Bespoke Cycling

Andrew's Z5SL

2012-01-31T15:33:00.003Z

Andrew had a Z4 previously, and this year moved up to a lovely new Z5SL
Most of the build came off the old bike, and why not given its quality; 3T carbon cockpit, Enve Wheels and DA gruppo

Flooring with a PRO twist

2012-01-31T09:42:00.002Z

We are currently building the Performance Lab, which will eventually host bike fitting, biomechanical correction, a physio and metabolic assessments.
To keep the cycling theme we went with Quick Step flooring. How says advertising does not work !

Cycling Plus bike fitting session

2012-01-30T22:49:00.001Z

Cycling Plus's bike editor came in for a bike fitting session with Ben last week
The link is here:

http://magazine.bikeradar.com/2012/01/30/bespoke-spokes/

Parlee Z1 custom Tourer

2012-01-26T13:24:00.001Z

This is a very special bike indeed. Its a present from a husband to his wife, and the design brief was a touring bike that would be a delight to ride and also have the ability to take some light loads when they were riding in the Pyrenees.

The frame is a Z1 custom tourer and has the Kandy red tint to the carbon clearcoat. The graphics are a new font to us, and hand-painted cream decals. The gruppo is an Ultegra triple with a TA crankset (to help with those mountains!).
Matt hand-built some wheels around a SON dynamo front and rear. The wiring for the dynamo is incredibly neat - Matt bought some different coloured heat shrink so he could attach it to other cables to minimise any clutter. The saddle is a cream colour, so we had to find a way to get bar tape to match. Our solution was to get our favourite white Arundel tape and then leave it in a coloured brown dye. It took a couple of rolls of tape to get the time we left it there right (so yes we do have some dark brown bar tape if anyone wants it!).

Gerald's Kent Eriksen MTB with Yeti rear end

2012-01-25T16:12:00.003Z

Gerald picked this up from us last year but I realized we never took a picture of it all built up. So here it is in all its glory!

Marc's Trek Madone Project One

2012-01-23T17:49:00.002Z

This is Marc's Project One with custom finish - its a pearl blue with black outline decals. Looks immense in the flesh!
The build is Ultegra with the Ultegra tubeless wheels.

Some more builds

2012-01-23T14:36:00.003Z

This is Aidan's Z2 with gloss finish and Race decals with a false Red panel
The build is Campy Chorus with Zipp 101s and 3T parts

This is Alan's Z3 with a wax finish and etched decals. The build is Super Record with Fulcrum 1s

And this is for a new cyclist, Caroline, who is doing London 2 Paris with her husband. She currently has a hybrid but came in for a fitting with Ben to choose her first road bike. So here is her new Specialized Ruby

S-Works Prevail helmet (quick) review

2012-01-22T17:08:00.003Z

I have historically been either a Giro or a Specialized helmet man and my last 3 helmets have been (in reverse order) the Giro Ionos, Specialized 2D and Giro Atmos.
I am currently riding the Ionos and am really liking it - its crazy light and fits very well (far better than the Atmos did on me).
However this morning I realised I had left my helmet at work, but my riding partner Dean said he would lent me his Prevail. He likes his so much he bought two - one is in 'race' mode and the other has all his extra commuting lights attached to it. Clever.....

Thus this is a review based on only one ride but I have to say I was very impressed. The Prevail retails for £159.99, so is £40 less than the Ionos, and whilst its 20 gms heavier, it is still a substantial 70 gms less than the Atmos. I also much prefer the Specialized retention mechaninism - it is far more granular than the Giro's. Specialized also claims it is extremely aero (this was the helmet Cav won the Worlds with where the covered all the vents up). Specialized claim that at a steady 250 watts for an hr you would be 250m up the road if you were wearing the Prevail vs the Giro. Of course these are manufacturer statements and need to be taken as such but it just goes to show how the criteria for a top helmet has changed. Safety and ventilation are now taken as a given, the new battlefield is ever decreasing weight and ever improving aerodynamics.
Over 4 hrs of riding I did not think about the helmet once, which to me is the acid test.
Will I buy one to replace my Ionos.?
Probably, but am afraid I am vain enough to first ask my friends which looks better on me !

Best bike of the year....

2012-01-19T18:47:00.003Z

It may not be flash, but it has a story
This is the Trek Cocoa that my sister has ordered. She has not had a bike since she was a little kid but has suddenly got the itch, and fancies this bike to nip down to the shops and gentle rides around the park. The basket is a nice touch and as you can imagine Matt loved building this up!

Gerald's Firefly with Ui2

2012-01-19T18:44:00.002Z

This bike completes Geralds fleet. He has a carbon Parlee Z1, a Ti Kent Eriksen Full Sus MTB and now he has a epic all roads Stainless steel Firefly. 3 masters, in 3 materials for 3 different purposes.
Sublime!
This bike is all noteworthy as its the first Ui2 build that we have built up. Matt says it went together beautifully and was far simpler than Di2. We await a detailed ride report from Gerald.
It does look stunning which helps - the polished decals with the stainless frame really does look subtle but very striking up close.

We went for the Belgian pro vibe with the wheels; they are Dura Ace hubs laced to Ambrosio Excellence rims and shod with Vittoria Pave 27mm tyres.
The bike should be an absolute blast to ride!!

First Tri bike of 2012...

2012-01-16T11:37:00.002Z

...and its a cracker. This is Tom B's Trek Speed Concept 9.9 with Di2 'Lite' - that means it has Di2 shifting with Ultegra chain and crank. Tom has some deep carbon race wheels, so its now set up with his training wheels.

Brett's Accelerade review

2012-01-13T18:45:00.003Z

I am a huge fan of Accelerade, and have been using it regularly since November. I managed to convince my man Brett to try some and here is his review

Barry,

Just wanted to contribute to your reader reviews…

I started using Accelerade in my build to Kona this year, there were two things that drew me to it. The first was the 4:1 carb \ protein ratio, now the jury still seem to be out on protein boosting performance within a session but the experts do seem to agree that taking protein in during a session does aid recovery.. So, with that in mind, in the final build I thought it worth a shot based on this alone, I was tiring towards then end of the build and very much looking forward to the taper so I could ease back again…

One of my very last key sessions was 5 hours which consisted of 1:00 power build on bike then 15 minute race pace run x 4, nice uh ? This session went well I believe in no small part due to accelerade drink and gels. First thing that strikes are the flavours, think I had orange gels and bubble-gum drink? Both tasted great, to the extent I drank more than normal each time I remembered to drink that is. I used 2 gels through this period and about 3 bottles, each time I got off the bike to run, I found I had the energy to do so. I also felt a little energy surge from each gel, the last two intervals pushing the higher watts is a struggle especially for 20 minutes at a time but the gels genuinely seemed to help.

I didn’t use the products during the race in Kona as I believe firmly in being able to race off of what is available on the course. However, I have used the product since my return and throughout the winter so far. I am still using them, and seem to be able to go further on less, having completed a few 4+ hour rides on two bottles only, I mix them slightly higher than recommended, as this seems to still give me the energy feed I need.

One comment I heard from a friend who I gave some too was that it didn’t seem to quench her thirst, I hadn’t noticed this before but now it does feel like that sometimes, but the energy is still there, strange, but that’s how it feels. I continue to use it in training incl some harder turbo sets, I think it’s one of the best products out there, and as you know, I have tried most of them..

Cheers

Suzanne's Trek WSD

2012-01-13T18:44:00.001Z

And very nice it is too!

Chris's Parlee Z5SLi

2012-01-13T15:01:00.002Z

This is Chris's Di2 bike. Chris actually had the Di2 gruppo, saddle and wheels already on his old bike. So we were able to take that off and build onto a lovely new Parlee Z5Sli.
The wheels are the Shimano CL24 tubeless which we have put Hutchison Fusion 3s and Caffe latex sealant. Should offer great ride comfort and lots of winter puncture resistance.

Paul K's Parlee Z5SLi

2012-01-13T14:58:00.002Z

Paul picked this up before Christmas but we finally got round to taking some pictures.
Its full Di2 with Enve cockpit, Romin saddle and Shimano Carbon pedals
The wheels are the brand new Enve/Powertap G3 wheels which look really nice
Training tyres are on for now as this bike will lead a busy life, and later in the year Paul will switch out to some lovely supple race tyres which will improve the ride and performance even more

Andy's Firefly winter bike

2012-01-12T14:55:00.003Z

To go with Andy's Z1 he also picked up his new Ti Firefly (lucky boy!)
Its full Di2 with the satellite bar shifters DA CL24 tubeless wheels and sealant
The cockpit is full Enve and he is using his favourite Antares carbon saddle

Richard's Z5 SLi

2012-01-11T12:00:00.002Z

Richard has already picked up his Parlee TT bike, and now here is his SLi
Its build with Di2 and Lightweight Standard Clinchers
The battery is hidden in the seatpost so its even more stealth and Parlee finished it off by sanding down a complete Ritchey Superlogic cockpit so that it matches the frame finish.

Andy's Parlee Z1 with Di2

2012-01-11T11:58:00.003Z

Just a lovely, lovely build
Di2 with Enve cockpit and Mavic SLR wheels
Enjoy!

Some shop pictures

2012-01-11T11:56:00.001Z

We have been busy here - I thought I would take the time to update you of our progress.

This is part of upstairs. The main table in the middle is meant to showcase seasonal items and things we think are cool. Behind the table you can see the flags flying which show what is downstairs

We created a bike park based on the Col markers you get on some of the classic climbs. We thought we would add to it with the time of the fastest ascent.

This is where it gets serious..... the main bike studio downstairs. As we progress we will build out different 'brand sections' and do some cool things.

Here is a close up of a Parlee Z1 on the new bike stands we had make. They are wooden frames with light boxes in them, They look really cool !

Come and see the shop for yourself, and hopefully we will have more developments in the days, weeks and months !

Chrissie Wellington in the house

2012-01-10T12:17:00.004Z

We had the huge privilege of hosting Chrissie Wellington and the team from Audiofuel last night. It was a full day affair with the media (including Sky News) in the afternoon and then a general public meet and greet later on. It was enormous fun, though I did not spend much time listening as I was like a mother hen running around making sure it all went smoothly. As such it was great to read Rich's blog.

http://brainfartsofabiketart.com/2012/01/09/chrissie-wellington-audiofuel/

Thanks to everyone involved and all those who came to the event. I hope you enjoyed it!

2012 Trek team bike is HOT

2012-01-07T16:04:00.002Z

This thing is sweet !

Specialized Venge 'Cav' World Championship Edition

2012-01-07T14:26:00.002Z

Here is our size 52 (a suitably "pro" size!)
Its only one of 200 in the world, and 40 in the UK and given its size we think there must only be a hand-ful in this size in the country.
It looks great in the flesh - very stealth, with silver highlights on the chainstay and some cool World Champion bands on the underside of the downtube. Its the same price as the regular Vange (£2500) and given the amount of international interest we have already had in the frame we have been told its actually selling for more than list on the second hand market.
Bikes that appreciate - who would have thought !

Anthony's Firefly winter bike

2012-01-07T14:07:00.002Z

This is one of four Firefly 'winter' bikes that are coming our way in the next couple of weeks. Though to call them winter bikes is to do them a total dis-service. Although they have full mud-guards they use normal 47mm racing brakes (in this case Dura-Ace). They also use the normal Enve road fork, but what the clever folk at Parlee do is bond on some carbon mud-guard eyelets for Firefly. Thus come the spring, these mud-guards can come off and you have a race bike for the summer season. Two bikes in one - with no compromises.

Anthony went to town on this build:

-Full Dura Ace and Di2 including the hidden battery in the Ti Firelfy seatpost
- Chris King Gold BB and R45 hubs laced to Open Pro Ceramic rims
-Enve bar and stem

The frame is of course the star of the show, and features internal Di2 wiring and internal brake cabling. Perfect for winter!
The frame is brushed Ti with polished and anodized decals

Its simply an amazing bike!

New years resolutions

2012-01-01T19:33:00.004Z

Its that time of year again!

I told my wife last night that I was hoping 2012 was a quieter year than the craziness of 2011. Opening the new shop space and the birth of our second baby boy has knocked me for six a bit to be honest!

I said at the start of last year that I had no real cycling goals and that if the shop was a success and I became fat as a result that would be a good year. As such I only entered one main event for the whole year (and even that was half baked with the inevitable painful consequences).
So this year I want to have my cake and eat it....and given my current appetite that is a pretty god analogy.
I am the heaviest I have been since Uni and that coupled with my steel bike with mud guards has made the Kent hills a real slog this winter.
But the fightback starts now!
I have entered a number of UK sportives and the big European one for us will be Quebrantos in Spain - a bunch of us are doing it and would love more people to joing for the inaugural Bespoke club championships!

On the Ironman side I am planning to give Roth another good go- its such a quick course that it would be rude not to

To get me in shape I will be using all the toys we have the shop - including biomechanical sessions with Ben, regular testing with our new Vo2 machine and even using our hypoxia altitude machine closer to the time.

I will keep updating this blog with progress (or lack thereof). I am hoping the fear of humiliation will keep me hitting the turbo and sticking away from the chocolate muffins.
Wishing you all the very best in your personal, professional and cycling aspirations in 2012.
All the very best
Barry

New Firefly Ti stems - LUSH !

2011-12-31T08:19:00.000Z

Gareth's S-Works Roubaix

2011-12-12T13:54:00.004Z

Gareth came in for a fitting on Friday evening, and by noon on Monday we had the frame all built up for his final fitting/bike hand-over later today, where we will finalize spacer height and saddle choice.

Its a 56 S-Works Roubaix with SRAM Red Black and the lovely Dura Ace C35 Carbon Clincher wheels.

Looks immense in the flesh, we are really happy with how it has come together.

And the Firefly frame is finished....

2011-12-10T11:21:00.002Z

This is a brushed Ti frame with polished decals
It is a Di2 frame with the battery hidden in the Firefly Ti post
Will be sweet !

A new Firefly soon to be of this world

2011-12-07T17:42:00.002Z

The guys at Firefly sent me a picture of Jamie welding Andy's new Ti winter bike
Will be a very cool build indeed!

Bespoke vouchers are here

2011-12-06T16:31:00.002Z

Without further pomp, here are is a mock-up of our Bespoke Cycling Gift Voucher.
We spent far too much getting them made, but I wanted them to look special.
Its a highly finished voucher with foil blocking on both sides of this duplexed heavy weight, high quality card. Delivered in a bespoke envelope, naturally. A ideal gift this christmas !!

Hutchison Fusion 3 (tubeless tyres) puncture report

2011-12-05T08:51:00.003Z

I have been riding these tyres on the Dura Ace CL24 wheels since October now. To be honest, unlike some of my customers, I have not been blown away by any performance improvements since going tubeless. So no improvements in ride quality or decrease in rolling resistance (and yes I have played with tyre pressure, my favourite being 90/95psi front and rear).
People who say they ride as good as a tub, have not ridden a 'proper' tub!!

However they have been absolutely bombproof in terms of getting no punctures (I have been using Stans sealant).
On Sundays ride I did notice my rear tyre getting soft after we went through a particularly bad patch of road. Sure enough there was a decent sized hole, and air was escaping. I could see the sealant trying to do its job, but with no success. I pumped it up again but could hear the air escaping. I realised that if you pump the tyre up too quickly then the pressure is too high for the sealant to work.
Sure enough, we re-pumped the tyre to 85 psi and it was fine and we continued our ride with no issues.
This morning I checked the tyre and its still at 85 psi. Result !!

The Fusion 3s are marketed as a road racing tyre and have been cut up quite badly in the 3 months I have ridden them. So I will now take them off and put the heavier training version, the Intensive. That has a harder compound, but a better Kevlar puncture belt so will be perfect for the next 3 months.
I am sure that the sealant will go everywhere we I take it off - Matt will love me for that !

Assos Robocap 607 review

2011-12-05T08:36:00.003Z

I have been wearing this for a number of weeks now, and it really came into its own on yesterday's (disgusting) ride. There was a real biting wind wherever we went and it cut through my clothes quite badly. My head stayed blissfully warm, but never overheated when we were climbing.
I am a big fan of warm hats; if I have a warm head, feet and hands I am a much happier rider!
Last year I wore the Assos Stinger cap, which was good but was quite big in volume. So much so that it really affected how you wore a helmet underneath.
This years Robocap is much slimmer, and even warmer. Its double thickness around the ears and forehead so its lovely and warm. But the real surprise is just how snug it is. I only need to widen my Giro helmet by one click to fit perfectly.

A nice touch is the reflective bands front and rear, and the hooks on the side that you are meant to thread your glasses through.

Downsides are mainly related to its looks- you either look like a WWII fighter pilot or (more disconcertingly) and extra from the first series of Blackadder.

William's Z1 custom

2011-12-03T08:50:00.002Z

I love wax Z1's, and the way they are just naturally beautiful. No fancy paint, no shaped tubes. Just beautiful carbon....

This bike is off to Hong Kong and is lovely
It has a Deda Zero 100 cockpit, the new Fizik curve saddle, Record Groupset and Mavic Kysrium SLR wheels

And yes I know a need a better camera - my iPhone 3 is not quite ready to do justice to the frames !

Customer product test: Assos sV.blitzFeder

2011-11-30T08:19:00.003Z

Many thanks to Simon (he of the bigger bike fleet than our entire shop....) for this review. Full marks for also testing the product in different countries and at different altitudes!
I warmly welcome as many contributions as possible and hope we can all benefit from our collective experiences.

It is of the SV. blitzfefer, which is an ultra-light 'gilet' that folds up into its own little pocket. I loved it and recommended it to as many riders as I could as its small size meant there was no opportunity cost for always having it on you, especially when doing epic rides when the conditions can be so variable.

Barry,

Hope all is well. Here is a contribution to your customer reviews project.

I bought this Assos blitzfeder vest from you in June. I have used it pretty extensively since then. In the Summer, it has been great for those cold morning starts because you can stuff it in your pocket when it warms up. I used it this Sunday, when it was a pretty chilly November morning, over the top of a standard long sleeve top to provide a bit of insulation. Again, absolutely fine.

It breathes really well, much better than most other shells. So you do not "boil in the bag". I think you can use it in a wide variety of temperatures, probably from 5 degrees to 25 degrees. It really is very versatile, and it genuinely packs away to nothing. You can always have it with you.

On the downside, it will provide only a modicum of rain protection, and (because it is so light) it is really difficult to put on when you are on the move. But this is just splitting hairs. Of course it is expensive for so little material, but you have to accept that with Assos. You are buying the best.

To show the vest in full use, here is a picture of me this "summer" on the climb from Tirano to Livigno on the Swiss/Italian border. It started off at 20 degrees at the foot of the climb, before the heavens opened.

The road became a stream. Temperatures plummeted as we neared the 2000m mark. The vest was the only extra clothing I had with me. It was fine on the way up, due to the climbing effort over the best part of 25km. I was cold on the way down, but by then I was truly soaked.

You can see from the photo that I was joined by Gesink and Barredo from Rabobank on a pre-Tour training ride. I say "joined" in the loosest sense - because while this picture gives the optical illusion that I am pulling away from them, the reality is that they absolutely rocketed past me and left me for dead!

Rgds
Simon

An email from Enda

2011-11-30T08:12:00.003Z

Chaps I thought I would share this with you, if for no other reason than to inspire your winter cycling as you dream of the European summer once more....

Hi Barry and Ben,
Once again thank you for all the help with the Parlee I really enjoyed it and I have included a couple of photos including one of the Stelvio, I have climbed it twice and its the most amazing road in the world!

Thanks for the update re the Assos clothing, I received it on Friday (the day after my Birthday, too late for birthday gifts but timely for dropping Christmas hints!!!)
Its good to see that your business is expanding and that the website has improved.
I’m actually off the bike and all training at the moment – a cyclocross induced broken collar-bone, but that makes me a real cyclist now, except that through comfort eating and a lack of training I have gained a few kilos.
Have a happy Christmas and I hope to visit you guys when I am in London in 2012
Enda

A re-appraisal of the toe-cover

2011-11-25T08:00:00.003Z

I have never seen the point of toe-covers. They reminded me of those North Face Nuptse Vests that lots of my friends wore when I was in Scotland. If I was cold, I wanted the full jacket to keep my arms warm. Likewise when the weather warmed up (rarely I concede...) a big vest seemed bulky and overkill.
So it was neither fish nor fowl

And that is exactly the way I viewed overshoes - I was of the view its either nothing or full booties.

The benefits of running your own shop (and being an Assos Pro Dealer) is that I can justify new purchases as due diligence. You look a bit of a muppet if a customer asks if you like product x and no one in the shop has an answer apart from it looks nice!
So with that in mind I have been wearing the new Assos toe-cover everyday on my commute and on the weekend rides.

And I have loved it!

Now I do suffer from the cold, and cold hands and feet really do kill morale. But so far, even with very early starts, I have had no issues with my toes at all. But likewise when the weather warmed up around 11 am I have not felt massively cumbersome and over-dressed. They also keep my expensive shoes in far better condition than would otherwise be the case around the lanes of Kent and Surrey.
I have been advised that this years model has a far better rubber gripper and so far they have not moved an inch but time will tell on build quality. But so far they seem a great addition to the wardrobe.

FINALLY - All the Assos winter gear is here...

2011-11-25T07:56:00.003Z

Bring on the rain, snow and sleet!
We will be ready with rain jackets, winter gloves, winter booties, rain caps, winter hats and lovely warm base layers.
Let us know how we can help your winter wardrobe

Next years training started yesterday...

2011-11-21T08:19:00.002Z

I have not done my usual long ride for 4 weeks now. Sam is 3 weeks old - see a trend? Plenty of variations of the same excuse based around the fact I had not slept a wink the night before, or that my wife had not slept and I was now on the daylight patrol....

But yesterday it all came together and Brett and Dean met at mine and we had a great 3 hr ride together. Nothing structured, just go hard when we wanted, and easy when we wanted to chat (and there was lots I wanted to ask Brett about Kona). The weather was also wonderful - crisp and sunny (with a few cheeky fog patches).
I came back revitalized and determined to do as many Sunday rides as possible.

However, with 2 little boys under 18 months old I know my 'free' time is very limited so will be very focused on getting the best bang for the buck.
That means a maximum long ride time of 3 hrs, lots of hard turbo sessions and a big winter focus on biomechanics with Ben.
Ben recently damned me with faint praise - he said that whilst I have ''a smooth pedal stroke, just not a powerful one'. So this winter is all about becoming a big gear monster, and learning to better activate the glutes.

I am hoping 30 min sessions with Ben will turbo-charge my cycling. Bring on 2012 !!

Stuart's Firefly

2011-11-18T08:49:00.006Z

This is one of the nicest Ti bikes we have ever seen
It is for Stuart and has all the tricks the master craftsmen at Firefly could think of; brushed finish with custom anodized decals, internal Di2 battery (in the seatpost), Pressfit 30 BB and the bigger HT44 standard
The thing looks beautiful and mean at the same time !

Another picture of the huge head tube -this will be one stiff race bike

The decals are plain white outline with some blue anodization. The blue changes colour in the light. Its very, very cool

Campag Electronic soon here....

2011-11-08T07:45:00.002Z

This is an article the excellent James Huang of Cyclingnews has just posted

Quote of the article is the following:

The cost of the Record EPS group is said to be in-line with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 group, while Super Record EPS was simply stated to be ‘more’
Love it......

The full link is here
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/campagnolo-unveils-eps-electronic-systems

Twenty years and four generations in the making, Campagnolo has finally presented not just one but two electronic groups, Record EPS (Electronic Power Shift) and Super Record EPS, both with identical functionality but slight differences in weight and bearing performance just like the mechanical analogues.

"A very compelling package and demonstrates yet again that the Italian company is not to be ignored or forgotten"

Just like Shimano's Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 electronic systems, Campagnolo promises foolproof shifting accuracy and reliability plus faster gear changes than with mechanical groups. But EPS will also uniquely offer riders a lever feel that more closely mimics mechanical systems for genuine tactile – and audible – feedback, not to mention even better multi-shift capability of current Record and Super Record groups, all at a weight penalty of around 200g.

Electronic gutspaired with pseudo-mechanical feel and multiple shift capability

Campagnolo's new EPS group share some basic characteristics with Shimano's next-generation Di2 systems: dedicated switches in the levers sending signals to a centrally located 'brain' that then relays those messages to the motor-equipped front and rear derailleurs. Campagnolo, however, has done a better job of mimicking the feel of its much-loved – and virtually identically shaped – mechanical Ergopower brake/shift levers, however. The throws are very short as was expected but the high spring force is more akin to a cable-actuated system and there's a very tactile and audible click each time a button is depressed.

Granted, that tactile and audible feedback is different for the upshift and downshift paddles but it's feedback nonetheless – something we've always found lacking in Shimano's otherwise functionally refined system. The EPS downshift paddle is in the same familiar spot as on the mechanical Ergopower levers, too, but Campagnolo has moved the thumb-actuated upshift paddle lower down for easier shifts from the drops.

Campagnolo has also managed to actually improve on Ergopower's Multi-Shift capability. Whereas current Super Record and Record levers can downshift up to three cogs and upshift up to five, EPS can move the chain across the entire cassette with one command. Instead of having to repeatedly push the button, EPS's switches are time-sensitive, meaning the rear derailleur will move more positions depending on how long the rider holds down the button and you only need a 1.5second-long push to move across all 11 rear cogs.

There's unfortunately no feedback mechanism to let riders know exactly how many gears they've selected, though – Campagnolo marketing and communications director Lorenzo Taxis says riders will quickly learn "with their legs and brains" once they use it.

While certainly technically more advanced than the company's current mechanical systems, Campagnolo stresses that EPS isn't merely an engineering exercise but actually offers tangibly better performance, especially under the demanding racing conditions for which it was designed. According to in-house testing, EPS groups can successfully execute a front shift (in either direction) with nearly 70 percent higher chain load than Super Record while rear shifts are completed on average in just 0.352 seconds vs. 0.469 seconds – a small difference for sure but one that's still within the human range of detection.

Just like Di2, however, EPS should also need no adjustments whatsoever after the initial setup. Unlike with conventional cables and housing whose performance can change over time, EPS's digital signals will remain consistent for more predictable performance and reduced maintenance.

Record EPS versus Super Record EPS

Much like the mechanical groups, the Record EPS and Super Record EPS groups differ by way of materials and small design details. For example, the Super Record EPS Ergopower levers feature additional sculpting and engineered relief to further shave weight.

These design differences carry on throughout the components where carbon is replaced for alloy in the outer half of the front derailleur cage when comparing Super Record to Record, likewise the front derailleur motor and gear housings are alloy and steel respectively. Out back,the Super Record rear derailleur employs aluminum gear housing and ceramic pulleys, were as the Record version uses a steel gear housing and standard pulleys.

Then, of course, there are the differences between the mechanical support components, which are the same found when comparing the mechanical groups. One of the biggest performance differences is Super Record’s use Campagnolo’s CULT greaseless ceramic bearings, while Record employ the USB bearings.

Battery life, weatherproofing, and wiring

One major configuration difference with EPS as compared to Di2 is the battery and wiring. Whereas Shimano opts for a removable Li-ion rechargeable battery, the EPS's power is permanently housed with the system's 'brain' and isn't easily removable. As we suspected back in April, recharging is done via a small port located on the bottom of the power pack.

Some users will invariably regard this as being less convenient but Campagnolo argues that its one-piece, ultrasonically sealed unit is more resistant to weather. In fact, the company certifies all of the EPS components to be waterproof to a depth of one meter and we witnessed Movistar team mechanics subjecting the components to point blank pressure washings during this season's races.

Also, Campagnolo says its EPS battery will last longer, too. Whereas Shimano claims roughly 1,600km of battery life under average conditions (in fairness, we've experienced much longer lifetimes in practice), Campagnolo quotes roughly 2,000km when ridden about 2,000km per month. Less frequent use will bring that figure down to about 1,500km if the bike is used only 500km per month, which reflects a certain degree of power drawdown when the system is just standing by.

Campagnolo certifies the EPS battery for 500 charge cycles, at which point the complete power pack (and the associated wiring) will have to be replaced in entirety. That sounds short on paper until you consider that 500 charge cycles equates to about 40 years if you consistently ride 2,000km a month year-round. Charge time for a fully depleted battery is said to be 1.5 hours.

Speaking of wiring, EPS will thankfully use the same port sizes and positions as currently required by Shimano's Di2 system. Even better, Campagnolo won't have multiple wiring kits depending on how the system is installed – the leads from the power pack to the individual components are supposedly all long enough to accommodate a wide range of fitments and extra wiring will just need to be tucked inside the frame (assuming internal wiring, of course).

Weight and cost: lighter than Di2, with final prices TBD

Campagnolo’s pro teams are scheduled to be on the production components in the next few weeks, while manufacturers will have OE components in December. Riders looking to buy the parts in the aftermarket should be able to find the parts for sale in January.The cost of the Record EPS group is said to be in-line with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 group, while Super Record EPS was simply stated to be ‘more’ – by how much we don’t know as final prices have yet to be determined.

With weights claimed at 2,184g for Record and 2,098g for Super Record it’s lighter than Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2— which we’ve weighed at 2,262g—at least according to Campagnolo’s claims; so here we have it, EPS promises to raise the bar yet again for what we consider to be state of the art for bicycle transmissions.

And while we still don't think electronic transmissions will ever completely supplant mechanical ones but with now that the second of the ‘big three’ manufacturershas entered the fray, the increased competition will assuredly up the development ante with all consumers standing to benefit.

Why did it take so long?

While consumers are only just now seeing the production version of Campagnolo's new electronic group, the company actually first began its first development work in 1992 – back when eight-speed drivetrains and integrated brake/shift levers were still considered state-of-the-art and about a year before Mavic's first ill-fated commercial attempt.

Campagnolo's first working prototype was – like everything else in those days – an eight-speed system and the company's developers tucked the electronics and battery inside a gutted water bottle. The necessary derailleur motors and actuators were quickly deemed too heavy and bulky to be practical, though, and the idea was relegated to indefinite development status. While the company was convinced a motorized transmission represented the next logical step in terms of performance, it nonetheless also felt no pressure to bring a system to market on a specific timeline.

And so we waited.

In fact, Campagnolo admits that it was on the edge of launching an electronic group back in 2005. System performance was excellent in real-world and lab testing, and even the prototypes we'd spotted on pro team bikes back then looked remarkably finished. However, Taxis said one system failed after being treated to an unusually rigorous water resistance test atop a fast-moving team car after a stage of that year's Giro d'Italia and since Campagnolo intended for its electronic group to be its premier package for racing, development was again halted.

In the meantime, Campagnolo's mechanical division unveiled a new Ergopower lever shape and an upgrade to eleven rear cogs and naturally, the electronic group had to follow suit – back to the drawing board yet again and pushing the group to today's long awaited release.

Current company president Valentino Campagnolo himself even admits that while dearly loved by its fans, Campagnolo's future depends on the success of cutting edge products like this and can't afford a high-profile hit to its well-earned reputation.

"We want to develop this technology even more in the future," he said. "We are confident that these days are very tough days with the economic crisis also affecting bicyclists. Also, we suffer from this. But we try to manage the company while keeping costs under control. We are pushing hard to develop and invest for our future and in fact, never in the past has Campagnolo developed such a tremendous amount of new products because we invest in our future.

"There is a part of the market that is willing to accept very advanced products, not just aiming for the best performance but also reliability and long lasting during the use which is a traditional characteristic of Campagnolo production," he continued. "We are sure that the future – our future – will be with mechanical products but with important emphasis on product development with electronic technology."

Skeptics have already begun making comparisons of Campagnolo's Record and Super Record EPS groups to any number of Italian automobiles of ill repute and their electronic gremlins. However, with so much development time behind them – not to mention Campagnolo's often frustrating resistance to releasing the seemingly complete earlier versions – one can only hope that for Mr. Campagnolo's sake and ours, those gremlins will only be in our imaginations and not actually tearing at the wiring in the wing.

Customer review: Bontrager RL Windproof Softshell Jacket

2011-11-06T17:10:00.003Z

I would love as many 'reader reviews' as possible. These are not meant to be fawning reviews, but rather 'real world' reports. If an item is great, please say (and why). If it sucks, please say and we will no longer stock it! Either way these reviews are meant to aide your fellow riders.

This is from Tony H. It is his first review, I have told him given how much kit he has bought he has alot of reviews to do !

I love the occasional chats I have with drivers in London - but "I didn't see you" still has a lot to do before it becomes the start of a great friendship. so "Being Seen" is probably just worth accepting as part of the tapestry of urban riding. Having said this I struggle with getting into Health & Safety jackets that are more suited as mainsails for a round the world yacht race and get instantly clammy when wet. So I was pleased to see the new Bontrager orange softshell jackets hanging up at Barry's new shop - and I thought I'd give one a go.

First impressions - the sizing seems to come up a little small, and it's an Assos style fit that leaves no flapping fabric - (in fact if you enjoy your mince pies zipping up could be an issue, so try before you buy). Arm length was excellent, not leaving them short like a lot of commercial jackets, and as I found out on the bike later, the zips were very smooth and easy to operate - so no need to bite the jacket whilst performing a mid-ride zip up.

The features on the jacket are well thought out, and very bike specific - this isn't a running cross-over jacket. Just a single chest pocket on the front, ideal for a phone (left hand side, so more friendly for us righties) whilst there is a left rear access to a cycling jersey inside, and a right rear internal net pocket. The main central rear pocket is a bit skinny, but I'd guess you'd be wearing a standard jersey underneath in any case - so stuff you need in a hurry, like your pound coins for the Box Hill cafe. I haven't tested the jacket in heavy rain, it worked well in light drizzle, but I would guess this jacket would struggle in a continued downpour like most other jackets.

And then there's the colour - glowing Christmas tangerine that will play havoc with perfectly co-ordinated Assos or Rapha wardrobes, but here's my point. At dawn or dusk in the city, when we do a lot of our cycling in Autumn or Spring, it needs to stand out. IMHO reflective strips just don't work like they do in the country, and black, grey and blue just disappear into the background. You've got to back it up with lights, but this just improves your chances of snapping that dozing driver back into reality before they end up decorating their bonnet with you.

The other nice thing is that it's "only £90 (or £89.99 to be exact), so you can save your posh Assos for the next sunny club run, which I'd guess would be about next April....

Robert kicking ass....

2011-11-06T08:22:00.002Z

This is my man Robert tearing it up on the Irish cross scene. Since I have known Robert he has done some Triathlons, sportives and road racing. He tells me that nothing is as fun as cross, and you can see why in this picture!
Go Robert !

First Dogma 2 arrived

2011-11-02T16:48:00.002Z

This is a quick pic of Julius's new Dogma 2. It will have Super Record and carbon clinchers. He flies in from Hong Kong on Tuesday to do the final fitting and bike hand-over. I am sure he will be thrilled
The blue looks amazing in the flesh - it has a real depth to it....

Specialized BG Element Wiretap glove review

2011-11-01T17:37:00.004Z

We geniunely only stock products that we rate
And to prove this I want to start doing far more tests/reviews. I would like this to be as interactive as possible, so if you have your own feedback (good or bad) on any products you bought from us please do email in and we can put this in a review. I want Bespoke to be as interactive a community as possible...

To start us off, here is Ben testing his new Specialized BG Element Wiretap glove

After limping along on my old iPhone 3G for 2 and a half years, finally my shiny new iPhone 4S has arrived, just in time for winter. Trying to use a touch screen phone while wearing gloves is totally impractical. Fear not though, for I have also just bought a pair of the Specialized BG Element WireTap™ Gloves. In addition to a Gore windstopper upper, they have a very clever WireTap™ system built into the thumb and fore finger. This allows the phone to detect your touch through the gloves meaning that I’ll never miss a call again while trying to take off my gloves in time. I’ve been zooming my maps when I’m lost, writing emails, all while inside the cosy warmth of my gloves. Add to that the fact that the BG pads are perfectly positioned to cushion wrists and only cost £39.99, I think they are the best value early winter gloves I’ve ridden in.

Oakley now in stock

2011-10-19T15:55:00.003+01:00

Though we will be focusing mainly on the Oakley Custom Program (OCP) we also have the stock eyewear
They do look very nice indeed !

Parlee on Queen K Highway Kona 2011

2011-10-15T18:54:00.001+01:00

On all action picture of my mate Brett
Enjoy the sunshine boys...
Brett has promised me a full race report soon

A new Triathlon Super bike is launched

2011-10-05T09:46:00.001+01:00

Its never been a better time to be a bike geek in the Tri world !

http://www.tririg.com/articles.php?id=2011_10_04_New_Specialized_Shiv

Stel's Speed Concept

2011-10-04T13:59:00.004+01:00

The latest in a long line of super Speed Concepts that we have been fortunate to build
This is Stel's Project One Speed Concept

It has all the bells and whistles
Shimano Di2
SRM Crank
Zipp 808 and disc

I met Stel a couple of years ago when I did a fit for him when he was on his Felt DA
Even then he was talking about getting a new bike
So this has been a project long in its inception, but its certainly been worth the wait !

One for the Triathletes...."free speed''

2011-09-29T07:22:00.003+01:00

Here is an article that Cervelo wrote in Lava magazine
Very interesting piece - I attended a presentation by Phil White (one of the two Cervelo founders) in 2008 and as far back as then they were saying the bottles mounted at the front were the most aero option
But the revelation is that they might be quicker than no bottle at all !

http://lavamagazine.com/gear/free-speed-cervelos-tips-on-aerodynamic-hydration/#axzz1ZIecoPC4

Challenge Henley (Ironman Distance) race report

2011-09-19T15:42:00.003+01:00

This is my fourth Ironman distance event and they don't get any easier......

This year was all about the opening of the new shop, so I did not cycle nearly much nor did I go any European sportives that I love to do
But after everyone came back glowing from the Marmotte and the etapes I started to get itchy feet....
I needed to do something in 2011 to give me at least some focus

So I entered Challenge Henley in July and gave myself 11 weeks to get ready
The bike would be fine, but my first run was 10 weeks ago
It was 4 miles and I was so sore afterwards that I could not run again for a week
I began to realize there is a reason coaches set 24 week training plans !

Including the race itself I have only swam 5 times in the year since my last Ironman - its simply not enough....

The Race Itself

I found this a VERY tough day out
I have decided I prefer European events - firstly the weather is better, and secondly because of the distance etc I am 'committed'
All through the bike leg I was thinking about stopping and getting in the car to drive home !

6 weeks ago I crashed whilst cycling and damaged my shoulder - a Level 2 separation of the AC joint
Which meant no swimming till the event and a very dodgy swim action on the day !

I was faffing around at the start and eventually jumped into the water as the gun went off
There went my chance of a good draft!
I ended up doing 76 mins, which was 10-15 mins slower than previous times

Schoolboy error 1 was not putting warm kit on in Transition
Just went out on my soaking Tri suit and was freezing. My fingers were blue, and teeth were chattering
I later heard some guys pulled out with hypothermia!

I could not take any food or drinks through the first 2 feedstation as my hands were like clubs and had totally lost any feeling in my fingers
My head simply was not in it - I decided if I got a puncture I would not attempt to fix it and simply retire (its fate right??)
That way I would simply have had a mechanical, and would not have 'quit'

Once I had done a full lap I knew what was coming next and treated it like a job (look at power numbers, avoid stones, avoid potholes, over-take riders on the right and repeat....)

Fortunately it warmed up and morale improved

Bike itself was fine, if a bit samey (which we all knew about as it was 3 laps)
I live in Kent so am used to bad road surfaces but must admit I yearn for the smooth roads of Roth again....

Ended up doing 5hrs 15 on the bike
I have in my head that breaking 5 hrs is 'good' but this is not the course to be doing that on (or you need to be alot stronger than I am)

My mates were cheering for me at the end of the bike which put a massive smile on my face and was raring for the run

Schoolboy error 2
As I was starting my first lap a pro was starting his second
It felt easy so I ran with him until we got to the hill past the dirt track
When I looked at my watch I saw we had been doing 6.40min/miles
A little bit quick for me !

Even on the second lap I felt very good - it was the best I had felt all year and was convinced this tapering idea worked!
By lap 3 the wheels were starting to fall off
My hip flexors were like piano wire and my stride length must have halved.....
Small hills (including tiny bridge on the footpath) were like French cols
The second half of the run on the gravel/grass section was pretty but not exactly a quick surface

4 lap felt like a death march (I did 45 mins on lap one and 57 mins on my last lap)
Must run longer in training - 90-120 min runs simply will not cut it!!!!

Felt exhausted at the finish - lent across the railing and had a little cry to myself
Took me 10.05 - and it was a hard 10 hrs
Not one part of this course was easy for me and was racked with personal doubt throughout
But I finished it

At the finish line I was told I had finished 2nd in my Age Group and 24th overall (and 8th Amateur)
If I had known that during the bike and especially the run I would have tried to smile a bit more !

A big thanks to Ben Hallam for his work on getting my position to reflect the need to put less strain on my shoulder
We ended up raising the bars and widening the pads - and it was not sore at all
And thanks to Matt the Mechanic for his endless tinkering with my bike - it rode like a dream

Lastly thanks for all the support from you all - on the night before the event my phone was full of text messages of support
It meant the world to me

Assos winter collection - get your wallets out!

2011-09-16T19:30:00.014+01:00

A confession....
Much as I love Assos shorts, I don't actually wear much of their summer kit (mainly just Assos socks, gloves, arm-warmers and technical gilet on big rides)
I am very proud of our Bespoke Team Kit and like to wear that as much as possible
Its made by Giordana, and whilst the chamois pad is not as nice as the one on Assos shorts its is still very good indeed
Having great summer kit certainly helps riding enjoyment; clothes fit better, are more comfortable and sweat wicks better
But it would be an exaggeration to say that your summer clothes choice can make or break your ride

However as we approach Autumn and then descend into winter it gets far more serious indeed
As the weather deteriorates, technical clothing comes into its own.......
Being dry, and having a constant core temperature and warm feet and hands can be the difference from a 3hr winter ride on beautiful empty roads to a 60 minute misery-fest where you turn back early because you cannot change gear or brake (believer me, I have done both)

I firmly believe that Assos make the best technical cycling clothing in the world, and that their winter collection has always been the jewel in the crown.

The exciting thing is that this year the range is even stronger
I had heard great things about the new Assos winter collection as far back as this Spring
But it was not until last week that the rep came round with the new collection and I could see/try on for myself
I can confirm the hype is worth it - this is the biggest revamp Assos have ever done in one collection

Highlights for me were the new SturmPrinz rain jacket
It will cost a fortune but looks to be the best rain jacket in the world
Totally waterproof, yet light and breatheable with the classic Assos racing cut

The bonka is the new winter jacket. It does not replace the 851 but rather sits above it (and below the Fugu)
It felt wnderful, you really need to see it in the flesh to see all the different cuts and materials that have gone into the different sections. It will also come in 2 fits (an Assos first) - so there will be the normal 'Racing' fit, and a slightly more genteel version!
This is a very big move as it addresses the major issue a number of people have had with Assos sizing

And for those who are looking for the ultimate glove, look no further than the Fugu glove
(This replaces the 3 glove system they had last yr)

This is the new Winter glove and will be perfect for all but the very coldest of morning starts

The rain cap - regretaby this will be a must have in our sunny climes....

Assos have revamped their winter sock collection - I was skeptical of these when I saw the catalogue pictures but was a convert when I tried them on. Called 'fuguSpeer' (another name that just rolls off of the tongue) these have an airblock band at the front. Perfect on their own, or when the weather is exceptionally cold you can put another pair of socks on underneath

We are expecting our first shipment in the next 7-10 days so please come and see for yourself

Run with Mo Farah

2011-09-12T13:41:00.002+01:00

Dear all

On Wednesday 14 September, Holiday Inn the official hotel provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will host a free running club with world championship gold medallist Mo Farah.

Starting and finishing at Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park, the 5000m run is open to all running enthusiasts and fans of Britain’s best track and field athlete. The first 250 runners that complete the run will be rewarded with breakfast which will be served outside the hotel.

We would like to invite you to join Mo on the run.

Details
Date: Wednesday 14 September 2011
Meeting start time: From 07.00
Run start time: 07.30
Location: Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park, Carburton Street, London W1W 5EE
Run: 5000 metres unmarked route with Mo Farah
Fitness level: The Mo Farah running club is for runners with a good level of fitness who are very comfortable running 5000 metres
Running gear: All runners should turn up in proper running shoes and clothing to make sure they are comfortable during the run.

All participating runners run at their own risk. If you’ve got any health conditions, you should consult your doctor before running the Mo Farah free run.

Look forward to seeing some of you there!

The Holiday Inn London 2012 Team

Pretty in Pink

2011-09-12T09:58:00.003+01:00

This is Jules' new Parlee Z5
It has SRAM Red Black (which is LOVELY in the flesh), Dura Ace wheels and some Ritchey and 3T finishing kit
The whole bike looks wonderful
Why are girls so much bolder than the guys when it comes to colours !!

Dream winter bikes

2011-09-01T08:10:00.003+01:00

It used to be that a 'winter bike' was very much a poor relation
An ill fitting, heavy bike with all your old/unwanted parts
The bike would be a pig to ride and thus you would take your summer bike out whenever you could

Working with the guys at Firefly has been a breath of fresh air
Sure we have done a number of 'classic' road bikes with them this year, but the real beauty of their custom approach has been when it comes to putting modern twists on urban riding
Boston gets as bad weather as London, so the guys are well versed in the need for mud-guards, wider tyres, longer chainstays etc
Previously you had to use a long reach fork and brakes to get full mud-gaurds to work
We have now found a solution which removes this need, so you can use a dedicated Enve road fork and nromal road brakes
This saves almst half a pound in weight, and vastly improves stopping power
when spring comes you simply take the mud-guards off and pt them in storage for another year and you have a road bike that you can train, race and do sportives on

Just how cool are these custom mud-guards !

Gerald's FS Eriksen

2011-08-22T11:38:00.002+01:00

The latest in Gerald's wonderful fleet
A custom Kent Eriksen MTB with tubeless wheels, XT/XTR parts and a Yeti carbon rear end
Lovely !

Introducing Ben Hallam

2011-08-08T17:05:00.005+01:00

Ben is the newest member of the Bespoke family and I am thrilled to have him
He runs the Performance Lab here (Bike fit studio, treatment room and our Assessment room)

Being born into a cycling family, Ben was always destined to race bikes. His uncle, Ian Hallam, was 3 times Commonwealth champion on the track and Ben followed in his footsteps, winning the junior national pursuit championships as well as representing Great Britain at 2 Junior World Championships and 2 Under 23 European Championships. Ben also applied his pursuiting prowess to win multiple junior and under 23 time trial titles. While chasing the professional cycling dream, Ben spent 4 years living and racing on the road in France and Belgium which culminated in completing the Tour of Britain.

Looking for ways to use the sporting experience, Ben completed a degree in BSc Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention in 2010. The degree focuses on the assessment and treatment on musculoskeletal injury through electrotherapy, soft tissue treatment and therapeutic exercise prescription.

Ben has developed his bike fitting philosophy based on the principles that he learnt from the degree. The core principle to Ben’s bike fitting comes from Burke (1988) who said that the key thing to remember when setting a bike up is that “the body is adaptable and the bike is adjustable”. This means that:
A) The body will adapt to a bad position (compromising posture and core stability) and consider this to be “normal”.

B) The body and the bike must be assessed and adjusted simultaneously. Adjusting the bike to a poor posture will reinforce the poor posture and cap the performance potential of the rider.

C) Through treatment and corrective exercise, body has potential to adapt towards maintaining a good posture and position. Therefore, bike fitting often has to be a progressive process where the bike is adjusted as the body adapts.
Therefore, during the Retul bike fitting sessions, Ben will identify areas of tightness and weakness in the body that can cause incorrect movement patterns, decreasing performance and increasing the susceptibility to injury. Ben can then address these issues in a one to one to one clinical session.

Sidas custom footbeds are here

2011-08-02T14:46:00.002+01:00

When we hired Ben Hallam to run the bike fit studio/Performance lab I was delighted. He came with very high recommendations and little demands!
One thing he was insistent on was the Sidas footbed system as he has had great success with using it in the past
It arrived on Monday, and we have already had lots of bookings for footbeds - I think it will be a a great addition to the list of services we offer here

Look 695 (tester)

2011-07-29T13:42:00.006+01:00

In the UK Look and Zipp are imported by the same company
We do alot of Look pedals and Zipp wheels and our rep has been trying to get us to stock Look frames as well
It helps in that he has an ally in Ben, who used to race a Look track bike when he was with the GB U-23 squad....

I relented an said I was keen to have a look as I have heard great things on the 695 - but a test ride period would be vital !

Here is our tester - please feel free to come and borrow it (if you can grab it off of Ben!)

This thing will NOT flex
It also has a very clever system whereby you can change the angle of the stem - limiting spacers and increasing front end stiffness

The crank is sold as part of the fuselage and is a real star. Its super stiff and you can change the effective crank length (so you can experiment with 170 vs 175 for instance). It also takes both compact and standard chain-ring sizes, so you can change over for the marmotte and then keep the 53/39 when you are doing some racing.....

Wish you were here?

2011-07-26T17:13:00.001+01:00

Just got sent this from my mate Robert who has a place down near Kerry
I am super jealous !

Torque wrench review...

2011-07-22T12:22:00.001+01:00

We are seeing alot more demand for torque wrench - I really do think its a tool everyone should invest in. Its not cheap, but then neither are your bikes !

Here is a great review from Pezcyclingnews

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=9519&status=True&catname=Tech%20News

Drinking the Trek Kool-aid

2011-07-20T08:14:00.009+01:00

Greetings from Mayrhofen, a beautiful Ski resort in Austria where I have been a guest of Trek World
When I told Tom from Parlee I was going we engaged in some good natured banter and he warned me I would come back with orders for 50 pairs of Bontrager shoes, loads of town bikes etc etc !!

Its not been like that at all, but you will be seeing more Trek bikes at Bespoke going forward. Simply put they are amazing....

I spent half my demo rides on this bike - the top of the range 6.9 SSL
It only had a 39/25 on the back, and the climbs round here are epic steep (and its at altitude, and there have been plenty of evening refreshments). Excuses over, the bike climbed like a dream
I have been on Di2 alot recently, but I have forgotten how buttery smooth mechanical Dura Ace is

We have done alot of Speed Concept bikes in the last year, but to my shame I have not put a great deal of time on one myself (that will change as I have one coming very soon). However that was put right on this trip, and I loved it
It fit like a glove from the off, and I really like the 'wrist relief' aero extensions - it puts your hands in a great position.
This bike had the new Bontrager Aura wheels - they are being hyped as a 'Mavic carbone killer' as they test alot quicker in the wind tunnel. For under £900 I cannot think of a more aero wheelset - carbon wheels for every day rides!

Coolest bikes at the show were the new Andy and Fabian Team bikes they have just done for the boys at the Tour
The Andy bike looks so much better in the flesh than in the pics (and it matches our team kit perfectly!)

It will take a brave man, with very big legs to get one of these - but I hope one of you chaps do. Its absolutely jaw dropping in the flesh

How cool is that to look at!
Would certainly encourage you to dig that bit harder when you were starting to get tired !

Both team bikes are sporting the new D3 range of carbon wheels - they adopt the wider profile that has been popularized by HED and Zipp. Us mortals cannot get them until the start of the new year which is a nightmare as I would have bought them then and there if I could. For £50 you can choose white spokes and/or a choice of 12 decal colours. Perfect for you bike tarts !!

Giro SLX shoes in white FINALLY here

2011-07-11T09:40:00.000+01:00

And mighty bling they look too!

Fabian is in the house

2011-07-07T12:23:00.001+01:00

Big thanks to the lovely boys at Trek for helping us with our massive homage to the big man !

This is also a photo of Luke's new Speed Concept; yet another lovely TT build we have been privileged to work on
Does not get any better than this - Di2, SRM and Zipp tubs !

Building out our treatment room and performance Lab

2011-07-07T07:17:00.002+01:00

You will notice we have the builders in again!
We are building out the treatment room now, and also setting up a section where we can run the Performance Lab
To that end we have a Hypoxic Exercise System
Simply put it allows us to reduce the Oxygen you breathe whilst exercising which will then have a training effect as your body needs to become more effecient with the oxygen available

So when cycling in the real world it all of a sudden becomes alot easier !

We are setting it up now - more reports when we have had a good play ......

Phil's Firefly Ti

2011-06-24T16:11:00.004+01:00

Here is Phil's 40th birthday present
Phil was a very loyal IF customer, so it was really cool to be able to show him what Firefly was all about

The bike has Super Record, Deda Campione bars and Neutron Ultra wheels (though some carbon hoops may be on their way....)
Pic was taken before positional changes (see below)

And here is what Phi had to say after his first ride today:

Hey Bud:

Have started to dial the bike in, have dropped the stem by 10mm all ready and saddle by about 5mm, think the stem can go another 5mm at least but it's great to have the option and play around with things..., the tape is lovely, good recommendation, as are the cages if a little tight, just me getting used to them vs my old skool Ti Kind cages of the past, at least i won't lose any bottles!

Awesome bike, rides just as I expected and then some, very compliant and comfortable, yet responsive and agile when needed. Climbs like a goat seems much more efficient than the IF in many ways, speed, compliance, climbing and power to motion seems to be very responsive.

Quality of frame and fork is outstanding, finishing is exceptional

Basically took it out for 40miles along potholed and rough country lanes, it eats the road up, did quite a few climbs including a 20%, couple of 12% and one 17%, plus lots of smaller stuff around 7/8%, it is a lovely ride, one of those bikes that you just want to ride and then however far you've ridden do one more climb for the fun of it, even though your legs are saying no way:-)

Reckon that's testament to how sweet it is, I love it.

Please say a huge thanks to Jamie, Tyler and Kevin, they know their sh*t......

Paddy's Z2 custom with green tint clear-coat

2011-06-20T18:39:00.003+01:00

This is Paddy's all singing all dancing Parlee Z2 with internal routed Di2, Reynolds 32 carbon clinchers and our usual finishing kit
Paddy is off to the Marmotte in 2 weeks so we sent the bike to him on Friday for its first shake-down ride

Feedback was great - so very pleased indeed !

The clearcoat is a Kandy green tint (very similar to British racing Green) - its a shame the weather was so bad here as it pops amazingly in the sun...will just have to look out for it on the Marmotte !

Joining the tubeless revolution?

2011-06-16T06:46:00.002+01:00

So I have read all the hype:
Rides like a tubular with the convenience of a clincher etc etc
Time to try these tubeless wheels for myself and see if they are as just as all the hype

And these are "loaners", so very happy to share the love!

These are the new Shimano C24 wheels (carbon/laminate)
Hutchison Fusion 3 tubeless tyres
Effeto sealant - we put 35 mm in each tyre - interested to see if this works....

Detail ride report to come !

The last bike I will ever own??

2011-06-11T17:10:00.007+01:00

Its certainly the best bike I have ever had (and I have had a few !)

Its a Z1 custom with a wax finish and a wireless SRM and internally routed Di2
Am still playing around with finishing kit, but the Easton bars will definitely stay!

Wheels today are the lovely Reynolds 46 clinchers
For 'A' races I will put on some Zipp 303 tubs

I am a big fan of power - have not been using it for a while and have missed it. So I am going to get properly stuck back into my training now....

The star attraction - Parlee are now doing full internal Di2 routing on the Z1, 2 and 3
It makes the bike look super slick !

This is the Di2 satellite shifter - it means you can change gear when you are riding on the top of the bars. I love climbing in this position so was super excited when they finally became available to us mortals !

We decided to etch our logo into the fork - subtle but very cool !

And how does she ride?
Like an angel - seriously just ridiculously good
The frame arrived this week and I promised I would not ridden it until I got fitter and 'deserved' it. But I crumbled and am delighted I did. I have no excuses now and cannot make to put many a happy mile on my new dream bike

Its like being a kid at christmas all over again.....

Can's new Dogma

2011-06-09T17:25:00.002+01:00

Its always a happy day when we put together a Dogma !

Emmanuel's Z1 custom

2011-06-09T14:34:00.004+01:00

This bike was alot of fun to do
Emmanuel has 2 custom Ti bikes already, and was finally tempted to go to the dark side and go carbon...
The result is this beauty

Its a Z1, with custom geometry (hence the TT slope) and full SL tubing with an Enve 1,0 fork
The build kit is Super Record, Lightweight Clincher wheels and Ritchey carbon finishing kit (stem is a placeholder!)

Emmanuel's first ride was on the Dragon ride and he said the bike was amazing
Job done !

Are you running naturally Seminar - 23rd June

2011-06-06T17:28:00.001+01:00

On Thursday 23rd June at 7pm, Bespoke Cycling will host a Natural Running seminar with our friends at TCL (who distribute Newton shoes in the UK). The format will include a 20 minute presentation on Natural Running and Newton running shoes, followed by a 40 minute + practical session with drills and exercises to help aid Natural running style. The event will be limited to 35 people only, so please register your interest by emailing us.
Afterwards there will be informal drinks and the opportunity to chat 1:1 with natural running experts.

Ti tubing selection - a brief overview

2011-06-04T07:57:00.001+01:00

Guys
Just seen this on the Firefly site
Its another post on their truly excellent blog

http://fireflybicycles.com/1460#more-1460

Dogma Giro Edition

2011-06-04T07:48:00.002+01:00

We have just been told that a limited run of these special edition framesets will be coming to the UK
Cannot decide if I have the guts to get one !

More shop pics...

2011-05-31T21:58:00.003+01:00

We have finally gotten some decent pics of the new space
Enjoy......

This is the entrance (looking into the Assos room)

The main floor (looking backwards). To the very left is the club room and the service centre

The infamous Assos room !

This is downstairs - it was deliberately designed to be darker and more cosy than upstairs which has lovely high ceilings

Our 2XU/Newton/Bont concept room....

Robert's Z1 Pista with Kandy Apple tint

2011-05-28T12:28:00.003+01:00

This was great fun to build!
Its a Z1 Pista custom with a Kandy Apple Tint through the clearcoat
On sunny days it really 'pops' in the light

Robert already has a wax carbon Parlee Cross bike which is super stealth, so we wanted to create something very different

We tried to play up the contrast between the frame and the silver components so went with a Campag Pista cranks, Athena Silver brakes and a Thomson Masterpiece

The wheels are my favourite part of the build: Phil Wood hubs, DT Spokes and Mavic Open Pro CD rims

Robert is a Vet and his company's logo is of a Merlin - so we added this touch on the seat tube

Jamie's Firefly

2011-05-28T12:25:00.002+01:00

Here is our first (but certainly not our last) Firefly Ti bike
Jamie picked it up yesterday
He already has a Parlee Z3 so we took the SRAM force gruppo off of that and added some new Zipp 101 wheels

The frame really is a work of art - its also the lightest Ti bike we have built up which came as a surprise given the size of some of the tubing (the benefits of Press fit 30?)

Andrew's Z1 custom

2011-05-28T12:20:00.003+01:00

Its hard to make big bikes look elegant but I think we have done it with this one
Its a Z1 custom (it needs to be with a saddle height of 87cm!)

It has Super Record (with the Ti Spindle), Mavic Ksyrium SLRs, Easton SLX3 bars and 3T Team stem and post (to bring the red out of the super record....)

Rich's Z5 SL

2011-05-26T18:32:00.002+01:00

Speaking of stealth bombers, here is Rich's lovely Z5SL
The build is a mixture of my favourite things:
Record
3T post and stem
Easton SLX3 carbon bars

Duncan's Z1

2011-05-26T18:28:00.004+01:00

This is not a new bike, but has been refreshed somewhat with some Carbone wheels (taken off another of Ducan's bikes)
We agreed that they overpower the frame somewhat so a set o Zipp's lovely 404 Firecrest wheels will be on their way

Once the decals have been removed it will look a proper stealth bomber !

New Assos Heritage kits are here....

2011-05-23T13:39:00.003+01:00

And very nice they are too!

Giro's new shoes - Prolight SLX

2011-05-23T06:45:00.002+01:00

I heard about these shoes last year and then saw them at a rad show in February.
I was really impressed, but gutted when I was told there would be no free stock until August (how does that help me !!)
Imagine my joy when my Giro rep came over to finally see the new shop and said he wanted Giro in here and would make it happen pronto tonto
A week later a small batch of the new top of the range Prolight SLXs arrived

I will be doing a full test on them when I have more miles on them, and a proper comparison against my current shoes (and the industry benchmark) the SIDI Ergo 2s

First impressions could not be more favoiurable though - they feel astonishingly light, and this is confirmed by the scales of truth

100gms (or 50% weight reduction) is a huge amount at this level

More to come !!

The boss's bike

2011-05-19T15:47:00.003+01:00

Alas by boss I don't mean me!
This is from the 2002 Tour, LA had two made especially for the mountain stages, hence the use of only one STI lever which was done in an attempt to keep the weight down.

Legit Leopard bike in the house

2011-05-19T15:01:00.003+01:00

This just arrived from Trek UK - uber cool !
Its so much nicer in the flesh
The Trek decals are in carbon, so pop in the light

It was originally made for Thomas Rohregger the Austria team member, but after training on the bike he decided to go with a larger frame size.

Just a shame its not my size either.....

Brad's Dogma

2011-05-19T14:59:00.002+01:00

Always a sad day when a new Dogma leaves the shop....
This is Brad's new bike - its Bianca 536 and its a 57
Build kit is sweet - DA 7900 and DA carbon pedals, Reynolds Attack wheels and white Zero 100 bars (that way he can have white bars/black bar tape - a much more durable way for a bit of bling !)

A new era begins...

2011-05-17T20:16:00.000+01:00

Very, very exciting

Fast standing still...

2011-05-14T21:02:00.003+01:00

And other such cliches!

This is Simon's wonderbike - a Project One Speed Concept complete with Di2, a Quarq powermeter and Zipp 808s
We took this pic prior to the final fitting - 2 hours after this picture was taking we were fully dialed

I love fitting people to Speed Concepts as the front end is so adjustable, its a joy to work with and you can really dial someone's position

How clean is that front end to the wind.....

New long term test bike

2011-05-14T20:50:00.002+01:00

This is mine to play with - it a Z5 SL in Large with a Tall HT (for maximum adjustability if people want to borrow for test rides)
Its got full Super Record except I decided to mix it up and put a dedicated BB30 crank on it, courtesy of a Cannondale Hollowgram

Its got some Reynolds Attack demo wheels on as well

Bespoke Team saddle, Dura Ace carbon pedals and my favourite EC90 bars complete the package

Looking forward to this !

Party time!

2011-05-12T06:39:00.000+01:00

Why not all Ti is created equal....

2011-05-09T21:26:00.004+01:00

In the early '90s I remember Titanium being this mythical material that only these exotic brands like Merlin were made out of
(I wanted an XLM so badly, and I think a part of the reason I founded Bespoke was so that I would never again be tortured by not being able to have my dream frame. Of course I could have gotten a normal job, earned far more money and then bought any bike I wanted but best not dwell on that......)

A decade ago having your frame made from Ti was a badge of honour, a guarantee of quality (and an eye wateringly high price tag)
Lately Ti has been devalued considerably, with lots of cheap Ti - there are loads of £700-1000 Ti frames now, so much so that people quite rightly ask what all the fuss is about with the boutique brands that we prefer to work with

Best let the experts do the talking.....

http://fireflybicycles.com/1112#more-1112

Nice shoes...

2011-05-03T22:35:00.003+01:00

Giancarlo is moving into a new flat this week (his previous landlord convinced him that Dorking was only 25 mins way from EC1.....) and so he brought some of his clothes into work
These shoes stood out a mile away, and after some shop banter about Italians and their lack of style he told me they were made from Python skin and cost €1000
But the story gets even better.....

Mario Cippolini has a financial interest in luxury shoe shop (surprised?) and gave Giancarlo and some of the Saeco riders a pair of these when they were team mates at Saeco
How cool is that !

Form

2011-05-02T14:18:00.000+01:00

A month ago I said to Dean that I don't know when I am in shape but I certainly now when I am out of it

In hindsight I dont think that is true
The recent bout of 4 day weekends has allowed me to get some serious mileage in, and the benefits are becoming apparent;

-when climbing its a lovely feeling to shift down a gear and dig a bit harder whenever the gradient eases off slightly - a month ago I would have just enjoyed the respite

-my bike position now feels 'high' in the drops, and I want to lower the front end by 5-10mm (remember the body does not exist in a vacuum, and your bike position should reflect the changes to your riding style and fitness)

-climbs are something to be enjoyed rather than feared - I love the 'burn' you get when pushing on, and knowing that what is hurting you is also hurting your riding buddies

-when you feel fit you are keen to go to the front and drive it on; when you are not, its vital to hide!

-when you are fit 3 hr rides are extended to 5hrs - whilst in the off season I often start with good intentions but 2 hrs in I am ready to go home.....

Hope you are all enjoying your cycling as well and heres to a successful summer for us all

The Assos room is taking shape

2011-04-30T09:51:00.002+01:00

Bear with us - its open now (and feedback has been great so far) but I am hoping by this week it will finished
Here are some sneak peeks

The entrance

Here is a pic of one of the walls

Product test: Assos sV.blitzFeder

2011-04-29T18:39:00.003+01:00

Not a name to roll off of the tongue - the vest will now be known as the SV (the sleeved Jacket version is cunningly named the SJ)
Though its not meant to be called a vest - Assos prefer it to be known as a sleeveless shell as that is meant to better describe its windbreaker properties....
Confused?
So am I - BUT the main thing is that it is brilliant, and has been the best bit of clothing I have bought all year (replacing my beloved Habu5 Jacket which got me through the start of the year)

I wear the SV everywhere - riding into work at 6-7 am is not very warm so this gives much needed wind-breaker protection. Same for those ckeey early morning weekend rides and I imagine for everyone doing long rides or European trips this is a must have item -would be perfect for long Alpine descents when you can get quite a chill

Its made out of the Foil043 fabric which is super light, and does not rustle in the wind (a pet hate of mine)
Its best trick is how small it is - coming home from work (or 1 hr into a long weekend ride) you may no longer need the SV so you simply fold it up into the stuff-bag that is sown into it
Its is tiny, and takes up half a jersey pocket - and that is its best trick:
Use it and it is great, but if you dont need it it simply hides in your pocket taking up minimal room ready to bail you oit if the weather turns

Everyone who comes into the new shop is shown this vest, such is my excitement. Feedback from the chaps who have them has all been uniformly positive
Another resounding success from the clever chaps at Assos

Ps Yes - that is me in the photo....

We are closed this weekend

2011-04-29T17:27:00.001+01:00

Just to confirm, we will be shut for the long weekend as we have builders in (hopefully completing the work). We will be in again from Tuesday and that should hopefully be us fully operational

Looking forward to welcoming you all

Introducing Firefly Bicycles

2011-04-29T16:51:00.007+01:00

The best thing about my job is getting to meet new people and help them build their dream bikes. Our clients want genuine best in class products and a large part of my time is spent 'geeking away' to see what companies out there fit that bill and would be a welcome addition to our family.
The list of suitable companies is very small, so when a new one appears its very exciting indeed
It gives me immense pleasure to say we will be now working with Firefly Bicycles - I have known the guys for a number of years now (when they were at Independent Fabrication) and I love both their work and their passion for building dream bikes

http://fireflybicycles.com

Firefly Custom Bicycles was born out a deep love for handcrafting frames. Tyler, Jamie and Kevin have designed, crafted, and fit bikes for a combined 35+ years in the Boston area.

I am confident you’ll appreciate the intelligence, passion, meticulous attention to detail and quality materials that go into every frame they make. Every single Firefly bike is hand made in Boston, Massachusetts, from the highest quality stainless steel and titanium tubing. But their work extends beyond flawless craftsmenship.

"Our goal is not just to make world-class custom bicycles that fit and ride like a dream. We want to welcome each customer into the process, so they can experience their frame as we do, from start to finish. We want to make the experience intimate and personal, exemplified by the Firefly digital memory sticks we send with each frame, full of process and studio photos. We invite you to learn about our machines, tools, and stories on our blog and Tumblr. We believe that the deep connection to your bike and it's construction is what makes custom bikes truly special."

By staying small, with just three employees, and limiting their production, they have made time to give extra care to every frame and extra attention to every customer. The result is not just a custom bicycle, but a custom experience designed and executed to make you proud to own and driven to ride your Firefly.

We have three customer Firefly orders already confirmed - I will send as many pics and info as I can of the build process
Should be a great adventure for us all !

Welcoming Tom Sturdy...

2011-04-22T13:36:00.002+01:00

It gives me great pleasure to say that we have sponsored an athlete for the first time
Over the years a number of people have approached us, but its been the usual "I'm a Cat 1, can I have a free bike please"
With Tom it was very different - not only is he an exceptional athlete, but a bright guy as well and it was as much as his academic background as well as his sporting one that made us think this could be a great fit

His initial email to me contained this line
"I mentioned before that I have an engineering background with extensive experience with composites. This is my main reason for approaching you as I really appreciate the benefits of a Parlee!"

He is a brief blurb on Tom - the newest addition to the Bespoke team

With a long history in high level sport Tom started his athletic career in slalom kayaking where he progressed quickly to compete at international level within three years of taking up the sport. After a change of circumstances forced the end of this career Tom tuned his attention to the great outdoors and was soon venturing on, and leading expeditions around the world from alpine ascents to Arctic treks. This path led him to the Royal Marines where he scored highly in their notoriously gruelling selection process despite his young age. It was not until Tom attended Loughborough University that he was introduced to triathlon which he initially took up to maintain his fitness for the Marines.

Four years and two degrees later Tom is embarking on his career as a professional triathlete after a rapid rise through the ranks of triathlon which has seen him win regional and national titles along the way. Tom's involvement with Bespoke Cycling is no co-incidence; his academic background in Engineering, Aerodynamics and Sports biomechanics gives him a discerning eye when it comes to all things bike. He knows just what goes into making a bike go fast and sought out a shop that could provide the whole package and is looking forward to flying the Bespoke flag.

Having topped the domestic race scene last year this season Tom is racing throughout Europe in triathlons ranging from Olympic distance (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) up to the unique 222 events (2k swim, 20k bike, 20k run) and is looking to establish himself on the european professional circuit. As it stands his main focus for the season will be the ETU long distance championships to be held in Finland in August.

Check back here to follow his progress... We wish him every success !!

Giancarlo's Z5SL

2011-04-19T20:50:00.003+01:00

Giancarlo is the newest addition to the Bespoke family
He is a great guy with a fascinating background
He will be helping with sales and has vast experience to share
I will introduce him properly soon....

In the meantime here is his new 'work' bike

When you give a 60kg Italian climber a choice of what frame and kit to ride was I surprised he went SL, Campag Record and Boras?

Ed's Z5 SL (in Spain)

2011-04-18T15:33:00.002+01:00

Got a lovely email from Ed that I thought I would share

Hi Barry

I've sent you a couple of pics of the Z5SL slumming it around the badlands of Andalucia last week - might be useful for the blogsite?

I headed down there with a few guys from Reading CC and spent 6 days riding around some of the big climbs of the Sierra Nevada mountains, including the Alto de Velefique (known as the Alpe de Andulucia) and the Calo Alto. The climbs are awesome - not as epic as the biggest Alps but at this time of year you can do a 2 hour climb and 30 minute descent and see no more than 3 or 4 cars in that time - many of the roads are regularly resurfaced for the Vuelta and are as smooth as a test track.

The Z5 was a joy to take out there. The lightness made the climbing superb (even the plus 15%) and the stiffness and shape gave me the confidence the allow greater and greater speed on the way back down - and consequently I needed the brakes far less than in the past.

I hope that the shop is taking shape!

Cheers
Ed

Another new bike to play with

2011-04-17T19:47:00.003+01:00

This is 'my' 57cm Pinarello KOBH - well it is the classics season after all...
As you all know I am sure, the KOBH is similar to the Dogma but has a slightly longer TT, a higher fork and longer chainstays
I have only ridden it for 10 days now, but am really liking it
Its meant to be more forgiving and compliant than a Dogma, but it certainly feels stiff enough
Climbing out of the saddle and there is no flex in the BB or the HT/fork area at all
If anything it may be too stiff - but it may be that I just need to adapt my riding a bit!
Long w/e next week should be a perfect test......

Our display Dogma

2011-04-10T18:41:00.002+01:00

This beauty arrived this week
We took off the nice, but subtle. Shamal wheels and put on some Bora Ultras instead

Now its a proper race rocket, and all the colours match (especially the red from the Super Record gruppo with the Ti Spindle)

Its ours !

Alasdair's Trek Speed Concept

2011-04-10T18:36:00.002+01:00

This bike has a story...Alasdair initially bought the entry level Speed Concept Trek - the 7.0
But he had loads of exotic parts already; like the Zipp 808 tubs, and the Quarq powermeter
We got some HED Corsair bars which match the wheel decals perfectly
The end result looks like a millon bucks....