Life In The Saddle

This review has been a long time in the pipeline, but then I feel (and have said before), that the best time to judge a pair of tyres is when you take them off the rim. Either you’ll be ripping them off cursing the quantity of punctures, poor grip and slow performance; or you’ll be taking them off ready to put a new pair of the exact same tyre back on there, because you’re impressed by them so much. I started testing the Hutchinson Tyres Squale and Toro earlier this season in the rather idyllic setting of a French farmhouse in Provence. At the Hutchinson Tyres press camp in late May, a group of other journalists and myself put the new Squale and Toro through their paces over two days of fast all-mountain riding. They proved an impressive set of rubber; hugging the gravel berms as we carved around them, holding steady on the rock gardens as we dropped down the side of the mountain, and proving that they are very much worthy of their usage with one of the best downhill race teams; ...

Last week I was in Provence testing the new Enduro range of tyres from French brand Hutchinson. The photographer at the camp was Dave Trumpore, these are a few of the fantastic shots he captured: Getting ready to ride The big drops... The French hospitality... The great company The stunning Provence Gite The dry trails The views! The rock gardens Sik Mik Hannah doing his stuff Hitting it fast! Awesome test bikes! The "Sand Pit" Tracey Hannah kicks up the dust! I need one of these bikes...

Enduro mountain biking... full suspension bikes hammering down dry and dusty trails, body armour on, handlebars vibrating like a jackhammer, gravel spraying out at the corners and a huge grin spreading across your face... It's good to do something different. This week I was in Provence with Hutchinson Tyres riding 'Enduro' on their new tyre range; it was a great laugh. I'm not going to lie, there were times when I was scared out of my skin, times when I lost it and crashed out (leaving me with a sprained wrist and some minor cuts), times when I really wasn't sure why I was doing it instead of riding XC or road back at home. There were those times, but most of the time I was loving the change, loving the dry trails, loving the gravel slides and the whooping berms, and generally loving the experience of staying with a team of enthusiastic bikers in a French Gite for a few days. It was great fun.  I can see why Enduro has been such a huge hit; it requires a...

Windproof jackets have become one of my most treasured pieces of kit. For commuting, they can be worn day after day with a fresh base layer underneath; for mild rain they are enough to keep you warm and dry without the sweat factor of a waterproof, and for cold weather they form the ultimate outer layer to combine with other thermal layers for warmth. The AM Enduro jacket from Polaris is designed for mountain bike riding, with their Niteride Jacket intended for road riders (being a bit closer fitting). I have primarily been using the AM Enduro jacket for commuting, which for me involves many aspects of mountain biking; such as wearing a small rucksack, wanting a comfortable layer with a bit more freedom of movement, and needing durable materials. I've been impressed with it so far... The jacket is a great high-visibility electric blue, with reflective detailing on the sleeves and back, making it ideal for the commute. It uses a dual fabric mix; the X-Wind Windproof fabric...

Writing a review of lubricants is rarely a particularly exciting topic; either it works, stays put and keeps things working smoothly and quietly; or it is easily washed off, creates a grinding paste and leaves your chain sounding like a cage full of canaries. I'm pleased to say that the Rock 'n' Roll Extreme Lube is fairly firmly in the former camp. This stuff works, well. The application of the Rock 'n' Roll lubes is a little unconventional: rather than dripping a small amount on each roller, you cover the chain in lube; applying a layer of lubricant to the whole length both inside and out. You then rotate the chain through a clean rag to wipe of the excess, and in the process clean the chain as well. I was surprised how even after a thorough degrease, there was a significant amount of dirt and grime that came out from inside the chain, as it was replaced by clean lube. I tested the Extreme Lube on my commuter; a bike that takes some serious abuse fro...

Biggest month to date EVER in terms of mileage and hours 10 hours more than last month (that previously was the hours record) 28 more miles than August '13 (that previously was the mileage record) Relatively slow, low power base miles for the most part Bring on more of the same in December!

Platypus have been in the hydration system market for a long time; they were one of the pioneering firms that first started producing the bladder and tube systems, they know their stuff when it comes to keeping you topped up with fluid when you're on the move. The Duthie All Mountain 10 is the latest and greatest pack from this American firm; a bag designed to keep you hydrated and well provisioned with food and spares, even on EPIC All Mountain day-long adventures. I am planning on doing some long distance mountain biking expeditions in Summer 2014, so the Duthie 10 looked like the ideal pack for the role. Filled up with fluid, supplies and spares, I've been testing it out... The primary concern with any rucksack that you'll be wearing all day long is comfort, and the Duthie has it in bags. The shoulder straps are made of a ventilated foam padding, the back panel is also well padded, with a central air channel and a semi-rigid internal frame to ensure comfort even...