Planet-X have got a nutty reduction on the very euro-styled Fizik R3 shoe model in the red colourway. At a ridiculous £59.99 these shoes are a steal! scoop over at the planet-x webstore.
Chapelle Gresniac Race
Whilst visiting the stunning region of Dordogne in France this past June for the wedding of my best pal, in an amazing stroke of luck a split day criterium race passed right through the tiny village we were staying in. With a time trial in the morning and a road race in the afternoon, I snapped a few pics of the French teams competing. I haven't been able to find any info online about the race, which is a pity as im curious!
Anonymous Bidon Ladies
This week I received a mystery package containing two fine looking sparkly bidons from the very secretive sounding "Anonymous Bidon Ladies". Their identities hidden, my only clue as to the origin of these pretty vessels was a handwritten note, simply stating the bottles were designed and had journeyed all the way from Melbourne, Australia.
The bottles are 'Purist' bottles, meaning the usual grim-taste that penetrates a plastic bottle interior after a couple of months is avoided by the clever implementation of a silicon dioxide inner coating to the bidon. The result is a fresh taste and bacterial barrier, avoiding those fusty gulps of bottles old.
The design is pretty neat, il no idea what the index finger lace signifies, but hey, its a splash of pink and it looks cool. "Dont forget, drink up" serves as a reminder when face down to keep hydrated. You can find the ladies webstore over at anonymousbidonladies.com and im assured more bottles and products are in the pipeline for the very near future.
Be sure to check out the instagram account (bidonsorbottles) also, and share your own weird and whacky bottles with a #bidonsarebottles hastag.
Cap-pow!
Those dudes & dudettes down at Condor Cycles have released some natty new cap designs ready for an autumn of riding. The LDN and Houndstooth hi-vis models shown below are two of their line up. The caps are handmade in Italy, and I can vouch that the cotton is nice and stiff, ensuring maximum euro cap-luft for those seeking to adhere to the rules. Head on over to the Condor Cycles website to check out their range, all very reasonably priced as usual.
Kaptajn Seat Packs
Kaptajn are turning out a natty little seatpack for €20, available in camo or classic black. Produced in robust Cordurra1000 fabric, the packs are both water and dirt repellent and offer a nifty neat way to schlep around those essentials such as tubes, tools and levers. Head on over to the Kaptajn webstore to check them out.
Nice reading 'bout some ridin
Two very nice articles stumbled across this week... worth a share if like me your fascinated by the professional ranks of our sports and the characters within.
Thom over at Mamnick has a nice little interview with former professional rider and now professional wordsmith Tom Southam. A nice little insight into the ex-racer. Mamnick
Second up is a nice write-up of the recent Giro Rosa from Orica-AIS rider Tiffany Cromwell. She gives us an inside view into the experience of riding the only female GT in their racing calendar. Over at The Roar
HELLINGEN!
Bianchista HQ recently received a copy of 'Hellingen' for perusal, the newest title from Simon Warren, who most of you will know as the guy who produced that compendium detailing the top 100 hills in the British Isles. Hellingen follows the the same template as his previous climb journals - a neat handy small sized book packed with every conceivable bit of info about each famous climb, although this time the book takes us to the heartlands of cycling history... Belgium.
The book is separated into two main sections, the Flanders section in the first half of the book, which lists 25 infamous ascents in the region. Many of the names are instantly recognizable from the early season classics, such as the Paterberg, Molenburg and Muur-Kapelmuur, whilst you will also find some slightly lesser known gems like the Ladeuze and the Leberg.
With two pages devoted to each climb, each boasts a nice full page photograph complete with a 'hardness rating' icon, there to indicate the level of suffering one can hope to endure in conquering the climb. A small bio of the climb, written in beautiful cruel detail by someone that has actually ridden the climb firsthand gives a useful guide to tackling the hill, and a handy map and directions will ensure smooth navigation to begin bagging those Belgian KOMs.
In the former half of the book, another 25 climbs can be discovered, this time from the Walloon region. I was ecstatic to find id already bagged a couple of these little Ardennes treasures on my maiden voyage earlier in the year to cycle the Liege-Bastoigne-Liege sportif.
The Ardennes, unlike their fearsome cobbled counterparts in Flanders are smooth and enjoyable to a certain extent! A particular favorite was snaking my way up the fabled côte de Saint-Nicolas, which i have now proudly ticked off in the convenient checklist located at the rear of the book. I really like the addition of a tick-list as a motivation for accomplishing a full menu of Belgian summits!
Far from being just a basic catalogue of 50 iconic climbs, Simon has also included a few interesting chapters to help give a flavour of both Belgian regions, what typifies their different characteristics and also what races are rode in the areas. There's also a lovely mid section to the book showing the different type of cobblestones of several Flanders climbs, with a little about how each type will feel when riding. Its this level of detail and information for the reader that makes the book an essential travel accompaniment to the dedicated euro-sportive enthusiast. But far from being a dry text-heavy read, the book is small, easily digestible and packed with interesting images and graphics.
The book is currently can be found in quite a few bike and bookstores, the lowest price currently online is just under £7 (inc delivery!) at Bookdeposity. For the amount of time this book will be treasured and studied for future trips to the epicenter of the cycling classics, one cant argue that really is belting value. A fantastic addition to any cyclists bookshelf is my overriding opinion on this wee book.
As a small teaser ahead of his upcoming book that will delve into the world of famous Tour de France passes, there is a free ebook available from amazon here, and im assured an ibook version for apple heads will be available also for download very shortly. Click the image below to go get a taste of Simons work...
The Ardennes, unlike their fearsome cobbled counterparts in Flanders are smooth and enjoyable to a certain extent! A particular favorite was snaking my way up the fabled côte de Saint-Nicolas, which i have now proudly ticked off in the convenient checklist located at the rear of the book. I really like the addition of a tick-list as a motivation for accomplishing a full menu of Belgian summits!
Étape Ruminations
Its Sunday morning, the 7th of July. The day of
the Rapha Womens 100 has finally arrived, after looming as a mountain emoticon
in my google calendar for so long. Im sat at the long dining table, trying to
eat a bowl of muesli, but the 5am time is making it harder than usual.
I quietly spoon in the Carrefour cereal, and observe the
group of fellow etapistes staying in this lakeside chalet in Annecy. A wide
ranging mix of riders, some serious, others novice, some even self confessed
non-cyclists. Some wear excited and toothy grinning expressions, others chat
nervously about the events that will unfold over the day, and a couple of our
group are pretty much silent. Heads down, their lowly eyes perhaps giving their
secret away that they are indeed rather terrified. Their downcast body language
looks as if they are almost resigned to an unpleasant experience, perhaps
mulling over the possibility of… dare I say…. failure?
The challenge that lay before us ladies was to ride the 2013
Etape du Tour, a punishing amateur jaunt around what will is to be played out as
stage twenty of the Tour de France on 20th July by professional
World Tour riders. 125km with six categorized climbs in 30 degree heat. Oh and
did I mention the finish? A Hors Categorie hellish beast at 11km long with an average gradient
of 8.5%... fab!
In the starting pen, I just wanted to get going, all the
stood around waiting for our pen to be released was proving a little anxious. I
was riding alongside Fran Millar, and my nerves were certainly abated
temporarily as she joked about the lack of loo facilities. I guess the fact she
couldn’t locate a toilet gave us a little extra impetus to get to the first
water stop that bit sooner!
After a breezy first 50km or so, Fran had hurt her back. I
panicked as I didn’t want anything to jeopardize her etape, and I dearly wanted
her to finish with me, as I needed the moral support and relief in a shared
joke to get myself around! Gutted for Fran, as she had been very strong in
training, I knew it would be a cruel blow if she didn't hammer the Semnoz. So I
set about being an annoyingly keen domestique, shuttling up the pack to commandeer
some pain relief from a classy rider named Claire in our group.
As it was, after the frankly disgustingly long laborious
slog up the Revard, a 16km beast that lay as the penultimate test to the legs
and head before the finale of the Semnoz, Fran was riding super strong and more
importantly was assuringly positive she would indeed be able to cruise the rest
of the parcours and finish. I then set off alone for my showdown avec the
Semnoz, not because I was stronger or faster, but I knew I needed to be alone
for the battle that lay ahead.
Photo by Yoko Akoi
I was indeed glad no one I knew was around to witness my
suffering – it was not a pretty sight. I adopted a zombie like state, staring
blankly ahead with a hollowed out expression, legs barely turning and eyes sunken. My body began to cook in the
unrelenting heat, and my Garmin only served to taunt to the length of time I
would have to endure what was frankly a nightmare in Satans kitchen itself. The
gradient never seemed to peter out, no respite to be found in a friendly flat
few metres, just up and up and up.
My eyesight began to blur as if a heated mirage lay ahead,
and tunnel vision crept in. To be honest im pretty sure I went into a mild hallucinogenic
state – digging so deep it seemed as if I was having some kind of weird out of
body experience…. I swear to this moment a man went past me Amy Winehouse's ‘Valerie’
blaring out from the rear of his jersey. I don’t know if it happened or not…. and
I don’t think il ever know!
Riders vomited under the stress on their bodies, and the
ditches on the right became strewn with casualties to the heat and the
unrelenting gradients. Think something akin to a battlefield and your halfway
there… only with more lycra and carbon. I don’t remember much of what happened
in the last 5km… I think I may have sworn like a sailor, iv never had to dig so
deep in my life. The heat was a major factor in sticking the boot in…
Its going to be pretty amazing to watch the pro’s on this
parcours on the 20th, Im so intrigued to see at what point a break
will go, and if a decisive move is made on the Semnoz. Proper exiting stuff.
(photo lovingly nicked from boom)
The highlight of my Womens 100 experience? It wasn’t the
seemingly endless descent off Mont Revard, and it wasn’t cresting the Semnoz to
an encouraging shout from Leo, nor was it even the amazing Nutella sandwich bestowed
upon me by Gemma back at the starting village…. The true highlight of my etape
experience was seeing those two solemn faces at breakfast conquer the etape, bury
themselves on some of the most hideous climbs in frankly brutal conditions, and
finish the course. The pride I felt in their achievement at completing it was
unbelievable. I don’t think iv ever felt so proud of my sport, and of the
achievements of my friends, both new and old. I know that day they endured
suffering with grace and a steely determination.
To say the day was inspiring would be an understatement.
Footnote > If anyone can tell me where I can buy a big weird block of Almond Paste like the one pictured that would be amazing, I got it in Carrefour, and I swear that voodoo sweetness is what got me up the last climb...
Extra Footnote > HUGE thanks to Fran for hooking all the Womens 100 crew up with a very special pep-talk with currently-on-le-tour Mr David Millar himself, dispatching some much needed pearls of wisdom via speakerphone. A truly awesome moment!
Chapeau Grays Inn Road Crew!
Condor Cycles have announced the exciting news they have will be furnishing London's Lee Valley Velopark, home to the iconic Olympic cycling venues, with their Condor brand road and track cycles. Their three year contract will see the velodrome equipped with a fleet of their slick looking 'Lavoro' model, whilst the circuit road riders will hop aboard their 'Italia RC' model. Both bikes have been garnished with a custom paintjob for the venue, and boast being handmade in Italy, and both designed and built by Condors distinguished London stable.
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This is a marvelous coup, and I must take this opportunity to congratulate all at Condor. I think its pretty cool that a respected and quality British bike brand was selected to provide the rides that will see a whole raft of the next generation of cyclists enjoy the sport. Head on over to Condors blog to read more from Mr Young on their news...
Womens 100 Time!
Well folks, its a mere four days away from this Sundays Rapha Womens 100. By now im sure the training miles have been put in and plans drawn up worldwide for ladies to take to the road and enjoy what promises to be an amazing day of sharing the love of the open road.
As the final days tick by before I pop off to Annecy to ride the unforgiving gradients of the Etape du Tour, any anxieties about those missed hours training, or the guilt from eating that macaroon ebb away as a real sense of excitement builds towards the day. Im so looking forward to reading tales of other peoples rides, and checking out their images from the day.
There are now a plethora of rides globally that are free to join up and link with like minded riders, from every corner of the globe. A full list of the global events can be found and joined here. Dont forget to check out the facebook hub too!
There are now a plethora of rides globally that are free to join up and link with like minded riders, from every corner of the globe. A full list of the global events can be found and joined here. Dont forget to check out the facebook hub too!
- Twitter »
Use the button below to tell your followers you will ride 100km on the 7th July. - Facebook »
Join the event page on Facebook to get talking about the Women's 100. - Instagram »
Use #womens100 and post your pictures to get involved. - Strava »
Sign up to the challenge on Strava. - Email »
Fill out the form at the bottom of the page to tell us you're going to join the Women's 100. - Register a ride »
If you are organising one yourself, you can register it here so other women can join. - Find a Ride »
Find your local ride.
Kent
I Spent the past couple of days visiting the younger brother who recently relocated to Maidstone. This presented a nice opportunity to cycle on a round trip from London. Having never cycled in the Kent area before, I was unsure of what to expect from the terrain. A nice couple of days in the saddle to ease me into some more womens 100 training for the next 3 weeks.
Once out of London I was greeted by lovely rolling lanes, secluded for miles, punctuated with leg burning hills to grind out. I had a sucky headwind the whole way there and a good portion of the route home, which added to my malaise, carrying a rucksack with overnight gear. Lesson learned, next time il leave some kit at my bro's!
Speaking of kit, it was a day of new, with some glowing and not so glowing results. After 110 miles I can conclusively say the Selle Italia race saddle has to be one of the most uncomfortable perches iv ever sat on. My arse became grumpier than Victor Meldrew as the miles went on, and I swear the last 15 I was pretty much constantly out of the saddle to try and get some relief. Not a very wise move, rest assured the trusty heavy old Antares will be going back on there this week.
Anyway, I was testing out a prototype longsleeve Souplesse jersey from Rapha, and it was pretty amazing. In the same fabric as their short sleeve version, it had the same striped detailing. Kind of struck me as a ladies specific LS pro-team jersey. Very nice indeed. Although sad the sun didnt peek its eyes out from the clouds once on the rides, meaning the tan lines would have to wait another day to grow. But yeah, hopefully the Perren St crew will throw this one out into production, id go as far as to say its the best ladies product from them iv had...
I tried out concocting a home-brew energy bomb sachet for riding, favoring to start the rides on a fairly empty stomach and just top up a little nutrition when needed. I wasn't smashing hard at all so not much danger of a mega-bonk. Cocoa powder, peanut butter and a bot of coconut oil, and frozen in to something resembling a nasa space sachet. As amazing as they looked, they didnt stand the temperature test and basically melted into a runny paste within about 10 mins of removing from the freezer. Still fairly tasty though but i need to look at something in a bit more of solid form ahead of the etape and other events planned these next few months...
Once out of London I was greeted by lovely rolling lanes, secluded for miles, punctuated with leg burning hills to grind out. I had a sucky headwind the whole way there and a good portion of the route home, which added to my malaise, carrying a rucksack with overnight gear. Lesson learned, next time il leave some kit at my bro's!
The ride home took a bit of an unplanned detour thanks to a road closure right at the top of Vigo Hill (I ignored the signs thinking I could pass so was deservedly blocked right at the top of the climb haha). I passed through some really quaint beautiful little villages, peppered with these curious buildings below
Thanks to some instagram knowledge dropped by experts in the field, im now in the know that these were actually Oast houses, kilns used to dry hops out for brewing. I loved seeing the little conical points peaking out from above the treeline as I rolled through each village around Kent.
Anyway, here are the routes I took below, id highly recommend the riding in the area, nice and fairly quiet....
Photos D'équipe
Every year, the traditional 'team photo' by each team is shot and released. A chance to showcase new their new riders, team kits and bike, the pictures are bandied around the cycling press as column inches fill with the promises and statements of intent for the season ahead. Some teams manage to look every inch cool, their lean and perma-tanned bodies svelte in a slick new kit design, legs thrown casually over desirable weenie-esque carbon steeds. Below we take a look at some of the best and worst team shots throughout the years and celebrate those who don't quite manage this zenith of sharpness.
Hey! work experience kid! stitch our riders onto a glorious clip art of Kazakhstan please!
Nothing says 'legitimate comeback' better than what could easily be the cover to a popular mano-e-mano p0rn film Ricco... amirite?
Katusha clearly scrimping on the location budget here, riders jetted into the windy sands of sunny Skegness apparently... oh and bonus points for sticking the token beanpole mid line-up.
SKY 2010. Very cool. Look how much of a baby Froome looks. (Secret - these were stitched together from individual pics).
"YO! We are such BADASSES and were here to stay baby!".... errr.... you are actually a weapons grade tool and you suck BALL. Throwing up the rock horns and sipping monster energy drink from your Cadillac might have you thinking you are the epitome of cool, but in fact you put the douche in douchesquad. Having said that, I did like their mental kits. And a couple of their riders. Nice attitude, shitty management.
Sitting by the dock of the bay... nice relaxations from Colombia here, although those small frys on the front better watch they don't drop that ride in the ocean....
Aint no-body got time for a guy squatting in grey lycra. Peroid. And where did the guy on the rights leg go??? No wonder Footon/Fuji/Servetto/Geox whatever the hell they morphed into didn't stand the test of time.
Vacansoleil plumping for the 'naughty class in the school gym' vibe here. Check out Flecha the class clown. Minus points for guy on right for forgetting his bibshorts.
Naptime.
Lotto Honda girls, giving it their best 'badass' pose. Out the back of a lumberyard in Belgium no doubt.
Is it a cycling team or is this a Burton Menswear catalogue image. Answers on a postcard purleeeease!
And below are my personal winners for the 'epic-wtf-what-were-the-press-department-thinking' award.... viewer caution is advised!
And heres a quality last minute addition to the WTF category from BOOM ...
Whose your daddy???
