Many of us are embarrassed to admit it but, despite many years on the bike, our basic maintenance skills aren’t quite up to scratch. I have to confess to struggling when putting a tyre back onto a wheel with numb fingers after a puncture on the roadside. More than once I’ve reverted to using a tyre lever to get that last bit over the rim. Shocking, I know, and I’ve suffered numerous pinch punctures afterwards as a result. And, as for gear indexing and replacing brakes, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve usually left this for the bike shop pros.
Read MoreMaurice Burton - The Racing Years
What is it that makes a champion? What transcends someone from being simply a strong rider to one that has the killer instinct that means it’s their wheel, not their rival’s, that crosses the line of the track first?
Read MoreDo We Need a Cycle Revolution?
Tuesday night saw Ride Velo pop up to one of its favourite destinations of the moment, the Design Museum, home of the Cycle Revolution exhibition, to hear some of the movers and shakers of the London cycling scene state their cases in a debate titled, Forget The Bikes – Do We Need a Cycle Revolution?
Read MoreThe All New R.E.W. Reynolds
Many of us who get into cycling immediately start chasing down the lightest carbon fibre bikes, and snap up replica apparel as worn by our pro cycling heroes. After we’ve been riding for a little while, however, we look back at the history and heritage of cycling, learning about the great riders as they tackle the most iconic climbs. Images of pain, heroism and grit etched on the faces of the true stars of the sport, such as Hinault, Simpson and Coppi put the likes of Contador and Froome in the shade. And the clothing… well you only have to look at the shocking new Tinkoff-Saxo kit to know that the teams of the 60s, 70s and 80s just oozed style and sophistication compared with their modern equivalents.
Read MoreThe History of the Six Day Races
"An athletic contest in which participants 'go queer' in their heads, and strain their powers until their faces become hideous with the tortures that rack them, is not sport. It is brutality." The New York Times, 1897
Read MoreMaurice Burton's De Ver
A teenage boy wipes the steam from the bus window and peers out onto a grey 1960s street in Forest Hill, South London, on the way to his weekly school swimming lesson. His eye catches a bike abandoned in the front garden of a Victorian terraced house and he realises that he noticed the same one last week. A racing tourer that’s seen better days. But nothing a bit of a TLC wouldn’t put right. “I’ll go back after school,” he says to himself. “I’ll go back and see if the owner wants to get rid of it.”
Read MoreElectric Bikes; Love 'em or Loathe 'em?
As cyclists who use their legs for power, Ride Velo can't help but feel superior to those who choose to rely on battery power - just look at the furore surrounding the suspected 'mechanical doping' of the U23 women's CX world championship race in Belgium on Saturday - proper cyclists don't use batteries! However, we can't deny that there are innumerable benefits to this recent technological boost to cycling. But do the pros outweigh the cons? Ride Velo investigates...
Read MoreMediterranean Cycling Holidays
Last week Ride Velo looked at bucket list cycling holidays of a lifetime. This week we come back down to earth a little, exploring seaside and coastal holidays near the Mediterranean and along the Algarve. There is such an array to choose from, we've just picked out the best road cycling holidays for fairly able riders, but if you're into MTB, ebike or family holidays, don't stop reading now, as all the companies we've featured have a whole host of different trips to try and locations to experience. There really is something for everyone!
Read MoreLazer Blade Helmet Review
The nice people at Madison asked us if we would try out their Lazer Blade British Cycling helmet and I have to say that it’s fast becoming my favourite lid of the moment and I’m pretty much wearing this most days.
Read MoreHelp Super Cycling Man!
You may remember that we ran a profile of Super Cycling Man, Will Hodson, last month. Will was a 38 year old Primary School teacher from South London who gave up his job and sold everything of value he had in the world to cycle across all 7 continents in a Superman costume, including Antarctica, with the aim of raising money for charity. Well, Super Cycling Man needs your help!
Read MoreAmazing Deals on Kids' Bikes This Week
Get your kids into cycling at an early age – it’s fun, healthy and an essential skill for life! From your toddler’s first balance bike to family cycle rides together, kids can learn to enjoy the great outdoors and feel safe on a bike they love. Yes Christmas is over - but now could be the perfect time to snap up a bike for your little loved ones. Retailers have got some fantastic discounts on children's cycles this week and here are our favourites for ages 2 to 12:
Read MoreP is for Peloton
Last week Ride Velo profiled Mark Fairhurst who, as well as being one of the most fascinating cycling artists of the moment, also illustrated one of last year’s best cycling books: P is for Peloton.
Read MorePower Protein Bar Taste Off!
Energy bars are part of every serious cyclists' life, whether we like it or not! Personally I prefer protein bars for a more sustained energy release, but as someone who avoids dairy, that leaves me with two unappealing options: going to a specialist health-food shop for a disgusting blend of hemp protein and macrobiotic goo, or making them myself. So Chapeau! to PowerBar who have brought out a tasty vegan cereal bar we can buy in sports shops! Two other zesty new flavours are also on the PowerBar menu: Lemon Cheesecake and Jaffa Cake to refresh your tastebuds.
Read MoreWorldwide Cycling Adventures
Are you fed up of going out for a ride and coming home unable to feel your feet, which have turned to blocks of ice? January is traditionally the month to start flicking through the holiday brochures to give us something to look forward to during the unkind winter months. There's no better way of experiencing the culture, landscape and way of life of a new country than on a bike. What's more, you can come back feeling heathy and invigorated. Help is at hand as Ride Velo brings you our best holiday guides, starting with long-distance worldwide trips to whet your cycling appetites.
Read MoreThe Bicicletta Café - Coffee Con Velo
Saffron Walden is a terribly nice market town in Essex, most famous for its yellow cooking ingredient, and more recently Jamie Oliver, who hails from nearby Clavering; but unrelated, other than by food! Hardly surprising then that a new saffron-yellow cafe should open up just off Market Square, in between Starbucks and Costa Coffee. But what's stirred up the residents is that it's a cycle cafe, the inspiration for which was actually the maillot jaune, and not the local crocuses!
Read MoreMark Fairhurst: Cycle Illustrator Extraordinaire
Cycling has always inspired artists and photographers to produce some of the most striking images: the noble heroism of the rider, the stunning landscape of the Tour and the Giro, not to mention the sheer elegance of the bicycle itself. No one has captured the essence of the romance of cycling in recent years better than illustrator Mark Fairhurst, so we asked him about his inspiration and how he has become one of the most sought after cycling artists of today.
Read MoreReviewed: Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow Saddle
I bought my Eddy Merckx EFX1 carbon road bike back in the autumn of 2012. It was a great buy and riding it has always filled me with joy, except for one thing: the Prologo saddle it came with is agony! I really don't know how or why I put up with it for so long?
Read MoreVelodrome Virgin No More!
My New Year's resolution this year was to try out new and different forms of cycling outside my comfort zone. And although I live just a mile away from Herne Hill Velodrome, have watched lots of track racing there, made my kids do holiday training sessions and regularly helped out at the Inter-schools Championships, I'm ashamed to admit that I'd never ridden the track myself.
Read MoreBack to Work Jackets from Madison
It’s tough going to back to work after the Christmas break: dark mornings, wet roads, and a few extra pounds to burn off after all those mince pies. Thanks so much then, to the guys at Madison, who sent over their Stellar men’s waterproof jacket for us to try out, which made my first commute back to work a very pleasurable one! Meanwhile, Ellie road tested the Leia women’s jacket.
Read MoreThe Light Blue; Cambridge's Heritage
Back in September, Ride Velo visited the NEC Cycle Show where there were racks of gorgeous bikes on display. But what surprised us were the huge numbers of admirers gathering round one particular stand for a bike brand we’d never heard of before: The Light Blue. Alongside the carbon Colnagos, Cervelos, Cannondales and Canyons was a retro selection of steel framed bikes – the likes of which we hadn’t seen for 30 years or so. And they, not the pro team bikes, were the ones pulling the crowds.
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