Review: dhb Pace Roubaix Knee Warmers

Arm warmers, Leg warmers and Knee warmers are useful pieces of kit. You can convert your nice pair of bib-shorts into long-legs for the winter, or your favourite jersey can be used on colder days as well.

In my cycling wardrobe I already have some Altura Leg Warmers and some dhb Arm Warmers, both of which are serving me well. However, for Christmas last year there was a new addition; this very reasonably priced set of dhb Pace Roubaix Knee Warmers from Wiggle. Having worn them for the first time on yesterday's Sunday ride, I have to say they are a great bit of kit and extremely well made.

The first thing that you notice before putting them on is their contoured fit; unlike my arm or leg warmers, which are simple 'tubes' of fabric with one stitch-line, these have contoured stitching to fit the knee joint. It makes a massive difference, both to comfort and flexibility. I had no problem with irritating material build-up behind the knee, or of the embarrassing 'slipping-down-the-leg', which leaves a bit of bare thigh exposed to the elements!

The inside fabric is a warm and comfortable micro fleece which is soft on the skin and non-irritant. The upper gel 'grippers' are both on the inside and outside, further overcoming the slipping problem; and the elasticated material bands at the top of the legs are wide and flat, so they don't cause any unsightly and potentially uncomfortable bulges under your shorts.

Other useful features are the reflective tabs on the outside of the legs, which in my experience really increase visibility from behind, as they create a moving target for the pursuing driver to notice.

Overall they are a very comfortable, affordable and well made bit of kit; well worth the investment for around £15. They are perfect for those days when it is too hot for long legs, and/or you might want the option of converting to shorts half-way through the ride.

Available Exclusively at Wiggle Bike Shop (Link)

Weekend Watch: John Tiernan-Locke's Win

Video clip of the last 10mins of John Tiernan-Locke's impressive win in Stage 2 of the Haut Var last Sunday.

A small breakaway of four was clear on the final climb, and then GreenEdge's rider Simon Clarke broke off the front of the quartet. As the climb seriously ramped up in the final kilometre though, Tiernan Locke appeared from nowhere out of the chasing peleton, and soared confidently past Clarke and El Fares on the final push.

This is certainly an impressive Tour of the Meditteranean for John T-L and the Endura Racing Team!

Weekend Watch: 'The Perfect Athlete'

The Perfect Athlete from Duncan Elms on Vimeo.

As the Track World Cup is on at the moment, I thought it would be interesting to look at what makes the current UCI Kierin World Track Champ tick. This short video follows Shane Perkins, the Australian track racer in his training regime - it is pretty intense!

Weekend Watch: Great Athletes Trek Advert

OK, so this is an advert. But I have to say, it is one of the best I've seen in a long time.

Some great athletes certainly have ridden Trek in the past, and I'm sure they will continue to do so well into the future. For me though, this video really shows the beauty of our sport - it takes a huge variety of people, to some of the most stunning places on the planet; and then pushes their bodies and minds right to the edge.

I hope you too can look beyond the corporate message, and see this for yourself. Have a great weekend.

Review: Vittoria Rubino Road Tyres

Wiggle Bike Shop: £10.99

When you come to replace a tyre, it is probably the best time to gauge whether it has been a "good tyre" or a "bad tyre". As you lever it off the rim, you are probably either thinking about how many miles the tyre has racked up or how few punctures it has had (a good tyre) OR you are thinking how on earth has that side-wall exploded like that? or why are so many nasty little flints getting through this expensive puncture protection strip (a bad tyre).

Luckily, when I came to take the Vittoria Rubino Tyre off the rim of my winter/touring bike it was the former thoughts that were occupying my mind. This tyre, which comes in at an incredibly reasonable £10.99 has frankly been outstanding.

I put the tyre on the bike back in August of 2011, before I set off on our fully loaded touring trip through France and Spain [Tag Link]; as you can see from the picture of my bike to the left, it wasn't exactly a light load to be borne by a 25C skinny road bike tyre! (yes that is a French-baguette strapped to the top of my pannier rack).

The tyre managed the full 1400+ mile trip with only one puncture; and since then has remained on the bike since September, clocking in another 2000+ miles, without any more punctures!

By anybody's reckoning that is a pretty good life for a tyre that costs under £15. It seems that either I have been very lucky, or (more likely) the puncture protection and durability of these tyres really is rather good.

The tread is good as well, the micro-dots seem to provide a good amount of grip for cornering, and the speed isn't bad at all for a winter tyre.
Another thing worth noting is their snug fit on the rim; which is something you definitely want to consider when descending an Alp on a fully loaded touring bike (a blow-out at that speed doesn't bear thinking about!).

Overall, these seem to be a great set of tyres; in my mind easily comparable to the significantly more expensive Continental Gatorskins that are found on many winter bikes. So if you are on a bit of a budget and looking for a good tyre to cover many miles this winter/spring, then these could seriously be worth considering, I will certainly be buying them again.

Weekend Watch: The Sky Leadout Train

A great little clip put together by Sky Pro Cycling's co-sponsors IG Markets, about Cav's new lead-out train. If the Tour of Qatar is anything to go by, then (when Cav doesn't crash) Sky will certainly be a very strong contender for the Green Jersey this year I reckon.

Guest Blog: Race Kit List

If you are new to bike racing this season, then sometimes the pre-race nerves mean it is hard to remember what you need to take to a race event.

One of the guys on the Wightlink Race Team @JamesEbdon has put together this great Kit List of things to take with you when you go racing:

• Bike (in good working order!)
• Helmet
• Race kit (shorts, jersey etc...)
• Cycling Shoes
• Race Licence
• Money (£20 should cover it)
• Rucksack or small gym bag
• Food
• Water
• Energy drink
• Recovery drink  
• Sunglasses
• Leg warmers & Arm warmers
• Tube, pump, levers
• HR strap if you have one
• Clothing to keep warm (jersey, gilet, winter jacket...)

If you've got any more ideas of things to take, please feel free to comment below.

Thanks Jimbo - really useful stuff!

Recovery: The Importance of Being Idle

I only managed a very steady 2 hours on the bike this morning, and I feel slightly disappointed by that. Normally a Saturday ride would be at least 3 hours and involve a fair bit of fast pace riding.

I need to drill something into my thick skull though; my body knows better than my mind what it wants, and is capable of doing. Today, after a long week of work, a hard ride on Wednesday, and a lack of sleep due to some unfortunate circumstances (such as our washing machine draining its contents all over the floor sometime around mid-night!); my body and mind were feeling rather fatigued. 

It's tough knowing that race season is approaching and that your team-mates are gearing up for their first race (good luck guys!). But sometimes you just need to relax and take it easy. I'm going to have a restful afternoon and an early night and perhaps tomorrow my legs will feel up to something. Recovery is a fundamental part of our sport; we push our bodies hard, often to the limit, and then expect them to do it again and again. Sometimes, especially when it is cold outside (-8'C here today), an easy ride and a restful day will leave you more energised and in better shape, than trying to drill yourself into the ground even further.

So don't feel too guilty about kicking back with a cuppa and a bike magazine then; sometimes you really have earned it!

Weekend Watch: 'It's Your Ride'

It's Your Ride from Cinecycle on Vimeo.

OK, so there is some blatant advertising from Hutchinson in this video; but at the same time, there is some fantastic camera work, impressive fixed wheel riding and a pretty girl so it can't be all bad - enjoy!

Comprehensive Lite-Touring Kit List

After our three week tour in France and Spain, keeping kit and weight to a minimum, here is what we decided the essentials to take were:

Bar Bag:

• Wallet
• Passport and E111
• Phone
• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Bike Lights
• Map (in waterproof mapcase)
• Solar Charger
• Ipod

Pannier One:

• Berghaus Flare 700 Sleeping Bag
• Thermarest Sleeping Mattress
• Baby Wipes
• Toilet Roll
• Headtorch and Spare Batteries
• Book, Notepad and Pens
• Plastic Bowl, Mug and Spoon
• Pillow Case
• Washing Line
• Stove
• Board Shorts and Casual Shirt
• Skins
• Plastic Bags and Freezer Bags

Pannier Two:

• 3 x Cycling Shorts
• 2 x Jerseys
• 3 x Socks
• Short Finger Gloves
• Full Finger Waterproof Gloves
• Waterproof Trousers
• Thermal Top
• Sealskinz socks
• Buff
• Beanie
• Leg Warmers
• Soapbag: Toothbrush and Paste, Suncream, Moisturiser, Chamois Cream, Razor, Shave gel, Shampoo/Shower Gel, Washing up Liquid, Talcum Powder, Travel Wash
• Penknife
• First Aid Kit: inc. Gauzes, antiseptic cream, antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, Arnica gel

Rack-Top 30L Duffle Bag

• Tent (in own dry-bag inside)
• RainJacket
• Food and Emergency Food
• Instant Coffee Powder
• Lightweight Cable Lock

Saddle Bag (Tool Kit)

• Spare Spokes (inside seatpost**)
• Chaintool
• Multitool
• Chainlinks
• Pump
• Spare tyre
• 2 x Spare Tube
• Tyre Levers
• Spoke Nipples
• Cable Ties
• Gerber Mulitool
• Spoke Wrench
• Spare Brake Pads

**Spokes inside seatpost - a nifty trick that I learnt from a fellow tourer. Tape the spokes together in a bundle. Get two bits of sponge (a kitchen sponge cut in two will do), wrap it around the spoke bundle in two places, and secure with a thin strip of tape (so that the sponge is still showing for the most part). Then stuff it up inside the seatpost - the sponge should be thick enough that it has enough friction to stop the spokes from dropping down, and even if they do, they are only going to fall down the seat-tube. It is an effective way of stopping your spokes from getting bent and damaged. 

Weekend Watch: Cycling Home From Siberia

Some days in the life of a Siberian cyclist... a dazzling rush through some random encounters from Rob Lilwall on Vimeo.

I was lent his book last summer, and it is a fantastic read. Last week I came across this vimeo piece from Rob Lilwall. It is a rough cut trailer of his video footage mostly taken between Australia and Afghanistan.

On the 30,000 mile, 3 year journey, he had no back up and no sponsorship. To get this footage he just balanced the camera on a rock and rode past it, or sometimes asked somebody he met (and trusted!) to film him riding along.

See www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com for more info on the trip.

Weekend Watch: The Holstee Manifesto

The Holstee Manifesto Lifecycle Video from Holstee on Vimeo.
holstee.com/manifesto


Description:
The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community.

The LifeCycle Film came about as a desire to bring the energy and passion behind the Manifesto to life through something we love--biking. As we seek to live mindful lifestyles that leave a positive impact on the people and world around us, biking has become a passion that is much more than a transportation alternative. It is a way of fully experiencing the city we love and all of its details.

This Film is a celebration. It is a celebration of gatherings, of diversity, of life, and of the beauty of shared experience. We hope you enjoy.

Ride Stats from January

Ride statistics from January compared to December 2011. Not a bad month, mileage count helped by the century ride twice round the Isle of Wight early in the month, things are looking good for the start of the season in March.

Click On Image To Enlarge