Author: John Dodgin

 

There’s a new Smart Bike in town! The KICKR BIKE SHIFT is Wahoo’s second smart bike following hot on the heels of their original KICKR BIKE.

With more and more road cyclists spending a considerable amount of their time training indoors there’s a strong argument for setting up a permanent ‘pain cave’ if you’re blessed enough to have the space. Rather than swapping in and out of a conventional wheel-off smart trainer, why not take the time to set up a dedicated smart bike to match the fit and feel of your road bike that’s ready to ride whenever you are?

Up until now, one of the barriers to committing to a Smart Bike has been cost; with this in mind Wahoo have produced the KICKR BIKE SHIFT with a lower retail price in a bid to make their cutting-edge technology available to a wider audience, and we’re pleased to say that they’ve been careful to replicate all of the key attributes of the more expensive, original KICKR BIKE.

We give you the lowdown on the Wahoo Kickr Bike Shift smart bike over on YouTube.

 

The more affordable KICKR BIKE SHIFT opens up training on a Smart Bike to wider audience.

 

To create an authentic ride experience Wahoo use a new brake and belt drivetrain system to create instant resistance to the virtual grade and your own pedalling input. This configuration gives an almost identical ride to the more expensive KICKR BIKE but at a lower price. It’s great to see the new KICKR BIKE SHIFT featuring WI-FI connection too meaning there’s no danger of your connection dropping out, allowing you to train using optimal, instant data and your favourite training apps.

The Kickr Bike Shift’s Wi-Fi connection means no dropout at crucial times during your training and racing.

 

Wahoo have done a brilliant job of creating a smart bike that is almost completely silent, even when you’re really putting the power down.

 

Just like the original KICKR BIKE the new KICKR BIKE SHIFT lets you fine-tune the trainer to closely match your regular bike. It features the same virtual shifting and custom gearing, allowing you to match the gear ratios of your outdoor bike and replicating your favourite groupsets from Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo.

The Kickr Bike Shift allows you to exactly match your preferred gearing from your conventional road bike.

 

After taking time to customise them to your liking, you’ll be able to easily toggle through your gears, even during all-out efforts.

 

The Kickr Bike Shift levers feature a very similar look and feel to electronic gear shifters produced by the leading component brands.

 

As we all know, the importance of a comfortable and efficient bike fit is essential to be able to train and perform properly on your bicycle. Wahoo realise that you’re going to be spending a considerable amount of time on your indoor smart bike and with this in mind they’ve included 5 points of adjustment on the KICKR BIKE SHIFT. With the ability to adjust frame, setback and reach dimensions you’ll be able to easily set up this smart bike to mirror the fit of your road-going bike.

Wahoo’s clever crank configuration allows you to match the crank length of your conventional road bike.

 

By taking the time to set up your Kickr Bike Shift to match your road-going bike you’ll be able to train more efficiently indoors.

 

Fine-tuning the Shift’s cockpit involves setting your preferred position with horizontal and vertical adjustment.

 

If you’ve invested in a smart bike, you’ll no-doubt be spending a lot of time riding indoors; your riding position is key to effective training.

 

So how have Wahoo managed to produce their second smart bike at a more affordable price? First off the brake and belt drivetrain resistance type featured on the KICKR BIKE SHIFT compared to the motor resistance on the more expensive KICKR BIKE helps Wahoo hit that lower price point; secondly there is no motorised tilt up or down on the KICKR BIKE SHIFT and thirdly the frame is constructed from steel rather than aluminium.

The Kickr Bike Shift features brake and belt drivetrain resistance, compared to motor resistance found on the more expensive Kickr Bike.

 

There’s no motorised tilt up or down on the more affordable Kickr Bike Shift, however this takes nothing away from the overall ride experience.

 

The Kikr Bike Shift’s steel construction helps Wahoo hit that lower price point.

 

With all the power, efficiency and accuracy of Wahoo’s more expensive KICKR BIKE the SHIFT allows you to constantly switch between training outdoors on your regular road bike and training indoors on Wahoo’s new smart bike while benefitting from the consistency of the same riding position and gearing configuration. The all-new KICKR BIKE SHIFT brings Wahoo’s smart bike technology to a wider audience, providing a permanent indoor training platform that’s always ready for you to jump on.

The Wahoo Kickr Bike Shift smart bike provides a permanent indoor training platform, ready for you to jump on at any time.

 

The Wahoo Kickr Bike Shift is available in-store and online at Wheelbase now. RRP £2,699.00

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Have you seen our Fast Bike 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 Feature Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve got an incredible deal on the ultimate road bike from Cervelo. Save an amazing £4,900.00 on the Cervelo R5 Dura-Ace Di2 and enjoy the magical ride of a bike that has won the Giro D’Italia, Tour De France and Vuelta a España in 2023. Was £11,700.00 NOW £6,800.00 while stocks last…

 

Welcome to the Wheelbase Outlet! We’ve pulled together all of our best deals to bring you our virtual outlet store, packed full of heavily reduced bikes, clothing, parts and accessories. As well as our online deals there’s plenty to see in-store, so be sure to visit any of our Wheelbase stores during the festive period to bag yourself a bargain. Save up to 50% while stocks last…

 

 

BMC URS One Rival 2023 Was £3,599.00 NOW £2,499.00

 

Orbea Wild FS H20 2023 Was £5,899.00 NOW £3,999.00

 

TREK Marlin 8 Was £925.00 NOW £579.00

 

KONA Woo 2023 Was £2,499.00 NOW £1,499.00

 

CUBE Elite 240 C:62 Pro Was £1,949.00 NOW £975.00

 

Elite Qubo Power Mag Smart Trainer Was £274.00 NOW £99.00

 

ABUS  MoDrop MIPS MTB Helmet Was £99.99 NOW £49.99

 

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Insulated Rain Jacket Was £330.00 NOW £165.00

 

Rapha Pro Team Winter Tights with Pad II Was £250.00 NOW £187.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out these awesome 12″ and 14″ wheel size balance bikes from specialist brand Kids Ride Shotgun! Both balance bikes feature a powerful rear disc brake for enhanced control and confidence.

The Dirt Hero off-road balance bike is a scaled down enduro machine, designed specifically for MTB kids who want to take to the trails. Off-road pneumatic tyres, mtb geometry and a rear hydraulic disc brake inspires confidence and progression in mini mountain bikers who want to get off the driveway and onto the dirt.

 

 

Save 50% on ABUS Modrop helmets featuring MIPS technology. The ABUS MoDrop MIPS can handle any terrain and any riding style. ABUS Modrop was £99.99 NOW £49.99

Featuring:

• Multi-Shell In-Mould for a permanent bond between the outer shell and the shock-absorbing helmet material (EPS)
• Zoom Ace MTB: Height-adjustable adjustment system to fit the head circumference
• Laterally adjustable, non-slip TriVider webbing distributor
• Moulded lower shell for added durability
• QUIN ready – easy upgrade with the separately available QUIN chip for fall detection
• GoggFit: Device that allows a pair of goggles to be fixed to the helmet when the athlete doesn’t need them while riding
• MIPS: Impact protection that protects the brain, especially when the cyclist’s head hits the ground at an angle during a fall.
• Ventilation: excellent ventilation for this helmet type due to 6 air inlets and 8 air outlets
• Bug mesh: thorough protection against insect

 

 

There’s 33% off the Cervelo Caledonia Ultegra Di2 road bike. Was £5,500 NOW £3,700 Save £1,800 while stocks last…

 

Wheelbase have an exclusive offer! We’ve got 35% off the Merida eOne-Sixty 10K EP801 e-mountain bike featuring a carbon frame, Fox 38 Factory forks, full Shimano XTR groupset, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper, a DT Swiss Spline HXC1501 carbon wheelset and Shimano’s powerful new EP801 motor.

Was £10,000 Now £6,499 exclusively at Wheelbase. Save 35% on Merida eOne-Sixty 10K  while stocks last…

 

Cervélo have just launched their all-new, slick-looking aerodynamic carbon fibre Rouvida bike! But is it a gravel bike or a road bike? The answer is yes, to both of those questions. Oh, and one more thing, it’s an e-bike too!

Cervélo have surprised us with their first ever foray into e-bikes and their unique approach to the design and production of the Rouvida has really captured our attention thanks to its super-versatile carbon frame and powerful, efficient Fazua e-bike drive system.

 

With a yearning for faster speeds and a more rewarding ride experience, particularly on long draggy climbs and epic all-day adventures, Cervélo’s design brief called for a powerful e-road-bike that could excel on and off-road, injecting more power into your ride while still feeling as authentic as a non-e-bike. Not only that, but it had to perform just like one of their world-renowned road race bikes AND handle like one of their most agile gravel bikes too!

The Cervélo Rouvida has been sleekly designed around a super-compact but powerful Fazua Ride60 motor located at the bottom bracket and delivering 60Nm of torque. This almost completely silent motor is paired with a slim 432Wh internal battery located in the downtube, with the drive system assisting you up to the usual 15.5mph legal cut-off.

 

Whether you choose to ride your Rouvida on or off-road that pedal assist up to 15.5mph really comes into play on those long tarmac climbs or steep, technical gravel tracks, helping to keep your momentum up and your pedaling cadence silky-smooth. When you do hit that motor cut-off there’s no drag from the cranks and with such a compact, lightweight drive system the bike still feels spritely, responsive and agile.

Cervélo have seamlessly integrated the Fazua drive system into the Rouvida, with the overall look of the frame and fork being slick and aero; it’s fair to say that if you lined up the Rouvida alongside their Soloist or S5 aerodynamic road bikes it wouldn’t look out of place and you probably wouldn’t even notice that it is in fact an e-bike. Cervélo took the Rouvida into the wind tunnel as part of the design process and tweaked the placement of the internal battery in the downtube to improve aerodynamics and maintain the overall design aesthetics of this powerful e-road-bike.

Fazua Ride 60 Drive System Fast Facts:

• 60Nm of torque
• 450w max power
• 430wh max battery capacity
• 15mph (25km/h) max speed
• Road control buttons located on handlebar
• Top tube indicator panel (Includes USB charging port for lights or accessories)

 

So back to that headliner of the all-new Rouvida being available as a road bike OR a gravel bike depending on your preferences; the first thing to say is this isn’t just a spec change of tyres and components, as seen on other bikes by other brands. Instead of limiting the geometry to only one configuration, with the result being a ride quality that doesn’t really excel at either cycling discipline, Cervélo have designed some clever interchangeable dropouts that significantly alter the geometry of the bike, so the road bike feels like a road bike, and the gravel bike feels like a gravel bike!

 

Considered more influential on ride quality than your typical ‘flip-chip’ the Cervélo Rouvida’s interchangeable dropouts actually rotate the entire frame to achieve the sort of fit and bike handling you’d expect from Cervélo’s specialist road bikes or gravel bikes. This design approach really does give you more versatility and ride options as your cycling adventures evolve.

Road & Gravel Geometry Comparison:

• Trail is 57.9mm for road
• 34mm tyre clearance for road
• Trail is 62mm for gravel
• Reach is 5mm shorter for gravel
• Stack is 7mm taller for gravel
• Head tube angle 7° slacker for gravel
• 5mm tyre clearance for gravel

 

 

 

Cervélo Rouvida Rival XPLR AXS 1 £7,200.00

• Drive Unit: Fazua Ride 60, 60 Nm torque, 450 W max power, 250 W continuous power
• Battery: Fazua 430Wh
• Display: Fazua LED Hub + Road Control
• Frame: Cervélo All-Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Rouvida Fork
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervélo Aero Thru-Axles, 12×100/142
• Wheelset: Fulcrum Racing 600 DB, 12×100(F)/142(R), 24H, 20mm IW, XDR freehub, centerlock, tubeless compatible
• Tyres: Corsa N.EXT TLR G2.0 700x30c
• Crankset: FSA CK-730, alloy, for Fazua Ride60
• Chain: SRAM Rival, 12 speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Rival XPLR AXS, 12 speed
• Cassette: SRAM Rival XPLR, 10-44, 12 Speed
• Shifter/Brake Levers: SRAM Rival XPLR, 10-44, 12 Speed
• Handlebar: SRAM Rival XPLR, 10-44, 12 Speed
• Stem: Cervélo ST32
• Brake Calipers: SRAM Rival
• Saddle: Selle Italia Model X SuperFlow FeC
• Seatpost: Cervélo SP19 Carbon 27.2
• Brake Rotors: SRAM Centerline Centerlock
• Accessories: Fazua Ride 60 Charger
• Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Cervélo Rouvida Force XPLR AXS 1 £9,500.00

• Drive Unit: Fazua Ride 60, 60 Nm torque, 450 W max power, 250 W continuous power
• Battery: Fazua 430Wh
• Display: Fazua LED Hub + Road Control
• Frame: Cervélo All-Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Rouvida Fork
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervélo Aero Thru-Axles, 12×100/142
• Front Wheel: Reserve 44, 25mm IW, Zipp 176,12x142mm, XDR freehub, 24H, centerlock, tubeless compatible
• Rear Wheel: Reserve 40, 25.5mm IW, Zipp 76, 24H, centerlock, tubeless compatible
• Tyres: WTB Vulpine TCS Light Fast Rolling Dual DNA 60tpi 700x40c
• Crankset: FSA CK-703, carbon, for Fazua Ride60
• Chain: SRAM Force, 12 speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Force XPLR AXS, 12 speed
• Cassette: SRAM Force XPLR, 10-44, 12 Speed
• Shifter/Brake Levers: SRAM Force AXS, 12 speed
• Handlebar: Cervélo AB09 Carbon, 31.8mm clamp, 16 degree flare
• Stem: Cervélo ST36 Alloy
• Brake Calipers: SRAM Force
• Saddle: Selle Italia Model X SuperFlow FeC
• Seatpost: SRAM Reverb AXS XPLR
• Brake Rotors: ROTORS SRAM CLX R Centerlock
• Accessories: Fazua Ride 60 Charger
• Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Cervélo Rouvida GRX £6,000.00

• Drive Unit: Fazua Ride 60, 60 Nm torque, 450 W max power, 250 W continuous power
• Battery: Fazua 430Wh
• Display: Fazua LED Hub + Road Control
• Frame: Cervélo All-Carbon
• Fork: Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Rouvida Fork
• Headset: FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
• Thru Axles: Cervélo Aero Thru-Axles, 12×100/142
• Wheelset: Fulcrum Rapid Red 900, 12×100(F)/142(R), 28H, 22mm IW, MS freehub, centerlock, tubeless compatible
• Tyres: WTB Vulpine TCS Light Fast Rolling Dual DNA 60tpi 700x40c
• Crankset: FSA CK-730, alloy, for Fazua Ride60
• Chain: Shimano M7100, 12 speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano GRX, RX822, 12 speed
• Cassette: Shimano M7100, 10-45, 12 speed
• Shifter/Brake Levers: Shimano GRX, RX610, 12 speed
• Handlebar: Zipp Service Course 70 XPLR Alloy, 31.8mm clamp, 5 degree flare, 11 degree outsweep
• Stem: Cervélo ST36 Alloy
• Brake Calipers: Shimano GRX RX610
• Saddle: Selle Italia Model X SuperFlow FeC
• Seatpost: Cervélo SP19 Carbon 27.2
• Brake Rotors: Shimano RT64 Centerlock
• Accessories: Fazua Ride 60 Charger
• Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Look out for the all-new Cervélo Rouvida coming to Wheelbase in-store and online in early 2024!

 

 

 

 

Heads up! Entries for the 2024 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge are now open!

The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge run a ballot for general entries, the window for entering the ballot is 01/12/23 -10/12/23

The event organisers have moved their general ballot entries process from January to December to allow you more time for training over the holidays in preparation for the ride.

The ballot will only be open for 10 days this year, so get your entries in as soon as they go live!

The entry fee is £99 plus a small fixed transaction charge.

All successful places will be notified via email on 14/12/23.

 

The Fred Whitton Challenge, recognised as the UK’s toughest cycling sportive, takes place each year on the doorstep of our Wheelbase HQ in the heart of the Lake District National Park. We are proud to continue our title sponsorship of the Fred Whitton Challenge for the fast-approaching 2024 event.

Are you ready? An early entry to the 2024 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge gives you more time to train for the UK’s toughest cycling sportive.

 

Set to take place on Sunday the 12th of May 2024 the Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge can rightfully claim to be the UK’s most grueling Sportive taking in all the major mountain passes in the Lake District, with each climb striking some level of fear in even the most accomplished of cyclists. Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Wrynose and Blea Tarn test each and every rider with the most iconic climb – Hardknott Pass and its 30% gradients proving to be almost unrideable for a great number of participants. There’s over 3,500 metres of climbing to navigate with Hardknott coming late in the day, 94 miles into the 112 course.

We captured all the action of the 2023 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge, check it out on YouTube!…

 

Need more inspiration to enter the 2024 Fred Whitton Challenge? Check out our 2023 event report below…

The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge 2023 took place under blue skies on Sunday the 7th of May. Over 2,000 participants completed the U.K.’s toughest sportive, being cheered on by large crowds of supporters at key parts of the course including the infamous climbs that cruelly come in the latter half of this 112 mile ride. The climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Wrynose, Blea Tarn and the poster child – Hardknott Pass with its 30% gradients, are a test of endurance for even the most accomplished cyclists. HUGE congratulations to each and every rider who successfully completed the Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge in 2023.

Each and every rider was encouraged by roadside spectators, dotted around the 112 mile course. 

 

Back for its 23^rd edition the Fred Whitton Challenge sponsored by Wheelbase continues to raise an enormous amount of money for important charities including MacMillan Cancer Support and the Great North Air Ambulance. Cyclists from all over the U.K. and beyond made the trip to the heart of the Lake District to take on this infamous ride and enjoy fantastic levels of support from the roadside as they aimed to complete the course in a respectable time.

Fred Whitton Challenge participants would start and finish in the village of Grasmere.

 

As well as sponsoring the event Wheelbase were on hand throughout the weekend to provide mechanical assistance for participants before their ride. We were also represented out on the open road, with a small number of our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riding together in an attempt to set the fastest time of the day.

Wheelbase’s Tyla Loftus, grandson of the Fred Whitton Challenge’s President Paul Loftus MBE took on ‘The Whitton’ this year.

 

With a stunning average speed of over 20mph our team riders would go on to take post some of the fastest finishing times of the event with Tom Armstrong finishing in 3^rd place with a time of 5hrs 29mins, Tom Merry taking 4^th place with a time of 5hrs 31mins, Louis Moore finishing in 5^th place with a time of 5hrs 35mins and Giles Drake taking 6^th place with a time of 5hrs and 36mins. BIG respect to young Finaly Hawker from rival team Zappi who rode with the Wheelbase lads before eventually chipping off solo over the toughest climbs of Hardknot and Wrynose; he would record an amazing time of 5hrs and 26mins.

A special shout out to some of our Wheelbase staff who also took on the Fred Whitton challenge. With our riders each returning to the finish line with a different story to tell we were particularly proud to see our ‘Saturday lad’ young Henry Hunter finish in 10^th place overall with a fantastic finishing time of 6hrs and 56secs!

Tom Armstrong finished in 3^rd place with a fantastic finishing time of 5hrs 29mins.

 

Tom Merry digging deep on Hardknott, would eventually take 4^th place with a time of 5hrs 31mins.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Louis Moore finished in 5^th place with a great time of 5hrs 35mins.

 

2022’s fastest finisher Giles Drake took 6^th place with a time of 5hrs and 36mins at the 2023 edition.

 

You can see all Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge 2023 results HERE.

HUGE congratulations to each and every rider who successfully completed the Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge in 2023. Scroll through our huge gallery of photos from our talented freelance photographer James Vincent below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

Video by Johnny Dodgin

 

Have you seen our regular fast bikes feature? You can now see all of our fast bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Features too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

Now’s the time to buy your child’s bike for Christmas! We’ve got special offers on selected kid’s bikes to suit all ages. Shop now while stocks last.