The Latest News from Cycling Weekly...
BikeRadar.com
-
Video: Victoria Pendleton on the Olympics and beyond
Victoria Pendleton, one of the UK's leading cyclists, will be going for multiple gold medals at this year's Olympic Games in London. A top favourite for the women's track sprinting events, Pendleton wants to crown her career with success in front of her home crowd.
"It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. I can't wait to get out there and get it done," she says in this video, taken at the launch of the Samsung Hope Relay, a free app for logging miles that Samsung will turn into charity donations.
After the Olympics, Pendleton says she's hanging up her wheels after the better part of a decade as the world's leading female track cyclist. Then what?
"First of all I'm going to go on holiday beause I never allow myself to go on holiday and really relax," she says. "I always end spending my time in the gym, finding a gym, going for a bike ride. Also I want to plan my wedding and finally get married so that's something that's going to take a little bit of time too."
For the full interview, click on the video below (click here for a larger version).
-
BikeRadar Deals of the Week – Mountain Bikes
BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online deals from our recommended retailers could save you both time and money.
If you just want to get to the bargains, skip to the end of the article to see the deals listed as Quick Links.
Otherwise, read on for more details including pictures, BikeRadar reviews and your opinions wherever possible – so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.
1. Sunn Shamann S1 (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,572 and save 45 percent
What the manufacturer says:
"The Shamann S1 is the full suspension bike of the XC lineup. The Shamann Alpha frame geometry has been designed to give an efficient balance of traction, acceleration and long distance comfort to make the perfect marathon bike. The RockShox Monarch RT3 shock absorber provides a highly progressive 100mm of rear travel. The front-end is comprised of RockShox SID RLT forks also with 100mm travel. SRAM 2x10 transmissions allow for a lighter and more efficient shifting system. Add to this SRAM X9 pedals, UN Premium 600-0 SL wheels and Hutchinson Python tyres for a bike that mixes performance with riding pleasure."
2. Saracen Zen 1 Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £449.99 and save 47 percent
What the manufacturer says:
"The Zens are 100% UK specific aggressive trail screamers, ready to take on whatever you throw at them. The lightweight frame uses a triple butted 6061 alloy tubeset designed specifically for longer travel forks and the mud clearance on the rear of the frame is class-leading. Also featuring RockShox Tora 289 U-Turn forks with 85-130 mm travel, Shimano HG50 9-speed cassette, Quad Sting Pro hydraulic disc brakes and Continental Mountain King tyres, these long-travel hardcore trail bikes were designed to take UK trail riding to the next level."
3. GT Zaskar Carbon Expert (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £ 1429.99 and save 35 percent
What the manufacturer says:
"Classy carbon hardtail that won't let you down. The Zaskar Carbon Expert is full of top class components that compliment the Foc-Ultra Carbon frame well. Proven RockShox Recon Solo Air forks are fitted to soak up punishing ground along with SRAM S1400 chainset ensuring a solid drive over varied terrain. Formula RX brakes with 160mm rotor both front and rear provide plenty of stopping power. Crankbros Cobalt 2 flat handlebars and seat stem as well as DT Swiss wheelset and Maxxis Aspen tyres round off a bike that can handle any terrain."
Quick Links:
- Sunn Shamann S1 (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,572 and save 45 percent
- Saracen Zen 1 Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £449.99 and save 47 percent
- GT Zaskar Carbon Expert (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £ 1429.99 and save 35 percent
Offers courtesy of: Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and Winstanleys Bikes
Subscription offer:
What Mountain Bike – Buy Now from myfavouritemagazines.co.uk for as little as £41.99 (£3.23/issue) and save 23 percent
The essential magazine to consult before you spend your cash on any mountain biking equipment. Read more & subscribe.
-
Cube AMS 100 Super HPC Pro review
Cube’s extravagantly-named AMS 100 Super HPC Pro sits towards the cheaper end of the German company's short-travel line-up, with only the aluminium AMS 100 below it. £2,199 is an impressive price for a full-carbon fibre frame with decent equipment.
Ride & handling: Aggressive riding position lets you put the power down
The Cube is very much in the European head-down cross-country tradition, with steep angles and forward weight distribution. With geometry generally getting ever-slacker, it’s easy to forget that bikes like this work very well in singletrack – you can stay in the middle of the bike, pedal and flick it through corners.
The downside is a nervousness on faster, rougher trails, although the AMS’s stiff frame and decent fork keep things going in the right direction. The rear suspension is best run stiff to avoid blowing through the travel, which keeps the bike feeling taut and lively at the expense of small-bump sensitivity. It's a convincing off-the-peg race with upgrade potential.
Frame: Full-carbon chassis at a great price
Traditionalists will love the look of the AMS 100. Of all the available full-suspension layouts, a four-bar back end with the shock under the top tube looks most like how you expect a bike to look. There’s another advantage for racers, with room for two sets of bottle bosses inside the main triangle. Despite the almost old-school appearance though, the Cube packs in plenty of construction tech.
A key advantage of carbon fibre is that it’s of sufficiently low density as to allow designers to use lots of it without much of a weight penalty. Cube have taken full advantage of the press-fit bottom bracket shell to push the triangular-section down tube out to the maximum possible width. The gear cables are routed inside the down tube, while the rear brake hose is routed down the outside to save having to detach one end to fit or remove the brake. A stainless steel plate protects the carbon chainstay from any potential chainsuck damage.
Equipment: Decent spec but there's scope to go lighter with future upgrades
Cube have gone to town with colour co-ordination on the AMS 100, with the yellow and blue frame graphics mirrored on the DT Swiss wheelset and Selle Italia saddle. It’s an eye-catching combination. Look past the colours and you’ll find a well-rounded parts spec based around a 3x10 Shimano SLX/Deore XT transmission mix – XT for the bits you’ll notice (cranks and rear mech), SLX for the rest. You can’t really go wrong with SLX and XT.
A RockShox Reba RL fork graces the front end, complete with remote lockout lever. DT Swiss wheels are shod with voluminous 2.25in Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres. They’re the high-spec Evo tubeless-ready versions too, which is good to see. Formula RX brakes do the stopping while the finishing kit features a Syntace cockpit (plus rather bulky foam lock-on grips) and Cube’s own RFR seatpost.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
-
BikeRadar Deals of the Week – Road Bikes
BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online deals from our recommended retailers could save you both time and money.
If you just want to get to the bargains, skip to the end of the article to see the deals listed as Quick Links.
Otherwise, read on for more details including pictures, BikeRadar reviews and your opinions wherever possible – so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.
Some of these offers won't last forever though, so be quick if you want to bag yourself a bargain.
1. Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent
What the manufacturer says:
"The Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp is a popluar bike riders who relish the challenge of road riding and testing their fitness. Get the advantages in performance from the Avanti custom designed carbon frame without the expense of a top-level groupset. Coupled with the carbon frame are the Avanti custom designed direct response carbon forks ensuring a balanced ride. Quality is maintained throughout with the inclusion of Shimano CN-500 chainset, Shimano FC-5600 cranks, Xero CXR-330 wheelset and Continental Ultra Race tyres."
2. Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent
What the manufacturer says:
"The full-carbon frame is powerful, the down tube is massive and the bottom bracket, heart and fulcrum of this triangle, is unyielding to the power you'll unleash when you stand on the pedals. The distinctive features are all there: the Onda fork will guide you safely through the most demanding curves. 24HM carbon with 12K finish. The frame is available in six colours and seven sizes. Components include a Shimano 105 groupset, Shimano WH500 wheelset and MOST Ewiva tyres."
3. Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,235.00 and save 35 percent
"Comfort and quality of ride underpin the Ghost Race Lector. Built on the Race HM carbon frame and matched with CG carbon front forks results in a cycle that offers a lightweight and smooth ride. Gearing is provided by Shimano Ultegra chainset that utilises a Shimano Ultegra compact crankset set. The bike rolls on an Easton Aero wheelset wrapped up in Schwalbe Ultremo tyres. Brakes are Tektro R 741. A bike perfectly suited for beginner to intermediate cyclists."
Quick Links:
- Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent
- Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent
- Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1235.00 and save 35 percent
Offers courtesy of: Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and Winstanleys Bikes
Subscription Offer:
Cycling Plus – Buy Now from myfavouritemagazines.co.uk for as little as £45.99 (£3.54/issue) and save 21 percent
Cycling Plus is for anyone who appreciates the all-out effort of racing, the freedom of touring or the cut-and-thrust of commuting. Read more & subscribe.
-
Pro bike: Dave Zabriskie’s Cervélo R5 VWD
Garmin-Barricuda’s time-trial ace David Zabriskie moved into the leader’s jersey at the Amgen Tour of California thanks to his skills against the clock on the new Cervélo P5, but he’s racing the remainder of the event on a Cervélo R5 RWD.
There are a few notable things about Zabriskie’s road rig: custom frame modifications, and — as befits a champion time trialists — time-trial chain rings and a time-trial saddle. Zabriskie also run a double thickness of handlebar tape.
As Cervélo’s R series bikes do not come with internal routing for Shimano Di2, Garmin-Barricuda mechanic Alex Banyay took matters into his own hands, and drilled a hole in the top tube to run the wiring through. (Don’t try this at home, kids — it voids your warranty).
Where the wiring comes out at the bottom bracket area, Banyay took advantage of the existing hole in the frame for the front derailleur cable to run the Di2 wire up to the front derilleur. Then he ran the rear wire back to the rear derailleur, taping and zip-tying it down along the way.
Banyay also drilled mounting holes for the Di2 battery on the bottom of the down tube.
Zabriskie is using Rotor’s aero time-trial chain rings and spider cover, with a standard 53/39 configuration. Rotor general manager Kervin Quinones said the TT rings are a little bit stiffer (and a little bit heavier) than the regular road rings, and of course also offer a bit of an aero advantage.
The Rotor 3D+ cranks are mounted with Rotor’s version of the PF30 bottom bracket, using ceramic bearings. The set-up features a lock ring that preloads the bearings with a 2mm Allen key.
See how Zabriskie fares on his P5 VWD at the Amgen Tour of California with complete coverage on Cyclingnews.com.
A professional custom modification by Garmin-Barricuda mechanic Alex Banyay tucks the Shimano Di2 wires into the top tubeComplete bike specifications
- Frame: Cervélo R5 VWD, 54cm
- Headset: FSA Orbit IS-2 integrated, 1-1/8in
- Stem: 3T ARX Team, 13cm x -6°
- Handlebar: 3T Ergonova Team Carbon, 42cm (c-c)
- Tape: Double wrapped on tops; single wrapped on drops
- Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
- Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
- Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-7970
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-7970
- Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-25T
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
- Crankset: Rotor 3D+ TT, 175mm, 53/39T
- Bottom bracket: Rotor Ceramic
- Pedals: Garmin Vector (without power-meter internals)
- Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
- Front tire: Mavic Yksion GripLink tubular
- Rear tire: Mavic Yksion PowerLink tubular
- Saddle: Fi'zi:k Ares
- Seatpost: 3T Doric Team, zero setback
- Bottle cages: Arundel Mandible (2)
- Computer: Garmin Edge 500
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.83m (6ft)
- Rider's weight: 67kg (147lb)
- Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 78mm
-
Giro d'Italia 13: Mark Cavendish wins in Cervere
This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.
Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) claimed his third Giro d'Italia stage win in what was the best bunch sprint of the race so far. It also demonstrated the Briton’s ability to remain cool and plot a way to the front when for several moments it seemed that his chance had gone.
After his Sky lead-out train had taken over the pace-making 1500m from the finish in Cervere, Cavendish found himself trapped against the left-hand barriers going into the final 500m when Orica-GreenEdge came through very close on their right to set up Matt Goss. For a couple of seconds, it looked like Cavendish would get lost in the pack behind the Australian and his team-mates, but the Manxman showed why he is a master at getting out of a tight situation as he picked his way through half a dozen riders.
With two Sky riders still ahead of him but not able to allow him past as Goss’s train steamed by, Cavendish moved across onto the wheel of Garmin’s Robbie Hunter as the sprint was launched. The world champion then jumped into a gap that opened up alongside the left-hand barriers, freewheeled momentarily as the gap closed, then once again saw daylight ahead and was off towards it in an instant.
At the line he was more than a bike length clear of Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), with Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) third. Goss finished in sixth place and lost significant ground on Cavendish in the battle for the red points jersey.
“It’s taken me a week to recover from the crash that I had but every day I’m feeling better and better,” said Cavendish.
Rodriguez - can he defend for another eight stages?
There was no change in the overall standings. Joaquim Rodríguez retained the pink jersey going into a crucial weekend of racing, featuring back-to-back summit finishes. In fact, the shortest road stage of the race was also the quietest so far, run at a steady rather than a frantic pace and with few incidents of note until the closing moments.
Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Francesco Failli (Farnese Vini) went clear in the opening kilometres, opening a gap of five-and-a-half minutes with 40km covered. That was as much leeway as they were allowed. Sky and FDJ joined forces to set a steady pace behind them. The two-man escape was finally nullified with 21km remaining.
From then on, the main interest was in seeing which sprint line could dominate the pace-making. In fact, no one team could for very long as all of the sprinters and overall contenders seemed determined to stick close to the front. At times there were three or four separate trains spearheading the front of the bunch.
The only break from this fascinating duel came on a rise with 6.5km left. Fabio Felline (Androni), Julien Berard (Ag2r) and Julien Vermote (Omega Pharma) went away, but were reeled in by the bunch after just 2km of freedom. Saxo Bank briefly took over at the front, only to lose out to Sky, who didn’t get their lead-out right but still came away with the win thanks to their sprinter’s quick thinking and blistering acceleration.
-
Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 shoes review
If you’ve never tried riding with flat pedals off-road, we suggest you give it a go. The connected-but-not feeling takes a bit of getting used to but will sharpen your skills immediately. Having a good shoe helps, and Salomon are pushing their new (snappily titled) XA PRO 3D Ultra 2 (yeah!) as bike-ready.
They're not wrong, either, with those Schwalbe Rocket Ron look-a-like treads being soft enough to engage with pedal pins as well as any Vans we’ve ridden in. They’re also way better equipped to hike up loose tracks than smooth soled shoes.
They’re not quite Five Ten’s Stealth rubber sticky, but they’re effective nonetheless. Also, not everyone wants the Sam Hill ‘frankenboot’ look. We love the cool, airy feel of this shoe with all that mesh for hot summer riding, and a chunky plati-rubber toe cap gives your no-doubt precious tootsies more protection than your average skate shoe.
Build quality and durability is superb, which is just as well; as they look like trainers you’ll probably find, like we have, that you start leaving them on before, during and after the ride. Loads of colours, from plain old black to hmmmm-grey to full colour-blocking madness will make the trendies smile too.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
-
BikeRadar Training 1000 mile challenge leaderboard
How long would it take you to cycle and log 1000miles? Reckon you could do it in 16 days?
For the month of May, in association with the launch of BikeRadar Training, we set a challenge to our community, creatively dubbed the ‘1000mile Challenge’.
On Wednesday we had our first rider completing it: Alastair Reynolds from the UK. Congratulations Alastair for achieving the target so quickly!
A hardened commuter, covering over 50 miles each day and close to 200 on the weekends. Very close on his tail is 1tal who has recorded 954miles in May alone; he rides 5 days a week with a mixture of turbo sessions and road rides keeping his average mileage at an impressive 315 a week during the summer months.
The 1000mile Challenge is still on, who’s going to be the second person to reach the target? Below is the latest leaderboard - see how you fare in comparison.
Remember if you’re one of the first 100 (out of our 1600+ strong global community) to log a 1000miles you’ll receive an exclusive BikeRadar Training t-shirt.
The May leaderboard to date
-
Video: The Athertons, chapter 3
Dan Atherton is under the spotlight in the third video of our exclusive four-part series filmed at home with the most famous siblings in mountain biking, the Athertons.
This season Dan will be racing gravity enduros - a combination of four cross and downhill - as well as some longer events like the Trans Provence and Italian super enduros. As he says, for someone who grew up on a diet of dirt jumps and skate parks, these are likely to be tough to adapt to.
Check it out below (click here for a larger version):
Filmed and edited by Liam Murphy
Click here for chapter 1: Gee Atherton and chapter 2: Rachel Atherton).
-
Five inner tubes for £10
This weekend’s Daily Deal – a pack of five Kenda road or mountain bike inner tubes for £10 - is back by popular demand. You'll likely need to act fast though, as it ends on Monday 21 May or until the tubes are sold out.
Inner tube options available are 700x18-25c Presta valve (suitable for road bikes), limited to 500 packs of five, and 26"x1.75-2.25" Schraeder valve (for mountain bikes), limited to 250 packs.
The deal is open to UK and US readers.
To find out more, visit our Daily Deal page now.
