Life In The Saddle

The Dolomites always deliver. I have ridden in the area on a racing bike, cross-country MTB, and passed through the region on both the #7Countries7Passes and #RoadsFromRome tours. One area I have yet to explore though, is the opportunity for GRAVEL... On my #5MaratonasChallenge I stayed at the great Ustaria Posta in Badia, and the owner Igor talked of the opportunity to create an amazing multi-day off-road route linking up alpine huts. That pipe dream is about to become a reality... The #XPDTN3Dolomites will be a three day bike-packing trip; travelling from Ustaria Posta into the UNESCO World Heritage site, and exploring the road less travelled. These are paths normally only scouted by walkers in the summer, and alpine ski tourers in the winter; we will be taking to them on gravel bikes. My choice of weapon is the 3T Exploro. The full story will unveil itself on Instagram over the next week — follow #XPDTN3Dolomites   For now, here is a look at the kit that i...

Last February, I rode the TorTour Ultra-Cross Stage Race in Zürich. It entailed three stages of snow and sub-zero temperatures, but proved to be fantastic racing (read the report here). This year, I am heading to the Lucerne region of Switzerland for the inaugural TorTour Summer CX Ultra-Cross Stage Race. This is what I'm packing… The Event The TorTour CX is a three day programme: featuring a short prologue stage on the Friday afternoon, and then two longer weekend stages that head out into the challenging Swiss Alps. The total distance is 200 kilometres, almost entirely off-road on gravel paths and single-track. I haven't ridden in Lucerne before, but I have visited on family walking holidays. It is a beautiful and challenging landscape, with steep alpine peaks punctuated by azure blue lakes. Racing in February for the TorTour Winter CX demanded the best winter kit available; there aren't many situations where you are racing for four or five hours through the sno...

As the time of the Grand Depart on the #7Countries7Passes tour approaches, this is the kit that has made my final selection for the 3,000 kilometre journey from Copenhagen to Andorra. Read more about the #7Countries7Passes trip here Below I have linked through to the product that I will be using, where possible; so that you can find more detail about the items selected. If any of the kit changes between now and the departure, I will update the below lists (and eventually photos) to reflect the change. The Kona Rove Ti First up, the bike. The Kona Rove Titanium. This bike has already been on some great adventures in 2017, such as the Dirty Reiver Gravel Race . For the  #7Countries7Passes  tour this bike has had a bit of a road-orientated overhaul. It includes fitting a Kinesis ATR Disc Fork, rather than the Lauf suspension fork; changing the handlebars and seat post to alloy options (following a crash back in April); altering the gearing for fully-laden tou...

The first race of the season is approaching fast. Whereas my 2016 season began with the dust and roots of Denmark, at the H12 MTB Race ; this year, I am looking at snow and sub-zero temperatures, to kick-start my action-packed calendar… It is time for TorTour Cyclocross, Switzerland! The TorTour CX Stage Race Format The TorTour Cyclocross Race  is a three day event, with stages from 23 to 80 kilometres in length. Prologue: A 23 kilometre lapped circuit race, at the venue in …., Switzerland  Stage 1: 80 kilometres, with 700 metres of climbing. Looping out into the scenic Swiss countryside.  Stage 2: 74 kilometres, with 1260 metres of climbing. More trails, forest and snowy descents!  With competitors signed up from 15 different countries, it is set to be an incredible event. Kit Selection Here's what I'm packing as riding kit; to deal with the challenging conditions likely to be found in Glattfelden, Zurich. Helmet, Headwear and Eyewear Kask Inf...

I seem to have developed a love for loud kit. It is a strange development; because I'm not a loud person; far more a guy that wears a blue shirt, than one who wears a Hawaiian flower-splash one! The new-found interest has led me to look for new and interesting designs though; and it wasn't long before I eyed up the new AV Performance range, from Australian brand Après Vélo. Après Vélo are probably better known to blog readers as a casual clothing brand; as it is their tees that I have previously reviewed here on the blog . The new AV Performance range, is the brand's diversification into on-the-bike wear though; and it is as loud, and as interesting, as some of their great cycling inspired t-shirts! AV Performance Short Sleeve Jersey First up, the race-cut Performance Jersey, from Après Vélo. This is a short sleeve, full-length zipper, modern fast-dry fabric cycling jersey. The fit is great, and much like other Italian made jerseys. The fabric is robust, yet br...