Incycle 17

SUMMER ISSUE 17

F R E D W H I T T O N C H A L L E N G E | E N D U R O W O R L D S E R I E S | N F T O I N Y O R K S H I R E | F O R T W I L L I A M | D AV I D E F O R M O L O

s we have all come to expect there has been no shortage of activity here at Saddleback this last 3 months!

Internally we have just moved to the latest version of the SAP operating system that powers our business and in so doing we have upgraded our warehouse management system at the same time.

We have also added a second warehouse location for a number of our accessory brands, all of which will allow us to increase our capacity and significantly improve the speed of booking stock in and processing your orders.

Externally as you will see in this latest issue of incycle we are well into event season and our team have been travelling the country supporting riders and athletes alike as they use and promote our brands. Many of you have joined them at these events and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Most exciting of all though is that after years of discussions we have just secured the exclusive UK distribution of the iconic Italian shoe brand 足Sidi.

As you can imagine we are tremendously excited about the size of this opportunity.

No other brand has the history, professional endorsement or consumer desirability of Sidi and given how well this complements Castelli we are extremely confident we can give it the presence it deserves. We will be officially launching the 2016 product range at our house show in September, with stock due into our warehouse at the same time.

With the long anticipated introduction of our 3 new business and media websites due imminently as well as entering trade show season. There is no doubt the next 3 months will be equally as memorable.

Thank you as always for all your support!

ANDY WIGMORE MANAGING DIRECTOR

COVER ROCACORBA, SPAIN PHOTOGRAPHER JERED GRUBER

SADDLEBACK LTD UNIT 10 EASTER COURT, WOODWARD AVENUE, YATE, BRISTOL BS37 5YS ONLINE saddlebackb2b.co.uk | facebook.com/saddleback | twitter.com/Saddleback_Ltd | instagram.com/Saddleback_Ltd

DESIGN NICK.COX@SADDLEBACK.CO.UK CONTRIBUTORS GEORGE ACTON, EMILY CARR, NICK COX, JESS GREAVES, ROSS GRIMMETT, HUGO JOHNSON, ASH MATTHEWS, ANDY WIGMORE. PHOTOGRAPHERS STEVE BEHR, NICK COX, JERED GRUBER, SVEN MARTIN, SLIPSTREAM SPORTS.

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JOSH BRYCELAND GIVING IT THE BEANS AT ROUND 1 OF THE DOWNHILL WORLD CUP LOURDES,FRANCE

16 THE GALLERY 14 NEWS 16 EVENTS 22 FRESH PRODUCE

28 THE OFFICE 32 BEST SELLERS 34 YORKSHIRE GRIT 38 DOWNHILL WORLD CUP

42 DAVIDE FORMOLO 48 MEDIA COVERAGE 50 COMING SOON

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THEGALLERY DAVIDE FORMOLO CANNONDALE-GARMIN PRO CYCLING TEAM WINNER OF STAGE 4 AT THE GIRO D’ITALIA PHOTOGRAPHER SLIPSTREAM SPORTS

THEGALLERY DANIEL TEKLEHAIMANOT MTN QHUBEKA MTN QHUBEKA WIN FIRST WORLD TOUR JERSEY AT CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ PHOTOGRAPHER STIEHL PHOTOGRAPHY

THEGALLERY GREG MINNAAR SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE/ENVE ATHLETE WINNER OF THE DH WORLD CUP ROUND 2 AT FORT WILLIAM PHOTOGRAPHER SVEN MARTIN

THEGALLERY SEAN BELL SANTA CRUZ/ENVE RIDER ENDURO WORLD SERIES AT TWEED VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHER SVEN MARTIN

NEWS

TEAM SADDLEBACK’S

SCOTT MEARS

TEAM SADDLEBACK

SCOTTMEARS So, Fort William is always a weekend I look forward to on the World Cup circuit and this one was no different. We had heard a few rumours of poor weather for the weekend but when I arrived there Thursday it was cracking the pavements sunshine! Sure enough though first practise day came around and hell had opened up.

Mass storms wind and rain but we cracked on day one.

Day two was cancelled, so all was to play for, come Sunday. I was on the track at 6,30 Sunday morning with only an hour to practise I squeezed two runs in. Man the track was ruined. The woods was a quagmire and there was rain holes like I don’t know what! Qualifying I just scraped through and finals a drop in the treacherous woods cost me dearly. 56th world placing in the end but what could of been!

That gives me all my UCI points however for next season so there was something achieved! Cheers SCOT T M EA R S

THE

KING VISITS

NEW SHOP

NFTO SHOP

Tucked away in the town of Hereford is one of the coolest bike shops you’ll ever step into. Whilst at the moment details are classified, you can expect it to be full of our brands that team NFTO use. Along with quality graphics/displays designed and fitted by us here at Saddleback, it’s going to be a flagship shop for us and the best place to purchase NFTO replica kit and the latest Castelli lines along with Stages, Enve and Felt. NI CK COX NEW OFFICE

HOME SWEET HOME

It’s getting very cramped in the warehouse at the moment.

With our brands growing and new ones coming on board (turn to the last page) we’ve decided it’s time to pack our bags and move somewhere bigger. Plans are currently being made for a purpose built new office and warehouse. We continue to grow every year and this will give us the room for this to continue. In the meantime there’s a petition for any empty space in the new warehouse to be converted to a basketball court. Unfortunately at the moment there’s only one signature on it. NI CK COX NEW LINES

BRAND VISIT

CHRISKING

Back in April the Bespoke Bike Show was running in Bristol, it’s the UK handmade bicycle show. Chris King weren’t just exhibiting but could be seen on a number of the bikes on show. With Chris King being the best in industry for hubs and headsets it was no surprise the number of bikes using it and that Chris King himself flew in from the USA to attend. So it was awesome that he decided to pop in to Saddleback headquarters and pay us a visit and hang out with our Chris King brand manager Ash. N I C K COX

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SMITH GOGGLES

Smith goggles are some of the best you can get, yeah they work well and never mist up, but for you shallow lot, most importantly they look awesome. The new 2016 colours are no exception to this, whether you want strong solid colours, stars or a tropical print you won’t be disappointed. With the best mountain bike athletes in the world wearing them, pull a pair on and pretend you’re Brandon Semenuk or Aaron Gwin. Prices range from £34.99 to £59.99 so be sure to order yours and meet the rising demand of the enduro discipline that is growing at a rapid rate or the continued growth of the downhill mountain bike market. NI CK COX

NEWS

LOVECROSSED CUSTOM CX BIKE

PEOPLEINSPIRED A bike is a sum of its parts but custom inspiration usually has a little something else to the mix. This bike is a nod to the combination of skills from people behind the scenes that have inspired and helped me this year: James Lowsley-Willams - Pro with NFTO and whose enthusiasm opened the gates at Chavenage House to make LoveCrossed a reality. Saddleback were an incredible support and a fine bunch of guys committed to fantastic products.

Ted James a total master tube smith, lathe slave, endurance welder and a killer turn of the pedal. Patrick Adams, the man who hassled us to do the race right at the beginning. Thanks to Phil Taylor the curator of Bespoked Bike Show.

Looking forward to getting it dirty now! TA N GWY N A N DR E WS

Frame: Reynolds 853. HT, BB, Dropouts made by builder.

Fork: ENVE CX disc Wheels: ENVE xc tubular/King R45 disc hubs/Challenge Baby Limus Finishing kit: ENVE composites/Chris King/Arundel Saddle: Astute Skyline VT Running Gear: Rotor 3D/SRAM cx1 Brakes: TRP Spyre slc Custom Paint: @doktorbobby Custom Decals: Nick Cox

DUTCHGEORGE

SCORPIONWHEELS

On the 1st August 2015 I shall be setting off on a 7 day cycle ride from Bristol (UK) to Amsterdam (Holland) a total of 471 miles with my fellow rowing squad. 18 of us in total from the ‘City of Bristol Rowing Club’ will set off staying overnight at hostels as we pedal our way over the English channel and into mainland Europe. The trip will be challenging but passing through great cities such as Antwerp & Rotterdam will make the ride that much more enjoyable. With a support van in tow the only thing to push us every day will be a sweet taste of a European beer as we enter the Dutch city, Amsterdam.

With our new member Darren joining us here at Saddleback to look after all things Servizo Corse we were a van short. With our main Castelli man, Rich Mardle, getting a new van Darren was given Rich’s.

It’s all very complicated, but it meant we had two vans, one needing it’s graphics refreshing and the other needing a new design. With some crayons and a roll of paper at the ready we came up with some new designs. So the next time you’re out and about keep your eyes peeled for some seriously cool looking Castelli vans with scorpions so big they could eclipse the sun.

CUSTOM

BUILD

FOR MORE NEWS HEAD OVER TO WWW.SADDLEBACK.CO.UK

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SADDLEBACK EVENTS

ROUND UP

FREDWHITTON2015 It’s grim up north? Not when the annual Fred Whitton Challenge takes place. To date, the UK’s toughest sportive has raised over £800,000 with £1million mark in sight.

Another year and our support of the Fred Whitton Challenge continues. Every May we venture north with vans, tents, banners, race tape, tools, spare bike parts and staff eager to be part of what is an amazing cause and an incredible feat of endurance and strength. The Fred Whitton has been labelled by many as the toughest sportive in the UK, after seeing the weather, climbs and

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distance they are called to do, it’s easy to see how it has been labelled this. This year saw an increase in rider capacity and a real hope that the £1million mark, of money raised to date, could be not just achieved but smashed. 2,500 riders set off on a cold, wet and windy Sunday morning (well it is the Lake District) to tackle the 112 mile ultimate test. With the proceeds going to MacMillan

Cancer Support, all of us here at Saddleback are truly honoured to be part of such a great cause.

If you’ve never done it, it’s a must ride with the claim of bragging rights to those who climbed and didn’t walk up Hardknott pass. A pass that boasts 390 metres of climbing with gradients in excess of 35%. It will return next year, the question is, are you brave enough to take it on. NI CK COX

SADDLEBACK EVENTS

ABOVE FROM START TO FINISH, THE FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE,‑ AN INSPIRING MIX OF RIDERS WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS ALL COMING TOGETHER TO TAME THE LAKE DISTRICT AND RAISE MONEY FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT.

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SADDLEBACK EVENTS

ROUND UP

FORTWILLIAM Wetter than Wet Wet Wet on a rainy day at the bottom of the sea.

For some of us here in the office whose blood runs thick with all things mountain bike this is the biggest show on earth. Our annual adventure north along the never ending grey straight road soon turns to the beautiful winding roads through the Glencoe valley and past the many lochs of Scotland to Fort William. A small quiet town that turns to the centre of the world as 20,000 plus people descend upon it to burst it at the seams.

It’s all because of one run down a mountain. That single run that makes or breaks a rider’s season.

With Peaty sidelined with injury, our expectation of an Enve athlete doing well was placed upon

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Greg Minnaar and Josh Bryceland. With the weather being the worst it has been for many years, Friday’s practice became about survival.

Unfortunately for Josh it became all about a crash that would effect his ability to perform at his highest level. For Greg it became a quiet calculated re-introduction to a course he has won many a time. Saturday being a complete wash out and heavy winds meant the qualifying and practice was cancelled. With huge crowds nowhere to go other than the pit area, our Enve stand became the place to visit with free gifts, raffles, chill out sofa area, cold beer and us; staff from Saddleback loving

nothing more than talking about how good Enve is. Sunday was packed with practice, qualifying and racing all in a tightly packed sandwich. Perfect for the spectator as many found their plot of land on the mountain to watch a full day of riders flying down. After crashes, restarts and more crashes the victor was Greg Minnaar. We were on cloud nine that an Enve athlete had once again proved the level and speed that these products can be pushed to. All that was left to do was pack up and head over to the Red Bull party to let our hair down with the pro riders and our friends from the cycling industry. NI CK COX

SADDLEBACK EVENTS

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ROUND UP

EWSPEEBLES The biggest enduro show on earth rolls up in Scotland for round 3 of The Enduro World Series Wow, after the long drive north from Bristol, setting up the ENVE dome tent on Peebles village green, it didn’t seem a year since we were here doing the same thing. Familiar team tents and impressive trucks were already in their places, with pit areas setup and in use. It had the same exciting feel as last year, the relaxed anticipation that something big was due to happen in Peebles over the next few days. After practicing the stages that would be raced on the Saturday and Sunday, in varying versions of Scottish weather, some of the nerves were calmed a little as the unknown was now known. Returning to the event village after day 1’s racing, I could not have had a better day out on the bike. In hind sight I probably rode the stages more than I raced them, but I loved every metre of them and the company of the other racers as we covered the nearly 50km and 1500m of climbing. Back in the event village and at home back under the ENVE dome, whilst talking to all the racers and riders that fill the stands lining the village green, there were rumours circulating that Sunday’s day 2 of racing would be cut short due to impending adverse weather conditions.

Closing down the village that evening, the wind was rattling down the River Tweed and it looked like the rumours may be right. Sure enough Sunday brought rain and very strong winds and

an email from the organisers explaining that 2 of the 4 stages were cut from the race for safety reasons. The ENVE stage was the first the racers had to complete, and was a steep techy and rooty beast that had taken on a ton of the overnight rain and had made the heaviest and thickest mud imaginable. Trying to carry every ounce of speed, to fight the dreaded mud clogging, was the aim of the stage. After the next and final stage, which was also the longest and had open sections that exposed you to 30+mph side winds, the shelter at the bottom was reward in itself, let alone the beer you were presented with having completed 70+km of racing and 2400m of climbing over the course of the weekend. As ever it was a wonderful event for spectators and racers alike, and the entire Tweed Love festival should be on every mountain bikers hit list! ROSS GRIMMETT

SADDLEBACK EVENTS

LAST YEARS DEMO RIDES IN THE SURROUNDING CONTRYSIDE WERE A GREAT SUCCESS

The Saddleback Dealer Show is just around the corner, be sure to sign up to join us for a preview of the latest products and a few suprises too; 8th, 9th, 10th September.

Every September there’s an air of anticipation and excitement here in the Saddleback office. Months of planning goes into the Dealer Show. Very much a joint effort from all staff members to achieve what we consider is one of the

best shows you’ll attend. With a large amount of 2016 products on display from all our brands, you don’t want to miss out. With plenty of free coffee, cake and meals made fresh, our tradition of making sure everyone is well

fed and watered continues. Here at Saddleback the Dealer Show is very important to us and it gives you, the dealer, an insight into our company, the brands that we love and the real passion of the staff for all things two wheeled. NICK COX

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FRESH PRODUCE

ENVESTEM Enve have wanted this product for years.

They’ve scrapped more prototypes of the ENVE Mountain Stem than any other product in ENVE history. Why? Because they have high performance expectations of this product and it had to be just right. Enve believed they could create a sub 100 gram carbon fiber stem capable of addressing all mountain applications and Enve are proud to say that they’ve done it.

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FRESH PRODUCE

ENVEACCESSORIES A water bottle cage is perhaps the most under-appreciated component on a bike. Enve’s is designed to hold your water bottle no matter the terrain or application. It’s light, durable, and offers easy side and vertical entry.

A seat post should be installed, easily adjusted and perform, period. For this reason Enve made one that is lightweight, easily adjusted, strong and comfortable, equally at home on the trail as it is on the road.

Enve have created a clean and integrated solution to mounting a Garmin GPS cycling computer without having to clamp it to our handlebars. The ENVE Computer Mount is only compatible with Garmin style mounts and the ENVE Road Stem.

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FRESH PRODUCE

CASTELLIBAGS The new saddle bag collection from Castelli boasts a water and stain resistant material construction with adjustable hook and loop attachment straps. Internal storage pockets and reflective accents make this one of the best looking and functional bags out there. The larger size saddle bag also comes with an external pump sleeve.

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FRESH PRODUCE

CASTELLIAERO The Free Aero Race Bibshort has been the number one selling short for the past few years. This year every detail, and every component have been redesigned, obsessesed over and tested until Castelli were satisfied. Key updates inlcude the new seat pad, the bib strap construction, the waistband construction, all new fabrics and pattern work that went through so many alterations Castelli lost count.

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FRESH PRODUCE

CHRIS KING HUB

ENVE M70 SERIES RIM

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FRESH PRODUCE

ENVE GREG MINNAAR BAR

ENVE MOUNTAIN STEM 40MM

ENVE M70 SERIES RIM

CHRIS KING HUB

ENVEGOLD One of the best mountain bike race photographers in the world and the source of our awesome Enve shots, Sven Martin shares with us his fully loaded Enve Santa Cruz Nomad. With custom gold graphics and some beautiful finishing touches when we caught up with Sven at Fort William he seemed pretty happy with his choice of Enve components to compliment the Nomad’s build.

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THE OFFICE

MEET THE TEAM

THIS MONTH WE MEET TEAM MEMBER HUGO, THE MOST SCARED MAN IN THE WAREHOUSE. WHO IS HUGO? A lover not a fighter.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Bristol.

WHAT’S YOUR JOB TITLE? Warehouse Operative.

WHAT DO YOU DO? I get frightened by my colleagues on a daily basis.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT SADDLEBACK? About 10 months.

SHOPFOCUS BESPOKE CYCLING Lower Mall -2, Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London,E14 5AR www.bespokecycling.com

Bepsoke recently opened a new store in Canary Wharf, where money grows on trees, so we thought we’d pay them a visit and show some Castelli love. Along with the new Castelli freestanding display units we also decorated the slat wall that houses the chosen Castelli lines in the shop window. Be sure to head down and have a look, I don’t think we’ve ever produced a scorpion this big! NI CK COX

WORST JOB YOU EVER HAD? Well every one before this one, obviously.

BEST PLACE TO RIDE? Majorca.

FAVOURITE BIKE PRODUCT? Shimano AM-45 shoes ‘cos they keep my feet warm.

WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY? Low quality things.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? High quality things.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING? When life gives you lemons, get some tequila

T EC H TIPS

LOOSEYGOOSEY

BEST BIT OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE? Don’t park next to the only other car in the carpark.

ROSS GRIMMETT SENIOR MECHANIC EVERY ISSUE WE WILL BRING YOU INSIDER TECH TIPS FROM OUR CHIEF MECHANIC ROSS

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO NOW? Jess Greaves.

YOU WILL NEED Dependant upon your bike: 3mm allen key, 4mm allen key, T25 Torx key When cleaning your bike, and checking over the bolts etc, do remember to check the rear derailleur hanger bolts especially on the hangers that use a secondary retaining bolt. We see a lot of bikes with these bolts loose and shifting is certainly compromised because of it.

DIGITALINCYCLE Here at Saddleback we care about the environment, let’s face it if we ruin it where will we ride? So you can read and download the latest issue of Incycle from the link below. Missed an issue? Head to the same link and download the back catalogue of any Incycle since its birth. www.issuu.com/saddleback

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HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? As a man who always felt epic.

INSIDE THE OFFICE CHARLES OR WINE?

This photo was taken at the best chinese resturant, sorry the only chinese resturant, in Fort William.

As good/gloopy as the food was with plenty of it too, the wine took centre stage. The label is almost a perfect description of Charles (pictured) “rich and spicy” and quality “A+” and leads us to believe that maybe Charles, who has found a new love in mountain biking, has a sideline in making wine. Would we be surprised if he had a vineyard? No, we definitely wouldn’t be. NI CK COX

THE OFFICE

“Having the jersey is a great opportunity to show off our team before the Tour de France and puts some light on our campaign to raise 5000 bicycles this year.”

DANIEL TEKLEHAIMANOT TEAM MTN QHUBEKA RIDER

STA F F P I C KS

SUMMERLOVING EMILY CARR BRAND MANAGER SMITH OPTICS PIVLOCK ASANA RRP £100

One for the girls… Perfect for smaller faces, a truly excellent balance of value and performance. 4 colourways are available, but I’ll be going for the white frame with the excellent violet lens for the strong UK summer sun (!). All frames come with 3 lenses that offer superb coverage and protection in all conditions with a simple and swift change system.

Having ridden the Pivlock V2’s all year and loved them, I can’t wait to get my hands on these and give them a go.

OFFICE IN NUMBERS OUR DOWNHILL WORLD CUP FORT WILLIAM TRIP IN NUMBERS

947

miles, the round trip to the hotel from Saddleback HQ

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pallets used for our display

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(1) members of staff on hand at the Enve stand, one of us raced!

8000

stickers given out to members of the public

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sets of Enve bars given out as raffle prizes

mph, the speed of the wind on friday night

THE NEW SES 4.5’S IN ACTION AFTER RIGOROUS TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT.

ENVE INSIDER THIS YEAR HAS SEEN A WAVE OF NEW PRODUCTS FROM ENVE, WITH MORE TO COME?

Over the last few months we’ve seen a host of new products released from the guys at Enve, they’ve been working hard to not only boost their current range, but also fill a few gaps with some nice finishing touches for our bikes. The new SES 4.5’s introduce a new refined rim profile designed to offer better acceleration, cornering and impact resistance, with a little extra weight saving too. An update to the road components sees the classic bars, stems and seatposts move to a black on black finish that many have been asking for, for some time. For the mountain side, the bars have been given a fresh new look to tie in with the newly added MTN stem. The Sweep and Riser bars have grown from 740 to 760mm and a high riser DH bar has been added to the mix too after feedback from the syndicate team.

I’m sure we’ll see more releases before the year is out... AS H M ATTH E WS

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set of Enve wheels used by Jackson Frew with some of the best decals we’ve seen.

1645 pounds worth of free gifts we threw into the crowd

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THE OFFICE

FORGOTHOWTORIDE It’s been a long three months of not riding my mountain bike, I think I’ve forgotten what to do.

Some of you might think from reading the title to my column I might have had some sort of injury, thankfully no. The last three months of my life have been all consumed by the renovation of the new house my wife and I recently purchased.

Now with the end in sight my sparkling clean Nomad has been adorned with some new Enve products in case it wasn’t sexy enough already. So with the house pretty much completed there remains one thing in the way, can I still ride a mountain bike? My fitness has been ok with my road bike commuting and quick lunch time spins but has my mountain bike ability dried up? One thing is certain, next issue you’ll hear the truth about how I’ve been getting on. If all fails then at least my bike will look good even if the rider isn’t. I’m hoping the new Enve stem and bar will give me some Minnaar skill and speed. NI CK COX

T HEN

N OW

RECOVERYROAD After being forced to do a superman over her handle bars by a loose dog, Emily is back - watch out!

So after my last column, it has been a few months of ups and downs! Spring training was all going to plan, and with the weather starting to pick up I was feeling very good about the upcoming season. That is until a black Labrador called Bear decided to end a training ride by throwing himself under my wheels and to the tarmac. One broken collarbone later, and the reassessment began. From not even being able to brush my hair 8 weeks ago, I was chuffed to complete 95 miles of the Dragon Ride on 7th June – something I thought impossible a while back. So it’s onwards and upwards – IM has been deferred from Switzerland to Mallorca on 26th September, wetsuit has been dug out and events have been pencilled back in. Long Course Weekend, IM 70.3 UK, Saddleback Sodbury Sportive, Ironman…bring them on. E MI LY C A R R

STAFF PICKS

INSIDE THE OFFICE NO PRIVATE SPACE TO BE FOUND AT FORT WILLIAM

This photo shows that there was no such thing as private space or boundaries when it came to our trip to Fort William. Not only were we cooped up in a van togther for what seemed a life time we also shared rooms across the hall from each other. We all became very close, so whilst Ross skulked off to the toilets we all thought it was the perfect time to remind him there’s no alone and get one of the best photos of the weekend. Needless to say Ross is now sporting the emotional scars of the intrusion but Ash, Charles and myself definitely think it was worth it. N I C K COX

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HOTHANDLING EMILY CARR BRAND MANAGER ENVE SES ROAD BAR RRP £350

Finally being back on my bike after injury has had me thinking about upgrading my summer training bike to get myself ready for the season of races ahead. For me, this Enve bar is number one on the list. Comfortable riding on both the hoods and the drops, light, stiff and a great looking piece of kit. Perfect aerodynamics and comfortable fit, I will have no excuse for any poor bike handling on lunchtime rides…..

“It was a tricky race and it hasn’t been an easy week with the rain making things physically tough on all the riders, but I managed to push through today. It was a great result and definitely one I will remember.” GREG MINNAAR ENVE ATHLETE

TALES FROM THE DH CIRCUIT

JESS GREAVES FROM OUR WAREHOUSE ON HOW HER SEASON IS GOING SO FAR.

DIRTYDOWNHILL Llangollen BDS, the steepest, most technical track on the National circuit always draws a big crowd and attracts some of the worlds fastest racers! Practice on Saturday was a mess with riders crashing left, right and centre. The track was dry and loose making it hard to slow down for the corners. Rain overnight meant Sunday was a greasy affair. I crashed near the top in my seeding run and crashed 3 times in race run!

Just managed to sneak onto the podium in 5th place behind Veronique Sandler from NZ and Casey Brown from Canada, I was just happy to finish the weekend alive!

Onto Ft William World Cup and I was a bit nervous having only ever raced the National on that track. Another hard weekend with the weather being so windy and rainy. Friday practice was cut short and Saturday practice was cancelled due to the winds being too high to run the gondola! Early start on Sunday for Qualifying runs and 4 hard pedalstrokes out of the gate I got blown off the track by the wind! Speed tucking the top section just not to get blown off the track, I crashed in the woods and ended up 25th. I was gutted as I was aiming for a top 20 but it’s all a good learning curve for me being my 2nd ever World Cup DH. Excited for the next National at Bala in North Wales!

IF BATMAN HAD A ROAD BIKE, JOHN’S FELT AR FRD

TOP FIVE OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER JOHN WAGER SHARES WITH US THE TOP FIVE BIKES HE HAS EVER OWNED 1. CONDOR 753 – CUSTOM BUILT 22 wins and 400 points in a season before they started giving them away with Kellogg’s packs.

Delivered just in time for my 21st birthday along with a set of Pete Matthews TDF special wheels it was a sub 19lb work of art for 1994.

2. SALSA A LA CARTE The one bike I regret selling as it was built with all manner of exotic components. Prototype Middleburn chainset, cut down MA40 rims on Pace hubs, Pace RC35 forks, Renthal bars and a full XTR groupset.

3. MARIN TEAM TITANIUM A lightweight ride that got me safely through the only ever MTB Tour of Britain.

4. CYFAC NERVE Tour winning pedigree shone through on this bike, never the stiffest or lightest but the handling was sublime 5. FELT AR FRD DI2 Stiff and very fast, the Textreme pattern makes it stand out from the crowd. Teamed with Dura Ace Di2 and Enve wheels and finishing kit it is the ultimate weapon of choice.

T E CH T IPS

MELTINGDETAILS ROSS GRIMMETT SENIOR MECHANIC EVERY ISSUE WE WILL BRING YOU INSIDER TECH TIPS FROM OUR CHIEF MECHANIC ROSS

YOU WILL NEED *A pick tool and a blow torch When installing tubeless valves through freshly applied adhesive rim tape, instead of pushing the valve through the tape or cutting a cross for the valve to pass through, heat up a pick tool and melt the through the tape. Melt a circular hole that is just under the diameter of the valve. This helps the rubber part of the valve to seal absolutely solidly against the tape and the rim bed, and lessens the chance of the tape splitting. All about the details! *ONLY TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC

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BEST SELLERS

ASTUTE SKYLINE PILARGA VT TITANIUM RRP £125

ENVE M SERIES 70/30 RRP £850

SMITH OPTICS FUEL V.1 MAX RRP £39.99

BESTSELLERS The last three months have seen the introduction of our new brand Astute saddles. With growing quantities being sold it proves that the Italian hand made saddle brand is going to be good one. Also the Enve M-Series rims are still selling well with the 650B M70’s being the

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most popular, proving the continual growth of long travel trail bkes in the industry. However there’s no surprises, with Castelli armwarmers, Chris King R45 and Stages Ultegra continuing to sell by the boat loads. Contact your local Rep for more details and how to order.

BEST SELLERS

STAGES ULTEGRA 6800 RRP £699

CHRIS KING R45 FRONT HUB RRP £210

CASTELLI NANOFLEX ARMWARMERS RRP £30

APRIL 2015 - JUNE 2015

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YORKSHIRE AGGRESSION

YORKSHIRE AGGRESSION NFTO show determination and gritted teeth as they tackle the Tour of Yorkshire.

NFTO finished off Stage 3 of the Tour de Yorkshire with a rider on the podium and a very happy team all around. They came into the event wanting to race hard, make their presence felt and obviously get a result where possible. And they felt that they nearly achieved the goal, and did as much as they could, especially considering a few bits of bad luck along the way. After taking the most aggressive Prize on Stage 1 with Eddie Dunbar (which was re-awarded after he finished the day in hospital and couldn’t start stage 2). Followed by a professional performance on Stage 2 with all the boys contributing to the chase, riding the front alongside the World Tour teams bringing back the break, they just unfortunately had a bit of bad luck in the end, so it was very important they kept this momentum into Stage 3, Wakefield Leeds. Wakefield is the hometown of the team owner John Wood, so they wanted to race and make him proud. From the gun they were in the action with Steele getting into the original break of 15 people.

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YORKSHIRE AGGRESSION

ABOVE IAN BIBBY WITH THE FACE OF DETERMINATION AND STRONG RIDING WHICH LED HIM TO BE CROWNED THE MOST AGGRESSIVE RIDER.

IAN BIBBY Date of Birth: 22/12/86 Hometown: Preston Club: NFTO Discipline: Road and Track Age Category: Over 23 Category: Elite National Rank: 23 Ian comes from a background in mountain and cyclocross, winning the British championships in 2010, and emerged as an exciting young talent on the national road racing scene.

The Preston born rider joins NFTO from Madison Genesis having previously ridden for Motorpoint.

Marshalls Pasta and Endura Racing.

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Speaking to Ian Bibby after the race he explained what happened. “It was a grippy and hard day. NFTO want to be known for being aggressive and we were missing Eddie, and it was meant to be his day, so the best plan was to attack. The first hour was pretty brutal and a split of 15 went away just because it was so hard” said Bibby “I jumped across to the group that had Steele in it, with Tommy Voeckler! By the time we got away, the legs were gone. The first couple of days I haven’t really felt myself, probably the worst I have felt all year so I gave it a good go today.”

Steele recapped how the smaller break went post race, “Team Sky had three guys in the break, but they were not happy with Voeckler there for GC obviously, so they wanted 5 guys to go from that split. Bibby was doing a lot of work, and I was covering as well and almost got unstuck at one stage getting into a break that looked like it was going to stick and I begun to panic as I was starting to get dropped. Bibby came across at that stage, and it went up a rise and he counter attacked. That was it then, as the 5 guys went so he was able to sit in that break and go for the KOM’s – as the original plan had been to take that jersey.”

“Bibby successfully took the first 3 of the KOM’s for the day, before his legs started to wear out. Unfortunately in the break with him was the Cofidis rider, which had been in the break in Stage 2; otherwise Bibby would’ve been able to take the KOM jersey for the day.”

“Then when our break exploded on one of the KoM’s, that was also one of the hardest parts of the race for me. The whole day was flat out from the word go and it was all about hanging on

and giving it everything you got. I knew Sky was going to bring the group back though, so I kept on attacking hoping we’d get away before they brought it back and luckily it worked out.”

“The event is just MEGA” exclaimed Dave Povall, “the whole team loves it, it’s just been a pleasure to be in the race”. Post race we spoke to Bibby about the Tour of Yorkshire, “The crowds here I think are the biggest I have ever seen. Once I’d been caught and there were only 25 riders left (showing it had been a really hard day) I then could actually sit up and see the crowds. You don’t notice them so much when you are riding flat out, but you soon realise they were pretty unbelievable. Being on the podium was really cool too after a day of getting dropped and pulling wheelies on the climbs.” After making the day’s breakaway, Ian Bibby walked away with the fan’s most aggressive rider jersey.

“It was disappointing and a shame to lose Eddie on stage 1 because I think he would have shown a lot of people who he is and made a name for himself but he’ll be back in a couple of weeks. It was good to end the three days with a jersey though and I have enjoyed it.

We want to thank all our fans both at home and on the side of the road for their support. We have never experienced crowds of that level and it made a hard 3-day stage race so much easier.

As Hank said “I’m not going to be able to climb a hill without thousands of people screaming at me anymore”. It really did rival the crowds at the Tour de France. We really hope the Tour of Yorkshire becomes a permanent fixture on the cycling calendar and we look forward to coming back and racing next year! NFTO

YORKSHIRE AGGRESSION

“Then when our break exploded on one of the KoM’s, that was also one of the hardest parts of the race for me. The whole day was flat out from the word go and it was all about hanging on and giving it everything you got.”

IAN BIBBY NFTO

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COMMENCE BATTLE

COMMENCE BATTLE

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COMMENCE BATTLE

The two fastest downhill riders in the world, who also use our brands, commence battle to be crowned World Cup winner What an amazing start to the downhill world cup. Round 1 in Lourdes, France seems like an eternity ago back in April.

Since then we’ve had two amazing rounds in Fort William and Leogang repsectively. Fort William saw Minnaar win in front of a typically huge crowd, of which some of us here at Saddleback were a part of. It was Minnaar’s 17th World Cup win now only equalled by Peaty’s record. Minnaar now also holds the record for most wins at Fort William after putting over a second into Gwin. The season looks to be unravelling as a battle between Minnaar and Gwin. Both riders are acomplished and have been fighting at the top for many years now. For us here at Saddleback it shows the level at which our brands and products are used. Greg Minnaar being part of the Santa Cruz Syndicate means that he has Enve as one of his main sponsors. He is currently running Enve seatpost, direct mount stem, his own Enve signature bars and what looks to be M-Series M90 wheels, however on closer inspection it looked to be an Enve prototype wheelset that was heavily guarded by his mechanic. Enve use the Santa Cruz Syndicate riders a great deal when it comes to running new developments and designs of their products and what better testing ground, if it’s good for them I’m pretty sure it’ll be good for the masses.

“The chain found its way off the bike about a minute in and then it was kind of like game on.”

AARON GWIN SMITH OPTICS ATHLETE

So to Gwin who by his own admission had a mediocre season last year. He came out blazing at Lourdes in round 1 beating Loic Bruni by almost 3 seconds. Could this be a sign of the ‘old’ Gwin back to his true form? Fort William was close, a second on such a long course isn’t as big as you might think. However Minnaar came out on top. Then to round 3 in Leogang, where unless you’ve been under a rock in the bottom of a very deep pit in the middle of nowhere, you have already seen what will go down in history as one of the all time best race wins. No sooner had Gwin pedalled out of the start hut that his chain snapped.

After the race Gwin confirmed that the chain fell out of the bike completely 1 minute into his run, the concern of the commentators and crowd was it would be dragged into his wheel creating what would have surely been a huge crash. So his first pedal stroke leaves him with no chain, what would you do? give up? go home with your tail between your legs? Not Gwin, with what seemed to be a superman effort he continued his race run barely touching his brakes. He was going well, the speed trap proved it, but what happened next was unthinkable. As he entered the final arena he was up! Gwin won by 0.045 seconds without a single pedal stroke. Gwin who is a long running Smith Optics athlete of 5 years once again shows the level our products can be pushed to and how they are used everyday in the greatest races on earth. N I C K COX

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GREG MINNAAR

AARON GWIN

Date of Birth: 13/11/81 Born: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Height: 1.9m Weight: 87kg Current Team: Santa Cruz Syndicate Team mates: Steve Peat, Josh Bryceland Saddleback brand used: Enve World Cup wins: 17

Date of Birth: 24/12/1987 Born: Morongo Valley, California, USA Height: 1.78m Weight: 75kg Current Team: Specialized Racing DH Team Team mates: Troy Brosnan Saddleback brand used: Smith Optics World Cup wins: 12

COMMENCE BATTLE

ABOVE MINNAAR STANDS TALL ON TOP THE PODIUM AT FORT WILLIAM WITH GWIN IN SECOND, IS THIS SEASON GOING TO BE A TWO HORSE RACE?

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DAVIDE FORMOLO

Could this twenty two year old Cannondale-Garmin rider be a future Grand Tour winner?

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DAVIDE FORMOLO

“I’m very excited about our 2015 team. We began as a small group with the mission of developing young riders and we have stayed true to that mission year after year” JONATHAN VAUGHTERS CEO SLIPSTREAM SPORTS AND CANNONDALE-GARMIN PRO CYCLING

Slipstream Sports with Castelli shod Cannondale Garmin have a relatively simple mission. Quite simply developing future champions by giving young talent a break in a professional team.

“I’m very excited about our 2015 team. We began as a small group with the mission of developing young riders and we have stayed true to that mission year after year, even as we have grown.

2015 is our youngest group of athletes yet, and it’s also young in that it’s a new team, and we have joined forces with Cannondale,”

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said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO, Slipstream Sports and Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling.

“That gives us huge opportunities. What you can expect to see is an extremely talented group of young riders who will benefit greatly from the leadership and guidance of more experienced guys like Langeveld, Martin, Hesjedal and Talansky.

This is a team that will come into racing with a lot of enthusiasm and spirit, and will rely on teamwork, tactics, perseverance and creativity to give great performances.”

It’s always hard for a new team to gel and start getting results, Cannondale Garmin had a slow start to 2015 but then cometh the hour cometh the man. On Stage 4 of the Giro d Italia Cannondale Garmin and, in particular, Davide Formolo came of age.

The 22 year old riding his first Grand Tour attacked the break at the foot of the final climb.

Going over the top with a small lead, he went all out on the descent into town for the finish with a gap of 22 seconds to claim his first professional win

DAVIDE FORMOLO

ABOVE NO ONE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY, DAVIDE LEADING THE FRONT GROUP AT STAGE 4 OF THE GIRO D’ITALIA BEFORE HIS BREAKAWAY

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DAVIDE FORMOLO

and Cannondale Garmin’s first grand tour stage victory. “It feels amazing to win,” said Formolo.

“I’m 22-years-old, and I’ve dreamed of this for 22 years. “It was a really hard day because it always up and down and never flat,” added Formolo.

“The break always rode very hard except on the descents. It was a very difficult day, but I am so happy with the results for myself and the team.”

Davide was in the break all day, was it his Castelli SanRemo suit that help him save some energy for the attack and did the super aero 1 piece help him stay away during the descent? These are questions that will never be answered but as Davide and the rest of the Cannondale Garmin team are all too aware, with Castelli, you know you’re getting an unfair advantage.

Davide was wearing the new SanRemo speedsuit, a development of this years 3.0 Speed suit that will be available to the public in early 2016. As with all team clothing development from Castelli once it’s tested and proven in competition the pieces go into the collection for everyone to add a little extra speed to their lives. AD RI AN YAT E

“The break always rode very hard except on the descents. It was a very difficult day, but I am so happy with the results for myself and the team.”

DAVIDE FORMOLO CANNONDALE-GARMIN PRO CYCLING

LEFT AND ABOVE CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AT STAGE 4 OF THE GIRO D’ITALIA AND CELEBRATING ON THE PODIUM IN TRUE PRO TOUR STYLE.

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MEDIA COVERAGE

3

Gear guide b Spring style

Understated charm

Wishlist

Spring style b Gear guide Bont Vaypor S £270 ||| $439 The key feature of Bont’s new range-topping Vaypor S is the wrap-over upper design and the placement of the two Boa dials, which Bont say is driven by the needs of pro sprinters. The forward dial closes the upper over the forefoot; the rear dial is placed to the side and angled such that tightening it also pulls the foot back into the heel cup. The upper has a proprietary Kevlar-like layer which resists stretch. We weighed this size 45 pair at 504g. www.bont.com

Left: Smith Overtake helmet, £200, saddleback.co.uk This page: Assos SS.milleJersey_evo7, £89.99, assos.com

g ea r guide

Salice 006 CRX glasses, £74.95, salice.co.uk Bont Blitz shoes, £180, saddleback.co.uk Rapha Pro Team bibshorts, £180, rapha.cc

prima prr

Bont Vaypor Classic £225 ||| $tbc This isn’t the bandwagon-jumping that you might think, in the wake of Giro’s Empire; Bont’s first track shoe used laces. The Vaypor Classic is built around the same last as the Vaypor Plus and, of course, uses Bont’s incredibly stiff and low-stack tub-type carbon sole. It’s DIY heat-mouldable, too, so you can find your perfect fit. The laces are waxed to keep them from slipping and they’re plain on the reverse side if you prefer a more discreet style. The Classics weigh 257g each.

Raceware Direct Garmin mount, £24.99, racewaredirect.co.uk

VermarC best on test

POC Raceday Glove, £45, 2pure.co.uk Enve socks, £15, saddleback.co.uk

www.bont.com

Assos T.NeoPro S7 bibshorts, £129.99, assos.com

130

Procycling

brAnd new kit

June 2015

£104.99 From the racing heartland

Dirty Native One BlackEdition saddle

Pockets 3 + 1 zip Zip length Full

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Designed in Belgium, the Prima proves Vermarc understands the role a fabric’s orientation plays in both fit and performance.

Multiple fabrics are used, Sharp contrasts ‘Clean, simple colour blocking is integral to thebut Rapha aesthetic,’ says Emma Green, collections lead designer at Rapha. two stretch far more in one plane than ‘That said, we always take visibility into account and so give options for those who want to be seen on the road.’ Rapha, another, preventing almost any pocket along with several other brands, has looked beyond the trend for fluorescent clothing to combine visibility concerns with sagging evencolours whenhas they’re fully stocked. kit that looks stylish. So, an agreeable move towards understated emerged, accented with bolder and brighter flashes. What’s more, Poc argues that the approach is safer too. ‘One of the most important factors affecting visibility is Four-way-stretch panels elsewhere keep contrast,’ says Poc’s Peter Appleton. ‘Based on environmental factors such as weather, light, nature and time of the day, things suitably snug a race fititem jersey. our contrasting colours offer the highest possible visibility.’

Whether that’sfor applied to one of clothing contrasting another or highlights within a single garment, it represents a more sophisticated and stylish approach to being seen.

The Think and PR Carbon fabrics also move sweat away from the skin very cyclist 154 well, and retain hiGhs very little moisture.

Fit, pocket With a zippered stability, excellent breathability security pocket and headphone port, loWs Vermarc has every Limited colour choice detail covered.

Castelli Free aero raCe 4.0

2

£60

Paligap www.paligap.cc

The naTive One from Selle San Marco’s off-road offshoot, Dirty, is a firm perch. Actually, that’s putting it mildly – it feels really hard and is definitely more XC race than all-mountain plush in terms of padding. That said, the shape is extremely comfortable, with a wide rear section and a contoured profile that’s claimed to relieve pressure on your sit bones. This makes it a pleasurable place to sit on long

We saY This jersey, designed in the racing heartland of Flanders, ticks all the performance boxes

spins despite the firmness of the surroundings. Weighing in at just 232g, those looking to shed every available gram will be satisfied, especially at this price. Selle San Marco’s legendary build quality is here in spades too, and all of the tidy red detailing (three other colours are available) is still in place after a couple of beastly months of riding and washing. Ric Top: Castelli Prologo Madison RoadRace 4 jersey, £75, saddleback.co.uk

Long socks, £9.99, madison.co.uk

Bottom: Le Coq Sportif armwarmers, £35, lecoqsportif.com

Ashmei Pro bibshorts, £235, ashmei.com

Giro Synthe helmet, £199.99, zyro.co.uk

ENVE M60 29in rims on Chris King hubs

Vermarc Squadra cap, £8.99, chickencycles.co.uk

Adidas Adistar jersey, £80, adidascycling.com

£2,495 Saddleback www.saddleback.co.uk

ashmei men’s merino Carbon £95

rapha pro team Climber’s

Pockets 3 Zip length Full

Pockets 2 + 2 zip Zip length Full

Pockets 3 Zip length Full

One step below the Aero Race 5.0 jersey, the 4.0 is still (a claimed) 12 watts faster than a normal jersey at 25mph. While race winning might not be relevant to everyone, energy saving is.

And the Race 4.0 is comfortable too. Thanks to a mix of fabrics, in particular the crumpled looking Nervato fabric at the arm holes, it’s also one of the best at maintaining form when unzipped. Unlike some super-slippy fabrics, the relatively open weave mesh on the back dries very quickly. A standard hem construction is an obvious cost saving, but Giro3 arm grippers are among the best.

Wool doesn’t tend to be associated with performance these days, but Ashmei claims to have stepped up the fibre’s game with its merino carbon blend.

The claim is that carbon speeds up moisture transpiration, and it certainly seems to work. What’s more, it doesn’t affect its odour resistance. The twin large pocket (and twin small zippered pocket) combo isn’t ideal, and the fit isn’t as refined as some more tailored pieces, but nothing in this test works as well for multiple fast days in the saddle. It’s better at drying than standard merino too.

Like many here, the Climber’s jersey came out of pro team requests for a lightweight jersey for use on the hottest days in the mountains. This translates into an open mesh, superfast-wicking jersey which, even when wet, feels a lot lighter against the skin than a standard jersey. It also dries noticeably faster, but does require you to wear a gilet more often than a standard top. We love the reinforcement rubber tabs either side of the zip, to hold the light fabric’s form when zipping up – a clear pro insight that pays off in use. It’s particularly sheer, but there’s no denying this jersey’s hot weather performance.

£90

‘Classic style will always have its place,’ says Ashmei’s founder, Stuart Brooke. ‘On the high street, classic style dominates and leads the trend, but for some reason sportswear has created its own look that is inspired by what we now perceive as faster and therefore sporty. These bright colours and flashy trims can make your general cyclist look uncoordinated and totally out of fashion.’

That’s not to say everything should therefore be black – although in some cases a black-to-the-floor wardrobe can make even the most unassuming rider appear stealthy and mean – but that careful mixing of a choice few muted colours with subtly branded kit can elevate the simple to sophisticated, and the retro to classic.

‘Understated style will therefore last forever,’ Brooke adds. ‘And the best bit? It also allows athletes to coordinate their gear much more easily over time.’

£130

The M60s are supplied with valves and tape, making it straightforward to get them set up tubeless, and the 23mm internal rim width means you get a good tyre profile and a comfortable volume. The deep rim section means that if you do get a flat you’ll need a spare tube with a tall valve – or one of the valve extenders that ENVE are planning to supply with the rims from now on. Our only other niggle is that you need to nip up the hub bearings after every ride until they bed in.

The price tag is staggeringly high but these stiff, light (ours weighed 1,670g) and accurate wheels really elevated the performance of our 29er test bike. Pickup from the rear hub is rapid and consistent and it doesn’t take long to spin them up to speed. It’s in steep, high load turns where they stand out though, with none of the vagueness and flex that 29er wheels can be prone to. Even pushing them hard at low tyre pressures (20psi), we had no burping issues with the hookless rim. They’ll take a proper beating too – after months of hard riding ours are still running true. Rob

▲ For £1,196 leSS try: Ibis 941 £1,299 www.2pure.co.uk

Also tAke A look At

▼ £1,295 leSS try: Roval Traverse Fattie SL £1,200 www.specialized.com

The M60s really help a 29er to come to life and they’re light and reliable too, but the price is hard to overlook

132 | July 2015 | CYCLING PLUS

More gear and kit reviews

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MEDIACOVERAGE Here is a quick taste of some of the magazines our products have appeared in over the last few months. We pride ourselves on making sure products from our brands receive the most coverage possible... here’s the proof.

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Mountain Biking uk 109

Giro Empire Road shoes, £229.99, zyro.co.uk Adidas Evil Eye Pro glasses, £169.99, adidascycling.com Lizard Skinz La Sal 1.0 mitts, £29.99, 2pure.co.uk

MEDIA COVERAGE

USE

ZIPP

R1 AEROBAR

VUKA ALUMINA

£824.99 www.ultimatesportsengineering.com

£193.00 www.fsheroutdoor.co.uk 6

The bullhorns, or rather bull pods, on USE’s 811g R1 bars are by far the nicest on any aerobar, not just visually but also in terms of comfort. Their bulbous ‘speed egg’ shape fts in your palm better than any curved or swollen tube. Sadly the same can’t be said for the brakes. On paper, mounting the levers like this seems like a good idea, but in practice pulling them with your thumb doesn’t generate enough stopping power and their fat, bladed profle cuts into your fngers when you use your whole hand.

They’re also a faff to set up as you have to disassemble the pod to ft the cables. That aside, they’re lovely bars. There’s ›› VERDICT 84% width/height adjustability in the armrests, although adjusting reach requires a saw. The Magnifcent bars. Little armsmall armrests are fne, although you might rests may mar long distances want something bigger for longer rides.

This is a modular system: a pick’n’mix set-up in which all the parts are sold separately. You choose whether you want above- or below-the-bar clamps, the shape and material of the extensions and how many risers you want, then attach the whole lot, along with the armrests, to your bike. The test sample came with below-the-bar clamps and ski-bend carbon extensions, and tipped the scales at 465g, making them the lightest full-length clip-ons Road tested here. Given the range of options, they’re easy to tailor to your positioning Bont Vaypor S needs, although the Profle T5 Plus bars do an almost equally good job for road shoe £270 nearly half the price. The armrests are great Plus, mixing the two designs to offer a sleek Bont’s main downfall over the years has been comfort for the masses — not everyone could get lookandfeel.Twowell-placedBoaratchetsheldfeet 90%Vaypor in position firmly and allowed for small adjustments on with the harshness of the stiff carbon soles, and, despite being the biggest on the market, ›› VERDICT especially on the original Vaypor. However, with the on the fly. No effort seemed to be wasted during new Vaypor Sprint, Bont seems to have cracked it, testing, and they’re light with it — these manage to let you use the hoods and the tops shoes can’t faulted. producing a far superior fit.

The range-topping S Outstanding clip-ons, but twiceSymon Lewisbe230g is made from a similar unidirectional carbon and without a problem. The grip coating on the Durolite outer seenPlus on the Zero and the www.saddleback.co.uk the price ofpreviously the T5 extension tips is an especially nice touch.

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10

FINAL VERDICT Time to give the Allen key a rest and decide: which bars had us Product the tucked up comfortably and which proved to be aofweek drag?

Santinion Mesh Short-sleeved Base IN THE ABSENCE of independent aero data, this test has focused ease of Layer £44.99 set-up, adjustability and ride comfort. And ride comfort is arguably the most If you don’t currently wear a base layer, and many cyclists don’t, then this excellent offering from Santini is fully recommended. To the important factor since it doesn’t matter how aerodynamic younon-believers, are if you’re rest assuredtoo that this is much more than a string vest; it is super-comfortable, very light and soft, fitting like a second skin uncomfortable to push the pedals. Remember too, your saddle is as important as with its seamless construction. It also does an excellent job of wicking sweat and regulating your body temperature. Santini claims that the your bars when it comes to putting your position together. Chances are, you’ll base layer reflects far infa-red rays back into therun skin, your have to bring your saddle forward, tilt the nose down and maybe even enhancing performance and recovery. While seatpost at a different height. this sounds dubious, this base layer

is seriously AS FAR AS clip-ons are concerned, Zipp’s Vuka AL bars are very nice and have comfortable and has lasted loads of positional options, but so do the Profle Design T5 Plus the bars. course of The T5 Plus two months’ intense bars are a little heavier and lack the riser options, but they manage to give the use. Only the high retail price prevents the Santini’s base Zipps a run for their money in the comfort stakes, despite being half the price. layer from scoring a perfect 10.

ENVE

SES AERO BAR £1,050.00 www.saddleback.co.uk

This ear’s hing

The Enve may sit in similar funny-money territory to the Zipp Vuka Stealth, but it’s an equally serious cockpit. It’s a full-carbon set-up with a huge amount of adjustability and gives you the option to run your extensions above or beneath the base bar. It weighs in at a svelte 746g, but it has the advantage of lacking an integrated stem. Tailoring the extension and armrest position to your needs is easy given the range of height, width and reach adjustment provided. If you’re looking for a set of bars to spend extended periods hunched over, you could do a lot worse. The bullhorns get a grip coating, but it would be nice to have it ›› VERDICT 88% on the extensions too. And although you won’t be spending that much time on them, Fantastically adjustable – and the bullhorns do feel a little thin and austere fantastically expensive These are the trends set after to you’ve been treated to USE’s pods.

Oliver Bridgewood 68g (Size M) www.fisheroutdoor. co.uk

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Endura FS260 Pro Slick Overshoe £22.99 The FS260 Pro Slick Overshoes are designed to offer waterproof protectioninacompactpackagethatcanbestowedinajerseypocket.

They feature a high-stretch, waterproof PU fabric on the main body, with a rear panel made from Lycra for additional stretch when putting them on. There is also YKK rear zip to aid putting them on and taking them off. In practice they were easy to put on/take off and the water resistance was decent. The low score is due to their durability: the white colour of our test sample quickly scuffed and became cut up — black or grey would no doubt hide the inevitable scuff marks better.

Similarly, after one wet, dirty ride, no amount of washing restored the white colour to its initial dazzling prowess.

Oliver Bridgewood 94g www.endura.co.uk

out shoot

THE PRO MISSILE Alloy bars are the only spanner in the works for the T5 Plus set-up. Pro’s bars are the same price, just as adjustable, just as comfortable and 36 | June 11, 2015 | Cycling Weekly they’re also a little lighter. The only thing they don’t have is the option to run bar-end shifters with internal routing. It’s a minor issue, but it’s enough to give the Profle bars the edge here.

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cycling socks £6.50-£16.99 › Six ways to keep your feet sweet

IN THE INTEGRATED bar battle, there’s only one realistic winner: the Profle Design Aeria AL. The Enve, Zipp and USE bars are all superb, but you could buy another bike for the price of them. If someone else is writing the cheque, by all means choose one of those. But if the cash is coming from your own wallet, get the Profle Design bars because, whatever performance gap there might be between the guide Spring style b Gear Aeria AL and its rivals, it isn’t £700 wide.

dominate the road cycling scene this 158 spring I WWW.220TRIATHLON.COM I APRIL 2015 and summer

castelli FRee X13

Photography Danny birD

enduRa Fs260-PRo

£14

giRo hRc team

£18.99/2 pairS

£16.99

With 13cm cuffs, these are tall socks.

The foot is topped with an open weave mesh split at the mid-foot by an elasticated support band. The Meryl Skinlife material contains silver ions within the fibres that are claimed to prevent accumulation of bacteria, and flat seams ensure they’re superbly comfortable, but not exactly top value.

endura uses meryL Skinlife, so the FS260s never get too wiffy. The thick sole has a comfortable cottonlike feel, while the open weave tops wick moisture well and keep your feet cool. An elastic mid-foot support band keeps them in place, and flat seams on toe best and heel mean no irritation. on test

Like others here, Giro also uses Meryl Skinlife fibres to help wick sweat and keep odours at bay. What Giro has done differently is weave the socks in a honeycomb pattern that creates an almost compressive feel when worn.

The thin fabric and surefooted fit make these some of the best around, though they are somewhat pricey.

louis gaRneau couRse

PRendas coolmaX

sock guy wool sRiRacha

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gear guide

CAStelli Velo £80 Traditionally Italian Pockets 0

Italian styling lifts Castelli’s good, if somewhat traditional, packable jacket.

Windproofing is courtesy of the ripstop fabric, which combines with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating to deter water ingress. There’s ventilation on the back of the shoulders and neck, though it’s less breathable than the best jackets, and the fit was a little loose around the shoulders and flapped in use on our slim tester. In spite of being devoid of pockets, the Velo packs neatly into its collar, and we HiGHS also like the colour Great styling and – an attractive highly packable alternative to lowS the neon yellows Fit won’t suit the favoured by some slimmest riders manufacturers.

we SAY Traditional shell jacket lifted by Italian styling but the fit won’t suit all

DHB wiSp winDproof

BontrAGer rACe winDSHell

£33

Everything aero

Pockets 0

o the age of the one-piece. Having spent thousands on aerodynamic frames and wheels, Light, riders DHB has built a easily are now looking well-deserved packable aerodynamic part of the system – themselves. Louis Garneau’sreputation offering (above) is just one a growing number andof highly for cycling kit breathable, the d skinsuits that significantly reduce drag while accommodatingthat the practical needs of road with pockets delivers Raceriding, Windshell terrific quality is a solid allpable upper. ‘The Louis Garneau Course delivers that wind cheating advantage, but without on and excellent roundercompromising that’s value – so we well made and fort or practicality. It was developed in response to Team Europcar’s needs and demands in the WorldTour,’ says were a little keenly priced. surprised It may not neau brand manager Chris Snook. The trend for low drag goes further than skinsuits, though.

Aerodynamics is that its Wisp offer as much jacket didn’t protection as g fashionable for all elements of an outfit. ‘We’re seeing an increased use of aero helmets, bikes and clothes in quite live up to the very best our expectations. On the plus side, shells, but its breathability is first rate. It pro peloton, where it used to be more niche,’ says Snook. It makes you faster, and it’s starting to look good. the fabric performs adequately as a wind also packs easily into its own pocket, the and rain barrier, the fleece collar is soft on your skin and it’s most definitely packable – fitting into one of the sleeves. But the shape was less than ideal, and not the race fit DHB suggests. The sleeves are a little short, the loose cuffs let cold air in and overall it felt more like a disposable item than a jacket to keep for the longer term.

polAriS rBS pACk Me £55

£44.99 Pockets 1

fabric feels good to the touch and the fit is pretty decent – though the company’s American roots are reflected in a cut slightly broader in the shoulders. This represents a fine budget buy, though it’s at its best in warmer conditions, on rides where breathability trumps the need for significant protection from the elements.

£11.99

Pockets 1

The RBS stands for Really Bright Stuff and is part of Polaris’s visibility range of commuterfocused bike clothing.

The Pack Me combines bold colours and reflective elements in a jacket that really should get you noticed.

It also successfully shrugs off the wind and offers adequate water resistance. The fabrics feel good to the touch, well made and durable, and a generous rear pocket doubles as a bag for the jacket. Reflecting its urban flavour, fit is more generous than some, particularly noticeable riding on the drops, and overall this is a sound, wellpriced choice for the cycle commuter.

Left: Louis Garneau Course Skin Suit, £239.99, evanscycles.com

Lazer Sport Z1 road helmet with Aeroshell, £199.99, madison.co.uk

Above: Sportful Cycling R&D Speedskin jersey, £90, c3products.com

Castelli Free Aero Race Bib Short, £139.99, saddleback.co.uk Velotoze Tall Shoe Cover, £14.99, extrauk.co.uk

Castelli Aero Speed gloves, £35, saddleback.co.uk Rudy Project Hypermask Performance glasses, £219.98, yellow-limited.co.uk

£6.50

LG’s ranGe-toppinG socks blend Meryl Skinlife and Coolmax fabrics in their seamless (bar the flatlocked toe) construction. A mesh section on the forefoot ensures they stay cool and the wicking properties of the fabric are excellent. The heel and toe are reinforced and the long (5in) doubleply cuff doesn’t sag, even when wet.

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these cooLmax-infused socks have a cotton-like softness. They’re incredibly comfortable and do an admirable job of wicking moisture away. They have flat seams at the toe and a seamless heel so there is nothing that rubs against your foot even in tightly fitting shoes. The double-ply elasticated cuff stays in place too.

£10.95 made from sock Guy’s own Turbowool, a 50/50 blend of merino wool and polypropylene, these are more durable than full merino socks and less likely to shrink. They’re tall, with a 7.5in cuff, but surprisingly breathable for what looks like a heavier weight fabric. They’re soft, with none of the itchiness you’d expect of wool.

Shimano R321 SPD-SL road shoe, 84 |£299.99, July 2015 | CYCLING PLUS madison.co.uk

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