April 2024

Cycling Plus

If you love to ride, then Cycling Plus is the magazine for you.

Cycling Plus1 min read
Ed’s Letter
Leisurely rides where you take the train home (p40). A full-throttle 160km gran fondo in Mexico (p48). Gravel riding with Lios bikes in Hampshire (p74) and a teeth-rattling sportive on the British cobbles of Calderdale (p80). The Cycling Plus team ha
Cycling Plus1 min read
What’s On
Photography Steve Sayers; Getty Images ■
Cycling Plus1 min read
Go Figure The Month In Numbers
ENVE has made its SES AR One-Piece handlebar available to buy… at a huge £1,300 Controlling stake (%) that Red Bull has taken in German pro men’s team Bora-Hansgrohe Predicted percentage growth in UK bike sales in 2024, according to Mintel research P
Cycling Plus2 min read
Cobblestones
There’s little in the world of pro cycling that instils fear and ramps up drama like cobblestones. Sprint finishes, a loosely orchestrated mass of speed and unspent energy, might be loaded with risk for the protagonists, but most involved are special
Cycling Plus3 min read
Brick By Brick
It was at once a rare horrible cycling experience, and yet, in some ways, unsurprising. I was riding down Brick Lane one unremarkable winter’s afternoon, when I heard the taxi driver come up behind me. I knew he was going quickly, and I braced myself
Cycling Plus1 min read
One Shop Stop
● Started 2021 by owner Paul Smith in Aiskew, just over the River Ure from the Yorkshire Dales village of Bedale. Paul bought the shop pre-lockdown and refurbed it. The adjacent Tandem Cafe is run separately. ● ‘We cater for everyone, says Paul, ‘MTB
Cycling Plus3 min read
Port de Pollença
Buttery smooth ribbons of pristine tarmac, carved into limestone, loop under and over each other like overcooked spaghetti. This is Sa Calobra, a 9.8km mountain pass built in the 1930s by Spanish-Italian engineer Antonio Parietti, to access the isola
Cycling Plus2 min read
Changing Times
Ridley Kanzo A £1,799 Cube Attain SLX £1,599.99 Cannondale Synapse 1 £1,900 With less-predictable weather nowadays, it’s sensible to have a bike, like this month’s trio, that can shrug off a downpour with ease, while still performing well all year ro
Cycling Plus2 min read
Bike Tech Explained
● Shimano launched its first gravel- and adventure-specific groupset, GRX, in 2019, which featured new ergonomically shaped hoods and levers, disc brakes and wide-range gearing. This was later than its main industry rival SRAM released theirs, but Sh
Cycling Plus2 min read
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Dura-Ace Di2
How does this latest model improve upon the already highly impressive Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7? Well, while they’ve adopted a general “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to the geometry, there have been a few tweaks to the frame’s make-u
Cycling Plus3 min read
Cube Attain SLX
Weight 9.64kg (53cm) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano 105 11-speed (11-34t, 50/34t) Brakes Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors Wheels Cube RA 1.9 Aero Disc Finishing kit Cube Performance SLX stem, Cube Compact Race bar, Cube Performance
Cycling Plus3 min read
Ridley Kanzo A
Weight 10.74kg (M) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon blades/aluminium steerer Gears Shimano GRX 400/600 10-speed (11-36t, 46/30t) Brakes Shimano GRX Wheels Shimano RS171 DB Finishing kit Forza Stratos 100mm stem, Forza Stratos Gravel handlebar, Forza Strat
Cycling Plus3 min read
Cannondale Synapse 1
Weight 9.53kg (54cm) Frame Aluminium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano 105 11-speed (11-34t, 50/34t) Brakes Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors Wheels DT Swiss R470 DB, 28h, tubeless-ready Finishing kit Fizik Aliante Delta saddle, Vittoria Zaffiro Pro B
Cycling Plus1 min read
Bikes On Test
£1,799 Gravel bikes are proving popular for British on-road conditions as well as off-road terrain. Find out if this Ridley could suit you £1,599.99 Like burning up the tarmac? How will this Cube fare at keeping you upright and dealing with road spra
Cycling Plus2 min read
Cube Attain SLX
While all of our three contenders can take mudguards – or ‘fenders’ for our American friends – they differ in their intended uses, so you need to think about the type of riding you’ll be doing before you choose your weapon. Ridley’s Kanzo A has a lot
Cycling Plus1 min read
Start me Up
Cycling coach With over 18 years of coaching everyone from complete beginners to elites, Mark knows the best ways to get you doing your best on a bike. markwalkercoaching.co.uk Cycling physio and bike fitter Bianca’s huge experience working with athl
Cycling Plus2 min read
The Injured ex-runner
• Many former runners and other athletes get into cycling after an enforced injury layoff. “Low-impact cycling offers a great way to channel your energy again and benefit your body and mind,” says cycling physio and bike fitter Bianca Broadbent. Serv
Cycling Plus2 min read
The Silver cyclist
• You’re never too old to get into cycling. “Cycling is a wonderful, low-impact sport for all ages, even for people with joint problems,” says Walker. “Benefits range from aerobic fitness to strength, balance and a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.” I
Cycling Plus2 min readDiet & Nutrition
The Midlife parent
• “Cycling is so good for time-crunched parents,” says Broadbent. “You can exercise easily, whenever you want. Even 30 minutes is positive for health. It could be a social catch-up ride with friends, or a solo indoor ride on Zwift.” Your lack of time
Cycling Plus2 min read
The New commuter
• “New bike commuters come from many backgrounds: some hoping to get fit for other sports, others just to be more active or save money,” says Broadbent. But all are rewarded with a brilliantly fun, flexible and frequent exercise regime. Your biggest
Cycling Plus7 min read
Rail Trails
Trains and bikes go together like fish and chips, rhythm and blues, or Morecambe and Wise. Anyone who’s struggled to get their bike on a hook in those pesky bike cupboards on express services will know that the train is the joker of the two. But when
Cycling Plus1 min read
Best Of Gfny 2024
19 May 2024 ● The biggie, a 137km New York ride that begins on George Washington Bridge connecting Manhattan and New Jersey, and heads north of the city up to Rockland County. A UCI 1.2 pro race will start just before the 5,000 amateur riders in 2024
Cycling Plus7 min read
Go Pro
The demon barbers and singing founding fathers might be absent, but race director Shaun Gad’s claim that GFNY is ‘the Broadway of cycling events’ is ringing true as I trundle my bike to the start line of GFNY Cozumel at 5am on a moonlit Mexican morni
Cycling Plus1 min read
Gfny Cozumel
● The 11th GFNY Cozumel event takes place on Sunday 10 November 2024. Entry starts at $150 (around £118) at gfny.com, which includes the GFNY jersey for race day. Ironman Cozumel is on 24 November. ● We jammily stayed at the opulent InterContinental
Cycling Plus1 min read
Ridden & Rated
Editor Matt is CP’s editor and has been testing Lycra, helmets and shoes since 2008 Deputy editor John’s been on the mag since issue 290, so it’s fair to say he knows his stuff about bikes… Workshop manager Our Cytech Level 3-qualified mechanic, Will
Cycling Plus1 min read
Save 28%
Subscribe & receive an Oxford Aqua Evo 12l Rucksack Worth £69.99! Hurry! Offer ends 15 March 2024 Why subscribe? • Get an Oxford Aqua Evo 12l Rucksack worth £69.99! • Save 28% off the shop price – pay £25.99 every 6 issues • Offer available for the P
Cycling Plus5 min read
Brompton x Bear Grylls C Line Explore
Weight 12.2kg (one size) Frame & Fork Hand-brazed steel Gears Brompton wide-range 6-speed drivetrain: internal hub gear and 50t chainring with integrated chainguard Brakes Brompton dual-pivot callipers Wheels Double-wall rim, 28 spokes Finishing kit
Cycling Plus3 min read
Partington R-Series MKII R39/44 Carbon Disc Wheels
• Australian-made Partington R-Series wheels are claimed to be the lightest tubeless-compatible clincher wheelset in the world. With a claimed weight of just 1,160g for a disc wheelset, our test set tipped the scales at 664g for the rear and 554g for
Cycling Plus2 min read
Ridden & Rated ● Shootout – Midseason jackets
£209.99 Gore-Tex-infused jacket with weather-beating powers • It’s the battle of the mid-season jackets this month. Scott formed back in 1958 and, although they’re not ubiquitous on the UK roads, I hugely rate their clothing, their RC Pro short-sleev
Cycling Plus2 min read
Bib Tights
£134.99 Women’s version? No Windproof panels at the front keep out chilly breezes, while a brushed-back thermal fabric is used on the rear to balance warmth with breathability and moisture wicking. It works well, with a DWR coating also helping to sh
Cycling Plus3 min read
Cipollini Ago
Weight 8.37kg (M) Frame Monocoque carbon Fork Carbon Gears Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed (9-42t, 38t) Brakes Campagnolo Ekar Wheels Campagnolo Levante Finishing kit FS ACR 95mm x -6˚ alloy stem, FSA K-Wing AGX handlebar, Cipollini carbon 27.2mm seatpost,
Cycling Plus4 min read
Winter Gloves
£50 – £95 Which pair works best in the wet and cold? Sizes XS–XXL Colours Black ● These are brilliant: they’re impressively warm, offer great wind protection and don’t overheat your hands. Polartec’s Power Shield membrane combines windproofing, breat
Cycling Plus3 min read
Quoc Escape Road
• British brand Quoc’s Escape Road shoe is part of their Taiwanese mountain flora, fauna and fungi-inspired Lalashan collection that also includes the Escape Off-Road shoe (reviewed in issue 411). The Escape Road is adventureorientated and aimed at e
Cycling Plus8 min read
Test Of Metal
If you subscribe to the idea that relevant life experience is a prerequisite for success in your line of work, then Steve McCulley always had a head start with his firm, Lios. He founded it back in 2012 with a modus operandi to offer a bespoke bike-b
Cycling Plus7 min read
Ronde our way
‘Vous êtes des assassins! Oui, des assassins!’ (‘You are murderers! Yes, murderers!’) This is the famed quote bellowed by Octave Lapize during the first monumental crossing of the Pyrenees in the 1910 Tour de France. Incandescent with rage that anyon
Cycling Plus1 min read
Local Knowledge
● The nearest train station is Brighouse, a little under five miles from the start line. Nearby Halifax and Huddersfield are also serviced by trains. ● The closest hotel to the start line is Healds Hall in Cleckheaton, a few miles away. Single rooms
Cycling Plus1 min readDiet & Nutrition
Training Zone
Boost your ride The personal injury solicitor advises on what to do after a cycling accident Nutrition This month the author and nutritionist helps us to power up at breakfast Masterclass The author of The Mental Cyclist journal helps you break down
Cycling Plus4 min read
02 What Should I Do If I’m Involved In A Crash?
As thrilling and liberating as cycling is, there’s always the chance of being involved in an accident with motorised vehicles, pedestrians, potholes or other cyclists. So what should we actually do if a collision happens? We asked Tim Ransley, a part
Cycling Plus4 min readDiet & Nutrition
Boost your Ride
Creatine, sodium bicarbonate and caffeine all have a solid base of evidence behind them. But what about the new wave of performance-enhancing supplements? We investigate four credible options… Collagen makes up a whopping 30% of total protein mass in
Cycling Plus2 min readDiet & Nutrition
03 Can I Lose Belly Fat By Cycling?
Belly fat is a concern for many and is associated with a number of pathological risks, with men more prone than women to accumulate fat in this area. Although most experts think targeting belly fat through exercise isn’t possible, losing fat everywhe
Cycling Plus1 min read
04 What’s The Best Ankle Position When Cycling?
The constant flexion and extension of your ankles during the pedal stroke was long considered desirable for a fluid and efficient pedalling technique. However, comprehensive analysis of professional cyclists’ video footage has shown no evidence that
Cycling Plus1 min read
Q&A
The accepted requirement for 20g of protein post-exercise isn’t appropriate for women during every stage of the menstrual cycle, nor for peri-or post-menopausal women. “Our protein needs are higher due to oestrogen’s influence in the brain, and the r
Cycling Plus3 min readDiet & Nutrition
Big Breakfasts
Signed up for an event this spring? It’s worth practising now to see which types of foods work best for you before a big ride. Pre-prep these recipes the night before and they’ll help you on your way, thanks to their nutritional content. The overnigh
Cycling Plus2 min read
“I Cycled Through Ukraine, Delivering Pizzas On A Penny Farthing”
Neil: “Siobhan’s Trust provide support, solidarity and pizzas to displaced people in war-torn Ukraine. Paula and I had wanted to help raise awareness and funds for their humanitarian aid efforts. Paula likes to cycle and I run the UK-based Penny Fart
Cycling Plus1 min read
Planning Purchases
£349.99 One wrong turn can curtail your recce adventures, so a reliable GPS bike computer that can upload routes and allow you to follow them is key. Wahoo’s Elemnt Roam V2 is intuitive and powerful with a clear screen. Free-£20 per year VeloViewer a
Cycling Plus1 min read
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Cycling Plus1 min read
Wall Quad Stretch
01 Start facing away from a wall in a tabletop position on your hands and knees. Place a blanket under your knees if this is uncomfortable. 02 Step your right foot between your hands. Raise your left foot so that you can place the top of it on the wa
Cycling Plus4 min read
The Art Of The Recce
Winter riding is nearing its end and, if it’s gone to plan, you’ve racked up volume in search of greater aerobic capacity, increased fat burning and improved technique ready for events season. Now, it’s time for course reconnaissance. Knowing exactly
Cycling Plus1 min read
2024 Targets
40, 55 and 85-mile routes are on offer at this major closed-road sportive, all starting from lovely Pitlochry in the Highlands on 12 May. The 108-mile Struggle Dales route takes in 2,800m of elevation over its six major climbs on 19 May, all set with
Cycling Plus1 min read
Cycling Plus
Editor Matt Baird, matthew.baird@ourmedia.co.uk Deputy Editor John Whitney Senior Production Editor Emma Lewis Creative Design Lead Julia Broussier Creative Designer Georgie Sturge Senior Technical Editor Warren Rossiter Workshop Manager Will Poole G
Cycling Plus1 min read
Budget Gravel Bikes
Gravel suspension forks New bikes from Bianchi & Orro Spring into action How to turn up the heat on your form Sellaronda Bike Day The day when cyclists take back the Dolomites Lone ranger A masterclass in riding solo Seoul-stirring An end-to-end jo
Cycling Plus3 min read
End Of The Road?
So Welshman Stevie Williams won the Tour Down Under. If, like me, you missed it because it takes place in the middle of the European night, then this may come as something of a surprise. But a wonderful one. It’s quite a big deal, this race, despite
Cycling Plus1 min read
Welcome your Complete Guide To The 2024 Season
With scarcely a breath taken since racing for 2023 ended in October, the new pro cycling season was up and running in early January, and if you’re reading this in February the serious business of Spring Classics season will be upon us shortly. From t
Cycling Plus20 min read
Race calendar
1.UWT - Men’s WorldTour one-day 2.UWT - Men’s WorldTour stage race 1.WWT – Women’s WorldTour one-day race 2.WWT – Women’s WorldTour stage race 1.Pro - Men’s/women’s ProSeries one-day 2.Pro - Men’s/women’s ProSeries stage race 1.1/1.2 - Men’s UCI Tour
Cycling Plus11 min read
Men’s worldtour Teams
The same 18 teams who held men’s UCI WorldTour (WT) licences in 2023 have got one for 2024. The licence period now runs over threeyear periods, with points accumulated over those seasons and the top 18 teams being awarded a licence for the next three
Cycling Plus9 min read
Women’s Worldtour Teams
2024 marks the start of the second licensing cycle for UCI Women’s WorldTour teams (the first running from 2020 until 2023). A total of 15 licences have been allocated for this cycle, which runs for two seasons (2024/2025). In all 16 teams applied, w

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