Author: Sean Leckey

Jens Voigt takes on LEJOG

Pro Cycling superstar is riding the length of Great Britain

This summer cycling legend Jens Voigt is trading chasing the peloton on a moto for the picturesque roads of Britain as he embarks on the legendary Land’s End to John o’Groats challenge.

Join him on Stage 5 Lancaster to Carlisle in partnership with WHEELBASE. Jens is mega keen to meet as many people as he can along the way – his target is 1,000 people but we’re sure he’ll smash that! So come along and join Jens’ mini peloton as he passes stops at our Lake District store en route.

Stage 5: Wednesday 13 August

9.30am: Depart Edge Cycleworks, Lancaster

10.15am: Market Square, Milnthorpe

10.45am: The New Union, Kendal

11.30am: Wheelbase, Staveley with stop over for cake, coffee, wraps and selfies

12.30am: Depart Wheelbase Staveley

1.15pm: Summit of Kirkstone Pass

5pm: Carlise Castle

Join for all or some of the ride, or meet him for cake, coffee, wraps and selfies at WHEELBASE Lake District

Known for his fearless breakaways and the iconic phrase “Shut up, legs!”, Voigt is tackling the 1,000-mile journey from the southern tip of Cornwall to the northernmost point of mainland Scotland. Jens’ full route and schedule can be found on the Trek Bikes website.

 

We’ve been able to secure some more of the hugely popular Cervelo R5 AXS Force performance road bikes and we’re offering it with a massive £3K saving!

This is your chance to own the most competitive road bike in the professional peloton for less! We are now offering the Cervélo R5 with the all-new Force eTap AXS groupset bike for only £5,600.00, reduced from £8,600.00, saving you an amazing £3,000.00.

The Cervélo R5 road bike carried Primož Roglič to victory in the Giro d’Italia in May, Jonas Vingegaard to victory in the Tour De France in July,  and Sep Kuss to victory in the Vuelta a Espana in September, so there’s no bigger endorsement of this hi-performance road bike! Featuring a light and stiff frame designed to help you fly up the climbs, a super-efficient drivetrain courtesy of the new SRAM Force AXS groupset and aero Reserve carbon wheels the Cervélo R5 Force eTap AXS will take your riding to new heights.

Stock is VERY limited so don’t delay if you want to get your hands on the World Tour’s most successful race bike!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Ilkley store manager Bernie is back from an amazing weekend at Paris Roubaix! Bernie was invited by Cervelo to join the Jumbo-Visma support team and gain intimate access behind the scenes and on the road at the Queen of the Classics, Paris Roubaix.

On arriving at the Hell of the North, Bernie was granted access to the team’s pre-race preparation, commenting: ‘We were able to meet the support team at the riders hotel before the start of the race and gain an insight into the preparation that goes into the hardest single day race of the year.‘ Bernie then got to ride with one of the helpers in the team van, where they assisted with spare wheels and bottles through 3 pave sectors.

On seeing the race action up close, Bernie said: ‘The pave was much worse up close than you would ever imagine compared with watching on the TV – the speed the leaders came past was insane. Such a shame Wout punctured just after his attack, the team and back up crew were gutted after the finish but that’s bike racing, you need a bit of luck on your side to win the Paris Roubaix.‘

Bernie was also given the opportunity to delve into the technology being utilised at the hardest one-day race on the cycling calendar;

Bikes: All Jumbo-Visma riders were on the latest Cervelo Soloist aero bike
Tyres: 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro
Pressure: 64psi in rear 62psi in the front
New inflation system? A couple of riders were using the tyre inflation system but not Wout, Christophe or Dylan.
Gearing: Sram x1 with 54 chainring with 10/28 cassette.

Overall, an incredible weekend of cycling action – huge thanks to Cervelo and Team Jumbo-Visma for the hospitality and insight.

So where to start with this one, the beginning is usually a good start and not to mention it is the most wonderful ride of the year! Many will agree.

So what is the Santa ride may you ask! Well, it’s an annual charity ride from the Eagle and Child Inn situated in Staveley, a cycling friendly pub come bed and breakfast which welcomes muddy tyres, boots and paws! Serving hearty food and also local ales.

So what does the Santa ride involve I hear you ask. Well, there does seem to be a dress code and it that is made up of either a Santa costume or anything associated with Christmas, there was around 50 plus Santas and I lost count of how many reindeer were riding bikes! Talented reindeer to say the least!

The ride starts from the eagle and child, pedalling north towards Kentmere. The weather couldn’t of been better. A cool clear night with a full moon illuminating the fells beyond. Absolutely bliss.

The ride climbs up Hall Lane, a B road that inevitably turns into a bridleway half way up. This is a steep pull and one that got santas legs well and truly warmed up by the time we reached the gate to head across part of the Fell called green quarter. Here you pass through a couple of becks, for those of you that are not familiar with the Cumbrian or northern dialect a beck is described the common term for a brook in northern areas, beck often refers, in literature, to a brook with a stony bed or following a rugged course, typical of such areas.

After slipping and sliding down the fell it was back to the road for the mile or so to Kentmere village hall for half way refreshments. I have failed to mention up till this point that this ride was for a 6:30pm start off so it was all done on the dark and everyone lit up like Christmas trees. Refuelled and ready for the second leg is was done to Kentmere Hall to the climb up the descent that all us Wheelbasers love flying down usually.

From the top it’s a smooth flowing ride to the top of our other favourite descent of another local ride of 3 rivers this ride gets its name from crossing 3 rivers, park beck, black beck and Nuttera beck.

Now, I’m usually one for keeping in the reigns but I know this descent relatively well so I thought there’s generally no alternative but to just send it and have some fun however with its being a grassy trail for the first third of the funny there was plenty of sideways action, plenty to keep you busy on the bars. The remainder is a shale track which flows super fast and is plenty of fun even in the dark!

Once the fun was over it was a short road ride back to the pub for refreshments and a well deserved pint or two!

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

The all-new Cannondale Adventure is the ultimate leisure and fitness bike. Launched today, the Adventure is built for comfort and is a joy to ride. Its comfort focused design and upright riding position make it the perfect city bike – great for commuting, getting around town or weekend rides through the park.

Each Adventure model comes with an in-built kickstand for convenient parking and the classic step-through frame design makes getting on and off the bike quick and easy. A front suspension fork with 50mm travel dampens road vibrations and increases comfort when cruising canal paths and cycle ways. The large volume 2.0″ tyres are well-suited for all paved surfaces and the reliable 160mm disc brakes provide confident stopping power regardless of the weather.

Available in 3 models, the Adventure boasts a folding stem and pedals for even more convenient parking when out and about. The Adventure EQ model comes with in-built Dynamo lights, full-coverage mudguards and a rear rack with pannier mounts for transporting all your daily essentials.

Stylish, step-through frame makes for convenient mounting

Fold-away pedals are useful when moving through busy streets

Rear rack and front and rear mudguards give protection and storage

ADVENTURE EQ RRP £1,000

ADVENTURE 1 RRP £800

ADVENTURE 2 RRP £700

The all-new Cannondale Adventure is available in-store and online now.

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…

Huge congratulations to Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli rider Finn Crockett who put in a stellar ride to take third place at the Lancaster GP at the weekend.

The first round of the men’s national road series took in eleven laps of a hilly circuit to the south-east of Lancaster, finishing in Williamson Park in the city centre. The early pace was set by UCI Continental teams Canyon DHB Sungod and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling, making it extremely difficult for a definitive break to establish itself. By lap seven a handful of riders got away from a reduced main bunch in what would be the race-winning move.

Despite repeatedly attacking each other on the final climb, the four escapees came into the final kilometre together to battle it out on the finishing drag up to the Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park. Josh Whitehead (Team PB Performance) proved strongest to sprint for the win with Jacob Scott (Canyon DHB Sungod) coming home in second and our own Finn Crockett taking the final spot on the podium. Finn’s third place comes off the back of an impressive run of results at the Tour Series, showing he’s in good form and looking strong ahead of next week’s Ryedale Grand Prix.

There was also an impressive ride from another one of our young riders, Logan Maclean, as he continues his remarkable comeback from a life-threatening road accident last year. Logan rode well in the bunch and looked strong in the first National prem of the season, boding well ahead of a block of big races over the coming weeks.

Another notable and exceptional ride was from local hero and former Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli rider Ben Granger (Zappi Racing), who came in ahead of a reduced peloton to take fifth place on the day on a course he knows very well.

Next up for the riders is the Ryedale Grand Prix in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire which takes place next week.

Photos from Ellen Isherwood and Simon Wilkinson

Expertly-built bikes delivered to your door, ready to ride. FREE SHIPPING for a limited time only*

Last updated: 5pm, Friday 15 October 2021

*on orders over £50.00 UK mainland only, excludes Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and Islands. Excludes cycle to work orders.

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Bike orders – current delivery timescale on new bike orders approximately:  3 days* 

*UK mainland only. Upon placing your order our mail order team will be in contact to confirm a convenient delivery date with you.

 

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Parts and Accessories – current turnaround on parts and accessory orders: 2-3 days**

**UK mainland only.

 

You can shop from the comfort and safety of your living room and browse our extensive range of Electric Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, Kids Bikes and Hybrid Bikes from the world’s biggest bike brands as well as the latest Clothing and Accessories. We’re continuing to offer 0% finance with no deposit and expert advice at info@wheelbase.co.uk

All mail order bikes are professionally set up and checked by our CyTech qualified mechanics – all bikes ship with the front wheel removed for increased transit security and are delivered by FedEx. We’re taking extra precautions to ensure our staff are safe and can operate as efficiently as possible in-line with the latest government advice.

Due to the current circumstances we are experiencing an increased demand for online sales but rest assured our team are processing orders as quickly and efficiently as possible, please be patient as we respond to enquiries. If you have any queries regarding an order please contact our mail order team at mailorder@wheelbase.co.uk 

 

 

Covid 19 (Coronavirus) update

Last updated: 9am, Saturday 09 January 2021

ALL THREE WHEELBASE STORES WILL REMAIN OPEN

Monday – Saturday 9.00AM – 5.30PM

Sunday 10.00AM – 4.00PM

Wheelbase stores will remain open during the new Coronavirus Lockdown measures. We will continue to support our customers in our three stores across the North of England, and assist mail order customers remotely with our 5 star customer service team.

Customers can be assured that we are continuing to follow strict government guidelines while we operate, with all of the required Covid-secure measures in place throughout the business to help keep our customers and staff safe.

For updates on the situation please view our Facebook page, News Blog or sign up to our Mailing List.

 

 

 

WHEELBASE Lake District, Staveley LA8 9LR

Open: Monday – Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm, Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm

WHEELBASE Yorkshire, Ilkley LS29 9EW

Open: Monday – Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm, Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm

WHEELBASE North East, Darlington DL3 7LB

 

Take a look at the unbeatable deals on 2020 road, mountain and leisure bikes, available while stocks last.

ROAD

Cannondale SystemSix Carbon Ultegra – Was £3999.99 Now £3399.99

Cannondale Synapse Carbon Dura Ace – Was £3999.99 Now £2999.00

Focus Izalco Race Disc 9.8 – Was £2499.00 Now £2124.15

Focus Mares 6.8 – Was £1459.00 Now £1240.15

MTB

Yeti SB165 C-Series – Was £5399.00 Now £4589.15

Cannondale Jekyll Crb/Al 2 – Was £4199.99 Now £3499.00

Yeti SB140 C-Series – Was £5399.00 Now £4589.15

Kona Big Honzo ST – Was £2399.00 Now £1999.00

LEISURE

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze – Was £999.00 Now £849.00

Cube Travel Pro – Was £999.00 Now £849.00

Shop our full range of 2020 clearance bikes here.

 

 

 

 

With the UK gripped in the horrible Covid 19 (Coronovirus) pandemic an indoor turbo trainer offers an outlet for quality, reliable training for all cyclists. Our range of Tacx smart trainers are available on 0% finance which means you can spread the cost of your investment while your fitness reaches new heights.

Gone are the days when a session on the indoor turbo trainer meant staring at a cold brick wall in the garage while cranking out max efforts based on perceived exertion alone. Now an indoor cycling experience can be as immersive as riding your favourite roads alongside hundreds of fellow (virtual) riders.

It’s long been established that a key component to maintaining cycling fitness through winter is a regular dose of short, intense, mostly uncomfortable intervals. While in theory these sessions can be done outside on the road, an indoor trainer provides a much more reliable and practical way to train. Here in the UK especially, with limited daylight hours, family commitments and unpredictable weather, we’re increasingly time pressed and restricted by when and where we can take on those quality sessions. Investing in an indoor trainer can provide a consistency and intensity to your training that will have you riding into spring in the form of your life.

Like so many areas of cycling today, the technological advancement in the turbo trainer market means consumers are faced with a seemingly endless array of options to choose from. In order to select the right model of trainer you’ll first need to establish a budget, your training goals, how much time you’re going to commit to training and what sort of experience you’re looking for. We’ll take a look at the most popular trainers from market leader Tacx in this guide and explain the features and advantages each trainer has to offer.

Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer

Top-of-the-range direct drive trainer

The Neo 2T is an updated version of the Neo 2, with the newest iteration becoming even quieter and smarter. The original Neo set the standard for the ultimate smart trainer and its predecessors continue to lead the way in terms of indoor cycling experience. The motor has been redesigned in order to provide a better indoor cycling experience and ride feel, especially during climbs and sprints.

Sharing many features with the Neo Smart Bike, the Neo 2T offers the Tacx Ride Feel, which simulates riding over cobblestones, gravel and other surfaces. The Neo 2T features both bluetooth and ANT+, allowing it to be easily connected to heart rate monitors and training apps.

Tacx Flux 2 Smart Trainer

Realistic ride feel at a more wallet-friendly price

Upgraded from the iconic Flux, this smart trainer features much of the same technology as the more expensive Neo. The main improvements from the previous iteration include a bigger and stronger flywheel which results in a wider simulation range, better ride feel and a more accurate power measurement (<2.5%). The Flux 2 can simulate gradients of up to 16% and take a power surge of up to 2000 watts, slightly lower than the Neo 2T but a monumental effort nonetheless.

As with the Neo 2T the Flux 2 is easily connectable with training apps such as Tacx’s own software as well as Zwift and other training software programmes.

Tacx Satori Smart Trainer

Wheel-on smart trainer that offers connectivity and data

The Satori Smart is the only manually controlled trainer from Tacx that measures power, speed and cadence. It comes with ANT+ and bluetooth compatibility and can be connected to training apps just like the top of the range smart trainers in the  Tacx lineup. Unlike the direct drive trainers the Satori controls resistance manually through 10 handlebar positions. This trainer can take up to 950 watts of power which still means it can be used for some very high intensity interval workouts.

This trainer is ideal for those on a tight budget who still want to monitor their data and get the most out of their indoor workouts throughout the year. With a wheel-on smart trainer we’d always recommend using a turbo-specific tyre as a normal road tyre will suffer wear as you’re cranking out the watts during those big sprints.