Month: February 2020

A great way to blow away the winter cobwebs!

Two great routes to choose from which take you thought scenic roads with beautiful views of Howgills, Dent and Barbon. Both routes head generally south eastwards through Cumbria taking some very quiet valleys that you may be unaware of (unless you’ve done this sportive before of course!) as well as a few tasty climbs and some seriously quick descents.

The timed hill climb of the day takes you up Shacklabank. A tricky little climb which will see the fastest male / female crowned King / Queen of the mountain with a jersey from Wheelbase too.

Choose the long route, head further afield but get a bonus refreshments stop at Sedbergh Peoples Hall before heading back to Staveley for tea, cake and time to drool over the latest carbon fibre beauties in the shop!

Date – Sunday 29th March 2020

Location – Wheelbase Bike Store, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9LR (Google Map Directions)

Distance – Short 34 miles or Long 55 miles

Price – £20-short, £25-long in advance. £25/35 on the day.

• Registration: From 08:30
• Event Start: From 09:30
• Minimum Age to enter: 16
• Places available: 250

Short Route

Long Route

Northwave – Winter Shoe Specialist

If there’s any brand in cycling that would be considered a ‘winter specialist’ it’d have to be Northwave. The Italian brand was the first to use GoreTex® in its shoes and has since developed an extensive range of winter-specific shoes for a variety of conditions and disciplines.

Raptor Arctic GTX

With the Raptor GTX, Northwave developed a windproof and waterproof winter shoe to compliment the increased comfort and freedom of movement created by Northwave’s exclusive Climaflex collar.

The Arctic GTX footbed with a four-layer aluminium and fleece construction works with the membrane to deliver outstanding warmth and insulation.

Raptor TH Winter Shoe

At first glance, Northwave’s  Raptor TH seem as though they wouldn’t belong in the winter shoes collection – the low-cut profile may suggest otherwise. However, by using Thinsulate, the famous synthetic microfiber with outstanding thermal isolation and breathability features, has added warmth to Northwave’s exclusive mid-season shoes: low-cut, summer-like light shoes with unique thermal capacity.

The Arctic GTX footbed with a four-layer aluminium and fleece construction works with the membrane to deliver outstanding warmth and insulation.

 

Flash Thinsulate Winter Shoe

A versatile road shoe designed to deliver comfort, warmth and performance from freezing temperatures to milder settings. Constructed from an insulating Thinsulate membrane, a winter specific material suitable for temperatures from 0 to +15°C, these shoes supply all the warmth and comfort you would expect in these winter conditions.

The shoes provide great thermal insulation, breathability and a snug fit with Northwave’s Biomap Aero overlap. These performance orientated winter shoes produce the same excellent power transfer that Northwave owners have come to expect from their shoes – with a sole stiffness rating of 8 from Northwave.

Shop our full range of Northwave shoes with reductions up to 32% online.

Specialized’s first ever electric drop-bar bike looks to redefine road riding

We were treated to a test ride of the brand-new Turbo Creo recently, taken in some of the lumpy roads near our Darlington store and into the Yorkshire Dales.

Specialized’s have mastered the electric mountain bike market with the hugely popular Turbo Levo and Turbo Kenevo ranges of bikes. They’ve now brought this expertise and innovation to a new range of electric road bikes in the Turbo Creo. Each bike in the Turbo Creo range is designed to flatten climbs and nullify headwinds.

Specialiazed Turbo Creo Key Features

• Lightweight Fact 11r carbon fibre frame.
• The lightweight SL 1.1 motor doubles your effort with as much as 240 watts of silent and powerful assistance to amplify your ride. The motor’s responsive torque curve delivers power perfectly in-tune with your normal riding cadence and leaves no resistance when riding unassisted.
• Battery anxiety? Not on the Creo SL. With up to 80 miles of range from the internal battery, the Creo SL eats up big miles and long days. Our optional range extender provides up to 40 additional miles of mountain-flattening power.
• By connecting with our Mission Control App, you’re able to tune the SL 1.1 motor to your riding style, record rides, and monitor the battery. The app can handle battery management automatically too, ensuring the battery will last as long as you need it to. The motor even has a built-in power meter that transmits to any ANT+ head unit.
• With the Future Shock 2.0, you’ll feel a reduction in fatigue and an increase in speed, no matter the terrain. The 2.0 iteration gives you more control via a knob atop the stem. This knob adjusts compression from fully-open to stiff, while hydraulically-damped internals control rebound. The new Smooth Boot, top cap, and Future Stem also enhance the aesthetic, so you get a clean transition from head tube to stem.

The Specialized Turbo Creo range is now available to order online with several models in stock and available from our Darlington store.

 

The power to ride more trails..

The all-new Turbo Levo SL from Specialized has rewritten the rules for a trail e-MTB. Weighing in at 17.35kg, the full-suspension trail bike doubles your power output and handles like a nimble trail bike.

The Turbo Levo SL is the lightest e-MTB in its class thanks to its svelte-yet-stiff chassis, superlight motor, and cutting-edge motor and battery system. The advanced motor and lithium-ion batteries give you the speed and range to tackle truly massive rides. And the Mission Control App can automatically handle battery management, so you’ll always have power when you need it. The App allows you to custom-tune the Turbo Levo SL’s power delivery, control your range, record rides, or just climb on and hammer to your heart’s content.

The Levo SL shares much of its DNA with the already established Turbo Levo but tips the scale at around 4kg less for overall weight. This is a hefty saving and is largely because of the reduced battery and motor size, reducing the additional power output from 500wh down to 240 watts of motor assistance. The smaller motor retains a natural and smooth pedalling motion as well as reducing the bulk around the bottom bracket area. The technology is also deployed on Specialized’s Turbo Creo electric road bike.

Another cool feature on this 150mm travel trail bike is the integrated SWAT multi-tool hidden in the steerer tube, maintaining the sleek look. The Turbo Levo SL will be in stock and available to order online very soon. For more information give us a call on 01539 821443 or email info@wheelbase.co.uk