Specifically designed with new and improving riders in mind, Get Into Road Cycling contains all you need to know to get off to a flying start in this fantastic sport.
Inside this special edition you'll find everything you need to know about buying a bike and keeping it in good condition, improving your fitness levels and getting properly bike fit, learning essential skills such as climbing and cornering, fuelling your rides correctly to get the essential nutrients you need, and there's much, much more.
With easy to read articles written by the best in the business, our aim is to get you on the fast-track to becoming a capable road cyclist in as short a time possible.
WELCOME
14 REASONS TO RIDE • Road cycling has never been sp popular, but if you're still unconvinced we've got 14 solid gold reasons why it's for you!
BIKE • Here you’ll find advice and reviews to help you buy the right new bike and all the kit you’ll need
ROAD BIKE ANATOMY • Pure road bikes are designed to take you as far and as fast as your legs can manage. we take a closer look
BUYING A BIKE • With a wide range of road bikes available, from flat bar to drop bar and from aluminium to carbon, choosing the right one can be daunting. We explain where to start
BIKE TEST OFF TO A GRAND START • Whether you’re looking for your first bike, one fit for sportives, commuting or training through winter, we’ve tested ten worthy candiates from £700 to slightly over £1000
PINNACLE LATERITE 3 • £700 › One of the least expensive routes to Shimano 105
CANNONDALE SYNAPSE SORA AL DISC • £849.99 › Disc-braked endurance bike built for comfort rather than speed
ROSE PRO SL 2000 • £860.04 › Rose puts petal to the metal with a performance bargain
SPECIALIZED ALLEZ ELITE • £999 › The long-established Allez has had a major overhaul for 2018
CANYON ENDURACE AL 6.0 • £999 › Does a thousand pounds buy you a grand Canyon?
VITUS ZENIUM VR DISC • £999.99 › Wireless shifting and team colours for the futuristic speedster
BOARDMAN TEAM CARBON • £1000 › The bike that made the Boardman brand what it is today
TREK DOMANE ALR3 • £1000 › Aluminium Domane inherits Trek’s comfort-boosting elastomer
RIBBLE R872 BLACK 105 FULCRUM SE • £1017 › Full carbon and Shimano 105 for a grand. What’s the hitch?
B’TWIN ULTRA 720 AF • £1050 › Is a great spec worth busting the budget?
SELECT THE RIGHT GEAR • Here’s a guide to the basic riding wardrobe, tools and accessories you need to keep smoothly spinning away the miles
FIND YOUR FEET • Upgrading to clipless pedals can make a huge difference to your riding, but before you set foot in a bike shop we give you the lowdown on the advantages and the pitfalls
make it HOME ALONe • Few things are more embarrassing than having to ring your spouse or a cab to pick you up from a prematurely ended ride. With these on-the-fly fixes, you’ll never need to make that call again
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BIKE • Want a cleaner, smoother-running bike in just 12 easy steps? We show you how with our straightforward walkthrough guide
8-STEP PUNCTURE REPAIR • This is the first job that any and every cyclist should learn how to do properly – saving you time, money and potentially preventing you having to take a long walk home
RIDE • Follow our expert technique and training advice to boost your cycling fitness and skills
BEAT ANY HILL • Going up? We talk hill climbing training and technique with four national champions
LONG CLIMBS • Tackling Alpine-style climbs? Coach Andy Cook has the lowdown on going up
DESCEND LIKE A PRO • Exhilarating descents are cycling’s way of saying thank you for the climbs. And they can be more fun...
