Life In The Saddle

As cycling culture evolves, and adventure riding  becomes a more mainstream activity, it is interesting to watch the development of new 'bikepacking apparel' and adventure specific riding kit. The truth though, is that adventure riding and bikepacking are just cycling combined with other well-known outdoor pursuits, such as camping, hiking and mountaineering. As such, it may well be that kit from those pursuits can be re-purposed and utilised on your bikepacking adventures — reducing the amount of kit you need to buy, and the effect of doing so on the planet. In this blog post, I have selected two of my favourite pieces of outdoor apparel, both of which are fantastic for bikepacking adventures: the Rab Electron Pro Lightweight Down Gilet and the Rab Power Stretch Pro Pull-On Mid-Layer. Review – Rab Electron Pro Lightweight Down Gilet A lightweight down jacket has featured in my bikepacking kit list  since my first tours, but switching it out for a down gilet is a more ...

I have been using Shokz (previously Aftershokz) open ear headphones for almost a decade now, and their performance is second to none in terms of sound quality, build quality and design. The new OpenFit from Shokz offers an ultra-lightweight, open-ear construction without the band design used on the OpenRun Pro, making it more suitable for everyday wear as well as for active sports pursuits. The flexible ear hook design of the OpenFit headphones allows it to fit to any ear shape, and remain securely and comfortably in place for hour upon hour of listening. The DirectPitch™ technology produces an immersive audio experience with deep bass notes and fantastic clarity, whilst still allowing you to listen to the external environment and maintain your situational awareness. Battery life on the Shokz OpenFit is superb, with each charge offering 7 hours of listening, and each full charge of the case/unit offering 28 hours of listening. A useful fast-charge function also allows you to top u...

Outdoor pursuits in the winter months are tough on your skin, body and immune system. Windburn and cold temperatures take their toll on delicate skin, while your body often takes knocks and abuse in cold temperatures. The range of skincare and wellness products from Weleda is what keeps me functioning at my best through the freezing and wet months; this collection of products is my personal go-to. >> Use the discount code TIM24 to get 30% off Weleda at Weleda.co.uk     Winter Skincare Weleda Skin Food Face Care provides you with the protection, rejuvenation and cleansing that your face needs when it is being blasted by rain, wind and snow. Start using the Nourishing Day Cream to hydrate and soften the skin before heading out into the elements, then cleanse with the Nourishing Cleansing Balm and Nourishing Night Cream when your day of adventuring is done. The Skin Food range has long been my favourite range of moisturisers, providing un-matched levels of soothin...

Are you sitting comfortably? Saddle sores are a serious concern for many cyclists; at best they can be a cause of discomfort, at worst they could end a ride or adventure. After many long distance bike rides such as the #BlackForest400 and #7Countries7Passes , these are my tips for preventing and treating saddle sores. 1 – Saddle Choice Having the correct width and length of saddle makes a huge difference to the chances of encountering saddle sores. Too wide, the saddle will rub on your seat bones. Too narrow, you will sit on your perineum rather than on your seat bones. Recommended reading:  'How to Choose the Right Bicycle Saddle for You' 2 – Saddle Height The height of your saddle plays a significant role in determining the pressure and friction on your nether-regions. If your saddle height is too high then you do not put enough pressure on the pedals; increasing the pressure on your perineum or sit bones and increasing the rocking motion in the s...

The potential benefits of oval chainrings are numerous — from reduced strain on the knees, to greater power output, and improved efficiency. I have been riding with absoluteBLACK Oval Chainrings for more than a year now; on gravel bikes, road bikes, and mountain bike. The benefits are notable, and I have now voluntarily adopted the oval asymmetric chainring design on all my bikes. Discovering the Benefits of Oval Chainrings I started using absoluteBlack oval chainrings on my Kona gravel bike; the 1x narrow/wide chainring was an economical replacement for a worn out SRAM Force 1x standard shaped chainring, and it offered me the opportunity to test the oval chainring design. The cyclocross/gravel single chainring from absoluteBLACK has a neat mounting system, whereby the chainring bolts screw straight into the chainring itself — offering a simple and clean look to the crank-set. The alloy that the chainring is made of also seems to be more robust than other offerings, a...