Author: Sean Leckey

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!

The all-new Cannondale Synapse Neo opens the road to all. With its smooth and silent power, comfortable sportive position and massive range, the Synapse Neo brings new riding and endless possibilities.

Taken from its original namesake, the Synapse Neo carries a very strong pedigree as Cannondale moves into the e-road bike market for the first time. The electric version of the Synapse uses a Bosch Generation 3 Active Line Plus drive unit to provide an extra 250W of power assistance, and Cannondale say the motor will run for up to 200 kilometres, making it a bike capable of taking on all-day epic rides.

The PowerTube battery is integrated into the downtube which allows the Synapse Neo to retain its unmistakable road bike aesthetic. Each model in the range is built around a SmartForm C1 alloy frame, featuring Cannondale’s own Ai drivetrain and SAVE micro suspension. With disc brakes and clearance for up to 35mm tyres, 47mm on the SE version, the Synapse Neo is a truly versatile bike.

There are 4 models in the range, starting at £2999 with the Synapse Neo 3 equipped with Shimano’s 10-speed Tiagra groupset. The top of the range Synapse Neo 1 comes with Shimano Dura-Ace shifting and hydraulic disc brakes, providing seamless gear-changes and ultimate stopping power.

The Neo SE is a gravel-capable model with room for 47mm tyres, a 1X Sram Apex drivetrain and tubless ready WTB rims and tyres. The Synapse Neo SE is designed for those riders looking to venture off the tarmac and experience new avenues. With the addition of the Bosch power unit the opportunities for adventure are infinite.

All bikes in the Synapse Neo range are now available to order online.

Our Wheelbase Cannondale stand is up and ready for this weekends Cyclo Expo Yorkshire at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Harrogate Showground. We have the all-new 2019 Cannondale bike range on display plus there’ll be some exclusive offers on over the weekend. The event is Yorkshire’s first major cycle expo and will be a mass celebration of cycling.

There’s going to be demo bikes to try out and dedicated test tracks for MTB, Road and eBikes, plus loads of great activities for kids. Whatever kind of cycling you’re into there’ll be an event or activity to keep you happy. There’s crit racing taking on Saturday and Yorkshire Cyclo-cross Association racing on Sunday.

For 2019 Cannondale have introduced the SystemSix into their road bike range, entering the realm of Aero bikes with what they say is the fastest road bike in the world. The all-new SystemSix is a culmination of years of research, testing and real-world input that Cannondale say is the fastest UCI-legal road bike on the market today. The SystemSix is a complete bicycle system – not just a frame and fork – designed without sacrificing any of that classic race bike feel.

EF Education Drapac rider Alex Howes described the SystemSix as the fastest bike he’s ever ridden – “In races I feel like I’m cheating. It’s an absolute weapon. The stiffness while sprinting is next level yet it handles just as well as the SuperSix Evo. Cannondale nailed it.” We will be stocking the SystemSix in-store and the bike is now available to order online.

 

There’ll be tonnes of activities, talks and exhibits going on over the weekend. We’re particularly looking forward to hearing from Yorkshire locals Lizzie Deignan and Scott Thwaites.

There’s going to be demo bikes to try out and dedicated test tracks for MTB, Road and eBikes, plus loads of great activities for kids. Whatever kind of cycling you’re into there’ll be an event or activity to keep you happy.

Tickets are more information are available here. If you’re visiting the show make sure to pop over to our stand and say hello.

The 3 Peaks Cyclocross, which takes place in the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park, is one of the toughest races on the calendar. This year we had a number of riders competing with some outstanding overall results, one of which was Tom Martin who last year took 1st place in the U23 category. Tom was looking to defend his U23 crown this year and break into the top 10 overall, below he explains how the day panned out.

The 2018 3 Peaks was my second year of racing in this one of a kind event so I knew what I was in for and had a better idea of how to race it. My first attempt at the Peaks was a pretty successful one after winning the U23 category and placing 21st overall but I wanted to defend that U23 trophy and crack at least a top 10 overall.

I didn’t have the best 6 weeks running up to the day after getting struck with several colds that wouldn’t shift, but 10 days before the race I started to feel better on the bike again and my running was just about as okay as my running gets.

On the morning of the peaks I felt good and was really looking forward to getting going. Thankfully I made it through the ‘neutral zone’ in one piece and was somewhere in the top 20 going through the farm to the foot of Ingleborough. I moved up pretty quickly as we went off road and was in the top 10 as I dismounted for the first time. It’s not long before your calves start burning, you can taste the blood in your throat, heart rate nearly maxed out and pulling on grass to stop yourself going backwards as you grovel up the steepest sections.

Back on the bike and I was sat in 6th, Giles Drake was the next rider in front with Nick Craig behind me, once I had dibbed in at the first checkpoint I headed to the start of the descent and realised I was going a bit off track but thankfully I noticed and followed Nick Craig to the descent. After a steady ride down I was at the bottom (Cold Cotes) in 9th with Adrian Lansley, we caught up to Lewis Craven as we turned onto the road to Whernside.

At Chapel-le-Dale I was in a group of 4 with Lewis Craven, Gary McDonald and Adrian Lansley. After going pretty steady up the first part of the climb of Whernside I pressed on a bit on the second part of the climb as I could still see Dave Mirfield from Hope and Giles Drake ahead, hoping to try and make some time into them on the way down to Ribblehead. Unfortunately I bashed my rear mech, snapping a jockey wheel which halted my pace until I got a new bike at the bottom.

As I hit the road section to Pen-Y-Ghent I was in 6th place but in no-mans land, I couldn’t see 5th place or anyone behind me so I tapped along the road section eating and drinking ready to press on to the final climb. When I checked over my shoulder I could see Lewis and Gary in the distance behind, so learning from mistakes I made last year and battling on solo along the road I knocked a mile off until they got to me. We worked well as a three and thankfully, didn’t have to go too hard.

Once on to the final of climb Pen-Y-Ghent it’s pretty much into your easiest gear until the top. After bonking horrendously last year at this point I went steady at the bottom but I was feeling good, when I got to the steeper part of the climb I was in my lowest gear (40×36) and had to go hard as I could to turn the gear and doing so I distanced Gary and Lewis but I could see 5th place in front, once I was off the bike and running I was making big progress into Dave in 5th and as we hit the steps I ran past him into 5th.

Knowing all three riders behind me were very capable downhill I had to push as hard as I could to keep the gap, Gary was on my wheel as we hit Pen-y-Ghent lane so I opened it up going flat out but I knew I was risking punctures and unfortunately on one of the smoothest sections my rear tire went with a bang and I was soon bouncing down on the rim. Gary and then Dave came passed me and I tried to limit my losses until I got a spare bike to towards the bottom. I went as hard as my legs would let me on the road but finished 20 seconds down on 5th place putting myself 7th and first U23. Unfortunately Lewis Craven also suffered a puncture down Pen-y-Ghent so finished up in 9th and with Giles Drake finishing in 3rd that placed Wheelbase in 2nd for the team competition.

We’ll be at the inaugural Cycle Expo Yorkshire this weekend, showcasing some of the 2019 bike range in partnership with Cannondale. The event is Yorkshire’s first major cycle expo and will be a mass celebration of cycling.

The event runs over the weekend of 13/14 October at Harrogate’s Yorkshire Event Centre and there’ll be tonnes of activities, talks and exhibits going on. We’re particularly looking forward to hearing from Yorkshire locals Lizzie Deignan and Scott Thwaites.

There’s going to be demo bikes to try out and dedicated test tracks for MTB, Road and eBikes, plus loads of great activities for kids. Whatever kind of cycling you’re into there’ll be an event or activity to keep you happy.

A full weekend schedule is available at – https://www.cycleexpo.co.uk/

Our WHEELBASE Castelli Cross was back this weekend for the 4th round of the North West Cyclocross Association league. The event, held locally at the Westmorland County Showground, was packed out with supporters, racers and volunteers. The tough course, set by WHEELBASE Castelli MGD rider Stu Reid along with Paul Loftus and Nigel from Lakes Road Club, made for great racing for everyone from 5 year olds right through to the men’s and women’s elite riders.

The sun was shining and the venue was buzzing. The turnout among younger riders was outstanding, with over 150 riding in the Under-8’s up to the Under-16’s race. In the men’s elite race our own Giles Drake took the win after almost an hour of frantic racing and in the women’s elite race Christina Weijak rode to victory after 6 laps of the challenging course.

The event this year saw the inclusion of the Paul Savage memorial trophy, which was awarded to the first rider in the men’s race. Paul, who is sadly no longer with us, was a great friend of WHEELBASE. He was a big Cyclocross rider, a supporter of the NWCCA league and a big help in the pits and at all of our races. We hope the riders enjoyed competing in the event as much as Paul did.

Full results and event photos can be found here.

Designed for all-out speed, the Cervelo S-Series was launched as the original aero bike way back in the early 00’s. Bike design has come a long way since the Soloist model was ridden in the World Tour peloton and 23mm tyres were the norm. The most recognisable development of late is without doubt the integration of disc brakes and the trend for wider tyres – the new S5 is disc brake only with room for 28mm tyres.

Along with the launch of the new S-Series bikes, Cervelo has also announced a new partnership with Team Sunweb. The men’s and women’s World Tour teams will be riding Cervelo bikes from 1st January 2019, meaning big names such as Tom Dumoulin, Michael Matthews, Leah Kirchman and Coryn Rivera will all be on-board either an S, an R or a P-Series bike.

The result of many hours aero testing, the most striking feature of the new S5 is without doubt the v-shaped stem. The thinking and science behind this innovative setup is that the v-shaped hole allows air to flow more cleanly between the arms of the stem with less disruption than a standard stem.

The new S5 boasts substantial aerodynamic improvements over its predecessor. Full internal cable routing, a custom bar and stem, riding position, and special frame shapes work together to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics. The new S5 Disc is significantly stiffer at the bottom bracket and head tube, without increasing frame weight, meaning no power is lost during a frantic sprint to the line.

 

2019 Cervelo S5 models:

Cervélo S5 Disc Dura Ace Di2

Cervélo S5 Disc Red eTap

Cervélo S5 Disc Ultegra Di2

Cervélo S5 Disc Ultegra

Bikes along with prices will be available to order online very soon.

Along with a re-engineered S5 comes an all-new S3, with improved aerodynamics for those looking to take every speed-increasing advantage available. Hours spent testing in the wind tunnel have led to a design with fully integrated cables, a new bar and stem and refined frame shapes that work together to reduce drag and help you go faster.

Specific frame lay-ups and tube shapes soak up road vibrations, helping to reduce your fatigue during long days. Combined with optimized stiffness and stable geometry, this is a bike that’ll make you feel good and go fast.

2019 Cervelo S3 models:

Cervélo S3 Disc Ultegra Di2

Cervélo S3 Rim Ultegra Di2

Cervélo S3 Disc Ultegra

Cervélo S3 Rim Ultegra

Bikes along with prices will be available to order online very soon.

Freelance photographer Andy Cole was among the attendees at last weekend’s South Lakes Bike Fest. Andy has put together some words and images on the weekend..

I was asked to head north with the Little Rippers for the South Lakes Bike Fest, with the promise of bikes, bands and beer, I was in.

Packing the van with camping, photo and biking gear alongside my own Little Ripper, we headed to Staveley in the South Lakes.

We pulled in to the camping field around 6pm, the Little Rippers had already set up their coaching arena, laying out the Sender Ramps to create an awesome little jump park.

The vibe was relaxed, with a few riders loaded up with camping gear and lights heading out for a bike-packing trip somewhere on the high fells and the others milling about the fire-pits, exchanging adventure stories over a few beers.

It was great not to be told where to pitch and without people in high-vis vests shouting orders on what not to do.

The Little Rippers crew had saved us a pitch and with a small tent for just the two of us, we were set up in no time.

With it being a small, or I should say perfectly sized festival, it didn’t take us long to walk around the vendors that were there.

The place was set up for the bike packers and the more adventurous, with the likes of Alpkit, Bombtrack and Ortleib covering the bikes and luggage.

Mechanical support was provided by Wheelbase Cycles, based just down the road in the village.

Looking at these bikes, laden with camping gear, got my imagination wondering. Maybe I could carry camping gear along with some stripped down camera gear and disappear for a few days.

The Bombtrack Beyond certainly looked the part and got me dreaming of wild adventures.

After a cold clear night, broken clouds were above the festival and fells, but with no forecast of rain, everyone seemed eager to get out on their bikes.

Guided rides were heading from the event village at 10am, everything from 80 mile gravel rides, to 6 mile family rides were catered for, with the hardcore tackling Nan Bield Pass. It’s up to you to pick a ride suitable to your capabilities.

A quick brief from Richard and the leaders and the groups slowly made their way out of the field.

With the Little Rippers crew putting on coaching sessions all day, Ben and me decided to head out on the family ride.

I loaded the Evoc Photo Scout up with enough camera gear to cover the World Cup and headed out with Ian on a small taster of the local Lakeland trails.

The groups headed out of the field and went their separate ways.

We trundled down the road, crossing Scroggs Bridge and heading up Brow Foot Lane.

The tarmac soon steepened as we passed the campsite on the other side of the river, testing not just little legs, but some of the adults too.

At the top we had a short rest to get our breath back, Alison passed around the Haribo before taking the bridleway North West towards Kentmere.

Some riders braved the puddles more than others.

We peddled for a couple of kilometers on good singletrack, regrouping at the split in the trail. On the trail leading us back down to the valley bottom, there were three river crossings, giving us plenty of splash photo opportunities.

With wet feet we hit the road to take us back to the campsite, parting with Ian who was taking those with the legs on a little extended loop.

Back at the event village a steady stream of riders started to return, with most of them hitting the pizza, coffee and cake for re-fueling.

The Little Rippers team were in action, coaching the little kids, covering track stands, balance and tackling obstacles.

You could see the progression the little ones were making, gaining confidence with every pedal turn.

After the coaching sessions the Little Rippers team put on a couple of competitions, the slow race was great for teaching the kids control, but the highlight was definitely the limbo. All the kids were swapping out their bikes for the smallest they could find from the range of Frog Bikes the Rippers had brought with them.

Local shops supported the event, giving out vouchers for the winners of the Little Rippers competitions.

The Sender Ramps in the jump park were extremely popular with the more confident, older kids, some of the adults couldn’t resist having a play either.

The Sender Ramps manual machine was great for getting the balance point right, I’ll be ordering one of them myself.

https://sender-ramps.com/

The action didn’t stop when the riding did, volunteers took their turn in manning the bar and at £3 a pint, saw a steady flow of punters wanting to quench their thirst.

Friday Street topped the night off with a blistering set, getting everybody on the dance floor and getting a small field in the South Lakes bouncing.

Although some of the revelers didn’t seem too happy with the band.

Massive thanks to Richard and the team for putting on a great little event and to the Little Rippers for having me along.

See you next year.

WHEELBASE Castelli ‘Cross 2018

Incorporating the Paul Savage Trophy

Rd 4 North West Cyclocross league

Sat. 06 October 2018

Westmorland Showground, Kendal LA7 7NH

WHEELBASE, the UK’s largest cycle store, has a great history in Cyclocross and supporting the race scene across the UK and are pleased to bring you WHEELBASE ‘CROSS in association with Castelli and round 4 of the North West Cyclocross Association league.

The event will be held at the Westmorland Showground, just off the M6 junction 36. The course will be laid by WHEELBASE CASTELLI MGD rider Stuart Reid along with Paul Loftus and Nigel from Lakes Road Club and the Fred Whitton Challenge.

This year’s WHEELBASE Castelli Cross will include the Paul Savage memorial trophy, which will be awarded to the first rider in the senior race. Paul, who is sadly no longer with us, was a great friend of WHEELBASE. He was a big Cyclocross rider, a supporter of the NWCCA league and a big help in the pits and at all of our races. We hope you enjoy competing in this race as much as Paul did.

A great course, great venue and great food is all set to welcome the riders to WHEELBASE Castelli ‘Cross this October.

	Race name	Race duration	Entry fee
10:30	Youth & Novice	30 min	£6.00
11:20	Under 8	10 min	£1.00
11:45	Under 12	15 min	£1.00
11:46	Under 10	15 min	£1.00
12:30	Veteran 50+ men	40 min	£14.00
	Senior and Veteran Women	40 min	£14.00
	U23 Women	40 min	£12.00
	Junior Women	40 min	£10.00
13:30	Veteran 40 / Veteran 45 Men	40 min	£14.00
14:15	Senior Men	50 min	£14.00
	U23 Men	50 min	£12.00
	Junior Men	50 min	£10.00

 

ENTRY ON THE DAY ONLY.

None league members welcome.

Register for North West Cyclocross League at nwcca.org.uk