Koofu WG-1

Nice stealthy looking lid, spotted over at the Koofu facebook page.

Instagram

The past couple of years (early adopter!) iv been really into instagram. A great social photo sharing app available on all mobile phone OS's, the program allows users to upload cool little square format pictures to share with followers. As I said to a good friend when introducing him to it "Think of it as twitter without the arseholes & opinions".

Users can tag up images with a hashtag, populating them into a search for that term. One of the best is a tag championed by super strong man and rapha's handsome and most famous North London ex-pat Ben Leiberson. Using the tag #outsideisfree the door is unlocked to some absolutely gorgeous cycling terrain, from far reaching corners of the globe. The idea being that at the end of the day, outside really is FREE! its about sharing that vibe that Tom over at Mamnick so succinctly describes. 

Also theres the #womens100 tag for all the ladies out there embarking on the womens 100km journey.

Here is a list of cool people you should absolutely be following, and iv been enjoying a peek into there daily lives via the medium of a photograph. There's something really cool about having a little visual window to share with other like minded people... enjoy!

Jeremy Dunn
Steve Marsh
Ben Lieberson
Lachlan Morton
St Kilda Cycling Club
Ricky Feather
Kieran Hedley-Carverhill
Soigneurs
TSH Luke
Cazz Griffin
Rhys Howells
Matt DeMartino
Condor Cycles
Jered Gruber
Go and Ride
Starr Walker
Northside Wheelers
Julie Krasniak
Cindy Lew
Abby Watson
Kristian House
Angelo Calilap
Emiliano Granado
Leave It On The Road
Max Leonard
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Bear Development Team
Beloved Cycles
Tom Boonen
Stefan Rohner
Moreno Moser
Rigoberto Uran

Ok that's quite a long list, but il post up a volume II with plenty more decent follows in the near future... happy snapping!

Great Climbs Of Europe

Conor over at one of my favorite websites, Elcylista, has produced these beautiful prints entitled "The Great Climbs Of Europe". Using a Giclée inkjet printing process with archival inks, the result is a beautifully tone fade-resistant print of exhibition quality. Available in two sizes, these are sure to be a wonderful accompaniment to any cyclists wall.

"I started out with the monuments, those climbs passed into cycling folklore through races and riders that have given them great stories. Then there are those mentioned in conversations with local riders, people we have met on the road, picked up in articles, or discovered through studying race routes. Key cities were added, the places we travel in and out of, and the ranges and areas where all of these exist. Together these have created a footprint that documents the climbers playgrounds of Europe."

The total first edition of all sizes will be 124 prints, all hand numbered. Why 124? Sean Kelly was know for his exceptional descending skills. His fastest clocked decent was on the Joux Plane into Morzine at an astounding 124 KM/H. So, 124 prints in honor of that who goes up, must indeed go down.

Elcyclista Shop

#Womens100

You're going to hear quite a bit in the next few months about the new project from Rapha, entitled the Womens 100. This worldwide initiative sees an attempt to get as many women as possible globally to cycle a distance of 100km on July 7th, 2013. What better way to launch that on International Womens Day!

The Rapha Women’s 100 is not a competition to see who is the fastest, slowest or fittest, it is about gathering a worldwide community of women around the world to take part in this shared adventure. Il be lucky enough to be one of 100 women taking to the start line of the Etape du Tour to celebrate, and cant wait to share my journey and hear of others embarking on all manner of challenges to mark the day. The first instalment of my blog can be read over here. 

Rapha are inviting ladies to share stories of training and preparation as well as the lowdown of their 100km come the summer in all manner of social mediums. Firstly, hope on over and join the facebook group to link with training partners in your area and share links and advice.

Use #womens100 while you are training and riding along the way and document your journey via Twitter and Instagram.

Finally, be sure to get yourself over to the Strava page and sign up, its a fun way to tot up the mileage and earn a badge upon completion of the challenge. Fear not if you don't have a garmin or other gps advice, as Strava offer a wicked free smartphone app to track your rides. Working towards collecting those "Queen of the Mountain" crowns is a fun and addictive way to rack up the training hours.

To celebrate today's launch there is a 48 hour sale on some wicked ladies essentials over at the webstore, head on over to grab a silly-priced bargain to ensure your training begins with style! 

www.rapha.cc/womens100

Facebook Event  

Strava Challenge Page 

1929 x 2012

Interrupted Service

You may have noticed the blog content is a bit baron at the moment. Work is pretty crazy as of now, as is social and bike time... Im very time poor to actually sit down and get some decent content penned! I promise there is some stuff in the pipeline, its just getting the time to sit down and crack on with it :D

In the meantime... find snippets over at my tumblr... http://dropsofdiamond.tumblr.com/

Take care all for now, and bianchista will be back shortly.

Rigoberto Uran

Rigo Uran looking hella PRO in the new Rapha engineered Team SKY kit. Very fresh!

Coppi Print

Check out this lovely A3 print of legend Fausto Coppi. Available as a limited run of 50, this is a hand pulled screenprint on Canaeltto paper. A perfect addition to the walls in 2013 to pay homage to without a doubt, one of the greatest cyclists to ever grace the pedals. Iv got a brilliant Herbie Sykes book to get stuck into this January, I cant get enough of this bianchi emblazoned angel. Click here for details

BBB Select Box

The BB select box brings together a mix of six interchangeable lenses and accompanying earsocks, so you can mix and match to ever-changing kit or conditions. Built around a choice of black or white Select frames, this is a very decently priced option for all the eyewear needs one could ever conceive. Available from ribble.

Pedros x Rapha