Espresso?

Cycling & coffee - never have there been better suited bedfellows. Its just something about a lovely silky brew during the hallowed cafe stop that tradition has not changed in all its years passed. For many a year, cyclists have rewarded and fuelled the hours of arduous training (or even those relaxed recovery rides) a coffee, be it espresso, machiato, americano etc etc, and often  accompanied by a sweet treat (rumour has it Dean Downing of Rapha Condor Sharp fame loves a caramel slice). To celebrate this relationship between rider and bean, Rocket Espresso have launched a very limited edition (only 200) Rapha marque of their famous 'Giotto' machine.

A plate on the front features the words of Fausto Coppi and the machine’s limited edition number, the quote translating to "We'll give ourselves a kick up the backside today"....

The infamous rapha pink coloured pressure gauge adds a a splash of colour and style to the machine. Bellissimo! Perhaps even think about adding a Chris King tamper or a Rapha livery Keepcup to your caffeine arsenal....

http://www.rapha.cc/rocket-espresso-for-rapha

Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb 2011

Last week saw the 2011 installment of the Rollapaluza Urban Hillclimb race. A standing start hillclimb race ascending the famous Swains Lane in Highgate, the events attracted some amazing climbing talent this year, as everyone seemed keen to smash it to the finish line. The climb is an 800m steep little bugger of a climb, rising through Highgate cemetery, resting place of people like Patrick Caulfield and Karl Marx. With gradients of up to 20%, it proved a real legburner as the finish line approached....

© Chris Keller-Jackson via http://crankphoto.co.uk/

I managed 11th place in the senior womens category riding for the Rapha Condor Club, with a time of 2 mins 36 , which was a bit lame as I have gone faster than that up Swains previously. However, I failed to warm up and im not really firing on all cylinders currently due to work eating into training time, so I gave it my best, alas coming up a little short this time. It did however feel quite exhilarating to be climbing and having people cheer me on all the way up the hill. Rollapaluza printed every riders name and number in a programme, so lots of people including some excited kids were shouting out each rider by name, giving a nice little feeling of being a famous rider for about a nano second! I also decided to ride my bianchi and not the condor, mainly due to it being a shade over 7kg, and I needed all the help I could get!

© London Cycle Sport via http://www.londoncyclesport.com

I saw some truly epic powering up that hill, it seems like all the competitors bought their A-game to the night, and sure enough registration sold out in the blistering time of 4 minutes this year. Iv decided im totes entering again next year to better my time! Claire put in a strong performance for 5th in the ladies category which was smashed by those whippets from Look Mum No Hands team, those girls are F-A-S-T.

Pre-climb stretch, i think my warm up needs to be more comprehensive than this in the future!

Ben powers on up!

Thanks to the guys at Rollapaluza for organizing such a great event. Free to enter, it really was cool to get timing chips etc, and the running of the event was super slick. Bravo!

http://www.urbanhillclimb.com/

Stage 12 Fame

Cadel Sprays Cav

Spesh Cross

Yikes!

info here

Pimp My Canon - Condor Edition

Bravery

Wow. Im sure everyone felt as awful as I did watching yesterdays events unfold at the tour. To see Flecha and Hoogerland cast across the road like ragdolls left me with an awful lurching feeling in my stomach. These guys turn themselves inside out for the love of the sport - day in, day out.
The men, whether they like it or not, through their brave actions become heroes to everyone who consumes the races - the fan that emulates them on every backyard climb, or the daydreaming office worker, lost in though of battling one of these giants of the road for the finish line.
We care and we love these strongmen, applauding their most courageous acts and appreciating the style and panache they execute their craft with.
Watching the below video of Hoogerland really resonated with me, I saw a vulnerable young and BRAVE man, and what a man he is. Awarded the combativity prize after Flecha refused it as a gesture, and also the KOM jersey, he can take a small amount of comfort in the fact he was amazing. To remount and finish the stage after that crash was spectacular. Well done Johnny, and rest up today.

Rabobrake

Wearing It Well....

Some very nice t-shirts kicking about recently, show your true cycling colours and cop one for the summer. Click the pix for the links...

Howies 'First or Last'

Howies, the small but mighty clothing company from Cardigan Bay has come up with a very nice 80's inspired tour t-shirt, available in mens or ladies fit...

Condor 'Crank'

Condor offer an old school crank diagram tee, for a shade under £15.... bargainous!

Gage+DeSoto 'Dead Flowers'

American super designers Gage & DeSoto have teamed up with NYC brand Dead Flower to create this gnarly artwork of Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor duking it out in 1964 up the Puy de Dôme. Fresh as hell!

Rapha T-shirts

Like Howies, Rapha offer a ladies and mens cotton t-shirt. Slim fitting with the usual heavyweight quality factor of a rapha jersey. Very nice indeed...

Apologies...

Bianchista has disappeared underground so apologies for the serious lack of updates. This past week saw me assigned to cover the royal wedding in Monaco which was hard work but rather fun. I hung out and fired some remotes and put in a hefty editing shift, so im just about back in the land of living after a mammoth 13 hour drive back from the millionaires playground. I saw a handful of cyclists, looks like a damn fine place to ride! Anyway, hang tight for some updates, il be back in the swing of things from now I promise.....

Should you be interested, check out the images from Getty of the marriage here

Parlee Aero Prototype

Condor Acciaio - Gran Corsa Special Edition

What a triumph, probably the loveliest paintjob on a bike iv seen in donkeys. Condor produced a super small limited run of these special steel Acciaio's for the Gran Corsa challenge. They currently have a couple on display in their shop for us mere mortals to admire. I particularly love the brazed Italian dot on the top tube and the incorporation of their 'wave' fork, not to mention them trying something different with an etched headtube design. Bravo ladies & gents of Grays Inn Road, you have pushed the boat out yet again and produced a stunning frame..... Without a doubt my bike of the year.

Cappy

In more 'cycling paraphernalia recycled' - check out this beauty from Bluelug....

Saddle Pack

Paul from the excellent 'Still Searching' blog has come up with an ingenious use for those Rapha gear envelopes that orders come in... now that's a nice way to recycle ;-)

Tour Series - Canary Wharf

On Thursday I had the pleasure of heading down to see the finale of the Halfords Tour Series held at the prestigious Canary Wharf area in London. Rapha Condor Sharp took home the coveted title of Best Team Overall, managing to edge away and finish up 5 point in front of second placed Endura Racing. It was an action packed tight 1km course, around the central area of London's famous financial district, with rain further complication the nights racing by adding that element of danger into the mix. Last years champions Team Motorpoint had the honour of the race winning move, with their strong-legged talent Johnny McEvoy surging ahead in the final moments to power on across the line of second placed finisher Dean Downing, who had worked relentlessly in a break also driven by the absolute monster of power, former roubaix winner Maggy Bagstedt. He literally dieseled away on the front in a scary fashion, and judging by the poor blokes reaction when he crossed the line in fourth place, it was plain for all to see he had literally turned himself inside out for the duration of the race. Such an impressively aggressive  performance was truly wicked and exciting to see, and did nothing but endear me even more to the gentle giant of PR. Well done Magnus!

Tour spokesperson Peter Hodges gave us a walk around the sight and a little insight into the background workings of their event. This was really interesting, for example I learnt that Canary Wharf area is actually privately owned and managed, so learned from Peter how this impacted upon the organisation and permits for the race. Peter and the Tour Series team are also the same guys who put on the annual British extravaganza that is the Tour of Britain. 

I was allowed to wander into the team area and chat with some riders and take some snaps courtesy of the media pass (many thanks Ryan) so I went and wished good luck to Deano, I knew the guys had had a frustrating latter build up to today with some serious crashed marring their assault on the team points to take the title. It would be very close and I believe they were a mere 5 points in front of close runners Endura prior to the Wharf leg. Deano horsed around with Magnus and posed for some comedy pics, its pretty amazing when the riders are so approachable and good with their fans... I saw numerous riders happily taking the time to pose for photos and just generally chew the fat with racegoers, which gave a nice chilled vibe to the evening.

I had another little poke back in the race HQ whilst waiting for things to kick off, and even had a wee hold of the trophy. I can report that a) its the nearest il ever get to a cycling award and b) it weighs as much as a large dog! I think its made out of cast iron the things is that heavy.

The racing began and was pretty gung-ho from the oputset. A nice break with McEvoy, Maggy and Deano soon managed to build up a pretty decent gap, and as time went on this was held. What impressed me was a Le Col rider who had some trouble (maybe a mechanical) and was spat out the back, only to keep hammering to eventually join on. It was impressive the intensity he maintained to jump on and regroup. There were a couple of riders with mechanicals who took a lap out then bolted straight back into the pack. The speed really was ferocious, and I was unable to get a sharp picture even flashed in sports mode...

Team UK Youth in the drops. Loving the overshoes...

Riders beginning to string out

A Wilier rider tries to motor back on after a mechanical

'Motor'point seems such a fitting name. Gunning it on the straight

Endura keeping an eye on things

The peloton approaches the second corner

A Felt rider assesses jumping back on after a mechanical

Dean Downing of Rapha pushes through the first bend on course

Rich keeps his 'eyes off the prize'... sorry R, had to ;)

All sorts of spectators came out to enjoy the event, even the YMCA

Magnus looked completely screwed after the race - what a legend!

The Rapha boys sit backstage awaiting their podium ceremony

Rapha Condor Sharp take the overall win and trophy home

Podium champers antics

DS Jon Herety hands out goodies to kids in the crowd. Very sweet

Backstage horseplay as Dean chats to Ned Boulting

Many thanks to Ryan & Peter and everyone helping and assisting to run a great nights racing. If you get the chance to visit one of these crits id highly recommend it, the racing and atmosphere is super, and the guys turning themselves inside out appreciate all the support they can get. Keep your eyes peeled for a Tour of Britain stage coming to a city near you soon!