cycling articles — Daily Cycle

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...

What makes cycling great?

Posted April 18, 2012 in Amy O Halloran, I Cyclist, inspiration, Pro riding, Pro Tour

Everyone on here knows I love cycling. Obviously I do, otherwise I wouldn’t write for a cycling website. But I often wonder exactly why I love it. What is it that makes it so great? I like riding my bike for different reasons than I like watching bike racing. The two are quite separate in my mind; there are two sides to my cycling personality... Firstly, the crap amateur cyclist Amy who tries to ride fast and does the occasional sufferfest, who goes on the bike when I can and a... read more...

Rain in Spain

Posted April 11, 2012 in I Cyclist, inspiration, training

A guest post from David Gange... As I'm writing the rain is lashing down outside here in sunny Spain!! My brand new bike, a B'Twin Triban 3 is waiting to be taken out for it's first spin. I've greased where grease goes. I've lubricated the bits that need lubricating. I've checked the bits that need checking, and now this! The frustration! I'm a 51 year old teacher living to the north of Madrid in the mountains with my wife, 2 dogs and 2 cats. I've always been indirectly inv... read more...

Mark Beaumont Interview

Posted April 05, 2012 in books, I Cyclist, inspiration, LEJOG, Simon Dalgarno

My inspiration to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats this year was initiated by reading Mark Beaumont’s excellent book on his Record Breaking Round the World Cycle, when he broke the solo record of cycling 18,296 miles in 194 days and 17 hours. So I decided to ask him a few questions about his cycling and other expeditions, which have seen him climb the two highest peaks in North and South America and cycle between them. Also, his non cycling adventures of rowing over the Arctic and his... read more...

30 Days of Biking

Posted April 03, 2012 in female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, Lauren Jenkins

30 Days of Biking originally started in Minneapolis. The idea was born in March 2010 when friends, Patrick Stephenson and Zachariah Schaa created the idea using social media. The friends promoted the idea throughout March to encourage cyclists to take the pledge in April. The word spread like wildfire on social networks. The initiative aims to connect cyclists through their shared love of cycling using social networks(@30daysofbiking, http://www.facebook.com/30daysofbiking). The... read more...

Cycle touring basics: Packing and Panniers

Posted March 30, 2012 in autumn barlow, Cycling Gear, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, LEJOG, touring

Cycle touring is basically going on holiday by bike. For some, this might mean trains and cycling – others just cycle. You might take a tent, or you might stop in B&Bs or youth hostels. You might have a plan, or you might wish to horrify your family by having no fixed itinerary at all. But whatever you’re doing, you will need to carry your stuff. “Credit Card Touring” – going from place to place with no more than your Visa card, socks stiff with sweat, and a banana in your pocket – i... read more...

A plunge into the unkown - Ironman UK 70.3

Posted March 16, 2012 in inspiration, racing, rob ellis, training, triathlon

I’d like to start this article by asking you to watch a quick video clip. I first came across this video 3 or 4 years ago and it’s had a deep and lasting impact on me; the true embodiment of the Ironman mantra that nothing is impossible. The Hoyt’s truly are incredible athletes, totally overcoming the limitations imposed on them by nature and showing that whoever says you can’t, doesn’t know a thing about human determination! But this article isn’t about th... read more...

My Facebook log of how I got into cycling

Posted March 06, 2012 in autumn barlow, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, training

How I got into cycling…as told through the medium of my facebook updates.... 7 Oct 09: aarghhhh car is expensively poorly 7 Oct 09, later: who wants to buy a crappy Matiz with broken alternator, a zillion miles on the clock, and an arse-dent in the boot? Bidding starts at £1.70. 8 Oct 09: now have no car... 9 Oct 09: am sweating in places I didn't know I could, and now understand the wrath of a cyclist finding a car parked in the cycle lane. And I'm really hungry. 10 Oct ... read more...

The World of Downhill Bike Riding

Posted February 23, 2012 in downhill, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, Lauren Jenkins, mountain biking

I stepped out of my tiny red Ford KA into a packed car park full of estate cars and big vans. I was surrounded by men. Everybody took one look at me and went back to what they were doing, then I suddenly remembered to breathe. Sometimes I wonder what I’ve let myself in for. It was only a few weeks ago that I picked up my new bike. After suffering yet another theft, I decided to upgrade my bike and get; as it’s been called ‘my first big girl bike’. I am now the proud owner of a Norco... read more...

Get out on your bike. You won't regret it!

Posted February 09, 2012 in City Cycling, Cycling Gear, I Cyclist, inspiration, training

The following is a guest post from Chris Walker. You can read more about his cycling adventures here. I've always had a bike. I go back to the days of the Triumph Rodeo with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer gear - I must have been 9 or 10 years old, I suppose. Like most kids at that time, during the summer months, we were out on our bikes, returning only for meals and bed. Happy days. I never really got back into cycling in any big way after that, until I started a ... read more...

The best Christmas present I ever got

Posted February 08, 2012 in Cycling Gear, I Cyclist, inspiration, LEJOG, Nutrition, Simon Dalgarno, training

The following is a guest post from one of our newest writers - Simon Dalgarno. You can find more from him on twitter - @maisy98 It's Christmas 2010. Sitting after another huge meal in my parents house with a glass of wine by my side and chatting about nothing in particular, I ask my Dad to relive his charity cycle from London to Paris earlier in the year. He spoke at great lengths about the different people, lifestyles and bikes that were there. I could see his eyes light up t... read more...

Domestiques required to join Daily Cycle

Posted February 03, 2012 in Cycling Gear, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, Nutrition, Pro Tour, racing, reviews, Tim Bland

Are you passionate about cycling? Do you want the world to hear your views, loves, hates, knowledge and emotions induced by this wonderful sport? "I started writing for Daily Cycle when I wanted to get my name out there, and build up a portfolio. I get to research topics of interest (ie read cycle websites and blogs for hours), test and review products (ie ponce around in shiny new gear) and witter on at length. It must open doors, because I've got two articles forthcoming in Cycli... read more...

The Psychology of Hills

Posted February 05, 2012 in autumn barlow, female cyclists, Hill Climb, I Cyclist, inspiration, training

I live halfway up a 12% hill. This is an excuse I always like to get in early to a conversation. Hills, you see. I would be faster, but…well, you know. Hills. My average speed around these parts (Rossendale, an entirely vertical part of Lancashire) is 12 mph. Why do I need to make excuses for myself? I can slog away at that speed for hours. When I “got into” cycling, I went on an obsessive binge to read everything, everywhere, about it. However I lacked the expe... read more...

From pro to coach - an Interview with Stephen Gallagher

Posted February 01, 2012 in charity, inspiration, interviews, Pro riding, Rob Orr, training

Elite cyclist Rob Orr interviews pro cyclist turned coach Stephen Gallagher and asks him about his time as a professional rider and the transition to becoming a coach and beyond... Stephen, tell us a little about your early years on the bike. How did you initially get into cycling? My family were all cyclists, my Father had represented Ireland and also my brother so it was kind of inevitable that I would race, I actually did my first race when I was 7, but this was all fun and I o... read more...

Using training diaries for logging progress - online vs paper

Posted January 31, 2012 in autumn barlow, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, training, winter

When I made that transition from “cycling because I have to get to work” to “cycling to see how far and fast and hard I can go” with occasional “cycling just for the hell of it” moments, I started to log my times and speeds. I signed up to the free part of Map My Ride and became obsessed with numbers. If a weekly distance didn’t match or exceed the previous week’s, I was annoyed. More miles! More miles! From August to December I got steadily better and better. If “better” means I could g... read more...

Winner of the Graeme Obree competition

Posted January 27, 2012 in books, competitions, inspiration, Tim Bland

Just a quick note to announce the winner of the signed copy of The Obree Way by Graeme Obree. We had masses of entries to the competition so thanks very much to you all. But there can be only one winner... Congratulations to you Paul Stewart (@track_stewsie). I'll be in touch, judging by your profile it looks like you'll be putting the book to good use! Condolences to the rest of you but we'll have more competitions coming up soon, have no worries about that ;-) read more...

Vive Le Tour

Posted January 11, 2012 in Amy O Halloran, female cyclists, I Cyclist, inspiration, Pro riding, Pro Tour

I know it’s a bit of a weird time to be writing about Le Tour de France but as I’m in the process of booking our 2012 trip, I thought it would be nice to relive last year’s experiences. I went with my best friend Katie and my son Ben and we stayed in a Keycamp resort in Perpignan. We managed to catch two stages, the first being Stage 14 which finished up Plateau de Beille. After speaking to Ned Boulting at the Nationals, we were advised to set off at 3am to avoid traffic and road closu... read more...

Character Building

Posted December 20, 2011 in inspiration, Tim Bland, training

It’s 5:30am, it’s pouring with rain and pitch black. My wife and daughter are tucked up in bed – cosy and warm for at least another hour. Where am I? I’m out running of course! If you are looking for an article that will give you information or advice, well this won’t be it I’m afraid – you may as well bounce straight back to Facebook. This article is my form of self therapy, I thought about writing it as I was out pounding the pavement this morning in the Great British Weather... read more...

Hill Climber–the latest free ebook from Daily Cycle

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy brodziak, andy ward, books, Hill Climb, I Cyclist, inspiration, racing, Tim Bland, training

Well, it’s Sunday night, I’ve run a half marathon today so I’m completely knackered, but I just couldn’t resist releasing the latest ebook – Hill Climber. It’s the latest ebook delivered to you completely free of charge. No money, no sign up for something, no nothing required, just download, share and enjoy. Feel free to print it out too if you wish. It’s fast approaching the Hill Climb season so this free ebook should hopefully inspire you to get out there and give it a go. The ebook conta... read more...

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