News - Colin Lewis Cycle Chat February 2010

Cycle Chat 27.02.10

The classics season starts this weekend with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday followed by theKuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne on Sunday. Jeremy Hunt as well as Roger Hammond will be riding for the Cervélo Test Team in both races maybe hoping for a result but mainly to support Thor Hushovd on Saturday and Heinrich Haussler on Sunday.
After searching through the TV listings I can find zero trace that these events are being shown. Pity!! Try watching www.cycling.tv!!
What with the cold the rain and the cobbles in will be a very tough event
The Mid Devon CC had almost a coup last Saturday in the opening race of their Spring Time Pursuit with 7 places out of the top 10 with a win for 18 year old Matt Hill who started from scratch in this handicapped event.
From CLCycles Jake Durrant last years winner was 8th not being able to catch the scratch group and Jonathan Aske was back in the bunch having worked hard for the juniors but had nothing left for the finish.
All eyes will be on this Saturday's race to see how well the Juniors do!!
The first 50 members of British Cycling's Hall of Fame were inducted at a Gala Dinner held to celebrate the organisation's 50th anniversary at the weekend. Many of those selected for the honour were sporting heroes, including Chris Boardman, winner of three Tour de France yellow jerseys and an Olympic gold medal, seven-time world champion Beryl Burton and mountain bike legends Tim Gould and Caroline Alexander.
Here is the full list of the top 50. See how many you can remember!!
British Cycling's Hall of Fame inductees: Pat Adams, Caroline Alexander, Brian Annable, David Baker, Sid Barras, Stuart Benstead, Chris Boardman, Bill Bradley, Beryl Burton , Keith Butler, Arthur Campbell, Brian Cossavella, Doug Dailey, Tony Doyle, Ian Emmerson, Malcolm Elliott, Benny Foster, Tim Gould, Eileen Gray, Dave Hemsley, Barry Hoban, Dale Holmes, Mandy Jones, Peter Keen, Peter King, Stan Kite, Phil Liggett, Craig Maclean, Paul Manning, John & Doreen Mallinson, Yvonne McGregor, Gerry McDaid, Jason McRoy, Chas Messenger, George Millar, Robert Millar, Graeme Obree, Hugh Porter, Jason Queally, John Rawnsley, Brian Robinson, Alan Rushton, Tom Simpson, Eddie Soens, Colin Sturgess, Dot Tilbury, Graham Webb, Les West, Sean Yates and Tony Yorke.
Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 20.02.10

The Cervélo Test Team showed its class of riders with the Top Spot in the team Classification with last weeks Tour of Qatar. Roger Hammond finished 13thv overall with Jeremy Hunt 16th.
Jeremy is now in the Tour of Portugal which if I remember rightly he won a stage in some years back. Yesterday he did his best to repeat that achievement being 12 mins away in a group of 4 but was delayed with a puncture and never regained the group.
The local cycling scene pedals off this Saturday with the first of 3 races in the Mid Devon Spring Pursuit Series.
Organised by long time volunteer in cycling, Ken Robertson, the Springtime Pursuits are the South West's traditional season curtain raiser for the road racing season and have a long history in the racing calendar. The races, like a few of the early season events, are 'handicap' races where all category of riders (Elite, 1st, 2nd etc) race the same event with the lower category riders starting ahead of the Elite riders.
The handicapping system gives everyone the opportunity to get a placing and the aim is for the Elite riders to catch the riders who set off first as late as possible to give them all a chance at victory. The Juniors will of course not be expecting to be caught up so that they can make a name for themselves.
With well over 100 riders competing CLCycles will be represented by last year's winner Jake Durrant and Simon's son Jonathan who will be in his first race against the "men"!!
In 1985, the original Giro Prolight set the standard for modern light-weight cycling helmets.
Now, 25 years later the new Prolight redefines what an ultra lightweight helmet can be. After an exhaustive, groundup design and engineering process, we're confident that our new Prolight is the lightest game in town. Bar none. And it's remarkably well ventilated and comfortable too.
A labyrinth of optimized internal channels allows the helmet to exhale hot, stale air like no other. And by specifying Italian made, featherweight webbing along with our new, minimal Roc Loc SL fit system; you'll have to remind yourself that you've got a helmet on at all.
Designing the Prolight was a true exercise in restraint that reminded us that simplicity really is the most important element of style.
The Giro Prolight Cycle Helmet is now in stock at CLCycles and available at £149. Call us on 01803 553095.
Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 13.02.10

The ranges of top quality cycling shoes by Bont have now arrived on the website and the shop. They are available for your purchase plus there is a 10% discount off the cheaper "Bont a-one Cycling Shoe" @ £107.99!!
Bont a-two Road Cycling Shoes are available @ £180 with Bont a-three Road Cycling Shoes @ £234.
The handmade 100% carbon monocoque construction of the Bont a-one road cycling shoe is made for pure performance. With its unidirectional carbon construction (with exception of final cosmetic layer), 3.6 mm stack height, industry leading strength to weight ratio and Bont's proprietary resin allowing customisation of fit, the a-one will ensure that your power is transferred straight to the drive train without waste.
The a-one is available in 8 Shiny Microfiber colours or made with Australian leather upper in black or white
Chassis material 100% Carbon
Resin Epoxy Thermoset Resin
Upper Material Shiny Microfiber or Leather
Liner Material Non Porous Microfiber
Stack Height 3.6mm
Air Vents 40 air vents on frontal area of shoe and air gills in arch area
Innersole EVA thermo mouldable Innersole
Sole Guards Replaceable
Padding Memory Foam
Heat Mouldable Fully Heat Mouldable Monocoque Chassis
Cleat Mounting MM grid plus grip
3 Hole Look Configuration
Closing Options 2 Velcro Straps + Buckle (Replaceable)
3 Velcro Straps
Weight 225 grams - 3 Velcro Straps
250 grams - 2 Velcro Straps + Buckle
Check out "Clothing" on our Home Page to view them.
The Tour of Qatar is well under way With Jeremy Hunt's Cervélo being disqualified on the opening Time Trial for one rider touching another in the gusty conditions. They were deemed to have given assistance and from what was a great 2nd place turned into 1 minute lost all-round.
The team have fought back and now in the Team Competition are 2nd 9 secs behind Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator. Incidentally Team Sky is well down in 19th spot!!
Roger Hammond and Jeremy are well placed after Stage 5 in 13th and 16th place respectively.
Jon Locke (Rapha Condor) is back in England for a week before returning to Malaga for another week of high speed training. Good to see that his team are well financed and look set for some good results this season. He called in at the shop on Thursday to keep us up to date.
Also in the shop was Yanto Barker (LeCol Colnago) to pick up his Colnago which Simon has been preparing for him.
Bob

Cycle Chat 06.02.10

The 2010 season gets further into its warm up phase this weekend with the Tour of Qatar starting in the Middle Eastern emirate on Sunday (February 7).
British interest in the race will be strong this year with seven Britons set to ride. We will be keeping a close eye on Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) round about lunch time and again in the evening at around 2200 hrs. (By the way Simon had a great time this week in Portugal testing the bikes up the mountains and learning all about Cervélo!!)
Jeremy's team mate Roger Hammond is also competing as well as a full complement from Team Sky lead by Bradley Wiggins including Ben Swift, Russell Downing and Chris Froome.
As much as providing an early-season form guide for those looking to peak later in the year, Qatar is also a key stepping stone for Classics riders to reacquaint themselves with vicious cross winds and nervous bunch racing.
What can we expect? Sand, crosswinds, bunch sprints and some fierce racing. Watch it!!
A new British team has just been announced called Orbea - For Goodness Shakes! There is a men's and ladies team and for the ladies they have recruited Individual Pursuit Gold Medallist Rebecca Romero MBE. They will naturally be riding Orbea bikes and Rebecca's pursuit bike looks a dream. We are a stockist for Orbea here at CLCycles and have a great selection. We have the Orbea Orca in stock going at around £2600 and is a sight to look at as well as ride. Call in and give it a spin!!
We have just started to stock American Classic Wheels. I thought when I heard that that they were going to be a copy of some 50 year old style that our founder Colin Lewis would have ridden; but no they are at the peak of modern technology.
The design criteria for an American Classic product are first, a product that must be functional and durable, and then light, strong, aerodynamic and beautiful. There are no gimmicks. All products have a distinctive look, are minimalist, have smooth curves, and large diameters. The designer Bill Shook (ex pro rider) undertakes the arduous task of the design, he performs the mathematical calculations on dimensions and aerodynamics, the stress analysis, 3-D modelling and the decisions made on the metallurgical properties of the materials.
They are the best from £300 a pair up to the disc wheel at a cool £1800. Check out American Classic Wheels on our web site or else ring us on 01803 553095 or if you're local call in to the shop at Paignton.
See you next week,
Bob.

Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.