Cycling words from 2015

A few memorable quotes I picked up during interviews I did with cycling folks in 2015:


"Just completing the event teaches you a huge amount about yourself. The process of getting to the start line is the most valuable thing I think any cyclist can do. If you’re a number crunching training animal then it’s right up your street. We’ve taken marginal gains to the nth degree, and we can apply them to what I’m going to be doing between now and the games in Rio."
Sarah Storey speaking following her hour record attempt at Lee Valley velodrome


"We do thrash ourselves a fair bit over our careers and you only really realise it when you stop. The amount of damage we do to our bodys, I am quite shocked to know I do this to myself."
David Millar speaking following his retirement from professional cycle racing 


"It’s really fantastic. It’s really cool to see all those schoolkids around and coming out of their schools, supporting, cheering for the riders and cheering for the tour. You really feel that cycling is really popular in Britain." 
Marianne Vos speaking at the Women's Tour



"We are changing focus for 2016 and trying to make sure we can step up. Elinor [Barker] is an unsung hero, and it is really difficult to transition from the track to the road. It was nice that she took the pressure off Laura [Trott] and we had her in some good positions coming into finishes."
Stefan Wyman (Matrix Fitness) speaking at the Women's Tour





"The roads are wider over there. So in terms of positioning you kind of get a little bit lazy because you know that in two seconds you can be at the front, whereas here it can take you an hour to get to the front, and less than a minute to slip to the back!"
Hannah Barnes comparing road racing in the US with road racing in the UK at the Women's Tour



"Last year I did this and when coming up to the finish I crashed on the corner, so it was nice to stay upright this time! Changing the course to anticlockwise this year was great for me. I’m a track rider so I love going left!"
Katie Archibald speaking following her victory at the London Nocturne




"I love it because it’s different, it’s quirky, and the crowds are absolutely mental. It’s almost like the atmosphere in the Olympics. There’s a great party atmosphere. It helps that everyone is a bit half cut! In this race everyone was going for it and was gung ho, going bang bang bang. It just feels good to finally crack it and get the win."
Ed Clancy speaking following his victory at the London Nocturne




"When you are in a race you have to put out of your mind who they are and what they have done. You just see it as just another bike race and they are just another bike rider. No one is unbeatable. It’s just a question of getting on and doing it."
Nicola Juniper after gaining the title at the National Criterium Championships




"I think the whole vibe with Foxhunt is that it’s a race but it’s pretty relaxed and it’s not your average race. I think the mass start – everyone starting together, I think that helps the nerves and the confidence of girls who aren’t so sure about racing – having people around them, and it’s female only. It’s been an awesome weekend and everyone’s had a good time."
Rachel Atherton speaking following the Red Bull Foxhunt

 

"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!"
Manon Carpenter speaking at the launch of the Strongher women's cycling group



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Rider beware: Anti-social media preying on our bicycles

Thieves are now using tracking apps to gain the information needed to commit bicycle theft

As we enjoy the end of year holiday season and look forward to going away on winter holidays or cycle training camps it is worth considering how secure your social media activity is, particularly with regard bikes.

I remember the old days of web-chat forums when we were encouraged not to post photos of our bikes or discuss details of our trips to cycle races on these publicly accessible channels.

But since the explosion of more sophisticated forms of socializing and chatting on-line it has become easy to forget the old rules. Social media is a great way to boast of your pride and joy - be it your kids, your pets, what food you're eating, who you meet, where you go, how fast you go, what you achieve, and what bikes you have.

For some people it is the easiest thing in the world to take a photo of your brand new acquisition and show it off to your followers, friends or circles on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. Sadly, for those who have left their address details and not adequately set up their privacy settings on social media this leads to more Christmas presents for preying thieves.

Why would a felon need to travel over to "case the joint" for some days before committing the crime when a bit of desk research on social media can tell them all they need to know?!

Earlier this year the Association of British Insurers warned people to think carefully about what they put on social media. A "reasonable care" clause in home insurance policies could mean that insurance companies may reject claims for burglaries committed while the home owner was on holiday if the company can prove that the home owner announced their holiday plans on social media.

It's funny how when a Facebook friend posts a photo of themselves currently in a beautiful mountain location folks reply about how jealous they are. In my cynicism I can't say that I share the same feelings - particularly when I think that while this person is topping up their suntan on another iconic mountain pass, a lowlife could be helping themselves to their bikes at that exact moment!

In fact now, thieves are using another resource - the GPS mapping device app, Strava.

Earlier this year Dorset Police reported a significant hike in the number of bike thefts, particularly of those worth £600 or more. This has in part been attributed to the availability of data from such apps which can give information that leads to an individual's home. Police urge cyclists to amend their privacy settings so that their home postcodes are masked.

A club cyclist in Greater Manchester, Mark Leigh recently had two bicycles worth £500 and £1500 stolen from his garage. He believes he was targeted after thieves traced his home address through Strava, and advises other cyclists to start and end their rides some distance away from home so that their addresses can't be traced.

I wouldn't put a poster in my window letting everyone know what bikes I have, how much they are worth and when the house will be empty. But that is effectively what it is being done when posting activity and photos of bikes on social media without putting privacy settings in place.

I think it's a shame that we have to be so cautious when some of these apps encourage networking and discussion, a chance to make new friends and a way to discover new routes and destinations.

However, by making a few tweaks to privacy settings and starting/ending bike rides from places that don't identify your home, this could mean the difference between happiness and heartbreak.

Cyclists' hopes punctured at BBC SPOTY awards

Two cyclists nominated for Sports Personality of the Year but they fail to gain much public support

So it's that time of year when we celebrate sporting achievement (and their personality apparently) at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards (also known as SPOTY) and the public gets to vote for their favourite sportsperson from a list of nominations. This year the twelve nominees, elected from a panel that included olympians, heads of sports organisations, and individuals from sports media outlets came from the following areas: tennis (1), motorsport (1), track and field (3), boxing (1), cycling (2), rugby (1), football (1), gymnastics (1), and swimming (1).

The winner and runner-up were the sole representatives of their sports on the shortlist - tennis and rugby respectively. Third placed Jessica Ennis-Hill was one of three athletes in contention from the world of track and field. So it was good to see someone from that discipline up there in the roll of honour.

However, neither of the cyclists featured highly in the results. It looks even worse when you consider that both of them had achieved historical feats this year. Chris Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France twice, while Lizzie Armitstead was crowned World Road Race Champion on the back of a glittering run since the 2012 Olympics.

Andy Murray who was voted the Sports Personality of the Year 2015 did not win any major singles title at all. The closest he got to touching a Grand Slam trophy was during his spectacular defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final in January. There then followed the usual British semi-final/quarter-final exit for the remaining Grand Slams. Although Murray won the Davis Cup tournament, that was a team event, and the Great Britain team received an award for that during the SPOTY ceremony on Sunday in Belfast.

Kevin Sinfield, the rugby player who finished second in this public-vote competition, did not win any specific championships during 2015. It appears that he received votes for being a really loyal and consistent athlete who scored loads of points during his career. Well done!

Since the winner is chosen on the basis of the number of on-line and telephone votes received from the public my question is why was there such muted support for Froomey and Lizzie (who finished 6th and 10th respectively in the vote) despite their achievements?

Note that the total number of scores amassed by the two cyclists was less than the number of votes received alone by Tyson Fury, the boxer who many campaigned to have removed from the list of nominations following his misogynistic and homophobic comments. He even finished fourth in the competition - close behind 2012 Olympics poster girl Jessica Ennis-Hill!

Scores on the doors

1st Andy Murray (tennis) - 361,446
2nd Kevin Sinfield (rugby) - 278,353
3rd Jessica Ennis-Hill (heptathlon) - 79,898
4th Tyson Fury (boxing) - 72,330
5th Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1) - 48,379
6th Chris Froome (cycling) - 39,007
7th Mo Farah (athletics) - 31,331
8th Max Whitlock (gymnastics) - 25,952
9th Greg Rutherford (long jump) - 23,492
10th Lizzie Armitstead (cycling) - 22,356
11th Adam Peaty (swimming) - 13,738
12th Lucy Bronze (football) - 13,236

1,009,498 votes cast

Some might argue that the SPOTY public vote throws up lots of anomalies. For instance, if it is also about an individual's personality how has someone who appears so dull and deadpan like Andy Murray managed to win twice? And why didn't Max Whitlock finish higher up in the placings after becoming the first British male gymnast to win a World Championship title?

My questions come against the backdrop that cycling is constantly being talked about as a sport that has garnered a phenomenal increase in interest from the public. Look at the crowds that turned out on the streets of Yorkshire and London for the Grand Depart last year. Furthermore, cyclists have had a track record for winning SPOTY - from Tom Simpson in 1965, Chris Hoy in 2008, Mark Cavendish in 2011 and Bradley Wiggins in 2012.

Perhaps the fact that Chris Froome's achievement at this year's Tour de France occurred under a cloud of scepticism and suspicion over doping. As for Lizzie Armitstead's outstanding season and her win at the World Road Race Championships, this seems largely to have slipped underneath everything!

I guess for Tyson Fury, whatever you think about him everybody knew his name by the time the SPOTY awards ceremony took place. And for him and his PR team they probably stuck firmly to the adage "there is no such thing as bad publicity"!

Perhaps next year the cyclists will be back. After all, in the last two Olympic years it was a cyclist who won the BBC award. Maybe Rio will bring good fortune to our pedal-powered heroes, and who knows we might see people ringing in or clicking their mouse in favour of Laura Trott or perhaps even Wiggo again!


Related article

SPOTY - It's not about the BBC

More winter treats for cycling and running

In my previous post I talked about how being seen is an important consideration for me while on outdoor pursuits in winter. Well here are a couple of things which will nicely tick that box.

Primal long-sleeved heavyweight jersey

I love this design. There were a few to choose from within this range, but for me the Kashmir Yellow one was the no-brainer. It is a subtle yellow in variegated shades without going as far as garish, and with brown Indian-style flowery motifs on the front and back - rather like Henna tattoos. Why go for the usual reds, blues and blacks when you can have something a little more exciting that will surely brighten up a dull day?

When I took the jersey out of its packaging I thought the fabric was a bit too thin for it to be described as heavyweight. But in fact the Sfero technical fabric keeps you quite warm while still being breathable. Since we are experiencing spring-like temperatures you may find you will need to pull down the zip a little as you trundle past the daffodils in December!

If like me, your measurements fall between two sizes I would suggest going for the larger option as these designs have a snug fit. You might, if you are like me, prefer to have some "wiggle" room while riding.

Although this jersey looks "fun" it takes quality seriously. The finish is slick, there is generous space in the three rear pockets, and the lack of labels on the inside plus raglan sleeves means that there is no danger of the jersey rubbing or chafing your skin as you ride. Furthermore the integrated sun protection factor 35+ is an added bonus during these sunny days.

I look forward to properly testing out the heavyweight properties of this jersey when the temperature drops - which is forecast to be on Christmas Eve - great timing!

Other colours: purple, blue; sizes: S-XXL(2X); £60.00; www.primaleurope.com



Proviz Reflect 360 women's gilet

While it might be too warm at the moment for a jacket while running, it is not too dark. Proviz have gear which is equally useful for runners as for cyclists. I particularly like this item, the Reflect 360 gilet.



As with the eponymous cycling jacket it is 100% reflective, and you will be spotted from almost 200m away as you do your marathon training at night or in the early mornings. The shiny reflective material gives a spaceman-like appearance, attracting almost as much attention as British astronaut, Tim Peake or a Star Wars character!

There is enough warmth on the trunk of the body to keep you warm if you come to a stop or slow down to walking pace. In addition, the high collar will protect your neck and chest from the cool night air which can sometimes lead to a chill. Of course the lack of sleeves means that there is no danger of overheating if you up the pace during a competitive event such as night orienteering. A perforated back helps with temperature regulation too.

I like lots of room for movement when running, and the Reflect 360 definitely has it, since the cut is not snugly tailored. Very usefully this gilet also has roomy zip-up pockets. Great, though it would have been even better to have one micro-pocket for things like keys and change to cut out the jingle-jangle sound as you bob up and down during your run. I have focused on running in this review, but this Reflect 360 is equally useful for cycling. Overall, this is a very handy piece of kit for your night-time outdoor pursuits.

Sizes: 6-16; £49.99; www.provizsports.com



Islabikes for small people

As I mentioned earlier in the year my niece is trying out the  Islabikes Cnoc 16. She is enjoying it even more than a few months ago, now that she is riding it everywhere with the pedals on (as opposed to using it as a balance bike). As the weather this December has been glorious there are still lots of opportunities for kids to get out and ride/learn to ride a bike. Islabikes produce good quality frames that are built sturdily to allow for the odd spill. This is great for if you want to save the bike and hand it down to a younger family member, plus these bikes don't lose much value on their price when selling.

Components on the Cnoc 16 are the same as those found on adult bikes, so children can get used to the workings of a bike from an early age in readiness for when they move on to a more "grown-up" bicycle. The good thing is that the Cnoc 16 is also lightweight so the littl' uns can use their energy mainly for zooming around further and faster, rather than trying to push off  and gain momentum!

Cnoc 16 - Age 4+; £249.99; www.islabikes.co.uk





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All I want for Christmas is.....

Review: Proviz Reflect 360 Cycling Jacket

2wheel kid meets Islabikes

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.