Thursday, September 29, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 13

I have never been quick enough off the mark to buy cycling kit from Aldi as it is always snapped up with such vigour! From today Aldi have winter cycling jackets in blue and on-trend white for a wallet friendly £15.99. They are also offering winter cycling gloves for a mere £4.99.


Winter Cycling JacketAldi are also offering a rain jacket, winter cycling jersey, cycling trousers, a rather lush looking merino long-sleeved top (30% merino wool), winter socks, shoes, lights, a bike stand, mudguards plus a whole smorgasbord of accessories.


Mind boggling...

I have no idea about quality of Aldi stuff, although I have often read in forums that their stuff is perfectly acceptable and exceed price-related expectations. I have tried some Lidl stuff, which I imagine is comparable, and have generally been impressed. I wouldn't wear it for Sunday best, but it's good for the commute.
ALDI
Regardless, this stuff flies off the shelves, so grab one whilst you can...

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 12

Quick, dust of your wallets and get yourself over to PBK. From now until 2nd October Pro Bike Kit have an additional 10% off orders over £50 and an additional 15% of orders in excess of £100.


Simply use the codes UKEXTRA10 or UKEXTRA15 at checkout. Your bank manager will be relieved...


Evans CyclesWhilst you're at it, check out Evans Cycles for 15% off all long-sleeved jerseys. You can shop online using the code SOWLSJ or you can print out a voucher to take in-store, if you prefer to shop in the flesh.


RSP RX1 3Watt Front and 1/2Watt Rear Light Set from Lights - Front / Rear Sets - Page 1.And finally, I know I have been banging on about lights for an eternity now, but this deal from JE James is quite sweet. If you are after a set of decent commuting lights that won't break the bank, check out this set of SMART lights  from Raleigh.


A £40 set of lights for just over a tenner? Where do I sign...

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 11

Niteride Minewt X2 LED LightIt's Timeout Tuesday at Cycle Surgery again and this week lights take centre stage. Actually, it has to be said that a lot of bike retailers are discounting lights at the moment, cashing in on the shorter days.


Still, if we want to keep up our momentum on the road a decent set of lights is a must, and as I have said before, now is the time to buy.


Cycle Surgery are offering 40% off a fine selection of lights - simply pick the ones you want and use TT105 at checkout to see the price drop.



MuleBar Apple Strudel Kicks Energy GelProBikeKit are getting in on the act too, and I especially like the 20% off Mule Bar goodies offer that they have at the moment. I used Mule Bar on the Tour Ride in July, and they helped fuel the 200km from Bury St Edmonds to Sandringham. The gels were lovely and even the bars were a cut above the rest.
Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 U Lock - Long

Finally, if like me you're a bike commuter, a top quality lock is an essential piece of kit. PBK are also offering a 25% discount on their range of Kryptonite locks - some of the best around. The standard Evolution comes in at a touch over £37, down from £50. 

ARE WE HUMAN OR ARE WE CYCLIST?

I have never been as happy as I am right now to be able to call myself a cyclist.

Mark Cavendish in CopenhagenAs the season draws to a close and I take some time to reflect upon what has been a fantastic year for cycling, and British cycling in particular, to be just a small part of the cycling scene makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I am by no means claiming any greater involvement beyond the fact that I have been into cycling seriously for a number of years, and to a greater or lesser degree, most of my life before that. 

Yes, I get out on the road as often as I can, in all weathers, I follow the big, and the not so big, races, I keep up with all the peloton gossip and I bleed my wallet dry just to buy the latest kit. 

Friendships have been forged and lost on the road, blood-ties stretched to breaking point before coming back from the brink, and many, many troubles put right after many, many miles out devouring the tarmac and thinking them through in the Zen like state I ascend to on a good ride.

I don't think there has ever been a time when I haven't come back from a ride feeling better than before I set off, and at times, frankly it has been a real life saver...

Now, as cycling moves ever closer to the mainstream in the UK, and let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, we still have a way to go - Cav's rainbow stripes have hardly caused a ripple in the national media - I, and many others like me, can lift my head up a little higher, jut my jaw out a little further and puff my chest out a little further, to my VO2 max even, and revel in the fact that I was there first.


The BBC are suggesting that cycling can become the number two sport in the UK, displacing tennis, cricket and rugby. Football is unassailable. That would be some achievement, but a thoroughly deserved one if it were ever to happen. With the London Olympics fast approaching, another world-beating performance on the track and road could prove to be the tipping point when cycling finally becomes our national sport...

In (almost) the words of Brandon Flowers' The Killers, we have to ask ourselves, "Are we human, or are we cyclist?".


I will be on my bike, looking for the answer.

Monday, September 26, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - TEN: FREE CARBON WHEELS

I had to do another double-take when the latest offer from Planet X dropped into my inbox this afternoon. Whilst not quite as impressive as their BOGOF bike offer last week, a free set of carbon wheels with their, frankly delectable, Franko Bianco track bike is not to be sniffed at.
Planet X Franko Bianco Pro Carbon Track Bike

Now this is a bike to lust after regardless of any offer, but to pick up this frame AND get a pair of fancy carbon track wheels thrown in gratis is a deal not to be missed.

Even is tread-ing the boards isn't your thing, this is a frame that would make a fine winter 'hack' or commuter single speed. 

And if the track is where you're at, then what better time to get an upgrade.

You'll need to Cavendish-like speed to make the most of this offer as I can't see stock being available for long...

BARGAIN HUNT - NINE

Another name that might not be familiar with everyone, High On Bikes often have great discounts on cycling kit and components. Based on Scarisbrick Business Park just outside Ormskirk in the North West, they have an enormous warehouse full of stock and back this up with excellent customer service.

Along with Merlin and Shiny bikes, High On Bikes always offer some of the best prices on groupsets and components. Don't upgrade those levers or crankset without checking with them first!

At the moment High On Bikes have a 10% discount on all orders over £50 - just enter SEP10 at the checkout. It's also worth noting that they offer free delivery on all UK orders too.

In addition to the usual web outlet, High On Bikes have an eBay shop where there are some good deals to be had.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - EIGHT

Merlin Cycles are not a name that many cyclists seem to know which is a shame as they are an efficient and helpful on-line bike store. One of the smaller players perhaps, but with deals that often punch above their weight.


Light & Motion Stella 120Take their latest for example - 40% plus off Light and Motion lights, the pick of the bunch being the L&M Stella 120 down from £120 to £70. Now this is a light for the serious off-road cyclist usually, but at this price is has to be considered for the winter commute on the roads.


Just think of the on-road respect you would command with that light hanging off the front of your bike...


2010 Sealskinz Sock ClearanceIf lights aren't your thing right now, maybe some winter gloves or socks are more up your street. If the Rapha City Socks are too much bling, Merlin are offering an extra 10% off their already discounted SealSkinz kit. Some lovely gloves and socks to keep the extremities cosy as the temperature drops... Just use Sealskinz10 at checkout...

Friday, September 23, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - SEVEN

Yet another good deal dropped into my inbox earlier today. If you fancy a massive 50% saving of £6.99 instead of £13.99 for Knog Frog Original Twin Pack LED light, take yourself along to BuyaBikePro.com

Looks like just the black style is available rather than the white, but hey who are we to complain?

These Knogs are a remarkably good back-up set of lights if you ever get caught short when the sun dips, and are very popular, making this discount especially worth a look.

Tech details of the lights:
  • Black housing
  • Visible up to 600 metres
  • Burn Time: 80 hours steady; up to 160 hours flashing
  • Dimensions: 85 x 34 x 45 mm
  • Weight: 12g
  • Batteries: 2 coin cell-CR2032, included
  • LED Specifications: Superbright LED light
  • Brightness: 10,000 millicandelas
  • Modes: 1 steady, 2 flashing
  • Features: Water-resistant, flexible silicone body; integrated quick-release mounting

RAPHA CITY RIDING SOCKS

Fancy adding a splash more style to your commute into work? Rapha's new City socks could be just the thing for you then.


Rapha City Riding Socks have been designed for all-day riding in cool to cold conditions.


They are available in three striking seasonal colourways, are made from the same merino blend as Rapha’s standard merino socks but use a heavier yarn for increased insulation and are naturally high-wicking and anti-bacterial so your feet will stay warm and dry through those winter months heading our way.


With early snow supposedly heading our way at the end of October, these might be just the indulgement I need to keep me on the road...

Thursday, September 22, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - SIX

Evans Cycles have a 20% discount code at the moment, NEW20 - takes 20% new season clothes, lights and accessories. Handy if you want to top up your winter wardrobe or kit. Hurry though, this code expires on Monday 26th...


If it's winter wheels you're after, you could do worse than check out Pro Bike Kit who have a handsome 25% off selected Campag and Shimano wheelsets right now.


Campagnolo Vento Reaction WheelsetThat brings the winter staple Campag Khamsins down to a touch over £100 and the slightly more upmarket Ventos down to £135. Both really solid wheelsets to battle through the winter on...


If Shimano is more your thing, their RS10s are down to £120 and their RS30s down to £170 - savings of 25% are not to be sniffed at.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - FIVE TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

I am always amazed by how quickly the nights close in at this time of the year. Gone are those long summer evenings when leisurely rides home with the sun still high in the sky could be enjoyed. Actually, scratch that - I don't remember the sun coming out to play with me on many of my summer evening rides this year. But even as the rain lashed against my Oakley clear lenses, at least it was still daylight.

Now of course even at 7.30pm it is fully dark, over here in the east anyway. So, thoughts turn to digging out the lights to decorate our bikes again. If, like me, you are in the market for a new set of lights - this will be my first autumn/winter of commuting by bike - then there are bargains galore to be found.

Smart Lunar 25 Lux Front With 1/2 Watt Rear Light SetPlanet X again have come up with some great deals. At the moment all their Smart lights are half-price, the pick of the bunch being the Smart Lunar 25 front and rear set at a rather tempting £27.99 from £56. 

RAPHA AW11 SNEAK PEAK

Rapha continue to tease us with sneak peaks only of their upcoming autumn and winter ranges. So far we have had a drip-feed of snippets, but the picture is becoming clearer.


It looks more and more like the clues lead to a rain jacket or wind jacket in red, long sleeve classic jerseys in new colourways, a new performance long sleeve jersey, new colours for the classic soft-shell jacket, a new winter jersey and a city rain jacket for the serious commuters amongst us.


Oh, and as an aside, I see Rapha have brought us their own brand of shaving cream, designed for both use on face and legs.


Rapha really do think of everything...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - FOUR

Altura Night Vision Evo VestAn email from Cycle Surgery dropped into my inbox today with details of today's Timeout Tuesday offers.


These deals are only available for today and for me the stand-out deals are the Altura Night Vision Evo vest, half-price at £17.49 and the Santini H2o Epic Men's Jacket down from £160 to £80. 
Lezyne SV5 Multi Tool



There is also a nice little deal to be had on the Lezyne SV5 multi-tool available today for £10.79. I have one of these and it is a thing of beauty!

HERBIE SYKES GEMS

Details of this dropped into my inbox the other day and I am sorely tempted to take a closer look.

Rouleur have put together two books from the pen of Rouleur regular Herbie Sykes.



"Maglia Rosa, Triumph and tragedy at the Giro d’Italia" is the highly acclaimed history of this great Grand Tour, first run in 1909, while "The Eagle of the Canavese" tells the story of twice Giro winner Franco Balmamion, an unsung hero of Italian cycling. 


Each copy of Canavese is signed by the author and Balmamion himself, and Rouleur are including two vintage postcards of Franco too, all for £50.


That’s two books and two postcards to put down on my, admittedly early, Christmas list...

Monday, September 19, 2011

BAA-GAIN HUNT - THREE

On-One 100% Merino Base Layer 120gm / Black / Large / SleevelessToday is the final day to grab a Planet X or On-One merino base-layer at half-price. £14.99 is exceptionally good value for a 100% merino wool base-layer.


I have tried merino base-layers from both Rapha and DHB, both of which are very, very good. The DHB wins out because it is so much cheaper, but this one from Planet X promises to scoop the two.


It boasts the following features:

  • 100% Merino wool, super-fine knit to ensure itch-free very soft-feel next to the skin.
  • Excellent wicking properties
  • Highly breathable
  • Low odour
  • Machine washable
  • Designed for cycling
  • Flat-locked seams ensure a great fit
  • Care-labels are stitched to the bottom hem to avoid scratching at the neck.
  • Perfect for all-season cycling
  • Smart enough to wear off the bike


I look forward to getting mine in time for the weekend when I can try it out on the Sunday run...

THE HIDDEN ALPS - RAPHA

I love Rapha. There, I said it. I don't buy into everything Rapha, but I do like a lot of their kit and I do like the stuff they put up on their website. A triumph of marketing.


The most recent video, a shop-window for the Rapha autumn and winter range, is titled The Hidden Alps and takes their riders "on to the steep, scarred and historic slopes of the Colle delle Finestre".


It's well worth a watch if you get the time. And I do like the look of the new colour-ways for the  long-sleeved jersey. I can already hear the groans of apprehension from my wallet...

The Hidden Alps from Rapha on Vimeo.



Sunday, September 18, 2011

THE TOB AND BARGAIN HUNT - TWO

I took a trip out to the Queen's 'favourite residence' yesterday to watch the finish of stage 7 of the Tour of Britain. Sandringham provided the perfect back-drop to the end of an amazing day's racing. We were all expecting the bunch gallop with Cav pocketing another win, but the break-away managed to stay away all day, holding an impressive advantage all the way to the finishing line. It was a shame Ian Wilkinson jumped a little early, missing out on the stage win. 


After the stage my eldest son Joe and I managed to see Geraint Thomas, who was tirelessly signing autographs and chatting outside the SKY bus. We also had a chat with the nearly man of the day Wilkinson, and with Dean Downing, who although not riding was there promoting Rapha-Condor-Sharp. We had a good chat about Rapha kit...


All in all it was a great day and I am sure the TOB will be back to Norfolk again in the near future. And as we were leaving I am almost certain I saw Liz herself heading off on her bike for a quick reccie of the finish...


Still, on to more prescient matters. Much like the stage finish yesterday, that Planet X BOGOF offer ended quite abruptly in the end. There's just a 'you're too late' message on their website now. I am sure it will be back...


Altura Night Vision Waterproof Jacket - 2011There are, however, plenty of new deals coming through thick and fast. Worth a mention are BikesYouLike (the web arm of the rather excellent Thatto Cycles in St. Helens and my dad's LBS). They have some great deals on jackets from Altura, Polaris and Funkier - up to 75% off in fact. The best of the bunch is probably the Altura Night Vision at half-price, a great commuter jacket. They are also offering some good deals on Cateye light sets - up to 50% off.


Shimano Dura Ace 7850 50mm Carbon Clincher-pairIf you missed out on the Planet X BOGOF deal, you might be interested in their wheel deals. They are shifting out Shimano Dura-Ace carbon clinchers at a healthy discount. A pair of Dura-Ace 7850 50mm rims are being let go for a penny under £800, from £1250, and the budget Dura-Ace 7850 CLs for £500 from an already reasonable £700.


Shame I am a Campag boy!

Friday, September 16, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - ONE

There are some great savings to be made this weekend on cycling kit. Ribble cycles have savings on Cateye lights and a 10% discount on Cycleops indoor trainers, for those of us not wanting to venture out so much in the winter months. Just use the code OPS10 at the Ribble checkout.

Prorace Power Folding Tyre Ribble also have a 20% discount offer on most of their kit at the moment too, plus some supersized superdeal discounts. One that caught my eye is the eye-watering 52% knock-down on the Keo compatible Exustar pedals, in both black and white flavours. This brings them down to a winter bike friendly £23! The only catch is a minimum spend of £35, so you would have to throw something extra in your basket before checking out. How about an Elite Hygene bottle and cage for £10.99 - now that's a 52% saving again. Happy days.

Or maybe you're after some winter tyres - well Ribble have some Prorace Power folders for pretty much half price, at £11.50 a pop, in red, blue and black.


High5 Trial Pack Plus a FREE 750ml BottleProBikeKit have 20% off energy products from Powerbar, High5, ZipVit and Clif, amongst others, so now is a great time to stock up on drinks and gels. Also, if you were inspired by the mighty Thor's win into Caerphilly yesterday, or are just excited at the prospect of next week's World Championships in Copenhagen, PBK also have some impressive discounts on rainbow stripes kit. Just be careful how you wear it...

FSA Wing Pro Compact White Road Handlebar
Building up a winter hack or cross bike? Wiggle are also in sale full-swing, and have up to 30% off contact point components. There really are some amazing savings to be had on Zipp, FSA, Fizik, Prologo and Truvativ kit. There is a particularly lovely set of FSA Wing Pro bars in white going for a song with 36% off.

And I tell you what, a 50% saving on Cateye's HL-EL320 and TL-LD610 light set is quite stunning for such a nice piece of kit. Grab one whilst you can...


Cateye HL-EL320 and TL-LD610 Light Set
This one deserves a mention, as I have never seen a deal like this before. Planet X are offering a BOGOF deal on one of their bikes. That's right, buy one of their On-One Carbon Whippets for a shade under £1500 and you get a free On-One Pompino Urban bike worth £600. That's a crazy deal. You have to be quick for that one mind, as that offer runs out at midnight tonight. You have been warned...


Happy shopping!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

AUTUMN DEALS

It's that time of year where there are some excellent savings to be made on cycling kit. It seems that every day I come across a bargain buy that is too hard to resist - not that I ever need much encouragement! All the big names are fighting it out amongst themselves to catch our attention with big discounts - Evans, Wiggle, CRC, Cycle Surgery, Primera...


The list goes on. Even the boutique names, and I am thinking mainly of Rapha and Shutt VR here, seem to get caught up in the excitement and there are some real bargains to be had.


The smaller online outlets also have amazing savings on kit right now - the Merlins, BikesYouLike and Shinybikes - and it is here that perhaps the best buys are to be made.


So, watch this space for the low-down on the best deals to be had over the coming months, and don't even think about paying full price for that new piece of kit you crave.


Let's face it, as the days grow shorter and those dark mornings and evenings loom, we all need something to cheer us up. Knowing we just bagged ourselves a bargain is a good way to do just that.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

BIANCHI BLISS

I was due a piece of good fortune, and lady luck turned her attention in my direction last week. Sadly, this wasn't when I was logging on to buy my euromillions roll-over lottery ticket(s), but rather when I happened to be checking out Facebook. Lady luck just happened to be using Facebook at the same time too. The message popped up, "first person to post a photo of themselves with their Bianchi will win a Bianchi helmet and bottle".

Well what else was I to do? Before you could say Fausto Coppi, Il Campionissimo, a snapshot of me and my Infinito was up there on Pro Cycling's wall (for it was they who had actually posted, not really lady luck. I just wrote that to be poetic). Actually, you could have recited the start list of this year's Tour de France, Very. Slowly. in the time it took me to figure out how to post my photo to their wall, but eventually I figured it out, technical whiz-kid that I am. No, really, I am.
Many minutes had passed, but a quick check, and mine was the first photo to be posted. I guess on a weekday afternoon other Bianchi owners were busy, at work or something. Or out riding their bikes perhaps? During the rest of the afternoon lots of other photos slowly made their way onto Pro Cycling's wall, but none of them got in front of mine. My photo had held it's line, put it's head down and stuck it's elbows out to pip everyone else to the post. It might as well have come from the Isle of Man and been wearing an HTC jersey so convincing was it's victory...

And so to today, when the post brought an oddly helmet-shaped parcel marked for my attention. Much ripping of paper and brown tape and I was rewarded with a Lazer O2 helmet in Bianchi heraldry, plus other assorted themed goodies including a Bianchi bidon, buff and, most excitingly, a packet labelled Bianchi Team summer gloves. My, what a lucky, lucky boy.

Sadly, on closer inspection, the packet of gloves turned out to be empty save for the labels, but to complain about this would be churlish of me. Wouldn't it..?

Perhaps lady luck has simply moved on...