cycling

Slipstream Sports today announced that it has entered into a partnership with AA Drink/Leontien.nl whereby AA Drink/Leontin.nl will operate the Women’s Pro Cycling Team at the races and the team will continue to be maintained by Slipstream. As part of the partnership, Emma Pooley, Lizzie Armistead, Lucy Martin, Sharon Laws, Carla Ryan and Jessie Daams will ride for the AA Drink / Leontien.nl Cycling Team and the entire team will ride Cervélo bikes, competing at the highest level of women’s professional cycling. “We are pleased to partner with AA Drink / Leontien.nl,” said Jonathan Vaughters. “Michael Zilaard has built a strong organization and we are excited to work with him to combine our strengths. The 2012 team looks strong and we believe it will be a great year ahead.” “We are excited to work with Slipstream Sports and to add group of outstanding riders. Looking ahead to the big events in 2012, I am convinced that we will be competitive on all fronts, from the Olympic Games to the World Championships to the Tour of Italy,” said team manager Michael Zijlaard, AA Drink/Leontien.nl. “Superstars Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armistead add huge firepower to an already strong team and we are excited to start the season.” 2012 AA Drink/Leontien.nl Cycling Team Roster: Elizabeth Armitstead (UK) Chantal Blaak (NL) Lucinda Brand (NL) Jessie Daams (BEL) Sharon Laws (UK) Lucy Martin (UK) Shelley Olds (USA) Madelene Olsson (SWE) Emma Pooley (UK) Carla Ryan (AUS) Isabelle Söderberg (SWE) Marijn de Vries (NL) Marieke van Wanroij (NL) Kirsten Wild (NL)

BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online deals from our recommended retailers could save you both time and money.

If you just want to get to the bargains, skip to the end of the article to see the deals listed as Quick Links.

Otherwise, read on for more details including pictures, BikeRadar reviews and your opinions wherever possible – so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Some of these offers won't last forever though, so be quick if you want to bag yourself a bargain.

1. Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp is a popluar bike riders who relish the challenge of road riding and testing their fitness. Get the advantages in performance from the Avanti custom designed carbon frame without the expense of a top-level groupset. Coupled with the carbon frame are the Avanti custom designed direct response carbon forks ensuring a balanced ride. Quality is maintained throughout with the inclusion of Shimano CN-500 chainset, Shimano FC-5600 cranks, Xero CXR-330 wheelset and Continental Ultra Race tyres."

2. Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The full-carbon frame is powerful, the down tube is massive and the bottom bracket, heart and fulcrum of this triangle, is unyielding to the power you'll unleash when you stand on the pedals. The distinctive features are all there: the Onda fork will guide you safely through the most demanding curves. 24HM carbon with 12K finish. The frame is available in six colours and seven sizes. Components include a Shimano 105 groupset, Shimano WH500 wheelset and MOST Ewiva tyres."

3. Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,235.00 and save 35 percent

"Comfort and quality of ride underpin the Ghost Race Lector. Built on the Race HM carbon frame and matched with CG carbon front forks results in a cycle that offers a lightweight and smooth ride. Gearing is provided by Shimano Ultegra chainset that utilises a Shimano Ultegra compact crankset set. The bike rolls on an Easton Aero wheelset wrapped up in Schwalbe Ultremo tyres. Brakes are Tektro R 741. A bike perfectly suited for beginner to intermediate cyclists."

Quick Links:

• Raleigh Avanti Carbon Comp Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £999.99 and save 44 percent
• Pinarello FP2 105 (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £1,299.35 and save 35 percent
• Ghost EBS Lector Race (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1235.00 and save 35 percent

Offers courtesy of: Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and Winstanleys Bikes 

Subscription Offer:

Cycling Plus – Buy Now from myfavouritemagazines.co.uk for as little as £45.99 (£3.54/issue) and save 21 percent

Cycling Plus is for anyone who appreciates the all-out effort of racing, the freedom of touring or the cut-and-thrust of commuting. Read more & subscribe.

BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online deals from our recommended retailers could save you both time and money.

If you just want to get to the bargains, skip to the end of the article to see the deals listed as Quick Links.

Otherwise, read on for more details including pictures, BikeRadar reviews and your opinions wherever possible – so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.

1. Sunn Shamann S1 (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,572 and save 45 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The Shamann S1 is the full suspension bike of the XC lineup. The Shamann Alpha frame geometry has been designed to give an efficient balance of traction, acceleration and long distance comfort to make the perfect marathon bike. The RockShox Monarch RT3 shock absorber provides a highly progressive 100mm of rear travel. The front-end is comprised of RockShox SID RLT forks also with 100mm travel. SRAM 2x10 transmissions allow for a lighter and more efficient shifting system. Add to this SRAM X9 pedals, UN Premium 600-0 SL wheels and Hutchinson Python tyres for a bike that mixes performance with riding pleasure."

2. Saracen Zen 1 Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £449.99 and save 47 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"The Zens are 100% UK specific aggressive trail screamers, ready to take on whatever you throw at them. The lightweight frame uses a triple butted 6061 alloy tubeset designed specifically for longer travel forks and the mud clearance on the rear of the frame is class-leading. Also featuring RockShox Tora 289 U-Turn forks with 85-130 mm travel, Shimano HG50 9-speed cassette, Quad Sting Pro hydraulic disc brakes and Continental Mountain King tyres, these long-travel hardcore trail bikes were designed to take UK trail riding to the next level."

3. GT Zaskar Carbon Expert (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £ 1429.99 and save 35 percent

What the manufacturer says:

"Classy carbon hardtail that won't let you down. The Zaskar Carbon Expert is full of top class components that compliment the Foc-Ultra Carbon frame well. Proven RockShox Recon Solo Air forks are fitted to soak up punishing ground along with SRAM S1400 chainset ensuring a solid drive over varied terrain. Formula RX brakes with 160mm rotor both front and rear provide plenty of stopping power. Crankbros Cobalt 2 flat handlebars and seat stem as well as DT Swiss wheelset and Maxxis Aspen tyres round off a bike that can handle any terrain."

Quick Links:

• Sunn Shamann S1 (2011) – Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £1,572 and save 45 percent
• Saracen Zen 1 Bike (2010) – Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £449.99 and save 47 percent
• GT Zaskar Carbon Expert (2011) – Buy Now from Wiggle for £ 1429.99 and save 35 percent

Offers courtesy of: Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and Winstanleys Bikes

Subscription offer:

What Mountain Bike – Buy Now from myfavouritemagazines.co.uk for as little as £41.99 (£3.23/issue) and save 23 percent

The essential magazine to consult before you spend your cash on any mountain biking equipment. Read more & subscribe.

The voting is over and we can now reveal our winners of the 2011 Festive 500. It was a remarkable event, with the cumulative kilometres of all riders reaching somewhere close to 1.5m. Not only did we see a lot of distance covered but the volume and q...

It was an impressive ride, especially as it was done on just a single wheel. Sixteen-year old Zach Hutlelin broke the world record for a “manual,” a wheelie without pedaling, at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida last month.

The sunshine native, who lives in nearby Plantation, FL rode his Specialized P.3 for 686.25ft/209.2m, setting the new world record for the Longest Manual on a Mountain Bike according to World Records Academy. This tops the previous Guinness world record, which was set at 334ft/101.8m by Jim DeChamp for the MTV television show Nitro Circus.

Guinness officially recognized the new mark on 12 January.

Hutlelin said he was inspired to try for the record after seeing DeChamp set the mark. Part of the preparation for Hutlelin was built making sure he didn’t have to worry about the bike, a Specialized’s P.3. “A well tuned bike is everything on a simple day or breaking a world record,” he told BikeRadar. “My attention is on the task at hand and not whether or not my bike is working properly.”

Hutlelin said that his background has mostly been on racing BMX, which honed his skill of manualing. “My dad was always yelling, ‘pedal, pedal,’” Hutelin said. “But I did it because the fast kids were doing it.”

For his record attempt, Hutelin’s father, John Hutelin, brought in a number of third-party experts to document and verify the course and the distance, including the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society and Sunrise Police Officers. “It was pretty cool,” Hutelin said of the record ride, which came after 11 attempts that day. “In practice, I had ridden almost 800 feet. But that was on a good day. The day of the record attempt we had really bad winds.”

Hutelin more than doubled the previous record — marked by the Specialized flag in the background — on a windy day

For the new year, the new record holder looks to further mix it up. “This year I am going to make the transition to downhill and dual slalom, and plans are being made to run the Gravity East series,” said Hutlelin.

The teenager knows transitioning to downhill may be an uphill challenge of sorts. “I understand this year will be a big learning curve as this is a major transition for a kid from Florida, but I am really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Endura’s Deluge winter gloves have plenty of features, but aren’t always as amphibious as the name suggests. The double cuff gives good sleeve sealing and there are plenty of reinforcing panels. 

The snot wipe isn’t on the thumb but all the way up the forefinger, meaning there’s a decent length to wipe your nose with when the cold weather causes it to run. The fit is great too. The movement between the outer shell and inner thermal liner reduces feedback though. 

The multiple ‘Gel Zone’ padded areas on the palm didn’t give the best feel, and the callous-covering ridge of padding meant our hands felt as though they were more on top of the bars than wrapped around them. The palm sometimes tended to bunch up towards the thumb and that was a little uncomfortable.

We've had wildly varying experiences with the weatherproofing of the Endura gloves. We had one test pair that would get completely sodden in a few minutes in any serious weather despite their waterproof claims and Deluge name – not good. But another set was totally waterproof, even passing the hand-in-bucket test. Getting your hands back in when they’re damp is a fight.

This article was compiled from reviews in What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK

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Ceramic bearings are rightly considered luxury items on a bike, given that they're usually several times the cost of standard steel ones. But these titanium jockey wheels from British company Ultimate Ceramic Bearings do have a practical aspect too.

Firstly, there's the wow factor, as shown in the clip below (inspired by the movie Inception). They spin for much longer than a standard jockey wheel and will reduce resistance in your drivetrain. Not by a huge amount, unless your bike is anything like ours...

But what interested us more is that they're designed to run without lubricant. Anyone who's ridden in winter in the UK will know that jockey wheel bearings get clogged with road grime and mud as soon as you venture anywhere near the lanes. Our winter bikes carry an equal weight of sludge and jockey wheel at all times. 

Removing grease from the equation is advantageous, because it means there's less for the dirt to stick to and the bearings can easily be cleaned with water. We've just started running a set to see how they cope and will report back with a full review in a few months.

Video: UCB titanium jockey wheels vs Shimano Ultegra jockey wheel

Speaking of water, these titanium jockey wheels retail for an eye-watering £179.99 direct from UCB's online store at www.amorecycles.com. These are the most expensive ones they sell but cheaper carbon and Delrin versions are available, in 11t or 12t (for SRAM only) sizes, and with dry lubed or full-ceramic bearings.

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The SDG I-Beam system isn’t new, but you’ll be seeing a bit more of it in 2012 as several other manufacturers have licensed the design. The seatpost uses a tough single pivoting head and a pair of pinching clamps all working off a single 5mm bolt. 

You have to use it with an I-Beam saddle; various models are available, all of which have a single central rail with serrations on the underside. Loosening the seatpost bolt allows you to adjust the tilt of the saddle and slide it fore or aft.

While it doesn’t look like much, it’s actually pretty bombproof – the fact that many downhillers run the system is testament to that. The 350mm-long post can be had in carbon fibre or alloy and with inline or 20mm set back clamps. We chose the alloy inline version which doesn’t weigh much more but costs a lot less.

Conventional saddle design often uses flex in the rails to add a little comfort; there's none of that with the I-Beam system, which results in quite a 'direct' feel. The post does flex slightly though, if you've got enough exposed shaft, which takes the edge off bumps. This feeling is amplified a little more (adding to the comfort) in the more expensive (and lighter) carbon version. 

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine.

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This (iL) Soigneur coffee is well-balanced and full-bodied – just right for a pre-ride espresso or two.

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A benchmark clincher wheelset since its introduction in 1999, Mavic’s Ksyrium has continued to evolve over the years. Today’s Elite version is one up from entry-level in a range of four Ksyrium models. 

There are no holes in the underside of the rim so no need for rim tape, straight-pull bladed spokes pass smoothly through the air, inter-spoke milling cuts rim weight, and adjustable cartridge bearings keep the wheels turning smoothly. 

The front wheel is radially spoked, while the rear uses what Mavic call ‘Isopulse’ – two-cross lacing on the non-drive side and a radial pattern on the drive side. As well as shiny silver, they also come in black.

The total weight of 1,540g (the 18-spoke front wheel weighs 690g, the 20-spoke rear 850g, both without skewers) is competitive with rival wheels but the Ksyrium Elites beat them when it comes to stiffness. Even when you give it the full 'Cav', they feel flex-free, so powerful riders will love them. They're responsive too.

The trade-off for stiffness is more direct feedback from the road. They’re not harsh, but more buzz gets through than with some of their rivals, though climbing is equally lively. The milled brake surfaces contribute to reliable stopping power. 

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine.

You'll have to move fast to take advantage of our latest Daily Deal, such is the rate that vouchers for UK clothing firm Shutt VR are being snapped up.

We've teamed up with the Yorkshire-based manufacturer renowned for their Sportwool jerseys to offer readers a £25 voucher for just £12.50. It can be used to buy any item of clothing or accessory - even sale items - with the only catch being that you need to spend £30 or more. This offer is running throughout the weekend but is limited to just 100 deals. Click here for more details.

From the latest product news to details of routes and events, our news round-up is a collection of short snippets of information in one handy article.

Today we bring you a preview of Victoria Pendleton's new range of women's bikes, word on the arrival of Pacific Cycles in the UK, new bikes from Grupetto Italia, Dan Lloyd's new team and more.

Product news

Victoria Pendleton & Halfords team up for women's cycle range

Not content with teaming up with one Olympian in Chris Boardman, UK retailer Halfords are working with Victoria Pendleton to sell her new line of women's bikes. The three-strong range is designed for those who want to make cycling part of their daily lives, whether that’s for pleasure, town or city riding. The bikes, Somerby (£299.99), Brooke (£299.99) and Dalby (£349.99) will be available in 16” or 18” frame sizes, and will go on sale from 22 March.

Pendleton on location this week (courtesy of Halfords' Twitter page)

Cycle Surgery expands operations

Cycle Surgery has announced it will open a new store in Wandsworth, London this March. The 2,500 sq ft shop, open seven days a week, will stock bikes from Trek, Giant, Brompton and Ridgeback, equipment from Endura, Giro and Mavic, as well as a workshop with Cytech qualified mechanics.

Pacific Cycles reach UK shores

Pacific Cycles are opening a new European office in London, bringing their full size folding bikes to the UK for the first time through retailers Firebox and Fudges Cycle Store. One of the highlights of their range is the aluminium, 26" wheeled iF Mode city bike (£1,699), aimed at commuters who want the convenience of a folding bike but who have been previously put off by small wheels. It also folds in a way that allows you to drag it along on its wheels rather than having to carry it.

Three new Grupetto Italia bikes for 2012

Mottarone SL

Grupetto Italia have unveiled three new bikes for 2012; two carbon models in the Mottarone SL (from £2,500) and the Mergozzo CL (from £1,550), and the steel CS Maggiore (from £1,350). The bikes are available to view at their showroom in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and via their website, and offer a free fitting service with all purchases.

Routes, racing & rides

Dan Lloyd signs for Team IG-Sigma Sport

British pro Daniel Lloyd has been signed by UK based Team IG-Sigma Sport. Lloyd, who rode for Garmin-Cervelo last year, was contemplating retirement after he wasn't retained by the powerhouse American squad. But he was persuaded to keep racing on the UK domestic circuit by his friend Ian Whittingham at Sigma Sport.

The team is hoping for a top 10 finish at the Tour of Britain, as well as wins at the Tour Series criteriums and Premier Calendar events this year.

Cheshire Classic future boosted

The Cheshire Classic Women’s Road Race, the opener to the British Cycling National Series, has brought Epic Cycles on board as a new sponsor. The 77km race, won last year by Junior World Champion Lucy Garner, is set for 22 April in Northwich, Cheshire and thanks to the sponsorship, it will now have access to full support from National Escort Group motorcycle marshals and a biking paramedic.  It comes as a welcome boost for the sport after recent reports from riders and promoters apparently struggling to find backing for their events.

CTC expands sportive calendar

CTC, the UK's national cyclists' organisation has added two more dates to their sportive calendar for 2012 - the Swindon Cycle Champions ride on 19 February and the North West Challenge, Manchester on March 18. Entry to the Swindon event is on a buy one get one free basis, so it'll cost £15 for you and a friend. Both are on top of returning rides from 2011, including Dorset's Ride to the Pies (25/26 February) and Sheffield's Phil Liggett on 19 August. Visit the website for entry information.

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Turbine is Race Face’s top-end aluminium line, with only the carbon fibre Next and SIXC ranges above it. With high-strength 7075 aluminium construction and a shot-peened finish, this riser bar is in it for the long haul.

It has a bit more upsweep than most bars – only a little in terms of degrees, but by the time you get to the grips the difference is significant, promoting an over-the-front, elbows-out riding position. There’s also a little more scope for rolling the bars back without them becoming uncomfortably flat. The usual alignment grid on the bulge aids setup.

At 680mm (27in) the Turbine isn’t the widest bar, but not everyone wants a 700mm+ span. Race Face win on informative cutting guides, with the lines etched not just with the length you’re taking off but also the weight you’ll save by doing so – 0.4g/mm if you’re interested. The Turbine scores well on looks, and it's available in six colours if that matters to you.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine.

This weekend Zdeněk Štybar (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) is hoping to complete a hat trick, going for three world championship cyclo-cross titles in as many years, and he'll be doing so on a bike that he's only been racing for a month.

The Czech racer already owns six world championship medals – he took two world titles as a U23 rider, plus bronze (2008), silver (2009) and two golds (2010, 2011) in the elite category – and has spent the past four seasons on the same bike, Ridley’s carbon X-Night.

So changing bikes, especially mid-season, must be nerve wracking. However, the reigning champ has taken it in stride. “I really enjoyed it,” he told Specialized for a promotional video after the GP Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium where he debuted the bike wearing a pink fedora. “I'm actually very impressed by this frame. I never expected after seeing the frame [for the first time] that it would be so good.”

“The bike is incredibly stiff,” added Stybar in a Specialized press release. “I can feel the power going right into the bike. Plus, it’s 400g lighter than the previous bike I was riding, which is always a great benefit – especially when you have to carry the bike!”

The change of bike hasn’t happened quietly – Stybar's CruX stands out from the crowd thanks to its pink paintjob. The colour was chosen to commemorate Specialized's first mountain bike squad, Team Stumpjumper, who used pink bikes (fitted with drop bars) in the early 1980s. What we would have given to be a fly on the wall when Specialized pitched the Czech rider on the marketing stunt – we imagine much may have originally been lost in translation.

Man and machine will bid for a third elite world title this weekend

He’s surely now happy with the bike, and its color, after having taken his first World Cup win of the season with the CruX at the penultimate stop of the series in Lievin, France, which he then followed with a strong second place to Kevin Pauwels at the finals last weekend in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands.

Stybar’s CruX is the only alloy bike at the front of the race, and maybe the only metal bike that’s now being used in the elite men’s World Cup competition (note that Ian Field, the UK’s national champ, rides a CruX too). Stybar’s personal rig – actually, he has four 54cm CruX bikes – is custom not only in color but also geometry. 

“It's slightly custom but most people would have a hard time differentiating it from the stock 54; minor, minor adjustments in geometry,” Specialized marketing rep Ben Delaney told BikeRadar. “The only change was a slight increase in the seat tube length to give him just a bit more clearance for his arms when shouldering the bike.”

One other custom tune is available to Stybar: the ability to swap between two fork rakes for different course conditions; he has both 49mm and 51mm options available. We’d expect him to be on the longer rake for the sand at Koksijde this weekend, but Delaney said he'd make the final call after training on Saturday.

All of Stybar’s kit comes from the SRAM family, with a Black Red transmission paired to Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes – set narrow for more power – and supplemented with Specialized’s S-Works carbon crank. Cockpit and wheels come from Zipp in the form of their alloy Service Course bits.

You can see Stybar talk about his pink CruX in the video below, from Specialized

Complete bike specification

• Frame: Specialized CruX, 54cm, custom geometry
• Fork: Specialized CruX carbon, 49mm and 51mm rake available
• Headset: Specialized S-Works ProSet
• Stem: Zipp Service Course SL, 130mm, +/-6°
• Handlebar: Zipp Service Course, 44cm
• Bar tape: Specialized Roubaix
• Front brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate, set narrow
• Rear brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate, set narrow
• Front derailleur: SRAM Black Red with steel cage
• Rear derailleur: SRAM Black Red
• Levers: SRAM Black Red
• Cassette: SRAM PG1070, 12-26t
• Chain: SRAM PC1090
• Crankset: Specialized S-Works SL FACT, 172.5mm, 46/38t
• Bottom bracket: Specialized S-Works
• Pedals: Shimano XTR M970
• Wheelset: Zipp 404 Firecrest
• Front tire: Dugast, all-models (course dependent; shown with prototype Pipisquallo)
• Rear tire: Dugast, all-models (course dependent; shown with prototype Pipisquallo)
• Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Toupe 143
• Seatpost: Zipp Service Course SL Speed carbon

Critical measurements 

• Rider's height: 183cm/6ft
• Rider's weight: 71.5kg/157.6lb
• Saddle height from BB, c-t: 770mm
• Seat tube length, c-c: 510mm
• Tip of saddle to center of bar: 560mm
• Head tube length: 140mm
• Top tube length (virtual): 549mm
• Total bicycle weight: 7.7kg/16.97lb

Note: this pro bike profile was done remotely through Specialized’s global marketing department, which provided details from Stybar’s mechanic and photos from tdwsport.com photography.

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