Tuesday, November 29, 2011

TIMEOUT TUESDAY

40% off a selection of mountain biking gearThis week Cycle Surgery's Timeout Tuesday offers a break from tradition. I pride myself on this being a blog with a bias for road cycling, but today I am giving you deals on mountain bike kit.


At this time of year I figure even us road cyclist's could do with some extra protection, or even some off the bike kit. And of course a lot of mountain bike kit lends itself well to the biking commute into work.


With this in mind, I am liking the Five Ten cycling shoes a lot, and this Timeout Tuesday has the Hellcat SPD shoe for £62.99 down from £104.99. They also have the less practical-coloured but no less desirable Minnaar shoe for £65.99 down from £109.99.


Other than that, there's a few pairs of baggies on offer and some body armour, but you'd have to be looking at a pretty far-out commute to be needing the latter. Although with the traffic on the roads, there could be a use for it...


So, if you want to grab any of this kit at low prices, you just need to get yourself along to the Cycle Surgery website - and remember, these deals are for today only.

Monday, November 28, 2011

ONLINE COMPETITION HAS NO ROOM FOR THE 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP'


I'm not sure if you've ever stumbled upon the excellent US Competitive Cyclist website, but if you haven't it's worth checking out for pointers on how a bike shop website should be set up. It's slick, fast, attractive and user-friendly. Plus they stock an array of brands that strike a chord with the serious road cyclist.


However, according to an excellent article at Bike Biz, all is not well at CompetitiveCyclist.com as a recent blog post on their website reveals some discontent aimed at their UK cousins, and in particular Wiggle and Chain Reaction.


They suggest that some of its sales are being lost to these UK competitors who, they claim, are "exploiting a market anomaly" and are being supplied with high-end products by suppliers who are not offering "pricing parity."


There would appear to be some mileage in this complaint. In its latest annual report, Chain Reaction Cycles state that: "The proportion of turnover generated outside the EU [in 2010] was 37 percent." This is a ten percent increase on 2009.


According to its blog, CompetitiveCyclist.com believes half of that turnover increase was at the expense of US bicycle retailers, including itself.


"If the same holds for Wiggle, that adds up to nearly $40 million in US exports per year….This $40 million was spent on high-end Shimano, Sidi, Continental, Vittoria, and countless other primo brands, the very sort of marquee goods purchased by American IBD's highest-value customers."


CompetitiveCyclist.com says part of the sales success of Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle is because the stores are based in Europe, "Chain Reaction and Wiggle have the advantage of buying their goods directly from manufacturers."


The argument loses some momentum here, given that the likes of Shimano and Pearl Izumi being based in Japan, but for many brands, such as Sidi, Castelli, Assos etc. this does hold true.


The blog goes on to claim that "They then leverage their savings by selling the goods in foreign markets such as the US where distributors and importers normally add a layer of markup. Because of this, the retail prices at Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle are upwards of 30 to 40 percent less than what you'll find in American retail stores - whether it's your local bike shop, or at Competitive Cyclist."


UK independent bicycle stores also complain about Wiggle and Chain Reaction (as do IBDs in many countries, including Australia). Chain Reaction Cycles, for instance, gets amazing delivery rates and delivery times from the Post Office in Northern Ireland. Chain Reaction Cycles is the Northern Ireland Post Office's biggest customer.


But most of the complaints about Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle from UK IBDs stem from the cheap prices.


And CompetitiveCyclist.com says it's all but impossible to fight on price: "American retail pricing on a pair of Look's fabulous Keo 2 Max pedals is $180. Chain Reaction charges $104 for a set."


Because of volume sales, suppliers are happy to supply Chain Reaction and Wiggle:


"Whenever we ask manufacturers why they don't have global pricing parity, they plead the same case: They'd love nothing more, but they have no enforcement mechanisms," says CompetitiveCyclist.com 


"They claim that the EU has strict anti-trust regulations that prevents them from regulating MSRP or Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) and from punishing a retailer for violating pricing guidelines. 'Price Maintenance' laws in the EU are purportedly far less friendly to manufacturers than in the US, where a single advertisement for a product at sub-MAP pricing gives a manufacturer full legal right to cut off a retailer's supply of goods with no notice.


"Chain Reaction and Wiggle aren't winning in the high-end US marketplace because of a strategy. They're winning by exploiting a market anomaly. Exploitation is not a strategy. The only party capable of reversing this situation is the manufacturers who supply them their inventory. If manufacturers don't shut down this UK-USA sales channel, they're the ones that ultimately stand to lose the most. Why? Manufacturers who've already made global pricing parity a priority – including Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, and SRAM - will rapidly gain mindshare and marketshare as retailers recognize that stable pricing is a brand asset as powerful as high-zoot technology and top-dollar marketing.


"Decisive action from bike manufacturers to create pricing parity will require a focus and discipline they don't always show. But decisive action from bike manufacturers to create pricing parity will require a focus and discipline they don't always show. To call it a probability, let alone an inevitability, would be far too optimistic."


So CompetitiveCyclist.com aren't feeling too optimistic about the future, which is a shame as their website and stocking policies appear to be spot-on. But as LBS in the UK know, competing with the likes of Wiggle and CRC can't always be done on a level playing field...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

ROULEUR ANNUAL VOLUME 5


The Rouleur photographers and writers have once again travelled to bike races far and wide to find the wonderful – along with a smattering of the weird – for the fifth Rouleur Annual


Fredrik Clement’s take on the Copenhagen World Championships leads the way with the wonderful, Mark Cavendish delivering the goods with aplomb. Richard Williams, chief sports writer for the Guardian, takes us through a special day.


Gerard Brown sticks his lens into the rider’s cabins at the Berlin Six Day to experience the heat and sweat of perhaps the most entertaining evening of racing around. Graeme Fife witnesses another branch of cycle sport struggling to stay afloat in Germany and talks to the men who have ridden there – Mo Burton and Tony Doyle.


They have two Tour de France stories with contrasting styles. Taz Darling tackles the rugged rolling roads of Brittany with her usual brilliance, while Yazuka Wada – whose superb Vuelta story graced the Rouleur Volume 4 annual – takes to the mountains. Author and TV commentator Ned Boulting celebrates the best Tour for years.


Track and time trial star Taylor Phinney is a talented wordsmith too, as his Tour of California essay clearly shows. Daniel Sharp provides stylish imagery.


Herbie Sykes and Paolo Ciaberta witnessed the bizarre Giro di Padania, a crazy mix of rightwing politics, leftwing protests and a bemused peloton, caught slap-bang in the middle of the mayhem. It turned out to be quite a race, for all the wrong reasons…


Olaf Unverzart’s fascination with closed roads leads to spectacular results in his Dead End series of Polaroids. Recently retired professional rider Tom Southam makes sense of it all.


Writer Jack Thurston examines the effects of sleep deprivation to accompany Wig Worland’s gallery of comatose competitors at this year’s Paris-Brest-Paris.


Rouleur Editor Guy Andrews has a peculiar fascination for mundane press releases from professional cycling teams. The missives from Quick Step deserve a category of their own… Guy studies them closely.


Finally, Geoff Waugh scours the mountainsides for exhibitionists, self-promoters, fancy cross-dressers and downright freaks in his Runners collection. Bicycling magazine’s Bill Strickland takes a long, hard look at these shrinking violets. 


Rouleur Annual Volume 5 is released on December 2, but you can pre-order now to be sure of securing this limited run edition in plenty of time for Christmas.


At 320 pages, the annual is priced at £37 and is available through rouleur.cc

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

PELOTON ISSUE 8 - JANUARY 2012

Peloton MagazineIf you have never come across Peloton magazine now is a good time to make its acquaintance.


I know it's the January 2012 issue, and to be perfectly honest anything relating to 2012 freaks me out more than a little, but this issue is an exceptional one as it's the Photo Annual issue.


Actually, to say it's exceptional implies it is better than the previous issues, when in fact all seven issues preceding this one have been equally as good.


For those of us who enjoy Rouleur and The Ride Journal, Peloton sits comfortably in this esteemed company, and moreover can be enjoyed online.


I miss the delightful smell of the paper that these top-end journals are printed on, but for the convenience of this dropping into my inbox I can live with that.


The video below gives a taster of what this issue has in store and is worth watching in itself.


In their own words, Peloton - fuel for the ride...



peloton Issue 08 Preview from MovePress, LLC on Vimeo.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 33

This is the RSP Astrum super bright rear lightWhere does the time go?! Yes, it's Timeout Tuesday again and this week Cycle Surgery are offering a whole 50% off their favourite RSP front and rear light set.


This week we just need to use TT113 as the checkout code.


Now these are some serious deals as the RSPs are akin to Cateye's commuter range, so grab a bargain today whilst this deal is on.


I like the look of the Radian light set - perfect for the urban commute. Not great to see with, but very good indeed to be seen by...


Even if you run other lights a second set is always useful to have as a backup.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

CONDOR: PAST PRESENT FUTURE


Past Present FutureWhen I worked in London I used to frequent Condor Cycles - it was common place to call in at lunchtime for a browse and more often than not a purchase. It was where I picked up expensive taste in cycling kit. Rapha anyone?


Now I no longer work, or indeed live, in London I do miss those lunchtime visits to pore over the latest Campag groupset or Rapha kit - that is all done online now and isn't quite as satisfying. Hasn't changed my spending habits too much though!


So, I was excited to read about a new book published on the history of Condor Cycles as a shop and as a brand.


Past Present Future is a collection of essays and photo stories, celebrating Condor Cycles' 65 year history.


It is a celebration of cycling, bicycle design and Condor. Condor partnered with the makers of The Ride Journal for the project, which features a mix of portraits, studio and lifestyle photography by a range of contributors. 


The book features anecdotes and interviews from riders, racers and staff, with a mix of portrait, studio and archive photography. And, of course, there are bikes, past and present, along with behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing and design processes.


The book talks of how, in the early nineties, Condor were the first to make sturdy steel single speeds, not for the track but for London's couriers, swapping an aggressive track geometry for a more relaxed position and bullet-proof build.


John Herety discusses British racing and the inception of the Rapha Condor Sharp team, and Condor’s roots within British racing. Former Condor rider and Tour de France veteran, Colin Lewis, shares stories about racing abroad, while production director, Neil Manning, discusses why steel frames have always remained within the Condor range.



Past Present Future goes behind the scenes through interviews, essays and photo stories with close friends, riders and famous names that have ridden the bikes over Condor's sixty-five year history.


"As London riders, we always knew Condor. We have both spent way too much time hanging around the store, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to work on a project with such an iconic British cycling brand. It was a pleasure to record the fascinating, heart warming and emotional tales surrounding the shop. Whether it was a national champion, a hardcore commuter or the grease-stained workshop staff, everyone's story was linked by their passion for bikes." - Andrew and Philip Diprose, The Ride Journal.


Amongst the history are the personal experiences of the staff that have shaped the brand. Sandwiched between Monty describing when Mick Jagger asked to go to the track with him, and a workshop photo story, is a a heart-warming tale from bike fitter, Angel Vila, who had his bike stolen and months later met the thief. Greg Needham, head of sales, explains how he found his way to cycling after a running injury ended his athletics career.


There is plenty of history within the files of Condor but it is the changing faces and the growth of cycling that has apparently prompted the compilation of a book. It celebrates cycling and shares stories from cyclists, and also capturing images of jewel-like components that are essential to us all. It talks of the changing technology within cycling, from lugged frames and hand-stitched jerseys, to flocking, to using laser cutting machinery to produce bikes we see today in the Condor store.


The book is available from the following stockists for £14.99:


Condor Cycles
49-53 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8PP - 0207 269 6820


County Cycles - http://www.county-cycles.co.uk/
53 Llandeilo Road, Llanelli, Wales, SA14 6RD 01269 845656


Design Museum - http://designmuseum.org/
28 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD - 020 7940 8754


Foyles - www.foyles.co.uk

GMBH - gmbhshop.com
11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, G1 3NU - 0141 276 5360


Magma Book Shops - http://www.magmabooks.com
Covent Garden, Clerkenwell, Manchester - 020 7 242 9503


Fingerprint Distribution - http://www.fingerprintdistribution.blogspot.com/


Look Mum No Hands - www.lookmumnohands.com
49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX - 020 7253 1025


Ronde - www.rondebike.com
66-68 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 5AZ


Rapha - www.rapha.cc


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

THE RULES...


Thought I would share this again as the winter months approach. The Rules must be obeyed at all times, according to Simon Mills...

  • White socks only from May onwards. Black socks are for winter months.
  • Yes, vintage jerseys - 20 years old or more - can look rather chic but, let’s face it, you do not ride for the US Postal/Quickstep/Liquigas team and you do not get paid big bucks to wear its garish livery, either… so who are you trying to kid?
  • All road cycling kit should be road cycling-specific. Men who wear floral board shorts intended for the beach whilst on the road should be banned from the sport. Training shoes, baseball caps, Aviator sunglasses etc are also totally unacceptable. And those novelty jerseys printed with Heinz Baked Beans, London A-Z and Marmite logos? Not funny or clever.
  • The only exception to this rule is a wooly hat for winter riding which can be of generic outdoor or hand-knitted provenance. Ski hats with big, comical bobbles, perhaps emblazoned with the name of a Dolomite resort or Alpine mountain, are also allowed. Wear with clear or yellow-lensed glasses – spectacle arms worn over (not under) wooly hat. Persol sunglasses, as worn by David Millar, are also OK.
  • At cafés, bars and pubs cyclists must always sit outside, no matter what the season. Why? Well it looks more European and you can keep an eye on your bike, but mainly because there is no place for Lycra in a public bar and a nice Sunday-lunching family does not need to stare at your ugly lunchbox.
  • Acceptable drinks to enjoy halfway through a ride include French/Italian/Spanish lager (strictly bottles only), a glass of cold shandy (refer to it as “un panache”, if it makes you feel more French), a glass of ice-cold rosé (Duralex tumbler please) and, particularly during winter, a slug of brandy from one’s back pocket to "correct" your coffee. Citrus juices are a bit acidic but apricot juice straight from the bottle is good. Coca Cola, Fanta etc are only acceptable served in bottles. No vodka-based drinks or pints of bitter.
  • Cycling food. During a ride lunchbreak; pasta, slices of proper, thin crust pizza, Caprese salad, steak frites, toasted panatone, ham and cheese baguettes. Full English breakfast is also acceptable when riding in UK.
  • Cyclist’s tan; brown forearms, brown shins and calves, brown nose, ears and cheeks, brown stripe on back of neck, dry, chapped lips, brown fingertips, sunburned triangle at sternum, weird little brown circles adjacent to the thumb where there’s a gap in the mitts. Everything else – feet, ankles, tummy, thighs, forehead, hands etc; sparkling white.
  • When two roadies travelling in opposite directions pass each other, brief eye contact must be made and the cursory but crucial “cyclists’ nod” administered. This is as close as we get to a Masonic handshake.
  • Cycling, like rock ‘n’ roll and flower-arranging, is an alpha male lingua franca. You can bond with like-minded riders and tag onto club rides all over the world. But when not in the company of fellow cyclists, the first rule of cycling club should always be: don’t talk about cycling club. All road cyclists should have plenty of non-roadie friends who have absolutely no idea what they get up to of a Sunday morning. And that’s just the way we like to keep it. Why? Well, non-cyclists simply don’t understand us. In fact, they think we are weird. (To be honest, we are… a bit.)
  • Learn some basic repair skills. This is not nerdy, it is essential. Knowing three bits of simple maintenance could be the difference between a long, wet walk pushing your bike to the nearest taxi rank or train station and a simple trundle in to the nearest town. Master the mysterious ways of a chain breaker, get the hang of fixing a flat tyre and carry the appropriate tools at all times.
  • Be friends with your local bike shop mechanic. He can do stuff you can’t. Bike shops are essential for not just buying bits but also for hanging out in and drooling over hardware.
  • Appreciate the elegant efficiency of your machine, taking time to look down at your chain and mechs doing their magical stuff as you change gear. Your bike needs to feel your love.
  • Try not to rock your shoulders too much when climbing. It’s a waste of energy and it looks silly… and remember to breathe.
  • Always black shorts. White shorts are for aerobics teachers.
  • Having lots of bikes makes perfect, rational sense. Road bikes in carbon, steel and titanium are all essential. Consider owning also; a meticulously restored vintage Hetchins, Holdsworth or Colnago; a gentleman’s bike for when you ride around town in a suit.
  • Unless you are astride a touring bike, any extraneous equipment should be kept on the body, not on the bike. Pumps, tool kits, rain jackets etc look naff, twee and nerdy mounted to the crossbar saddle or bars and spoil the elegant lines of your titanium frame. So stuff all your bits and pieces in those three pockets on the back of your jersey.
  • The only exception here is a folded up tyre, rakishly attached to the rear of the saddle with an old fashioned pedal strap.
  • Use of a handlebar-mounted Garmin or iPhone for navigation is OK but stopping to consult a crease-worn Ordnance survey map is much more the thing.
  • When stationary, always complain of being cold; it makes everyone think your body fat percentage is really low.
  • Clip-on aero / TT bars? Non.
  • Make like the Italians who like to ride slow and long. It’s stupid, uncool and very rude to burn off at top speed at the beginning of a Sunday morning jaunt. Cyclists that do this always end up struggling at the back anyway.
  • Do not refer to a sportive as “a race”. Racing is racing, everything else, even the mighty Etape du Tour, is a jolly.
  • Bar tape should be finished off using plain-coloured, bog-standard electrical insulating tape.
  • Presta innertube valves should be left nude (ie no dust caps) and collarless.
  • Clean your bike with a brush and a bucket of warm soapy water. Using a jet wash is vulgar and insensitive to your bike’s feelings.
  • Too high seat posts; look sporty but your arse looks bad rocking about on the saddle. Go for a low Belgium style. Same goes for stems that a far too long for your physique…you’ll be seeing the osteopath soon enough.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 32

Assos clothingIt's Timeout Tuesday again over at our friends at Cycle Surgery. Today we have a whole bunch of jerseys on offer with 40% discount.


If you fancy yourself as Cav screaming down the Champs Elysees in the classic HTC green jersey, well now you can, without breaking the bank.


Just take yourself along to the Cycle Surgery website and use TT112 as the checkout code.


And remember this is for today only...

Saturday, November 12, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 31

Just a quick bargain hunter update.


Wiggle are gearing up nicely for Christmas with some impressive offers. £100 off baskets of £1000 or more - good if you are in the market for a new bike obviously. 


£50 off baskets of £500 or more, £25 off baskets of £250, an odd £16 off baskets of £100 and £6 off baskets of £50.


The offer codes are UK100, UK50, UK25, UK16 and UK-6 - just add them to the magic box at checkout.


These offers expire on Monday so get shopping.


dhb Merino Longsleeve Zipneck Baselayer M_190Incidentally, Wiggle are also offering up to 25% off all dhb merino base-layers. As someone who owns both short-sleeved and long-sleeved flavours of these I can highly recommend them. Supremely comfortable, high-wicking and terrific value all round.

Friday, November 11, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 30

Quite a few deals to take a look at this weekend as the bargains ramp up again ahead of the Christmas rush.


CASTZBBT260 - Castelli Fondo Bib Tights with padFirst up are Ribble Cycles, who are offering a mighty 25% off winter clothing for this weekend only. I know the temperatures are holding up at the moment, as I discovered on my ride home from work this evening, but we all know that at some point soon we will be suffering in the teeth of those lazy northerly and easterly winds that blow relentlessly chilling us to the bone.


Proper winter kit will keep us on the road in comfort and Ribble have some great deals. 25% off jackets, bib-tights, overshoes, head wear, socks, arm warmers, leg warmers and base layers. You name it they have it on sale. My pick of the bunch? Well, that would be all the Castelli kit - an uber-stylish way to stay toasty warm on the bike this winter...


Always Riding are offering £20 off baskets of £150 or more until 15th November. Just use the code FWXX222 at checkout to get the saving. 


Sidi Genius 5 Pro Black - 2011After some Sidi cycling shoes? Maybe you fancy cooking up a pair like messrs Basso and Nibali on that really annoying eurosport ad? Well now's your chance as Merlin Cycles are offering 20% off their already competitive prices on any pair of Sidis. Just use SIDI20 at checkout to take advantage of this one. This brings the rather excellent Genius 5 Pros down to £134.95...


Fancy some free energy chews? Well, I say 'free' but of course there's a catch. But if you fancy spending a not unsubstantial £50 on the ZipVit website they will throw in a case of short dated stock energy chews, worth £30. Just use the code ZV10 at checkout. Not sure your dentist will thank you mind...


Finally, and I surely have left the best 'til last? Do you run a Garmin sat-nav? Maybe you have the team kit, you know all the riders' names, you’ve even thought about learning a second language to prove you are a cycling superfan! Well here is your chance to take the next step in argyle fandom – download Garmin’s newest GPS voice from the Garmin Garage later this month and let the unpredictable Dave Zabriskie act as your copilot. This free voice for your navigator is Garmin's way of saying thank you for your support!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

THE TRIPLE CROWN, VANCOUVER BC

Even if you would never normally pay a visit to the Rapha website, I urge you to take yourself along to take a look at the simply beautiful video of The Triple Crown, Vancouver BC.


The Triple Crown is loosely defined as the summiting of Vancouver’s Seymour, Grouse and Cypress mountains in one effort. There’s no rule regarding in what order the climbs must be done, only that they have to be completed in one day. 


I spent time in Vancouver and it is a wonderful city. Sadly I wasn't cycling at the time and after watching this video this is something I now regret more than ever.


What stunning scenery. What a place to ride your bike.


I will simply have to go back, this time packing my two wheels...


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 29

If you're planning to spend some money with Wiggle now is the time to get over to their website.


From now until November 15th Wiggle are offering £15.00 off a basket worth £100 or more.


You just need to add UK15 as the code at checkout to take advantage of this offer.


Great timing as we head inexorably towards the festive season. Maybe now is the time to buy my Garmin Edge 500...

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 28

Assos clothingIt's Timeout Tuesday over at Cycle Surgery again and today they have some great deals on Assos kit - up to 50% off.


Simply use TT111 at checkout to get the discount and you can pick up a Stinger Winter hat for £15.46 down from £30.99, a Mille Short Sleeve jersey for £66.49 down from £132.99 or maybe some Fi Mille S5 bib-shorts for £84.99, reduced from £169.99.


You can also pick up an excellent Assos winter jacket for £124.49 reduced from £248.99. Just the ticket as the weather turns against us...

Monday, November 7, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 27

Giro Factor Shoes Planet X have some terrific deals on Giro kit at the moment, so if you need new shoes or a new helmet, check out their website first.


I love the Giro Factor shoes with their piano black gloss finish, and you can pick up a pair for £157.49 reduced from £224.99. Stock levels are pretty good right now too.


The Giro Trans offer good value too and these are down from £159.99 to £109.99. That's a lot of shoe for the money.


Giro Ionos Helmet 2011 The range topping Giro Ionos helmet, a perennial favourite, is reduced from £169.99 to £99.99 and includes the Livestrong special edition.


The Atmos helmet is down to £77.95 from £129.99 and this looks to be exceptional value as it's a great helmet.


Even at the budget end there are good savings to be made; the Monza helmet, normally retailing at £74.99 is reduced to a very tempting £49.99. Well worth checking out.


Finally, as the temperatures promise to fall away - well, it is November after all so it was going to happen, there are worse ways to keep your head warm than with the Giro Merino Winter Cap. This is almost Rapha-esque in appearance, but is available for £19.99 after a price drop from £27.99.


Giro Merino Winter Cap  All told there are some excellent savings to be made on all Giro kit at Planet X. Grab it whilst it lasts...

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

DHB AUTUMN/WINTER RANGE

dhb Turbulence Windproof Cycling JacketThis might seem odd at first, but alongside Rapha, my favourite cycle kit brand is DHB. The quality of Wiggle’s in-house DHB range has improved year on year and is now set to launch as a brand in it's own right outside of Wiggle. Proof indeed that this is a brand going from strength to strength.


The new Turbulence Windproof Jacket, £44.99, comes in both men's and women's options and is a slimline shell made from breathable nylon designed as a top layer for cool, dry rides. It includes a low-cut back, mesh armpits, reflective details and a rear zip pocket. As with all DHB clothing, sizing is very much UK, unlike some mainland Europe brands.


dhb EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket
The Teflon coated EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket, £69.99, is one for when the conditions turn distinctly wet, and is available in black, grey or red, with contrasting full-length zip. It's described as 'medium fitted' and isn't as bulky as some rain jackets. Pit zips should prevent any overheating, and two inside chest pockets should keep those valuables dry. This and the fleece lined collar are nice touches.


dhb Long Sleeve Momentum JerseyA mid-weight long-sleeve jersey like the fleece lined Momentum, £53.99, available in black, red or blue, is an essential piece of winter gear for any cyclist. On those crisp, dry days, providing you're wearing a base layer, a jersey like this will normally be enough. It has a performance fit, so there won't be any excess bits flapping in the wind, and plenty of reflective detailing, enhancing its outer layer credentials. Features include three rear pockets, including one with Velcro and a small zipped pocket on the side for your valuables. 


dhb Merino Longsleeve Roundneck Baselayer M_190Next up are a bunch of base layers made from 100 percent merino wool, which is increasingly popular because of its wicking and anti-odour properties. The Merino Longsleeve Zip-neck baselayer is close fitting and comfortable, and available in two levels of thickness –150gsm for £40.99 and 190gsm for £46.99 – depending on how chilly it is outside. I have been using one of the 190gsm base-layers for over a year now, and it saw me through the whole of last winter plus spring and now autumn this year. It was comfortable and cosy warm and washes perfectly in the machine. Even with 12 months use it is still looking as good as new.


There is also a zipless, round necked Merino Longsleeve Round-neck baselayer available in 150gsm for £37.99 and 190gsm for £44.99, as well as a short-sleeved 150gsm option for £35.99. All come in blue, grey and grey marl. 
dhb Extreme Winter Glove

Finally we have the Extreme Winter Gloves, available for £26.99. These promise to be an excellent winter glove, fully insulated for the worst the winter weather can throw at us, they have an integrated waterproof membrane that'll hopefully keep the rain out too. The palm has a silicone grip to cap off what is on paper the only glove we will need this winter. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

BARGAIN HUNT - 26

Finish Line Dry Lube Aerosol Can 12ozCycle Surgery's Timeout Tuesday is offering discounts on bike maintenance kit today. By using TT110 at checkout you can save yourself cash on Park tools, lubrication and bike cleaners.


My favourite bike cleaner brand, Fenwicks, is down to £4.79 from £7.99 - this stuff makes cleaning your bike so much easier at this time of year. OK, so the roads aren't too bad right now, but I guarantee we'll be riding through Belgian toothpaste before long and Fenwicks cuts through that stuff with ease.


What else? There's Finish Line lubrication too, which is some of the best available. Finish Line Dry Lube for example is down to £7.19 from £11.99.


All in all another useful batch of goodies on offer from the guys at Cycle Surgery.

HALFRAUDS

Will. I. Never. Learn...


It was my eldest son's 11 birthday at the weekend, and like any self-respecting 11 year old boy all he wanted for his birthday was a new bike. Yay - music to my ears as we have great fun on our family bike rides, but poor Joe has been struggling on a way-too-small bike for months now.


Sadly I wasn't in a position to buy the Isla bike of his (and my) dreams, nor was there anything decent I could lay my hands on that was nearly new or second-hand. This is a shame as in the past we have picked up some real bargains...


After shopping around Joe asked if we could call in at Halfords to take a look. I reluctantly agreed - if nothing else I figured I could suss out the right size of frame for him. This we managed easily enough - turned out as I expected that we were after 24" wheels - and after a quick chat with the staff I was pleasantly surprised at their knowledge and they certainly seemed helpful enough.


So, one thing led to another and before I could stop myself I was dragging bikes out for Joe to try - and there were half a dozen or so that Joe really liked. Great prices too... I admit, I was tempted.


In the end we found the 'perfect' bike and Joe was thrilled. I was pleased too as it was well within budget. We came out of the store, both of us almost set on which bike Joe would be getting for his birthday.


A week or two later and Halfords had a sale on and the bike was further reduced. So, I took the plunge and reserved one online, although like a fool, at a different store to the one I had been window shopping in. Why? Who knows...


I opted for the free bike build and booked online to pick it up the following day after 4.00pm, as indicated on the website. Within minutes email and text confirmation came through. Job done.


The following day Joe and I duly arrived at the Halfords store at 6.00pm to collect the ready-assembled bike. We were greeted by a friendly enough member of staff who fetched the guy responsible for the Bike Hut section of the store. My heart sank when I saw him approach, as I got the impression he was a bit of a pedant and sure enough my fears were soon realised. 
"We haven't built your son's bike because you didn't telephone us to confirm your online order"
Let me point out that at no point in the online ordering process was it ever mentioned that I needed to confirm via telephone; on the contrary, as I mentioned I received order confirmation by both email and text telling me the bike would be ready to collect any time after 4.00pm the following day.


I pointed this out to the haughty member of staff, but he was quite insistent that he didn't trust this thing called the internet and only accepted orders in person or over the phone for his store. I was gnashing my teeth with frustration whilst at the same time painfully aware that Joe was standing beside me looking forlorn. So, after a fairly lengthy exchange of 'opinions' we agreed to differ. I declined his invitation of the bike being rather hurriedly built up whilst we waited, and took the bike home it's boxed state instead.


Having been the unfortunate victim on more than one occasion of a Halford's bike build, this probably turned out to be a blessing in disguise. At least having assembled it myself I know the bike has been put together properly...


Now I just need to index those gears...