Blog Roll
I Get Cross is a great blog iv only just discovered from Rapha Condor ladies team rider Claire Beaumont, its a great blog updated regularly... head over and check it out!
Reading Material
Some excellent books out for some summer cycling reading...
Le Métier
Le Métier is the collaboration between Team SKY's super domestique Michael Barry and photographer Camille McMillan of Rouleur fame. An intimate portrait into the life of a professional cyclist, complete with truly evocative photos. Its available for £35 over at Rouleur
Bianchi - Una bicicletta sola al comando
Bianchi - Una bicicletta sola al commando (the only bicycle leading) is an italian language book rich in wonderful imagery chronicling Bianchi's history from 1885 to the present day. Aplethora of champions can be found insde, Coppi, Pantani, Anquetil and many, many more. Available for £34.95 from Prendas Ciclisimo
il Giro D'italia
il Giro D'italia is an italian language ten-chapter book detailing the last centuary of the most illustrious race from italy, the Giro D'italia.Featuring 250 photographs featuring all the wonderful moments engrained in the rich tapestry of the beautiful race. £34.95 from Prendas Ciclisimo
Coming Soon...
Having been an early tester of some of Gazzetta's blend of cycling specific massage oils and embroaction, I have to say, I look forward to their official launch in the very near future...
Huge shouts out to Claire from Condor for sharing these awesome unreleased pics of Deano and Matt from Rapha Condor, taken in Canary Wharf in the big smoke. I love me some Rapha Condor Sharp action, the boys look primed for an amazing summer of racing!
Gazzetta Jersey
Shutt VR are releasing a strictly limited edition 'La Gazzetta Della Bici' jersey, a classic retro inspired piece from 48% merino sportswool. The jersey is available for a cracking price of £50 for a limited time only im reliably informed. Scoop now and be part of the cycling sensation that is La Gazzetta! Available here
Want!
Gorgeous Gage & Desoto designed Rapha Condor team musette. So fresh its actaully of the cool-chart....
pic lovingly lifted from the most excellent blog, Elcyclista
Birthday Spaz
Congratulations to Lady M for surviving another year, i heard she came close to death recently after falling off 3 times UPHILL.
Wishing her the best spazzing bday wishes from the saaaaaf XX
Turning World Blog
Turning World is a great little blog, and will be adding some cool features in the next few weeks, including photos from a recent excursion to the Bianchi factory in Italy. Be sure to drop by and show it some love.
Felice Gimondi Gran Fondo Jersey
Prendas have procured a fantastic technicolour jersey for your summer riding, click the pic for the link.
HOTN
Sunday morning saw Rapha host their ode to Paris-Roubaix with their aptly titled ‘Hell Of The North’ ride. Over 65 miles out into deepest darkest north London, on bridleways, gravel tracks and unfortunately thick deep mud also!
Rapha laid out a great route, with undulating descents, a few small climbs and lots of fun gravel tracks (I had the wu-tang gravel pit in my head the whole ride, until my spaz of a friend but heaven 17 in my head instead.... thanks James!).
Managing to escape a puncture or mechanical, the only issue I had was on the deep mud tracks, I found myself unable to clip into my Speedplay pedals as the cleat became clogged with mud and general bullshit.... nothing a thirty minute stop whilst i fished out all the crap with a selections of twigs couldn’t sort, although my mood did darken as I rode about 2-3 miles resting on the pedals! haha.
The turnout was fantastic, all kinds of riders out for a takeover on the streets (although it has to be said, there were a couple of riders and you know who you are, who rode like absolute t*ts..... not the best behaviour in heavy traffic I must say! Jumping red lights on a day like today will not garner you many friends)
We got lost so many times, but that was all part and parcel of the day and the experience, I really couldn’t moan about that when it was such a glorious day outside (the ubiquitous t-shirt tanline has reared its head once again!)
Once we arrived at the pub, Belgian beer was given out along with a continental-wrapped bag of frites for the weary amongst the peloton. Having taken a really fun beating on some of the sections, the cushioned barstools were amazing as a throng of cyclists settled in to watch the swiss train ‘leave the station’
Below is the garmin data, although the sped and GPS behaved extremely erratic when under covered sections of the ride.... so take some sections with a pinch of salt etc. None of our group sustained a puncture except the only guy to ride on a CX bike... go figure!
All that remains for me to say is “BRING ON THE H-O-T-N 2011” !
Additional pictures from the day can be found over on the Condor Cycles blog at > http://blog.condorcycles.com/2010/04/hell-of-north-ride.html and Raphas Flickr stream > http://www.flickr.com/photos/raphacc/sets/72157623840070730/
