Author: John Dodgin

Launched today! It’s the all-new Scalpel HT, Cannondale’s whole new breed of XC Hardtail designed to excel on the downs as well as the ups. Some of you may already be familiar with Cannondale’s Scalpel their ultra-light, super-agile full-suspension XC MTB which has been on the podium of multiple cross-country mountain bike World Cups and World Championships over the past few years. Previously when Cannondale pro racers such as the Brazilian Henrique Avancini opted to race a hardtail rather than their full-suss Scalpel they would have been aboard the Cannondale F-Si XC Hardtail; as of today they’ll be choosing the all-new Scalpel HT which is its agile successor. So from now when it comes to Cannondale’s top XC racing rigs think Scalpel for the full-suspension model and Scalpel HT for the hardtail model.

The all-new Cannondale Scalpel HT is whole new breed of XC Hardtail.

 

So what’s new and different with the Scalpel HT? Almost everything! Cannondale have started with a blank sheet and created a modern ‘progressive’ cross-country mountain bike of the type we’re seeing more and more of on the race scene. As we’ve already highlighted in other features this year XC racing is seeing somewhat of a resurgence around the world, thanks in no small part to the excellent Red Bull coverage of the World Cup series which showcases increasingly technical race courses that have encouraged racers to ride harder and make moves that are as much influenced by their technical bike-handling skills as their supreme fitness. With fast, frenetic racing and shoulder to shoulder action becoming the new norm it’s not unusual to see races being won and lost on the technical descents as much as on the uphill sprints these days.

Progressive geometry and a slightly longer travel fork bring the Scalpel HT to life.

 

The Scalpel HT is too much fun just to save for single race days though; this MTB suits riders who prefer the stripped down, lightweight climbing efficiency of a hardtail (the frame weighs just 895 grams!) but still want to fly down the descents with their mates on all-day epics or maybe even on multi-day stage races. The Scalpel HT features an ultra-slack 66.5° head angle for greater stability and control on steep, technical descents while Cannondale’s ‘Proportional Response’ principle sees each frame size option featuring unique size-specific dimensions so that you feel more agile, with more room to move around the bike as you negotiate the most challenging terrain.

Each frame size option features unique size-specific dimensions.

 

The Scalpel HT includes a longer reach with a shorter stem to ensure that you feel more stable and less pitched over the front of the bike, while steering still remains sharp thanks to that short stem length. There’s a steeper seat tube angle of 74.5° for greater pedaling efficiency in the saddle – perfect for when you’re in your lowest gear and are fighting gravity as you grovel up steep climbs littered with slick exposed roots. Size-specific chainstays means that climbing traction is further enhanced with the rear wheel neatly tucked under your saddle where all your weight is concentrated.

The Scalpel HT flies uphill.

 

You’ll have no-doubt noticed the distinctive dropped seat stays too; the idea here is to add more compliance into the carbon frame, helping to take the sting out of the rear of the frame. More subtle, but no less effective are the Scalpel HT’s cleverly profiled chainstays which mimic the Scalpel full-suspension model’s ‘FlexPivot’ adding more compliance and complimenting those new dropped seat stays.

Dropped seat stays add compliance and enhance comfort in the saddle.

 

Specially profiled chain stays mimic the Scalpel full-suspension model’s ‘FlexPivot’ for more compliance in the rear of the frame.

 

That more progressive approach to mountain bike geometry would pale into insignificance without a suitable suspension fork upfront; happily Cannondale have created an all-new 110mm travel Lefty Ocho to help achieve the more capable ride feel they were looking for. This new fork is also stiffer to cope with the more aggressive type of riding Cannondale see you doing and features a new front brake mount that accommodates 180mm disc brake rotors because, frankly, you’re going to need the extra stopping power when the Scalpel HT is at full-chat.

An all-new Lefty Ocho fork with 110mm of travel really helps liven up the Scalpel HT.

 

Cannondale’s distinctive Lefty fork features on the Hi-Mod 1 model.

 

The all-new Cannondale Scalpel HT with its modern, progressive geometry, a super-light chassis and enhanced amounts of suspension facilitated by a new longer-travel version of their iconic Cannondale Lefty Ocho single-sided suspension fork is a hardtail that’s going to help you dance up the climbs and steal time on the descents. We love the way that XC is on the rise again, as course designers and racers are locked in an arms race we continue to see the top brands creating more capable race bikes. That sort of development can only benefit us mere mortals too; if racing isn’t your primary concern the Scalpel HT still shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s the perfect Hardtail MTB for long days on the bike when you want to cover big distances on mixed terrain, carrying tons of speed on the less technical stretches without feeling under-biked when you do swing off the fire track onto tighter technical singletrack.

We expect first stock of the all-new Cannondale Scalpel HT to arrive with us in the next couple of weeks! Call or email us for more information.

 

Cannondale Scalpel HT 2022 Geometry

 

Cannondale Scalpel HT Mi-Mod 1 RRP £6,200.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cannondale Hi-MOD Carbon, Proportional Response Design, PF30-83, tapered head tube, Speed Release 12mm thru axle w/UDH hanger, 55mm chainline
• Fork: Lefty Ocho 120 Carbon, 110mm, Chamber Damper with remote lockout, OppO Spring System, tapered steerer, 50mm offset
• Rims: HollowGram 25, Superlight Hi-Impact Carbon, 28h, 25mm IW, tubeless ready
• Hubs: (F) HollowGram Lefty 60 / (R) HollowGram w/ DT Swiss Star Ratchet internals, 12x148mm
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race, straight-pull
• Tyres: (F) Schwalbe Racing Ray EVO, 29 x 2.25″, SnakeSkin, Addix Speedgrip, tubeless ready, (R) Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, 29 x 2.25″, SnakeSkin, Addix Speed, tubeless ready
• Crank: HollowGram, BB30a w/ OPI SpideRing, 34T, 55mm chainline
• Bottom Bracket: Cannondale Alloy PF30-83
• Chain: Shimano XT, 12-speed
• Rear Cassette: Shimano XT, 10-51, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR
• Shifters: Shimano XT, 12-speed
• Handlebar: Cannondale 1 Flat, Carbon, 31.8mm, 9° back, 760mm
• Grips: Cannondale XC Silicone
• Stem: Cannondale 1, 7075 Alloy, 1-1/8″, 31.8, 7°
• Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8 to 1.5″, sealed angular contact bearings
• Brakes: Shimano XT hydraulic disc, 180/160mm XT rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano XT hydraulic disc
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NDR, Tirox rails
• Seatpost: C1 Carbon, 27.2x400mm
• Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
• Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL
• Colour: 1 Carbon (CRB)

 

Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 RRP £3,400.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cannondale Carbon, Proportional Response Design, PF30-83, tapered head tube, Speed Release 12mm thru axle w/UDH hanger, 55mm chainline
• Fork: RockShox SID SL Select+ RL, 100mm, Debonair, remote lockout, 15x110mm thru-axle, tapered steerer, 44mm offset
• Rims: Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK4, 28h, tubeless ready
• Hubs: (F) Shimano MT410, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT510, 12x148mm thru-axle
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition
• Tyres: (F) Schwalbe Racing Ray EVO, 29 x 2.25″, Twinskin, tubeless ready, (R) Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, 29 x 2.25″, SnakeSkin, Addix compound, tubeless ready
• Crank: Cannondale 1, BB30a, OPI SpideRing, 34T
• Bottom Bracket: Cannondale Alloy PF30-83
• Chain: Shimano SLX, 12-speed
• Rear Cassette: Shimano SLX, 10-51, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT
• Shifters: Shimano SLX, 12-speed
• Handlebar: Cannondale 2 Flat, butted 2014 Alloy, 31.8mm, 3° rise, 8° sweep, 760mm
• Grips: Cannondale XC Silicone
• Stem: Cannondale 2, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7°
• Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8 to 1.5″, sealed angular contact bearings
• Brakes: Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT64 rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc
• Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Elite, hollow cro-mo rails
• Seatpost: C2 Carbon, 27.2x400mm
• Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
• Sizes SM, MD, LG, XL
• Colour 1 Black Pearl (BLK)

 

Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 4 RRP £2,600.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cannondale Carbon, Proportional Response Design, PF30-83, tapered head tube, Speed Release 12mm thru axle w/UDH hanger, 55mm chainline
• Fork: RockShox SID SL , 100mm, Debonair, remote lockout, 15x110mm thru-axle, tapered steerer, 44mm offset
• Rims: WTB STX i23, 32h, tubeless ready
• Hubs: (F) Shimano MT410, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT410, 12x148mm thru-axle
• Spokes: DT Swiss Champion 2.0
• Tyres: (F) Schwalbe Racing Ray EVO, 29 x 2.25″, Twinskin, tubeless ready, (R) Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, 29 x 2.25″, SnakeSkin, Addix compound, tubeless ready
• Crank: Shimano M5121, 30T, 55mm chainline
• Bottom Bracket: PF30 to 24mm sealed cartridge bearing BB, for 55mm CL Shimano cranks
• Chain: Shimano Deore, 12-speed
• Rear Cassette: Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed
• Handlebar: Cannondale 2 Flat, butted 2014 Alloy, 31.8mm, 3° rise, 8° sweep, 760mm
• Grips: Fabric Funguy
• Stem: Cannondale 2, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7°
• Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8 to 1.5″, sealed angular contact bearings
• Brakes: Shimano MT501 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT54 rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano MT500 hydraulic disc
• Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Sport, steel rails
• Seatpost: C3 Alloy, 27.2x400mm
• Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL
• Colour: 1 Acid Red (ARD)

 

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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Today we’re taking a closer look at the all-new Shotgun Pro MTB Child Seat from biker-owned brand ‘Kids Ride Shotgun’ who are a small team of mountain bike parents from the North Island of New Zealand who came together with a global vision to raise the next generation of mountain bikers.

The original Shotgun child seat launched in 2017 and quickly became recognised as a fantastic way of bringing parent mountain bikers and their children together in a fun and interactive way, immediately giving their kids an authentic mountain biking experience. We’ve seen the Shotgun Child Seat gain popularity here at Wheelbase over the past few seasons; customers who are keen mountain bikers and want to continue to ride as a family are totally sold on the Shotgun concept and see it as an opportunity to pass on their love of the sport to their little shredders.

Watch professional mountain biker Sam Blenkinsop take his daughter Indie go for a ride on the Shotgun Pro…

 

So what led the Kids Ride Shotgun brand to develop their original Shotgun child seat and why did they feel it was better to have their children positioned on the front of the bike rather than than on the rear like traditional bicycle child seats?..

• So the weight was balanced in the centre of the bike
• So the child can see where they’re going (and the parent can see them)
• So that parent and child can talk to each other as they ride along together

With your child positioned out front you’ll be able really share the riding experience.

 

Since the original seat was launched in 2017 the Kids Ride Shotgun brand have seen a big increase in the use of e-MTBs around the world and a large amount of mountain biking families wanting to fit the Shotgun child seat to high-end carbon fibre mountain bikes. Trail-side conversations with other mountain biking parents quickly gave Shotgun their design brief – ‘we want to introduce our children to mountain biking, we don’t want the seat to touch the frame, we want to be able to fit and remove the child seat quickly and easily and swap it between bikes’.

The design brief for the Shotgun Pro MTB child seat came from trail-side conversations with mountain biking parents.

 

The versatile Shotgun Pro MTB child seat is designed to fit to nearly all mountain bikes and e-MTB’s.

 

The all-new Shotgun Pro MTB child seat includes all the fixtures and fittings required to enable you to set up the seat on your mountain bike so that there’s zero contact with the frame. The kit includes a special head set spacer which you only fit once and remains completely unobtrusive when you don’t have the child seat fitted to your bike; this headset spacer then works in unison with the front clamp, keep the front of the Shotgun securely located while still facilitating steering. The rear portion of the Shotgun Pro fits around your bike’s seat post and is adjustable to fit conventional posts as well as dropper posts of all common dimensions including 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm and 34.9mm.

The Shotgun Pro child seat fits all bikes with an 1 1/8 steerer and is compatible with a wide range of seat post diameters.

 

About the Shotgun Pro Kids MTB Seat:

• Designed for children 2 – 5 years (up to 60lb / 27kg)
• Zero frame contact
• Adjustable to fit electric and regular mountain bikes
• Super fast to fit, remove and swap between bikes
• Fits all mountain bikes with standard 1 1⁄8 steerers (10mm stem clearance required)

The bar which the saddle is located on is adjustable to match the dimensions between your stem and seat post.

 

Will the Shotgun Pro fit my bike?

• The Shotgun Pro seat fits all modern mountain bikes with a standard 1 1/8 inch steerer, including electric mountain bikes. Before purchasing, check your local laws regarding the use of child seats and e-bikes.
• Fitting requires 10mm of clearance under the stem. Bikes with stems shorter than 50mm in length may require additional clearance under the stem, the minimum clearance required is indicated in the diagram below.
• The Shotgun Pro includes two spacers, for use on two bikes. Installing the Shotgun Pro spacer replaces 10mm of standard steerer spacers on your bike.
• Please note that adaptors for use with Trek Knock Block and Scott Syncros headsets are sold separately. The Shotgun Pro is not compatible with bikes that have a quill stem.
• The Shotgun Pro seat is suitable for dropper posts and all common seat post sizes, including 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm and 34.9mm. Fitting requires 14mm of available seat post space.

Adjustable foot straps keep your child’s safely and securely located.

 

The Shotgun Pro features a nice wide, comfortable padded saddle.

 

The lower portion of the Shotgun Pro is adjustable to match your child’s leg length.

 

Light, durable and secure, the Shotgun Pro is quick and easy to install to your mountain bike or e-MTB.

 

The ultimate child seat for mountain biking families.

 

Watch this full guide on Shotgun Pro MTB Child Seat installation and fitting.

 

The Shotgun Pro MTB Child Seat RRP £180.00 is available in-store and online now.

What’s in the box?

• Shotgun Pro Child Seat
• Spacers for 2 x bikes
• Mudguard
• Tools for setup + instructions

 

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…

 

 

 

The all-new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset launched to the public earlier this year after months of speculation, rumours and the odd spyshot taken of pro racer’s bikes at races leading up to this year’s Tour De France. That steady build up to launch gave us and many other cycling nerds the chance to speculate on the finer details of Shimano’s premium road groupset; would Shimano go wireless just like the SRAM eTap system? Would they increase the gearing from 11-speed to 12-speed or even 13-speed?! Would Dura Ace be launched with separate mechanical and electronic groupset options? At the end of August all was revealed and it was immediately clear that Shimano had gone down the route of careful refinement rather than implementing any major radical changes; that said when you began to look in more detail and started to read the Shimano press release there was plenty of new innovation and clever features.

The long-awaited all-new Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset is finally with us.

 

Given the ongoing impact of delayed overseas production and delivery times following the Coronavirus pandemic we knew that it would inevitably take us a while after launch to see the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset for ourselves. Thankfully Pinarello came through for us and we got notification that a new Dogma F Disc (their premium road model launched this year just before the Tour France) spec’d with the new Dura Ace Di2 groupset was winging it’s way to Wheelbase HQ in the Lake District. When it arrived we made the Dogma F bike-build a priority and hit speed-dial, calling up our talented photographer James Vincent to get him in to shoot the bike for us!

Our first look at the new 12-speed Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset came with the arrival of this stunning Pinarello Dogma F Disc.

 

The all-new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset looks stunning on our Pinarello Dogma F Disc road bike; we made sure that James captured all of the aesthetic qualities of this premium road bike and its brand new electronic groupset in his photos. In our feature below you’ll find a mix of his images along with some technical illustrations and plenty of detailed information on the all of the new technical features that make up Dura Ace Di2 R9200…

Shimano have done it again, with their top-end groupset looking stunning, but what’s new this time round?…

 

OK, so there’s two significant headliners when it comes to the new Dura Ace Di2 groupset; both of them were already widely speculated on in the lead up to Shimano’s official launch. Firstly we were all expecting to see the Japanese brand make the leap to a 12-speed drivetrain, just as their nearest component-manufacturing equivalents SRAM and Campagnolo have done previously; we and countless other tech geeks were right on that count. The other big rumour or reasonable theory being circulated was that Shimano who were first to market with the original electronic groupset would move from a fully wired system to a wireless system mirroring how SRAM eTap works, with a wireless signal being sent from the shift levers to the front and rear derailleurs. Well, it turns out that we all only half right on this count.

Instead of going the whole-hog and making the system completely wireless Shimano have introduced a semi-wireless configuration for the Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset. It’s a sort of ‘best of both worlds’ approach that sees all the benefits of having wireless shifter units that don’t require wires to be routed from the handlebar, through the stem and then through the frame as was the case with the previous version. This wireless cockpit is paired with a wired portion which links the front and rear derailleur with an internal battery that powers them both; Shimano state that this solution guarantees longer run times thanks to a more efficient central source of power, compared say, to totally wireless front and rear derailleurs which require their own battery power source located on the mechs themselves (as seen on the SRAM system).

Dura Ace Di2 R2900 features a semi-wireless electronic shifting system.

 

The wireless gear shifter and hydraulic brake units are powered by small non-rechargeable CR1632 coin-cell batteries which have a run time of 1.5-2 years. Shimano state that not only does this new wireless control system keep your cockpit looking clean and uncluttered as well as making bike building that much easier and efficient without the added complication on intricate cable routing they have also been able to increase the speed at which the signal to shift gear travels from shifter to derailleur; yes apparently these wireless signals are four times faster in processing shifting commands than their wired predecessors. Shimano claim that the new-gen Dura Ace Di2 delivers 58% faster rear shifting and 45% front shifting so we’re not talking about insignificant amounts here. There’s an updated smartphone app which allows you to fine tune shift speed, letting you determine how fast the rear derailleur moves; you can also customise button function too.

The new wireless shifters feature coin-cell batteries that boast a 1.5-2 year lifespan.

 

Dura Ace ST-R9270 Dual Control Lever Key Features:

• 1.5 to 2 years of battery life with easy-to-change CR1632 shifter batteries
• Raised hood peak improves ergonomics, longer hood body increases hand support
• Compatible with satellite shifters
• SERVO WAVE technology optimizes brake control
• Lighter, smoother lever action
• Enhanced modulation thanks to an expanded braking control area
• Carbon fibre brake lever and titanium hardware
• Customise button function with the E-TUBE app
• Find your optimum lever position with simple reach adjust

 

So we now know that wireless is faster than wired; 58% faster in fact. The Shimano Dura Ace ST-R9270 Dual Control Levers send their wireless commands directly to the rear derailleur which is the designated ‘connectivity unit’ or brains of the system, those signals from the lever either move the rear mech as required or instantly send a message via the wired portion of the system to activate the front derailleur. There’s a whole lot going on that rear derailleur which now also communicates wirelessly with Shimano’s E-Tube smartphone app, features the function button which used to sit within the Junction A box as well as a new charge port and LEDs to indicate charge level. This all-new Di2 rear derailleur is now only available in one cage length which is compatible with a maximum cassette size of 34T making the groupset just a little more versatile than its predecessor.

The RD-R9250 rear derailleur is the brains of Shimano’s semi-wireless system.

 

Dura Ace RD-R9250 Rear Derailleur Key Features:

• Fastest ever rear shifting (58% faster)
• Compact design includes an integrated wireless unit, charger and switch
• LED status indicator
• Battery indicator
• Pairing
• Adjust mode
• Wider range capacity with maximum 34T low sprocket

 

The Shimano engineers have been able to remove a significant amount of bulk from the Di2 front derailleur thanks to that semi-wireless configuration, with a wired central battery and all of the command signals going to and from the rear derailleur. The new, smaller front derailleur now tips the scales at under 100 grams while an overall reduction in size means less aerodynamic drag on your super-aero road bike.

The all-new FD-R9250 front derailleur is super-compact.

 

Shimano have reduced frontal area by 33% making the front derailleur more aero.

 

Dura Ace FD-R9250 Front Derailleur Key Features:

• Fastest ever front shifting (45% faster)
• Smaller, sleeker, lighter
• Frontal area reduced by 33%
• Weight cut to 96 g
• Top gear teeth capacity: 50-55T

 

As we’ve already highlighted, in the lead up to the launch of the new Dura Ace Di2 groupset both the cycling industry and the wider cycling public expected Shimano to increase their cassette-cog-count up to 12, following suit with their rivals Campagnolo and SRAM. This new 12-speed configuration means there’s less of a jump between ratios while giving a bigger range of gears; there are three options when it comes to the cassette – 11-28T, 11-30T and a super-low ratio 11-34T option. Shimano have taken their Hyperglide+ technology first seen on their 12-speed mountain bike groupsets and applied it to this new road-going groupset; Hyperglide+ tooth shaping provides smoother and faster upshifts and downshifts with Shimano claiming that gear shifts down the block now happen 66% faster. As you’d expect, despite the extra cog this Dura Ace cassette is nice and light with the five largest cogs being made of titanium with the rest being made of steel.

Hyperglide+ tooth shaping provides smoother and faster upshifts and downshifts on this 12-speed cassette.

 

We can’t help but to look straight to the chainset when a new-generation Shimano Dura Ace groupset launches; the reason for this is that whatever aesthetic quality you see on the top-level drivetrain usually filters down the range and forms ‘the look’ of that particular generation of Shimano groupsets. When it comes to styling there’s no radical departure with this RD9200 chainset, just further refinement of what Shimano have previously engineered; years of development mean that this latest version benefits from all of the science and testing that went into previous versions and includes hollow arms and chainrings to keep weight to a minimum while ensuring stiffness and shifting precision are enhanced. Shimano have changed the chainring sizes for this all-new groupset with 3 options – 50/34T, 52/36T and a whopping 54/40T available for the super-strong racers out there.

As expected the Dura Ace FC-R9200 chainset is great looking, but there’s plenty of proven performance benefits too.

 

The moment we looked at the hydraulic brake calipers we could see that Shimano had spent some considerable time on developing the new Dura Ace BR-R9270 versions; they are noticeably more compact. Rather than a subtle refinement over their predecessors the BR-R9270 calipers are a completely new design which address some small issues that were identified on the previous versions; while there was never an issue with the amount of braking power generated they could be a little noisy and difficult to setup. The new Dura Ace BR-R9270 hydraulic calipers feature Shimano’s one-piece Mono-Body construction technique to help decrease weight and increase rigidity while a greater amount of pad clearance (10% more) guarantees a much quieter ride; there’s also a redesigned bleeding process to help make workshop maintenance more simple and user-friendly.

The more compact Shimano BR-R9270 calipers are a completely new design.

 

Shimano have paired the BR-R9270 calipers with their RT-MT900 disc rotors, yes, their existing Shimano XTR mountain bike disc brake rotors lifted directly from their top-of-the-range mountain bike groupset. These disc brake rotors are actually a little lighter than the road-specific rotors they are replacing and have proven to better withstand temporary deformation caused by overheating on long alpine descents; in fact we’d noticed earlier this year that some of the professional road racing teams were already fitting Shimano mountain bike rotors to their race bikes, perhaps this is what led Shimano to do the same?

With some key performance improvements Shimano have spec’d their existing RT-MT900 disc rotors as part of the new Dura Ace groupset.

 

So that’s the all-new 12-speed Shimano Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset which we’re mightily impressed by both in terms of looks the amount of innovation and refinements that have gone into it. The semi-wireless approach makes sense and offers some key improvements over their fully wired system, especially when it comes to the simplicity of setting up your cockpit and controls. The 12-speed drivetrain increases efficiency when it comes to gear ratio selections while the combination of high speed wireless signals and subtle but improved profiling of the rear cassette and front chainrings means the speed of gear selections have increased by an impressive 58%. It’s important to note that for the first time ever Shimano have only launched a Di2 electronic version of this groupset, there is no mechanical equivalent; a sign of the times and an acknowledgement of just how far this sort of technology has come.

The Dura Ace Di2 R9200 semi-wireless configuration is a clever approach and offers some key improvements over their fully wired system.

 

We shot the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset on a stunning Pinarello Dogma F road bike; newly arrived at our Wheelbase Lake District store this Italian masterpiece is a truly lust-worthy race bike which has had staff and customers alike drooling over it. We recently took a detailed look at another Dogma F spec’d with Sram Red eTap AXS; if you want to find out more about this cutting-edge aero road bike hit the link to read our recent Pinarello Dogma F ‘Fast Bike Friday’ feature. We’ve also included some more shots of the Dura Ace Di2 R9200 equipped Dogma F below…

Pinarello have built the Dogma F to be light and stiff, aerodynamic and more comfortable over longer distances.

 

The Dogma F is made from TorayCa T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nanoalloy Technology.

 

This disc-brake-equipped Dogma F has clearance for up to 28mm wide tyres.

 

Dropped seatstays help to add more compliance where it’s needed.

 

An integrated seat clamp wedge is secure and aerodynamic.

 

Pinarello have given the Dogma F a fully aero front end with stem, headset, frame and fork all blending seamlessly into one.

 

This new-generation Pinarello Dogma F boasts a fully integrated cockpit with no exposed cables.

 

Pinarello’s own MOST Talon Ultra-Fast integrated handle bars are super-aero to cut through the air efficiently. 

 

The Dogma F includes a lightweight pair of MOST bottle cages.

 

The lightweight MOST Lynx Ultrafast Superflow saddle boasts carbon rails for increased comfort. 

 

Talk to our dedicated road department to find out more about the Dogma F and the build options available.

 

Pinarello Dogma F Disc Dura Ace £12,199.00

Full Specification:

• Frame: Pinarello Dogma F TorayCa T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nanoalloy Technology
• Fork: Pinarello Dogma F Onda Fork with ForkFlap
• Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 R9270
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 RD-9200 12-Speed
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 RD-9200
• Cassette : Shimano Dura Ace 12-Speed, 11-30T
• Chainset: Shimano Dura Ace 12-Speed, 50-34T
• Chain: Shimano Dura Ace 12-Speed
• Brakes: Dura Ace BR-R9200, 2 piston caliper
• Rotors: 160 front /140mm rear
• Wheels: DT Swiss PRC 1400 Spline
• Tyres: Pirelli Pzero Race 26mm, black 127 tpi Aramid breaker (Max Tyre Size 28mm)
• Stem: MOST Talon Ultra-Light Integrated
• Handlebar: MOST Talon Ultra-Light Integrated
• Bar Tape: MOST Bar Tape
• Seat Post: Pinarello Aero Seatpost with 3D printed Titanium Top Seatclamp and bolts
• Saddle: MOST Lynx ULTRAFAST SUPERFLOW L Carbon Large 145mm

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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…

Friday 12th November, Ilkley Brewery, Ashlands Road, Ilkley, LS29 8JT

Join us for a fun-filled night of Zwift virtual racing on Wahoo smart trainers AND plenty of Ilkley Brewery beer!

All attendees have the chance to win a Wahoo Kickr smart trainer in our prize draw and there’s some other great prizes to be won on the night:

Prize draw – Win a Wahoo Kickr Smart Trainer
King of the Mountains – Win a Wahoo ELEMNT Rival GPS Watch
Queen of the Mountains – Win a Wahoo ELEMNT Rival GPS Watch
Best pain face – Win your height in beer!

 

What better way to start the new indoor cycling season than a night of bikes and beer! Join us for an evening of racing and challenges on an extensive range of Wahoo Smart Trainer demo units; there’ll be plenty of Wheelbase and Wahoo staff in attendance ready to offer expert advice to help you get the most out of your indoor training.

TURN UP ON THE NIGHT AND RIDE!

Click the link below to register for the Ilkley Brewery, Ilkley event:

INDOOR RACING FOR EVERYONE! FREE TO REGISTER – ALL WELCOME! 7PM ‘Til Late.

PRIZES TO BE WON! WIN A WAHOO KICKR WORTH £999 WIN YOUR HEIGHT IN BEER!

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

Now, some may say otherwise, probably many as a matter of fact but I don’t think anything starts the day better than being on two wheels with your pals and watching the sun rise from the heights of the fells here in the Lake District.

 

By some form of a small miracle I had managed to round up the troops for a sunrise ride, this ride wasn’t about “sending it” or trying to become the new KOM, it was about bringing like-minded individuals together to appreciate something as elementary as watching the sunrise.

 

Now, I’ve walked this route many times and some might say I’m doing it the wrong way round, but I wanted to reach Rydal caves pre-sunrise as being the pedantic individual that I am I knew that the rising sun would hit the very peak of Nab Scar. This peak is the most south-western of the famous Fairfield Horseshoe, sitting at 455 meters and just high enough to be kissed by the early morning sun.

 

 

This ride takes in a variety of views, the most spectacular ones include Rydal water, Grasmere and beyond up to as far as the central fells. Helm Crag stands small yet mighty in the middle of the valley, yet another view I never grow tired of.

 

After soaking in the views for a considerable amount of time it was to head down a short road section to Loughrigg Tarn. “Loughrigg Tarn” is a little of tautology, “Loughrigg” means “ridge of the lough” (lake) it’s a fell that’s described as being surrounded by an unusual amount of water with the aforementioned tarns and bodies of water. The fell is accessible from all sides making it an easily achievable circular ride. It’s only 355 meters tall but it still stands as one of my all-time favourite fells thanks to its spectacular 360 degree views.

 

From Loughrigg tarn it’s back up through the middle of the Fell where the bridleway splits the fell in half for a fun descent back into Ambleside. A quality morning with some great company.

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

Don’t leave it too late! Explore our wide range of kid’s bikes from the best brands, with kid’s bikes for all ages. Check out our buyer’s guide and brand features. Now with FREE SHIPPING for a limited time only.

 

 

Is that the time already?! Yes, it’s undeniable that the nights are indeed drawing in and the leaves on the trees are beginning to take on a slightly muted brown tone instead of the vibrant green that accompanied your long mid-summer rides. It used to be the case that this time of year meant that preparations for training rides in poor light or total darkness were due, checking lights still work or spending time seeking out new, more powerful options. Wet weather gear and warmer cycling kit is brought out again and the mental barrier of negotiating another cold, wet, dark winter had to be overcome once again. Thankfully things have changed in recent years with the advent of some very sophisticated home smart trainers and of course the huge growth of the Zwift interactive training and racing App. Now there’s a legit alternative to those dark, wet evenings or early morning sessions with Zwift and smart trainers helping to keep you engaged and motivated through the more challenging months of the year.

We’ve seen a real boom in the popularity of indoor training over the past few years, particularly last year as the impact of Coronavirus and the uncertainty around how and when we were able to ride during the various different lockdowns really impacted our cycling outside. As the technology of smart trainers has improved and the Zwift App has gained global popularity, riding indoors on a static trainer doesn’t fill cyclists with dread the way it used to. The impact of Zwift on the indoor smart trainer market cannot be overstated; this brilliant interactive App brings cyclists from all over the world together to train and compete in a virtual screen-based cycling world.

If you’re a time-pushed cyclist using a smart trainer allows you to structure your training around your other daily responsibilities, it allows you to be more precise in the way that you train and enables you to focus on improving your weak spots in a safe and controlled environment. As you build up to the start of the 2022 season you’ll want to see yourself improving and again smart trainers are particularly helpful here, helping you to accurately record and analyse all of your training data which ends up motivating you more as you begin to see evidence of your fitness improving.

So as we move into autumn now is the time to get prepared to train productively indoors; maybe it’s time to buy your first smart trainer or perhaps you’re looking to upgrade your equipment so that you’re able to get more out of your training this winter? Typically, like any new technology there’s a lot of information to digest when you’re considering buying a smart trainer, including software compatibility, ride feel, power measurement, compatibility with your bike and even simple things like how much noise they produce. Below you will find all of the key information you’ll need from each model of smart trainer available this season at Wheelbase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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…

 

 

 

This week for our Fast Bike Friday feature we’re back on the gravel with the stunning Pinarello Grevil Ekar from premium Italian brand Pinarello; but leave your bike-packing luggage and camping mug at home, this gravel bike is built to be super-fast and fun, being more focused on aerodynamics and speedy agility thanks to its aero-angles and large volume 650B wheel and tyre configuration.

Before we go any further it’s also important to refer to the ‘Ekar’ portion of this Pinarello’s model name as it really is the headliner of this Fast Bike Friday feature; yes, instead of going with the more typically spec’d SRAM and Shimano gravel-specific groupsets the famous Italian brand has spec’d the Grevil with Campagnolo’s all-new Ekar 13-speed gravel-specific groupset. It’s not that long ago that the road cycling fraternity would baulk at an Italian road bike being fitted with anything other than an Italian Campagnolo groupset and it was deemed as sacrilege to fit Shimano or SRAM to such an Italian masterpiece. Things have moved on significantly these days and now we don’t even consider it; think for example of Team Ineos running Shimano Dura Ace groupsets on their Pinarello Dogma F road bikes. We’ve strayed off topic a little here, but to put it in a nutshell it’s kind of nice to still see an Italian bike fitted with an Italian groupset.

The Grevil Ekar is an Italian masterpiece from Pinarello boasting Campagnolo’s new 13-speed gravel-specific groupset.

 

Initially the Grevil takes you by surprise; for such an authentic Italian brand with a rich road racing heritage it’s somewhat unexpected to see such a radically different approach to gravel bike design from Pinarello. This super-fast carbon fibre gravel bike appears to include ALL the angles, with some unique tube profiles featuring subtle curves that contrast with more angular elements. Some of these frame design-features have been lifted directly from their road-going Dogma models and some are unique to the Grevil, but make no mistake, this is no gimmick; each tube profile has been carefully developed to help deliver just the right mix of comfort, compliance, stiffness and pedaling efficiency.

The Grevil frameset made from Pinarello TorayCa T700 UD carbon and features some distinctive tube profiles.

 

So it’s clear to see from the Grevil’s silhouette that there’s plenty of design elements that Pinarello have taken from their Dogma road bike but they’ve tuned the Grevil’s frame and fork to perform more efficiently off-road. Pinarello’s designers have adjusted the head angle to be a degree and a half slacker and the fork offset has been modified too helping to improve the Grevil’s stability on unpredictable terrain. The seat angle is 72.5 degrees, which again is slacker than what you would find on an equivalent road bike and this helps to reduce shocks through to the saddle.

Those distinctive angles aren’t just for show; they blend aerodynamic efficiency with off-road-friendly compliance.

 

The Pinarello Grevil’s livery makes it clear from the start, this is a super-fast gravel bike designed to be ridden ‘full gas everywhere’.

 

Pinarello have cleverly engineered a frame that boasts stiffness in key areas for pedaling efficiency and compliance where enhanced comfort is required.

 

The Pinarello Grevil takes another well-proven design principle that Pinarello have used on their much-sought-after road bikes; the rear of the Grevil is asymmetrical, following the understanding that pedalling and power-input is not exactly the same through both sides of the frame thanks to the right-hand drive-side of the bike accommodating the Campagnolo drivetrain and thus higher forces as the chain pulls on the right side. You’ll quickly spot this at the junction between the chainstays and bottom bracket as well as between the top of the seatstays and the top of the seat tube.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you; the seatstays and chainstays are asymmetric to better cope with the additional forces put through the drive-side of the bike.

 

The Grevil’s carbon seat post blends seamlessly with the rest of the frame, with the seat clamp bolt stowed out of sight where the seat tube and top tube meet.

 

The chainstay is dropped on the drive-side to accommodate the chainring and also features a flattened portion for added compliance.

 

There’s plenty of tyre clearance incorporated into the Grevil frame to allow for nice wide gravel tyres.

 

Pinarello’s famous Onda fork is already recognised for its stability and shock reduction, this gravel-specific version takes compliance to the next level.

 

Fast gravel riding and racing means aerodynamics is a legit concern, Pinarello’s Fork Flap design cheats the wind while providing extra protection for the disc brake caliper.

 

So let’s focus in on that Campagnolo Ekar groupset; first off it looks great! With just the right amount of visual similarities to their road-going groupsets it quickly stands out as a drivetrain from the Iconic Italian brand. That carbon fibre single-ring chainset quickly catches the eye and despite the gritty, utilitarian nature of gravel biking Campagnolo have managed to retain a more refined, classic look for Ekar. Campagnolo have committed 100% to a one-by setup (a single chainring on the front combined with a wide ratio cassette on the rear), there’s no double chainring chainset option like you’ll find from Shimano GRX for example.

Campagnolo’s Ekar gravel-specific groupset is a radical departure for the Italian brand.

 

This approach has its advantages including greater simplicity and mechanical efficiency as well as reduced weight and less possibility of clogging up with mud. Sometimes the downside of just such an approach is the difficulty to provide all the gear ratios you need; Campagnolo’s answer to this is in their versatile rear cassette. Their wide ratio 13-speed cassette almost features two cassettes in one – a close ratio road-style cassette which includes a tiny 9-tooth cog and a larger more gravel/mtb focused cassette that tops out with a large 42T cog to provide a nice low climbing gear.

That unique 13-speed cassette means Campagnolo have you covered for every imaginable riding scenario.

 

This 9-42T cassette needs a 13-speed-specific chain to fit the smaller gaps between each cog.

 

This 13-speed block almost features two cassettes in one – a close ratio road-style one and a more gravel/mtb focused one with bigger gaps between ratios. 

 

To accommodate the huge range of movement across the 13-speed cassette the Ekar rear derailleur mirrors how both the SRAM and Shimano Gravel/MTB rear derailleur equivalents work, with Campagnolo’s 2D parallelogram trajectory giving a nice horizontal movement as the chain moves up and down the cassette. The Ekar rear derailleur includes a one-way clutch in the pulley cage pivot and there’s a locking mechanism in the derailleur’s main pivot to make removal and fitting of the rear wheel easier too.

The Ekar rear derailleur features a clutch to keep your chain secure, mirroring a feature seen on the SRAM and Shimano equivalents.

 

Campagnolo’s ‘2D parallelogram trajectory’ basically means movement is more horizontal as the derailleur moves up and down the cassette.

 

The Ekar’s single-ring carbon chainset takes its cues from some of its road groupset cousins and looks great.

 

The whole Ekar drivetrain has been designed around the single-ring principle; there’s no double-ring option.

 

Acknowledging that catching your pedals on rocks is a possibility, Campagnolo have included removeable protection on the carbon crank ends.

 

Campagnolo have done a good job of squeezing in the workings of the hydraulic brakes and mechanical gears into a compact shift/brake lever.

 

The Ekar gear shifter and hydraulic brake units look very similar to their Campagnolo road groupset equivalents at first glance, however there are some subtle differences which reflect their gravel-focused duties. First off and rather inevitably given the one-by drivetrain setup the left hand unit has been stripped of any gear changing duties with a hydraulic-brake-only configuration. Meanwhile the right hand unit which houses the mechanical gear shifter workings as well as the hydraulic brake, features one distinct difference from their road-going cousins. The inboard shift paddle (for gear shifts down the rear cassette) is c-shaped to allow for better feel and greater security off-road providing an easier, more definite gear shift regardless of whether you’re riding in the drops or on the hoods.

Compared with Campagnolo’s road-going version there’s an all-new c-shaped update to the gear shift lever which better suits shifting off-road.

 

The Ekar shifter/brake levers are comfortable on the hoods, with that slightly taller shape feeling more secure when you’re riding off-road.

 

The neat Ekar flat-mount hydraulic brake calipers are identical front and rear.

 

The Ekar groupset disc brake rotors are made from 1.85mm-thick stainless steel.

 

The Pinarello Grevil Onda Fork includes its distinctive aero ‘Fork Flap’ portion.

 

This particular Ekar-equipped Pinarello Grevil gravel bike comes spec’d with a pair of 650B Fulcrum Rapid Red 5 DB wheels.

 

As we’ve touched on numerous times during the past year, there’s an ever-growing, ever-evolving gravel biking scene which continues to diversify as more and more cyclists switch over to gravel from road cycling, mountain biking, touring, bike packing and more. We’ve reviewed steel gravel bikes that are designed primarily for utilitarian load-carrying duties, alloy bikes that feature far more relaxed angles and are designed to be more lively and playful giving a similar feel to a fully-rigid MTB and then there’s plenty of gravel bikes out there that are focused solely on performance and speed, featuring aerodynamic carbon fibre frames and fast carbon 700c wheels.

The 650B wheel size concept is simple – a smaller diameter rim fitted with a larger-volume tyre adds more comfort and control, while overall wheel and tyre diameter almost exactly matches a 700c wheelset.

 

It’s fair to say that the Pinarello Grevil bucks this trend somewhat; instead of being clearly identified as one of those distinct gavel bike types the Grevil is a little more nuanced. While it sports an aero carbon frame and fairly conservative angles for a faster more ‘roadie gravel’ feel they’ve also fitted the Grevil with a pair of 650B wheels sporting fatter 47C wide tyres giving the bike a greater capacity for control and comfort when the bike is pointed off-road. This may come as a bit of a surprise to some, especially given Pinarello’s rich road racing history, however with the semi-slick Vittoria Terreno Zero tyres fitted to those 650B wheels the combined outer diameter is very close to a conventional 700c road wheel and tyre combination meaning that when you’re zipping along on the smooth tarmac the Grevil feels like a fast road bike; it isn’t until you take the bike off-road that the extra tyre volume comes into play, providing extra cushioning and greater control thanks to a wider footprint.

Vittoria Terreno Zero Graphene 2.0 650B x 47C are fast-rolling on smoother roads but provide ample grip on loose gravel.

 

Tubeless ready, the Vittoria Terreno tyres fitted onto the wide Rapid Red 5 DB 650B rims will help prevent pinch flats.

 

This is one fast, aerodynamic gravel bike; the completely smooth centre portion of the Vittoria tyres will help you hold your speed.

 

The Pinarello Grevil Ekar provides a magic mix of performance and agility, with all of its rich racing heritage gained from decades of winning on the road informing the ride quality and flat-out-speed of the frameset. That distinctive silhouette with all its curves, angles and asymmetric features reflects the development originally seen on the Pinarello Dogma road bike but takes things further in a quest for comfort and compliance off-road. There’s some aerodynamic tube profiling too hinting at how the Grevil has been designed to perform, giving you an aero-advantage over long distances. The curve ball is those 650B wheels; initially they seem too much of a contrast with the rest of this super-fast gravel bike’s performance identity, however as we’ve already discussed, with those fat Vittoria tyres and their slick central channel they’ll be super-fast on the road and comfortable and playful when you venture off-road. Finally there’s that Campagnolo Ekar groupset – marking the Italian component maker’s entry into gravel biking; it’s a brilliantly thought out groupset with all the elegance of their road-going equivalents combined with the simplicity and efficiency required to perform consistently in gritty, gravel riding scenarios.

The Pinarello Grevil magically blends performance and agility thanks to that stiff, aero-efficient frame and large-volume 650B tyres.

 

Pinarello Grevil Ekar RRP £4,200.00 is available in-store and online now.

 

Full Specification: 

• Frame: Pinarello TorayCa T700 UD, Internal cable routing, Italian BB, UCI Approved
• Fork: Pinarello Onda with Fork Flap
• Shifters: Campagnolo Ekar Ergopower 13-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Ekar 13-Speed
• Cassette : Ekar 13-Speed 9/42T
• Chainset: Ekar Carbon 40T
• Brakes: Ekar Hydraulic
• Rotors: Ekar 140mm F /140mm R
• Wheelset: Fulcrum Rapid Red 5 DB 650B
• Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Zero Graphene 2.0 650B x 47C
• Stem: Most Tiger Aluminium
• Handlebar: Most Jaguar Gravel
• Seat Post: Pinarello Carbon Aero Curved UD
• Saddle: Most Lynx Manganese

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast 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…

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…