As Cannondale announce their own pro cycling team, Bicycling Australia tests their Ultegra Di2 race machine.
For many riders, especially those just starting out, the ideal bike is one that suits us in as many ways as possible. A bike that will require little maintenance and upkeep. A bike that matches our abilities and is able to take us from being a beginner to a fully-fledged addict of this amazing sport.
25th April 2013 · · More »
Reviewing a saddle is a bit like a discussing politics or religion. There is no right or wrong, just opinions and personal preferences and an infinite range of variables. Did I like riding this saddle? Yes. Now that is out of the way, what is this thing?
It has certainly been the perfect summer to be testing the Polar Cold Bottle. I bet I’m not the only rider this year to have begun their ride with a cold bidon, only to have the contents of it completely undrinkable after about 30 minutes. It’s OK if you’re riding somewhere with lots of shops, but a nightmare if you’re out in the country. It was after a ride like this some years ago that I gave up taking full strength sports drinks on the bike. The taste of boiling hot, full strength sugary sports drink haunts me to this day. But that’s another story…
Specialized’s Turbo range of tyres has been its rubber flagship for some years now. If you’ve wanted to race or ride fast on Specialized then a Turbo is what you would choose. The new S-Works clincher is in the same category but has had something of a makeover for 2013.
Shimano joins the 11 speed revolution. But an extra cog is only part of the story…
Could Giant’s flagship mid range bike change the way we think about value and performance?I must have been particularly good this year because Santa delivered a Christmas treat – a Giant TCR Advanced Zero. And from the minute I opened the box, it was like all of my Christmases had come at once. There are still those who feel that Giant does not boast the style and sexiness of some other brands in this spec range, but there’s no faulting its value for money and ride quality. This was evident the first minute I threw a leg over the new steed on its first bunch ride.
There are few bikes in recent memory that have been as prevalent in the WorldTour as Specialized. By virtue of multiple team sponsorships, the big S can be seen gracing head tubes in almost every in-action shot from any Grand Tour in the past few years. If you factor in Specialized helmets, and Specialized shoes, which are worn by some of the teams which do not use Specialized bikes, it's clear to see that Specialized has some major stock in the game. 
BH is probably not a brand that everyone will be familiar with, but they are hoping to change that situation and the G6 is a great way to start. I had to brush up on my BH facts pretty quickly for this review as the G6 Ultegra proved to be a real head turner and I was getting questioned multiple times on each outing about the bike, the brand, and of course, its performance. 
The chance to test the Avanti Corsa feels like it has been a long time coming. We first saw this bike at Avanti’s 2013 launch at the Disc Velodrome in Melbourne last winter, but it wasn’t until November that we were able to ride one. In fairness it wasn’t so much the fault of Avanti. Many, many companies have had delays in the production of their 2013 range, mostly I understand, due to component issues. Even this particular bike was a pre-production unit. But if you look at some of the componentry in the pictures, you’ll understand that we weren’t complaining. 
While GPS bicycle computers are nothing new, the useable technology that is available to riders at an affordable price has increased considerably in recent times. They now provide accurate measurement of both speed and distance and the ability to download and map all training sessions, but with none of the fuss and hassle of fitting wheel magnets and sensors and figuring out wheel circumferences.