Vulpine schwag: we have a winner!
Tell us what your favourite kind of ride is and you could walk off with a bundle of Vulpine goodies...
Vulpine cotton gilet
We asked to to come on over and tell us what your favourite kind of ride is. And you did, in your hundreds! Obviously the carrot of a bag of Vulpine goodies was on hand to get your creative juices throwing. It's a carrot that can only be eaten by one lucky rabbit though. And by "carrot", "eaten" and "rabbit" we mean "prize", "won" and "reader". I think we're all glad that rather tortured metaphor is over.
Anyway, on to the prize giving. We fired up the random-o-tron and picked one lucky winner for the gilet, jersey and t-shirt. And that lucky winner is DonnyCampo! Their favourite kind of a ride? "Cornish hills, quiet roads, warm sun, with a mid-ride saffron cake and a cappucino." Sounds splendid. And next time they're perusing the cake list for saffrony sustenance, they'll be doing it in some nice new threads. Hurrah.
These are fun, these Vulpine giveaways. For that reason we'll be doing another one soon. Stay tuned!
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We promised you another Vulpine schwag and here it is! This time there's lots more top quality clothing goodies up for grabs. Our winner will be walking away wearing a Vulpine Cotton Visibility Gilet AND a Vulpine Merino Jersey AND a Vulpine Merino T-Shirt. Not bad, eh?
We're fans of Vulpine's range of stylish, performance oriented clothing round here: it's technical enough to meet the demands of almost any form of cycling, yet casual enough to work off the bike in equally demanding social environments. Even better when it's free...
Just like last time it's a comment-to-enter affair, and this time the question is...
What is your favourite kind of ride?
Answers on a comment below! We'll pick a winner at random next Wednesday. Usual schwag grab rules apply. Good luck!
To find out more about Vulpine visit their website www.vulpine.cc and for the Vulpine view on what's going to happen at the Tour next week visit their blog.
Plenty of cake and NO punctures!
My favourite ride would have to be: sun's out so shorts and SS jersey, 30-50 miles, light breeze and nice meal waiting for me when I get back.
That would make a nice change from torrential rain plus strong, gusting headwind.
A good long ride with friends, exploring and discovering new places. Preferably with a stop for good food!
At the moment, anything which is remotely dry..
At the minute a dry one would be nice.
Mine would be around 50-60 miles taking in Whinlatter Pass and Newlands Pass in Cumbria on a nice sunny day as the views across the lakes are even more stunning.
Has to be a big alpine day with friends. Lots of up and lots of down and an espresso on every col!
My favourite kind of ride involves tackling hills I didn't think I could tackle, and still feeling like I could ride them again afterwards.
I have a 46 mile route through the hills of South Lanarkshire and into Ayrshire that I do whenever life has me totally p***ed off - doing that on a sunny Sunday morning is the closest thing to heaven
As a Yorkshireman, living in Cambridgeshire, my favourite kind of ride is a full, sunny day out in the Yorkshire Dales with a group of good friends. Lots of challenging climbs on quiet roads with magnificent scenery.
I'm lucky enough to do this a few times a year with mates that I've had since school (I'm 55 now) and always look forwards immensely to a trip back to 'God's County' for a spin out int'ills!
One with friends, where there's good chat, banter, maybe a bit of competition, and the chance of a beer at the end 
Love a nice sunny day, with a nice cafe stop for tea and cakes! Hopefully without any punctures, but that's just life on the road!
Solitary, epic and dry, in rolling terrain. 80:20 road-to-path ratio.
Night time ride to the coast, fast and silent, ride to the beat of your own drum!
They're gonna hit the line almost together!
A ride by the sea!
Along a coastal road - there's nothing like being able to go for a swim after a long ride to cool you off and soothe your muscles. Followed by a pint and a fish supper. Heaven!
On holiday in France with a tent and my dearest, the sun is shining through the clouds and we are full of plat du jour and cider, and we can go as far as we like in any direction we please, following the little white roads through fields and villages, snacking on marsbars and saucisson baguettes, swimming in dodgy-smelling brown rivers... Best holiday ever!
Flat start, big hills in the middle, rolling finish, and a good café somewheres, and dont forget some rain and wind too.
Je vie dans l'espoir constant
Nice steady ride, with the wife. Does not happen often, need baby sitters.
A dry one with hills
Tim
A dry one with hills
Tim
I like the big dipper, although the log flume is fun too.
Fresh early summer's morning, bank holiday or weekend, quiet roads - birds in trees, really light breeze, 50 miles, undulating with two good steep ones at 20 & 36 mile mark, 3/4 mile down other side then pacy 10 mile closing to home - new PB time - lie down on kitchen floor - jumped on by doggies - shower - missus has brunch already ready - bit of cheesecake - coffee (lots off) kick teenage daughters outta bed - throw everyone in car for walk with doggies in sun.
Beasted the old roman road yesterday, could have done with a Gillet........
One where i get lost and stumble across something new!
Early morning before it gets too hot: Varese to the Campo dei Fiori (desperately trying to do it under 38 minutes) followed by a giro of the Campo ending with Binda's Rancio to Mottarossa (desperately trying not to exceed 25 minutes).
TAB
Any ride where it doesn't rain!! Seems to be too much to ask for at the moment!!
Dry, Sunny, on holiday touring somewhere in Europe
Like last summer's trip with the fiancee down the Danube.
Don't mind a hill here and there - but she isn't too keen
Long, flat, sunny and remote, with a group of 5 or 6 - a big fast day out.
one with no wind and/or rain
55 miles, two decent climbs and dry, with smooth roads and no punctures
Four hours, a few hills and plenty of sunshine!
A ride with a bit of everything but always with good company. Flats, hills, sun & even a shower. It's all about the journey.
nmg
weekend ride to the coast, fish and chips 
The nighttime ride home from work (without rain). Streets all to myself...
a dry one at the moment!!
A ride of discovery about myself or a route.
Perfect ride for me is a local loop, early in the morning, with a good pub to stop off at for a bite to eat.
One that has a thousand metre or more of climbs.
hills,hils and more hills
A quick hour around Epping Forest with a couple of steep ascents or a trip to Oudenharde in Belgium, riding the classics and pretending I'm Boonen or Merkx.
Ian of Woodford
A nice climb up winding, narrow roads through the forest. A red hot descent. Great scenery, and feeling of being truly alive!
My favourite ride ever was about this time last year, but the weather was the polar opposite to what it is now... 25-26 degrees, no clouds, awesome company and a ninety mile round trip from altrincham, over snake pass, down to hope, beans on toast in a cafe garden, tideswell, buxton, cat and fiddle and home.
that is what i want.
A few hills but no headwind!
Just ad one, with the missus!!!
rshaw
Early morning, sunny ride with a crystal clear sky, with a mate. Makes you feel special being up early enjoying that special time of day when others are still asleep and missing it. Rounding that off with some great coffee sets you up perfectly for the day!
sotong
Hills, or mountains. With a coffee break.
A 20 or so mile solo road "time trial", into a headwind on the uphill leg, then downwind downhill on the return leg.
Finish with pizza.
A 100-150km sportive in the sunshine where me and my mates manage to stick together
A good steady back wind all the way!
With hubby and friends on mtb, maybe on hol, a bit sunny and warm, a lot of speed and adrenaline
One where I feel knackered at the end.
I'll settle for one on a bike if there's nothing better.
Long adventure rides with good friends!
Quiet roads, slightly cold, great view.
Trying out a new route.
Accompanying my daughter to school. Not challenging or fast, but she's always so excited to ride with her dad. Priceless.
Long and hard.
...sorry, what were we talking about again?
Rain. Lots of it. Hills. Steep ones. And after being soaked and legs completely shot, on the way home, the sun peeks out. RIght before it starts raining down again!
A lovely sunny day with a light gentle breeze. 60 miles approx with a cafe stop mid way with plenty of tempting cakes and nice cup of tea. If i could have all that and a guarantee of no rain i would even be prepared for it to be a bit lumpy. Not looking likely at the moment though! 
Early Autumn morning - easy 20 mile spin out to the sculpture garden and art museum with my girlfriend
The one home from work tonight, before a fortnight's tour!
Hot and sunny, flat to start with a whopper hill in the middle
Windy Time Trials
Sir Velo
Dry,hills to give the views,good road surface(increasingly rare),interesting villages,a friend for company and conversation and a well planned route 50 miles ish with a cake and coffee stop mid way.
fab!
has to be one that involves coffee and cake, doesn't have to be in that order
Quiet country lanes on a dry, sunny day.
warm weather, 60-70 miles riding with someone a little better than me near the sea
Big hills, long open straight descents. And coffee at the cake stop
Round the forest of Bowland. Great hills and very quiet roads. Also a couple of cracking little cafes.
Any ride is better than no ride.
It would have to be a ride with my daughter in the trailer on the back. Any weather, any place.
Thigh burning hills with a rolling finish!! Oh and don't forget the homemade pie and a tasty ale
Mine is a stupid early start on a late Spring morning - 6am kinda time, with an idea of destination but no particular planned route ..
Light breakfast in a village cafe around 9am, sandwich or light lunch and a coffee again in a village cafe around 1pm and just general leisurely exploring, taking in maybe 80 miles over the course of a slowish day...
As it should be ...
Me, Myself and I
big climbs with nice scenery round about 40-60 miles
A lumpy one with a flat bit somewhere
Swooping down the Crook of Lune in Lancaster with a massive grin on my face, glad to be on bike, and thinking that maybe one day I should ride the other way; back up the hills and corners. Makes me feel like a proper cyclist 
Dry, no wind, a couple of Caledonian MacBrayne ferries, a coffee and scone stop and at least one downhill blast will do me nicely.
with my friend just cruising around the city.
Got to be one where me and my mates go for 2-3 hours without any hold ups at roundabouts ect. blasting along in a line with a perfectly executed sprint or hill finish.
Teamwork looks awesome when you get it right!
Hot, but not too hot. Flat, but not too flat. Add a couple of hills and I'm a happy chappy.
A dry one
nice gear 
The last few miles to get home after a chellenging 2-3 week camping and cycling tour. The promise of a comfortable bed and a warm bath to soothe the aches, bruises and insect bites that linger to remind you of your most recent adventure.
Hilly outwards, downhill back....and no rain!
Thor
A good long club run in the Cotswolds over 50 miles with a relaxed coffee and cake stop in the sunshine. Roll on Winter!
An aimless spin on a sunny day.
riding up ball busting hills, shitting myself going down em lol
Dry, sunny, 30-40 miles, cafe stop and with friends who will push me a little (not literally) Oh and no mechanicals.
After a long dreadful day at work. Sunshine helps too.
Warm Sunshine
75 miles, afternoon ride, tons of climbing, pizza and beer at the end and movie with family. nothing's better.
The lumpier the better 
The ride when I remember all the pleasure and none of the pain!
A sunny ride along the North Norfolk coast with rolling roads, a permanent tail wind and a coffee stop in Blakeney.
I like rollercoasters. And log flumes.
"I can't believe I ate the whole thing..."
An early start, setting off to explore new territory, getting off the beaten track, discovering nice long windy lanes through sun-drenched cornfields, before a few testing wooded climbs.... with a homemade sandwich stowed somewhere on my bike.
Escaping past the M25, exploring quiet country roads!
Two good wheels, 2 good strong legs and a glint in my eye.....and no particular destination.....
The_Kaner
FREEEEEEEEDOM!
Good long ride with plenty of hills and good mates to drop!
With the crew, no matter the weather.
Sorry, ignore. Clicked to many times.
Sorry, ignore. Clicked to many times.
Sorry, ignore. Clicked to many times.
Fast n hard aaarrgghhh
A ride thru the ciity at night, I see the city's ripped backsides.
light misty rain in the tall forests of Washington State!
Veurne to Bruges, stop at the Bistro Niuewweg...
--
"Tant que je respire, j'attaque!"
Through the South Downs with a cake stop half way through.
A winters ride,all wrapped up snug and warm, starting in the dark as london awakes and easing over Waterloo bridge as the sun rises
bobinski
long winding country roads, little motor traffic, rolling hills, cool breeze, verdant trees...
"Inside every car is a pedestrian, just Waiting to get out..." S.J.L.
Riding a new route on a summers day, discovering great sights along the way.
Smooth tarmac, hard tyres.
Sunshine, quiet roads, smooth tar, gentle breezes, hills and curves.
Sunny days in mid-Wales. Hills, beautiful views and nobody else.
Sun seems too much to hope for at the moment so dry and no wind (and no backpack either).
my favourite ride is around 50+ miles, nice weather, a few big climbs and some fast sweeping descents
Quiet roads and sunshine.
Any ride currently, after getting a massive consussion and not being able to remember anything until i wake in the ambulance.
Early start on a summers morning, chilly to begin with but the prospect of lots of sun. Out through Stockport into the Peak District around Castleton, through to Bakewell and stop in Buxton for some breakfast. Then back to the hills and home in time for lunch...bliss!
Early morning, still dark commute on old railway trails. Just rabbits, foxes, owls and me. Spooky but brilliant.
Commute home on a friday night, doesn't matter about the weather. I'm on a bike on my way home, no work tomorrow and endless possibilities for bikes, beer and laughter.
Any ride is a good ride!
No wife, no kids...perfect, especially good if you chuck in a cheeky pint of cider
cycling snowdonia
backwards uphill into a headwind.
A day in the New Forest...trails, back roads and a huge choice of PUBS!
when all you can hear is the gentle noise of your tyres on the road
good weather, good views
A metric century on an autumn day ending with a welcome pint just as it starts to get dark.
Just giz the swag!
An Uphill ride, I can't stand twisty downhills though 
Howl Like a Bianchi
mates banter and cake and some cycling!!
Out of Carlisle, into the hills of of Reiver country, Newcastleton and Liddel water, up on the fell road to Langholm, back through Penton, hills all the way, no traffic. Oh, and by myself or with a mate.
Chiswick
Smooth dry roads, warm, sunny, 55 miles, with the club, with a cake stop (although we never do) and a fast finish.
If the bicycle was invented tomorrow, it would be seen as the solution, not the problem
Foot out flat out! Hit them hills hard and fast, blast down the downhills and wallow in the rush of endorphins!
2 I suppose, either:
Nice sunny ride, no mechanicals, flying up the climbs.
Or
The day after a cold wet epic.
Dunno, both have their merits 
Dry and mainly downhill.
Tuesday of this week - cycled to Dover in the early morning and then got the ferry to Calais, met 2 great guys, Mark & Matt on the ferry and the three of us then cycled from Calais to the Cote de L'Eperche to watch Le Tour. We then cycled across to Samer to watch the riders come through again and then cycled vack to Calais. Throughout the day we were treated with the utmost respect by French drivers, got cheered up every hill and through every valley by fans lining the route and to top it all on the ferry back, as far as the eye could see in the waiting queue was cyclists. We outnumbered the car drivers !
Over 100 miles in the day and over 4000ft of climbing but gotta be the best days cycling I have ever had.
Anywhere once this cold cough has gone
Theres nothing quite like the spontaneous, entirely unplanned rides with a couple of mates that take you out into the wilderness and, many hours later, leave you racing the sunset through the surrey hills back to the nearest train station because no one thought to bring lights.
There is no reason in reasoning with the unreasonable.
Cold, rainy, miserable.. lot's of spray from cars and trucks getting too close, topped off with soggy socks! Well, that's all I've had to enjoy this 'summer'. 
Switching things up on your regular group ride by taking your fixed gear!
Has to be with good company and a coffee/cake stop, living in sheffield a folly into the peaks and the sun on your back which is pretty rare recently!!
up early, ride up to local national trust property. dodge the deer crossing the road in the early morning mist. gradually warm up as the sun burns off the early chill. Climbing through the beautiful chiltern hills along roads flanked with trees. A red kite swoops down from the trees along the road in front and flies ahead for a minute or more. no cars in sight, not a care in the world. Bacon sandwich and coffee at the NT cafe and cruise home. perfect!
Dry, not too hot, a tail wind for the whole ride and no traffic on my side of the road.
Anything with a sense of purpose.
40-50 miles in the sunny countryside on my giant defy road bike
bt
early morning mountain bike ride and back before the boys get up from bed
box hill with my mates from the tri club..tea and cake at the top!
One where I overtake more cars than overtake me...
The tour de st paul, from phillippi to athens in five days.?? Brilliant
The tour de st paul, from phillippi to athens in five days.?? Brilliant
Around the corner to the coffee shop
Anywhere with dry, smooth tarmac, not too much traffic and not too many junctions.
Noli porcum linguere
light breeze, sunshine and somewhere new to go
the Italian hills
When you go further than you intended, faster than you expected - maybe even stay out longer than permitted? When fellow cyclists say hello to you (some may even have a chat as you roll along), other road users are courteous and you come home feeling relaxed, happy to be alive and ready to deal with real life again...
CommutesClubRunsandtheoddSportive
North Norfolk
No wind, no punctures, no rain and rolling hills...
MrC
One where I feel I could ride for ever (even if I stop after 60-70 miles for a pint).
A day out with the lads getting away from the hustle and bustle of life, with a little bit of competition on the climbs and some fast sprints.
quiet roads and lots of sunshine
MattT
a new ground broken one
Yes please
A long and hard ride always trumps short and fast
skippy1969
A leisurely ride down nice, flat country lanes...
(I hate hills)
This year my favourite rides have been going out with my 14yo son, now he has his first road bike. Wonder how many years it is till he is holding back so not to drop me.
Blue bird day, with my two best friends, rolling out of Luz-Saint-Sauveur at the foot of the Col du Tourmalet. Fully loaded touring bikes and four days of riding along the north coast of Spain in our legs, with another 1000 miles of the 1400 mile tour to go.
So much to look forward to, and no worries expect the excitement of where we are going to wild-camp that evening.
What I would give for that again...that was one day last September, I hope for a few more like it in my life time
(full blogs from the tour are available at timwiggins.blogpost.com)
Live Life In The Saddle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/timwiggins1
Blog: http://timwiggins.blogspot.com/
Cornish hills, quiet roads, warm sun, with a mid-ride saffron cake and a cappucino
Yes please
Up the mountains in Chile during summer when skiing centers are closed and roads pretty much deserted.
Tito.
hard and fast with short punchy climbs (not the long drags where i tend to get dropped)
Somewhere new, somewhere dry, and too many hills.
For me it has to be in a solo around sunny dartmoor
Some bloke called Eddy once told me: "Don't buy upgrages, ride up grades"
The next one!
A cake and coffee ride with my Twitter friends. Especially when it includes going down some big hills on the edge of the Downs. Can't beat the atmosphere we have or the laughs!
Cold winter morning with the sun shining, climbing in the Peak District with no cars in sight, fabulous views and not a care in the world.
Along the shoreline and dunes and amidst heathland on the northermost island Sylt, with a strong headwind which then will hopefully turn into tailwind on the way back (but usually doesn't). A casual 40 kms from one end to the other with a view of the wadden sea on one side and the north sea on the other.
one that doesn't end like my last one....
To spend some great time with friends on quiet road with some speed work and hills Ll in one nice hot sunny day
Any time on the bike...
My favorite ride? Hmmmm definitely the one that start with a good doppio macchiato, at home, directly followed by a smooth hilly 25km road as a warm up. Then I attack a 20km climb in my swiss backyard, the alps. Low on my bike, I speed up during the next 15km of downhill and then reattacked another climb. A shorter one this time. Once at the top, I just admire the beautiful scenery I am lucky to have: green forest, farm fields, lake, mountains and blue sky. I take a deep breath of fresh air and head down home, happy and exhausted. Just before meeting my partner, I enjoy a last stop on the lakeshore, sipping a local beer.
Yeeah that's my favorite ride, definitely.
when my 25 is as clean as a whistle.
Any! So long as I'm out there
Cool but dry, with friends and ending at a pub!
A little bit of sunshine, smooth roads and new bike - lets see what it can do!
A short one with a BBQ and a keg of cheddar valley at the end
One that gets me away from all the stressful parts of life, makes my legs ache just a little bit, gets the blood pumping and the face smiling
One in nice scenery on a dry, sunny, still day, without any maniac motorists. A pint at the end would be nice.
James. Novice. Inept at bicycle maintenance. Mostly rides an upgraded vintage Ernie Clements Falcon.
Dry and sunny ride wearing Vulpine schwag from those nice people at Roadcc
Every day and in every way I'm getting slower and slower
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
I'd really like to complete the South Downs Way in one hit.
Singletrack MTB mag
road.cc on YouTube
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