Another great weekend for Team Terrain

Jeremy Copland - Great start to the 2014 season. 2nd today in the SS category at the Whinlatter MTB Challenge made even better by clinching 2nd on the last climb.
32 miles and 6000 feet of climbing !

Tom Hooper - That's the first round of the regional Mtb Xc series done and dusted, I got 4th in my first race in with 'experts' on the World Cup course at Dalby Forest. Well done to Ady Rudd, good ride fella! Now for a couple of training sessions this week before the opening of the British Xc Series. ON ON!

Matt Robinson and Matthew Bulmer  -
Billy picked me up from my house at 8 o clock along with my dad for the journey to Pocklington in Selby !!
 The race was over 54 miles on a pan flat circuit not really suited to my strength's but more to Billy's so the plan was to get in the moves with both of us in so I could help him out if we managed to stay away ? 
The wind was blowing but the conditions were cool and dry and the roads were in pretty good nick so was going to be a fast race !! The attacks started from the gun but nothing really stuck !

 On lap 3 of 9 we managed to get in a move with 2 other guys we knew we had to go full gas to have any hope of making the move stick as there was no place to get out of sight of the bunch with the straights being so long !! A few more riders managed to get across to us but as can be the case some times not every one wanted to contribute to the break so really it was doomed to failure the bunch caught us after a couple of laps !! 
At which point another move went with 5 guys in it much to mine and Billy's annoyance we missed it !! 
We tried to bridge across with a few more guys but the bunch was not for letting a second group go so it was a case of sitting tight for a few laps and hope the guys out front would get caught as gradually we did but not quick enough so me and billy attacked together to try get across but still to no avail !!
 A lap later the rain fell and poor billy stacked it on a corner his race over !! I gave it one more crack on the last lap with 4 other guys and came just short of bridging the gap !! As it was the guys out front finally got caught so it came down to a big bunch sprint not my kind of thing so I just rolled in mid bunch !! We certainly gave it ago as you can tell from the great pics my dad took !!

 I'm looking forward to the weeks training camp in Spain at the end of the month and for the races with the hills to begin  when I'm back that's when I think the results will start coming for us boys ?

What can the DH boys do  Well Downhill team representing ATC www.allterraincycles.co.uk ! 1st race of the season with a win and two 2nds. Downhill team podiums, road team where you at

Cube Bike Test Day Review

Two of our staff, Tom and Yaz, at www.allterraincycles.co.uk  went along to the Cube Demo Day.

This how Yaz summed up the day

We set off Thursday evening to our camping pod at Lanefoot farm 5 mins from Whinlatter Forrest. We had a good night's sleep and pretty soon It was  time to rise and shine to get some brekky in Keswick, then head over to Whinlatter to meet the chaps from Cube bikes.

On the training course we learnt about when and where Cube was founded. '1993 in Waldershof Germany'
We learnt about their new Ebike range and teaming up with BOSCH for the motors of their pedal assisted
Ebikes

The 2 types of Ebikes are the Active line and the Performance line
Active line being the grey BOSCH unit on Ebikes mostly found on Touring Trekking Town bikes.

The performance line black BOSCH unit, found on the Cube electric mountain bikes which in my opinion were mind blowing on the trail. The Ebikes have a computer head unit that displays speed, battery life & range.  There is a remote which has 5 different riding modes, those being Turbo Sport, Tour, Eco and Off.  There is also  a walk assist mode that helps while pushing your bike up hill.

There is a new head unit called the Nyon which is fully gps capable & has bluetooth so you can see text msg, heart rate and also has a Usb to charge your phone or even aftermarket lights to extend your night rides.

On the Course we learnt about how Cube rigorously tests frames and components.  Tom and myself
were really impressed with what we saw in their videos.  The Cube research and development team and production team are trying to be at the top of their game. and we all know what German Engineering is like!  We love it.

On the course they stressed the importance of media and press reviews which have been exellent .
Of course, when that happens the bike  sells out.  They also mentioned the importance of social media sites like Facebook ,Twitter, Instagram and linkdin.

Now the fun part!   After lunch we took a couple of Cube demo bikes for a blast round Whinlatter.
Tom rode a Cube stereo Ebike and was absolutely flying on a 140mm trail bike ...uphill.
At first we were unsure about the weight of the bikes, as they are heavy, but only by a couple of pounds in comparison to your standard trailbike.

I must say,  getting the ebike airborne and drifting into the Corners was a lot of fun. You do have to use your mental judgment a bit more with the speed and riding into corners.

I rode a Cube sting trail bike 120mm travel 29er which again rode really well on the Trails.
On my second lap,  I rode a Cube ltd Ebike and yet again getting it airborne. With the weight of the battery and motor in the centre of all Cube ebikes the bikes handled really well.  The bikes were surprisingly a lot of fun and opened both Tom and my opinion's to Ebikes.  I would strongly recomend you have a ride on one.  Most of the Cube bike range will be in both 650b wheels and 29er versions.

We really did have a cracker of a day.  Thanks to Cube,  All Terrain Cycles www.allterraincycles.co.uk and Whinlatter Forrest.


On that note can I please order a Cube stereo ebike ?

Tom was equally impressed,

After riding around 2 laps of a blue trail I never thought I would have my mind changed so much on two subjects:  Cube and electric bikes.

Being the new kid of the block in our shop it was always going to be an uphill battle to get acknowledged as good brand, but I certainly had my mind changed as soon as I threw my leg over a bike.  A brand that has such a good spec list compared to the big companies in the industry had to be hiding some important details or had to ride like crap, but this opinion was soon to be changed.

I always go on training courses with an open mind, I may have some opinions on products a brand makes and how they aren’t as good as other products in the industry but this must be left in the car park, as soon as i'm in the company of the course provider i'm there to learn about how good products are.  With this in mind the two of us walked over to the big banners and met the chaps from cube, a nice relaxed bunch of guys who believe in the products they sell and more importantly, want to have a good laugh with everyone rather than them being the teacher and us being the students. This started by us all drinking coffee outside in the sun and telling the work experience kid that had been brought by another shop how this is a typical day in the bike industry....

Before Yaz and myself even got into the classroom for the day we were given an electric mountain bike to have a ride around the car park on, this really did wet my appetite to learn how they make them feel like a normal bike, whilst also giving a friendly push up all the hills without any noise from the motor and without weighing as much as a planet.

These questions were quickly answered as the first bit of the training was done by a chap from Bosch who was there to tell us exactly how the e-bikes work. With Bosch being a massive international company they are the right company to have onboard when it comes to electric assisted bikes, and soon we found out how easy it is for the shop to work with these things. There is so many different things happening all at once in the motor to make sure it’s doing the best job it can, we would later find out how well these things worked when bouncing down some trails. 

Some neat things the ebikes from cube have include a GPS system that will be available soon and also has a nice feature that will take you home if you get lost in the middle of nowhere, it will even work with strava if you need the extra assistance to get those KOM’s off the local strava hero’s.

The next topic was cube as a brand and how they go about making and testing the bikes. This was a big chunk of the day so I won’t go into all the details, I will summarise by saying I really was impressed as to what length cube to go to make sure the bike they send out of the factory door is ready for most things that the roads or trails throw at the bikes, and cubes willingness to not spec an external companies components if they don’t pass the cube tests, even if a big magazine thinks they are the best things since sliced bread.

 After we had a feast for lunch and did some more bit in the classroom it was time to ride the bikes. 

The first bike I got on was the cube stereo SL electric bike which is the highest model they do in the range and comes in around 21kg so isn’t a heavyweight in electric bikes terms. After the first few turns of the pedals I knew I was going to enjoy riding this bike, it feels so nimble in the turns and even kicks the back wheel out if you are feeling that way inclined. You feel bad that you are finding it so easy to climb the trails with whilst other people are slogging it out, and the looks on some people’s faces certainly backs up this point! 

Once the trail started to point down the hill over some jumps and rough berms I thought I was going to find the limit of the bike, but this never happened and it just kept on bouncing down the hill asking to go faster and faster after each turn. Once back to the hub it was time to swap bikes, this time I had to do all the pedaling myself but Fritzz 160 race I climbed onto certainly made the next loop as enjoyable even if I did have to do some work on the hills. 

After as much fun on the second lap and playing a game of catching Yaz aboard his reaction 29 it was time to head back into the cafe for another feast. The day ended with some prize giving and Yaz managed to win the best test score, if only he had written neater I would have stood a better chance at winning too....

The words that sum up the day for both Yaz and myself are - Never did we think a cube would ride so well.

All Terrain Race Team what are they up to ?

Well Ben Wodd has been getting some serious training in, here is what he has to say.

This weekend I finally got out with the Café racing bunch who set off from Keighley area on a sat morning. Top group of guys and girls who have been racing at the highest level of the sport for many years. It was great to see familiar faces young and old. 

One or two faces I haven't seen in 10-15 years since I first started racing cross-country MTB and fell in love with the sport of cycling at the age of 15.  I've been meaning to get out and ride with these guys for months, maybe years. But being new to road racing I had heard good and bad rumours of the café racing rides being tough and fast.

 I often thought that I wouldn't enjoy them or it wasn’t suiting my schedule of work and life and had always given it a miss. How wrong I had been? 

I loved every minute of having my legs tested and ripped off. It was tough and hard, but there wasn’t a moment where I thought I don't like this. After the unofficial race had ended and the sprint for the sign had been contested it was great to chat with various riders about how hard it had been riding in to a very strong westerly head wind. 

We spun steadily to the café to get a well-earned coffee.  Some of the more experienced riders where going to put some miles in after and ride towards settle and put another 50 mile in. Feeling better than I thought I joined a select few and headed to the hills. Tough head winds and beautiful scenery and rough roads I got finally made it home with the biggest smile on my face. 

Was great to ride with so many friendly faces. Massive thanks to Chris Young and Seth Smith for looking after me and sorry it's taken me so long to get out. See you next week!

Mark Perry entered the SERRL event 1 Lamberhurst/Frant/E123/120k , this is his report on the race.

My first Elite race of the season was on a demanding 20 k course, which has a steep, fast descent , a lot of uphill draggy sections and a double uphill kick to the start/finish line.
Having done this race a few seasons ago and knew there would be a break, so was up near the front from the off.

Little did I expect the break to go in the first 2 mins of the race as the lead car led us up to the start finish line. I found myself pushing on in a 3 man break with 120k to go, but was glad of the brief rest when another ten riders joined us a lap later. The three main teams were represented in this group, with two or three riders each, so I knew we'd stay away.
We pressed on hard and at one point had 8 mins on the bunch with another chasing group 3 mins behind.

On the penultimate lap I attacked just before the climb to the finish and managed to get a gap, now I just thought about a solo TT effort for the last lap. Looking over my shoulder at the top of the circuit I saw two riders were bridging across to me, one of them my training buddy Rhys Howells. The three of us drove our effort on until Rhys jumped just before the finish, I tried to chase but my legs were melting by that point and the other rider came around me to get second.

Having trained hard all through the winter months and just returning back from a training camp in Tenerife I was looking for a top 5, so chuffed with  3rd. This was the first time I'd raced on the new bike, which was faultless all race. Super stiff and responsive when I put in the big efforts and attacks, plus really smooth gear shifting and sharp, responsive breaking. 

Computer says Go Go Go !

If your are cycling to the pub or following the footsteps of the TDF , cycling data is now easily and readily analysed.

Lets look at a selection of products currently available.

Cateye
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?filter=true&q=computer&sortby=title&brandid=1749
Cateye's tiny new Strada Smart works in conjunction with  your mobile phone to display GPS derived information onto your handlebars.

The unit is Bluetooth and will connect wireless to any iPhone from the 4's upwards as well as anroid's from 4.3 and above. All from £59.99.

Your phones GPs will provide the unit data to show mileage, altitude, time and a host more of must known information. Its an intelegent unit and will indicate by way of incons nincoming calls or texts.
GPS will also amend time zones, making it ideal for overseas travel.
If you are looking for a larger screen, the Padrone retails at £49.99.

Giant

At £29.99, the Wirless 13 function Axact 13w, is hard to beat.

Enclosed in a waterproof shell it will display all the basic information you might require.
Clock, distance , auto sleep, calories and pacer, all accessible via one simple button.

Sigma
   http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?filter=true&q=computer&sortby=title&brandid=1680
Simga have been at the forefront of cycle computing technology since the launch of their first computer over 30 years ago.

They were the first to introduce wireless technology and altitude measurement.

Used by Eurocar riders in last years Tour, the Sigma Rox 10 is GPS enabled and works with Ant+ transmission.This technology allows syncronisation with most powermeters.

Bike Security: How to Keep Your Bike Safe and Secure at University

Description: Bicycle theft is a huge problem, but you shouldn’t let it put you off cycling. If you follow these five steps, your bike will be as secure as possible.

Keywords: bike security, bike theft, students, cycling at university, bike locks, bike parks

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Cycling is a great way to get about whilst at university. It’s free, eco-friendly and it keeps you fit whilst you’re studying. Plus, you never have to worry about missing the bus again.

However, there is a catch – bike theft is a huge problem in the UK.

  An estimated half a million bikes are stolen in the UK every year, with less than 5% returned to their owner. Bicycles are an easy target for thieves, as stolen bikes can be easily sold online. The rise of the internet has seen bike crime double in the last decade – not good news for cyclists.

Despite that, there are plenty of steps you can take, which will greatly reduce your chances of becoming one of the million victims of bike theft each year. Not only can you reduce the chance of your bike being stolen, you can also increase the chance of it being recovered. Here are our five simple steps to ensuring your bike is safe and secure at university:

1.       Register Your Bike

Firstly, register your bike with Bike Register. This means your bike will be registered in your name, making it easier for Police to identify and recover your bike, if stolen.

You should also take a photo of your bike and record the frame number (usually located underneath the bike, in between the pedals). As well as this, it is recommended that you mark your postcode on two different spots on your bike – one obvious place and one hidden place.

All of the above steps will help Police to identify your bike and can help you prove the bike is yours.

2.       Insurance

Just like any other expensive item, it’s a good idea to insure your bike. You can ensure it on your home insurance – as long as you get cover for theft away from home. Or, if your bike is really expensive, you might want to consider insuring your bicycle through a separate policy to cover theft and accidental damage.

3.       Choose a Secure Lock

Although any kind of lock will deter a casual criminal, a cheap chain or wire lock can be easily cut through. If you really want your bike to be secure, you should choose a D-lock with a Gold ‘sold secure’ logo. In tests, these locks can withstand attack for the longest. If possible, you could also consider choosing a lock that is suitable for motorbikes, as these are the most secure.

For maximum security, combine a D-lock with a wire or chain lock like this. Here, you can see the bike is completely secure – with both wheels locked, so that they can't be stolen either.

While this may seem a costly option, it will save you money in the long-run and give you peace of mind. Be prepared to spend at least 10% of the value of your bike on lock/s – it's a worthwhile investment.

Buying a good quality lock is still much cheaper than driving or getting the bus – so just think of the money you are saving by pedaling yourself across town.

4.       Find a Safe Place to Park Your Bike:

At University…

Whether you’re just popping in to return a book, or staying for the day, you should always lock your bike. It takes just a matter of seconds to steal a bike, so don’t get caught out.

Make sure you choose a secure place to park your bike – preferably the university bike park. But if you need to find a new place to park your bike, choose a well-lit, busy public space. If there are lots of people walking by, then few thieves will risk stealing your bike. Also, take a look and see which areas are covered by CCTV – this is a good deterrent.

Never lock your bike simply to itself with the logic that no one would be able to cycle it away – thieves will simply pick it up and put it the back of a van, and cut through the lock later.

Always ensure that you are locking your bike to an immovable object. One common mistake is to lock your bike to a chain link fence or small tree, as the bike can easily be cut out. There's no point having an expensive lock, if your bike is locked to something flimsy.

Wherever you park your bike, try to lock the bike so that it is held tight and rigid against whatever it's locked to. The harder it is to manoeuvre, the harder it will be for a thief to break or cut through the lock.

To give you an idea of potentially dangerous places to park your bike, this graphic shows techniques which are used by criminals to steal bikes.

At home…

You may think that your bike is safe at home, but more than half of all bike theft happens at the owner's home. You should always lock your bike – even if it's in your house, garden or shed. This is even more important if you live in a shared house or hall of residence.

Make sure you keep your bike out of view – ideally locked in a secure bike shed or hallway.

5.       Secure Parts That Are Easy to Remove

While a good quality bike lock may secure most of your bike, there are still parts which can be stolen. For example, lights, bike pumps, wheels and saddle can be easily removed.

Get in to the habit of taking your lights and pump with you. If your saddle is easy to remove, it may be a good idea to take this with you too. If you have quick-release wheels, then you should try using two locks as mentioned above, so that both wheels are secure.

While cycling may be a ‘free’ form of transport, it can only stay cost-effective if your bike is secure. By taking these simple steps, you should be able to enjoy cycling to university throughout your student days.

If your bike is stolen, you must make sure to report the incident to the Police. But if you take all the necessary precautions, it will be very unlikely you'll have to make that call. 

Why Cycling is One of the Most Adaptable and Accessible Sports in the World?

Cycling is hugely popular, as well as surprisingly adaptable, making it one of the most accessible sports in the world.

Why Cycling is One of the Most Adaptable and Accessible Sports in the World

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All cyclists know the familiar feeling of movement, freedom and independence that comes with propelling yourself on your own pedal-power. And it's this feeling which makes cycling so popular with a whole range of people with learning or physical disabilities.

Many disabilities leave people feeling trapped and isolated within their condition, with little or no independence. Cycling can allow disabled people to feel liberated from their condition – free to move independently.

Cycling is accessible to all because bikes can be adapted to meet the needs of any individual – from people with visual impairment to learning difficulties, to those with limited or no lower mobility. Whatever stands in the way of independence, there is a two-wheeled solution.

Here is a guide to the adapted bikes available:

Tricycles

Adding an extra wheel to a bike means that the rider does not need to be able to balance. This small change makes cycling accessible to those with learning disabilities, or people recovering from a stroke.

Tandems

While conventional tandem bikes are not seen as specially designed disability bikes, they are extremely popular with a huge range of disabled people.

One inspired use of the tandem bicycle is to make cycling accessible to visually impaired people. The cycling charity, Life Cycle, have developed a successful programe of tandem rides in the Bristol area.

A team of volunteers pair up with visually impaired riders, and explore cycle paths in and around Bristol. With the volunteer in control of the bike, the visually impaired rider can still enjoy the feeling of motion and the exercise of pedaling.

Paul Barnett took part in the scheme and said:

“Two's Company’s done a great job in opening up cycling to so many more people, as well as showing the larger cycling community that there's a multitude of ways to cycle. And I'm really grateful to you for welcoming me and my children and triggering the cycling bug.”

However, there are also ways of adapting tandem bikes to meet the needs of different disabilities. This next idea is from the Netherlands – the Dutch lead the way when it comes to cycling, and with adapted bikes, this is no different.

Steer-from-the-rear Tandem bicycles have been developed, which allow the disabled rider to sit at the front of the bike to experience the world around them, instead of staring at their companions back. This is a great for those with learning disabilities, as the experience is very similar to riding a standard bike on your own.

Tandems can also be adapted to the One-Up-One-Down style, where the rider at the front has a lowered seat instead of saddle – perfect for those who want to pedal but have limited upper body mobility.

Side-by-Side Quadri-cycles

This bike style is an adaption of the tricycle to accommodate to riders side by side. Each rider pedals independently, but the rider on the left has control of the steering. This is another bike which makes cycling accessible to those with learning disabilities.

Hand-Cycles

For those with limited or no lower body mobility, the Hand-Cycle is a liberating invention. The bike operates on the same pedal-powered principle as a traditional bike but using hands to turn a wheel, which in turn drives the chain around the bicycle wheels.

Hand cycles are also great for people with joint problem such as arthritis and for those looking rebuild upper body strength after a serious illness.

Road-Going Wheelchair

Another way to increase the accessibility of cycling has simply been to attach a wheel chair to a bike. The Road-Going Wheelchair, has the wheelchair attached to the front, and a bike at the back – similar to the design of a tandem. This provides the feeling of cycling for those who can't pedal.

Here are just a few ways which bikes can be adapted to the needs of an individual, showing that cycling is a hugely adapted sport. The principle of using pedal-power to propel yourself can altered and adapted to create many different bikes, all with the same core idea – to move independently.

You can see an extensive guide to Disability Cycling here, compiled by Get Cycling.

Cycling can greatly improve the lives of many people – it provides freedom and independence, as well as being a great way to keep fit and enjoy the outdoors.

Do you have any experiences of how cycling has improved our life? Share your stories below. 

Giant Defy Composite 1

The road bike. Built to be ridden quickly by racing snakes in lycra, sat in cafés discussing their Strava feeds at the end of each ride, punishing themselves on the climbs & descending at lightening quick speeds on tyres the width of a rubber band!

I must admit, it never really appealed to myself.

Ever since I started riding, it’s always been the silly things you can do on a bike that has really got my juices flowing. I cut my teeth in dirt jumping, bmx and 4x & eventually this led me into the world of downhill & freeride. There’s nothing quite like throwing yourself off a 15ft sheer drop and hoping you can ride it out!

Fast forward a few years. 

A bit older, not necessarily much wiser but slowly starting to realise that the sillier side of riding that I have loved for so long, is starting to become harder & harder for to enjoy. I will admit, I’m nowhere near as ballsy as I used to be & the idea of ending up in hospital in plaster or under the knife after a bad spill is not particularly appealing, I have started to mellow a little bit in my old(er) age. 

Also spare time is becoming harder and harder to find these days, so weekend trips up to Scotland or down to wales where the better riding is are becoming rarer and rarer. So as you will read in my other Blog, I decided it was time to buy a trail bike.

So where does the roadbike come into it you ask?

Don’t get me wrong, I love riding, but it’s always really been downhill up until last year. I’m probably one of the most unfit guys in the shop and I don’t get to ride anywhere near as much as I’d like to these days. During the winter months, mountain biking is limited to the weekends and the odd night as your bike, your kit, your lights, everything wears out in the harsh, wet, gritty and cold conditions of Yorkshire. 

Any mountain biker will probably agree, the worst thing about evening riding is getting home late on, soaking wet through, covered in mud and having to clean your bike down, get undressed on the doorstep in the freezing cold and then getting your kit sorted out before getting a nice hot shower and a hot brew!

A couple of months before Christmas, our owner, Tony approached a few of us in the shop and asked if we would like a team bike for the year? Safe to say we all nearly tore his arm off & jumped at the opportunity. The burning question was, what kind of bike do I want? 

I pondered this for a while and decided that it was time to get something sensible I could use day to day, without all the hassle of the mountain bike. I’ve had a couple of fixed gear bikes as well as hybrids for commuting on over the years, but I have never owned an out & out road bike.

3 Months later, there’s a call from the warehouse saying my new bike has arrived! Safe to say it’s like Christmas & I spend the next day or so picking all my new kit, shoes, pedals and getting more and more exited for my new toy to be ready. 

If I was a customer I would have been the guy who rings every single day asking if his bike was ready & when told not, being really disappointed he has to wait another 24hrs! (Those customers, I really do sympathise with you, the guys who work in the trade are EXACTLY the same as you when it comes to new bikes!) 

Finally, it comes up to the shop, 2 hrs before I leave for a 2 week holiday! I am one happy Bunny!

There are a lot of road bikes on the market these days, ranging from your basic aluminium starter bikes right through to the stupidly light and stupidly expensive out and out road bikes. I toyed with the idea of an aluminium bike, but I do like my shiny kit and after a week or so of trying to find something that tickled my fancy, I opened up a giant catalogue and there it was!

The 2014 Giant Defy Composite 1 was the bike which ticked all the boxes. At £1599.00 it’s not the cheapest carbon Framed bike on the market, but it probably one of the best spec’d Carbon starter (I use the word “starter” loosely) bikes on the market. 

With the new 11spd Shimano Ultegra Groupset, a superbly constructed Carbon frame, dripping in giants good quality own brand finishing kit, this was the perfect bike to introduce me to the world of road riding. The biggest selling point other than the spec is the Defy’s frame geometry. It’s not an aggressive frame like some of the Giant TCR’s, http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?q=tcr the Cannondale Supersix  http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Bikes-Road-Bikes/?filter=true&categoryid=2632&sortby=title&brandid=1479 or even the Trek Madone Ranges http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?filter=true&q=madone&sortby=title&brandid=1715  . It’s designed to suit the rider who wants a more upright, comfortable road bike. Weekend warriors, Long distance riders or like me, the novices who want something they can use day in day out, the Defy is one of our most popular bikes, and suits 90% of the people who come in looking for a road bike.

As anyone I work with or ride with knows, I rarely tend to buy out of the box bikes, I’m very picky with my set-ups and I do enjoy the shinier things in life! Although new to riding road bikes, I do know quite a lot about the set ups and componentry, and being a bit of a technical geek the first thing I always tend to swap on the bike are the wheels.

 If you want to make a big difference to the way a bike rides and lose a fair chunk of weight in the process, wheels are always going to make the biggest difference. A lighter set of wheels will improve acceleration and handling and rolling weight is always going to be the biggest issue most people with have with their bikes when trying to slim the build down.

We have a HUGE range of wheels in the shop, but there is one brand in particular that caught my eye. We have just started stocking a range by a company called Swiss Side and we are the only shop in the UK who is selling them. The quality of build is second to nun and when compared to brands like Mavic and Dt Swiss, not only are they up to the same quality, they do come in substantially cheaper.

The Swiss Side Heidi Shadow 

 http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?filter=true&q=shadow&sortby=title&brandid=1772 

wheels I have now fitted are the direct competitor to the Mavic Ksyrium Equipe S with an RRP of £390.00

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Search?filter=true&q=ksyrium&sortby=title&brandid=1592

, the Heidi is only £229.00!! 

Ill be running these over the next few months, so there’s nothing like a long term test to see how the bike, componentry and new wheels (as well as my body!) stands up to the punishment of day to day riding on the roads in and around Leeds & Bradford. I’ve got my lycra, I’ve got my Spd’s ( This is Going to be interesting) & I’ve Downloaded Strava.

Time to get riding I suppose!

Great weekend for All Terrain Race Team

Highfield/Godleys round 1 north east spring cup 1st march

 

This was both Ben Wood and Nikky Jovanovics first race of the season. They are both pretty new to road racing and wanted to test our winter training on the closed circuit race in Middleborough and with the support of All Terrain Cycles www.allterraincycles.co.uk they went to the race ready to test their legs and the new bikes supplied by Giant. This was the last race of the day starting late at 4pm. The weather for a change was bright and dry, but very fresh. Always hard at this time to choose the right kit and balance being warm enough in practice but not being too hot when the racing really starts.

 

The race started and both Ben and Nikky moved up the bunch. Ben told Nicky to stay on his wheel as much as he could and if I went of the attack to try and come across if it was safe to do so. We both soon realised this was going to be a very fast race.Ben said his heart rate was already through the roof and for a 4th cat race it was hard to make any kind of attack with the pace being pushed high. They both stayed in the top 10 riders throughout the race. On 3 laps to go Ben decided to make my move up the short climb and see if I could get away along the finishing straight.

Nikky stayed in the bunch but being insure of myself and whether the move would work I soon got caught. Sometimes it's all or nothing. Within half a lap Ben was caught and sat back in. The bell went for the final lap, so I upped the pace and tried to get near the front for the final corners. A couple of other teams had the same idea and it was a battle to hold wheels and keep your line. They got round the second to last corner before the climb then Ben made my move.

Nikky had got himself in to a great position in front of me out of the corner and as we hit the last corner the peloton swung across from left to right and closed the gap that hard that Nicky was pushed on to the grass verge. Luckily he used his BMX skills to push through and jumped back on to the tarmac then made his sprint count. At this point Ben was blocked and had nowhere to go. Ben rolled in with the rest of the bunch 13 or 14 place.

 Nikky had managed to get his sprint on and get second. Amazing result. I was over the moon with how both of us had rode on not only our first race of the season but with average speed of 25mph for 30mins of this 1km cycle circuit. All in all lots to learn but what a great result.

Meantime at York Sports day ,Peter Barusevicus, of All Terrain www.allterraincycles.co.uk managed an impressive 3rd, with 4th and 5th also going to the Team with Riders Matt Robinson and Matthew Bulmer pulling out the stops.



 Not to be out done , young star, Bjoern Koerdt, was in his favourite place, number one again.



The DH boys were out testing their new Giant Glory Race rigs in readiness for the first meetings of the year. Here are Jed , Chris and Si in Hamsterly Forest blowing off the Winter cobwebs!





In the Lake District, Enduro Rider, Joe Flanagan, falls deeper in love with his new Team Bike the Giant Trance Advanced 0. He cant get over how light, responsive it is and its amazing ability to climb and descend. His words - Incredible ! Here is in a snow loop of Grizedale Pike to Causey Pike, finishing at Catbells.


Get that training in !