Author: Sean Leckey

Presenting MBUK’s Enduro Bike of the Year for 2020 – the Whyte G-170C RS

The G-170C RS took the crown ahead of 9 of the other best enduro bikes on the market, coming out on top as it ‘consistently delivered a confident ride but always managed to keep things fun and lively.’

The RS uses the same highly developed frame as the Works bike, as used by the International EWS race team. The 29er wheels contribute to this bike being one of the fastest Whyte has ever produced.

This bike is ready for anything you want to throw at it, from hard-core trail riding to EWS Enduro racing. With its open front triangle design it is possible to fit various options of rear shock including coil shocks and still carry a full size water bottle. The G-170 platform is designed around the Whyte’s performance-enhancing Optimised Trail Offset geometry which also features the most compact seat-tubes possible on all sizes – meaning riders can choose the size with the reach they prefer, and simply adjust the seat-post to fit.

The Whyte G-170C RS is in stock and available to order online now with free home delivery and 0% finance.

Read the full review over on Bike Radar.

Presenting our 2020 Elite Road Race Team

Now in our 14th consecutive season, we are the UK’s longest running elite road team. This success we attribute to a true passion for racing, hugely supportive long-term sponsors, great riders and staff with realistic objectives – Unite. Fight. Believe.

After the sunshine of a winter training camp in Calpe, Southern Spain our riders met on the rugged landscape of Kirkstone Pass, just 5 miles from our Wheelbase Lake District store for a group ride and some hill climb burn-ups. Photos by James Vincent and video coming soon from Pete Archer.

The Team Bike

Cannondale SystemSix Ultegra 2020

Cannondale launched their all-new SystemSix around the time of last year’s Tour de France after more than three and a half years of development and testing. The bike was unveiled to widespread acclaim, with EF Education rider Alex Howes describing 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.”

As an elite road race team our riders are always looking to go faster than the opposition and in pursuit of speed we have chosen the SystemSix as the team bike for 2020. The Ultegra build, decked out with some custom Wheelbase graphics looks fast and rides even faster.

Key Features:

Frame: Ballistec carbon

Fork: Ballistec carbon

Wheels: Vision SC55 Carbon Clincher

Crankset: Cannondale Hollowgram w/ OPI SpideRing 52/36

Gears: Shimano Ultegra, 52/36 – 11-30

Brakes: Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc

Finishing kit: Vision Metron 4D Flat UD Carbon handlebars, Hollowgram 60 KNOT Carbon seatpost, ProLogo Dimension saddle

Find out just how fast this bike is in our launch post.

Celebrating 25 years of Tuesday Evenings in June, the 2020 WHEELBASE Lakeland Lanequest series will be something a little different…

Running each Tuesday evening from 2nd June through to 7th July, the opening event will start from Wheelbase, Staveley – usually the final event location.

Overall league positions will this year be determined from the best 4 of the first 5 events, and overall series prizes and “Cut the Cake” will be presented after event 6.

This 6th and final event will be a special “one-off fun and party event” Lanequest from our first ever venue, The Manor House, Oxen Park- with a re-run of the FIRST EVER Lanequest from 14th June 1995!

As in 1995, the route covers mixed terrain: 75%/25% on/off road, and there will be special prizes afterwards, in addition to the final 2020 overall league winners’ prize giving from events 1-5, and “Cut the Cake” ceremony.

To commemorate our 25th year, longstanding sponsors Wheelbase will be presenting a special commemorative gift to celebrate 25 to everyone who rides this event.

Afterwards we party: a live music band will be playing – so get your dancing shoes on!

Lakeland Lanequest 2020

Entries are now open for the 2020 Sam Houghton MTB Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK

The Challenge is a timed mountain bike ride starting and finishing at our Wheelbase Lake District store in Staveley. The ride takes in the Longsleddale, Kentmere & Troutbeck Valleys as well as taking in the famous Garburn Pass.  It is organised in memory of Sam Houghton, a keen mountain biker who sadly lost his battle against cancer and died aged only 22 in May 2006. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

There will be no on-the-day entries and there are a maximum of 500 places so get your place secured now to avoid disappointment! Book your place online now.

Our men’s elite road race team left storms Dennis and Jorge behind and headed for the sunnier climes of Calpe in Southern Spain for a pre-season training camp.

Blue skies and long, tough days in the saddle were the order of business for the duration of the trip as the lads looked to boost fitness and team morale ahead of the 2020 season.

Calpe is a mecca for road cyclists and a host of World Tour teams spend much of the winter period training on the quiet, smooth mountain roads around the Costa Blanca town. Many of the climbs in the area are regularly visited by the Vuelta a Espana during late August including the Coll de Rates and Val de Ebo, both excellent for testing form ahead of the upcoming races.

The road racing season starts in earnest in March before the British Cycling Elite series kicks off in April. We’re heading into our twelfth season on the road as one of the top domestic elite British teams. Watch this space as the season progresses and the racing gets going.

The team would like to express a huge thank you to each of our sponsors as we gear up to do battle on the road once again this season.

Wheelbase | Cabtech | Castelli | Cannondale | 11 Degrees | PV Dobson Volvo

Photos from Ben Barlow

A great way to blow away the winter cobwebs!

Two great routes to choose from which take you thought scenic roads with beautiful views of Howgills, Dent and Barbon. Both routes head generally south eastwards through Cumbria taking some very quiet valleys that you may be unaware of (unless you’ve done this sportive before of course!) as well as a few tasty climbs and some seriously quick descents.

The timed hill climb of the day takes you up Shacklabank. A tricky little climb which will see the fastest male / female crowned King / Queen of the mountain with a jersey from Wheelbase too.

Choose the long route, head further afield but get a bonus refreshments stop at Sedbergh Peoples Hall before heading back to Staveley for tea, cake and time to drool over the latest carbon fibre beauties in the shop!

Date – Sunday 29th March 2020

Location – Wheelbase Bike Store, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9LR (Google Map Directions)

Distance – Short 34 miles or Long 55 miles

Price – £20-short, £25-long in advance. £25/35 on the day.

• Registration: From 08:30
• Event Start: From 09:30
• Minimum Age to enter: 16
• Places available: 250

Short Route

Long Route

Our WHEELBASE CabTech Castelli rider Lewis Craven took the win and the National Champs Jersey at this weekends National CycloCross Championships in the Vet40 class.

British pro-continental rider Rob Scott of Team Wiggins Le Col has kindly donated his signed King of the Mountain jersey from this year’s Tour de Yorkshire to raise money for the Candlelighters charity in Leeds. The jersey is currently on display in our Wheelbase Yorkshire store in Ilkley and is being raffled off as part of the Road to Ventoux challenge being undertaken by our head mechanic Ben, pictured alongside Rob in store.

Tickets for the raffle can be bought from our Wheelbase Yorkshire store on Skipton Road or you can donate online and be entered into the draw at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/roadtoventoux. Rob Scott took the KOM jersey on stage 3 of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire and his signed jersey will be on display at the shop until the last stage of the Tour de France at the end of July when the raffle winner will be announced.