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Life In The Saddle

by Tim Wiggins

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Weekend Watch: ENVE

October 10, 2014

ENVE make some awesome wheels, they also seem to be making some of the best MTB videos at the moment. Great stuff.

Labels: Video Weekend Watch

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Review - Chapeau Etape Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey and Chapeau Club Bib Shorts

Earlier in the season I reviewed the Club Jersey from UK brand Chapeau; it was an impressive introduction to the cycle clothing brand. The Club Bib Shorts and Etape SS Jersey are the range-topping offering from the brand, and they are exceptional in more ways than one…

Race Specification Fit The race fit is the thing you will immediately recognise when pulling on the Etape Jersey and Club Bib Shorts for the first time. These are some of the best fitting and most comfortable pieces of cycling kit that I have tried to date.

I selected the same size in the Etape kit as I had in the Club jersey (Small), but it is far more form fitting and race-orientated in its cut and design. The jersey has a close cut profile, with a deeper rear hem and longer sleeves to accommodate a more aggressive position on the bike. The bib shorts are a great length in the thigh, but still have a good compression feel, and the bib straps are comfortable and stretchy enough to accommodate different rider heights.

…

The Trafalgar Way 2018 - 'A Ride of History and Heat'

It begins with an orange mist. Orange jerseys assemble at the ancient naval fort of Pendennis Point Falmouth, as the dawn sunshine creates a complementing haze over the Atlantic Ocean behind.

This platoon of riders is here for a cycling event like no other. The Trafalgar Way Ride is a sportive event; running point-to-point from the western tip of England to the nation's Capital. The route follows a path that holds historic significance; it was the passage taken by a horse messenger in 1805 to alert the Admiralty of the British victory over the French, as well as the tragic death of Admiral Lord Nelson. This is not your average Saturday Sportive: 500 kilometres, across 8 British counties makes this a mammoth undertaking, and historic both in its theme and as an achievement.

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With my 'Big Ride' of 2018 now announced - the #RoadsFromRome tour - it seems timely to give some insight into planning and executing a lightweight unsupported bikepacking or bicycle touring trip. How should you plan? What kit do you take? Where do you camp? What are the pitfalls to avoid?

These are my '7 Tips' for Bikepacking and Bicycle Touring...

1 - Use Modern Mapping Technology I love maps. The contour lines, roads, paths and rivers paint a picture on paper. When it comes to route planning for a bicycle tour though, make use of the incredible resources from online mapping tools.
Strava and Komoot are my two preferred services, as both use crowd-sourced data of the most ridden roads and trails to optimise a route between two pin points. It makes route planning a doddle because you know that the roads the software is taking you on are the best of the bunch in the area.
Online software will also tell you the elevation profile, and Komoot will even give you a breakdo…

Review - GUP Emergency Quick-Fix Bicycle Tyre Sealant Inflator

GULP! That is the usual feeling when mid-race you look at your rear tyre and confirm the squidgy feeling... you've punctured. GUP (actually spelt GÜP) is a quick-fix sealant solution to get you back riding, fast. It is usable for tubes, tubeless, or tubular tyres.

This is one product that you hope you will never need to use in earnest, and luckily to date I haven't had to trial it in a 'race' or 'ride' situation. However, to test its performance I did deploy a can of GÜP to fix a flat on a wheelbarrow, and another to simply inflate a tubeless MTB tyre whose sealant had dried up...

Application is easy...
Rest the bike against a wall or tree, and position the valve of the punctured wheel at the 12 o'clock positionUnscrew the Presta valve about 3/4 of the way out (not the valve core, just the valve closing mechanism). Note: GUP also works with Schrader valvesPlace the can over the valve. DO NOT push can all the way up against the rimWith one hand, push can up …

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'Outside Is Free' delves into Henrik's new found passion... adventure cycling. With the rise of 'Gravel' bikes and 'back-and-beyond' touring, this book is packed full of simple recipes that could be made whilst camping out in the wild.

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Popular Posts

Review - Chapeau Etape Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey and Chapeau Club Bib Shorts

Earlier in the season I reviewed the Club Jersey from UK brand Chapeau; it was an impressive introduction to the cycle clothing brand. The Club Bib Shorts and Etape SS Jersey are the range-topping offering from the brand, and they are exceptional in more ways than one…

Race Specification Fit The race fit is the thing you will immediately recognise when pulling on the Etape Jersey and Club Bib Shorts for the first time. These are some of the best fitting and most comfortable pieces of cycling kit that I have tried to date.

I selected the same size in the Etape kit as I had in the Club jersey (Small), but it is far more form fitting and race-orientated in its cut and design. The jersey has a close cut profile, with a deeper rear hem and longer sleeves to accommodate a more aggressive position on the bike. The bib shorts are a great length in the thigh, but still have a good compression feel, and the bib straps are comfortable and stretchy enough to accommodate different rider heights.

…

The Trafalgar Way 2018 - 'A Ride of History and Heat'

It begins with an orange mist. Orange jerseys assemble at the ancient naval fort of Pendennis Point Falmouth, as the dawn sunshine creates a complementing haze over the Atlantic Ocean behind.

This platoon of riders is here for a cycling event like no other. The Trafalgar Way Ride is a sportive event; running point-to-point from the western tip of England to the nation's Capital. The route follows a path that holds historic significance; it was the passage taken by a horse messenger in 1805 to alert the Admiralty of the British victory over the French, as well as the tragic death of Admiral Lord Nelson. This is not your average Saturday Sportive: 500 kilometres, across 8 British counties makes this a mammoth undertaking, and historic both in its theme and as an achievement.

I first rode the Trafalgar Way in 2014, over 24 hours on a stormy October day. Returning to Falmouth for a second time, I want to experience the route in the summer sunshine, and see if a sub-20 finish is accomp…

7 Tips for Lightweight Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking

With my 'Big Ride' of 2018 now announced - the #RoadsFromRome tour - it seems timely to give some insight into planning and executing a lightweight unsupported bikepacking or bicycle touring trip. How should you plan? What kit do you take? Where do you camp? What are the pitfalls to avoid?

These are my '7 Tips' for Bikepacking and Bicycle Touring...

1 - Use Modern Mapping Technology I love maps. The contour lines, roads, paths and rivers paint a picture on paper. When it comes to route planning for a bicycle tour though, make use of the incredible resources from online mapping tools.
Strava and Komoot are my two preferred services, as both use crowd-sourced data of the most ridden roads and trails to optimise a route between two pin points. It makes route planning a doddle because you know that the roads the software is taking you on are the best of the bunch in the area.
Online software will also tell you the elevation profile, and Komoot will even give you a breakdo…

Review - GUP Emergency Quick-Fix Bicycle Tyre Sealant Inflator

GULP! That is the usual feeling when mid-race you look at your rear tyre and confirm the squidgy feeling... you've punctured. GUP (actually spelt GÜP) is a quick-fix sealant solution to get you back riding, fast. It is usable for tubes, tubeless, or tubular tyres.

This is one product that you hope you will never need to use in earnest, and luckily to date I haven't had to trial it in a 'race' or 'ride' situation. However, to test its performance I did deploy a can of GÜP to fix a flat on a wheelbarrow, and another to simply inflate a tubeless MTB tyre whose sealant had dried up...

Application is easy...
Rest the bike against a wall or tree, and position the valve of the punctured wheel at the 12 o'clock positionUnscrew the Presta valve about 3/4 of the way out (not the valve core, just the valve closing mechanism). Note: GUP also works with Schrader valvesPlace the can over the valve. DO NOT push can all the way up against the rimWith one hand, push can up …

Book Review - Velochef Outside Is Free

The new 'Outside Is Free' book from Henrik Orre arrives in a waterproof pouch, with a titanium spork... a hint at the theme of this latest recipe book from Vélochef - food for adventure.

Henrik Orre is a Norwegian chef who for several years was the head chef for Team Sky Pro Cycling. His previous books 'Vélochef' and 'Vélochef in Europe' are two of my favourite recipe books; both providing great insights into the nutrition behind a professional cycling team, and some fantastic ideas for performance enhancing (and incredibly tasty) dishes that you can try at home.

'Outside Is Free' delves into Henrik's new found passion... adventure cycling. With the rise of 'Gravel' bikes and 'back-and-beyond' touring, this book is packed full of simple recipes that could be made whilst camping out in the wild.

The focus of 'Outside Is Free' is less on the 'performance' side, and more on simple, wholesome, and satisfying natural nutr…

Review - Restrap Saddle Pack Bikepacking Saddlebag

When Restrap launched their new Saddle Pack it was to test the possibility of designing and producing a product in the space of 24 hours. The key lay in simplicity, tried and tested fabrics, and a great knowledge of bikepacking and bicycle touring.

The Restrap Saddlepack is larger than most. It is designed to hold a lot more than just a spare tube and tools; but rather to have the capacity to hold clothing and supplies that might be required for an audax or long distance ride. It has a 4-litre volume, which is about four times that of most saddlebags. It places it somewhere in between a seat pack (like the Restrap 14 litre Bikepacking Seat Pack), and a small saddle caddy like the Lezyne Large Caddy Saddlebag.

The size is perfect for gravel adventures. It is big enough for two 29er tubes, tools and spares, and a jacket and emergency food supplies; the kind of things that become essentials on the road less travelled.

The pack mounts up without any tools or fiddly buckles. There is a s…

Review - Honey Stinger Energy Bars, Waffles and Chews

Organic energy food that tastes heavenly. The range of bars, waffles and energy chews from American brand Honey Stinger are so scrumptious, you might end up eating them all as snacks...

I have always been a fan of organic products; not because of the status that they hold, but simply because I believe eating natural whole-foods in their purist state is the best thing for taste, your body, and the environment. Honey Stinger pride themselves on using organic produce wherever possible, and have produced some fantastic tasting energy food as a result.

Some will look at stroop wafels and peanut butter cereal bars and question if this is real 'energy food'. Of course it is. It is just that it hasn't been processed, refined, homogenised or treated like a lot of the product on the market. Instead, Honey Stinger use classic recipes like the stroop wafel, and recognise that their composition of carbohydrates, protein, and fats are actually optimal for fuelling your body, and also t…

Review: POC Crave Sunglasses

I have become a huge fan of POC Sports. The POC Do Blade was one of the first pairs of sunglasses to break from style tradition; bringing big lenses to sports eyewear. After reviewing the POC Do Blade AVIP glasses last year, they fast become my go-to option for road cycling.

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The Ventral was designed in collaboration with POC's sponsored professionals, including the Cannondale-Drapac Cycling Team, as well as with feedback from POC specialists in the WATTS performance lab and aerodynamic testing labs. The result is a helmet that POC claim is the most comfortable, safest, and most aerodynamic yet. I can vouch that they are pretty on-point with that claim.

The Ventral uses a unique approach to aerodynamics. Rather than pushing the air around the outside of the helmet, the Ventral's design leads air through it, and in doing so significantly reduces the aerodynamic wake behind the helmet.

The Ventral's name comes from reference to the Venturi effect, which relates to how the helmet has been designed with specific airflow zones to…

Review - Motorex Bike Cleaners and Lubricants

I first used Motorex bike cleaning products at the TorTour Cyclocross Stage Race in Switzerland, and they instantly impressed. Even in an almost comatose state of tiredness, I was able to get my bike sparkling clean and running smoothly again after a tough day in the Swiss Mountains. Back in the UK, I was keen to test and trial the complete range from the Swiss brand...

The cleaning process always starts with the chain, and the Motorex Easy Clean X-Treme Degreaser makes it about as easy as possible. The high-powered aerosol blasts the strong detergent into the chain-links, and drives out baked-on dirt and oil. A quick scrub with a brush and a thorough rinse, and it leaves your drivetrain sparkling clean.

When it comes to cleaning the frame, Motorex offers two options: Quick Cleaner and Bike Clean. Quick Clean doesn't actually require water, but instead uses a loosening agent that allows you to simply spray it onto dried-on dirt, then wipe the surface clean; making it ideal if you…

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