Author: John Dodgin

 

After a couple of weeks off from national-level cyclocross racing our slightly reduced team of five Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli racers made the long trip south to the ‘English Riviera’ to do battle at the Torbay Velopark in Devon. It’s great to see this year’s series spread so evenly across the UK, helping the National Trophy live up to its name and giving more racers the chance to get to a round of the series without having to travel on endless miles of motorway. With rounds having already taken place in Falkirk and South Shields our predominantly northern contingent have had it good so far this season, but with this round being located at the other end of the country some chose to miss this round and consolidate for the packed racing calendar coming up over December and into the New Year where we’ll see the National Cyclocross Championships taking place just a few miles from Wheelbase’s HQ in the Lake District.

Those racers looking for ‘proper cross conditions’ would not be disappointed at Torbay.

 

The racing at the Torbay Velopark was packed into two busy days with very little time to squeeze in between each race category, a real reflection of the continued popularity of this cycling discipline which often sees whole families of racers each taking their turn to compete in their respective age and gender categories. A great example of this is our very own Father/Daughter duo of Dave and Elsie Haygarth who, despite being based ‘oop north’ committed to a long trip to the south coast; Dave takes up the story…

Torbay didn’t disappoint! It was well worth the ten hour round trip, especially with two stops at the Westmorland services on the M5 at Gloucester, reminding us of the upcoming festivities in January when the popular Westmorland venue will host the prestigious Cyclocross National Championships.

Dave made the long trip down south to race on a muddy course that was much to his liking.

 

The Torbay course included an excellent combination of all the typical cyclocross features you’d hope to find at a national-level race with the full circuit being put together really well. There weren’t any climbs of note, but there were lots of other elements to test us on each lap. The thing that most competitors would probably take away in their heads was the incredibly waterlogged, deep mud that lay around the pit area.  This was the first race of the season that required proper sustained running on the flat, something that I’m happy to say I’ve missed and really enjoyed. It’s not that I’m a good runner it’s just that running with a bike on your shoulder seems to wear me down less than other people, being a big lad. 

With plenty of running required on each lap Dave was able to utilise those long legs of his.

 

The course also featured a man-made sandpit which added a nice point of interest for competitors and racers alike; it turned out to be more challenging than it initially appeared mainly due to the grade of sand that was used, which had the potential to increase the chances of an untimely mechanical. Despite my pre-race concerns it didn’t seem to clog the bikes too much and most racers made it through the race unscathed.

The man-made sandpit was a great additional course feature.

 

My race was the first of the weekend on Saturday morning, lining up against the very best racers in the Vet 50 category; as usual Nick Craig came to the fore pretty quickly. I’d like to say I was in the race for second place, but in reality everyone from 2nd to 15th was split by a handful of seconds between each rider, so it was just really a slog. Sometimes gaps would open that I felt I wouldn’t be able to close, and sometimes they just magically closed in front of me when I got a good line in the mud.

Dave kept calm and composed throughout the race despite the difficult conditions.

 

No one was immune from making small mistakes with the nature of the course and the racing conditions impacting everyone’s performance in one way or another. With the odd slip here and there we were all losing or gaining time on each lap; the key was to remain as calm and composed as possible with a laser-focus on line choice while coming into the pits regularly to jump onboard a clean bike in effort to negate any potential for unwanted mechanicals. I eventually finished in eighth position, which is a season’s best for me; I managed to take a few significant scalps along the way and put myself in a stronger position for the overall series.

Dave Haygarth would finish his race in an excellent 8th place.

 

Elsie’s race was on the Saturday afternoon and by then the course had changed quite a bit. Some of the muddy tracks had developed a dryer line and neat little ruts were appearing on a lot of the corners enabling racers to carry more speed through some of the tighter turns. While some parts of the course had improved waterlogged areas had become much muddier and slick meaning that Elsie and her fellow competitors had to cash-in on all of the riding skills they had at their disposal.

Elsie Haygarth was representing Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli in the competitive U16 Girls category.

 

Elsie made short work of the barriers.

 

Elsie’s fast start helped her keep out of trouble on the usual first-lap chaos and she managed to settle into a place in the late teens, riding strongly and changing bikes every half lap of her fast and frenetic 36 minute race, keeping me incredibly busy on the jet wash in the busy pit area. Elsie came away with a solid performance and she was pleased with her 18th spot which was also a season best so far.

Elsie Haygarth enjoyed the technical course which was packed full of features including a fly-over, barriers and steps.

 

Cornering with confidence Elsie would go on to finish an impressive 18th; her best result so far this season.

 

Fast-forward to Sunday and it was time for three of the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team to line up for the main event of the weekend – the demanding Elite Senior Men’s race. Our young rider Flynn Gregory is having a solid season with consistent results leaving him with a good overall position in the series; he was coming into Round 4 looking to consolidate it. We also saw the welcome return of Adam Bent who was back in the mud after a successful season of road racing which saw him take some great results on the continent. Giles Drake was back in action at Torbay after missing Round 3 in South Shields when he instead raced at the National Hillclimb Championships taking an excellent 10^th place; back on his trust Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX bike he was keen to make an impact at this southern venue, here’s what he had to say after his race…

Torbay Velo Park was a new venue for the national Trophy series so I wasn’t sure what to expect but imagined it would be similar to Crawley which has been used a few times over the last couple of years. The course itself was very flat and torrential rain had turned a lot of the ground into ankle-deep clay – every cross racer’s worst nightmare when it comes to keeping the bikes running efficiently while avoiding unwanted mechanicals.

Despite the blue skies plenty of rain before the race made conditions challenging for Giles and his fellow competitors.

 

With plenty of thick sloppy mud it was quicker for Giles to run the worst sections.

 

My race started poorly; unfortunately the course went quickly from the start straight into a tight bottle neck, so a good start was vital and missing my pedal off the gun meant I was on the back foot trying to avoid the usual first lap chaos. As the course opened up, I set about moving up through the pack from the late twenties. Lots of heavy running sections would usually suit me but if I’m honest, I found my legs lacking the usual strength. Despite this I managed to stay focused on line choice and riding as smoothly as possible, staying consistent throughout and picking off 2 or 3 riders per lap until I reached 8th place. 7th & 6th we’re only a handful of seconds ahead of me with 2 laps to go but I just didn’t have the legs to finish as strongly as I’d usually expect to. Overall though, it’s great to be back in the UCI points which will help my grid positioning in future rounds where I’m aiming to get some more good results under my belt before the year is out.

Giles steadily worked his way through the pack in a quest to place himself as high up into the top 10 as possible.

 

Giles would finish in an impressive 8th place, giving him a better gridding position for future rounds.

 

It’s great to see Giles back in the top ten of a National Trophy Cyclocross race; as racing conditions become even more arduous we’re sure we’ll see even more from him in the coming weeks and months of the season. Elsewhere in the same race Flynn Gregory continued his consistent streak with another top 20 placing, this time finishing in 19^th place  in the senior category and taking 10^th place in the under-23 sub-category; he now sits in 15^th place overall in the National Trophy series. Adam Bent made his return to national-level cross racing with a strong performance that left him in 28^th position at the end of this grueling race. Coming back from racing on the road it usually takes a while to adapt to the unpredictable nature of cyclocross racing, however there didn’t seem to be any such problems for Adam who was one of the few riders able to hop the barriers in such difficult racing conditions.

Flynn Gregory continues to deliver solid results at National level.

 

Flynn would finish in 19th place and now holds 15th place overall in the National Trophy Cyclocross series.

 

Adam Bent returned to the National Trophy series in style, being one of the few riders able to hop the barriers.

 

The penultimate round of the National Trophy Cyclocross season takes place on the 18^th of December just over the border from Wheelbase Lake District at the popular Broughton Hall venue in Yorkshire. With another round on our doorstep in the North of England you can be sure Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli will have a full squad ready to perform well on one our favourite race courses of the season.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Results:

Day 1 Saturday

YOUTH Girls (U16)

18th Elsie Haygarth

VET 50 Men

8th Dave Haygarth

Day 2 Sunday

Elite Men

8th Giles Drake

19th Flynn Gregory

28th Adam Bent

 

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Man Down Media

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

The all-new Orbea Wild has launched today! Yes Orbea’s popular e-MTB is back with a new range of 7 bikes which includes a choice of carbon or alloy frame, with all bikes featuring Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor; the much-sought-after Performance Line CX-R race-tuned motor even makes an appearance on the Orbea Wild FS M-LTD.

 

Orbea’s press-release for this new range of bikes made one thing clear – the new Wild is first and foremost an enduro bike and should be seen as such, it just happens to have one of the most powerful & durable e-bike motors attached. Everything about the Wild has been designed to excel on the trails with geometry, suspension kinematics, stiffness and weight all perfectly tuned to behave like a massively capable enduro mountain bike.

 

When Orbea set out to develop the ultimate enduro e-MTB they went straight to the most authoritative source available – their own Orbea FOX Enduro Team, listening to feedback and embarking on endless hours of prototyping and real-world testing. With a clever use of the most refined materials, well-thought-out tweaks to geometry and some sophisticated suspension kinematics the new Wild became one of the lightest full-power e-MTBs available, providing higher performance while giving more range and better handling.

 

As we’ve mentioned already, this is a legit Enduro bike that just happens to have a powerful motor and efficient battery and as such its development has been led by some of the very best enduro racers on the scene. From the beginning the Orbea design team were focused on developing the most manageable, capable and high-performance electric mountain bike in the fast-growing ‘EWS-E’ e-enduro race category.

 

Orbea have opted for a frame design with an integrated battery (rather than a removeable battery) to negate the need for the type of structural compromises to the frame that would normally be seen on a bike with a removeable battery. Put simply, extra mounting hardware adds weight and complexity, and opening access to the battery greatly compromises frame rigidity; with the new Orbea Wild there are no such concerns. The end result is a bike that is a whopping 51% stiffer than its predecessor and up to 32.5% lighter, with a complete bike weight of less than 21 kg.

 

 

All Orbea Wild models come with a choice of two battery options: 750Wh or 625Wh. A quick scan through the full specifications of each model (below) will show you that most models come with a 750Wh battery as standard except for the Wild FS H30 which features a 650Wh battery and the top of the range Wild FS M-LTD model which also features the 650Wh battery option but is paired with Bosch’s exciting new Performance Line CX-R enduro-racing-specific motor. Orbea’s MyO program lets you choose the size of motor you want for your own Wild; select the 750Wh option for the longest range or the 650Wh for the ultimate in handling.

 

We’ve all quickly become used to pouring over a new bike’s geometry chart in a quest to understand just how capable and confidence-inspiring the bike in question is going to be when we drop into our favourite trail at speed. The all-new Orbea Wild shares a lot of its dimensions with its non-e Rallon cousin with some minor tweaks to ensure it is optimised to meet the extra demands of an e-MTB. The new Wild is slacker and longer than its predecessor. Its 64º head angle and 450mm reach (size M) is 25mm longer than its previous version, translating into extra stability and superior control out on the trails. Elsewhere there’s a 77.5º seat angle that offers a centred position on the bike and works brilliantly when you’re in the saddle climbing steep, loose tracks back to the top of your next timed run.

 

The all-new Orbea Wild features 160mm of rear travel, with their suspension kinematics tuned to meet the specific demands of a long-travel e-MTB bike like this. The bike’s progressive suspension combines terrific traction with an active feel facilitated by a high starting leverage rate with bottomless capability as the suspension ramps up towards the end of its travel. Compared with its predecessor the biggest change to the suspension is in the middle part of the travel where there is more support, giving the enhanced agility and playfulness that is so obvious the moment you point this e-MTB downhill. The final part of the stroke has been tweaked too providing more progressiveness that results in greater control in those big hits that you’ll inevitably encounter at race pace.

 

The all-new Orbea Wild Enduro e-MTB tames the wildest trails while feeling playful and agile rather than heavy and dead like some ‘full-fat’ e-MTB’s out there. As Orbea keep reminding us the Wild is primarily a fantastic enduro bike, with frame rigidity, a lighter overall weight, supportive suspension, and sorted e-MTB-specific geometry all contributing to an exhilarating ride. The fact that this bike just happens to include a powerful and efficient Bosch drive system simply means you’ll be able to pack more fun into each ride, covering more ground, feeling fresher for longer and leaving you ready to hit the next downhill trail with renewed energy and focus.

 

Launched today the range of seven new 2023 Orbea Wild Enduro e-MTB’s, with four in carbon and three in aluminium will be available online and in-store at WHEELBASE in the coming weeks and months, watch this space!…

 

Check out the full range of Orbea Wild bikes below…

 

Wild FS M-LTD RRP £10,999

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX-R
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: ORBEA WILD Full Suspension Carbon
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 170 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Race Carbon
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2”, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano XTR M9100
• Brakes: Shimano XTR M9120Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano CN-9100
• Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32LTD Carbon
• Cassette: Shimano XTR M9100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory Kashima Dropper 31.6
• Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X1 145mm
• Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT-800 I-Spec EV
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS M-Team RRP £8,999

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: ORBEA WILD Full Suspension Carbon
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 160 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima E-Bike Optimized
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2”, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano XT M8100 I-Spec EV
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8120 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M8100
• Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M8100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
• Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS M10 £7,999

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: ORBEA WILD Full Suspension Carbon
• Shock: Fox Float X Performance Trunnion 2-Position Adjust custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance 160 Grip 3-Position QR15x110 E-Bike Optimized
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2”, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 Alu SL, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano SLX M7100 I-Spec EV
• Brakes: Shimano M6120 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre : Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
• Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS M20 £6,999

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: ORBEA WILD Full Suspension Carbon
• Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
• Chainring; e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2”, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
• Brakes: SRAM DB8 Black Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
• Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS H10 £6,499

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: Orbea Wild Full Suspension Hydroformed Alloy 160mm Travel Boost 12×148 Bosch Gen4
• Shock: Fox Float X Performance Trunnion 2-Position Adjust custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance 160 Grip 3-Position QR15x110 E-Bike Optimized
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2”, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 Alu SL, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100 I-Spec EV
• Brakes: Shimano M6120 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Saddle Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
• Seatpost Lever Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS H20 £5,899

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: Orbea Wild Full Suspension Hydroformed Alloy 160mm Travel Boost 12×148 Bosch Gen4
• Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: FSA 1-1/2” Integrated Aluminium Cup
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
• Brakes: SRAM DB8 Black Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre : Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm,Dropper
• Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

Wild FS H30 £5,299

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal
• Display: BOSCH System Controller
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V)
• Frame: Orbea Wild Full Suspension Hydroformed Alloy 160mm Travel Boost 12×148 Bosch Gen4
• Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
• Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 34T Boost
• Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Headset: FSA 1-1/2” Integrated Aluminium Cup
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
• Brakes: Shimano MT410 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Chain: Shimano M6100
• Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M6100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60” 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
• Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
• Chainguide: e*thirteen Plus Bosch CX Gen4 32-38t

 

 

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

Launched today! The all-new Tacx NEO Bike Plus is a simple to use smart indoor training bike with ultra-realistic road feel, authentic simulated gradients and user-friendly virtual shifting. The new Tacx NEO Bike Plus is significantly quieter than its predecessor too allowing you to use it in the home while enjoying quiet operation and accurate power, speed and cadence metrics – even in the sprints.

The all-new Tacx Neo Bike Plus is significantly quieter than its predecessor.

 

Now the Tacx NEO Bike training experience is even more versatile, allowing you to share this cutting-edge indoor smart bike with the rest of your household thanks to simple, speedy adjustment of the stem, seat, and cranks. The Tacx NEO Bike Plus works seamlessly with the Tacx Training app on your smartphone allowing you to access targeted training plans, pro rides and high-quality training films. Tacx NEO Bike Plus is the all-in-one smart bike that offers precise fit and realistic ride feel, so you can bring the outdoor world indoors!

 

 

The new Tacx Neo Bike Plus is more versatile thanks to its multiple adjustment points.

 

In stock and available to purchase online and in-store at Wheelbase the all-new Tacx NEO Bike Plus retails at £3,499.00

 

Tacx NEO Bike Plus Fast Facts:

• Silent, accurate and realistic smart bike with fully adjustable design, so you can share it with other athletes in the household and match their outdoor bike fit
• Enhanced shifters, programmable for SHIMANO, SRAM or Campagnolo, provide precise button distinction and ergonomics
• Choose among 5 crank lengths for more exact fit with your choice of pedals
• Dynamic inertia makes your ride feel more realistic by maintaining a sensation of forward motion based on your speed and gradient
• Get the most out of your intense workouts by training on realistically simulated inclines up to a 25% gradient
• Simulates the feeling of riding on different road surfaces, such as cobblestone and gravel, when paired with the Tacx Training app and other popular training apps on your compatible mobile device
• Use the Tacx Training smart-device app for targeted training plans, pro rides and high-quality training films from around the world
• Track your performance and progress with reliable, consistent measurements, including power, speed and cadence, measured accurately within 1%
• Well-balanced design ensures maximum stability, even during the most explosive sprints, up to 2200 watts
• Built-in interactive fans are automatically controlled by your power or heart rate; mounting tray securely holds your mobile device, and USB ports charge your compatible tablet

 

Enjoy BIG savings on our HUGE range of Bikes, Clothing and Indoor Trainers NOW! Special offers on selected items while stocks last…

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Wahoo Kickr Core Powertrainer Was £699.99 Now £599.00 You Save £100.99

 

 

Check out this stunning cyclocross frameset from premium bike brand Cervelo! With its lust-worthy pearlescent finish, as soon as we unboxed the Cervelo R5 CX frameset we knew we had to get our freelance photographer James Vincent in to shoot it so that we could properly capture just how hot this race-ready frameset looks in the flesh.

The Cervelo R5 CX is a super-light, stiff & responsive frameset worthy of the ultimate cyclocross race bike build.

 

With its DNA taken from their super-light R5 road bike the Cervelo engineers sat down with champion cyclocrossers Marianne Vos and Wout Van Aert to create a cutting-edge race bike that could win on any ‘cross track but be comfortable and versatile enough to handle long training days on mixed terrain too.

The R5 CX bike was debuted last season and can already boast multiples wins under both Vos and Van Aert including National and World titles. Some of the key features that these champions wanted to see on the final bike were a d-shaped carbon seatpost for added comfort in the saddle and the additional benefit of keeping the saddle facing forward in the event of a crash. There’s a threaded T47 bottom bracket too for quick and easy maintenance during the busy cyclocross season as well as a ton of clearance between frame/fork and 33mm tyres for race day or wider tyres when you want to use the R5 CX for longer off-road training rides.

Marriane Vos and Wout Van Aert played an important role in the development of the R5 CX cyclocross bike.

 

Needless to say the geometry of the Cervelo R5 CX is totally sorted, giving a confident, stable feel while being super-responsive to acceleration and brilliantly agile on the tight, technical cyclocross courses of the Cyclocross World Cup. Again that refined geometry has come directly from Marriane and Wout’s input and years of cyclocross racing experience. The R5 CX frameset is only compatible with electronic drivetrains, limiting grit and water ingress while hydraulic brake hoses are stealthily stowed internally within the stem, headset, frame and fork.

The Cervelo R5 CX frameset is just calling out for the ultimate ‘dream build’.

 

Let’s be clear, this frameset is begging to be built up into a pure-bred cyclocross race bike! The super-light carbon frame, fork, stem and handlebars make the perfect blank canvas for your ultimate dream build. The R5 CX is also versatile enough to be ridden during the cyclocross off-season; just swap out those 33mm tyres for something a little wider and more durable and head out on mixed terrain training rides where you’ll inevitably be taking Strava KOM’s with ease.

The Cervelo R5 CX frameset carries an all-important UCI stamp of approval for international-level competition.

 

The smooth lines of the R5 CX frameset have been inherited from its road-going R5 cousin.

 

The R5 CX frameset includes a Cervélo ST31 Carbon stem and HB13 Carbon handlebar.

 

The front of the R5 CX frameset is beautifully sculpted with smooth junctions between stem, headset, headtube and fork.

 

Mechanical purists rejoice! The R5 CX features a threaded bottom bracket.

 

This frameset’s DNA is taken from the road-going R5 and given a cyclocross-specific makeover hence the R5-CX model name.

 

Slim seatstays and a d-shaped carbon fibre seatpost add compliance for enhanced comfort in the saddle.

 

Jumbo Visma teammates Vos and Van Aert have already piloted the R5 CX to multiple cyclocross victories.

 

The super-light R5 CX frameset built up and ready to race. This one belongs to Marianne Vos, hence the team colours.

 

The Cervelo R5 CX Frameset is available in-store and online at Wheelbase NOW! RRP £4,500.00

 

Cervelo R5 CX Frameset RRP £4,500.00

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Frameset Photos by James Vincent

Lifestyle Photos by Cervelo

 

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Launched today! This is the all-new SB 160 from YETI, a brand that makes of some of the most desirable bikes out there, with a rich racing, design and production heritage that goes way back to the very dawn of mountain biking. The guys from YETI UK dropped into Wheelbase HQ a few days prior to launch to run through the specs of this 160mm travel Enduro bike which has already been spotted being piloted by Richie Rude and his YETI teammates at some rounds of this year’s Enduro World Series.

The YETI SB 160 recently arrived at Wheelbase HQ so that we could check it out before launch.

 

There are two new SB 160 models available –  the SB 160 T1 features YETI’s premium TURQ Series carbon fibre frame and Fox Factory shocks retailing for £8,999.00 and the SB 160 C2 featuring YETI’s C/Series carbon fibre frame with Fox Performance shocks retailing at £7,299.00.

Eagle-eyed race fans will have spotted Richie Rude on the SB 160 at some of the EWS rounds in 2022.

 

YETI SB 160 Frame Highlights

• NEW Switch Infinity assembly on T-Series
• NEW Threaded bottom bracket
• NEW High-clearance downtube
• NEW Dual-density downtube protection
• Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)
• Secure, fully enclosed internal cable management
• Compatible with long dropper posts
• 100% standard sealed Enduro Max bearings
• Floating collet axle pivot design
• Compact-wishbone shock extender
• Boost spacing
• Sizes S-XXL

The Headliners

• Improved stiffness
• Increased durability and impact protection
• More BB/Down tube clearance creates a frame that is less prone to impact
• Dual density down tube protector.
• Rubber base for extended coverage and impact cushioning
• Cap provides additional impact protection from larger/harder objects
• New threaded BB
• As seen on the 160e no bearings are pressed into the frame, they are all pressed into metal linkage parts
• Internally routed cables with internal guides to reduce rattle and make routing easy
• Integrated headset
• UDH and 55mm chain line
• Tyre Clearance for a 2.6” tyre
• Clamped housing and hoses as seen on the ARC to further reduce rattle and paint rub
• ISCG05 tabs integrated into BB insert
• 34t Max Chainring
• Still fits a water bottle

Geometry

• Size specific chain stay lengths
• New XXL 29” frame sizes
• Slacker headtube
• Shorter Seat Tube
• Shorter headtube length on smaller sizes
• Reach and seat tube angle increase with travel
• Actual seat tube angle increase with frame size

The all-new YETI SB 160 frame boasts some nice stats.

 

Yeti SB 160 Geometry

 

The YETI engineers have refined the geometry to deliver another leap forward when it comes to how a bike like this can handle.

 

YETI’s two-piece wishbone shock extender ensures optimal clamping, shock compatibility and ease of shock removal for longer travel applications.

 

This clever configuration optimises leverage rates while pushing the shock forward in the frame.

 

The T-Series SB 160 boasts YETI’s new Switch Infinity system with improved bearings and hardware.

 

All bearings are pressed into the linkage assembly rather than the swingarm or front triangle for increased performance and durability.

 

The SB 160 can handle a 2.6″ wide tyre with ample clearance.

 

The YETI SB 160 T1 features a Fox Factory shock and forks with Kashima coating.

 

That YETI head badge is iconic within the world of mountain biking.

 

The SB 160 T1 is constructed from YETI’s premium TURQ Series carbon fibre.

 

Already proven on the international EWS racing circuit the YETI SB 160 is one seriously capable Enduro bike, built ready to handle anything you throw at it.

 

YETI SB 160 T1 RRP £8,999.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: YETI SB 160 TURQ
• Sizes: S – XXL
• Rear Shock: Fox Factory Float X2
• Fork: Fox Factory 38 Grip 2/170mm
• Headset: Cane Creek 40 Integrated
• BB: SRAM Dub BSA 73
• Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3 35x50MM
• Handlebar: YETI Carbon 35x800MM
• Grips: ODI Elite Pro
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer 31.6MM / SM: 150MM, MD: 175MM, LG-XXL: 200MM
• Saddle: Silverado Custom
• Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
• Front Rotor: SRAM Centreline 220
• Rear Rotor: SRAM Centreline 200
• Wheelset: DT Swiss Custom EX 1700 30MM
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 EXO+
• Crankset: SRAM X1 Eagle 30T 170MM
• Chain: SRAM GX Eagle
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle
• Shift Lever: SRAM GX Eagle
• Cassette: SRAM GX Eagle 1275 10-52

 

YETI SB 160 C2 RRP £7,299.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: YETI SB 160 C/SERIES
• Sizes: S – XXL
• Rear Shock: Fox Performance Float X
• Fork: Fox Performance 38/170MM
• Headset: Cane Creek 40 Integrated
• BB: Shimano XT BB 73
• Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3 35x50MM
• Handlebar: Burgtec Ride Wide Alloy Enduro 35X800MM 35MM Rise
• Grips: ODI Elite Pro
• Seatpost: ONEUP Dropper Post 31.6MM / SM: 150MM, MD: 180MM, LG-XXL: 210MM
• Saddle: Silverado Custom
• Brakes: Shimano SLX 4 Piston
• Front Rotor: Shimano 220Rear Rotor: Shimano 203
• Wheelset: DT Swiss E1900 30MM
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 EXO+
• Crankset: Shimano SLX 30T 170MM
• Chain: Shimano SLX
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX
• Shift Lever: Shimano XT
• Cassette: Shimano SLX

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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Welcome to a rather weighty feature showcasing the Mondraker 2023 range of bikes!

Mondraker very kindly flew us out to Spain in September to see the complete collection of 2023 bikes, giving us an opportunity to tour the space-age Mondraker factory and offices just outside Alicante before spending some quality time riding a selection of their most exciting mountain bikes on dusty trails just a few kilometres inland from the stunning Costa Blanca coast.

Be sure to watch our Mondraker 2023 launch event video below and read our ride review of the Crafty Carbon RR e-MTB. We’ve also included a full listing of the 2023 range of bikes available very soon at Wheelbase…

Contents:

• Crafty Carbon RR – Ride Review
• Super Enduro – Bikes
• Enduro – Bikes
• Trail – Bikes
• e-MTB Super Enduro – Bikes
• e-MTB Enduro – Bikes
• e-MTB Trail – Bikes
• e-MTB Urban Cross – Bikes

 

Wheelbase ride Mondraker 2023 bikes in Spain.

 

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR – Ride Review

What a brilliant way to get to know a bike! In between meetings with Mondraker and after a substantial 2023 presentation it was time to get out and ride some of Mondraker’s most exiting bikes in their ever-increasing range. It’s fairly rare to get enough quality time on a demo bike to be able to really understand and appreciate what you’re riding. Circumstances would mean that I got two lengthy rides in on the Crafty Carbon RR, firstly a two hour guided ride with other retailers from across Europe and secondly a longer ride of over three hours with the crew from Mondraker UK. Having two bites of the cherry proved significant; that second ride really let me tune into how the Crafty RR rode and allowed me to push it much further and get more out of it than on my first ride.

The Crafty Carbon RR sits within Mondraker’s E-Enduro sub-range and features a full carbon frame sporting 150mm of plush suspension travel on the rear thanks to the Spanish brand’s excellent Zero Suspension kinematics, matched up with a burly Fox 38 fork upfront featuring 160mm travel ready to absorb the sort of big hits that this bike will quickly coax you into riding. This rather pimped-up model in the Crafty range included Fox Factory Kashima coating on the Fox fork, rear shock and even the Transfer dropper post, with fork and rear shock tuned specifically to accommodate the increased forces of an e-MTB.

 

We spent a couple of days riding the 2023 Mondraker range, including the Crafty Carbon RR on dusty Spanish trails with the Mondraker UK crew.

 

At the heart of the Crafty Carbon RR is Bosch’s brilliant 4^th generation Performance Line CX Smart System setup with a large capacity 750Wh battery making ‘range anxiety’ a thing of the past. In fact I was amazed at just how efficient the battery was during my longer 3+ hour ride; thanks to the pretty extreme terrain I had asked a lot of the Bosch drive system on countless loose, short sharp climbs, being more liberal with the use of EMTB and Turbo modes than I normally would have. Despite this I finished up my ride with around 45% charge showing on the compact Kiox 300 display!

The mountain bike terrain just a couple of kilometres from our beachside hotel was a real surprise, with endless natural trails scattered through open scrubland and tighter more technical singletrack intersecting miles of Spanish woodland. Conditions were prime, particularly on my second ride when an earlier brief rain shower had damped down months-worth of dust to provide just a touch more grip. The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR’s Bosch drive system helped make short work of the steeper climbs that would deposit us at the top of some of the most demanding downhill trails that I’d ridden in a long time.

Riding the trails blind on day one, with no knowledge of what was coming up meant that on occasions I had to hold back a little, but day two was a different story and I was really able to let go of the anchors and see what this long-travel e-Enduro bike was capable of. Those large 29er Mavic E-Deemax e-MTB-specific wheels shod with burly Maxxis Minion tyres and combined with all that plush suspension travel encouraged me to hit sections at speed.

 

With a group of seven of us all on the same Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR model and with the Bosch motor helping to level things out on the hills this was one of the most enjoyable group rides I’d had in a long time. There was one particular moment when I hit a different line through a large rock garden and as I pulled the front wheel up and over a rock drop I saw a large barrel-sized boulder directly in front of me where I was about to land; I braced for impact readying myself for a heavy fall but somehow the Crafty Carbon RR took the massive hit in its stride and I stayed on the bike, rolling through while the Mondraker UK guys behind me laughed hysterically in disbelief that I’d survived such a sketchy moment.

The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR is an e-MTB that can be fairly described as a ‘fun-amplifier’. What do I mean by that? Well, the bike’s fantastic suspension platform and sorted trail geometry means that you’ll get more out of your riding when the bike is pointed downhill (in some cases compensating for your own skill levels – see sketchy boulder moment above!). Despite its ‘full-fat’ e-MTB specification with the 750Wh battery powered Bosch Performance Line CX drive system the bike felt lively and surprisingly agile. As I’ve mentioned already, the inclusion of the Bosch system just means that you go further, faster and with more ease, making an e-MTB group a true pleasure as the spread of fitness levels within the group is completely evened out. As I reflected on my two days on the bike totalling over five hours of riding I was surprised how fresh I felt and how ready I was for another ride!

I’ll fess up right now and admit I don’t spend much time on e-MTB’s, other than when one comes along as a demo bike at Wheelbase I tend to prefer to ride a non-e or ‘acoustic’ mountain bike most of the time. This means that each time I DO ride an e-mountain bike there’s a certain amount of mindset adjustment and riding adaptations that I’m required to make, quickly adjusting to how I ride through, up and down technical terrain. It’s fair to say that it takes a little time to tune into how to get the very best out of such a bike. I’m happy to say that by the time we rolled back to the Mondraker base-camp at the end of day two the Crafty Carbon RR had made me a true convert!

 

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR Full Specification:

• Frame: Crafty Stealth Air full Carbon, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension System, 150mm travel, Forward Geometry, internal non-removable battery, Boost 12x148mm rear axle, tapered head tube, one-piece Monoblock upper link, HHG internal cable routing, MAX capacity sealed bearings, oversize 17mm axles, integrated dropout speed sensor, exclusive plastic motor covers. Optional MIND System (EU only)
• Sizes: S: 380mm / M: 420mm / L: 450mm / XL: 490mm
• Rear Shock: Fox Float-X LV Factory Kashima, 205x65mm. Settings: compression 2 positions lever, low-speed compression, low-speed rebound, air preload. Trunnion top mount, 25x10mm bottom bushings
• Shock Settings: Medium compression, medium rebound, air volume spacer 0.2
• Fork: Fox 38 29 Float GRIP2 Factory Kashima, 160mm, e-bike optimized, tapered steerer tube, Boost 15x110mm axle, 44mm offset, 68mm OD crown. Settings: high and low-speed compression, high and low-speed rebound, air preload
• Headset: Acros custom for 1-1/2” head tube, angular contact bearings 40x52x7, Internal cable routing
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise (25Km/h) GEN4 Smart System
• Battery: Bosch Powertube 750Wh
• Display: Bosch Kiox 300 / Bosch Mini Remote / Bosch System Controller
• Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30mm, CNC, 31.8mm barbore
• Handlebar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 1.0, rise: 25mm, width: 800mm, 9° backsweep, 5° upsweep, 31.8mm barbore
• Grips: Onoff Desert, 1lock-on, 135mm
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory Kashima internal, diameter 31.6mm, S size: 363.5x125mm, M/L size: 418.3x150mm, XL size: 475.1x175mm
• Saddle: FIZIK Terra Aidon X5 145mm
• Front Brake: Sram Code RSC, oversized 4-piston caliper, Centerline 200mm IS 6 bolts one-piece rotor, steel-backed metal sintered pads
• Rear Brake: Sram Code RSC, oversized 4-piston caliper, Centerline 200mm IS 6 bolts one-piece rotor, steel-backed metal sintered pads
• Brake Lever: Sram Code RSC, SwingLink and lever pivot bearings, tools-free reach and contact point adjust
• Rims: Mavic E-Deemax 29, 30mm internal width, welded, PFP, tubeless ready, 28 spokes
• Spokes: Mavic J-bend double butted, contactless lacing
• Front Hub: Mavic, Boost 15x110mm, IS 6 bolts
• Rear Hub: Mavic, Boost 12x148mm, ID360 Ratched system, IS 6 bolts
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.6, tubeless ready, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ Protection, 120TPI, folding bead
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29×2.6, tubeless ready, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ Protection, 120TPI, folding bead
• Crankset: Race Face Aeffect ebike, 165mm
• Chainring: Sram X-Sync 2 Eagle 34T, steel, narrow-wide, 104 BCD
• Chain: Sram SX Eagle, 12s, Powerlock
• Rear Derailleur: Sram GX Eagle, Type 3 roller bearing clutch, cage lock, 1x12s, X-Actuation 1:1
• Shift Levers: Sram Trigger NX Eagle, 12s, X-Actuation 1:1, single click
• Cassette: Sram PG-1210, 11-50T, 12s

 

 

ALL-NEW ALLOY MONDRAKER RAZE

Key Features:

• Affordable Alloy Full Suspension Price Point
• Same Geometry and Kinematic
• Stealth Alloy Construction
• Zero Suspension System
• Forward Geometry
• Threaded BB73
• Post Mount 180mm
• Tapered Headtube
• Hidden Housing Guide
• ISCG 05
• Clearance for 2.5 Tyres
• Boost 12x148mm
• Integrated Rear Shock Fender
• Custom Frame Rubber Protector

 

Wheelbase look forward to seeing the all-new range of 2023 Mondraker bikes coming into stock in-store and online in the coming weeks and months. Watch this space!…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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WHEELBASE, home of the UK’s largest cycle store in the Lake District National Park has been at the forefront of the bicycle industry for over 25 years. Living and breathing bikes, we’ve successfully built up our business across the North of England with stores in Cumbria, Yorkshire and the North East. As Wheelbase continues to expand it’s rather fitting that we’ve now opened a flagship store in Coventry, a city which can boast a major bicycle manufacturing history.

T: 0247 710 2333

E: coventry@wheelbase.co.uk

Opening Times:

Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm

Saturday 9am – 6pm

Sunday 10.30am – 4.30pm

Bank holidays 9am – 6pm

Closed Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year Day

 

Take a a tour of our Wheelbase Coventry Store…

 

Wheelbase Coventry is ready to serve a city with a rich cycling heritage.

 

More than 100 years ago the city of Coventry was regarded as the home of the British cycle industry and for a significant period of time produced more bicycles than anywhere else in the world. A quick spin on your bike in and around Coventry will quickly reveal the city’s rich cycling heritage. Eagle-eyed cyclists may spot the James Starley statue in Greyfriars Green, a tribute to the English inventor and father of the UK bicycle industry, while a visit to the Coventry Transport Museum showcases over 300 bicycles in their permanent collection.

Test-ride the latest smart indoor trainer in our dedicated Wahoo centre.

 

James Starley’s innovative approach to bicycle manufacturing helped pave the way for the very first mass production of bicycles with his Coventry Machinists Company bringing affordable bicycles to the masses as part of the original ‘cycling revolution’. The UK has seen a similar boom in the popularity of cycling in more recent times with an increasing amount of people making the move from public and private motor transport over to greener pedal-powered options while a rapid growth in technology has also seen the e-bike offer a more accessible route into cycling without some of the potential physical-fitness barriers typically associated with cycling.

We’ve got the best gravel bikes available from brands such as Cannondale, Cervelo, BMC and Pinarello.

 

Wheelbase Coventry are ready to offer customers a large and diverse range of premium bikes with over 200 bikes on the shop floor including mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel and adventure bikes, leisure, commute and family bikes from the best brands available including Trek, Cannondale, Cube, Whyte, Nukeproof, Yeti and BMC. Wheelbase Coventry’s electric bike range is huge with electric road, mountain, and leisure bikes from the leading e-bike brands; their dedicated team are ready to equip you with everything you’ll need to travel more efficiently around Coventry and beyond by e-bike.

We stock Gazelle, Trek, Cannondale, Cube and Whyte e-Bikes for easy commuting around the busy city of Coventry.

 

With a huge range of bikes our Wheelbase Coventry team are ready to provide expert advice on all forms of cycling.

 

As well as providing expert sales advice and guidance for all disciplines of cycling Wheelbase Coventry will support you with the maintenance of your bicycle; whether it’s a simple puncture repair or a full bike service including suspension tuning and hydraulic brake bleeding we’ll be able to help you in our state-of-the-art Park Tool equipped workshop. Staffed by our Workshop Manager and a team of fully-qualified Wheelbase technicians the Wheelbase Coventry workshop will operate seven days a week. Our number one priority is customer service and we want to get you back on two wheels as swiftly and efficiently as possible; all jobs are pre-quoted before work commences and on collection we’ll talk you through all the work undertaken. We pride ourselves on our friendly service and are ready to help you get the most out of your cycling.

The purpose-built Coventry Wheelbase service centre is ready to help maintain your bicycle.

 

Wheelbase Coventry is ready to offer technical help from their state-of-the-art Park Tool equipped workshop.

 

All jobs are pre-quoted before work commences and on collection we’ll talk you through all the work undertaken.

 

Wheelbase Coventry is part of an exciting new shopping experience within the Coventry Go Outdoors Mega Store, the Wheelbase ‘shop within a shop’ sits alongside other specialist retailers, each with their own dedicated retail space. Coventry Go Outdoors customers will also be able to shop for the very best walking, camping, fishing, climbing and equestrian equipment all under one roof. Investing in a new bike can be life changing; with regular riding you can build up fitness and improve mental well-being; Wheelbase pride ourselves on being inclusive retailers who are ready to help EVERYONE get into cycling.

Wheelbase Coventry offers customers a large and diverse range of premium bicycles for all types of cyclist.

 

There’s over 200 bikes on display at Wheelbase Coventry

 

We’ve got a wide range of mountain bikes from the best brands available.

 

Wheelbase Coventry offer a full bike-fitting experience provided by our fully-qualified bike fitters. We provide excellent support and guidance to customers during the bike fitting process, helping to ensure that both comfort and performance are improved. Through a complete analysis of fit on the bike and in motion our team will be able to identify the most appropriate frame size, handlebar width, stack and reach, saddle selection, saddle height, saddle fore/aft, leg extension and cleat placement among other important factors. Whether you’re looking for significant performance improvements or simply want to be more comfortable on your bike to be able to spend longer in the saddle and get more out of your cycling Wheelbase Coventry are ready to help.

Our in-depth bike-fit service will help to improve comfort and performance on the bike.

 

Fully qualified bike-fit staff will work closely with you to fine-tune your fit.

 

No detail is overlooked, with shoe and cleat alignment a key consideration.

 

Using the latest tech our bike-fit service is comprehensive and will significantly improve your ride experience.

 

 

All photos by James Vincent

 

The fast-moving world of cyclocross racing waits for no man (woman or child!) and just one short week after Round 2 in Falkirk, Scotland the National Trophy Cyclocross Series was back in action at the unique venue of South Shields in the North East. This popular seaside resort just a few miles from Newcastle Upon Tyne made a fantastic location for a weekend of cross racing, with an open, exposed and devilishly technical cyclocross course proving popular with racers and spectators alike throughout a weekend jam-packed full of racing.

The South Shields National Trophy Cyclocross course made for a unique & rather dramatic beach-side venue.

 

An exposed coastal cyclocross course meant strong winds were a factor in all race categories.

 

The Gypsies Green course in South Shields included a classic mix of features making it a super-popular venue with racers and spectators alike.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli fielded a slightly reduced team at Round 3, but were still well-represented across a number of race categories throughout the two days of racing. Elsie Haygarth did well just to get to the start line having been ill and off the bike with a heavy cold for the week leading up to her race. Competing in the Youth Girls (U16) category she raced as hard as she could given the circumstances and made the most of her confident bike-handling skills to take a solid 23^rd place despite not being able to go as deep as she normally would when it came to all-out efforts.

Elsie returned to racing after a week of illness which had kept her off her bike; a stoic ride was rewarded with a solid result.

 

Elsie made short work of a brilliant cyclocross course that was both physically and technically demanding.

 

Despite suffering with the after effects of illness, Elsie would win back time on such obstacles as the 30 metre sand section.

 

Elsewhere in the Vet 50 category Dave Haygarth lined up for his 4^th race in 8 days. Dave loved this classic course, packed full of the sort of features he loves to ride and, gridded on the second row was up for a fast start. In the chaos of the first lap he got baulked and was left with a 10 second gap to close to the lead group on an open and exposed course which if you found your self isolated could prove rather frustrating. Digging deep to try to close that gap Dave would eventually succumb to the difficult racing conditions but valiantly held on to take a solid 14th place despite the rain becoming more persistent, asking more of his handling-skills on each lap as his intermediate-grip tyres began to slip and slide.

A busy cyclocross race season meant that this was Dave’s 4th race in 8 days.

 

Racing through falling rain, Dave was pushing his intermediate-grip tyres to their limits.

 

Dave spent the majority of his race working hard to close a gap to the lead group.

 

Long-time connoisseur of U.K. cyclocross courses Dave Haygarth gave South Shields the seal of approval.

 

Following his successful weekend of cyclocross racing in Falkirk Davie Lines was able to enjoy a much better gridding position on the 2^nd row of the Vet 40 race at South Shields. With very little time to practice before his race Davie was still confident he could race well on a course which he felt would suit him. When the gun went he got a decent start, jumping into the top 10 but shortly after on a sharp bend he was hit from behind and the chain on his bike derailed. By the time he had sorted his untimely mechanical Davie was dead last and left with a considerable amount of work to do. Davie’s years of racing experience helped him keep calm and composed as he set about working through the field in an attempt to get as far up the results as possible. In an amazing show of strength Davie would eventually cross the line in 7^th place, helping to consolidate his overall points and gridding position for future races.

After a successful weekend of racing at Round 2 Davie Lines was back in action in the Vet 40 race.

 

Davie felt that the exposed South Shields course really suited his strengths.

 

A fast start was unfortunately impacted by crash on lap one, leaving Davie dead last with lots of work to do.

 

Davie kept calm, re-focused and fought back to a brilliant 7th place by the end of the race.

 

Elsewhere in the Vet 40 race we had our very own World Champion Lewis Craven racing alongside long-time teammate Davie Lines. Lewis had missed Round 2, returning to racing after a week’s holiday in Spain and admitted afterwards that the fast start was a bit of a shock to the system! Lewis is an experienced campaigner though and quickly composed himself to move himself up through the field of riders and onto the back of the lead group. Just as he did so there was a rare error of judgement and Lewis crashed on a steep drop-off landing on his back; quickly onto his feet with no damage he chased on with the aim of making it to the podium by the end of the race. Local lad Tony Fawcett of Scott Racing kept the pace high in that lead group preventing Lewis from catching them as the bell of the final lap sounded; despite choosing smoother lines as the race progressed Lewis would finish in 4^th place which was a little frustrating for him but prepared him well to go again in the senior Elite race on Sunday.

After missing the previous round in Falkirk and a week’s holiday in Spain Lewis’ return to racing was initially a shock to the system.

 

Lewis quickly recomposed himself to fight his way up to the lead group after a poor start.

 

A rare moment of misfortune saw Lewis Craven having to chase following a heavy fall on one of the technical drop offs.

 

Lewis would refine his line choice as the race progressed and finished in a strong 4th place.

 

Come Sunday and our reduced Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team would face similar conditions to the day before with intermittent rain and strong coastal winds making racing on the exposed course a real challenge. Our young U23 rider Flynn Gregory would again show his racing consistency, mastering the course to take a solid 32^nd place overall while consolidating his Under 23 sub-category placing with an excellent 17^th place in a race which is now all-but-dominated by younger racers.

The course remained fast and mostly dry in windy conditions on the Sunday.

 

Flynn Gregory working hard on one of the more exposed sections of the course.

 

Flynn would finish 32nd overall, taking 17th place in the Under 23 sub-category.

 

Lewis Craven would line up again, this time in his Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli jersey rather than his Vet 40 World Champion jersey to take a fantastic 17^th place overall. This was more proof that Lewis responds really well to ‘double-header’ weekends and goes incredibly well with a race already in his legs from the day before. Our team was also represented by Olli Dawson who had recently taken a super-impressive 10^th place at the infamous 3 Peaks Cyclocross race in the Yorkshire Dales. We’re not sure what happened at the time of writing but unfortunately Olli was listed as a DNF (did not finish) at the end of the South Shields cyclocross race. We’re sure he’ll be back at the sharp end of racing with a more complete team including Giles Drake and Rory McGuire in the coming rounds of the National Trophy Cyclocross Race.

Our Vet 40 World Champ Lewis Craven was back in action, racing the senior race on Sunday.

 

With his body responding well to already racing the previous day Lewis would be at the sharp end of the Elite senior race.

 

The technical South Shields course played to Lewis’ strengths as a superior bike-handler.

 

Following his impressive result the day before Lewis would finish in an excellent 17th place in the senior race.

 

Ollie Dawson recently took a brilliant 10th place at the 3 Peaks Cyclocross and was back in action for Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli at South Shields.

 

Unfortunately Ollie would be a DNF at the South Shields National Trophy Cyclocross race.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Results:

Day 1 Saturday

YOUTH Girls (U16)

23^rd Elsie Haygarth

VET 40 Men

4^th Lewis Craven

^7th Davie Lines

VET 50 Men

14^th Dave Haygarth

Day 2 Sunday

Elite Men

^17th Overall / 1^st Vet 40 Lewis Craven

32^nd Overall / 17^th U23 Flynn Gregory

DNF Olli Dawson

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Man Down Media

 

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On the 22^nd and 23^rd of October our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Cyclocross team headed to Scotland for round 2 of the National Trophy Cyclocross series. Returning for its second year on the calendar the Falkirk edition has quickly proven itself as a premium venue which is popular with racers and spectators alike thanks to its technical course with challenging features such as ‘The Wall’ and the ‘Bombhole’ as well as its stunning backdrop of Callendar House in Falkirk’s popular Callendar Park.

Callendar House made a stunning backdrop to the weekend’s racing.

 

In dry conditions the course would have been testing, but factor-in intermittent rain throughout the weekend and the subsequent mud meant each and every race was a real test of each rider’s bike-handling skills as well the hard-working pit-crews and their ability to quickly and effectively clean bikes in an effort to keep their riders at the sharp end of the race.

Falkirk’ National Trophy cyclocross course included the infamous ‘Wall’.

 

The slick, steep, muddy descents were not for the faint-hearted.

 

Elsie Haygarth was back in action representing Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli in the very competitive Youth Girls (U16) category; round 2 of the National Trophy series would see 40 racers lining up to compete for the win, another reflection on just how popular cyclocross racing has become with the younger age groups in recent years. This trend bodes well for the future of cross racing in the UK and big numbers in this sort of race means a deeper pool of racing-talent and greater opportunities to hone racing skills within harder racing at a relatively young age. Elsie would improve on her 27^th place from the first round of the series taking an excellent 21^st place on the testing Falkirk course.

Elsie Haygarth was able to utilise her riding skills in the wet, slippery conditions.

 

Another strong performance bagged Elsie an excellent 21st place in the national Youth Girls race.

 

Our cyclocross-mad racer Dave Haygarth lined up for the Vet 50 race on a course that was perfectly suited to his bike-handling skills, honed over years of riding skinny-tyred bikes off-road. Dave was cramming in as much racing into the weekend as possible; taking on the National Trophy on the Saturday before cheering on his daughter Elsie in the Youth (U16 race) and then hot-footing it back down to the North West of England to take on another round of the North West Cyclocross league at Beacon Park on the Sunday. Dave would make short work of the technical Falkirk course placing in an excellent 19^th at the end of this fast, frenetic Vet 50 race, backing up his solid 16^th place in the first round at Derby for a high overall placing going into round 3 of the series.

The excellent Falkirk cyclocross course was much to Dave Haygarth’s liking.

 

Dave made short work of the barriers in wet & muddy racing conditions.

 

Haygarth would take an excellent 19th place at round 2 of the National Trophy Cyclocross series.

 

Be under no illusion, Vet 50 racing is fast and frenetic and requires you to go VERY deep.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Davie Lines is one of the team’s unsung heroes; racing a full road-season campaign while captaining for us, guiding the young riders on the art of racing, before quickly making the switch off-road to represent us in the chaotic world of cyclocross racing. For once our plucky Scot didn’t have to travel too far! And the draw of his ‘local race’ meant that Davie would in fact line up twice over the weekend, once in the Vet 40 on Saturday and again in the Elite senior race on the Sunday afternoon.

Scottish Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli racer Davie Lines excelled on Falkirk’s technical course in the Vet 40 race.

 

After missing the first round Davie was gridded around 9 rows back and would have his work cut out simply getting to the front of the race. In conditions that weren’t too muddy overall but were slick and slippery in key sections thanks to the on/off rainfall. Davie utilised his bike-handling skills to make up time on the numerous technical sections, riding everything except the infamous ‘Wall’. By the middle of the 2^nd lap he had managed to work his way up to 3^rd place chasing eventual winner Paul Oldham and 2^nd place Tony Fawcett, but the effort to make up all those places would take effect towards the end of the race with Davie unable to hold on to the leading riders, eventually finishing in 5^th place, an excellent result considering his difficult starting position.

Racing was tight; here Davie almost tangles with eventual podium finisher Rob Jebb.

 

A confident bike handler off-road, Davie made short work of the steep, super-slick descent.

 

Davie overcame a poor starting position to take an excellent 5th place in the Vet 40 race.

 

Fast-forward to Sunday afternoon and the biggest race of the weekend, the Elite race which features a mix of under-23 racer and senior racers all competing for the win. Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli was represented by young Scottish talent Rory McGuire, seasoned campaigner Giles Drake, up and coming racer Flynn Gregory and last but not least the hardest working racer of the weekend Davie Lines!

The final race of the busy weekend saw 4 of our Wheelbase team take on the Elite race.

 

Rory McGuire had a solid 5^th place from the first round to consolidate; his strong result in Derby meant his start line gridding position was guaranteed, so he could focus on his customary fast start, a tactic which typically sees him well-positioned going into the tighter more technical sections of the course without being held-back by the congestion further back down the packed field of racers. Rory would battle with the leaders for the duration of the race, making the most of the super-efficient bike changes on offer from his hard-working pit crew; with a clean bike at his disposal all Rory had to do was focus on the racing, attacking out of each corner and putting the power down as and when he could.

The first lap of the race meant the riders all hit ‘The Wall’ in one tight pack.

 

Rory McGuire was able to make his customary fast start at Falkirk, giving him a clear run through the chaos of lap one.

 

Difficult race conditions meant that there was plenty of running on each lap of the course.

 

Rory McGuire was able to follow up his excellent 5th place at round 1 in Derby with another brilliant 5th place here in Falkirk.

 

Eventually the win was taken by Cameron Mason of Trinity Racing, the talented Scot with a ton of international racing experience, taking an emphatic win. Behind him our own Rory McGuire was locked into battle with his usual Under 23 category sparring partners, racing strongly in the upper portion of the top 10; eventually he would finish in 6^th place, backing up his excellent 5^th place in the first round for a high overall placing in the series. It’s worth mentioning too that within the Under 23 sub-category Rory took a brilliant 3^rd place so he’s sitting pretty in that overall league category too.

With two 5th places so far Rory McGuire is set for a high overall placing in the National Trophy Cyclocross series.

 

Giles Drake had another good ride, taking a solid 11^th place in the biggest race of the weekend. There was some frustration with an unfortunate coming-together with another competitor on the first lap, leaving Giles in around 35^th position with a lot of work to do to make it back up to the front of the race. Re-composed he quickly began moving up through the field, picking off a big chunk of riders on each lap with his last lap being the fastest of his race. Eventually Giles would finish in 11^th place, just 7 seconds off a top 10 position.

Giles Drake is another rider on the Wheelbase squad who excels in the sort of difficult race conditions encountered at Falkirk.

 

Speedy remounts were the order of the day if you wanted to stay at the sharp end of the race.

 

After being taken out in a crash on the first lap Giles would fight his way back from around 35th up to an excellent 11th finishing place.

 

Flynn Gregory continues to impress. Now in his third year racing for Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Flynn has progressed smoothly through the ranks from the Junior categories to racing against the very best UK riders in National Trophy Cyclocross Series. Flynn raced strongly in difficult conditions to take 18^th overall and placing 11^th in the Under 23 category; following on from his 21^st place finishing position in the first round Gregory’s season has started well.

Young racer Flynn Gregory made short work of the steep, slippery run-ups.

 

With all of our riders competing in wet, slippery conditions our hard-working pit crew were kept busy cleaning bikes throughout the race.

 

Flynn had another good ride at round 2 of the Trophy series taking 18th place overall and finishing 11th in the U23 category.

 

Our man Davie Lines was back for more, following on from his brilliant 5^th place in the Vet 40 race on the Saturday, what would Sunday’s main race bring? Let’s leave the last word to Davie and his brief account of the race…

‘For Sunday’s senior race I was again gridded poorly, this time on the second to back row, so had lots of guys to get past.  I never went too deep at the start of this one and just picked my way through.  The course today was a lot slicker due to the overnight rain and all of the subsequent races that had happened, but I was still managing to ride a lot of the technical sections and bankings.  The legs, arms and back were real nippy from the V40 race the day before so the extra power required to get the speed back up out the corners and tech stuff was tough.  I benefitted from regular bike changes today with Stu and Tyla in the pits keeping the bikes running sweet and a quick drop in tyre pressures helped too for improved grip in the slicker conditions.  At the end of this attritional race I was pleased to finish in 26^th position overall, while placing as 10th senior rider.’

Our man Davie lined up again on Sunday for the Elite race, after taking 5th place in the Vet 40 race the day before.

 

Davie never stops; after a full season of road racing he seamlessly switched to cyclocross taking 5th place on Saturday and 26th place on Sunday.

 

Excelling in difficult racing conditions Davie made the most of his ‘home National Trophy race’.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Results:

Day 1 Saturday

YOUTH Girls (U16)

21^st Elsie Haygarth

VET 40 Men

5^th Davie Lines

VET 50 Men

19^th Dave Haygarth

Day 2 Sunday

Elite Men

6^th Overall / 3^rd U23 Rory McGuire

11^th Overall / 4^th Senior Giles Drake

18^th Overall / 11^th U23 Flynn Gregory

26^th Overall / 10^th Senior Davie Lines

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Man Down Media

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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