September in Mallorca: it’s been too hot in recent months to get out on the bike much. But by now, if you set off bright and early it’s just edging above the 20 degree mark. Blue skies and only a gentle breeze make for perfect cycling conditions.
Ashmei have sent me their merino wool short sleeve jersey and a pair of bib shorts to try out. I may be cool now, but I know that I’ll be pretty hot and not a little sweaty after the 400m climb that awaits, so a good opportunity to try out its wicking qualities.
Read MoreThere's nothing more fulfilling for a cyclist than the achievement of reaching the top of a mountain. With your legs burning, lungs busting and praying that every bend will be the last, cycling in the mountains is one of cycling most brutal tests which can leave the most talented professional in tatters yet still lures cyclists to challenge themselves and their fitness.
Read MoreMitts, check. Leather tool roll, check. Vintage bike, check. We’re off…Check out Gareth’s Eroica Britannia ride!
Read MoreLast week saw the inaugural P&P World Cycling Revival event at Herne Hill Velodrome. Spread over three days, it was not only a true celebration of cycling with derny races, a penny farthing hour record attempt and a Brompton invitational, but visitors could enjoy bars, betting, live music, a fun fair, a cycling museum and bike polo.
Read MoreAbout this time two years ago we were inspired by a photograph on Twitter of a barbecue attached to the front rack of someone’s bike. It sparked a whole new yearning for a new kind of bike, a cargo bike. That dream was never realised although it did set us on the path to buying some touring bikes that opened up a whole new world for us.
Read MoreAre we Brits becoming a bit complacent about our fellow countrymen winning stages of and leading grand tours? The cycling cognoscenti certainly aren’t, as can be seen by the deluge of praise on social media for Simon Yates who wears pink at this year’s Giro. One just wishes that the wider British public were aware of what a fantastic achievement it is.
Read MoreYou would have thought that the prospect of breaking the world record of cycling from Patagonia to Alaska would be enough motivation to pedal as fast as possible. But for Dean Stott the invitation to attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding meant that he had to push himself even harder so he could get to the church on time.
Read MoreThe fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of the gun. Monty had found this out one weekend on the estate of Major Wilfred “Plug” Basham, when he’d had his rear end puckered by shot when he was hiding from Aunt Agatha up a tree.
So it was that that the pair of us took up the new fangled pastime of riding a bicycle. Same kit required: plus fours, shooting jacket and a tie. I’d asked Jeeves if a tie mattered to be told in no uncertain terms: “There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter.”
Read MoreMatt Stephens, one of the original presenters for Global Cycling Network (GCN) announced last week that he is leaving the show to concentrate on his commentating work.
Read MoreWhat would your choice of bike be if you were off on an adventure through South America? The Cinelli Hobootleg looks like it would fit the bill while the Surly Long Haul Trucker is a popular choice among many a hardy bike tourer. But Kate Rawles decided to build her own, and it wasn’t steel but bamboo that she used as a material to fashion into her trusty steed.
Read MoreAs Sean Conway enters his third week of a record-breaking attempt to cycle across Europe unsupported, we take a moment to check on his progress, discover what makes him tick and find out how he gets through his ultra endurance challenges.
Read More“Montanus is an attitude, an intimate journey…the call of the wild buck… Montanus is the smell of moss on your gloves, the dry red mud on your bike, the frost on your sleeping bag. Montanus is life outside the comfort zone, an inspiration for those who want to experience nature. It’s about enjoying the slow ride, perceiving the smells and taking in the colours.”
Read MoreDeveloped from scratch by a highly skilled team of engineers and scientists, Crankalicious, the handmade and high performance bike care and cleaning brand has today launched their revolutionary new product ‘Weight Wipes’.
Read More"The departure ... is fixed ... at 1 pm ... comma." Christian Prudhomme tries to read slowly and pause after each word. The big boss of the Tour is in the village hall of La Châtaigneraie (population 2,500) in the Vendee region to dictate to a hundred students, from 9 to 11 years old.
Read MoreThere’s no doubt that there are some views that are only possible from your road bike. Whether it's Stelvio’s 48 snaking bends or Lake Como’s peace and tranquility, your road bike is your vehicle to embrace some of Europe’s stunning views.
Ernest Hemingway famously said that ‘It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best’. You could take that one step further by arguing that you can discover a country's best views from your bike.
Read MoreWhen New Yorker Amanda Needham had her bike stolen outside her Brooklyn home, she posted a large painted sign on cardboard for the thief. The result was a heart-warming tale that restored a little faith in humanity.
Read MoreDo you like a bit of luxury on your cycling holidays? High-end clothing brand Ashmei have teamed up with tour operator Cycology for a long weekend in Mallorca which offers five star accommodation, guided rides in some of the best cycling terrain the world has to offer and some exclusive Ashmei kit. Hurry to secure a place on this limited availability trip – there are only twelve places.
Read MoreThis year’s Paris-Nice has had its two flat stages and a time trial. The peloton have leap-frogged across the Massif Central and are already in Provence for the final 4 days of racing. One suspects that they were more than happy to leave the frozen wastes of the north and get down south as soon as possible. It is, of course, known as “The Race to the Sun.”
In its first edition back in 1933 it was named “Six Days of the Road” and was designed as a way of easing bike racers back into road cycling after the six day track season. It was the brainchild of Albert Lejeune who owned two newspapers “Le Petit Nicois” based in Nice and “Le Petit Journal” whose offices were in Paris.
Read MoreIn the wake of the publication of the parliamentary committee’s report on doping in sport, the question on everyone’s lips seems to be whether Sir Dave Brailsford will survive the end of the day as boss of Team Sky or whether he’ll drag it out for the whole week.
One suspects that Brailsford is composing his own resignation speech this very moment. Chances are it’ll be one of those letters reminiscent of the recent slew of politicians’ statements that both deny culpability and fail to offer a real apology but instead refer to what’s best for the country/department/party/team/sport.
Read MoreRapha have always produced the best quality jerseys around. Their original and first ever product, the black Classic remains just that: a classic. It’s been its bestseller and at the very heart of its collection ever since its release way back in 2007. Recent years have seen them venture into all manner of colours and some purists weren’t too impressed. But we predict their new Check Classic jersey will, in years to come, become a staple of their collection.
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