Author: Sean Leckey

Following on from a stellar 2018 in which Sam Hill dominated the World Enduro Series on his custom Mega 275C, Nukeproof have launched into 2019 with a justified confidence. The all-new Mega takes pride of place in a strong line-up which also includes new and revised models within the Scout collection and something a bit different with the Digger.

MEGA 275c RS

Inspired by the legend; Sam Hill, and his desire for a bike in the colour of the humble Blueberry.

The RS is a race spec Mega ready to take on the trail. 170mm of travel from the new Rockshox Lyrik RC2 Debonair, matched with the new Rockshox Super Deluxe RCT shock. With Sram’s X-o1 Eagle drivetrain paired with Carbon descendant cranks giving you a huge, reliable range of gears. Sram’s Code R brakes are paired with 200mm/180mm rotors to give this bike some serious stopping force. Rockshox Reverb finishes the kit with a 120mm dropper on Small, 150mm on the Medium and 170mm on the large and XL.

MEGA 275c Factory

A full factory Fox/ Shimano build with the Mega 275c frame. The latest 170mm Fox Factory 36 Grip 2 Kashima coated forks are paired with the Fox Float X2 shock. Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes give this bike a bullet proof performance and reliability. Like the RS his features the Rockshox Reverb dropper (120mm on the S, 150mm on the M and 170mm L/XL).

Like the RS, this uses DT Swiss wheels in the form of the E1700 which are wrapped in Michelin’s Wild Enduro Rubber. Again, the finishing kit is all Nukeproof’s Premium range: 50mm Horizon Stem, 800mm Horizon bars, Horizon SL saddle and Sam Hill Signature grips.

MEGA 275 Alloy Pro

A Nukeproof classic that is not to be ignored: this alloy framed bike comes with all the race pedigree as its carbon sibling. Developed over many years with Sam Hill and the team, this bike has been a rider favourite, race proven around the world and been a media sensation!

The Spec on the Alloy Pro matches that on the Mega 275c Pro but with an Alloy frame.

NUKEPROOF SCOUT

The Scout name has been around for a number of years now and has developed something of a cult following within the Nukeproof owners’ world. Its low slung frame with slack geometry makes the Scout a playful and hard hitting trail weapon that is ready for adventure. GMBN’s Blake Sampson has shown something of the versatility of the scout, with videos where he rides pump tracks, goes on bike packing adventures and even takes it for a spin at Whistler bike park. This is a hard hitting hard tail with fun at its core. Available in both 275 and 290 spec.

SCOUT 275 Comp

The Scout 275 Comp is as serious as it is playful. With the new 140mm/ 130mm (275/ 290) Rockshox Revelation Charger RC fork up front, this Scout takes no prisoners on the trails. It comes pec’ed with the brand new 2019 Mavic XA Elite wheels and Maxxis Minion tyres (275) or High rollers (290).

Nukeproof have fitted the super reliable internally routed BX Ascend dropper as standard (120mm on the S, or 150mm on M, L/XL). This is the first Scout to come with the new 12 speed SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain. Finishing kit is made up with a mix of Neutron and Horizon range, with a 45mm Neutron stem, 800mm wide Horizon bars and a Horizon SL saddle. Lastly, the grips are of the Sam Hill Signature variety.

SCOUT 275 Race

A perfect trail ripper, the Scout race features the new Rockshox Sektor forks. The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano’s SLX 11 speed gears with Raceface’s affects cranks. Stopping power comes from Shimano’s no fuss, but powerful MT500 brakes.

With an internally routed BX Ascend dropper fitted as standard (120mm S or 170mm on M/L/XL) and Nukeproof’s Neutron wheels/ Maxxis Minion (275) or new Forekaster (290) rubber combo.

NUKEPROOF DIGGER

It seems that a lot of brands have gravel bikes now, although the Nukeproof Digger is not designed as a gravel bike/CX/Adventure bike. It was originally conceived as an on-and-off-road capable winter training tool for the Nukeproof athletes, but it has become so much more and as a result, it is hard to pigeon hole. The Digger is essentially a super versatile alternative bike for mountain bikers. It wants to get you out exploring, regardless of the surface under your tires. Although it is perfect for commuting to work or meeting friends at the pub, it wants you to turn off the asphalt and onto the dirt. You can now take that muddy short-cut on your commute or to try the longer off-road way instead. The key to its versatility lies in the fact that it can take all manner of wheels and tire sizes. It will take anything from a 700c wheel with 45c tire to a 27.5″ wheel with 2.3″ tire. It will even take a 29″ wheel with up to a 2.1″ tire. On top of this, Nukeproof have designed in a removable seat stay bridge so you can have mud clearance when you want, or you can choose to run full proper mud guards to keep you clean.

We hosted our first ever in-store Yoga for Cyclists class last week with SJ Yoga Wellbeing. The class was held at Wheelbase Yorkshire in Ilkley on Friday evening and was very well attended; there wasn’t a free mat in the house.

The benefits of yoga for cyclists are extensive. The mix of restorative and challenging poses helps to stretch and lengthen muscles as well as developing and building strength and flexibility. Cyclists often suffer from tight glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and backs and SJ’s class was tailored to loosen up these areas and restore them to a more natural position.

Yoga can help improve positioning on the bike by strengthening the core and can also be incredibly beneficial for endurance athletes in terms of breathing control.

We will be hosting a follow up class in the not too distant future. Watch this space.

Kendal Mountain Festival Bike Night ‘After Show Ride’ with Wheelbase Cycles and Trek Factory Racing.

The hottest ticket in town this weekend was the Kendal Mountain Festival ‘Bike Night’ – an evening of the world’s best riding films and speakers – adventure, adrenaline and epic achievements – hosted by Rob Warner and Lee Craigie and sponsored by Trek Bikes, Komoot, Endura and Wheelbase Cycles.

With star riders from the Trek Factory Racing team in town we had the opportunity to put on something special. So, in partnership with Trek we arranged the KMF ‘After Show Ride’.

Saturday morning turned out to be a stunner. Mild temperatures and clear blue skies made for a perfect day in the Kentmere valley. With some of the best trail riding in the Lake District national park, the valley is just a stones throw away from our Lake District Superstore. Around 60 riders turned out for the ride that headed out from the store and into the hills.

Alongside members of the public we were joined by riders from the Trek Factory racing team. We had Enduro World Series stars Ruaridh Cunningham, Katy Winton and the legendary Tracy Moseley. Also joining us on the ride was journalist and the world’s most famous bike tester, Yorkshire’s Guy Kesteven. Guy has put together a short film documenting the ride for his YouTube channels.

Photos by James Vincent.

Founded in Scotland in 1993, Endura are a brand synonymous with developing apparel for the most severe weather conditions. The brand has built a reputation for designing functional cycle clothing across a range of MTB, road and triathlon, a reputation that has seen it go from Scottish local hero to global market leader. Partnering as clothing sponsor with professional teams and athletes across a range of cycling disciplines ensures constant innovation and performance-driven development. Real world rider testing is combined with high tech, scientific lab sessions to gain significant improvements in aerodynamics, temperature regulation and comfort in all conditions.

Borne out of a need and want to ride on through the Scottish winter, Endura have developed a clothing collection that is durable and adaptable. We have selected some of their key pieces that will protect against the elements and keep you out on the roads and trails all through this winter.

MOUNTAIN

MT500 WATERPROOF JACKET

Anyone who rides in the Lakes, Scotland or Wales knows how integral and necessary a good quality waterproof jacket is. Endura’s MT500 jacket is one of the best around. Holding legendary status among pro and amateur riders alike, it’s packed with features.

The jacket deploys ExoShell60™ 3-Layer waterproof fabric which boasts a monster 60,000 gm/m2/24hr breathability as well as being powerfully waterproof. Not only that, but it is environmentally friendly, containing no PFC’s. Nothing has been left to chance on this product. The jacket incorporates stretch panelling where you need it most for ease of movement, while backpack compatible venting ensures that airflow around the body isn’t compromised by wearing a pack. All zippers are YKK and highly rain-resistant, and the lift pass pocket in the sleeve adds to the jackets versatility.

MTR PRIMALOFT JACKET

Offering lightweight insulation on or off the bike, the MTR Primaloft Jacket works as a standalone top layer when it’s chilly or can be layered under something like the MT500 jacket in cold and wet conditions.

Primaloft® SILVER insulation windproof panels on the torso, combined with durable, stretch ripstop windproof sleeves keep the cold away and maintain a warm core temperature. The jacket features front handwarmer pockets and a lightweight, stowaway hood offer additional warmth.

HUMMVEE SHACKET

This shirt-come-jacket can be worn on or off the bike, equally at home on the trail or at the post-ride cafe or pub stop. The two-in-one versatility offers a windproof shell or an alternative casual flannel plaid shirt. The jacket is insulated to provide warmth and comes with zipped handwarmer and chest pockets. The Shacket is an adaptable garment that comes at a great price.

ROAD

PRO SL PRIMALOFT GILET

After introducing the Primaloft® jacket to great acclaim, Endura quickly followed with a sleeveless version. The gilet retains the same integration features as the jacket which allows it to be partnered with the Pro SL Shell Jacket on a cold wet day.

PrimaLoft® is a market leader in synthetic padded insulation. Used regularly on apparel in ski and outdoor products, Endura have introduced it to bike clothing with great results. This gilet boasts great warmth with very low bulk, it comes with a stowaway pouch so it can easily be stored in a jersey pocket.

WINDCHILL BIBLONG

Available in a men’s and women’s version, the Windchill Biblong offers protection and warmth on cold, wet winter rides. Stretch windproof, waterproof front and seat panels along with Luxurious Thermoroubaix® fabric a DWR treatment provide insulation, comfort and water repellency.

The women’s version features a unique drop-seat (DS) zipped construction which allows easy access for comfort breaks on the move. While the men’s version features a zipped fly for the same purpose.

PRO SL THERMAL WINDPROOF JACKET

The ultimate cold weather jacket from Endura. The Pro SL Thermal Windproof jacket features high stretch, windproof fabric with thermal lining on front, sleeves and centre back. This jacket is packed with features designed to keep the cold out.

A high cut, double layer collar is warm and comfortable and high wicking, stretch thermal rear side panels provide core warmth. A reflective trim provides safety in low light conditions and the jacket is back by Endura’s 90 day satisfaction guarantee.

 

SHOP THE FULL ENDURA RANGE

 

 

Keep the high of Bike Night going and join us for an epic MTB ride in the South Lakes.

With Kendal Mountain Festival only a couple of weeks away the excitement is building for what promises to be a mega evening of all things bikes and mountains. Without doubt one of the best social bike events of the year, Bike Night always delivers an evening of action packed films and inspirational talks from some of the biggest stars on the UK mountain bike scene.

For 2018 Trek Bikes have been brought on board as headline sponsors of the event and bring with them a stellar line-up of inspirational speakers. Special guests include the world’s most famous bike family – Dan and Gee Atherton, who’ll be talking us through the last year and their triumphs as world champions. Tracy Moseley, another multiple world champion, will also be at the event along with several other Trek team athletes from a range of MTB disciplines.

A few of the athletes will be sticking around for the morning after the night before. From our Wheelbase Staveley store, we’ll be gearing up and heading out onto Kentmere and Longsleddale. This group ride will be free of charge but with a suggested £5 donation to the Kendal Mountain Rescue team.

Kendal Mountain Festival – After Show Ride
Saturday 17 November 2018, 10.30am
Start WHEELBASE, LA8 9LR
FREE but with a suggested £5 donation to Kendal Mountain Rescue

You can download the route HERE

 

On Friday 16th November our Wheelbase Yorkshire store will be hosting a yoga class geared specifically for cyclists with local teacher Yoga Wellbeing. The 1 hour class will start at 7pm and will take place in our Ilkley store on Skipton Road. Team members Ben and Bernie will be there helping out and participating in the class. To sign up give the Ilkley store a call on 01943 816101 and speak to Ben.

Yoga has become increasingly popular with both road cyclists and mountain bikers in recent years. The hunched over bike riding position is not natural to us and hours spent in the saddle can take a toll on the body, particularly taxing on the lower-back, neck and shoulders. Shortened hamstrings and hip flexors can lead to injuries and discomfort and ultimately reduce time spent on the bike. That’s where yoga comes in. Through a combination of stretching, strengthening and breathing techniques and sequences, yoga can restore the body’s imbalances and help build a foundation for a strong core which is vital to holding a good position on the bike.

The class will be geared towards cyclists with techniques focused on improving and maintaining bike form. Mats will be supplied and the class will begin at 7pm. We hope to see you there.

WHEELBASE EXCLUSIVE

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Whyte T 130 C RS 2018
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Whyte T 130 C RS – 5/5 award winning mid-travel trail bike for all-round versatility and game raising fun. 

The T-130 C RS features Whyte’s “5/5 award winning” single ring specific carbon frame. A full width main pivot that increases torsional stiffness, extends bearing life and maximises suspension performance. SRAM’s all-new Eagle GX 12 speed drive-train is used on the T-130 C RS. This evolutionary groupset gives a massive 10-50 gear spread cassette, allowing the chainring to be increased to 34t, giving both top and bottom range improvement. RaceFace AR-30, 30mm wide, sleeved joint, UST Tubeless-ready rims are combined with Maxxis TR tyres to give exceptional levels of control. Boost 148mm rear and 110mm front hubs have 10mm wide flange spacing creating a stiffer wheel.

“I simply didn’t ride a more addictively involving, multi-purpose, madness-ready trail bike all year” – What Mountain Bike

• HIGHER SPECIFICATION THAN THE 2019 MODEL
• Designed for UK weather and UK riding
• 27.5 Wheels keeps it fun and playful
• Uni-directional multi monocoque carbon front triangle with internal cable routing
• Alloy Symmetrical single chain ring optimized rear triangle and148mm Boost dropouts
• RockShox Pike RC, 27.5″ Fast Black coating, 130mm travel
• RockShox Monarch Debonair, RT, Fast Black coating
• RaceFace AR-30, 30mm wide Tubeless Ready wheelset
• SRAM GX Eagle 10-50 groupset
• RockShox Reverb Stealth
• SRAM Guide RS 4 Pots brakes 180/160

 

ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST

 

The Cyclo-Cross National Trophy’s first foray into Scotland this weekend saw Wheelbase riders Lewis Craven and Giles Drake competing in a very strong mens elite field as five-time national champion Ian Field took the victory. Lewis put together his thoughts on the race in this report:

‘This was the first time the national cross series headed north of the border. The venue was Irvine, and the beach park course was unrelenting. Fast and hilly with short sections of deep sand to negotiate. The views across to Arran were breath taking making it easily the most picturesque venue yet.

Last season my starts were consistently bad, but I managed on each occasion to come through strong to finish in the top ten on all but one race. This season I’ve got my starts dialled. However , each time I’ve been sitting comfortably in the first group I find myself on the floor with twisted handle bars and bent levers!

Irvine started well for the first few laps but as I entered a technical camber my race unravelled. The north facing camber could be ridden high or low. The low line had a slower entry but faster exit , with the camber angle being less this was the safer option. The high line was marginally faster but you ran the risk of catching a pedal or slipping on the slightly greasy face. Low line for me as I looked to overtake a high riding u23 rider, then down he came landing in a heap in front of me and over the bars I go!

On such a fast course I knew I wouldn’t see the front group again as I twisted everything into place. The next group came through containing my teammate Giles Drake and I chased on to avoid being caught in no mans land. The middle of the race saw our group lap at roughly the same speed as the first group but it looked like the six of us would fight it out for 9th. Now, sand is a fairly uncommon feature in most UK cross races, and speaking for myself I’m not the best in it. But judging by what happened next neither are most UK racers.

The six of us raced to enter the sand first to get a clean line, a Holdsworth rider got the gap but messed it up big time resulting in 4 of us smashing into the back of him. And with my current luck I came off worse leaving the sand pit off the back of the group heading in to the final lap. It was 10 seconds too much to close and I rolled in a frustrated 14th. Giles wasn’t much better in 13th and we both hope and pray for some heavy weather. Fingers crossed for the next round in Crawley.’

After the historic debut weekend in Irvine, the series returns to England with the race heading to Crawley over the weekend of 10-11 November.

Spatz are the brainchild of professional cyclist and NFTO team manager Tom Barras. Tom needed a solution to cold, wet feet whilst cycling. Spatz have evolved through countless cold wet miles in The Yorkshire Dales. They are designed from necessity.

The original Spatz ‘Pro’ overshoes were launched in September 2017 and billed as an absolute game changer. And they are. Developed by Pro Cyclists, Olympians, Special Forces Veterans and an Everest Summiteer, these knee length overshoes have revolutionised winter riding. Desgined for the UK’s harshest conditions, the Pro overshoes are fast, warm, sleek and comfortable. Spatz ‘Pro’ overshoe are in stock across our stores and available to order online.

For Winter 2018 Spatz have upped their game and expanded the range. New for this season we have the ‘Legalz’ Race Overshoes, developed at the request of World Tour riders. There’s also the brand-new ‘Roadman’ overshoe, a progression from the original ‘Pro’, it’s warmer, tougher and visibly reflective. And finally the ‘Basez’, a baselayer developed from scratch by Tom alongside World Tour riders.

Spatz Legalz

The SPATZ ‘Legalz’ were developed at the direct request of WorldTour riders. The ‘Legalz’ boast many of the features of the SPATZ ‘Pro’ and ‘Roadman’ but in a race legal package. Think “Gent-Wevelgem in the freezing rain” but just as suited to your winter club run…

The UCI know that our overshoes are aerodynamically fast. So they limit the length of overshoes within sanctioned events. In an industry first, Spatzwear have made ‘Legalz’ to maximum regulation length and given you the option to trim them – should you so require!

Spatz Roadman

The SPATZ ‘Roadman’ is the next frontier in overshoe design – the natural progression from SPATZ ‘Pro’…Warmer. Visibly reflective. Tougher. But just as sleek and aero. Made for the commute. Made for rain. Made for the road, the gravel, the epic adventures.

Waterproof neoprene throughout with targeted panel thickness for exceptional insulation, fit and comfort. Intelligent water-dispersing lining. Hydrophobic outer layer. Heat welded and taped seams. Liquid seal gripper seals top and bottom. Wrinkle-free ‘pro’ cut.

Spatz Basez

Designed out of necessity for cold weather riding.

• High Neck
• Thumb loops
• Extended rear section
• Moisture managing fabric
• Thermal yet lightweight design

Worn next to your skin, the BASEZ is designed to trap a layer of warm air and actively move moisture away from the skin. Cyclists have needed a base layer like this for decades. Here it is…

A base layer developed from scratch by pro cyclists. Very warm and comfortable with yarns, thicknesses, weaves and cut designed specifically for cycling in the cold / wet. There is nothing like this.

 

The full Spatz range is available in our stores now and available to order online.

It’s raining. You’re training.

The UK’s best social bike event of the year! Bike Night at Kendal Mountain Festival.

We have teamed up with Trek Bikes and Kendal Mountain Festival for the legendary Bike Night on Friday 16th November at Kendal Leisure Centre. The event will pack in a host of major stars and speakers from the world of MTB, including Rachel, Dan and Gee Atherton and multiple world champion Tracy Moseley. Lee Craigie and Rob Warner will present an evening of unseen content, inspirational speakers and a collection of some of the best bike films from around the world.

Full event details from Kendal Mountain Festival:

‘Bike Night is our legendary unmissable event for off-road bike fans. Hosts Lee Craigie and Rob Warner will guide us through an evening curated to the brim! Unseen content, the best bike films from around the world, inspirational speakers, leading filmmakers and the added surprise of high quality equipment to win and lust after.

This year we’re delighted our special guests will be the world’s most famous bike family – Rachel, Dan and Gee Atherton. They will talk us through the past year’s events, the highs and lows of life on the road and trail and how they came to be past and present world champions. The 2018 Bike Night is truly a parade of champions when we welcome back to Kendal – Tracy Moseley who is surely Britain’s most accomplished and lauded off-road rider, ever! Multiple world champion, still riding at the top of her sport and a sought after coach to boot!

The show continues with two incredible Trek team athletes fresh from successes on the Enduro scene – Katy Winton, third in this year’s World Series and Ruaridh Cunningham, former Junior DH World Champion who finished 16th in this year’s EWS (his first year!).

Adventure photographer and mountain bike explore – Dan Milner – returns to Kendal and shares a brief insight into his longer Basecamp talk this year, of life and biking behind the closed doors of North Korea!

Adding to our packed evening we’ll have local rider and filmmaker – Ben Gerrish present his best local’s selection of new short MTB films – ‘One More Brew’ plus live music from our new ‘house band’, great prizes to be won for worthy causes and the inevitable unpredictable surprises that evolve on-stage each year.

Unmissable!

The bar opens at 6.00pm.

See you there!‘

Tickets are selling fast, head over to the Kendal Mountain Festival site to join us for what promises to be a mega event!