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THE MOUNTAIN MUTTON
If you’ve read any of the rest of my blog, know anything about me, or have applied a little critical thinking to the name of this site, you’ll know that I’m a mountain man. Those that haven’t ridden a bike up a seriously sized mountain don’t really get it. Even those that are keen riders, …
Continue reading "A Review: ‘Higher Calling’, by Max Leonard"
In the face of a world where we have watches that can control our fridges, multiple screens bombarding us with messaging, and computers that can analyse our speed, cadence, heart rate and power output for any given second of a bike ride, Italian culture remains staunchly simple. Through the ages, Italian culture has celebrated simplicity. …
Haute Route, famed for their brutal seven day stage races / sportives, launched their new concept three day events this year, and I rode the first in the calendar – the Haute Route Alpe D'Huez. OC Sport nailed the route. It perfectly caputured all the different facets of the mountains that makes me so love …
Continue reading "An Ode to the High Road; a reflection on Haute Route Alpe D’Huez"
I rode The Struggle sportive in mid-May, and wrote a review of it for sportive.com. I'm quite proud of it, so here it is, reproduced in its full glory: http://www.sportive.com/cycling-reports/535628/the-struggle-jims-leg-ripping-ride-in-the-yorkshire-dales
I discovered Veloforte, the new kids on the nutrition block, very recently. Their bars have totally changed my outlook on sports nutrition, and what follows is a beginners guide to why you, too, need some of this awesomeness in your life. Who are Veloforte? Veloforte are a premium nutrition brand formed in 2016, serving the …
Continue reading "Panforte Power: An introduction to Veloforte"
The Tour of Wessex is one of the most overlooked events on the UK calendar. Without the pointless nonsense attached to big corporately driven rides like Ride London and Dragon Ride, it keeps it simple and keeps it effective. Three days, A LOT of miles, A LOT of climbs, adequate but not OTT feedstations, mechanical …
Continue reading "Tales from the Tour: A whippet takes on Wessex."
I've been lucky enough to visit four of the main areas used as winter training destinations in Europe by both pros and weekend warriors in the last 15 months. So, here are my throwaway comments, insights and tips on the four big hitters of the training camp world: Gran Canaria Tenerife Javea (nr. Calpe) Mallorca What follows …
Continue reading "When Camps Collide: An idiot’s guide to Europe’s training destinations"
Well, everyone else is doing it and I know that you're desperate to read another self-indulgent piece about some random, very average amateur's 'season', so I thought I'd better keep the baying crowds happy. I managed to grab 20 minutes for a coffee and chat with, umm, me, to find out my thoughts on the …
Continue reading "The highs, lows, lessons and loathes of 2016. An interview with, ummm, me."
In the depths of winter, your love for the bike can wane. Summer, with its shorts and short-sleeves, its trips to the mountains, and its spike in form, seems a long way off. Dips in strength and grim rides through mucky local roads into headwinds, on cold and uncooperating legs, can make you question why you …
Following my review of the excellent Max’s Protein Bars (here), it’s time for my second go at doing two of my favourite things: Eating stuff and pretending to know what I’m talking about. Artemis Energy Bars Having recently moved to the Henley on Thames, I was coming across the name of Team Artemis, four young …
