Cycling

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.

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.

Posted on by allterraincycles

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.

 

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

Posted on by allterraincycles

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!

LAPIERRE ZSETY 227 – OUR BIKE OF THE WEEK

Posted on by allterraincycles

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

Posted on by allterraincycles

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 ….

Posted on by allterraincycles

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!!!

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 …..

Posted on by allterraincycles

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

Posted on by allterraincycles

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!

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…

Commuting – on a bike!

Posted on by allterraincycles

 

With more and more people taking to two wheels at the weekend, increasing numbers are also getting on their bike as a healthy and stress free way to get to work or school. All Terrain Cycles gives some tips on staying safe on the roads

Be seen stay safe

Be seen stay safe

If you’ve caught cycling fever over the summer and are keen to keep on pedalling through the winter, riding your bike on a regular school or work run, could be the answer. As well as being more environmentally-friendly, cheaper and time efficient as you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic, you’ll also be fitter and probably arrive at your destination in a better frame of mind.

Unfortunately, many people are put off commuting by bike because of the amount of traffic on the roads and the attitude of some motorists, but for cyclists with a little experience, road sense and confidence, this shouldn’t be a problem. Start by picking the safest route you can, use cycle lanes and back streets wherever possible; and make sure you do a test run over the weekend when the roads are relatively quiet.

It might be better not to get overwhelmed by trying to cycle every day, but instead set yourself a goal of once a week and then build up from there. It is also worth having all your gear and bike ready the night before so that you’re not under time pressure in the morning.  Always be prepared for all weather conditions and make sure you have a waterproof with you, as well as a puncture repair kit!

The more confident you are, the safer you are, so make sure you get lots of practice to improve you bike handling skills, even if it’s on trails before you venture onto the road. You need to feel comfortable looking over your right shoulder, signalling and moving out – a common error is for riders to lose control of the steering as soon as they take one hand off the handle bars and look behind them; make sure you don’t swerve when you signal!

Also, think about your position on the road – it’s actually safer to ride further out from the kerb. If you ride too close, you risk colliding with the edge of the pavement or having to veer out to avoid highway drains and potholes.  Riding a good 3ft from the kerb also deters drivers from trying to get past you when there really isn’t room.  According to the Highway Code, motorists are actually meant to give bikes at least as much room as they would a car when overtaking.  Don’t be frightened of traffic, hold your position on the road and only give way when it is safe for you to do so.  Parked cars are another potential hazard – if you can see someone in a parked vehicle as you approach, give it a wide berth in case the driver hasn’t seen you and opens the door into your path.

You should also be particularly careful of lorries and buses – with large blind spots both in front of the vehicle and down its sides, cyclists trying to sneak through the traffic are particularly vulnerable. So stay behind them! Beware of left-turning lorries and cars turning onto the main carriageway from side roads, particularly on the left, as it’s easy for drivers not to see a cyclist.

While this may all sound a little scary, we are talking about worst case scenarios and for most people doing a short commute around town, as long as they’re aware of the potential hazards, their journeys should be pleasant and incident free. In fact, cycle to school initiatives mean that that there are more children riding to school – it’s certainly sensible for a parent to initially cycle with their child to make sure they’re competent on the road and comfortable with the route.  Remember that as children are only passengers in a car, they often have little appreciation or understanding of protocol on the roads, so make sure you teach them.

A final word of advice – do all you can to make sure that, as a cyclist, you can be seen. There’s a huge range of special high visibility cycle gear available incorporating fluorescent fabrics and reflective strips.  Bike lights have also come a long way in the last few years with powerful rechargeable LED lights giving great visibility – don’t just use them at night, they’re essential for commuters at dusk, early in the morning or in poor weather conditions.  And, of course, don’t even think about getting on a bike without a good quality, well-fitted cycle helmet!

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.

otley3

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.

otley1

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

Posted on by allterraincycles

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.

velo

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??

A Riders perspective of the Lakeland Loop …….

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Harry Carpenter , Team Rider for All Terrain Cycles view of this now famous Sportive…

Epic Events Lakeland Loop

Harry Carpenter of All Terrain Cycles takes on the Lakeland Hill

The Lakeland Loop, organised by Epic Events is traditionally a 69 mile tour of the Cumbrian fells, “The thinking man’s Fred” as I’ve heard it called (very tongue in cheek I hasten to add) but this year the road closure on the A591 meant the route had to be diverted eastwards, up and over Kirkstone. This meant the overall height gain was nearer 9,000ft and the distance increased to 87 miles, the route was nearer akin to the Fred (Whitton) route than ever before.

A pre ride video brief e-mailed to all riders meant the start line brief was minimal and with plenty of car parking (all part of the entry fee) close by the start was quick and stress free. Or it should have been if it hadn’t been for the menacing threat of snow looming over the Langdales……we rode out and through Ambleside before turning left up towards Troutbeck and onto Kirkstone where it became progressively more damp. A cold drop down to Brothers Water led us onto the climb up to Dockray. The damp became wet, the wet became sleet and then the sleet became snow. It was a rather cold bunch that assembled at the A66 junction, a quick bite to eat saw us chainganging along the busy road, the quicker you went the quicker you got off the road, hopefully rubber side down…..

After Keswick the weather started to improve, a quick stop at the feed station saw the route winding it’s way through the western valleys, it’s a belter of a ride with some beautiful views which were thankfully helped by the odd patch of sunshine. I missed out the second feed and after grunting my way over Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn I crossed the finish line in just under 6 hours where my timing chip was whisked away by a helpful volunteer and I grabbed some complimentary grub. The event costs £25 and in my book is well worth it, it’s great, especially if you’re considering or training for the Fred Whitton

All Terrain Cycles – Sunday Morning Cycling Survey

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Only 4% cyclists prefer Sunday morning sex – 68% cyclists prefer to hit the road

A survey of over 600 cyclists across the UK has revealed that the sport is so addictive only one in 25 prefers a Sunday morning with their partner to pedalling across the countryside.

The survey, by leading cycle retailer AllTerrainCycles.co.uk has highlighted that the UK cycling boom could be spelling the end of the road for romantic weekend lie ins with an amazing 68% of respondents choosing a ride over an extra hour in bed with their partners.

Preferred Sunday morning activity
1 Go for a cycle ride 68%
2 Other (various) 17%
3 Spend time with the kids 9%
4 Stay in bed with partner 4%
5 Meet friends for brunch 2%

sunday

Addictive sport

“All cycling enthusiasts know how addictive it is as a sport, but even we didn’t expect that so many people would prefer it to a lie in with their other half,” said Tony Booth of All Terrain Cycles.

Although cyclists appear to be shunning romance in favour of their two wheeled Sunday exertions, one in five (19%) of those polled said their partner would be their ideal cycling companion, the most popular choice by far.

Cyclists dominate the top 10

Cyclists May 2016 PSThe second most popular choice, Sir Bradley Wiggins, trailed by a country mile at just 8% of the vote and Lizzie Armitstead was the third most popular choice with one in 20 cyclists choosing her. Disgraced racer Lance Armstrong was still the choice of just over 3% of the poll, and Victoria Pendleton in ninth place was the second female cyclist to make the top ten.

Favourite riding companion
1 Spouse/partner 19%
2 Bradley Wiggins 8%
3 Lizzie Armitstead 5%
4 Guy Martin 4%
5 Chris Froome 3%
6 Geraint Thomas 3%
7 Lance Armstrong 3%
8 Mark Cavendish 3%
9 Victoria Pendleton 3%
10 Chris Hoy 2%

Victoria Pendleton May 2016 PScompanion2“There were hundreds of individuals named as people’s favourite riding partners, from Anne Widdecombe and Boy George to Bear Grylls and Barak Obama. The top ten choices were mainly from the world of cycling; after spouses and partners, only motorcycle racer Guy Martin from outside the sport,” said Mr Booth.

“We wanted to learn more about what our customers like about the sport, their cycling habits and their views on new technology, as well as the lighter side of the survey there have been some interesting insights into customers’ behaviours and trends,” he added.

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.

 

 

Yorkshire lasses launch annual ladies only charity sportive

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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 ?

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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

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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 …….

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… 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 ?

 

 

Preparing for Winter Cycling

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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

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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

Cube Ladies Road Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cube knows a lot about women’s bikes, simply because Cube has a lot of women cyclists on its staff. And when you have a natural research and development team like that, you’re bound to get some superb products.

 

axial wls

Cube Axial Wls Pro  Bike – from £595.00

Axial WLS and WLS Pro

When it comes to women-specific aluminium road cycles, the two-bike Axial WLS range from Cube is as good as it gets. As well as featuring internal cable routing, a press-fit bottom bracket, a carbon fork and Aero Flex seatstays, for 2015 the Axial WLS’s excellent Superlite aluminium frame has had an extra 20mm added to the head tube for even more comfortable all-day riding. The range starts with the standard Axial WLS featuring a superb Shimano Sora groupset with triple chainset — offering a wide selection of 27 available gears — Shimano R501 wheels and a women-specific Cube saddle. And the range-topping Axial WLS Pro comes with Shimano’s fantastic new 105 11-speed groupset, Fulcrum Racing 77 wheels and one of the prettiest blue and red paint finishes ever seen.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Axial WLS Pro Mountain Road Range

 

axial gtc pro

Axial GTC Pro and GTC SL

The Axial GTC frame offers female riders the chance to experience a truly high-class composite frame designed around their body shape. This beautifully simple carbon-fibre frame is made using Cube’s Twin Mold process which allows absolutely exact lay-up of carbon, producing a monocoque body that is light, stiff and comfortable. A tapered top tube keeps control razor sharp, while a press-fit bottom bracket helps turn the entire rider’s effort into forward motion. The Axial GTC Pro comes with a Shimano Ultegra 11-speed gearset, Mavic Aksium wheels and a female specific Selle Italia X1 saddle. Meanwhile the Axial GTC SL comes with an enhanced carbon frame for improved performance, Shimano Ultegra groupset, and Fulcrum Racing 55 wheels.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Axial WLS Pro Mountain Road Range

Cube Ladies Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

When it comes to women’s off-road riding Cube has provided one of the most complete ranges on the high street. Whatever you want to do, there’s a bike here for you.

 

Cube Access SL WLS Mountain Bike – from £895.00

Access WLS 26 / 27.5 / 29er

The Access WLS range of women’s bikes is built around Cube’s fantastic female-specific aluminium frame design, offering a perfect combination of comfort, stability, stiffness and lightweight. The Access WLS 26 runs on traditional 26in wheels and comes fitted with a Suntour XCT 100mm fork, 24-speed Shimano Altus gears and aluminium V-brakes. The rest of the Access WLS range runs on 27.5 or 29in wheels, depending on frame size. The Access WLS Disc features an improved aluminium frame with some internal cable routing, a Suntour XCT 100mm suspension fork, Shimano Altus gears and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. The Access WLS Pro sports further enhancements to its aluminium frame making it both lighter and stiffer, and comes with Shimano Acera/Altus gears, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and a Suntour XCM 100mm suspension fork. The Access WLS Race uses the same great frame but with a Suntour XCR 100mm fork, Shimano SLX Shadow/Deore gears and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. And the range-topping Access WLS SL comes with a tapered head tube and press-fit bottom bracket for ultimate performance, Shimano XT Shadow/SLX gears, enhanced Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a Manitou Marvel TS 100mm suspension fork.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Access WLS Mountain Bike Range

 

sting wls

Cube Sting WLS 140 SL 27.5″ Bike

Sting WLS

When it comes to ultimate off-trail performance and comfort, for women riders Cube has the Sting WLS range of full suspension machines. These utterly capable mountain bikes will tackle rocks, roots and pretty much anything you’ll come across on the trail. The Sting 120 WLS models comes with a Superlite 7005 aluminium frame — meaning superb stiffness and lightweight — with 120mm of travel front and back, and either 27.5in or 29in wheels depending on size. The Sting WLS 120 Pro is kitted out with a Manitou Marvel TS Air fork and Manitou Radium Expert RL shock, Shimano XT Shadow/Deore gears and Shimano hydraulic discs; while the Sting WLS Race features a RockShox Reba RL fork and Fox Float CTD shock, Shimano XT Shadow/Deore gears and matching Deore hydraulic brakes. However, the flagship women’s off-road model, the Sting WLS 140 SL is available in only a 27.5in wheel version and boasts a whopping 140mm of travel fore and aft. It’s another cutting-edge aluminium frame; with a RockShox Revelation SA RL 140mm fork and Fox Float CTD shock, with Shimano XT Shadow Plus gears and matching XT hydraulic brakes. Truly an awesome machine.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Sting WLS Mountain Bike Range

Cube Road Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Whether it’s entry-level aluminium bikes or high-tech carbon wonder machines, one thing unites all of Cube’s road bikes: repeated market-leading quality.

 

peloton

Cube Peloton Road Bike – £629

Peloton

As Cube’s entry-level selection of aluminium road bikes, the four-bike Peloton range offers quite incredible value and performance. As well as featuring internal cable routing and Aero Flex seatstays, for 2015 the Peloton’s excellent Superlite aluminium frame has had an extra 20mm added to the head tube length for even more comfortable all-day riding. The range starts with the standard Peloton with its Shimano Claris groupset; the Peloton Road features Shimano’s super reliable Shimano Sora components; the Peloton Race comes with Shimano’s superb new 105 11-speed groupset; and the top-spec Peloton SL even boasts Shimano’s ultra-plush Ultegra derailleurs.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Peloton Road Bike Range

 

Cube Agree C62 Pro Road bike 2016

Agree GTC

The Agree GTC line-up takes riders from metal to composite technology. This beautifully simple carbon-fibre frame is made using Cube’s Twin Mold process which allows absolutely exact lay-up of carbon, producing a monocoque body that is light, stiff and comfortable. A tapered top tube keeps control razor sharp, while a press-fit bottom bracket helps turn the entire rider’s effort into forward motion. The selection begins with the Agree GTC Pro with a Shimano 105 11-speed groupset; the Agree GTC Race has a full selection of Shimano Ultegra 11-speed components; and the range-topping Agree GTC SL features an enhanced carbon frame with Ultegra groupset and superb Fulcrum Racing 55 wheels.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Agree GTC Road Bike Range

 

cube lightening

Cube Litening Super HPC Race Road Bike – £2095.00- 0% Finance Available from £46.55 Per Month

Litening

Cube’s high-performance Litening road bikes really have to be seen, and ridden, to believe. Unlike some brands, Cube doesn’t focus its attention on obvious gimmicks — as with the Peloton and Agree GTC, the Litening is a wonderfully clean design, but all the clever engineering happens out of sight. There’s a tapered head tube for front end control, slender stays and a flattened top tube help comfort, and oversized chainstays and down tube ensure power delivery. The range-opening Litening Super HPC Pro is fitted with a SRAM Force 22 groupset and the Litening Super HPC Race has Shimano Ultegra.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Litening road Bike Range

 

cube lightening c68 copy

Cube C68 SLT Road Bike – £5995.00- 0% Finance Available from £133.22 Per Month

Litening C68

Taking the quality of the Litening just one step further, the Litening C68 has been optimised in all areas to achieve a frame weight of less than 750g. For 2015, changes to geometry have also made it stiffer, more comfortable and, with internal cable routing, prettier than ever. The Litening C68 Pro comes with Shimano Ultegra components; the Litening C68 Race features SRAM Red 22; the Litening C68 SL has Shimano’s leading mechanical Dura-Ace groupset; and the range-topping Litening C68 SLT enjoys the luxury of Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic gear shifting.

Click Here To View Cube Litening 68 2016

 

cube cross race disc pro

Cube Cross Race from £699

Cross Race

Taking drop bars into more adventurous terrain, Cube’s selection of Cross models come with a traditional frame shape made of Superlite Advanced aluminium and features plenty of tyre clearance to accommodate bigger rubber. A carbon fork keeps things comfortable and accurate, and the ‘Ready For Race’ geometry promises a perfect position, whether cyclo-cross racing, or using these incredibly adaptable machines for anything else. The range starts with the Cross Race featuring Shimano 105 gears and Avid Shorty 6 cantilever brakes; the Cross Race Disc sticks with 105 but upgrades to Shimano mechanical disc brakes; and the top-level — and very pretty red colour — Cross Race Disc Pro comes with Shimano Ultegra gears and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

See all Cube Cross Race bikes 

 

aerium

Cube Aerium SLT tri bike – £6295.00- 0% Finance Available from £174.86 Per Month

Aerium

Cube’s Aerium time trial and triathlon bikes are purposely designed to scythe through the air with ultimate efficiency. Starting things off is the Aerium HPA Pro with its curving aluminium frame, aero seatpost and Shimano Ultegra groupset. However, the Aerium Super HPC carbon machines take things to another level with their unique composite aerodynamic frames and features such as TT-specific Fizik Tritone snub-nosed saddles. The Aerium Super HPC Race is fitted with Shimano Ultegra gears; the Aerium Super HPC SL has Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic components; and the flagship Aerium Super HPC SLT features Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic gears and a Reynolds Aero Carbon wheelset.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Aerium TT Road Bike Range

Cube Hybrid Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Hybrid bikes can be anything from soft-roaders rolling on 29in wheels, to fast flat-bar road bikes, to Continental ultra-utilitarian trekking machines. Cube does them all — and with a history in road bikes, mountain bikes and European cycling — does them better than most.

Trekking hybrids

 

Touring £475 – £695

The Touring range may be Cube’s most simple trekking hybrid, but it is an astonishingly able line-up of bikes, offering a distinct sense of Continental style with huge amounts of practicality. The classy aluminium frame is available in three model shapes: diamond; single down tube step-through; and more contemporary sloping top tube step-through. All models come with a rear rack, mudguards, chainguard, Busch and Müller lights running from Shimano dynamo hubs, reliable Shimano gears, suspension forks and all but the entry model have hydraulic disc brakes.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Touring Hybrid Bike Range

 

 

travel exc

Cube Travel EXC RF Hybrid Bike

Travel £595 – £845

Not a trekking hybrid in the European sense, much more of a touring bike with flat bars, the Travel uses a far more road-orientated, more sporty elongated, stiff and lightweight aluminium frame to really encourage long-distance bike expeditions. Traditional almost-level top tube and step-through sloping top tube versions of each model are available, and each comes with a lightweight aluminium fork, twin bottle cage mounts, mudguards, rear rack, and dynamo-powered Busch and Müllers lights. Most models come with hydraulic disc brakes and the top-spec Travel SL RF model even features a super reliable 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub gear. For seeing the whole world with reliability and comfort, it’s the perfect companion.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Travel Hybrid Bike Range

cube dehli

Cube Dehli EXC Trekking Bike

Dehli £795 – £1095

Taking utilitarian cycling to new levels of luxury, the Delhi range of trekking bikes follows much the same style as the Touring line-up, but with just a little more refinement across the board. Each model is available in either a diamond or step-through sloping top tube design, and they all come with dynamo-driven Busch and Müller lights, high-quality and wide-ranging Shimano gearsets, mudguards, suspension fork and either hydraulic rim brakes or hydraulic disc brakes. All models also come with a rear rack, although of particular note, on the Delhi Pro and Dehli Exc models the rack is built as part of the frame.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Dehli Hybrid Bike Range

 

Trail hybrids

 

Curve pro

Cube Curve Cross Pro Hybrid Bike

Curve

In days past the Curve would have been seen as a very decent mountain bike, but such has been the progression in specialist off-road cycling technology it’s now seen as great hybrid. Based on a super-light, double-butted aluminium frame — available in either a diamond or step-through sloping top tube design — the standard Curve features a Suntour NEX suspension fork, Shimano Altus gearset and Tektro V-brakes. Meanwhile the Curve Pro comes with an upgraded Suntour NEX HLO fork, Shimano Acera components and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Curve Hybrid Bike Range

 

nature pro copy

Cube Nature Pro Hybrid Bike

Nature

Adding a little more refinement and performance to the Curve brings us to the Nature range, which has had a thorough facelift for 2015, making the double-butted aluminium frame even lighter but no less able. Available in either a diamond or step-through sloping top tube design, both the standard Nature and the Nature Pro models feature a Suntour NEX HLO suspension, Shimano XT/Deore derailleurs and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Nature Hybrid Bike Range

 

cube cross copy

Cube Cross Hybrid Bike

Cross

Taking off-road ability even further — but not forgetting its day-to-day uses with practicalities such as rear rack mounts — the Cross is a very capable machine. It’s very pretty frame design — available in compact or step-through versions — has even been smooth welded for refinement, and there are added luxuries such as internal cable routing and multi-function dropouts. The two-model range begins with the standard Cross with Suntour NCX suspension fork, Shimano XT/LX groupset and Shimano hydraulic disc brake; and the top-spec Nature Pro features upgraded Suntour NCX fork, Shimano XT/SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Cross Hybrid Bike Range

 

Urban hybrids

 

sl road

Cube SL Road Bike

SL Road

The SL Road range is Cube’s opening line-up of flat-bar bikes that look towards all-out speed for their influence. None of the SL range comes with rear racks — although the provision is there on their extremely light aluminium frames. All models feature internal cable routing and a choice of Shimano’s road bike groupsets. Only the entry-level SL Road has V-brakes, while everything else benefits from hydraulic disc brakes. And the top-level SL Road SL Black is extraordinarily adept at chewing up the road at speed with its fast frame, carbon fork, Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes, DT Swiss wheels and very plush Shimano Ultegra 11-speed gearset.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube SL Road Hybrid Bike Range

 

hyde

Cube Hyde Race Bike

Hyde

As a truly on-trend, no-nonsense urban runaround the Hyde is a perfect choice for city cyclists. The fast and stiff aluminium frame has been designed to shave any excess weight while the multi-feature dropout lets riders fit mudguards or a rear rack. Three bikes make up the Hyde range. The standard Hyde — with its Shimano Acera/Deore gearset and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes — and the Hyde Pro — with its Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear and Shimano Alivio V-brakes — are both available in compact or step-through versions. The top-spec Hyde Race with maintenance-free Gates Carbon belt driven Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub gear and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes is available with a diamond frame only.

Click Here To View The Entire Hyde Road Hybrid Bike Range

 

editor

Cube Editor Hybrid Bike –

Editor

Designed to be the ultimate urban utility bike, the Editor is absolutely the finest Cube machine for tackling city streets. Based around a super-stiff, lightweight and elegant aluminium frame, Cube has specced only the very best, most practical components. So there’s a full Shimano Alfine 11-speed groupset run via a Gates Carbon belt drive; there’s matching Shimano Alfine hydraulic disc brakes; and there’s a very direct, rigid aluminium fork. This is about as simple and stylish as a city bike gets, although if you want to accessories it to your requirements there’s also provisions for rear rack, mudguards, frame lock and kickstand.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Editor Road Hybrid Bike Range

Cube Electric Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

It’s always dangerous to say something like ‘brand X has the best range of bikes anywhere’. But when it comes to electric bikes — which Cube calls ‘Hybrid’ bikes, as in hybrid technology in cars — there really are very few companies who can match Cube for range and quality. All Cube’s models use Bosch’s superbly smooth Performance Drive Unit for power.

General use e-bikes

 

Cube Cross Hybrid Pro Electric bike 2016

Cube Cross Hybrid Pro Electric 2016

Travel Hybrid £1,495 – £2,195

For the rider wanting a high-quality, no-fuss, superb entry-level e-bike to travel from A-to-B, Cube has the Travel Hybrid range of models. Based on a strong and stable aluminium frame with double chainstays, a dual chamber seat tube, and exquisite details such as the hidden channel for cables under the down tube, the Travel Hybrid line-up places emphasis on reliability and mobility. But don’t think they’re without their luxuries: there are Shimano Nexus hub gears, high quality Busch and Müller lights, Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes, suspension forks, and even integrated Abus frame locks — not to mention that silky smooth Bosch Drive Unit — to ensure complete style, safety and security.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Travel Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

 

touring hybrid

Cube Touring Hybrid Pro Electric Hardtail – £2,395.00- 0% Finance Available from £53.22 Per Month

Touring Hybrid £1,695 – £2,395

Three different frame shapes are on offer with the Touring Hybrid range: traditional diamond, single down tube step-through, and more contemporary sloping top tube step-through. All of them come with Cube’s double chainstays and dual chamber seat tube, but possibly more interesting is the range of kit fitted to these models. There’s a clear emphasis on getting out and seeing the world, all with a little help from the optimised Bosch Drive Unit. From the standard Touring Hybrid with its Suntour NCX suspension fork, Shimano XT Shadow gears and enhanced Shimano hydraulic brakes; to the range-topping Touring Hybrid SL with its RockShox Paradon Disc suspension fork, full Shimano XT Shadow groupset and Bosch’s cutting-edge Nyon handlebar-mounted infotainment system, these bikes are built to travel. All come with Busch and Müller high-quality lights.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Touring Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

elly hybrid

Cube Elly Ride Hybrid Electric Hardtail – £1,895.00- 0% Finance Available from £52.64 Per Month

Elly Hybrid £2,295 – £2,395

It’s only when you look closely that you realise these beautiful step-through city bikes are e-bikes at all. The all-in-one combination of down tube, double chainstays, dual chamber seat tube and rear rack make for a sense of integration that is matched by the placement of the Bosch Drive Unit and high-capacity 400Wh battery, which is all but hidden at the rear. Two models, the Cruise and the Ride make up the range. Both feature a colour-matched Suntour NEX suspension fork, kickstand, mudguards and front and rear lights, with the Ride also benefitting from Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Elly Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

delhi hybrid

Cube Delhi SL Trapeze Hybrid Electric Hardtail – £2795.00- 0% Finance Available from £62.11 Per Month

Delhi Hybrid £2,395 – £2,795

Taking the modern trekking e-bike to new levels, Cube’s Delhi range features a very contemporary aluminium frame with double chainstays, dual chamber seat tube and integrated rear rack. There are three frame shapes available in two levels of specification, the Pro and SL. All versions of the Delhi come with an incredible spec, including suspension forks, the excellent Bosch Drive Unit, superb Busch and Müller lights, ultra-powerful Magura HS11 hydraulic caliper brakes and an innovative NuVinci hub gear. However, the SL also comes with Bosch’s brand-new Nyon display, control and information system. All of which makes the Delhi possibly the most capable utility bike on the planet.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Delhi Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

Hardtail E-bikes

 

suv hybrid

Cube Suv Hybrid Electric Hardtail – £1995.00- 0% Finance Available from £59.89Per Month

SUV Hybrid £1,995 – £3,295

Like SUV cars, this two-model e-bike range from Cube is designed to be just as home cruising on urban streets as it is getting down and dirty off road. The bikes are built around a new-for-2015 double-butted super-light aluminum frame, which is stiffer and more responsive, while the placement of the Bosch power unit ensures optimum ride feel. Versatility is the name of the game, with 3D forged sliding dropouts, integrated IS disc tabs, and mounting points for a rear rack and mudguards.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube SUV Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

Access WLS Hybrid 27.5 / 29 £1,695

Proving that women riders can have everything the men get, the Access WLS is a three-model range of female-specific mountain e-bikes. The Access WLS frame has been designed with two specifics in mind: female anatomy and the most efficient placement of the Bosch Drive Unit. The result is an exceptionally stiff but lightweight double-butted 6061 aluminium frame with elaborate tube shaping and peerless handling. As with the non-e-bike Access range, 14 and 16in frame sizes come with 27.5in wheels while the bigger 17 and 19in frames are 29ers.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Access WLS Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

Reaction Hybrid

Cube Reaction HPa Race 29 Electric Hardtail – 

Reaction Hybrid HPA 27.5 / 29 £1,795 – £2,495

Cube’s high-quality, super-light aluminium hardtail frame has proven to be a natural partner to the Bosch Drive Unit, and has resulted in one of the most exciting and able bikes on the planet. From exceptional stiffness when you want power translated to motion, to agility when it’s time for fun, the Reaction range is hard to beat. If you took up mountain biking for fun, this is the machine that turns every uphill slog into just another little hurdle — giving your cheeks a little time to recover before the grin returns.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Reation HPA Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

HPC hybrid

Cube Elite Hybrid HPC Race 29 Electric Hardtail – 

Elite Hybrid HPC  £2,795 – £4,995

The Elite Hybrid HPC is the very zenith of pedal-assist hardtail mountain e-biking. The extraordinary, brand-new Hybrid HPC carbon frame has been designed solely with the aim of extracting the very most from the incredible Bosch Drive Unit. From the integration of the battery pack on the down tube, to the stability and balanced of the motor position at the bottom bracket, this is an e-bike without equal. But that’s not all, the frame also features details such as tapered head tube, chainstay-mounted Post-Mount disc tabs, provision for an internal dropper post routing, and X12 through-axle with adaptable dropouts, which all combine to provide exceptional performance.

Click Here To View The Entire Cube Elite HPC Hybrid Electric Bike Range

 

Full-suspension e-bikes

 

stereo hybrid

Cube Stereo HPA SL Race Electric Bike 

Stereo Hybrid 120/140 HPA 27.5 / 29er £4,595

The Stereo Hybrid e-bike is based on Cube’s excellent 7005 high performance full-susser aluminium frame with four-bar suspension design, tapered head tube and X12 rear through-axle, combined with pinpoint placement of the Bosch power supply and motor to give a very low centre of gravity and incredibly balanced handling. There’s a selection of 120 or 140 travel options, rolling on 27.5 or 29in wheels. So enjoy the help from the electric motor on the way up the hill, and feel no compromises on the way down.

Cube Childrens Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Mainstream bike manufacturers aren’t always the best people when it comes to making children’s bikes but Cube can match even specialist firms with its superb little wheelers.

cubie 120

Cube Cubie 120 push bike – £115.00

Cubie 120

Available in two colours — perfect for boys or girls — the Cubie is one of the cutest little balance bikes around. Made from lightweight 6061 aluminium and rolling on 12in aluminium wheels, it’s been designed to be easy for little bodies to manoeuvre. Cube has also gone to extra care making sure there are no sharp edges or corners to cause injury. The Cubie might be a simple design but it features high-quality kit including Kenda tyres, a Scape saddle with built-in carrying handle, and two seatposts — short and long — so your child can keep enjoying it as they grow.

Click here to View Cube’s kids range

kids 160

Cube 160 Boys Bike – £215.00

Kid 160

As a first pedal bike, the Kid 160 is an incredibly exciting option — in fact it looks just like a junior BMX bike. The lightweight aluminium frame is fitted with a high tensile steel fork for comfort, with high-quality components such as an aluminium cantilever brake at the front, coaster brake at the rear, 16in aluminum wheels and Kenda tyres. A full-length chainguard stops prevents little fingers getting oily, and a padded surround at the stem will cushion any accidents. Available in three fantastic colours, Cube also includes a safety package of hi-viz flag, bell and spoke reflectors.

Click here to View Cube’s 160  kids range

kid 200

Cube 200 Boys Bike – 20″ – £245.00

Kid 200

Moving up to more serious cycling, the Kid 200 range has a choice of two models. The multi-discipline Kid 200 bike comes with another premium lightweight aluminium frame and 20in aluminium wheels, but now young riders have the chance to enjoy Shimano RevoShift / Tourney 7-speed gearing. And because they’ll be riding quicker, there are also high-powered V-brakes with size-specific levers and a special power modulator to keep things under control. The Kidd 200 Street — available in either boys’ or girls’ step-through frame shapes — replaces the derailleur gears with a 3-speed hub gear and fits mudguards, a rear rack, a chainguard and a kickstand for ultimate practicality with the final, superb bonus of a dynamo light system front and back.

Click here to View Cube’s 200 kids range

kid 240

Cube 240 Boys Bike – £365.00 – 0% Finance Available from £10.14 Per Month

Kid 240

Now for big children’s bikes! The Kid 240 range offers everything from genuine mini-MTBs to perfect ride-to-school machines. The do-anything Kid 240 model has Cube’s high-class aluminium frame in a choice of colours for boys or girls, and comes fitted with a 21-speed Shimano RevoShift / Tourney drivetrain. The bikes roll on 24in aluminium wheels, with power modulated V-brakes handling stopping duties. If urban riding is your child’s thing, the Kid 240 Street has a step-through frame for girls or a compact frame for boys, and comes with mudguards, rear rack, kickstand, super-safe battery-free dynamo light system, and a Suntour suspension fork for comfort. Finally there’s the Kid 240 SL, a true lightweight, trail-ready, hardtail mountain bike. It comes with a high-class Shimano Deore gearing system, Tektro hydraulic brakes and ultra-grippy Kenda Small Block Eight tyres.

Click here to View Cube’s 240 kids range

Cube Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Ready for anything, Cube’s hardtail mountain bikes are tough, light, comfortable and completely capable of taking on any trail.

 

Cube Aim Disc 29er – £425.00- 0% Finance Available from £11.81 Per Month

Aim 26 / 27.5 / 29er

The Aim range of bikes is Cube’s entry-level selection, built around a fantastic aluminium frame that offers a fine combination of comfort, stability, stiffness while remaining lightweight. The Aim 26 runs on traditional 26in wheels and comes fitted with a Suntour XCT 100mm fork, 24-speed Shimano Altus gears and aluminium V-brakes. The Aim Disc comes with either 27.5 or 29in wheels, a Suntour XCT 100mm suspension fork, Shimano Altus gears and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. Taking attention to detail even higher, the refined lightweight SL aluminium frame features high-end details such as internal cable routing and comes complete with Shimano Acera/Altus gears, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, a Suntour XCM 100mm suspension fork and a choice of 27.5 or 29in wheels.

View Our Range Of Cube Aim Mountain Bikes

 

cube analogue

Cube Analog Disc 650b – 

Analogue 27.5 / 29er

The Analogue’s 6061 aluminium frame has been designed for riders wanting a lightweight and agile trail companion, with internal cable routing and scratch-resistant wet paint making it look as good as it rides. Available in either 27.5 or 29in wheel variants, it comes fitted with a RockShox XC30 100mm fork, Shimano Deore/Alivio gears and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

View Our Range Of Cube Analogue Mountain Bikes

 

attention

Cube Attention SL 29er – £645-695.

Attention 27.5 / 29er

The two-model Attention range is built around a brand new, high-quality 6061 Alu Lite frame with internal cable routing, reinforced head tube section and protected disc tabs. It’s also an all-round master, either on the trail or cross-country course. Both Attention models come with either 27.5 or 29in wheels. The standard Attention is completed with Shimano XT Shadow/Deore gears, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a RockShox XC30 PopLoc 100mm suspension fork; meanwhile the Attention SL has an upgraded RockShox XC32 PopLoc 100mm suspension fork.

View Our Range Of Cube Attention Mountain Bikes

 

cube acid

Cube Acid Disc 650b – £795.00- 0% Finance Available from £22.08 Per Month

Acid 27.5 / 29er

Available in either 27.5in or 29er wheel sizes, the Acid takes all the great qualities of the Attention and tweaks them for even better trail handling. A Manitou M30 Air 100mm suspension fork controls things up front, Shimano XT Shadow and Deore provide the gearing components, and enhanced Shimano hydraulic discs provide braking.

View Our Range Of Cube Acid Mountain Bikes

 

ltd pro

Cube LTD Pro 27.5 – £895-£1145 

LTD 27.5 / 29er

The LTD Series comes with a freshly-designed 6061 aluminium frame for 2015, featuring internal cable routing inside the down tube, a press-fit bottom bracket for power delivery, a tapered head tube for steering accuracy, and a 27.2mm seatpost for comfort. All models come in either 27.5 or 29in wheel sizes. The range-opening LTD Pro is fitted with Shimano XT Shadow/Deore gears, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a RockShox Reba RL 100mm suspension fork. The LTD Race One upgrades this spec to a full Shimano XT Shadow groupset including XT hydraulic disc brakes. The LTD Race comes with a Manitou Marvel TS Air 100mm suspension fork, Shimano XT Shadow / SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic discs. And the range-topping LTD SL enjoys full Shimano XT Shadow gears, Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes, and a Fox 32 Float 100mm suspension fork.

View Our Range Of Cube Ltd Mountain Bikes

 

cube reaction

Cube Reaction HPA Pro 29 – 

Reaction HPA 29er

Cube’s top-level 7005 hydroformed aluminium hardtails, the Reaction HPA range of bikes is available in 29er format and offers all the stability, control and ability you’d expect from a big-wheeled beauty. In fact, Cube says these bikes are good enough for everything from racing to off-road touring, and looking at their design — with a semi-integrated headset, tapered head tube, press-fit bottom bracket and 27.2mm seatpost — it’s clear to see why. The Reaction HPA Pro 29 is built with Shimano XT Shadow gears, Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes and a RockShox Reba RL 100mm suspension fork. Meanwhile the Reaction HPA SL 29 upgrades this spec to a Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakeset and a plush RockShox SID RL suspension fork.

View Our Range Of Cube Reaction Mountain Bikes

 

cube reaction

Cube Reaction GTC Pro 27.5″ – £1395- 0% Finance Available from £31.00 Per Month

Reaction GTC 27.5 / 29er

Taking all the greatness of the Reaction HPA’s frame design but creating it out of carbon-fibre has resulted in this: the superb Reaction GTC. Built using Cube’s Twin Mold technology, the Reaction GTC features oversized tubes for strength, a tapered head tube for control, a press-fit bottom bracket for power delivery and an X12 rear through-axle for efficiency, all while achieving an incredibly lightweight. The Reaction GTC Pro is fitted with a Manitou Marvel TS Air 100mm suspension fork, Shimano XT Shadow gears and a Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakeset. The Reaction GTC Race comes with RockShox Reba RL 100mm suspension fork and full Shimano XT Shadow Plus groupset. The Reaction GTC SL features full Shimano XT Shadow Plus again but with a Fox 32 Float 100mm suspension fork. And the range-topping Reaction GTC SLT matches the XT Shadow Plus spec but is completed with RockShox’s revolutionary RS-1 upside-down carbon 100mm suspension fork. The GTC Pro and SL are available in both 27.5 and 29in wheel formats, the Race and SLT are 29er only.

View Our Range Of Cube Reaction GTC Mountain Bikes

 

elite c68

Cube Elite C68 SL 29 – £4995.00- 0% Finance Available from £133.22 Per Month

Elite C68 29er

As if the Elite Super HPC wasn’t the zenith of carbon construction, Cube has topped it with the Elite C68 — quite simply Cube’s finest hardtail mountain bike, designed for the demanding competitive rider. Again the preference is for 29in wheels, while the incredibly high-quality carbon-fibre frame includes a tapered head tube for handling, a press-fit bottom bracket for power delivery, and enough provisions for speed and comfort to satisfy the marathon racer. The four-model range starts with the Elite C68 Pro 29 with SRAM X0 gears, Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes and a RockShox SID RL 100mm suspension fork. The Elite C68 Race 29 upgrades this to a full XTR groupset. The Elite C68 SL 29 uses RockShox’s revolutionary RS-1 upside-down carbon 100mm suspension fork combined with a SRAM XX1 gearset and Magura MT8 hydraulic disc brakes. And the ultimate Cube hardtail, the Elite C68 SLT 29 features an incredible spec with that same RS-1 fork but a full Shimano XTR Di2 groupset with electronic gears.

View Our Range Of Cube AElite C68 Mountain Bikes

Trek Road Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Possibly one of the most respected names in professional road cycling, Trek knows better than anybody how to satisfy the demands of every rider — from the sportive beginner, to the Tour de France winner.

All Trek road bikes

trek 1

Trek 1.2 Compact

1 Series

Trek’s entry-level road bike range offers more than anyone could expect at the price. All three bikes in the line-up use Trek’s proven lightweight Alpha aluminium frame, built for speed, handling, comfort and also featuring day-to-day practicalities such as rear rack and mudguard mounts. All bikes come with a carbon fork and Shimano components, ranging from Claris on the 1.1 to Tiagra on the 1.5.

View the Trek 1 Series Road Bike Range

 

madone 2.5

Trek Madone 2.5

Madone

The Madone represents the bike with which Trek forged its reputation in the modern road cycle market, and it’s still one of the best sports bikes in the world. While the Madone 2.1 and 2.5 feature an incredibly stiff and responsive Alpha aluminium frames and carbon forks, the race-ready Madone 7 series of bikes come with Trek’s super-aero carbon frame, with its ultra-strong BB90 bottom bracket, internal cable routing, Ride-Tuned seatmast for comfort, and enough technical details to create the ultimate performance bike.

View the Trek Madone Road Bike Range

 

2015 domane 5.2

Trek Domane 5.2

Domane

One of the most exciting innovations in road cycle design in recent years, the Domane uses Trek’s unique IsoSpeed coupler to separate the seat tube from the top tube, revolutionising road bike ride comfort. Don’t think that that compliancy comes at the expense of speed, stability and handling, though — this bike has been used to win the ultimate day race: Paris-Roubaix. With 17 models in the range, starting with the aluminium-framed Domane 2.0 at less than £1,000, and going up to around £6,000 for the Domane 6.9 with its highest-quality carbon frame, day-long comfort is in reach for everyone.

View the Trek Domane Road Bike Range

 

2015 emonda slr10

Trek Emonda SLR

Emonda

The Emonda takes everything that Trek has achieved with the Madone and Domane and combines them in one super-light line-up of bikes. So the Emonda has the speed and handling of the Madone, with much of the ride quality of the Domane, all provided in a brand-new, market-leading lightweight carbon frame design used throughout the range. With 17 models on offer, and with so much ability in one package, there will be an Emonda to suit everybody. And while we know so much hyperbole accompanies new bike launches, in tests the cycling media has agreed that the new Emonda really is as good as Trek says.

 View the Trek Emonda Road Bike Range

 

trek lexa

Trek Lexa SLX –

Lexa Women

Using beautifully sleek Alpha aluminium frame designs inspired by the Madone and Domane, but built to incorporate perfect women-specific geometry, the Trek Lexa range of female-specific bikes are lightweight, strong and feel ultra-fast. That women-specific design puts the rider in a faster, more stable position, with enough comfort to keep you pedalling all day. Of the four bikes in the range, three boast traditional aluminium frames while the top Lexa SLX model features an aluminium frame with a IsoSpeed coupler, separating the seat tube from the top tube, to absolutely maximise comfort. All come with high-quality Shimano components.

 View the Trek Lexa Ladies Road Bike Range

 

trek silque

Trek Silque –

Slique Women

Taking all those amazing details found in the top-of-the-range Lexa SLX, but combining them with one of Trek’s fantastic OCLV carbon frames has created the Slique — possibly the best mass-produced all-day road bike for women on the market. The headline feature is the IsoSpeed decoupler, which provides truly peerless comfort without any loss in performance. Then there’s Trek’s fantastic women-specific geometry to really put the rider at the heart of the bike, maximising stability, power delivery and handling. And you get all the expected design niceties from a top manufacturer: internal cable routing for aero benefits and aesthetic beauty; women-specific saddles; great wheelsets; and superb components throughout the seven-bike range.

See all Trek Silque road bikes 

Please note: Trek’s anti-mail-order policy means all Trek bikes can only be purchased in store or via our Hometech delivery system. We cannot provide in-a-box sales.

Trek Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

With 26 different model ranges to choose from, across a broad variety of different off-road disciplines, Trek’s mountain bike selection is as full and it is impressive. The biggest problem will be: which bike do you choose?

See all Trek Mountain bikes

 

fs 29

Trek Superfly fs 7 29″ –

Cross-country

The X-Caliber range starts Trek’s cross-country line-up and exhibits a superb balance of light, fast, race-ready but budget-conscious ability. Next comes the Superfly 29er line-up of light aluminium and carbon cross-country speed machine hardtails, with the Superfly FS full-suspension range taking all that performance to the double-squidging max.

For women there is the Cali Women’s range of highly agile cross-country race machines with 27.5in or 29in wheels depending on frame size. Meanwhile the fun and inspiring Lush Women’s 27.5in do-anything line-up can handle just about all you throw at it, and leave you smiling. Finally, for kids, there’s the Kid’s Superfly, which packs all the adult Superfly’s ability in a light, nimble, pint-sized package.

View the Trek Cross Country Range

 

Trek Farley 9.6 Hardtail

Trek Farley 9.6 Hardtail

Farley, Fuel and Remedy

For heading into the wilds, wherever that may lead you, you need a bike that is able to handle absolutely anything — Trek delivers not once, but with three different options. The Farley hardtail features an ultra-compact frame with ultra-wide tyres, but it is light, nippy, and very capable. The Fuel EX manages to bring all the positive influences of Trek’s race bikes but fit them into a full-suspension machine that doesn’t need competition to make you realise how good it is. And for the ultimate trail experience, the Remedy gives you all the ability, all the performance, all the versatility to take on and beat mother nature.

View the Trek Farley Range

 

remedy

Trek remedy 8 650b –

Enduro

Although the Remedy also doubles up as a great enduro bike, Trek has another weapon in its locker: the Slash. Designed with only one purpose in mind — to conquer the very hardest trails and enduros — the Slash is a true ‘mountain’ bike. As you’d expect from a bike that majors on ability, it rolls on 27.5in wheels.

View the Trek Enduro Range

 

ds copy

Trek 8.6 DS Hybrid

Dual Sport

Although it’s heading towards the realm of hybrid bike design, the DS Series can sure handle a bit of rough and tumble off-road with a light, strong aluminium frame and sensible suspension fork. Meanwhile the Neko Women’s range offers much the same ability with a female-friendly geometry. Both run on 700c road wheels.

View the Trek Hybrid Range

Please note: Trek’s anti-mail-order policy means all Trek bikes can only be purchased in store or via our Hometech delivery system. We cannot provide in-a-box sales.

Orange Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Between the super-tough Crush and the iconic Clockwork — one of the true legendary bikes in modern mountain biking — Orange has some of the finest hardtails on the market.

Orange Hardtail mountain bikes

 

 

clockwork 100 29er

Orange Clockwork 100 – 

 Clockwork 100 29er – £999

The Orange Clockwork: a model name that’s appeared alongside the words ‘best in test’ possibly more than any other bike since it first appeared 25 years ago. But while the name’s been around for a quarter of a century, don’t for a second think this is a retro wonder: the modern Clockwork 100 is an absolutely contemporary hardtail, perfect for anything from an endurance race machine to an ultra-capable trail bike. The aluminium frame is purposely designed to make the most of smooth-rolling big 29in wheels, and it comes laden with features, such as custom butted and shaped tubes, a disc brake mount on the chainstay, and internal brake, gear and dropper post routing. The range-opening Clockwork 100 comes with a RockShox XC32 100mm suspension fork, Shimano Deore Shadow Plus drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes; while the upgraded Clockwork 100 S features a RockShox Recon Gold 100mm suspension fork, Shimano SLX Shadow Plus gears and improved Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

View the Orange Clockwork 100 Hardtail Range

 

clockwork 120 27.5

Orange Clockwork 120 S 27.5″ – 

Clockwork 120 27.5

Upping the fork suspension travel, but reducing the wheel size means the Clockwork 120 is a devastatingly accurate weapon for taking on twisting, technical singletrack. Those 27.5in wheels lend a potent blend of quick handling and rapid acceleration, which — combined with Orange’s legendary geometry and handling — makes for a supremely lively, reactive, grin-inducing, fun machine. As with the Clockwork 100 the superb lightweight aluminium frame features custom butted and shaped tubes, a disc brake mount on the chainstay, and internal brake, gear and dropper post routing. The range starting Clockwork 100 comes with a RockShox XC32 120mm suspension fork, a Shimano Deore Shadow Plus drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes; while the upgraded Clockwork 100 S features a RockShox Recon Gold 120mm suspension fork, Shimano SLX Shadow Plus gears and improved Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

View the Orange Clockwork 120 Hardtail Range

 

crush copy

Orange Crush AM 27.5″ 

Crush 27.5  £1,399

Want even more ability from your hardtail? How about a super-tough, super-lightweight aluminum frame with a full 140mm of suspension fork? That’s the enticing package that comes with the Crush — a bruiser of a bike, but which Orange says is much more than just another hardcore hardtail. The combination of ultra-dynamic 27.5in wheels with all that plush front-end travel provides a heady mixture of confidence, thrills, fun and performance. And because the custom butted 6061 aluminium frame is so svelte, and the geometry is so perfected, you’ll find it’s (almost) as much fun coming back up the trail as heading down it. The Crush AM comes with a RockShox Revelation RL suspension fork, Shimano SLX Shadow Plus/Deore gearset and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, while the Crush RS features a RockShox Pike RCT3 suspension fork, Shimano Zee/SLX gears and Shimano XT hydraulic brakes.

View the Orange Crush Hardtail Range

Orange Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

When it comes to where Orange has had its greatest successes, and where it has built its reputation, you only have to look at its full-suspension bikes. They’re simply beautifully balanced, perfect-handling, big-hit machines that will tame any terrain.

See all Orange Full Suspension mountain bikes

 

orange segment

Orange Segment S 

  Segment 29er £2,699 – £4,699

Purposely designed to destroy the prejudices of any rider who thinks only big-travel bikes have truly big ability, the Segment 29er is Orange’s take on the fastest full-suspension all-rounder. The 110mm of suspension travel at the back and 120mm of suspension travel at the front combines with the Segment’s 29in wheels to provide a heady mixture of confidence, stability, performance, speed and downright fun. The ultra-sturdy aluminium frame is hand-built in Halifax, Yorkshire and comes with Orange’s high-performance, low-maintenance single-pivot suspension system, as well as a host of modern design luxuries. The four-model range starts with the Segment S featuring a RockShox Monarch RL shock, RockShox Revelation suspension fork, Shimano SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. Meanwhile the range-topping Segment SE comes with a Fox Float Factory shock, Fox 34 Float Factory suspension fork and full Shimano XTR groupset.

View the Orange Segment Full Suspension Range

 

five 27.5

Orange Five Pro – 

 Five 27.5 £2,799 – £4,599

Designed first and foremost as a fun machine for out on the trail — whatever trail you ride — the Five rolls on 27.5in wheels to offer a fine combination of grip, performance and comfortable bump handling. That comfort and ability is also aided by a balanced 140mm of suspension travel front and back, while the aluminium frame is hand-built in the UK by Orange and comes with internal dropper routing and a five-year warranty. The entry-spec Five S come fitted with a RockShox Monarch RL shock, RockShox Revelation suspension fork, Shimano SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes; while the range-topping Five SE comes with a Fox Float Factory shock, Fox 34 Float Factory suspension fork and full Shimano XTR groupset.

View the Orange Five Full Suspension Range

 

alpine 160

Orange Alpine 160 RS 

Alpine 160 AM26 / RS26 £2,999 – £4,899

When it comes to taking on the very biggest challenges off road, Orange’s Alpine 160 range is very hard to beat. The 160mm-travel frame has had an all-round update for 2015, losing a bit of weight, improving the rear suspension performance and generally tweaking the geometry. It’s better than ever, but still retains Orange’s big mountain magic. The AM26 and RS26 run on ultra-nimble 26in wheels, with Orange saying: “When it comes to tight, steep, gnarly and rough; 26 inch wheels with a burly tyre have never let us down.” All frames are hand-built in Halifax, with the Alpine AM26 featuring a Fox Float Evolution shock, Fox 34 Float Evolution suspension fork, Shimano SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes; meanwhile the Alpine RS26 has a Fox Float Kashima shock, Fox 34 Float Factory suspension fork, Shimano Zee/SLX gears and Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes.

View the Orange Alpine 160 Full Suspension Range

 

 

alpine five 29

Orange Alpine Five 

Alpine Five AM / RS 29er

How about sticking 29in wheels on a 140mm travel full-susser? That sounds like the kind of bike that could conquer pretty much anything, including Alpine passes. The Alpine Five comes with Orange’s legendary geometry promoting incredible handing. Just because it rolls on 29in hoops don’t think this is a straight-ahead mile-muncher — it’ll handle twists and turns, rocks and drops with the single-pivot suspension design keeping maintenance as surefooted, too. Made in the UK, the Alpine Five AM comes fitted with a Fox Float Evolution shock, Fox 34 Float CTD suspension fork, Shimano SLX gears and Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes; meanwhile the Alpine Five RS has a RockShox Monarch Plus shock, RockShox Pike RCT3 suspension fork, Shimano Zee/XT gears and Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes.

View the Orange Alpine Five Full Suspension Range

 

Giant Liv Ladies Road Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Giant has spent a huge amount of time and money researching and developing its women’s range of road bikes to make sure they are perfect for any female drop-bar rider.

avail

Giant Liv Avail 2 – £745.00 – 0% Finance Available from £16.56 Per Month

Liv Avail £495-£895

Based on an aluminium compact frame, the Avail range is Giant’s low-cost starting point for female road riders. The four-bike line-up — from the entry-level Avail 5 with Shimano Claris gears, to the range-topping Avail 1 with Shimano’s very able 105 gears and Tektro caliper brakes, offers amazing value and with their Liv Connect Forward women’s saddle they’re also superbly comfortable, controllable and responsiveness. The Avail range are very possibly the best mass-produced women’s aluminium road bikes on the high street.

View The Giant Liv Avail Range 

 

avail advanced

Giant Liv Avail Advanced 3 – £1,1955.00 – 0% Finance Available from £26.56 Per Month

Liv Avail Advanced £1,195-£1,645

For the Avail Advanced, Giant has reproduced the basic Avail frame in carbon-fibre, creating a bike that is more comfortable over long, hard rides but doesn’t lack any of its aluminium sibling’s enthusiasm. Frame material isn’t the only upgrade: both bikes in the Avail Advanced range come with secure TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, meaning their riders can relax coming down the hill, as well as climbing up it. The Avail Advanced 3 comes with Shimano Tiagra components while the Avail Advanced 1 enjoys plush Ultegra kit, and both come with a Liv Connect Forward women’s saddle.

View The Giant Liv Avail Advanced Range 

 

avail advanced pro copy

Giant Liv Avail Advanced Pro – £2,595.00 – 0% Finance Available from £57.67 Per Month

Liv Avail Advanced Pro £2,595

The Avail Advanced Pro range builds on the incredible qualities of the Avail Advanced frame, but makes them just a little more refined in all areas. The carbon-fibre Avail Advanced Pro is a little lighter, more controllable, more responsive, more comfortable, and quicker to ride. The Avail Advanced Pro model comes with Shimano Ultegra gears, Shimano’s innovative RS685 hydraulic disc brakes and a Fizik Vesta women’s saddle.

View The Giant Liv Avail Advanced Pro Range 

 

avail advanced sl 0

Giant Liv Avail Advanced Sl 0 – £7,245.00 – 0% Finance Available from £161.00 Per Month

Liv Avail Advanced SL 0 £7,245

The top of the Avail family tree, nothing in Giant’s women’s bikes catalogue can beat the carbon-fibre Avail Advanced SL when it comes to endurance-performance cycling. The OverDrive 2 steerer tube helps with control, the PowerCore bottom bracket helps with power delivery, and the integrated D-Fuse seatpost helps with comfort. The Avail Advanced SL 0 features Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic gears, Shimano R785 hydraulic disc brakes and a Fizik Vesta women’s saddle.

View The Giant Liv Avail Advanced Sl 0 Range 

 

envie advanced pro

Giant Liv Envie Advanced Pro 1 – £3,695.00 – 0% Finance Available from £82.11 Per Month

Liv Envie Advanced Pro 1 £3,695

A step up from the standard Envie Advanced, the Envie Advanced Pro comes with all the aerodynamic benefits of the carbon Advanced Pro frame but also features Giant’s unique OverDrive 2 steerer tube for absolutely razor-sharp handling and bike control. The Envie Advanced Pro 1 model is built up with Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 electronic gearset and a Fizik Donna women’s saddle.

View The Giant Envie Advanced Pro Range 

 

envie advanced tri

Giant Liv Envie Advanced Tri – £2,795.00 – 0% Finance Available from £61.00 Per Month

Liv Envie Advanced Tri £2,745

Designed for female time trialists or triathletes, the Envie Advanced Tri is built around a supremely aerodynamic carbon frame featuring Giant’s AeroSystem Shaping Technology, Vector Composite seatpost and Giant Contact aerobars. The one model in the range comes fitted with Shimano Ultegra gears, Giant SpeedControl SL brakes and a Fizik Donna women’s saddle. During its conception, the Envie Advanced Tri was even tested by the fastest female profession rider on the planet Marianne Vos, so this is a certifiably-speedy machine.

View The Giant Envie Advanced Tri Range 

Giant Kids Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

The beauty of the bike is that they offer just as much enjoyment, whether the rider is young or old. And Giant has some perfect mini-wheelers designed especially for little legs and fitted with size-specific components.

See all Giant Kids bikes

 

lil giant trike

L’il Giant Trike £95

Available in blue for boys and pink for girls, the L’il Giant Trikes is a tough and sturdy little pedal or push machine, built around an ALUXX aluminium frame. It even has an adjustable saddle.

View The Giant Lil Trike

 

giant pre

Pre £80

The quickest and least painful way to teach children to ride a bike is to get them on a balance bike. From the age of two, then starting to understand the basics of balancing on two wheels, then when they reach the age when they’re ready to ride their first pedal bike, half the work will have already been done. The Pre is Giant’s beautiful little balance bike, made from ALUXX aluminium as with its best adult bikes, and featuring 12in wheels and a very handy Kids saddle with built-in hand grip (for when mummy or daddy has to carry it!). Available in blue and pink.

View The Giant Pre Range of Bikes

 

giant animator

Animator £165

The perfect first pedal bike (for a boy!), the Animator features a lightweight ALUXX aluminium frame rolling on 16in wheels. Despite its diminutive size, there’s nothing missing on the spec sheet: the brakes are strong aluminium V-brakes operated via junior-reach brake levers; the singlespeed drive train is enclosed in a full chain case, so no oily clothes; and it comes with a set of removable stabiliser training wheels and a bell.

View The Giant Animator range of Bikes

 

giant liv adore

Liv Adore £165

The girls’ version of the Animator, this little machine runs on 16in wheels and features the same specification with one exception: the Adore also comes with a very handy handlebar-mounted basket.

View The Liv Adore range of Bikes

 

xtc 20 copy

XTC Jr 20 £215-£275

A mini version of Giant’s adult-sized XTC mountain bikes, these little machines come with lightweight ALUXX aluminium frames and 20in wheels — and they’re perfect for every adventure that a young rider can imagine. There are two models in the range: the XTC Jr 20 Lite is built with Shimano Tourney seven-speed gears, aluminium V-brakes, junior brake levers, grippy 1.95in-wide tyres and a rigid steel fork, while the XTC Jr 20 has the same set-up but with 50mm-travel suspension fork.

View The Giant Xtc Jr range of Bikes

 

 

 

xtc 24

XTC Jr 24 £245-£275

The XTC Jr 24 range takes all the great features of the XTC 20 and adds four inches of wheel size for older children. Perfect for taking on off-road challenges, the XTC Jr 2 24 comes with a high-quality ALUXX aluminium frame, 50mm suspension fork, seven-speed Shimano Tourney gears, powerful aluminium V-brakes, and super-capable 1.95in-wide tyres. The XTC Jr 1 24 comes with an upgraded fork with lockout, and the chainset features a triple chainring offering a total of 21 gearing options.

View The Giant Xtc Jr range of Bikes

 

 

 

giant revel 3

Revel £295

Upping the off-road performance ante just a little, the Revel is Giant’s serious mountain bike for junior riders. The impressively lightweight ALUXX aluminium frame is combined with a 75mm Suntour suspension fork and 21 Shimano Tourney gears operated by Shimano EZ Fire shifters, offering grown-up ability in a smaller package. Powerful V-brakes, 26in wheels and 2.1in-wide Kenda tyres help keep everything under control.

View The Giant Revel range of Bikes

 

Cannondale Ladies Road Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

For women who want to ride fast, agile, reactive road bikes with an astonishing level of comfort and gender specialisation, Cannondale’s female-specific range is very hard to beat.

 

synapse fem

Synapse Claris 8 Fem – 

Synapse Women

Just as with its non-women-specific Synapse model range, Cannondale’s Synapse Women is a perfect first road bike. It features a host of sympathetic design qualities that will help the new female rider adapt to drop-bar cycling, the most important of which is Cannondale’s unique Women’s SERG Geometry which gives the lightweight aluminium frame with a longer wheelbase for stability. Meanwhile, Cannondale’s silky smooth SAVE Plus technology offers supreme levels of comfort, with the added bonus of a 25.4mm seatpost taking the sting out of the road even further. But don’t think this all comes at the expensive of speed of handling — the Synapse is an incredibly responsive bike to ride. Rear rack and mudguard mounts, as well as women-specific saddles, means it is ultra-practical, too. The four-bike range begins with a model featuring Shimano Claris gears while the top-level model comes with Shimano 105 gears and Promax mechanical disc brakes.

View all Cannondale Synapse Ladies Road Bikes

 

synapse carbon fem copy

Synapse SM 105 5 Fem 

Synapse Carbon Women

Cannondale’s ultimate endurance machine, the Synapse Carbon Women builds on those fantastic qualities found in the aluminium Synapse Women range and provides them with all the benefits of a carbon-fibre construction. That means this is one the market leaders when it comes to light, refined, strong and forgiving long-ride women’s bikes. As with the Synapse Women, Cannondale uses its Women SERG Geometry, and combines that with SAVE Plus micro-suspension elements in the rear triangle, fork, seatpost and seat tube. The seat tube also splits asymmetrically to fit a BB30A bottom bracket for maximum power output efficiency, while larger volume 25c tyres help perfect the ride experience. All three models come with women-specific saddles, internal cable routing. The range begins with a Synapse Carbon Women fitted with Shimano 105 gears, and goes up to an option kited out with Shimano Ultegra.

View all Cannondale Synapse Ladies Road Bikes

 

supersix fem

Supersix Evo Ultegra – 

SuperSix EVO

Offering women riders the absolutely zenith of Cannondale’s carbon road frames, the two-bike SuperSix EVO Women range features all the superb details that make the standard model such an amazing speed machine. The obvious place to start is with Cannondale’s women-specific Elite Geometry, based on achieving the absolutely perfect handlebar height and reach. Add a Speed SAVE fork and rear stays to that comfortable position, and you’ve got a bike that feels not only fast, but great for all-round ride quality, too. Cannondale hasn’t forgotten the need to get every part just right, either, so there’s an abundance of women-specific componentry, from narrower, ergonomically-shaped handlebars, to shorter reach brake levers, to saddles designed for the female body. Two models make up the SuperSix EVO Women range: one fitted with Shimano 105 gears and brakes, the other with Shimano Ultegra.

View all Cannondale Synapse Ladies Road Bikes

Cannondale Road bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cannondale Road Bikes

From the incredibly entry-level Synapse aluminium bikes, to top-level ultralight SuperSix EVO machines, to aero time trial bikes and super-capable cyclo-cross steeds, Cannondale’s range is simple, and simply stunning!

View All Cannondale Road Bikes.

Synapase AL 105 – £995.00 – 0% Finance Available from £27.64 Per Month.

Synapse £595 – £995

Cannondale’s perfect first road bike, the Synapse features a host of sympathetic design qualities that will help the new rider adapt to drop-bar cycling. The advanced lightweight aluminium frame has been created with a more upright riding position, offering enhanced comfort, while Cannondale’s silky smooth SAVE Plus technology provides an effective blend of comfort, speed and value. Because of Cannondale’s advanced innovations — such as the stiff BB30 bottom bracket — it’s still a hugely rewarding bike to ride, and subtle, understated rear rack and mudguard mounts mean it is ultra-practical, too. The four-bike range begins with a model featuring Shimano Claris gears while the top-level model comes with Shimano 105 gears and Promax mechanical disc brakes.

View the Cannondale Synapse Alloy Road Bikes.

 

Synapase Carbon Ultegra – £1995.00 – 0% Finance Available from £47.10 Per Month

Synapse Carbon

Cannondale’s ultimate endurance machine, the Synapse Carbon takes all the fantastic beginner-friendly aspects of the Synapse and converts them into qualities that make for a beautifully forgiving all-day ride machine. Using Cannondale’s Synapse Endurance Race Geometry and SAVE Plus rear triangle and fork, the Synapse Carbon succeeds in offering a ride that is responsive and reactive when you want to get up and go, but insulating and compliant when the road is pushing you to your limits. The eight-bike range begins with a standard Synapse Carbon frame fitted with Shimano 105 gears and goes up to the Synapse Carbon Black Inc featuring a high-modulus carbon frame built up with full Shimano Dura-Ace including disc brakes.

View all Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road Bikes.

 

Caad8 105 5 – £845.00 – 0% Finance Available from £23.47 Per Month

CAAD8

It might be ‘only’ made of aluminium, and it might ‘only’ feature Shimano’s less exotic groupsets, but the CAAD8 range is a perfect line-up of bikes for everybody from the new road rider, to the more established cyclist looking for ultimate value and performance-for-money. The high-quality aluminium frame is suitably light and stiff but mixes that with a comfortable ‘head-up’ geometry and Speed SAVE elements to take the sting out of the road. The four-bike range begins with a Shimano Claris-shod model and progresses up to a bike with Shimano 105 gears.

View all Cannondale Caad8 Road Bikes

 

Caad10 105 5 – 

CAAD10

For riders wanting all the speed and performance that the best aluminium frames can provide, Cannondale’s CAAD10 range should be at the top of anyone’s list. It’s worth pointing out that while aluminium bikes tend to be less expensive than carbon-fibre bikes, the performance between the two materials isn’t necessarily so stark. A well-made aluminium frame — of which the CAAD10 is absolutely one of the best — can give all but the top carbon frames a real run for their money. The CAAD10 is lighter, stiffer, smoother and far more engaging to ride than many high-end composite bikes and comes loaded with Cannondale’s Speed SAVE technology for comfort. Foursuperb road bikes make up the CAAD10 range, starting with a Shimano 105 version and topping out with a model fitted with a SRAM Rival groupset including hydraulic disc brakes. There’s also a pared down track model without gears or brakes.

View Cannondale Caad10 Road Bikes.

 

Supersix Evo 105 5 – £1495.00 – 0% Finance Available from £41.53 Per Month

SuperSix EVO

For most manufacturers with Cannondale’s aluminium bike line-up, their carbon range of speed-orientated bikes could end up being all but redundant. Thankfully, though, the SuperSix EVO is right up with the very best mass-produced carbon-fibre bikes in the world. Indeed, its huge strength is being able to mix an incredible lightweight frame build with remarkable stability and surefootedness. There are three frame options, starting with the EVO Carbon which uses a high percentage of intermediate-modulus fiber to tune the stiffness and provide a sub-950g frame weight. Next comes the EVO Hi-Mod with high-modulus fibres to further hone stiffness, with high-tensile fibres promoting overall strength. And finally there is the range-topping EVO Nano, which uses all of Cannondale’s advanced high-modulus BallisTec technology and nanotech resins to create a featherlight bike. The entry SuperSix EVO version comes fitted with Shimano 105 gears, while the range-topping SuperSix EVO Black Inc — 10 models further up the chain — features mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace.

View Cannondale Supersix Evo Road Bikes.

 

Slice 105 5 

Slice

Possibly the most amazing looking bike in Cannondale’s catalogue, the new-for-2015 Cannondale Slice is a purpose-built triathlon machine that is unlike almost anything else on the market. Balancing the sometimes incongruous requirements of efficient aerodynamics, lightweight and run-enhancing comfort, this really is the cutting edge of triathlon bike design. There’s no end of smart details, from internal cable routing to direct-mount rear brakes, to an incredible small and stiff rear triangle. The four-bike range starts with a 105-kitted model and tops out with the Slice Black Inc featuring electronic Shimano Dura-Ace Di2.

View Cannondale Slice Road Bike.

 

Caadx Tiagra Disc – £895.00 – 0% Finance Available from £21.13 Per Month

CAADX

The CAADX takes all of Cannondale’s proven CAAD aluminium technology and converts it into a true do-it-all bike. Of course, there’s a very heavy cyclo-cross influence, and this is a bike that can mix it among other drop-bar mud-pluggers with confidence. But more than that, the mudguard and rear rack mounts, along with the comfortable upright position, point to a drop-bar bike that can perfectly fill any number of jobs. The entry-level model features Shimano Sora gears and Promax mechanical disc brakes, with the top model in the four-bike range coming with a full SRAM Rival groupset including hydraulic disc brakes.

View Cannondale Caadx Cyclocross Bike

 

Super X Sram Cx1

SuperX

Without doubt one of the finest dedicated cyclo-cross bikes on the market, Cannondale’s SuperX can handle anything from snow, to sand, to good old-fashioned mud. When grip is found wanting, and control and power delivery is of paramount importance, the SuperX won’t disappoint. The carbon frame features Speed SAVE vibration elimination technology for comfort, a tapered head tube for handling, an ultra-light frameset, and disc brakes are fitted to both models in the range. Gearset options are a choice between SRAM Rival or SRAM CX1.

View Cannondale SuperX Cyclocross Bike

Cannondale Hybrid Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cannondale Hybrid Bikes

From a couple of unique and exciting city machines, to some of the most efficient flat-bar bikes on sale today, Cannondale’s range of hybrids is simply awesome..

View All Cannondale Hybrid Bikes.

 

Quick 5 Hybrid Bike – £445.00 – 0% Finance Available from £10.51 Per Month

Quick £445 – £995

Cannondale’s entry-level utilitarian bike, the Quick will take you where you want to go with a very attractive balance of style, comfort, ease and speed. The root of all this ability is a fantastic lightweight aluminium frame featuring SAVE elements in the rear triangle to absorb bumps and ruts, super comfortable grips and saddles, clean lines and some internal cable routing, and rear rack and mudguards mounts. The Quick 6 comes with Shimano Altus gears, Cannondale C4 mini V-brakes and a steel fork; the Quick 5 upgrades the fork to aluminium; and the Quick 6 features Shimano Altus/Alivio gears, those Cannondale mini V-brakes again, but this time a carbon-bladed fork.

View the Cannondale Quick Hybrid Bikes.

 

bad boy

Bad Boy 2 – £1099.00 – 0% Finance Available from £30.07 Per Month

Bad Boy

The king of the urban bike rack, Cannondale’s Bad Boy is one of the few bicycles to have established itself as a modern icon. At the Bad Boy’s core is a SmartFormed Stealth Alloy lightweight aluminium frame with SAVE elements in the rear triangle to help tame rough backstreets, and an aggressive yet practical riding position for travelling at speed and in safety. Many models feature the Si Urban 3D forged, single piece OPI bar and stem combo with integrated light, and all models have Luxe leather grips and high-vis reflective paint. All come with mounting points for a rear rack and mudguards, too. There are three models in the standard Bad Boy urban range and a 29er version for riders wanting more adventurous, off-road ability.

View all Cannondale Badboy Hybrid Bikes

 

Quick Cx 2 hybrid – £745 – 0% Finance Available from £30.07 Per Month

Quick CX

If you’re not quite sure where your riding will take you, whether you’ll be cruising over asphalt or rumbling over trails, the Quick CX offers the kind of all-round multi-terrain, any-weather ability that few bikes can match. Based on a mountain bike-inspired frame, yet running on a road bike’s 700c wheels, the Quick CX really is the best of both worlds. The spec sheet has been optimised for everything, too, with disc bikes on all but the Quick CX 5 entry model, knobbly tyres fitted throughout the range, and a front suspension fork as standard. And with five bikes in the Quick CX catalogue, there is an option for everybody who wants to have their cake and eat it

View Cannondale Quick Cx Hybrid Bikes.

 

Hooligan 1 Urban Bike – £745 – 0% Finance Available from £17.59 Per Month

Hooligan £645 – £745

The Hooligan represents the idea that small wheeled-bikes don’t have to forego big ability. Created with only one thing in mind — to be the most efficient, effective, convenient bike for city life — the combination of Cannondale’s unique aluminium Delta V frame, 20in wheels and mono-blade Solo fork makes for a highly-responsive bike to be thrown around city streets with gusto, yet one which is still easy to carry upstairs and store in a hallway. Two models form the range and both come with Shimano mechanical disc brakes. However, the Hooligan 2 features a Shimano Sora rear derailleur, while the range-topping Hooligan 1 comes with an ultra-reliable, almost maintenance-free Shimano Nexus three-speed hub gear.

View Cannondale Hooligan Hybrid Bike

 

Cannondale Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cannondale Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Whether it’s a fantastic aluminium frame, or an equally incredible carbon-fibre creation, Cannondale’s hardtails are tough, quick and packed with off-road innovations.

View All Cannondale Hardtail Mountain Bikes

 

Trail 29er 1 Mountain Bike – £879 – 0% Finance Available From Only £27.36 oer month

Trail 27.5 / 29er £470 – £1,095

Cannondale’s entry-level hardtail mountain bike might start at a barely believably low price, but that’s no indication of its ability. The six-bike Trail series is one of the most exciting and compete ranges of bikes at this point in the market. Based on a superb aluminium frame that sees its tube shapes optimised for maximum strength, performance and weight-saving, Cannondale has also included its SAVE comfort technology in the form of manipulated seat and chainstays for excellent levels of comfort. And just to finish this highly-detailed spec, there are even different wheel sizes to perfectly complement the different size frames: so small bikes are teamed with 27.5in wheels, while bigger frames come with 29in hoop. The entry-level Trail 6 comes with Shimano Acera gears, Promax Decipher hydraulic disc brakes and a Suntour XCT 100mm suspension fork; while the top-level Trail 1 features Shimano Deore/XT Shadow gears, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a RockShox Recon Gold TK 100mm suspension fork

 

View the Cannondale Trail Mountain Bike Range

 

F29 Carbon 3 Mountain Bike – £2155.50 – 0% Finance Available From Only £59.88 Per Month

F29 £1,795 – £2,495

The name ‘F29’ is the sort of title you’d expect to see on a machine used for motor-racing or aerial combat, so it’s probably no surprise to find that Cannondale’s F29 range of hardtails are designed to be ridden quickly, without ever losing their razor-sharp handling. There are two F29 frame options available: the F29 5 comes with a lightweight, high-performance aluminium frame, while the F29 Carbon 3 and 4 enjoy a slightly more svelte composite frame. However, all F29 bikes comes with dedicated 29er geometry with super-short chainstays for power delivery; a lower bottom bracket height for stability; and a steeper head angle for optimised control and handling. All F29s also come with Cannondale’s innovative Lefty mono-blade suspension fork.

View the Cannondale F29 Mountain Bike

 

F-Si 29 Carbon 1 Mountain Bike – £4995.00 – 0% Finance Available From Only £112.03 Per Month

 

F-Si 29er £1,195 – £6,995

Cannondale’s approach to building the ultimate cross-country race machine, the F-Si is designed to excel in one area: absolute speed. Because of this, there’s some influence from road bikes, such as the F-Si’s asymmetrically offset rear triangle and drivetrain, with shortened chainstays and super-stiff rear wheel in a high-modulus carbon-fibre frame. Meanwhile, exceptional comfort is provided by the Speed SAVE micro-suspension elements — designed to absorb trail shock in the chain and seatstays — and the all-new SAVE 2 seatpost, not to mention the excellent 29in wheels. Finally, top-level handling is provided by Cannondale’s System 29 geometry, which supplies stability and quick and nimble steering. All bikes in the three-model range come with different versions of Cannondale’s Lefty fork, with the entry F-Si Carbon 2 built with SRAM X01 gears and Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes; and the range-topping F-Si Carbon Black Inc coming with Shimano XTR Di2 electronic gears and Shimano XTR Race hydraulic disc brakes.

View Cannondale F-Si 29 Carbon Mountain Bike

Blog Posts

The Pinnacle of Endurance Road Performance? 

19 March 2015

Giant defy 1SL road test

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.How I (and the bike!) fared…more
Read our blog

Cannondale Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cannondale Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Cannondale’s brilliant range of aluminium cross country and all mountain full-suspension machines let you take your mountain biking to the absolute limit.

View All Cannondale Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

 

Scalpel 29er £2,495 – £6,995

Cannondale’s respected Scalpel full-susser is as exciting today as it’s ever been, offering a supremely light build, with ultra-nimble, responsive handling, and an overriding stability that simply has to be ridden to be believed. With its 100mm of travel front and rear, this is the ultimate cross-country race bike. All of Cannondale’s most impressive off-road technologies are brought to the fore, including strong BB30 bottom brackets; fully integrated Lefty suspension forks; specific race geometry for 29in wheels; reversible head tube spacers to tailor handing perfectly; and Zero Pivot seatstays designed to flex for comfort but lose absolutely no power. The Scalpel 29 4 entry model is the sole aluminium frame in the line-up, while there are five carbon-fibre models.

View all Cannondale Scalpel 29 Mountain Bikes

 

Trigger 3 27.5″Mountain Bike

Trigger 27.5 £2,495 – £5,495

0By combining its adjustable travel and geometry — offering between 85mm and 140mm of rear suspension movement that can be altered while on the move — with its new and much improved Fox Dyad rear shock, the Trigger offers riders the perfect set-up for any terrain. The range-opening Trigger 3 and 4 models feature a SmartFormed aluminium frame which showcases all of Cannondale’s alloy expertise, while the three Trigger Carbon models are based around a full BallisTec carbon-fibre frame, where even the swingarm and links are made of composite material. The Trigger is truly a multi-talented bike, offering everything from race bike handling to all mountain stability.

View the Cannondale Trigger Mountain Bike

 

Jekyll AL4 FS Mountain Bike – £2,495.00 – 0% Finance Available From Only £61.27 Per Month

Jekyll 27.5 £2,495 – £5,495

When it comes to all mountain and enduro race machines, there is no more successful platform than Cannondale’s Jekyll frame and for 2015 even that’s been upgraded and improved. The all-new geometry has been created in conjunction with enduro world champion Jerome Clementz, and it’s resulted in an incredible bike that descends like a shuttle on re-entry, but also climbs like a rocket. The Jekyll 3 and 4 both come with SmartFormed aluminium frame, while the two flagship models — the Jekyll Carbon 3 and Carbon Team — enjoy a prestigious carbon frame. However, both sets of bikes are fitted with a Fox Dyad RT2 shock offering between 95mm and 160mm of remote adjustable rear travel, teamed with 160mm of fork suspension up front. Cannondale says the Jekyll is effectively two bikes in one — we think it’s simply one of the most versatile and adept mountain bikes ever made.

View Cannondale Jekyll Mountain Bike

 

Latest Posts

The Pinnacle of Endurance Road Performance? 

19 March 2015

Giant defy 1SL road test

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.How I (and the bike!) fared…more
Read our blog
Giant TCX Advanced 2 Preview

04 February 2015

Giant TCX 2015

After a summer of riding a Giant Defy Composite 2, it was time to choose a new bike. Given that winter was coming, and most of my riding would be the daily commute I settled on the most sensible choice, a Cyclocross bike. Lightweight, nimble and ideal for canal path riding and road use. The Giant TCX became the new test machine…more

Finance options are available on all Giant Road bikes , your dream bike could be yours with 3 years 0% finance available on all new Giant Road bikes from All Terrain Cycles.

Trek Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

From humble beginnings with five staff making steel touring frames back in 1976, to a multi-million dollar business working with the most cutting-edge bike technology, no firm better represents a truly 21st Century bike company than Trek. However, one thing that hasn’t changed during its journey is Trek’s home place, either literally or metaphorically: still based in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and still producing great-riding two-wheeled pedal machines.

Trek’s rise to global dominance has been an organic, gradual development, fueled by a passion for innovation and a dedication to making fantastic bikes. In truth, the seeds of that success were sown from the start: in 1979 — within three years of Trek’s founding — the company was already selling almost $2 million of bikes. True, that’s a fair way short of Trek’s present day $800 million revenue, but it all makes sense when you see the modern bike range. From top-class race machines both on and off road, to lower-cost models that offer incredible ride quality, Trek’s range is possible the most refined selection of bikes on the market.

See all Trek Road Bikes

Greatest moment

Trek’s commitment to the world of developing bicycle technologies has never been in question. In 1985, the company introduced its first bonded aluminium bike frame and then a year later it created its first three-tube carbon model. And carbon is something that would feature heavily in Trek’s future: in 1989 the company unveiled its first moulded, monocoque carbon-fibre frame; then in 1992 Trek created its first full-carbon frames made with Trek’s now legendary — and still in use today — OCLV technology. OCLV stands for ‘Optimum Compaction, Low Void’ and refers to Trek’s unique process for creating incredibly refined carbon structures.

But with something like a bicycle, technology and engineering is little more than novelty until the product is put to the test — and it’s only in the last 15 years where Trek has truly ruled the roost in the professional road scene. Whatever one thinks about Lance Armstrong, there is little doubt that his Trek Madone race bikes, and subsequently those used to win the Tour de France by Alberto Contador, represented the peak of road bike design. And the Madone has spawned other high-end models, such as the fatigue-beating Domane with its unique IsoSpeed decoupler, and the brand-new Emonda with its market-leading light weight and performance.

.

trek fuel ex8 27

Trek Fuel Ex8 Mountain Bike –

Fuel EX – £1,400 – £5,995

Trek says the Fuel EX is the world’s best-loved mountain bike, and there’s good reason for that: it may look like a big-hit full-suspension machine, but in performance terms it can be anything from long-travel trail bike to a nimble cross-country race machine. Available with either 27.5in wheels or as a 29er, and coming with Trek’s advanced suspension package, this is truly a specialist machine that actually specialises in almost everything.

View Trek Range Of Fuel Mountain Bikes.

 

2015 emonda slr10

Emonda SLR 10 Road Bike – 

Emonda £1200 – £9,000

The Emonda Trek has decided to steer clear of the modern fad for aero bikes and concentrate instead on light weight and ride performance. It’s been a very sensible decision, resulting in a bike that is simply superb. And with prices starting as low as £1,200 for the Emonda S4 featuring a full-carbon frame with Shimano Tiagra parts, you don’t have to be rich to enjoy cutting-edge quality.

View Trek Range Of Emonda Road Bikes.

 

trek 1

Trek 1.2 C Road Bike – 

1 Series – £570 – £650

Trek’s entry-level road bike series is a study in decades of aluminium frame development. In fact, never was there a better example of low cost belying incredible performance. With some aero detailing, light weights, and great specs, whether you’re new to road riding or an old hand looking for a quality bargain, you’d be a fool to look past this fantastic range.

View Trek Range Of 1 Series Road Bikes.

see all Trek Mountain Bikes

Cube Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cube is still a relatively young bike brand — it only began life in 1993 when boss Marcus Pürner began his cycling business in the corner of his dad’s furniture factory in Waldershof, Germany. But in little more than two decades Cube has risen to sit alongside Scott as Europe’s nearest challengers to international super-brands such as Giant, Trek and Specialized.

The Cube range is quite simply staggering in its breadth and quality, and that’s been reflected in the company’s international sales successes, with turnover of almost 200 million euros in 2011/12, and an export market of 34 countries. But more importantly, Cube’s history of innovation — from ultra-lightweight carbon road race bikes, to incredible full-suspension mountain bikes, to truly exceptional electric bikes — has won it huge amounts of respect across the cycling world.

In fact, with the twin influences of German engineering and European cycling culture, Cube simply makes world-class bikes.

 

Greatest moment

For a young brand, Cube has already had some very notable achievements. For example, its Agree range of road bikes were some of the first from a mainstream manufacturer to really get close to the £1,000 price point for a full carbon complete bike. At the other end of the road bike scale, Cube’s Litening road bikes are some of the most incredible drop bar bikes currently on sale and represent the zenith of composite bike technology.

But this year Cube is leading the way in quite another area of the bike trade. Cube’s electric bikes have already established themselves as some of the very best pedal-assist machines available, but for 2015 they will be taken one step higher with Cube being one of the first adopters of Bosch’s brand new Nyon technology.

Rather like how modern cars can feature touch-screen controls to work various comfort, navigation or entertainment functions, the Nyon system uses a handlebar-mounted 4.3in touch-screen to access a host data. Not only will the Nyon screen show how far it’s possible to travel on the remaining charge of your e-bike’s battery, but it’ll also reveal the quickest, most e-bike friendly way home with its inbuilt satellite navigation function. Or it will show cadence, heart rate or calorie expenditure with its inbuilt personal trainer app. Or it will even sync with a smartphone to present incoming message alerts. Clever stuff, huh?

 

Cube Peloton Road Bike – £629.00 – 0% Finance Available From £19.58 Per Month

Cube Peloton Road Bike  £629

Despite Cube’s distinguished history bringing affordable carbon bikes to the masses, nobody should ignore the brand’s aluminium packages. This entry-level option comes with a Shimano Claris groupset including triple chainset and a frame that What Cycle? magazine called “sub-£1,000 cycling perfection”.

View Cube’s Range Of Peloton Road Bikes.

 

Cube Access WLS Hybrid Pro 27.5/29 Electric Mountain Bike – £1795.00 – 0% Finance Available From £42.38 Per Month

Cube Access WLS Pro Electric Bike  £1,795.00

Nothing shows just how varied and fulsome Cube’s range has become than this — a women-specific hardtail electric mountain bike. With its high-class aluminium frame designed especially to accommodate the market-leading Bosch Drive Unit — as used on all Cube e-bikes — to see this being sold for significantly less than £2,000 is quite simply stunning.

View Cubes Range Of Electric Bikes.

 

Cannondale:

Cube Dehli Exc Touring Bike – from £2395

Cube Dehli Exc Trekking Bike

As a Continental brand, Cube knows exactly how to make a great trekking bike. These crosses between touring bikes and hybrids are hugely popular in Europe and it’s easy to see why: this model comes with a high-quality aluminium frame, dynamo lights, integrated rear rack, Suntour suspension fork, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and excellent 30-speed Shimano gearset. It’s the perfect utility bike.

View Cubes Range Of Dehli Touring Bikes

 

Links

Cube Road Bikes

Cube Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Cube Hybrids

Cube Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Cube Electric Bikes

Cube Kids Bikes

Cube Ladies Road Bikes

Cube Ladies MTB

 

Blog Posts

The Pinnacle of Endurance Road Performance? 

19 March 2015

Giant defy 1SL road test

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.How I (and the bike!) fared…more
Read our blog

Finance options are available on all Giant Road bikes , your dream bike could be yours with 3 years 0% finance available on all new Giant Road bikes from All Terrain Cycles.

All Terrain Ride in Peace Team update ……..

Posted on by allterraincycles

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 …..

Posted on by allterraincycles

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……………..

Orange Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

In 2013 Orange Bikes celebrated its 25th anniversary, which summons up two different feelings. Firstly, it’s incredible to think Orange has only been around that long when you consider what an established, hugely respected brand it has become, with a massive roll call of competitive honours — not to mention magazine ‘best-in-test’ awards — as long as your favourite trail. But, on the other hand, Orange still feels like that exciting, envelope-pushing young company that still has the ability to surprise.

Part of the reason for that sense of youthful, home-grown ambition is because Orange bikes are still based in Halifax, West Yorkshire. And while some of the brand’s entry-level and mid-range bikes are built in Taiwan, the firm still proudly builds its higher-end models right here in the UK. Which means that when they want to experiment with a new frame design or engineering concept, they don’t have to get someone in the Far East to knock up a sample; they have the skills and knowledge to produce it right here. And that’s why Orange has such an extraordinarily dynamic and complete product range.

Greatest moment

The early to mid-2000s were Orange’s the most successful years in terms of high-profile competitive success with the own-brand race team featuring British downhill legend Steve Peat. Peat was racing at his peak, too, taking the Mountain Bike Downhill World Championship with Orange in 2002 and then securing the overall Downhill World Cup series titles in 2002 and 2004. During their partnership he also won three British National Downhill titles.

But just to prove it’s not Peat’s incredible skills that made the difference, Orange also sponsored South African Greg Minnaar to the Downhill World Cup overall title in 2001, and helped Tracey Hannah secure the women’s under-21 Downhill World Championship in 2006.

View all Orange bikes 

Range Highlights:

 

Orange Clockwork 120S 27.5″

Clockwork – £999 – £1,299

The Clockwork range of hardtails has been around for 25 years but it’s never been more effective out on the trails. Whether you intend to go racing, or just want to enjoy the ride at your own pace, the Clockwork series offers perfect off-road partners. The Clockwork 100 is a superb modern mountain bike, combining an agile lightweight aluminium frame with 100mm suspension fork and smooth-rolling big 29in wheels to create mile-muching trail performance. Meanwhile, the Clockwork 120 uses a bigger fork but smaller 27.5in wheels to make for a truly dynamic, lively and reactive trail weapon.

View the Orange Clockwork Mountain Bikes.

 

Orange Alpine Rs 160 27.5″- £3,795.00 – 0% Finance Available from £89.60 Per Month.

 

Alpine 160 Pro, RS and Factory – £2,999- £4,899

Orange’s most effective big-hit all mountain machine, the Alpine 160 combines 160mm of full-suspension travel with 27.5in wheels to create a bike that offers incredible performance at speed with razor-sharp handling when things get tricky. The immensely strong aluminium frame features internal dropper routing and Orange’s proven low-maintenance, high-performance single pivot suspension. It’s all hand-built in Yorkshire and the RS model comes with a super-plush spec including a RockShox Monarch shock, RockShox Pike suspension fork, Shimano Zee/XT gears and Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes.

View Oranges Alpine 160 Full Suspension Mountain Bikes.

 

Orange Diva

 

Diva £999

Orange might be known for tough and sturdy machines, but they’re not designed to be ridden by muscle-bound heavyweights. The Diva is the easiest way for women riders to experience Orange’s legendary ride performance via its excellent lightweight aluminium frame, with a number of adaptations to suit female riders. It’s a great all-day machine, great singletrack weapon, even a great bike for when the speed hots up. And with some clever geometry considerations, women riders should really appreciate the stability and dynamism that’s been created especially with them in mind.

View the Orange Diva Mountain Bikes.

 

View The Full Orange Bikes Range

 

Cannondale bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Cannondale Bikes

Founded in back in 1971, Cannondale started with a relatively humble product range manufacturing backpacks, camping bags and bike trailers. However, in the early 1980s Cannondale was one of the main pioneers of aluminium bike frames. These strong and lightweight machines quickly gained a reputation for excellence, to the point where it’s no exaggeration to suggest they were even considered to be the Rolls Royce of bike frames by the late ’80s.

However, as happens with so many dynamic companies, Cannondale overreached in the 1990s by trying to go into motorsport. The results left the firm in financial difficulties and Cannondale was on the brink of bankruptcy. Since then, though, a takeover by global cycling giant Dorel Industries — which also owns Schwinn, Mongoose and GT Bicycles, among others — has seen the Cannondale brand flourish once more, and the firm is again producing some of the most sought-after, top-level road, mountain and hybrid bikes on the market.

Greatest moment

Aside from cycle sport — where Cannondale has enjoyed huge success in both international road racing and mountain biking — possibly the firm’s greatest moments have come with product innovation, especially those early aluminium frames. Although it was the company’s mountain bikes that initially caught the public’s attention, the first Cannondale aluminium frames actually appeared on road bikes. Employing the established engineering principle that if you double a tube’s diameter you increase the tube’s stiffness by four and a half times, those early models were notable by their massive down tubes and enlarged head tube. Combining those design elements with the other inherent benefits of aluminium made for bikes that were light but incredibly strong and high performing.

But while Cannondale became the first mainstream manufacturer of aluminium bike frames, the firm’s desire for innovation has never stopped. Cannondale has become a market-leader when it comes to carbon-frames as well; its ‘Lefty’, one-legged suspension fork is less a novelty and more a proven piece of unique engineering; and the BB30 super-strong bottom bracket design originally created by Cannondale is now an international standard.

View Cannondales Bikes Range

 

Range highlights:

Cannondale Caad 10 2016 – £1,495.00 – 0% Finance Available from £49.53Per Month

CAAD10

All of Cannondale’s road bikes are incredible products — the SuperSix high-end carbon road bike is almost unbelievably light but rides with all the refinement of anything on the market. However, the CAAD10 — ‘Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design’ — range of machines can trace their lineage all the way back to those very first aluminium frames. If you want a very reasonably priced high-end road machine, with a significant amount of unique cycling provenance behind it, the CAAD10 is impossible to match.

View the Cannondale Caad10 Road Bike

 

Cannondale F-SI 29 1 carbon – £3,995 – 0% Finance Available from £110.97 Per Month

FS-I Carbon

Proving that carbon isn’t just for the road, Cannondale designed the FS-I Carbon hardtail with the expressed intention of creating the fastest cross-country race bike in the world. And it’s not just lightweight. By using a using a range of Cannondale’s own inventions it also handles impeccably, while the Speed SAVE system of shock-reducing elements adds superb levels of comfort. There’s also that famous Lefty fork to take the sting out of the bumps up front. The FS-I Carbon is simply an incredible piece of off-road engineering.

View the Cannondale F-SI 29 Mountain Bikes

 

Cannondale Badboy 2 – £1,095 – 0% Finance Available from £30.42Per Month

Bad Boy

One of the most highly-prized city bikes, the Bad Boy looks for all the world like an off-road machine. Don’t be fooled — that obvious strength and capability is there to deal with anything the road, bike path or urban trail can throw at you, but this is very definitely an urban titan. Made with Cannondale’s sophisticated aluminium crafting techniques, the Bad Boy is light but comes with some unique Cannondale fork options as well as particularly speed-orientated, highly responsive geometry. It’s designed to let you be the true king of the urban jungle.

View the Range of Cannondale Bad Boy Bikes

 

Please Clink on one of The Links Below To View Cannondales Full range:

Cannondale Road Bikes

Cannondale Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Cannondale Hybrids

Cannondale Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Cannondale Ladies Road Bikes

Blog Posts

The Pinnacle of Endurance Road Performance? 

19 March 2015

Giant defy 1SL road test

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.How I (and the bike!) fared…more
Read our blog
Giant TCX Advanced 2 Preview

04 February 2015

Giant TCX 2015

After a summer of riding a Giant Defy Composite 2, it was time to choose a new bike. Given that winter was coming, and most of my riding would be the daily commute I settled on the most sensible choice, a Cyclocross bike. Lightweight, nimble and ideal for canal path riding and road use. The Giant TCX became the new test machine…more

 

Finance options are available on all Giant Road bikes , your dream bike could be yours with 3 years 0% finance available on all new Giant Road bikes from All Terrain Cycles.

Giant Bikes

Posted on by allterraincycles

Giant Bikes

Taiwan is the home of the modern bike industry, including some of the biggest bike firms on the planet. And none comes any bigger than Giant.

Giant began life in the early 1970s producing lightweight chromoly bikes for other brands. However, so high was its manufacturing quality and attention to detail that in 1981 Giant decided to strike out with its own self-named range of models.

Since then Giant’s success has been phenomenal, combining incredible cycle engineering innovations with astute market awareness. With annual global sales of 6.3 million bikes, Giant’s output incorporates everything from the very highest-end road race and mountain bikes, to the most popular hybrid and city cycles. In fact, whatever type of bike you want, Giant will make it — and it’ll probably make it better than most of the competition.

Giant by name, and a true cycle manufacturing giant by nature.

Greatest moment

Unquestionably Giant’s finest moment was introducing the first ‘Compact Road’ frame to the market. Until 1997, road bikes had always had level top tubes. However, Giant’s chief designer at the time, Mike Burrows — who had previously created Chris Boardman’s famous Lotus bike — hit upon the idea of making road bikes with a sloping to tube.

For Giant it was a sensible business decision. Unlike traditional road bike frames that have to be sized reasonably accurately to the rider, with compact frames Giant only had to produce three different frame sizes that could be fitted to around 90% of customers.

For Burrows and his engineering ideals, thought, a sloping top tube was perfect. The tighter rear triangle made power transfer more direct and the bike feel stiffer. The longer seatpost gave a little bit more vertical compliance — or comfort — than traditional frames. The combined effect of this longer seatpost and shorter seatstays made for a more aerodynamic design. And in total, the reduced amount of metal or carbon used to make a compact frame meant the finished product was lighter than a traditional bike frame.

The first Giant Compact Road frame made its debut appearance being ridden by the ONCE professional race team at the Tour de France, and since 1997 it’s been a constant sight in elite races. But perhaps a greater sign of its inherent genius is the fact that it’s also been copied by the entire road bike industry to the point where compact road frames now are the norm.

View The Giants Bikes Range

 

Range highlights:

Giant FlatRoad SLR

Giant FastRoad SLR roadbike

Giant FastRoad SLR road bike

A great cross between a sleek road bike and a flat bar position. Great fun to ride, understandably popular. With a lightweight ALUXX SLR aluminium frame set and a comfortable rider position designed for fitness riding, FastRoad SLR is ideal for road riding adventures, bike paths or commuting

See more about the Giant FastRoad bike 

 

Giant Avail 3 Compact Road bike

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see more on the Giant Avail 3 road bike

 

Giant Road Bikes

Giant Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Giant Hybrids

Giant Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Giant Electric Bikes

Giant Kids Bikes

Giant Ladies Road Bikes

Giant Ladies MTB

Blog Posts

The Pinnacle of Endurance Road Performance? 

19 March 2015

Giant defy 1SL road test

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.How I (and the bike!) fared…more
Read our blog
Giant TCX Advanced 2 Preview

04 February 2015

Giant TCX 2015

After a summer of riding a Giant Defy Composite 2, it was time to choose a new bike. Given that winter was coming, and most of my riding would be the daily commute I settled on the most sensible choice, a Cyclocross bike. Lightweight, nimble and ideal for canal path riding and road use. The Giant TCX became the new test machine…more

 

Finance options are available on all Giant Road bikes , your dream bike could be yours with 3 years 0% finance available on all new Giant Road bikes from All Terrain Cycles.