Year: 2020

Round 1 National Cyclocross Trophy, Westmorland County Showground, Cumbria.

After an uncertain time right up until the event, Dave Haygarth and his brilliant team of helpers successfully hosted Round 1 of the National Cyclocross Trophy at the Westmorland County Showground in Cumbria supported by Wheelbase.

The race organisation and British Cycling worked tirelessly in the run up to the event to ensure that strict Covid Protocols were followed by everyone involved. Face masks and hand sanitizers were in good supply and, most significantly, there were big changes to the usual bike pit area.

For this event there were no jet washers or pit crews allowed with the organisers creating a simple transition area where riders could change to their spare bike but with no outside assistance or bike-cleaning. This would pose an additional challenge to racers throughout the weekend where the weather and ever-changing racing conditions could influence the outcomes of the race.

The event was really well subscribed despite the additional changes to race rules and the uncertainty around Covid19 in the run up to the event with riders from all over the UK desperate to race after a long lay-off due to the Coronavirus. A packed race schedule over the two days saw racers deal with contrasting conditions – VERY wet with continuous rain on Saturday meant the racing was fast, the course stayed grippy and bikes stayed relatively free of mud.

Sunday was a different story, with blue skies and sunshine beginning to dry out the course turning it into a muddy, sticky, slower-riding course. Racing in these conditions was markedly different, with more focus required to stay upright on the tight dog-leg turns and an ability to cope with steep, slick run-ups. These conditions brought extra challenges as riders tried to finesse their bikes to the finish without the usual luxury of having a jet wash-equipped pit-crew ready with a clean bike every lap or so.

The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli race team was well represented throughout the two days racing across most of the categories. On Saturday in the Vet 40 race our very own National Champion Lewis Craven raced hard to take an excellent 3^rd place. Davie Lines fought back from a lowly gridding to take a strong 7^th place while our digital marketing man Johnny Dodgin returned to national-level racing after a couple of years out. As the afternoon’s weather worsened the under 14’s race saw Elsie Haygarth take 22^nd despite the difficult conditions.

Sunday morning saw our Junior lads racing when the course was at its most challenging, taking place after 12 hours of continuous rain. The strong-performing team saw Adam Bent take 2^nd place with Ben Houlihan in 7^th and Flynn Gregory in 8^th collectively making a big statement for this newest branch of the Wheelbase team. As the day warmed up and the wind began to dry out parts of the course Kate Taylor raced strongly in the national senior women’s event taking 22^nd place overall and 15^th place in the under 23 category.

The big final event of the day – the senior race was fast and frenetic with the very best racers in the UK coming together to race for the first time since January. Wheelbase rider Giles Drake was locked in a race-long battle to secure a top ten placing, just missing out on the final lap to finish an excellent 11^th place. David Duggan made the trip down from Scotland taking 27^th place while our younger under 23 riders Ryan Middlemiss and Tyla Loftus took 45^th and 47^th place respectively placing them in 21^st and 23^rd in the under 23 sub-category.

We would like to thank all of the event organisers and helpers as well as all of the competitors who came from far and wide, raced sensibly and adhered to the new Covid protocols throughout the weekend.

All Photographs by @jamesvincent www.jamesianvincent.com

The 2021 Cannondale Moterra Neo 3+ eMTB thrives on challenging UK trails, up or downhill, out in the elements in all weather conditions. Riding such an impressively precise & uncommonly agile eMTB helps you to redefine what you thought was possible on a mountain bike; you’ll quickly find yourself revisiting old stomping grounds to ride what you previously thought was unrideable. With its low center of gravity, modern geometry, short chainstays and enhance traction the Cannondale Moterra’s handling feels like it’s in a class of its own.

Over the past few seasons Cannondale have quickly refined the functionality and styling of their eMTB’s, the Moterra Neo 3+ features Bosch’s powerful new Performance CX drive unit with an increased torque of up to 85Nm and extended boost for effortless speed and endless fun while a long-lasting 625Wh PowerTube battery is fully integrated cleanly into Moterra’s burly carbon frame.

Like all good modern bike brands Cannondale don’t hold back on the technical jargon, quoting ‘Proportional Response’ and ‘AI Offset’ among others. In a nutshell Proportional Response reflects their focus on rider size and specifically tailoring the Moterra’s suspension layout per bike size option so that every rider enjoys optimal traction, suppleness and control. Cannondale’s ‘AI Offset’ refers to their design solution that creates a rear triangle with enhanced tyre clearance and short chainstays for a more agile, nimble feeling eMTB.

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 3+ features a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork with 160mm of travel paired with a Deluxe Select rear shock, again, with a capable 160mm amount of travel. A SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset gives a super-wide range of gears to help you negotiate even the steepest, most technical climbs while small design details include the space to run a water bottle on every frame size making the Moterra Neo 3+ a really versatile, user-friendly and FUN eMTB.

The 2021 Cannondale Moterra Neo 3+ eMTB will be available at Wheelbase in-store and online from next week.

Last November Trek Factory Racing’s Evie Richards kindly joined us on a group ride as part of the Kendal Mountain Festival. It was great to get to ride with one of the most talented young Cross Country mountain bikers in the world. Little did we all know then, that she would have to wait more than a year to race again at an international level due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Evie has since moved up to the highest level of World Cup racing and took on her very first senior level Short Track World Cup race in Nové Město in the Czech Republic yesterday. Fought out in conditions more typical to a wet Autumn day in the UK Evie excelled taking THE WIN in a sprint finish against the reigning Mountain Bike World Champion!

When it comes to selecting the appropriate race bike for the job Evie has the best range of cross country mountain bikes available, choosing the Trek Supercaliber with its exclusive IsoStrut tuneable, damped shock built into the integral structure of the frame. This clever piece of engineering allows for a small amount of travel to take the sting out the rough stuff without compromising pedalling input – perfect for the kind of sprint finish that Evie dominated.

See the Supercaliber HERE

The Whyte E-160 S V1 enduro eMTB has been designed and developed to excel on British trails, featuring all-weather reliability for a do-it-all trailbike that packs more punch into every ride.

Whyte have taken their agile handling and capable suspension from their E-150 and increased the fork travel by 10mm to handle the most technical, demanding terrain. They have also increased ground clearance whilst maintaining that distinctive feel of being able to really rail the turns, which has been so familiar with previous Whyte Trail/Enduro mountain bikes.

The E-160 S is available in 5 sizes from XS to XL and features the brilliant Bosch gen 4 motor paired with a 625Wh battery. This brand new high-torque Bosch Gen 4 motor is super-compact with exceptionally smooth power delivery giving a more natural, enhanced pedalling feel while the powerful 625Wh battery means there is no need for any ‘range anxiety’ associated with some other eMTB’s. Whyte’s slide in battery fitment means that the structural integrity of the frame is maintained while weight is kept to a minimum.

Whyte have paired the new RockShox ZEB 160mm eMTB-specific 38mm stanchioned forks up-front with a RockShox Deluxe Select rear shock. SRAM’s proven GX Eagle groupset featuring a 34T chainring combined with a wide-ratio 11-50T 12 speed cassette provides ample gearing for the steepest off road climbs and gravity-assisted drops. Powerful SRAM Guide 4 Pot brakes combined with 220mm/200mm rotors means that scrubbing off speed and remaining in control through tight downhill turns is taken care of.

Available now in-store and online – the 2021 Whyte E-160 S keeps your riding rowdy and fun regardless of what you throw at it.

Find out more here: Whyte E-160 S

The all-new Trek Slash is quite possibly the ultimate trail bike. This long-travel 29er enduro bike is built to be fast, smooth and fun in the wildest terrain. This versatile, aggressive bike rips the trails while remaining light and planted on punchy climbs and if you’re into park runs the Slash can deliver rowdy downhill fun run after run. The all-new Slash is available in carbon or alloy options, each built with new, improved burlier suspension and Trek’s newly developed enduro geometry that keeps you long and low. Fast rolling 29er wheels carry your speed through technical terrain for a rip roaring good time in the rough.

Trek declare the Slash as an evolution in enduro suspension, with an all-new Super Deluxe Thru Shaft air shock developed in partnership with RockShox engineers with the shared goal of developing the perfect enduro-specific suspension platform with a super-sensitive shock that reacts to the trail, not you. This enduro bike knows the difference between what you’re putting into it and what the trail is; the slow speed adjuster cleverly nullifies pedal strokes without affecting the bike’s capacity to handle high-speed compressions on the most brutal trails.

So how would we describe the geometry of the new Slash? Well, simply put it’s now longer, slacker and lower while accommodating more travel. This delivers more high-speed stability in the steepest, loosest terrain, while the Slashes’ steep seat tube angle keeps your pedaling efficient when your negotiating long climbs and transition stages.

With an eye for detail and a focus on small practicalities that can make the difference between a fun day out and a frustrating ride, all Slashes now feature a full-length downtube guard to protect your bike from trail debris as well as providing a little more durability when tailgate shuttling. Another key feature is Trek’s clever internal frame storage compartment underneath the bottle cage on the downtube where you can store tools, a spare tube or your favourite trail snacks.

Find out more here

Trek’s fastest climbing bike has been refined with aero tubes shapes to make it faster, everywhere.

Aero matters for climbing, and the all-new Emonda’s aero tube shapes saves seconds on all gradients – 18 seconds per hour at an 8% gradient and a staggering 60 seconds per hour on the flats. Traditionally, adding aero tube shapes will make a bike heavier – but not with an all-new OCLV 800 on the Emonda SLR.

OCLV 800 carbon

OCLV 800 is the result of a multi-year process aimed at creating Trek’s strongest and lightest carbon ever. The new material is 30% stronger than anything used before, allowing the manufacturer to use less material in high-stress areas of the frame. The finished product: a sub-700 g frame.

The Emonda SL uses a more cost-effective lightweight 500 series OCLV carbon, making it a great option for those priced-out by the SLR range.

The Emonda launches alongside the new Aeolus RSL 37 wheels and Aeolus RSL Bar/Stem Combo, bringing the ultimate balance of weight and aero to the complete system.

Both the Emonda SLR and SL feature the identical frame shapes for identical aerodynamic performance. They both have a T47 BB for the ultimate in performance and serviceability. Cables are almost totally hidden, but still route externally to the bars, making service easy. Lastly, an H1.5 fit means that performance riders of every gender will find a powerful and aerodynamic position on Emonda.

The Emonda SL and SLR are now in stock and available to order online.

Explore the roads less travelled with the all-new Topstone Lefty – a dual suspension, go-anywhere, ride anything gravel bike from Cannondale.

High-volume 650b wheels and 30mm of front and rear travel are the standout features of Cannondale’s re-imagined 2021 version of the Topstone Carbon.

The original Topstone carbon, launched last year, came equipped with Cannondale’s revolutionary Kingpin suspension system which offers 30mm travel at the rear. The new version matches the 30mm rear travel with 30mm travel up front in the form of a gravel-specific Lefty Oliver suspension fork. Inspired by Cannondale’s Lefty Ocho mountain bike fork, the Lefty Oliver was first seen a few years ago on Cannondale’s original Slate gravel bike. Now even more refined and integrated, Lefty Oliver front-suspension is back on the all-new Topstone Carbon to take gravel riding to the next level.

Key features;

• KingPin Suspension – Revolutionary, super-light suspension that lets you ride harder on dirt and more smoothly on pavement. Better control. Better traction. Better comfort. Nothing sacrificed.
• Lefty Oliver – The ultimate built-for-gravel suspension fork. With 30mm of smooth, bump-taming suspension and an incredibly stiff, precise-handling structure, this lightweight fork lets you push it harder, and ride smoother than ever.
• It’s Easier to Go Harder – Refined geometry and rider position deliver an experience that’s stable, composed and comfortable without losing that spark. Go further, ride longer, charge harder.
• The Last Detail – We thought of everything. Big tire clearance. Tons of gear and storage mounts. Rear Speed Release thruaxle, Internal dropper post compatibility. In short, the works.

Everyone remembers their first bike – that first ride and that feeling of freedom. From early-years balance bikes to trail-ready mountain bikes, kids’ bikes are all about building confidence and having fun.

Equipped with child friendly components, wheels and size specific frames, there are bikes for kids of all ages – from toddlers through to teenage riders.

Unlike adult bikes, where sizing is determined by seat tube length, kids bikes are sized by their wheel size. The table below will act as a general guide for sizing based on a child’s age and height and will determine which size is most suitable.

Kids Bike Size Guide

Balance Bikes and 12″ Wheels (Age 2 – 4 years)

Suitable for riders up to 4 years old, balance bikes are the gateway to life on two wheels for the youngest riders. Balance bikes don’t come with pedals or gears and are propelled and stopped with the rider’s feet, reducing the number of things a child needs to think about when they take to two wheels. Taking away the complications of a drivetrain system allows the toddler to focus solely on learning how to balance and steer the bike.

Equipped with 10 or 12″ wheels, a balance bike such as the Trek Kickster or Specialized Hotwalk will be the perfect platform for a toddler to get to grips with moving around on two wheels.

14 and 16″ Wheels (Age 3 – 6 years)

After mastering the balance bike and aged between 3 to 6 years old it’s now time for your child to make the step up to a first pedal bike. At this stage kids’ bikes begin to resemble adult’s bike with the introduction of gears, pedals and brakes. The gearing on these bikes tends to feature a single speed setup for simplicity and ease of use. The majority of bikes for children of this age are designed as multi purpose bikes with features allowing for riding on tarmac as well as light off-road use such as bridleways and canal paths.

The Cube Cubie 160 and Frog 48 come spec’d with 16″ wheels and are available in an array of eye-catching colours with a host of child-friendly features.

20″ Wheels (Age 5 – 8 years)

Welcome to the world of gears and the potential to explore further on two wheels. Kids’ 20″ wheeled bikes open up new avenues for a child to explore with confidence inspiring frames and features that tailor bikes to a more specific style of riding. Bikes will come equipped with features such as front suspension for more comfort and the ability to ride off-road trails. A wider range of gears will give the rider more scope to tackle varied terrain both on and off-road.

For the aspiring mountain biker there’s the Cannondale Kids Trail 20 or Trek Roscoe 20, both built around high quality frames that will last and equipped with reliable components and wide tyres for taking on easy forest trails.

24″ Wheels (Age 7 – 10 years)

The final step before a child becomes a teenager and starts the transition towards adult bikes. Bikes equipped with larger 24″ wheels take on many trickle down features from a manufacturers range of adult bikes and become more specific to the different types of riding. Off-road bikes will feature front suspension, wider, treaded tyres and favourable gearing for tackling gnarly terrain. Whereas bikes that focus on paved riding and bridleways resemble adult hybrid bikes with narrower tyres and a rigid front fork.

Available in two colour options, the Cannondale Kids Quick 24 is perfect for building confidence on cycle paths and bridleways. For young mountain bikers there’s the Cube Acid 240 Disc, equipped with disc brakes and wide-ranging gears this is a great option for building skills on the trails.

26″ & 27.5″ Wheels (Age 10 years and above)

As children become young teenagers their options open up even more and bikes become more specialised. A 24″ bike offers much of the same tech, features and benefits of an adult bike but built around a slightly smaller wheel size. The gear system will be similarly optimised for either road or off-road riding and frame geometry will be filtered down for smaller riders. Road bikes of this size feature drop handlebars and a wide range of gears and 24″ mountain bikes will be equipped with front and sometimes rear suspension along with gears ready for steep inclines and technical descents.

A 24″ wheel road bike such as the Frog Road 67 is perfect for the budding roadie and features child-specific handlebars and shorter cranks with a spin-friendly 34T chainring. For youngsters looking to do some serious off-road riding there’s the Whyte 405, a scaled-down version of Whyte’s trail adult mountain bikes, which will inspired confidence  and build skills on forest trails and singletrack.

Introducing the Spring Summer collection from Castelli

The Italian brand’s new clothing range maintains their classic race ethos while exploring some new avenues.

The core products within the new Castelli clothing range are designed to provide the ultimate in top quality, performance race apparel. Working closely with Team Ineos (formerly Team Sky) over the past few years has provided the Italian brand with insight and experience for producing kit to meet the demands of World Tour racing.

Features of this pro-level race wear are evident throughout the entire range as well as some brand-new products designed to meet the demands of the riders looking to venture away from the tarmac and onto the gravel roads. In recent years professional road racing has embraced this increasingly popular trend and taken to roads less-travelled – take last year’s Tour de France finish atop La Planche des Belles Filles, Chris Froome’s blistering attack on the Colle Delle Finestre at the 2018 Giro or the epic one-day classic in Tuscany, Strade Bianche.

We’ve picked out a few key items from the SS20 range to give a taste of the quality and innovation present in the latest Castelli collection.

Free Aero Race 4 Bibshort

The premium race short in the range as used by the Team Ineos riders and countless roadies around the world. The 4th major iteration of the Free Aero Race short features the updated Progetto X2 Air Seamless seat pad, which offers unparalleled comfort over hours in the saddle. The fabrics used are premium as well, created by Italy’s finest fabric suppliers – the Forza fabric on the inner leg features 38% Lycra content for perfect fit, while the Vortex fabric on the side panels is dimpled for aerodynamics.

Passo Jersey

The ultimate in all-round performance – from weekend racing to long training days, the Passo Jersey is based on the Squadra base model and offers exceptional fit and comfort. The main ProSecco fabric is designed to ensure lightness and is quick drying. while the side panels enhance breathability and the construction of the sleeves give optimised comfort.

Unlimited Bibshort

Designed for exploration and the adventurous riders, the Unlimited Bibshort meets Castelli’s high standards for performance and comfort while adding in a few extra features for riding off-road. The introduction of a brand-new and extremely durable Unlimited Lycra fabric gives improved tear and abrasion resistance while retaining comfort and moisture management. The double-layer side panels on the short are designed to increase protection for those feared yet sometimes unavoidable gravel get-downs, reducing the likelihood that you’ll need to replace the short after such an occurrence. The shorts also feature a convenient side pocket on each leg as well as two mesh pockets on the lower back.

Talento Jersey

Made from quick drying and breathable ProSecco fabric, this lightweight jersey is perfect when combined with a mesh base layer or on its own for spring and summer riding. The eye-catching graphics enhance a technically astute piece of kit – Velocity Rev2 stretch fabric provides unmatched fit and comfort on the sleeves and the drop-tail pocket design places the pockets at the perfect height.

Shop the Castelli Spring Summer 20 range in full online.

Presenting the 2020 MBR Trail Bike of the Year – Nukeproof Reactor 290 Elite

The Reactor took the accolade against some stiff competition in the shop-bought category. Tested against 4 of the other best full-suspension trail bikes from £2.5k, the Reactor’s ‘buttery smooth suspension, reactive 130mm travel..’ and full carbon frame saw it edge ahead of the competitors and take the winners crown.

The 290 Elite model from Nukeproof boasts a full carbon frame and 130mm of travel to make it the perfect weapon for modern trail riding. In stock online and shipping now –https://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product/brands/nukeproof/nukeproof-reactor/nukeproof-reactor-290-elite-2020/