cycling articles — Daily Cycle

Knog Blinder Review

Posted April 27, 2012 in andy ward, Cycling Gear, reviews

Australian company Knog first came to my attention when I bought a couple of their Frog bike lights. The silicon encased LED lights looked great and were highly practical, not relying on brackets to fix them to my handlebars or seatpost. Switching the lights between bikes or attaching them to a helmet was a doddle and if you looked at them through squinty eyes they really did look a bit like frogs. Having said that, although bright, they weren’t quite powerful enough t... read more...

Do you break the rules?

Posted April 25, 2012 in andy ward, I Cyclist, inspiration, racing, training

Road cycling as a sport is littered with rituals and etiquette. You might think that there is only one way to wear your helmet, or that the length of your socks is unimportant. If so, you are probably not one of the Velominati. The Keepers of the Cog are responsible for The Rules, the sacred text that governs the behaviour of the true road cyclist. I decided to compare my own behaviour against all 91 of The Rules. Whilst I’m too ashamed to share all my answers, here are my favou... read more...

Rest and Recuperation - Road Race Crash Recovery

Posted April 13, 2012 in andy ward, criterium, health, I Cyclist, racing

It almost seems a lifetime ago, but in my last article I talked about an upcoming "rite of passage" – my first road race. Well it certainly was a rite of passage, although not exactly what I had in mind... Fight Club Facebook and twitter followers will be aware that I was involved in a nasty crash on the final bend of the 25 lap criterium at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa. The full gory details can be read here. Suffice to say, I made my children cry with ... read more...

Spring is in the air, time for a rite of passage...

Posted March 14, 2012 in andy ward, criterium, racing, spring, Time Trialling, training

Spring is in the air and with the first daffodils starting to show through, I finally got my cycling year off the ground. A good couple of weeks have seen me enter my first road race, compete in my first 10 mile time trial of 2012 and go for a leisurely ride with Chris from velobici.cc Crunching Carbon Until now, I’ve always shied away from road racing, feeling that it was for more experienced riders with mastery of the mystical art of “roadcraft”. Having taken up road cycling 5 ye... read more...

Chrome Kursk Shoes Review

Posted March 07, 2012 in andy ward, Cycling Gear, reviews

“What colour would you like?” asked Corinne from Chrome as we discussed a test pair of their Kursk shoes. “Whatever you have available” was my cheery reply – the black or grey ones I’d seen on the website both looked great. I have to confess to a slight intake of breath as I ripped open the smart packaging that came remarkably quickly from San Francisco. I can safely say that I have never previously owned a pair of red shoes. Even in my five-a-side football days, I never ... read more...

Mountain Bike Time Trial - Jumps, Berms and Disqualification

Posted February 28, 2012 in andy ward, I Cyclist, mountain biking, racing, Time Trialling

Last season I focussed most of my energies on time trialling. Whilst riding yourself to the point of nausea doesn’t sound like fun, the elation of setting a new personal best always makes the suffering worthwhile. This weekend I took part in my first time trial of the season. I might still have suffered that familiar feeling of imminent collapse when I crossed the line, but that was where all similarities ended. It wasn’t the most successful race I’ve ever taken part in - I ended up disqu... read more...

Swrve Jeans Review

Posted February 20, 2012 in andy ward, City Cycling, Cycling Gear, fixed wheel, I Cyclist, reviews

Whilst wearing lycra to the pub might get you some funny looks, cycling in jeans is not always the most comfortable experience. Denim, whilst hardwearing, is not the most forgiving of fabrics and seams placed in what might be termed “sensitive” areas, can dig in after a surprisingly short time in the saddle. Fortunately Los Angeles-based swrve have tackled this with some very bike-friendly features on their latest jeans. Form and Function Founded in 2005, swrve have always been at the f... read more...

Winter Mountain Bike Fun - Snow Messing

Posted February 09, 2012 in andy ward, mountain biking, training, winter

The sudden burst of cold and snowy weather has wreaked havoc with my cycling plans. Icy roads make me nervous on a road bike, and temperatures as low as -6 degrees centigrade more or less guarantee the odd patch of the slippery stuff – usually where you least expect it. Having discovered the joys of road rash in 2010, I’ve not been in a hurry to relive the experience. Shame Last week I had plans to meet Chris from Leicester-based purveyors of cycling loveliness Velobici for a ... read more...

Saddle Bag review - Scicon Aeronaut

Posted January 26, 2012 in andy ward, Cycling Gear, reviews

The saddle bag is a fairly humble object. One of those cycling items you tend to take for granted (until you get a puncture). It’s probably not something you give a lot of thought to before purchasing. Scicon, the Italian bike luggage experts, have decided that it’s time for a change to the common saddle bag and come up with the innovative and unusual Aeronaut. Smooth and Sleek The first thing that strikes you about the Aeronaut is the shape. Like a large, fluorescent yellow... read more...

Fixed up for the Winter

Posted January 26, 2012 in andy ward, Cycling Gear, fixed wheel, Hill Climb, I Cyclist, training

In 2009, I was lucky enough to be a member of Team Cycling Plus. As part of the deal, I had the use of a Verenti Millook. It was a great bike and I logged up thousands of miles on it. Unfortunately, it was only on loan and in December last year, they finally asked for it back. With my best bike mothballed until the good weather returns, I've had to look elsewhere for a bike to ride through the winter. Last year, with the hill climb season approaching, I picked up a bargain... read more...

Bagaboo Messenger Bag review plus 10% discount at Urban Hunter

Posted January 13, 2012 in andy ward, City Cycling, Cycling Gear

There are certain products that work so well that you love them from the moment you first use them. The Bagaboo Messenger bag is one of those brilliant products that somehow gets it just right. Papa’s got a brand new bag Lacking a rack on my commuting bike, I transported my gear in a cheap rucksack picked up in a sports shop. It was ok, but not waterproof and fitting work shirts into it was always a bit of a battle if I wanted them to look as if they’d been near an iron in the recent pa... read more...

Pork Pies and Leisure

Posted January 11, 2012 in andy ward, Nutrition, training, winter

If you were wondering why it’s all been quiet on the training blog recently, there’s a simple explanation - I haven't been doing any training. Since the hill climb season ended, I’ve spent most of my cycling time commuting, pootling about with my mates and eating cakes. I’m a fully fledged leisure cyclist and it’s a good way to spend the winter! Cake and Coffee I’m not sure all this relaxing is going to help my speed next season. I’ve been keeping an eye on the twitter f... read more...

Winter Training – Advice from a Pro-Rider

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist, Pro riding, Pro Tour, training

During the short days and miserable weather of a British December, it can be hard to motivate yourself to get out on your bike. Elite cyclist Rob Orr gives us his tips on how to get the best from your cycling in the winter months and use this time to prepare for the challenges of 2012… Best and Worst Winter training can be one of the best and worst times for riding your bike. It's often cold and can also be wet, but it's also a time when many cyclists ride more sociably as the next ra... read more...

The Obree Way – Review

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist, racing, reviews, training

This weekend, cycling legend, Graeme Obree publishes his long awaited training manual, “The Obree Way -a training manual for cyclists”. 17 years in the making, The Obree Way continues a tradition typical of Obree with his own unique insight into the training techniques that took him from club cyclist to multiple World Champion. Graeme Obree is one of this nation’s greatest cyclists. The underdog who built his own bike, trained without technology and went on to break perhaps the ... read more...

HipLok and Fabric Horse–making bike locks portable

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, City Cycling, city cycling, Cycling Gear, cycling gear

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I find transporting the necessary evil that is a bike lock a bit of a pain. I usually commute on my road bike, and lacking a rack, have to use a rucksack. By the time I’ve packed a change of clothes, a waterproof and my sarnies, there’s nowhere to squeeze my heavy duty lock. If I try to follow Leicestershire Police’s advice to use two locks, I’m stuffed! Over the last few weeks I’ve been testing a couple of solutions to this problem – solutions that... read more...

Movember Cyclists Live Strong

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist

Regular visitors to the Daily Cycle facebook page may have already read my Movember inspired article on facial hair in cycling. Chris Brewer understands more than most the need to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the other cancers that affect men. Having been successfully treated for testicular cancer in 1996 he now works for LIVESTRONG and is a keen cyclist, having enjoyed the odd ride with a famous Texan… What’s your background - how did you get into cycling and wh... read more...

How to pedal – by Graeme Obree

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist, racing, training

After a career that saw him twice break the world hour record and wear the rainbow jersey of world pursuit champion, Graeme Obree has decided to share the training secrets that lifted him to the pinnacle of his sport. Representing 45 years of experience in cycling and human athletic pursuit and 17 years in the writing, “The Obree Way” is due to be published on 10th December and will go straight to the top of any serious cyclist’s Christmas list. We at Daily Cycle are privileged to have been... read more...

A master class in Breathing from Graeme Obree

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist, racing, training

Graeme Obree is a true legend of cycling. Twice holder of the world hour record and individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1994, the Flying Scotsman is renowned for his mould-breaking approach to cycling. He designed and built his famous bike “Old Faithful” for his first attempt on the hour record, but that was just one of his innovative ideas. Exclusive preview of his eagerly anticipated book Representing 45 years of Graeme’s experience in cycling and human athletic pursuit and 17 y... read more...

Bali Audax

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, I Cyclist

Leicester Forest CC member Antony Lazarus had never ridden an Audax before. What better way to find out what they’re about than to ride 400km in 30 degrees heat… on a Mountain Bike? Here is his account of the gruelling two day ride. Day One We set off at 6am from Jimbaran Bay in the south, 204 riders in total, all wearing Bali Audax Jerseys. The route took us west along the coast, with a few short climbs. Apart from one other mountain bike, and a folding Brompton-esque bike (!), every... read more...

Rainlegs Review

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, City Cycling, city cycling, Cycling Gear, cycling gear, reviews

December is our wettest month. Met Office statistics show that you can expect at least 13 days of rain in the final month of the year. Suddenly, commuting seems less appealing, there’s nothing quite as bad as arriving at work sopping wet. Fortunately, help is at hand thanks to an innovative Dutch product that at least keeps your legs dry. The Product I’ve never liked waterproof trousers. Cumbersome and awkward, they’re not the best legwear for riding a bike. You might not get wet from the r... read more...

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