Rocky Mountain’s new Instinct Powerplay Carbon features 29in wheels, 140mm of suspension travel and the latest Dyname 3 motor that Rocky Mountain designed in collaboration with Propulsion Powercycle. The three carbon models join the existing alloy Instinct Powerplay.
Rocky Mountain says the Instinct Powerplay is “perfect for long, epic rides”, and that the carbon models increase “strength, stiffness, and impact resistance, all while decreasing the overall weight of the bike”.
Its new bigger, 672Wh battery means the bike will go further while still only taking a claimed 2 hours 10 minutes to charge from zero to 80 per cent.
The geometry of the bike remains the same as the Instinct Alloy, with a head angle of 66.5 degrees, a bottom bracket drop of 30mm and a rear-centre of 442mm in the bike’s neutral position (the Ride-9 geometry chip in the shock mount allows for nine geo and suspension rate options).
A size L has a 75.1-degree seat-tube angle, 1,213mm wheelbase and 617mm reach in the neutral position.
Three different types of carbon are used in the construction of the front triangle, with the rear-end made in alloy. Rocky Mountain says its Smoothwall Carbon is “[o]ne of the world’s most sophisticated carbon processes, the result is a product with an industry-leading stiffness-to-weight ratio, superior ride quality, and increased durability”.
A size M Instinct Powerplay Carbon 90 (top-end) model weighs a claimed 22.6kg.
New 2020 Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Carbon range overview
The Instinct Powerplay has 29in wheels, a 672Wh battery and the Dyname 3 drive system Rocky Mountain developed.Rocky Mountain
Three models — the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Carbon 90, 70 and 50 — are offered in two colourways and four sizes, with Rocky Mountain also offering a SRAM or Shimano drivetrain option on the 70 and 50 models.
Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Carbon 90
Frame: Smoothwall Carbon front triangle; FORM alloy rear triangle
Premium Swiss shoe brand Suplest’s 2020 shoe range is topped by a black and gold Fabian Cancellara limited-edition of its new Edge+ road shoe.
The colour scheme has been developed along with Cancellara, who is an ambassador for the brand, with the gold theme referencing his two Olympic gold medals and numerous Classics wins. With just 250 pairs on offer, a set of the kicks will cost you £335 / €379 / $420.
Team sponsorships meant that Cancellara was never able to wear Suplest’s shoes during his pro career. But now that he’s retired, he’s keen to promote the brand, which is local to his base in Bern, and he was on hand for the global launch of the 2020 range at Sigma Sport.
“It’s not money-related,” he says, “I’m proud to represent a Swiss brand and to showcase it to the world. And they’re not just marketing-driven, but have their feet on the ground.”
The Cancellara shoe is based on Suplest’s new Edge+ Pro road shoe, which uses an asymmetric design with two Boa IP-1 dial closures. The heat-welded upper is made of Japanese microfibre that’s reinforced with a separate carbon fibre layer under the closures to help prevent stretch and distribute pressure over the top of the foot.
As you’d expect, the new sole unit is carbon fibre, but with a foam core to keep weight down. Suplest says this sole is 11 per cent stiffer and 5 per cent lighter than its predecessor.
The Solestar insole is structured for foot stability and to help prevent pressure points. Sizing is from 39 to 47 with half sizes from 42.5 to 44.5.
The shoe is also available in three other colour options: anthracite/red, white/black or black/silver, with availability expected from early 2020, although you can pre-order from Sigma Sport.
The cheaper road shoe options in the new 2020 Suplest range are the Edge+ Performance and Edge+ Sport.
At £220, the Edge+ Performance comes with a carbon/fibreglass composite outsole and a single Boa IP-1 dial closure. The Edge+ Sport uses a nylon composite sole unit along with a single Boa IP-6 dial and is priced at £150.
Not only road shoes
Suplest’s range extends to mountain bike shoes too. Based on the same last and a single Boa upper design, the Edge+ Performance Crosscountry shoes (£220) take a two-bolt cleat and wrap the carbon composite sole unit with rubber grips. There are mounting points for studs if you need more grip.
Finally, there’s a new flat sole design for flat pedal users and downhill riders.
Suplest 2020 Edge+ Cancellara road shoe
Brand ambassador, Fabian Cancellara, has collaborated with the brand to produce a line of limited-edition shoes.
Size range: 39-47 (half sizes 42.5-44.5)
Color: Black-gold
Upper: Japanese Microfiber
Closure: 2x Boa IP-1
Insole: Solestar insole
Outsole: Ergo360° Carbonsole with SL foam and SUPtraction rubber studs
It was an amazing adventure and, with Rotor recently releasing the mountain bike version of the groupset, the pair were given the opportunity to bag another epic route. However, this time, it was to be a true off-road mountain bike adventure.
Once again, the chosen route was up to Jack and Joe, but this is where things started to get a little tricky — the previous video was filmed at the height of summer, whereas this one was to be filmed during a particularly wet period of weather in autumn.
The pair had lots of routes in mind across the UK, but the weather just wasn’t playing ball, with blanket rain forecast during the filming week.
Good friend of BikeRadar and videographer for the shoot, Tom Wragg, came to the rescue, however, suggesting a lesser-known route in the Peak District called The Lord of the Loops.
This brutal 105km route starts and finishes in Fairholmes in the Peak District and packs in over 4,000m of climbing.
Safe to say, it would be a big challenge for both of our full-time excuse-makers.
We recently caught up with Niner at Eurobike 2019, where it walked us through a few of the models in its 2020 gravel bike range – which includes what is possibly the world’s first full suspension gravel bike.
Nicknamed the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, the MCR 9 RDO is, as you might expect, a pretty wild looking bike all things considered. It looks a lot like a mountain bike, in fact. But Niner told us it has gravel-specific geometry, so it’s not simply a MTB with drop bars.
Niner also talked us through its 2020 RLT 9 series gravel bikes. There are three models – one carbon, one steel and one aluminium – so there’s something for all tastes it would seem.
Check out the video above for all the juicy details.
This month MBUK embraces the dark evenings to bring you a 15-strong lights group test. With outputs ranging from 1,600 lumens to a massive 6,500, you’ll discover what will keep you gleaming and what’s a little dull.
The team also hit up Bike Park Wales at night to see how wild one of the UK’s best riding spots can be once the sun’s gone down.
That’s not all, the mag also brings you a lesson in bike geometry, so you can learn how frame angles and tube lengths effect just how a bike handles, and there’s adventures and characters galore from riding in Iraq and the ultra-endurance Silk Road race.
Plus, there are all the usual pages and columns, as well as an environmental message from Rachel Atherton, how to warm-up like Tahnée Seagrave, and shredding in Gwydir Forest and Cheddar.
Charge of the lights brigade
Get the low down from the lights-out ride at Bike Park Wales, where MBUK see if riding one of the UK’s most fun venue’s gets even more exciting after hours.
What’s more fun than riding a bike park at night with your mates? Not much.
Geometry lessons
Seb Stott, the mag’s resident tech guru, gives us a run-down of how bike geometry works, what all the angles and lengths mean and their effects on bike handling, as well as advice on how to make sure your next bike fits you perfectly.
Bike geometry is constantly evolving. Find out all the ins and outs and how to find your perfect fitting bike.
Trail lights grouptest
Whether you’re getting set for your first night ride or another season of sundown adventures, having a high-power light is essential to help you ride fast and safe. MBUK tests 15 front lights across a range of budgets and lumens to help you pick the best for you.
Having a powerful trail light is essential for night riding.
A world apart
Mountain biking in Iraq might not be first on your list as a destination, but the Kurdish region is full of wild backcountry and formidable peaks, and a world away from the stereotype we’ve become accustomed.
There’s more to Iraq than you might imagine.
Mile-munching trail bikes
What happens when you blend cross-country speed with trail bike security? This month’s bike test finds out as MBUK puts four short-travel trail bikes from Scott, Cannondale, Intense and Specialized to the test.
Just how capable, and fun, are short travel trail bikes?
Gwydir Forest
This trail at the gateway to Snowdonia is a classic. Formally the Marin Trail, and also known as Betws-y-Coed, it’s been a Welsh cycling hotspot for 15+ years, and it’s easy to see why. It features action-packed trails over its 25km with tons of variability. Find all the details you need for a great day out in the mag.
Gywdir Forest is one on the oldest and best trail centres in the UK.
Free gift
This month’s cover gift is an MBUK beanie. A great after riding essential to keep off the winter chill and your helmet hair covered up.
Strava has announced a new partnership withMapbox – an open-source mapping platform that provides features such as maps, location search and navigation to app developers – to enhance its static map.
While Strava previously used a more standard map, which often emphasised car-oriented features such as highway numbers, the new map is optimised to highlight more information that’s relevant to cyclists and runners.
Strava says that the enhanced map will show more trail names, elevation contours and will also include improved rendering of GPS tracks, thanks to a new smoothing algorithm.
Strava’s enhanced static map now shows features such as trail names and elevation contours.Strava
The addition of elevation contours might seem like a minor addition at first glance, but it should vastly improve route planning because you’re now able to more easily seek out (or avoid) the hills and mountains. Frankly, it’s a feature that seems so useful we’re wondering how it’s taken this long to arrive.
And while the trail names might not be useful for the majority of road cyclists, they’ll definitely come in handy for gravel riders andmountain bikers.
For any cyclists who have been living under a rock, you can download Strava for iOS and Android now.
We caught up withPirelli atEurobike 2019 and, as you might expect, there’s a lot going on in its gravel and mountain bike departments for 2020. In this video, Pirelli’s stand rep, Sam, talks us through some of the highlights from the new ranges.
2020 brings new sizes to Pirelli’s Scorpion MTB tyre range,which initially launched earlier this year and is designed for more aggressive riding on rough terrain, and features a new patent-pending side-wall reinforcement technology.
This new technology sees the whole sidewall protected, so puncture protection should be greatly increased. Pirelli says it will also allow riders to run lower pressures for better handling and comfort. We’re certainly looking forward to testing it out ourselves.
Pirelli’s new gravel offering is called theCinturato range, and it borrows heavily from its MTB tyre technology. There are a number of different tyre treads, sizes and widths, all designed for various terrain and applications, and there’s also a tan wall option for the fashionistas.
In the December issue of Cycling Plus the team put five bikes priced between £400 and £800 to the test to see if you really need to spend serious money to get a serious bike. The answer appears to be no…
Elsewhere 10 of the best sets of lights to keep you riding through the dark months ahead get tested, and there are new bikes from Orbea, Ritchey, Brompton, Van Rysel and more. There are also reviews of kit from Giant, Mavic, Shimano and many more brands.
Lights to keep you riding this winter.
The team head to the Science & Cycling conference in Belgium to discover the cutting-edge techniques the pros are using that could make you faster too, and provide some winter motivation by asking cyclists from Olympians to its readers how they overcame their nerves and began racing. Why not join them on the start line in 2020?
Trickle down from the pros.
They also ride some of the world’s lowest roads, and discover that even below sea level you still have hills to climb. Plus, take a look back at the 2019 cycling season and the UCI World Championships in Yorkshire in the season review supplement.
Get the lowdown on below sea level rides.
To subscribe head to the Cycling Plussubs site now.
Italian clothing brand Alé has announced details of its 2020 kit range, with the focus on recycled fabrics, gravel-specific clothing and designs that incorporate wonder-material graphene.
For 2020, Alé is making an ‘eco’ line of kit, with jerseys and bib shorts made largely using recycled materials.
On the gravel side, the brand is offering kit with features aimed at practicality, with a bib-jersey combination with up to ten pockets for carrying all manner of odds and ends.
Alé is now making garments that incorporate graphene too, which apparently offers anti-static, antibacterial and thermal regulating properties. The kit also makes use of textured fabrics for improved aerodynamics.
Watch our video for all the details on Alé’s new kit from brand rep Claudia.
Black Friday 2019 might not be until the 29 November, butRutland Cycling has already kicked things off with a range of amazing deals on cheap bikes, parts and accessories.
There’s a whole range of deals on its website right now, but if you don’t fancy wading through the morass here are our top picks.
The Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 is one of our favourite race bikes.Rutland Cycling
One of ourfavourite all-round race bikes, and weapon of choice of our in-house hitterJoe Norledge, the Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 comes fully kitted out and ready to race. If you’ve been inspired by ourHill Climb Diaries series, this could be the perfect bike for taking on the climbs next season.
Not only do you get fullDura-Ace Di2 9150, with Shimano’sR9100-P integrated power meter, but you also get Giant’s top of the range 42mm SLR-0 tubeless-ready carbon wheels and carbon finishing kit. It’s also got a very beautiful paint job.
Yes, it’s still very expensive, but this is a true superbike, and at 33 per cent off there’s never been a better time to get your hands on one.
Continental Grand Prix 5000 Tubeless tyre 25mm – £69.95 £43.95
Continental’s GP5000 TL tyre is one of our favourite tubeless tyres.Rutland Cycling
It feels likeroad tubeless has come of age in 2019, and part of that is the fact that Continental has finally jumped on board, with the recently released Grand Prix 5000 tubeless tyre.
When we reviewed a28mm version of this tyre a few months ago, the only criticism we could really level at it was that it’s quite expensive. Our tester loved them so much in fact that he said they “could be the new tubeless benchmark”.
Now, though, you can get the 25mm version at a very healthy 37 per cent off from Rutland Cycles, making them a much more palatable proposition for everyone.
Scott RC Women’s Road Shoe White / Gloss Silver, Size 38 – £299.99 £32.99
With an ‘Extreme’ stiffness rating, the Scott RC Women’s Road Shoe is a full-on race shoe for female riders.Rutland Cycling
There are only size 38 shoes remaining, but Rutland Cycling is offering a humongous 89 per cent off the Scott RC Women’s Road shoes, in white/silver.
Wereviewed the men’s version a few years ago and found them to be an excellent set of road racing shoes.
Designed for the requirements of elite female racers, the Scott RC Women Road shoes have a HMX carbon sole, with a stiffness rating of 10 (for ‘Extreme Stiffness’).
They also have a women’s specific design, with adjustable arch support and dual Boa closure dials that allow for on-the-go adjustability and a highly tunable fit.
If, sadly, you don’t have size 38 feet, Rutland has more great offers across its range ofScott clothing.
Lazer Blade+ Road Helmet Matte Black – £69.99 £49.99
The Lazer Blade+ borrows a lot of features from the pro-level Z1, but comes at a bargain price.Rutland Cycling
The Lazer Blade+ is based onLazer’s top-end Z1, but comes at a fraction of the price.
Now available with almost a third off at Rutland Cycling, you can get your hands on a helmet that scored4.5 out of 5 stars in our testing.
It features 22 vents, with good internal channelling, so it easily keeps you cool. It uses the same ARS (Advanced Roll System) adjuster as the Z1, and at just 230g in a size small, it’s also very lightweight for a helmet at this price point.
There’s also an optional shell cover available separately to increase aerodynamic efficiency or, more usefully, keep your head dry on wet days.
And if black’s not your favourite colour, Rutland Cycling has offers on other colours available too.
The Cycleops Basic Mag Kit has everything you need to get started with indoor training.Rutland Cycling
The winter is very much closing in here in the Northern Hemisphere, so it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going tomaintain all that hard-earned fitness.
Smart trainers might be all the rage right now, but standard ‘dumb’ turbo trainers still work just as well as before – they’re also vastly cheaper.
If, for example, you’ve already got apower meter on your bike, you can still connect toZwift or do power-based workouts with a turbo trainer such as the Cycleops Mag turbo trainer. You won’t be able to replicate the virtual terrain, but it’s a great way to get into Zwift on the cheap.
Furthermore, if you’ve never owned an indoor trainer before, this kit could be the perfect introduction because it has everything you need to get started; the trainer, a trainer mat, a riser block and a sweat towel.
Picking the best bike to suit your needs can be a tricky task. Whether you want to commute, get fit or just explore the countryside, the bicycle is the perfect tool to do that. But there are a confusingly huge — and growing — number of different types of bike to choose from.
So, if you are asking yourself “which type of bike should I buy?”, then read on, as we guide you through the styles of bike on offer today to help you find the best one for your needs.
To get us started, here’s a list of our specific buying advice for a number of common types of bike:
If none of that made sense to you, read on for more in-depth advice.
It’s important to have a think about what you want to do with your bike and where you’ll be going because the best bike for you totally depends on this. Your choice of bike will depend on your own tastes too, and the kind of distance and terrain you want to ride. There are many different types of cycling and a multitude of bikes that will let you achieve them.
Whether you’re an urban commuter, a lightning-quick road racer, a trail centre hero, downhiller, fixed-wheel fanatic, gravel path explorer or something else, there’s a suitable bike out there for you.
Road bikes: best for riding fast on tarmac
Road bikes are best for riding on smooth, asphalted roads.Robert Smith / Immediate Media
As the name suggests, road bikes are all about riding on surfaced roads, often as fast as possible. They’ve got lightweight frames and skinny tyres designed to help you achieve maximum speed for minimum effort.
They have dropped handlebars (i.e. ones that loop down and backwards) that allow you to get into an efficient and aerodynamic riding position and have gearing that’s all about maximum speed.
Under the guise of slightly more relaxed ‘endurance’ bikes, they’ll let you embark on big-mile rides with friends, but also lend themselves very well to commuting thanks to their ability to cover ground quickly.
However, the speed-focussed riding position can be uncomfortable for some riders and the lightweight wheels and tyres are susceptible to damage from kerbs and potholes.
Many dedicated road bikes, especially ones at the racier end of the spectrum, will also lack the ability to carry luggage — so, if you need to lug a hefty load, a pure-bred road bike might not be ideal.
Pros: Quick, efficient and fun
Cons: Easier to damage, less comfortable for casual riders
Mountain bikes are best for riding off road.Phil Hall
Made to take on the most rugged off-road terrain that nature can offer, mountain bikes are built tough with aggressive knobbly tyres designed to find grip on almost any surface.
They also have powerful brakes that use motorcycle-style discs, and more expensive machines will have suspension at both ends for better control over rough ground. The gearing is designed to get you up and down steep terrain, with a wide range to take on the varying gradients.
Even if you don’t plan to tackle mountain ranges, mountain bikes can be a good choice for general leisure riding thanks to their more relaxed riding position.
While suspension is great for pure off-road riding, it means extra weight, costs more and can be inefficient, so it’s best avoided if you plan to spend most of your time on-road.
If you fancy heading into the back of beyond, pushing your limits and exploring the path less travelled, then check out our buyer’s guide to the best mountain bikes.
Pros: Great brakes, upright position, tough, versatile
Hybrid bike: best for casual riders and short commutes
Hybrid bikes are a very popular choice for bike commuters, thanks to their versatility.Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media
Best thought of as the halfway point between a road bike and a mountain bike, a hybrid takes the comfy riding position of a mountain bike and pairs it with a lighter frame and fast-rolling wheels like those seen on a road bike.
They’re great if you need to cover on-road distance but don’t want to contort yourself into an uncomfortable riding position. Sitting in a more upright position may be less aerodynamically efficient but it also allows you to look further ahead, which is a huge boon in heavy urban traffic.
If you want to go quickly on good roads but you prefer a more upright position or don’t get on with drop handlebars, this is the way to go. The only major downside, as mentioned above, with a flat-bar bike is that you’re not as aerodynamic as you are on a race bike and therefore you’re not quite as quick.
Hybrid bikes often use more powerful disc brakes that give more consistent performance in wet weather, though at a slight weight penalty. They’re also equipped with plenty of mounts that allow you to carry more luggage, such as specialist pannier bags.
If you need to bridge the gap between urban performance and confident handling, then our guide to the best hybrid bikes will give you all the information you need to know.
Pros: Fairly quick, versatile, upright
Cons: Typically heavier than road bikes, and not as fast
Touring bike: best for carrying luggage and travelling far
Touring bikes are built for the road less travelled, and also make excellent commuters for rough city roads.Russell Burton
While a hybrid bike is best suited to the city, a touring bike is designed to take on everything from a commute to a continent-crossing adventure.
They tend to have the same fast-rolling 700c wheels as road and hybrid bikes, but with fatter tyres that allow you to take on a mixture of terrain in comfort. ‘Hardcore’ touring bikes designed for super-heavy loads will sometimes opt for 26in wheels because spares availability is often better when in far-flung regions.
The more relaxed riding position and more stable geometry of a touring bike mean that you can take on almost anything, whether it be a mountain pass when fully loaded with supplies or a quick spin to work.
If you need a highly versatile all-rounder then you should take a look at our guide to the best touring bikes, whether you’re going to familiar places or off the beaten track.
Pros: Tough, lots of load-carrying capacity, still fairly quick
Cyclocross / gravel / adventure / all-road / bikepacking bikes: best if you’re in a hurry on bad roads
Gravel bikes are increasingly popular, and with good reason.Cannondale
Overlapping with the touring category, gravel bikes — also known as adventure bikes, all-road bikes or bikepacking bikes — are becoming very popular and fashionable, and it’s easy to see why.
Gravel bikes combine road bike looks and speed with loads of frame clearance for fitting fat, knobbly tyres of 35mm-wide or more that can get you across almost any terrain, including terrible tarmac, gloopy mud, bridleways, gravel paths and more.
You can find adventure bikes made from steel, aluminium, carbon and titanium, and at a range of prices from the affordable to the aspirational. Many will include eyelets for fitting mudguards and pannier racks, disc brakes (hydraulic if you’re lucky) for better braking, and more relaxed geometry than a road bike to deliver better handling on a range of surfaces.
They’re also a great bet for road riding in winter, just fit some puncture-resistant tyres and you’re good to go.
Adventure bikes that take luggage (typically frame bags, saddle bags and bar bags) are used for bikepacking, which is essentially touring, but with better fashion sense and hashtags.
Full-on cyclocross bikes are similar in concept (fatter tyres, drop bars, discs in many cases), but they may not have fittings for mudguards or panniers and the geometry is typically more aggressive because they’re designed purely for racing.
Pros: Fast, comfortable, practical
Cons: Sometimes on the heavier side, attractive to thieves
Fixed gear / singlespeed bike: best if you want a simple bike
Fixed gear bikes, or ‘fixies’, are a great low-maintenance option.Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Popular in the city, and the only option if you’re riding on a velodrome, the fixie (or ‘fixed wheel’, if you’re being traditional) is the ultimate in simplicity.
A true fixie has no freewheel, so you always have to pedal if you’re moving. That brings a particular degree of connection and control once you get used to it, but fixies aren’t the most beginner-friendly.
They’re lightning-fast in the hands of an accomplished rider and the lack of complexity means they require minimal maintenance. They’re great for confident commuters that don’t mind suffering if they live in a hilly location and want total control at all times, but it’s a high level of commitment for the casual cyclist.
Once you’ve got the hang of riding a fixie, they’re among the best bikes for commuting. This is what makes them popular with cycle couriers, who also like their reliability — a legal-minimum fixie with just a front brake has almost nothing on it to go wrong.
Pros: Light, simple, quick
Cons: Some skill required, hard when it’s hilly
City bike: best for hassle-free riding
Traditional Dutch-style city bikes in their natural habitat.Kaveh Kazemi / Contributor Getty Images
A Dutch-style city or town bike (or a ‘sit-up-and-beg’) does a sterling job of providing short-range transportation in flat towns. What’s appealing about this style of bike is its simplicity, practicality and robustness.
There’s very little to go wrong if you’ve just got one gear, and hub gear versions with up to 11 gears are still pretty tough.
Typical town bikes have chainguards and flat pedals, so you can hop aboard in your regular clothes. Self powered dynamo lighting and a lock are often built in, so you won’t need many extras.
They shrug off potholed streets, while an upright riding position gives you a commanding view of traffic. The main downside is that they tend to be quite heavy, and while the riding position is comfortable, it’s not particularly efficient and you won’t want to take on any big hills.
Pros: Great looks, relaxed riding position, practical, ideal for wearing normal clothes, normally very durable
Electric bike: best if you want a hand up the hills
The Gtech is a top pick for an electric bike under £1,000.Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media
With assistance from a powerful motor, electric bikes or e-bikes are great if you’re a commuter who needs to arrive at work in a less sweaty state, or if you’re less confident about your fitness.
Laws vary from country to country and, in the US, can vary from state to state. However, in the UK (apart from Northern Ireland) electric bikes limited to 25km/h / 15.5mph can be used on the road without a helmet or licence — they are bikes as far as the law is concerned because you still need to pedal to activate the electric assistance (hence the term ‘pedelec’).
More powerful e-bikes (some with motorcycle-style throttles) are also available, but in some countries, including the UK, these are classed as mopeds or motorbikes and therefore need to conform to the same rules (insurance, helmets and so forth).
Most e-bikes are designed to be comfortable and easy to live with thanks to flat bars, mudguards and luggage capacity. There’s a significant price and weight premium over an equivalent regular bike for the battery, motor and control electronics. However, as the technology develops, both prices and weights are coming down.
Electric mountain bikes can be a total hoot in the hills.Russell Burton
Folding bikes: best if you’re short on space / best for public transport
Folding bikes are a strong choice for those short on space, at home or work.Matthew Lloyd
If you need to combine a bit of riding with urban portability, then there’s nothing better than a folding bike. They’re best suited to short rides – especially where storage space at either end is scarce – and their portability means they’re ideal when you might have to hop onto a train or a bus to get where you’re going.
That means that folding bikes are phenomenally popular among big-city commuters. The most compact ones will fit under your desk and they’re easy to carry as well.
A folder won’t ride like a conventional bike because of the necessary compromises, but the best modern folders are surprisingly capable.
Pros: Massively convenient to store, can be taken onto public transport, small wheels are quick to accelerate
Cons: Heavier and slower than a big-wheeled bike and not as stable or pothole-proof
Kids’ bikes come in all shapes and sizes to suit all ages and abilities.Black Mountain
The first thing to keep in mind is that children’s needs vary wildly depending on their age and ability. Balance bikes are where it’s at for the pre-school crowd, then by the time they progress to 16-inch wheels, they’ll (hopefully) be pedalling away without stabilisers before very long.
Move up a notch to 20-inch wheels and gears start to make an appearance, then by the time they’re nine and riding 24-inch wheels they’ll basically be riding smaller versions of adult bikes – disc brakes, suspension and all.
Backcountry.com also owns Competitive Cyclist in the US and AlpineTrek in Europe.
According to Adventure Journal,which has been reporting on this story, as well as the Colorado Sun, Backcountry.com has filed suits against dozens of small businesses, including a Colorado based organisation calledBackcountry Babes, which aims to provide women with “opportunities to explore and learn more about outdoor recreation”.
Adventure Journal also reports that Backcountry.com is suing at least one brand over the use of a mountain goat as its logo.
As you might suspect, this move hasn’t gone down well on social media, with American writerJoe Linsey voicing his reservations and garnering attention from many others in the industry.
Furthermore, a @boycottbcdotcom twitter account has already sprung up, although at the time of writing it has only 18 followers.
Roubaix-gate was a PR disaster for Specialized that, following a similar reaction to this incident, was eventually solved amicably.
Given the prevalence of the word ‘backcountry’ in the outdoors and cycling industry and the number of brands (heck, even stores) using the phrase out there, we can’t help but hope this will come to a similar conclusion. Then again, given the sheer volume of suits that have been filed by Backcountry there’s every chance this one may take a little longer to resolve.
Will this affect your decision to shop at Backcountry? Can you think of any other memorable PR disasters in the cycling industry? Be sure to share your favourite memories in the comments.
Road cycling is an ever-changing mix of tech and trends, so who knows what we’re going to be riding and how we’re going to be riding it in the coming years.
Still, that doesn’t stop tech ed Tom and senior writer Matthew from hypothesising about the what, where and how in the latest BikeRadar Podcast.
Having heard what we’ve got to say, we’d love to know what you think, so let us know in the comments!
How to listen to the BikeRadarPodcast
If you want to download the BikeRadar Podcast to your iPhone, you can find it on iTunes. Alternatively, it can be streamed via Spotify and all the other usual podcast services.
Don’t forget our mountain bike series, Tech Talk, which can easily be found through the above links. In these, Tom Marvin and Seb Stott have a detailed look at a particular aspect of mountain bike design or technology each episode.
Coming soon we’ll have a Road Tech Talk series, as well as our BikeRadar Meets series – lookout for those. If you don’t want to miss them, just subscribe via your podcast provider.
It’s with heavy hearts that we report this sad news.
Michael Bonney, the former managing director of Orange Bikes, suffered serious injuries after an accident during a sportive six-and-a-half years ago and has lived with almost total paralysis ever since. Michael has been unable to move from the neck down and has relied on a ventilator to breathe.
Michael has been entrenched in the bike industry for decades, working for Orange for many of those years, proving instrumental in shaping the brand and helping to make it the success it is today.
Later in his career, despite his disability, Michael worked as a consultant for Ison Distribution, where he helped to steer a number of high profile projects.
He will always be remembered for his straight-talking approach, passion, sense of humour, tenacity, but more than anything, his eagerness to help people.
Michael lived an incredible life and was truly in love with cycling. He will forever be remembered by the bike industry and we are thankful for everything he did for those of us within it.
Our thoughts are with his family during this sad time.
Michael’s Facebook post is below, in full.
And so it ends.
I’ve always been open about my disability and life and feel that the last chapter requires that same openness.
After 6 1/2 years I’ve let my body decide whether it can sustain life, I’ve switched the vent off and as my breathing slows will be sedated and won’t have any medical treatment to help stay alive. According to my doctors my lungs will slowly stop moving and sats will drop. Given my stubborn body there is the possibility it’ll keep breathing, it hasn’t done anything that I have wanted since the accident.🙂
The decision to switch off the vent wasn’t that difficult to make, the surprising part is I got this far but that is down to the support I’ve had from so many people and me not wanting to let them down. The list is too long to thank everyone individually although I will thank a few further down this post but I hope that everyone who has helped realises that their support was appreciated. It got me through some difficult times, gave me opportunities to try and find some form of satisfaction inside a broken body and made me understand the value of friends. In many ways I’ve been lucky to travel this journey, I’ve learnt about myself and the kindness of others, can’t say it is the way I would of chosen but I will leave this world a lot wiser because of it.
You’ll probably be asking why? That is a hard one to answer as it isn’t one thing. Living with no movement is hard, living with no physical sensation a lot, lot harder. I miss the feeling of touch more than anything and find knowing that I will never have it again very difficult. As I get older I look to the future and question what it will be like living in old age like this, it holds little appeal. I’m tired of being dependant on others, hate what I go through every day, spend most of the day with eyes shut trying to pretend that I am somewhere else. The total loss of independence isn’t me. The side effects of constantly being cold, never ending hypersensitivity on my chest, spasms that twist and distort me all limiting what I can do. Constant pressure sores, months spent in bed unable to do anything with Linzi. Watching a relationship fall apart stuck in bed. Throw in the pissing and shitting problems along with lungs needing a plastic pipe shoved into them to remove the build up of secretions and I do find it difficult to find quality in life. And that is ultimately what life is about, being able to do things, keep a relationship together doing things together, being able to socialise not leave at 9pm so your care team can get you to bed. No spontaneity, everything planned with military precision, it just isn’t me.
For the last 6 1/2 years I’ve lied and deceived, as much to myself as all of you, pretending that I could find pleasure in a difficult existence. There are times that I did but they are rare and not worth the price paid. I’ve tried to do things, managed to prove that a severely disabled person can work in the bike industry and I am proud of that but also know that I can’t do it like I once did which is a source of immense frustration. I’m grateful for the work opportunity with Ison, without it I’m not sure how I would of coped, it provided a release from the sleepless nights spent in the darkest parts of my mind. That mental game is the most difficult I’ve played and eventually wore me down but at the same time I’ve found comfort in knowing that I tried and that I am making the right decision based upon life experience and not a fear of life with an SCI.
Yet again we are short of support workers, Linzi is having to cover too many hours and I live with the constant fear of my care package falling apart and being forced to exist in a care home or hospital. I can’t describe what that is like but anyone who visited me in the hell hole Hawthorns will understand. The relationship with the care companies has always been challenging, you can’t complain for fear they withdraw support and are only required to give one months notice when it takes 3 months to get a new care company in place. We struggle to recruit and that isn’t going to get any easier. The stress that a lack of support brings is one of the factors in my decision. It’s put a huge strain on my relationship with Linzi as she has to get involved and look after me when we are short of support workers. It can’t continue like this and I can’t expect Linzi to endure it indefinitely.
I’m lucky to have enjoyed life to the full up until my accident, the bucket list was very short and this made the decision easier. I’m old enough to not think I’ll be missing anything, if I was younger or had kids and responsibilities it might be different. I’m aware that isn’t the case for many of my friends in similar positions and hope that they can find happiness where I can’t.
So why now? My first words when brought out of sedation were “turn the life support off”, with no advance directive they wouldn’t do that, I tried again after 3 months but was deemed not to have mental capacity. After that I thought that the only option was assisted suicide in Switzerland but couldn’t put Linzi through that. A bit of research last year and I found that I could refuse medical treatment which included switching off the vent and after a lot of talking to doctors I was determined to have capacity. There is a line between assisted suicide and refusing medical treatment which keeps you alive and a lot of legal checking carried out prior to it being OK’ed. Didn’t know when I would do it but decided probably one more summer would be enough. Over the past few months my health has deteriorated, increased spasms, pressure sores (multiple), more medication, greater fluctuation in body temperature and more making life even more painful and uncomfortable. As summer rolls into autumn and now almost winter it is time to end the suffering, I don’t want to endure another cold winter for little pleasure. One of the hardest things was not telling close friend’s, I made the decision in July and have had opportunities, apologies to anyone that I met and couldn’t say anything, I didn’t like being deceitful.
I have to thank the Palliative care team and district nurse team that have supported me through this process, every step checked out and kept informed and always making me aware that I could change my mind even after I switch the vent off. Legally I am refusing a medical treatment and the care that I receive subsequently is sedation for the discomfort and pain. The trust’s legal team and coroner have been consulted and we have followed their guidelines. I don’t think anything more could of been done to keep me informed and capable of making my own decisions. Support from the teams that tried to alleviate the health problems right up until the last minute, caring for me just in case I would change my mind, everything possible done to try and get me in a better place but ultimately respecting my wishes and preparing to make sure that I am comfortable in my last hours.
I don’t think anyone can ever understand the reality of my life and I am lucky, lucky to have friends, lucky to have employment, lucky to have had the financial support of the Ride for Michael trust, lucky to have a wife who has endured so much. Sadly it isn’t enough, I’ve lost too much and know that I can’t have it back. The only certainty in life is death and I now accept that going early is the best option, enduring years more of this holds no appeal and I am fortunate to have a way out, paralysed lungs does have a benefit.
The realisation of the impact on my body became clear when I asked about donating my organs and nothing is usable, 6 1/2 years and that is how much I’ve deteriorated, little wonder that the side effects are getting worse. It is not going to improve, something that I have known for a while.
I’m aware of the stereo typical disability means life isn’t worth living and sadly that is where I am, others can and will cope better than me, I’m just not strong enough to keep going so please don’t pity anyone with a disability, they have an inner strength and are getting on with life in difficult situations. They need the world to change and your support to do that not your pity. I’ll be honest and say that for me it is a miserable existence, in no way comparable to my previous life but I had such a good life it was never going to be. Looking back I had a fantastic time, dream job, travel, amazing partner, all the toys that I wanted and a diverse group of friends, few are so lucky in life.
And finally a few thank you’s, apologies to anyone that I miss out, Lester, Lloyd, John C, Antony, Piers, Geoff McComb, John, Mike and everyone involved with Ride for Michael. Pat and the team at Ison, all of my support workers and the medical teams that have supported me especially in this final journey where the same care that kept me alive goes into looking after me as that life ends. Friends in Penrith who have helped out, friends who fund raised to help me buy equipment, Jack at Remap who modified that equipment, Stuart at Cyclone, my mum, sister and family who knew that I had made the decision and understood why and didn’t apply any pressure to me to change it and finally Linzi I couldn’t have made it this far without you, I didn’t just destroy my life I took yours as well and it is time to give it back.
I’ve decided to be buried rather than cremated and hope that anyone who attends my funeral celebrates my life, come in the clothes I would usually see you. No mourning, I’m making a decision that is the best for me and Linzi and have no regrets.
No flowers please, donations to Hospice at Home charity and Eden Animal Rescue. The balance of the Trust fund is being donated to Remap charity.
Despite everything I still love cycling and hope that the Ride 4 Michael aim of keeping people riding bikes continues in spirit. It doesn’t need me to do that it just needs you to keep riding.
And so ends my Facebook posting, thanks for reading if you got this far, thanks for your friendship.
Black Friday 2019 is still some weeks away but Wiggle has already opened the taps on some early delectable deals. We’ve rounded up the best deals so far here, but be sure to check out Wiggle’s own Black Friday deal page for the full range of items on offer.
The Edge 520 Plus improves battery life and adds a few extra features over the 520.Bike Radar / Immediate Media
The 520 Plus was released a while back but is still a highly capable unit, packing in more features than most of us will ever use in a compact touchscreen GPS.
Castelli Gabba 3 RS short sleeve jersey — £150 £75
The Gabba is a go-to option for many riders during inclement climes.Wiggle
The Castelli Gabba is the jacket that, arguably, started the jerket craze, pairing lightweight breathable materials with a comfortable racy fit that can be worn all day.
You can now have this versatility with a healthy 50 per cent off at Wiggle. And just in time for winter!
The Tacx Neo 2T is one of the best options if you want a smart trainer with a natural ride feel and don’t plan to be spending that much time outdoors over the winter.
Power measurement is dependable and consistent, so you’ll be able to keep up with your training and stats. With the discount featured here, the cost also (almost) becomes a lot more palatable.
VAAST made headlines earlier this year when it launched its line of Allite “super magnesium” frames.
Magnesium is a material not commonly used in bicycle manufacturing. However, according to VAAST, the Allite — otherwise known as AE81 — magnesium alloy it uses to construct its frames is 33 per cent lighter than aluminium, 56 per cent stronger than A1 titanium and 17 per cent stronger than steel.
The magnesium frames also have exceptionally high corrosion resistance, which is matched with a ceramic coating on the inside of the tubes.
VAAST is kicking its well-rounded lineup off with two gravel bikes, two mountain bikes, two urban bikes and two kids’ bikes for 2020.
We caught up with marketing manager for the brand, Joey Burke, at Eurobike 2019 where she talked us through each of these new models and the brand.
We’ve also had our latest BikeRadar Podcast go live, where we discuss the future of road cycling. Don’t forget to subscribe…
But that’s not why you’re here, you want to see NEW STUFF! So, here we go… First Look Friday is go.
Madison Turbo men’s short sleeve jersey
This really is an indoor specific jerseyTom Marvin / Immediate Media
As you’ll have heard in the above podcast, the future is indoor cycling, and if you’re bolting your bike into one of the many turbo trainers out there you’ll need the appropriate attire. God forbid your e-cycling friends catch you riding in anything else!
Super-thin material should mean minimum warmth.Tom Marvin / Immediate Media
Madison’s kit isn’t necessarily quite as daft as it seems, especially if you’re current kit is UK centric and designed for cycling in temperate climes.
The extra thin, super-breathable material should help you cope with sweatier, somewhat less windy indoor conditions, so you aren’t dripping quite as much sweat over your cream deep-pile carpets.
The material’s fibres have an anti-bacterial treatment, reducing the anti-socialness of your chosen form of cycling, and there’s no print on the material, meaning it can be washed at 60 degrees to kill any remaining pong-producing bacteria.
Going nowhere fast.Tom Marvin / Immediate Media
Final details include a full-length zip to let the smallest hint of house-bound moving air grace your chest, while there’s an elasticated hem to keep the jersey in place. There are no pockets here, but we suspect you could just put your spare tube on the table next to you.
Home screen of the Garmin Vivoactive 4s.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
The Vivoactive 4s is Garmin’s latest smartwatch with plenty of GPS (and thus cycling) functionality for those who don’t want the expense or potential complexity (though massive functionality) of the latest range of Fenix 6 watches.
The ‘s’ stands for small (we think), and there’s an identically functioning Vivoactive 4 for those with chunkier wrists.
The stock cycling tracking screen, which is customisable.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
There are a number of upgrades over the Vivoactive 3, most noticeably the inclusion of an extra button on the side, to make navigating the watch’s functions that little bit easier.
The watch, as you’d imagine, has an optical heart rate monitor, connects to all the usual GPS satellites and has a swift-functioning colour touchscreen.
The ride tracking capabilities mean easy documentation of your ride, as well as a plethora of detail, via Garmin Connect and Strava. In addition to cycling, the watch can track a range of other sports and can even show you how to do pilates and yoga via mini animations on the screen. Incredible.
Mini animations tell you how to do pilates!Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Smart features include music controls, Garmin Pay, health tracking and plenty of notifications, so you won’t constantly be searching for your phone every time it buzzes.
Plenty of health tracking data on the Vivoactive.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Oh, and it’ll tell you the time too. Look out for a review soon.
This bulky stem has hidden tricks.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
A rather unique product landed in our hands this week, a smart stem!
Though bulky in nature, the stem packs in a multitude of functionalities. At the front is a small screen, which, when paired with your phone, its app and HR strap, can show various data.
The stem extends past the bar clamp to a front headlight, and this is where things get really interesting.
Speednite include a screen on the stem to show you ride data.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Attached to your helmet should be a small sensor. This sensor (along with a supplementary remote control) can automatically move the beam of the headlight side to side, up and down, depending on where the sensor thinks you’re looking or if you use the remote to tell it.
Furthermore, the sensor can also activate laser beam indicators, also mounted on the stem and in the associated rear light, to let drivers know where you’re planning to go, simply by rotating your head in that direction.
The front light points where you’re looking.Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Safety is further enhanced by a couple of extra features. Should you brake heavily – and the sensitivity can be adjusted – the rear light will flash its indicator lights to act as a brake light.
In a crash, or if you press the appropriate button on your controller, the tail and indicator lights will all flash as a hazard warning light.
Shimano has filed a patent that strongly suggests that it is finally developing a gearbox for both road and mountain bikes.
Within the patent are details of exactly how the gearbox could work alongside details of a low-friction coating for chainrings and chains that has the potential to enormously reduce the drag of a gearbox – one of the key downsides of gearboxes we’ve ridden so far.
If this patent becomes reality and is adopted by mainstream brands — which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility, given Shimano’s influence in the OEM market — it could represent a potentially huge change to bicycle design.
It would also make a small but vocal group of diehard gearbox fans very, very happy indeed.
Pinion is the leader in the gearbox market.Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media
Before we take a deep dive into this patent it’s worth covering what a bicycle gearbox is, what their claimed benefits are and what might be their drawbacks.
In its most simple arrangement, a gearbox for a bicycle houses all shifting components within a fully-sealed box that is mounted to the frame.
Exactly how this works varies from manufacturer-to-manufacturer, but Pinion — the undoubted leader in the bicycle gearbox market — uses a system of movable, interlocking spur gears to provide six, nine, 12 or 18 gears in a wider range than a typical derailleur drivetrain.
Effigear produces a similar system with a few subtle differences.
As a typical gearbox is fully sealed, it is impervious to the elements, hugely extending the time between services. As there are no delicate components dangling from a bike frame, they are also potentially less damage-prone than a typical derailleur drivetrain.
Most gearboxes also allow you to shift without pedalling, which can be useful in certain circumstances.
On mountain bikes, moving unsprung weight onto the frame can also significantly improve suspension performance.
The big drawback of a gearbox is increased drag and weight.
Most systems also come with a considerable weight penalty (usually in the range of 100 to 700g compared to a comparable derailleur drivetrain).
Why is it significant that Shimano is getting involved with gearbox technology ?
Shimano has developed its derailleur drivetrains to the point of near-perfection, so why would it bother with a gearbox?Matthew Allen / Immediate Media
Regardless of the potential disadvantages of a gearbox, there is a small but incredibly vocal minority of riders calling out for more investment in the technology.
Pinion and others have worked hard to meet that demand but, as a relatively small brand, it will never have the R&D budget or OEM clout of larger manufacturers.
This is why the potential of Shimano developing a gearbox could be such enormous news. Shimano is by far the biggest bicycle drivetrain manufacturer out there and it has huge development resources at its disposal.
Shimano would also never bother investing in developing such a system if it didn’t believe it could have significant advantages over a derailleur drivetrain.
Shimano has definitely developed some weird stuff, seemingly just because it could in the past (see Airlines), but I also doubt it would bother developing a gearbox if brands weren’t calling for one.
With this in mind, as you will soon see, I think it’s safe to assume Shimano is pretty far down the line with developing its gearbox concept, which, as far as I am aware, is the first of its kind from the brand.
(Before anyone bothers commenting, the pseudo-gearbox based on an Alfine hub that was used on the Zerode G1 doesn’t count).
A foreword
Before we dig our way through this typically opaque patent, I should point out that a huge portion of it is dedicated to describing the lubricant and coating used on the moving components of the proposed gearbox.
While definitely interesting – and I think, reading between the lines, this funky coating and lubricant would be critical to the potential success of this system – I won’t pretend for a moment that I’m an expert on such matters.
The physical makeup of the proposed gearbox is far more interesting to the less chemical-engineering-minded among us and presents a far more compelling concept than a potentially slippery – though no doubt impressive – lubricant and coating.
As such, I will spend more time describing the gearbox here. If you want to read about lubes, fill your boots (with slippery lubricant) and get patent US 2019/0011037 A1 downloaded.
Patents are written in a purposefully vague manner and unpicking them is a nightmare.Shimano
On a similar note, as with all patents, the language used to describe the gearbox is purposefully vague to the point of being obfuscatory.
Patents aim to cover all potential physical outcomes of a design. This is done to ensure another manufacturer can’t copy a concept with a slight variation on a proposed design.
On the other hand, some designers flood patent offices with vague concepts in a practice known as ‘patent trolling’, but that seems unlikely to be happening here and is a topic for another time.
Keeping the language used in mind, working out how a system could work is the real challenge with a patent.
A little bit of imagination, and heavy use of a highlighter, goes a long way when unpicking a patent and this is my interpretation of how this gearbox could work and look. I am happy to be corrected in the comments on any area I may have got things wrong.
How could Shimano’s gearbox work?
The proposed gearbox would mount around the bottom bracket area, following a similar form factor as a Steps motor. Shimano
The gearbox is designed to be a removable component. Shimano
The overall shape of the gearbox is made clear in figure 6.Shimano
The key portion of the patent describes a gearbox that would mount to the bike around the bottom bracket area.
We are, obviously, just looking at patent drawings here, but the proposed design is similar in form factor to a Shimano Steps e-bike motor. Indeed, looking closely, it seems possible that the lower half of the gearbox could fit into the same mounting pattern as a Steps motor.
The patent also suggests that the gearbox would be a “separate member”, or, in other words, a component that could be removed for servicing or replacement.
A crankset would drive an internal chainring that would, in turn, drive the first of two internal ‘cassettes’.Shimano
The gearbox is driven by a typical crankset that initially moves a chainring located within the gearbox. This, in turn, drives the first “transmission member” – a vague term used throughout the patent to describe a cassette of sorts – via a chain.
The cassettes illustrated are very typical looking 7-speed ones, with Hyperglide-like ramps and shaping.
A secondary chain then connects to the second “transmission member” located towards the top of the gearbox.
It is proposed that the first of the two cassettes could move horizontally to maintain a straight chainline, reducing drag.Shimano
The proposed method for shifting across these two cassettes is very interesting.
The patent suggests that the first cassette would be configured to be moved by “a positioning mechanism such as a ball screw”.
In other words, the cassette would have the ability to move horizontally along the spindle it is mounted to. The second cassette would remain stationary.
A chain guide that “could take a form similar to a bicycle rear derailleur” would guide the chain between these two cassettes, while also allowing for any change in chain length when shifting between gear combinations.
The ability to move the first cassette along this horizontal axis means that the drivetrain could maintain a perfectly straight chainline at all times.
Compared to a typical derailleur drivetrain, which in most circumstances will have an imperfect chainline, this arrangement has the potential to reduce drag and wear, which would in turn increase efficiency.
For context, any fixed-gear rider will (all too gladly/smugly) delight in extolling the virtues of a perfectly straight chainline — the feeling of efficiency on such a bike is remarkable, and getting back onto a typically geared bike after riding fixed can feel like pedalling through treacle.
Honda used a conventional derailleur to shift between gears on the cassette, while the single chainring was able to slide along its drive shaft to maintain a straight chainline.
In Shimano’s patent, the first cassette also moves laterally to maintain the chainline, but the size of the sprocket on both the first and second cassettes changes between gears. Presumably, this allows for a broader gearing range while keeping the system compact, as well as allowing for a smaller chain-tensioner as the combined size of the two sprockets used is similar across the gearing range.
The use of a chain and ability of the first cassette to move along that horizontal axis is one of the key differentiators between the proposed gearbox and competitors on the market.
As mentioned, gearboxes typically rely on interlocking spur gears that, while reliable, can be both very draggy and heavy.
This proposed system has the potential to be very efficient — perhaps even more efficient than a derailleur drivetrain — and, compared to the competition, relatively light.
The patent is curiously specific in its suggestion that the gearbox would be 13-speed.Shimano
The patent goes on to suggest the gearbox would have “thirteen gear ratios”.
The above table suggests that six of the seven sprockets on the first cassette could each be used with two different sprockets on the second cassette, creating a total of 13 distinct gear ratios. The available ratios go from 0.46 to 2.16, creating a gearing range of 470 per cent. That’s slightly less than the maximum range offered by Shimano’s (510 per cent) and SRAM’s (500 per cent) 12-speed mountain bike drivetrains.
The “transmission route” (i.e. the pattern in which the gears would shift) would be “stored in memory”. The movement of the cassette positioning system and the “guiding mechanism” would be controlled by a transmission controller.
As an aside, I think the fact that the patent explicitly states the gearbox would be 13-speed is a hint as to how seriously Shimano is taking this patent. If they’ve gone as far as working out the limits/optimum gearing of the gearbox, it could well be a near-finished design. Though, I may be completely wrong.
The patent suggests the shifting mechanism itself — which, as a reminder, would involve moving that cassette across the spindle on a ball screw — would be “electrically actuated”.
A similar form of technology may already exist in Shimano’s Alfine Di2 hubs.Shimano
In other words, a small motor would push or pull the cassette along this axis. A similar form of technology already exists in Shimano’s Alfine Di2 hubs.
Weirdly, the patent suggests this mechanism could be actuated by a mechanical gear cable, but also opens up the possibility of it being electronically or wirelessly controlled. I think either of the latter two is far more likely.
Shifting the gearbox would be done, as with a typical drivetrain, at the handlebars. This could take the form of a typical flat bar shifter or could be “integrated into the front brake operating device”, suggesting that a road-style shifter could also be developed.
Hidden away in a tiny little sentence is a fairly revolutionary suggestion, with Shimano hinting that as well as indexed gears it would be possible to design the gearbox to have a “continuously variable speed stage if needed/desired”.
Otherwise known as a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, this provides stepless gears that can be infinitely adjusted to suit the terrain and speed.
Nuvinci already produces a CVT hub based on a similar concept. Exactly how this kind of technology could be ported into a gearbox isn’t described in the patent.
Will this gearbox be just for mountain bikes?
Figure one illustrates a mountain bike fitted with the groupset, but the patent explicitly states that it could work with any type of bicycle.Shimano
No. The patent explicitly states that “while the bicycle illustrated is a mountain bike, the bicycle internal transmission device [gearbox] can be applied to road bikes or any type of bicycle”.
A full-suspension bike would presumably require a chain/belt tensioner to allow for the increase in chain length when the suspension compresses. This isn’t necessary for hardtail applications.
What about weight?
As well as drag, weight is where a typical gearbox falls down for the weenies among us, and you can expect to add something in the range of 200 to 700g with a gearbox compared to an equivalent derailleur drivetrain.
Unfortunately, this patent makes no reference to the weight of the system. It also doesn’t make any reference to any potential weight savings the system could present compared to a typical gearbox.
However, making my own assumptions, as the gearbox is more like an enclosed derailleur drivetrain than a system based on interlocking spur gears, I can imagine that weight could possibly be significantly reduced — a cassette will likely be lighter than a chunky spur gear but, again, that is speculation.
What about the chain and this coating?
Central to the success of this concept is a special-sauce lubricant, a new-fangled coating for the moving components and a special way of making the most of that lubricant.
I wish that I knew what all this means.Shimano
As I mentioned, passing judgement on what is proposed with this lubricant and, more importantly, how it compares to existing options, is beyond the scope of this article and my knowledge. If someone would like to explain how a lubricant containing a “fatty acid containing a carboxyl group” and “further preferably” a form of “linoleic acid” compares to your typical lube, be my guest.
The last point on how the chain could be designed is worth dissecting though.
The patent suggests the chain could feature holes and textured surfaces that would hold lubricant through surface tension.Shimano
Sections 0100 through 0103 of the patent essentially describe a conventional bicycle chain. However, section 0104 through 0106 describes how small holes or textured surfaces formed into the pins and plates of the chain could be used to hold a small amount of lubricant.
In a typical derailleur drivetrain, where the chain would be exposed, these textured surfaces and holes would accomplish nothing but accumulating dirt. However, in a fully-enclosed gearbox, it would mean the chain could remain constantly lubed with fresh lubricant, reducing drag.
On that note, the patent suggests that the gearbox would be “configured to store lubricant in [an] internal space” that would constantly lubricate both of the chains, the first chainring and both cassettes.
The ability to keep everything lubed with this special sauce, alongside the ability to run a perfect chainline, could be key to reducing drag, which, as mentioned, is the major drawback of extant gearboxes.
The patent goes on to suggest that the lubricant and coatings could also be used in gear and brake cables.Shimano
The patent goes on to describe in section 0110 through 0120 how the same lubricant could also be used on a “bowden cable” (i.e. a brake or gear cable) to reduce drag, provided the cables could be sealed.
The rest of the patent goes on to describe how the same technology could be used to reduce drag in a conventional internal gear hub.
It is outside the scope of this article to go into depth here but, if such things interest you, I recommend you read through the patent for all of the juicy details.
To me, the concept of a frame-mounted gearbox developed by Shimano is also a far more compelling idea than a marginally more efficient hub gear.
What does Shimano say?
We have contacted Shimano for a comment about the patent and are waiting on a response. However, if our previous experience is anything to go by, we expect to hear ‘no comment’.
Will Shimano actually ever make a gearbox?
The concept of a gearbox has captured the attention of cyclists the world over for years now.
An artist’s impression of a small but vocal crowd that want a gearbox solution for bikes.Getty / Shimano
Nearly every time we post a story about a new drivetrain there’s a small but significant number of voices calling out for a lightweight, low drag and reliable internal gearbox.
As mentioned, the potential benefits of such a gearbox are clear: reducing unsprung mass, keeping delicate components out of harm’s way and sealing moving parts from the elements are all deeply appealing propositions.
However, what is necessarily good for (some) cyclists is, to a point, almost irrelevant in this case because derailleur drivetrains have been developed to the point of near-perfection for the past zillion years. For the largest drivetrain components manufacturer in the world to make a U-turn on that would be incredibly significant.
Likewise, nearly every bike out there is designed and built with a derailleur drivetrain in mind.
Derailleur drivetrains are the de-facto standard in cycling. It’s hard to imagine there ever being a huge shift away from them, but it’s not impossible.David Rome / Immediate Media
While Shimano obviously has enormous power to sway bicycle design, it’s hard to imagine that such a significant shift would happen, at least not quickly.
On the other hand, there’s every chance that there are heated meetings happening in the hallowed halls of The Big Bike Industry that could signal a sea change in bicycle design.
What would drive this change is worth considering.
The cynics among you could very well point to my analogy about derailleur drivetrains being near-perfect and point to gearboxes as ‘another excuse just to sell us something new’.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling generous, consider the development of a super-efficient and lightweight gearbox from a road performance point of view. If this gearbox could be shown to be more efficient than a derailleur drivetrain, the go-fast road weenies will go wild for the idea.
Brands such as CeramicSpeed, with its Driven concept drivetrain, are beginning to take the aerodynamic impact of a drivetrain much more seriously.CeramicSpeed
Let’s also not forget that with a large chainring, front and rear shifters, and a cassette out of the way, this setup also has the potential to be more aero than a derailleur drivetrain. Scoff all you want, but this stuff matters to some people!
To conclude, daft as it may sound, I also think that how I found this patent suggests Shimano is seriously considering taking this idea further.
I make a habit of periodically checking on the patents filed by a number of big brands (watch out, The Big Bike Industry, I’m your worst nightmare) and I stumbled on this one almost by accident. The title of the patent hardly suggested something thrilling and a gearbox from Shimano for goodness sakes was the last thing I expect to uncover.
An artist’s impression of me handling the deluge of patents I stumble on every month.Jack Luke / Immediate Media
If I were to put my sleuthing hat on, one could assume Shimano is being coy in not using the word gearbox anywhere (not once!) in the patent.
Is this an attempt to stop news getting out about an upcoming enormous announcement or something much more innocent? I like to pretend that I’m a real patent sleuthster and that it’s the former.
With all of that said, one assistant editor’s enthusiasm for a concept isn’t going to change the course of bicycle design — it’s you, the people, who will decide.
What do you think? Are we going to see a truly mammoth change to how bikes are built in the future? — and, to be clear, I think Shimano producing such a component would be incredibly significant. Are you crying out for gearbox development? Or are you quite happy with your derailleur drivetrain, thank you very much? As always, let us know in the comments.
To mark Zdenek Stybar’s return to CX racing, Specialized has created a custom version of its Crux CX bike for him.Specialized
The S-Works frameset is made from Specialized’s top of the range Fact 11R carbon fibre.Specialized
Stybar is a 3x CX World Champion.Specialized
The S-Works Crux is Specialized’s top-end CX race bike.Specialized
A chrome Specialized logo adorns the underside of the top tube, which is shaped for easy shouldering.Specialized
The paint job is inspired by “frozen pine needles on the ground” of Stybar’s home training grounds in the Czech Republic.Specialized
Even the prettiest CX bikes sadly don’t stay clean for very long.Specialized
Stybar testing out his custom S-Works Crux bike.Specialized
As a 3x CX world champion, Stybar’s skills on the mud are impeccable.
Speaking about the new bike, Stybar said “I think it’s the nicest bike I ever had”.Specialized
Gravel bikes might be all the rage right now, but Specialized would like to remind us that CX bikes are still relevant.Specialized
Gravel racing might be all the rage right now, but three time world cyclocross (CX) champion Zdenek Stybar, has just announced he will once again use a winter of CX racing to prepare himself for the 2020 road season.
Based on the ‘frozen ground’ of Stybar’s training grounds in the Czech Republic, the custom paint job was designed by Tom Briggs, a senior graphic designer at Specialized.
The paint job is inspired by “frozen pine needles on the ground” of Stybar’s home training grounds in the Czech Republic.Specialized
The blue and black colours tie in with the colours of his Deceuninck–Quick-Step team, but also evoke the feeling of the cold, winter climate in Stybar’s home country.
Speaking about the details of the paint job, Briggs said: “The area of the Czech Republic where Stybar is from is forested by mountain pine trees called Borovice Blatka in Czech. I looked at what happens to the ground as the ice, snow and pine needles all interact… We used a crackle effect in the paint that I thought was an accurate representation of the frozen pine needles on the ground.”
I think it’s the nicest bike I ever had
The bike is built up with a Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 groupset, in a double chainring set-up – either because Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 doesn’t officially support single ring setups (unlikeShimano’s new GRX groupsets) or Stybar just prefers it that way.
The wheels are fromRoval, Specialized’s in-house wheel brand, and are wrapped with33mm Dugast tubulars stamped with Stybar’s name; likely indicating they’ve been made especially for him. PRO provides the finishing kit.
Speaking about the new bike, Stybar said: “I think it’s the nicest bike I ever had”.Specialized
Stybar is due to race the new bike at the IKO cyclocross in Essen, Belgium on 7 December, before racing at Zondhoven, Sint-Niklaas, Zolder, Bredene, Loenhout, Diegem and Baal.
Saying that “it will be difficult to move to the front after starting from the last row,” Stybar nevertheless has “the same goals as last year: ride my Specialized bike and have fun out there, chat with the fans and train for next season, because cyclocross is a really great way of building up for what I hope it will be another nice year with the Wolfpack.”
Innovative brand Fazua walked BikeRadar through its unique mid-mounted drive system for electric bikes at Eurobike 2019.
With a claimed weight of just 4.6kg for the motor and battery combined, the Fazua is especially light. It’s also unique in that the system is able to disengage its motor via a freewheel, meaning it provides no mechanical resistance above the European legal speed limit for e-bikes of 25km/h.
This is made possible by positioning the motor in the down tube rather than the usual bottom bracket placement.
Should you want to rely on old-fashioned pedal power, a special hollow down-tube cover component can be installed that makes it possible to ride without the battery. The space within this component can even be used as storage.
Fazua’s new remote integrates within a bike’s frame and features just one button and five LEDs to present information on the battery and power modes. It’s significantly cleaner than Fazua remotes of old and can now integrate with certain lights.
