IAN Field’s UK-based Hargroves Cycles team announced that Ridley Bikes of Belgium would be their new bike sponsor in July. Field has been completing his pre-season training in Yorkshire, England and gave Cyclocrossrider the first glance over one of his newly built Ridley X-Night this week.

Ian also told us that he will start his racing season at the UK Cycle Show race in Birmingham, England on September 28^th. Field’s first race on the continent will be the tough bpost bank Trofee race on the Hotondberg above Ronse on October 12^th (read about our trip to Ronse here).

Field, like the majority of the other top European riders, stays with a mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace groupset this season.
“There are weight savings with remaining non-disc,” says Field. “Disc wheels have to be stronger and therefore heavier, but I can understand non-elite racers choosing disc brake bikes,” he adds. The finishing kit is largely by Shimano’s own PRO brand.

We’ll have more from Ian very soon in the second of his regular diaries for Cyclocrossrider. Read the first one here.