Life In The Saddle

Low temperatures and winter storms push wind-chill factors to sub-zero. Bike riding does not have to cease in freezing conditions though; with the right clothing, there is no reason not to enjoy your cycling, even in the chilly months of winter. In this blog post, I offer my tips and advice for the right clothing to keep you comfortable when cycling in the depths of winter… 1 – Long Sleeve Base Layers Cold hands when cycling in low temperatures? Long sleeve base layers are the key to comfort here. Your hands are an extremity—they are one of the furthest points from the central boiler pump that is your heart. In order to keep them warm, you need to keep the blood that is flowing to them warm. Protecting your lower arms from wind-chill and insulating them with a long sleeve base layer will aid warm blood flows down your arteries all the way to your hands. The best long sleeve winter cycling base layer I have used is the GripGrab Expert Seamless Thermal Long Sleeve Cycling ...

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...