Life In The Saddle

I was told that Milland Hill was a tough circuit, nothing quite prepared me for the 25 percent gradient though, nor for the fact that we had to go up it eight times. The 65 mile race was composed of eight and a half laps of the 7.5 mile circuit; a circuit of false flats, finished with a gradient that even by Isle of Wight standards was a vicious encounter. The race started out fast, with a break of two riders getting off early. It was clear from the outset that despite there being a few large teams in the race, there were not many riders that were willing to work. As a result I seemed to find myself on the front a fair bit for the first two laps; working with a select group of others to help reel back the breakaway. Our hard work paid off, as the two escapees were brought back into the main bunch towards the end of lap two. For most of lap three I sat back in and tried to regain a bit of strength, following the wheels of Jimbo and Si, who made up our three man Isle of Wight...

I've developed a love affair with merino wool; it's incredibly breathable, it stays warm even when it gets damp, and it doesn't smell! What more could you want from a material; certainly I haven't found a synthetic fibre that comes close to it. Road Rags is a London based brand that produces a small but beautifully designed and thought-out range of merino products for male and female cyclists. The products are made to be versatile cycling tops, that will provide incredible comfort both in the saddle and sat at the café at the end of a long ride. Winter may be coming to an end, but there is still a definite nip in the air, and the beauty of merino wool is its versatility in so many climates; it will keep you warm in the cold air, but when it starts to heat up the breathability will come into its own. The Smithfield is Road Rag's perfect springtime cycling top; over the last few weeks I've been enjoying its quality and comfort on my spring rides, and though...

Mountain Bike mudguards come in many shapes and sizes, and there are varying opinions on their necessity  looks and effectiveness. "They don't look cool, dude". "You're going to have to walk through mud at the gates anyway". "You're still going to have to wash your bike off". These are all excuses that I've heard for not fitting fenders to a mountain bike, but in truth they really are a useful bit of kit; keeping you drier, keeping mud out of your eyes, and protecting components on your bike. Mucky Nutz is a UK based company that has come up with an ingenious set of guards that are more discrete, better looking and more aerodynamic than your standard off-road fenders; yet they still do a sterling job of keeping you dry. Since I've been back on the Isle of Wight I've fitted them on the On One Whippet and have been putting them to the test. Here are my thoughts on their three incredible value guards that I reckon will change the way...

Vélolove, that's something that I certainly have a fair bit of... perhaps too much at times, VéloObsession may be a better phrase for me. Who cares? If you are obsessed with your bike, you certainly shouldn't be afraid to hide it. Vélolove is a UK brand that is all about sharing the love; creating a bike culture and producing stunning quality casual kit and cycling prints that subtly show your deep-seated passion for the sport. I've had two Vélolove products on test for a week or so; one of their 'Allez Allez Allez' Cycling Culture Sweatshirts, and their Paris Roubaix Monument Tee. Here's what I thought... The Vélolove Paris Roubaix Monument Tee There is something about a good t-shirt; they feel more comfortable, look better and last longer than others. The Monument tees from Vélolove certainly fit securely into the "great" category; they are well fitted and beautifully made. The organic cotton is clearly a high quality mix, and the tees reall...

You've put a lot of work in preparing for your race; long hours on the bike in the winter weather, tough turbo sessions and a good attempt to iron out your weaknesses in the build up to your first race of the season. There is one ingredient that should never be forgotten though... nutrition. In this post I look at nutrition strategy for the few days leading up to a race and for the race day itself; there is a lot to be gained by getting your nutrition right, and an even greater amount to be lost by not getting it right. The Lead-up to the Event In the week leading up to the race you have likely started to pare back your training a bit as you taper down to the event, and ensure that your body is in its best possible condition; fresh and ready for race day. You should also pay particular attention to your diet in this period; try to avoid foods that might upset your system, and focus on a good balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit to keep your immune system going str...