Rapha have just released a new range of jerseys, bib shorts, base layer and T shirt in conjunction with Sir Paul Smith. They feature the legendary designer’s trademark stripes over a rather classy British racing green.
Read MoreRapha Go Check
Rapha have always produced the best quality jerseys around. Their original and first ever product, the black Classic remains just that: a classic. It’s been its bestseller and at the very heart of its collection ever since its release way back in 2007. Recent years have seen them venture into all manner of colours and some purists weren’t too impressed. But we predict their new Check Classic jersey will, in years to come, become a staple of their collection.
Read MoreMallorca: the Best Cycling in the World?
As a regular visitor to Mallorca, you can't help but notice there's been an absolute sea change in recent years. Every time I return there are noticably more cyclists on the roads and now the local bakery has turned into a bike hire and equipment store. This year, however, the trickle seems to have become a flood - cyclists not only outnumber cars by quite a large percentage - but going for a ride is more akin to taking part in a sportive! Stopping at a garage near the infamous Sa Colobra climb there wasn't a car in sight, and instead of customers topping up with fuel there were over a hundred cyclists rehydrating and regrouping.
Read MoreEmily Chappell's Adventure Syndicate at Rapha
Emily Chappell, the former cycling courier, started making a name for herself last year when she published her first book, What Goes Around. Not content with cycling round the world and crossing Alaska on a fat bike (in winter), she then entered and was the first woman finisher of the Transcontinental bike race this summer.
Now she’s out and about promoting ultra endurance cycling events to women with snappily named The Adventure Syndicate. It’s an organisation she founded which aims to challenge perceptions of what women are capable of and to promote inclusive role models for them. She was a big draw at Velo Vixen’s Hub at this year’s Cycle Show at the NEC. And last week she could be seen hosting an event at Rapha’s central London store in Brewer Street where she invited five women to talk about their achievements on the bike.
Read MoreREW Reynolds Classic Racing Shoe
The Tweed Run fast approaches. We’ve been bidding and been outbid on eBay for tweed jackets, plus fours and paisley ties for weeks as we desperately try to coordinate our retro outfits for that uniquely British event. For spring not only heralds those serious, brutal, gritty Classics like Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, the snow and hail of Liege-Baston-Liege, there are more sedate affairs to be contested here.
Read MoreBradley Wiggins - My Hour
“It’s just you on that track with 6,000 people who have come to see you succeed or fail.” The Hour Record, dating back to 1893. 60 minutes of individual, lonely effort around a velodrome, lap after lap, counting down each minute until the end, in the vainglorious attempt that you’ve travelled further than anyone else at the end of it all. Just you and a bike. A massive risk. No second place. Simply failure or a place in the record books while the world watches you. The hour record has to be the ultimate do or die sporting event. “My Hour” is Bradley Wiggins’ story of his successful bid to be the fastest cyclist over the course of one hour.
Read MoreWhat Santa Brought Ride Velo...
We wrote several posts about what we wanted for Christmas - but what was actually waiting for us under the Ride Velo Christmas tree? We thought we'd share our new goodies with our lovely readers.
Read MoreChristmas Cycling Around Copenhagen
What better place to be in over Christmas than the cycling capital of the world, Copenhagen. This was Ride Velo's first visit to the Danish capital and we were eager to see why and how Copenhagen has earned its place as the most successful cycling city. So armed with Rapha's City Cycling Copenhagen guide, we hired bikes, donned our warmest clothes and set out on our latest European adventure.
Read MoreSmoother than Chamois Cream - the Rouleur Classic
Thursday night saw Vinopolis open its doors for the Rouleur Classic event and the suited and booted cognoscenti of the affluent London cycling community, most of whom appeared to have come straight from their desks across the river in the Square Mile, or wherever it is that hedge fund managers, bankers and corporate lawyers park their tailored but trim derrieres on weekdays. Eager to get their cycling fix before donning the Rapha and deserting their loved ones for their Sunday morning rides with their top-of-the-range carbon machines, this well-to-do crowd queued round the block before the 6pm start.
Read MoreThe Best Christmas Cycling Presents part 1
At Ride Velo, we've been desperately trying to ignore Christmas since late August when we spotted our first display of mince pies and gift-wrap in a midlands service station. But we can by-pass the inevitable no longer! So to take the pain out of present shopping for you, we have put together the definitive gift-guide for cyclists (aka Ride Velo's 2015 Christmas wish list).
Read MoreRapha Super Cross
It had all the essential elements of a super cyclo-cross Saturday - including free cowbells and a selection of complimentary craft beers. The trouble was, the event kicked off four hours late and was abandoned not long after, which left some riders super cross!
Read MoreStand Out from the Crowd
Now that the clocks have gone back and the hours of darkness outweigh the daylight, riders need to see and be seen. But that doesn't mean you need to get dressed up like a builder, donning the day-glo! Away with your nasty hi-vis yellow and, even more unforgivable, pink fluorescent overshoes! New technology thankfully means there are far more stylish ways to stand out in the dark - Ride Velo brings you the creme of the crop...
Read MoreCycle Cafe Society
Coffee and cycling go together like cleats and pedals - but why is coffee such an important part of cycling culture? There is some scientific evidence for improved performance in cyclists taking caffeine before a race. But apart from that, my view is that cyclists just like coffee, and guilt-free cake, of course.Coffee and cycling go together like cleats and pedals - but why is coffee such an important part of cycling culture? There is some scientific evidence for improved performance in cyclists taking caffeine before a race. But apart from that, my view is that cyclists just like coffee, and guilt-free cake, of course.
Read MoreGood Vibrations from Pavé, Culture Cycliste
Firstly, a little bit of advice before you go, and you must go to this shop if you're ever in Barcelona: fork out the 20 odd Euros to get there by taxi. If you have a hire car, even better. We took a metro, a train and then a bus to get to El Prat de Llobregat which, it turns out, is not on any tourist guide to Barcelona, the reason being that this is part of the industrial heartland of the city surrounding the airport, its main features being large warehouses, factories and lorry depots. Plaça Reial, this ain't.
Read MoreGet out your Cowbells, it's Cyclo-Cross Season!
The 2015/16 Cyclo-cross season is well under way - but what is cyclo-cross, where did it come from, what do you need to get started, where do you go to watch races and, above all, why is it so fun? Ride Velo investigates.
Read More