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...

I had forgotten how much I love mountain biking. I had forgotten how much it hurts. 12 hours of constant drama, constant concentration, and constant excursion was enough to remind me. A podium finish, in Denmark's biggest mountain bike race - the Scott H12 MTB. The race comes at the end of a great week in Denmark with the GripGrab team. Office meetings are bookended by rides through the forest on the way home with the Krøyer brothers. These brief laps of the forest trails are enough to bring back some recollection of what it is to ride MTB; I am ashamed to confess the last time I rode flat bars was 15 months ago; not the ideal prep for a 12 hour mountain bike race. Race day arrives. The weather is perfection; with the early morning light breaking through the trees. I rode this event in 2016 as part of a team, so I know what is coming, yet my stomach is still a bucket of nerves... The start gun fires. 500+ riders clip in, and kick up the dust. Position is everything in this...

Three days of mud, gravel, sub-zero temperatures, and flat-out racing. An invitation to ride the world's first ever cyclocross stage race, seemed like an opportunity that couldn't be missed... Race Report: Stage 2 - 74km - 1,530m elevation I pushed from the gun - trying to hold my own in the front group.  I didn't quite push hard enough though; before long, the five front-runners had got a gap, and I was left in the chasing pack. Nothing for it... solo bridge time. It turned out to be a long bridge to cross. Almost an hour of sitting at threshold, trying desperately to regain the wheel of the last rider in the group ahead. Eventually I made junction. Exhausted; I clung to the wheels. By now the two professional riders were long gone into the distance, and our small second group comprised of two Swiss junior riders (one the U23 National Champ), a super-strong German, and myself.  Up. Up. Up. Today was a day of hunting vertical. From vineyards, through ...

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...

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make. The mould of your life is in your hands to break. (J.R.R. Tolkien) The Festive 500 starts again. They say that life begins at the end of your comfort zone; that seems apt with this yearly challenge in mind. This year, I'm attempting to complete just the 500 kilometres (rather than 500 miles that I undertook last year ). However, my target is to do it all on a cyclocross bike, with as much off-road riding as possible. This is the #Festive500CX . Festive 500 CX Ride 7 - Short but sweet, end of year finale 65 kilometres. 1,069 metres elevation. 2 hours 40 minutes. Fog over Military Road Lifted toward the end of the ride Sunshine to end the year Festive 500 CX Ride 6 - Festive commutes 78 kilometres. 683 metres elevation. 3 hours 10 minutes. A rest day in work. Book-ended with two great winter rides. Festive 500 ...