Gear

Some new stuff

Cage Rocket

This is quite a clever ‘new’ take on an old roadie trick. Carrying stuff on your bike is a pain, especially in the winter your pockets may need to be reserved for extra gloves and clothes (especially at the moment) so where do you put your tools and spares? They weigh a fair bit and most jacket pockets get quickly weighed down with stuff, so step up the Cage Rocket.

As for the old roadie trick, it’s a bit Blue Peter and you might need an adult to help… basically you cut up an old bottle so that you can fill it with rain jacket and tubes etc. It’s the easy way to go about this, but tools rattle loose and they tend to fill up with water in the rain.

Usually you can sacrifice one bottle for winter rides (if they are short anyway) and the Cage Rocket works well but doesn’t fit all cages (Tacx Carbon for example) but it locks neatly into all the standard alloy cages and looks a bit like one of those roof boxes you put on a roof rack.

The Cage Rocket has a foam lining inside so stuff doesn’t rattle around and the lid snaps shut to keep the weather out. At under a fiver it’s a great christmas present too!

Weight: 105g
They are £4.99 plus p&p and availible from www.cyclingbargains.com

The World of Tommy Simpson

Cycling Nostalgia Series DVD – 125 mins Produced by Ray Pascoe

Ray Pascoe has documented the life of Tommy Simpson in his previous film ‘Something to Aim At’ and both his fims show that he clearly has a passion for the life and times of Britain’s finest pro rider. This is the follow on from that first documentary and includes further footage and interviews. It’s certainly worth a look if you are considering the life of a pro rider. The more things change, it seems, the more that they stay the same…

However what really comes over in this film loud and clear is the professionalism and ability that Simpson clearly had. He talks about attacking and making a show of it as if these things are the prerequisites of the pro rider. Not to sit in, but to attack and win with style was Simpson’s approach and this attitude made him one of the most popular and liked riders of his generation. His racing style is best likened, these days, to Alexandre Vinoukourov. Simpson demonstrates his Flemish and French in interviews with an amusing North-Notts accent, but this was important as it reinforced his popular reputation in Belgium – he tried to fit in because he knew this is the only way to succeed on the continent.

The most hard hitting interview is with Tom talking about doping. All potential pro riders should watch this, if there are any lessons to be learnt by his sad death it couldn’t be better illustrated. The aftermath of his death and how his story continues to be remembered and talked about is also well told.

Features:
1965 – BBC film, The World of Tommy Simpson by Phil Pilley
1965 – BBC film on Brussels 6 Days
1965 – World Chamionships interview (uncredited Dutch interviewer)
1964 – Tour de France short (14 mins BBC)
1968 – audio interview with Tommy Simpson’s parents

Plus present-day interviews with:br>
– Jane and Joanne Simpson, Tommy’s two daughters seen in earlier home movies
– Dave Marsh and Len Jones, keepers of a Simpson museum in Harworth
– Phil Pilley on his making of the film
– Roger St. Pierre reminiscing, as do Albert Beurick and Alan Atherton
– Ray Lowe talking about his correspondence on training and buying Tommy’s old St Raphael team kit by mail-order

e-mail contact: Ray Pascoe

Trek’s Track T1

Unveiled at the Revolution 10 was this Track bike from Trek. Based on the ALPHA aluminium road frame it has track tweaked geometry and a very nice paint finish. It comes with a pretty good value package of Bonty wheels and parts too which make it ready to race. We especially like the idea of a track ‘through axle’ BB and carbon cranks.

Put one on your Christmas list. Although they won’t be available until late February ’06.

UK Price: £850
Sizes: 50,52,54,56,58,60,62
Colours: Chi Red
Frame: Trek Alpha SL Aluminum
Stays: Trek Alpha SL Aluminum
Fork: Carbon Track fork
Wheels: Bontrager Select Track Wheel system
Tyres: Bontrager Race Lite 700×23
Crankset: Bontrager Race, 49T
BB: Bontrager ‘Through Axle’
Sprocket: Shimano Dura-ace Track 15T
Saddle: Bontrager Race Lux Basic
Seatpost: Bontrager Select
Stem: Bontrager Select, 31.8 x 7 deg
Handlebar: Bontrager Select Road , 31.8mm
Tape: Bontrager Race Tape
Headset: Cane Creek Internal