The 3D Print Revolution

We all know what it is, and it is coming. 3D printing isn't new, its actually been around for decades now however has been mainly used from medical to industrial purposes. But now slowly bike brands are beginning to EMBRACE 3D printing to produce one-off concept and components. You may recall that the time trial bars on the track bike Sir Bradley Wiggins used for his hour record attempt were 3D printed, or the 3D printed titanium lugs used in the German VRZ 1 frame.

3D Printed Handlebar for Hour Attempt

So what makes 3D printing so useful to the bike market? Put simply we're able to bring a concept or design, created or scanned and process it into a three-dimensional object. 3D printing has yielded some fantastic designs that usually would only be possible through handmade molds and casts. 

DFM01

So why has it only been the past 5 years were 3D printing has started to be used in this industry? Put simply COST. It was very expensive to use a 3D printer. Thanks to technology the process is cheaper and able to produce objects at a higher quality. 


The DFM01 is the world's first 3D printed titanium bike that can be commercially viable. The whole bike weighs a solid 6.8kg with a frame cost of $4800 - $5000 which isn't bad value considering some frames in the market will set you back up to $8000. However it's not all about cost, the genius of Triple Bottom Inc the creators of this bike is that they say "it can be customized for each individual cyclist, taking in account their weight and height as well personal preferences". I can't help but go back to a previous post of mine Your Next Bike Could Be A Custom Build. I change my view on the future. Now I say your next bike will be a custom build and will most likely be 3D printed. 

dfm01 dETAIL

Running vs Cycling

What's quicker? Cycling or running? 

This great video produced by Max Joseph puts running against cycling in a 5.5km commute through the heart of London during rush hour. Watch the video before reading on..

Interestingly the run was faster. Despite the bike taking an early lead, traffic and stop lights eventually attributed to its loss. An example of the tortoise beating the hare. 

From the video the run was physically more taxing than the cycle and that if the commute had been a longer distance, the likely winner would be the bike. Although the bike would probably the more stressful of the two. 

What would be interesting to see would be a comparison to public transport as well. We're all aware that cycling is one of the fastest forms of transport in London, but how much faster? Or even if this experiment were to be carried out in numerous large cities by other people to determine what is the faster commute, cycling or running.

Top 5 Best Looking 2016 Time Trial/Triathlon Bikes

Time trial and triathlon bikes are all about speed. But that doesn't stop brands coming out with some stunning designs that not only look fast but are pieces of modern art too. In no particular order these are my top 5 best looking 2016 tt / tri bikes.

1. Cube Aerium C:68
Designed via CFD in conjunction with F1 engineers from Swiss Side and Cube's own development team. The Aerium C:68 is certain to stand out thanks to its unique frame design and fitted with Swiss Sides own Hadron 80+ wheelset the C:68 is a stealth speed machine.

Cube Aerium C:68

2.Canyon Speedmax CF SLX

The Canyon Speedmax CF SLX is more function over style. Big on integration like most brands now, the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX is the Swiss army knife of tri and tt bikes. Storage compartments directly in front of the seatpost for essentials as well as further storage for food that Canyon call their "Energy System". The front fairing also doubles up as a aero water bottle. 

Canyon Speedmax CF SLX

3. Scott Plasma 5

With a front end that looks like Knifehead from movie Pacific Rim. The Scott Plasma 5 is an intimidating machine. Aggressive styling make the Plasma 5 a bike you don't want to get caught by on the road.

Knifehead

Scott Plasma 5

4. Argon 18 E-119 Tri+

Smooth Clean lines, the Argon 19 E-119 Tri+ has an elegant design when compared to many modern day rivals. Big on integration like the bikes mentioned previously. Though one of the Argon 18's aesthetic highlights are the position of the rear brake. Conventional in that it is in between the seat stays and seat tube. But the horizontal position in unique to the Argon 18 new tri range. 

Argon 18 E-119 Tri

5.Bianchi Aquila CV

Breaking the rules this bike isn't new, but I couldn't leave it out. Beautiful Italian styling, gave birth to the Bianchi Aquila CV is arguably one of the best looking tt bikes in the market. Natural flowing lines, the Aquila CV looks like its moving when stationary. No storage or detachable fairings for triathlons to ruin the design, this Bianchi Aquila CV is as stylish as it gets. 

Bianchi Aquila CV

Tech worth a mention - See Sense ICON

A safety light that you could see in your local bike store soon is the See Sense ICON. Like many safety lights coming onto the market featuring some form of connectivity via Bluetooth or ant+ to a smartphone or hub this light is bang on trend.  

The See Sense ICON features Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone enabling control of the light settings from your phone as well as download firmware updates and unlock other features yet to be established. 

What really catches my eye is the 'crash alert' feature that sends an alert to a nominated contact. I believe this would be extremely useful for commuters and racers alike as we are not always cycling with a buddy or group. Furthermore a smart Theft Alert is sent to your phone in the event your bike is stolen. Although no one in their right mind would leave lights on their bike unattended its still a nifty idea. Finally the ICON has a feature called the "Intelligent Sensor" that will adjust the brightness and pattern of the light depending on conditions.  

So now to some technical details. The See Sense ICON will put out 95 lumens at the rear and 160 lumens at the front. There is the option to choose the ICON + which will add 30 lumens and 50 lumens over the standard model. The ICON also has an IP67 rating ensuring proper function in the worst weather and a 15hr run time should be more than sufficient for a days riding.

The See Sense ICON is a light, theft alarm and crash sensor in a smart little package. At 94.00 will get you a front and rear set on their funding page which is good value considering what you get as a light set.

More information can be found on their Kickstarter Project See Sense ICON  I would act quick if you want to help fund this product as there's less than three weeks left.

Five tips to make waking up for morning training easier

1. Set multiple alarms
Setting an initial alarm 15-30 minutes earlier before your main alarm allows your body enough time to wake up from your deep sleep state. 

2. Prepare your equipment the night before
There's nothing worse than looking for a piece of clothing or equipment in the morning. By having everything organized from your clothing to your on the go snacks in one area takes the stress out of getting ready.

Furthermore, prepare you breakfast the night before before you go to sleep. By doing this, you save time which means you can set your alarm later. 

3. Wake with the sunrise
It's easier to wake up in the morning with the sun shining into your room. So open those curtains and let the light in.

4. Get to bed early
You need a decent amount of sleep to wake up in the morning, aim for at least 8 hours of sleep. This will help prevent tiredness during training and your day.

5. Have a training goal for the morning. You'll be more motivated to wake up if you have a goal you want to accomplish.

Five cycling events to train for next year

Autumn is here and we all know what that means! It's time to get out the warm gear and start dusting off the turbo trainer.

With all but a few sportive's and gran fondos left on the calendar it's time to start looking at the year ahead and map out some goals to hit next year. So here are my top five road events you could train for next year!

1. Conquer an Everest
Okay so not technically an event but a challenge none the less. Everesting has exploded onto the cycling scene and is gaining popularity across the globe. The idea is simple, pick a hill and ride up and down that hill until you've cycled the height of Mt. Everest. Given that the rides can average between 300km - 500km and easily last over 15hrs in the saddle with minimum breaks. With it's high failure rate, this is a challenge not to be taken lightly. 
Website: Everesting.cc

2. L'Etape du tour
Hugely popular, follow the Tour De France route of the professionals. Do the whole 2 weeks or take part in a few stages. This event is hugely popular so get in your entry before it's too late.  
Website: L'Etape Du Tour

3. Milan San Remo Sportive
This historical route of 294km takes place on June 5th and covers virtually the same route as the professionals. Not only is distance a challenge the route includes short punchy climbs such as the Poggio, Cipressa and Passo Del Turchino. Be sure to get those hill reps in.
Website: Milan San Remo

4. 24hr Relay Race
There's nothing more rewarding than completely a challenge as a team or with a bunch of mates. Nor is there many events where you can cycle throughout the night. Even if you don't take this event to seriously, the atmosphere during the event is enough to make you sign up again after taking part once. Do your research and you'll find qualifying races that if successful you could be riding the Nurburgring Ring for free later in the year.
Website: Rad Am Ring

5. Gran Fondo New York - Mont. Ventoux
This particular gran fondo started this June this year and is part of the Gran Fondo New York World Series. 130km taking in three categorized climbs before finishing on the summit of Mont Ventoux. The distance of the route gives an indication of how tough the route really is as it is shorter than most gran fondos and sportives you'll come across. This definitely is not a gran fondo for beginners. 
Website: GFNY Mont Ventoux