Welcome to episode 10 of season 2 of The Bike Lane. With the Giro d’Italia in its final week we discuss how we see it unfolding, and also talk to Matty Lloyd to see why he’s not there. We also talk to Nicki Vance about her report on Orica-GreenEDGE, we look at the Tour of…
When you think of great cycling cities around the world Thailand’s Chiang Mai probably doesn’t spring to mind. But, as local resident Steve Thomas writes, Chiang Mai has become something of an eastern cycling epicenter in recent years. Steve rides behind the bamboo curtain to show us why, sharing some of his favourite photos of…
While much of the cycling world’s attention has been focused on the Giro d’Italia in recent weeks, last week’s Amgen Tour of California also demanded attention. This year’s eighth edition of the race was held over eight hot stages and finished on Sunday with Tejay van Garderen (BMC) taking out the general classification.
Colours of the Giro
The 2013 Giro d’Italia is now 15 stages old and the riders have a second and final rest day to look forward to. Since the previous rest day, after stage 9, we’ve seen six days of great racing, some notable withdrawals, and some truly horrendous weather.
2013 Giro d’Italia Quiz
With the Giro d’Italia well over halfway now, we’ve prepared a Giro-themed quiz and competition for you. The folks at Bike Bug, Orica-GreenEDGE and RIDE Magazine have provided a bunch of prizes for you to get your hands on. All you need to do is: Pick the winner of Friday (May 24) night’s stage 19, a 139km-long…
The Bike Lane: Wiggo Wobbles as the Giro Continues
Welcome to another episode of The Bike Lane. With the Giro d’Italia more than halfway through, we speak to Nathan Haas about his first Grand Tour, we re-evaluate our estimates of Cadel Evans’ form, and ask: “Has Brad Wiggins lost his nerve?” And the always sharp Will Walker gives us his view of Adam Hansen’s…
Vance Report On ORICA-GreenEDGE Released
In October 2012 following the USADA investigation into Lance Armstrong and USPS, and the subsequent disclosures of past doping practices in the sport of cycling, Orica-GreenEDGE determined it would implement a range of initiatives to reaffirm its firm stance against doping, including a full external expert review of its policies and procedures and a pro-active…
Bikes of the Bunch: Parlee Z5i
You mightn’t see too many Parlee bikes out on the road but the frames you do see are always aesthetically pleasing. We were recently invited to photograph a beautiful new Parlee Z5i belonging to a fellow Melbournian who travelled with us to the Spring Classics last year.
DIY Sports Nutrition
When you’re heading out for a ride it’s easy to grab a couple of bars or gels and shove them in your jersey pockets. They’re convenient and perfectly packaged for easy consumption when you’re enjoying your ride. But for a variety of reasons there’s a number of cyclists who’d prefer to make their own sports…
Basso Diamante Review
The folks at Basso Bikes have been making racing bikes for more than 35 years in their Italian factory near Vicenza. Their catalogue was once devoted to steel though in recent years steel has been replaced by carbon. The Diamante is their premium frameset.
The Big 4-0
It feels like only yesterday that I turned 30 and I thought it was all downhill for my athletic endeavours. When my 20s ended I had this mental block that I had to get over and went into maintenance mode instead of build mode. It was silly when I think about it. Looking back, my 30s were the best…
Miranda Griffiths’ Battle on the Border Power Analysis
The Battle on the Border was the second race in this year’s Subaru Women’s National Road Series and it was run and won earlier this month. Miranda Griffiths from Holden Women’s Cycling finished second overall and has been good enough to provide us with the power data from her victory on stage 1. We asked…
Colours of the Giro
With nine stages of the 2013 Giro d’Italia now complete the riders can enjoy a well-deserved rest day. Since the race began we’ve seen Mark Cavendish win two stages, Australia’s Adam Hansen take a popular victory on stage 7, Bradley Wiggins struggle on the wet descents, Ryder Hesjedal lose contact with the other GC contenders,…
Eight weeks of simulated altitude training – an introduction
You only have to look as far as Team Sky’s Tenerife training camps to see that altitude training is taken seriously at the pointy end of the sport. Now, in collaboration with the Melbourne-based Bodyology altitude training facility we’ve been able to tee up an eight-week simulated altitude training block for local A-grade cyclist Stephen…
The Secret Pro: hoax or not?
You might have already seen that people on the forums and now Cyclismas blogger Saddleblaze have suggested that the Secret Pro does not exist. We’re thrilled that the latest instalment in The Secret Pro’s column has generated so much discussion, on CyclingTips, Twitter, and elsewhere, and since some fair questions are raised we thought it might…
The Bike Lane: Let the Giro Begin – Avanti!
Welcome back to another episode of the Bike Lane. As the Giro gets started we’ve brought back our panelist who has ridden the Giro himself, Will Walker, to get some inside perspectives. We also introduce our new Hot Lap segment featuring sports commentator and media personality Tiffany Cherry (not to mention a gun cyclist). We…
CTech May Product Picks
In this month’s swag of products you’ll find new lights from Knog, Echelon Sports, and Moon, t-shirts from Apres Velo, customised team Sky kit from Rapha, Castelli Fawesome Vest and Nano Flex armwarmers, kit from Attaquer and Babici, socks from Capo and Bontrager, tyres from Specialized, chainrings from Praxis and shoes from Shimano. Have you…
The Secret Pro
As the season gets further underway more pro cycling fodder becomes available to talk about. In this edition of The Secret Pro, our anonymous insider gives us some insights on the Spring Classics, his favorite race commentator, the new prototype gear that’s not working out so well, “black contracts”, a Grand Tour winner who might…