Table of contents for March 2025 in Cycling Plus

Professional riders may cycle in the cold and rain more often than some of us, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy it any more. On the contrary, with as little as 6% body fat, the world’s best bear the brunt of the harshest conditions faster than anybody else. The advent of the Castelli Gabba jacket in 2010, however, made things a bit better. Look back at old footage of bike races and the evolution of bike clothing is as telling as the bikes themselves. Circa 2010 was a period of revolution for clothing. Until then, jerseys with flappy arms and billowing jackets that could safely land you on Earth following a sky dive were the accepted norms in the peloton. Aerodynamics was something for boffins in labs, rather than a…

Each issue, with her ear to the world of UK cycling infrastructure, Laura reports on the setbacks our community faces – and how we’re fighting back There’s something magical about a path. Done well, it can turn an out-of-bounds space into a portal. It can make the previously impossible possible. Even a simple journey into town on foot, or by bike or handcycle, can, in itself, mean so much more than that. Recently, an indirect National Cycle Network route skirting the A41 near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, became a well-surfaced parkland path with a new crossing over the River Thame. This opened up a wild space for residents, and completed a transport link, the Platinum Way, running 1.2km from Aylesbury town centre to Aylesbury Parkway station. It was undoubtedly a success – usership…

The bikes Engwe P275 ST £1,575.80 Whyte RHeO 3 £2,299 MiRider 24 GB3 £2,995 (£3,095 as supplied) Need to know We delve into the world of urban e-bikes and why wheel size is a key aspect to consider The world of commuter e-bikes can be a bewildering space, containing everything from full-suspension mountain bikes to lightweight singlespeed around-towners. Throw in multiple wheel sizes and that can make finding the bike you need (or want) tricky. I tested three e-bikes, each sporting a different wheel size, to see how much this swayed my bike-buying decision. 01 What to look for First, you need to consider your practical needs. Do you have space at home for a full-sized bike or do you need something compact? Is there power where you store your…

Each of the trio have a lot going for them and could be the ideal choice to suit your particular needs, but my favourite is the Whyte RHeO 3. Engwe’s previous bikes have been rather unconventional, many of them specced with massively oversized moto tyres or having the appearance of a crank-assisted moped. The P275 ST on test looks more ‘serious’ and it works brilliantly. The Anana mid-motor has lots of power and its controller offers a wealth of information. Thanks to the massive battery, you’ve got a week’s commuting range, and it’s a smooth and easy bike to ride in traffic. If Engwe can bring out some useful accessories to match the bike, it’ll fulfil its versatile potential well. Its medium-sized 650b wheels help keep things responsive, while wide…

The James Brown tune ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ comes on the radio, filling the coach, and does nothing for my pre-event nerves as I sit surrounded by serious-looking, wiry, tanned men in Lycra. It’s 6.30am, pitch black outside and I’m feeling very out of my depth as a relative newcomer to the world of clipless pedals and hurting for fun. Last night’s stress dream involved being very unprepared to get married and being handed my great-grandmother-inlaw-to-be’s hideous silver dress with lace trim to wear minutes before the ceremony was due to start. I’ll let you psychoanalyse that one. It feels several steps up from the only other cycling event I’ve done – the Etape Caledonia in the Scottish Highlands, 14 years ago in my pre-kids other life, when…

This jacket’s main strength is that, as its name suggests, it can be used in early spring and late-autumn weather as well as winter, thanks to its two-piece design – inside, there’s a removable sleeveless liner made from PrimaLoft Active Evolve insulation. The jacket portion has a thermal lining that extends down the arms, plus a waffle-like fabric on the tall neck aimed at keeping draughts at bay. On the outside is a softshell fabric with a PFC/PFAS-free DWR treatment applied to help keep showers at bay. There are zipped vents on the chest and inside of the forearm, in addition to an always-open vent on the upper back. The main zip is backed by a draught excluder and there’s a zip garage at the neck. A dropped tail is held…

Santini’s Vega+ Winter Jacket is an evolution of the brand’s previous Vega Multi Jacket. Here, they’ve opted for a thicker outer-face fabric, in the form of Polartec Windblock, with two Polartec thermal lining fabrics used inside. The most noticeable of the inner fabrics is the fluffy Alpha insulation, used around the neckline and across the chest. On the back and arms, a patterned, fleece-like fabric (called Alpha Direct) is used, designed for comfort against the skin. The membrane has a 5,000mm water-column rating – enough to be considered waterproof according to Santini, although the PFC/PFAS-free DWR treatment is intended to deal with showers before the membrane is pushed into action. Bordering on figure-huggingly tight, the slim cut fits true-to-size. There are three rear pockets, each with a drainage hole and the…

Every conversation I had about this trip involved the same preamble. No, I wasn’t talking about the outdoor brand. No, not the South American region either. This particular Patagonia is less well-known than either of the above, but that’s changing fast. The tiny town of around 800 people, nestled below the San Rafael Valley in Southern Arizona, near the Mexican border, has a growing reputation as one of the best gravel-riding destinations in the US. So I cajoled a photographer friend into coming, rustled up a top-grade gravel bike, and went to check it out. Patagonia is barely there, in the best way. One grocery store, a couple of bars, a diner…The main road to Mexico runs right through it, complete with Border Patrol cars and roadblocks for drivers headed…

01 ARE ENERGY GELS BAD FOR TEETH? Cycling and sugar (glucose) consumption go hand in hand. On rides of one to two-and-a-half hours, the latest nutritional guidelines suggest 30g to 60g of carbohydrates (ie sugar molecules) per hour to maintain performance, while this ramps up to 60g to 90g for anything longer. Forgoing this advice can end a ride early when your body’s glycogen (the stored form of glucose found in the muscles and liver) reserves run dry, so it turns to fats and proteins for its source of energy, leading to the dreaded bonk. But all of that sweet stuff can’t be good for your teeth, right? “Sugars are the main cause of tooth decay,” explains Professor Ian Needleman, who heads the Centre for Oral Health and Performance – a…

Tour of the Abberleys 3-5 May 2025 This three-day stage race takes place in the West Midlands each early May bank holiday. There are categories for the over 40s, over 50s and over 60s for men, and a separate one for women. Gran Fondo Isle of Man 20 July 2025 This 137km ride with 2,300m elevation is the UK’s only qualifier for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Finish inside the top 25% of your age-group and you’ve got a shot at the rainbow jersey. The Gralloch 17 May 2025 Another UCI World Championships qualifier, this Scottish gravel event is an early season carrot to help you through your winter training. Plus, you could book your spot at the October finals in Nice.…

RADL GRVL Adelaide, Australia 24 January 2025 ● We’ll be heading out to South Australia this month to join the hundreds of riders barreling through the Adelaide Hills on the now-annual RADL GRVL ride. Held in partnership with the Tour Down Under (the pro road race taking place in the city at the same time), this event is part of a gravel series headed up by pro racer Tiffany Cromwell, an Adelaide native, and her partner Valtteri Bottas, the Formula One racer, which also includes FNLD GRVL in Finland.…

BRITS REBORN? Ex-Saint Piran rider Harry Tanfield has been looking to create a new British UCI Continental team out of the wreckage of his former squad, which went under in November CRACKERJACK Canadian amateur Jack Burke, who recently set Strava records on climbs including Alpe d’Huez and Stelvio, has had talks with WorldTour teams about signing FRESH START Steve Cummings has joined Jayco-AlUla as a sports director. He left Ineos Grenadiers, where he reportedly had a difficult relationship with star rider Tom Pidcock (who has now joined the Swiss Q36.5 team) THROUGH THE MILLAR David Millar’s cycle clothing business CHPT3 entered liquidation, just three months after the launch of their new Transit shoe, which got a 4* review in Cycling Plus HAIGH HO Louise Haigh, who pulled the strings of…

June’s 209-mile (336km) Chase the Sun event from Belfast in Northern Ireland to Enniscrone south of the border opened our eyes to the joys of cycling across the Irish Sea. The Sperrin Mountains offered the day’s meatiest climbs and widest lofty vistas, Lower Lough Erme the lakeland scenery, but it was the opening section towards Glenarm Castle on the east coast that lingers strongest in our memory. Andrew Hassard, the managing director of Belfast-based Mango Bikes, agrees that this area should be on any self-respecting cyclist’s to-do list. “On a good day, Belfast up to Glenarm is just about as spectacular a place to ride as anywhere in the world,” he says. “The Giro d’Italia went down here when it visited Ireland [on stage 2 in 2014], while the Glens…

01 Cover it up You have thermoreceptors all over your body – nerve endings that sense temperature, there to deliver immediate feedback to your brain to ensure your thermal protection. But did you know that applies to your airways too? “Interestingly, your respiratory system (sinuses, mouth, throat and lungs) is like your skin in that it’s directly exposed to the environment because there’s no barrier to the ambient environment,” says Dr Michael Kennedy, associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology at the University of Alberta, who specialises in an athlete’s response to extreme environments. “That’s why your lungs, like your skin, are particularly vulnerable to cold air conditions; breathing cold air can trigger thermoreceptors in the upper respiratory system that affect your cardiovascular response to exercise.” Research shows that when…

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Garmin and Wahoo have both recently launched new models, but which should you buy? We’ve done the hard work, testing and comparing the stats on the duo, so that you don’t have to. 01 Decent displays? Both computers have large screens – the biggest you’ll find on the market. Wahoo’s is larger, measuring 3.8in (96.7mm) from corner to corner, while Garmin’s is 3.5in (88.9mm). Wahoo say the wider screen is to improve map visibility at junctions. The Edge 1050 has a slightly higher resolution on paper, at 480x800 pixels, compared to the Elemnt Ace’s 480x720, although I didn’t notice this on the bike. The Wahoo screen’s matt surface works well to practically eliminate reflections, while the Garmin’s is far more reflective. However, the Edge 1050’s transmissive LCD display makes the…

Weight 7.8kg (L) Frame UD carbon fibre Fork UD carbon fibre Groupset SRAM Red AXS (10-36t, 46/33t) with power meter Wheels Zipp 353 NSW Tyres Goodyear Eagle F1 R Tubeless, 700cx32mm Finishing Kit Parlee carbon seatpost, Ergon SR Allroad Carbon Core saddle, Pro Vibe Evo Carbon one-piece cockpit Parlee took a blow when iconic founder Bob Parlee passed away in September, but the Bostonian brand’s team are committed to securing his legacy, with a swathe of new models planned for the coming seasons. The Ouray (pronounced “yur-ay” and named after a Colorado mountain town) is the first of the these. A step away from Parlee’s history of lightweight racing bikes, the Ouray still has a lightweight unidirectional carbon fibre construction, but that’s blended with a sloping top tube frame design,…

Thanks to a combo of Polartec Neoshell outer fabric and the brand’s fluffy Alpha insulation, the Total Comfort Jacket will help you shrug off the coldest winter conditions, with a good deal of water resistance thrown in. The Neoshell fabric and Alpha insulation are both well-regarded – the former has an impressive 10,000mm water column rating, while the latter is the brand’s top-level insulation. Here, the Alpha insulation spreads all the way down the arms to the cuffs and covers the back of the jacket (except pockets) too. There’s a tapered collar with a soft fabric lining, while the wrist cuffs are slim-cut – the outer fabric used here doubles back on itself to form the cuff. There’s no zip garage, but the zip is backed by a draught-excluding strip.…

Getting there ● Fly direct from Heathrow to Phoenix daily (it takes around 10 hours). Patagonia is 170 miles, or three hours’ drive, south. Or stay in Tucson, an hour closer to Phoenix, and drive out daily to Patagonia. Where to eat ● There’s excellent pizza at Velvet Elvis (www.velvetelvislamision.com). You can get authentic and cheap Mexican food from Elisa Tamales and Tacos (www.instagram.com/_tamaleselisa). Gathering Grounds (https://gatheringgroundsaz.com) is a great dinner option. The local store is well-stocked for self-catering. Patagonia Lumber Co’s huge range of exotic brews is not to be missed. (www.patagonialumberco.com). Where to stay ● Local race organisers Heidi and Xander run The Gravel House (www.thegravelhouse.com), an upscale hostel with private rooms, a communal kitchen and secure bike storage. They also rent out a larger house nearby for…

This 53.8-mile loop starts at Larne at the southern end of the Antrim AONB and follows the coastal road all the way to Waterfoot for the first 40km. It then takes a sharp left, west onto the Glenariff Road to Cargan, for the day’s first and biggest climb. The undulations continue for the second half, until a swift descent back into Larne (you can join the loop in Glenarm or Waterfoot as well). 1 Bike shop Both located not too far from Ballymena, Clik-e-Gears and Cycleworks offer bike repairs and spares, and are near the route. 2 Brunch stop It’s fairly early in the route, but the Ground cafe at Glenarm Castle’s bacon sandwiches, cakes and coffee will fuel you for the hills (https://glenarmcastle.com). In Belfast, we drank in Kelly’s…

Engwe P275 ST £1,575.80 Does Engwe’s first mid-motor machine, with mid-sized wheels, offer a happy medium in terms of performance? Whyte RHeO 3 £2,299 How will this mountain bike-inspired commuter, complete with the biggest wheels on test, fare against the competition? MiRider 24 GB3 £2,995 (£3,095 as tested) MiRider made waves with their One folding bike. How does their sophomore effort, with the smallest wheels here, stack up?…

Originally an unlikely adventure thought up among friends who’d just ridden Vätternrunden, the huge summer sportive in Motala in southern Sweden, Abloc’s Winter Challenge has grown into an annual tradition for the hardiest cyclists. The course has evolved and the peloton grown over its seven years, with riders coming from far and wide looking to ride its 300km-ish on frozen roads, deep into Småland’s “Höglandet” (highlands) on a mix of punchy tarmac and gravel roads. And then there’s the darkness to factor in. Winter here is long, dark and cold. The ice and snow mean that studded tyres are the shrewd choice. Their steady hum gives a signal of reassurance as you glide across icy roads glistening under powerful LED lights, all while still managing to keep your bike upright…

Weight 6.88kg (XL) Frameset Wilier Verticale SLR, carbon fibre Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 (11-34t, 52/36t) Wheels Miche Kleos RD 36 Tyres Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR, 700cx28mm Finishing kit Wilier V-Bar integrated bar-stem (39cm/120mm), Wilier Verticale SLR carbon seatpost (15˚ setback), Prologo Nago R4 PAS carbon-railed saddle Wilier’s Verticale SLR is the Italian brand’s new flagship climbing race bike. The frame is said to be “almost 10% lighter” than the 0 SLR it replaces, with the medium size (roughly equivalent to 54cm) claimed to weigh 648g. This compares to a claimed 685g for a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 (56cm), and 762g for a Canyon Ultimate CFR (M). The SLR’s fork tips the scales at 296g (with its steerer cut to accommodate 15mm of spacers). Three types of Toray carbon fibre…

Unless you want to spend the next few months on Zwift, it’s time to head outdoors and face the elements. Investing in a quality winter cycling jacket can give you the protection and confidence you need venture out. Remember, the figures on the thermometer may well be compounded by biting winds, plus the breeze you generate on the bike, with the odd shower thrown in too. Last month, we tested waterproof shells, which are perfect in a downpour, but not the most comfortable to wear on a long ride, nor very insulating. This time, we’re testing tops designed with the focus more on warmth and comfort, while still offering essential protection from wintry showers. None of them would be your top pick for prolonged heavy rain, but if you want…

At some stage in your life, you’ll reach a point where you simply aren’t as fast as you used to be. But that doesn’t mean throwing in the towel. “Nowadays we’re seeing older people perform at increasingly higher levels,” says Jake Hales, head coach at Ride Revolution. “With a better understanding of nutrition, training science, recovery, and strength and conditioning, you might actually be better than when you were younger.” And with the following tips helping to slow the ageing process while keeping you competitive deep into later life, age-group racing is a win-win situation. 01 BE REALISTIC It’s never too late to start age-group racing, but it’s important to assess your training history to work out your potential. “The ageing process is best looked at as an irreversible ceiling,” says Hales.…

HRV4Training This app uses your phone’s camera and light to detect changes in your blood volume and take your heart rate variability reading. Track your daily levels and get insight into whether you’ve recovered enough to attempt a hard workout. Strong Workout Tracker Stumped by strength training? With video instructions, suggested workouts and a way of tracking previous sessions, this will have you lifting confidently in no time, to help maintain your precious muscle mass as you get older. EatMyRide Take the guesswork and hassle out of trying to take on optimum nutrition and discover how to fuel pre-, during and post-ride. It can also sync with Garmin head units to give you pre-planned eating prompts or show you real-time, mid-ride carb burn.…