OUT NOW! GRAN FONDO Issue #018 – CARPE SECUNDUM

When multi-day rides are out of the question and life rudely doesn’t want to line up for a leisurely spin, there’s nothing better than a quick stamp on the pedals for an instant hit of endorphins. We hear you. Time is tight, you’ve got to make the most of every second in every day. You in?

Picture this: a perfect landscape of lush green rolling hills with a slick tar-gray ribbon cutting across it with some poetic curves. Bliss. There’s bird song everywhere, it’s still early and the sun is low in the sky. You fill your lungs with fresh air. There’s no one else around and no rumble of cars in the distance, either… but wait, what’s that? There’s an incessant trilling sound coming from your phone. Shit. You sling out an arm to catch yourself, expecting to hit tarmac, but it’s just your bed frame… and your alarm clock alerting you to the mass of meetings that lie ahead of you. Good morning, welcome to the middle of the week.

Life doesn’t always throw out that many opportunities for lengthy bike trips to exotic destinations, and for most of us, our weekly distance is clocked on familiar roads with the same old kit and the same old bike. Plans are great, but life often gets in the way. So, this one hour that’s yours in the middle of the week – use it, claim it, wring it out for everything it has got. Don’t just cruise around the lake this time. Put the pedal to metal and break out in a sweat. We want you to feel the burn and embrace the lactic acid. GRAN FONDO isn’t only about adventuring – it’s about fun. And fast is fun!

The Highlights

The fastest race bike of 2021 – 5 high-end models on test
GRAN FONDO’s dirty little secret – Entering the hurt locker
Pinarello DOGMA F – Fast on principle?
What if? – A look into the future with Felt Bicycles
Vertical Coffee Roasters – De-snobifying specialty coffee

The latest issue is available now in our free magazine app. If you haven’t installed our app yet, now’s your chance to download it for free in the App Store (iPhone / iPad) or in the Play Store (Android smartphones & tablets).

Our free, digital magazine is the centrepiece of our work and definitely the best way to experience our content, with interactive features as well as beautiful photography and videos all packed into a unique design. If you like our website, we’re sure you’ll love our magazine app. By the way: the app even gives you access to all of our back issues – hours upon hours of first-class content!

All the bikes in this issue

What’s this issue got in store?

This issue is all about having the foot on the gas, which is why we’ve tested the fastest and most exclusive road bikes ridden by the pros. Our stopwatch saw some action for this issue, and we’ve hunted down the ultimate bike for going fast. Our test doesn’t just highlight what you need to consider if you’re in the market for a lightning-fast bike, but also throws up some fascinating insight that we’ve curated into the ultimate know-how guide.

We will agree there is a time and place to ride hard. Pain, pushing your limits and suffering are part of what makes cycling great, but what is the best way to take a trip into your hurt locker?

Pinarello DOGMA – probably no other bike stands for such a consistent race bike history. The new DOGMA F was a late show in the making of this issue, so doesn’t feature in the group test and instead gets its own individual review. The benchmark for all race bikes?

A gentle roll-out? No way. Inside this issue’s HYPE THIS, we’ve hooked up seven late summer must-haves to ensure that you can recover in style at a beer garden after hammering out your 60-minute session.

We sat down with Californian brand Felt Bicycles to look into the future, asking probing what-would-happen-if questions and wondering just why exactly Felt do what they do. Does their approach tell us anything about the rest of the bike industry?

Check out THE LAB for the most in-depth test reviews, where we’ve put the hottest essentials on long-term test to see just where their limitations might lie, including gravel shoes and a bikepacking tent.

We headed to Switzerland to meet the specialists at Vertical Coffee and create a comprehensive guide for cyclists and coffee. It’s a three-part article in which you’ll find everything you need to know, including preparation guides, grind explanations, mid-ride coffee recipes and more.

Even more so than previous issues, this one reflects the multifacetedness that makes up GRAN FONDO and we ‘fess up to our dirty, little secret. Have a flick through the magazine to find out what we’re referring to and grapple with all the great topics inside this issue. Have a great time reading, then go throw the hammer down.

Excited? These (and many more) stories are just a few clicks away. If you have already installed our free app, you can download the latest issue directly there. If not, first install it from the App Store (iPhone / iPad) or the Play Store (Android smartphones & tablets) and then load the latest issue within the app. Then you can sit back and enjoy the new issue (ideal with a cold beer or delicious coffee)!

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Words: Benjamin Topf Photos: GRAN FONDO-Team

The Highlights

All the bikes in this issue

What’s this issue got in store?

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