Last minute “see you at the caff” arrangement to meet up with the road ride, ride up on my own, the short quick way, quite a grey and mizzly struggle, iPod on LOUD.At the top of the last hill before the caff I get a feeling in my water that they’re just behind me, stop … Read more
Next Wednesday(20th Jan) lthe Metropolitan Police launches its 2009 cycling safety programme with itslargest every cycling safety awareness day which aims to increase awareness amongst both cyclists and lorry drivers of the dangers and risks of collisions between cyclists and lorry drivers.According to police figures 13 cyclists died on London’s roads last year, of these … Read more
As you would expect the Altura Night Vision is a jacket that will get you noticed in the dark: if anyone can’t see you in this then they haven’t been paying attention.What the name doesn’t tell you is that the Night Vision is also a very weatherproof jacket too. I wore the Night Vision every … Read more
A team of Taiwanese scientists have developed a computer algorythm that tells you when to change gear to maintain optimum performance and comfort. The program is intended for novice and utility cyclists and is designed to work with a standard derailleur gear. Shimano developed an automatic gearset and shifting system designed for the same market … Read more
The Charge Skewer is a super long-distance companion for all you stylish mile eaters out there. In a week in which we’ve already tested Fixie Inc’s Betty Leeds here’s another bike that at first sight looks like an exercise in retro-styling but in reality aspires to delivering contemporary levels of performance. The two bikes couldn’t … Read more
End of the ride, sitting at the lights supping a well earned take-out mocha (two fat sugars please), lights go green, ooops, down the last inch in one, the bit with all the sugar and chocolate in, and wodge the cup in my mouth. Sprint to keep with the orange Dyno-Rod van and tuck in … Read more
The hump is a waterproof Hi-Viz cover designed to fit over rucksacks and panniers with 40 litre capacities. Sizing seems pretty universal and fitting couldn’t be simpler (although proved a struggle on some panniers and older hydration packs). Roll the hump over the bag, secure the elastic webbing in a cross formation and pop the … Read more
Riding with music blaring in your ears is a great experience. Unfortunately, it’s also a dangerous one. Just after Christmas a US cyclist died when he was hit by a train, which he apparently didn’t hear because he was wearing headphones. Now though there is a solution which lets you listen to music and hear what’s going on … Read more
Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas took on rugby league legend Denis Betts on the Rollapaluza rollers at Revolution 23 this weekend. Betts might have been saving his legs for the Italian pursuit later that evening because Thomas, now hosting Channel 4’s new sports show 4sport, put a second into him over 500m.That was before the doors … Read more
A few ‘cross rides in now and the legs are used to going round and round and round again, the long slow drag up to where I once was is hard. There have been tired legs, there has been ‘I used to be able to ride twice as far as this’, there has been effort … Read more
