Cyclist May 2021

It’s good to have the Classics back where they belong – in the cold and wet. Happy as I was to see any pro cycling at all last year, there was something wrong with cobbled races taking place in balmy sunshine. Thanks to Covid, the reshuffled 2020 season saw the likes of Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders moved to early autumn, and those races just don’t look right when there are leaves on the trees, dust on the roads and a gentle, golden light falling on the riders. The proper hue for a cobbled Classic is slate grey. The sky, the fields, the streets, the houses, the faces – all grey. And the proper atmosphere for a cobbled Classic is one of grim stoicism. Flanders is no place for tanned featherweights…

Passoni is known for blending heritage with modernity, and there is perhaps no better example of that in its current range than the new Cicloprato. ‘Back in the late 1980s we started making very light mountain bike frames for pros who wanted to keep fit in the winter,’ says Passoni owner Matteo Cassina. ‘Barring a swap to disc brakes, those early mountain bikes were essentially very similar to what the Cicloprato is now.’ To clear up any confusion, it’s worth explaining that the Italian definition of a mountain bike is somewhat different to the full-suspension, flat bar one more commonly associated with the name. ‘We don’t do the full-face helmets, jumping-off-cliffs type of mountain biking,’ says Cassina. ‘We leave that for the Americans. Italian mountain bikes have always been more similar to the…

Ashmei describes its Signature kit as ‘super compressive race fit’. It’s not wrong. The original Signature bibs were among the most form-fitting, comfy-all-over bibshorts we’ve ever ridden in, and that was four years ago. For 2021 Ashmei has retained those key properties in the updated Signature bibshorts, with that compression coming primarily not from the yarn itself but the incredibly high density of its knit. This gives the bibs their stretchy, lightweight nature while offering an incongruent but wonderful degree of weather-resistance (these don’t really ‘wet out’). Several new colours now join black, and detailing has been made reflective. It’s a similar story with the jersey – less remodelled, more refined, using Ashmei’s latest merino-carbon blend that has the luxurious feel of wool with the lighter, breathable, fastdrying properties of synthetics. It’s…

As well as having incredibly large brains, manta rays glide effortlessly smoothly thanks to their drag-minimising shape. In an attempt to emulate its fishy namesake, the latest version of the Met Manta aero road helmet features a ‘NACA’ vent on the crown that not only resembles a manta ray’s mouth and front fins but also keeps drag to a minimum while keeping the head cool. Besides improved aerodynamics, the most obvious addition to the Manta is a Mips slip liner for extra angled protection in a crash. You might also notice a change at the rear, as it now has both a lower profile and a more pronounced shape, which Met claims saves an average of four watts at speeds between 33kmh and 80kmh. Harder to spot is the updated inner shape…

It’s a serious wedge of cash, but the Barrage Cargo is a serious backpack – the sort that would survive a war zone as well as year-round commuting. It’s completely waterproof for a start, made from the same fabrics the SAS probably uses for bed sheets, and it features all the essential pockets. The main section is an 18-litre (expandable to 22-litre) rolltop. Inside is a laptop sleeve, while outside there are side pouches for a water bottle or D-lock, plus a zip pocket for smaller items. Finally there’s expandable webbing to stow a helmet, shoes or your wind-up field radio, and it’s all rounded off with sturdy, comfortable straps.…

Speedplay founder Richard Bryne is said to have a personal collection of more than 300 pairs of bicycle pedals, none of which look anything like the ones he designed and created in the late 1980s. Often referred to as ‘lollipop pedals’, Speedplay launched in 1991, and Bryne’s design turned the accepted pedal/cleat norms on their head. The Speedplay cleat is not just a lump of plastic, but instead harbours all the working parts. In this case it is the pedal that is the more inanimate object. The benefits to this system include double-sided entry, exceptionally low weight, low stack height and a vast range of adjustment potential – anywhere from 0-15° float plus variable axle lengths. This all makes them a firm favourite with weight weenies and bike fitters alike. American bike…