Giro Trans Shoe Bargain
CRC have the lush looking Giro Trans road shoes for a whopping %45 off rrp, with the shoes on current offer for a snip, at a modest £88. Both colours and most sizes are available, so head on over if you find yourself in the market for some very nice disco slippers for the season ahead. They have reductions on all their 2011 Giro footwear currently.
Pro Team Noir
Rapha Pro-Team socks, a fave of mine, are now available in a hot new black colourway. Controversial I know...but im going to throw it out there > I LOVE black socks! I think white socks look great on lean, bronzed , vascular legs of those world tour hero's of ours.... but for those of us blessed with none of these aforementioned qualities, trust me, black socks looks AWESOME!
Black sock haters - deal with it!
Custom Garmin Mounts
Noticed a couple of custom Garmin computer mounts floating around the web, offering a PRO way to display your Garmin (and actually bringing it a little more in line with a natural viewing angle). First up is the offering from American based high-end boutique Above Category. Offering a pre order to be available shortly, these babies are priced at $40... would be awesome to see a euro-importer for those of us not wishing to be screwed by HMRC charges!
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Next up is an offering supposedly from Quarq, the outfit known for their power meter cranks. I cant seem to find any info on weights or price for this unit, other than a small press release here, but looks to be a very well executed design...
Downing!
Russ Downing, two wins in two days for his new team, Endura (having quite a season already courtesy of Russ and previously-bubbling-under-the-radar rider Jon Tiernan-Locke). In my (very humble) opinion Team Sky were a little crazy to let him go, Russ is such a savvy racer, and still has the firepower to finish off races in deadly form. Well done Russ, I for one look forward to more wins this season for the Endura squad. Its a real pity not to see the lad from Rotherham performing on the World Tour level, I reckon he did a smasher of a job turning himself inside out for sky, this weekend just goes to cement the fact he is capable of taking scalps himself...
pics via British Cycling
Spring Training Playlist
The Healer - Erykah Badu
Love Me Like This (Nonsense Dub) - Floating Points
Cook, Clean, Pay The Rent (New House Version) - Teebs
Lost Where I Belong (Flying Lotus Remix) - Andreya Triana
Face Up (To Your Sensibilities) - Roof Light
Groove Me - Maximum Balloon ft Theophilus London
Seventy Six ( Sepalcure Remix) - Jack Dixon
Left Behind - Behling & Simpson
Ritual Union (Maya Jane Coles Remix) - Little Dragon
The Drop (Duke Dumont Remix) - LA Riots
LOST - Greenville massive
A Running Interlude
Apologies for breaking normal wheel-based service here on bianchista, just wanted to give a quick mention to a challenge il be undertaking in March. As some of you know, as well as ramping up my riding these past few months, iv been doing quite a bit of pounding the tarmac with my feet, with the aim of completing the 2012 bath half marathon in aid of a very worthy cause, Parkinsons UK.
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Dad & I shortly after our first 5k parkrun - shattered!
In New Zealand when away on assignment I became the butt of many jokes, after appearing very fit, I was literally in pieces after a tiny 2k run! I walked like John Wayne and could only manage a shuffle along the floor for days after. However, sticking with the suffering and forcing myself to run, i have slowly been able to increase my mileage and hopefully pitch myself to rise to the occasion of a suitably epic challenge for a complete novice runner like myself.
Never employ the services of your mother as official race photographer
My dad and I have trained religiously (I ran into work on new years day in the pouring rain, rocky eat your heart out!) for what we believe to be a really worthwhile cause, and something very close to our hearts (my grandfather is a parkinsons sufferer).
Getting to meet & run with Mo Farah recently and get some tips! (avoid fried food mainly!)
If any readers feel like chipping a pound my way to sponsor what I can assure you will be a gruelling physical and mental test (sadly my body is used to years of cycling and it growing to hate me, the pressure im putting on it by taking up running!) then it would mean so much, not only to me and my old man, but to anyone touched by Parkinsons. I also promise that if we reach our really modest target of £200 we will sign up and run a marathon! so think of it as an investment into my pain and discomfort!
Chilling with Mo
Please head over to my just giving page, and throw a loose coin my way. No worries if not, even an encouraging message via twitter would be awesome! Thanks so much and again, apologies for this non cycling interlude... I assure you normal service will now resume!
Festa Della Donna
Ladies, its that time again. Prime your bank account for a scrumptious sale on all ladies riding gear from Rapha... Gents, time for the perfect gift for your riding companions. Also handy as a sure-fire green card out of the doghouse
Endo Kits
Stumbled across an outfit called Endo Customs from California that are pumping out some amazing custom designed kits. Love the panel designs and the fabrics look tech-as! Very PRO indeed....
Apple Of My Eye
Condor just keep coming up with the goods! Spotted this little number in the basement of Grays Inn rd, and i haven't stopped thinking about the lovely little carbon-tailed beaut, the Italia RC. Thinking of a crap weather trainer/super commuter build now that the ratty colnago is lying in bits abandoned in the corner of my room. A simple cost friendly economy 105 5700 build with some handmade open pro's. Food for thought!
Bespoked Bristol
Iv just booked the tickets to head down and check out the very promising 'Bespoked Bristol' show in March. After a superbly received 2011 edition the exhibition is back with a bang for 2012, with a bumper list of two wheeled ephemera on offer to drool over, from Pegorettis, to Condors, to boutique builders like Feather Cycles, Paulos Quiros and Donhues.
This year sees the inclusion of a test track to put some unique bikes through their paces, and also a framebuilders section, aiming to showcase amateur artisanal framebuilding.
Expect a whole raft of accessories and hardware companies to be displaying their wares as well as the bike makers, ensuring the event is a hit with lovers of all things bicycle. Tickets are currently available over at the Bespoked website, with a cracking 2 passes for £10 on offer at the moment, a deal id advise the early birds to snap up. The venue is located right next to Bristol Temple Meads train station, making it easy for us out-of-towners. Us lucky London residents will be able to recognise the friendly faces of 'Look Mum No Hands!', who will be onsite providing all your caffeinated needs in their pop-up cafe.
Tenspeed Hero
Im not sure why its taken me so long to stumble across the very excellent 'Tenspeed Hero' website. Billed as an online cycling journal, featuring some fantastic photography and witty prose, Tenspeed Hero aims to, in their own words, "revel in the non sequiter and things often related to cycling", and they really hit the mark for cool little snippets that may or may not be related to a love of all things two-wheeled. Head on over to their site and have an explore, im very glad I did.
RCS Super Acciaio
Condor are absolutely killing it with these special edition Super Acciaios. Rumour has it Deano & Jimmy will be racing them in the summer crit series.... top notch detailing from the crew at Grays Inn Road, check out the condor emblem on the top tube!
National Trophy Round 6 - Shrewsbury
Richard Dawson captured the full on muddy action of round 6 of the Cyclocross National Trophy in the most incredible light. Head on over to flickr for his full set, and check out more of his work at his website.
