Superbikes, the sort that the best riders use to win the Tour de France, might well cost five figures. There are, however, less onerous versions of these bikes that, while also costing a pretty penny, still get you a formidable machine for your money. Two such bikes – the Specialized Aethos Comp and Colnago V3 Rival AXS – are the subject of this issue’s bike test.
In our second bike test, we assess the merits of 1x and 2x chainsets for gravel bikes with two options from Whyte, while elsewhere we have first rides of the Giant Revolt Advanced 1, 3T Exploro Racemax Boost and Vitus Zenium CRS Ultegra Di2. We also bring you a sub-£100 helmet grouptest and buyer’s guide.
In Features, we discover the habits of winning cyclists, editor Matt throws himself into British cycling’s most notorious sportive, the Fred Whitton Challenge, and uncover 15 ways why you should join a bike club today. In Big Ride, Rob Ainsley fulfils a 2020 wish to ride from Geneva to Florence… well, sort of. This is the less exotic Geneva in West Wales to Florence near Stoke-on-Trent.
In Training Zone, we take a look at the next generation of bike helmets, learn how to make your own energy bars, preview the 2022 Haute Route sportive series, and find out how Dan Marshall’s weight tumbled in the pandemic. Our new Masterclass series continues too with a look at the world of cyclocross.
Once you’ve digested all of that, we’ve got a 28-page special, The Science of Cycling, packed with cutting edge innovation, training ideas and nutrition to get your 2022 season off to a flyer.
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