Simon Smythe

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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

Colnago Prototipo side-on shot in an industrial space

Is this the prototype Colnago that will win the 2022 Tour de France?

Sharper new bike for Pogacar's UAE Emirates team to be raced as of this weekend in preparation for the Tour

Colnago unveils limited edition ‘Italian lifestyle’ bike that will cost £14,500

Colnago x Tod's collaboration 'goes beyond the traditional horizons of high-performance cycling'

By Simon Smythe Published 7 June 22
Canyon Endurace CF 8 review - top value carbon comfort

Canyon's new entry-level carbon endurance bike range is as tough as they come - and the price of this Ultegra-specced model will be very hard to beat

By Simon Smythe Last updated 4 June 22
Jason Kenny: Coaching Laura would be a 'waste of time... she wouldn't listen to me!'

Britain's most successful Olympian talks to CW about his new job coaching Team GB's sprinters, what it's like being 'Sir Jason' and why he's backing a British company that's making the 'world's fastest track bike'

By Simon Smythe Published 2 June 22

Colnago revives iconic Art Decor paintjob for Nathan Haas’s custom Unbound G3-X

Special one-off paint scheme revealed ahead of Unbound Gravel

By Simon Smythe Published 31 May 22
Radical new 3D-printed Mythos Elix stem launches with £500 price tag

British manufacturer claims its high-tech component is the world's first commercially available 3D-printed stem

By Simon Smythe Published 23 May 22
Can a classic steel race bike beat a modern superbike?

We fit power meter pedals to a Colnago C68 and a Colnago Master Olympic and ride them back to back to find out what 30 years of progress translates to in the real world. As it turns out? 14 seconds.

By Simon Smythe Last updated 20 May 22

Friday tech roundup: Garmin's camera-equipped Varia, classic De Marchi jerseys, Smith's latest aero lid and some budget sunnies from California

Garmin packs the latest tech into its new tail light while De Marchi celebrates its glorious past - plus more selected tech highlights of the week

By Simon Smythe Published 20 May 22
How to be a hors-categorie climber from your own home

Top tips to get you climbing with the best of them...

By Simon Smythe Published 12 May 22
All-new Colnago TT1 time trial bike to debut at the the Giro d'Italia

UAE Emirates will use prototype versions of the radical new design at the ITT in Budapest

By Simon Smythe Published 5 May 22

The best front lights for time trialling

Everything you need to consider when you're buying a front light for your TT bike including what type to choose, how to mount the various designs in the most aerodynamic way and how much they will cost - both in cash and in watts

By Simon Smythe Published 28 April 22
Wahoo acquires RGT and offers it bundled with SYSTM as ‘Wahoo X’ for the same subscription price

Interactive virtual reality platform RGT joins SYSTM - formerly Sufferfest - in Wahoo's lineup of indoor training software

By Simon Smythe Published 26 April 22
New Colnago C68: a next-generation classic

The latest in the legendary C-series is still handmade in Italy but features the latest tech, including 3D printing and blockchain

By Simon Smythe Published 21 April 22

Are normal bikes the new normal at Paris-Roubaix?

Dylan van Baarle's almost-standard Pinarello Dogma F and more Paris-Roubaix tech highlights

By Simon Smythe Published 19 April 22
Tom Boonen in world’s first sustainable 3D-printed glasses collaboration

Former world champion becomes poster boy for new eco-friendly eyewear made from castor beans

By Simon Smythe Published 8 April 22
Giant and Stages launch new pro-level Dash 200 computer, already used in the WorldTour by BikeExchange-Jayco

New head unit aims to rival Garmin and Wahoo with sophisticated functionality and is available either Giant or Stages branded

By Simon Smythe Published 7 April 22

Is better pedalling really the next big wellspring of untapped watts?

Eager to substantiate his souplesse, Simon Smythe gets his pedal stroke analysed by an expert

By Simon Smythe Published 7 April 22
Swytch launches a new e-bike conversion kit with a ‘pocket sized’ battery

UK brand Swytch claims a world first for its new compact battery that turns any bike into an electric bike

By Simon Smythe Published 5 April 22
Pearson and Lake launch new Velcro-based all-terrain pedal/cleat system

New Tearaway shoe and Born Unslippy pedal aimed at those who don't like click-clacking around in cleats

By Simon Smythe Published 1 April 22

Giro Synthe MIPS II helmet review

The updated Synthe comes with a lower price than the original due to its use of a superseded type of MIPS, but as the 'UItegra' of Giro's range it is still a high-performance road helmet

By Simon Smythe Published 30 March 22
Dan Bigham: extra watts that broke the British pursuit record prove the world Hour record is possible

New national pursuit champion's physiological gains mean he has the power needed to attack Campenaerts's Hour - and says he will reveal details shortly

By Simon Smythe Published 8 March 22
New Shokz OpenRun Pro: ‘the most advanced bone-conduction sports headphones yet’

Upgraded flagship model features enhanced bass, extended battery life and more tactile controls

By Simon Smythe Published 28 February 22

Ribble Weldtite unveil custom team edition Ultra SL R race bike

Stunning paintjob and exclusive component upgrades ready for 2022 racing season

By Simon Smythe Published 23 February 22
New Garmin Instinct 2 Series includes solar model with 'unlimited battery life'

Updated outdoors GPS watch also gets two sizes, bright new colours and Garmin's wellness suite of features

By Simon Smythe Published 9 February 22
Wahoo and EF Education sign multi-year hardware and software sponsorship deal

EF Education's men's and women's WorldTour teams to use entire Wahoo ecosystem from 2022

By Simon Smythe Published 7 February 22

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