ROCK OF THE SUIR

For those of us who follow professional cycling the chances are we are familiar with the dulcet tones of Sean Kelly, regular co-commentator on eurosport's cycling coverage. A terrific foil to David Harmon, Kelly spices up a long day's commentary with the insights only an ex-pro could provide.

It took me a little while to get used to the Harmon - Kelly combo, brought up as I was on cycling commentary-lite from Phil Liggett  and Paul Sherwen. Now I have seen the light, with Liggett and Sherwen seeming more like the Little and Large of cycling commentary if you like, to Harmon and Kelly's Morecombe and Wise. Nothing inherently wrong with that, I just feel that David Harmon and Sean Kelly come across as less trite, less afraid of judging cycling and cyclists as it really is. Warts and all.

So it was with great pleasure I came across Rapha's piece on Sean Kelly the rider. What a hero he was - a rider to aspire to and to admire. And a real hard man...

So thanks to Ultan Coyle for the treat that can be found over on the Rapha website.

RAPHA - SPRING and SUMMER 2012

As I mentioned in my blog last week, Rapha's Spring and Summer range was imminent.


Well, more imminent than I had imagined as within the same day Rapha launched their new range 'look-book' to highlight the key pieces for this year.


Pretty much as expected, with some nice additions to the range and a nod to the London Olympics later in the year.


More on that to come later I'm sure...

RAPHA - SS12 SNEAK PEEK: ENDLESS SUMMER

It may not feel quite like it, but apparently Spring is heading our way. So, it must be time for Rapha to start their annual Spring - Summer collection tease.


And of course Rapha very rarely disappoint...



All the latest designs, new components and revitalised colourways for Spring Summer 2012 will shortly be revealed. 


To whet our curiosity, Rapha have released some sneak shots of the products that will make spring and summer 2012 a season of endless riding and racing.


And if it isn't obvious from the photography, below are some cryptic descriptions:


• Stay faster and cooler than a cucumber with UCI points in this new colour update.



• Summer road-riding favourite Inspired by a Giro winner who took the yellow jersey from the Normand Gourmand.


• Bowler hats and time trials in the dark, bagpipes and daffodils, all in the weft of a nation.


• The finest tailors, the greatest street food, and 19 World Champions of la strada in one piece of performance roadwear.


• Inhale and exhale in perfect comfort as you ride homeward towards the second planet from the sun.


• No need for hats off even in the hottest battles, Rapha have it covered in weightless abundance.


At a guess, it looks like pro team jersey in yellow/lime, a Felice Gimondi club jersey, a new GB Country Jersey, an Italian Country Jersey,lightweight Jersey in a new colourway and finally a lightweight cycling cap.


I'm looking forward to a jersey commemorating "The Phoenix", if indeed the Felice Gimondi clue proves correct...

WINTER TRAINING by RAPHA

My Rapha winter kit generally keeps me on the road regardless of the weather.


Take today for example. The mercury was dipping well below zero, yet as the roads were dry and there was little ice around I took the chance to head out for a quick 20 miles.


Snow is heading this way overnight tonight so this was my last chance for a few days.


So, on went my Rapha winter jersey atop a merino baselayer and I was cosy enough to hit the road. 


The arrival of this seriously cold weather has prompted Rapha to revisit their winter training feature by Joe Hall. And it makes for an interesting read second time around too...

BARGAIN HUNT 34

A couple of bargains to tempt us out on to our icy roads came through to me today. I don't know about you, but I love getting out on the road at this time of year regardless of what the weather throws at me.

At the moment we are faced with icy roads round here. Now I'm uneasy about riding on sketchy roads, given I bust my hip a couple of years back, so I like to take it nice and easy, but when the skies are clear blue and the sun burns bright and low, I find it very cathartic to get out and have my cobwebs blown away. I come back refreshed and buzzing with the knowledge that these winter miles should mean summer smiles...

Anyway, I have digressed somewhat from the topic of this blog entry. Today I found a couple of bargains to make getting out on these wintry highways more appealing. 

Evans Cycles are offering a splendid 50% off Specialized inner tubes - and let's face it we can't head out with too many of these rammed in our jersey pockets at this time of year. Time to stock up methinks. Head over to the Evans website and just enter code 50TUBE at checkout. Alternatively you can download a voucher to print and hand-in if you are lucky enough to live or work within striking distance a store.

Offer ends Friday 3rd February.

If inner tubes simply lack that luxury edge you crave, then perhaps this offer from Rapha will get your heart pumping a little faster. My favourite brand of top-end cycling kit are offering a generous 20% off their classic Rapha softshell jacket. Having owned one of these for years I can vouch for their quality and longevity. I simply love my softshell jacket and it keeps me toasty warm and dry no matter what the English winter throws at me. It really is a fine piece of kit.

To take advantage of this offer, get along to the Rapha website, add a softshell jacket in the colour and size of your choice, and enter NEWZIP12 as the code at checkout. Be quick though, as this offer expires at midnight GMT on Sunday 5th February. 

RAPHA RIDES OSLO FILM

Rapha have been busy riding their bikes again. This time it's the über cool urban riders that have been out testing kit, in the Norwegian capital Oslo.


According to Rapha, Norway’s capital Oslo offers a different take on urban road riding. The city’s quiet roads, green spaces and buildings painted in muted colours are juxtaposed to the vibrant chaos of London or New York. But it’s also a city of fronts: where imposing exteriors conceal boutique hotels, immaculate restaurants and bars playing techno late into the night.


I couldn't possibly comment, having never ridden my bike in Oslo, but after watching the film I am happy to concur. As always, the film is a joy to watch.


The film is by Ultan Coyle and the music by Henrik Schwarz.

CONDOR: PAST PRESENT FUTURE

When I worked in London I used to frequent Condor Cycles - it was common place to call in at lunchtime for a browse and more often than not a purchase. It was where I picked up expensive taste in cycling kit. Rapha anyone?


Now I no longer work, or indeed live, in London I do miss those lunchtime visits to pore over the latest Campag groupset or Rapha kit - that is all done online now and isn't quite as satisfying. Hasn't changed my spending habits too much though!


So, I was excited to read about a new book published on the history of Condor Cycles as a shop and as a brand.


Past Present Future is a collection of essays and photo stories, celebrating Condor Cycles' 65 year history.


It is a celebration of cycling, bicycle design and Condor. Condor partnered with the makers of The Ride Journal for the project, which features a mix of portraits, studio and lifestyle photography by a range of contributors. 


The book features anecdotes and interviews from riders, racers and staff, with a mix of portrait, studio and archive photography. And, of course, there are bikes, past and present, along with behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing and design processes.


The book talks of how, in the early nineties, Condor were the first to make sturdy steel single speeds, not for the track but for London's couriers, swapping an aggressive track geometry for a more relaxed position and bullet-proof build.


John Herety discusses British racing and the inception of the Rapha Condor Sharp team, and Condor’s roots within British racing. Former Condor rider and Tour de France veteran, Colin Lewis, shares stories about racing abroad, while production director, Neil Manning, discusses why steel frames have always remained within the Condor range.



Past Present Future goes behind the scenes through interviews, essays and photo stories with close friends, riders and famous names that have ridden the bikes over Condor's sixty-five year history.


"As London riders, we always knew Condor. We have both spent way too much time hanging around the store, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to work on a project with such an iconic British cycling brand. It was a pleasure to record the fascinating, heart warming and emotional tales surrounding the shop. Whether it was a national champion, a hardcore commuter or the grease-stained workshop staff, everyone's story was linked by their passion for bikes." - Andrew and Philip Diprose, The Ride Journal.


Amongst the history are the personal experiences of the staff that have shaped the brand. Sandwiched between Monty describing when Mick Jagger asked to go to the track with him, and a workshop photo story, is a a heart-warming tale from bike fitter, Angel Vila, who had his bike stolen and months later met the thief. Greg Needham, head of sales, explains how he found his way to cycling after a running injury ended his athletics career.


There is plenty of history within the files of Condor but it is the changing faces and the growth of cycling that has apparently prompted the compilation of a book. It celebrates cycling and shares stories from cyclists, and also capturing images of jewel-like components that are essential to us all. It talks of the changing technology within cycling, from lugged frames and hand-stitched jerseys, to flocking, to using laser cutting machinery to produce bikes we see today in the Condor store.


The book is available from the following stockists for £14.99:


Condor Cycles
49-53 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8PP - 0207 269 6820


County Cycles - http://www.county-cycles.co.uk/
53 Llandeilo Road, Llanelli, Wales, SA14 6RD 01269 845656


Design Museum - http://designmuseum.org/
28 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD - 020 7940 8754


Foyles - www.foyles.co.uk

GMBH - gmbhshop.com
11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, G1 3NU - 0141 276 5360


Magma Book Shops - http://www.magmabooks.com
Covent Garden, Clerkenwell, Manchester - 020 7 242 9503


Fingerprint Distribution - http://www.fingerprintdistribution.blogspot.com/


Look Mum No Hands - www.lookmumnohands.com
49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX - 020 7253 1025


Ronde - www.rondebike.com
66-68 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 5AZ


Rapha - www.rapha.cc

THE RULES...

Thought I would share this again as the winter months approach. The Rules must be obeyed at all times, according to Simon Mills...

• White socks only from May onwards. Black socks are for winter months.

• Yes, vintage jerseys - 20 years old or more - can look rather chic but, let’s face it, you do not ride for the US Postal/Quickstep/Liquigas team and you do not get paid big bucks to wear its garish livery, either… so who are you trying to kid?

• All road cycling kit should be road cycling-specific. Men who wear floral board shorts intended for the beach whilst on the road should be banned from the sport. Training shoes, baseball caps, Aviator sunglasses etc are also totally unacceptable. And those novelty jerseys printed with Heinz Baked Beans, London A-Z and Marmite logos? Not funny or clever.

• The only exception to this rule is a wooly hat for winter riding which can be of generic outdoor or hand-knitted provenance. Ski hats with big, comical bobbles, perhaps emblazoned with the name of a Dolomite resort or Alpine mountain, are also allowed. Wear with clear or yellow-lensed glasses – spectacle arms worn over (not under) wooly hat. Persol sunglasses, as worn by David Millar, are also OK.

• At cafés, bars and pubs cyclists must always sit outside, no matter what the season. Why? Well it looks more European and you can keep an eye on your bike, but mainly because there is no place for Lycra in a public bar and a nice Sunday-lunching family does not need to stare at your ugly lunchbox.

• Acceptable drinks to enjoy halfway through a ride include French/Italian/Spanish lager (strictly bottles only), a glass of cold shandy (refer to it as “un panache”, if it makes you feel more French), a glass of ice-cold rosé (Duralex tumbler please) and, particularly during winter, a slug of brandy from one’s back pocket to "correct" your coffee. Citrus juices are a bit acidic but apricot juice straight from the bottle is good. Coca Cola, Fanta etc are only acceptable served in bottles. No vodka-based drinks or pints of bitter.

• Cycling food. During a ride lunchbreak; pasta, slices of proper, thin crust pizza, Caprese salad, steak frites, toasted panatone, ham and cheese baguettes. Full English breakfast is also acceptable when riding in UK.

• Cyclist’s tan; brown forearms, brown shins and calves, brown nose, ears and cheeks, brown stripe on back of neck, dry, chapped lips, brown fingertips, sunburned triangle at sternum, weird little brown circles adjacent to the thumb where there’s a gap in the mitts. Everything else – feet, ankles, tummy, thighs, forehead, hands etc; sparkling white.

• When two roadies travelling in opposite directions pass each other, brief eye contact must be made and the cursory but crucial “cyclists’ nod” administered. This is as close as we get to a Masonic handshake.

• Cycling, like rock ‘n’ roll and flower-arranging, is an alpha male lingua franca. You can bond with like-minded riders and tag onto club rides all over the world. But when not in the company of fellow cyclists, the first rule of cycling club should always be: don’t talk about cycling club. All road cyclists should have plenty of non-roadie friends who have absolutely no idea what they get up to of a Sunday morning. And that’s just the way we like to keep it. Why? Well, non-cyclists simply don’t understand us. In fact, they think we are weird. (To be honest, we are… a bit.)

• Learn some basic repair skills. This is not nerdy, it is essential. Knowing three bits of simple maintenance could be the difference between a long, wet walk pushing your bike to the nearest taxi rank or train station and a simple trundle in to the nearest town. Master the mysterious ways of a chain breaker, get the hang of fixing a flat tyre and carry the appropriate tools at all times.

• Be friends with your local bike shop mechanic. He can do stuff you can’t. Bike shops are essential for not just buying bits but also for hanging out in and drooling over hardware.

• Appreciate the elegant efficiency of your machine, taking time to look down at your chain and mechs doing their magical stuff as you change gear. Your bike needs to feel your love.

• Try not to rock your shoulders too much when climbing. It’s a waste of energy and it looks silly… and remember to breathe.

• Always black shorts. White shorts are for aerobics teachers.

• Having lots of bikes makes perfect, rational sense. Road bikes in carbon, steel and titanium are all essential. Consider owning also; a meticulously restored vintage Hetchins, Holdsworth or Colnago; a gentleman’s bike for when you ride around town in a suit.

• Unless you are astride a touring bike, any extraneous equipment should be kept on the body, not on the bike. Pumps, tool kits, rain jackets etc look naff, twee and nerdy mounted to the crossbar saddle or bars and spoil the elegant lines of your titanium frame. So stuff all your bits and pieces in those three pockets on the back of your jersey.

• The only exception here is a folded up tyre, rakishly attached to the rear of the saddle with an old fashioned pedal strap.

• Use of a handlebar-mounted Garmin or iPhone for navigation is OK but stopping to consult a crease-worn Ordnance survey map is much more the thing.

• When stationary, always complain of being cold; it makes everyone think your body fat percentage is really low.

• Clip-on aero / TT bars? Non.

• Make like the Italians who like to ride slow and long. It’s stupid, uncool and very rude to burn off at top speed at the beginning of a Sunday morning jaunt. Cyclists that do this always end up struggling at the back anyway.

• Do not refer to a sportive as “a race”. Racing is racing, everything else, even the mighty Etape du Tour, is a jolly.

• Bar tape should be finished off using plain-coloured, bog-standard electrical insulating tape.

• Presta innertube valves should be left nude (ie no dust caps) and collarless.

• Clean your bike with a brush and a bucket of warm soapy water. Using a jet wash is vulgar and insensitive to your bike’s feelings.

• Too high seat posts; look sporty but your arse looks bad rocking about on the saddle. Go for a low Belgium style. Same goes for stems that a far too long for your physique…you’ll be seeing the osteopath soon enough.

THE TRIPLE CROWN, VANCOUVER BC

Even if you would never normally pay a visit to the Rapha website, I urge you to take yourself along to take a look at the simply beautiful video of The Triple Crown, Vancouver BC.


The Triple Crown is loosely defined as the summiting of Vancouver’s Seymour, Grouse and Cypress mountains in one effort. There’s no rule regarding in what order the climbs must be done, only that they have to be completed in one day. 


I spent time in Vancouver and it is a wonderful city. Sadly I wasn't cycling at the time and after watching this video this is something I now regret more than ever.


What stunning scenery. What a place to ride your bike.


I will simply have to go back, this time packing my two wheels...

RAPHA AW11 KIT NOW AVAILABLE

The long awaited and much anticipated new Rapha Autumn/Winter 2011 range is now available. All us Rapha fans have been salivating at the prospect, teased have we been by the little snippets of information drip-fed by Rapha over the past few weeks.

Well, now the wait is over. Not only can we view the latest new stuff at the usual place, there is also an exclusive online showcase featuring photography and films shot by Ben Ingham in the French-Italian Alps.

How very, well, Rapha of them...

Actually, I am quite relieved that my winter wardrobe isn't sufficiently lacking for me to go out and purge the contents of my wallet at Rapha HQ. One of the reasons I love Rapha so much is the longevity of their products. The winter kit I have now is the same kit that has kept me warm and dry through the last several (harsh) winters, and the stuff still looks brand new.

And the best bit? If I fancy a new piece of Rapha kit, or a new colourway, I just sell the 'old' stuff on eBay to fund it. Everyone's a winner...

RAPHA CITY RIDING SOCKS

Fancy adding a splash more style to your commute into work? Rapha's new City socks could be just the thing for you then.


Rapha City Riding Socks have been designed for all-day riding in cool to cold conditions.


They are available in three striking seasonal colourways, are made from the same merino blend as Rapha’s standard merino socks but use a heavier yarn for increased insulation and are naturally high-wicking and anti-bacterial so your feet will stay warm and dry through those winter months heading our way.


With early snow supposedly heading our way at the end of October, these might be just the indulgement I need to keep me on the road...

RAPHA AW11 SNEAK PEAK

Rapha continue to tease us with sneak peaks only of their upcoming autumn and winter ranges. So far we have had a drip-feed of snippets, but the picture is becoming clearer.


It looks more and more like the clues lead to a rain jacket or wind jacket in red, long sleeve classic jerseys in new colourways, a new performance long sleeve jersey, new colours for the classic soft-shell jacket, a new winter jersey and a city rain jacket for the serious commuters amongst us.


Oh, and as an aside, I see Rapha have brought us their own brand of shaving cream, designed for both use on face and legs.


Rapha really do think of everything...

AUTUMN DEALS

It's that time of year where there are some excellent savings to be made on cycling kit. It seems that every day I come across a bargain buy that is too hard to resist - not that I ever need much encouragement! All the big names are fighting it out amongst themselves to catch our attention with big discounts - Evans, Wiggle, CRC, Cycle Surgery, Primera...


The list goes on. Even the boutique names, and I am thinking mainly of Rapha and Shutt VR here, seem to get caught up in the excitement and there are some real bargains to be had.


The smaller online outlets also have amazing savings on kit right now - the Merlins, BikesYouLike and Shinybikes - and it is here that perhaps the best buys are to be made.


So, watch this space for the low-down on the best deals to be had over the coming months, and don't even think about paying full price for that new piece of kit you crave.


Let's face it, as the days grow shorter and those dark mornings and evenings loom, we all need something to cheer us up. Knowing we just bagged ourselves a bargain is a good way to do just that.