So, you want to ride like a pro? Aside from the punishing training regime, the support team and, ahem, the occasional ‘jiffy bag’, you’ll need a fully UCI approved racing machine. And they don’t come much more approachable than the Vitus Vitesse EVO – the bike that’s ridden by the AnPost Chain Reaction team.
Vitus is a highly respected French manufacturer which was an early adopter in the use of aerospace carbon for racing frames. Today’s Vitesse EVO is the brand’s flagship bike, and the frame is a lightweight T700 HM-UD construction optimised to deliver superb balance, handling and comfort. On the Vitesse Evo you’ll be equally comfortable at the sharp end of the peloton and competing in 200km sportives and long days in the saddle.
The oversized downtube has been squared off to maximise stiffness and ensure not an ounce of muscle power is squandered. The FSA brakes are worth special mention, too. The K-Force brakes feature a unique I-Beam forging with a dual pivot design which boosts stopping power. The all-alloy Team30 wheelset shares many features of higher-end wheelsets, including aero bladed spokes, an asymmetric 2:1 rear lacing pattern, CNC machined braking surfaces, high quality cup and cone bearings and hand-built quality. Finishing the wheelset off is a pair of Michelin PRO 4 tyres which will give you the great confidence when leaning into corners even in treacherous conditions.
The only question is: how will you look in yellow? (wiggle.co.uk)
Price: £1,943
Frame: carbon
Gears: Shimano Dura-Ace R9000
Brakes: FSA K-Force
French cycling chic comes to the capital
Café du Cycliste has just opened the doors to its London flagship on 32 Artillery Lane, E1. It is the label’s first store outside its home city Nice on the Côte d’Azur. The brand, co-founded by champion kayaker Remi Clermont who designs the collections, combines influences from France’s rich cycling history (expect to see a ubiquitous stripe coming through here and there) with a more unexpected outdoors aesthetic that you would be likely to see in the countryside or in the mountains, with quilted jackets and tri-colour brushed merino fleeces.
There is a city riding collection perfect for winter that offers transitional clothing (ie not skin tight lycra!) that will work both on and off the bike – ideal for cycling commuters, and for a fun print option there is the playful Cats and Dogs rain jacket for men and women.
Unlike many other brands in its genre Café du Cycliste offers true cross-over appeal that enables you to buy performance cycling wear that is wearable day to day.
All products are also available online at cafeducycliste.com
Winter training sorted
Fed up with wet roads and long dark nights? It might be time for you to invest in an an indoor turbo trainer. Bkool, the Spanish firm, has just unveiled the latest incarnation if its bestselling smart turbo trainer, the Bkool Smart Pro 2. Building on the success of the original Smart Pro, and featuring a new, stylish design, the Pro 2 promises an even quieter workout, thanks to a redesigned fan cover. It runs at approximately 68db when rolling at 35kph, weighs in at only 11.6kg and can simulate slopes of up to 20%.
Being the only smart trainer to simulate inertia, the Bkool allows riders to enjoy the momentum of flying down slopes, and feel the burn in their legs when pedaling back up hills and mountains.
The key points are:
- Smart resistance control - the trainer adjusts the resistance automatically according to the routeStylish new design
- Simulates inertia
- Compatible with ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart, allowing seamless wireless connectivity
- Adjustable to any wheel size (20in to 29in)
- Plug & Play - no setup needed
- Compact & light. Easy storage, foldable. Reduced size and weight (11.6kg)
- Simulates slopes of up to 20% – 1,200W
The Bkool Smart Pro 2 costs £499. For more details, go to bkool.com
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
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