The Number On My Back

Posted May 02, 2012 in Hill Climb, I Cyclist, Jack Havana, racing, sportive, training

Number 8744. Four digits printed on a square of shiny card sum up my station in life. Nowhere near the top. Quite close to the bottom.  Eight thousand, seven hundred and forty-fourth. It feels like a slap in the face. My entry was accepted within hours of the registration opening. That was eight months ago. I booked a cheap bed and breakfast near the start and return Eurotunnel on the same day. Since then, I’ve done 6,000 km in training&n... 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...

From Zero to 70.3 – First tri of the year

Posted April 19, 2012 in racing, rob ellis, training, triathlon

I’m about 5 weeks into my training for 70.3 UK, and have just rounded off my first race of the year. The race in question was the Ringwood Triathlon, run by Results Triathlon. I feel they really need a good mention here, my first triathlon as a junior was through Results, there’s always such a great atmosphere at the events and the organiser Michelle is always on hand to answer questions with a smile and a word of encouragement. The Ringwood Triathlon comprised a 600m pool swim, 28 mile ... 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...

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...

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...

2 up Team Time Trial Racing

Posted March 09, 2012 in I Cyclist, racing, rob ellis, Time Trialling, training

The team time trial (TTT) has to be one of my favourite cycling disciplines, not only to watch, but also to race. TTTs have really been making a comeback to professional cycling, with the Tour recently re-introducing the event, as well as the Vuelta and Giro. Watching the pro’s seemless teamwork and technique, they make it look effortless; this weekend was my third attempt at a team time trial, like my previous two attempts, one in the New Forest and the Duo Normand, this was also a 2-Up ... 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...

Can you justify a new bike? The answer is - you must!

Posted February 24, 2012 in Cycling Gear, I Cyclist, racing, training

The following is a guest post from Mountain Biking skills instructor Steve Owen. Catch up with him on his website - Sacred Rider Doing what I do for a living enables me to buy another brick and a piece of mortar for my house. I already own all the windows and one of the internal doors, but I digress. I often hear the same comments being made when I mention my occupation: It must be great doing what you love for a living and being paid to do it. Which is usually and quickly followed by... read more...

To Clip Or Not To Clip?

Posted February 10, 2012 in Cycling Gear, entry level road bike, I Cyclist, racing, Simon Dalgarno, training

That is the question. After getting back on the bike after so many years and mastering the basics again, I decided last summer that it was time to get more power out of my pedalling and of course this could mean only one thing. The debate of whether or not to go clipless.  Of course my first battle was to understand that clipless pedals actually means you are clipped in (yes very confusing) but I went to the trusted first port of call as always - Google.  Imagine my face as h... 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 cogs of evolution are turning

Posted January 12, 2012 in City Cycling, Cycling Gear, cycling shop, I Cyclist, racing, Tim Bland, training

If you're a regular here at Daily Cycle you may well notice one or two minor changes in the site today! It's taken a lot of work behind the scenes but we are now able to offer you a fantastic online shopping experience as well as the regular cycling articles. The blog remains firm In case you are worried, all the existing Daily Cycle authors remain on board and we are more excited than ever about producing content for you. The shop is not going to take over the s... 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...

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...

“Impossible is Nothing” – an interview with Germain Burton

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, Hill Climb, racing

Sixteen year old Germain Burton is a true rising star of British cycling. Son of three times British track champion Maurice Burton, he already has won the famous Bec hill climb twice - in the latest edition he obliterated a strong field, winning by an amazing 8 seconds. Racing in the colours of Team De Ver, the future really is bright for Germain, a future that one day could see him wearing the most famous yellow jersey of all…   How did you get into cycling? Really I've been in ... read more...

The X Factor

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

I missed the X Factor on Sunday. Not that ITV programme where singing out of tune demonstrates apparent superstar potential (my kids make sure I don’t miss that), but that X factor described by Simon Warren as “the natural athletic ability coupled with the extraordinary pain threshold” that marks out the very best. The National Hill Climb was full of riders with plenty of that special talent. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them. Finding My Level It wasn’t for la... read more...

A Tough Job – The National Hill Climb Approaches

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

It’s a tough job writing about cycling, but someone has to do it. This week has been particularly difficult, riding as I have been on the superbike that is a Scott Foil R1. I’m testing it at the moment, courtesy of bikesoup. It’s a truly fantastic bit of kit: light, responsive and fast – completely living up to all expectations. I will be riding it in the National Hill Climb on Sunday – hoping it will give me a bit of an edge. There’s a hill near my home that has a gradient similar to Long H... read more...

My first proper crash

Posted December 20, 2011 in Amy O Halloran, female cyclists, I Cyclist, racing

I used to hate mountain biking, I would ride down the hills at a snails pace usually screaming my head off. I didn’t enjoy it and therefore I haven’t been off road for about 2 years. Then a few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about Rapha supercross in Huddersfield. At the time I thought, “Oh that sounds good, I might give it a go”. I was ready to let go of my off road demons. So the day of my first cross race drew ever nearer and I realised I was actually going to have to do it. I hadn’... read more...

National Hill Climb – Simon Warren’s Preview

Posted December 20, 2011 in andy ward, Hill Climb, racing

Simon Warren is a bit of a hill climbing expert. Author of the excellent 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, he has ridden in the National Hill Climb seven times, finishing 37th in 2009. His next book - Another 100 Greatest Hill Climbs will be released in May 2012. Who better to give us an insight into this year’s race? What follows is a guest post from the man himself… Long Hill This year the National Championship is being held on Long Hill near Buxton in Derbyshire. To call it a hill though is a... read more...

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