Simon Smythe
Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer.
In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends a bit more time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.
What's in the stable? There's a Colnago Master Olympic, a Hotta TT700, an ex-Castorama lo-pro that was ridden in the 1993 Tour de France, a Pinarello Montello, an Independent Fabrication Club Racer, a Mercian Classic fixed winter bike and a renovated Roberts with a modern Campag groupset.
And the vital statistics:
Age: 53 Height: 178cm
Weight: 69kg
Latest articles by Simon Smythe
-
Nine road bike trends that will shape 2023: affordable electronic groupsets to the growth of 3D printing
We consider the way forward for road bikes in the new year
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Christmas kids' bikes deals: Early Rider, Specialized, Cannondale and more
From balance bikes and BMXs to the more grown-up machines, we've found the best savings from around the web
By Simon Smythe Published
-
France lost the World Cup but Cofidis' lovely Look bikes with Corima wheels will restore national pride
Cofidis set to ride the Frenchest bikes in the WorldTour in 2023 - and they're going to be très beaux
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Top 7 road bikes for 2023 – lightweight hyperbikes, 'controversial' endurance bikes and much more besides
We take you through the most headturning drop-bar road bikes of the last 12 months
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Hottest five aero bikes for 2023... plus three all-rounders that can hold their own
Trek, Giant, Scott and more dig deep in the search to go faster
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Dolan is back on the racing scene, replacing Canyon as bike sponsor to WiV SunGod in 2023
Top British team to ride the Dolan Ares in a two-year sponsorship deal
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Colnago V4RS first ride with UAE Team Emirates: a bike for Pogačar to win on (but I got dropped)
We ride Colnago's new flagship race bike with UAE at their training camp in Spain
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Data-loving roadie selection: Simon Smythe's Gear of the Year 2022
Forget about riding over small stones - cycling is really about producing big numbers, right? Here are 10 things that might help
By Simon Smythe Published
-
New Colnago V4RS unveiled - the bike Tadej Pogačar will use to take back the Tour in 2023
Different versions of a new Colnago race bike had been trialled in competition under the name 'Prototipo'... now the design is finalised and all the details revealed
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
Zwift teases all-new Esports World Championships Scotland map, launches new features and content for 2023
Glasgow to hold both the physical and virtual UCI Worlds as Zwift reveals a glimpse of the Scotland map
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Millionth Brompton rolls off the assembly line in London and heads straight onto a global tour
Instead of being put on display, the millionth bike will be ridden by thousands of people worldwide
By Simon Smythe Published
-
New Ribble Gravel 725 brings classic looks and feel of steel to the off-road range
A steel model joins the carbon, titanium and aluminium options in Ribble's latest gravel line-up
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
Wahoo X's 'A Week With the UCI World Cycling Centre' invites you to live and train like a pro
New videos and workouts plus the chance to win prizes for those completing the series
By Simon Smythe Published
-
This limited edition 'frozen' Colnago C64 with £550 off is literally the coolest thing in the Cyber Monday deals
But £550 barely scratches the surface when this beautiful bike costs £4,999 to start with...
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Cyber Monday mountain bike deals - we get gnarly to bring you the best off-road bargains
While we were looking for the best roadie deals we couldn't help noticing that there are a lot of mountain bikes and MTB kit on sale too...
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
What is Zwift? Everything you need to know about the online training and racing platform
Find out how to get started in the virtual cycling world of Zwift with our complete guide
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
What kind of tires do you need for winter?
What you need to consider when switching tires for the winter months
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
How wide is too wide, is hookless pointless, are carbon spokes worth it and what aero innovations are coming next? We ask Parcours’ Dov Tate the big questions about road bike wheels
The dynamic British wheel brand talked to CW exclusively about a new study it's conducting on how to quantify aero wheel handling stability - the first of its kind - and we picked founder Dov Tate's brain about the other stuff, too
By Simon Smythe Last updated
-
From the archive: 1950s Claud Butler gets ready to leave the Clapham factory
A young mechanic puts the finishing touches to this gleaming, handmade steel 'lightweight'
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Ineos-Grenadiers, Jumbo-Visma, Movistar and BikeExchange headline Zwift's Pro Training Camp from this month
Virtual training platform offers Zwifters the chance to train like - and with - pros as top WorldTour teams lead rides and supply workouts
By Simon Smythe Published
-
New Tacx Neo Bike Plus gets programmable shifters and more adjustability... and a much higher price
Upgraded smart bike keeps the same headline features as the existing model but Tacx has zoomed in on three areas to improve - and has put up the RRP
By Simon Smythe Published
-
'Riding to where my father was shot down in Vietnam gave my cycling a purpose' world champ Rebecca Rusch tells SRAM
SRAM's new podcast features ultra endurance rider and multiple world champion Rebecca Rusch on riding the 1,200-mile Ho Chi Minh trail to the crash site where her father died - and there are five more inspirational episodes with SRAM athletes
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Wahoo responds to Zipp's warranty threat: ‘Kickr Rollr causes no structural or cosmetic impact even under extreme test conditions’
US fitness brand publishes report from independent testing lab following a statement from Zipp that use of its wheels with the Kickr Rollr would void warranty
By Simon Smythe Published
-
Are you Eddy Merckx enough to ride the 1972 Tour de France? Grand Velo Tours is offering the ultimate bucket-list bike ride
British company invites you to channel your inner Cannibal and ride the whole of the best Tour route in history
By Simon Smythe Last updated