Life In The Saddle

I. Love. Oats. They are quite simply the best carbohydrate in the world. I can count on one hand the number of days in a year that have not started with a bowl of porridge or overnight oats; for me, they are the only fuel to set you up for an active day of adventures. Find out more about the unique dietary benefits of oats in this earlier blog post: ' Fuelled by Oats – The Natural Superfood '. Oomf Foods have taken the ancient oat and created little pots of protein-packed porridge goodness. How? They have mixed oats with skimmed milk powder, whey protein concentrate, and other simple ingredients such as blueberries, ginger, cocoa, apple pieces, banana, and of course the classic golden syrup. Each pot packs an impressive 20 grams of protein, and they are free from artificial colours, sweeteners, or preservatives. They also taste fantastic. Additionally, the UK brand produces a special Probiotic Protein Porridge. This gut-loving porridge has a specially formulated prob

On wet roads, a set of full-length mudguards will add comfort to your ride; as well as saving your bike from expensive maintenance costs. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards are an affordable and bombproof set of full-length winter mudguards; featuring an all-metal construction and stainless fitting hardware. Wet feet? Wet back? Gritty drivetrain? All these things can be solved with a set of full-length mudguards. Okay, they will not protect you from the downpour coming from above; but a set of full-length guards will prevent the worst of the road spray and debris hitting your body and bike. I fitted a set of the Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards to my Kona Rove Ti as we headed into the autumn months; a time when leaves, field run-off, flooding, and hedge-cutting leave our lanes strewn with wet debris and puddles. Fitting full-length guards is a bit of a fiddle; there is no denying that. It delivers hours of improved comfort though, so it is time well spent. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards t

Chapeau Cycling wins my personal award as the Best UK-Based Cycle Clothing Brand of 2020 . Their products continue to impress me with their exceptional quality, function, and design innovation. Yet, as a brand, Chapeau are still not that well-known in the world of cycling apparel. Hopefully, this review feature will introduce you to their latest winter range, and prompt you to also doff your top hat and shout " Chapeau! "... Review – Chapeau Cycling Club Thermal Bib Shorts Thermal bib shorts are a highly versatile and under-rated piece of cycling apparel. In the transition seasons of spring and autumn you are often too warm in bib tights, but a little too chilly in summer bib shorts. Thermal bib shorts use fleece-lined fabrics, a higher cut bib, and a longer leg length to deliver that extra bit of warmth and comfort. The Chapeau Club Thermal Bib Shorts are a fine example of 'early season bib shorts'; with features that make them unique and superior to

Leatherman tools are excellent quality and offer lifelong companions for back-of-beyond adventures. The Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool is a plier type tool; designed to be lightweight, portable, and robust. Partnered with the Leatherman Bit Kit it makes for a superb bikepacking and bicycle touring tool. The Leatherman Skeletool weighs in at just 142 grams—placing it well within the realms of your standard bicycle multi-tool. Yet, this 7-in-1 tool has the capability to deliver a significantly greater level of functionality compared to many bicycle multi-tools on the market today. As the stand-alone product, the Leatherman Skeletool comes with a 420HC stainless-steel combination blade, dual type pliers, a wire cutter, a bit driver and screwdriver bits, a removable pocket clip, and a carabiner/bottle opener. The Skeletool is designed with ease-of-use and handling in mind. All the tools can be accessed single-handed from the outside of the unit. The blade and bit driver also featu

Do not underestimate the benefits of bike cleaning. Your ride will not only look better; it will also be more efficient, quieter, safer; and parts will last much longer, after a good cleaning session. A bike clean may take 30 minutes of your time; but it will save you money and costly mechanicals in the long run. Juice Lubes is a UK-based company that make some of the best bike cleaners on the market. With the autumn weather bringing back mucky trails and debris-strewn roads, I decided to look at their current bike cleaner range… For a step by step guide to cleaning your bike, check out my post: ' The Ultimate Bike Cleaning Routine ' Key components of the cleaning process are the brushes, chain-bath, degreaser, and bike frame cleaner that you use.  This is the Juice Lubes offering:  Dirt Juice No Nonsense Bike Cleaner Dirt Juice BOSS Chain Cleaner Dirty Little Scrubber Chain Cleaner Big Softy Soft Wash Frame Brush Double-Ender Two Prong Brush Stiffler Drivetrain Brush