Tuesday, February 28, 2012

RAPHA - SPRING and SUMMER 2012

New Range. Spring & summer products
now arriving �As I mentioned in my blog last week, Rapha's Spring and Summer range was imminent.


Well, more imminent than I had imagined as within the same day Rapha launched their new range 'look-book' to highlight the key pieces for this year.


Pretty much as expected, with some nice additions to the range and a nod to the London Olympics later in the year.


More on that to come later I'm sure...

TIMEOUT TUESDAY

Timeout Tuesday dealsIt's Timeout Tuesday again over at Cycle Surgery.


This week we can grab ourselves up to 40% off selected jackets and jerseys.


There are no stand-out deals, although there is a lot of kit discounted, so you might want to head over there to take a look through.


Be quick though, as this discount applies to kit bought today only...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

TIMEOUT TUESDAY

Timeout Tuesday dealsThis week Cycle Surgery are offering up to 40% off all SealSkinz gloves, which is apposite given the icy conditions we've been enduring in the UK recently.


I was out over the weekend, picking a line between icy patches, crossing my fingers I would stay upright. 


I did stay upright, but boy those fingers I had crossed were getting cold, and there's little worse on a bike than numb fingers.

So, perhaps it's time to upgrade to a pair of SealSkinz Thermal Gloves, down from £49.99 to £29.99. What price warm hands?



The full range of gloves are discounted for today only, so let your fingers do the walking, right over to the Cycle Surgery website. 

Friday, February 17, 2012

RAPHA - SS12 SNEAK PEEK: ENDLESS SUMMER

It may not feel quite like it, but apparently Spring is heading our way. So, it must be time for Rapha to start their annual Spring - Summer collection tease.


And of course Rapha very rarely disappoint...



All the latest designs, new components and revitalised colourways for Spring Summer 2012 will shortly be revealed. 


To whet our curiosity, Rapha have released some sneak shots of the products that will make spring and summer 2012 a season of endless riding and racing.


And if it isn't obvious from the photography, below are some cryptic descriptions:


• Stay faster and cooler than a cucumber with UCI points in this new colour update.



• Summer road-riding favourite Inspired by a Giro winner who took the yellow jersey from the Normand Gourmand.


• Bowler hats and time trials in the dark, bagpipes and daffodils, all in the weft of a nation.


• The finest tailors, the greatest street food, and 19 World Champions of la strada in one piece of performance roadwear.


• Inhale and exhale in perfect comfort as you ride homeward towards the second planet from the sun.


• No need for hats off even in the hottest battles, Rapha have it covered in weightless abundance.


At a guess, it looks like pro team jersey in yellow/lime, a Felice Gimondi club jersey, a new GB Country Jersey, an Italian Country Jersey,lightweight Jersey in a new colourway and finally a lightweight cycling cap.


I'm looking forward to a jersey commemorating "The Phoenix", if indeed the Felice Gimondi clue proves correct...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

BARGAIN HUNT 35



Evans Cycles are offering 15% off when you buy 3 items at the moment.


If you add three clothing items or accessories to your basket just use code CLACC15 at checkout. 


They are also offering a 10% discount for two items of clothing and/or accessories - if you want to take advantage of this use code CLACC10 at the checkout.


Note this offer excludes Endura, Exposure, Garmin, Specialized, Motorola, bikes, components, BMX, GPS and turbo trainers...

TIMEOUT TUESDAY

The last of the snow is just starting to clear out this way, and not before time.


With sub-zero temperatures deep freezing this part of the world, turning innocuous looking damp roads into treacherous expanses of black ice, I have returned to my trusty, if someone tired, turbo trainer.


3LC Road Race DVD To ease the pain, or perhaps as it turned out to increase it, I sought out some DVD inspiration and thanks to Cycling Weekly grabbed some copies of the new 3LC training sessions.


So I have been training with the Manx, for these DVDs hail from the Isle of the three legs - Mark Cavendish even features on the sprint DVD - and feeling the pain. Oh boy did I feel the pain.


But I have to say it has been great fun so far - much better than training on my own, and much better than taking a tumble out on the glacé roads. And having Peter Kennaugh Snr tell me what to do and when, and even having him congratulate me when I finish, albeit generically, gives me a bit of a boost...


Tacx Trainer FlowSo it is with interest that today I see Timeout Tuesday at Cycle Surgery are offering up to 40% off their indoor trainers and accessories.


I am tempted to upgrade my rather knackered trainer and like the look of the Tacx Trainer Flow, reduced from £409.99 to £279.99. Not a bad discount for such a nice piece of kit.


Accessories are reduced too, so a front wheel riser from Kinetic is down to £10.79 from £17.99 and a Tacx Sweat Cover down to £15,59 from £25.99. 


Kinetic Riser Ring FixedMaybe one day I will treat myself to the king of indoor trainers, the Tacx Trainer Fortius and feel the burn as I ride up the Alpe in the comfort of my own home. But even after a 40% discount, £731.49 is an investment too far...

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

TIMEOUT TUESDAY

Polar HRM CS200 CadanceIt's Tuesday once again - we seem to have at least one each week at the moment - so it's time for another Cycle Surgery Timeout.


This week they are offering an eye-watering 50% off all Polar heart-rate monitors.


This is really bad news for anyone who was lucky enough to get one for Christmas, but great news for anyone looking to buy one now. The terrific CS200 cadence for example, and I can vouch for this as a piece of quality kit, is down from £134.50 to just £67.25. That's a bargain.


If you want a budget heart-rate monitor look no further than the CS100B now only £32.75 from £65.50.


Or if you like to mix it with the big boys and have a wallet to match, give the HRM FT80 G1 with GPS a try - was £394.50, now just £197.25.
Polar HRM FT80 G1 GPS

Even if you have a bike computer with heart-rate, it would make sense to buy another.


At these prices it almost seems rude not to... They even come with a free Polar pouch to keep your new kit in!

Monday, February 6, 2012

GROWING PAINS and BIKES...

I stumbled upon this earlier this morning and think it's such a great idea. I have three kids of my own so know from first hand experience how frustrating and expensive it is when children grow out of bikes. Sure you can buy and sell in the free ads or on eBay, but it's still a pain.


This, on the other hand, would seem to make much more sense.


The über cool Spanish bicycle makers Orbea have launched a range of bicycles that can be adjusted in size as a child grows.


As you would expect, the handlebar and seat can be adjusted to suit height and reach, but the frame also extends to allow a growing child up to five years of use out of a single bike.


The GROW range of bicycles comprises four models and prices are no higher than for bikes of comparable quality; the 2 1V, which would suit a child aged 4-9, sells for £269.




Saturday, February 4, 2012

WINTER TRAINING by RAPHA


Alpe d'Quiz


My Rapha winter kit generally keeps me on the road regardless of the weather.


Take today for example. The mercury was dipping well below zero, yet as the roads were dry and there was little ice around I took the chance to head out for a quick 20 miles.


Snow is heading this way overnight tonight so this was my last chance for a few days.


So, on went my Rapha winter jersey atop a merino baselayer and I was cosy enough to hit the road. 


The arrival of this seriously cold weather has prompted Rapha to revisit their winter training feature by Joe Hall. And it makes for an interesting read second time around too...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

BARGAIN HUNT 34

A couple of bargains to tempt us out on to our icy roads came through to me today. I don't know about you, but I love getting out on the road at this time of year regardless of what the weather throws at me.

At the moment we are faced with icy roads round here. Now I'm uneasy about riding on sketchy roads, given I bust my hip a couple of years back, so I like to take it nice and easy, but when the skies are clear blue and the sun burns bright and low, I find it very cathartic to get out and have my cobwebs blown away. I come back refreshed and buzzing with the knowledge that these winter miles should mean summer smiles...

Anyway, I have digressed somewhat from the topic of this blog entry. Today I found a couple of bargains to make getting out on these wintry highways more appealing. 

Specialized Inner TubeEvans Cycles are offering a splendid 50% off Specialized inner tubes - and let's face it we can't head out with too many of these rammed in our jersey pockets at this time of year. Time to stock up methinks. Head over to the Evans website and just enter code 50TUBE at checkout. Alternatively you can download a voucher to print and hand-in if you are lucky enough to live or work within striking distance a store.

Offer ends Friday 3rd February.

If inner tubes simply lack that luxury edge you crave, then perhaps this offer from Rapha will get your heart pumping a little faster. My favourite brand of top-end cycling kit are offering a generous 20% off their classic Rapha softshell jacket. Having owned one of these for years I can vouch for their quality and longevity. I simply love my softshell jacket and it keeps me toasty warm and dry no matter what the English winter throws at me. It really is a fine piece of kit.

To take advantage of this offer, get along to the Rapha website, add a softshell jacket in the colour and size of your choice, and enter NEWZIP12 as the code at checkout. Be quick though, as this offer expires at midnight GMT on Sunday 5th February.