Virtual training, smart training, indoor training. Whichever way you describe it, there can be no denying it has completely changed the way a huge percentage of cyclists maintain, retain and improve fitness. 

From entry-level riders, to keen amateurs and even top-level professionals, smart training through online platforms has arguably been the biggest game-changer in cycling over the past decade or so. 

Options abound in the virtual training space, with a variety of different platforms to suit differing personal tastes and riders of all persuasions.

We’ve recently been spending time on one such platform, and that’s ROUVY. Hugely popular in the northern hemisphere and probably not as well known here in the antipodes, there’s a fascinating real-life backstory to this augmented reality training platform.

Created by two Czech brothers who were mad-keen summertime cyclists, Petr and Jiri Samek trained indoors during Prague’s bitterly cold winters back in the early 2000s. 

“Everybody knows winter cycling is boring,” says Petr. 

“We thought about how to make things more interesting, how to motivate ourselves to ride everyday indoors to be ready for outdoor riding and races.” Yes, this was back in 2003! 

Jump forward to 2009 and the brothers were working on a central online cycling hub that housed virtual tours and training diaries. From there the platform went from strength to strength, and by 2017 had evolved to be what we now know as Rouvy — an interactive training platform that combines real life video of some of the world’s best-known cycling routes, with the use of Augmented Reality, immersive technology that places your own personal avatar on those dream roads.

With cooler days and less morning and afternoon light in the lead up to winter, we’ve recently been riding ROUVY to A: get a feel for the platform, B: re-ride some dreamy overseas locations, and C: research the top reasons we’d ride ROUVY.

Structured Training Plans: ROUVY offers a variety of structured training plans designed to improve your cycling performance. These plans typically include a progressive series of workouts targeting different aspects of overall fitness such as endurance, strength, speed, and power. Following a well-designed training plan can help you build a solid foundation, increase your aerobic capacity, and develop specific cycling skills. 

Power-Based Training: ROUVY is compatible with power meters and smart trainers, allowing you to train based on power output. Power-based training is highly effective in optimising performance because it provides accurate and objective data on your effort level. By consistently training at specific power zones, you can improve your muscular endurance, increase your lactate threshold, and enhance overall power output. 

Interval Training: ROUVY enables you to perform structured interval training sessions. Intervals involve alternating periods of high-intensity effort with recovery periods. These workouts are an effective way to improve your anaerobic capacity, increase your VO2 max, and enhance your ability to sustain high-intensity efforts. The virtual routes and resistance adjustments on smart trainers can simulate the terrain and intensity variations needed for effective interval training. 

Hill Climbing and Simulating Terrain: ROUVY offers a variety of virtual routes, including those with challenging climbs and descents. Climbing is an excellent way to build leg strength and improve your ability to sustain efforts at high gradients.

By tackling virtual hills on ROUVY, you can simulate the feel of real-world climbs and train your muscles and cardiovascular system to handle the actual challenges.

We are loving the graphic interface and riding epic old haunts such as Alpe d’Huez and the Stelvio … it’s so realistic and brings back fantastic (if painful) memories.

Time Trial and Race Simulation: ROUVY allows you to participate in virtual time trials and races. These events can help you improve your race-specific skills, including pacing, positioning, and tactical decision-making.

By competing against other riders in a virtual environment you can push your limits, experience race-like scenarios, and gain valuable experience in handling competitive pressure.  

Monitoring: ROUVY provides detailed performance data and analytics, allowing you to track your progress over time. You can monitor your training load, track improvements in power output or speed, and analyse your performance metrics.

This feedback helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and make informed adjustments to your training plan.

Accessibility: These platforms enable individuals to participate in various training programs and workouts regardless of their geographical location. Users can access a wide range of virtual routes and training plans, making it convenient for people living in areas with limited outdoor training options or specific terrain requirements. 

Time Efficiency: Indoor training platforms offer structured workouts that are time-efficient and tailored to specific goals. Users can make the most of their training sessions by focusing on targeted efforts, optimising training time, and maximising results within a shorter duration.

Safety: By training indoors riders can avoid potential hazards associated with outdoor activities, such as traffic and cold mornings. I must say it’s a great feeling to be be warm, cozy and working up a sweat inside, training while watching the morning news or having the stereo blaring. 

Our Thoughts: Overall, we’ve found the platform to be particularly engaging, interesting, and captivating to ride. Looking for an indoor alternative to supplement and help develop your outdoor cycling this winter? We’d highly recommend checking it out.

To find out more visit www.ROUVY.com

The post First Ride With ROUVY: Indoor Training Meets Augmented Reality appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

We caught up with Robbie while he was mid-way between Australia and France, during a noisy airport transfer with the non-stop PA blaring in the background. But this wasn’t a problem for Robbie, he’s a no-nonsense, knockabout bloke who takes curveballs in his stride and simply gets things done.

Bicycling Australia: Robbie, thanks so much for speaking with us, and thanks for gracing the pages many times over the years and helping us sell a lot of magazines.

Robbie McEwen: (Laughs) No worries, I’m glad to help out and hope it’s going well.

BA: Well, here we go again, the 110th edition of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle is on. It will be your third as part of the GCN worldwide commentary team – how does the lead-up to this year’s Tour feel to you?

RM: There sure is a buzz and more interest year after year. I think the ongoing Pogacar / Vingegaard battle is helping – I have the impression a lot of people think this tour is Pogacar’s, but it’s going to be a lot harder for him than last year. I think Vingegard will win, but I also think he’ll have to work even harder for the result.

GCN and commentary wise – we’ve been getting some fantastic feedback and messages from people all around the world.

The audience has really grown. What’s really impressive is the worldwide feedback – viewers from the US, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, right across Europe, and viewers from surprising and obscure places.

The team is always expanding and many of us have ridden the Tour so we know it, plus we work so well together and have a lot of fun doing what we do.

So maybe it’s not surprising how much the coverage has grown, but we’re definitely buoyed by how massive the audience is.

People are getting what they want, they’re enjoying it, and we love putting it together.

BA: You seemed to land on your feet with the new team after all that SBS turmoil and nonsense. Looking back, how was that time for you, from the end of SBS to that fresh start with GCN?

RM: First of all I didn’t announce the news immediately. By the time I said I wasn’t going to be with SBS, GCN had offered me the gig. For me, it wasn’t too turbulent at all … I was sorted and really happy because I knew where I was heading.

That said, and just like it would be for anyone, I didn’t enjoy the feeling of being unjustly done … particularly when we had such a connection with viewers. And the viewers let me know! The encouragement and support was phenomenal.

BA: Well I wish I had shares in an Australian VPN company, I know a lot of people who have signed up for international access!

RM: (Laughs) VPNs? I’m not at liberty to discuss them, I don’t know what they are, I’ve never heard of them. But I know a lot of people are buying them.

BA: To this year’s Tour, and it really does look like make or break for Caleb Ewan?

RM: Yes, it’s a very rough run he seems to be having, with photo finishes and a number of crashes. Whatever tactics he has tried, it’s just not been working out for him. Earlier on he had some encouraging results. But then at the Tour of Belgium he just didn’t seem to have the legs.

One thing I know about being a sprinter is this – you can try absolutely everything and nothing seems to work out for you.

But the key is trying to never lose that overall confidence. It just takes one good ride, on any day, and that standout performance can save the entire season.

BA: Do you speak to Caleb or offer tips and encouragement?

RM: I message him occasionally but at the moment I’m doing some work with Dylan Groenewegen and GreenEDGE. It’s nothing personal against Caleb, just some mentoring and coaching I’ve been asked to do with the team. It would be a conflict to have too much to do with the competition, it’s as simple as that.

BA: And Cavendish. He needs one more stage win to pip Eddy Merckx and get that 35th stage victory. Can he do it? Do you think he’ll get the record?

RM: I’m saying 99% no, based on the opposition he’s now facing.

So many things have to go right for Cavendish at the Tour. With no disrespect, it’s a different level in France than at the Giro (where he won the final stage). At the Tour he’ll be up again Jacobsen, Philipsen, Van Aert, Groenewagen, Caleb … To think that at least one of them wont be included in any sprint Cav is going for, well that’s very unlikely.

Plus he just doesn’t have the leadout. So I’m saying 99% no. That said, we all know Mark Cavendish just needs a 1% chance, and he’s done it before. So I’m not going to write him off completely.

BA: It’s incredible to think you were duelling with Cav, while a 13yo Caleb Ewan was no doubt watching on TV, and nowadays those two are battling it out and you’re calling it!

RM: When Cavendish came on and won his first stage I was 36 years old. He was a little chubby faced guy, just out of the teenage years. On the other hand, I was near the end of my career when he came in.

Then Caleb came through mid-way through Cavendish’s career. There are new guys coming through all time … and plenty more of them these days.

BA: There are 12 Australian riders lining up at the start – the likes of Jai Hindley, Ben O’Connor, Jack Haig, Chris Harper, Simon Clarke, Michael Matthews, Durbo … What’s the McEwen crystal ball telling you?

RM: I’m going to go with Jai and Ben in the top 10. In fact, I’m upping that to the top 6.

And, in my opinion, the podium is not out of the question for either of them. So far as this year’s course goes, I reckon Ben can get the podium.

Overall, I’m looking forward to seeing some Aussies up there on stages, seeing Simon Clarke get into more breaks, and seeing Vin and Pog battle it out for the win. I think Wout sees himself riding for the Green Jersey, and Philipsen wants green as well. But it sure is a very strong line up of Aussies which is great to see.

BA: Finally to coverage, and it looks like the GCN team have an absolute blast on set.

RM: We do, I always look forward to our shows and catching up with everyone. We always have a good laugh during commentary. I enjoy the analysis with Dan Lloyd and Adam Blythe – we’ve all raced it and know the ins and outs.

The main thing is the audience are enjoying it, we’re enjoying it, and often having a great laugh at the same time. Sometimes you don’t have to take every second of every day so seriously – it’s a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to the start of this year’s Tour.

GCN+ / Warner Bros 2023 Tour de France coverage can not be seen live in Australia this year. That said, we know of numerous Tour tragics who successfully use a VPN to enjoy universal access.

Warner Bros Discovery and GCN+ will broadcast Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift live and ad-free in Australia, with all racing available on demand and as highlights.

GCN+ will have Tour de France long highlights on demand. 

The GCN+ app also features close to 200 cycling films – we’ve seen many of these and can vouch for the immense quality and depth of content.

A big thanks to Rouvy who are supporting Bicycling Australia’s TDF coverage – you can check out their impressive augmented reality training platform at www.Rouvy.com

The post Robbie McEwen On The Tour De France, GCN Commentary, Sprinters, The GC + More appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

If ever there was a classic example of the saying ‘build it and they will come’, it would have to be the Central West Cycle Trail in New South Wales.

What started out as the ambitious plans of a handful of enthusiastic locals keen to guide people to safe cycling opportunities and attract more visitors to their wider region, has developed into an increasingly popular cycling destination.

Yes, we are talking about the Central West Cycling Trail, a four-hundred-kilometre gravel loop that takes in the regional NSW towns of Dunnedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington, Goolma, Gulgong and Mudgee.

Known as the CWC (Central West Cycling), the trail is well-marked with hundreds of yellow CWC decals on signs, stores and even letter boxes of welcoming locals along the way. Well-supported by visionary locals – from residents to farmers, hoteliers, publicans, cafes, motels and other businesses along the way – the trail attracts thousands of eager cycling tourists each year and is fast becoming a ‘must-do’ destination ride.

How It Started

It was mid-morning, we’d covered a reasonably taxing 40 or so kilometres, and we were sitting on the expansive front veranda of historic grazing property Cobbora Station. Sipping coffee, enjoying neatly-cut sandwiches, and eyeing off a plate of freshly-baked scones, it was fascinating to listen as station co-owner Sally Dent explained the history of the home, and how the region was adapting with the times.

A local school teacher and keen advocate of cycling tourism, Sally told us how 150 years or so ago Cobbora Station, that sits just off the Golden Highway was a designated Cobb & Co stop.

Complete with rudimentary accommodation that included a locked ‘strangers room’ for travellers, these days the station has morphed from a Cobb & Co stop to a popular destination for touring cyclists. Sipping a second coffee and tucking into those famous scones, it was easy to imagine a slow-moving coach appearing up the long driveway before the weary travellers make their way to rudimentary rooms.

These days, some two centuries later, Cobbora Station does much the same by hosting weary cyclists in purpose-built accommodation that ranges from boutique cottages through to a re-purposed shearing shed.

‘Hundreds of kilometresof quiet roads’

Yes, six magic words that would have to be music to any cyclist’s ears, but where’s the best place to start?

The CWC trail follows the quiet backroads in a circuit through Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo, Geurie, Wellington and Goolma. Yes, that’s a fair few country towns – places that have significantly changed. Typically, the smaller towns have lost businesses and become a lot quieter over recent decades – so the idea of attracting bicycle tourists to the region is a popular one.

In the planning stage, the passionate locals behind the CWC say they poured over maps, rode all possible routes, and worked out a potential circuit.

“We wanted, above all, to create safe cycling routes,” they say. “And provide commercial opportunities to the villages, towns and farms along the way. We chose a circuit so that cyclists could begin and end at the same place and join the trail from any direction. We came up with a variety of options and the team set out to cycle and drive them all.”

“As cyclist numbers grew the local businesses along the way saw opportunity; the clients were riding right past their doors.”

“…Still in its relative infancy, the CWC has attracted tens of thousands of riders over the past few years…”

Businesses included accommodation, refreshments, farm stays and tours, local produce artisan demonstrations such as cheese making and distilleries, charities, tour support, bike hire and repairs. Some were expansions of existing businesses while others were completely new. These many businesses became our stakeholders.

Along the route, there are a handful of busier sections of road, sectors that need to be ridden to get to the next quieter section, but in our time out there drivers seemed to respect riders and give a wide berth.

The majority of the circuit takes in predominantly well-kept gravel roads and is primarily made up of 10 sectors that can be down to the following:

Mudgee to Gulgong (30km)

Gulgong to Dunedoo (50km)

Dunedoo to Mendooran ( two routes – via Digilah (51km) or via Cobborah (63km)

Mendooran to Ballimore (60km)

Ballimore to Dubbo (55km)

Dubbo to Geurie (28km)

Geurie to Wellington (30km)

Wellington to Goolma (48km)

Goolma to Gulgong (30km)

Gulgong to Mudgee (30km)

Armed with that information, it’s clear to see this is a ride for a wide range of cycling enthusiasts – from tourers content to cover 30 to 50km a day, those who are more comfortable with 80 to 100km rides, and even those keen on the ultimate CWC challenge of a fast loop (search for it on YouTube!).

Mudgee and historic Gulgong are popular starting points, as is the smaller town of Wellington and the regional centre of Dubbo. With those various entry points in mind, let’s take a look at the highlights along the way.

Where To Stop

Dunedoo

Dunedoo – it’s such a classic name for an Australian town and it really is a memorable place to stop for food, fuel and rest. We found the ‘Dunedooians’ to be very welcoming of cyclists with coloured bikes hanging outside the pub and other small businesses proudly showing off the CWC logo.

Dunedoo highlights include:

The Royal Hotel, accommodation and secure bike storage.

Accommodation at the Dunedoo Swan Motel.

Stay Dunedoo Caravan Park

A B&B cottage: ‘the Caddy Shack’.

Sue Graham’s Redbank Gums Bed & Breakfast (0428751218).

Sue Stoddart’s flat and motor home accommodation (0458524445)

The White Rose Cafe that has breakfast, lunch and refreshments & located in the main street.

There are two bakeries in town.

Dinners at the Dunedoo Hotel, the Dunedoo Bowling Club (on weekends) and the Dunedoo Sports Club.

Farm Stay on the way into Dunedoo at ‘Bolinda Vale’ –’Dunedoo Shearer’s Huts’.

The local Thrifty Link is starting to stock repair materials for cyclists and looking to sell bike tubes.

Cobbora

25km from Dunedoo by bicycle on backroads is Cobbora Station, offering cottage beds, camping and meal options. (0498542689)

Dubbo

Famous for Taronga Western Plains Zoo, you can ride your bike direct to the zoo. Once you sort out entry, you can even follow the pathway around the zoo! Featuring giraffes, lions, elephants, cheetahs, tigers and many other creatures great and small, the open plan zoo is well worth visiting.

Dubbo offers a myriad of accommodation both in hotels, motels, camping and Bed & Breakfasts, and special camping at the Zoo (02 6884 1700). Cyclists have told CWC organisers some of their favourite accommodation options including East End Apartments and camping at the Zoo!

Mudgee

Enjoy great wine and sensational cycling? Cellar doors abound around Mudgee, and we all know how good the road and gravel riding is around the region. Market St is a great place for coffee and a big breakfast. Just across the road, you can find out about all the things to see and do at the Visitor Information Centre. There are plenty of good pubs in town with many also offering accommodation.

Gulgong

Historic Gulgong, what a town. The narrow roads meander around a small village that is much the same as it was during the gold rush boom period of the 1870s. The Holtermann Museum in Mayne St is a must-see and offers a fascinating insight into Australia’s Gold Rush years. The afternoon we were in town we spent a full afternoon at the Gulgong Pioneer Museum in Herbert Street. Yes, it was raining outside, but the museum proved to be the perfect place to stay occupied.

Gulgong is a very popular start and finish point for many riders. There are many great coffee shops such as The Butcher Shop Café and Gulgong bakery.

Accommodation options include the Prince of Wales hotel, The Showground camping area and the infamous Ten Dollar Town Motel.

Wellington

Wellington offers a wide variety of accommodation in hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts plus cafes and places for a great meal.

Options include:

The Riverside Caravan Park welcomes cyclists and has on-site cabins and a camp kitchen.

The Lion of Waterloo hotel at Montefiores

The Bridge Motel

Jespresso Coffee Co is very popular with cyclists.

Arthurs View café

Birriwa

A smaller and quieter town, but still some limited facilities for riders just outside town including:

Refreshments at Mayfield at 591 Bus Route South – but you need to book ahead.

A farm stay at Roxanna on Bus Route South with accommodation for up to 4 riders.

Mendooran

A smaller village with food and lodging options including:

The Royal Hotel (02688862043) accommodation, dinner and lunches.

Crackerz Bakery in Bandulla Street

Manusu House and Cabin, has been upgraded to accommodate cyclists.

The Mendooran Black Gate Distillery

The Sky Blue Cheese factory offers cheese-making demonstrations to cyclists

Mendooran B & B, in a former pub with a lovely dining room.

Wongarbon

Another small village that features:

Billy’O Bush Retreat on Barbigal Road – also an option to park a vehicle for the week as a start/finish point.

The Wongarbon Post Office does fantastic scones for morning tea if pre-warned!

‘’Peppercorn Cottage’, behind the Post Office sleeps four.

Wongarbon Hotel open from 12-noon for lunch & dinner.

Geurie

A very small village that welcomes cyclists and has several outlets for coffee. The local pub, the Mitchell Inn, also has accommodation for cyclists.

Ballimore

Cold beer, great food and good country accommodation at the pub, The Hair of the Dog.

Goolma

Goolma is little more than a locality but the Goolma Hall, managed by the Goolma Amenities committee, is made available to passing cyclists. E-bikes can recharge there for a small fee. They have also provided fresh water to passing cyclists.

A local, Jean Ellis offers farm stay and is now well known on the trail for providing morning tea or lunch.

Nearby an old farmhouse has been fantastically renovated for a quiet country stay.

Getting To The Central West

Still in its relative infancy, the CWC has attracted thousands of riders over the past few years.

Driving to any of the start points is popular, but there’s something very special about leaving the car at home and taking a train-based cycling trip.

But many supporters of the trail initiative say success could be vastly improved if Transport for NSW, the department that looks after Trainlink and the state’s regional railways, relaxed rules over the carriage of bikes.

Under the present rules, bikes can be taken on a regional train however they must be dismantled and packed into a box. By comparison, trains on the urban Opal network allow riders to roll an unboxed bike straight on.

“To take bikes on Endeavour, XPT or Explorer trains, the bikes must be dismantled, boxed and they can’t weigh over 20kg,” Tim Coen from Rail Trails NSW recently told 7 News Riverina.

Riders have been petitioning rail authorities and citing examples of the popularity of train-based bike trips in Europe and many other countries.

Members of the CWC Committee have put a lot of work into the bikes on trains issue. To see a PDF of their elaborate notes on the topic visit www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au

They are also asking the public to have their say on the issue via the feedback section on the www.transportnsw.info/contactus page.

Summing It All Up

Writing this around 6-weeks after the last trip to the trail, we are absolutely itching to get back. It offers safe, mesmerising and iconically Australian cycling, and is a truly memorable cycling experience. With immense credit to the locals who dreamt up the CWC and established it in such a relatively short space of time, it has quickly become New South Wales’ top ‘must ride’ cycling trail.

Our tip – whatever you do, ride the CWC. It’s a truly memorable experience. 

Keen To Ride It? For more on the CWC visit www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au. Organisers are currently compiling a guidebook and this is expected to be available soon. It’s also well worth joining their popular Facebook group. Search the ‘Central West Cycling Trail’.

^{Supporting Locals}

A key premise of the trail is that small towns benefit enormously from the creation of cycling tourism and the far-reaching opportunities it delivers.

Mudgee’s David Allworth, a member of the close-knit team behind the trail, said the grassroots initiative had wide and far-reaching potential for the greater region.

“Even a kid on the side of the road with a table of 10 fruit juices will sell something to passing cyclists,” he told us.

“Cyclists seek to carry a minimum, and arriving at a town like Dunedoo will likely be looking for afternoon tea, accommodation, dinner, breakfast and supplies to cover the next 60km to Mendooran.”

He explained how CWC riders are generally looking for a town every 30 to 60km.

“There’s not the option of winding up the car windows, turning on the air conditioning and keeping the foot on the accelerator to get to a larger centre,” he said.

“Cyclists love their food – it is as essential for cyclists as petrol is for a car. If the news gets out that someone is serving tasty scones along the way, the itinerary is changed and the venue booked.”

“Word gets out quickly, and the talk in the peloton becomes focussed on highlights along the way such as ‘how far to the famous scones?’”

The smell of scones from 50 km away will lure cyclists, he said.

Top Local Tips

And David’s local tips for visiting riders?

“Take some time to soak up the character of the towns – even the tiny ones,” he said.

“Mendooran is your classic small town which has been battered by the bank leaving and the now fast road to bigger centres.

“The mission style Mendooran Mechanics Institute was built just after the Great Depression of the early 1930s from funds raised from within the community. This shows what a vibrant town it was in days gone by.

“At its time of construction, a regional centre would have been very proud of it.

“That community ‘can do’ attitude and the people’s faith in the town is shown by the recently-opened Blue Sky Cheese and Mendooran Cottages.

“Take time to talk to the locals,” he suggested.

“Blue Cheese proprietor Deb Kiem has ridden hundreds of kilometres through outback Australia,” he continued. “All done on a 3-speed bicycle and often she slept in culverts.”

And another locals’ tip for those really wanting to get off the beaten track?

“If you really want to get away from cars, the Goonoo State Conservation leg is for you,” he said.

“Lying between Ballimore and Mendooran, this has become one of the highlights of the trail.

“These fire trails offer hours of quiet cycling, but make sure you have your mapping sorted out. Signage won’t lead you through.

“Wider tyres are recommended and not too much pressure in them – yes, you really want to have a bike pump with you.

“Novice riders have handled it with aplomb, but you need to keep an eye on the changing surface. Know your skill level because a few short sandy sections will test you out, and never be afraid to get off and push your bike through.

“In the southern section of the trail, Wongarbon is a surprise package of wonderfully treed streets amongst the wheatlands.

“Nearby Dubbo is the hub of the Orana region which has a gross agricultural revenue of $2 billion, that is a lot of food. Having arrived to the railway line at Wongarbon towns are closer together, Dubbo 20 km to the west, and Geurie 12km, and Wellington a further 30 km.

“Speaking of Geurie, a number of cyclists have taken off the luggage panniers and set off on the MTB trails on Bald Hill immediately behind the town. But leave enough energy in the legs for the sharp climb up Mt Arthur to arrive in Wellington 30km away.”

More at www.centralwestcycletrail.com.au

The post Riding NSW’s Central West Cycle Trail appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

But the flagship groupo comes with a hefty pricetag, with AU pricing expected to be in the vicinity of $8,000.

Weighing in at around 2500grams depending upon gear ratio spec, the new Super Record wireless is a slick, futuristic, state-of-the-art groupset that features high-spec carbon fibre, titanium and light weight alloys.

Gearing option wise, the chainrings are available in 50-34, 48-32, and 45-29T, and cassettes are all 10T – 10-25, 10-27, and 10-29T.

The company say it has been developed with their trade team AG2R Citroën, the ethos being to stand out from the crowd while offering a ‘seamless interaction between rider and bike.’

Bicycling Australia have not yet seen or ridden the groupo in real life, we hope to have that opportunity in coming weeks at both Eurobike and the Tour de France. Going off launch information and the product spec sheets, it features the following-

Ergopower Control Levers 

• Redesigned body lever shape utilizes extra grip and cushioning for enhanced riding comfort
• No traditional Campag thumb lever
• Ergonomically shaped brake levers for better control and a more efficient braking 
• New shifting experience with one lever – one action functionality
• Battery status LED light for immediate feedback

Wireless Shifting

“Effortless Bluetooth communication ensures every exchange between components is instantaneous. Every detail has been optimized to be ultra-functional, including quick-snap magnetic charging ports, vivid LED battery-indicators, and super fast charging.”

Brakes 

• No rim brakes on offer
• Temperature control disc technology to avoid excessive heating and the need for an additional cooling fin
• Patented rotor profile resulting in a sleek, anti-cutting surface
• Refined design provides instinctive modulation, progressive feel and greater reliability

Drivetrain 

• ULTRA-TORQUE System implemented for maximum power transmission efficiency
• High durability bottom bracket featuring a dust-proof PRO-TECH patented external protective seal
• Instant responsivity courtesy of a titanium axle and unidirectional carbon fiber crankarms (available in 165, 170, 172.5 and 175mm)
• Quick fit rear derailleur produced from technopolymer

Batteries – Dynamic User Interface

• Magnetic charging ports on front and rear derailleurs for quick and secure connection. One standard port for both components
• Fast charging times; 90% charge in 45 minutes and full charge in just 60 minutes
• Long lasting charge with 750km battery range
• Ability to charge both on and off the bike
• LED battery status interface which is highly visible in all conditions

Cassette & Gearing

• Three sets (front chainrings 50-34, 48-32, and 45-29 and cassettes 10-25, 10-27, and 10-29) provide improved gear ratio combinations to deliver unrivaled cadence and optimal tempo
• Smoother shifting experience courtesy of new teeth geometry designed on the chain path
• N3W standard freewheel body
• 10T cog
• 2x 12 speed crankset

Connectivity

An updated MyCampy 3.0 app. Delivered for ease-of-use, quick referencing, simple operation and customisation. 

We are keen to hear your thoughts on the new Campagnolo Wireless 12-Speed. have your say in the comments section below.

The post Super Record: Campagnolo’s New 12-Speed Wireless Groupset appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

How much is provenance worth? It’s a fundamental, perhaps even existential, question for a bespoke bicycle brand and one I found myself constantly asking during the course of this immensely enjoyable month-long review.

Whilst still not entirely sure I have the answer, I do know the Lemma 2.0 is a sublime carbon road bike with a romance-laden backstory and a price-tag that’s likely to cause plenty of chatter wherever it appears.

Officine Mattio

Translated as ‘Mattio Workshops’ in English, Officine Mattio was founded in the north-western corner of Italy in 2014 by Giovanni Roffarello, who continues to oversee the business as CEO. 

At a time when so many European cycling brands are opting to manufacture and/or assemble their bikes offshore, Officine Mattio is swimming patriotically against the tide. From the in-house design and production of their custom frames and wheelsets to painting and hand-assembly, almost everything about these beautiful bikes happens within the picturesque Piedmont region, not far from the French-Italian border.

The result is a small but hugely impressive stable of hand-crafted bicycles that can fly the Italian flag with an entirely clear conscience. They’re pretty much as Italian as you can get.

Headlining the Officine Mattio range in 2023 is the Lemma 2.0. Named after the local alpine climb where Roffarello himself tested early prototypes, the Lemma was the very first frame released by Officine Mattio back in 2015. Eight years on, it’s now entered its second generation. Officine Mattio refers to the Lemma 2.0 as an “agile integrated bike”. Others have labelled it an “aero all-rounder”. I’d simply call it one of the most beautifully-balanced road bikes I’ve ever had the good fortune to ride.

Styling

Some bikes really scream out for your attention. The Lemma 2.0 isn’t one of them, especially not with the raw carbon matt finish of the review model that arrived on my doorstep just before Christmas.

There’s a calm and understated confidence about the styling, delivering a reasonably traditional silhouette with few overt flourishes or gimmicks. The design team have really opted for substance over style here; an approach that gets a big tick from me.

This isn’t to say there isn’t much to talk about. Closer inspection of the Lemma 2.0 frame reveals some reasonably chunky tube profiles coupled with more subtle airfoil shaping on the forks, down tube and top tube, as well as dropped seat stays. With internal hose routing, wireless shifting and an elegant two-piece Deda cockpit, the lines are clean and unobstructed.

The slender round seat post is adjusted with a discrete tightening bolt under the top tube, rejecting the more angular and/or integrated bespoke seat posts seen on many contemporary aero framesets, delivering a more conventional aesthetic whilst also aiding in vibration damping.

When it comes to livery, the Lemma 2.0 frame officially comes in three standard colourways. However, given Officine Mattio’s online configurator allows you to customise pretty much every facet of the build should you wish – including the frame colour, graphics and logo decals, all of which are finished at Officine Mattio’s dedicated coating facility – there’s actually a kaleidoscope of combinations to choose from, so feel free to express yourself.

Geometry

There’s more than a hint of aero design at play in the Lemma 2.0. But this is no hardcore racing beast in the way it looks, or performs. Yes, the geometry is more aggressive than a typical endurance or climbing bike.

But with a slightly longer headtube and wheelbase, coupled with more generous stack and standover, it’s a little less compact, offering a more relaxed riding position than a pure aero build. Theory suggests this should make it a more versatile all-round riding choice and, as we’ll get to in a moment, that was certainly my real-world experience.

Weight

Just looking at it, you can tell the Lemma 2.0 is no wafer-thin supermodel. But nor is it a weight-laden leviathan. Unpainted, the Medium-sized frameset tips the scales at a respectable enough 900 grams. The complete review bike with bottle cages and pedals weighed in at 8.65kg.

Whilst certainly not light, a significant chunk of this can be attributed to the excellent-but-hefty (and largely alloy) SRAM Rival AXS groupset which weighs over 3kg alone. If your budget can stretch to include a higher spec groupset, you’ll instantly shave upwards of 600 grams.

Frameset

Whilst it may not quite be a Da Vinci or Michelangelo, the Lemma 2.0 frameset is indeed a work of Italian art. Hand-crafted from TORAYCA high performance carbon yarns, Officine Mattio uses a proprietary tube-to-tube process called IWS (Internal Wrap System).

Rather than conventional processes where each tube is bonded together in a jig before being wrapped, bagged, pressurised and heated from the outside, the Lemma 2.0 frame is created with precisely controlled temperatures and high forming internal pressure that presses the carbon out towards the mould.

Instead of having clear joins between each tube, this allows the carbon fibre to run uncut through the junctions on the Lemma 2.0 frame, reaching deep into each tube section.

The result is a beautifully consistent structure with the enviable strength and streamlining qualities of monocoque moulding, whilst also allowing full custom frame geometry – a key point of difference for Officine Mattio. It’s a genuinely bespoke approach with plenty of benefits to riders, especially those with unique geometry requirements, albeit at a price.

Tech & Components

With the groupset an obvious exception – SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo options are all available– every other element of the Lemma 2.0 is hand-crafted without leaving the Piedmont region of Italy. The exact specs of the review bike are listed at the end of this article. However, they’re almost irrelevant because everything is assembled to order.

Using the configurator on the Officine Mattio website, you can tinker away to your heart’s content, tailoring everything from your preferred tube dimensions, braking system, groupset, stem and power meter to your wheels, hubs, tyres, saddle, colourways and even bar tape. It really is a case of choose your own adventure.

Wheelset

For this review the Lemma 2.0 came fitted with Officine Mattio’s excellent in-house tubeless-ready carbon wheelset, Quaranta CS. These wonderfully versatile 37mm hoops tip the scales at 1,496 grams and boast carbon spokes (24/24), internal brass nipples and measure 19mm/24mm (internal/external rim width).

The aluminium alloy hubs feature silky smooth CeramicSpeed bearings and are produced exclusively for Officine Mattio by global bearings giant, SKF, in nearby Airasca on the outskirts of Turin. The review rims were fitted with 28mm Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 clinchers. Again, there are numerous wheelset, hub and tyre options available. Maximum tyre clearance is 35mm.

On the road

Quite simply, the Lemma 2.0 is a dream to ride. Equally at home on the flat or the hills, damp or dry, smooth tarmac or corrugated rural lanes, it took everything in its stride and was more than adept at dealing with the bumps that inevitably await on Australian roads. With minimal lateral flex, I found the ride quality was reassuringly firm, stable and controlled, accompanied by solid power transfer and just the right amount of road feedback. Not too much, not too little. Goldilocks would no doubt approve.

The Lemma 2.0 was also extremely comfortable to ride, even over a pair of heavily-undulating 100km+ rides, something I’d attribute to a combination of the more relaxed frame geometry, forgiving rear section/seat post and cushiony 28mm tyres (clinchers). Install tubeless tyres at larger sizes and lower pressures and the suppleness of the ride will no doubt be even more pronounced.

Handling was first-class across the board and, overall, I found the Lemma 2.0 very intuitive and easy to ride. It does exactly what you ask it to do and with few quirks I instantly felt very relaxed in the saddle, as if I’d owned it for years.

Whilst more of an all-rounder than an out-and-out speed machine, it’s certainly slick enough for the majority of us mere mortals – even more so should you opt for larger gearing (the review bike was fitted with a 48/35 compact chainring) – and wouldn’t be out of place in a paceline or club criterium, delivering an excellent balance between refinement, robustness and responsiveness.

Overall

In an age of carbon ubiquity, the Officine Mattio Lemma 2.0 is a breath of fresh Italian alpine air. Richly versatile and almost endlessly customisable, it’s a magnificent artisan road bike with an equally wonderful story. It’s truly fabulous to ride. However, you certainly do pay for the privilege. Some will feel it’s absolutely worth every dollar. Others less so. Ultimately, where you sit on this fundamental issue will heavily sway your view on what is undoubtedly a spectacular handmade machine. 

Summing Up

Quality

A handmade Italian carbon frameset of the highest calibre. You get to specify the exact level of components that come with it too – so if you’re not happy, look in the mirror.

Performance

Fast enough and firm enough. Yet still surprisingly comfortable. Beautifully balanced handling. As adept on the local crit track as it is touring far-flung country roads.

Value

$13,990 for a bike with a third-tier groupset will likely be a stretch for many – and it’s closer to $20,000 for top-of-the range components. How much is provenance worth to you?

Overall

Hand-crafted in Italy and fully customisable, the Lemma 2.0 is superb. It’s not for the masses, but rather those who appreciate the finer details and want something genuinely different – and are willing to pay for it.

The post Italian Superbike Anyone? We Ride The Officine Mattio Lemma 2.0  appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

Sadly it wasn’t good news for all, with fellow race favourite Tadej Pogacar crashing around a third of the way through the historic race and ending up in hospital with a fractured wrist and collarbone.

Tadej remained upbeat, and Remco paid tribute to his rival who will no doubt be back on the bike within a short space of time.

“I’m super grateful for the incredible amount of work my teammates did today,” said Evenepoel after his latest victory.

“This was the plan and we executed it perfectly,” he continued. “It wasn’t an easy race, but they controlled it from the start, keeping the gap of the breakaway in check and bringing back the escapees before La Redoute. In the end, only Pidcock could do it, but not for so long, so our plan worked out well. It was risky because of the rain which made the roads slippery, but I remained calm and focused.”
Evenepoel said the victory was particularly timely, ahead of the Giro d’Italia which starts next month.

“The recent altitude training camps went really well, and this victory, which shows that my form is there and feeds my confidence,” he said.

“I’m happy also for taking the victory in all-white today. Together with the team we wanted to do something special, so we decided to go for the white bib shorts. Now I have a nice picture to hang on the wall. It’s a big win for us, we’re going to celebrate it, and afterwards I’ll try to recover well and continue my preparations for the next goal”, Remco said.

2023 LBL Top 5

1 Remco Evenepoel – Soudal – Quick Step 6:15:49
2 Thomas Pidcock – INEOS Grenadiers 1:06
3 Santiago Buitrago – Sánchez Bahrain – Victorious 1:06
4 Ben Healy – EF Education-EasyPost 1:08
5 Valentin Madouas – Groupama – FDJ 1:24

The post Gallery: Remco Evenepoel Powers To Second Consecutive Liège–Bastogne–Liège Victory appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

Saturday night delivers the Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift and it will be broadcast on SBS VICELAND from 11:15pm (AEST). The men’s race is on Sunday night and telecast from 7pm (AEST) on April 9 via SBS On Demand.

Here we take a look back to highlights of last year’s men’s and women’s ‘Hell of the North’.

Van Baarle wins For Ineos

Dylan van Baarle put in the performance of his career to win the 2022 Paris-Roubaix for the INEOS Grenadiers.

The Dutchman made his winning move with 19 kilometres to go, driving clear of his fellow attackers and opening out a gap. That meant he was able to savour the atmosphere inside the famous Roubaix Velodrome – finishing solo by 1 minute 47 seconds.

A show of team strength – massively aided by Aussie rider Cam Wurf – helped ensure the Grenadiers constantly had numbers towards the front of the race. That early pressure helped contribute to victory in what was the fasted ever edition of Roubaix.

“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t believe it when I went on to the velodrome,” said Van Baarle after his historic win.

“I looked at the other side to see if there were some other guys but I was completely alone,” he continued.

“When the DS car came next to me with Servais (Knaven) then I really started believing in it. It’s been crazy.”

Long before the cobbles the team were on the front, ensuring a number of pre-race favourites and their teams were put under pressure. Cam Wurf, Luke Rowe and Magnus Sheffield got through a lot of work and the team. Michal Kwiatkowski and Filippo Ganna were able to join a lead group after the famed Arenberg sector, giving their all for the cause.

“To be second in Flanders and winning Roubaix – I’m lost for words,” he continued.

“We were super focussed from the gun. And that’s what we wanted – we didn’t want to chase. We wanted to be on the front foot and that’s what we did. From that moment I knew that we would have a good chance because we spent less energy than everyone else. We were a bit unlucky – I had a puncture, Pippo had a puncture, I think everyone had something. We just kept calm and this result is amazing. 

“We wanted to make the race hard before the second feed zone, and that’s what we did,” he continued.

“After that Kwiato said I was super strong and he wanted to ride for me. It gave me so much confidence and I can’t thank the team enough for today. It’s been a great spring classic season so far. We’re going to enjoy this. 

Van Baarle said the team had worked hard over the past few months.

“In the last couple of years we had some bad luck but now everything is just going in the right direction,” he said.

“The whole team is lifting off that and it’s been amazing,” he concluded.

Elisa Longo Borghini Solos To Win 2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Trek-Segafredo’s Elisa Longo Borghini made a long range attack to win the second edition of the women’s Paris Roubaix on Saturday.

The Italian champion built a half-minute lead and held it for 35 kilometers. Entering the Roubaix velodrome alone, the Italian champion gave Trek-Segafredo their second straight Hell of the North victory after Lizzie Deignan’s 2021 win.

“If you go, you have to believe from the beginning,” she said after the iconic race. “I was just full gas,”

“It’s unbelievable, you have many thoughts going around,” explained Elisa when asked what she was feeling at that moment. “You are in hell and then all of a sudden in paradise riding into a velodrome with a big history of cycling. I was thinking of my family, my boyfriend, and my teammates … this is who I ride for.”

“It’s been a very tough spring for me,” continued the Italian champion who has suffered sinusitis for the past month.

“I couldn’t perform the way I wanted,” she continued. “I knew I was worth more, which was frustrating. It was a hard time and I need to thank first of all my family and my boyfriend Jacopo (Mosca) because they are all the time keeping my morale up, and secondly, my team Trek-Segafredo because they still had faith in me. They brought me to this race even though I said I was not ready, but they kept saying, ‘You are more than ready, and we know you are capable of doing this.’ I have to say they were right.”

“With sinusitis, you can’t really breathe, and in cycling breathing is everything. So I had to take a step back to take two forward. So I skipped Amstel Gold and Brabantse Pijl and was able to get rid of the infection with antibiotics. And in the end, if I feel good, I win.”

The post Paris-Roubaix Primer: Flashback To The 2022 Race appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

As a cycling sports dietitian, people often (wrongly) assume that my nutrition intake and fuelling strategies are perfect all the time.

Not true! I am also human – we all have bad days and make mistakes. The key thing is that we learn from our mistakes and improve our nutritional strategies for next time. Which is why I always encourage clients to engage in reflective practice and make nutrition notes about what does and doesn’t go well to be better prepared next time.

In my experience, not following or having a nutrition plan plays a big role in cyclists not being able to complete cycling events or ride at their full pace. I’d hate for you to see all your training go to waste from under-fuelling.

Back in 2021 I learned the hard way the impact under-fuelling makes during a 360km 8000m+ ultra-cycling event where I hadn’t properly planned my nutrition. I was running around like crazy the day before and forgot to eat while travelling. I subsequently started the event under-fuelled and underpowered. Yes I completed it, but was completely off my usual riding pace which was incredibly frustrating! This meant that when I rode the Snowy Classic Maxi 170km ride last year, I was determined not to repeat these mistakes.

I went into the Snowy Classic probably the least bike fit that I had ever been in my life. Sydney had been a complete washout in the months before, so I knew I wasn’t going to be breaking any records. But with the right nutritional strategy and plan I was confident that I could ride the distance. My planning ensured that I nailed the carbohydrate load the day before, my fuelling plan during was spot on but it all unravelled when I forgot about recovery nutrition!

Learn from my nutrition mistakes and ride the Snowy Classic this year fuelled with confidence.

Plan your nutrition – before, during and after

There are three key timing points when it comes to nailing your nutrition for an event like the Snowy Classic – what you eat the day before, how you fuel during and your recovery nutrition after you finish. Each one is important for different reasons and the ideal nutritional strategy for you will be very unique. Practicing and testing your nutrition in training is key to determine what this does (or doesn’t) look like.

Fuelling starts the day before with carbohydrate loading 24h before your event.

If there was one thing I could convince cyclists to try that can markedly improve their performance for an event like the Snowy Classic, it would be to carbohydrate load for the 24h beforehand. At this year’s Tour Down Under I bumped into a client who raved about how much a difference that one change alone had made to his performance and cycling capacity.

Far from overfilling yourself with pasta the night before and feeling super bloated before going to bed, there is an art to carb loading well and it starts with distributing your extra carbs throughout the entire day, cutting back the fibre, vege, protein and fats compared to a usual day. Keep your dinner normal sized with a dessert, but bump up the volume earlier in the day at breakfast and lunch to avoid feeling super full and bloated.

As a starting point, I’d recommend you increase overall carb intake the day before Snowy Classic by an additional 200g, aiming for a total of >500g using low fibre high carbohydrate foods such as white rice, potato and adding liquid carbs in the form of juice or soft drink at each meal. Planning this out and using an app to help keep you on track to eat the amount you’ll need to get through is critical since it’ll be much more food than usual. Remember race day nutrition isn’t every day nutrition!

Plan in advance and practice your fuelling strategy in training

Last year when I rode Snowy Classic I totally went in with the mindset of having an awesome day out on the bike. I wasn’t keen to race it due to the months of rain and lack of training. I knew I could do the distance, but not being my ‘usual’ level of Girona fitness I wasn’t going to be breaking any records on the course. So my fuelling consisted of pizza shapes, natural confectionary jelly snakes and whatever I picked up along the feed zones (Coke, fruit cake, sandwiches, chips etc).

Rather than just using one type of food source, you can use different foods, fuels and fluids at different points of the event according to the gradient, technicality and intensity you’ll be riding at the time. 

A tip is to study the ride profile and use that to plan out your nutrition strategy. Are you going to go self supported and carry everything you need with you or rely on the rest stops? Where are the hills? Where are the feed zones? How long is it going to take you to get between certain segments? What are you going to eat when?

At 85km into the Snowy Classic you’ll be confronted with the killer climb that is Beloka hill. To muscle your way up without having to unclip, you want to make sure you are well fuelled long before you arrive and here liquid rapid carbs will serve you better than solid food choices. By starting to fuel earlier in the day, you’ll find the climbs at the end of the day much more manageable than you would by under-fuelling.

Don’t forget your recovery nutrition after you finish

This is where my nutrition strategy fell apart at the debut Snowy Classic (proof that even sports dietitians aren’t perfect!). In my excitement of riding in such an awesome place and meeting new people, I completely forgot about recovery nutrition. I wandered into a supermarket with the plan of buying some food or fluids to help with recovery (my choice default is chocolate milk) but because I wasn’t feeling hungry at the time didn’t feel like eating anything I saw. So I didn’t. Rookie mistake!

This meant that when I left the village an hour or two later after chatting with new friends, on the 10km climb back to my accommodation I hunger flatted. My energy dropped SO BAD to the point that I couldn’t even measure my glucose levels at the time they had crashed so low! I sat there on the side of the highway for a good 20 minutes, finishing off any remaining jelly snakes and shapes before I was in a position to get back on the bike again.

Learn from my mistake and think about what you will eat after you’ve finished your ride. You want a combination of food and fluids containing carbohydrate, protein for both rapid and long-term recovery. Chocolate milk or a smoothie can be a great starting point, but make sure you team it with some solid food and enjoy a full meal as soon as you can.

This can include a burger and a celebratory drink or two, if you drink alcohol. Sports dietitian approved! 

The post Fuel In The Tank, Nutrition For The Snowy Classic appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

Called the Buffalo bike and named after the tough African animal, this durable steed is ideal for the job it’s called upon to perform. It’s the flagship of the charity, World Bicycle Relief (WBR), that was founded in 2005 by FK Day (Founder of SRAM) and Leah Missbach Day following the Indian Ocean tsunami.

While meeting with aid groups on the ground in Sri Lanka, the Days realised the potential value a bicycle distribution program could provide. With support from SRAM and other industry leaders, FK and Leah launched WBR, and delivered over 24,000 bicycles to displaced survivors in Sri Lanka, providing access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods while reconnecting entire communities.

For most people in the developed world like Australia, a bicycle is recreational. But for many in developing countries, it is an inexpensive, sustainable form of mobility, that can mean the difference between seeing a doctor, getting to school, or making a living – or not.

WBR developed the Buffalo bike as its own sturdy bicycle to handle the rough, punishing conditions, and the bikes we ride for leisure are unsuitable.

The Bike

The Buffalo Bicycle is engineered for heavy loads, long distances, and rugged terrain, using high-quality parts and materials designed specifically to meet riders’ needs.

Unsurprisingly, it’s quite heavy but it provides a smooth ride, particularly on bitumen roads in suburban Sydney. I rode it around my suburb including a couple of trips to the local supermarket and other localities. Being a single-speed, I was reluctant to tackle any steep hills but a gentle incline was no issue.

The ride position is very upright so it feels vastly different from the road bike I’m used to riding, but it has an indestructible persona that you don’t get when riding a lighter bike. I found the back-pedal brake a challenge, after riding a bike with hand-operated brakes, it seemed like a throwback to my childhood.

But unlike my road bike, the Buffalo is built for simplicity and low maintenance.

The bikes are manufactured by Giant in Taiwan, with all bicycles assembled locally. WBR employs more than 50 assemblers globally, to build and deliver the rugged bikes.

Let’s start with the drivetrain. It’s a single-speed with heavy-duty cranks and chain. It has a coaster (back-pedal) internal-hub brake making it robust and easily serviced. The bottom bracket (we all love to talk about bottom brackets, particularly with ceramic bearings!) has caged bearings with a heat-treated, hardened spindle.

The frame and fork are built to carry heavy loads which might be several people at once or loads of cargo. The rear rack is designed to carry 100 kg! – although I didn’t get anywhere near that weight for my test ride. I have visited Rwanda, a country in central Africa where WBR has previously operated and seen first-hand the large amount of cargo many people carry on their bikes. They often don’t ride the bike, instead, it is so loaded up with cargo that the rider pushes it along the road instead!

WBR tells me that the Buffalo is tested to be ten times stronger than traditional bikes. The frame is heavy-gauge steel that is TIG-welded and comes in only one size to fit most riders. I’m just 160 cm in height and I rode it with ease. The whole bike is designed to be compatible with common spare parts.

“…I have visited Rwanda where WBR has previously operated and seen first-hand the large amount of cargo many people carry on their bikes…”

The frame is complemented by heavy-duty steel rims with, stainless steel spokes, and puncture-resistant nylon casing, long-wear tyres. I rode it without fear of getting a puncture on my local streets. I figured if the bike can be ridden over rough dirt roads in Africa, it could easily sustain my local pot-holed streets.

The model I tested also included a front brake operated by a lever on the handlebars. WBR explained that this is a recent addition to the bike which has been included after feedback from riders. As mentioned earlier, many Buffalo bike owners use the bike to carry cargo and push it rather than ride, and a hand-operated brake ensures they can slow down a little easier.

Finally, the Buffalo has a comfortable durable seat (no Lycra padding required), an easily adjusted steel seat post, flat pedals with forged axles, steel fenders, and heavy-duty chain guard. It also has a locking, spring-loaded stand at the rear which makes it very easy to keep the bike stable when you’re not riding and to load up.

The Charity

An integral part of WBR’s program is the 2,600-plus trained field mechanics who ensure that riders have regular access to quality maintenance and spare parts. The charity also operates more than 50 local retail shops, where people can purchase spare parts and invest in a Buffalo Bicycle.

WBR works with companies, governments, collaborators, and competitors to scale the availability of quality bicycles, especially for women and girls. Its short-term goal is to distribute one million bicycles and to empower five million people by 2025. The long-term vision is to inspire all sectors to address the transportation needs of nearly one billion people who lack access to all-weather roads and transport.

WBR is currently operating in Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and since 2005 has delivered programs in more than 15 countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Can I buy one?

Not exactly. While a Buffalo bike costs around $200, they are not typically for sale to the general public. What you can do is buy one for somebody else – a person or group of people in serious need of transport for a myriad of life-changing reasons. For more on how you can help WBR email au@worldbicyclerelief.org Or visit https://worldbicyclerelief.org/australia-office/ 

Several features have contributed to the success of World Bicycle Relief’s Buffalo bike including the 100kg payload, the sturdy and simple build, back-pedal brakes and the tool kit – a shifting spanner.

The Bottom Line

• The Buffalo bike weighs 23 kg

• 635,478 Buffalo Bicycles have been distributed

• $215 pays for the cost of a Buffalo bike

• 2,680 mechanics trained

• 50 Buffalo bicycle shops have been established

The post Ridden & Reviewed: World Bicycle Relief’s Buffalo Bike appeared first on Bicycling Australia.

Long Sleeved Jersey Of The Year

A quality long-sleeved jersey is hard to come by, and for many Australian-based cyclists this is a real shame. With the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, staying smart, using sunscreen and minimising exposure harmful UV rays is critically important. 

There’s nothing worse than a long-sleeved jersey with too short a sleeves, and sadly even some offerings from the bigger manufacturers are short on the wrists when a rider is in the drops … if you’re trying to stay sun smart you don’t want red striped wrists!

Over the past few months our go-to jersey has been the Opera from Ciovita. This quality long sleever has proved exceptional in a range of conditions from cool early mornings to hot and sunny afternoons. Along with other LS jerseys from the company, this features ample sleeve lengths that fully cover the arm, even when in the drops and various other hand positions.

Ciovita is a relatively new brand here in Australia, and it’s fair to say kit companies can come and go very quickly. But given Ciovita’s heritage and reputation in South Africa and the quality of the gear, plus speed of delivery, we rate it very highly, particularly their long-sleeved jerseys and their unique winter puffer, the Apex Contego. 

More at www.ciovita.com.au

Bike Security Gear of the Year 

Bike security is more critical than ever, and sadly we hear of more and more bikes going missing. 

A smart solution to help locate a missing bike is to purchase a humble bottle cage or saddle tag holder from Lezyne. ”How would a bottle cage help me find my bike?” you might ask. Well these cages contain a hidden Apple AirTag holder

“We’ve developed three innovative products to discreetly hide an Apple AirTag on a bicycle,” say Lezyne. “Use our best bike tracking devices to help locate a lost or stolen bike.”

In addition to the bottle cages, the company offer the Matrix Saddle Tagger that discreetly attaches underneath a bike seat by clamping onto its rails. This IP67 waterproof-rated twist-lock design is clamped to the saddle rails and held together by a small but strong security bolt.

While AirTag’s typically have a range similar to Bluetooth devices, Apple’s ‘Find My’ network opens up the potential to find lost or stolen bikes virtually anywhere there’s a phone signal. According to Apple, the Find My network is a crowdsourced way to link countless Apple devices to detect missing items fitted with an AirTag. Their approximate location is then reported back to the owner, via the Find My app. 

Lezyne offers the Martrix Saddle Tagger, Matrix Air Cage and Matrix Bike Tagger and we reckon they are worthy candidates for Security Gear of the Year.

More at www.ride.lezyne.com

New Supplement & Nutrition of the Year

Australian company Pillar Performance seems to be gaining popularity rather quickly. For the past three months of so we have been reviewing a variety of their health support or micro nutrition products. In that time, it’s easy to see why Pillar is growing fast.

The Triple Magnesium is our standout, and it includes three specially chosen forms of magnesium to help reduce muscle cramps and aid rest and recovery.

So far as helping ease debilitating cramps, the magnesium mix has proven very effective.

Complaining about ongoing cramps while speaking to the team behind Pillar at the 2022 Bowral Classic, they told us the secret to the product’s success were the three types of magnesium used. 

Magnesium is not only important to help reduce cramping, but to also reduce sleeplessness or insomnia, and general heart health as well.

Pillar Performance’s Triple Magnesium is available in Natural Berry, Pineapple Coconut & tablet form. We now use it daily and highly recommend it.

More at www.pillarperformance.shop

Smart Release Of The Year: The Cleat Key

Every now and then a new product really stands out from the pack, and this is definitely one of them!

The Cleat Key is a tool designed to help any cyclist properly install their road bike cleats. This quality tool helps set the correct cleat rotation angle, thus helping set perfect position without any frustrating trial and error.

A properly positioned cleat is one of the most important fitting measurements as it helps ensure maximum power and performance while minimising the risk of repetitive type injuries. 

Setting up a new pair of shoes is a cinch with this. We have a demo model in the office andit’s brilliant!

The Cleat-Key is available online direct from the manufacturer and retails for $US89.

More at https://www.cleat-key.com

New Tyre Release of the Year

Vittoria has recently launched the new Corsa N.EXT tubeless ready tyre, made from a unique compound technology that combines Graphene with Silica, a material which specifically improves road tyre performance.

Silica, added to Graphene, boosts the tyre performance, and consistently provides longer mileage and grip.

The tyre fills the gap between the Pro Competition and Advance Training models and features a nylon casing.

Headline figures include 9 per cent less rolling resistance, 32 per cent more grip and a stated 21 per cent more puncture resistance.

Made with a 100 TPI (thread per inch) nylon casing, Vittoria say their engineers have focused on the requirements of enthusiast cyclists who clock up the miles on long and demanding weekly rides. “These riders are competitive – always looking to improve their performance and riding experience,” they say.

To increase puncture protection, the central section of the casing features 3 layers of nylon as well as an additional puncture protection belt. The tyre resistance is further increased at the bead level with a chafer – an extra protective layer of nylon wrapping the bead. The high-tech bead has been designed to ease the tyre mounting and inflation for both tube-type and tubeless constructions.

Available now with RRP’s ranging from $86.95 to $98.95. More at your local GKA Sports or Vittoria stockist.

Cycling Shoe of the Year

So impressed with the Tempo Decos carbon cycling shoes from Fizik, long-time Bicycling Australia writer and reviewer Peter Maniaty has recommended them as the standout new cycling shoe of the year. 

While they don’t come cheap at well over $450 per pair, they are truly fabulous cycling shoes. Plus, like anything, you get what you pay for. Fizik describes the Tempo Decos Carbon as “a performance road shoe for riders outside of the demanding pro peloton.” 

The Tempo Decos are light, minimalist in design and classically European. With Shimano blue cleats attached, the review shoes (size 44) weighed in at an impressive 490g for the pair, or 245g each.

They fitted true to size, and also come in wider sizings.

Peter wrote that “Fizik’s unidirectional carbon R2 soles are another standout, with a well-deserved stiffness rating of 10/10,” … high praise indeed.

The other interesting tech is the rearward cleat positioning on the Decos. Fizik has located the cleat bolt holes slightly further back than traditional riding shoes in what it says is an effort to optimise pedalling efficiency and relieve knee pressure in more aero riding positions. 

“With uber-crisp minimalist styling from head to toe, you’ll go a long way to find a more elegant choice of cycling footwear than Tempo Decos,” he concluded. 

More at www.fizik.com or at your local Fizik dealer.

Rear Light of the Year 

MagicShine are a smaller player in the bike light world but head into just about any local bike shop, ask about them, and chances are you’ll hear a positive review.

For the past six-months or so we’ve been using the SeeMee 200 rear light and it is very impressive.

These small, square shaped lights offer a surprising amount of technology, along with incredible lighting, particularly given their size and price point. The SeeMee features a coloured LED light rather than a red lens cover, and on the underside has a secondary, downward facing light that illuminates the rear wheel. This helps provide close to 360 degrees of visibility and was reassuring during winter rides.

There are a multitude of modes in both lights, and also an in built brake sensor. Triggered internally via a sudden change in velocity, the brake lights for three seconds at 200 lumens (in the 200 model).

Battery life of up to 50 hours is possible. The light is also waterproof and has a micro USB charge port neatly hidden behind a rubber flap on the mount.

Ask for them at your local bike store or visit www.magicshine.com.au

SeeMee 200 RRP $79.99

The Smart Trainer Winner(s) – Zwift Hub & The Wattbike Atom

So important to cycling, we have selected two very different smart trainers as ‘Gear of the Year’ winners – one at the entry level price point and the other more the Rolls Royce of the sector.

Over the past five or so years, smart trainers have become some of the most important ancillary devices to the sport of cycling. Flick through your Strava feed or watch riders warming up at any pro race, and you’ll see that smart trainers play a pivotal part in all aspects of our sport.

For those looking for a more substantial smart trainer, a machine that’s pro-gym ready, built like a tank, but acutely accurate, the Wattbike Atom remains our all time favourite.

Bicycling Australia have been long-term testing a Wattbike Atom for two years now. The trainer remains near silent, in near new condition, and is the most comfortable, realistic and reliable smart trainer we’ve ever used. Sure it is the Rolls Royce of indoor trainers, but at $5K here in Australia is about the same price as a middle of the road bike. 

At just over 40 kilos in weight, and with a RRP of just under $5000, the Atom is certainly substantial in every way. 

But it’s also bulletproof, simple to setup, easy to adjust, and offers every training feature you could ever wish for. 

More at www.au.wattbike.com

Zwift Hub

Zwift’s first own brand smart trainer gets our gong as Entry Level Smart Trainer of the Year. Far simpler, and with way less bells and whistles than some of the bigger names, why the gong? The Zwift Hub gets our tick of approval for two main reasons and they are A: the cost and B: its heritage.

The cost – one of the lowest best priced entry point smart trainers, the Hub will help get more people training and ultimately see more kilometres ridden. To the heritage of the Hub, and it clearly has a strong connection to the Aussie success story, the Jet Black Volt.

Zwift’s Hub simplifies smart trainers. It’s easy to purchase, a cinch to synch to Bluetooth or ANT+ heart rate monitors and includes whatever cassette you choose. The Hub is also quiet, and very accurate. Nice work Zwift (and Jet Black).

Garmin Edge Solar

For those who have been riding for a decade or more, Garmin will likely have fitted into the journey at some stage. Think back to such popular products as the Edge 500 or 605 … classic units and on just about every second bike back in the day, but antiquated now.

Garmin recently launched its first bike computer with solar charging, the Edge 1040. Solar on a bike computer makes a ridiculous amount of sense, with the devices being perfectly positioned to make the most of our largest (and cheapest) energy source.

With a battery life of up to 10 times of the aforementioned predecessors, and the incorporation of solar, the Edge 1040 is our pick for the top tech item of the year.

Inclusions are too long to list, with the standout features being phenomenal accuracy due to the internal multi-band GNSS satellite tracking. There is a no fuss USC – C charge port, 

The unit makes navigation a breeze and includes smart features such as automatic course re-routing for those who occasionally miss a turn.

The ClimbPro feature also helps you plan for upcoming climbs via showing colour coded changes in gradient – very handy. 

Yes it’s packed with features, but is also one of the largest bike GPS / computers out there – it’s 90mm diagonal across the 282×470px colour touch screen.

The impressive Edge 1040 is packed with everything you need, but that luxury does come with a price tag. Expect to pay around $1000 for the pleasure of using one of the world’s premium bike computers.

More info and your nearest stockist at www.garmin.com

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