It’s that time of year again when cycling fanatics or geek’s depending on what your level of fanaticism is (I include myself in the latter), trawls the internet for all the latest gossip on Eurobike.

Eurobike is the industry’s biggest cycle show. All the big names are there showing off their new and shiny goodies, getting us all excited and looking at our bank accounts wondering if it’s possible to live off porridge or any other cheap food for 2 months so that when the new stuff  hits the shops we can afford that new frame or set of wheels.

We’ve got a few guys over in Germany at the moment (lucky bar stewards) wandering round the Disney Land of the cycling world haggling and thrashing out deals with different suppliers all in aid to bring you all out there some trick kit for next year. So get that porridge/rice/pasta stocked up, because from what I’ve heard, there’s some tasty items for 2011.

First up is yet another brand trying to crack the groupset market. Shimano and Campagnolo lead the way with Sram snapping at their heals, last year we saw Microshift deliver an interesting (but not visually stunning) groupset, this year though its the turn of FSA/Vison.

From what I’ve seen, this is just a time trial specific groupset. No road STI/Ergo levers just yet.

They’ve had the brake callipers out for few years and now they have an ingenious new shift unit. The bar end shifter looks like a smaller version of Vision’s time trial brake lever. Instead of the usual clicking up and down of the other big three manufactures, its a squeeze of the lever to shift up and a push of what originally looks like the clamp of the lever to head down the gears. It looks nice and clean and above all it’s aero! The rear and front mech were spotted on the ISD team bikes last year and these are pretty standard, though the rear mech is dripping with carbon.

Next up is the battle of the bike computers and Garmin and Polar will be fighting it out for your hard earned cash. First up is Polar. A few months ago we blogged about a power meter that inserted inside your pedals. Well, it looks like Polar and Look have come up with a version of their own and very smart it is too. Have a look at the video below, that tells you all the infomation we have at the moment. Very smart thinking and this could re-establish Polar as the computer brand to be seen with.

Garmin have the all new and sleak looking Edge 800. As with the edge 705, you get the usual GPS, heart rate and cadence features, but with the new 800, they’ve made the screen that bit bigger and the unit that bit thinner. They have removed a few buttons and added a colour touch screen. The Battery life is around the 15 hour mark and you can download maps to a micro SD card and use it anywhere in the world. I’m sure it’s going to be as robust as the 500 and if your a techie or just love showing off to your mates where you’ve been, then the Edge 800 will be right up your street.

Fancy footwear? Giro and surprisingly saddle brand Fizik have showcased new shoe lines.

We’ve had photos up of the Giro shoes for a day or two on our Facebook page and they’ve caused a bit of a stir. There doesn’t seem to be one person disliking them, which is always a good sign.

Giro have lined up a nice range including road, mountain and women’s shoes.

If you had your eyes pealed during the Tour, you would have spotted a certain Mr Leipheier with a prototype pair of the top end Prolight SLX on his feet. These ones, as the name suggests are wispy light and a size 42 is going to come in at 205g.

Carbon for these shoes is supplied by Easton and you’ll be shelling out about £280 for the top end Prolight SLX.

Fizik primerly known for its saddles are also entering the shoe market. Three models will be available, 2 for the guys and one for the gals!

With Fizik being an Italian company, these shoes ooze style. Having a cross bread look of retro perforated leather with slick modern styling, they’re a bit different looking from what’s already on the market. Are they going to be the Marmite (that’s Vegemite for you lot in the southern hemisphere) of the cycling shoe world, love em or hate em?

Made using kangaroo leather (sorry Aussies) and other exotic materials, including stretch resistant sail cloth for the straps, zink, memory foam and compressed carbon for the soles and buckles. There’s more technology crammed in the top end shoe than I care to write here.

Oh Yes, they’re custom mouldable too, with heat mouldable material in precise areas. Again, light weight for the top end shoe but not as light as the Giros. The R1 will tip the scale at 274g (size 43).

3T time now and with Cervelo Test Team calling it a day, it looks at the moment that Garmin will be the sole team using 3T components next year. Will we see them using the new META chainset?

For one thing this is a very different looking chainset to what is already on the market.

3T have headed back to the drawing board with this product, it’s a three piece chainset. You have the left and right crank and then the

spider that is connected to the axle which is carbon. Very fancy and from the information I have, 3T have worked out where the stress is on the cranks and have removed material away from the areas that dont take any stress. Apparently, 3T claim that it saves up to 30% in weight over the best of what’s out there already. Now that’s impressive!

Reynolds have updated their wheel range too. Last year they released the crazy money RZR’s, a super fancy top end wheel and now you can get some of the technology used in the RZR’s in their lower end wheels (not so much lower end as not a lottery winners wheels).

New breaking surface and graphics to start with, then on top of that, there’s the new rims. The rims now have a slight Lip to them along the edge of the cross section. The “swirl Lip generator” as they have named it is supposed to create a small vacuum along the trailing edge of the rim. In layman’s terms, it’s supposed to help you go faster and I’m sure it will. They have wheel Guru Paul Lew designing their wheels now.

Keeping on the wheel theme, you may have seen a fancy Hope cassette that Chris posted on our Facebook page and this looks super cool, not just because it’s in green, but that it has the free hub body integrated into it. That should keep things nice and direct in the delivery of power.

Ok people that’s your lot for now, but rest assured though, that once the guys who made it to Eurobike return, I’ll be picking their brains and spending (a lot) of time leafing through all the new 2011 catalogues and bringing you even more news on what’s looking hot for next year.

Team PBK.com manager and rider James Smith has a go at getting a professional bike fit. We’ve all seen the adverts and flyers, but is the initial cost really worth it? We hope to find out:

“The advantages of a professional cycle fitting are many, from correcting poor position, increasing power, reducing the risk of injury and simply increasing comfort and safety. Pain, numbness and swelling are usually signs of a poor fit, especially in the feet, neck, lower back, hands and knees. Cycling does not need to hurt!” – rideplymouth.co.uk

Here I was quite happily just jumping on a bike moving the saddle round a bit adjusting my cleats and ten minutes later I was set. Well that was until I saw a flyer for a local Bike Fit in Plymouth, so I went and spoke to Paul. He explained to a somewhat sceptical Mr Smith (me) that a bike fitting is fundamental to any sport involving cycling be that road, MTB, TT or triathlon. A bike fit is supposed to minimize the risk of injury, improve your pedalling efficiency saving you energy and increasing your power transfer and finally minimize power leakage through poor saddle and cleat positioning. In a nutshell “make the most of what you have.”

Sounds amazing hey?  Well I booked my appointment and decided to remain sceptical to prove my self right!

As I arrived for my three hour bike fit I was impressed with the set up, a clean and tidy facility with none of the normal clutter seen in a bike shop, airy, spacious and friendly.  This was helped with the immediate offer of a cup of coffee from Paul the owner.  Paul himself is a qualified bike fitter learning his trade at the Serotta International Cycling Institute in Cincinnati.

So duly impressed with the facility and Pauls’ shiny certificate I began to settle down for a 45 minute question and answer session.  Paul already had a lot of my information from the pre fit questionnaire which asks questions such as occupation, weight,  even to what you spend your day doing and in my case it is sat at a computer.
So I had now been in the plush surroundings for nearly an hour before Paul finally finished his battery of questions and began my measuring process.
First off – Posture assessment off the bike:

Weight assessment – Paul asked me to stand on with my feet on two separate scales, this led to me finding out that I put 1 stone extra through my left side whilst standing.

My left leg weight was much higher.

My flexibility was above average….to my surprise I was not too bad scoring a 7/10.

Then Paul spent an inordinate amount of time looking at my shoe and cleat positioning.

Finally my bike was positioned on the plinth and the meat of the bike set up took place.

Once Paul had reviewed my current position a number of small yellow sticker dots were positioned over my moving parts such as knees, hips, forefoot and ankles.  Now I was starting to be impressed  but the really cool bit was yet to come as he turned on his laser and began assessing my pedalling efficiency immediately it was clear that my left knee drifted inwards as I pedalled.

A wedge was fitted beneath my cleats and again my left knee was assessed and if by magic the drift had gone now for my right which proved to be fairly normal.

Now my fore and aft position was assessed with the angle of my back and forearms Paul was able to work out my exact ideal position and to my utter astonishment moved my saddle forwards by some 1.5cms bit by bit before tipping the saddle upwards and then adjusting my saddle height by 5mms.  These were massive changes but strangely once on the turbo felt comfortable and not at all odd.

This whole process took three hours and Paul was attentive at all times responding to my suggestions thoughtfully.  I am a complete convert to the bike fitting process throughout the last twelve months I have been struggling with back injuries and left leg numbness, after one ride my left leg was responding as it used to and my back pain was not its old excruciating self.  I guess though the proof is in the pudding and we will see how the next few races go.

I guess doing the math a professional cycle fitting is a bargain

• A new racing frame £2000 at least.
• Carbon wheels £1100.
• Power meter £800.

Or a cycle fit at £150!

Whether it’s accessories, bib shorts or a full-on waterproof jacket you require, chances are Gore Bike Wear will have a product to suit. There are garments for everyone and if like us you’re heading out into a wet Lake District, a scorcher in Brisbane or temperate San Fran, there is something to keep you comfortable and perform under all that mother nature can throw at you!

“As riders ourselves we understand that you want to enjoy and benefit from riding as much as possible. Whether it’s charging down a sun-baked mountain pass or hopping over knee-deep mud lost in the forest.”

For more than 20 years Gore Bike Wear has stood for high-tech function combined with premium quality. Their products are continuously improved to satisfy the high expectations of ambitious cyclists and offer the best possible comfort and protection.

Developed and rigorously tested to keep out the elements while keeping in comfort, these ingredients are the mainstay of a collection that accepts no compromises in comfort, protection, design or safety and visibility.

Each individual product profits from Gore’s many years of experience in functional apparel design. The expertise in Gore Bike Wear producing high performance garments “for Perfectionists from Specialists” has led to numerous awards for quality, performance and design.

---

Gore Fabrics:

One of the great appeals of Gore Bike Wear is the innovative fabrics which have been developed to meet the needs of today’s cyclists. Each product benefits from their many years of experience and leadership in producing high-performance garments and each features the latest fabric technologies and design styles.

Gore-Tex®

A fully waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric which will keep you dry AND comfortable – guaranteed!

• Could quite literally save your life! This is the jacket you want to be wearing when something does go wrong 40 miles from home.
• Strictly quality controlled before leaving the factory.
• The majority of the items they sell are Gore-Tex Paclite Shell – made from the lightest, most packable fabrics without sacrificing durability, extreme breathability or weather protection.

So I give you the Oxygen jacket: with Gore-Tex Paclite Shell.

• For those not afraid of rain.
• Lightweight, waterproof and with a race cut for great performance.
• Weighs just 230g and has its own stowage bag for when the sun emerges.
• Reflective logos all round (as does most Gore) which keeps you visible around town and is a great little detail.

---

Windstopper® Soft Shell:

Given that most of us will shy away from riding when it is pouring down, the WS Soft Shell is the next best thing. A middle-ground between waterproof performance and comfort. This fabric is wonderfully soft and keeps you comfortable in less than perfect weather conditions.

(If you need convincing I have a Gore long sleeve WS top which I’ve now been wearing for well over 4 years. The reflective trims haven’t washed off and while the back pockets have stretched a bit it’s still my top of choice for an early morning ride when it’s still chilly and rain is never off the radar. A gilet on top adds that extra air layer for the first ten minutes before things really get going.)

The comfort of a soft mid-layer and the water resistance of a shell combined with total windproofness and maximum breathability. Windstopper Soft Shells keep you comfortable with the freedom of movement you need for enhanced performance in a wide range of activities and weather conditions.

For this I’d recommend the Power SO Jacket.

• An ideal 3 season top.
• WS Soft Shell fabric keeps you comfortable with the freedom of movement you need.
• Plenty of reflective logos.
• Long back to keep spray off your back.
• Sleeves cut with the on-bike position in mind – these make it very comfortable while riding with no excess material flapping around.

Not forgetting the range of shorts and tights which can also be found with WS panel to make those winter rides that extra bit comfortable. The bib shorts are true race spec and have chamois to match.

Gore’s ergonomic seat inserts are designed for a perfect fit to ensure comfort and performance on your ride. Each seat insert style offers unique benefits when paired with its accompanying clothing system, from moisture management to precise anatomical support.

The Power bib shorts are the ‘do it all’ short.

These, along with some others feature compression fabrics to help improve the fit of the garment without limiting freedom of movement. The fabrics exert pinpointed pressure on certain parts of the body, thus accelerating blood circulation.

---

While their male specific products are available for all situations Gore have also taken the female market into serious consideration.

Almost all of the jackets and shorts/tights come in a female specific version.

Women’s cycling jackets from Gore feature Windstopper and Gore-Tex fabric technologies, for guaranteed weather protection and enhanced comfort.

Innovative details and cycling specific designs offer freedom of movement and functional fit.

Browse the women’s range here.

---

Gore Accessories:

This is where Gore really appeals to me, the quality and attention to detail put into the accessories makes them well worth the extra purchase price. I’ve seen guys turning up to races in knee warmers bought 2 seasons ago – a testament to the quality.

Complete your road cycling garment system with head-to-toe Gore Bike Wear. Choose from armwarmers, legwarmers, overshoes and socks…All the essential men’s cycling accessories, made with Gore-Tex and Windstopper fabric technologies, as well as other selected technical fabrics.

---

Gore have been in this business for more than 20 years. Gore-Tex is their fabric and many other brands use Gore-Tex (Sidi winter shoes, Castelli winter kit and Shimano use it in their shoes) – surely a sign of its dominance and quality in the waterproof fabric area.

If you can afford to buy the Gore garments they really are worth the outlay for the many years of solid service you’ll get back. Everyone in the office owns at least one item of Gore Bike Wear and although none of us are top to toe ads for Gore, it’s definately a brand we wouldn’t go without.

Say 3T to someone and more often than not, ‘handlebars’ spring to mind.

3T is a venerable name in Italian cycling. Over the years, many of the great champions put their trust in 3T handlebars and handlebar extensions. Now an invigorated 3T is back in the pro peloton winning race after race.

3T was originally called ‘Tecnologia del Tubo Torinese’ (Turin Tube Technology), taking its name from the city of Turin, where it was founded in 1961 by Mario Dedioniggi. Though written 3T, it’s usually called Triple T.

Dedioniggi was a talented engineer. Clever at manipulating and bending steel tubes and he was taken on as a young man by the Ambrosio concern (which continues to this day). There, he learned to fashion the bars and stems desired by racing cyclists. The resurgence of cycle sport in the 1950s drove demand for top-quality racing equipment and the ambitious Dedioniggi spotted his opportunity. After ten years at Ambrosio, he left to set up shop on his own. The new enterprise had a three-room warehouse in Turin, one employee, and a manual tube-bending machine. Soon, the grandiose name gave way to the more manageable 3TTT.

In 2010, the tradition lives on. Simple, elegant and innovatory – these qualities are the strands of 3T’s DNA.

Sponsoring the Cervelo Test Team, Garmin and Milram this year, 3T have chosen wisely and their bars and stems are always instantly recognisable in the mass finishes.

---

So how does the 3T range work?

The range of the bars, stems and posts are split into 3 different levels. You have Pro, Team and Limited:

Pro offers an ideal balance to riders who insist on top-class performance at the keenest price. This group typically includes many amateurs who purchase their own equipment.

PRO components often employ traditional materials such as Al 7075 and Al 6061 alloys to contain fabrication costs. But like all 3T products, they benefit from the 3T Intelligent Production Lifecycle, assuring right-first-time design and quality at prices that meet the needs of today’s discriminating bike riders. Count on PRO components to perform to the highest levels.

---

TEAM is intended for top-level competition and is widely used by professional and amateur racers.

TEAM products equal LTD in function, but have minor concessions to price in materials specification and finish. TEAM components are built either in advanced carbon composite materials, or the highest grades of heat-treated aluminum alloy. This gives them great strength and robustness, so they are especially suitable for the rough-and tumble of season-long competition.

Bolts may be stainless-steel or titanium.

---

LTD is the full expression of ultimate performance by 3T. Expect no compromise – this is the best you can get. Top pros and super-demanding amateurs will likely prefer components at this level.

Most LTD components are built in the lightest available grades of carbon composite materials. In the search for even lighter weight, structures may employ more highly evolved fabrication methods such as variable-thickness walls. All ancillary parts are also refined to the highest degree. For example, bolts are made of titanium rather than stainless steel.

For athletes who ride LTD, only the ultimate performance will do.

---

Pro Team Testing:

All of the components which the Pro’s ride are off the same production line as ours. After two seasons in pro road competition, focus is on engineering their products to perfection. They care passionately about the way they look. Elegant form is in 3T’s DNA.

---

3T Handlebar Stems:

Beautiful pieces of kit, available as we’ve seen in 3 versions. This is the ARX-LTD stem which is made from pure carbon fibre with Ti bolts.

Oddly light, though strong enough for the Pro’s to muscle it about day in day out.

3T perform their own strength tests which surpass any of the CEN standards so you really don’t need to worry.

Flex is kept under control with high-tech design and research.

The base Pro has alloy bolts but for just a few more pounds/dollars the Team features Ti hardware – well worth the upgrade!

---

3T Handlebars:

There are 3 ‘shapes’ of 3T drop bar, all available again in the Pro, Team and LTD spec.

1. Rotundo: Medium-deep, round drop bend. But while the shape is traditional, the ROTUNDO TEAM is ultra-modern. At 192 g, it is among the lightest bars in this shape, yet also one of the strongest, exceeding the most stringent tests. The shape endures because of its control and handling.
2. Ergosum: shallower than ROTUNDO and its shape suits smaller hands better. Below the levers, the transition to the bottom of the bars is gradual, so it’s comfortable to get hold of anywhere along its length – unlike many bars styled ‘anatomic’. A sub 200g bar.
3. Ergonova: sets a new standard in comfort riding. The top of the bar is egg-shaped in section – the longer radius provides a wider top surface for the hands. A new standard in comfort

---

3T Seatposts:

Again 3 different posts each in the Pro, Team and LTD spec.

1. Doric: minimalist, zero-setback seatpost focused on essentials: rider comfort, security and ease of
   use. DORIC is built to provide elegant, robust support that stands the test of time.
2. Dorico: classic setback seatpost. The shock absorbent carbon-fibre shaft is bonded into the alloy head, setting the saddle rail supports 25 mm back of the post’s centre-line.
3. Palladio: the latest post from 3T. A new-generation seatpost with 3T’s unique, fit-and-forget DiffLock clamping system – precisely adjust the saddle’s fore-and-aft setting with no effect at all on saddle angle.

---

3T Aerobars:

More models this time, with the Ventus being the top dog:

1. Ventus: the TT bar of champions. The carbon-fibre basebar, tiny brake levers and integrated stem make it the world’s fastest and most aerodynamic bar.
2. Brezza: a highly evolved aerobar for conventional stems. It shares the design DNA of the stage winning VENTUS, but the basebar’s aerofoil section is deeper and narrower, to allow for a variable angle of incidence into the wind. BREZZA is aimed at TT and triathlon specialists who prefer to mount the bar on their own choice of stem.
3. Zefiro: fuses the power and control of the road racer’s drop bar with the low-drag form of the chrono rider’s aerobar. The base unit combines the medium-drop bends of ERGOSUM with the aero wing of MISTRAL. Additionally, it has the unique Pi Wing, an adjustable forward extension with an aerofoil
   handrest. A hybrid that provides super comfort for long solo efforts into the wind and full control for out-of-the-saddle efforts in the bunch.
4. Mistral: a new super-value entry point to 3T’s race-proven range of time-trial bars. Despite its low cost, it is a direct descendant of the BREZZA and is mostly built of carbon-fibre composites. Riders of very different anatomies and aerodynamic posture should find a comfortable position on this bar.

---

We look forward to visiting 3T’s stand at Eurobike next month and seeing what they have come up with for 2011. In terms of innovation, quality and price these products are very hard to beat.Check out the range of 3T products at Probikekit.com

We had a bit of a reminisce in the office yesterday afternoon about cycling as kids. We all agreed that the carefree nature and lack of hazard awareness made for a blissful time when out cycling with our friends.

Now that the days of 8 week summer holidays have gone, we don’t get much chance to pull big skids (road tyres soon wear through to the canvas, as I’ve expensively found out but still haven’t learnt!) or play ‘foot down’ on the field – essentially who can unknowingly trackstand aged 5!

Soon of course the talk turned to bikes and kit which we had all been given or had passed to us from older cousins. We span a few generations between us in the office and so there was plenty to learn about and plenty of fads which we all took part in!

---

We’ve brought together a collection of our old bikes, the accessories we used to fit and what we used to get up to on them.

The Bikes:

Dave:

Dave was the proud rider of a Giant Stonebreaker bike, his pride and joy for many years. Given that Dave now races around the world and will happily disappear into the distance on climbs it must have had some hidden magic to it – just look at that colour scheme, imagine the team kit that would go with that!

Dave’s honest review: “awesome for endo’s” : Rating:

Chris(me):

My first bike was an Apollo mountain bike from my cousin who’d grown out of it. Sadly I hadn’t yet grown enough to fit it without getting on from the kerbside!

My next bike was a bmx, for racing around the local field which had an almost purpose built bmw track dug into it. My Pro Performer was purple and had a great ability to sit on it’s back wheel for miles and miles with me happily sorting things out with the rear brake.

For it’s wheelie ability: Rating:

Alex:

Alex, one of our Graphic Designers used to cruise around on one of these.

This article wouldn’t be complete without the Raleigh Chopper. Originally from the 70′s it has become an icon of this age, complete with it’s ‘safety issues’ it made for some great fun.

The long seat made ‘backies’ simple, the smaller front wheel made for some massive speed wobbles and the gear shifter could easily put an end to any future development you were hoping for.

“Accidents were not uncommon” therefore: Rating: – you’ve got to learn your bike handling skills at some point!

John:

Way back in John’s day, the Raleigh Tomahawk was the bike to be seen on. Slightly smaller than the chopper and without the hazardous gear shifter this bike was a turning point in his life.

The second hand beauty was John’s first bike and was the one he learnt to ride without stabilisers on, mainly due to the fact that none were available!

“a fantastically cool first bike until you realised that it was a poor relation to the Chopper. Great for skids”: Rating:

---

Here’s what the kids are up to in 2010:

It’s only fair you see this footage we found while “researching”………

---

The add-ons:

As children, bikes weren’t complete without toys or something to make them sound like a motorbike!

Gone are the days of toys in cereal boxes, probably some health and safety rule after a super hero figurine wrapped in plastic was mistaken for a cornflake – very easy to do I’m sure.

These Kellogs Cockerel reflectors will bring back some memories, they even have a facebook ‘like’ button for them!

I wonder how’d they go on bladed spokes? The aero advantage may well be worth trying!

Spokey Dokeys:

After getting some of these on a birthday I vividly remember the painstaking effort it took to fit each and every one. These are coloured plastic balls that you fitted to the spokes of your bike so that when you rode around slowly they would clatter up and down noisily and when you rode fast the centrifugal force would push them all out to the wheel rim and they would just look like a coloured blur.

Everyone must remember the sore fingers after fitting and the knack you needed to take them off again!

It is even possible to fit these to your race bike:

The Card and Peg trick:

We’ve sadly all done it! To re-create that motorbike sound nothing gets further away from it that a card and peg on the seat-stay.

Easy to do and up to a certain speed the card stays nicely intact.

The coolest bike I’ve found today and the one I’d have if I could do it all again (even including the scraped knees, battered elbows and sore chin) would be this:

What did you ride as a child? What cool toys did you manage to fit to your bike? Any great stories? Let us know below:

Avoid them all you like, but iPhones are a very popular and deservedly so piece of kit. There have been over 50 million phones sold with a further 35 million iPod Touches. Chances are then you have one or know someone who has one! Once acquainted with it you can delve into the App Store and the world is your oyster!

In here, you have a gallery of 185,000 Apps which cater for everything from cooking, how to tie a tie and of course our favourite: sports and cycling.

With 4 billion downloads this is big business for developers and consumers alike and here we’ve brought together our favourite 5 which we downloaded and used more than just the once for the novelty value.

---

Tour of Utah 2010:

First up and one which you’ll need to be quick to download is the Tour of Utah App. The race starts on the 17th of August (today) and you’re given a low down of each stage – map, distances and timings complete with a detailed map of the last Km’s.

• Cost: FREE (always good!).
• Features: Photo Feed, Live Dashboard, Stage Information, Team and Rider Information and Live Race News (allowing for a time delay of course).

Overall, a sleek looking App with integration with Flickr and some Youtube videos make it a great way to catch up with the race and how it’s unfolding.

Rating: – free and a nice way of keeping up-to-date. We’ll have to see how it goes this week.

---

EveryTrail GPS Tracking:

With a myriad of GPS Apps, choosing the right one for you can be tricky and could end up costly. I’ve been using EveryTrail since I got my phone and it’s worked fine (I’m really not sure where the bad reviews are coming from).

“Track, Share, Explore…Blaze your own trail with EveryTrail! Track your trips, take photos and add your story. Then share it all with one click at EveryTrail.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Take along over 200,000 trips from other global travelers that will inspire you on your next adventure – and guide you along the way. You can leave those heavy outdated guidebooks at home, because Every Trail maps and travel tips will be right at your fingertips wherever you go.”

• Cost: FREE or £2.39 (cost version allows you to add videos to your trip and upload to YouTube on the go).
• Features: Pretty much as it says – track, share and explore.
• Downsides: It turns every ride into a show – you can’t take it easy with this in your pocket or else everyone will find out!

An easy to use GPS App which hasn’t gone wrong or required a degree in computer science to figure out. If only they could improve battery life on the iPhone! Using the GPS soon runs it down.

There are of course many other (free) GPS Apps out there, it would be great to hear what you use already and how it compares – share the knowledge!

Rating: – free and an easy way of tracking your rides.

---

With our frame extravaganza going on at the minute, we’ve all had a go on the Bike fit App which Nick our Tech guru has.

SizeMyBike:

SizeMyBike computes the optimal geometry of your road or mountain bike’s frame that is ideal to your morphology.

Six body measurements allow for an accurate computation of the best geometry. This information is useful in choosing the right frame size and obtaining an excellent adjustment for your bike.

Ride fast and comfortably thanks to SizeMyBike!

Fairly simple, you just enter your measurements and it suggests what size frame suits you best. It also has a useful help section for getting those measurements just right.

But does it work???

I’m not Greg, seen here on the right, but on putting my measurements in I’m supposed to be riding a bike with:

• BB centre to saddle: 697mm.
• Saddle to Stem drop: 74mm.
• Crank arm length: 167.5mm.

A quick measure this morning reveals I’m actually riding (these are approx!) around 740mm/140mm of drop and 175mm cranks! So all is not as it seems.

It would be very interesting, and require deep pockets to build a bike up to the recommended spec and after a week see how it felt (if there are any money donors feeling generous please get in touch!).

Nick here put his measurements in and was suggested to move up to a 120mm stem for the reach (not quite the Belgian Pro standard of 140mm measurements) and he honestly feels it has improved his position and ability to get his power down on climbs.

It does cost £2.99 which while it seems a lot sat in the office, against the cost of a 2 or 3 thousand pound/dollar frame it’s probably worth purchasing.

Rating: – could help you massively, could add a lot of confusion to your next purchase, or even make you question your existing and previously comfortable bike!

---

Eurosport:

There are two Apps from Eurosport, the first is simply a news reader and includes all the sports you’d expect plus a whole section dedicated to cycling.

Given that their coverage of events is the best we get here in Europe you can be fairly sure that the news feed is up-to-date and accurate. Having a check now we have news of Stefan Schumacher returning to race at the Giro del Veneto and Tylar Farrar’s great win at the Vattenfall Cyclassics which took place on Sunday in Hamburg.

“With Eurosport’s iPhone application, you can stay abreast of all the latest developments in the sporting world.

Read the best articles and keep updated with all the latest sports news.

Cycling: All major events, including the Tour de France, the Vuelta and the Giro.”

- A nice touch is that you can personalise your home screen and select your favourite sports so that cycling is most definitely more important than football.

Eurosport Player:

If you really want to get the best coverage and watch the live Vuelta this could be your best bet. This offers you full Eurosport coverage for a subscription fee – well worth it to be able to watch the Vuelta, in bed, half asleep.

“Eurosport on your iPhone!

The Eurosport Player application gives you unlimited access to the British Eurosport and Eurosport 2 on your iPhone or Touch.

Consult the TV schedule for the channels available through the application.

Available in the UK and Ireland only (sorry if I got your hopes up).

Rating: – Free or cost, Eurosport are without doubt leaders of providing cycling coverage so worth it in our view.

---

Cycling 2010:

Our final choice and one which was bought while I was having a Twitter frenzy, this is basically a collection of Pro Riders’ tweets along with Team and Media tweet feeds.

“Cycling results and Tweets.

Live race updates via Twitter real time tweets – quick access to Tour race updates from major media, team managers in the race, cycling feeds and much more.

Complete race results for every stage of the Grand Tours of Italy and France.

Results by jersey/classification, team, country and contenders.

Cyclists, directors, commentators and team twitter with no Twitter account needed.”

• Just £0.59 gives you a great insight into what’s actually going on, though in the off season it could be a very quiet place!
• You don’t need to have a Twitter account.

Rating: – good if you don’t get chance to catch the TV very often or struggle with the time difference.

---

What Apps have you found useful? What Apps would you like to see? Have we missed a blindingly obvious one?!

Let us know what you use below:

Mention Colnago (not Colango as I’ve narrowly avoided) to anyone over the age of 17 and their reaction will usually be one of glazed eyes and a distinct lack of concentration on what you were about to say.

To say the company has cycling heritage wouldn’t be enough, this company is one of the founders of cycling as we know it today, it has provided the heritage we all talk about.

The frames and accessories Colnago produce are truly beautiful and have just recently been updated to keep them modern and a viable race-bike choice in this ‘ISP and tapered head tube’ world we live  in.

To see what I’m on about, have a quick watch of this: Mr Ernesto Colnago himself talking through a few of the bikes in a museum.

---

A little history for you all:

It all started on the 9th of February 1932 when Ernesto was born in a village near Milan. He soon started riding bikes and his first bike was a 3rd hand bike he named ‘Perla’ – Perla went on to inspire one of the best frame builders the world has ever seen.

As a welding assistant Ernesto was gaining a good education in bike building and also racing, which it soon became apparent he was quite good at!

In 1951 he broke his leg in a crash and while spending lots of time off the bike started to build up wheels, this led to him becoming a mechanic on the Nivea Team in 1954 and them going on to win the Pink jersey in the Giro with Magni. He triumphed as a mechanic for over 10 years, working for the Italian National team for 10 world championships and his frames going on to support champions in all of the classic names.

The Giro D’Italia, Milan SanRemo, Roubaix and the Tours in between have all had wins and winners riding Colnago’s frames.

His early days with Eddy Merckx:

To F1 technology and collaborations with the Ferrari car company:

Just this year Colnago have released a monocoque frame – the M10 which is a mini revolution for them but with the cycling world and technology advancing so far this was a step that had to be taken.

---

One interesting note is the Colnago badge, the distinctive clover leaf wasn’t released until 1970 when his first Milan SanRemo win came. The badge stands for the spring flowers which bloom around Milan SR time and the fact that Ernesto wanted to be the ‘Ace of cycling’:

---

For 2010 Colnago frames are being ridden by the Bbox Bouygues Telecom team, French with a majority French rider list including William Bonnet, Anthony Charteau, Cyril Gautier and Tommy Voeckler.

And just for pure ‘what the…’ factor:

---

The Colnago M10 frame:

Colnago’s new monocoque frame takes the technical advances seen in the highly popular CX-1 to a higher level. The new lamination technology and materials used in the manufacture of the M10 make it lighter than the CX-1 and stiffer laterally thanks to a bigger bottom bracket, but with a little more vertical absorption to provide more comfort without in any way sacrificing performance.

With the C-HS1 tapered headtube and a new fork to accommodate it, the M10 is designed to be precise on descents and smoother through corners. The M10’s classic Colnago looks are complemented by internal brake cable routing for clean lines.

Good looking yes, that’s easy to see, but when you check the spec you see that it’s also a ‘proper’ race bike which while expensive, will definitely deliver on the road.

In PBK colours (Black/Red/White we think this looks brilliant!).

• Alfa carbon 100% monocoque construction.
• Frame weight 850g (manufactures weight).
• Internal cable routing.
• Colnago fully integrated headset system.
• New M10 full carbon fork.

All M10 models are available in a Shimano Di2 specific frame, on this model the cables are routed inside the frame and the battery is fitted at the bottom of the down tube by the bottom bracket shell. By doing this Colnago achieve a sleek, uncluttered look, built on a frame exclusively designed for the Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.

---

The C59 Colnago frame:

The absolute top-end Colnago is the C59 which is still lugged, the consensus of the office being that done right there’s no disadvantage or reason not to (and we’re not going to argue with Mr Colnago!)

Again the range of colours is amazing, you’ll definitely find one to match your team colours here.

Colnago’s new top-of-the-range, custom-made 100% carbon-fibre racing machine, the C59 Italia, was four years in development. Designed, built and painted in Italy and with a frame weighing about one kilo, the C59 Italia features a classic Master-shaped internally ribbed top tube and down tube to maximise stiffness, which is further increased by square chainstays and seatstays.

Colnago invented modern bicycle racing geometry and has refined it to perfection with handling that is unwaveringly accurate but stable at speed, so a long day in the mountains is a battle against the gradient and your rivals, not against a twitchy bicycle.

For the full size image click here – it’s well worth downloading.

• New Made in Italy model for 2011.
• Lugged Omega carbon construction.
• Classic Bi-conical tubes.
• I-beam vertical rib in down tube for increased stiffness.
• Internal cable routing.
• Colnago fully integrated headset system 1″ 1/8 – 1″1/4 tapered increasing the rigidity of the frame by over 20 percent for more precise handling. In a top-quality bicycle, everything turns on the headset. It must be smooth for accurate handling, and it must be durable for thousands upon thousands of hard kilometres.

Note the point about the internal rib, this is an internal piece which adds massive strength to the frame and helps it to resist the twisting forces when riding.

---

The Colnago Super:

For the first time available as frame only the Super, winner of a design award by iconic style magazine Wallpaper and described by Ernesto Colnago as “almost too beautiful for a city bicycle”, the Super is as he says, “the ultimate city bicycle” and can now be purchased from PBK.

Available in head-turning black livery, the Super sets the standard for simple urban bicycles by combining Colnago craftsmanship with street style. The classic lugged steel frame harks back to Colnago’s artisan heritage, while chrome plating highlights the handlebar stem and the head of the straight-bladed fork. Its performance on the road lives up to its spectacular looks and its sure handling and zippy acceleration deals with everything a city’s streets can throw at it.

• New frame only option for 2011.
• Double butted cro-mo frame with chrome head tube lugs and stainless steel drop outs.
• Classic “vintage” styling.
• Track frame drop outs.
• Drilled front and rear for caliper brakes.
• 1″ Thread-less straight bladed fork.

---

The paint work on Colnago frames is one of the attractions:

---

Build options:

Ignore what anyone says about ‘you must build with this and that’, this is your Colnago and it deserves to be built up how you see fit. Campag, Shimano or SRAM will look great on any frame and it’s all completely up to you.

Once built you can go on and relish the ride quality, rarity of the brand and the heritage of a Colnago frame.

Click here to view our Colnago range, which as well as the frames above includes the dedicated Flight TT frame set, which is as fast as it looks:

Also accessories such as saddles, cages and bottles.

Every Colnago bicycle starts with the soul and creativity of Ernesto Colnago and the Colnago family. Since 1954 Colnago’s determination to perfect the competition bicycle has been legendary. Whether you race or simply love the thrill of riding, Colnago has a great Italian bicycle to take you further and faster.

If you build yours up let us see it, it would be a shame not to share!!

To say Speedplay have taken the pedal world by storm would perhaps be a bit over the top, what they have done though is take a good long look at Look, Shimano and Time’s pedal system and improved on it with their own unique design.

On comparing a Look cleat and Speedplay cleat you’ll see that the Speedplay cleat has the ‘locking’ mechanism inside the cleat, the pedal is merely something to attach to. This is the opposite to the others where the pedal has the mechanism and the cleat is a rigid piece.

Company History

There isn’t a lot of info around on Speedplay as a company, mainly because the company itself came to life in only 1991. The Zero has been in existence since 2002 and is the Keo/SPD-SL/RXS of their range. Their popularity has come from Pro teams such as Cervelo Test Team using Speedplay and the pedals have now featured on many bikes in the Olympic games and World Championships.

Unique Design: with this inverted system of the cleat holding onto the pedal the Zero and Light Action have very low stack height, this is measured from the middle of the pedal axle to the sole of the shoe. The lower the stack height the better, because it places your foot closest to the axle centre for the best possible pedalling efficiency.

Another important feature is the adjustable float which is great for people who have/have had knee problems. Rather than just running a set amount of float like on a Look pedal the Speedplay cleat can be tailored to allow as much or as little float as you feel comfortable with.

Thirdly, the cleat is made of metal – more than up to short walks (though quite slippery on cafe floors) and with no moving parts you don’t have any issues with having to service them.

Previous victories on Speedplay:

A quick scan of the news archive on Speedplay.com soon gives you an idea of just how well regarded these are:

• Jacopo Guarnieri (Liquigas-Doimo) wins Stage 1 of the Tour of Poland on Speedplay Zeros.
• Kristen Wild (Cervelo TestTeam) wins women’s World Cup on Speedplay Zeros.
• Cervelo Test Team wins women’s World Cup team time trial on Speedplay Zeros.
• THOR HUSHOVD (Cervelo TestTeam) wins Natourcriterium Roeselare on Speedplay Zeros.
• ANDY SCHLECK (Saxo Bank) wins 2nd Place Overall in the Tour de France on Speedplay Nanogram Zeros.
• FABIAN CANCELLARA (Saxo Bank) wins Stage 19 Time Trial of the Tour de France on Speedplay Nanogram Zeros.
• ANDY SCHLECK (Saxo Bank) wins Stage 17 of the Tour de France on Speedplay Nanogram Zeros

This is a selection of a list 10 times larger and is a testament to Speedplay.

---

The pedal range:

You basically have two road models to choose from: the Zero and the Light Action.

The Zero:

Within the Zero you can then choose a specification: Chromoly, Stainless Steel or Titanium.

As you progress up in price you gain a more exotic spindle material and with that less weight. The cleat remains the same, a Zero cleat will fit any Zero pedal.

• The performance features of the Speedplay Zero Pedal System read like a pro racer’s wish list. No other pedal system comes close to offering the superior adjust-ability or cutting-edge performance features of the Zero.
• Featuring your choice of either a fixed position or up to 15 degrees of micro-adjustable float. Once you compare the features of Zero pedals to any other brand, you’ll find that other pedals systems are no match.

Key Features:

• DUAL-SIDED ENTRY: The symmetrical double-sided pedal self-locates just by stepping down into the cleat whether the pedal is right side up, upside down or anywhere else in its rotation. No kicking, no fumbling, no looking; just step down and go.
• THE LOWEST STACK HEIGHT: The Zero cleat positions your foot closer to the top of the spindle for improved power transfer.
  • 11.5 mm stack height for 3-hole mounting.
  • 8.5 mm stack height for 4-hole mounting.
• UNBEATABLE CORNERING CLEARANCE: The thin pedal profile of the Zero pedal lets you power through corners where your rivals coast.
  • Stainless – 37 degrees.
  • Titanium – 39 degrees.
• QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Zero pedals use precision cartridge and needle bearings – three of them instead of two found in most other pedals.
• FITS MORE SHOES: The Zero cleat fits any shoe with a 3-hole or 4-hole mount.

---

The Light Action:

This model looks similar to the Zero but is designed for the serious enthusiast or first time clipless user. Named Light Action after its unique low-force, high-security latch mechanism, the new Speedplay Light Action Pedal System provides the easiest and most intuitive entry and release functions ever offered in a clipless pedal.

Again you have a choice of axle material. It’s well worth upgrading to the Stainless Steel if you can, this won’t rust and won’t scratch like the Chromoly one.

Key Features:

• EASY DUAL-SIDED ENTRY: The symmetrical Light Action pedal is always in the right position for engagement, whether it is right-side-up, upside-down, or anywhere in between.
• SELF-LOCATING CLEAT DESIGN: The Light Action pedal is automatically guided into the recessed cleat-cavity during engagement. This makes the pedals extraordinarily easy to find by feel and eliminates the need to look down.
• 15 DEGREE RANGE OF NON SPRING-RECENTRED FREE FLOAT: Free float without spring recentring tension allows feet to find their natural float range during the pedal stroke and eliminates knee strain.
• EASY CLEAT SET-UP: Set-up is easy because no complicated adjustments are needed.
• FITS MORE SHOES: The Light Action cleat fits any shoe with a 3-hole or 4-hole mount.

---

The Frog (MTB): Conceived with the goal of bringing mountain bike pedal performance on par with that of road pedals, the Frog is the most versatile pedal you can buy.

For those who like getting muddy and riding on the grass Speedplay do their MTB Frog pedal. Not just a great off-road pedal system, Speedplay Frog pedals are ideal for road riders who prefer a recessed, walk able cleat. Like their amphibious namesake, Frog pedals are equally at home in dry or muddy terrain. Their unique cleats are virtually immune to clogging with mud or dirt, because debris is pushed out whenever you engage the pedal. This simple mechanism also puts an end to those infuriating falls caused by gunked-up pedals that won’t release. You get out when you want to, and never when you don’t.

Again choose your axle accordingly, the Ti axle coming in a beautiful heat treated finish.

---

Other notes:

Coffee Shop Caps: cleat covers for the Speedplay road cleats – will save you embarrassment when transferring coffee and cake to table.

Cleat fitting: Speedplay cleats will fit all shoes with 3 or 4 bolt pattern sole. 3 being the regular shoe and 4 being a shoe with a special Speedplay sole.

The best 4-bolt soled shoe is the Lake:

For riders looking for every ounce of advantage the Lake CX401 is their first custom cycling shoe featuring a carbon fibre sole with their power transfer system.

Speedplay specific cleat pattern for use without adapters which keeps Stack height to a minimum (save 3mm and a bit of weight over using an adaptor).

With the ability to heat mould the shoe at home you get the very best in fit and convenience.

To check the compatibility of your current shoes click here.

---

If colours are your thing, then Speedplay are your manufacturer:

A colour for every rider.

If you are considering some new pedals then give Speedplay a proper look, they have numerous benefits – float, ground clearance and low stack height with only the relatively heavy cleats letting them down. We have a full range at PBK and are constantly re-stocking on the spares and are on the look out for more 4-bolt pattern soled shoes. The Lakes are brilliant shoes but don’t come cheap!

Click here to view our Speedplay range at PBK.

It’s that time of year again when the bike industry migrates en mass to Germany for the annual ‘Eurobike’ show which showcases everything new, shiny and exciting in the world of cycling. The fact that it coincides with our annual stock take is lost on the staff who are going and they promise us that they would rather be counting 1000′s of pairs of socks than looking at the latest incarnation from Colnago! We believe them of course and if like most of us, you are unable/not allowed to go, Fatty has a few exclusives for you to look out for which should be available as the 2010 and 2011 seasons progress. There are very few secrets in the industry these days, but as Fatty spends his life talking to suppliers and manufacturers, he has a unique view of the market and here he shares with us what we can expect.

Garmin will soon be launching a new cycling specific GPS computer that will hopefully be on display at Eurobike and it will be a slimmed  downed version of the 705. Think Edge 500 with mapping!!

Fizik are looking to expand their range of components into all contact points, with rumours also of a range of cycling shoes that they had been testing in the Tour de France. Could we see prototypes at Eurobike? We sincerely hope so!

Talking of shoes, Giro have already ‘quietly’ launched their shoes to dealers and the more eagle eyed amongst you will have seen them on the feet of a certain Team Radioshack rider and before you all shout, it wasn’t Lance Armstrong, but Levi Leipheimer. Fatty has caressed and fondled a pair and he assures us that they are very light and suitably stiff (using Easton carbon soles). The shoes are neutral and feature customised insoles, they look and feel well made and are reasonably priced. He can’t wait to get his test sample and expect them to be available around Christmas.

Giro RocLoc5 System:

Also new for Giro and not so secret is the Roc Loc 5 closure system. This will be available in all high-end helmets from the Autumn (with the exception of Prolight and the smaller sized Advantages) and the basic concept is its dial which has better fine tuning.

View the new 2011 RocLoc5′s at PBK – click here.

Also, expect to see a bigger and better glove range including an upgrade to the excellent LX mitts, but sunglasses sadly stay the same for now.

Some time ago we announced that Vectra were working on a pedal mounted power meter using ANT+ technology which would communicate to the head unit. While this system isn’t currently available for sale, I can tell you that Polar and Look are working jointly on a similar project and this should be launched at Eurobike, with consumer units due to be available from the New Year (Jan 2011).

Also from Look, we expect to see a new Carbon Aero TT Keo pedal, an Alloy bodied Keo pedal and a Blade version of the Quartz MTB pedal, which will be great as a commuter option.

No secret/surprise to anyone is the fact that Campagnolo have revised every groupset in their range and we have the lower end offerings available now. However Chorus, Record and Super Record are all being updated with new graphics, a touch up of red colour and a slight weight saving (40g per set). Super Record will also offer a Titanium version of its Ultra Torque system as a very expensive weight shedding option.

On the clothing front and just for those that are struggling to keep up, every manufacturer in Italy is now offering a water resistant lycra for this winter and next summer. This is great news for the British club cyclist who regularly goes out in the rain, time and again!

Hopefully this glimpse of what we can expect to see has whet your appetite and once Fatty returns from the show (with sore feet from all that walking!), we’ll give you a more in-depth round up of what’s new, who has got it right and who sadly needs to try harder! Feel free to share with us any secrets, tips and insider scoops that you may have picked up and why not try and out fox us with some well thought out rumours!

With a lull in the cycling world after the Tour de France, we’ve got the Tour of Poland ongoing, the Vuelta, Lombardy and the Eneco Tour to come (UCI calendar here) before everyone in the northern hemisphere packs up and starts riding cyclocross. Recent talk in the office are the various rumours surrounding the sport and we take a look at what’s going on!

1. As I started to write this piece, Bjarne Riis had scheduled a press conference in Denmark today, reportedly to announce his new sponsor for the now defunct Saxo Bank team which will cease after 2010. Saxo Bank decided to end their deal a year earlier than planned leaving the team sponsorless for 2011. The bank has sponsored the team since 2008, when it competed under the name CSC-Saxo Bank and with names such as Fabian Cancellara, 2010 Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck and former Paris-Roubaix winner Stuart O’Grady, they’ve experienced a great success.

Today’s announcement had been rumoured to be Specialized bikes, which they already ride and would make sense. SunGuard are continuing their sponsorship for 2011 which takes up the back panel of the Team bibshorts.

2. Secondly today, was whether Contador will be joining Bjarne’s team. The Spanish rider and Riis are believed to have reached a mutual agreement to join forces during a series of talks late in the 2010 Tour de France. This would make the Specialized link even more prominent.

NEWSFLASH:

Bjarne Riis has now revealed that Saxo Bank will continue to sponsor his cycling team alongside existing sponsor SunGard in 2011, with Tour de France winner Alberto Contador joining the team!! That’s quite a turn-around and nearly caught us out, but one thing is for sure, we’d certainly all like Contador on our team! Fact!

3. A team of Luxembourgers…

The Schleck brothers have already said that they will not be riding with Bjarne Riis next season. Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck said in a message published on his site: “We are going to leave at the end of the year…”.

With the dynamic brothers of Frank and Andy Schleck (Frandy), Jacob Fuglsang and big Jens Voigt, the team is sure to grab headlines with the Tour hopeful Andy and a reported $20 million USD budget to keep them going.

The new Luxembourg team has the support of politicians and strategic businesses in Luxembourg and Directeur sportif Kim Andersen has left Team Saxo Bank to work on securing a solid team for 2011.

We look forward to seeing how the team gets on, with the names and budget they have, failure will not be looked upon favourably!

4. A new UCI tour race in the USA.

After two years of speculation, a new eight-day Colorado stage race is set to roll out in late 2011.

With the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and 4 National Parks, there is enough variety to make a very entertaining and testing route.

In the shadow of the now-defunct Tour of Missouri, Lance Armstrong and representatives from Governor Bill Ritter’s office have worked together since early 2009 to bring a major stage race to the state. Medalist Sports, promoters of the Tours of California, Georgia and Missouri are involved in the event, so it promises to be a cracker.

Sitting second behind the Tour of California, the Tour of Colorado will probably stay relatively small to everyone who doesn’t live in the USA, but the scenery and big name riders competing should make it a very interesting race.

5. No article would be complete without mentioning a certain Mr Armstrong who at the minute, is embroiled in a massive argument with Mr Landis.

• Basically Landis claims of alleged doping practices within the US Postal team when Lance and co were riding for them.

Landis claims to have been introduced to testosterone by Johan Bruyneel while riding for US Postal in June, 2002. He claimed to have had lengthy conversations with seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong regarding the evolution of EPO testing that year, before travelling to Armstrong’s house in 2003 to collect his first sample of EPO.

• Lance says “I would remind everyone that this is a man that has been under oath several times with a very different version. This is a man that wrote a book for profit that had a completely different version; this is somebody that took close to a million dollars from innocent people for his defence under a different premise and now when it’s all run out the story changes. So we are a little confused, maybe just as confused as you guys…” and of course denies these allegations.

The next twist in this is that Former Rock Racing team owner Michael Ball could hold a clue to the direction of the US Food and Drug Administration probe into Lance Armstrong, another twist in this tale of alleged sporting fraud.

It’s been revealed that authorities served a warrant on Ball’s luxury apartment earlier this year, months before Floyd Landis’ allegations of doping practices within the US Postal team emerged.

Whether anything will come from this trial is unclear and unsurprisingly you have two parties both claiming completely conflicting happenings. You can be sure that Lance won’t give up though, he’s got this far, has no Tour to train for and we wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of him!

Last but not least, we have Cancellara and his ‘electric bike’:

We know it’s old news, but surely it’s just the fact that he is as ‘strong as an Ox’ and people are looking for reasons as to why he is so good. I mean seriously, can you actually see a professional cycling team trying to get away with this…..?

Let us know your views and opinions below; they really do matter!