In previous editions of the road.cc DealCatcher we established the tenacity and resilience of our DealCatcher. The tireless search for bicycling bargains doesn't come easy, and it certainly doesn't come without risks.
Today, the DealCatcher was caught in Northern Ireland by the prolific deal merchants over at Chain Reaction Cycles.
Here at road.cc, our fears of a potential hostage situation emerging were quickly quelled when we received a call from the DealCatcher claiming that the guys at CRC weren't actually after anything. They just really, really wanted to show off their fantastic range of cycling deals.
He sent back the following report. The highlights of which are the sub-£1000 Cube Agree GTC road bike, two dastardly discounted Castelli jackets, a set of fantastically cut-price Fulcrum wheels, and a super powered 45% off the Lezyne Super Drive.
We put ourselves in harms way so you don't have to.
As far as sub-£1000 carbon road bikes go the Cube Agree GTC Pro, with its Shimano 105 groupset and lightweight Fulcrum Racing 77 wheelset, would meet the demands of most cyclists.
Not only that, the bike weighs close to 8kg, so it's light. Very light.
If, like the DealCatcher, you're used to long days in the saddle - regardless whether you're on the bargain hunt or not - comfort will be a high priority when it comes to selecting a pair of bibshorts.
The Lusso ProGel Bibs are versatile, they work well in the hot and cool, include an incredibly supportive ProGel insert, and contain nine leg grippers and Cooltech wicking fabric to keep your legs comfortable.
It's the summer, sure. But here in the UK the simple fact that it is summer shouldn't be enough to convince you to go out without sufficient protection against the elements. Let this week's rain act as case in point.
With our generally changeable weather, and autumn on the horizon, it might be worth investing in a bit of water resistant kit.
This shell from Castelli comes in three colours: black, white and flourescant yellow, it's lightweight, and has an extra long back to protect your body and your clothes from wheel spray.
As we mentioned before, autumn's on its way. While we're not pessimists here at road.cc - yes we are all desperately hoping for an Indian summer that goes long into September - we're realists. Chances are we'll have some cold mornings before September's out, so it might be worth preparing for that eventuality now.
This Castelli Poggio Jersey contains Windstopper X-Lite fabric, which not only does what it say on the tin and protects you from the wind, it'll keep you dry from road spray and light rain too.
The back panel contains slightly warmer, yet still breathable, fabric to help keep you warm, plus a flippable collar for when you're caught short without your buff.
A combined weight of 1659g makes the Fulcrum wheels a force to be reckoned with at £209. The rims are holeless to the benefit of both stiffness, weight, and those of you who hate rim tape.
The 25mm rim height and anti rotation spoke eyelets aid rigidity and responsiveness. All in all, a great deal.
Carbon soled for weight and energy transfer gains, and highly adjustable for comfort gains, the Diadora Proracer 3 won't make you a pro racer on their own, but they may help you feel like one - and that's half the battle, right?
Weighing in at 344g each, the superbly customisable Sidi Ergo 3s are a pair of road shoes that will suit you no matter what conditions you're used to riding in.
The padded heel cup and carbon sole keep your feet in optimal position to transfer as much power to the pedals as you can exert, and the keep your feet comfortable too.
Not only that, but vents on the toes, and mid-way down the foot will keep your feet warm and cool in the rain, snow, or sun.
I wasn't going to mention it, but it's a light, so I have to. The nights are closing in, and winter is coming - sure we're still in August, but it's worth preparing, right?
If you like to ride at night you'll need more than a be-seen light. The Lezyne Power Drive XL and its 400 Lumen beam will make sure you can see where you're going this autumn.
With this kind of thing some might say "their own misfortune is their punishment". I hope they face further sanction....
'Cool' was your word, but an awful lot of the cycling world would disagree with you if you are saying that suffering is only bad.
Indeed and a thumbs-up. BUT ......
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Common sense at last
And tandems...
Car crashes into wall behind Natwest in Winchester https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24216676.photos-car-crashes-wa...
One way to find out is to put a member of the driver's family on the bike and ask them to repeat the manoeuvre.
This was in my local park and dogs are allowed off-lead. Cyclists are required to ride slowly and give due care and attention as it happens.