The Three P's

There seems to have been loads written about 'womens cycling' of late, it has without doubt become the subject matter du jour of the world wide web-o-sphere, with loads of people offering opinions and ideas, some good, some a little ott. So! I thought id throw my hat, or rather cycling cap, into the arena and throw my incredibly humble quiet opinion into the noise & hubris out there.

For me, it can be broke it down to what I like to call "The Three P's". Positivity, Participation and Playfulness! That's pretty much how I can sum up what I think works for me as my experience of being a rider of the female variety.

Keeping my riding involvement underlined by a key ethos of positivity never fails to keep me coming back for more. Its the removing (or adding if that's your bag!) of pressure... its riding with friends and sharing in their achievements or just that simple common bond of sharing time in the saddle, the ups and the downs! I cant think of a better example of this positive attitude focusing on friendship than the Les Filles Racing Team. Keeping riding lighthearted makes the miles and long slogs easy. For me its about not over analyzing things and just simply getting out there and enjoying it with other happy like-minded individuals. I believe its the best buzz there is.

 I believe events that encourage "participation" are key to enhancing the experience of cycling for females. Its not about buying the latest gear, having the latest bike or knowing the lingo or politics of the professional level of the sport... its just simple participation. From grassroots right through to serious racing. There's truly nothing better than events that welcome, encourage and cater to riders across all levels. I can think of two examples off the top of my bonce that really stood out for me last year - firstly the Rapha Womens 100, a super successful global initiative to get women across the globe to ride 100k on a set date. Using everything from strava challenges to digital media integration to build a community of female cyclists, what unfolded was a lead-up and execution of a worldwide ride that saw women from every corner of the planet come together and share a memorable day on the road. The emphasis wasn't on speed, fitness, level or any other competitive element, but simply sharing the experience of the day with the vast female community, making friends and travelling new routes with new riding companions. Of course it goes without saying, im absolutely ecstatic its back for a welcome return in 2014. Secondly I popped down to an event called the VeloJam, run by Ana Nichoola & the Mule Bar Girls team. This was an amazing day of track racing at Herne Hill velodrome, with races for every category of ride, from complete beginner through to the top tier. The racing looked amazing, but more importantly it had this amazing inclusive vibe about it. As much encouragement and entertainment was to be found with the newb races as there was with the super pacey ladies. It should be noted that the Mule Bar Girls also run regular women-only track sessions at Herne Hill, teaching skills and just genuinely trying to give something back to whats becoming a flourishing scene within the south.  

Pic © Huw Williams

Lastly I think 'playfulness' is something I hold dear to my heart. With cycling, there's an intrinsic childlike joy of being on the bike. Strip away all the training, suffering and seriousness of cycling for a second and you cant deny that at the root of it all is a sense of youthful unfeigned escapism. Its the feeling we had as a child roaring down the big hill on the estate, daring each other to see how long you can withhold from pulling the brake lever. Its zipping down a quiet country lane and screaming with sheer glee! 

The above thoughts aren't to be seen as any meaningful kind of manifest or principles, cycling shouldn't be analyzed away into such granular concepts. It should be about joy and freedom. Its a very personal thing we choose to share with others on the road. Look out for each other & do your best to encourage and help people into this amazing sport of ours. Anyway... the last 20km of Milan - San Remo are unfolding so il draw this stream of thought to a close. Happy riding all!

La Poursuivants - IWD

Happy International Womens Day! enjoy some inspiration on us to get out there and enhjoy a rare spot of sunshine that seems to have graced our skies this morning in London HQ. Also don't forget this weekend sees a welcome return of the delectable Rapha 'Festa Della Donna'. A weekend of sales across their women's products to mark the launch of the 2014 'Womens 100' incentive (more on that from me in the forthcoming week)

Со́чи

I find myself posting this from the MPC at the Sochi Winter Olympic games park, situated in the town called Adler, in the Krasnodar Krai region, Russia. The temperature is around 6°C, which is decidedly balmy compared to hustling on the runway in -26° as we boarded our transfer in Moscow. Speaking of transfers, I wore the rather luxe rapha merino transfer pants, and couldn't have been more comfier during the 20 hours or so spent in transit.

So, whats this place like? well, if im honest, its in a rather 'unfinished' state. Construction in the area seems to be very much in progress, with a lot of the buildings and sites probably best described as 68% complete.

Wild dogs tend to roam around the joint, situating themselves everywhere from outside the hotel, to waiting along with the media at the shuttle bus-stops.

Cash is king in this part of the world. In fact if you even attempt to broach the subject of card-based payment you will be met with a look akin to as if you had burst into someone's house and smacked their grandma in the chops. Roubles are obligatory, and its nice to carry around notes with 1000 on them, feeling like a king.

Our hotel or 'compound' looks a little like a low security prison, with checkpoints to egress in & out of site. Its about 3km from the Georgian border which is quite mental, and I look out of my windows to a beautiful Georgian mountain range which looks amazing on a clear day. So far its been super rainy and cloudy.. think Manchester in February and your not far off the Adler eco-system.

Food is 'interesting'. Mainly being meat and veg, but not the kind of meat we are accustomed to in the west, its a bit anything goes... the canteen served and ominous concoction called 'beef chicken'. Dried fish is a big thing, and a colleague at what she described as a "greasy meat filled croissant". Needless to say iv skipped brekkie thus far. On the list to get stuck into is Borscht, which my new Russian-savvy pal Harry Engels has recommended I try. Check out his blog & twitter for some cool Sochi updates.

There's not much in actual way to update regarding images, as the games don't actually start for a few days yet. We are doing lots of prepping, ensuring venues can spool content in to the media centre ops crew, and sharking for alternatives to mcdonalds to eat for the next month. Im running a little bit for the commute as I cant handle waiting in the cold for a packed out media bus! keeping the legs sharp as well as the mind hopefully on this trip... 

Likes

Transcontinental

Les forçats du pavé

FP-R1

Liège–Bastogne–Liège

La 'Doyenne' will mark its centenary edition in 2014. The late-April seductive classic in the Ardennes region of Belgium takes riders on a journey through industrial townships, rolling fields, woodland climbs and punctures back to civilisation in the Liege suburb of Ans via the unforgiving gradients of Saint-Nicholas.

The race, a 256km gruelling route, builds drama towards the latter end of the day, with the bulk of its punishing ascents being not-so kindly laid in the latter stages of the parcours. No less than 11 climbs await tired legs, with aggressive riders able to capitalise by punching out on these rises.

La Redoute offers a perfect chance to view the race up close, a tangible experience for the fan of the riders effort and pain. Contorted faces and laboured cadence almost make the professionals seem like us mere humans in their suffering, but the pelotons speed up the climb is about as un-reminiscent of the amateur attempts the day before. Simply devastating!

1999 saw the charismatic Belgian badboy Frank Vandenbroucke dart away like a startled stickleback in a summer stream on La Redoute, and managing to finally shake Boogerd on the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. It was then head down, burying himself to the finish in what was one of Liege's most stylish wins.

Phone Home

The Masqueraders

So Rasmussen drops the bombshell, the bombshell some had expected, others maybe not so much. He claimed he taught the Canadian 2012 Giro D’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal how to dope using EPO. Hours pass after the famously black-balled Dane unveils these claims in a press conference, forcing a meek apologetic PR release from Hesjedal confirming the claims.

Ryder claims the discretion dates back to 2003, handily outside the 8 year statue of limitations. Thus the end result is the cyclist has escaped any technical violation, and therefore no sanctions will be bought against Hesjedal.

The thing that angers me about the issue of dopage within cycling, and let us be clear here, the sport is mired in controversies of the doping kind, is not the initial discretion of doping. Sure, I know its wrong per se, but that isn't the thing that riles me as a fan, as someone who dearly loves cycling. How many of us are innocent of a bad decision, of an action that galls us with shame, of doing something we knew was wrong? Id wager not many are pure and without sin. So its not this initial misdemeanor that angers and upsets me, it is in fact the lack of moral fortitude these guys have in absolving themselves of their wrongdoing. It’s the weasely cowardly way they are only uncovered as cheats by others, by forces out of their control. Hesjedal is the last on a recent line of these such characters.

The insincerity of their ‘confessions’, conveniently timed just after they bow out of the sport, or as their hand is forced, serve as a kick in the stomach to the fans. They apologise, ask for forgiveness and re-assure us of the authenticity of current performances, yet all the time they would have continued to keep their dark secrets locked away. Look at the cowardice of Michael Barry, in 2010 decrying Floyd Landis as a liar, even questioning his state of mind "Who knows what to know. He has lied and denied things. I don't where he is mentally at right now." yet fast forward almost 2 years to October 2012 and the stance of the Canadian somewhat performed a 180. “I doped. It was a decision I deeply regret. It caused me sleepless nights, took the fun out of cycling and racing, and tainted the success I achieved at the time”. 

Rich words after conveniently closing his career and retiring just before the statement. The same can be said of Stuart O’Grady, announcing his retirement from the sport a mere 24 hours before he was named by a French Senate report claiming he returned a suspicious EPO sample in the 1998 Tour de France, indicative of EPO usage. With the likes of O’Grady & Barry, they were outspoken in their anti-doping beliefs, both being vocal critics within the pro peloton of the rampant doping culture that blighted the sport over  the last two decades. Its this two-faced omerta viewpoint that makes me angry as a fan. The way riders like Ricco, Di Luca et al are vilified as evil-incarnate, the way their dirty performances cast asunder whilst riders like Barry, O’Grady & Hincapie ride off into the sunset, their veneer tarnished minimally and their hero status bafflingly intact.

Again I reiterate, its not so much the actual act of doping that infuriates me, I understand that the sport was engulfed in the inferno  of EPO, a dangerous arms race that most had to engage in to compete. That’s no excuse, plenty of riders did choose the right path, sadly most exiting the sport, or even worse, as we all know the case of Christophe Bassons.

Im just a fan of the sport, im not looking at cycling through rose-tinted glasses to believe cheating doesn't occur. It does occur, and sadly due to human nature will probably always occur. Im just so very tired of these ‘disclosures’ that serve nothing but to save face and work as a PR measure for the riders. Don’t mug us off with these insincere utterances, we deserve more than that. We are the ones cheering, supporting the industry, buying the bikes and the products that sponsor your teams.

Is truth & reconciliation the answer? I don’t know, but I sure as hell know Im sick of being lied to. I want a sport I can be proud of, something all of us can hold out head up high for investing our time and passion in.

Mamnick Hibell

Thom over at Mamnick has created the most beautiful looking leather shoes inspired by the touring legend of Ian Hibell. The shoe, named after its rugged-muse, is handmade in Derbyshire in homage to its inspiration of Hibell. 100% leather the shoes are available in both a black & brown flavour. Perfect for a spot of touring of city riding, these will look dandy both in & out the saddle. 

There's also a very nice little piece about Hibell over at the Mamnick journal.  

Pin-Ups

Spotted over at the very cool Atelier du Velo online shop. Head on over to check out some cool unique vintage bike bits.

Cycling Souvenirs

The very kind Jerry from cycling souvenirs website sent me over a natty couple of cups from his online cycling souvenir outfit to enjoy this week. I love the La Vie Claire Mondrian inspired mug, perfect to enjoy a winter post-ride hot chocolate in, and the Alpe d'Huez espresso set is a lovely little homage to the tradiotional french road marking for the climb.

The website boasts loads of really nice gift ideas for all budgets, perfect for picking up those xmas presents for the rider in your life. From cufflinks to posters to cycling miniatures  Jerry has got you covered. Its also the only place in the UK you can get your hands on the Cycling Inquisition Colombian jersey from the very excellent blog. Check them out at their website http://www.cyclingsouvenirs.com .

Velojam

Huge shouts out & respect to the organisers of the Velojam at the beginning of the month. What an awesome event. I only managed to get down for an hour or so, but in that time I was blown away by the amount of ladies racing and their standard! jeeees these girls across all three categories were drilling it. So impressive to see such a high standard of racing. The atmosphere was super nice and chilled, with all different levels getting involved in some track-based shenanigans.

One to stick in the diary to maybe give a shot in 2014! Well done all.

What Are You For?

Bill Strickland, of Bicycling magazine & Kapelmuur Independent fame recently posted a question to us, the cyclist... that is, he asked "what are you for?".
With the instant online social-outlets of twitter, facebook, blogger et al of today, there is so much opined regarding the ills and negative aspects of all contained within our bubble of two wheels. So Bill asks the question, what is that is good in our world? What is it you stand (or ride) for?

I am for encouragement. I will seek to share the beauty of cycling by being a good ambassador for my sport. Riding with those a little less familiar with the sport, showing them this is just about the most enjoyable act of freedom that can be found to escape the rat race of the daily grind! By helping others achieve their targets and goals, I get to share in that enthusiasm. Frankly... its infectious.

I am for the simplicity of cycling... not being required to compartmentalise each aspect of cycling into some sort of pseudo-theory and analyse every last ounce of passion and spontaneity out of the ride. Im for just tossing a lycra'd leg over the top tube and embracing the days encounters. A blank canvas if you will.

I am most definitely for that last rider shelling himself to finish. I love that within cycling, even bottom place is celebrated as a triumph. Gutsy determinism is praised in recognition of that slog to reach the flamme rouge. Take traditional team sports... there is always a winner and a loser. Losers are not liked, and the opponents despised. In our world, we celebrate all! If that isn't worth being proud of, I don't know what is.

I am most definitely for the suffering. The spikey sting of lactic post ride, glowing legs with a matching smile after pushing the pedals hard. The sacrifice and reward is abundant, but the ratio always seems to tip in the most favourable way.

I am totally fr the adventurous little detour, the roads less ridden. Give me friends, quiet roads and laughter on a bike and il show you a perfect day! 

VeloJam

This Saturday  5th October sees the return of the women's track meet 'VeloJam' from those ladies over at Team Mule Bar. Saturday 5th sees Herne Hill play host to an evenings track-bike based festivities, with 15 races over 3 categories, the evening promises to cater for all levels of riders, from elite race whippets to novice first-time-racers. A unique womens only event, ladies will have the opportunity to scoop up a share of the pretty hefty £1000 prize fund, with lots of prizes on offer for individual performances. 

The velojam promises to provide a party atmosphere whilst promoting track racing at all levels. More info can be found on the schedule of individual events here plus some handy tips for kit & race prep. 

VeloJam Facebook

VeloJam Twitter

Super Acciaio Mark II

Check out some pics of the latest re-iteration of the Super Acciaio, the deft steel racing-bred machine from those guys in London. The latest version retains the tapered bottom bracket and beefy lines, but has managed to shave 200g off the frame weight and it now boasts a slightly lighter more nible fork, yielding another 50g in the savings pot (enough to offset that treacle tart at the cafe stop... ammirite?) Expect a team RC-JLT colorscheme and a natty neon red like the pics below. Framesets start at a shade under £1300 and full builds can be scored from £2.5k approx.

Condor Cycles