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My Sportive Plans For 2020 (What Are Yours?)

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020 by Andrew Montgomery

It’s time this blog saw some writing action. It’s time my legs saw some cycling action.

The standard approach is to start with the excuses.

Instead, let’s start with what I’m going to do about it.

The first action is to write this post. If you’re reading it, let’s assume I’ve at least achieved that.

The second action is to lay out my ‘race programme’ for 2020.

Finally, and this is less an action, rather a somewhat uninteresting piece of information, I will ‘reveal’ the location of this year’s training camp*.

(* family holiday where I plan to take my bike)

Rouleur Classic 2019: My Review (With A Video!)

December 22, 2019December 22, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

The Rouleur Classic is a bike show for hipsters. Based in London for two and a half days only, it is a celebration of bike-based beauty, cutting edge velo tech. And, from what I can tell, drinking.

Now, in terms of fashion, I’m firmly at the back of the peloton, if not the lanterne rouge. Nonetheless it seems that Rouleur lets anyone buy a ticket to attend. So i did. And I did.

And in this post (and video) I’m going to tell you about the cool stuff I saw at the show.

Garmin Edge 1030 vs Edge 830: A Comparison (Which Is Right For You?)

October 20, 2019October 20, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

The purpose of this post is to (wait for it…) compare the Garmin Edge 1030 with the Edge 830 so you can work out which is best bike GPS choice for you.

(Essentially, is it worth you paying a bit more in order to get the extra 200?)

So we’ll be looking at (and comparing) things like size, weight, the screen, buttons (buttons!), as well as the software features, both basic and sophisticated, so you can decide which bests suits your road cycling needs (whether that’s your actual ones or your perceived, I’m-on-the-verge-of-turning-professional-at-age-45, needs).

Capiche? Alrighty. On with the show!

Wearing Prescription Glasses Whilst Cycling (And What About Varifocals?)

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

I was emailed a few years back by a Sportive Cyclist reader (the other one that’s not my mum), who rightly noted that I cycle whilst wearing prescription glasses. I can’t say for sure, but I have a sense that I might not be the only one…

Alan (for that ‘twas… ‘twis his name) then went on to supply some very helpful tips around cycling with varifocal lenses. I’ll share these later on in this post.

First though, since my glasses involve bog standard (albeit unusually prescriptioned) lenses, I thought I’d write more generally about cycling whilst wearing bins.

It’s at this point, I can offer the non-spectacle wearers amongst you to stand down. There’s nothing here to see (although if there was, presumably you’d see it very clearly indeed).

A Sunny Ride In The Peak District (Pig Optional)

October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

The August bank holiday weekend saw some magnificent weather in the UK. This was a rarity. It also saw Mont brush up his man skills through the lighting of a barbecue (also a rarity).

With the clement riding conditions being well flagged in advance, I took the opportunity to designate the Monday morning as ‘ride time’ in the family calendar.

I would strike out into the Peak District. And this post is an account of that ride.

Quick Plug For The Peak

You really should come riding here.

(‘Here’ being the Peak District in the UK.)

When the weather is playing ball, it’s an awesome place to ride your bike. We’ve got loads of little valleys (and Peaks), cross-crossed by quiet country roads. There are an infinite (more or less) number of routes to suite all abilities, moods (?!) and times available to ride.

It makes me think: in the future I should offer guided rides around my favourite routes, views and climbs.

[Mont begins to daydream off a life spent away from a desk…]

Ahem. My blog GPS tells me I’m going ‘off route’. Let’s get back to the ride.

The Sportiveur’s Guide To The Best Winter Cycling Tights 2019

October 27, 2019October 13, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

Sportive Cyclist guide to winter cycling tights

Colder temperatures will soon be upon us. A vital aspect of enjoying your cycling during the winter months is to ensure you’re adequately attired. Cycling tights should be an important part of the your adequate attire.

The aim of this post is shed a little light on the subject of winter cycling tights. I doubt that too much light is required, for this is hardly a challenging subject.

I’ll let you know the different leg warming options available to you as a road cyclists (yes, you have options) and provide some recommendations on what to buy in each category.

I’ll also throw in some inane chatter (you’re welcome). Now bring on the men in tights!

Road Cycling On The Côte d’Azur (The Bit Near Cannes…)

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

This year’s mid-season training camp took place in the south of France, specifically on the Côte d’Azur ‘behind’ (back from the coast of) Cannes.

It was a pretty intense affair. Lots of focused lounging on sun terraces and structured bombing into the swimming pool. But I did find some time to get out on the bike.

In this post I’ll share my thoughts on cycling in the area, where I rode, where I hired my bike and all that fandango.

Best Winter Jackets For Road Cyclists (2019 Edition)

October 6, 2019October 6, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

Winter is coming.

Whether you’re warding off white walkers or fattening your goose (er, not a euphemism), you’ll want a decent winter jacket in order to keep cycling through the colder months.

But winter road cycling jackets can be expensive. And (for a piece of clothing) a bit confusing.

Before you drop your cash, let Sportive Cyclist tell you what’s important and what’s not. What features you need, and what you can do without.

Then you can concentrate on staying warm on the bike and maintaining your fitness and cyclo-enjoyment over the winter months.

Specialized vs Trek Road Bike: Mont’s Comparison Guide

September 23, 2019September 22, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

So you’re interested in comparing the road bike ranges of Trek and Specialized, huh?

Well, you’ve come to the right… oh wait, you’re not?

No matter. I’m going to write about it anyway.

I’m interested and that’s all that matters (and you may find it useful, entertaining, a useful sleep aid). Onward!

Cycling The Col De L’Ecre: Length, Gradient and Difficulty (All The Usual Fandango)

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 by Andrew Montgomery

In this post I am going to give you all the ‘must have’ information you need in order to ride (and enjoy) the Col de l’Ecre, a particularly beautiful (and long) climb in the south of France.

This summer I had the particular pleasure of being bestowed with a week of free accommodation in a villa on the Côte d’Azur.

Shadly this was not because I’d hit the veloblogging big leagues and been invited to a high profile bike launch. Instead it was because my parents’ wealthy friends gave us a lend of their gaff. So you don’t have to feel sorry for me.

Anyhoo, me and my brother-in-law both hired bikes (as is our wont on these multi-Monty-generational holidays) and, in amongst a bunch of shorter rides, decided to tackle a ‘Cat 1’ climb in the area. And the Col de l’Ecre was that climb.

So, having thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and the climb (yes!), I decided to share the love. Or rather my experience. You can use it (maybe be inspired by it) if you’re ever in the area.

Quick Plug For The Peak

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