUR FULL REVOLUTION RANGE IN MORE DETAIL AT:

EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

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REVOLUTION COURIER RACE £349 SIMPLE STRIPPED-DOWN URBAN 8-SPEED

Sizes: 18, 20, 22”. Colour: Black/Green. 11.9kg. Web Ref: 17025

REVOLUTION COURIER RACE DISC £399 DISC BRAKES = LESS MAINTENANCE, MORE RIDING

Sizes: 18, 20, 22”. Colour: White/Black. 12.3kg. Web Ref: 17026

REVOLUTION COURIER RACE DISC WOMEN’S £399 GIRLS’ VERSION OF OUR BEST SELLING COURIER

Sizes: 17, 19”. Colour: White/Blue. 12.1kg. Web Ref: 17023

REVOLUTION COURIER PURSUIT £459 FRONT SUSPENSION FOR OFF ROAD CAPABILITY

Sizes: 18, 20, 22”. Colour: Black/Red. 15.3kg.

Revolution courier race

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

COMMUTER | HYBRID Web Ref: 17428

SPEED

PASHLEY SPEED 5 £995

Like our Revolution Courier Race bikes on the previous page, every bike on this spread is best described as a flat bar road bike AKA urban flatbar.

Pashley are the longest-established (1926) company who still manufacture their own bikes in the UK. Who better to create a replica of the racing bikes they built in the 1930s? The Speed 5’s hand-brazed, lugged Reynolds 531 frame and its Brooks Swift saddle (with matching leather tape on the stainless steel bars) ensure the bike’s authenticity. The wheels are built with gold-lined Westwood rims on Sturmey Archer hubs, and secured with genuine GB wing nuts. Its hub-enclosed drum brakes and 5-speed gears help ensure this Pashley is as dependable and rideable as it is beautiful.

In other words, these bikes offer close to road bike-like speeds for riders who don’t necessarily get on with drop bars. Personal preferences aside, opting for a fast bike with flat bars rather than drops can offer real advantages. For instance it’s far less expensive to create a bike with the best bicycle brakes ever made (hydraulic discs) if it has flat bars. Simply spec hydro disc brakes, which have been efficiently (mass) produced for, and proven on, mountain bikes for well over a decade. In contrast, hydraulic brake levers for drop bars are comparatively new, expensive and unattainable till the bike costs at least twice as much as you would pay for, say, a Marin Fairfax SC4.

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COMMUTER | HYBRID BIKES TO CHOOSE FROM AT EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

REYNOLDS 531 FRAME RIDEABLE ART

Sizes: 20.5, 22.5, 24.5”. Colour: Racing Green. Weight: 14kg.

Web Ref: 16459

Web Ref: 16504

SPECIALIZED SIRRUS £400

SPECIALIZED VITA ELITE £650

SPECIALIZED FLATBAR WITH POTENTIAL TO TAKE YOU FAR

SPECIALIZED E5 ALLOY FRAME + ZERTZ CARBON FRAME

The Specialized Sirrus was one of the first urban flatbar bikes we had the pleasure to offer (along with our Courier) way back in 2000. That is, the Specialized Sirrus matched close to road bike speed potential with the familiar control of mountain bike-style brake levers and gear shifters on flat handlebars. Today, it has many contenders, but for looks and its Specialized A1 alloy frame’s ride quality, the Sirrus remains a leader.

The Specialized Vita Elite is built on an E5 frame. E5 alloy is so refined, it was Specialized’s frame material of choice on the bikes their riders rode over 3,000 miles on Pro Tour duties in the early 2000’s. To make it even more elite, this Vita has the same FACT carbon fork legs with ‘solid jelly’ Zertz that help make Specialized’s £1,300 Roubaix and Ruby road bikes world renowned for combining light weight, speed and comfort.

Sizes: XS-XL. Colour: Black/Graphite/Blue. Weight: 12.6kg.

Sizes: XS-XL. Colour: White/Purple. Weight:11.1kg.

Web Ref: 16264

Web Ref: 16221

MARIN FAIRFAX SC4 £699

WHYTE STIRLING £999

A BEST BUY IN HYDRAULIC DISC-BRAKE EQUIPPED FLATBARS

BEST WHYTE R7 AT BIKE TO WORK COMPLIANT PRICE

With its mudguard-compatible triple butted alloy frame and carbon fork equipped with Tektro HD-M300 hydraulic disc brakes and a Shimano 3x9 drivetrain, the Fairfax SC (Speed Commuter) epitomises the re-emergence of Marin (see P.40). Other fine features include the security wheel skewers (which require a special tool so only you can remove them) and, like a good touring bike, its wheels roll on Continental 700x32 puncture-resistant tyres.

As with every Whyte 6061 alloy-framed bike, the Stirling’s frame tubes are custom drawn to guarantee the bike is as light as can be in every frame size. In keeping with it being the best Whyte R7 Fast Urban Road Bike at a Bike to Work compliant sub-£1,000 price, the Stirling’s fork is carbon while the hydraulic disc brakes are Avid’s new DB-1s which inherit Avid Elixir’s taperbore technology to deliver superbly modulated brake performance.

Sizes: 17, 19, 20.5, 22”. Colour: Gloss Black. Weight: 12kg.

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Matt Granite/Burnt Orange. 10.4kg.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

COMMUTER | HYBRID

One bike to do it all...

Some fortunate cyclists with plenty storage space own a selection of bikes. If you only have the budget, space or inclination to own just one bike, and want one that works well over the widest spectrum of conditions, one of the rugged commuter/hybrids featured on this double-page spread might be all the bike you’ll ever need.

When they launched their Crosstrail range in 2008, Specialized again showed their knack for introducing a style of bicycle that matched the real needs of many cyclists. Its suspension forks, knobbly tyres and disc or V-brakes revealed its mountain bike influence. Limiting the fork travel to 60mm and the tyre size to 700x38 ensured it was roadworthy too. This versatility has helped make the Crosstrail Sport Disc our deserved best-selling bicycle for three years running.

Available in both women’s diamond frame and step thru (AKA open frame) versions, Ariel is the Crosstrail’s sister range. Being Specialized, every Ariel stands out for designed-in improvements you won’t find elsewhere such as Body Geometry women’s grips and saddles on every model. Softer spring rates make Ariel suspension forks a whole lot better for most ladies than stock firmer-sprung suspension forks designed for the average heavier weight laddie.

Web Ref: 15413

Web Ref: 15418

SPECIALIZED CROSSTRAIL £400

SPECIALIZED ariel step thru £400

THE ORIGINAL TRAIL-COMPETENT COMMUTER BIKE

WOMEN’S COMMUTER BIKE WITH SENSE OF ADVENTURE

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black/White. Weight: 13.7kg.

Sizes: S-L. Colour: Blackberry/Silver/White. 13.7kg.

Web Ref: 16184

Web Ref: 15420 | Step Thru 15419

SPECIALIZED CROSSTRAIL SPORT DISC £550

SPECIALIZED ariel sport disc | step thru £550

THE BIKE CO-OP’S BEST SELLING BICYCLE

HYDRAULIC disc brakes FOR EXTRA STOPPING POWER

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black/Titanium/Charcoal or Silver/Black/Red. Weight: 14.7kg.

Sizes: XS-L. Colour: Black/White/Teal. Step Thru: S-L. Colour: Black/White/Teal. 14.1kg.

Web Ref: w Roam 16673 v Rove 16676

Web Ref: w 16216 v 16217

GIANT ROAM 2 DISC | GIANT ROVE 2 DISC DD £499

WHYTE MALVERN £649

HIS AND HERS GIANT BIKES FIT FOR ROAMING AND ROVING

SHIMANO 3X9-EQUIPPED WHYTE CROSS TERRAIN BIKE

The Roam 2 & Rove 2 are Giant’s his & hers take on the rugged hybrid concept. Both bikes boast Aluxx frames every one built from scratch in Giant’s own factories. Both bike are soundly equipped. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes bring stopping power to your fingertips. Shimano 3x8 gear shifting is equally responsive. The SunTour fork’s 63mm travel can be locked out on smooth roads.

The Malvern is the first bike in Whyte’s C7 Cross Terrain range of rugged hybrid bikes. The main picture above, which features the women’s model, perfectly illustrates the extra care Whyte devote to frame design. The hydroformed alloy frame’s partially dropped top tube creates a stiffer, more efficient ride than a conventional open frame. Simultaneously, it offers more stepover clearance than a women’s-specific diamond frame.

Giant Roam w Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Dark Blue or Dark Grey. Giant Rove v Sizes: XS-M. Colour: White. Weight 14.3kg.

Sizes: S-XL (w), S-L (v). Colour: Granite/Silver. 14.3kg.

Web Ref: 16263

Web Ref: 9786

MARIN STINSON WOMEN’S £399

PASHLEY PRINCESS SOVEREIGN £695

MARIN’S BENCHMARK CALIFORNIAN EASY RIDER

THE ORIGINAL AND BEST EQUIPPED COMFORT COMMUTER

Designed in California, the Marin Stinson is made for easy riding. Its 6061 aluminium frame swoops upwards to elevate the head tube to deliver a supremely upright riding position. Its SunTour 63mm fork and its Schwalbe Land Cruiser 26 x 2.0” tyres with Puncture Protection combine to create a bike that floats over uneven roads and paths. Its Shimano EZ Fire wide-range 3x8 transmission helps make any gradient more climbable.

The Pashley Princess is the original comfort commuter bike. In stark contrast to the minimal Marin (which, like any of our bikes, you can ask us to customise as you like) the Pashley comes ready equipped. Its full mudguards and chaincase keep you clean. The hub-generated front light and LED rear light help you ride safe. A pump to puff up the puncture-thwarting Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres...the kickstand and ‘Dutch’ lock to park it safely....

Sizes: 15, 17, 19”. Colour: Gloss Silver. Weight: 14.1kg.

Sizes: 17.5, 20, 22.5”. Colour: Black. Weight: 21.3kg.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

MOUNTAIN BIKES WHEEL SIZES

26”

27.5”

29”

HANDLING FUN O METER

IN OUR OWN TIME As mentioned on the road bike pages (P12), you will see our people on all sorts of bicycles.

TIM - LEEDS Web Ref: 16227

WHYTE G-150 £2,499 The G150 feels a tad different from the usual Specialized and Giant bikes I have previously ridden.

Having said that, mountain bikes remain the first choice for many a Bike Co-op member.

The long top tube helps you really stretch out and romp up the climbs quicker. The quick-steering 750mm bars on the 50mm stem make downhills even more fun.

This makes perfect sense. Heading for the hills with your mates for a blast on a mountain bike is the perfect release after an eight hour shift on the shop floor, workshop or workstation.

Although I’m used to 26” wheels, it took no time to adjust to riding the Whyte’s 27.5/650b wheels. They just made rocky descents smoother.

This double page spread offers a wee insight into the varied selection of lifeenhancing mountain bikes available to our workers. And our customers.

The G-150 handles perfectly. It’s the kind of bike you can just have fun with, whether on local trails or full-blown trail centres. Sizes: S-L. Colour: Matt Zinc/Burnt Orange. Weight: 14.6kg.

OUR FULL RANGE OF HAND PICKED MOUNTAIN BIKES CAN BE SEEN AT: EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

RAY - DALMENY WORKSHOP Web Ref: 16646

GIANT TALON 4 £525

HANDLING

I was looking for a ‘play bike’ for the local quarry and country parks. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, as long as the bike had the essentials - decent hydraulic disc brakes and suspension forks. Being a mechanic who spends all day assembling bikes, I didn’t want a finicky bike that would demand constant fettling. Over recent years I have been really impressed by the quality of the Giant bikes that have come through our workshop. The Talon 4 had all that I needed so I ordered one. I have to say that it has exceeded expectations. It works at least as well as more expensive bikes I’ve owned in the past, and it even matches my favourite (Rangers) team colour.

FUN O METER

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Blue. Weight:14.8kg.

PAUL - ABERDEEN Web Ref: 16240

WHYTE 801 £699 Decisions, decisions. . . I had £800 to spend on a new hardtail and didn’t know what to buy so it came down to the age old decider, which one is prettiest, and with its stunning shiny blue hubs the Whyte 801 beat every other bike on the list. The first ride was a 25 mile trip around the Pentlands to test out Whyte’s claims of speed and excellent handling. Check and check. Braking was sharp and responsive even on the steeper sections and the aluminium stanchions keep the weight of the front end down. In conclusion, looking for an entry-level XC hardtail but mid-level potential? I wouldn’t look past the Whyte 801. HANDLING

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Matt Granite/Aqua. Weight:13.8kg.

FUN O METER

ADAM - LEEDS Web Ref: 16651

GIANT TRANCE 2 £1,899 The Giant Trance 2 comfortably satisfied my long held desire for a hooligan bike that is not really justified by my riding style or experience. That said, the first ride round Coed Llangdegla did have me clinging on and tackling terrain I’d previously dismissed as ‘a bit too serious’. By the end of the day I was riding drop-offs which would have seriously challenged the structural integrity of my previous bikes. That’s the beauty of the Trance: it just challenges you to push your skills and delivers so capably. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Black. Weight:13.7kg. HANDLING FUN O METER

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

MOUNTAIN BIKES HOT HARDTAILS

Once you hit the £1,000-plus mark you might consider full suspension. Having said that, we know many riders who, having tried full suss, have gone back to hardtail for general trail riding. Freed from linkages and shocks, a hardtail frame will always be lighter

and less expensive, so it will come with a better quality fork and groupset than any equivalent-priced full susser. Your reward is a lighter, more manoeuvrable bike that rewards your ability to pick the best line, rather than relying on suspension to get you out of trouble.

THE short 60mm stem and wide 750mm riser bar CREATE THE perfect cockpit HOPE REAR HUB EPITOMISES WHYTE’S UK-PROOF APPROACH TO BICYCLE DESIGN

130mm-travel RockShox Revelation RL fork offers best-in-class performance

Shimano 2x10 SHIFTERS & MECHS work seamlessly with the Race Face chainset

Web Ref: 16245

WHYTE 905 £1,599 WHYTE 905 EARNS A PERFECT 10 SCORE IN MBR MAGAZINE, JANUARY ‘14

‘We were a little sceptical when Whyte claimed that the 905 was a “genre-defining trail hardtail”. Well, now that we’ve tested it we wholeheartedly agree. It had us grinning from ear to ear. It was the only bike here that we felt confident enough to take down trails that we usually reserve for testing 160mm-travel suspension bikes.’ MBR. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Matt Zinc/Aqua. Weight: 11.7kg

Web Ref: 16428

SPECIALIZED ROCKHOPPER PRO EVO £1,000 MORE MUSCULAR VERSION OF THE CLASSIC ROCKHOPPER

In its Pro Evo guise, the Rockhopper has gained extra muscle, courtesy of its longer (120mm) travel RockShox fork with 1.5 to 1.25” tapered steerer, 32mm stanchions and 15mm through axle. Ground Control 29x2.1” tyres and a SRAM 2x10 drivetrain with e13 bash guard help make it an even more capable off roader. Tribute to Specialized’s ingenuity (bordering on witchcraft!) the Evo is virtually as lightweight as the Rockhopper Comp on page 30. Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Green/Black/White. Weight:13.7kg.

Web Ref: 16682

GIANT TALON 0 £1,099 ZERO IS THE HERO OF THE GIANT TALON RANGE

In the roundabout world of Giant bikes, Zero is the Number One bike in the Talon range - as you might have guessed from its superior Fox CTD fork, which can be easily switched between Climb, Trail and Descend modes. Its Shimano SLX / XT 3x10 transmission with M552 2-piece crankset and its equally impressive Shimano M446 hydraulic disc brakes guarantee the trail-ready Talon ekes out the full potential of its Aluxx frame. Sizes: S-L. Colour: White. Weight:12.7kg

Web Ref: 16244

WHYTE 901 £1,199 THE WHYTE 901 SHARES KEY FEATURES OF THE WHYTE 905

Soundly equipped with a RockShox Secteur 130mm fork, SRAM 2x10 shifting and Avid Elixir brakes, the Whyte 901 shares key features MBR loved about the 905, starting with the hydroformed frame’s 66.5˚ head tube. The resulting rangy front end translates as more room to manoeuvre and more time to react. Its 750mm bars & 60mm stem perfectly complement the frame geometry to create a balanced ride that is super stable at speed. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Matt Zinc/Lime. Weight: 12.7kg.

10/10 MBR Thanks to the finely tuned geometry, the riding position is first-rate and the exemplary handling is backed up by an amazing parts package. With the 905, Whyte really has built the perfect 650b trail hardtail.

Photo courtesy of Bike Co-op Customer: Kenneth MacAllister

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

MOUNTAIN BIKES TIME TO HEAD OFF ROAD

When you want to get away from it all, nothing matches the pleasures of riding traffic-free trails on one of today’s mountain bikes. Even if you only have time to go out for an hour or two, mountain biking is a fast (single)track to distilled joy, whether it’s the sense of achievement you feel when you nail a climb for the first time or the cheesy grin you can’t suppress at the bottom of every downhill.

AutoSag technology on the Fox rear shock makes suspension set-up easy The concentric upper link makes for a lighter and stiffer frame than the original Camber

120mm-travel RockShox Reba RL 29 FORK

A softER COMPOUND FRONT tyre and A harder compound rear iMPROVES grip where it’s most needed

Web Ref: 16393

SPECIALIZED CAMBER EVO £2,200 NEW EVO VERSION OF THE CAMBER SCORES PERFECT TEN IN MBR MAGAZINE

‘We loved how last year’s Camber Comp rode, and with all of the improvements to the geometry and spec the Evo version simply takes that love affair to the next level....We were simply blown away by how much faster we could hammer down the final descent of the Wall trail at Afan compared to the other bikes on test. It just felt like the Camber was from another category and on another level — one with way more travel.’ MBR. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Black/Red/White. Weight: 13.6kg.

Web Ref: 16821

cannondale trail 6 £499 BEST HANDLING LIGHTEST WEIGHT MTB FOR THE MONEY

Cannondale’s mastery of aluminium frame design and fabrication ensures the Trail 6 can’t help but be one of the lightest weight, best handing mountain bikes you can get at this price. A SunTour fork with 100mm coil spring suspension up front and vertically compliant seat stays at the back smooth your progress. Shimano Altus/Acera 3x8 shifting and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes ensure this is also one of the best equipped bikes for the money. Sizes: S-XL. Colour: White. Weight: 14kg.

Web Ref: w 16419 v 16426

SPECIALIZED Hardrock SPORT DISC / SPECIALIZED myka sport disc £500 WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SPECIALIZED

One of the best-made, butted alloy 29er frames for the money. Shimano Acera 3x9 Rapidfire gearing to help you up the steepest climbs. Tektro hydraulic brakes to modulate your speed with the lightest lever pull on fast downhills. Specialized tyres and Body Geometry saddle & grips. w Hardrock Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black/Red, Black/Hyper Green/Cyan. v Myka Sizes: S-L. Colour: Charcoal/Teal. Weight: 15kg.

Web Ref: 17033

revolution flow £599 BEST BUY ROCKSHOX / ACERA 3x9 / HYDRAULIC DISC 29er

Our first ever 29er offers all the benefits of larger wheels (think Jeep over family saloon) - improved stability, rollover and momentum - courtesy of its Schwalbe Rapid Rob 29x2.25” tyres. Being a Revolution, we are confident that the Flow will be the best equipped MTB you’ll find at this price, thanks to its RockShox XC28 100mm-travel TurnKey fork, its Shimano Acera 3x9 Rapidfire Plus transmission and its Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes. Sizes: 18, 20”. Colour: White. Weight: 14.8kg.

10/10 MBR In three short years, Specialized has taken the Camber 29 on a swift upward journey that’s transformed it from being a good trail bike that was brimming with potential, to easily the best short-travel shredder we’ve ridden. Photo courtesy of Bike Co-op Customer: Rick Kruze

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

Web Ref: 16644

Web Ref: 16237

GIANT TALON 2 £749

WHYTE 529 29ER £799

PROVEN UK TRAIL CENTRE MTB GETS 27.5” MAKEOVER

SAME PROVEN HYDROFORMED FRAME AS 4-FIGURE WHYTES

With its RockShox XC30 fork, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and its Deore/SLX 3x10 gearing, the Talon 2 is this year’s standout Giant hardtail. With its sloping top tube for maximum clearance, and its slack 70˚ head angle for confident downhilling, the Talon has always been an exceptional UK trail centre hardtail. This year’s shift from 26” to 27.5x2.25” Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres delivers even more speed potential matched with stable handling.

The Whyte 529 XC/Trail hardtail is built on the same custom drawn hydroformed 6061 alloy frame as you would enjoy if you laid down £1,500 for a Whyte 729. What’s more, this frame is built with the same geometry (68.5˚ head tube and 73˚ seat tube) that helped make the 2-grand Whyte 29C carbon hardtail a bike that has been so widely acclaimed for its superb balance.

Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Aluminium. Weight:13.9kg.

Sizes: S-L. Colour: Matt Granite/Burnt Orange. Weight:13.7kg.

Web Ref: 16334

Web Ref: 16126

SPECIALIZED ROCKHOPPER COMP £850

WHYTE T-129 S 29ER £2,099

PROVEN TO MAXIMISE FUN ON THE TRAILS

WHATMOUNTAINBIKE MAGAZINE’S BIKE OF THE YEAR 2013

If the Specialized Hardrock is the proven entry-level MTB, the Rockhopper is Specialized’s ‘getting serious’ trail bike where, for instance, SunTour forks make way for RockShox XC28s. Its 22/36 chainset and 11x36 cogs deliver a massive range of gears in a simple 2x10 format. The fully butted frame’s livelier feel is perceptible, thanks in part to its short chainstays, while its longer wheelbase makes the most of this 29er’s extra stability.

The Whyte T129S earned its Trail Bike of the Year award because WMB’s testers agreed it was the most fun to ride of all the bikes they reviewed in 2013. Their conclusion: ‘Silent in action, stealth in appearance and blisteringly fast, the T-129 S is the most accomplished suspension bike the company has produced to date.’ Apart from a couple of tweaks (lighter frame, better tyres and wider bars) it remains unchanged for 2014.

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Charcoal/Black/Cyan. Weight:13.6kg

Sizes: S-L. Colour: Matt Granite. Weight: 14kg

GOING TO THE SOURCE TO BRING YOU THE ANSWERS

ime spent visiting suppliers gives us the opportunity to seek answers to questions you, our customers, frequently ask us such as ’my waterproof works fine so why pay more for a Gore-Tex jacket?’ We put this very question to Gore when we visited them. This is a very condensed version of some of the things we learned.

Wilier demo day

Specialized demo day

re HQ

At Go

Giant d

Gore created expanded PTFE (ePTFE) in 1969, and have spent the ensuing 45 years developing the potential of this astonishing material. You might know that this hydroporous membrane boasts 9 billion pores per square inch. Each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a water molecule so it keeps rain out, but is 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule so sweat can escape. But did you know Gore create a variety of ePTFE membranes for different applications and that, for instance the Gore Windstopper membrane’s hole is 900 times larger than a water vapour molecule so it’s even more breathable? Or, did you know that, viewed under the microscope, a Gore membrane has a woven texture, similar to a bird’s nest, to create an effective wind block? Or that Gore produce flame resistant clothing for fire fighters? When we queried the carpet warehouse proportion rolls of khaki fabric on view, the Gore people explained they were to fulfil an order to produce winter uniforms for the Russian army. When the Russians have learned to trust an American company’s guarantee that their clothing will keep you dry, maybe we should too! Talking of America, it brought to mind the strange utterance of Donald Rumsfeld - ‘There are things we do not know we don’t know’ - when Gore revealed they applied their world-leading ePTFE know-how to create Wimbledon’s famous retractable roof. Designed to keep the rain out without overheating the athletes, the Centre Court roof was built along the same fundamental principles as a Gore-Tex jacket. Genius! Our shop workers don’t just visit factories. We frequently attend demo days out in the fresh air, where we get to test the claims our suppliers’ make by actually riding their latest bikes at trail centres and on the road. We believe that investing in this level of training helps us build a body of knowledge about bikes and cycle equipment, so we can offer informed advice whenever you shop with us.

emo da

For more detailed factory tour and demo day reports, simply visit our blog at edinburghbicycle.com. Kick-Ass cycling vigilante Ged at the Gore factory.

IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO CREATE THE KIND OF BIKE SHOPS WE WOULD USE OURSELVES As you probably know, or have guessed from our name, we’re a workers’ co-operative. Currently, we have 116 owners AKA co-op members. We are the people who make it our business to look after you when you pop into our shops or visit our website or phone us or email or message us on twitter or facebook. Our mission is to create the kind of bike shops we would use ourselves. That is, a shop where you will be met with a friendly welcome by people who are informed and genuinely enthusiastic about what we do - pedalling bikes.

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WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO Our buying department perform a complex job with a simple aim. The complex part is that there are literally millions of bicycles and bike-related bits to chose from. Our simple aim is to select the very best available at every price point. To this end, our buyers look at everything and talk to everyone. They spend weeks every year trekking around bicycle trade shows and visiting manufacturers. We also make the most of being a co-op staffed by bike fanatics. Our internal forums encourage product feedback, seven days a week. We love it when a Sheffield member reports that her customer confirmed that his Specialized Purgatory/ Butchers are the ideal tyre combo for riding the Peaks.

We will also freely admit that despite our best intentions, like any retailer, we are not going to get it right 100% of the time. When we discover that a product isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be, we will react quickly and withdraw it. We’re proud of the fact that while we have forged strong relationships with some of the best names in bicycling, we’re nobody’s patsies. For instance, whilst we sincerely admire Specialized (see pp 42-45) we don’t stock their entire range. We use our judgement to select the Specialized bikes and equipment we consider to be best in their class. But should one of their rivals offer a better bike at a similar or lower price, the rival’s bike will get the nod. Why? Because we believe only the best will do for you.

CANNOT FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? JUST ASK AND WE’LL DO OUR BEST TO ORDER IT. For all our best intentions, we freely admit we won’t always have what you’re looking for. But with 37 year’s experience making hundreds of contacts in the world of cycling we can make this promise. If you’re looking for any specific cycling accessory, component, spare part, garment or bike, just ask and we will try our hardest to get it for you. Already this year, we have sourced obscure spares such as ‘obsolete’ bike light bulbs and one inch threadless headsets to keep our customers moving.

IF OUR SHOPS DISPLAYED EVERY SIZE AND COLOUR OF EVERY BICYCLE, ACCESSORY AND GARMENT WE DO, YOU WOULDN’T GET THROUGH THE DOOR Our hunch is that you might prefer a store that offers space to browse: a shop where you can roll out a bike so you can admire every detail, or pick a jacket off its peg and try it for size. Whilst we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive range in every shop, we admit we can’t stock everything instore. No bike shop could. However, our website and warehouse capacity help us come closer to offering this ideal. That’s why we are piloting an initiative to massively extend our coverage of

ENJOY THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS... BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT’S MORE CONVENIENT TO ORDER SOMETHING ONLINE THEN ARRANGE TO PICK IT UP FROM YOUR LOCAL BIKE C0-OP SHOP

three world-class bicycle brands: Brooks, Endura and Lezyne at www.edinburghbicycle.com. This extended offer means that you will be able to browse from a wider selection of Endura clothing with more size/colour options; check out Brooks’ more exotic saddles; learn about Lezyne’s innovative pumps, tools, lights….Then use our click & collect service to pick up any of these items from your local bike co-op store or get it delivered to your door.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY You’ve looked at the edinburghbicycle.com website. You’ve narrowed the choice down to two or three bikes. How do you choose which one to go for? Simply ask for a test ride. It’s a bit like buying shoes. Slip on a few different pairs and you know which fit best. It’s the same with bikes. Take a couple out for a quick spin and one usually reveals itself as just right.

33 00

ARE YOU (not) SITTING COMFORTABLY? THEN WE SHALL BEGIN...

Graeme on Ass-O-Meter

Specialized Ass-O-Meter

Aberdeen Manager Les checking out Graeme’s riding position

e recently ran a ‘comfort makeover’ competition. Our winner, Aberdeen customer, Graeme, described his experience.

Feet: After gauging which footbeds were required by standing on the Specialized Arch-O-Meter, I opted for Specialized Comp Road Shoes. They’re as comfortable as slippers but snug in all the right places. Their Boa fastenings make it really easy to get just the right amount of tension.

I was naturally delighted to accept the Co-op’s offer to visit the shop for this session. After mounting my Revolution Cross Sport on a turbo, so he could check my riding position, Les suggested focussing on three key areas: hands, feet and bum.

Saddle. After checking my sit bone width by sitting on the Specialized Ass-O-Meter I knew I needed a 143mm wide saddle and settled on the Romin Evo and, wow…seriously. What a revelation! Despite its minimalist appearance, the Romin is incredibly comfortable. I used to get off my old saddle to climb because I couldn’t find a good position to really push, and when riding on the drops, I couldn’t get comfortable because of the shape of the saddle nose. Last Sunday was windy and the only way to make any headway was to ride on the drops and stay low. On the Romin Evo I managed without any issues. On hills, I could slide back,

Hands: I told Les my hands can go numb after an hour’s riding so he suggested Specialized BG Bar Phat - a gel-wrap bar covering, topped with very plush tape. The result a huge decrease in road buzz and associated fatigue. Already, I’m riding less on the brake hoods and more on the bar tops now that they are so much more comfortable.

Specialized Arch-O-Meter

sit up a bit and find the power to climb, only coming off the saddle when the incline really ramped up. Les set the new saddle further forward than the old one had been. Just this small adjustment increased my average speed by some KPH. The final piece of kit I chose was the Revolution Allt Jacket. It’s a cross between a standard long sleeve jersey and a full-on winter jacket. The front is pretty much windproof whilst the back is more open and cooling. Ridden with only a thin base layer every day over the last two weeks (when it has been down to 2˚C) the jacket offered the perfect balance of warmth and ventilation. Three large, two small and one zipped rear pockets mean that you can carry pretty much anything you need. It’s a snug fit around the body. The long sleeves have thumb loops, so there are no issues of the jacket becoming tight across the shoulders when you move down onto the drops.

So what was the overall experience like? Well after two weeks of using all the lovely stuff two things come to mind. Firstly that there is mileage in buying the best you can. Most of this stuff was beyond my usual price point but spending that bit more does make a difference. In the past I have upgraded shorts or shoes several times and probably spent more than I would have done if I had just saved for a bit longer and bought the quality product in the first place. Company marketing departments know that we are all very price conscious and will offer us something at a price that makes us want to buy but I have found that there is a tangible benefit to buying the best you can or, perhaps more

important, buying the most appropriate item once. Which leads me on to:There is a genuine advantage in building a good relationship with a local bike shop. Yes I know I was spoiled by having the undivided attention of the staff for the evening but you can get the same thing from building a relationship with your local shop. There is usually a depth of knowledge and experience of the products they have that the online stores, great apparent value though they may be, can’t match. My choice of saddle or shoes would have probably been completely different online. In the store I was able to touch, sit on or wear a variety of different products before picking the one I felt most comfortable with.

The biggest difference was having the staff pointing out that although the Kevlar reinforced, carbon bonded gizmo was lovely it was complete overkill for me at the moment and that another product would be far more appropriate, comfortable and useable. I have shopped with the Co-op since the days when their only store was in Edinburgh so I may be a bit biased about which bike shop is my favourite. For stock items where I know exactly what I want, I do sometimes shop around for a bargain. However if the whole thing has taught me anything, it is that there is no substitute for the personal touch. Thank you Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op.

THE WINNING FORMULA After his session with Les, competition winner Graeme rode off (in comfort) with the kit shown here. You don’t have to be a prize winner to get advice on comfort and fit at the Bike Co-op. Ask instore and we will be delighted to let you try out our Specialized Ass-O-Meter and Arch-O-Meter.

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specialized bg bar phat 4.5mm £17

specialized bg sl footbed £20

Colour: Black

Sizes: Blue 38-47, Green 42-47, Red 40-49.

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revolution alLt windproof jacket £69.99

specialized bg romin evo expert gel saddle £85

specialized comp road shoes £120

Sizes: S-M. Colour: Red.

Width: 130, 143 or 155mm. Colour: Black.

Sizes: 41-47. Colour: Black/Red.

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME We produce our annual summer catalogue to share our love of everything to do with bicycles. It’s only natural that we get excited when we get a chance to introduce you, our customers, to a brand new bike or an exceptional piece of kit. We are proud when we can showcase something that answers a real need, and gets you thinking, ‘That’s just what I’ve been looking for.’ This bias towards the new has one drawback. It means that some of the best cycling equipment ever made can get taken for granted. This section of the catalogue is therefore inspired by John Cooper Clarke’s occasional Radio 6 Music Sunday Service show where he showcases sonic gems, mostly from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. We can go back even further. Hats off to John Boultbee whose B17 saddle first featured in the 1898 Brooks catalogue.

We have taken a wee bit licence with the provenance of the items featured in this section. For instance, SKS mudguards were originally called ESGE. However SKS purchased ESGE’s chromoplastic patents and procedures, so SKS mudguards retain the original’s rain-fending qualities, stainless steel hardware and longevity. Similarly, today’s Specialized Ground Control Sport Tyre has a more advanced rubber compound, so it’s even grippier than the original. However, we have featured this tyre because today’s version retains the traction-hungry, self-cleaning knob shape and pattern that made the original Ground Control legendary. To conclude, we can wholeheartedly recommend the timeless classics featured over the next 3 pages, confident in the knowledge that they have delighted thousands of riders, time after time.

SINCE c1991

SINCE c1997

SINCE c2006

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finish line dry teflon plus lube 2oz £3.99 4oz £6.99

park folding tool aws10c £9.99

revolution tune up chain cleaner £12.99

THE DRY LUBE FOR SILENT RUNNING

Dry chain lubes come and go but Finish Line’s remains supreme. Drip it on a clean chain and the lube’s carrier evaporates off leaving a protective Teflon layer on the chain that’s dry to the touch within 10 minutes, so it won’t attract dirt like more sticky wet lubes always do. Result? A smooth, clean drivetrain.

OUR MECHANICS’ FIRST CHOICE

Updated version of their original all-steel hex key set, Park Tool’s AWS (Allen Wrench Set) stands out for its harder wearing tool steel bits, each with a chamfered tip for a precise fit. Its resin handle is stronger and more comfortable to handle than metal. As well as the usual 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex keys, it also includes 1.5, 2 & 2.5mm ride savers.

SINCE c1973

SINCE c1986

CHAIN BATH MAGICALLY MAKES MANKY CHAIN CLEAN

Our chain cleaner makes light work of what can be a messy timeconsuming chore. Simply half fill this chain bath with degreaser. Clip it onto the chain. Back pedal for a minute. Dispose of spent degreaser. Repeat with water to rinse off. Dry chain with rag. Relube. Job done.

SINCE c2005

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specialized ground control sport tyre 26 x 2.1” & 29 x 2.1” £20

zéfal HPx frame fitting pump £24.99

continental grand prix 4000 tyre 700 x 23 £44.99

RETURN OF THE KING OF TRACTION

BEST HAND PUMP EVER

LIGHT, GRIPPY, FAST, FLAT RESISTANT...

Back in the day, if a mountain biker asked our advice on maximising traction when riding UK terrain, our first advice would be to ditch the bike’s original tyres (usually designed for dry hardback) for a pair of ‘groundies’. This advice, like UK riding conditions, hasn’t changed. 730g (29er version)

True story. Man came to our shop to return a Silca track pump, which was the industry standard in those days (the 1980s). His complaint? His Zéfal HPX hand pump inflated his tyres just as quickly and easily, so why bother with a track pump? Some of us, whose 30 year old HPX pumps are still going strong, know where he was coming from.

Handmade in Germany this proproven tyre’s ASC Activated Silica Compound reduces rolling resistance whilst improving cornering grip. Its anti-cracking formula protects against UV rays, and boosts the tyre’s longevity. Its Vectran breaker belt is five times stronger than steel and more puncture resistant than Kevlar. Only 205g.

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Since 1977

Its not just the classic cycling equipment featured on these pages that have stood the test of time. Established in 1977, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op can call on 37 years’ experience, matching riders and bikes. A lot has changed over the years (though two of our founder members, Mike and Ged, remain full time Bike Co-op employees) but our core principles remain intact. Our over-riding aim is to look out for the needs of every cyclist – expert or complete beginner - by selecting the most sound equipment from some of the world’s best bicycle companies, and to support this offer with the fair, honest service you would expect from an employee-owned business.

OUR FULL RANGE OF ACCESSORIES & CLOTHING CAN BE VIEWED AT: EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

SINCE c1977

SINCE c1898

SINCE c1987

sks mudguard SETS p35 narrow road £33.99 Web Ref: 1459

p45 wide road £34.99 Web Ref: 1460

p50 wide hybrid £34.99 Web Ref: 8101

p55 narrow atb £35.99 Web Ref: 1461

p65 wide atb £36.99 Web Ref: 1462

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brooks b17 saddle £74.99

ortlieb roller REAR pannier £110

STILL HANDMADE IN ENGLAND

THE ORIGINAL WATERPROOF PANNIERS

The Brooks B17 has been word-ofmouth recommended for more than a century because its shape has proven itself just right for so many riders. Note how the saddle is higher at the back where it supports your sit bones. Then it slopes down to minimise contact with the perineum. Like a favourite pair of hiking boots, its leather top adopts to your shape and gets more comfortable with age.

With its laminated fabric, welded seams and roll top closure this was the first truly waterproof pannier. It’s when you use it that you appreciate Ortlieb’s ingenious design. Their QL1 hooks tenaciously secure each bag to the rear rack, yet offer instant release - simply by lifting the bag by its handle. Shoulder straps make these bags portable off the bike too. Sizes: 2x20 litres. Colour: Yellow.

SINCE c2005

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GORE PATH II JACKET £159.99 Gore Path Gore-Tex Jackets have been keeping cyclists dry since 2004. That should come as no surprise when you consider that Gore created their first breathable waterproof cycling jacket in 1984, so they have 30 years unrivalled experience of making cyclists more comfortable in any weather. As with every Gore-Tex jacket, the Path boasts Gore’s signature innovation - their expanded PTFE membrane, whose pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water molecule’s - that’s the waterproof part - and 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule’s, to make it breathable. This is a good thing when you consider a cyclist can perspire at the rate of one litre an hour.

The Path II Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket is an excellent example of how Gore have continually optimised the potential of this magical membrane. To create Paclite, the ePTFE membrane is laminated to a lightweight, packable outer fabric whose DWR (Durable Water Resistant) treatment ensures rain just beads off it. Despite offering profound protection, and boasting an extra large rear pocket and chest pocket to keep essentials handy, this jacket comes in at a feathery 290g. The Gore Path II is available in two colour options. If you want to be sure you’re seen, the neon yellow version is guaranteed colourfast for the jacket’s whole long life. If you prefer the wear-anywhere black version, you can still go out at night confident in the knowledge its reflective piping will light up impressively when shone upon. Sizes in Neon: S-XXL. Sizes in Black: M-XL.

SINCE c1985

Marin have long delighted our customers with the quality of their bikes: each one conceived in the birthplace of mountain biking Marin County, California. In 2012 Marin attracted new investment, which they have poured into upgrading their entire range.

standing the test of time THE CALIFORNIAN CONNECTION

Take the Marin Mount Vision. The original design made history by proving the potential of full suspension when Paul Lasenby won the UK Cross-Country MTB National Championship on his Mount Vision in 1997. Since then, the Mount Vision has been a multiple Bike of the Year Award Winner (WhatMountainBike’s in 2008). Rather than simply repeating a proven formula, Marin have shown fresh innovation with their 2014 Mt Vision. It’s IsoTrac carbon swingarm’s flex stays (also featured on the Attack Trail XT8) eliminate the need for chainstay shock pivots. This ingenious solution firms up the pedalling platform. Losing the pivot points reduces potential for wear and tear and lowers the bike’s weight by a significant 150-200g. Clearly, ingenuity, invention and (mount) vision remain alive and well at Marin County.

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Marin MOUNT VISION XM7 £2,799 ENDURO PERFORMANCE, XC WEIGHT

This 140mm-travel rig combines the trail-taming traits of an enduro bike with the light weight of an XC bike, making it a perfect do-almostanything option. Its true trail geometry (67.5˚ head tube) tuned for 27.5” wheels flatters any rider’s handling abilities. Hot features include the remote control dropper seatpost’s internal cable routing. Sizes: 15, 17, 19. 20.5”. Colour: Gloss White/Red. 13.5kg. Web Ref: 16269

ATTACK TRAIL XT8 £2,999 LIVES UP TO ITS ALL-MOUNTAIN LABEL

The Attack Trail XT8 is Marin’s 150mmtravel ‘all-mountain’ bike, tuned to make challenging terrain more rideable, courtesy of its IsoTrac / QuadLink 3 suspension (like Whyte QuadLink 2 but more compact), and RockShox’s Monarch SL shock paired with their redesigned, highly regarded Pike 130-160mm adjustable-travel fork. Sizes: 15, 17, 19. 20.5”. Colour: Black/Red. Weight: 14.3kg.

ROAD HEAD TO FOOT STYLING Another Californian company who’ve been around so long, you take them for granted, Giro earned their enviable reputation when Greg Lemond championed their lids in the 1980s. Giro helmets were measurably cooler and fitted most heads better, thanks to Giro innovations such as RocLoc - the original nape-hugging anti-rock device. However, you would be forgiven for thinking Giro have been resting on their laurels in recent years as their competitors caught up. Perhaps Giro realised this themselves. For 2014, their helmet range, once again, features one of the fastest lids on the pro peloton - the Air Attack - so the natural order has been restored. Given their obsession with fab fit, you’ll be pleased to hear Giro have also introduced some of the best looking cycling shoes ever.

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GIRO AIR ATTACK £149.99

GIRO EMPIRE road shoe £229.99

With the Air Attack, Giro have turned road helmet design on its head by creating a 262g 6-vent lid, which is 11% more aerodynamic than their 24-vent Aeon, yet retains 97% of its cooling power via its RocLoc Air Fit, which suspends the lid’s EPS shell a tad higher to maximise air flow over the head.

With its Easton carbon sole, this could be our lightest road shoe ever (215g). Giro’s SuperNatural Fit footbed enables you to fine tune its arch support. Its 6.5mm stack height is ultra-low. Even more arresting, it’s the first pro-endorsed (Taylor Phinney et al) lace-up since the Sean Kelly era.

Sizes: M-L. Colour: Black/Red or Blue/White.

Sizes: 42-46. Colour: Black/Yellow.

URBAN

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GIRO ASPECT HELMET £139.99

GIRO REPUBLIC SHOE £129.99

GIRO CIVILA WOMEN’S SHOE £129.99

Sleekest urban/commuter helmet ever, the Aspect takes its cue from the lightest road bike lids. It’s only 242g. Its long, deep vents are made even more airy courtesy of RocLoc Air Fit (featured on the Giro Air Attack above). Its cotton cap-like soft peak parades its unique style.

With its smooth, microfibre uppers, the Giro Republic looks so good, we can see it leading the trend to rehabilitate laces on cycling shoes. As you can see from the sole, Republic shoes take 2-bolt cleats for stepping into SPD-style pedals, or they’re equally fit for flat pedals. (Replaceable) gum-coloured sole pads ensure non-slip walking grip.

Candidate for most cool ladies’ bike shoe ever. As with the Giro Republic, the lightweight (550g/pair) Civila Shoe’s stiff nylon sole enhances pedaling efficiency without compromising walking efficiency. The shoe’s low-profile microfibre lace-up design blends seamlessly with streetwear.

Sizes: M (55-59cm), L (59-63cm). Colour: Glowing Red, Matt Black or Matt Black Shadow.

Sizes: 42-47. Colour: Lead/Gum.

Sizes: 38-40. Colour: Black/White/Blue.

TIME FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT SPECIALIZED

robably more than any other bicycle brand, Specialized live by the mantra - innovate or die. Their first invention was the world’s original Kevlar beaded folding tyre back in 1976. This Specialized Turbo Tyre introduced us to close-to pro racing tubular tyre speed and performance, but in a familiar beaded tyre format, which any rider could use. Never satisfied to bask in former glories, Specialized recently collaborated with Finland-based independent test lab, Wheel Energy, to create a new generation of S-Works Turbos, each one measurably grippier and/or faster than the competition. Same goes for Specialized’s celebrated BG (Body Geometry) shoes, gloves and saddles: every one designed with input from some of the world’s foremost sports scientists and medical professionals, then tested by their own elite riders. This BG formula guarantees that if it’s called Specialized, you can be sure that it will improve your comfort and performance whenever you ride.

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SPECIALIZED MINI-WEDGIE BAG £15

SPECIALIZED AIRTOOL ROAD FLEX PUMP £30

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TURBO TREAD 700 x 24 FOLDING Tyre £50

Black, Black/Hyper Green or Black/Red.

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SPECIALIZED ROMIN PRO SADDLE £100

SPECIALIZED S3 HELMET £100

Width: 143 or 155mm. Colour: Black.

Colours & Sizes: White: M-L. Black or Neon Blue: S-L.

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SPECIALIZED REPLICA TEAM S/S JERSEY £80

SPECIALIZED REPLICA TEAM BIB SHORTS £100

If you like Specialized as much as we do, you’ll love this jersey with its Specialized logo, sublimation printed from front to rear. If you are developing a road racer’s physique, you’ll appreciate the jersey’s soft elasticity which delivers a perfect form fitting fit. Both the jersey and its UV-blocking Mirhon Shadow fabric are Italian. It has three open rear pockets - the middle with a waterproof phone compartment with iPod cable port.

Their most advanced bib short conforms to the Specialized Body Geometry programme. That is, it has been tested both in the lab and on the road to improve performance and enhance comfort. How so? The short’s sculpted main panels are a more compressive Action Lycra, developed to offer better muscle support and hence, reduce fatigue, while the side panels are more breathable without being see-through.

Sizes: M-XL. Colour: White/Black/Red.

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SPECIALIZED SL PRO GLOVE £30 Specialized’s most advanced track mitt stands out for its snug fit and superior venting. Its supple LifeLine palm delivers optimal hand-tobar contact for sure control and max comfort.

SPECIALIZED EXPERT ROAD SHOE £160

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS EVADE HELMET £160

From its Boa L4 rotary dial closure to it carbon/fibreglass sole via its Body Geometry footbed, you know this shoe will help you go faster and in greater comfort.

As aerodynamic as Specialized’s £200 TT2 time trial/triathlon lid. More ventilated and acceptablelooking for everyday wear.

Sizes: M-XL. Colour: Black/White.

Sizes: 41-48. Colour: White/Black.

Sizes: S (51-55cm), M (55-59), L (59-63cm). Colour: Black/Red.

OUR FULL RANGE OF SPECIALIZED CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES CAN BE SEEN AT: EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

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SPECIALIZED ground control sport tyre 26 x 2.1” & 29 x 2.1” £20

SPECIALIZED top cap chain tool £25

SPECIALIZED mtb xc kit £100

2 types for alloy or carbon 1 1/8” fork

This XC Kit SWAT-equips your MTB. SWAT is Specialized’s Storage, Water, Air and Tools system. You get 2 x Zee bottle cages. The SWAT box (ready packed with a 29er tube, tyre lever and Airtool CO2 injector) can be clipped to the bottom of one Zee Cage. An EMT multitool clips to the second cage. The ingenious chain tool is small enough to be safely stored under the stem’s top cap. So equipped, you’ll never again go out on your mountain bike ill prepared.

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SPECIALIZED bg henge comp £50

SPECIALIZED tactic helmet £55

Width: 143 or 155mm. Colour: Black.

Sizes: M (55-59), L (59-63cm). Black.

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SPECIALIZED rbx sport s/s jersey £45

SPECIALIZED rbx sport shorts £40

Made for the comfortably proportioned (as opposed to the super slim) rider and virtually logo free, the RBX is the style antithesis of today’s cycle racing jerseys. Its soft, wicking VaporRize DeflectUV 30 fabric and its three roomy rear pockets, which keep essentials close to hand but never in the way, inform you that the RBX Sport remains an authentic Specialized cycling jersey.

The name RBX is Specialized code for Roubaix - their famous endurance road bike featured on page 13. Like that bike, the RBX short is about putting in the miles in maximum comfort: hence the Body Geometry RBX chamois’ generous sit bone padding, its deep silicone-gripper leg cuffs and its VaporRize fabric, DeflectUV 50 treated to protect from harmful rays.

w Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Ion/Black. v Sizes: S-L. Colour: White/Black.

w Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black. v Sizes: S-L. Colour: Black.

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SPECIALIZED Align helmet £30 The Align is deservedly our best selling helmet. Check its wide vents, the brow-cooling Mega Mouthport and the rear exhaust ports. That’s Specialized’s 4th Dimension cooling system. Take the anti-rock rear cradle’s micro-adjustable speed-dial. That’s Specialized’s Headset SX fit system. It’s features like these, once exclusively available on their 3-figure helmets, which make it so easy for savvy riders to Align themselves to Specialized. Unisize: 54-62cm. Colour: Safety Ion, White, Black, Blue Pulse or Red/White. Weight: 338g.

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SPECIALIZED bg tahoe SHOE £65 Of all the 20 Specialized shoe models we stock, the Tahoe makes fair claim to being their most comfortable SPD-compatible all-rounder. Its Trail Traction rubber sole is stiff at the pedalstomping zone for cycling efficiency, flexible at the toes so you can walk in comfort. Like every BG shoe, the Tahoe boasts a Body Geometry orthotic insole, which optimises the foot’s position to help eliminate stress on the knee and pressure on the foot bones. w Sizes: 41-47. Colour: Black. Weight: 980g per pair (size 41). v Sizes: 38-42. Colour: Black/Pink. Weight: 860g per pair (size 39).

THE JERSEYS maillot jaune (Yellow JERSEY) / GC (GENERAL CLASSIFICATION) The GC, which scores each

rider’s overall time, is recalculated at the end of each day’s stage. The rider with the shortest aggregate time is awarded the Yellow Jersey. The GC leader can therefore change from day to day. The rider who reaches the Paris finish in the shortest overall time is the winner. Greg Lemond famously won the Tour by the smallest margin ever by 8 seconds - in 1989.

BY ‘ECK IT’S THE TOUR DE FRANCE

POLKA DOt Jersey / KING OF THE MOUNTAINS Mountains Classification points are awarded to the leading riders over the summit of The Tour’s longest and steepest mountain roads. Usually the preserve of wiry, lighter weight cyclists, the King of the Mountains is such an arduous contest only one British rider has ever finished in Paris wearing the Polka Dot Jersey - Glasgow’s Robert Millar in 1984.

A BEGINNERS’ GUIDE

GREEN / POINTS CLASSIFICATION To encourage exciting

sprint finishes at the end of each stage (and to add interest to designated intermediate primes) points are awarded to the fastest sprinters. Like the Yellow and Polka Dot Jerseys, ownership of the Green Jersey can change over the duration of the race. The rider with the highest overall points total at the end of the race get to keep it, as Manx Missile Mark Cavendish accomplished in 2011.

orkshire will come that bit closer to becoming universally recognised as God’s Own Country this July when it will host this year’s Grand Départ. There’s been such a buzz of anticipation since it was announced that this year’s Tour de France will set off from the City of Leeds, it’s little wonder Lonely Planet has voted Yorkshire the third best place in the world to visit in 2014.

WHITE / YOUNG RIDER CLASSIFICATION In recognition

Our cue to offer you a brief intro to the Tour.

that the Yellow Jersey almost always goes to a rider in his late 20s / early 30s, the White Jersey is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 in the General Classification.

The Tour de France is to cycling what the World Cup is to football. Being the most prestigious of all bicycle races, it’s often simply referred to as The Tour or Le Tour.

TEAM CLASSIFICAtion The times of the best three riders of each team in each stage is aggregated to calculate which team reached the Paris finish in the lowest overall time.

The Tour is indeed an epic bike race. Staged over three weeks, this year’s Tour will comprise three English stages followed by 18 on the Continent (mostly in France with brief incursions into Belgium and Spain) climaxing with the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Among the factors that make The Tour truly engaging is that whilst only one person can win it, victory depends upon team tactics and togetherness - so much so that The Tour has been described as ‘chess on wheels’. Every one of the 22 teams participating in 2014 will be vying to help their team leader(s) achieve glory. For the favourites, ‘glory’ means first in the General Classification, as Britain’s Team Sky achieved with Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Chris Froome in 2013. If Yellow isn’t attainable, the Green, Polka Dot and White Jerseys also bring enormous prestige. For smaller teams, even to win one stage is an immense achievement that will make its sponsors happy and its fans very proud.

TOUR TALK Peloton: this is the main pack of riders. A 100-strong peloton riding a steady 40 KPH is a stirring sight – hence the millions of fans who will be lining Yorkshire roads this July. Domestique: a ProTour team of (usually) nine riders mostly comprises domestiques - the ‘drones’ who protect the ‘queen bee’ team leader. In recognition

of his domestique’s hard graft, the Tour victor traditionally disposes of his half-million Euro winnings by dividing it among his team mates. drafting: riding another’s slipstream reduces energy output by as much as 30%. Team leaders spend much of the race riding ‘on’ their domestiques rear wheels to conserve the energy they’ll require to react to any attack.

STAGES Each of the 21 days of racing at the Tour is called a Stage.

Flat Nine days of this year’s Tour, including the first three on English roads, are designated as ‘flat’ stages. If you have ever huffed and puffed up Buttertubs Pass, which Tour riders will tackle on the Leeds-Harrogate stage, you’ll understand that ‘flat’ is a relative term when it comes to describing Tour gradients. When you see the peloton cruise up such hills at 30 KPH (on inclines where the everyday rider might struggle to maintain 6 KPH) you realise that ProTour road racers truly are a breed apart. Add the fact that these cyclists are riding a daily average 190km over 23 consecutive days (including the two rest days) and you understand why the Tour is generally regarded as sport’s ultimate human endurance test.

On flat stages, the peloton tends to stay together because its momentum is so formidable, the peloton almost always catches small breakaway groups before they can build any significant time advantage over the pack. Many flat stages climax with an exciting (sometimes terrifying) bunch sprint finale. Success at these bunch sprints usually determines who will be wearing the Green Jersey in Paris.

HiLL & MountaiN With its five hill stages and six mountain stages, most experts agree that this year’s Tour will be one for the hill climbing specialists: a Froome rather than a Wiggins. This is when the race gets really interesting so much so, many casual observers barely pay attention to The Tour until it reaches the dramatic cols of the Alps and the Pyrenees when the riders face climbs from sea level to 2,000m - sometimes with a sprint finish to the summit. It’s not unusual to see a burly Green Jersey contender finish a mountain stage a whole hour behind that day’s winner. It is this attritional terrain that usually determines who will be wearing the Yellow Jersey in Paris.

COME AND JOIN US AT OUR LEEDS & SHEFFIELD SHOPS FOR LE TOUR YORKSHIRE 5 & 6 JULY 2014 Le Grand Depart - the start of this year’s Tour de France - will be the 191 km stage between Leeds and Harrogate on 5 July. As it ‘appens, our Leeds shop in Chapel Allerton is located just off the very Harrogate Road along which the peloton will be pedaling. Stage 2, the following day, is set to be an equally brisk 198K ride from York to Sheffield. If you plan to visit Yorkshire to soak up The Tour’s unique atmosphere, do pop into our Leeds and/or our Sheffield shop where we plan to host all-day celebrations on both days - 5 and 6 July to mark this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Time trial The race of truth has a staggered start with a

two minute interval between each rider. Each rider races against the clock. With no riders to draft, you’re on your own. Confirming the notion that 2014 will be a climbers’ Tour, there will only be one time trial this year (we had 4 last year) - the 54km penultimate stage. Even on such a comparatively short stage, a time trial specialist can gain a minute’s advantage and effectively win The Tour that day.

EDDIE MERCKX - THE MOHAMMAD ALI OF CYCLING - PROBABLY THE MOST REVERED TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER, ever.

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR LE TOUR YORKSHIRE PLANS: SIGN UP TO OUR E NEWSLETTER EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM OR VISIT US ON FACEBOOK

Suits you sir! Be assured some of our staff DISPLAY better dress sense - as SHOWN on these pages.

IN OUR OWN TIME The very act of pulling on a favourite top and pair of shorts and slipping into your trusty cycling shoes and your light-cushioned grippy gloves is part of the ritual of getting ready for the ride. On this double page spread, Bike Co-op members from as far north as Aberdeen to as far south as Manchester share their personal pedaling apparel preferences.

SHEILA

JOHNY

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Endura Hummvee 3/4 Pants Women’s K-Fast £49.99

Endura MT500 spray SHORTS £64.99

I love these shorts. I got my first pair six years ago and I have just bought another pair. I love the comfort of cycling clothes but not always the look. I think these bridge the gap. I like the cut of these 3/4s and they fit really well. Sizes: XS-L. Colour: Black.

MT500 Spray Shorts are super comfy when you’re sitting in the saddle, or getting clarted in dubs (Doric for mucky). The Cordura bum panel helps keep any spray from soaking though. The shorts are wide at the knees for fitting over knee pads. I have three pairs of these shorts, and wear them anytime I’m out on bike, because they are the most reliable and comfy shorts available. Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black.

ALEX

GED

GARETH

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ENDURA SINGLETRACK II GLOVE £26.99

Revolution Esk Short Sleeve Road Jersey £34.99 (was £39.99)

REVOLUTION TEAM EBC JERSEY £39.99

These gloves offer a great fit that’s at home with any style of riding: mountain, BMX or commuting. The slim cuff and light padding provide comfort without being bulky. The Endura Singletrack II truly is an excellent 3-season glove! Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black.

IAN

The Esk was my sole top much of 2013’s amazing summer. Its 3 open pockets and its 4th zipped pocket carried all I needed. Its silky face kept me as cool and dry as a good base layer. Roll on summer 2014!

I wore this top last year to do our John O’ Groats to Land’s End ride (page 52) and it was superb. It has good length, which is sometimes a problem with other manufacturers, and the fit is spot-on. Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Team.

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black/Red.

GREG

DAN

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Endura FS260 PRO BibShorts II £67.99

ENDURA MTR EMERGENCY SHELL £89.99

5ten impact low shoe £89.99

Simple, functional, small pack size… I could rant all day about this jacket. It’s small enough to put in your back pocket or your bag and not notice, yet, when the weather comes down it keeps it all out. With no added faff from pockets or hoods and a slim fit it is the perfect cyclists’ jacket.

Shoes made of superglue. Raptor tongue that stays put. Sturdy upper that can take a beating. The Rocky of footwear built for traversing rocks and binding themselves to pedals with only the use of friction and gravity. I have used them for riding and walking. You’ll find lighter footwear, but nothing as durable.

After swithering over the bib short options available I plumped for the FS260s. These are comfortable and fit well. The straps offer plenty of stretch for the taller cyclist and the chamois is thick, comfortable and well positioned. It is clear these bib shorts are well made and after numerous washes, they still look like new.

Sizes: M-XXL. Colour: Orange.

Sizes: 7-10. Colour: Black.

Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Black.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

FUEL YOUR RIDE? TIME TO TALK TORQ

nergy bars, gels and drink powders are a smart, convenient way to keep fuelled and hydrated on longer rides. There are so many companies out there producing proven energy foods - High Five, ZipVit, SIS - how do you choose which is best? Like most things in life, it’s a matter of trial and error till you find what works for you. In other words, it’s a matter of taste, and when we poll our workers who have sampled them, TORQ bars, gels and powders are a favourite choice. This was our cue to interview TORQ’s company founder/ owner Matt Hart. What inspired you to found TORQ in 1999? A. After completing an honours degree in Sports Science, I worked eight years for a successful London health club chain, finishing up as head trainer. Simultaneously, I was a pro/elite sponsored mountain biker, competing at the highest level. This background inspired me to found TORQ as a performance / coaching / fitness consultancy. Our reputation in this field spread so quickly we were regularly commissioned to contribute to a variety of fitness/ cycling publications.

We all love bars. What’s so good about TORQ’s? A. Having found shortcomings in the products then available I applied myself to creating an energy bar that I could recommend without reservation to the athletes I coached. Since their launch in 2003, every Torq Bar we have produced has conformed to three fundamental rules that I consider vital. 1) Moist & Chewy: The first rule of Performance Nutrition. If you can’t get the calories into you, it doesn’t matter how good the product is on paper, you’re not going to derive the benefits. TORQ bars were designed to be tasty, very soft and easy to eat. 2) Low Fat: The second rule of Performance Nutrition. Fat is the enemy when it comes to fuelling performance. We all burn fat whilst exercising, but we have ample stores of it. The limiting performance factor from a nutritional perspective is carbohydrate, so this needs to be delivered as quickly and cleanly as possible. Fat slows down the absorption of carbohydrate and causes stomach discomfort. Many of our competitors’ energy bars are still way too high in fat. If they’re

chocolate or yoghurt coated, it’s a clear indication that they’re loaded with fat. They may appeal to the palate, but they won’t work. Why do so many manufacturers ignore such basic fundamentals? 3) Natural Ingredients: TORQ bars are made with a high proportion of fairly traded fruit and our ingredient listings are simple and NATURAL mostly fruit and oats. Combining this pragmatic approach with keeping abreast with the latest sports science research informs everything we do. Exercise fuelling research in 2005 demonstrated that ingesting the two carbohydrates, maltodextrin and fructose, in a 2:1 ratio delivers 40% more carbohydrate than maltodextrin alone. That’s the ratio we use in our bars, gels and drinks powders. How does the TORQ Fuelling System work? A. Basically, I have taken all I have learned as a fitness and nutritional consultant over 20 years and honed it into a simple Fuelling System that anyone can understand. You can read how it works on the next page.

The TORQ Fuelling System TORQ Energy Bar = 30g Carbohydrate = 1 TORQ Unit TORQ Energy Gel = 30g Carbohydrate = 1 TORQ Unit TORQ Energy Drink (500ml Bottle) = 30g Carbohydrate = 1 TORQ Unit An athlete using 2:1 Maltodextrin: Fructose formulations can absorb and use up to 90g of carbohydrate per hour whilst exercising. This equates to a ‘tolerance threshold’ of 3 TORQ Units per hour (whereas with glucose-based formulations you could only absorb 60g). How do you use TORQ units? A. An athlete using the TORQ Fuelling System can potentially get 30g more carbohydrate into their muscles per hour than if using a traditional glucose formulation. However, if you are a beginner to fuelling (or slightly built) it’s better to limit yourself to 60g (2 TORQ Units) per hour. This smaller amount is easier on the stomach because you won’t be pushing your limits of absorption so hard.

Sometimes you should eat more The latest research suggests that you should ‘drink to thirst’ rather than constantly drinking in an attempt to keep hydrated. Sure, you can expect a drop in performance if you become dehydrated, but you’ll only become dehydrated if you’re sweating and not replacing the fluids and electrolytes that are lost. If you ride your bike at low intensity on a very cold day, you will only need to consume a small amount of energy drink. In this situation, you can’t rely on the energy drink to fuel you because you’re not drinking much, so you’ll need to eat more TORQ Gel and Bar units. Sometimes you should drink more In hot weather, when perspiration rates are high, you will need to drink much more energy drink to maintain hydration. But because every 500ml contains 30g of carbohydrate (1 TORQ Unit), you won’t need to eat as much. In very hot conditions, you might be achieving all your TORQ units through your energy drink and won’t need to eat at all.

Why do you need to fuel during exercise? A. The human body can only hold a limited carbohydrate store. Once this disappears (after 1.5 to 2 hours exercise) your energy levels drop rapidly. Fuelling whilst exercising provides an external (exogenous) source of carbohydrate to burn. This helps spare your stored carbohydrate reserves, so you will maintain energy levels (and hence a steady pace) over a longer period of time. In other words, the more exogenous carbohydrate you can imbibe, the longer you will last. This helps explain why the extra 30g of carbohydrate delivered via the TORQ Fuelling System is so important. Even if your exercise session is less than 1.5 hours, fuelling during exercise will leave your stored carbohydrate less ‘dented’, so following the TORQ Fuelling System also hastens recovery - the key to being in the best possible shape the following day.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TORQ BARS, GELS & POWDERS AT: EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

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torq bar £1.45

torq energy GEl from £1.45

FLAVOURS

torq energy drink 1.5kg £27.99 500g £13.99 Individual sachet £1.45

Sundried Banana Pineapple & Ginger Raspberry & Apple Tangy Apricot

Raspberry Ripple Apple Crumble Rhubarb & Custard Strawberry Yoghurt Banofee (with Guarana)

FLAVOURS Lime & Lemon Orange, Pink Grapefruit Vanilla Pod

OUR VERY OWN GARETH & SARAH DISCOVERED A BETTER WAY TO RIDE JOHN o’ GROATS TO LAND’S END LAST SUMMER

The sun was brilliant in the sky as we crested the last hill of our trip and we congratulated ourselves as we had just completed our JOGLE. We hadn’t broken any records and had no intentions of chasing any. This trip was about enjoying the scenery and the riding. We had decided early on that we would give ourselves 16 days in total to complete the 1,100 miles, including travelling to and from the start and finish. Our intention was to spend 13 days riding and this is how long it eventually took. The majority of the route planning was done by my wife Sarah who also booked all of the B&B’s that we intended stopping in. Rather than starting at Land’s End, we opted for the less conventional north to south route. Sarah’s route plan incorporated parts of the UK that we’d not previously been to but wanted to see, and also included a midway stop at our home village of Mytholmroyd in the Pennines. It wasn’t the quickest A to B route but it was certainly very beautiful.

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To get to John o’ Groats from where we live in West Yorkshire we hired a car and drove north to Inverness and then took the train to Wick. From there it was just a short 30 minute cycle to the B&B for the night, before cycling the final 40 minutes up to John O’ Groats the next day. We found this worked really well and everything went according to plan. An important thing to make sure you do is to book your bikes on the train as it is a very busy line. We were lucky with the weather and despite cycling ‘the wrong way’ the wind was very kind to us and we even had some days of lovely tail winds. With the beauty of the Scottish mountains and lochs, the wild scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, more history as we cycled through Iron Bridge and across the Bristol Suspension bridge and the fast descent through the Cheddar Gorge this route gave us everything. My advice to anyone thinking of their next cycling challenge? Maybe consider beauty over speed.

PREPARING FOR A BIG RIDE

RECOMMENDED

Q What training did you do for the ride? a Sarah is a competitive triathlete so she spends

a huge amount of time training every week. I managed to get out on a few longer rides on my days off, but otherwise depend on my bike for commuting to and from work and never got around to cycling long distances on consecutive days before the trip, but I was pretty sure I would survive.

Q Which bike did you take? a We had decided that the bikes we normally

use for touring were going to be a little too slow and heavy, so we opted to use our road bikes. I was on my Focus Mares cyclocross bike, which proved itself as an equally fun, fast road bike.

Q Carry more or travel light? a Travel light! We only took a change of clothes for the evenings and a clean change for on the bike plus a few toiletries and bike repair items. This stripped-down approach meant our handlebar bags and rackpacks carried all we needed.

TOP TIPS EAT AND DRINK REGULARLY & TAKE TIME TO SAVOUR THE VIEWS

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GENESIS CROIX DE FER 931 £1,999 2014’s outstanding cross with stainless steel frame. Sizes: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm. Colour: Silver/Black.

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ORTLIEB ULTIMATE 6 BAR BAG £72 Being Ortlieb, this waterproof bar bag has fabulous features such as a magic magneticclosure lid, which is lockable. Size: 7 litres. Colour: Yellow.

We’re used to eating and drinking on the move when training / competing against the clock, but that wasn’t what our JOGLE was about. We wanted this trip to be truly memorable. We weren’t going to let Britain’s best scenery go by in a blur. We rediscovered that coffee shop stops and sideof-the-road snacking is a perfect way to break up the day and take in the views.

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LOOK AFTER YOUR DERRIÈRE

VAVERT EXPRESS SEATPOST CARRIER £29.99

Wearing padded shorts and prepping those hard-pressed nether regions with refreshing anti-bacterial chamois cream readies you for riding the length and breadth of this land in comfort.

Altura Arran Transit Drop Down Rackpack £44.99 This rackpack’s side pockets drop down and double as a pair of panniers, as illustrated on Sarah’s bike. Size: 7 litres. Colour: Black.

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A perfect occasional rack that you can quickly clamp to, say, a lightweight road bike, you might not want to encumber with a regular rear rack.

Type the web ref number into the edinburghbicycle.com search engine for full specifications

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TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR

WE TEST IT SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO If you have ever upgraded from, say, a boil-in-the-bag waterproof jacket to Gore-Tex, you won’t need us to persuade you that technology can help improve your time on a bike. But how can you know for sure what’s a winner and what’s a dud? When something completely new is launched we have an ever-available test crew to thoroughly test it - our co-op members. Whether its something as simple as an instant clip-on mudguard that actually works or an easier means of cleaning your bike, or something as sophisticated as an industry standard helmet cam or sat nav, you can choose in confidence knowing these technological marvels have been tried & tested.

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ALAN - HEAD OFFICE

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GOPRO HERO3+ CAMERA BLACK EDITION £359.99 If you are not planning to skydive from outer space (as Felix Baumgartner famously did with an earlier version of this video/stills camera) do you need a GoPro Hero3+? Perhaps not, but GoPro really enhanced my riding experience. It’s fun reviewing your ride with friends and somehow it looks like you were riding faster than you actually were! The beauty of GoPro is its versatility. I fitted it to my daughter’s helmet, and she loved it. I took it out on my motorbike. If I go skiing, I can put it on a chest harness. I can even take it scuba diving. And because it is so light, I barely notice it’s there. So although GoPro isn’t a need, it’s a definite want!

ANDY - MANCHESTER

JOHNY - ABERDEEN

DAVE - LEEDS

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GARMIN EDGE 810 from £379.99

FENWICK’S FS FOAMING DEGREASER £8.99

Ass Saver Mudguard Edinburgh Bicycle £5.99

The great thing about Fenwick’s FS Foaming is that, unlike liquid degreaser, it doesn’t run off. I use it in the workshop to clean cassettes, chains and chainsets. I take the whole drivetrain off the bike, pop it in a tub, spray on the Fenwick’s FS and leave it to work in. Then when you scrub it off, you end up with a nice shiny transmission. It’s also handy when it comes to seized mechs and brake calipers. Leave them soaking in the foam for a wee bit, and it helps free up seized joints or pivots. It’s a handy workshop secret, so I always have a tin of Fenwick’s in my toolbox.

Having an Ass Saver on my bike for the last few very wet weeks has improved my ride by doing exactly what the name implies and keeping the worst of the wet from splattering my backside. It’s a simple design, but that is all that’s needed. Our Ass Saver is so simple to fit and remove I’ve been able to try it on different saddles without any problem. If you’re riding in the wet or get caught in a bit of a shower then it works great, while on longer rides it does stop any padding in your shorts from getting soaked. It’s a great little product for the money and I have been grateful for it on many occasions.

Not just a standard cycle computer, the Garmin 810 is a device which brings so many more facts and figures. The device does away with magnets and sensors of old, and instead opts for using GPS satellites to record the simple things of speed and mileage recorded, but the nifty, touch screen, full colour device also can have full mapping features, giving turn-by-turn directions whilst out on the bicycle. I found this very handy for exploring the lanes near to where I live as before I was relying on constantly looking at my mobile phone apps. Result = more flowing rides.

KNOW YOUR CYCLE COMPUTERS WIRED SENSORS

WIRELESS SENSORS

GPS

Proven over 30 years, wired cycle computers come with a magnet, which is fixed to your front wheel, and a sensor which is fork-mounted. Every turn of the wheel, the magnet passes the sensor, which transmits RPM data via a cable to the bar-mounted computer, which instantly calculates and displays speed & distance data.

More sophisticated cycle computers are wireless. They still come with a wheel magnet and fork-mounted sensor but, here, the RPM data is transmitted via a radio signal. Everything else being equal, a wireless computer will be simpler to set up (no cable to route), cleaner, and potentially more reliable (no cable to snag).

GPS computers employ satellite navigation technology - just like a smartphone, but with much longer battery run times between charges. The benefits of GPS computers include no need for bike-mounted magnets or sensors, so they’re much easier to swap between bikes, and more advanced computing functions.

ESSENTIAL SPARES NICO RUMBOLL - BIKE COOP CUSTOMER

RIDE SAVERS A couple of years back, our online manager, Derek, signed up for the annual LEPRA Edinburgh to St Andrews Ride. He took his bike on the Burntisland to Edinburgh train to make the morning start. Riding onto Princes Street from Waverley Station, Derek noticed a sign - Cyclists Beware! Before he had read the next line, Derek’s wheel was trapped in the newly installed tramline and he was on the ground. Thinking the bike was okay, Derek rode on. Ten miles into the ride, the frame’s replaceable rear dropout sheared, having no doubt been weakened by the fall. Luckily our back-up mechanics carried a Wheels Emergency Derailleur Hanger, so Derek’s ride was saved. Knowing mechanical backup won’t always be on tap, Derek now packs a replacement dropout every ride. This cautionary tale inspired us to ask our customers to share their ‘doing a Derek’ stories, and the ingenuity, good fortune and spare parts that got them back on the road. Read on.

Y girlfriend and I went cycling on December 30th last year, camping out in the middle of nowhere in the hills of Cordoba, Argentina. After heavy rains overnight, our way back to civilization was blocked, since there was a river crossing which was now a rushing water ford impossible for even the toughest 4x4 vehicles, and there were none around anyhow... we were completely alone. This meant we had to return the long way round, over a bridge I knew about, 45 km on dirt roads to get to the nearest village. A third of the way in on this stinky hot 31st December, my girlfriend’s front tyre went flat and that was fine... after all I had with me a spare inner tube. Sadly, it had had slime fluid inside it for so long that as soon as I pumped it up it just ripped apart. Plan B was to sit down and repair the puncture with a patch. Easy peasy, but sadly we were bone dry out of glue and my last patch was tough, too small, and poor quality. In the end we were saved by a charitable family that were travelling home from the big city down these improbable roads, with an old F100 truck filled with too many passengers, a fridge, a motorbike and, crucially to us, enough patches and glue to see us on our way. We made it home for new year celebrations at 9pm, completely knackered and with one goal in mind: buying 3 brand new inner tubes and enough glue and patches for a lifetime.

BRUCE BEATON - BIKE COOP CUSTOMER Y son Matthew (15) decided to cycle along the Union Canal from Edinburgh to the Falkirk Wheel. He decided that to save weight he would leave his tools at home in favour of drinks and sweets. Between Polmont and Falkirk he had a puncture and thankfully passing cyclists helped him to repair it. In gratitude he shared the drinks and sweets with them and carried on before getting another puncture. He then had to get on a train home to Dalmeny and push the bike. The moral is that you can buy a bottle of juice and a mars bar anywhere but tools to fix punctures are like gold-dust. He now carries all the kit and hopes to repay the favour by helping other cyclists.

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Lezyne metal patch kit £4.99 56

STEPHEN PELLS- BIKE COOP CUSTOMER

PAUL BRABBINS - BIKE COOP CUSTOMER

N 2004, five of us spent a week following the Tour de

France around the Alps, staying at hotels and cycling to see each day’s stage. On our last night, riding quietly back from the time trial at Besançon along a very dark country road at about half past 10 at night, we were all jolted out of our private reveries by a huge BANG! At first I thought Julia had crashed...instead it turned out that Mike’s rear derailleur had failed and broken rather spectacularly into dozens of bits that were now scattered over the pitch-black road. No chance of finding even half of them. We were too far from home to walk, had no way of telling a taxi where we were (“Nowhere special really…it’s kind of dark here…”), and the road was so quiet that it might take all night before we could flag down a lift. However, I had a chain breaking tool in my kit, so I removed the remaining wreckage of Mike’s rear mech, and took about half of his chain links out and rejoined the chain, converting the bike to a single speed using the middle sprocket on the back and the middle chainring on the front. This gave him a middling sort of gear that he could spin along on the flat, freewheel downhill and could climb on, albeit maybe having to get out of the saddle. Not only did we get home that night only 30 minutes later than we would’ve done anyway, but Mike even rode back to the airport the following day on his single speed with no problems!

have been into mountain biking for just three years and to be honest I have a long way to go yet. Last spring I was riding at Chopwell Wood with a group of guys from Edinburgh Bike Co-op in Newcastle upon Tyne. The lads were fit as racing snakes and had all been riding since their first steps. I was 65 and “heavy boned” and so found it difficult on the climbs. I was getting really tired when I came to a rooty climb, which to me seemed to go on forever. I watched the other riders disappear over a crest and resigned myself to a hard slog up the roots. About half way up there was a branch about an inch thick by three feet long lying diagonally across my path. I thought, my arms are tired, my lungs are bursting, I know I should lift my front wheel, but I’ll just ride over it. On contact with my front wheel, the branch jumped and lodged itself in my rear mech. The mech hanger snapped and I walked the rest of the climb. The other riders were waiting for me at the top all looking a bit concerned. They saw what had happened and did that curious mechanics thing of rubbing chins and making clicking noises with their tongues. My friend Gordon asked, rather too tentatively I thought, “I don’t suppose you’ve got a spare hanger have you?” I beamed in the pride that only a novice could feel having been found experienced enough to have such a thing in his pack. I then stood back while my rear mech was stripped and reassembled and continued my ride, absolutely knackered but wearing my biggest and proudest grin.

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Birzman Light-Er Chain Rivet Extractor £11.99

Wheels Emergency Derailleur Hanger for All Q/R Rear Wheels £22.99

specialized starter kit £50

For more ride-saving tales, check our ‘lessons learned the hard way’ blog at edinburghbicycle.com

e started out as a repair shop and we never forget our roots. That’s why every one of our shops has its own service centre, dedicated to repairing, servicing and fitting things to your bike. If your bike needs any attention, simply wheel it into any of our shops (though advance booking is always recommended). No job too big, no job too small. Good, honest, professional service guaranteed.

TO BOOK A SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE CLASS CALL US ON 0131 331 5010 OR 0845 257 0808 (lo-call)

TWEETS OF APPRECIATION

ometimes, our customers are so blown away by how well their bikes work after they’ve been serviced, they tweet their appreciation Here’s a sample of messages you kindly sent us over the past few months.

KEEP YOUR BIKE RUNNING LIKE CLOCKWORK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR FULL RANGE OF SERVICES, VISIT EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM/SERVICE

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FREE SAFETY CHECK Unsure if your bike is safe to ride? Pop your bike into any of our shops and a trained mechanic will give your bike a free safety inspection. If any work is required to make the bike good you’ll get an accurate estimate of the job’s expected cost before a spanner touches the bike.

Richard D Great service from @EdinburghBikes on Rodney Street getting my poorly steed back on the road in ultra quick time.

Rob S A fault developed in my new @EdinburghBikes bike. Dropped it in to MCR store, all fixed under warranty in 2hrs. Great service.

Paul R After a long storage, the Stinson’s good as new again, thanks to the service guys at EdinburghBikes in Byker.

michael B Absolutely fantastic advice and servicing from @EdinburghBikes in Sheffield today. Saved me money and bike as good as new.

BICYCLE MAINTENANCE CLASSES If getting your bike serviced is like treating yourself to a nice meal at your favourite restaurant, doing your own bike maintenance is like home cooking: a life-enhancing skill you can call upon any time. Our classes are like a fun version of Cook School for budding bike mechanics. You get shown what to do by a pro. Then you get to try it yourself under the mechanic’s watchful eye.

HALF-DAY CYCLE MAINTENANCE COURSE FOUNDATION £25 FULL-DAY CYCLE MAINTENANCE COURSE INTENSIVE £49 FULL-DAY WHEEL BUILDING COURSE £49

PRICE LIST BASIC SERVICE £35

As Standard Service +

This one-hour checkover might be all a lightly-used bicycle requires. • Check and adjust brakes and gears. • Check and inflate tyres.

• Complete strip down and rebuild including headset, bottom bracket and hubs (excludes hydraulic brakes, suspension forks & shocks). • All threads cleaned and chased. • Wheels trued & tensioned.

STANDARD SERVICE £50

SUNDRY SERVICES

The Standard Service covers every externally-adjustable moving part of the bike, so it is much more thorough than a Basic Service. Plus the bike is test ridden, so we can confidently back up our Standard Service with a 6 month guarantee that covers all the work carried out on your bicycle.

Remember, we will consider any individual job, big or small. Here are some of the most popular specific services we offer.

As Basic Service + • Check and externally adjust hubs, headset and bottom bracket. • Replace brake blocks/pads (if required). • Lubricate cables (replace if required). • Lubricate chain and derailleurs. • Check/tighten all nuts and bolts. • Test ride. • 6 month guarantee on all work carried out.

DELUXE SERVICE £90 To make this service truly deluxe, we strip your bike down to the bare frame. Every part is carefully checked over before it is refitted. Serviceable bearings are regreased. New cables, bearings and brake pads are fitted if required. The drivetrain is thoroughly cleaned. If you ride every day, or you’re contemplating a big ride, or you want your bike to work better than new, we recommend you treat your bike to a Deluxe Service.

• On-the-spot puncture repair: £6 + the price of the tube. • Drivetrain clean & lube: £15. • Rim brake service: £15. • Disc brake bleeding: £18 per brake (price includes brake fluid). • Chain or cassette fitting: £10. • Hub service: from £15. • Fork fitting: £30 (if the fork costs £200 or more and you purchase it from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op we will fit it for free). • Wheel truing: from £12. • Wheel build: from £25. • Bike prep: unpacking, assembling & adjusting a boxed bike - for example, post flight: £40.

PARTS NOT INCLUDED IN QUOTED PRICES Please note: prices quoted on this page only cover the labour charges for the work described. Unless stated otherwise, additional charges will be made for any work or parts required beyond that described above. We will always contact you prior to going ahead with any additional work.

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GENERAL ENQUIRIES 0845 257 0808 (LO CALL) OR 0131 331 5010 EDINBURGHBICYCLE.COM

SUMMER HOURS { 1 APRIL - 30 SEPTEMBER } ABERDEEN Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 458-464 George Street Aberdeen AB25 3XH Open 7 days a week: 10am till 6pm Late opening every Thursday: 10am till 7pm

EDINBURGH BRUNTSFIELD Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 8 Alvanley Terrace Whitehouse Loan Edinburgh EH9 1DU Open 7 days a week: 9am till 7pm Monday - Friday 10am till 6pm Saturday & Sunday

EDINBURGH CANONMILLS Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 30 Rodney Street Edinburgh EH7 4EA Open 7 days a week: 9.30am till 6pm Monday - Friday Late opening every Thursday: 9.30am till 7pm 10am till 6pm Saturday & Sunday

LEEDS Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 140 Woodland Lane Chapel Allerton Leeds LS7 4QG Open 7 days a week: 10am till 6pm Late opening every Thursday: 10am till 7pm

NEWCASTLE Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 5-7 Union Road Byker Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE6 1EH Open 7 days a week: 10am till 6pm Late Opening every Thursday: 10am till 7pm

SHEFFIELD Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 300 Broadfield Road Sheffield S8 0XQ Open 7 days a week: 10am till 7pm Monday - Friday 10am till 6pm Saturday & Sunday

ONLINE SHOP www.edinburghbicycle.com email: enquiries@edinburghbicycle.com Tel: 0845 257 0808 (lo call) or 0131 331 5010 Open 7 days a week: 9am till 7pm Monday - Friday 10am till 6pm Saturday & Sunday

PRICES All prices quoted were correct at time of going to press and included VAT at 20% where appropriate. We reserve the right to change prices and specifications without notice.

MANCHESTER Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op 7 Wilmslow Road Rusholme Manchester M14 5FT Open 7 days a week: 10am till 7pm Monday - Friday 10am till 6pm Saturday & Sunday

MANCHESTER CITY TOWER CYCLE HUB Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op City Tower Cycle Hub Piccadilly Plaza Manchester M1 4BT Open Monday-Friday: 8am till 11.30am and 4.30 till 7pm Saturday: 10am till 5pm

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