Life In The Saddle

There are few things that stop me from riding my bike. Icy roads though, instil fear into my mind. Cycling with spiked tyres on a bicycle is something that I have never explored before; but on realising they could provide the solution to the risk and fear associated with ice covered roads and trails, I was interested to test them out. I have been riding the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro MTB tyres in some challenging conditions, to see if they deliver…

I decided that the roads of the Isle of Wight did not provide enough of a testing ground to explore the capabilities of the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro. So, to find out what they were able to offer, I headed to the frozen land of Norway, in January.

Three days of 'Ice Biking' started from the city of Oslo. It wasn't long after rolling (noisily) off the ferry from Denmark that we found our first ice rink bike paths. Normally, the sheet ice spread across these paths would have me wincing in fear; but, miraculously, I had traction…

If I …

Commuting by bike shouldn't be stressful, but an easy way to make it so, is getting your valuables soaked whilst riding. A fully waterproof cycling backpack is the simple solution — the Overboard Bags Velodry 20 is an innovative and well made example.

I have tested a number of products from Overboard over the last year; including their superb 60L Pro-Sports Waterproof Duffel Bag and their very useful Waterproof Accessory Bags. The quality has always been high, and with the Pro-Sports Duffel bag in particular I was very impressed by the attention to detail in areas such as pocketing and reflective elements.

The new Velodry 20 Waterproof Backpack is part of the brand's new 'Technical' line-up; it is an advanced product, showcasing a lot of R&D into the features demanded by an all-weather commuting cyclist.

This is not just a water-resistant backpack, or a backpack with a waterproof cover; it is a fully submersible capsule bag, which is completely watertight when clo…

Another year comes to a close — months of memories and miles found. I began the year with very few objectives, ideas or motivations; but finished with a ride log that surpasses any of my expectations. Here is a look back at the last twelve months — 12 photos to commemorate another great year in the saddle.

Year End Statistics Numbers are certainly not everything, but they can tell a story. Below are my figures for 2018, as well as a break-down of the bike types ridden. 
My personal record broken this year was for elevation gained – 400,000 metres is the equivalent of climbing to the top of Mount Everest from sea level, more than 45 times — dedication to the #insearchofup motto.
Distance
25,185 kilometres (15,649 miles)

Time
1039 hours 55 minutes

Elevation Gain
403,693 metres (1,324,452 feet)
2018 Bike Distances 9448 km – Gravel/CX Bikes (3T Exploro / Kona P. Jake) 9070 km – Road Bikes (Neil Pryde Bura SL & others)
3870 km – Touring Bikes (Kona Rove Ti) 1593 km – Mountain Bikes (Pivot…

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. It holds purpose – to fuel up for the challenges that lie ahead. It also holds excitement and reward for getting out there and trying something new.

My favourite breakfasts are not those at the hotel buffet, or indeed a 'Full English'; rather they are ones composed of simple ingredients, accompanied by good coffee, and served with a stunning outdoor backdrop. These breakfasts, often enjoyed when wild camping and adventuring, are the ones that remain in my memory as special starts to special days.

In this post, I look at three of my favourite 'Wild Breakfasts' – with recipes, cooking guidance, and of course coffee recommendations.


(1) Soaked Muesli Porridge Using quality muesli to make your porridge is a great cheat to provide a beautifully textured and flavoursome porridge. I use an organic muesli that contains seeds, raisins, and a mixture of different oats and grains – such as the Nairn's Organic Muesli; when soaked, t…