Happy Birthday Fausto Coppi “Il Campionissimo” 1919 – 1960 Giro Winner – 1940, 47, 49, 52, 53; Tour de France Winner – 1949, 52; World Champion 1953 ... Read More
Latest Blog Entries
Grand Old Men of the Grand Tours – AKA The Chris Horner problem
“Chris Horner’s recent victory at La Vuelta has made him the oldest winner of a Grand Tour stage ever. At 41 years and 307 days he eclipsed the previous record by some margin to win Stage 3. Horner is one of a few Grand Old Men still riding hard in the hardest of races at what should be long past the dusk of their careers.” I wrote ... Read More
Bonne Anniversaire – Robert Millar
Happy Birthday Robert Millar TdF King of the Mountains 1984 ... Read More
The Jersey Pocket Podiums – #2 – Classic Cycling Jerseys
First Place. Peugeot An all time classic. From Tommy Simpson to Robert Millar, riders wearing the iconic chequered flag jersey have looked the business. It was the first kit I wanted as a kid and I still wear one most weeks. Best matched with plain black shorts and a Peugeot cycling cap – with the peak turned upwards, of course. Second Place. Bic Love the sparseness ... Read More
None More Black – the shifting spectrum of the pro peloton
“It’s like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.” Nigel Tufnell. Spinal Tap. The recent news that Cannondale’s new 2014 kit design will be a mainly black affair has been greeted by cycling’s fashion watchers with barely more than a raised eyebrow. ‘Copying Sky’ is the main criticism that most can muster and, given that ... Read More
Book Review – THE RULES, The Way of the Cycling Disciple – The Velominati
‘The Velominati embrace cycling not just as a pastime or a means of travel, but as a way of life – as obsessed with style, heritage, authenticity and wisdom as with performance. THE RULES is their Bible.’ There is much to cherish in the Velominati’s extended paper copy of their famous online RULES (Sceptre £12.99). At times, there also appears much to scoff at, deride ... Read More
A Bad Case of the Vuelta Blues
“Hi everyone. My name is Howard and I’m a Grand Tour addict. It’s been a week since my last fix.” I’m in France, on holiday, sans WiFi and television. There is a Grand Tour going on and I haven’t got a clue what is happening. It’s the first time I’ve been out of touch with such an event since 2010. ... Read More
Flashback – Ride Report – Ice Cold In Essex – Feb 2013
As I’m off on holiday this week and am doing more sunbathing than writing, here’s a ride report from earlier in the year when things were a wee bit frostier. 23/02/13 Ice Cold in Essex I’d postponed the 7.30am start by three quarters of an hour in the misguided hope that the temperature would somehow be radically improved, but February is February and ... Read More
Every Bike I Have Ever Owned..
1. Red tricycle with white wheels – Got the front wheel caught in a drainhole on our drive one summer day, flipped over the top and scraped the hell out of my 3 year old bare belly. Ouch. And, yes, that is me below… 2. Purple 2 wheeler – solid wheels. Learnt to ride on that one… 3. Raleigh Strika silver – Sadly not the back-pedal brake model.. Loved the fake plastic ‘suspension’ ... Read More
A Hard Day & Night – 24hr TT – Interview with 2013 National Champion Stuart Birnie
Imagine, if you will, climbing onto your bike early on a summery Saturday afternoon and going for a 60 minute solo ride at a pacy 21.5 mph. Sounds good, nice even.. Now imagine staying on your bike, needing to maintain that speed, for another 23 hours straight. Doesn’t sound so good anymore, does it? Imagine how you might be feeling by 10pm on Saturday evening; with darkness ... Read More