Ride Stats: September


Not a bad month, not a huge amount of hours or miles compared to July or August, but that is partly down to weather, a few indoor sessions and a fair bit of my riding last month being made up of XC riding; which I typically do less mileage on.
Back to Uni now, so it will be all road riding for the next ten weeks, a bit of hill climb specific training until the end of this month; but otherwise the start of the long winter base mile rides.
Labels:


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Udderly Smooth Chamois Cream and Hand Cream

Image
Chamois cream is something that seems to be increasingly necessary for me when I ride the bike; it certainly makes those hours in saddle a lot more comfortable, and is a sure-fire way to get rid of saddle sores. For the  last few weeks I've been using the Udderly Smooth Chamois cream on my nether-regions when I go out for a ride, and have also been very impressed by their hand cream to stop cracked hands in the cold weather. Udderly Smooth are a US brand, which is available in the UK through select distributors; it produces body lotions, foot creams and most importantly for cyclists, moisturisers and chammy cream. I've been pleased by both the hand cream and chamois cream I've had on trial. Udderly Smooth Chamois Cream Providing some moisturising chamois cream to your under-carriage is often all it takes to overcome saddle sore. (For more tips on how to cure saddle sore see my blog: Hints and Tips: Saddle Sore Prevention and Cure ). This lightly sce...
Keep reading

Review – SunRace CS MX80 (MX8) 11-46T Cassette for SRAM

Image
If you are running a SRAM Force or Rival 1X drivetrain set-up, then you may well find yourself wishing for a lower gear, especially on bikepacking adventures. The SunRace MX80 / MX8 11-46 tooth cassettes supply two additional low ratio gears than you get on the standard 11-42T SRAM cassette. That is an upgrade worth considering... On my Kona Sutra LTD build , I was concerned about a lack of low end gear spread for the Tour Divide . Whilst pure grunt will usually get you up most things on an 11-42T cassette, I thought with the cumulative fatigue and long climbs on this 21 day bikepacking route, I might need something lower... SRAM rate their SRAM Rival and Force 1X rear derailleurs as suitable for a maximum of a 42-tooth cassette—I was keen to see if the SunRace MX80 and MX8 cassette would work with the derailleurs and provide that sought-after lower gear possibility. You may well not have heard of the SunRace brand, but you likely have heard of Sturmey Archer—the iconic hub gea...
Keep reading

Review – Koo Supernova Strade Bianche Ltd Edition Photochromic Cycling Sunglasses

Image
I am a strong advocate of wearing protective glasses year-round when cycling; in the winter they shield your eyes from wind, road spray, and grit; then, on sunnier days they protect your retinas from UV rays as well. To account for low light levels and night riding in winter months, a pair of adaptable photochromic sunglasses is the perfect solution when considering the best sunglasses for cycling... the Koo Supernova sunglasses are the best photochromic option I have found to date. The limited edition Koo Supernova Strade Bianche Edition sunglasses are subtly branded with the name of the iconic Italian Spring Classic race, while the design and functionality is the same superb lightweight set-up found in the standard Supernova glasses from Koo. The Supernova glasses are ultralight at just 22 grams per pair; they use a frameless single lens that is shatter-proof and anti-reflective, while providing 100 percent UV protection. The photochromic lens quickly adapts to the riding light...
Keep reading

Bike Profile: Kona Private Jake

Image
My Kona Private Jake is a seriously versatile bike, and probably the most used of ' My Rides '. From commuting to racing; from weekend-blasts to two week tours; the Private is a do-it-all rig. I haven't changed a huge amount in terms of the specification of the bike, but there have been some subtle tweaks and alterations. Here's how it is currently set up... Bike Specifications: Frame: Kona Race Light 7005 Aluminium Butted - Medium/Large Fork: Kona Carbon Headset:  Full Speed Ahead Stem: Kona Road Deluxe Handlebar: Kona Road Front brake:  TRP Sypre disc brakes 160mm rotor Rear brake:  TRP Sypre disc brakes 140mm rotor Rear derailleur: SRAM Rival Clutch Mech 11spd Shift levers: SRAM Rival 1X Cassette:  SRAM Rival 11-32 11spd Chain: KMC 11spd Crankset:  SRAM Rival  Bottom bracket: SRAM Rival Pedals: Shimano M520 pedals Wheelset:  Novatec 30 Disc Wheelset  Front tyre: WTB Cross Boss Tubeless Rear tyre:  WTB Cr...
Keep reading

Review – Kostüme Cycle Wear Jersey and Bib Shorts

Image
Kostüme's approach is different. Rather than warehouses full of stock, end of season sales and out of stock sizes, Kostüme operates a pre-order setup: they release an edit of a cool new design, and you place a pre-order within their ten day window. Once all orders are in, Kostüme make the kit, and you get your bespoke apparel delivered. I am a great supporter of the pre-order manufacturing approach. Yes, you might have to wait 6-8 weeks to get your new cycling jersey, bibs and gilet, but that just requires a bit of prior planning. Pre-ordering reduces waste, enables more frequent changes in design, and is ultimately better for everyone's wallets. Kostüme aren't just different in their manufacturing approach though, their kit also has some of the most daring and interesting graphical design work of cycling jerseys I have worn to date. Thanks to their collaborations and partnerships with world-famous artists, they can bring to life jerseys that will turn everyone's h...
Keep reading