This weeks new brand to arrive at PBK is the Kinesis range of frames and forks.

Taking a box of inanimate parts, some new, some well used and trusted and then tinkering until you come up with a whole new creation that feels familiar but is totally different to ride is a great thing to do!

Putting the work in and getting some grease under your fingernails to create something unique makes the first ride even sweeter. The enquiring glances you will get, feel good too.

Our PBK technical support team are here for you along the way to make sure your build goes smoothly.

BUILD IT. RIDE WHAT YOU CREATE. STAND APART.

The experience starts here.

We’re getting in a full range of frames, for road, cross and urban applications. Kinesis have been making frames for over 10 years and have now launched their ‘DECADE’ range:

Innovation, Adaptability, Detailing, Quality and Affordability.

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Many of you may know Kinesis for their road cycling team who have been wearing Morvelo clothing and riding the distincive white and blue themed bikes with the kit being orange/black.

They have a great ethos behind the team, “it’s not where you finished but the story and adventure behind it.”

Anything to do with the experience and highs and lows of riding and racing bicycles.

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So onto the bikes:

The Racelight T2/Tk2 – “the benchmark for aluminium frames”

The T2 and Tk2 are designed to excel in the winter and perform  as an all year round race frame, more than capable of dealing with the dings and bangs which would take their toll on a super lightweight carbon frame.

Developed and refined over many years, this has become the default choice for club riders and Pro’s over the winter months. There is a 48cm version which has been introduced to suit female riders and juniors. The difference between the two is that that T2 uses 7005 aluminium tubing whereas the Tk2 uses advanced, smooth welded Kinesium tubing.

Kinesium: enhanced 6000 series Aluminium alloy, which is 25% stronger than 6061 at the same weight level, manufactured in house at the Kinesis factory.

Built up they are a great looking bike, we are only stocking the frames, components will need to be bought separately which we are on hand to help with.

These both have ample clearance for guards along with rack mounts and clearance for wider tyres (please note that long reach brakes have to be used on these frames to account for the extra clearance).

The rear stays are ‘anti roadshock’ which give maximum comfort for those longer rides.

The Tk2 features a top tube with a ‘power bulge’ in it. Wide at the front, tapering slightly at the middle  for stiffness while the oversize and aero downtube is aero at the top, becoming ovalised at the BB for maximum power transfer.

The Tk2: “…impeccable handling…more than lives up to it’s claims”

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The Racelight KR-210L – “designed specifically for junior and female riders”

Taking a full size road race frame and simply scaling it down is the mistake that many frame builders make, a smaller, lighter rider does not require the same tubing as the average male pro. The KR-210L uses lighter and smaller dia. chain and seat stays and SPF thin wall front triangle, this keeps things light and responsive and smooths out the ride for lower weight riders.
A shorter top tube is important for comfortable reach from seat to bars, as is a smaller frame height for more stand over clearance.

The KR-210L has four sizes from 40 to 49cm and virtual top tubes of 49 to 53cm, it also has short head tubes to minimise standover and bar height.

Short, small frames with full size wheels can cause toe overlap problems, so the KR-210L has slacker head angles to help avoid this and also lengthen the wheelbase and tame the handling.

A custom painted, aero blade, carbon fork with lightweight dropouts completes the package.

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The DECADE Convert2 – “the thinking man’s fixed!”

The DECADE range of frames is aimed to represent the virtues that have helped build the success of Kinesis in the UK.

Modern riding has changed, the commuter is not always happy to ride a heavy, slow hybrid. Decade framesets are designed with adaptability firmly at the top of the list and fit niches that are not properly catered for by the mass manufacturers.

The key to this frame is the clever ‘Swopout’ replaceable dropouts which mean that you can easily and quickly swap from vertical 130mm spacing to horizontal 120mm spacing for a track hub. This is not a twitchy, super tight angled, high BB track frame, it is designed to be totally usable and will take mudguards and a rack, a triple and mech or strip it right back and run it fixed.

“Great handling, great looking, adaptable machine…don’t chuck it in the shed until the following winter, make it fixed and carry on commuting. A neat, clever, cool bike that we’ve really enjoyed our time with”

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A good indication of how good a brand’s products are is how us staff respond and react to handling the frames out of the box. So far it’s all been ‘oohs’ and ‘ooh that’s neat’. The paint jobs are top notch and the prices really can’t be argued with. If you need a cross bike, a winter, training, women’s or general hack definitely give these a second glance, the next few staff bikes are looking like they’ll be of the Kinesis flavour.

Although it’s tempting to just test the new expensive products which arrive here at PBK, I have to admit to you all that I love a bargain and hate spending my money on more expensive items, when there are products that fit the bill perfectly at a lower price point.

A quick look around the cycling websites makes you soon realise that pedals are an area where you can spend £40 – £400, choose from multiple brands, cleat types and pedal materials for a marginal difference in weight.

This week we have in some Look Keo PLUS pedals which are a limited edition run similar to the very popular Keo Classics.

The blurb says: “A limited edition pedal from Look which boasts the same features and performance as the Keo Classic such as smooth entry and exit, lightweight composite body and durable construction. This model retains the adjustable tensions setting allowing you to tune release and entry tension with a simple allen key.”

First impressions: a very similar pedal to the Classic with a nice simple body, adjustable release tension and a set of grey (4.5°) cleats to complete the package.

Most people who’ve been cycling for a few years will have ridden or owned a set of Look pedals at some point. I started on the old Look Delta’s and then moved onto the Keo Classics and now have a bike with Classics, one with Keo Sprints and one with Keo 2 MAX’s.

Admittedly they do all squeak when the cleat and pedal gets dirty but this is curable and this model does specifically say it’s been designed NOT to squeak – no more cursing at your pedals on that climb!

You could say I’m biased, but in terms of value for money and cost – gram ratio, they can’t be beaten.

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On the scales these PLUS’s weigh 127g per pedal and given that a Shimano Dura-Ace pedal is claimed to weight approx 140g and cost much more, this seems like a very good buy. Of course some will say that you aren’t getting the stainless steel body of the Shimano which is very tough and will not wear like the Look body,but given that a pedal spends most of its time flying through the air and shouldn’t ever really touch the ground (if it does you’re doing something wrong) and has only a plastic cleat rubbing against it, I don’t see this as a problem.

The pedals can be ‘re-built’ if you have one of the red tools for unscrewing the end-cap although it is very well sealed so shouldn’t need doing for a few years yet.

The pedals also have adjustable release tension which allows you to tune the release tension to you’re liking. It can be set low for beginners to easily clip in and out or wound right up for even the strongest of riders.

The grey cleats have 4.5° of float which is enough for most people and if you have had knee problems in the past, you can buy the red cleats which give 9°.

For £45 (at present) you can get a pedal which is light and has enough performance to suit all levels of cyclist. If you’ve been thinking of buying a new set of pedals or having a go at this clipless malarkey, then these would be the first place to look. (If you pardon the pun).

Click here to view them at ProBikeKit.com

The 2010-2011 season PBK Team Kit has finally arrived just in time for the Tour de France and the British summer and although the look is similar, we have moved the goalposts with the design and manufacture. The quality and design of the PBK Team Kit outshines most team kits on the market (at any price) and some of the design specifications leave others wanting. Before you say it yes, we are a touch biased here, but when you put your heart and soul into the design and development of something like this, you can’t help it! Also, we know that our reputation means we can’t offer you anything sub standard either, so you can rest assured it’s top quality!

Aero Jersey: This brand new short sleeved jersey is ideal for flap free low drag racing. This second skin fitted jersey in a supportive MOA exclusive Lycra offers a degree of compression to reduce muscle fatigue and has special mesh side panels and nape section to help control the airflow therefore reducing drag. This makes you more aero and also actively aids cooling. The Aero Jersey still has 3 easy access rear pockets and a hidden full length zip, as demanded by our racing team!

Chris (4^th Cat and Proud) on the Aero jersey: “It has been designed specifically for racing and fast training. The cut of the jersey is figure-hugging and the sleeves are Lycra to prevent any annoying flapping in the wind. There are mesh panels up the sides and at the top of the neck. After testing it out on a ride at the end of a muggy, warm day, these honestly do a good job of dissipating some of the heat and sweat to keep you comfortable and more focused on the road ahead.”

Bib Short: The Aero Jersey is something for the racers, but the bib short is perhaps the best piece of the 2010/2011 range. They are suitable for all, from racers to sportive riders and no wishy washy prints here! The shorts are made from hard wearing, muscle supporting, Power Lycra with an additional ultra high wear resistant crotch area. The logos are super stretch heat stable silicon prints (allowing Power Lycra to be used for the whole short). We then use a printed Lycra power band instead of the cheaper leg grippers found on most team items! The power band provides extra comfort and support without chaffing, there is a super cool mesh upper and we even include a radio pocket! Race radio or MP3 player the choice is yours, (but please ride responsibly). A firm and supportive anti bacterial pad finishes off a very high spec short.

Chris on the Bib Short
“These are some of the best racing bibs I’ve worn. After just a few pedal strokes the power-band leg grippers find their position and then stay there with a re-assuring amount of compression – not once after this did I notice them. They also look great! The pad has proved comfy so far, it’s plenty wide enough and light-weight.”

Team Gilet: Again after lots of feed back from team riders and customers we bring you not one but two Gilets. A gilet really is an essential piece in any cyclists’ wardrobe and as such, we put lots of effort into their design. The Summer Gilet has a lightweight windproof front with a full mesh back. Designed for racing, protection on alpine descents and just those cool morning/evening rides where you may get caught out! It offers chest protection and great breathability in a garment that can easily be stowed in a jersey pocket (we still managed to squeeze some reflex on though!!) The Winter Gilet is made from a heavy weight windproof fabric called ‘Mantovent’ and has been treated to offer very good water protection, (the seams aren’t sealed though) so it should protect you from showers and misty rides. It features 3 rear pockets and again some reflex detailing, which are ideal for days when you need some good upper body protection, but don’t want a sweaty jacket on. I’m thinking damp cold races, long early season sportives or cold dry training days.

Chris on the Gilet: “One of my favourite pieces of kit. I wear a gilet in all conditions purely as a wind break on descents and don’t seem to notice much extra warmth on the way up. It also keeps everything in your back jersey pockets stable and rattle free – priceless! Whether you’re training, riding to a race, warming up, the windproof front and back cater for persistent downpours. Again, I hope I can’t test the winter gilet for a while! When racing, a good gilet won’t make itself noticed. If you really get too hot, they also fold up nice and small.”

Winter Jacket: We haven’t changed a thing here, as we feel that we got this piece right first time (just a graphic change). Our Manto Winter Jacket has been a long term favourite with racers and real cyclists and the small design additions makes this jacket far exceed other similar offerings (even at higher prices). The Addition of the Lycra cuffs, stretch sides and double collar, its ability to shrug off a shower and the excellent Manto fabrics unique blend of warmth/windproofness make this a winner. Ever conscious of safety, we have incorporated reflective piping to help a little with poor light and night visibility.

Chris on the winter jacket: “We’ll hopefully have to wait a long long time to test its performance in sub-zero conditions, but I can tell you that the fabrics in this jacket are top notch. The front panels are breathable, water and wind proof while the interior is brushed thermal fleece like the L/S jersey to keep you cosy. The jacket also has a high collar and Lycra cuffs to keep drafts out and warmth in. If you need a winter jacket, do take a serious look at this.”

Training Jersey: The Training Jersey is actually the same cut and material as last years Race Jersey just with a full hidden zipper. It is a great piece and very cool despite peoples preconceptions of black. It’s very comfortable and an essential for every fan of PBK. Great training and race wear especially for those of us with a less than gaunt figure.

Chris on the Training Jersey: “Slightly more relaxed though I was surprised at how well fitting it was. I know we’re bound to be a touch biased, but I really mean this, I certainly wouldn’t be ashamed to go racing in it and the extra comfort will be welcome on longer rides.”

There is also a ‘Little Snow’ Winter Jersey which is ideal for pre race warm ups or can be used with the winter gilet for cool weather and long days out in the saddle. Pull on mitts and you have the complete look. There are more items to come as well, including Winter Tights (again silicon printed), Team Skinsuits (but check out the plain skinsuit on the site now) and TT Overshoes.

There’s never been a better time to get kitted out and join the biggest cycling team in the world. Whether you want to go for the full PBK Team look or compliment your wardrobe with the addition of a piece of PBK Team kit, there will be something for everyone. Don’t forget to send us pictures of you in your team kit, so we can share them with your global team mates!

The highlight of all our seasons is taking place this weekend in Surrey. The Action Medical Research 24 hour race around the BBC’s famous Top Gear test track starts at midday  Saturday and finishes at midday on Sunday, followed by a celebration lunch and a well earned beer (or two..).

There is still chance to enter our prize draw – click above to go to the website.

How have we been preparing?

Dave: Lots and lots of miles including a 24hr race last weekend. It has hopefully given Dave some wisdom of how a 24 works and how we can utilise the time and hone the change-over to perfection. See Dave at the Castelli 24hr race here interviewing a Cervelo Test Team Pro . There can’t be much better preparation than doing an identical event!

Nick: Some miles including a 24hr race 2 years ago. He’s now fully recovered having been on a diet of Port, noodles and black coffee.

Fatty (Adrian): Some big rides around the lakes in the last few weeks. He may have had some time off the bike, but he can still give as good as it gets on the flat, which is ideal on a windy airfield!

Chris: Many miles and a couple of TT’s. Hailing from Lincolnshire, the flat parts are the least of my worries. All this effort has been undertaken (mainly) to have an excuse for rather a lot of red wine afterwards.

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Logistics!

The race is over 300 miles away, so planning is key here. The day before leaving and we have some Light and Motion lights arriving along with a massive sugar stash to help us through the night.

There is a long list of items for the van: spare tubes, tyres, wheels and chains. Thankfully we get all our food provided so a pasta-fest will ensue from 12:00 onwards. We will also have to make sure we eat after riding to recover well for the next stint – nothing feels worse than going out on tired legs.

Does beer count towards carbo loading?

Along with rollers, bikes and tents, this alone should almost fill the van. I’ve only been camping once, so a Saturday night spent camping and riding my bike sounds great! (I’ve factored in an hour to pitch my tent). We now have to come up with some tactics – something which we will have plenty of time to discuss on the drive down (Driving while England are playing their second group match in the 2010 Football World Cup – brilliant timing).

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Now for the plea and questions:

• Have you raced a 24hr event? Tips please!

• Does anyone have tips for racing in changing light conditions, with the pits floodlit and the outfield pitch black.

• Any games we could play while out riding/the journey down to pass the time?

• If you haven’t sponsored us, have a look at the great prizes you can win – they may change your mind! They include Speedplay pedals, DT Swiss wheels, Lezyne Tools, PBK Team kit and lots of energy food. Also in there is a Giro helmet and glasses package worth £150.

I’ll be doing a full report of the weekend’s events in next weeks blog, so you can get a first hand account of a 24 hour race from a weekend warrior!

The next instalment of my 4^th cat and proud diaries have seen me dipping into the previously alien world of Time Trial! This is a discipline I’ve never really taken to before, as it always seemed to me to be devoid of the thrill associated with riding at speed, in a pack and one for the reclusive types.

I thought wrong! My first 10 in what must be 3 years proved to be a lung-busting effort rewarded by a time of 25:45 which given the weekends wine consumption (large) wasn’t too bad. Although the whole ‘if you don’t feel sick at the finish you haven’t tried hard enough’ mantra isn’t so funny or rewarding when you have a line of cars behind waiting for the lights to change!

The next sporting 10 course soon had me sweating buckets and my legs on fire. For this ride I made sure I had my trusty PBK oversocks/Belgian booties with me and although a basic addition to your kit, it does make a fair difference in time and in reducing drag. Not a bad result for PBK though, Dave destroyed the field true to his ‘climber’ claim, coming in 1st covering the 14 miles course in just 30 mins!

Oversocks were the first purchase I made to have a bash at TT’ing. While reducing drag (everything helps right?!) they look smooth and sleek and also if it does start to rain they keep your shoes protected to an extent. They’re also one of those items which once you start using you wonder how you managed without, they suit morning rides, cafe runs and evening races taking everything in-between in their stride.

We have a large choice of oversocks here and mine were PBK team issue and did the job perfectly. If you’re after some, look out for:

• Elastic/silicone grippers at the tops.
• A cam-lock rear zipper – this will prevent them coming undone and rattling.
• Well stitched cleat cut-outs/cleat cut outs full stop. The ones which require you to cut them yourself may be cheaper but they’ll soon be worn out.
• Colour co-ordination with your team/race kit – being stopped by the fashion police mid-race is never a good situation to be in!

These would be an ideal starter, tough (the material seems to have left its mark on my crank arms without wearing at all!) and stretchy enough for all brands of shoe:

DeFeet PBK Oversocks:

£18, available in black or pro white (you know you deserve the white ones!) and machine washable.

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If you’re feeling flush and want the very best pair of overshoes on the market, the Castelli Aero Race oversocks fit the bill perfectly. If the guys at Cervelo Test Team wear them they can’t be bad!

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The next step would be some clip on extensions or time trial bars. Most countries/racing bodies won’t let you race normal road races with extensions so you need these to be easy to fit and remove as your race diary sees fit. Most only need an allen key or two to fit which keeps things simple. Starting at around £90 these aren’t cheap, but you’ll reap the benefits of being lower and more aero. Click for a selection of our range:

Pay a bit more for carbon extensions and the reduced weight and road buzz. The alloy ones will prove more durable especially if these are your first along with the inevitable battles which will ensue with doors, walls, car boots etc…

When buying you have the choice of:

• Carbon or alloy extensions – carbon is less harsh, though note that the weight saving from carbon – alloy is small.
• Different bends in the extensions – straight or s-bend allow you to achieve different positions.

Dave, one of our staff racers is riding at the minute with some white Pro carbon extensions and he seems pleased and they certainly aren’t slowing him down. Before buying please make sure that you have room on your bars to fit them and also that your bars are made to accept them – a lot of carbon bars won’t, but most alloy bars will be OK. You’ll probably have to take your computer off, not a bad thing as it’ll distract you while riding and in my case it’s likely to only read-out bad news – which can be off-putting while racing. Click here for Tri Bars on PBK:

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For fast courses a specific TT helmet will be of benefit. These are the ones which people (often co-workers and distant family friends) when informed you’re a cyclist ask if you wear one of those ‘long pointy helmets’. They have a long rear wing to smooth airflow and give you more seconds against the clock. They also tend to have less venting, lord knows how I’m going to cope given that my regular helmet has had me undergoing water torture with sweat beading almost straight away.

I am a fan of the Ekoi range, a French company with some strikingly coloured lids. The Chrono CX TT helmet comes in garish pink, green and plenty of other less obvious colours to suit. If you’re going to ride regularly on fast dual carriage ways a bright crash helmet may be of benefit and somewhere where the fashion police may turn a blind eye. In terms of cost, the Ekoi is at the lower end of the range but by no means lacking (it has all the important stamps).

For the Ekoi range of helmets click here.

Costing approximately £100, it is an investment but is the next step-up in TT equipment.

If you’re feeling flush, Selev do an all singing and all dancing TT helmet at nearer £200:

It has the added feature of: An in-built visor, deeper ear pads, plenty of vents and again the important safety stamps.

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Time trials are a race against the clock and a test of your own prowess. By buying specific kit you are going to improve your times but nothing will knock those seconds off faster than training more and harder.

After you’ve completed your first few TT’s and have got a feel for it, you may want to take it further. If you are looking at putting more serious money into this, a set of wheels is probably on your list prior to going the whole hog and buying a TT bike. We have a selection of TT wheelsets here at PBK, they usually consist of a deep section front wheel and a disc rear. Reynolds even do a clincher pair so everyone is catered for.

Time trials are a great way to get into the sport and everyone I’ve ever met at a TT is friendly, in fact the lack of racing against each other makes for a great atmosphere and certainly none of the arguments and issues which come with pack racing. Also don’t forget the time and effort which the time keeper and club volunteers put in to make your evening fuss free – they really do deserve far more credit than they receive, without them there would be no events. Also don’t forget they could probably still kick your behind on a circuit which they know like the back of their hand!

Any tips for beginner TT’ers? Please let us know below…

Stick at it and one day you may even end up looking like this:

They are an often overlooked and forgotten about piece of kit, yet you rely on it every time you ride – your trusty computer. With the new Garmin and Polar computers feeding you more figures than anyone has time to analyse, I think its nice to get back to basics and look good while out putting the miles in. The Cateye Strada wireless is surely the best for this:

More than happy to endure all the rain, snow and UV rays you can throw at it, the Strada tells you how fast, far and long you’ve been and is one of the most compact units out there. I’ve never been a fan of complicated computers and this one tells me everything I need.

To me, the sign of a good computer is one which you don’t think or worry about. The Strada does this and in short, it’s a very popular and well tested piece of kit.

It has 8 functions: speed, average speed, max speed, miles, trip miles 1 & 2, total time and clock.

I have to admit to using mine purely for ride time and speed, having the trip 1 and 2 though will make life much easier for those of you who often swap bikes.

A useful feature is the pace arrow which indicates whether you’re above or below the average for your ride. It urges you to push on on the last few climbs to keep the average high and is easy to read quickly (seen below on the left hand side).

The neat and compact computer is accompanied by a sleek and simple to fit stem or bar mount and a wireless sensor. The bracket is easily swapped between stem/bar direction and once trimmed it sits neatly and hasn’t come loose or slipped at all.

To swap between read-outs, all you need to do is press the bottom of the computer where the 3 dimples are and it rocks on the base to press a button on the underside and voila! This makes changing the screen while racing simple, all its needs is a finger, palm or swipe and knocking it out of the base seems very hard (something I’ve never done/seen).

The sensor is the ‘square’ type which just needs 2 zip ties around your fork or stay to keep it in place:

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Recently arrived here at PBK along with the white and black versions are a PINK and RED design. Also on order are the various TdF editions with POLKA DOT, GREEN JERSEY and YELLOW JERSEY designs.

Conclusions:

• Good looking and simple computer.
• Easy to fit to stem or bars and the sensor will fit almost any bike.
• Durable and hardy – no reliability issues.
• Simple to use, read and flick through the functions.
• Soon to be available in a variety of designs.
• Spares are widely available.
• Well priced (£45 at present at PBK).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CATEYE RANGE AT PROBIKEKIT.COM

The Giro has now moved round to Italy for the remaining stages and whether the Italian road furniture will feature as much is yet to be seen…we really do hope not.

With a team time trial yesterday in ‘changeable’ conditions the running order has been upset once again, with Liquigas-Doimo beating Team Sky by 13 seconds while the Astana team blew up in the final km’s and lost 38 seconds to Liquigas.

We thought we’d have a look at the bikes and kit which the Pro teams are using in the Giro and just how much of it is available to you hard-working people to give you that edge in your next race/TT.

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We covered last week how Di2 has made an impact on the cycling world, especially in the Pro Tour arena where the budgets are much larger than most of ours.

Given that these guys ride 1000’s of KM each year in training and racing, they wouldn’t be riding on Di2 if it had constant issues or regular problems. Since its releases Shimano have since added some more products – a thumb shifter for the classics riders which allows shifting while on the tops and finally the wiring kit for using TT bars is widely available. A lot of bike frame makers are now introducing ‘Di2 ready frames’ which have routes for internally routed cables – giving you a very neat and very smart bike. Well worth upgrading if you can afford it.

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Something which only we seem to have any stock of is the official Team Sky kit. With its understated blue and black design, quality manufacture and with a world-class Pro Team wearing it, there isn’t much not to like about it.

In the tough conditions everything but Wiggins’ white skinsuit looked as stylish as ever, the distinctive mitts making them obviously Team Sky through the torrential down-pours which many of the teams got hit with during the Team Time Trial.

Click here for our range of Team SKY Kit @ PBK

Sometimes the most interesting shots are the ones taken in the service area. Candid and often up-close views of the equipment and riders themselves when warming up are commonplace.  One team member who earns his money is the mechanic. These guys build the bikes prior to a stage, often have to tweak and adjust bikes on the move and then once finished its all go again – cleaning, maintaining and packing away if needed.
Because of this, their kit is always packed full of stuff which they know works and they know will work again and again, in the background of this picture:

…is the Park Team Race Stand and as anyone who’s tried adjusting derailleurs or fitting cablesets will know, doing so without a stand (although not impossible) is made so much easier with one. Being able to spin the drivetrain and check the gears and brakes really makes a big difference, if they weren’t necessary, then the Pro Teams wouldn’t bother. Available here.

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For your heroic cornering efforts you need grippy and dependable rubber. This picture of Cadel trying to make up time shows just how far you can push the bike if you trust your tyres:

Although a lot of re-badging goes on in the Pro peloton, you can just make out the Conti markings on the side of the tub. Since 1871 the German company has been hand-making its tubulars and have gained the recognition they deserve. After a brief office discussion we’re going to say (please correct us if we’re wrong) that he’s riding a Competition tubular here, which are light and have some puncture resistance built in.

The warranty department has asked me to include that no tyre is puncture proof and that the lighter the tyre, the lighter/less substantial the puncture resistance.

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We don’t want to turn this into a selling exercise, just a brief look at which products you can buy which the Pro’s actually use. It’s a bit tough with time trial bikes because so many of them are development models with custom parts. With road bikes though you can buy the same Di2 system as the Sky team use, the same tyres as Cadel, the rims for your wheels come off exactly the same production line and even their bar-tape is the over the counter (often Fizik or Deda!)

We have lots of new products arriving all the time. In the next week or two, we’ve got some Cavendish stems and bars and available now are the whole new range of Pro and Profile TT bars.

One thing we can be certain about however, is that it is clear that no-one in the peloton wears any underpants!

We’ll keep a keen look at the kit the Pro teams use this year and if we see anything sneaky, freaky or downright jaw dropping you’ll be the first to know. Please let us know if you see anything worth reporting on your travels and we’ll post it up for all to see.

Fatty has been out and about in his shiny Suplest shoes testing the latest offering from Garmin. He has been using the new Garmin Edge 500 with cadence for about 500 miles now (not all at once of course) and here is his first review:

Garmin’s new Edge 500 computer is light (65g including mount) and small (48x69x22mm). It may not be as compact as a standard computer, but for the functions it provides, it manages to offer a large legible display. The fully customisable display can have up to eight fields per page and there are a full 41 options to choose from with three pages on which to spread them out. Use one to display critical pieces of information like the usual suspects; speed, time and distance, the next to review your post-ride data such as average heart rate and average speed and the third to summarise your power data. The good thing is that you can display as much or as little data as you like and organise it based on your personal needs and wants. If this all sounds like overkill, it isn’t. The menu is very simple and intuitive and you if all you want is a large speed read out, then that’s no problem.

The basic unit has no wires to run, magnets to attach or wheel sizes to enter because it uses Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology to feed you data. Basically you just strap it on and go. If you go for the cadence option you need to attach a separate ANT+ transmitter (supplied in the cadence package or available as a later upgrade) to the rear stay plus a wheel and crank magnet. The Edge 500 also has the ability to collect and show data from any other ANT+ device, heart rate data from the supplied chest strap but most notable, the power meters. Impressively, a full range of power function windows are available in the screen options as well as separate data fields on the download via Garmin Connect.

The main thing lacking on the 500 is the ability to plan routes, have a route guide “angel” or to see where the nearest pub is (for instance). However, the downloadable aspects of the 500 including showing your route on Google earth or Google maps etc and the community sharing facilities make this unit so much more than just a glorified Speedo. There is a very serious training side to the unit too, filling in an on-line training diary including goal incentives is just one of the positives. (More on this later).

Overall, the menus and operations are laid out in a very intuitive fashion. I set the whole thing up and was ready to ride in about 15min (including the cadence sensor). The GPS receiver locks on to satellite signals in about 1 minute and run time on the internal rechargeable li-ion battery is up to 18 hours under ideal conditions. This is actually closer to 15 hours normally, but then you can charge and download simultaneously. However, when was the last time you actually rode for more than 15hours at a time? A graduated meter provides a measure of remaining battery and charge time and there’s a ‘battery charging in progress’ message too. The unit can be mains charged or charged through the USB lead, which is great as you can charge the unit as you download the data.

The mount is a simple disc that requires a 90-degree twist motion to release. It is easy to operate and fit, less likely to break than Garmin mounts of old and features reusable O-ring straps for swapping between bikes. (Two mounts are included).

The main draw of the unit (for me at least) is the Garmin connect site. You have a home page for each route showing a Google map of your route and graph charts for timing (speed) elevation, cadence, temp, heart rate and power. Each of these has sub options and displayed alongside are average maximum and minimum details for all.

Click here for an example of my efforts in southern Scotland.

You can further interrogate this information in the splits (mine is set to show splits for every 5 miles, but this is customisable) and a player mode which shows a moving bar on the graphs and a moving marker on the Google maps. Further to the ride data there are activity lists, calendars, reports, goals and health sections which all are fully interactive. Connection and uploading data is quick and simple with both Mac and PC and I’m running on both. You can access your Garmin connect details at any time on any PC or Mac using a user name and password. You can also look at other peoples data based on location or user name. One last feature is the ability to share and send to other devices or print at the touch of a button.

Conclusion.

For: It’s a great training aid and the ANT+ connectivity makes it easily upgradeable. The social network side is fun and the computer seems well built and is intuitive to use.

Against: Comparatively expensive and the whole world can see how rubbish you really are. You are also in danger of becoming a Facebook pariah boring your friends with useless data.

Garmin 500 at PBK

Click here to view the Garmin Edge and accessories.

If you want one of the new Garmin Edge 500 Neutral versions (as pictured above) in sleek silver & black, then click E-Mail me when in stock to make sure you get the nod when they come in and be one of the first to get the look!!

Tested and reviewed by Fatty

Fatty has been road testing a pair of these for a while now and here is his verdict:

Suplest are a Swiss brand producing high end cycling shoes. They are new to us here at PBK and also to the UK as a whole and they have a compact range that we are very interested in, but their general portfolio also includes MTB and casual shoes.

They have 3 styles that we are showcasing at PBK; a StreetRacing Velcro, a StreetRacing micro buckle and a triathlon shoe. There is only one colour way available, which is black/white (although the style of each model is unique) and one sole, which is carbon weave.

I have been using a pair of the StreetRacing Velcro models (£188.89 – GBP) for a few hundred miles now and the first thing I like about the shoes is the comfort. This probably won’t make any sense, but these are perhaps the most un-cycling, cycling shoe I have ever ridden! They feature a high round toe box and narrow heel and fit my feet like a sock. The upper is a micro fibre with what appears to be a laminated topcoat. The material adapts to the foot shape moulding around your feet and the shoe has a seamless construction which further helps comfort. I would best describe the fit as “Nike” (their running shoes, not their cycling shoes).  I am a full size and a half smaller than my Sidi size (42.5 as apposed to 44), so you should order a full size smaller than your own Sidi size.

The Velcro shoe weighs in at a claimed 260g (size 42) and mine weigh 280g, which takes into account a size 42.5 with the foot-beds in. As a comparison, my Sidi Ergo 2’s weigh approximately 320g.

When using them in anger, there are no real issues or concerns to report, you don’t notice any flex and I haven’t experienced any heel lift either, although another user said he had experienced some in the buckle shoe. They are light and I found that the cleats fitted with no hassle at all. All you need from a shoe really.

So why choose Suplest over many more established shoe brands?

Could it be the exclusivity, the fact that Marcel Wust is wearing them this month or the Swiss look? If you ride a BMC with Assos clothing, then you are required by law in Europe to wear Suplest shoes! Ok that’s a lie, but Suplest is associated with both companies and the fact that these may be the first shoes to make black footwear look stylish again should be enough. In the fashion conscious world of cycling, any of these reasons are valid (I’m sure), but it is the unique fit that appeals to me. Toe wriggle room in cycling shoes….. It’s a revelation!

So what do I like? It’s the unique fit, the exclusivity, the weight and the simplicity that does it for me. Coming in at a price tag of £188.99 (GBP), they are on the money as well.

Just to keep a balance then, what don’t I like? Well, the non-replaceable heel pads and I have a feeling that they may get a bit warm in very hot weather. Seeing as we never get very hot weather though, mine will be fine. They performed admirably in the balmy 69 degrees we got last weekend anyway.

Would I buy them? For the fit alone I would and as they just suit my feet perfectly, the fact that I really like the look is an added bonus.

They are compatible with SPD-SL, Look, Time and Speedplay (with Speedplay adaptors).

Click here to view the shoes at www.probikekit.com.

We’ve had a great week of sunshine in England and have been lucky enough to have spent it rolling around on a pair of Reynolds carbon clinchers. Gracing the office PBK Ti bike they have a 66mm full carbon rim which can take regular clincher tyres and weigh in at a claimed 1705g per set. On an aesthetic basis the wheels looks great and give the bike, along with its Ti colour a mean look. At races we certainly felt it looked the part.

On picking them up with tyres and tubes fitted the claimed weight seems more than accurate, they don’t really seem to weigh an awful lot more than a tubular wheel and tyre! (We have to apologise for not getting the time/chance to weight them properly on our scales – we’re very busy at the minute)

In combination with the 25mm Michelin the Strikes roll brilliantly with that typical hollow carbon hum – a delight in a tailwind. On the flats and gentle rises the aero advantage keeps your speed up and ensures you are still flying at the brow. On steep ascents they flex no more than any other wheel and the power transfer is direct with seemingly little wasted.

The hubs are Reynolds’ own which have been updated and are serviceable for a long life. The upside of having own brand hubs is the reduced cost to you and they tend to be bomb-proof/over engineered so that the manufacturer isn’t dealing with hundreds of returns.

At around £900 they seem to be a good wheelset for the money. In fact a carbon clincher wheelset from such a trusted and renowned brand complete with brake blocks, valve extensions and skewers looks like a great buy.

Nothing improves a bike, its handling and your performance like a set of nice light aero wheels. Unless you live in a particularly hilly area with lots of steep, tough ramps then these will have you racing around with the added advantage of still being on clincher tyres – easy to fix punctures at the roadside and we didn’t struggle to get tyres onto the rim – no tyre levers in sight!

Aerodynamic, lightweight and stiff enough even for the mashers – all at a great price

Click here to view them on www.probikekit.com