Cyclist July 2021

I can barely contain my excitement. The 17th May deadline for easing travel restrictions is just around the corner (or has just passed, depending on when you get this magazine), so it’s time to pack my bike bag. Then it’s simply a case of double-checking the Government website for any last-minute changes to the rules, assessing which countries are on the green list to avoid quarantine on return to the UK, cross-referencing them with countries that are actually accepting tourists, learning the specific Covid restrictions of those countries, having a Covid test, working out which Covid tests – lateral flow or PCR – are required before the return journey and again on re-entering the UK, arranging those Covid tests, finding somewhere to stay that hasn’t been booked solid until 2023, building…

All the stuff that makes you glad to be a cyclist The definition of a road bike is pretty straightforward: it’s a bike designed to be ridden on a road. The definition of a road, however, is not so simple. Roads come in many varieties, from silky-smooth tarmac to potholed urban streets, to cobbles, gravel, hardpack and beyond. And this is the reason that American titanium specialist Moots decided to create its new Vamoots RCS road bike. ‘Where we are based in Colorado, we have a lot of chipseal, which is like really crappy tarmac,’ says Moots marketing manager Jon Cariveau. ‘This is where the idea came from for a road bike that can handle a bit more volume in the tyre, so it can go from pavement to cobbles to dirt. We…

If anyone knows the importance of comfort and durability, it’s Mark Beaumont. After he became the first person to cycle round the world in under 80 days, Altura decided he might be the man to help develop these endurance-specific pieces. The main body of the jersey is made from merino wool to provide natural softness and temperature regulation, while not getting stinky after long days in the saddle. Mesh panels under the arms provide extra ventilation, and the cut is relaxed for comfort rather than fitted for aerodynamics. Styling is understated, with three colour options: charcoal, red or teal. The bibshorts come with an 11mm dual density foam pad from Elastic Interface, which should be enough to protect even the most delicate of posteriors, and wide straps are connected to a mesh…

Sussex-based wheel brand Hunt has released the 60 Limitless Aero, the deepest rims yet in its premium road range. While the 60mm deep section aids straightline speed, the company says it spent a lot of time in the wind-tunnel to ensure that the wheel handles like a much shallower rim to provide ‘consistent and predictable bike handling during varying side wind conditions’. The secret, according to Hunt, lies in the interface between the rim and tyre, which is why the 60 Limitless boasts a wide 21mm internal rim width and 34mm external width. When combined with a 25mm or 28mm tyre the resulting shape aims to minimise the turbulence that comes when deep rims meet side winds. This is designed to allow the rider to maintain an aerodynamic body position during races…

The Quasar is the cheapest road saddle from the boutique Italian brand (its top-end Aleena saddle comes in at nearer £285) and is the first in the range to use steel rails instead of carbon. Despite this, there is little to suggest that the Quasar is a budget product. At 170g it is still competitively light, and the hull is made from a polymer reinforced with ‘long carbon fibre’ technology. Repente says that rather than use shorter carbon swatches, it adds long lengths of the fibre into the polymer resin, which ensures the saddle will not lose its rigidity and shape over time.…

Sceptics were quick to say wireless electronic shifting would never be reliable when Sram first launched eTap back in August 2015, but any misgivings over its dependability have long since been put to bed. The platform has proven itself beyond doubt, such that Sram introduced two updated 12-speed eTap AXS groupsets at both its flagship Red and second-tier Force level in 2019. Now this recently released third-tier Rival eTap AXS offering means that wireless electronic shifting is no longer the preserve of superbikes and pros. We could see this technology on carbon road bikes costing as little as £2,500. What’s more, we could potentially see power meters as standard on bikes priced at less than £3,000, as Sram is also releasing a lowcost, low-weight (40g) Quarq crank spindle-based option as part of…