New year, new team!

Although it's been clear for a while through social media and our new kit that Naked Bikes is changing for 2014, we've not blogged about it yet.

Now we've submitted the forms signed in triplicate to the wonderful folks at British Cycling we can finally reveal that our new team name for 2014 is..... Naked Bikes/Haibike/ImpSport RT!

As you can see, we're working with some great new sponsors, and we're really proud to have them on board.

First up is Haibike, distributed in the UK by Raleigh. You'll also notice the Raleigh logo on the jersey, something those of us in the team old enough to remember the 1970s are particularly proud of!

Raleigh are thankfully still a force to be reckoned with in world cycling (check out their new CX bikes for proof), and are responsible for bringing the fabulous Haibike brand to these shores. Those in the know may have heard of this superb German brand, and there's some real excitement in the team about getting our hands on our race bikes for next season.

Most of us have opted for the Greed Team 29 for next season, with the fabulous SRAM XX1 set-up, but the range includes full-suspension options too. As you'd imagine, the Naked Bikes shop has access to the full range of Haibikes, with new stocks just in.

Next up on the jersey, and responsible for the jerseys themselves, is Impsport. We're proud to be working with the UK's largest manufacturer of Custom Cycling Clothing, Triathlon Clothing and Athletics Clothing, and having them provide our kit.

Although not in the team name, we're still pleased to say we're partnering up with Uvex, the manufacturers of fine cycling head protection, and continuing our fantastic relationships with local big names Sturgess Motor Group and Hewitt Ladders.

A big thanks to everyone for backing us - roll on 2014!

Weekend roundup - time for some mud!

It had to happen sooner or later......proper mud at a CX race....!

Rich tackled Round 10 of the NDCXL series at Markeaton Park in Derby, finishing 3rd V40, 9th Vet overall. Conditions were bright and mild, but the amount of mud underfoot saw many riders either repeatedly stopping to dig mud and leaves out of drivetrains, or opting for multiple bike changes through the pits.

Rich: "Really pleased with the result. Been doing a lot of work on my mud skills, and it's paid off. Aside from a single fall I managed to stay on the bike for the entire race! Enjoyed the fact there was a decent amount of running required too, as that's something else I've been working on, but not needed until this point in the season"

Mud everywhere but the Haibike logo - that's dedication to the sponsors! (Photo courtesy Ian Nutt)

Weekend CX roundup

The weekend saw the Naked Bikes 'usual suspects' out racing CX, but also saw the first race in team kit for new team member Ross Marriott.

Ross delivered a great first result, taking 6th Junior in the WMCCL race at Beaumount Leys.




Ross in action

Nick P was also in action at Beaumont Leys, taking 6th V40.

Nick: "A tough race  - started 5th on grid 3rd for first lap then two offs from high speed overtaking and no grip on wet grass. Caught a Jewson young lad half way so knew I wasn't doing too bad and set sights on next target. A Lichfield rider caught me on the rollers section but I took him back by the 2ft planks and finished clear of him holding onto 6th vets 40+ "

Nick P in plank action

Over in Nottingham, Rich was racing Round 9 of the NDCXL, taking 7th V40 after some protracted battling.

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice a slight revision to the team kit. This is actually 2014 team kit, courtesy of the wonderful folks at Impsport. Team feedback is already very positive in terms of quality and fit. If anyone is keen to 'get the look', the NB webshop has team kit and other Impsport designs available.

And finally... (as they say!)

New team member Ross has been caught on camera again...



Photo courtesy Ian Nutt

We've heard that he's excited by the prospect of a new team Haibike for 2014, but we reckon he's going a little too far in his efforts to convince everyone that he's grown out of his old bike!

There's some footage of him in action here

Hot off the Press!

It may have a quieter weekend on the racing front this past weekend but we still have some Naked Bikes news, with the folks at the Leicester Mercury proving there's an unlimited number of puns on the word Naked!

Nick T is now trying to get as many newspaper features as he's done races in 2013!

 



In other Nick news, Mr Popham appears to have had an expensive and slightly disheartening weekend of racing at the Inter-Regional CX Champs at Middlesborough. Despite being in 14th on his last lap, a barbed wire fence claimed both his tubs, and dropped him into 23rd by the end of the lap. (At least he's now got the whiff of tub glue vapours to keep him smiling for a while!)

The MTBs are back!

Just when you thought Naked Bikes had turned into a Cyclocross-only team, the MTB action is back!

 

Nick T, Andy and Nick P took the trip east to Thetford to compete in the winter series this weekend. (Yes Nick Ts season still isn't over!)

 

Nick T:

 

Thetford Winter Series 4 hour has always been a winter favourite of mine. Relaxed, well run and well drained, flowing single track courses. I love the cold air, smelly burger van, sporadic fag smoke waft, thumping PA sensation every 30 minutes or so as you pass through the arena. Anyway after spending 3 weeks off the bike resting after a busy spring and summer season I met Andy at McD’s A14 East. Such is the tradition we don’t really need to arrange place/time, it’s just a ‘meet you same place/time?’ kind of rendezvous. The best sort!

Blessed with clear skies our race plan was as laid back as the atmosphere; start steady, don’t get sucked along into the energy sapping lap 1 sprint (it’s winter racing for the social after all?), find a brisk 2 up pace and steadily pick off any faster starters who hadn’t paced themselves, then dependant on ‘legs’, open it up at the 2 hour mark. The plan stuck, plenty of banter in the group of 4-5 riders we formed, picking up and passing a few ‘heavy breathers’ on the way. It really was a great course…….dry, fast, autumnal, leafy single track, swooping all the bermed corners like kids at the BMX track.

 

Nick T in action - note new team kit!

 

So, 2 hours dispensed with, the course cleared of the 2 hour racers, we get 7kms of course to ourselves. Andy had dropped off a little, more bottle/gel stop and a bit of back trouble than legs I hasten to add. That left me with another Andy #2, from Gipping Race Team Vets. He was strong in the single track but a little slower on two of the gradual inclines. Good for me as the final run in forms the second of the inclines. Last lap bell (there wasn’t a bell!) and I realised Andy #2 had dropped off noticeably on the climb. This was the opportunity to go hard and get the 7th place we’d both been jockeying for. All the time I could see glimpses of his red/white kit through the trees – I knew he was coming, but I managed to pull a proper gap in the end an came in a good 2 minutes up – 7th in the bag. Pleased with that. Decent position to carry to R2.

Andy #1 had a good strong finish in 11th Senior too, not far behind Andy #2. I think both us feeling the 4 hours of racing hard tails in our back sides! Team mate Nick Popham raced the 2 hour Vet, coming in a credible 9th place. Good day out at the races for Naked Bikes!

 

Andy forces a smile, despite being forced to ride behind Nick T