1st Stop

Schwalbe Durano road tyre review (published by BikeRadar.com)

Schwalbe?s Durano is designed as a high-mileage, durable road tyre. There?s enough protection in the tyre for the off-season, thanks to a RaceGuard belt under the tread. This double layer of nylon does a good job at deflecting sharps.

On the road, rolling performance is very good. It?s a dual compound tyre and gives good grip in the wet. Overall, the Durano is an excellent mile-eating option with minimal compromises in any area. .

Giant Contact Switch dropper seatpost review (published by BikeRadar.com)

Giant developed the Contact Switch post for their own bikes but it’s also available as an aftermarket purchase for 2012. It only comes in one size ? 30.9mm ? and needs a bit of TLC to keep it running smoothly, but it?s potentially a top value option.

Design.

Sperm bikes causing a stir on both sides of Atlantic (published by BikeRadar.com)

You’ve got to have a lot of spunk to be seen on a bike like this, but it’s not just for show ? it’s been used to deliver sperm to fertility clinics in Copenhagen, Denmark since 2010.

Now the idea has been taken up on the other side of the Atlantic, too, with Seattle Sperm Bank buying their own delivery bike, complete with a freezer compartment to store donor sperm..

Video: Red Bull Mini Drome (published by BikeRadar.com)

Red Bull bill their Mini Drone as the \”world?s smallest velodrome” and they?ve been running contests around the UK all year on the track. The idea is that 100 riders on fixed-gear bikes are pitted against each other in increasingly frantic pursuits, with the fastest across 10 laps progressing to the next round.

The video below, courtesy of Red Bull Media House, amply demonstrates how much fun the racing is, and also how painful it can be when things go wrong! Everyone approaches the Mini Drone with a different technique, some more successfully than others ? the incident where one guy stacks it only to be run over by his pursuer is particularly wince-inducing. The bruising crashes look to be part and parcel of the whole experience though ? check it out below:.

What about I am excited today?

I will start with this: BMC Trailfox TF01 review (published by BikeRadar.com)

This latest carbon fiber incarnation of the BMC Trailfox is designed to be a Swiss Army knife of a bike, with trail-friendly geometry and a sub-25lb weight that belies its 150mm of rear travel. For lighter riders, its low weight and pedalling stability make it one of the best all-rounders we?ve ridden.

UK pricing is competitive because Evans Cycles sell direct rather than through dealers ? a Shimano XT based build is £4,000, with a lighter SRAM X0 option at £4,500. US riders must dig deeper into their pockets, though, with the Shimano XTR equipped bike shown here costing a whopping $8,500. That makes the frame flex and chain growth issues we’ve identified hard to stomach, especially for larger or more aggressive riders.. Read the rest of the story…

Lets move on!: Drugs cheat Valverde?s unveiling ceremony called off (published by Bicycle.net | Attitude is Everything)

MADRID, Nov 14, 2011 (AFP) – Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde’s proposed unveiling by former team Movistar on Tuesday has been called off after the sport’s governing body the International Cycling [...]. Read full story…

To end on another electrifying story: USICX: Dillman claims junior standings with two races remaining (published by USA Cycling News Headlines)

The United States International Cyclo-cross Calendar (USICX) continued last weekend with the USGP of Cyclocross Derby City Cup in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday and Sunday. Each category was swept, resulting in new leaders among the elite racers and Andrew Dillman clinching the junior standings.. Read the rest of the story…

Come back again for more intriguing stories

Maxxis Minion F DH 2.35in mountain bike tyre review (published by BikeRadar.com)

The ?DH Front? tag and bewildering range of options might put some riders off the scent, but in terms of fit-and-forget hardcore performance for price in any condition nothing beats the Maxxis Minion F.

The design has been around for ages and like a lot of the best grippers comes straight off the downhill circuit. Unlike most noticeably grippy tyres, the mid-spaced alternating semi-directional-split and square-slope-fronted lugs roll well enough for efficient year-round use. They hook up as reliably on the back as the slower-rolling dedicated rear version, so we always run a pair of fronts as preference. .

Video: Kona Satori and Honzo 29ers (published by BikeRadar.com)

Kona have a strong line-up of 29ers for 2012. Two old favourites, the King Kahuna and Hei Hei 29, have received a major overhaul and they’re joined by a pair of all-new big-wheelers aimed at the all-mountain crowd, the Honzo hardtail and 130mm-travel Satori.

In this video, the new bikes are put through their paces in the wild forests and mountains of the Coast Range, near Squamish, British Columbia, by two of the Canadian company’s long-term product testers, Kevin Noble and Trevor Porter. Look out for episode two of The House of the Big Wheel, featuring the King Kahuna and Hei Hei 29 cross-country bikes, soon..

Just in: Giro Reverb helmet and Full Windsor mudguards (published by BikeRadar.com)

Giro have tried to echo the design of their early ’90s Air Attack lid with their new retro Reverb commuting helmet. Their UK distributors Madison claim it’s an “anti-helmet for all those that set the trends and know that true style isn’t always looking forwards, but rather sometimes back”.  

Its key feature is a removable fabric peak that attaches neatly inside the brim of the helmet with Velcro pads, with spares available in a huge range of colours for £4.99. The lid weighs 271g (medium), has nine vents and an outer shell that wraps all the way round and inside the helmet. It costs £49.99 and comes in 11 colourways including black/red, matt black and the yellow/orange we came across at Madison’s iceBike show this summer. .

Today is a good day for good news!

OK, lets begin!: BikeFit Bunion Shoe Stretcher review (published by BikeRadar.com)

Cycling shoes ? especially ones designed for the road ? are often touted for their highly supportive and stretch-resistant constructions that cradle the riders’ feet in ultra-efficient cocoons. If that fit isn’t just right, though, that foot-hugging cocoon can feel more like an iron maiden.

Riders with specific issues such as Tailor’s bunions or bone spurs can be especially susceptible to excruciating pain. The common solution for those riders is to resort to wider or generally roomier lasts that can relieve the pressure but compromise the overall fit in the process. BikeFit’s unusual Bunion Shoe Stretcher, on the other hand, allows riders to make point modifications in their otherwise well-fitting footwear.. More…

Lets move on!: Video: ‘Behind THE Barriers’, season II, episode 6 (published by BikeRadar.com)

Behind THE Barriers follows US cyclo-cross star Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) as he competes on the domestic race circuit. In the latest episode, he tackles the first day of the USGP New Belgium Cup in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Rain and plunging temperatures make for wet, muddy and unpredictable racing, but J-Pow battles his way through the slop to take a strong third place finish behind an extremely motivated Ryan Trebon.. Read the rest of the story…

To end on another exciting story: Bicycle Line autumn/winter clothing – First look (published by BikeRadar.com)

Italian clothing label Bicycle Line will celebrate 25 years in the business in 2012, producing threads for road cyclists of all calibres, on top of custom team wear.

Though they don’t always sport the reassuring ‘Made in Italy’ tag, the samples we recently received look to be solid gear at decent prices. The Bicycle Line don’t have a UK or US distributor at the moment, but their products can be shipped from their distributors in Ireland (CycleSuperStore) and Canada (Arg Sports). . Read full story…

More news next time!

Challenge MTB One 29 mountain bike tubular tire review review (published by BikeRadar.com)

‘s new MTB One 29 tubular tires offer a fast ride, ultra-supple feel and surprisingly decent grip. They’re very expensive, though, at an estimated US$150, and will be impractical for the vast majority of riders, confining their appeal largely to pro racers.

Tubulars offer many of the same benefits for mountain biking as they do for cyclo-cross ? potentially lighter system weights, the ability to run lower pressures for improved traction, and a supple ride, given their soft sidewalls and ultra-high thread count casings. What all this adds up to on the One is speed. .

Daylight Saving Time change could benefit UK cyclists (published by BikeRadar.com)

Last weekend, the clocks went back in the UK, reigniting the debate over British Summer . The Government are considering a three-year trial of a new system, aimed at providing lighter evenings, which would see the UK adopt Central European Time. In other words, clocks would be set to what is now BST in winter time and a new ‘double summer time’ would be introduced.

What would this mean for cyclists? On the downside, there’d be more days when we?d make our morning commutes in the dark. But supporters of the argue that because drivers tend to be more alert in the mornings, there’d be a reduction inaccidents..

Colnago CLX 2.0 Ultegra road bike review (published by BikeRadar.com)

Colnago is probably the most recognisable of all the Italian bike brands, and the mid-range CLX 2.0 is a very charismatic bike with a premium feel and enough details to ensure pride of ownership.

The Alfa carbon one-piece front triangle shares a lot of similarities with the £2400 CX-1 frameset, including the signature cloverleaf tubes. You get smoother-riding leaf-shaped rather than rectangular chainstays and external cable routing on brakes and gears. Seven sizes and three stock colour schemes (plus further options) mean anatomic and aesthetic tastes are very well catered for too..

Pro Bike: Vincenzo Nibali?s Liquigas-Cannondale SuperSix Evo (published by BikeRadar.com)

Liquigas team leader Vincenzo Nibali is on board a 56cm Cannondale SuperSix Evo frame for this year’s Giro d’Italia.

The bike is so light that it comes with its own weights to keep it above the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg. The frame alone weighs a claimed (and verified) 695g, and even when equipped with an SRM power meter and the Evo model?s most elaborate and heaviest paint scheme, the bike is nearly half a kilo under the limit. That means a special set of weights have to be inserted within the frame’s seat tube to make it ‘legal’..

Premium Bicycle Lubricant Company Switches to Environmentally Friendly PET (#1) Bottles (published by Bicycle.net | Attitude is Everything)

Bay Shore, NY (May 24, 2011) ? Cyclists concerned about recycling can now find Finish Line Technologies? premium lubricants in environmentally friendly bottles. The company believes it is the only[...].

Cannondale SuperSix EVO ? First ride (published by BikeRadar.com)

Cannondale?s SuperSix EVO was launched earlier this month with great claims of light weight, high stiffness, tuned flex and general high performance. So, does it live up to the hype? For the most part, yes ? despite the seeming extravagance of some of the claims. The EVO is a thoroughbred professional racer; it?s stiff and extremely light, but if you?re expecting a Cadillac-like ride you?ll need to look elsewhere.

Light, stiff and smooth….

Tour of California 4: Horner conquers Sierra Road for yellow (published by BikeRadar.com)

RadioShack’s Chris Horner claimed his first ever Amgen Tour of California stage, taking the summit finish on Sierra Road with a solo attack halfway up the final ascent. It is Horner’s first victory since his overall win in the 2010 Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and puts the American into the leader’s yellow jersey.

Leopard Trek’s Andy Schleck showed his climbing prowess with a fine second place ahead of Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare) and Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack), but 15 seconds lost on the first day of racing by both Sutherland and Schleck means Leipheimer is second on the generalclassification..

Batribike Granite electric bike review (published by BikeRadar.com)

The Granite gives a dose of electric acceleration without even pedalling. So why bother, you might ask, if a twist of the motorbike-like handlebar throttle is all you need to get moving? The answer is that despite being named after one of the heaviest stones on the planet, the Granite is actually pretty light for an e-bike and not half bad to pedal.

Style-wise, the Granite looks like an aluminium hardtail mountain bike with a battery on the back, full mudguards and a chain protector, plus a pointless suspension fork. You also get a dynamo- or battery-ready front light, a battery-ready rear light, kickstand and a suspension seatpost. .

Leipheimer Seeks Fourth Tour of California Title (published by Bicycle.net | Attitude is Everything)

LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2011 – Three-time champion Levi Leipheimer of the United States will lead a field of more than 140 riders from 18 teams in the sixth Tour [...].

Kohler?s Great Escape On Stage 5 of Giro (published by Bicycle.net | Attitude is Everything)

BMC Racing Team’s Martin Kohler impressively soloed for 180 kilometers of Wednesday’s 201 km stage to earn the King of the Mountains jersey at the Giro d’Italia. Long Day Kohler [...].

Training: Ride hard after work (published by BikeRadar.com)

At last the evenings are getting longer and with the clocks going forward it?s a great opportunity for some quality training after work. Early spring is when you should get more specific with your sessions. You will be getting a little stale with long steady miles and the turbo trainer, so now is the time to speed up your riding.

Introducing some faster pace work into your training now will make the transition to racing later on a whole lot easier. The lighter and hopefully warmer evenings are perfect for short, snappy training sessions that will boost your fitness levels and won?t leave you too fatigued. Most of us don?t have much free time after work, maybe an hour at most, but that?s still plenty. .

Hope Tech V2 disc brake review (published by BikeRadar.com)

Hope?s big, adjustable Tech lever has the calliper and power to match its moto looks, but it?s no featherweight. The master cylinder is bulky and awkward to sync with shifters without using a combined clamp.

The mechanical reach and bite point adjust are far more consistent and controllable than most hydraulic adjusters though, and the long drilled blades feel reassuringly solid. The big twin-pot callipers and braided hose give a very direct feel with excellent progressive modulation of the serious amounts of stopping power..