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CONTENTS BIKE-MAG.COM
INSIDE SEPTEMBER 2021
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THE ULTRA ROAD
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MTB ALQUEVA LAKE!
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AGAINST ALL ODDS
KENT, SUSSEX AND SURREY
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THE RIDGEWAY TRAIL
PLANT POWER!
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SHKODËR TO POGRADEC (ALBANIA)
the cycling journal
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WELCOME BIKE-MAG.COM
WELCOME to the September issue! As daylight hours begin to slowly dwindle and Autumn approaches, the government has launched its much-delayed Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP), to mixed reactions from the wider transport and energy industries and, indeed, environmentalists everywhere. While some have welcomed it as a big step forward, others have derided it for its limited reach and lack of urgency, in terms of both technological measures, and also ways in which it might effect behavioural change. And it’s behavioural change, which we as a society and planet, would see the most benefits from. Reacting to the TDP, energy policy expert, Professor Noam Bergman from the University of Sussex Business School, said: “While it is good to see the government fleshing out more of its low-carbon transport strategy, there are still limitations to its approach. “Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, told Parliament: ‘It’s not about stopping people doing things, it’s about doing the same things differently. We will still fly on holiday, but in more efficient aircraft, using sustainable fuel. We will still drive, but increasingly in zero emission cars’.” “Therein lies the rub. The underlying assumption here is that technology is the solution, and all we have to do is buy a ‘clean’ car or a ticket on a ‘clean’ plane, but not change our practices or behaviour. This approach risks undermining efforts for a deeper transformation of transport. Ambitious action with communities having a say on greening their transport options should start now.” So, if technology isn’t the solution, then what is? The government has stated its ‘ambition is to make cycling and walking the natural choices for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey by 2040’, so surely
it would have made sense to have given cycling, and provisions for cycling a much larger focus in the plan? With more than 300 cycling and walking schemes having already been installed, Shapps stated “we have clear evidence that, where they are done properly, they work and are popular”. Surely a no-brainer? Cycling rose by 46% last year, a greater rise than across the whole of the previous 20 years and easily the biggest increase in post-war history, so it seems that ‘communities greening their transport options’ is already underway, but where is the nationwide push to get all of us on our bikes? Cities, such as Bath and Edinburgh, have been home to the very first Sustrans traffic-free path and a well-developed network of on and off-road routes, respectively. They have both long been cycling strongholds with proactive councils and strong local cycling advocacy. It would be good to know that similar approaches were being extended nationwide in national schemes, even into the countryside, with a centralised push to de-technify the way in which we get around, with a focus on eliciting the behaviour changes which we need to see in society in order to truly decarbonise. This could be done by fully promoting a mode of transport that is not just good for the environment, but also good for ourselves. I hope you enjoy this issue and feel suitably inspired to get out on your bike. If you’ve had any adventures of your own, or have any other cycling related news, views and stories you’d like to share, then please don’t hesitate to contact me at barnaby.dracup@ bike-mag.com
Barnaby is a Personal Trainer Level 4, twins dad, writer & editor oxtedpersonaltraining.co.uk
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Front Cover: David Cachon Photo by David Ponce
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BIKE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2021
RIBBLE BIKE-MAG.COM
THE ULTRA ROAD
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RIBBLE BIKE-MAG.COM
A road bike designed with a simple brief – to be the fastest aero road bike in the world. Not just designed to be the fastest when tested in isolation, but the fastest in the real world.
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Which means the fastest with both bike and rider. The Ultra Road project has explored previously unbroken ground, evaluating the relationship between bike and rider which is critical to maximising real world performance. This approach required a new mindset, with openness to change and a devotion to aerodynamic advantage. Utilising new technologies and intelligent design to unlock every incremental and measurable performance benefit. This is a bike that takes the essence and adrenaline of high-performance road cycling to the next level. Whether competing on the world stage, your local criterium or pushing for that all important personal best, the Ultra delivers a measured, proven, and tangible performance gain. Resulting in the same speed for less effort or same effort for more speed – both as
important as each other depending on the circumstances of your challenge. Designed as an uncompromising, superfast aero road bike, the Ultra project has culminated in a platform that everyone who appreciates performance gains, can ride, to true realisation. Developed to offer unrivalled aerodynamic performance through market-leading design and innovation, every aspect of the Ultra has been analysed in detail, redesigned, tested, enhanced, and re-tested to increase aerodynamic optimisation. Through comprehensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wind tunnel and real-world analysis the Ultra has consistently delivered a clear performance advantage. Not just at pro rider speeds (13m/s or 29mph) but also at speeds experienced by the everyday road cyclist (10m/s or 22mph) with the gains being even more significant at the lower test speed.
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At 20mph approximately 80% of the rider’s effort is overcoming air resistance and this only increases the faster you travel, so aerodynamics must play an essential role in the development and measurement of the performance of a bike designed to give the rider a competitive advantage. When designing a bike with such a challenging brief we needed a clear, proven, and consistent benchmark. We specifically chose the race-winning, superlight and aerodynamically optimised Endurance SL R Disc because it was a frame platform that we knew inside and out. Just as crucially, it had already undertaken an aerodynamic optimisation project that resulted in substantial drag reductions being made when compared to a conventional road frame. Therefore, it had the test data to support its
performance attributes. It was also a platform that had performed at the very highest level in the real world. Pro riders from the Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling and the Drops Racing teams securing multiple victories and riding hundreds of thousands of miles in all racing and training scenarios. The development process for the Ultra project was extended way beyond simply designing a bike that was as slippery through the air as possible. As we progressed through the project it became very evident that the aerodynamics of the bike have a significant positive or negative impact on the rider particularly on elements of the bike that are directly downstream of the rider. Through this analysis we examined in minute detail how the airflow from specific areas of the bike can be manipulated upstream (in front of the rider) to
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maximise their positive aerodynamic impact on the rider downstream. CFD and wind tunnel testing remain the most detailed, consistent and repeatable methods by which aerodynamic performance can accurately be explored and measured. Extensive CFD was first utilised to analyse and understand the behaviour and impact of the airflow on the bike and rider in order to define the profile of each specific area of the bike. In order to ensure that the design was as close to real world as possible we always tested with bike and rider and we always ran each individual profile section and each iteration of the complete frame
design through a full YAW sweep from 0° (head on) to 20° (extreme cross wind) including a minus sweep where required to ensure that the frame, fork, seat post and handlebar were all optimised to perform from an aerodynamic and handling perspective. When we had confidence in the design from a CFD perspective we moved onto rapid prototyping allowing us to further study form, ergonomics, component integration and compatibility before wind tunnel testing for further analysis and verification of the output from CFD. The first rideable samples were then created for real world testing to fully realise the aerodynamic gains we
had made and fine tune the weight, handling and ride characteristic through the carbon layup of the frame. It is important to note that all the final test data presented for the Ultra is for bike and rider together. Whilst this is different from the industry standard where aerodynamic performance is most often quoted for the bike in isolation. As we have demonstrated through the analysis and conclusion of this project, the bike on its own only tells part of the story. To understand the full performance of a bike you need to understand how the airflow interacts with the rider and the resultant gains made by the bike and rider as a total package.
To ensure we remained consistent and repeatable throughout the process and across the different forms of analysis and testing, we first took a full digital scan of our test rider to use extensively through the CFD process and then used the same test rider in our wind tunnel testing to maximise the repeatability and accuracy of testing from CFD to Wind Tunnel and then the real world. We also tested across multiple riders in the wind tunnel using male, female and a mannequin to simulate the aerodynamic effect across different rider forms combined with the ultimate repeatability of the mannequin.
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ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE BIKE-MAG.COM
AN ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE Written by Thomas Wibberley
Cyclist with world events are becoming more prevalent and are going to be an important way in which we can all help to reduce global carbon emissions, cyclists need visibility and to be visible… We’ve think we’ve found a brilliant light combo
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ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE BIKE-MAG.COM
The Allty 2000 and Seemee 200 come in similarly smartly packaged boxes with neatly laid out parts with a bold black and orange theme. First impressions are important and it’s nice to see the packaging design not look too cheap or an afterthought. With the lights out of their package let’s look at some of the features Comparing in size an average 800 lumen from another maker - The Allty 2000 ends up being all in all not too much of a size difference. It has an increased thickness towards the front of the light which houses its dual beam pattern lights with an additional light above going across. The Seemee 200 on the other hand is mostly uniform in size
A fantastic feature of the Allty 2000 and Semee 200 lights are its versatility with mounting options. Almost as ubiquitous as a go pro mount Allty and semee is compatible with garmin quarter turns, it makes it really easy to have fixture options on multiple locations on your bike or helmet. Magicshine have come on leaps and bounds in their attempts for standardisation. The quarter turn garmin mount is now a staple feature on many of their products. This is in stark contrast to some direct competitors who use proprietary mounts as default and don’t offer Garmin mounts either without paying a premium or just not offering it at all! No one like proprietary mounts, they are unfriendly to swap an unnecessary R&D cost and usually of lower built quality
!
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Allty 2000 Existing are two enhanced high power LEDs with a high efficiency optical lens that can output a maximum 2000 lumens of light. Dual beam angle design (left flash angle 25°; right spot angle 18°) will emit a balanced amount of light, giving broader and brighter road coverage. The daytime running lights are a fantastic profile to just leave on whilst riding during the day. Whilst they do not provide enough light to see with, it is a great low wattage addition to improve bike visibility to other drivers as well as pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. It also allows the Allty 2000 to seconds as a flashlight when parking your bike in the dark. Allty 2000 is a reliable partner when you are riding on the trail and bush. The dual LED design does a great job at lighting the road with a good blend of horizontal beam spread and throw to bring you the utmost riding experience. Due to the narrow body, the Allty 2000 doesn’t have as much spread as the wider Magicshine mountain bike lights, but it’s more than enough for road riding or commuting with. The numerous light profiles are impressive but cycling through them whilst riding and actually knowing exactly which profile you are on can become a little awkward. Until you see it you don’t quite realise how bright 2000 lumens is - It’s a great power feature to hold especially if you are looking to light up an entire woodland area but economically speaking I would definitely recommend going at a lower power level for casual use. You’ll get much more life out of a single charge and you’ll still get plenty of ray power to illuminate your way especially if you are traversing a semi urban area. Run times are pretty impressive clocking in anywhere from 1.50h at 1800 Lumens 1H at 2000 Lumens if you run it all the way down at 100 lumens you will get 10 Hours out of this light. Holding the silicon power button down you will activate the light at its default
setting. With its handy OLED display above you will see both your current battery level and also intermittently how much time left you have at your current intensity. Double tap the power button to cycle through all of the Altty 2000 various lighting options and single tap for lighting levels. If you don’t already have a mount, Magicshine includes a simple plastic handlebar mount with a padded rubber strap. The mount is similar to the Monteer 1400 and requires an allen key to rotate a bolt and loosen/ tighten the rubber strap. We’ve seen reports from people that the strap cracks with excess tightening, but we haven’t had any issues despite long term use with the Monteer 1400. We recommend picking up the Magicshine TTA out-front-mount of a similar style mount to avoid cluttering the handlebar. Note, you can also mount with an all front garmin style mount as aforementioned. With the caveat of an absent USB-C charging port the Allty 2000 is an all over modern and sleek all-in-one bicycle light. While some other lights on the market still use cheap plastic like clip designs Allty has an unique elongated rounded square body and the Seemee straps are nice to the touch and functional with design intent. The top portion of the body feels like aluminium and has a frosted black
texture, while the bottom portion and cartridge door feel like plastic. The cartridge door uses the same quarter turn design as the Monteer 1400 and is easy to open/close. A simple 90 degree turn metal plate to the rear of the
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light unlocks the battery for easy removal or replacement. Turning it back with the use of a coin or similar will lock the battery back into place. Allty 2000 has a cartridge style 3500 mAh battery and replacements are readily available on the Magicshine website. One of the best features of the Magicshine Allty 2000 is the OLED screen on top which displays the current output mode, battery level and alternates between percent battery left and current run-time left. With this feature, you don’t have to guess how much battery is left based on one or two colors, and have realtime information on the battery level. Additionally, on power-up the Magicshine logo splashes on the screen which is a slick touch.
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Specification overview
Package Includes:
Specifications:
Dimensions:
•
Allty 2000 is a multifunctional bike light with maximum 2000 lumens of light output
1 x Allty 2000 (Battery pack included)
LED: CREE XM-L2
Length - 99mm Width Diameter - 42mm
High efficiency optical lens, the high side visibility design can increase the warning effect
3 x Silicone strap
Runs On: 2 x 3.6V 3500mAh 18650 battery pack (Included) Max beam distance: 165m
Weight: 183g
•
•
•
Daytime running light will be easier for drivers and pedestrians to notice you and increase safety Creative OLED screen can indicate lighting mode, battery level and available running time for all brightness levels
•
Removable battery pack with 7000mAh super capacity
•
Compatible mounting method, it can be installed on the computer mount or via GoPro camera mount with Garmin mount
•
Memory function allows you to turn the light on at your chosen brightness
•
IPX 5 waterproof rating, the product will not be affected by water sprayed from all directions
1 x Handlebar mount
1 x Micro USB charging cable 1 x 3mm Hex
Brightness Output: Level 1: 2000 - 1 Hour Level 2: 1000 Lumens - 2 Hours Level 3: 500 Lumens - 3 H 30 Mins Level 4: 200 Lumens - 8 H 30 Mins Waterproof: IPX5
Height Diameter - 39mm
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Seemee 200 What took me by surprise most on this joint review is just how unexpectedly bright this small light is. For such a compact cube like device that fits in the palm of your hand iit really does pump out a lot of light juice. The most powerful model in the Seemee bike tail light series, the Seemee 200 has a 200 lumen main light and a secondary tracing light, providing optimal visibility for urban and road cyclists.
on-off flash output (better suited for daytime riding). In low-light situations, the output mode switches to a low power – high power flash setting to improve nighttime visibility.
modes, four flash modes and the slick ‘smart’ mode for a total of 8 settings. A single click cycles through the different levels and a double click to alternate between the main steady –
The primary rear LED light provides the Seemee 200 with the majority of its light output and the smaller LEDs surrounding it in a halo shape provide an additional uniform glow. The product feels solid with the durable plastic finishing parallel. Plastic near the main light is slightly transparent, barely noticeable when not powered on and providing side light exposure. A very nice design feature that doesn’t compromise functionality.
The Seemee 200 is a breeze to fit, easily mounting to helmets, backpacks and seatposts, and with an IPX6 rating – able to resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water – it should carry on flashing whatever the weather due to its great seal and solid construction with a IPX6 rating.
The Seemee 200s most impressive feature is something that sets itself apart from the competition with its smart downwards and dome-like encapsulated smart light. It is activated when the built-in ambient light sensor detects low light. Its output illuminates in a wide degree fashion for superb visibility. The downward LED is only activated at night, where it is most effective at improving the side visibility. One drawback to the downward LED is that the run-times are significantly reduced leading us to believe the LED may possibly be too bright. Circling back to the smart mode, if the sensor detects higher ambient light, the smart mode has a slower
The three steady modes are: low (30 lm), medium (70 lm) and high (140 lm) with run-times that vary from 2.5 hrs to 12 hrs. Instead of only having the typical on/off flash, Magicshine has added four different flash patterns: breathe (ramps up from 0 lm to 140 lm and back to 0 lm), comet (ramps down from 140-0 lm), flash (standard on/off at 140 lm) and finally interactive (alternatively flashes the inner and outer rings at 140 lm). The runtimes for flash modes vary from 3 to 25 hours, and we particularly like the breath and interactive modes for their uniqueness. The last mode is called ‘smart’ and as we discussed in the previous section utilizes the ambient light sensor to switch between 140 lumen flash or a 10-140 lm night mode flash.
On the top face lies a slightly proud rubberized backlit power button. This is super easy to operate and to cycle through the lighting profiles similar to the Allty 2000. Magicshine has programmed three constant
flash – smart setting groups. With the Seemee 200, the ambient light sensor also controls whether the downward LED is activated in all the modes, which means the run-times per mode also vary depending on day or night.
Seemee 200 us charged via plugging the included USB A > USB mini cable, the cable is a little short for easy charging. Again we’d love to see a charger option with the newer USB-C charging port but it’s definitely more convenient than replacing your own batteries all of the time. On reflection to the Seemee 200 its focus beam with an outer 360 degree halo light is like nothing else we have tested here at bike, especially when factoring the Seemee accelerometer downlight that will indicate
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to others when you are applying your brakes. Its offers a perfect pairing with the Allty 2000 With both of these lights combined you’ve got a good chance of being spotted in London probably from Timbuktu. Specification overview •
200 lumens max main light, 260 degrees visibility, visible from more than 2 miles away
•
360 degrees visibility secondary light, forming a circle of light under the rider
•
Brake sensor triggers 200 lumens brake strobe mode
•
Ambient light sensor adjusts light mode for optimized visibility
•
Low power mode: Power saving flash mode triggered at 5% battery and lasts 20 min
•
Constant and 3 flash modes, 3 brightness modes
•
1.5 hours runtime on highest brightness constant mode
•
40 g in weight
•
USB rechargeable
•
Various mounting options
Overall, whilst reflected in their price and not without their imperfections the Magicshine Allty 2000 + Seemee 200 are one of the best bicycle lights set we’ve tested. We expect Its premium design to endure and to even outperform newer releases of competitors for a respectable time. Keep your eyes peeled on Bike-mag reviews to see if anyone knocks Magicshine off our current top recommended spot. If you have any questions on any of these products the folks over at Magicshine can be found at https:// magicshine.com they’ve been around since 1999 and have really taken steps to modernise their lighting solutions to match the market’s modern needs.
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