Commuter diaries – new fenders

Went for a ride yesterday and got absolutely soaked in the horrendous weather. Many thanks to the guys at MountainBikes.GBR for sorting me out with some guards half way around my ride. www.mountainbikesgbr.co.ukIt’s great to pop into your local IBD and get personable and knowledgeable care.They also run cycling holidays in spain which I must … Read more

Rapha Classic Soft Shell jacket

This winter jacket might be expensive but it’s extremely comfortable, packed with useful features and the attention to detail is excellent.Made from a softshell fabric (81% polyester, 10% spandex, 9% Hytrel membrane), it’s not absolutely waterproof but it takes a while before even heavy rain starts seeping in through the seams – it’ll hold off … Read more

Eureka! Riding clean on the wash cycle…

Could this be the future of the turbo trainer, the pedal-powered washing mahcine? Okay, Dave Askins invention doesn’t do the whole wash using pedal power, the actual washing bit is done using a hand-washing contraption (think of that as a pre-ride upper body warm-up), although that doesn’t take that long. The reall fun starts when … Read more

Pedros Ice Wax lube

If you fancy a bit of robust knockabout fun on a bike forum, join a debate about chain lube. Some lubes are held up as Holy Unction and those which meet with displeasure are cast into the pit as the devil’s own overpriced toe cheese. I’ve been stung too, buying a widely recommended and highly … Read more

The Ride Journal issue 3 on sale Monday

Issue 3 of The Ride Journal is unleashed on the cycling world this Monday featuring the usual eclectic mix of thought provoking  and inspiring articles, photographs and illustration covering the full spectrum of the pedal-powered experience. Click on our gallery to read an excerpt – Mike Cotty’s tribute to his back crew in this summer’s … Read more

Muc-Off 5 brush cleaning set

Bike cleaning is never fun and I’m always ready to greet anything that makes it easier with open arms. This five piece brush set from grot-busting specialist Muc-Off gets a slightly less enthusiastic welcome. It’s not especially bad, it’s certainly better than the Park Tools set I tested earlier this year, but it still doesn’t … Read more

swrve windbreaker

This understated lightweight windbreaker from Swrve is the ideal garment to have stowed away in your saddle pack for when the weather inevitably changes or you decide to stop off at the pub on the return leg of extended bike ride.It’s polyester construction does a good job of defending you from the wind and will … Read more

Reinventing (everything but) the wheel

What will the next urban bike look like? Well, rooting around on the web we found this on Core 77 an industrial design website.  J.Ruiter, a design firm from Michigan, think it’ll look like the above. and here’s why.”Our project, simplicity in inner city bicycling, was at first glance a fun aesthetic opportunity in new … Read more

Belgian rider Dimitri De Fauw commits suicide

Dimitri De Fauw the Belgian six day track specialist is reported to have commited suicide. The 28-year old rider had suffered from depression following an accident at the Six Days of Ghent in 2006 when a collision involving himself and the Spanish rider Isaac Galvez resulted in the Spaniard’s death.De Fauw was a gifted track … Read more