Innholdsfortegnelse for September-October 2023 i Bicycling Australia

AUSSIE CYCLIST MADDY BLACK IS PEDALLING HARD ON the sharpest learning curve of her athletic career. And, that’s not a small admission from a young woman who is a proven high achiever with a vast list of sporting credentials. Still only 25, Maddy is an accomplished gymnast and surf lifesaver, she has played for the Queensland Reds rugby sevens women’s team and represented Australia at the Commonwealth and Oceania Weightlifting Championships. Fresh out of university and never afraid of a new challenge, the qualified occupational therapist and CrossFit coach was offered a job in the Middle East at the end of 2018. So, off she went to Abu Dhabi, chasing a new experience to work as a gym coach and personal trainer. But, along came COVID, the world came to…

IT’S FAIR TO SAY THESE impressive shoe covers arrived at exactly the right time, just as most of southeastern Australia was hit with a nasty winter cold snap. Light. Comfortable. Easy to fit. Warm. They were a godsend, especially the fabric which I found super durable yet surprisingly soft in a very pleasant change from many of the super-stiff overshoes I’ve experienced in the past. The toughness of the 2mm water-resistant outer (50% polyester, 50% polyurethane) is offset by a plush MicroFleece inner lining that created a delightfully snug and toasty-warm feeling for my toes, even when the 5am mercury plunged to near-zero. Fitting them over my cycling shoes and cleats was straightforward, with a simple side closure zipper combining with Velcro straps at the shin and also underneath the…

FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF US, cycling isn't just a mode of transport, but a way of life. It's our fitness regimen and a social hangout with friends. However, one question that keeps coming up among my mates, and particularly in the summer months, is the ideal time to go for a spin. Is it best to cycle in the early morning or after work? Here we look into the science of both scenarios to help you decide your best time to go for a spin. Of course, I’m joking about the science, it’s just a matter of what you prefer. THE EARLY MORNING 1. There’s less chance of excuses creeping in: You set the alarm you get up. You can’t see if it’s cloudy outside because it’s pitch black.…

“W HAT IS YOUR WORST MEMORY of this year’s race?” It might seem strange to ask a person who’s just won the final mountain stage and penultimate leg of the Tour de France such a pointed question, but given the timing and who we’re talking about, it was more than appropriate. “Probably every time Marc Soler looked behind at me on the Col de la Loze, with his scary eyes. That was the most terrifying moment.” That’s right. Not his nemesis Jonas Vingegaard, but his UAE Team Emirates teammate staring back at him on the final climb of what was undoubtedly the toughest stage of the 2023 race. Shortly before his “most terrifying moment” came an earlier terrifying moment. It was not far from the base of the 28 kilometre…

AMIDST A COUNTRY IN A STATE of flux with numerous controversies raging – the Yes campaign, Dan Andrew's sensational Commonwealth Games backflip, and SBS's 'our way or the highway' policy so far as their TDF commentary lineup goes, 2023 certainly has been an interesting year to date. Notwithstanding the cost of living, volatile Australian and World economies, and of course, the ballsy UCI ruling that prohibits transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty. This started on July 17, just in time for the Tour de France Femmes – the World's most important women's race. Good on the UCI for protecting women's cycling with this ruling! So, as the year rockets by and the sweet scent of spring is in the air, let’s talk about the role of Aus Cycling…

THINK VICTORIA’S HIGH COUNTRY AND MOST WILL likely think of the state’s far north east – the cycling mecca of Bright and its glorious surrounds - the iconic climbs of Buffalo, Hotham, Buller, Falls ... the legendary list goes on. But just over an hour from Melbourne is the gateway to Victoria’s outdoor and adventure playground, an enormous region that, on a map, looks to occupy around a fifth of the entire State. Taking in the expansive area from Kinglake and Marysville to Benalla and Rutherglen, then all the way across to Corryong, down to Falls Creek and Dinner Plain, over to Mt Buller and Mansfield, and all manner of quaint and fascinating towns, villages and attractions in between, you could spend months exploring the 30+ towns and villages plus…

5000km Italian Epic THEY SAY THERE IS NO FLAT RIDE IN ITALY, THAT there is always a climb around the corner, and it is never, ever going to be easier than the ones before. “Well, actually it does get easier when you go from north to south,” says Silvia, a fellow cyclist and my local friend in Italy. “You’ll be ok down in Puglia, it is almost flat.” That’s another thing. When an Italian says “almost”, it is always most definitely the opposite. It is perhaps the challenges cycling in Italy bring that makes this cycling obsessed country one of the best destinations for a cycling holiday, and this year, Italy has unveiled a brand new, ultra-long distance cycle route that crisscrosses twenty of its regions over 5000+km to give…

CHOOSING A HELMET IS A TOUGH desicion … just like new kit, shoes and even bikes themselves, there are so many options out there. Along with the wide range of model choices, there’s a myriad different of features to consider - the shape, overall size, profile, aero qualities, strap material, closure system, the size retention system and makeup of the dial, sunglasses compatibility & storage security. And then there’s the internal safety system, de rigueur in quality helmets these days, the inbuilt rotational impact protection. There’s Mips, KinetiCore, WG11, and no doubt even more new technologies evolving as we speak. All this, and we haven't even got to all-important venting options and layout, seasonal factors, colours, fit or finish. Like oils, helmets clearly ain’t helmets. Add a major international bikepacking…

NOT THAT A NEW PAIR OF sunglasses would make me stronger or faster, but let’s admit it, we cyclists do have a fascination with performance eyewear, especially ones that look cool enough to sport on the podium with Team INEOS Grenadiers, who has been wearing new eyewear this year with the team’s new partnership with British company SunGod. So, when it was time to upgrade my eyewear, I decided to give SunGod a go. THE LOOKS SunGod claims the eyewear ownership experience begins at the ordering process. As a cyclist who is also a runner, I chose the Airas for the ultra-lightweight frameless option. Having chosen the model, I was given the chance to either select one of the pre-designed colour options or customise my glasses as I wish. Naturally,…

WELL KNOWN IN THE UK, Ribble Cycles have a 125-year history but remain relatively rare in Australia. Here we ride one of their offerings, the Gravel Ti, 1500km from London to Frankfurt (via Paris) and back again. Barely 24 hours after picking this titanium test bike up from Ribble Cycles Bluewater store just out of London, we were rolling it onto the deck of a cross-channel ferry from the UK to France. We were bikepacking our way to the world’s biggest annual cycling trade show Eurobike, in Frankfurt, Germany, on a review bike from Ribble. What we didn’t know at the time was this – the bike would become as much a highlight of the trip as the trip itself. Loading up any new bike with around 8kg of bikepacking…

NEW ORBEA ORCA The new Orca from 100+ year old Spanish company Orbea isn't just light, it’s rediculously light! In the updated model Orbea have unveiled a 6.6kg specialist climbing machine to help you reach the top quicker than ever. They have honed and refined the frameset to improve vibration absorption, stiffness and handling. High-performance and timeless, with all the customisation options of MyO, never has so little looked and felt so good. Orbea proudly boast that the bike is ‘the ultimate climbing machine’ with the heavenly claim, “Praise the light!” More at www.orbea.com/au NEW FACTOR 02 VAM & WHEELS Talking weight savings (or shavings?), Factor’s new 02 VAM is so light you could easily imagine the bare frameset being hung by a couple of small helium balloons. An aero-optimised…

Eurobike 2023 THE 2023 EDITION OF EUROBIKE, THE WORLD’S premier cycling show, enjoyed record numbers of visitors and exhibitors with tens of thousands filling the huge Frankfurt trade halls for the annual event. The scale and size of the trade fair is difficult to comprehend, and to properly see all relevant exhibits in three days would be impossible with more than 1600 exhibitors showcasing all manner of cycling-related products and services from around the world. ROAD BIKING IS BOOMING Apprehensively approaching the main trade halls on Day 1 of the show, it was heartening to quickly start seeing shiny new road bikes on display. And not just scattered roadies amidst the rows and rows of e-bikes, but a wide range of pure roadies – from micro manufacturers through to the…

THE PAST THREE OR SO YEARS have been a bit of a time for most of us and depending on your situation you may well have come out of the pandemic with a different outlook on life, be that for the better or worse. My own pandemic yarn is a mixed bag, one that eventually turned into a horror story, and one that has yet to have the closing chapters written. I’ve been riding and racing bikes all over the world for 45 years now; a long time, and time enough to know my bike set up, my bodily workings and niggles associated with that inside out, or so you’d think. But then time and age are a strange combo, and that can play tricks with your logic and memory…

WITH THE RELEASE OF THE 540/840 twins, Garmin has brought the two Edge models into alignment. The 840 is identical to the 540, only it adds a touch-screen interface. Thus the decision is easy. If you like the idea of the touch screen, then the 840 is your model. Prefer pushing buttons? The 540 is the model of choice. And don’t forget the 840 also has the full complement of buttons for those occasions when that makes life easier. The 840 also has more memory than the 540, which might be a consideration if you are into cycle travelling and want both Europe or America and Australia maps loaded simultaneously. Prices begin at $599 for the bare 540, or $749 with the sensor bundle including heart rate strap, speed and…

FRENCH DIRECT-TO-CUSTOMER apparel brand Ekoi has not only been kitting out a good selection of the world’s best pro teams for some time, they are also now earning a growing presence in Australia, and given their no nonsense top notch and value for money kit it’s no wonder. With conditions (hopefully) soon to start warming up for the summer we decided to check out their Graphene Kamo jersey, the Gel Memory Racing bib shorts, and the ‘Summer Absorbing’ concept gloves – how did they fit the bill? GRAPHENE KAMO JERSEY From the outside this may well look like a regular well styled performance jersey, and it is, however, there is more interwoven magic involved – and graphene is the not-so-secret ingredient. Derived from graphite, graphene was only discovered in 2004…