A Sunny Ride In The Peak District (Pig Optional)

Pig in the road

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.

Read moreA Sunny Ride In The Peak District (Pig Optional)

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

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!

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

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

sunset in Mougins

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.

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

Best Winter Jackets For Road Cyclists (2019 Edition)

Best Winter Jacket For Road Cyclists

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.

Read moreBest Winter Jackets For Road Cyclists (2019 Edition)

Specialized vs Trek Road Bike: Mont’s Comparison Guide

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!

Read moreSpecialized vs Trek Road Bike: Mont’s Comparison Guide

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

Bianchi Intenso with a nice view

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.

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

Bryton Rider 450 Review: Best Value Cycling GPS?

Bryton Rider 450 review

Boom. New bike computer review time. In this case, the Bryton Rider 450.

So far on my bike GPS usage journey (yes, there is such a thing), I’ve had two Garmin Edges (the 510 and 520) and a Wahoo (the ELEMNT Bolt). Now it’s time to see how a new manufacturer and a new 3-digit model number will compare.

The Bryton Rider 450 is a fully-fledged bike GPS device. It uses the magic (science) of satellites to track and record your rides, taking feeds from other sensors secreted about your bike (cadence, power) or your person (heart rate strap).

Once your ride is completed, it sends the data file to the Bryton Active smartphone app and, if you’re that way inclined, on to Strava.

You can also use the device to upload and follow routes, in an attempt not to get lost on twisty turny unknowny roads.

So, very much a bike GPS computer in the Garmin Edge/Wahoo ELEMNT mould. But how does it compare? Most importantly, should you buy one? Read on MacDuff…

Read moreBryton Rider 450 Review: Best Value Cycling GPS?

Best Socks For Road Cycling: A Magnificent Feet Of Research

dhb merino wool socks

Wow. This one is going to test my writing chops. How I’m going to wrestle a blog post out of this subject I do not know. Better kick on.

To be honest I don’t give my feet much thought when cycling. This extends beyond sock choice.

My only real issue in the foot area actually manifested itself through knee pain and an under-developed set of right quadriceps (more under-developed…). The issue (and solution) was foot-related.

As part of my new bike and bike fit process in 2013 I bought Speedplay pedals and set the float up to pretty much maximum. This (and the well-fitting bike) sorted the knee.

Back to feet.

Read moreBest Socks For Road Cycling: A Magnificent Feet Of Research

Aftershokz Trekz Air Bone Conduction Headphones Review: Safest Headphones For Cycling?

Aftershokz Trekz Air review

I am one of those terrible people that wears headphones whilst I’m cycling along.

Before you throw me on the heap as a negligent husband and father, and a liability on the road, hear me out.

I have a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones. I ride with only one earpiece in, so I’m aware of my surroundings and can hear traffic approaching over my right shoulder.

It’s not an ideal solution though. Whilst I attempt to keep the wires in place by wendling them through the straps on my helmet, the dangling earpiece has a habit of gradually slipping down and pulling the wire tight around my neck.

And one ear of sound is not ideal, whether listening to the podcast (I tend to listen to people talking rather than singing) or listening out for other road users.

The solution, a set of headphones that don’t go in your ears, leaving your lugholes free to sense the white van rapidly approaching your rear end.

Enter the Aftershokz Trekz Air wireless bone conduction headphones (so many ‘kz’, so few ‘c’s).

I’ve been meaning to get a set of Aftershokz for ages. But like most things that involve spending some money, I conveniently forgot to take any action. Finally I thought I’d buy a pair and review them for this ‘ere blog(kz).

Read moreAftershokz Trekz Air Bone Conduction Headphones Review: Safest Headphones For Cycling?