All I want for Christmas is....

A few ideas for treats for friends, family or even yourself this Christmas or with your Christmas gift money.

Having had the chance to review these things and enjoy using them I thought I would share my thoughts.

dhb Women's Blok Macro Roubaix jersey

At this time of year you would probably wear this jersey underneath a cycling jacket. However, the unseasonably mild weather in the UK makes it possible to wear the Blok Macro Roubaix jersey without a jacket these days. The good thing is the bold design makes you quite visible on the road.

I like fashion as much as the next person and its true that black flatters my figure. However, I am not so keen on being dressed from head to toe in dark colours at this time of year. So wearing this jersey gives me reassurance that will be seen by other road users.

The benefits don't just stop there, though. When wearing the dhb jersey on my rides I get free movement without any of the seams or the zip digging into my neck or my cuffs. Pockets are a descent size and it's good to have three, particularly for people like me who have a tendency to overstock on provisions even for the shortest of rides!

And, as with other jerseys in this range the wicking properties are excellent so you do stay dry when exerting yourself - for instance, when going uphill or doing a serious training ride. You can read a full review of the dhb Blok Macro Roubaix jersey on the Sportsister website where I posted my impressions.
                                  
                                                            £32; Sizes S-XXL; www.wiggle.co.uk



Proviz Switch Reversible jacket

Last year I reviewed the Proviz cycling jacket and found its highly reflective component mega useful when riding at night. It was particularly good when riding on the country lanes around Macclesfield where I was at the time.

This year Proviz have gone one step further by launching this lovely Switch jacket. It is completely reversible with one side having the trademark 100% reflective material which we know and love. Ride with that side on the outside at night to give your self brilliantly shiny visibility.

Then during the day reverse the jacket so that you have a high vis fluorescent yellow on the outer side for these dull winter days. No one will fail to see you on the road! This is a thoroughly useful invention giving you the best of both worlds.

The design is just as stylish as the Proviz cycling jacket from last year, with the women's jacket having a cool tailored fit. Gone is the large rear pocket and instead are two good sized side pockets which are usable whichever way you wear the Proviz Switch.

As with the 2014 incarnation there are side vents to allow breathability, but this year's design gives added ventilation through the meshed perforated back. This amount of breathability makes the Proviz Switch a feasible jacket to wear on training rides as well as when commuting - once we eventually experience normal winter temperatures!

£99.99; Sizes 6-16; www.provizsports.com



Après Vélo sleepwear

Once you are home, chill out in these cycling themed pyjamas from Après Vélo. This Unchained Love design is one of several styles that are available from these designers that are powered by the passion for all things on two wheels. I love the heart shape on the pyjama top made up of chain links with a bicycle in the middle.

And once out of the pyjamas try this Chainring Tattoo tank top (right) decorated with sequins and studs all in the shape of a skull and a bicycle with, you've guessed it, a chain ring. Check out the full review I wrote about this on the Sportsister website.

Unchained Love sleepwear £29.95; Sizes S-XL; Chainring Tattoo tank top £24.95; Sizes XS-XL; www.apresvelo.com

Bike Como!

Lake Como at Argegno

They are my two words of the day! This time last month that's where I was, and that's where I'd love to be now given the grey damp atmosphere hanging over us in London! I managed to grab a quick weekend away for a cycling trip - something which I haven't done in ages.

It is easy to get a flight to Milan and then catch a local train up to Lake Como. Furthermore, I didn't have to deal with the hassle of carrying my bike on a plane. I hired a nice Pinarello from a local company there, Lake Como Cycling. That made the cycling side of my trip slick and seamless.

I spent time working in Milan not so long ago and for about 18 months Como was my regular hang-out. It was just a case of a local train from Cadorna station, near my bedsit, and in an hour I would be on those beautiful lakeland shores enjoying the sights and sounds of this sought-after destination.

On a bicycle it's a beautiful area to ride. It's not entirely flat, but there are plenty of non-challenging slopes. In fact, if you don't want to go far you can just ride around the gardens near the Villa Olmo.

Start of the climb into the Intelvi Valley

If you want to go further there is an undulating road to Bellagio. While there, look round this chic little town centre and marvel at the views of the northern side of the lake and enjoy a gelato before returning to Como. As you round the twists and turns in the road the Como skyline makes a gradual appearance, then you drop down very fast, and before you know it you are back on the Lungolago.

Alternatively why not challenge yourself a little more and ride up the classic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, and if you are feeling really energetic go over the excruciatingly steep Muro di Sormano. The reward is a beautiful descent after the Pian di Tivano back to the lake road at Nesso.

Or from Ghisallo you can just descend to Ponte Lambro, near Erba and then return to Como via little villages on quiet roads and do a lovely descent from near Ponzate.

These are all routes that I used to do in those days. I thought I'd done the best bits.

Well actually, there's a fair bit more - as I found on my recent trip.

What about the Intelvi Valley. Folks don't really talk about that.

Get past Cernobbio, which can be a bit busy and then go on a quiet road below the main SS340 road, passing small villages, including Laglio, where George Clooney has a property. You arrive at Argegno and the fun starts there.

A 10km climb leads up to a series of villages with Intelvi in their name, the main one being San Fedele Intelvi. At this point we are in border country, as Switzerland is literally a stone's throw away. If your bike chips along a stone that stone could just as likely land in Italy as Switzerland!

Lugano near Porlezza

It was a beautiful sunny day in Italy, but strangely enough on my descent to Lake Lugano the day was quite a contrast on the Swiss side - cold, damp and grey. The sun had completely by-passed that area, but still the views of the various settlements along the lake shores were atmospheric.

I could have returned to Lake Como via the SS340 to reach Menaggio but why do that when you can go into the Val Rezzo! So that's where I went - another gradual climb up to an area that was practically devoid of much human life, just various hillside farms and old buildings. I did see a postman in his mini van-float. He must have had a fun job delivering mail to all ten recipients - even if they were spread over a 20km radius!

Up in the hills at Val Rezzo (near Carlazzo)

In any case the valley was beautiful. There were signs to go to other valleys further up, like the Val Carvagna with grottos and suchlike. However, time was marching on for me so I eventually had to drop back down along another twisty but scenic descent to the Menaggio road.

Como - my favourite lake!

I must admit, by then I was getting a little bit tired as I began to feel the 70km I had ridden. My lack of fitness was beginning to tell, and I began to contemplate letting the ferry do the remaining 20km for me back to Como. After all, I had done 60km the previous day and over these two days I hadn't had any cake! A trip along the lake would be a just reward. In the end I soldiered on by bike back to Como - I had no choice. The ferry man at Argegno said that on this busy Saturday afternoon he couldn't admit a bike until the 6pm crossing, and I wasn't prepared to wait two hours.

Back in Como, I felt really satisfied to have visited the old hang-outs that I knew and loved, as well as some new very interesting territory. And I still had time to go along for the passeggiata and have an ice cream.

Still enjoying the Islabike.....

My niece, that is rather than me! She is on a Cnoc 16 which she first got to test out in the summer. Although my niece was only new to bike riding and had never ridden a two-wheeler before she quickly mastered being able to ride with no stabilisers. We took the pedals off and my niece used the Cnoc 16 as a balance bike for a couple of weeks - and she said riding it was great!

I would definitely recommend this as a way for children learning to ride a bike. That way they learn the art of balancing straight away, and you won't get the tantrums linked to removing stabilisers from a kid who has gotten used to assisted balancing!

My niece rode around the park near her house, and also in Hyde Park. She then went for a spin at Ride London in the summer and enjoyed the experience so much she wanted to graduate immediately to doing bike tricks like the big boys doing the BMX tricks demonstration!

So now we are heading in to winter there are fewer opportunities to ride than in the summer, but it hasn't stopped my niece enjoying her Islabike Cnoc16. I am sure that the quality of the bike and its components, as well as its lightness have contributed towards her positive experience. My niece is not so sporty and tends to prefer arts and crafts, but when she got the bike it suddenly gave her something new to get enthusiastic about. I hope she carries on biking. You can read my review of the Islabike Cnoc 16 on the Sportsister website.

One day one photo - 8

Etape du Tour 2016 at your leisure!

So now that we know the route of the 2016 Tour de France the next question is what will be the Etape du Tour? We now know that as well - the penultimate stage between the ski resorts of Megève and Morzine (Stage 20) in the alps (Haute-Savoie). It's only short - 146km - but there are 4 climbs each of increasing difficulty to crest (Col des Aravis, Col de la Colombière, Col de la Ramaz, and Col de Joux Plane).

Funnily enough my interest in actually riding the Etape du Tour has waned over the years. I have ridden it before and enjoyed the experience at the time. It's certainly one for the bucket list.

But do I really want to ride with 15,000 other riders, get into a bun fight (literally) at the feed stations and battle to flea from the broom wagon?

However, I still like to know what route has been chosen since I see it almost as a benchmark for what a keen cyclist (as opposed to a recreational cyclist) would be deemed capable of.

looking at the route it's going to be very pretty and definitely a course I would like to ride at some point - preferably, given my current fitness, at a leisurely pace! It is short enough that it could still make a pleasant day out without being a survival fest.

I have previously ridden all of those cols, albeit from different sides, apart from Ramaz. I was staying in Geneva at the time, so on one day I did an out and back bike ride up to Joux Plane. It was just a case of going along a road next to Lac Leman as far as Thonon les Bains and then turning south. From there the road began to climb, and climb, and climb. Naturally it was a bit of a slog, but the high mountains were quite spectacular, and I preferred to keep my eye on them than the sterile looking resort of Morzine!

The following day I began my multi-day ride towards Nice. That first part involved riding to Le Grand Bornand via Col de la Colombière. It was pouring with rain and as I crossed the border into France a friendly border policeman warned me to be very careful for it wasn't going to be an easy ride. And didn't I know it!

I crawled up at about four miles an hour with my panniers in the rain. When it wasn't raining visibility was down to around 5 metres so I had no idea what anything looked like. In fact I didn't even know when I reached the summit! It was only when suddenly my pedalling became less laboured, then I didn't need to pedal that I realised the climbing had finished. That was such a relief but boy, was it cold. It was great to finally arrive at my hotel in the Le Grand-Bornand where the hotel manager, the sweetest guy, took pity on me when I rocked up dripping wet and bedraggled! It was just a great shame that I didn't see anything of the landscape on the Col de la Colombière in two hours of pedalling!

The following day I rode Col des Aravis (along with Col des Saisies and Cormet de Roselend), which was a much sunnier day. If you get the chance (which you probably won't if you are trying to meet the average speed in L'Etape du Tour) stop and take a few photos. Lots of wooden alpine huts adorn the mountain villages of St Jean de Sixt and Flumet, along with mountain goats and cows and the ski resort of La Clusaz.

Anyway, that's enough reblochon from me except to say get over there and explore the place. It's worth a visit! I hope to return to Haute-Savoie as I have great memories of the place - and hopefully I will actually see the landscape around the Col de la Colombière - at my leisure!

One day one photo - 7

You may or may not know that I do a bit of running. It's not something I advertise much but it is one of those activities that has been whirring away in the background of my life since I was very young. I guess the fact that it's second nature is the reason why I don't talk about it much.

Furthermore, it's not something I do to break any records or try and make it into the Olympics - mind you, I don't do that with my cycling either!

I just run to clear my mind and keep myself in trim. In fact, my failure to become overweight is probably down to  running, rather than cycling!

So, this is me at the first round of the local cross country league in Surrey.

Cross country is a funny old game, where you have to be in a club affiliated to the local league in order to take part. My main club is still up in Macclesfield. But even though I am a second claim member of a local London club, because they are affiliated to a league in north London and not the one near where I live I have had to join a third running club - Croydon Harriers -  so that I can compete in this league!

I think it's worth it though as I do enjoy cross country running and I am looking forward to running at the venues nearby like Roundshaw Downs (which is where we are in the photo), Lloyd Park in Croydon, Reigate, Wimbledon etc. The folks in Croydon Harriers are friendly too.

So after the photo shoot (care of James) with my team-mate Jules we got on with Saturday's race at Roundshaw Downs. Four hundred women chasing around common land near Purley Way in vest and shorts must have been quite a sight to behold! I didn't win. In fact I finished bang in the middle of the field in around 200th place! Nothing like being Miss Average! Bring on the next one!

Women's cycling just got Strongher!

First we had #weownyellow, next it was #takethestage - and now, we have Strongher, the fully fledged incarnation of an initiative set up by Marianne Vos and a group of other women's cycling ambassadors.

So I went along to the grand launch at the packed Look Mum No Hands cafe last Friday. It was great to see so much enthusiasm for what could be a really good way to bring more women on board in cycling.

Yet another cycling initiative in women's sport, and in a cycling too?? Well, this one is different because it is international - it was started by former road, cyclo cross and track cycling ( and London 2012 Olympics road) champion Marianne Vos. She and her mates in the Netherlands, including Marit Huisman dreamed up this idea almost two years ago.

They wanted to make this a global phenomenon and to that end a number of ambassadors from countries far and wide are on board - from the UK, Australia, Poland, Venezuela, Italy and other places.

So the platform consists of a downloadable app from Stronger.cc. Working in partnership with Shimano Strongher aims to connect women around the world and get them together to either take part in events organised by the ambassadors (such as a London-Paris bike ride or cycle training around Girona, Spain) or just hook up to do their own rides together.

The good thing is that it is open to women of all levels - riders at Marianne's level can meet up, but also there are ambassadors at my level, i.e. local amateur racers such as Beth Hodge from a local cycling club in London, Dulwich Paragon. There are also ambassadors who welcome newbie riders or women who just ride for leisure.

So on the website there's  a lot of information about cycling advice, rides and people's inspirational stories to tempt you out on a two-wheeled adventure.

Furthermore, the riding is not just confined to road cycling. Women's 2015 Tour stage winner Hannah Barnes is an ambassador, but also Downhill mountain biker Manon Carpenter is one, and there are other ambassadors who do BMX biking, cyclo cross and track cycling.

Manon Carpenter

Marianne Vos introduces Strongher

Last year's world downhill mountain biking champion Manon Carpenter said: "There's a lack of girls in downhill mountain biking, so I am keen to help get other women into cycling. I hope to organise a couple of women's events. I have already taken my mum out on a few trails!"

In the words of Marianne Vos, "There's a lot of diversity in the world, but cycling is the same for everyone. It doesn't matter where you are. Strongher is the chance to be caring and sharing on the bike with other riders in other parts of the world, or with a cyclist two blocks from you."

Strongher is getting a fair amount of support. Even National time trial champion Movistar's Alex Dowsett turned out to show his support for women's cycling.

Strongher ambassadors with Alex Dowsett

I hope this idea spreads and we have women from around the world meeting up for bike rides and bike events. As someone who likes biking and travelling, I think it's a great opportunity to meet local folks when on foreign shores, and I'd be happy to show foreign riders around the lanes in Surrey and Kent. Strongher will certainly add an extra dimension to women's cycling.

One day one photo - 6

This bike was the reason I was able to ride the Red Bull Foxhunt downhill race last weekend. It's not my bike, sadly.

There was no way I would have got down in one piece had I used old faithful hard-tail that I have had for the last 15 years! As well as my old Rockhopper has performed for me over the years, throwing 500m down a hill, over rocks, heather etc would have been a bridge too far - well for me it would have been!

So, the very nice people at Alpine Bikes in Glentress mountain bike trail centre (where they hire out mountain bikes) leant me a lovely Trek Remedy.

It was a great ride. Full suspension, comfortable saddle, a "reverb" button which lets you adjust the saddle height while you are riding, depending on the conditions of the slope. There was also another switch to give extra bounce (or not) depending on whether you are riding uphill, downhill or on flat trails. Naturally, for this event the bike stayed in just the one setting!

People say, if you have a nice bike it makes you want to ride more. I had always been sceptical about this statement. No, surely it's just the actual activity of riding that will make you do it more - and you will just make do with whatever material you have! Well, I have to say I am tempted to do a little U-turn when it comes to mountain biking. I had so much fun bouncing down the hill on the Trek Remedy during the Foxhunt that I would do this sort of descending again and again - but only with a bike that is fit for purpose!

Now that I have got the bug, I will start saving my pennies - all 250,000 of them so I can afford an all-mountain bouncy bike. Thanks again to Andy at Alpine Bikes.