All Terrain Cycles

The Outlook for Bicycle Stock in UK in 2021

Posted on by allterraincycles

Its now public knowledge how difficult is was to buy a bike in the UK after March 2020 and throughout Lockdown.

Bike supply during the end of 2020 and possibly for 2021 is most likely not going to get much better.

With a 4-5 month break in bike factory, and equally as importantly, bicycle components , the prospect of the bicycle supply chain returning to normal are not good. With production principally centred around China, factory and shipping capacity are being stretched to the limit.

All bike manufacturers are having to change their approach to distribution within the UK for 2021. Historically they would demand large stock orders from the key retailers to assist in forecasting demand.

Most have abandoned this model in favour of allocating bikes to their Brand  Dealers to enable a fairer distribution of their limited stock.

Our message from All Terrain Cycles is if you are in the market for a new bike, see the one you fancy, buy it. There is a real prospect that supply will not be back to normal for 12 months.

Our prediction is that the hardest hit market will be Kids Bikes, with very few bikes expected before January if not March 2021.

2021 UK Bike Stock could be like looking at a wilderness

Planning next year’s rides? How about Liege Bastogne Liege.

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This time last year (quite possibly after a glass of wine) I messaged my local club to see if anyone was interested in riding the 256km Sportive route of the 2019 Liege Bastogne Liege, 5 others were keen. It was on.

6 became 5, became 4 but this did mean slightly easier logistics for the journey over. Various options were discussed but we eventually settled on this, we would go in one vehicle, a van, we would take the ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge overnight on the Thursday then drive to Liege for lunchtime, we stayed in the very well kept Youth Hostel, complete the ride on the Saturday, watch the race on the Sunday then drive to Calais on Monday morning and pop through the tunnel and drive back north. This kept costs down and maximised our time in Belgium.

The Sportive started early on a damp and cold Saturday morning,  unfortunately one of our group had a di2 failure on the line so had to opt for the shorter course. I won’t go into too many details but 12 cold hours later we finished the 165 mile route. It’s tough, with most of the hills coming thick and fast in the last 60 miles, the feed stations were pretty good but with no hot drinks or food available the first half, wet and windy really took it’s toll. Luckily the sun made the odd appearance in the afternoon to brighten damp spirits.

Back at the hostel we enjoyed a few well deserved beers and pizza before enjoying the pro race on the Sunday (albeit most of it from in a bar drinking trappist ale).

LBL is notorious for it’s short sharp hills and bad weather and it delivered, in spades, but as one of our gang said if you do the Liege Bastogne Liege and the weather’s not shite you’ve not really done the Liege Bastogne Liege.

Take a look at Giants latest offer in MTB ebikes for 2019 ……..

Posted on by allterraincycles

In the latest video from All Terrain Cycles, we highlight the amazing range of Ebike MTB available this year from Giant.

We take a close look at the full range of Fathom E hardtails starting at £1895, full suspension ranges of Stance E from £2895, and the fantastic top of the range Trance E+ coming in at £3495.

The 2019 Giant range of eMTB is equipped with the impressive Yamaha SyncDrive that pushes out 80Nm of torque. This unit is coupled up with Panasonic EnergyPak resulting in a unique combination only found on Giants Ranges.  Powerful, reliable and with excellent range, they represent the cutting edge of eMTB.

All available on 3 years 0% Finance subject to status.

Why not come to our Stores at Wetherby  or Shipley  and take a look at the range.

If you live in the North of England , we can also offer Home Delivery via our Expert Home Delivery Service

One of knowledgeable staff will bring your new bike to your door and demonstrate the bike and features for you as well as assist you with its set up.

All Terrain Cycles Mallorca Training Camp 2019

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A few of the All Terrain Cycles  racing team members took the opportunity of an early season training camp in Mallorca. Considerable better weather than back in the UK seeing late teen / early twenties temperatures and good sun levels.

Warmer than Bradford !

A varied mix of hills and distance to cater for all was certainly a change of scenario for training ahead of the 2019 season.

Distance Cycling in the Alps

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All Terrain Cycles Team Rider Harry Carpenter Blog on his latest adventure  :

They say you should play to your strengths, mine is distance. My Achilles heel is climbing, so what could go wrong trying to climb some the biggest routes in the Alps this summer?

 

Col de l’Iseran (9,068ft)

July saw my daughter and I in Val d’Isère, however tempting it was to roll down the valley to start the climb properly at Moûtiers the road looked pretty awful so we rode it from Val, it’s definitely the best bit of the climb and was pretty steady away, a nice warm up, beautiful views……

 

 

 

 

 

Stelvio and Umbrail (9,045ft)

A few days later saw us camped at Prato, Italy, just north of the Stelvio. An early start is strongly recommended to avoid the worst traffic so we were on the road for 0630hrs.

A chilly 10km steady drag leads to the first hairpin, thoughtfully numbered to remind you that you’ve 48 to go……. once through the woods the views are a mixture of distraction, terror and intimidation but keep tapping away and you’ll get to one of the most iconic views of the alpine cycling world, even if it’s 10 minutes after your 16yr old daughter arrived there, cracking ride Em!

With traffic building we headed over and forked right into Switzerland to descend the Umbrail Pass, which had just recently had its infamous gravel section tarmacked, a quiet and amazing descent led us down, back into Italy and to the campsite, one of the best rides I’ve ever done.

 

Sella Ronda

Further into Italy saw us in the Dolomites, well worth the journey. The “classic” circuit of the Sella Massif is incorporated into the Maratona Dles Dolomites, a beast of a ride but the Ronda cherry picks the best bits, with some stunning limestone scenery it’s an awesome ride packing a huge punch for only 33 miles, choose your day though as the weather can be fickle and the traffic can be busy.

 

Großglockner and Edelweißpitze (8,435ft)

Further east saw us in Austria and the mighty Großglockner, the highest pass in the country. As a toll road it was pretty quiet to start but the traffic soon built, I found myself alone as Emily had danced up ahead again and was soon being passed by tourists, motorbikes and souped up German supercars, I could cope with this, what demoralised me more was the rotund tourists on e-bikes gliding by…. but we all got to the top in our own desired manner.

Now, the “top”, there are two tops, the first slightly lower than the second, however an unpleasant descent and ascent through busy tunnels to get to the second looked unappealing (and I was knackered), so we retraced our steps and struck off up the rather steep and cobbled Edelweißpitze, higher than either of the pass’s high points, what a view at the top but the 17% cobbles were a challenge after the 2hrs of grinding to get there. A cracking 17 mile descent saw us back to the car, chapeau to Emily for nailing the 12 mile main descent at an average of 31mph to bag 7th lady of all time on Strava, top skills lass.

 

Col d’Izoard (7,743ft)

A few months later saw me back in France with a change of riding partner, Bob Whitfield, Settle Wheeler’s secret weapon and, just shy of 70yrs old, one of the fittest people I know, an inspiration and thankfully someone who can eat Aldi tinned curry and rice pudding day in day out, catering was sorted then….

Driving through France we stopped off and had a very pleasant stay and ride round the newly upgraded cycle paths around the Lacs d’Orient, then onto Briançon in the French Alps. We followed the Durance valley south then headed up towards the Queyras and north up and over the Izoard, a pretty unique environment of sandstone spires, scree and trees. A cold descent down to Briançon led us to the west side of the valley for the “balcon” back road back to the campsite. A great circuit.Durance Valley

A couple of short rides of note were a trip up to Fort Dauphin and the dead end valley of La Biaysee, both incorporating once again the westerly Durance valley back road which gives amazing quiet riding with stunning views. With the autumn upon us the colours were amazing.

 

Cime de La Bonette (9,193ft)

The big one, the biggest in France, if you believe the signs the biggest in Europe (but it’s not). I was actually quite surprised at how pleasant and enjoyable this ride was, I was anticipating pain and misery but the views were amazing and it was so quiet. The difficulties started past the old fort as we passed into clouds and the temperature dropped, we soon found ourselves at the col, but the loop road above it, the high point was showing as closed. Undeterred we rode on, rock fall from the scree covered summit cone was the issue but we dodged the shattered rock to complete the summit loop and descend to thankfully warmer roads, albeit being used to bring down the goats and sheep to the winter pastures, just like being home in The Dale’s.

 

Grand Gorge du Verdon

A few hours further south saw us in Provence and the spectacular limestone gorge of Verdon, a 76 mile circuit of the gorge with 8500ft of climbing gives some amazing views and some big climbs, the Routes des Cretes giving some quite amazing and unnerving riding, just remember it’s a one way road for half of it and it runs clockwise (although having accidentally ridden it anticlockwise the French drivers were very sympathetic and encouraging).

 

So after all that lot I can climb a little better, surely for longer although the steep kicks of The Dales still bloody hurt.

Points to note, in the height of the summer set off as early as possible to avoid the heat and any traffic although it can still drop 20+ degrees from bottom to top at any time of day. In October there’s not a lot open, most of the campsites although showing as open all year round were closed, as were nearly all the bike shops and if anyone finds some glasses on the Col de La Bonette, they’re Bob’s.

 

A spin in the countryside – what could be better?

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After months of glorious sunshine, even the most reticent fair weather cyclists may be thinking that it’s time to get back in the saddle.  For many of us, some of Yorkshire’s finest cycling country is just a short ride away.  Whether you want a steady amble down quiet lanes or the challenge of some of the Dales’ steeper hills, there’s something for everyone.

Fleet Moss Yorkshire

Fleet Moss at Sunset

The first thing to do, of course, is to check your bike is in good working order.  If you haven’t been out on it in a while, it would be worth having it serviced professionally at a reputable bike shop to make sure everything is running smoothly and it’s safe to ride.   Most services will include: adjusting or replacing brakes; checking the gear indexing; inspecting the wheels and tyres; changing cables; checking the headset and frame; and degreasing and re-lubing moving parts.  If you have been maintaining your bike regularly, just work through your usual checklist.  Don’t forget – always make sure you pump up your tyres and lube the chain before every ride!

Like anything, bicycle design is constantly being updated and improved, so if you feel that yours is past its best, it might be worth a trip to a decent bike shop to view the latest, energy-efficient models.  Make sure you go to a bike superstore which can offer you the widest choice; ask the staff for guidance on your particular needs; and, ideally, try out a few bikes before making a final choice. If you’re also going to use the bike to get to work, the Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme is a great way of helping to offset the cost of investing in a new bike as staff at many places of work can benefit from tax exemptions on their purchase.

You’d also be well advised to prepare for any unexpected mechanical issues – a small under saddle kit bag, equipped with on-the-road essentials such as a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump plus some basic tools, is a must.  A small CO2 inflator can also make the job of changing a tyre much quicker and easier if you are unlucky enough to get a puncture.

Wearing the right kit will ensure that your ride is as comfortable as possible.  Even if it’s sunny when you set out, be prepared for the vagaries of the British weather and take a compact, high performance waterproof jacket with you.  Some lightweight arm warmers or ‘warms’, also give flexibility as they can be easily slipped on or off as needed, and cycling leg warmers are another useful piece of kit.  Cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses will keep the sun (and flies) out of your eyes and it goes without saying that good quality, padded cycling shorts are another essential – and an investment you won’t regret!

Finally, keep eating and drinking regularly – you don’t want to risk hitting the wall or ‘bonking’ as it’s known in the cycling fraternity.  This is actually a serious condition which affects endurance sports; it is a sudden fatigue caused when you haven’t taken in enough carbs and have, therefore, used up your body’s glycogen stores.  The golden rule is to eat and drink little and often.  Always take two water bottles with you, one of which should contain a proprietary sports drink which has been specially designed to provide the sugars, carbohydrates and electrolytes needed by athletes.  There is also a wide range of high energy snacks available, including energy gels which are a concentrated form of sugars, designed to give a quick energy hit in a very compact form.  Or you could choose from hundreds of energy bars and chews, all of which give a swift boost as they are easily digested.

So having checked over your bike, your kit and your on-bike supplies, you’re ready for a fantastic day in the saddle, enjoying some of Britain’s most stunning cycle routes.  But don’t forget, while it’s lovely to be able to ride in fine weather, use lots of sunscreen– and keep drinking plenty of fluids!

 

A holiday with a difference

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With so many more people taking to their bikes for a weekend spin, the popularity of cycling holidays is also growing rapidly.  It’s easy to plan your own trip, either here or abroad, or if you would prefer someone else to organise it, there are hundreds of specialist tour companies which will take care of your itinerary, provide a guide if necessary and even transfer your bags between stops. It’s also a great way of meeting new people.

 

Just have a think about what you want to get out of the trip and then take your pick.  Do consider your cycling ability and pick an appropriate itinerary.  Most guided tours offer different levels of rides – if you only use your bike for an occasional five minute ride to the shops, don’t sign up for a 200k a day, hilly cycling adventure unless you are prepared to do some serious training beforehand!  Generally, however, cycling is a great way of seeing more of a country in a relaxed way, far removed from our usual fast-paced, stressful lives.

 

As with most sports, the key is to be prepared.  Whichever cycle holiday you opt for, it’s worth getting some hours in the saddle before you set off so that you’re comfortable and confident – it won’t be enjoyable if you’re struggling to keep up and are exhausted every night.  What’s more, even if you’re fairly fit, you will need to get your muscles used to cycling.

 

Think about what you need to take.  If you’re going abroad, it probably isn’t worth transporting your bike unless you’re doing some pretty serious cycling.  If you are planning a more strenuous trip, purpose-made bike travel boxes are now readily available to protect your bike in transit.

 

In many countries, you can hire decent bikes fairly easily, just make sure you’ve done some research first and, preferably, book bikes before you go.  That way, you can be certain that the correct size of bike is available.  Taking your own seat is a wise option, so you know you’ll be comfortable!  Also check whether the hire company can fit the bike with peddles compatible with your shoes if you use clip-ins (or flat pedals if you don’t), and that they will provide a repair kit and spare inner tube.  Generally, it’s safer to take your own helmet as you know its history.  Many companies will also provide emergency assistance for mechanical issues if you do get into difficulty.

 

Deciding what to take on holiday is always difficult, but thinking through the essentials is vital if you’re spending multiple days on a bike.  Don’t even think about ‘managing’ without cycle specific gear – the starting point is high performance padded cycle shorts which are a must!  Talking of which, some anti-chaff or chamois cream would also be a wise investment.  You’ll need cycle jerseys which are wicking and have plenty of back pockets for all your bits and pieces.  Don’t forget cycle gloves and cycle glasses (the wrap-around ones to stop fly-in-the-eye are good, ideally with changeable lenses for different conditions).  A good quality, compact waterproof jacket and arm warmers could also be lifesavers, enabling you to easily adapt to changing weather.

 

The most practical way of carrying your essentials is in a small saddle, frame or handlebar bag – you won’t need to take much with you, just some snacks (such as energy gels and high protein bars), money and sun cream are usually enough.  And don’t forget to take plenty of fluids!  If you’re in a hot country, you’ll obviously need far more water than you would at home – take a couple of bottles and fill them up during the day.  There are also lots of electrolyte and energy products you can add to your water if you feel you need an extra boost.

 

While a cycle tour might not be the most restful holiday, it’s great to do something active and different – after all that exercise and fresh air, you’ll definitely come home feeling fitter than when you left!

Electric bikes – the latest way to cycle

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Electrically assisted bikes are becoming a common sight on our road and cyclepaths – combining a conventional bike with a battery and motor, they take much of the effort out of pedalling.  Not only is this great for older cyclists who don’t want to struggle up hills, but they’re now proving popular with people of all ages for a wide range of reasons.

 

For example, e-bikes are ideal if you’re commuting, allowing you to cover the miles without arriving at work needing a shower!  They’re also useful for cyclists who are recovering from an injury, helping them to get back in the saddle faster, safe in the knowledge that they have the boost of a motor is they need it.  As anyone over the age of 14 can ride an electric bike, they’re also a great way of giving teenagers more independence and enable cyclists of different abilities to ride together.  In fact, mountain bikers are also turning to motorised bikes for some off-road fun as they enable them to quickly ascend the hills and spend more time enjoying the thrill of hurtling down.

 

On the continent, electric bikes have long been popular and it’s estimated that almost 40% of German cyclists use e-bikes, with Holland and France also being big players.  The UK too is seeing a surge in demand as people wake up to their many benefits – they’re environmentally-friendly and a very cost-effective way to get around; you don’t need road tax, insurance, a licence or to pay for parking.

 

E-bikes have a small, integrated electric motor which is engaged by pedalling or using the throttle on the handlebar.  As you have to pedal in order for the motor to run, they do involve an element of exercise – with a maximum speed of 15mph uphill, riders are able to choose from different levels of power to assist them.  The lowest setting, usually ‘eco’, only gives a slight push while the highest, ‘turbo’ gives a big boost, particularly from a stationery position or up hills.  Electric bikes have rechargeable batteries that can be charged at a normal mains socket, usually taking about three hours and lasting for around 20 miles.

While originally aimed at the ‘silver cyclists’, e-bikes are the latest craze among young, daredevil mountain bikers with the bonus of having a motor enabling them to tackle even the steepest of off road trails.  These e-MTBs offer all the benefits of a performance-orientated trail bike, but with the added fun of an extra boost of power.  They’re great for mountain bikers recovering from injuries; or for those who enjoy an occasional off-road blast but don’t want to have to commit to a tough training regime in order to keep up with the pack.  E-bikes are perfect for helping you get you up those climbs faster and for covering long distances so you can enjoy the more exciting parts of the trail.

 

The choice of e-bikes has exploded in recent years and, as with regular bikes, in general terms, the more you pay, the better quality of components you  get.  Whether you want a compact model for commuting or a high performance mountain bike with carbon frame, there’s an electric bike for you.

 

No matter how scathing conventional cyclists have been about the concept of a bike with a motor, e-bikes are certainly carving out a place for themselves and, what’s more, every cycling purist I know who has tried one has quickly been converted!  While I don’t think that e-bikes will ever replace traditional road bikes and MBTs, many avid cyclists are adding an electric bike to their collection – and it’s certainly a  great option to have.

 

www.yorkshireelectricbikecompany.co. uk

 

allterraincycles.co.uk

All Terrain Cycles Team Rider, Harry Carpenter , reports back on his latest adventures

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A frustratingly poor 2017 saw me hitting up Trainer Road over the winter and starting 2018 in better form. A great week in Mallorca with my local club, the Settle Wheelers boosted my confidence further and inspired some planning.

An opportunity arose for a three day tour in Cornwall and Devon. Day one was Penzance to Lands End and then onto Looe, a deceptively lumpy 97 miles. Day two took me to Plymouth where I picked up the Devon Coast to Coast to Ilfracombe in the north, a very picturesque ride, 115 miles, mostly off road, mainly on tarmac cyclepaths (old railways) but with some gravel thrown in. Day three was a very hilly route over Exmoor to Tiverton where I jumped on the train home. Beware GWR trains, their  cycle policy is very strict!

I’d long had a thought to try the NCN route 7,  Lochs and Glens (south), a 214 mile route from Carlisle, through Dumfries to Glasgow. I waited for a decent forecast and hit out on a scorcher on Bank Holiday Monday. I drove to Carlisle, parked up and jumped on the first train out to Glasgow. 0830hrs saw me riding along the Clyde. The route headed out of the city on well maintained cyclepaths, a surprisingly pleasant route that led me to the coast, the towns of Ayre and Troon were rammed with tourists on the beaches as the sun was shining, not the best riding but they were soon passed. The route headed inland, lumpy but great riding led to the highpoint of The Pulpit where I headed  down through Glentrool to Newton Stewart. A shop stop then saw the route head east through more beautiful terrain, following the coast at times to Dumfries.

By now it was dark and I was starting to suffer with some stomach issues. I continued on (my options were limited!), but unable to eat or drink, I cut straight to Annan and Gretna then on to Carlisle, arriving back at my car just after 3am. 15hrs riding but with sickness stops it had been a long day, I snoozed in my car for an hour before driving home, 207 miles done.

Plans are afoot for a 12hr Time Trial, not too sure which one and the Etape du Dales is in a few weeks, 2018 is going well so far.

The rules of the road for cyclists ……..

Posted on by allterraincycles

 

Whether you’re an experienced rider or a novice, there’s no doubt that you’re more vulnerable on a bike.  Often, motorist are simply not expecting to see a cyclist, and as bikes are narrow, they can be difficult to spot.  Riding safely requires a balance of confidence and caution, as well as common sense and consideration for other road users.

 

Always make sure that you can be seen – wear high vis clothing, particularly in the winter or at dusk, put good quality front and back reflectors on your bike and, of course, have powerful lights on your bike.  Also ensure that your bike well maintained – having brakes in the best working order could be vital should you find yourself in a difficult situation.  Although not a legal requirement, we also believe that EVERY rider should wear a high quality, correctly fitting helmet.

The key to city and town riding, like driving, is to be aware and read situations quickly and accurately before they happen so you can take action if necessary.  You should be constantly on the lookout for obstacles, cars and pedestrians – be extra cautious if the weather conditions are poor, particularly if it’s wet or icy.  Always keep a steady pace and maintain a safe distance between you and vehicles.  Make sure you clearly signal your movements so that other road users know exactly what you’re planning.   Always take advantage of cycle routes, advanced stop lines and cycle boxes.

 

While some cyclists feel safer by sticking close to the gutter, this actually isn’t a good idea – you need to be assertive and make sure motorists know you’re there.  If you ride too close to the kerb, you risk having to suddenly swerve out into the road to avoid a pothole or a car door opening.

Be extra vigilant at junctions – keep an eye out for vehicles in front of you turning without indicating; if you’re coming up to a left turn and  you see the vehicle in front slowing, you should slow down too rather than risk cycling past on the inside in case it turns. When turning right, you should check the traffic for a space, then signal and move into the middle of the road. Remain there until there is a safe gap and take a final look before completing the turn. In some situations if there’s heavy traffic, it may be better to wait on the left for a safe gap, or to get off your bike and push it across the road if necessary.

One of the most thorny areas of debate between cyclists and motorists is the issue of how to ride safely as a group without causing disruption to other road users.  Riding as a pack is much more energy efficient for cyclists, but many motorist strongly object.  In fact, Rule 66 of the Highway Code simply advises that cyclists ‘should not ride more than two abreast’ – this is not a legal requirement and neither does it mean the same as ‘must ride single file’ as many motorists’ seem to believe.  In fact, it could be argued that it is safer to ride side by side in order to be easily seen; and by riding next to each other, the length of the obstruction is reduced for vehicles passing large groups.

However, the Highway Code also states that you should ride single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.  Again, this comes down to common sense and courtesy – as a cyclist, you should factor in the road conditions and drop back into single file if necessary.

It’s also worth being aware that when using cycling tracks, you’re sharing them with pedestrians; so keep a look out for people (and their dogs!) and make sure you give them plenty of warning when manoeuvring around them.

Taking to the road can be daunting, but following some simple rules means that you can confidently navigate even busy traffic safely – always remember the rules of the road, use common sense and be considerate to other road users.

Preparing for a sportive

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Every year there seem to be more and more organised cycling events or sportives, usually in aid of a charity, which bring together enthusiasts in a non-competitive environment, giving them the opportunity to push themselves a little more than if they were cycling solo.

Sportives are a great way of exploring some different cycle routes in other parts of the country, but without having to worry too much about where you’re going! Once you’ve entered the event, you’ll be given a number to attach to you and your bike and then it’s just a matter of following a clearly signed route.  As well as not having to worry about getting lost, most rides also offer mechanical assistance in case you run into trouble along the way and, often, there are marshalls too, helping at busy road junctions.

With all this support, it’s easier to challenge yourself a bit more. You can be confident that you’re following a structured route which has been carefully planned in terms of distance and terrain.  Most rides offer a choice of routes according to your abilities. From 20 mile fun rides suitable for novice riders, through to 100 mile plus routes (some taking in parts of the Grand Depart!), there really is something for everyone.

 

While not a competition, as many sportives use timing chips, it’s a good opportunity to push your pace and try and beat your personal best. For optimum performance, training, as ever, is key.  It’s a good idea to devise a structured training plan, working up to cycling close to the distance of the sportive – this will give you the comfort of knowing that the distance is within your capability.  As well as spending plenty of time in the saddle, also make sure that you do lots of other types of exercise to increase your overall fitness and lessen the chance of aches and pains on the day.  Don’t’ forget to watch what you eat in the days leading up to the race – make sure you load up on plenty energy-giving carbs!

 

When the big day arrives, make sure you have all the gear you might need with you. Wear cycling specific, sweat wicking tops and padded shorts or tights – make sure you have cycled in them before and know they fit well and are comfortable.  Most rides will not allow cyclists to participate without a helmet, and if you’re planning to cover a reasonable distance, clip-in pedals are a huge advantage, giving a better, more energy efficient ride.

 

Even if it’s sunny when you set off, don’t forget you’re in Britain and you could be in torrential rain in half an hour, let alone five hours into a ride! Always take a waterproof jacket – there are some  great, compact cycling jackets available which fit into a small, pocket-sized bag.  Layering is key and ‘warms’ or arm warmers are great for this as they’re easy to be pulled up or pushed down while you’re cycling.  Leg warmers are handy too.   Take cycling glasses or sunglasses with you and don’t forget the sun cream – you never know!

While most sportives include well-stocked food and drink fuelling stations along the way, it’s vital to also have your own food and water with you so that you can grab an energy boost whenever you need it.  Generally, it’s recommended that cyclists have some food every 30 minutes, plus water every 15 minutes.

 

Finally, do not leave home without an on-bike repair kit! Make sure it includes a small multi-tool and some spare inner tubes (a small CO2 inflator also makes the job of changing a tyre much swifter) – you may be very glad that you came prepared!  While space is obviously limited on a bike, most equipment these days has been carefully-designed with high tech materials making it compact and lightweight.

 

While it might seem like there’s a lot to think of before you take on a sportive, once you’ve taken the plunge and done one, being well prepared for these events will become second nature. Just visit the British Cycling website www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/  to find dates for events in Yorkshire and further afield, and get pedalling!

 

allterraincycles.co.uk

Got an old bike , need a new one ? Why not trade it in…….

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….yes at All Terrain Cycles Bikestores, we now take Trade In’s.

So if you are looking a new bike look no further.

Be it a MTB, Road Bike, Ebike, Ladies or Kids bike, we will trade in any bike

with two wheels irrespective of age or condition against a new bike of your choice.

 

Trade in any old bike for a brand new bike of your choice

This is how our scheme works.

Bring your Trade in Bike to either of our Bikestores.

Select the bike you wish to purchase and we will give you -10% of its value as against  your old bike. We don’t mind what its age is or what condition it is in as long as it has two wheels you save -10% off your purchase.

Frequently asked Questions

  • What happens to Trade In’s? – We will ever sell them or donate them to local recycling charities.
  • Can I Trade a bike in and purchase a new one on Finance or Cyclescheme ? – Unfortunately we can’t offer this facility if  you pay the balance for your new bike by cash or credit / debit card.

What do I do next ?

Come to one of our stores with your Trade in Bike, one of our staff will help you select your new bike and give you -10% off for your Trade In , it really is that simple !

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Its been a busy opening few weeks of the 2018 season for the Saltaire based All Terrain Cycles Race Team, with a number of riders in action across a range of disciplines.

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In Mountain Biking, Bruce Rollinson, Stewart Coates, Ryan Middlemiss and Hamish Thomas were in action at the National Series Cross Country races at Sherwood Pines. A nice sunny day on a drying but fast course, saw Bingley based Bruce and Stewart neck and neck in the Grand Masters V50 event, won by former pro rider Tim Davies of CC Abergavenny. The All Terrain Cycles pair spent most of the race in 6th and 7th place until the last lap when a resurgent former National Champion Tim Gould got past them both. After a bizzare foot in rear wheel incident Stew got ahead of Bruce going into the finishing loops, and they finally finished in 7th and 8th place respectively.

Stew Coates and Bruce Rollinson

Stew hot on the heels of Bruce in the V50 event

On the road, Keighley based rider Chris Sherriffs has had a great start to the season, picking up a number of top ten results. First up was the Rosendale RC 11 mile Time Trial held in freezing conditions near Bolton by Bowland at the end of February. Despite not feeling great Chris turned in a great performance to pick up 3rd place, and putting time into some notable riders shows that his early season training is coming to fruition. Over the following weekends Chris raced at the Salt Ayre circuit series in Lancashire, picking up two fourth places, a fifth and a sixth, all of these events coming in sprint finishes behind small breakaway groups with Chris winning the bunch sprint.

Chris Sherriffs rides in the Rosendale RC 11 mile TT

Also on the road, another Keighley based rider Steve Colloby opened his 2018 road account this weekend at the Town Green Masters RR near Bickerstaffe in Lancashire. After missing the 7 man breakaway group which went early on, Steve put in a strong performance to try and chase down the break, before leaving the remaining pack behind to take 8th place over the line. This comes on the back of a return to Track racing for Steve after a 20 year hiatus, as he has been competing regularly at Manchester Regional Track League over the past couple of months, also turning out some good results and getting a number of wins under his belt.

Colloby in action in the Town Green Masters RR (Photo courtesy of Ellen Isherwood)

With some great results this early on its looking like a great season ahead for the All Terrain Cycles Race Team.

 

It’s true; it is a balancing act…but more importantly consistency!

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From the last time I posted I was talking about how much of a balancing act training and racing is, and it’s very true. It is constantly an act of planning your time on a weekly basis and knowing where and when you’re gong to be able to devote your time to working, training and of course recovery and time spent with family and other halves! Which we mustn’t ever forget!!!

 

The past few months have gone so quickly since my last posting back at the End of August last year! So is been some time since I have posted and it just shows how time can just get away from you when your heads down working and training. You may or may not, remember from my last post that I have recently been recovering from a training accident which set me and my racing back by a considerable amount.

 

To be really honest, it’s probably been a good thing. Don’t get me wrong the accident was bad and there was a lot time spent off the bike and wollowing in self-pity however it has allowed to reset both physically and mentally which I think is very important. Its put a few things into perspective. I wrote last time that I would try and enter some end of season races to catch up but I decided against it. It was actually a good move believe it or not.

 

Moving on;

 

It’s probably been the best ever start to the upcoming season for me. Having started a new job in September following the accident it was a new start, new me type of thing. Having decided not to race the back end of the season it really set me up well to get some good base mileage in. Base mileage is key to weight loss. (What I harp on most of, to all the time!!!)

 

The new job has been very interesting and the change has been good. Not only this, there has been a little more flexibility in what I can do i.e. working from home so it’s easier for me to train in the morning and or in the evening.

 

So consistency then; what am I talking about?

 

Because of the new job etc. and the time off due to my injury it had enabled me to really think about what was coming up this season and this year! But more to the point the flexibility I now have compared to previous years.

 

Because of the flexibility I have been able to put a lot more time and energy into training which has paid dividends. I’m always harping on about weight loss etc. etc. however its finally happened.

 

These past few months (September to March) have been fantastic; I have virtually trained every day with one rest day each week and it has worked wonders. Now what I have done is, I have planned each and every week meticulously and tailored in at least an hour a day to train. And so have had some excellent results.

 

Instead of the stop starting of training and by this I mean a week to ten days hard training then two or three days off working etc. just doesn’t really help at all compared to getting something in every day.

 

I have really focussed hard on nutrition this time around and weight has fallen off me and at a quite nice steady rate ready for race season! Just over 10kgs since my last post!

 

Instead of having to eat on the hoof with my previous job I have been able to actually plan my meals and focus my training and because of training consistently the weight has gone. Not completely I may state but well on its way.

 

The goal previously was too really up my power, however my power has stayed consistent but the weight is going and therefore my power to weight ratio has boosted up which is just as important.

 

The consistent training has really worked, doing something and being precise with each session is key to anyone’s success for racing. My advice is, always be consistent but make sure that your sessions are specific to what you need.

 

This past month

 

South Africa!

 

I have always wanted to go away on an overseas training camp around the February/March time but never really had the chance in previous years for many reasons, however this time around it happened!

 

It was decided late on in December that my partner and I needed a little break away. It was virtually perfect timing, the weather here was awful (obviously) and my partner wanted to go somewhere really hot. We discussed a few things and it was decided that South Africa would be the place to go. The weather was good but also it allowed me to train as well. Perfect! My reason for here is that it’s a haven for mountain bikers.

 

My partner didn’t know this! Well not until we got there!

 

The plan was for me to train early in the morning for a couple of hours and then to spend the rest of the day either relaxing or exploring!

 

We decided to hit Stellenbosch first followed by Cape Town. The two most beautiful places I have ever been.

 

Stellenbosch, from what I heard from friends out there, is that is the mountain bike capital, and from what I saw and where I went, I can see why! The trails were fantastic, they had everything from hard fast XC trails to mega drops and jumps for the downhill guys and what was great was everybody was into it. I have never seen so many people crazy about cycling! I will admit it was scary, I pre recce’d the World cup course and I would class the course as a double, double black run if it was here in the UK but it was just something else, it was out of this world! If people thing Gisburn or Dalby etc or 7stanes in Scotland and possibly Bike Park Wales is easy then you need to get outthere!

 

Cape Town was a great place to be! Easily rideable to trails and fun to be in.

 

The downside to the trip unfortunately is that I contracted food poisoning and was out for four days. It really takes the energy out of you. This had an impact on my training.

 

We’re back in the UK now unfortunately, we were lucky we missed the “Beast from the East” however it doesn’t feel like we have missed it coming into the cold and wet.

 

The next few months…

 

So having return from a sunny haven to a wet, cold and windy isle. I have to start looking ahead to the upcoming race season.

 

For once I am not quivering wreck sailing into races; I am actually quite the opposite.

 

With having such a good off season and start to this year training wise it’s looking good. I am keen to get my first race under my belt and really gauge where my level is and how this season is going to plan out.

 

My biggest pleasure is to be donning the All Terrain Cycles Race Team jersey again! Couldn’t do any of this without their support!

 

Cycling Sense : Spring is here so, it’s time to dust off the lycra and get back on two wheels

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Get your wheels in gear!

After a cold, damp winter in a garage or shed, your faithful bike is likely to need a little TLC to get it (and you) back up to speed!

If you’ve invested in a decent bicycle, making sure it is in tip top condition will not only prolong it’s life by preventing more serious problems from developing, but will also give  you the best performance from it as well as improving safety for the rider.

And don’t forget to make sure all your safety accessories and ‘on board’ essentials are in good working order – check your front and rear lights are working; is your helmet in good condition and comfortably adjusted; is your tyre fixing kit complete; are your cleats caked up with mud?

Seasonal service

Given the wear and tear on all moving parts, now would be a good time to treat your bike to its annual service. If you’re handy and know a bit about bikes, you might be able to do this yourself, but for most of us, a trained mechanic is the preferred option – having a thorough check at least once a year might even save you money by spotting potential problems early.

For a professional service, go to a reputable bike shop you trust. Most services will include: checking the gear indexing; adjusting or replacing brakes; checking the headset and frame; inspecting the wheels and tyres; changing cables; and degreasing and re-lubing moving parts. You’ll be able to feel the difference when you take it out for a spin and will benefit from a smoother, more energy-efficient ride.

Keeping clean

With your bike having been given a proper once-over by an expert, minimum care and maintenance from you will ensure it stays in good working order. It may sound a little laborious, but cleaning your back after every ride is vital.  Investing in a decent bike repair stand can make it a lot easier to get to those hard to reach places as well as enabling you to easily turn the wheels.

Paying particular attention to the chain should be a key part of the weekly routine as a clean chain will help the gears to shift easily while a dirty chain will wear down the expensive drive chain. First, you will need to clean the chain – with your bike in its lowest gear, turn the pedal backwards, running the chain through a cloth dampened with a specific chain cleaner or degreaser (this is where the bike stand comes into its own!).   Use a brush to get in between each chain link (cleaning kits with a range of brushes and tools are available in any good bike shop). Then hold a clean rag against the chain to remove any traces of degreaser.  Also make sure you scrub the rear sprockets with a brush and degreaser, again using a dry cloth to get rid of any degreaser.

You need to be disciplined about giving your back a wipe down after every-ride – wipe the tyres and rims, check for sharps, and inspect the brake blocks. Having removed the dirt, you will then need to apply lube to all of the moving parts – drip oil is easier to use than spray, allowing you to target specific areas. Starting with the chain, use a chain lubricant sparingly on each link by spinning the wheel.  Do the same with the jockey wheels, and the rear and front mechanisms.

While cleaning your bike might sound like a chore, once you get into the routine, you could actually find it strangely satisfying, and you’ll definitely benefit whenever you’re on the bike! Even if you only have ten minutes after a ride, do the essentials – give your bike a quick wipe down and clean and lube the chain, then give it a more thorough clean every few weeks or when you know you’ve put in the miles.

And remember, having not been in the saddle for a few months, take it slowly – it might even be time to buy a new pair of padded cycle tights to ease yourself back into the saddle! Take it gradually, building up the length of rides and you, and your bike, will be in peak condition for another glorious summer (we hope!) on two wheels!

Its grime up North !

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Well despite sub zero conditions our Lapierre Demo day go went a head at Stainburn Forest on Saturday.

They say its grime up North and it certainly wasn’t the most pleasant riding day of our lives, however the All Terrain Cycles and Raleigh / Lapierre  Events vans turned up in the forestry Commision car park and set up camp.

Lapierre and All Terrain Events Vans

Armed with a full fleet of the latest 2018 Lapierre mtb and ebikes, plus a camp stove and good old tea and coffee we were ready to face the day.

And what a day it turned out to be. Alternating between Siberian whiteout and Ski resort Sun, we had the lot. But we are tough up here and despite the weather the riders came to put the bikes through their paces.

A great turnout despite the weather

We had plenty of riders that had never ridden ebikes before, and we heard no complaints.

The Lapierre Overvolt AM seemed to come out on top as everyone’s favourite, well balanced and planted it what were very testing conditions.

Two more riders get ready to test the Lapierre Fleet

From the MTB range, the Spicy 527  was the main hit.

Lapierre 2108 527

All was going well until about 2 pm, Mother Nature finally won the day. Despite periods of sunshine the chill factor must have been -10 degrees , too much for even these great bikes. Frozen mechs, chains and an extra ballast from welded on muck made us finally retreat to the pub and a log fire !

Extra ballast in the shape of frozen everything!

 

LAPIERRE ZSETY 227 – OUR BIKE OF THE WEEK

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The very essence of a mountain bike is to perform all functions. A 150-mm clearance for absolute versatility, our Zesty adapts to all conditions regardless of the slope direction to facilitate your task on the most demanding of surfaces. Whether in trail mode or as a light endurance bike, the Zesty is efficient, fast and easy to handle for a one-of-a-kind experience that’s all about mountain riding!

The Zesty AM 427 has been completely overhauled, now accommodating the standard Boost, a metric shock absorber and wheels 27.5 inches and larger. Its patented OST+ suspension, based on virtual pivot point kinematics, provides an incomparable quality of steering without generating any pumping. Its lockable SUNTOUR Aion 35-mm fork mount offers both comfort and safety.

Its 30-tooth single chain ring, along with a SHIMANO 11-42 cassette and 1×10 transmission, artfully blend smoothness and efficiency. Installed with MICHELIN WILD ROCK’R2 LIGHT EDITION GUMX 27.5 x 2.35 tires, the Boost format wheels contribute the requisite stiffness and stability, even on the most demanding courses.

Come and join us at our Laiperre Demo Day on Saturday 17th March

HIGHLIGHTS

  • OST+ suspension optimized for better comfort & pedaling efficiency.
  • 150 mm of travel front and rear : versatile in moutains and on technical trails.
  • Metric Shock & Boost
  • Aluminium Supreme 6 frame.
  • 27.5+ compatible : two bikes in one !
  • Travels : 150 mm Rear / 150 mm Front.

SPECIFICATIONS

Frame : ZESTY 27.5″ SUPREME 6 ALLOY OST+ 150mm, PRESSFIT, BOOST, METRIC, THRU AXLE 12×148

Fork : SUNTOUR AION 35 BOOST LOR 15QLC32 27.5+ 150mm

Shock Absorber : LAPIERRE AF2 AIR

Headset : FSA ORBIT 1.5Z SC NO.57SC

Bottom bracket : FSA BB-CFM92/CZ BB92 COMPOSITE CUPS

Crankset : FSA GAMMA PRO 30T 170mm (S), 175mm (M, L, XL)

Stem : LAPIERRE ST123A 6° Ø: 31.8mm L: 50mm

Seatpost : LAPIERRE SP37.1 Ø: 31.6mm L: 350m

Handlebar : LAPIERRE MTB479A W: 740mm R: 15mm Ø: 31.8mm

Rear derailleur : SHIMANO DEORE RDM6000GS 10s

Brakes : SHIMANO BRM315

Shifters : SHIMANO DEORE SLM6000R

Saddle : LAPIERRE by VELO

Wheel : FORMULA DC511 15×110 BOOST 32H – FORMULA DC-1248 12×148 BOOST SHIMANO DRIVER 32H – RODI TRYP 25c 32H 27.5″ TUBELESS READY

Sprocket : HG500 10s11-42T

Tires : MICHELIN WILD ROCK’R2 LIGHT EDITION GUMX 27.5×2.35 TS TLR

Weight : 14,4 Kg

Size : S,M,L,XL

The History of Lapierre – ONE NAME, 3 GENERATIONS, THE SAME PASSION

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In 1946, Gaston Lapierre started a small bicycle business in Dijon, France (Côte-d’Or – Burgundy), quickly finding success in an industry that was experiencing rapid growth. Once old enough, Gaston’s son Jacky joined the family business and took over management responsibility in 1960.

 

LEADERSHIP IN MTB

 

In the middle of the 80s, by being one of the few European companies to anticipate the MTB phenomenon, Lapierre quickly positioned itself as a leader of this market. Lapierre has since sponsored several competitive MTB teams who have won titles at all levels since the start of sponsoring activities in 1988.

 

During the 90’s the third generation of the Lapierre family stepped in and took over management responsibilities, Giles Lapierre. From this, the company would experience consistent and unprecedented growth.

 

After solidifying Lapierre’s MTB image through competition and technology, Gilles Lapierre decided to try the same adventure with road bikes. This activity has always been an important aspect of the company culture, and a solid and ambitious marketing strategy was put in place in order for Lapierre to achieve the same status as in mountain biking.

 

THE X-CONTROL REVOLUTION

 

2001, was a key year for Lapierre. After years of research and development, Lapierre introduced an innovative full-suspension mountain bike, the X-Control, equipped with the patented FPS rear suspension system.

 

Riders were now able to find an ideal combination of efficiency and comfort in one bike. The same year, Jérôme Chiotti went on to win the French MTB Championship on his X-Control, the first rider ever to win on a full-suspension bike.

 

THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ROAD AND MOUNTAIN BIKES

 

In 2002, Lapierre took a huge stride in its road racing activities by signing with the professional team Française des Jeux (FDJ). Lapierre could now be seen in Elite competitions, including the prestigious Tour de France. Results were seen very quickly, and Lapierre won the French national championship with FDJ rider Nicolas Vogondy and Bradley Mc Gee became the individual pursuit world champion.

 

During the 2003 season, Lapierre decided to extend its field of activities. After signing a 3-year contract with 10X DH World Champion Nicolas Vouilloz, a collection of Freeride and DH bikes was created to complete the existing mountain bike range.

 

Lapierre also introduced its all-new lightweight carbon technology, LP 0.9C. With this breakthrough development, a road frame was introduced that weighed only 900 grams. As if to reinforce the technological advancements of the company, the results of Lapierre’s athletes continued to be impressive in all disciplines. The Française des Jeux was the only team to win all four jerseys in 2003’s Tour de France, and they finished in green thanks to an aggressive sprint by Baden Cooke in the final stage.

 

Although the cycling world often seems to be dominated by men, Lapierre supported a female triathlon team for many years. The performances of Audrey Cleau were exceptional in 2003, which included a second place finish at the long distance World Championships and a victory at the famous Nice Triathlon. As for Sabrina Enaux who became the French XC Marathon champion.

 

In the 2004 downhill season, Yoann Barelli won the French champion title in Elite.

 

2005 saw the introduction of several innovations, including the new X-Control Evo2 with the improved FPS2 rear suspension system.

 

A NEW CYCLE, OPEN TO THE WORLD

 

In 2006, Lapierre celebrated its 60th birthday with the launch of a folding mountain bike called Passport.

 

Nicolas Vouilloz, French Rally champion, returned to competitive MTB and won the Alpe d’Huez Megavalanche.

 

Lapierre introduced their latest advancement in rear suspension in 2007, the OST suspension platform, especially tailored to long-travel bikes. Three mountain bikes use this technology, the Zesty, Spicy and Froggy. The goal of OST was to create the ultimate all-mountain bike with the perfect lightweight blend of versatility, performance, and optimized geometries, for the best possible performance.

 

Lapierre pushed even further its export activities. Its products were now distributed in most European countries as well as in North America and Asia. Lapierre had become an international brand.

 

In France Lapierre won the “mountain bike of the year” award (by French magazine Vélo Vert) for its X-Control 710, the “road bike of the year” (by French magazine Le Cycle) for its X-Lite Webseries model, and also won the “Brand Revelation of the year” award in Spain.

 

The Lapierre team still remained at the heart of the brand strategy. Nicolas Vouilloz, the winner of the French national rally championships, added some more victories in enduro and downhill races to his list of achievements.

 

Cédric Ravanel, a cross country rider, proved he was one the best international riders by finishing in the top 3 during a World Cup race and finishing 6th overall.

 

In 2009, Lapierre, who produced a mere 6,000 bikes per year 50 years ago, now produces more than 90,000 bikes a year at their three French production sites. Dijon, the city where it all started, still remains the heart of technological development.

 

The Scot Danny Hart,  who had joined the Team Lapierre Saab Salomon in 2008 next to David Vasquez and Greg Doucende, won the DH Junior World Cup, the Bronze Medal during the DH World Championships and finished 2nd at the English DH championship.

 

In 2010, Alexis Vuillermoz of Team Lapierre International became the U23 XC french champion. 

 

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

In Dalby Forest during 2011, Lapierre became the first brand to win a World Cup on a 29er bike thanks to Pauline Ferrand-Prevot on the Lapierre ProRace 29. She went on to win four rounds of the World Cup in a row.

 

Lapierre also presented OST+,  the evolution of its OST suspension system: new kinematics with an improved curve ratio for greater sensitivity and better pedaling efficiency.

 

That same year, Nicolas Vouilloz , the 10-times downhill world champion, joined the Lapierre R&D department. He worked with the engineers and product managers in the development of new Lapierre models, while still taking part in some Enduro competitions.

 

On the road side, the brand celebrated 10 years of partnership with the FDJ.fr professional team.

 

In 2012, after 5 years of development, the first electronically driven rear shock was produced by Lapierre’s R&D department in conjunction with RockShox.

 

In competition, Lapierre took its first DH World Champion title, with Loic Bruni, who won both the Junior World Cup and Junior World Championships with his Lapierre DH.

 

Lapierre launched their Overvolt concept in 2013 with two electric mountain bikes. The Overvolt range continued to develop over the following years, opening up mountain biking to more people.

 

In competition, Team Lapierre Gravity Republic climbed onto many DH World Cup podiums. The team included Loris Vergier (Junior World Cup winner), Emmeline Ragot (2nd in the Elite Womens’ World Cup), Sam Blenkinsop (5th in the Elite Mens’ World Cup and  4th in the World Championships) and Loic Bruni (4th in the Elite Mens’ World Cup).

 

Nicolas Vouilloz also won the Enduro World Series stage in Val d’Allos.

 

In 2014, Team Lapierre Gravity Republic finished the season as the top team in the UCI “Gravity” rankings, with Loic Bruni, Sam Blenkinsop, Emmeline Ragot & Loris Vergier. Emmeline Ragot took her new Lapierre DH to win two rounds of the World Cup, and Loris Vergier dominated the juniors, taking both the World Champion title and the overall victory in the World Cup

 

Lapierre also extended their à la carte offering by adding some MTB models to the online configurator.

 

2015 marked an important change in Lapierre’s strategy. Having already well anticipated the rise of e-bikes, Lapierre further improved the Overvolt range with better performing e-bikes, and further models adapted to different usages: from long travel MTBs, to road bikes, to urban commuters. The Overvolt Brigade was also launched. Claude Vergier & Jean-Pierre Bruni, two renowned racers, took part in the numerous e-bike races springing up across France. 

 

Team Lapierre Gravity Republic mounted several podiums in the DH World Cup, and finished the season on an incredible high, with Loic Bruni taking the World Championship DH win.

 

The Enduro team were also busy! Nicolas Vouilloz finished 5th in the overall EWS classification and Adrien Dailly, in his first season with Lapierre, won the U21s.

 

As well as the numerous developments for e-bikes, other notable innovations were launched in 2015, such as TDT (Trap Door Technology) on the new Xelius SL.

 

In recent years, they have continued their work with the FDJ and Nicolas Vouilloz is a regular at the office assisting with the design and manufacturing of the bikes.

 

They have won many awards and accolaides, including 2016 Eurobike Award for Overvolt Carbon and the 2018 design and innovation awards for PRORACE 929 SAT Ultimate and Lapierre Overvolt AM 700i.

 

We continue to see amazing performances from Adrien Dailly at Enduro World Series! The Lapierre pilot recently won his second U21 world championship title in a row!

 

After over 70 years in the bike business, they are constantly moving forward, innovating, and developing our products to offer you a better ride. At Lapierre, numerous new projects are already underway to keep their place as a leader. They haven’t finished surprising you!

 

Cycle holidays – the joy of the open road

Posted on by allterraincycles

With so many more people discovering the pleasures of cycling in recent years, it’s no surprise that there’s been a huge surge in trips planned around being out on your bike. Whether you fancy a few nights away in the UK and are happy to organise your own itinerary or you’d prefer to sign up with a specialist tour company for a cycle holiday here or abroad, there’s something for everyone.

There’s no doubt that a holiday on a bike has a lot going for it. While setting off on a week’s cycling tour may sound a little daunting, it doesn’t have to be gruelling – you can decide on the challenge that suits you and there are always plenty of tempting pubs and tearooms in which to recharge your energy!  Breaking up the day by visiting places en route makes a day in the saddle much more manageable.  Cycling is a nice, relaxing way to travel without all the usual stresses of getting around, instead you can take time to enjoy discovering new places at your own pace.

Having said that, it’s amazing how you can eat up the miles on a bike and there are some great routes to choose from. In Yorkshire, we’re fortunate to have some of the UK’s best cycling country just a short ride away and there are also an increasing number of self-guided routes you can follow.  Starting in Seascale and finishing in Whitby, the 150m Coast to Coast ride remains one of the most popular.  The Way of the Roses, a 170 mile route from Morecambe to Bridlington is another fun challenge, as is the more recent 200m Lakes and Dales loop which takes in some of the region’s most stunning scenery as it meanders through Cumbria.

 

Do make sure that you’ve done some training before you embark on your cycling adventure – even if you’re fairly fit, spending hours in the saddle can be a challenge if your muscles aren’t used to it! Obviously, if you’re planning an independent trip, choose a suitable itinerary for your ability and don’t be too over-ambitious with your distances. Make sure you have a physical map with you (don’t just rely on GPS!) and also that you’ve researched refreshments stops and bike repair shops along the way.  If you are staying overnight on your trip, you might want to organise for a taxi company to transport your bags between your hotels so you don’t have to carry all your gear with you in panniers.

 

Most guided tours offer different levels of rides, so pick an appropriate one for your level of fitness to ensure you get the most out of the experience. You don’t want to feel under pressure to keep up with a fast group of enthusiasts, neither do you want to be frustrated by the more leisurely pace of a less experienced group.  Organised trips usually include a support vehicle so you have the comfort of knowing you can get a lift if that final hill proves too much!

 

Whatever the type of cycle tour, do make sure that you’re confident on a bike and understand road safety and etiquette.

 

Finally, your cycle challenge is going to be a lot more enjoyable if you are equipped with the right kit. A helmet is, of course, essential and it’s probably better to take your own, even on an organised tour.  High performance padded cycle shorts are also a must, as are cycle gloves.  Ideally, wear cycle specific shoes – clip in cleats make cycling considerably more efficient.  It’s also worth having high-wicking tee-shirts, a good quality, compact waterproof jacket and arm warmers to give you flexibility, whatever the weather.  Don’t be tempted to take a rucksack, it will quickly become very uncomfortable.  Instead, use a small saddle, frame or handlebar bag for your personal essentials – and don’t forget to include a basic tool kit, including a spare inner tool and tyre repair tools!  If you’re embarking on a more strenuous trip, you may well prefer to take your own bike with you rather than hiring a bike even if you’re going abroad; purpose-made bike travel boxes are now readily available to protect your bike in transit.

Whatever type of cycle trip you choose, preparation is key – so make sure you’re ready and then you can enjoy a holiday with a difference!

Enjoy a day on your bike – but be prepared!

Posted on by allterraincycles

 

Fortunately, we’ve enjoyed relatively good weather so far and with months of summer still ahead, why not make the most of it and plan a day out on your bike? In Yorkshire, we’re lucky that for many of us, it’s easy to get into some beautiful countryside, even if you don’t reach the Dales, there are lots of rolling hills and pretty villages just a short ride away.

 

But a word of warning, planning is key to enjoying your rural adventure. The starting point, of course, is your trusty bike.  No doubt, you regularly have it serviced professionally as well as keeping it clean and in good working order yourself, so it should be in tip top condition and ready to go – if not, get it checked out at a reputable bike shop!

If you really feel that your bicycle is past its best and actually you need to invest in a more up-to-date, efficient model, there are literally hundreds to choose from. Again, visit a decent bike store with plenty of choice and well-informed staff who can guide you – and ideally go to one which offers the option to go for a spin on your chosen bike before buying.  Don’t forget that the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme is a great way of helping to offset the cost of buying a new bike with employees at many places of work able to benefit from tax exemptions on their purchase.

So, having checked your tyres and lubed your chain, you’re ready to set off, but what else should you have with you? While space on a bike is limited, a small under saddle kit bag will give you room to carry essentials such as a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump plus some basic tools.  It’s well worth investing in a small CO2 inflator which makes the job of changing a tyre much quicker and easier.

In terms of what you need, as with any sport, having the right kit will really pay off. Good quality, padded cycling shorts are a must ; and so is a high performance waterproof jacket which can easily be packed away – it doesn’t matter how sunny it is when you set off, always take a waterproof with you, we are in Yorkshire!  Another good option for our changeable weather is to buy some ‘warms’, lightweight arm warmers which are perfect to slip on or off as needed.  Cycling leg warmers are also really useful, particularly as they can be stuffed into a pocket.

Always put on plenty of sun cream before you set off, and ideally take a small tube with you. As you tend to be in pretty much the same position on a bike and have the breeze cooling you, it’s easy to get burnt.  You could also wear a cap under your helmet to help keep the sun off your face and, of course, some good quality cycling sun glasses are essential.

Finally, don’t forget to refuel! Cycling uses up lots of energy and, like the guys on the Tour, you need to make sure that you drink and eat frequently – little and often is the key.  Take two bottles of fluid with you, ideally one containing a specific energy drink for sports as these are specially designed to provide the sugars, carbohydrates and electrolytes you need.  It’s also a good idea to take a couple of energy gels, these are basically a concentrated form of sugars which provide a quick energy hit in a very compact form.  You can also take along energy chews to graze on while riding, or energy bars, these are cereal bars designed to be easily absorbed and digested.  Another tip is to supplement these snacks by making sure that your ride takes in one of Yorkshire’s many tempting tearooms!

So, with a little bit of planning, you can enjoy the wonders of cycling in God’s Own County this summer! Just pop into one of our stores in Wetherby or at Salt’s Mill and we’ll get you kitted out and ready to head for the hills.

All Terrain Cycles Team Rider, Steve Colloby , Race Reports ….

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Somewhere in my dim and distant past I have vague memories of ‘enjoying’ the ‘vigour’ of an early Sunday morning time trial, usually on some rainy freezing cold dual carriageway in South Wales where I grew up.  Despite the obvious picture of bleakness, I’ve managed to convince myself that this ‘enjoyment’ was real, and in the pursuit of rolling back the hand of time, (and with a lack of suitable road races on the calendar!) I decided it would be a good idea to enter a couple of time trials this weekend….. and that’s where the ‘happy’ memories and stark reality went their separate ways!

 

 

First up was the Valley Striders CC 25 mile TT on the V235 course near Boroughbridge.  Despite my apparent amnesia of the pain involved in TT’ing, I rode this event last year producing a time of 56:29 to finish 7th.  I also rode the same course a few weeks ago in the Halifax Imperial Wheelers event, bettering my time down to a 55:00, and taking 6th on the day.  Not too bad, but over a minute and a half off the winning time.  So I was looking forward to getting back on the course and trying to improve my time.  TT’ing is all about pacing, and I knew that in the Halifax Imps event, I set off too hard, and got carried away coming off a roundabout midway through lifting my power from the targeted 350 watts to well over 450 for a couple of minutes….. and promptly blew up on the next climb.  So I had a good idea of how I could do better!

On Saturday morning I woke up coughing up lumps of green phlegm, and feeling like I was coming down with a bit of a cold, only one way answer to this … kill or cure!  I got out to the race HQ nice and early to sign in and collect my number, before heading off to a nice layby on the course, and warming up on the turbo, pleased to note that I didn’t feel quite as bad as I thought I would!  Ten minutes to my start time I headed off to find the time keepers, and did some final stretching before getting the countdown and heading off on my way.

 

“Don’t go too hard….. don’t go too hard… don’t go too hard” I kept telling myself, I look down at the power meter…. 450 watts… aaaghh…. I’m doing it again!!!  I ease it back and try to find a decent rhythm while the fear of being caught by someone starting after me kept me checking my power numbers with alarming nerdiness. (Is that a real word?!?!)

At the halfway point I was down on my previous best time, but I knew (hoped!) that I had more in reserve.  Coming out of the roundabout I had previously over cooked it on, I cautiously wound up the gear making sure I didn’t go too hard, and then twenty five minutes later it was all over!  I knew I’d beaten my previous best, but not sure by how much, so I headed back to the car to warm down and change, before heading back to HQ to check my time.

 

First look at the board, and there was still 40 odd riders to come back, but I’d finished in 54:26, and I was top of the leader board.  As the results filtered back through to HQ from the remaining riders I watched them being written up in amazement, as none of the seeded riders beat my time…. Until the last man off – Richard Dean, an accomplished TT’er from Team Swift finally put me out of my misery recording a 53:39, leaving me in 2nd place.  Pleased with that I headed home to work out my strategy for the Otley CC 50 mile Time Trial the following morning.

Looking at my power numbers from that day event, I could see that I was a good 20 watts down on where I’d wanted to be, so I was even happier with the result knowing that there is more in the tank.  But how to pace a 50?!?!  The last time I rode a 50 was in 1994…. Back then power meters were new technology that only the top pro’s had access to, and lets be honest, I struggle to remember what I did this morning let alone what I did 23 years ago!  Luckily, Google came to my rescue, and I managed to find a few pointers that you should aim for around 90% of your FTP.  Mine is around 350 at the moment, so I worked out that I should aim for around 315 – 320 watts for an average…. Simple!….. or so I thought!

 

Sunday morning, 07:30, clear blue skies, 19c showing on the thermometer in the car, and I’m sat spinning my legs over on the turbo trainer in a random layby overlooking the A1….. my legs are still a bit sore from yesterdays effort, at 43 years old my legs don’t quite recover as well as they did 20 years ago, oh well, spin them out and we’ll be fine.  I’m only doing this to ‘have a go’ at the longer distance so I can learn to Pace myself over it.  The race is up and down the old A1 around Boroughbridge and Dishforth, and the first half of the course is identical to yesterdays.  No big hills, but some long drags and open roads with a gusting cross wind.

 

Just over an hour later and I’m off, 320 watts feels hard, but I’ve got sore legs from yesterday I keep telling myself, to keep at it.  I catch my minute man in the first few miles and my two minute man by the first turn at five and a half miles, (and he’s off on a number 5… so a seeded rider…. Hmmmm… have I got this right??)  Up to the top turn at Dishforth, and I’m picking off riders who started over ten minutes ahead of me, but my legs are starting to pay the price…. I ease back and do a quick recalculation (ok… a guess!) at what I should be aiming for, “over 300 watts should be fine, I raced yesterday… I’ve got a good excuse for not hitting 320!!!”

 

As the miles tick by, it get harder and harder to hold the pace.  Coming back from Dishforth heading South, the wind is more of a noticeable headwind, and I keep my head tucked as low as possible to stay out of its way.  35 miles in, I remember to take my energy gel, and after a few minutes I feel a boost of energy, I’m back pushing 310 watts, but only for a short while before the pain takes over again, and then it’s the final turn and the push for home.  As I cross the line I stop my watch, its somewhere around 1 hour and 56 minutes since I started, with an average power of 290 watts, but I’ve no idea how that compares to everyone else.  I head back to the car to lie down and get a drink, finally noticing quite how hot it is as I rub the salt off the arms and legs of my skinsuit.

 

Half an hour later and its back to HQ for a cup of tea, slice of cake and a friendly (but very nerdy!) chat about crosswinds, aerodynamics, power numbers and how much time we all lost in the roundabouts(!) with all the other competitors.  I take my time before checking the results, I’ve finished in 1:55:55, one second quicker than Doug Hart from Ilkley CC, and about a minute and a half behind Blaine Metcalf of Team Swift who is in second place.  I recheck the results…. I’m third… but I’m nearly six minutes behind the winner, Steve Ayres from Bronte Wheelers who recorded a time of 1:50:13!

 

I know Steve well, he’s a great Time Triallist and a specialist at these events.  Only six minutes behind him, after I’ve raced the previous day, I’m very pleased with that!  I catch up with him for a chat… “I’m quite pleased with my time” he says, “especially after I had to stop when my chain came off “!!!  Well that’s me put firmly back in my box then!    Not sure I’ll do too many 50’s but about from the two hours on the bike I enjoyed it…. Long live the happy memories!!!

New Yorkshire Lads Cycling Club races ahead in Wetherby and Saltaire

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Yorkshire Lads set off for a Wednesday night ride from All Terrain Cycles Wetherby Bikestore

 

A new cycle club, Yorkshire Lads, suitable for all levels of cyclist, has grown to almost 200 members in just six months!

 

The club, sponsored by All Terrain Cycles and founded by Carl Horsfall, the husband of Kate Horsfall one of the women who launched the popular ladies-only club Yorkshire Lass, two years ago, has set up the men’s counterpart with a similar ethos.

The founders of Yorkshire Lad; Carl Horsfall , Tony Booth and Ian Worrall

“I’ve cycled for over 30 years, but I’m not competitive, I just want to enjoy a ride and have a laugh with like-minded people,” explains Carl, who lives in Wetherby. “Having been a customer of All Terrain Cycles since it opened, when they approached me to set up a club in a similar vein to Yorkshire Lass, I was happy to help.  It is very much an inclusive club which welcomes everyone and has rides suitable for all riders, whatever their level and whether they’re road cyclists or mountain bikers.”

 

The club offers regular rides every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning from All Terrain’s cycle superstores in Wetherby and Saltaire, as well as casual rides organised by members throughout the week. It is a social group, not subscription only membership, and, therefore, all cyclists are welcome.

 

Carl continues: “As I work shifts, I’m often out on my bike during the week and see lots of other cyclists out on their own. The club is a great way of bringing people together so they can enjoy some company on their ride.

 

“Primarily the club is about social cycling with a choice of leisurely Sunday morning rides suitable for beginners, less fit or older people, both on mountain and road bikes. There’s also the option of more serious pelaton-style cycling on a Wednesday evening when some of the All Terrain race team come along too.

 

“I’ve found that a lot of clubs tend to take cycling quite seriously which can be off-putting for the social cyclist. Yorkshire Lad CC has no minimum standards – just come out with us, ride your bike and have some fun!”

 

While Carl, assisted by Ian Worrall, husband of Yorkshire Lass co-founder Judith Worrall of Thirsk, organises rides from All Terrain Cycles’ Wetherby store, some of the All Terrain team at its Saltaire store organise rides from there.

 

Yorkshire Lads Cycling Jersey – exclusive to All Terrain Cycles £39.99

The region’s new club is being supported by the region’s oldest cycling business, All Terrain Cycles, which is committed to promoting cycling in Yorkshire. The company has funded Yorkshire Lads CC’s affiliation to the British Cycling association and has also had exclusive club kit manufactured complementing the Yorkshire Lass CC jerseys.

 

“While there are lots of cycling clubs in the region, many are fairly hard core and can put off the less fit or casual cyclist and we really want to make the sport accessible to everyone,” comments Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles. “Yorkshire Lass has proved hugely popular with hundreds of ladies taking part in its weekly rides over the last two years, and we expect its male counterpart to also appeal to lots of guys who just want to get out on their bike with other enthusiasts and enjoy a ride.”

 

Dating back to 1907, All Terrain Cycles is the oldest cycling business in Yorkshire. Having supported the sport of cycling since 1997 with its own race team, All Terrain Cycles is committed to playing an active part in the region’s cycling fraternity, sponsoring a number of cycling and charity events in the region every year.

Fred Whitton and Etape du Dales double 2017 by Harry Carpenter -Team All Terrain Cycles

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   2017 was my first crack at the Fred Whitton, I knew the route but had never done the actual event. I was due to ride it with two lads from the local club and luckily we were being supported by a car which met us twice during the event.

The gruelling Fred Whiton 2017

 

    The day started reasonably chilly with a steady wind blowing from the north, not ideal but the forecast was good for later so we started with arm warmers and a gillet. Sign on was very quick as was the start, no queue to speak of, before we knew it we were climbing towards Troutbeck and onto Honister. The top was gloomy, damp and windy but there were loads of supporters so spirits were raised. The weather started to pick up near Keswick and by the time we were onto Whinlatter it was really starting to warm up, again the crowds were amazing on the passes with cowbells being rung and all sorts of fancy dress wearing supporters. I struggled over Cold Fell but some food picked me up and soon it was on to Hardknott and Wrynose. The organizers had done a great job of closing the roads from the bottom of the pass so we were free to use the whole road….I managed to clean both climbs (most don’t) and enjoyed the traffic free descent. We finished in 7hrs 47 minutes, considering I’d not done half the hill work prep I should have done I was happy enough with that. A nice touch was crossing the line to be given a glass Fred Whitton tankard and a cold can of (alcohol free) lager too. Big shout to my daughter Emily and to Anita Allen for supporting us, the feed stations were pretty busy so it was nice to be able to have our own crew.

A welcome pint in a well deserved Fred Whitton 2017 tankard

   The Etape du Dales wasn’t quite as entertaining……I’ve done the route a few times so I know it well, coming in a week after the Fred I’d always the double but thought I should give it a go. A fresh start saw the day improving but the wind never relented,  I was on my own and tagged onto as many groups as I could. At the top of the Buttertubs Andy Cunningham from Team ATC caught me up and I tagged onto his wheel down Swaledale but I couldn’t stick with him on the climbs, the run up Arkengarthdale to the Tan Hill was sunny but a strong cross/head wind sapped my ebbing strength. I kept up a reasonable pace (for me) till the Mallerstang where I really started to struggle, the Coal Road finished me off and by the time I was heading down Ribblesdale I was completely spent, I’d not stopped, I’d carried my own food but I was out of fluids and feeling empty. The feed at Stainforth was a very welcome site, not least as it was staffed by my local club The Settle Wheelers so I received a fantastic welcome. A brew, cake and a banana saw me up to Dale Head, but I’d left it too late and my stomach wasn’t having it…..Just past Halton Ghyll I pulled over and was sick, I had to sit down and take 15 minutes to recover and then limped it to the finish. Lesson learned! 

   I think next year I’m going to concentrate on the Fred with some steep hill specific training and see how I feel for the Etape (and see what the weather is doing!)

 

 

 

Electric bikes – bringing power to the people

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While traditionally there has been some snobbery from hardcore cyclists about the emergence of electrically assisted bikes, attitudes are changing and today’s e-bikes are appealing to people of all ages. As well as older people, increasingly, 20, 30 and 40-somethings who enjoy the thrill of mountain biking are turning to motorised bikes for some off-road fun.

 

Electric bikes have been rapidly growing in popularity in Europe in recent years with estimates that as many as 30% of cyclists on the continent have ‘converted’ and predictions that the craze is about to take off in the UK too. In Germany, 535,000 electric bikes were sold in 2015 alone.  Given their strong environmental credentials and the fact that they are a cost-effective way to get around, many commuters are now using them and they are proving as popular with motor cyclists as with traditional cyclists looking for a little extra power.  They’re also a great way of giving teenagers more independence – anyone over the age of 14 can ride them.

 

With a small, integrated electric motor engaged by pedalling or using the throttle on the handlebar, they have a maximum uphill speed of 15mph and riders can choose from different levels of power to assist them. They have rechargeable batteries that are charged at a normal mains socket; it takes about three hours to charge and they last for around 20 miles.

There is still an element of exercise involved as you have to pedal in order for the motor to run, making them ideal for people who want to get around without getting sweaty or for those who have an injury that prevents them from using a conventional bike. That extra boost of power saves the slog, particularly up hills – meaning you won’t get hot and bothered and can ascend at a steady, safe and consistent speed. They also have the additional advantage of not needing road tax, insurance or a licence – and you can park anywhere!

Providing a practical, cheap and fun way to get around, they are, of course, ideal for older people who want to prolong their cycling life. However, having originally targeted pedal assist bikes at the over 50s, the industry has been surprised to see the huge take-up from hip, young mountain bikers looking for the added thrill of having a motor, enabling them to tackle off road trails no matter how steep.

 

These e-MTBs offer all the benefits you would expect from a performance-orientated trail bike, but with the added boost of power. They’re ideal for mountain bikers recovering from injuries (knee joints don’t seem to copy as well with bouncing up stony trails on two wheels as we get older!); or for those who want to enjoy an occasional off-road blast without having to commit to a tough training regime in order to keep up with the pack.  An e-bike will help get you up those climbs faster and enable you to cover longer distances so they’re a real boost for training as well as helping you to quickly power through to more exciting parts of the trail.

 

Every cycling purist I know who has claimed that he will never ride an electric bike because it’s ‘lazy’ to have pedal assistance has changed their mind as soon as they’ve tried one – me included! There are now a huge range of e-bikes to choose from, whether you want a compact model for commuting or a high performance mountain bike with carbon frame, there’s an electric bike for you.

 

While the UK has been slower than Europe to see the light and embrace e-cycling (it’s been enormously popular in China since the 1990s!), I think the British cycling community is starting to realise that these clever machines offer a number of benefits. We’re finding that many of our customers who might already have three or four bikes to cover their on road and off road activities, are now adding an e-bike to their fleet.  Try one – you might be surprised!

 

Mud, Sweat and Gears Series ( Eastern XC Series ) Race Report by Adam Hinchcliffe

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Following on from my opening blog; it was my first race of the season a couple of weeks ago down in London at the Olympic Park for the Eastern XC series set up by the Mud, Sweat and Gears gang!

Nerves we’re already setting in prior to the race at least two/three weeks before he kick off as I was wondering on how many possible outcomes of the race were there going to be? Not only with these thoughts but also with dark thought on, am I going to be fit enough? Am I going to be on form? etc. etc.

Andrew Hinchcliffe , All Terrain Ride in Peace Rider , at Eastern XC series

 

I have done a few of these events set up by the MSG guys and what a day they put on!

For most of the races below Birmingham (usually generally I class anything below Sheffield as the South or southerners!), I tend to go down the night before to get myself fully prepared before the event; I know there are some guys who do the one shot hit, but for me it suits to head down the day before. I can usually pre ride the course familiarise myself, and set myself up for the following day. I have always believed in the four P’s! ( Poor Planning =  Poor Performance).

We arrived the night before nice and relaxed, recce’d the course and completed basic admin tasks, and then settled for dinner in London with friends before a nice night’s sleep.

Course

The course was fantastic, man-made but great! A fast flowing single track course with many opportunities to overtake and take the lead! Not amazingly technical which suited me, but nonetheless exciting! We had a number of rock gardens to contest with nice following berms which when perfectly dry can gain some speed out of!

Race Day

Race day came along too quickly! Before knew it, we were up and having breakfast and away to the event!

Once parked up I went through my normal routine firstly signing on followed by checking bike, checking gear, preparing pre-race, race and post-race fuel and getting my post-race clothes ready!

I started off with my warm up and gently jogged for ten/fifteen minutes followed by a couple of warm up laps to gauge myself against the others, I met up with a couple of guys form my previous season racing who I went around with which helped relax my nerves.

 The start was soon approaching…

14:00

I was on the start line right at the front in prime position to take the first corner.

14:15

The claxon went and we were off! I flew out of the start line like a bullet; I shocked myself. I hit the corner flat out straight onto flat open single track where I powered down. I focused purely on keeping myself out at the front; it was short lived!

The first lap went really quickly and I was nicely placed in the front group, with the 2nd group following closely. I stuck with the guys as long as I could, but unfortunately my handling skills let me down a few times in the corners and I started losing time. 5seconds here 5seconds there!

The second group swallowed me up quick but I was in a good position.

I was happy, It beat being at the back! Laps three, four and five went quickly. The aim for me was to stick in with this second group. It was a great battle taking the lead, dropping back but great in terms of finding out where my skills were, where and what I needed to practice and concentrate on for the future

Lap six came along and my energy started to dwindle. I held on as long as could to the finish.

I came in at 9th in the Elite/Expert category. Probably the best result I have ever had!

It was a positive for me; I learnt a lot but also had shown and proved that my fitness and skills were better than the previous season, and that my training hadn’t been to waste!

Roll on the 19th for the Midlands XC series opener at Sherwood Pines!

All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace Team Rider , Adam Hinchcliffe 2016 season Round Up …..

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January & February is a good time to round up and reflect on your previous season and the entry back into base training following what is believed to be a well-earned break! (He says lightly!!!)

The 2016 season has been a very interesting and big learning curve for me with some massive highs and more than enough lows; for some of you, you may not be aware that this is my first semi-professional season racing just purely mountain bikes in the XC arena as my background was originally racing Cross Triathlon for GB. It’s certainly a massive transition from the two disciplines without stating the obvious!

For those of you who are not aware, Cross Triathlon involves an open water swim usually in the sea or a lake, followed by a mountain bike section typically a marathon type single track circuit and not very technical with the final discipline being trail/fell running.

The MTB XC arena tends to be laps of a particular technical circuit lasting usually no more than 1hr 30minutes whereas CrossTri could last a competitor up to 3+ hours dependent upon the course.

“Where does this all lead?” you might be saying?

Well my career in MTB XC started roughly at the middle end of 2015 (August 1st to be specific!) following a shoulder injury which I was incredibly lucky getting away with no need for invasive surgery in my right shoulder.

The MTB-XC career plan started when I began losing motivation and drive for triathlon and after long discussions with my coach decided enough was enough and to make the transition early into MTB XC. This is where the big plan came into effect!

The BIG plan.

So the big plan, which came to fruition in 2K15, was to have a 3/4 year race career in XC with the ultimate goal in chasing the “Elite” category status with my current placement in the Expert category

Adam Hinchcliffe in action for All Terrain Cycles

The aim of the first year (2015/16) was to ultimately get me racing and used to this discipline. I lacked experience in this arena!

The 2016/17 season is going to be my developmental year, so to build on my past experiences and develop the skills and weaknesses I found last season.

I started the 2015/16 season at a weight of around 85/86kgs which for a 6ft racer wasn’t particular ideal. Not only this, I was putting out wattage around 235. For the amount of work I was putting in was absolutely nothing?

Having started with James I went from 235watts to 330watts with then a steady increase to 347watts! I aim to be hitting 390 by the end of the season. This just proves that, with the ight coach and training plan suited to you, you can change very quickly.

 

The 2016 race season was a big eye opener for me. I struggled massively with keeping and holding the pace with the front groups at the beginning of the season however by the end of my season In September I was holding quite close! I wasn’t always a podium potential but I was close too and actually finally got onto the podium in my second to last race which finished off the season quite nicely for me! I took part in over twenty races this season and had a positive incline all the way through

My season started with a race down at Cannock Chase, the “Cannock Winter Warmer” in the elite/expert category. This wasn’t just a winter warmer in was a WARNER! To what my season was likely going to be like! The race started off fast, I didn’t stand a chance! I held on for dear life at the back of the pack. Out of 25 I came in at 20. I knew from this there was to be some hard changes to my training.

I knew what I was going to be up against this race year!

The next race began the Eastern MTB XC Series (Mud,Sweat and Gears – more like tears in my case) down in Hintlesham in Suffolk. A long old journey! This race had a few more positive outcomes compared to the last despite the fact the whole course was a quagmire. I settle in tenth place in the mixed Elite/Expert category which was better than the last event.

The following races ensued; Midlands XC Series, the Nutcracker XC Series (Northern) the Southern Series etc. but nothing prepared me for the looming National Series.

The National Series started down in Wales at Pembrey Park outside of Swansea. The journey down was uneventful but incredibly long. Despite having a relief driver I was till tired by the end of the journey.

Having got there unfortunately a little late there was no time to practice which meant an early start the next morning!

The morning came quickly; my brother (pit man/driver/dogsbody) and I went to breakfast where I couldn’t stomach anything. Following this we shot off to Pembrey Park where I, I donned my team kit and shot off for a couple of laps. What a great course! It flowed, limited technical sections and fast. Perfect! Except every racer there was super-fast. I came in at 46th not the last I hastened to add but not great.

The season just got better and better for me which was great. I started getting in to small packs and actually racing rather than sustaining! I came away from the season relatively happy but with a lot of hard lessons learnt and a lot of areas to work on; but mainly still motivated and enthusiastic!

The end of 2016 start of 2017

Following the race season I had a couple of weeks off, more like three! Just to get my head and thoughts back. I wrote a summary on where I needed to and what I needed to do to get better.

The main area to concentrate on was to lose more weight. Having finished the season around 86kgs, I started to look at my diet, and started focussing on losing it!

The second area to concentrate on was improving my power output and sustainability of it. Which hopefully with the weight loss my wattage/kilo would soar up!

Then thirdly and which would come with experience was my MTB technique and skills.

The off season training has gone great, my weight has dropped massively including through Christmas, and my base output has improved.

Once December/January hit we started working on higher end outputs and power started soaring. However half way through January I hit a massive downer. We think potentially I over trained.

We’re still positive!

With the 2017 season looming; first race 26th February in London at the Olympic Park, nerves are setting in!

Let’s see how it goes!

Cull Cup and Duncan Sparrow Road Race (Pimbo) 05.03.17 Race Report by Melissa Greaves

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Cull Cup and Duncan Sparrow Road Race, my first race of the season, and more importantly my first race for All Terrain. The start sheet was pretty intimidating with Team GB and a few of the other big women’s teams featuring on the list.

Melissa Greaves All Terrain Ride in Peace Rider in the mix at Pimbo

 

On the day there was a field of around 60 riders, not put off by the torrential rainy conditions. The big names were already lined up at the front when I rolled to the start taking my place at the back. Luckily I was able to make my way up to the front of the group easily and without any panic. Straight away this gave me a confidence boost and I settled into the bunch. The race was fast with both Team GB and Team Kuoto Torrelli riders continually jumping of the front. Some of the moves stuck for a few laps but nothing stayed away.

With the rainy conditions it was difficult to keep track of how many laps we had left. I love racing in the rain, but with no mudguards and heaps of gritty surface water visibility was very limited. I just focused on keeping myself in a good position near the front.

When the bell eventually rang on the last lap everyone seemed to panic, and what had seemed to be a pretty well behaved bunch became a bit frantic. I lost a bit of confidence and gave up my position. By the time we got to the final corner there were multiple screams of ‘hold your line’ with riders barging into invisible gaps and undertaking some dodgy manoeuvres to get to the front. At the end of the day that’s racing and hopefully as I get into the season I’ll become more confident in handling myself in the final stages of a race.

The finishing straight at Pimbo is quite long so I held back on starting my sprint, with hindsight I definitely left it too late. Although I managed to make up some places I could see a lot more girls in front of me than I’d have hoped. I was disappointed with my final position of 23rd because I had felt really strong. However, overall I was happy with my race, as I haven’t really raced at this level before or in a field of that size, it was a good start. I can come away with a good indication of my fitness and some learning points to take away for the next race.

York City Crit Race Report 7 March 2017…..

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All Terrain Ride in Peace Team Rider David McNeil reports on last nights York Crit.

Only 20 pre-registrations for the 3/4 race but EOL brought it up to 40 riders. First few laps were dodgy as people reminded themselves how to ride in a group. Quite a few took the cyclocross line (the grass!) in corners. No big offs though. I was happy to sit in the pack as we shelled out about half of the field by the final 10 laps. Things got ropey again thereon. Lots of dodgy riding and several junior riders gave an appalling account of themselves. The 20 stayed together and with a few hairy moments on the bell lap I elected to back out of the final hairpin carnage. After the obligatory crash was avoided I was happy to cross the line at the back of the ~15 strong bunch which was pretty strung out after the corner fracas. Happy enough to remain upright given the various scrapes going on around me. Good to be able to comfortably sit in the bunch. Useful reminder on the importance of positioning and moving up effectively too though. Always miffed not to place but I’m still not confident to commit to a bunch Sprint after my nasty crash last year. Guess I need to make sure I set up break always! Less good was the conduct of those juniors who after chucking their weight around in the race (such as it is!) Proceeded to gob off pretty spectacularly after it. Commisaaires and organisers didn’t seem fussed and didn’t grip it which was a shame. They’ll just act that way from now on, or until a big boy throws them into a hedge!

Get set for cycling

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For all but the very hardiest of us, cycling tends to be a summer sport so, as we enjoy the first signs of spring, it’s time to dust down the lycra and make sure that you and your bike are in peak condition, ready for the season’s cycling.

Bike maintenance

The starting point, of course, is to make sure that your bike is in tip top condition, not only for optimum performance and to prolong its life, but also to ensure your safety. If your bike has been standing in a damp garage over the winter months, it may be suffering from a flat tire or a dry chain and now is the best time to get it tuned up and ready to go.

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Advanced Bike service at All Terrain Cycles Workshop

If you’ve invested in a decent bike, it’s worth taking it to a trained mechanic and getting them to give it a good check at least once a year – this may actually save you money by making it less likely that you’ll need to replace components prematurely.

A professional service at a reputable bike shop usually includes adjusting or replacing brakes; checking the gear indexing; inspecting the wheels and tyres; changing cables; checking the headset and frame; and degreasing and re-lubing moving parts. All of this will give you a smoother, more energy-efficient ride as well as preventing bigger mechanical problems from developing.

Once your bike has been fettled by an expert, keep it in good working order by making sure that you clean it thoroughly after every ride – wipe the tyres and rims, check for flints, inspect the brake blocks and lube the chain. It’s also fairly easy to keep your bike in good working order yourself by investing in some basic repair and maintenance tools and doing a little DIY servicing.

Also, carry out a check of all your safety accessories and ‘on board’ essentials – are your front and rear lights working; is your tire fixing kit complete; do you have enough water bottles? Have a look at your kit – do you have both your cycle gloves; is your helmet comfortably adjusted; have your cycle socks disappeared; and are your cleats caked up with mud?

Bike fitting

So, having ensured that your bike and accessories are in a safe and optimal condition, are you confident that your bike has been set up correctly for you? In recent years, more and more riders who want to get the best from their bike, both in terms of performance and comfort, have been turning to professional bike fitting to ensure the optimum riding position.  Making sure that your bike is correctly adjusted for your body proportions and cycling goals can also avoid injury after many hours in the saddle.

Pro Bike Fit at All Terrain Cycles

Pro Bike Fit at All Terrain Cycles , Salts Mill

At a bike fit, a trained technician will spend two or three hours looking at your current bike set up, your riding style, your individual measurements and your body composition. With your bike mounted on a turbo trainer, you’ll be put through your paces with every aspect analysed from the perfect positioning of the cleats on your shoes to correct reach, handlebar width and height, saddle position and even knee over pedal spindle! Using a state-of-the-art jig, the technician will be able to easily adjust the rider/bike interface in order to more accurately custom fit the bicycle to the needs of the rider. A professional bike fit could make a huge difference to your cycling comfort this summer.

Remember, if you haven’t been in the saddle for a few months, take it slowly. Build up gradually and include increasingly longer rides as part of your weekly fitness plan.  Also take time to get used to being on two wheels again, particularly in terms of traffic awareness, so you can safely enjoy warm weather pedalling.

And then there’s the most fun part of preparing for the season ahead, get down to your local bike retailer and stock up on the latest gadgets and gizmos to improve your comfort and enjoyment – not to mention making your cycling friends jealous! From powerful LED lights to a high tech bike computer, there’s plenty for the cycling enthusiast to choose from. And don’t forget to pour over the very latest lycra outfits which will make sure you’re noticed when you’re leading the pelaton…

2017 Race Season is coming …….

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Well it’s about that time of year where you realise race season is around the corner. Personally I’ve struggled with any type of form all winter, maybe down to working nights in my new job and my body clock adjusting to the change.

In the last month I’ve given myself a kick up the backside and started doing more structured efforts on the turbo rather than aimlessly doing junk miles and not really achieving anything. I feel I’m slowly turning a corner regarding my form not that I’m anywhere near race fit just yet but certainly a step in the right direction.

Billy collects 2017 Giant TCR Advanced from All Terrain Cycles Salts Mill

Billy collects 2017 Giant TCR Advanced from All Terrain Cycles Salts Mill

A huge boost to my season this year is I’ll be doing a training camp in late March. This will be a great kick start to getting me into race shape ready for my first race on the 9th April. Another huge boost was the arrival of my race bike  a Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1 2017 which looks awesome ( thanks to Ben Wood , and the All Terrain Cycles Team for sorting me out).

Will give it its first proper outing on Saturday for the Café Race then do an extended loop I’ve Ribblehead way to get used to the new rig. A report on how it went will follow soon.

See you out on the road if not before

Matt Bulmer All Terrain Ride in Peace Rider 2017

Rake Hill Climb 2016 ……. All Terrain Cycles Rider Andy Cunningham takes part

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The day after the Holme Moss Hill Climb I travelled to Ramsbottom to compete in The Rake Hill climb, one of the oldest on the calendar. This is very similar in terms of steepness and length to the course for the national hill climb champs in Matlock this year as a result most of the favourites turned out. Added to this Lancashire Road club were also offering equal prize money for both men and women which made a very large field of over 120 riders.

The climb starts very steeply leaving the town before a false flat section leading to the “real” part of the climb 200m+ reaching 25%. The road is so steep there is actually a hand rail presumably for old women walking back from the shops. There is always great crowds here which really helps push you through that final section. My plan had been to ride really fast through the first part of the climb then hang on here but for whatever reason it didn’t really work for me. I felt very comfortable on the steep part and when i wasn’t in any distress at the finish I knew I hadn’t invested enough. Still good enough for 9th on the day which wasn’t what I hoped for but still held a lot of optimism for the nationals having still been amongst the big hitters when I knew i could have gone much deeper.

Last weekend I did two events over in Lancashire. On Saturday It was Nelson Wheelers event on Annals Cross in Barley. A steady 3-4 minute climb averaging 7%. A nice cross tailwind made me confident of going for Mike Cummings course record. Unfortunately a rider collided with a car whilst warming up on the hill breaking their wrist. This meant the road had to be closed and the event moved further down the road to a very steep 0.5 mile climb averaging 12%. I managed to just sneak first beating Chris Dyke from Manchester Wheelers by two tenths of a second. Sunday was North Lancashire road clubs hill climb on the Nick o Pendle. This is a very famous climb and has hosted the national championships on several occasions. Whilst warming up in the car park the heavens opened before brightening up as soon as the event finished! Was really happy to take another win in this one beating a strong field including putting 20 seconds into 5 times national winner Jim Henderson who was defending his title from last year on this climb. Yesterday was Huddersfield Road Clubs hill climb on the short, steep Ripponden bank. Tough little climb this which was made harder by a greasy, leafy surface and a stiff headwind. Just edged Kieran Savage by half a second to take a 3rd win in a row! After this I nipped over to Mytholmroyd for Yorkshire Road clubs hill climb/TT on Cragg Vale. Having initially not been really looking forward to this with it being more suited to TT rigs than road bikes I really fancied giving it a good go. The wind was mostly cross tail on the climb which probably negated the benefit you’d usually get from a time trial set up. I set off really fast on the steeper, lower slopes and thankfully still had the legs to push on through the long steadier top section. When I crossed the line I knew I’d knocked a bit off Tejvan Pettingers course record but had a nervous wait to see if Kieran Savage had managed to go even faster.

As it turned out he was inside the old record too but thankfully still 10 seconds off my time of 14.07…

Mountain Bike Trail Centres are on the up!

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The UK now boasts some great trail centres for off road enthusiasts. Tony Booth of All Terrain Cycles takes a look at some of the best in the North

 

With the end of the summer in sight, many cyclists are putting away their road bikes and turning to mountain biking during the colder months. For all but the most dedicated of the lycra clad devotees, taking to the roads in wet and icy conditions on extremely thin tyres doesn’t have quite the same appeal as scrambling through the woods on some chunky MTB treads!

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As well as Britain’s network of bridleways and country lanes, we’ve also seen the emergence of dedicated off road trail centres with purpose-built and way-marked trails and great facilities for cyclists. These have been a huge boost to the sport in recent years and we are fortunate to have some of the best in the UK here in Yorkshire or within easy reach.

So why are trail centres proving so popular? They are quite simply a paradise for mountain bikers and cyclo cross enthusiasts, offering a wide range of trails (rideable whatever the weather), and suitable for all levels of skills from complete beginners to the most adventurous daredevils.  With well-marked specific trails, colour coded according to level of difficulty, they are a great way of progressing and trying more technically challenging routes.  As well as tough red and black graded trails, enthusiasts can also hone their skills in specially-designed bike parks, usually identified with an orange trail marker (orange also indicates downhill runs).

Even if you’re not a seasoned pro, heading for a trail centre with friends or family is a great day out. They offer the chance to cycle off road, so are ideal for children – look out for the green trails which are usually flat, well-surfaced and wide enough to ride two abreast; before progressing to the slightly more difficult blue routes.

It’s also a fantastic chance to explore different parts of the country as well as many offering great bike maintenance facilities and usually a really nice café to refuel with tea and cake after pounding the pedals.

Many of the trail centres have been set up by the Forestry Commission which now boasts 2,500km of trails, often through some of the UK’s most stunning scenery.

Here’s our round-up of some of the best in the North:

Stainburn Forest Trail Centre, near Otley

  • Located in Yorkshire, this is one of the UK’s most challenging trail centres offering everything from natural trails to technical man-made single track; but be warned, the black route is the most technical man-made cross country trail in the country! Dalby Forest Mountain Bike Trail Centre, near Pickering
  • Situated close to the North York Moors National Park, Dalby Forest is England’s largest trail centre and was the venue of a UCI World Cup Race in 2011. With a huge 34m red route and a shorter black-graded World Cup Cycle trail, it features lots of great MTB single track trails for a wide range of abilities as well as the Pace Bike Park and the more challenging Dixon’s Hollow for adrenaline junkies Sutton Bank Mountain Bike Trails, near Thirsk
  • On the edge of the North York Moors, close to Sutton Bank, it features three interlinked mountain bike trails Gisburn Forest Trail Centre, near Slaidburn
  • Located in North East Lancashire, Gisburn is a firm favourite with many enthusiasts as it offers great views and almost 39km of excellent mountain bike trails and single track – including ‘The 8’, an 18km roller coaster of a trail! – plus a new skills loop Grizedale Trail Centre, near Hawkshead
  • Set in the Lake District National Park, the centre features high quality natural MTB trails and single track including the notorious North Face Trail Whinlatter Trail Centre, near Keswick
  • Also in the Lake District, Whinlatter is home to two excellent cross country mountain bike trails, the blue graded Quercus Trail and the figure-of-eight Altura Trail, 1,600ft above the Keswick valley Clayton Vale Mountain Bike Trails, near Manchester
  • 12km of urban MTB fun including an MTB skills zone Doddington Hall Mountain Bike Trails, near Lincoln
  • Purpose built 3m XC course with bridges, berms, rollers and optional jumpline Kielder Trail Centre, near Hexham
  • Sitting in the middle of a huge forest in Northumberland, it is home to over 100m of fantastic mountain bike cross country trails including single track, some tough climbs and technical riding

Otley Town Road Races 2016 – Race Report from All Terrain Cycles, Steve Colloby

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Well that was a great evening of racing, shame it didn’t turn out quite how we hoped! Firstly, thanks to everyone that came along to support us, it’s really appreciated and makes the racing that bit more fun! It was my first time riding the Otley races, along with Matthew Bulmer and Chris Emsley in the cat 2/3/4 event.

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Matt Bulmer of All Terrain Cycles breaks away at Otley Road Race 2016

A strong headwind up the only climb in the race made it a tough prospect for anyone who wanted to breakaway, but that didnt stop all of us having a go and being involved right at the front of the race. Matt was the first one to slip off the front, covering one of the early breaks which was soon pulled back, and then Tom Wood from ‘Bradford Olympic RC’ managed to get a decent gap, so on the climb I put in an attack to try and get across to him. But by the time we came back to the finishing straight we were all together again. Chris was next to go, but again, he was quickly chased down, and as the race wore on the pattern remained the same with all three of us trying to get a gap, but getting chased down each time. With over a hundred riders in the race, things were a bit hairy at times, and we all had a few near misses.

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Steve Colloby of All Terrain Cycles at Otley Road Race 2016

Through the finish line with 3 laps to go, and the whole bunch was together, we raced up the climb, and I was about 20 riders back and looking for an opportunity to launch myself off the front. The next thing I knew the rider to my left had switched across my front wheel, his rear mech going into my front wheel, and forcing me into the rider on my right…. I managed to hold it for a second, and thought I was going to get away with it… but then we were both on the floor in a tangled heap! We both got up and walked away with a few cuts and bruises, nothing too serious, but by the time we were up the bunch was out of sight. Back to the race and with only two laps to go, things were getting even more hectic, Chris had been caught up behind my crash, and was trying to make up ground, and Matthew was fighting to hold his position near the front. But in a race like this, there are two types of riders, those that throw caution to the wind and take all the risks to win, and those that have to get up for work in the morning!! As a result Matthew and Chris lost ground in the last couple of laps to some crazy riding from the sprinters, and the race finished with Theo Hartley from DFL In Gear Development taking the win in a bunch sprint with Matt and Chris both finishing in the bunch.

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Chris Emsley riding for All Terrain Cycles at Otley Road Race 2016

All in all it was a good race for us, we were right up there in the mix until the last two laps, and we came away with pride in tact and heads held high. Onwards and upwards, there’s always next year for Team All Terrain!
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VeloTorun , Poland … a rider perspective of this iconic cycling event

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After a busy weekend full of fantastic events including The Fred Whitton Challenge, the Ilkley 2 day, the PMBA Enduro at Lee Quarry and, All Terrain Cycles, Team Rider Jeremy Copland , choice was, VeloTorun in Poland.

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VeloTorun Poland 2016 – Jez Copland of All Terrain on front of grid !

So VeloTorun: my coach Andy got me into this as he took part last year. A closed road, sportive style event which is sponsored by Michal Kwiatkowski of Team Sky as both he and Michal Golas (fellow Team Sky rider) both originate from the town of Torun.

The event attracts both professionals and amateurs alike with three different distances depending on ability. The main field was for the Giga option at 110km which achieved an extremely un-sportive-like 26mph average last year. This year saw nearly 700 riders in total, 380 of which were riding the Giga!

Speaking to Daniel Wojtyna (a local pro who Andy met last year) it was soon apparent this was far from a sportive and a little more extreme than I’d expected. From a recce with Kwiatkowski on the Saturday, Daniel estimated the first 20-30km’s to be at around 50kmph and (considering the wind) the last 40km’s to be around 60-65kmph mark. I laughed (and a small part of me broke inside)!

Obviously the 380 riders wouldn’t be together for the full distance so it would be key to get a good position at the start and get towards the front in the first few km’s.

The morning arrived and I fuelled accordingly with a great breakfast. We made our way to the start which was only a 2 minute ride away from the hotel, arriving 45 minutes before the off. Fortunately for me, the weather was a little cooler at around the 26deg mark and the wind wasn’t as strong as the day before, which made me think the speeds maybe marginally slower.

It was time to begin a warm up but as we set off I noticed people were already forming at the start so we headed to get a decent position about 10 rows back behind 100 riders or so. Pre-start interviews with MK and MG got the riders fired up and it was clear the event had attracted a large number of Pro’s who ride round to set the pace / protect the Sky boys.

We were off! The full road width and 100’s of riders set off at a reasonable speed – 32mph to be exact which, due to the size of the peloton felt pretty easy. Maybe Daniel’s speed estimate was spot on!

Like most events you expect a high rate of attrition over the first few miles, especially in a sportive so I maintained my position and didn’t attempt to get nearer to the front. I was wrong. Probably due to the lack of elevation change, virtually no one was being dropped. Oh joy.

This pace lasted for about 10 miles before we took a right turn into the forest. Everyone bunched on the inside so I took a wide line on the left which saw me in the first 50 riders on to the narrower roads – ideal. We continued at around 28mph through the forest and emerged intact as a group.

The first small climb (and I mean small) saw a few riders shelled due to the speed and a rider hitting the deck as his chain snapped. I was still in the group but on the redline to keep on. The surroundings opened up and we became more exposed to the wind so we lined out diagonally across the road true bunch racing style. Some quick descending and what seemed a relentless sprint after a 90deg corner I still felt pretty good but my worse fear was about to be realised – a climb! Not just any climb but one which had a road sign at the bottom (like our gradient signs but with a car instead of a gradient value) which indicated to cars that there was a climb! Oh dear God this could be fun I thought.

I dropped onto the inner ring and jumped on Golas’s wheel as he came passed. This was similar to the climb out of Skipton towards Embsay but with a couple of corners to give a false flat. I dug in again and maintained the wheel – I looked down and saw 182bpm which is my highest recorded year to date. Reaching the summit I was pretty spent only to see a few riders continuing the pace into the distance – this was the point I was going to be shelled I thought.

Absolutely turning myself inside out I got in with 5 other riders and started to get back to the group. A sharp hairpin right and long drag saw the group easing away slightly. After about a mile the road dropped away and the 5 of us gained some time and got back on the bunch. I looked at my garmin to see it tick over the 20mile mark – this was going to be a long day with ONLY 45 more to go!

I looked round to see there was only 60 of us in the group with Golas riding near the back keeping everyone on. We chatted and he got his phone out – I thought he was going to take a selfie so was keen to make sure I was in it!! Instead he just browsed his texts and responded to a couple. I deliberately looked down and noted we were traveling at 28mph. I don’t think I could focus enough to unlock my phone let alone read a text! Chapeau.

More open countryside and a tailwind saw the speed maintained. The average at this point was still 28mph. I was batting well above my standard here.

We started the second loop of the forest I spotted the 30mile mark go by. The pace relented slightly making it more comfortable up the 2 climbs which was good for me. The group was now down to 30 riders with no sign of anyone chasing.

The 40mile mark came and went with an average speed of 27mph thus far. As you can see it was about survival for me as I ticked the mileage off. I knew the last 5 or 10 miles would be brutal but wanted to stay on as long as possible.

I was starting to recover and feeling pretty confident that I could get to the 50mile mark.

As we left the forest the road was pretty rough: melted Tarmac rather than potholes but it was pretty bumpy. A few of the riders slowed and I maintained speed and stuck to the very right hand side of the group. A quick right then left saw us onto more rough Tarmac. In search of a better line the group split left and right which squeezed me towards the edge of the road. In this section the Tarmac didn’t have a straight edge before it dropped onto the gravel but instead it was uneven lumps, bumps and potholes to which I couldn’t avoid. I hit them hard enough to rotate my bars down a couple of degrees and my rear tyre popped.

I was gutted as I knew I wouldn’t get back on to the group and would need a few minutes to swap my tub. About 5 minutes later (after a bit off faffing and dejection of being out) the Kwiatkowski group of 10 came through. Not only had I been riding in the front group with Golas and some serious Pro’s / amateurs, I was in front of Kwiatkowski which made me smile inside. Obviously I appreciate they only play at events like this but it turned a negative situation into a slightly more positive one.
48 miles done and an average of 26mph was more than satisfying.

After fitting my tub I solo tapped the remaining 17miles back, stopping for a toilet break and 3 times to re-inflate my spare tub. I finally got back a tad under 3hours with an final average speed of 23.4mph.

On reflection this has to be one of the, if not THE hardest cycle events I’ve ever done. Not only the speed but the physical and mental effort needed to ride in such a large competent group. I was more than satisfied with my achievement and I cannot wait to do it again.

Just to put the cost in perspective: the entry fee was €20 which included food, goodie bag with gels and bottle etc!

I would recommend VeloTorun to any road cyclist, after all, how many times can you say you’ve ridden with 2 Team Sky Pro’s in a competitive (for most) event??

Why you should get a Bikefit ?

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We have just invested £30,000 in the latest technology to enable our specially trained technicians to custom fit bicycles to riders’ specific needs, improving comfort, control and performance as well as minimising injuries.

Pro Bike Fit at All Terrain Cycles

Pro Bike Fit at All Terrain Cycles

Available to customers at our Salt’s Mill, Shipley Bikestore ,the state-of-the –art bike fit studio features a fully adjustable jig giving the flexibility to assess and easily adjust every aspect of the rider/bike interface, including crank length, saddle angle and handlebar width, in order to create the optimum riding position. This geometry can then be replicated on the customer’s own bike to ensure it is set up to their exact personal requirements taking into account body proportions and what the rider wants from the bike.

Bike Fit Suite at All Terrain Cycles allows us to adjust your own bike as well as use or Bike Fit Jig

Bike Fit Suite at All Terrain Cycles allows us to adjust your own bike as well as use or Bike Fit Jig

“Cycling enthusiasts are becoming increasingly serious about optimising performance and the starting point, of course, is to ensure the bike fits properly from choosing the right frame size through to the correct adjustment of all the contact points,” explains bike fit technician Chris Williams who has worked for All Terrain Cycles for five years.

“As in many sports, science is being used to improve the process and this high tech jig, one of just a few in Yorkshire, enables us to easily make adjustments and tailor the bike to exactly meet the rider’s needs. Whether customers are investing in a new bike or simply want to get more from their existing bike, a comprehensive fit can make a huge difference curing a host of problems from sore neck and back, knee pain and uncomfortable saddle to numb hands.”

A riders personal flexibility is assessed and built into the fit

A riders personal flexibility is assessed and built into the fit

The personalised bike fit analyses the rider’s current bike set up and also looks at their body dimensions, flexibility and core strength in order to achieve the ideal riding position.

Our managing director Tony Booth, adds: “As riders prepare for a summer of cycling, our new precision bike fit jig is already being put to good use with our trained technicians, many of whom have ridden at a semi-professional level, using their knowledge, combined with the latest technology, to ensure maximum comfort on the bike, so giving better performance.”

The jig also allows us to replicate the exact geometry of a bike we may not have in stock. This is particularly useful in ensuring correct bike size and rider comfort prior to us ordering from a supplier .It enables a customer to easily test the difference in riding position between different models or sizes of the same model even if we don’t have these bikes in the showroom.

Great for any bike but absolutely essential for custom builds such as Trek Project One ,as these factory ordered bikes cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.

 

 

All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace Road Team 2016 season kicks off ….

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All Terrain Cycles Rde in Peace Road Riders in Action

All Terrain Cycles Rde in Peace Road Riders in Action

 

Well that was a busy weekend of racing! Obviously the biggest and most important event on the sporting calender anywhere in the world on Saturday was the Cafe Race from Keighley to Gargrave(!!!) and I’m pleased to report that All Terrain took first and second, with Edward McParland taking the win with myself in second. Alex Barusevicus was close behind in 6th nearly managing to make it a clean sweep for us but he was just overcome in the last few metres by Billy Harding and Alfie Moses.

All Terrain took first and second, with Edward McParland taking the win with myself in second. Alex Barusevicus was close behind in 6th

All Terrain took first and second, with Edward McParland taking the win with myself, Steve Colloby , in second. Alex Barusevicus was close behind in 6th.

 

On to some proper racing on Sunday, and Edward McParland Matthew Bulmer and myself were all in action in the Jim Rogers Memorial E123 Road Race. I rode this race last year and it was on a pan flat circuit near the coast and I enthusiastically encouraged Matthew Bulmer to enter it as we are both riders that are built for fast flat courses. However, shortly after entering we were informed that the race had changed circuits and was now on the VERY hilly Dolphinholme circuit with around 7000 feet of climbing over the 77 mile, 6 lap course including a short section of 25%…. Eeek!!! Just suited to a pair of mountain goats like myself and Matt!

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Matt Bulmer

First time up the long steady climb to the finish line and the race split to pieces with Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) and a number of Pedal Heaven riders including James Gullen and Jack Pullar forcing the pace on the front. Ed was right to the fore of the pack and only just missed out on being in the first break to go away, and myself and Matt were hanging on for dear life as the splits started to open the bunch. I managed to position myself on a decent wheel and just hung on to the chasing pack as we crested the summit, and Matt was chasing hard just off the back, regaining contact halfway round the lap. Next time up the climb and the three of us positioned ourselves near the front of the group, but some poor riding from another rider saw him cut across in front of Ed forcing him to come to a stop and unclip, taking him out the back of the group in the process. Matt’s efforts from chasing over the previous half a lap came back to haunt him, and I tried my best to hang on to Ian Wilkinsons wheel as he decimated the group behind…. with about 250 metres to the top of the hill I had to let his wheel go, just as Ed came belting back past me, but too late to rejoin the front chasing group! By this point the peloton was blown to bits, with no more than about 10 riders at a time, and a leading break of about 5, and 10 chasers behind them. Eds group of 10 was the next group on the road and myself chasing hard and Matt just a short way behind me.
Down the other side and the super slippery Giant Propel and aero deep section wheels came into their own as I caught Ed’s group, as they chased to try and get back. Matt was caught in no mans land, with one other rider for company, and for a while they held the gap to our group, but with the other rider sitting on Matts wheel and refusing to do any work it was always going to be a mission impossible to get back on. Luckily for me the pace steadied in our group and the next few laps saw us working to try and close the gap, which meant the pace was hard but steady up the climbs. The race Commisaires then decided to pull us out a lap early, (I wasnt complaining!) and so with just shy of 70 miles and 6200ft of climbing on the clock we made our way up the climb for the final time with a handful of placings still available for the first few few in our group over the line. Once again Ed got the better of me in a sprint, (just as he had done on Saturday!) and we finished just inside the top twenty, although we are still waiting for the final results from the officials!

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All in all it was a tough day, but with a bit better luck on that second climb Ed would have made one of the front groups, and Matt and myself got a good workout ahead of our first ‘Regional A’ RR next week at the BBM event, (I’m assured that this one is REALLY on a flat circuit!!) Ed tells me he’s off skiing this week…. I’m off to do a bit of sprint training while he’s got his guard down!!

The results sheet on VeloUK has got me down as 20th, but I know for a fact that Ed was one place in front of me and he’s not on the result sheet…. at all, in fact, were you even there Ed, I dont remember seeing you at the finish!

 

A week later and we are back for more !

After a some hard racing under our belts last weekend, Matthew Bulmer and myself were joined this weekend by Chris Emsley for the cat 2/3/4 BBM Revolution Road Race over at Pollington. Having grovelled around after the Elite riders last weekend myself and Matt were hoping for a good result this weekend, and Chris has been showing some good form in the recent reliabilitys so was also looking to test his legs in his first RR of the year. The race started well enough, with us covering the early moves and then after 5 laps of a 9 lap race a break of 10 went up the road with Chris safely in the move. With all the pre race favourites in the break, it was clear that this was going to be the winning break, so after half a lap and the break gaining around thirty seconds, I jumped clear of the dawdling peloton. I was soon joined by Matt and the two of us rode full gas for a good lap and a half getting to within about 100 metres of the leaders at one point, before they started pulling away from us again. We were infuriatingly close to closing the gap, but we had to accept that it wasnt to be, and as the break moved to around a minute clear of us we were caught by the chasing bunch.

With the break working well together, Team ATC hopes were firmly pinned on Chris. In the final gallop for the line, Tom Murray took the win, with Jake Tanner and Jack Cutsforth rounding out the podium. Unfortunately for Chris the efforts of his first race of the season came back to haunt him, and he was forced to limp over the line with one foot unclipped in 10th place after cramping up on the last lap!

In an interesting and rather unusual development the main group soon found itself stuck behind a horse and trap with two vehicles blocking the road behind it, and we came to a virtual standstill until they were forced off the road by a passing ambulance. By this point we were two and a half minutes down on the break, but with points still available on the line, Matt threw caution to the wind with a last lap attack, and was only reeled in with about 1km to go. I hung on for the inevitable bunch sprint in which I was 3rd. Not all bad, but not the results we were hoping for.

There was also a good showing from ATC riders at the usual cafe race on Saturday with Alex Barusevicus and Ben Wood breaking away early on. As we turned into Hetton Ben got baulked by a car and was caught, and i put in a dig over the Angel going clear with Matthew Bulmer, Alex Barusevicus and Billy Harding. The four of us then stayed clear all the way to the Gargrave, and with the line approaching we all started thinking that Billy Harding was going to do a “Stannard” on us……. but I’m pleased to say team ATC are better than Etixx Quickstep (Fact!), and I duly beat him in the sprint by a wheel length, with Alex in 3rd.

Yorkshire lasses launch annual ladies only charity sportive

Posted on by allterraincycles

Just a year after forming one of the region’s only all-female cycling clubs, Yorkshire lasses Kate Horsfall of Wetherby and Judith Worrall of Thirsk, together with All Terrain Cycles and the ladies of the Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club, have launched a ladies charity sportive.

YLCC in Training

Members of Yorkshire Lass in Training

The first Yorkshire Lass Annual Charity Sportive will take place on Sunday 14 August in aid of Women v Cancer which comprises Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action. Starting from Carlton Lodge Activity Centre, Thirsk, the event is being organised through British Cycling and will offer three levels of difficulty with a 30 mile ‘Piece of Cake and a Cuppa’ ride; a 60 mile ‘Reet Gud Ride’; and a 103 mile ‘By Eck Tha War Ard Ride’ route – all riders will be awarded a medal and a piece of cake when they finish!

 

Wetherby-based Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club was launched last March and the response has been phenominal due to the growing popularity of women’s cycling, with All Terrain Cycles, which has superstores in Wetherby and Saltaire, funding the club’s first year’s affiliation to the British Cycling association and designing the exclusive club kit. As part of its commitment to promoting cycling in Yorkshire, All Terrain will be supporting the sportive and helping out with equipment and mobile mechanical support as well as supplying energy gels to help keep the ladies’ wheels and legs turning.

 

“It’s been a fantastic year and we’re proud to have grown the club to almost 100 members. With many of our ladies taking part in charity cycle rides last summer, we really wanted to host our own event,” says Kate. “Like the club itself, our sportive is inclusive, offering rides for all abilities.  The aim is to encourage people to try something new and push themselves a bit harder while also having fun – it’s amazing what you can achieve when supported by friends and the promise of a piece of cake at the finish line!

 

“We are really grateful to All Terrain Cycles for their ongoing support, from providing our fantastic club kit and sponsorship to giving us a friendly welcome as we set out on our rides on a Sunday morning, we couldn’t have done it without them. With their support, we hope to raise lots of funds for three wonderful women’s charities.”

 

Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles, says: “Women’s cycling is becoming increasingly popular – it’s great to see so many ladies taking to their bikes, whether complete novices or experienced riders, it’s a great way to make new friends, get fit and have some fun. We expect the Yorkshire Lass charity sportive to become a firm favourite in the region’s cycling calendar.”

Tony Booth MD of All Terrain Cycles

The lunch stop will be at the famous Mousey Thompson shop and café for the participants doing the 60 mile and 100 mile routes. The ride will be well signposted with marshalls at points along the route, mechanical assistance provided by All Terrain Cycles of Wetherby and well stocked feed stations.

The event is being supported by a number of local businesses including Carlton Lodge, where Judith works. David Sharpe, chief executive of the activity centre agreed to stage the sportive which has also attracted other sponsors such as Yorkshire Tea Room, Yorkshire Tea, Office Solutions, Heck Sausages, Paynes Dairies, Masham Sausages and Chia Bars which are donating cakes, tea, sausages, energy bars, milk and office supplies.

Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club meets at 10am most Sunday’s at All Terrain Cycles on Audby Lane, Wetherby. Anyone interested in joining the club, taking part in the sportive or who would like to be a sponsor should visit: www.yorkshirelass.cci or to enter the charity sportive, visit www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/140445/Yorkshire-Lass-Annual-Charity-Sportive.  For any questions about the sportive or accommodation for the sportive, please contact yorkshirelasscc@hotmail.com.

Dating back to 1907, All Terrain Cycles is the oldest cycling business in Yorkshire. Having supported the sport of cycling since 1997 with its shop team, All Terrain Cycles is committed to playing an active part in the region’s cycling fraternity, sponsoring a number of cycling and charity events in the region every year such as the Bronte Sportive, the Lord Mayor’s Cycle Ride and the Ripley Castle Cyclocross.

 

Building on the success of its 10,000sq ft retail outlet at Salts Mill, Saltaire in Shipley, and its thriving online business http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk it opened a second 10,000sq ft cycling superstore last year in Wetherby. Selling many of the leading brands such as Trek and Cannondale, both stores stock over 1,000 mountain, road and BMX bikes, plus clothing and accessories as well as offering repairs and servicing.

 

All Terrain Cycles, Bikes, Cube Bikes, Cycle shop, cycling, Electric Bikes, Giant Bikes, Orbea bikes, Salts Mill, Trek Bikes, wetherby

Power to the Pedal….Electric Bikes, the future of Cycling ?

Link | Posted on by allterraincycles

As we head into spring, you’re probably thinking about getting out and about on your bike a bit more, or even starting out for the first time. It’s often at about this time of year that many of us consider using our cars a bit less and cycling to work or to run errands. In the words (well, nearly) of Oasis, they’re electric, no longer viewed as eccentric and they may just get you doing things you never expected… I’m talking about electric bikes !

Trek Powerfly

Don’t be fooled Electric Bikes are amazing fun !

Before I tried an electric bike, I’ll admit I was sceptical. Being a long-serving ‘traditional’ cyclist something in me said that an electric bike would spoil the enjoyment. How wrong I was. Having now given the e-bike a try, I can honestly say they’re huge fun and I’m a convert – as are thousands of others.
Electric bikes first came to Europe about a decade ago and they are becomingly increasingly popular here in the UK. Environmentally friendly and cost effective, they’re the ideal alternative for the modern cyclist and bring cycling within the reach of many more people than pedal power alone. They bring the fun of being on two wheels, without the gruel of getting fit. They can be ridden anywhere that push bikes can be ridden, they’re really easy to use and persuade even ‘non-cyclists’ to get pedalling.

The bikes have a small, integrated electric motor to assist the rider’s pedal power and use rechargeable batteries that are charged at a normal mains socket and last for about 20 miles. With a maximum uphill speed of 15mph, they have the added advantage of no road tax or licence being needed and provide a really stable ride.
There is still an element of exercise involved as you have to pedal in order for the motor to run, and by law it has to cut out at about 15mph, so you’re back to pedalling again. They’re ideal for people who want to get around without getting sweaty or those who have an injury that prevents them from using a conventional bike. That extra boost of power saves the slog, particularly up hills – meaning you won’t get hot and bothered and can ascend at a steady, safe and consistent speed. Be warned though, wrap up warm as it can get chilly with the reduced physical exertion!
Broadly speaking, electric bikes fall into two categories: pedal-assist/pedelecs, where the motor is controlled by pedalling and increases the rider’s efforts and the power-on-demand type, where the motor is activated by a throttle, usually on the handlebar. Under UK law ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs) can be ridden by anyone over the age of 14 without a licence and they don’t need to be taxed, registered or insured.

They’re available in various sizes, as with pedal bikes, and you can get different tyres to suit all surfaces and conditions, meaning you can tackle all trails no matter how steep or how long. And it’s not just road bikes, there is a huge range of off-road bikes too. Known as e-MTBs, they offer all the benefits you would expect from a performance-orientated trail bike but with the added boost of power.
If industry reports are right, more and more of us will be going electric with e-bikes predicted to account for around 25% of all bikes sales within the next few years. As with pedal bikes, prices range significantly. An entry level electric bike can be bought for as little as £500, going up to as much as £5,000 for a high performance mountain bike with carbon frame. It’s important to think about how you’re planning to use your e-bike before buying one, just as you would for a conventional bike. Think about the distance you’re intending to travel, how hilly your journeys might be and, therefore, the level of power you will need before investing.

But whatever your pedal power preference – manual or electric – more people on bikes, can only be a good thing.

We have a great selection of Electric Bikes

We have a great selection of Electric Bikes

 

At All Terrain Cycles we have a great selection of Electric bikes from Cube , Trek , Giant and Orbea.  Come and speak to our knowledgeable staff for more information at either our Salts Mill or Wetherby Stores.

Giant Defy Advanced SL1, an owners review

Posted on by allterraincycles

I have had the pleasure of nearly 12 months riding Giant’s Endurance machine, in that time I have covered over 3,500 miles on it using it for TimeTrials, Sportives and ultra endurance rides and it’s a belter.

Giant Defy Advanced SL 1

Giant Defy Advanced SL on Buttertubs

The model I have is the 2015 but other than a snazzy red paint job the bike is unchanged for 2016. The excellent Ultegra 11 speed drivetrain doesn’t need any more words said on it, it’s been faultless.

The wheelset and tyres are Giant’s own carbon SLR 0, they’ve remained true and running sweet since day one, impressive considering I’m a big rider and the state of the roads. The tyres are pretty good too, the front is still on there but the back wore quite quickly, once I’d swapped out the ultra-light innertubes for something a little more substantial I’ve hardly flatted at all. The bars and stem are also Giant’s own carbon components, they’ve been comfortable on multi hour epics and have just got on with the job. The disc brakes have won me over too, fantastically powerful yet easily controllable with no rim wear to worry about and still on the original pads, excellent.

The frame is the heart of any bike and this is where the Defy Advanced SL really shines.

Fleet Moss Yorkshire

Fleet Moss at Sunset

The D-Fuse Integrated seatpost really makes a difference with reducing general road buzz and certainly lessens the fatigue from road vibration. You have to be brave when cutting the tube, there’s something instinctively wrong with taking a hacksaw to a carbon frame but with “measure twice, cut once” ringing in your ears it has to be done. The provided spacers allow for quite a bit of adjustment so all is not lost if you’re a little out with the saw.

I can’t really say much about the claims of the oversized steerer other than it goes where you want it to and behaves impeccably even at high speed, the same with the Powercore bottom bracket. Even with my weight grunting up Hardknott at a cadence not far off single figures there’s no noticeable flex in the frame.

Where the Defys really shine are their shock absorbing capabilities and the range-topping frame on the Advanced SL is truly impressive. I have been “blessed” with an ankle with little movement, it has 12 screws and a 6” plate in it, it is, however, the perfect testing mechanism for the harshness of a bike’s ride. To give an example I borrowed a cheap winter bike from a friend, Ribble’s aluminium offering. I could only manage about 2 hrs on it before the pain was too much from the harshness of the ride. 3 weeks after taking delivery of my Defy I rode for 24hrs on it, it really is that comfortable. My other bikes are steel and titanium, the Defy feels similar at first but absorbs big hits far more impressively and is ultimately more comfortable,

Overall I’ve been hugely impressed by the Defy and I highly recommend it. It’s coped with Strava sprint KOMs, the steepest roads in Yorkshire and Cumbria and has taken me on 300 mile epics. All this in a super lightweight package, what’s not to like?

It was 20 Years ago today …….

Posted on by allterraincycles

… that I bought All Terrain Cycles.

tb2

Tony Booth MD of All Terrain Cycles

Hardly Sgt Pepper I know, but never the less a very important day in my life.

Then known as Riley Brother Cycles this family owned Cycle specialist had been trading since 1907 and was located on the High Street of Crosshills, in the foothills of the Dales between Skipton and Keighley.

Back in 1996 we crammed ourselves into a few hundred square feet. We mainly sold Mountain Bikes as was the case in the mid 90’s. Occasionally with 24 gears and flashy things like V brakes!

How the world of bikes has changed in the last 20 years.

By the late 90s we had taken over the flat over the shop , created a wacky Cave room complete with Pterodactyl flying over head, opened a BMX shop further down the Street, and needed a separate warehouse to support the huge increase in stock.

By the early 2000’s we were bugling at the seems. Our Crosshills shop just couldn’t take any more stock, and half of what we had we couldn’t find ( or so it would seem at times  !)

The hunt for new premises followed and after much deliberation, saw our move to Salts Mill.

salts fit1 copy

Salts Mill Shed 48 late 2005 – Prior to refit for All Terrain Cycles Now our Workshop by front door

salts fit2 copy

Rear of Salts Mill Shed 48 late 2005

You needed a good imagination but after months of hard work and long days this became the amazing shop we have today ………….

 

 

 

unspecified

All Terrain Cycles – Salts Mill Bikestore 2016

May 2014 saw the opening of a second Bikestore, located at Sandbeck, Wetherby, this new venture is on the same scale as Salts Mill Bikestore. Like Salts,the store offers our customers a huge selection of Bikes both Road and off Road, and a massive selection for  Ladies.

 

wby1

All Terrain Cycles Bikestore Wetherby – opened May 2014 10,000sq ft of Cycle Heaven

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Customers for their continued support, as well as the dedication from our staff, many how have been working at All Terrain from the 90’s.

My family and I ,look forward to the next 20 years.

I wonder what bike technology will be like in 2036 ?

 

 

Trek Stache 5 2016 review

Posted on by allterraincycles

What is it?

29+, oh no not another wheel size I hear you say? The Trek Stache is a hardtail based around the 29” wheel platform utilising 3.0” tyres.

Trek have spent the last 4 years developing what was called ‘Project Weird’, an in-house research project based around frame geometry and trying to figure out just how short a chainstay length was possible with a larger tyre.

These experiments led to developments that would eventually make their way onto the Stache, including the sliding Stranglehold dropouts that allow the bike to have 420mm chainstays, which is short even for bikes with ‘normal’ sized tires, and extremely impressive when considering the wheel dimensions of the Stache. To enable these short stays, Trek have worked with SRAM to develop the new Boost wheel spacing offering.

The goal with the new bike was to have something that was enjoyable to ride everywhere (this is NOT a fat bike), although with an admittedly different on-trail feel than what most riders are used to.

The model in review here is the Stache 5 which is totally rigid, albeit fitted with a carbon rigid fork taken from the popular Trek Superfly (US only model). The Stache 5 does come with a 1×10 drivetrain but my intention was always to make this Single Speed.

the 29+ MTB of choice

Trek 2016 Stache 5

I wonder how long this Stache 5 will stay this clean ?

Reasons for purchase

For many years I have ridden and raced Single Speed – we’re not going to discuss the merits of gears ‘v’ single speed in this review!

It was at the European Single Speed Championship I first became aware of the 29+ format as the then (and current) World SS Champion was riding a custom made frame with the larger tyres. Yes, they do look quite a bit larger than a standard 29er tyre but they really do look in proportion with the rest of the bike.

This had me thinking: one of the biggest advantages of riding 29” over 26” is momentum, which is critical for single speeding. As 29+ has a theoretical overall diameter of 31” then this would surely make an amazing single speed bike, right?

Initial investigations found that it was possible to have custom titanium frame manufactured or go with a heavy steel frame from a more main stream manufacturer. Ultimately neither option was ideal due to cost and a resistance to have an unwieldy bike in the fleet.

When Trek announced their 2016 bikes part way through 2015, I placed my order to secure one of the first bikes into the country. The main reason for the purchase was 29+ but I was intrigued by the Stranglehold drop out adjustment which would allow me to run the bike as single speed without the need for a chain tensioner.

 

Initial impressions

WOW those tyres are BIG!

The bike is a real eye turner. This is mainly down to the colour but when you look at the thought that has gone into the frame design it is easy to understand where the 4 years of development has gone. It just looks right as the proportions are spot on.

Out of the box this bike comes in at 26lb, which considering the price (£1300), the width of the rims and size of the tyres is a really good weight. Immediately 2lbs can be shed by going tubeless (yes the tubes do weigh 1lb each!) but it should be noted that the bike comes with tubeless ready rims, tubeless ready tyres, rim tape is already fitted and the tubeless valves are supplied with the accessories so it’s a relatively easy fix.

Removing the gears, adding carbon bars, swapping out for a shorter stem and a layback seatpost has taken the total bike weight to 22lbs which would be deemed light for a 29+ bike.

 

How it rides…

Looking down on to that front tyre is very strange at first but you soon adapt. It does take a little bit more effort to get up to speed, but once it gains momentum it’ll cruise right along, with nowhere near the amount of rolling resistance I’d anticipated despite the massive footprint of each tyre.

When it comes to technical sections, the extra rollover ability that 29ers possess is one of their biggest strengths, and the Stache’s supersized dimensions take this to the next level. Roots and rocks simply disappear under the wheels, squashed beneath the 3” Chupacabra rubber. The traction available is truly unbelievable, again proving why this makes a perfect single speed bike as you need as much help as possible to push the gearing on the climbs – the footprint is almost 50% larger than a standard 29er tyre which explains why the tread pattern is pretty minimal. The tyres have a very round, low profile tread and the high volume allows them to be run at much lower pressures than normal – I have found 11 psi to be perfect for my local trails.

The front end is dialed in to fun mode. With a 50mm stem fitted, the 730mm bars allow you to muscle the wheels into bends and through roots and rock gardens. Handling is accurate and it is great fun to ride. The low bottom bracket height keeps your weight low, meaning the bike is happy being pushed deep into corners.  Grip in the corners is so high that you will have to recalibrate your senses – this bike just keeps on gripping, well passed what would be deemed acceptable on a standard 29er tyre.

It is important to note that swapping back to ride a standard 29er bike could be quite alarming as it will not offer the grip levels you have become accustomed to!

Preparing for Winter Cycling

Posted on by allterraincycles

As the nights draw in it can be all too tempting to stay in the warm and leave the bike in the shed but with a few kit modifications you can still enjoy clocking up the miles despite the plummeting temperatures.norway 11

Recent years have seen major advances in fabric and kit technology, making it far easier to stay warm and dry. Dressing appropriately for the duration of your ride can be tricky – what seems fine at the start can soon feel too warm. Layers are key; trapping air between each to help maintain your body temperature and allowing you to take them off as you warm up.

As with most things, the foundations are vital. A warm base layer should be your starting point, preferably with long sleeves and legs. Merino wool has many excellent benefits, being naturally odour-resistant, warm and soft next to the skin and retaining heat even when it’s wet. If, however, you’re a ‘stop for coffee and cake’ kind of a rider then man made base layers might be best for you as they wick sweat away from the body – there’s nothing quite like wet wool to make you feel chilly.Picture 15

But nothing beats a good pair of merino socks, they’re breathable and will keep your feet warm and dry but don’t be tempted to wear more than one pair as it will restrict your circulation and make your shoes too tight. By keeping your legs warm with a pair of thermal tights, you’ll be better able maintain your performance. Bear in mind, when it gets really cold, you may want to wear your shorts underneath your tights, in which case you’ll need to consider having a pair of tights without a chamois – as the padding will already be in your shorts.

The number of layers on top of your base layers is down to personal preference and what the various layers are made from. Generally, your mid layers could double up as an outer layer in milder weather, so look for showerproof and wind resistant fabrics. They should be close fitting with high necks and snug cuffs to stop wind getting in, but most importantly they should be breathable. Leg and arm warmers are another very useful little accessory, allowing you to peel off without stripping down – and without much outlay, we are in Yorkshire after all!

Ideally, your outer shell should be very light, so you can stuff it in a pocket and throw it on when you need some extra warmth and protection from the elements. Achieving that holy grail of waterproof but breathable is not easy but advances in fabrics mean that some jackets now get pretty close, albeit sometimes at the expense of weight (but a lighter wallet)!

Cold feet and hands really will make for a miserable ride. Starting with the feet, overshoes really do transform your normal footwear, stopping rain getting in through the top of your shoes. Neoprene versions provide wind and water protection while fleece booties keep your feet warm. Look for Gore-Tex lining, to provide insulation and protect against the elements, and insulated liners and fleece insoles.

Gloves should fit well. You will probably need to change your gloves to suit the weather so it’s sensible to invest in a couple of pairs; one for milder days and fully waterproof ones on days when it never leaves off. Look for warmth, gel pressure point padding and a good grip so your hands won’t slip on wet handlebars and you’ve still got control over the breaks. Again, look for breathability. Sweat-soaked hands will soon get freezing cold.

Helmets are now incredibly well ventilated but during the winter that isn’t quite so appealing. A helmet hat will fit snuggly beneath your helmet, providing a layer of insulation to keep you warm. A neck warmer will also help to keep the bottom half of your face warm and stop wind whistling down your jacket.

It’s important not to forget a few essential changes to the equipment on your bike. Winter tyres, just like for a car, give much better grip and reduce the chances of skidding and the compounds they are made from are specifically designed to withstand colder temperatures, so they won’t start breaking down. If you don’t already have them, and many road cyclists don’t, mud guards are invaluable – not just for the obvious reason but also to stop cold water splashing up your back.

No matter how much riding you do, don’t forget that in winter visibility is reduced, and not just at night. Make sure the lights on your bike are bright enough so you can be clearly seen by other road users at all times. A powerful beam at the front will also help you see the ground more clearly and remember to check your rear light is clean and has fully charged batteries. Look out for reflective details on all the kit I’ve mentioned and maybe add some reflective stickers to your bike frame and some ankle and wrist straps. And finally, any cyclist’s mantra – there’s no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing!

North Yorkshire Evening Road Cycle Race League Report

Posted on by allterraincycles

Chris Emsley , Road rider for All Terrain Cycles Race Team reports on his experiences of this event :1

After a disappointing and frustrating start to the season with some naïve racing tactics and mis-timed sprints, I entered my first ever road races in the Chevin series, up against Elites & Cat 1’s (along with the 2, 3 and 4’s), which was quite daunting but I felt I had nothing to lose.  I gained a lot of experience in these races and finished 11th in the final Saxton race, which would hold me in good stead for the NYERR round that was held there later in the season.

2

I missed the first 2 events through illness and holidays, and went into round 3 at Sheriff Hutton with still no points to my name.  The pressure was on!  The course at Sherriff Hutton was 4 laps of an undulating course with a steep uphill finish, totalling 70km with over 1000m of ascent.  The course suited me well as quite a punchy rider who can get over the climbs, and early in lap 2 I got into a 5 man break, but some riders seemed unwilling to ride do their turns and we were brought back by the end of the lap.  From here I stayed up near the front but tried to save some energy for the tough uphill finish.  I was slightly out of place going into the sprint but managed to come over the brow of the hill in 4th place and held that to the line.  First points in the bag!

 

3

The next round was held on the roads around Flamingo Land, but the night didn’t turn out as well as hoped for me or the other ATC team rider Steve Wallis.  We both wasted too much energy chasing down early breaks and then tried twice to get away ourselves, but the pack kept a close eye on us and we were chased down immediately.  Coming towards the finish we were both still well placed, slightly too well placed and as Steve went for it up the final hill leading to the finish, I chased on, as did the pack.  Once over the hill there was still a good 200m to the finish and the pack came past and we were both left just shy of the top 10.  Lessons learnt.

4

Round 5 and back to Saxton, the only race where I knew the circuit so far, a good fast circuit with a few gently rising hills and one or two sharper kicks to boot.  I sat in up near the front of the pack for the first 2 laps then on the 3rd lap I got to the front and kicked out of a sharp left corner leading up a short steel rise, 3 riders came with me and we got a good lead on the pack, only to be held up by a car on the road and that was that.  So I again stayed up near the front making sure nobody else tried the same tactics and saved my energy for what should be a bunch sprint.  Last lap, 2 boys from the same club went up the road and the rest of their team slowed the front of the pack to try let them get away, so it was left up to me to chase on. I managed to bring them back up the final ride before the fast downhill section towards the pan flat finishing straight, feeling I had burnt too many matches to get a good result in the sprint. 5 However … a rider went way too early and I was quick to jump on his wheel, where I stayed until 100m to go where I powered past and came within 25 meters of the line, where two riders just snook past me and relegated me to 3rd place.  I was still very happy with the result given how active I’d been in the race and now the points were beginning to rack up to get my season goal of becoming Cat2.6

Round 6 and onto Brandsby Bank, finishing up the infamous climb of Yearsley Bank, used on the British Road Race Championships in 2012.  4 Laps of a flat-ish circuit and then climb of around 1.2km with an average gradient of just less than 10%.  I was warned before the start to make sure I saved some energy for the finish, so I duly sat in the pack, close enough to the front to stay out of trouble and keep my eyes open for any breaks going away, but not too close to waste any energy.  Leading towards the finish I got up and around the top 10 riders, then as soon as we hit the climb I went full gas, getting a gap of 30-50m on the pack.  Thinking I may have done enough to win, the road then kicked up again to around 15% gradient, and I saw the sign for 500m to go.  My heart sank and my legs died, and riders began to come past me.  As the road flattened up near the top I put in a final maximum effort to the line and managed to salvage 6th place.  Just happy to be in the points on such a brutal finish.

I again missed round 7 due to a trip to France to climb Alpe d’Huez and then watch the Tour de France.  But I was back for the final round, once again at Brandsby Bank!

Round 8 – start line – the commissaire announces the race has been upgraded to a Regional A race as there are a lot of Cat2 riders racing and for this round the finale will go up Yearsley Bank, and then continue a further 1km to the finish line!  I need 8th place to get enough points to get Cat2, but my hopes weren’t as high as they were 2 minutes ago!  However, I knew the circuit and knew the final climb.  Maybe not all was lost.

7

I sat in once again and missed a breakaway form, 4 riders got a good lead and nobody seemed to want to chase.  I went after them alone and got to within 25m of them, then took a sharp left turn into a block headwind, I then had two choices, risk burning all my matches or sit up and wait for the pack.  8Knowing I needed some energy for the finish, I chose the latter.  So, once again I got myself in strong position going into the climb up Yearsley, but this time stayed with the pack instead of attacking.  Coming over the brow I was in 3rd place in the group, I then sat in the wheel until 100m to go and sprinted past, taking the sprint finish and 6th overall.

 

9This final result gave me enough points to get my Category 2 racing licence and also took the prize of best overall rider, accumulating most points over the series of races.

 

 

 

 

A great first season road racing and more to come next year10

Some tips on teaching your child to cycle

Posted on by allterraincycles

Learning to ride a bike is one of the landmark achievements in any child’s life, not only is it the sense of mastering a new skill and the confidence it brings, but also it’s their first taste of independence.

Two wheels or three

There is no right way or wrong way to learn to cycle. Most of us will remember our first tricycle or bike with stabilisers and, undoubtedly, they offer the greatest stability and allow children to get the hang of the pedalling without having to worry about toppling over. But they are cumbersome and awkward to manoeuvre, for the child and the adult.

Given balance is actually the main part of cycling – the pushing round of the pedals is simply a way of propelling oneself – some argue that tricycles and stabilisers delay a child’s two wheeled progress. This is where balance bikes come into their own, encouraging the child to develop a sense of balance and feel for what happens if they lean from one side or the other. They don’t generally have brakes as the feet do the stopping (be warned, shoes may not last long!)

Some consider that children who start off on balance bikes go straight to a two wheeled pedal bike more readily, because they are much less likely to fall, having already developed a sense of balance. Children are often naturally inclined to run along with the bike and some persuasion may be needed to get them to sit on it – it may be easier to focus on getting their feet off the ground rather than their bottom on the seat. Encourage them to scoot along, using their feet, taking larger and larger strides so they need to balance for longer between each stride.

Although specific balance bikes are available, it is just as effective to take the pedals off an ordinary bike. You just need to make sure the bike is small enough that they can comfortably straddle the bike with both feet flat on the ground, so they can scoot along without feeling out of control, and then simply take off the pedals. The added benefit of this is that when they have got their balance, you can just put the pedals back on to take them to the next stage.

Whichever method they’ve started with, most children will be ready to try a two wheeled, pedal bike by about five – which is normally when the back-breaking work starts for the parent running alongside, trying to steer! Steering through their shoulders does avoid some of the pain and gives the child a greater sense of freedom, while still knowing you’re there for emergencies.

If you have gone down the stabilisers route, the transition between to two wheels will take a little time, maybe a few weeks, but they’ll soon be off. Don’t rely on stabilisers for too long though – children who do tend to find it harder to get the hang of having just two wheels.

Having started, now you need to stop!

Introduce the idea of braking at the same time as they’re learning the pedalling bit. You don’t need to focus on it too much, as you’ll undoubtedly be around for the first rides to stop them careering into something, but at least get them to understand that pressing the brakes means they can stop before an obstacle. This is why it’s best to start them off in a large, open area so there are fewer things to crash into. Although it might be tempting to start on grass, thinking it will cushion any falls, tarmac is much easier to ride on.

When they’ve built their confidence and can balance and pedal, it’s time to focus on braking – explaining the need to use both brakes at the same time, to avoid going over the handlebars or skidding, and to brake gradually. Now is also the time to encourage them to look around, especially in front – rather than at you – and to understand when they need to break or change direction to avoid things.

The most important thing to remember is that all children are different and will vary in their two wheeled ambitions. Some will want to learn earlier than others – and that is the key, the child has to want to learn and it should be fun. Seeing a friend or sibling riding around, enjoying newfound freedom is often a good incentive but three or fours years seems to be about the average for the first cycling adventures.

Similarly, there are many different approaches to learning to cycling but whatever the method, there will inevitably be a few crashes, bumps and grazes along the way and then, bingo, that Eureka moment will happen and they will never forget how to ride a bike.

All Terrain Ride in Peace Team update ……..

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Chris and Jed Whitfield on our DH Team had a good weekends racing up at Hamsterly Forest early in the month. Chris came away with the English Vets champions Trophy again!Pretty sure the trophy is  shrinking every year though. Jed came home in 6th place in Master blasters not what he wanted really but Hamsterley has some pinners.

Chris Whitfiled wins again

Chris Whitfield English Vets Champion 2015

The Track was a mix of flat out pedaling berms and jumps onthe top half of the course then a new loamy technical section to the finish.Because of the nature of the track any mistakes cost you dearly, Chris managed to shave 2 seconds off his  first run time beating 2nd place by 4 seconds.

 Giant bike is running great and the bell helmets are comfy as ☺

The Glory shot !

The Glory shot !

Our man in Scotland , Gregor Notman had a weird one Arthur BDS at Fort William with the gondola being shut it was just a bit of a sprint and nothing technical just some big jumps! He ended up 10th in expert with a shadey run, here’s a pic from vital mtb putting the glory through its paces.

Somewhere over ( sorry under ) the Rainbow !

Somewhere over ( sorry under ) the Rainbow !

End of the month saw gregor at  Langollen . He reports it was an insane so much carnage over the weekend. He qualified 3rd and ended up 4th in finals, he was so happy as it was his first ever British podium.

Gregor Notman takes 4th at Llangollen

Gregor Notman takes 4th at Llangollen

The Road Team entered the Ilkley 2 Day at end of the month.

This weekend Peter Barusevicus, Matthew Bulmer and Ed McParland competed in the Ilkley 2 Day stage race in Nidderdale, some tough racing on demanding courses. They certainly put the Terrain jerseys at the front of the race and came away with some good results!

Team All Terrain at Ilkley 2 day

Team All Terrain at Ilkley 2 day

Stage 1 Individual Prologue 5th – Ed McParland 6th – Pete Barusevicus 19th – Billy (Matt) Bulmer The first stage was a 1.5 mile prologue or should we say sprint, there was a little climb to begin with and then an all out effort to the line. With the wind behind us it favoured the ‘larger’ lads but  held their  own and put some good times down.

Stage 2 Road Race 3rd – Pete 5th – Ed 36th – Billy This stage used the locally famed Penny Pot Lane course, 55 miles with a couple of short sharp climbs to deal with. At the end of the first lap a split developed during the hill prime and soon developed into a large break which would eventually stay away for the entirety of the race. Ed and Pete found themselves in the group and decided to push on seeing the gap open up.

They kept the work rate high and Pete had 3/4 attempts at getting away but unfortunately was reeled in by the remaining 15 strong group. This however gave Ed a chance to sit on and rest up before going for the hill primes on 3 of the 5 laps. The end came down to a sprint with 1 man chipping off the front. They were both up there, no time lost and KOM jersey secured. Job done.

After a strong early attack from Billy which allowed Pete and Ed to taketheir feet off the gas, he was unlucky to be on the wrong side of the bunch when the split happened, a strong ride to the finish saw him at the front of the bunch gallop. Stage 3 TTT 5th Team TTT or Pete’s TT. Pete put the power down from the start and so much so that Billy and Ed weren’t much help, only contributing to some of the work.

They finished with a strong time and were unlucky not to win, but the wind picked up and a couple of teams who set off an hour later than us managed to put down some really quick times. No change on GC or KOM. Stage 4 Road Race 3rd – Ed 5th – Pete TBC – Billy The queen stage of the race with a long climb out of Darley and up to Thruscross.

To their disappointment the commissaires decided to reduce the number of laps due to wind, but we were still chomping at the bit to get stuck in and attack the hills. The first 3 of the 5 climbs were ridden at tempo which reduced the bunch significantly. Pete lead Ed out for each of the hill primes which meant the Jersey was secured!

On the 4th ascent Pete sat on the front and towed the race up, thinning it out even more and was unfortunate not to break away. Coming into the last lap we knew we still had to get 20 seconds from somewhere if we wanted to take the overall, so early on the climb I put a big attack in and gapped the group, Ed pushed on and was joined by three other riders. Unfortunately one of which was the race leader. We pushed on but Ed was unable to get away and finished 3rd on the stage.

Pete also attacked and managed to put some fresh air in between himself and the group, finishing 5th on the stage. Billy held a good position in the main group and rolled over a little down on time due to cramp on the last climb. KOM jersey secured and moved up on GC! Overall 2nd – Ed McParland 4th – Pete Barusevicus 32th – Billy Bulmer KOM Overall 1st – Ed 3rd – Pete Points Overall 3rd – Pete 5th – Ed Team Overall 5th – Team

With the kit and the bikes we by far looked one of the smartest teams at the race and rode strongly together, with perfect teamwork we were unlucky not to have done better!!

 

The Etape du Dales 2015 a survivors story …..

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2015’s edition of the iconic Yorkshire (with a bit of Cumbria) Sportive will be etched into the memory of every rider who took part. For most that memory will be buried away and only looked at in a few months time when, maybe after a few beers or in a fit of insanity those riders think to themselves “maybe that wind wasn’t that bad after all, maybe it’ll be better next year…”

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Chris Emsley of All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace Race Team

 

 

The thing with the 110 mile Etape is it doesn’t shy away from the highest and most exposed roads, the route was chosen to give the most exposure to the Dales most spectacular routes, there really is nowhere to hide. The first is Fleet Moss, Yorkshire’s highest road which you get pretty much straight out of blocks but the hills keep coming with the Buttertubs, Low Row, Tan Hill, Lamps Moss, the Coal Road (shudder), Dent Head and then Dale Head all lining up to turn even the strongest legs to jelly.

This year saw three riders from All Terrain taking on the Etape, Chris Emsley, Steven Wallis and myself, we all rode individually due to our differing speeds and abilities (ok, those 2 are way faster than me).

The wind does funny things in the Dales, it doesn’t blow in a nice straight line, it gets funnelled up the  valleys and is very unpredictable, that tailwind you’d been assuring yourself was coming up? Nah, not happening…..This year the wind was the major talking point, not that talking was an option, if you could talk whilst pushing against that wind no one could hear you anyway, it was 6 hours before I could even hear myself swear. The usual death-grip plummet off Fleet Moss was a nerve-racking brake fest with riders being blown across the road, this continued on the climb up the Buttertubs only relenting on the descent after the hairpin. A joyous tailwind shoved us down Swaledale and at times gave a helpful push up the sharp climbs above Low Row.

But all that was soon forgotten when, hitting Arkengarthdale the route turned left on the 7 mile climb up to the Tan Hill, it’s not much of a climb either (the Strava KOM time is 19:48, this year I took over twice that) but it’s very exposed, the weather station at the Tan Hill recording a steady 25mph westerly that day with gusts towards 40mph, a headwind to remember. Groups of riders formed and I clung on as best I could but after getting dropped I soon found it took more effort to pedal half as fast on your own, I grabbed the next passing wheels and hung on, our group fragmenting at the top of the last climb, where the wind was the strongest.

I’d intended stopping at The Tan Hill feed stop but knew I’d struggle to get going again so I rode through, Chris, knowing that he had no chance of bettering his previous time wisely took advantage of the feed with a brew and a butty, Steven passed me shortly after on the climb up Lamps Moss with a group from Harrogate Nova who made light work of the rolling climb. The Mallerstang was surprisingly sheltered and the run up to the Moorcock pretty uneventful. This was my first stop, in hindsight not the best plan as there’s precious little time from leaving the feed before you hit the Coal Road, and you do hit the 30% bends at the bottom like a wall. The photographer at the top was wearing a hat and a duvet jacket as we grunted and sweated past him and dropped into the balmy calmness of Dentdale. This was shortlived as the run down from Newby Head to Ribblehead was once again a battle into a headwind. Eventually though Stainforth feed arrived, one last bottle fill saw a pleasant tailwind help us up to Dalehead and then a lovely run down Littondale and Wharfedale to the finish.

Steven, the true athlete was sat at the end, having knocked out the 110 miles in 6hrs 54, 14th overall and now knocking back a pint of Guinness, it was all I could do to eat my sausage butty and drink tea. Chris had finished in 7hrs 17 having a few stops on the way, in hindsight he reckons he could easily have gone sub 7 (think it was 3 pints at the Moorcock that did it Chris). I managed an 8hrs 18, not my best but that wind had taken it’s toll on everyone, 827 riders finished with over 600 of them behind me, average times somewhere around 45 minutes slower than normal.

I say 3 riders took part, we actually had 2 more with Lars and Bjoern riding 64 miles of the route, including the Coal Road, whilst smiling, and riding past 50+ riders…..not bad for an 10 year old. Lars then went on to rub every one’s nose in it by tapping out a Strava KOM on the last climb of the day.

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Lars and Bjoern – remember his name a star in the making.

 

So, one to remember, or at least to try and forget. The beauty of a ride like that is next time you’re riding into a headwind and those around you are whimpering you can safely tell yourself that it’s a mere whisper compared to that day back in May……………..

All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace Race Team latest …..

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Chris Emsley and Tom Hooper headed up to Whinlatter forest at the end of March  for the first round of the Nutcracker mtb series, followed by Jez later in the afternoon, all flying the flag (or gazebo in our case) for ATC. Tom headed off in the expert category, me in sport and Jez in vets, all getting respectable positions on a very tough course, me finishing 10th, Jez around 15th in probably the toughest race with the biggest field, and Tom keeping up with the leaders until the last laps where his lack of good distance riding caught up with him, another lap would have killed me off too!

Tom Hooper of All Terrain Cycles Race Team

Tom Hooper of All Terrain Cycles Race Team

 

Great show and great fun had all round.

Mean while Gregor Notman gets to grips with his new 27.5″ Giant Glory DH bike

Couple little clips out playing on the bikes on Saturday getting stuff primed for next weekend! Stendec have done a with the shocks

. mint job

Chris and Jed Whitfield, as well as Simon Cheung had the same idea and  managed to get out on the new bikes at last at their usual training haunt, Hamsterly.

Got to say really excited to see how we go in competition as this bike feels a ton better than last years. Bikes really fun to ride and in my experience if your having fun your hauling ass, just need to work on fitness now. Its our first race next week end fingers crossed big thanks to All Terrain for supporting the elderly lol !

Huge big thanks to Dave Garland of Stendeck suspension for supporting Team All Terrain Cycles this year if you need your suspension tuning give him a call he knows his stuff!

Jane Chadwick and tandem partner Dan Treby won the non existent tandem category at battle on the beach on a half fat single speed tandem. 4 other tandems were racing. Soon to be featuring in a magazine.

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Dave Tredy on Team Terrain Tandem

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Jane and Dave Tandem Winners !

 

Just brilliant loved it !

Tom Hooper kicked off the British XC  at the beginning of the month at Sherwood Pines. After torrential rain Saturday night and Sunday the course was turned from a fast, flowing track to a slow, muddy mess meaning that some sections you had to run.

He was gridded 31 from last years national rankings which helps on a mass start of 94 as the masters category is no more resulting in the expert category ballooning. Unfortunately, another rider took him clean out whilst darting along a fire road on the first lap.

Team All Cycles Tom Hooper

A muddy Tom Hopper of all Terrain Cycles

 

Luckily there was no damage to the bike but I can’t say the same for his arm, back, helmet and shoe. He continued and clawed back a few places but due to an incident in the race results aren’t yet available. There was many casualties and one poor junior rider was air lifted after his heart stopped.

Those drawbacks aside, the weekend was enjoyed and I was happy to finish.

 

Simon Cheung got back on the DH saddle after some serious knocks.

His 1st race of the season was SDA Round 1 –  Innerleithen, this is his take on the weekend.

Track was great, weather was not. Power track with a mix of steep tech at the end, it suited us all well.

Saturday practise standard inners with us scraping just 5 runs in. Chris Whitfield by this point was flying and the old boy looks set to dish out serious damage this year. One run for Sunday practice and it was race time.

The weather overnight was constant rain but it had stopped for Sunday. The track was sticky and running slow. Chris put in a stormer run to tear the vets a new one. Obviously happy with the new bikes and the Stendec suspension set up courtesy of Dave Garland.

Jed put in some solid runs but a crash left him 4th just off the podium. Got a feeling were going to see more Whitfield domination this year! My race run started great. Hit the track hard and felt good. Came into a fresh cut turn about 50 secs into my run and my foot slipped off the pedal. It slammed the ground and stuck there. I carried on moving but my foot was stuck and instant pain set in. Game over.

A red flag and track closure was my fault as I was embarrassingly carried off the hill. A short morphine filled ambulance ride to the hospital and yes I’d knxxckered  myself again!

Long story short I’ve torn my MCL, damaged ACL and cartilage in my knee. Still waiting on surgery as it’s still too swollen to do anything Great results for most of us at Inners.

Down but not out yet !

Not to be out done Peter Barusevicus of All Terrain Road Team featured heavily in a double page spread of Cycling Weekly.

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Peter Barusevicus shows the colours of All Terrain Cycles in Cycling Weekly

His racing for mid April started at with a 3rd at Coalville Wheelers Elite RR last Sunday on a very windy rolling circuit, at 80miles long.

All three Terrain riders got in the break, me Duncan and Matthew. At 20 miles to go 2 riders slipped away from the break. At 10 miles to go I attacked and got 30 seconds of the back of the two leaders at the finish. Duncan came in 17th. 8th today at Sheffrec Elite road race on a slightly windy circuit but with a vastly improved field containing Chorley GP winner Steve Lampier, former national circuit champ Graham Briggs, big unit Tommy Bastard, and a splattering of other elite riders.

I followed a few moves early on but everything was brought back together. After a flurry of attacks by me and a few other riders the bunch was strung out to breaking point on the crosswind finishing hill. I attacked here again and caused the race winning move, containing about 10 others riders including Bustard, Lampier, Dylan Byrne, Joe Moses, Alistair Rutherford and a few others.

We worked well for half an hour and then the attacks started flowing. I stayed with them all and continued working to keep the break smooth and away from the chasers. After many attacks and with 9 miles to go an attack by bustard was too much and the break split into two, with 4 riders in the leading group and me and 4 other riders in the second group. We tried to get them back but in vain and I lead the sprint out for 5th to get one last hard prolonged effort in, rolling over the line in 8th and beating some handy riders in the process. Now im very fatigued after a couple of good hard training weeks and next week is a taper week for Rutland.

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Giant Composite TCR 2015

 

I rode the team Giant today and I must say I was very impressed. I must have blamed the bike for my poor form last year!

 

 

Costa Blanca Cycling FAM Trip

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Arrival Day

leaving Yorkshire featuring a Polaris Bie Pod rented from All Terrain Cycles

Departed LBA on Ryanair flight – airport really good with easy check in of bike at outsize luggage desk and headed to Airport Lounge for breakfast.

Arrived Alicante 19:00.

Met at airport by Xavier from the Costa Blanca Tourist Board along with one other member of cycling team. Transferred to Gran Sol Y Mar in Calpe.

http://www.granhotelsolymar.com/

Hotel was fantastic and on check in rooms were of a superb standard with plenty of room throughout. Following check in we all met in reception, with the cycling team comprising of:

  • 2 representing the UK (myself and one other gentleman who is a journalist)
  • 3 from the Netherlands, all of whom were cycling journalists
  • 2 from Belgium who work for Thomas Cook

After meet and greets we went through to the conference suite where we were given a presentation on what was to be involved in the next few days. We were given information on the routes and climbs over the course of the three days of cycling and presented with a welcome pack with lots of goodies from the FAM trip sponsors.

Following the presentation we were met by Hector who organised the event and were taken through to dinner which was a fantastic array of tapas starters with buffet for the main course. The food was of a really high standard and plentiful.

 

Day 1, Miles cycled: 45, Largest climb: 2028ft.

8am

Met up with fellow cyclists in reception and headed to breakfast which was an amazingly presented buffet with every possible breakfast food you can imagine. This was our chance to stock up on energy for the day so we made the most of it.

9am – 1pm

Collected bikes from hotel storage and prepared for the first day of cycling.

Rode into Calpe centre and headed north to Benitachell. From here we headed west to Teulada town and back through Benissa before our first challenge of the trip; the big climb!

We rode an impressive 2028ft uphill and were met by stunning panoramic views across the resort when we got to the top.  There was a great sense of achievement between us all as this was our first challenge to get us warmed up.

Following a few photo opportunities we headed back down into Calpe and rode back to the hotel for a freshen up.

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2pm

We took the opportunity of having an hour at the hotel to freshen up before heading out for lunch.

We were taken to the AR Diamante Beach & Spa (as featured by Jet2holidays) where we were greeted by the manager and given a tour of the hotel.  We had a look at all the room types on offer, as well as the facilities that the hotel have on offer, including the pool areas and health and fitness areas.

After the show round we were taken to the restaurant where we made the most of the delicious buffet that the hotel offer. Another impressive meal!

 

Following lunch we were met by a representative from the Tourist Board who took us on a walking tour of Calpe and we visited the famous Rock of Ifach, which was a sight to behold! Although we couldn’t get right to the top we headed approximately halfway up and got to see some amazing views. We then headed to the local harbour just as the local fishermen arrived back with their daily trawl. We were lucky enough to see the fish auction in action; extremely fast, but the freshest fish ever!!

We left the harbour and headed along the coastal road back towards the hotel where we took in the sights of various ruins and relics along the way. Our guide was fantastic at giving us information on everything we saw, she was a fountain of knowledge.

We were met by our designated transport and drove to Old Town Calpe where we got to have a look around and soak up the atmosphere, which was a lovely contrast to the newer side of the resort. We visited an old church, which at first didn’t look like it would be anything spectacular, but once inside…wow!

We then began our leisurely walk back to the hotel where we were lucky enough to be given access to all the spa facilities that the hotel have. Needless to say after our first day of cycling and a great amount of walking it was just what we needed.

Later in the evening we all met up again and headed for dinner at the restaurant where another night of fantastic food was available to us. By the end of the meal the day had caught up with us all and so we headed to bed early in preparation for another big day tomorrow.

 

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Day 2, Miles cycled: 55, Total elevation: 5,315ft.

9am-1pm

After another hearty breakfast we departed the hotel for another ride around Calpe. Today the ride consisted of heading on some spectacular hilly roads with tunnels cut into the mountainous landscape to make roads through them. That was pretty awesome! We had a slightly longer ride today, however due to a technical error only half the route recorded!! Technology!!

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After the ride we headed back to the hotel to freshen up and to pack up our belongings as it was time to head to the next town of Biar. We packed and loaded our luggage onto the minibus and were taken to a traditional restaurant in the hills where we were treated to a HUGE paella. Yum!

We were then taken to the world famous winery of Enrique Mendoza where we were given a tour of the distillery and the whole production line which is all kept in the same place. After the tour we were invited to sample some of the wine and were guided through each one we tried. Each wine had a suggested accompaniment of either cheese, meat or sweets, and we learned the best way to match these and how to taste wines properly. We were all engrossed in this when a gentleman came out from the back of the area we were and lo and behold it was Mr Mendoza himself! What a honour! We were invited into his house for a look around, and after a little nosey we thanked him for his hospitality as we had to leave for the second part of our drive.

Enrique Mendoza Distillery

 

We arrived early evening into Biar and were taken to the 4* Villa De Biar. http://www.villadebiarhotel.com/es/index.html

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It’s the starting point of the X Marxa Biar cycle race, so our arrival was nothing short of the norm for them. We were shown to our rooms where welcome gifts were laid out for us which was a really nice touch.

Needless to say after a busy day and a lot of wine we were all ready for an early night, so we had a quick dinner in the restaurant before taking ourselves to bed.

Day 3, Miles cycled: 55, Highest climb: 3522ft.

9am

Woke up and headed down for another great buffet breakfast before the toughest day of cycling yet. As we got ready to depart we were lucky enough to be met by the local cycling job who joined us on our ride for the day. It was a great feeling to be riding in a pack! We cycled through the beautiful town of Biar which was breathtakingly beautiful. After a leisurely ride we then stopped at the bottom of what was to be a HUGE climb…all 3522ft of it!!

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It was so daunting looking up to where the finish point was, and never did I think we would make it up there. But with a whole load of camaraderie and encouragement from the team we made it!! And boy were the views worth it! The lookout point at the top was stacked with tourists admiring the view, and we took stock of just how far we had cycled to get there. It was a great feeling!! And to make it even more special we were shown a water fountain to fill up our water bottles with water straight from the mountain itself!!

Once we had got our breath back we rode back down the hill and along the mountainous roads of Biar before heading back to the hotel to freshen up and have a well deserved rest.

We then regrouped and headed out to a local restaurant for lunch where we sampled some more fantastic food before a walking tour of the beautiful Biar. We were lucky enough to go to Biar Castle and got to have a look inside before being met by the sight of hundreds of coloured pigeons being released from the castle grounds. A true sight to behold and one I’ll never forget!

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To round off an absolutely amazing day we headed to a Confectionery store where we were able to see how the Spanish sweet Turron was made. And in true tourist style we spent a while in the shop stocking up on gifts for back home! We also had a ride through Ibi, known as the Town of Toys, as it’s where historically the Spanish toys were made. Fantastic bit of trivia!!

We then headed back to the hotel and had, what was affectionately referred to, as the Dinner of Champions. Still on a rush from the busy last day we all enjoyed another fantastic meal, and best of all, the first beer of the trip! We all chatted away about how fantastic the trip had been and had a lovely evening.

Following dinner we headed through to the conference area where we were given a presentation from the tourist board thanking us for being there, and to announce the winner of the climb, which was one of my fellow riders from the Netherlands. He was presented with a free holiday where he was to be a guest at a championship cycle race where he would ride in the tour car. Congratulations were passed round, albeit with a slight twinge of jealousy! But we al felt like winners after having the most amazing time.jet13

After this we all felt completely exhausted so retired to our rooms for our last night in resort. Another great night sleep was had before we all met up in the morning for our final breakfast before heading back to the airport.

All in all the FAM trip was an absolutely amazing experience combining both my love of cycling while learning about a new destination, seeing some great hotels and sampling some fantastic food. The whole experience was amazing and big thanks to the Costa Blanca Tourist Board and All Terrain Cycles for making it all possible.

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All Terrain Cycles sponsors world record-breaking lunar ride

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Yorkshire cycling retailer All Terrain is sponsoring extreme cycling team Ultra6 as it takes on its latest world record challenge – to cycle up one of the most gruelling mountains in the Tour de France 19 times in just over three days; the equivalent of cycling 100,000ft or travelling into space!

Ben Wood puts Orbea Orca through its paces

 

The team of five Yorkshire men comprises All Terrain Cycles mechanic Ben Wood who’s also a member of the store’s road race team, along with two other All Terrain road team members Nick Jovanovic and Matt Robinson as well as Andy North and James Welsh.  Ben, James and Matt live in Keighley while Nick and Andy come from Guiseley.  They plan to travel to France in early July to take on the infamous lunar-landscaped Mont Ventoux in an attempt to set a new world record for the most amount of feet climbed on a bicycle in a single ride on one mountain.  Known as the ‘beast of Provence’, Chris Froome’s solo triumph on the mountain in 2013 resulted in him winning the Tour de France.

 

The Ultra6 team has already achieved two world records and will be undertaking this latest challenge to raise funds for ABF, the Soldiers’ Charity.  Last year, the team raised £30,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Cycle Ride, cycling 240 miles in 22 hours from Leeds to the city’s twin town of Dortmund in Germany.  In 2013, the team completed another awesome challenge for ADF, running a marathon every day and cycling 100 miles on seven consecutive days from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Andy North and Ben Wood of Ultra6 with Tony Booth MD of All Terrain

 

“This latest ‘Race to Space’ challenge is pretty daunting, even by our standards,” says Ben who is the workshop manager at All Terrain Cycles’ Saltaire store where he has worked for 15 years.  “Basically, we’re a group of ordinary, like-minded guys who are passionate about fitness and aim to do mad things in the hope that it will inspire other people to take up sport and exercise as well as raising funds for charities we care about.

 

“We’re not professionals, so fitting in a rigorous training programme as well as working is pretty tough.  Some of us have just completed a ten day intensive training camp in Murcia, Spain as part of our build-up to July and having recently taken possession of our state-of-the-art Orbea Orca bikes from All Terrain Cycles, we’re all getting pretty excited.  We’d like to say a huge thank you to All Terrain and to all our sponsors, we hope to do you proud when we take on the beast of Provence!”

 

Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles which has superstores in Wetherby and in Saltaire, near Bradford, comments:  “Ben and the guys are living proof of their ethos that people can do amazing things when they put their minds to it.  Every year, they attempt and successfully complete an incredible challenge as well as raising huge amounts for charity. We’re delighted to be supporting their latest world record challenge.”

 

To sponsor Ultra6, visit www.justgiving.com/racetospace

Giant tell us that the Giant Defy Advanced SL Road Bike is ……….

Posted on by allterraincycles

Strava Gran Fondo THE PINNACLE OF ENDURANCE ROAD PERFORMANCE. ULTRA-LIGHT, COMPLIANT AND SMOOTH – FOR EPIC DAYS AND EVERY DAY.

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Giant Defy Advanced 1 SL 2015

Quite a claim but I really needed to be sure so I planned an epic day, setting off at 12 noon to ride for 24hrs, heading for Oban from my home near Settle.

My route would be around the 300 mile mark, a distance I have ridden before but not in under 24hrs and not with the amount of climbing I had planned, throw in the March weather and it was quite a challenge. I dressed for the cold, with a forecast of possible rain in the early hours and a cold wind giving a wind chill of -1 overnight it would be crucial to stay warm whilst riding at a conservative endurance pace.

The Defy Advanced SL 1 isn’t built to carry much of a load but I wanted to travel as light as possible so it wasn’t a problem, a minimalist repair kit with three tubes, a spare tyre and an emergency waterproof jacket fitted under the saddle, a couple of bottles and a pump on the frame and a top tube mini bag for food and other essentials with “on the go” food in my jersey pockets. My route card was written in permanent pen on the wide flat top tube (covered with white insulation tape Tony……) giving me a rough outline of my route through Glasgow where I knew I’d struggle.

The first 100 miles were pretty steady away but quite hilly, climbing out through the Dales and the Eden Valley to my first shop stop at Carlisle, with some more grub on board I headed north through the Scottish Border to the 24hr café at Lockerbie Truck Stop where I had a brew and some hot food. Leaving the warmth of the café I was quite nervous about the climb after Moffat but it turned out to be steady away, a puncture and more rolling hills dropped me into Glasgow where I planned to follow the National Cycle Network signed routes through the city. Unfortunately I fell foul of the route signing, accidentally heading east on the NCN 75, when the Clyde failed to materialise and the signs started saying Edinburgh I realised I’d messed up, luckily the traffic was very quiet and I headed into the city centre on a main A road and picked up the Clyde bankside path and then the NCN 7 to Dumbarton where a coffee and a bacon butty gave me a much needed boost. I headed north and soon hit a rather damp dawn on Loch Lomond. The A82 wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it’d be but the hill up to Crianlarich, at 260 miles, was brutal. My last pit stop was Tyndrum, a quick bottle of coke saw me buzzing again and heading west on the run down to Oban. With the clock showing 300 miles but only 23hrs gone I dragged out another 15 miles finally rolling in to my friends house in Benderloch with 315.5 miles ridden in 23hrs 58mins and over 16000ft climbed.

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300 miles on a Giant Defy Advanced 1 SL

 

Happy but knackered I had a quick brew and a shower, finally getting to put my feet up on the Calmac ferry we had to catch at 1pm to the Hebrides.

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Feet up luxury !

 

Invaluable kit was my Endura Exo Softshell and without a doubt the Exposure Blaze rear light.

For the Strava users out there my route’s here.

The bike? Awesome, bloody fast but with a comfortable all-day geometry and frame that soaked up bigger hits. I’d say Giant’s got it spot on.

 

Harry Carpenter

All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace – The Mile Monster

 

 

Strava Gran Fondo

Harry Carpenter 5th in the World for longest distance at 508km