Life In The Saddle

For as long as I can remember I have been a user and advocate of natural medicine. I recall putting arnica gel on bumps and bruises as a small child; smelling the relaxing tones of lavender in the bathroom after an active day in the garden; or drinking cups of honey and ginger tea to soothe a dry throat or a cough. At its heart, natural medicine considers the harmonious connection between people and plants — using it to help us recover and thrive in our everyday lives. For the last two years I have been a Weleda Arnica Ambassador. In that time, I have enjoyed learning even more about Anthroposophic medicine: the holistic view of the human being that promotes a healthy balance between body and mind, using the power of nature and plants. In this blog post, I share some of my favourite products from the Weleda range. These balms, lotions and gels are what I consider to be the perfect choices for an outdoor enthusiast's bathroom cupboard; helping you to relax, rejuvenate and repa...

In Simon Warren's latest '100Climbs' guide, he heads to Spain to document one hundred of the finest climbs and challenging gradients that have found fame in races such as the Vuelta a España. Also including the Canaries and the island of Mallorca – which I have visited on more than a dozen occasions, this little pocket guide is the perfect companion to let you know what you're really letting yourself in for on your route planning for that trip abroad… ' 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of Spain ' took five years to research and ride. It contains epic climbs such as the Angliru, Alto de Velefique, Lagos de Covadonga and the mighty Pico Veleta. Over on Mallorca, you will find familiar names such as Puig Major and Sa Calobra, whilst in the Canaries you will uncover Tiede on Tenerife, and the Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma. Each climb is carefully profiled with gradients and a detailed description of the ascent. I was pleased to see I could tick off every climb i...

Choosing the right bicycle saddle is similar to looking for a comfortable pair of shoes; there are numerous factors to consider—both physiological and with intended use. In this article, I offer  7 Tips to consider how you can choose the right bicycle saddle for your anatomy and style of bike riding. 1 – Seat-Bone Width The first thing to consider is the distance between your seat bones. Your seat/sit bone width determines the ideal width of the saddle you should choose. You can measure your seat bone width using a piece of corrugated cardboard: place the cardboard on a hard bench, and sit firmly on it. Rock forwards slightly to mimic a riding position, and elevate your feet to press your seat bones down onto the cardboard—so that they make an indent. Then, mark the centre of the two indents and measure the distance between the two points. This will give you your seat/sit bone width. A narrow sit bone width would be 100 mm or less, medium 100 to 130 mm, and wide over 1...

I have been searching for the perfect bikepacking shelter. Is it a tent, a tarp, a hammock, or a shelter? The truth is that any one of these could be the ideal bikepacking shelter choice, depending on the conditions that you are camping in. In sweltering summer heat, a hammock or inner tent only might be the best solution. For a fast pitch, a shelter or tarp may suffice as protection from the elements. Then, in more severe conditions, a fully clad two-layer tent (ideally with a porch to stow your kit) would be the best solution. The Adventure Beluga is a new style of modular shelter from the French brand Qaou Outdoor, which offers an incredibly versatile and adaptable tent—capable of being all the above named variations, without compromise. In the package you receive an inner tent, plus two outer material layers, pegs, poles, and a hammock hanging system. Here is what it can create: 1) All-weather tent with porch: zip the two outer layers together, use the inner tent and poles, an...