August 12th, 2011 — bikes-
If you hate the prospect of getting a puncture on your daily commute, you could consider either – a slime green inner tube, or a Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre with an almost impregnable layer of puncture resistant gel.
schwalbe Marathon Plus
The Schwalbe Marathon plus is designed around the new SmartGuard layer, an extra inner layer made from a flexible, special rubber which offers particular resistance to shards of glass, thorns and flints. At the centre of the trye, even a drawing pin won’t penetrate it.
The downside is that the tyre weighs a whopping 900grams. If you have two of these, it could nearly add an extra 1.5 Kg to your bike. Just to put it in perspective, the average commuting bike may weigh 15Kg.
With the weight and increased rolling resistence, you won’t be shooting up hills or accelerating from traffic lights. But, it’s not the end of the world, and you are very unlikely to be sheepishly phoning your boss to say ‘sorry another puncture, I’ll be late’
You take your pick, but, for a few seconds extra on your daily commute, I think many would prefer the peace of mind which comes from knowing you don’t have to hear that dreaded hissing sound 3 miles from home.
Like many puncture resistant tyres, it can be a real pain to get on, especially at your first attempt. You will probably have to resort to tyre leavers, strong hands and a little patience. But, once on, you are unlikley to be taking them on or off. A TPI of 67.
At £25 pretty good value for what you get.
Alternatives
Armadillo – similar price and much better rolling resistent, though they do have an increased chance of puncture, despite a really hard rubber.
Vittoria Randonneur – cheaper than the Schwalbe at £13, these are half the weight, but, come with a good dual puncture protection layer.
If you’re a gambling man, the above two may give you an average of one puncture every one to two years. But, if that is still one puncture too many go for the Schwalbe.
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July 6th, 2011 — bikes-
The Dawes discovery is a good value entry level hybrid bike. Starting from under £250, it offers a basic hybrid bike suitable for light touring on the road and some off road riding.
The bike frame is a Dawes Discovery alloy frame. The forks are steel, with any optional upgrade of increased fork suspension. The alloy frame provides a good ride for comfort and touring. It is strong and rigid, yet is more forgiving than an aluminium based frame. People buying a dawes discovery, will not be using it for racing but recreational riding, so the combination of comfort and durability is important.
The bike comes with Shimano 21 speed which gives a huge range of speed for even the hilliest of terrains.The shifters are on the flat handlebars, (there are no drop handlebars like on a road bike) The wheels are Alloy with CNC sidewall Rims. They are sized 700, the same as a road bike, but a wider giving greater stability and ability to go off road.
It is not a serious off-road bike, but, useful for those farm tracks which might link together two remote roads, enabling you to avoid a major road or see some part of the scenery you might not otherwise see.
Continue reading →
July 1st, 2011 — helmet-
Aero helmets can make a significant difference to time trial speed. The Bell Meteor aero helmet is one of the lightest safety aero helmets, weighing only 365 grams. It has been used by many professional cyclists in the tour de France and Olympics. It has been worn by Fabian Cancellara – arguably greatest time triallist of generation. It has been extensively wind tunnel tested to improve aerodynamics.
The inner lining is EPS foam liner with Fusion In-mould construction to give optimal protection.
I’ve used this for over two seasons and am quite happy with its performance.
One major drawbacks is that it is very uncomfortable for anything longer than a 10 mile time trial. It really squashes my ears, as soon as the race is over, I want to take it off as soon as possible.
Also, because it is a tight fit, it has developed a slight crack where I have bent ear flaps over my ear. Maybe it is my fault for not getting bigger helmet, but I fear if it was bigger it would be too big and less aerodynamic.
The aerodynamics of aero helmet depend on
- your own posture
- how you wear your helmet.
This is true for any aero helmet, the real secret is to wear the helmet high on your forehead and try and get the tail touching your back. If your tail is pointing up in the air then the aero benefits will be neglible.
Testing aero helmet for best position. The tail here is close to back, but could still be a little closer.
Continue reading →
June 4th, 2011 — food-
When I do hard interval sessions or before a race, I like to use liquid energy gel bars. They can be a bit messy in your back pocket, but, they provide the necessary energy quickly and in an easily digestible form. On slower steady rides I will tend to stick to cheaper muesli bars for energy because you don’t need to worry about digesting food so much. The advantage of energy gel bars is that they are more easily digestable because in liquid form.
I advise testing any energy gels in training, don’t wait for an 8 hour cyclo sportive to find your stomach feels sick after eating five power bar energy gels.
For long rides, I recommend taking balance of energy gels and more savoury foods to help protect the stomach. Also people will react differently to different sources of energy so make sure you test. (I know many cyclists who have felt sick after eating many gel bars)
High 5 Energy Gel Bars
One of my favourite energy gel bars is high 5 Gel Bars. They are relatively cheap and have a good concentration of energy. 38grams pure carbohydrate. Not overly sweet.
They are also quite cheap. At Probike Kit you can buy them for £0.80 each, which is good value for energy foods.
High 5 Energy Gel Bars 4 different flavours.
Taste is a personal thing, but, I prefer the Citrus flavour
If you prefer you can choose the energy bars with caffeine.
I would not advise using caffeine during training.
Zip Vit Energy Chews
Different to a gel bar, these energy chews are a little more difficult to eat on the move but they have an interesting ‘wine gum’ style consistency. A bit expensive at £2.20 a pack but a nice way to take on energy during a ride.
Power Bar Gels
These power bar gels have a stronger, thicker consistency. It almost feels like you’re taking on some magic gluey substance. They are easy to carry around in your back pocket, and can give a real shot of energy. Because they are quite concentrated, you need to take with water. Power bar have a huge range of flavours which should appeal to some. I usually end up with chocolate or apple flavour. However, I don’t really eat these because of the taste, but because of the energy source. Useful for during a race as you can put up your time trial suit and eat when needed. They come either caffeinated or non-caffeinated.
Isotonic Gel Satchets
For hot days, I like to also use Isotonic gels. These are gel bars which don’t need to be taken with water because they already have correct isotonic balance. The advantage is that they help rehydrate as well as give energy. Because they have higher water content they tend to be easier to digest and less sweet. The only disadvantage is that they are more bulky for calorie content.
I have tested both High 5 Isotonic gels and Science in Sport both of which I enjoyed.
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May 28th, 2011 — bikes-
The Focus Cayo offers excellent value to both the new cyclist and the keen club cyclist. The Focus Cayo 105, offers a really excellent groupset on a carbon fibre frame. Making it very light weight and high performance for the price. It has specifications that could easily be on a bike twice its price.
The Carbon fibre frame is made of Unidirectional Mitsubishi carbon. It has between 4 and 7 layers to give a good combination of low weight and strength. As you would expect with a carbon fibre frame and fork, it gives a good smooth, neutral ride; absorbing shocks giving a feeling of rider control.
It looks pretty good thanks to a nice carbon weave finish on the frame; the only drawback is perhaps the rather invasive logos which are perhaps bigger than necessary, especially on the top tube.
The wheelset is Fulcrum Racing 7 and the tyres are Continental Ultra Sport. These are absolutely fine, but, if you wanted to upgrade the bike later, this might be a good place to start. Continue reading →
April 23rd, 2011 — food-
Cycling energy drinks help to replace lost carbohydrate in easily digestible form. When racing, it can be difficult to eat sufficient food, therefore energy drinks can be vital for providing sufficient energy sources and also helping rehydration of lost minerals.
The best energy drinks are composed of simple carbohydrates (glucose polymer) and electrolytes to replace lost minerals during intensive exercise. It is important to get the intensity right. Some people can feel sickly if the drink is too concentrated, especially on hot days.
I am keen on the High5 Energy Source. I usually buy a 2.2Kg tub and it lasts me for quite a while. It has a good neutral flavour though unfortunately they seem to have discontinued the neutral flavour.
High 5 4:1
A new development in energy drinks is mixing protein in with carbohydrates. 4 parts Carbohydrate – 1 part protein (whey protein).
A study by the University of Glasgow suggested the use of 4:1 over a conventional carbohydrate only energy drink during the grueling Trans Alp MTB event, helped competitors finish average 12% quicker than those using the carbohydrate only drink.
The theory is that taking on protein causes the body to release insulin. This release of insulin actually results in a higher uptake of carbohydrate by the muscles which need it.
High 5 4:1 energy tub at Wiggle
Science in Sport
Science in Sport energy drinks are based on malto-dextrin. Malto-dextrin is one of the easiest absorbable carbohydrate sources and can be taken in heavier concentrations. Though, you still want to find a level you are comfortable with. SIS have put a lot of attention into designing plans for best combinations of liquid and food. With the custom SIS bottles it is quite easy to mix and prepare. Tastes fine, not too sweet but is as relatively pleasant as these things can be. Contains electrolytes for rehydration.
Free Energy Cycling Drinks
Suppose you wanted to mix your own energy drink.
One Option
- 200ml ordinary fruit squash
- 800ml water
- A pinch of salt
Mix them all together in a jug and cool down in fridge.
Glucose Mix
- 50-70g sugar
- One litre of warm water
- one pinch of table salt, one pinch of potassium chloride (salt substitute)
- 200ml of sugar free squash
Mix, cool. Be careful about getting right quantities. Also be careful if you start to add caffeine or other ingredients.
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Energy Drinks
April 23rd, 2011 — computers-
I tend to find when using cycle computers I don’t make use of all the extravagant features. I am basically interested in distance, time elapsed, average speed and occasionally max speed. My main criteria for buying a computer is therefore simplicity and ease of use. Often the easiest to use are also the cheapest. So don’t feel bad about choosing the cheapest cycle computer. Sometimes spending more doesn’t give better value.
Cateye Velo 5 Cycle Computer
This was one of my favourite cycle computers, it offers a clear easy to read display. There are only 5 functions, but these are the ones you will use most of the time. Having said that, I later regretted not having a time function to be able to measure length of ride or riding up hills, so I came to regret having spent the money on the velo. If you really don’t want the ability to time your rides and know average speed it is fine. But, otherwise don’t buy it. However, at £11.99 it is very cheap.
Cateye Velo 5 Only £11.99 at Wiggle
Continue reading →
April 5th, 2011 — commuting-bikes-
Viva Bellissimo bikes are a combination of European classic design with practical features to make an eye catching commuting bike. They are produced by a Danish firm who have 20+ years experience in creating beautiful bikes for discerning bike riders. I was inspired to write a review of Viva Bellissimo because they are genuinely eye catching and elegant.
Perhaps it is just the blue colour which particularly appeals. However, no matter how pleasing the design, there is much more to a bike. The set up is fairly solid. The frame is Cro-Mo Steel. This gives a forgiving and comfortable ride. Nice touches are the integrated mudguards and chain guard; there is a careful attention to detail. Very useful are the Schwalbe 28 inch tyres with extra puncture protection.
Viva Bellisimo 7 – Womens
The women’s version has a step through frame for ease of use.
For those who want gears, the Viva Bellissimo 7 offers 7 speed through a convenient hub gear system (think of it as an advanced form of Sturmey Archer)
Notes on the Hub System
- The hub system is heavier than standard derailluer system.This makes bike a little slower.
- The hub system is easier to maintain and looks cleaner.
- It is easier to change. For example, if you are stuck at lights, you can change gears and it changes straight away – you don’t need to worry about pedalling to put chain in new sprocket.
7 Speeds gives much greater range of flexibility. For hilly cities the one speed could be a bit cumbersome when you try to pedal the 12 Kg bike up a steep hill. The Viva is designed to be ridden with joy, 7 speed makes this easier to achieve. Also the 7 speed hub system avoids the need for derailleurs and cassette rings, enabling the bike to retain the look of a single speed.
At prices starting from £600 upwards, Viva is not competing on price. But you do get the kind of bike you can become really attached to. It is enjoyable and easy to ride and has great aesthetics to boot. I’m sure this bike would be quite popular on cycle chic photo blogs. Also, Evans sometimes have sales, and if you buy at right time you may get for under £500. I think this is pretty good value for the chic end of the hybrid market.
The Viva Bellissimo comes in a variety of options. The first is the Single Speed Bellissimo. The one I tried was this 7 speed Viva Bellissimo. This was good fun to ride. Not quick, and a little heavier than what I’m used to. However, the Viva Bellissimo exudes class. It is well built and catches almost perfect aesthetics. If you’re looking for a classy commuting bike to really appreciate, you will be happy with the Viva Bellissimo either 1 spd or 7 spd. Just don’t expect it to be quickest off from lights…
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March 14th, 2011 — bikes-
The Ultimate guide to Bicycle maintenance is a new guide to the potentially tricky area of bike maintenance. It includes different types of bikes from mountain bikes to road bikes.
Overall it is fairly easy to read and the image captions are helpful in making practical sense of the descriptions.
It is helpful and will serve as a useful guide from relative beginners to more experienced cyclists.
One downside is ads for other magazines within the book. It does give the impression it is rather commercial enterprise. I can’t see it inspiring people to go out and buy men’s health anyway so I don’t know why they bothered recently.
Of course, for some things, even the best bike book struggle to convey, such as indexing gears. Why is it always so hard to know which is max and min for rear cassettes? You can’t beat learning from someone else. But, this will serve as a good reference to maintaining bikes.
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February 10th, 2011 — bikes, tyres-
The Schwalbe Durano Tyre, claims to offer the best puncture proof protection of any tyre.
The tyre is based on a SmartGuard belt for extremely effective protection against penetration punctures. During winter training, I am always on the look out for the tyre which offers the best winter puncture protection. I have been quite happy with the performance of Armadillo Tyres They are pretty sturdy and offer great puncture protection.
If anything the Schwalbe Durano offer an even greater level of puncture protection. Their best feature is that they are very resistant to glass cuts, the kind of cut that you might get on a Continental Grand prix 4000 tyre.
Also they have a very deep puncture protection layer, which is thick enough to absorb a drawing pin. This is a real boon for avoiding many punctures such as rose thorns or sharp stones.
The tyre is made very well and lasts for a considerable time. I have had 3,000 miles out of a pair without getting a puncture.
The drawback is that as you might expect – they have a higher rolling resistance and feel somewhat slower. But, for a training tyre, that is a small price to pay for greater peace of mind. Also the depth of the puncture resistance means they are heavier than your average tyre. But, for a 25c tyre, they still come in at a respectable 380grams
Definitely recommended if you want to maximise your chances of avoiding punctures whilst cycling. They are not cheap at £30, but as for many high quality tyres, you get value for your money. They last well without attracting scratches and splits. You might even be able to manage 2-3000 miles without getting a puncture. You will get your money back on the cost of new inner tubes. Plus all the additional benefits of not having to walk your punctured bike to the nearest cycle shop.
If these were put on all new commuting bicycles, it would probably make cycling much more popular.
Buying online
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at Amazon.co.uk
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