Australian_Mens_Fitness_2016_08_

AUGUST 2016 MEN’S FITNESS 89

How much
should I spend
on my bike?

■Every cyclist has
adifferentanswer
to this, depending
on what sort of
riding they’re
doing and how
deep their pockets
are, but there
are three main
options. There’s
the “bike to do the
job” that’s suitable
for weekend rides
and commuting,
hasanalloyframe
and entry-level
components, and
costsaround$800.
For something
alittlemore
special, with a
carbon frame
and race-worthy
components,
expect to pay
$2,000-$2,500.
Then there’s
the Ferrari and
McLaren club,
whichhavetop-
of-the-range
everything, are
better than the
bikes the pros ride
and can cost up to
$20,000. Perhaps
that’llhavetowait
for the midlife
crisis.

HowcanIhold

myowninthe

bike shop?

■Trytosoundlike

abikerider—here’s

your starter vocab.

Groupset

Collective noun for

gears and brakes

Cassette

Rear gears

Chainrings /

chainset

Front gears

Derailleur / mech

Mechanism that

changes gear

Deep sections

Wheelsthathave

adeeprim

Cadence

Pedalling speed

(revs per minute).

Pros average

90 rpm in a race

Functional

threshold

power (FTP)

Number of watts

youcanproducefor

an hour. To win the

Tour de France,

you’ll need to be

able to produce six

wattsperkiloof

bodyweight

Bunch

Agroupofriders

(a “peloton” in

aracescenario)

Through andof

Whenagroupof

riders take turns to

ride in the wind

Bidon

Water bottle

Bonk / knock

Running out of

energy due to not

eating enough

Brew stop

Acaféstoponalong

ride. Flat white?

Yes. Gra n d e

quad non-fat

no-whip mocha?

On your bike

Youcouldspend$20kona

bike but the important thing is

buying one to match your goals.

PRO TIP!

Will a helmet save my life?

Obviously if you wipe out hard and

smashyourhead,you’regoingtobe

better o if you’re wearing a helmet than

not. However, Olympic gold medallist

and cycling activist Chris Boardman

thinks it’s the cycling infrastructure

atlarge–basically,theroadsandcycle

lanes—thatmakesthemostdierence

to safety, noting that the Dutch have

the lowest rates of cycling head injuries,

despiteonly0.8%ofthemwearing

helmets. Crucially, all helmets have

to pass the same safety standards,

soforkingoutmorewillresultin

better-looking and more aerodynamic

headgear, but not necessarily safer.

Foil bikes have racked up

stage wins in the Tour de

France, Milan San Remo

and Liege Bastogne

Liege, so you know it’s

the real deal. The all new

Foil Team Issue is even

more aerodynamic and

comfortable than

before. Plus, the HMX

Carbon fibre frame

has been completely

redesigned to provide

less drag, which will help

you gain those extra

precious seconds you

need to beat your mates.

scott-sports.com

ESSENTIAL GEAR

Scott Foil

Team Issue