Bikes Etc Magazine July 2019

Cycling is so much more fun when you share the experience, which is why this month we’ve teamed up with Chapeau! to give away a man’s and a woman’s cycling outfit worth a total of £250. This doubly delightful prize consists of 1 x Men’s Club Pro Jersey, baselayer, Club bibs, socks and cap, and 1 x women’s Madeleine Polka Jersey, merino base layer, Soulor bibs, socks and cap. We’ve long been fans of Chapeau! clothing not just because of its kit’s quality but because of its consistently cool designs. From traditional block colours, stripes and polka dots through to more unique-looking prints like those in its new Club Pro range which feature patterns inspired by Dutch artist M.C. Escher and his famously geometric graphics. Don’t be fooled by the…

When I think of the Victorian era, the images that spring to mind are of steam engines and empire––in other words technological innovation and globalised thinking. And when it comes to the best things bequeathed to us by those gents in stovepipe hats and ladies in bustles and bonnets, it’s the bicycle that seems to me the most brilliant. Brilliantly simple. Brilliantly affordable. Brilliant for your health. Brilliant for adventure and travel. And ultimately brilliantly prescient. Not least in terms of our environment – a subject that’s been grabbing the headlines recently thanks to the Extinction Rebellion protests and Sir David Attenborough’s latest documentary on the subject. If you’ve not seen the latter, check it out on the BBC iPlayer. Called Climate Change – The Facts, it’ll not only convince…

WEIGHT: 7.5kg FRAME: FACT10R Carbonwith FutureShock1.5 GROUPSET: Shimano105 11-speed BRAKES: Shimano105R7020 hydraulicdisc CHAINSET: PraxisAlba50/34t CASSETTE: Shimano10511-34t BARS: Specialized Adventure GearHover STEM: Specialized 3D-forged SADDLE: Specialized PowerSport SEATPOST: S-WorksPave WHEELS: DTR470Disc TYRES: Specialized TurboPro28c COST: £2,600 CONTACT: specialized.com What is it? The latest version of Specialized’s endurance-focused Classics racer. Made to thrive in the wet and grimy environment of the season’s early races, it’s just had a serious makeover. First launched back in 2004, it’s hard to remember how revolutionary the original Roubaix was. Copied many times since then, it was one of the first racers to prioritise comfort. The idea being that a less fatigued rider might actually arrive faster. Singlehandedly spawning the genre of the ‘Classics Bike’ while also promoting the relaxed geometries found on many modern sportive bikes,…

In professional cycling, the gruppetto is the bunch that forms behind the main race and is made up of riders working together to survive the time-cut. While Grupetto, purveyors of quality aero-focused racing bikes, are presumably hoping its users will never actually have to ride in one if its latest models are anything to go by. Sourced from Italy’s cycling heartland of Piedmont, Grupetto’s new SmartAero range consists of three models, with the process of choosing the right one beginning with a coffee and a chat. And if you’re in the market for something molto veloce, then the new the Aero Arona might prove just the ticket In the mountains, riders crave a bike that’s super light, while on the flat they’re keener on something more aerodynamic, despite that possibly…

Gravel and adventure riders finally get their own dedicated groupsets. Called the GRX range, Shimano is introducing the technology across different price-points and both mechanical and electronic shifting options. In keeping with the Japanese brand’s long-term thinking, it’s set to be available in both single and double chainring options, too. ‘Diving into the detail, GRX includes three crankset options; 1x11, 2x11 or 2x10-speed,’ explained a Shimano spokesperson. ‘Combining with these will be front and rear derailleurs, disc brake callipers with an in-line brake lever option, and STI hydraulic levers in either Di2 shifting or mechanical shifting styles.’ Covering both 11 and 10-speed drivetrains, key features include a stabilising clutch on the rear mechs, front derailleurs adjusted to fit alongside wide tyres, and the ability to swap-in existing Shimano mountain bike…

Designing and building bikes in the UK, Crosshead takes a novel approach to one of cycling’s perennial design challenges. The perfect folding bike must balance the need for a small size when folded, with the need to ride as much like a full-size bike when unfurled. Unhappy with the compromise struck by the bikes available, designer and Crosshead founder Stuart Lambert knew he wanted to start with a larger-than-average 20-inch wheel. Giving a smoother roll, better wear-characteristics, and increased grip, a geometry providing a more natural ride position and longer wheelbase followed. The final step was to pair these facets to a kit-list stacked with as many conventional components as possible. It’s a proposition at odds with the market’s current favourite folder, the similarly British-designed Brompton. Now with an adjustable,…