National Hill Climb Championship

A ride five years in the making and all over in 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

Weird prizes in cycling

Cycling is weird enough. Lycra. Funny hats. Chafing cream. It’s little wonder the sport hands out some very odd prizes. Piglet anyone? Giant sausage?

The virgin road

New. Never travelled. Perhaps your eyes traced a pixellated line on a screen the night before or perhaps you simply turned left instead of right. Ahead only virgin road unridden. The unknown.

Unstructured structure – Agile training plans

Cycling imitates life. Structured cycle training plans provide a framework, a tiered progression. Base miles, strength training, VO2 max intervals, rest days. Agile training is a flexible alternative. A loose, free form plan. Adapt as you go. Be free.

Hello winter bike. Please forgive me.

Hello old friend. It’s been a while. What? Yes, it’s that time of year again. I know, I know. Brrr. Her? The mistress? That was a mere summer fling, showing off in front of others, a lightweight frolic beneath the sun. Nothing compares to you, ever dependable winter bike, bike number 1 once and forever. […]

Today we ride

Ride, roll, spin. Gasp. As if to live I must fight for air. Hunched, knees unnaturally near jaw Not the poise of one who flies. Gloves fingerless So nails can enjoy the view. Drink suckled from teat Nothing odd with that.

The melancholy of losing form and fitness

I used to be a contender. I could have taken that KOM. I was quicker goddammit and now look at me. Pathetic. Slow with a tailwind, the merest incline induces a series of huffing and puffing and effing and blinding. Strava automatically marks my rides as private as a sign of a respect to my […]

Summer’s gone – End of year cycling

Tan lines fading. Motivation too. Mornings cooler, darker. Days shortening. Summer fades so quickly into autumn, an annual event that somehow manages to surprise and disappoint us. Ahead, only darkness. Nine months into the year and the dear cyclist begins to think of hibernation. The paradox of fitness peaking, body stronger than ever yet oh so […]

TrainerRoad review – will it make me faster?

Want to be a faster rider? Of course you do. What if I told you that for around £9 a month you could be quicker, stronger and better looking? Well, that last one’s a stretch, but many cycling services promise to make you a better cyclist. Are they true?

Swains Lane hill climb race

Climber’s cough plagues me. My lungs burn. It is six hours since I raced up Swains Lane in the brilliant Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb race. Regrets? Sure, but only my tactics! Hosted on my local hill, Swains Lane, a short sharp lung buster I’ve had an on-off relationship with for many a year. I’ve climbed […]