💸Stage 104: How to survive on a pro cycling camp

The best bike save of the year and how to get into crit racing

A folding bike that I want to buy, an old Specialized that should come back and how an African nation is preparing to host Road Worlds. And, even MORE insane bike handling from Tom Pidcock.

Hello,

Welcome to another N+1 newsletter from a beautiful day in Girona. There are clear blue skies, the sun is shining and our balcony doors are wide open. We have bike racing on the TV and almost our whole house is on the rest day.

This past weekend was a rough one on the bike. I had four and a half hours on Saturday with some savage intervals, and then five and a half with intervals on Sunday. It’s safe to say I’m enjoying having my feet up!

Happy Pedalling,

Joe

Feel free to email me at joe@nplus1.cc if you have any questions, or feel I’ve missed something that is worth putting in the Newsletter.

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N+Read 🗞

Why gravel cycling is the next big thing

If National Geographic say that gravel cycling is important then I’ll agree with them. This article is great and offers a non-cyclist perspective.

To quote: “‘Gravel cycling, like cargo trousers and bucket hats, has the strange quality of being both a hot trend and a total throwback.”

⏱ 4-minute read

The £2,500 folding bike

The latest Brompton-CHPT3 combination has been launched this past week costing a whopping two and a half thousand pounds.

It features a titanium fork stem and rear triangle and is 0.5 kg lighter than the standard Urban model.

I want one, a lot.

⏱ 3-minute read

Preparing Rwanda for the World Championships

Rwanda will make history in 2025 by becoming the first African nation to host the Road World Championships. A cycling-mad nation, the Tour of Rwanda has been happening for almost two decades.

But, a World Championship? This is the story of how a Belgian ex-pat is helping them to prepare.

⏱ 3-minute read

A radical new frame design

Are Specialized in changing the world of cycling forever with a radical double diamond frame? Specialized are calling it a “strut”, which effectively eliminates the bottom part of the seat tube and instead increases the size of the rear triangle.

Will this be the design for your next frame?

⏱ 4-minute read

Bring back the Specialized Venge

Is this Specialized Tarmac too boring? A jack of all trades, master of none type bike, it’s good but it’s not incredible. The Venge pushed boundaries, the Venge was different, it was radical.

Bring back fun bikes, stop being boring!

⏱ 5-minute read

How to win a Criterium

Criteriums are some of the highest-intensity racing that you can do. Usually, an hour-long on a short, tight circuit, it is the fastest and most fun form of bike racing

This article explains how to get into crit racing, are you up for it?

⏱ 4-minute read

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N+Tweet 🎲

INEOS Grenadiers @INEOSGrenadiers

Where we're going we don't need roads!!! 😲 Another amazing piece of bike handling from @tompidcock to add to the collection 🤘

Tom Pidcock, the King of Bike Handling.

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N+Listen 🎧

Alex Dowsett is the King of Marginal Gains. The most successful British TT-er of all time based on National Titles, as well as Commonwealth and Grand Tour wins.

Getting the most out of your bike is something that every cyclist strives to do. This is how the now-retired Brit made his mark on pro-cycling.

⏱ 88-minute listen

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N+Watch 👀

Tristan Cardew is an amateur cyclist and videographer from Australia living in Girona. A very strong cyclist, Human Powered Health invited him to their training camp, and this is how it went.

⏱ 47-minute watch