London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 5

Round 5 at London's iconic Herne Hill, always a magical place with a fantastic turnout and brilliant heckling. It's always great as you get to line up with mates who often are not able to make it to some of the further afield races. This race will stand in the memory as a special one. It was my first seeded race of the season. You never forget when your name gets called out and you have to roll to the start. Obviously quicker guys are behind you but its satisfying to know that you've been able to get a few meters ahead. 

Attacus CC, Ripcor and East London Fixed, 3 different teams, but firstly 3 friends. 

Herne Hill itself, a course that is notoriously technical, lots of sharp climbs, turns and mixes of surfaces, there is always a person waiting to watch a crash, slip or wobble. You start inside the velodrome and switch in and out of it, traveling out the back into the rough land which most people don't know about. 

Hurdles are always a crowd pleaser. Photo by Kamal Balgobin

A mix of sharp steep climbs, where the only option is to run and hurdles keep the hecklers in certain areas, hoping for that slight slip or incident. This race itself was a fast one, grass trails tend to be. 

A huge thank you for everyone who came down to watch, heckle, pinch/ slap the derriere. Special mentions have to go to the ladies from 5th Floor, East London Fixed, Team Full Demin Jacket and our friends at Brixton Cycles. 

Strava file below:

East Kent Cyclo Cross League 2016-17 Round 2

Find something you love, let it kill you. (Or scare the shit out of you)

Round 2 held at Bay Point Club, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent involved a bridge, a huge huge bridge with a 28% gradient and a very short run up to it. To be honest I have not got much to say about this race. I'm not a fan of heights, I continually struggles to find the right line, cornering awfully. It definitely was not my best race this season.. In contrast I would say the worst. After two laps I had considered pulling out but stubbornness made me finish. 

Races like these put things into perspective. We can't ride well week in and out. There are things that scare us and we are not invincible. Anyway onwards and upwards. I'm glad this one is done.

Strava file below: 

London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 4

Heading down to Happy Valley near Brighton, (a place nowhere near as happy as the name suggested..) for the 4th round of the London Cyclocross League. The course was relatively flat and dry and full of long stretches, sharp turns and a few hurdles for good measure. 

Still recovering from the previous weeks crash; things were understandably sore but having friends Jimmi Nicholls from Attacus (The creator of the kit I donned for the race) and Josh Ibbett from Hunt Wheels  instantly lightened the mood. Jimmi a confessed coffee snob and in his words "ex racer" was attempting his first cyclocross race ever. Josh in contrast a Transcontinental winner with a palmares as long as a piece of string confessed he hasn't raced cyclocross since his uni days. I always knew he would be strong.. (He's just modest.) 

Josh showing how it's done on his Titanium Mason

A large field racing from across the South East and London.

The race itself, a headwind, jumps and some sharp corners. That pretty much sums it up. It was a quick course which could have easily been very different had the weather changed. There were a few nasty crashes, commonly at the hurdles. My attitude with these always is dismount, run, remount. Let's not get cocky..

Take it easy on those hurdles. Too often you see some nasty crashes here

Race done. Jimmi as always breaking rules. The Van Dessel performed fantastically again. 

Strava file below:

Dolomites - Day 4

Ele and myself decided to get up early on our last day with one aim, to head up to the top of Stelvio for breakfast. So that's what we did, Stelvio for breakfast. 

We started on the bikes around 6:30, with the aim on being some of the first on the road. We really wanted the climb to ourselves for the morning, or for as long as we could. The roads were clear, the weather was mild and the sun as it rose warmed up our spirits and legs. 

There was no real rush. It was about enjoying the climb and the company. We took time to take photographs of the scenery and once at the top reminisced on what a brilliant few days it had been. 

As the great Arnold Schwarzenegger says. 'I'll be back'. 

Dolomites - Day 3

Day 3- The big one. Passo Mortirolo and Passo Gavia.

Two of the 'big boys' in Italy in one day. Mortirolo, the juiced up Lance Armstrong famously said this was 'the toughest climb' he had ever done. Everyone was understandably a bit nervous about this; but equally excited to be climbing one of the Giro d'Italia's most legendary climbs. First of all you have a long descent from Bormio early in the morning to the base of Mortirolo. It was an early start with purple skies as we watched the sun rise. 

We arrived at the base knowing one thing for certain, this would be a tough one. Knowing what was coming I decided to take this climb a bit easy and enjoy it. It's one I have seen on TV for years so I wanted to lap up the moment so to speak. It still didn't make it an easy one. The climb largely starts in the forests; snaking its way skywards and eventually clearing into a valley before the final few steep turns until the top. 

We started the climb from Grosio, The actual climb to the summit starts at Grosio and is 14.8 kilometres long at an average of 8.3% (height gain: 1222 m). Some of the turns kick in at 15% plus so it's definitely a lung burster. 

Upon reaching the top there was a short 200m roll down to our first cafe stop. What a stop this was with beautiful views. 

The remaining descent was fast towards the base of Passo Gavia. The temperature had really ramped up in the latter half of the morning through to lunch. There was concerns that climbing this big one could be a crippler. It was, for different reasons. The climb really starts at Stadolina, riding along a mix of A roads and through cobbled towns. 

As we climbed, it started to become noticeable that the temperature was decreasing, the skies became overcast and the heavens opened. 2600 odd meters in the rain were going to be tough. 

The rain came, and came and came, along with the thunder. Gavia itself is a steep long climb, with worsening road surfaces as you get up higher and higher making getting out the saddle slippy at points. 

As you reach closer to the summit, the roads open up and the elements start to hit you from all points. Climbs like this often seem like you are cycling to the gates of hell at points when the rain hurts as it hits your arms, the body steaming as you are sweating but soaked through to the skin. You know the moment you stop you will start to feel the cold instantly. You've just got to keep ploughing. Still that sense of achievement is priceless.  Reaching the top, cheering your mates in, the hot chocolate, laughs and sense of 'what just happened?' make it worth it. One of the toughest climbs and days in the saddle. 

The Descent back to Bormio,

It can be summed up very quickly. Sharp turns, bad road surfaces, glaciers, a cold snap that runs through your body. It was a case of layer up and hold on. (You can't help but admire the rural nature of this climb compared to any others in Italy. It really is its own beauty and the beast.) 

One more day (well half a day.) Enough for one more climb in the morning. 

Dolomites - Day 2

The 'rest' day.

We were supposed to be taking it easy today, after our previous ride and what was in store for day 3. Competitiveness and excitement always takes over and wins. The Passo Torri di Fraele, or the Mini Stelvio as it is also known was our first climb of the day. We rolled out towards Stelvio for this one, remembering what we had achieved the previous day. It quickly became a race to the top. Ripcor vs Crondall Rouleurs. How quick could we get to the top. Ripcor Won. The climb itself has many similarities to Stelvio. The sharp hairpins with long stretches. A fantastic and quiet climb often missed by many people. Check it out if you go!

Lunch, it had to be one thing. Pizza. We descended into the centre of Bormio and of course decided to have pizza for lunch. A few of us then decided we had the legs for one more local climb, Bormio 2000. This climb. A bugger. It isn't the longest, but there is some steep points in this one as you cycle up to the ski lift. The afternoon became cold with some slight showers. 

This one, broke me. A hard effort in the morning, jet lag well and truly setting in from Australia. Tired legs and out of food and water. I arrived at the top drained, but taken back by the view. It was still worth it.

Bring on Day 3

London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 3

'This one should be fun' they said. It was.

An undulating track with a real mix of terrain. Trails in the woods, hills, grass fields, jumps, gravel stretches and undulating corners. This was going to be a fast one. Feeling not quite so aero as the last race due to a damaged skinsuit, and struggling to get over the dreaded man-flu I knew this one would be tough. The short sharp up hills zig zagging over one field didn't particularly suit me but I thought lets have fun with this. 

This race had some of the big hitters arrive at the start, guys racing in the nationals lined up with the 80 plus riders in the senior race. The best thing about Cyclocross is that there is always some to chase, and always someone chasing you. It's an intimate race where you are battling yourself more than anything. 

The forest section of each lap was fast narrow and winding, overtaking here was tough but do-able depending on how brave you really were. There was often some one on your wheels on the slippy trails here and you simply needed to keep the power down. This then opened up into the ups and downs through the fields, eventually leading to a sharp hill, some flat grassland and the jumps. My attitude to jumps are lets not make a fool of myself and crash. Some people think differently here. For me it's easier to dismount, run and remount. I can make the time back elsewhere. 

The gravel sections, normally a point I can ride well, became a weakness early on. My back wheel was clipped and down I went, quickly followed by another racer who'd clipped the back wheel but continued to ride over me. Many a firm word was said, an apology, a dust off and the race carried on, even with blood streaming down the largely grazed buttock and leg. 

But that's Cyclocross. It fucking hurts sometimes, things brake, we get filthy. But its still one of the best ways to race in cycling. 

Photos by Ant Harris, Chris Lanaway and John Mullineaux

Strava file below:

Ripcoro - Traverse Aravis

I recently spent a few days riding around Italy with the tour company Traverse Aravis. Here is a few words from Michael Winterton about the trip:

For the second time this year we made the trip across to Bormio in Italy which is fast becoming a second home to us. It should not be a long trip, a few hours to Milan and then up into the mountains. However, that final 100km is slow going with single lane roads and local traffic along with miles of tunnels. It can be a little frustrating but when you emerge from the last tunnel and are greeted with the expanse of mountains and the old town of Bormio, you know it’s worth it.

This is what we came for!

It is impossible not to get excited with the weekend ahead as there is a buzz of cyclists around the town. You know that you are where it is at, for those who like two wheels. It is pretty special. Checking in and getting the accommodation ready with the welcome packs and goodies (a special thanks to Moma Porridge) was smooth and gave us a few hours to wait for the arrival of our group, the infamous Ripcor Cycling Club.

Arriving in time for dinner, which was up to the usual high standard that we come to expect from our base in Bormio, gave everyone the opportunity to discuss the weekend ahead and what was in store for them. They were uncharacteristically quiet and it became apparent that they were a little nervous about taking on the might of the Passo del Stelvio – understandable.

Our first day loops around this magnificent mountain, famed for cycling but equally important as a summer training base for skiers from across the Alps, showing just how high it is! It is a long climb of 26km and the plan was to drop down into German speaking Italy and across into Switzerland before climbing back up to the Umbrail pass which rejoins the Stelvio just 5km from the summit. For some though, the Stelvio is an amazing achievement in itself and there was no shame in returning back to Bormio having crested its summit. Everyone made it.

It is undoubtedly the middle part of the Stelvio which is the most stunning, it is here where the straight road that clings to the side of the mountain side is forced into the infamous switch backs as it comes head on with the face of the mountain. I parked up the support van to get some shots of the group coming up and they all actually seemed to be enjoying it. The spread of the group was not that big and they were all showing their strength. As the per the Ripcor motto: It’s all good.

Going around the bend

The cluster of cafes and tourist stalls at the top of the Stelvio means that it is a good place to regroup, take in a coffee or two and revitalize. Everyone was in good spirits and thinking that they had made it, however, just because a pass is not famous, does not mean that it is not difficult. The Umbrail Pass was still to come. But first a 30 km descent. Speed Steve turns out not to be speedy and has a dislike for going downhill! His squeaking brakes reverberating around the mountains, surely confusing a marmotte or two. As I passed him, he asked for more water to help him cool the wheels down! It did the trick and they held out.

A rare flat moment

We set out lunch when we got into Switzerland. With just the Umbrail Pass to come, the day was nearing an end but this required a huge effort, lunch was certainly necessary.

The Umbrail Pass completes the triangle around the Stelvio, it is less well known and in turn less busy with fewer cyclists and cars on the road. This combined with the lack of kilometre markers creates a sense of true wilderness. That and “when will this end?!” It is though breathtaking. Once in a rhythm, it is just a case of keep plodding on. It was a little bit too much for Phil so he jumped in the van (the beauty of doing this with a support vehicle) for the last few km’s – not bad going though considering some turned back after the Stelvio. I will never forget John’s face when he arrived at the top – one of total pleasure yet total pain.  Ripcor had earned their beer and cakes today.

Chris floating up the Umbrail Pass

Saturday was an all-together easier day, it is necessary to recuperate! It was a switchback ascent up towards Lake Cancano, they call it the mini-Stelvio around these parts and you can see why. Very, very steep to start with and then it eases off. Standing at the top, it was amazing to see everyone on the bends below, a fantastic view that you normally would only get from a helicopter.

Mini-Stelvio

Sunday was the attempt to complete the trilogy of big climbs in the area (and Italy in fact). The Mortirolo follow by the Gavia. A huge day. An early start was required. Dropping down from Bormio to the start of the Mortirolo is a gentle but fun 30km of freewheeling! The beams of sunrays breaking through the mountain tops gave me the impression that I was in a crystal, mountains in the mornings!

There is a tiny turning to the start of the Mortirolo, easily missed and for that reason, it is hard to imagine why it is so famous. Quoted by many as their hardest climb, including the drugged up Armstrong, it seems so innocuous. We do have a confession and say that there are two routes up that join for the last ascent, we went up the “easier” part. You tell that to the guys!    

Just as you get to a little church, the road ramps up and really kicks in, I guess for the first time in the weekend, you realise why the Giro maybe regarded as a little tougher than the Tour. It was all a bit too much for Leigh but he took great pleasure in cheering everyone else on from the comfort of the van. Again just to get up to that point was an achievement that most cannot say that they have done.

The hot chocolate just after the summit makes it worth it.

One of Armstong's hardest climbs...

Next stop the Gavia. Dieter was banging on about how he just wanted to do the Mortirolo, that was the famous climb of the two. What is all the fuss about this Gavia? Well, Dieter, its steep and long. It’s bloody hard. You think that you are cycling up to the doors of hell. But when you get to the top, it is magical. High, and unlike the Stelvio with all its hotels and skiers, it’s wild. You have certainly left the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life behind. Rewarding.

Just after a long, dark tunnel with about 2km to go, I found Alastair and Phil pondering their next move. The others were just finishing up. I told them in no uncertain terms that they were not getting in the van. They pushed on and shortly after made it to the top of this monster. Tears of joy (or pain) rolling down Phil’s cheeks, they, like everyone else had achieved something special. Chapeau as you would say in France. I was expecting a raucous evening of celebration but everyone was happy to relax and contemplate their achievements over a glass or two.

Great work lads!

Dolomites - Day 1

A few days in Italy, it would be rude not to be in search of the up. On a ride organised by Traverse Aravis   a group of Ripcor riders ventures on this search for all the clims that Italy and The Dolomites have to offer.

The Dolomites are a mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They form a part of the Southern Limestone Alps and extend from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. Also known as the "Pale Mountains", they take their name from the carbonate rock dolomite, itself named for 18th-century French mineralogist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu, who was the first to describe the mineral.

Day 1- Stelvio and Passo Umbrail

Our first day in Italy was a big one, the legendary Passo Stelvio, climbing out of Bormio and descending into Switzerland for lunch, before climbing back into Italy via Passo Umbrail. 

Stelvio; with its elevation of 2757 meters, and roughly 25km in length is a big one to get the legs turning over. From leaving the chalet we were climbing up with the 48 hairpin turns creating the wall effect as you look up the mountain climb. It's one that appears to go on and on, but the scenery does not disappoint as you head higher and higher nearing the cafe at the top. 

Upon reaching the top and taking a much needed coffee stop, the descent was quick, flowing and equally as beautiful. We descended into Switzerland with some riders having to stop intermittently to cool down their carbon rims from over heating. A huge bonus of disc brakes is not having any concerns of this. 

Arriving at the base we knew one thing. It was a case of heading back up.. The Swiss side of the Dolomites was green, luscious and full of farm land as we waited at the base of Passo Umbrail for lunch served by Michael from Traverse Aravis   

Once we were fueled up, the climb began again. Steeper than Stelvio and having already climbed a huge amount in the morning, the legs were quickly burning winding through the forests. Finally we joined back on to Passo Dello Stelvio with the descent of what we climbed ahead of us before rolling back into Bormio.

Day 1 complete. 

Strava file below. 

London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 2

It's the 18th September, a surprisingly warm start to the day (compared to the previous day for Round 2 of the London cyclocross League. Round 2 was held at Penshurst Off-Road Club, Penshurst, Kent and promoted by Addiscombe CC. 

This race normally is later in the calendar and is often very muddy but having it early in the season made it A quick down hill course with some steep climbs. 

Preparation went well until the skinsuit zipper broke when a 'convenience brake; was needed. Thankfully a spare jersey is always bought to races! 

A spare jersey provided by Attacus CC helped to cover up the broken skinsuit.

Cyclocross racing is very much a completely different way of racing to anything else I have been used to. Similarlly to time trailing, you are racing your own race against the clock with the aim to get as many laps in as possible in the allotted hour of racing. What is so nice about it is the respect each rider shows eachother and the much more relaxed and fun attitude. You are all in it for the same reasons, to have fun and try and better yourself on each lap.  

One of the many turns on the descent into the valley. 

The course itself contained many sharp turns. These tended to be at the end of long straights where you can start to get some power down, then having to sharply stop to take the corner. The race was on the side of a hill; meaning what goes down equally must go up too. The climbs were short and steep. At the base of the valley was a bomb crater with a sharp drop and raise on the opposite side. 

Socks provided by The Wonderful Socks, gloves provided by Grip Grab. 

A slight sprint to the finish made each lap quick. All in all a fantastic race with many strong riders racing. Chapeau to all! Strava link below:

Photos provided by John Mullineaux

UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Final

After a long journey to the other side of the world having qualified for the finals in the Tour of Cambridgeshire earlier in the year, it was race day. The race started at 7am on a brisk and surprisingly cold Perth morning. Our age category contained a strong line up of cyclists from all over the world. Ex pros, rising stars, racers and club riders. The talent on the table was clear; but equally it was amazing to see some people who were there for the experience and to race for their country. 

The pace of the opening of the race was rapid, chasing down breakaways down the highway leading to the hills, the point where the race would start to spread out. 2 laps of the hills with a finish at the top of the Zig Zag, this was going to be a tough race with the 2000 meters of climbing over 155km. 

Sadly a puncture 80km put my race to a halt. I sat by the side of the road and fixed it as quick as I could with an attempt to latch onto anything I could. It became a lonely race, head down pushing hard to simply set the best possible time. 

Race finished. An average speed of 35km. It was a tough one, but an incredible opportunity to represent Great Britain, Ripcor and most importantly The PACE Centre. 

Focus Challenge Ambasadors Day

All the Focus Ambassadors were bought together for a clinic with Michael Kluge. 

Kluge is a multiple German champion and amateur world champion in cyclo-cross in 1985 and 1987 and professional world champion in 1992.

In 1992 Kluge set up the bicycle manufacturing company Focus Bikes in Cloppenburg, Germany.

We were given a masterclass in mountain biking skills and handing, with Michael analysing and accessing how we did. 

The day also involved filming with The Bike Channel and became an opportunity for all the Ambassadors to meet and ride together. 

Rise Above

Mark Cavendish: The Manx Missile: 48 Grand Tour Stage wins, 30 Tour De France Stage victories, 3x Madison World Champion. A cycling legend in his own right. Rise Above is a sportive around the roads he learnt to cut the cloth in his profession, where trained whilst a youth cyclist in the British Cycling Academy. What better way to celebrate the amazing season he has been having than riding these roads. 

We started early in Chester with the initial stages of the sportive on closed roads before heading out into the Welsh hills. 

As the sun came up the amount of climbing we were about to contend with started to become a reality. Over 2400 meters across just shy of 170km became a long day in the saddle. 

The route included a timed climb of Horseshoe Pass. 

(Bwlch yr Oernant, "Pass of the Cold Stream") is a mountain pass in Denbighshire, north-east Wales. It separatesLlantysilio Mountain to the west from the 565 metre (1,854 feet) mountain and Marilyn Cyrn-y-Brain to the east. The A542 road from Llandegla toLlangollen runs through the pass, reaching a maximum height of 417 metres (1,368 ft). The road travels in a horseshoe shape around the sides of a valley, giving the pass its name.

This route dates from 1811, when a turnpike road was constructed across the area. As with the rest of the roads in the Clwydian Range, it is not uncommon for sheep to gather in the road, sometimes causing problems for drivers. The road is also frequently closed in winter due to snowfall or landslides.

The Pass is well known for the Ponderosa cafe at its highest point and the scenic views along the road. Both the cafe and the pass itself are extremely popular with cyclists & motorcyclists. There are many walks and routes in the immediate area that are popular with hikers, and there are a number of campsites nearby.

The route itself was equally rewarding and challenging. Meaning you could attack the hills as hard as you liked. All feed stops were also well stocked up. All in all a fantastic sportive in a beautiful part of the world. 

Here's the Strava file!

Early mornings- Richmond Park

It is always a real pleasure heading into Richmond Park, especially early doors in the morning. Today a group of us headed out for a few pre work laps then a cheeky coffee in Dynamo in Putney. Well worth a stop.

Coast to Coast Plus.

Day One

We started our coast to coast adventure with the intention of tackling 4 National Parks and areas of outstanding beauty across Northern England, these being The Lake District, The North Pennines, The Yorkshire Dales and The North York Moors. There was always going to be plenty of stunning views and climbing to tackle along with some steep descents. 

The chosen steed for the trip was the Focus Izalco Max Disc, equipped with a set of Hunt Aero Light Disc Wheels. Restrap have provided the frame bag and Tom Tom the Bandit Camera. The bike is equipped with 11 speed Shimano Dura Ace with an FSA SLK Lightweight Crank and Fizik Antares saddle.

The journey started early.. On a sleepy train at 5am to head to Lancaster. Arriving to be welcomed by local coffee shop 'The Hall'. Well woth a stop for a flat white and croissant. 

View fullsize

Once other members of the team arrived on different times we started to head out on our casual first day. We departed Lancaster with the Lakes on our minds, heading towards Silverdale and to Milnthorpe for the custom of dipping the wheels into the sea. (Or the estuary. It was close enough) 

From this point, the roads took us into the Lakes. We were lucky enough to be joined by one of the chaps from The Cold Dark North for part of what was his 'commute'. 

There was one major climb of the day, Gummer's How which hit roughly 20% at one point. A great leg stretcher to start how we mean to go on. After this we continued into the start of the Lake District finishing the day at Blawith. 

Day Two.

Day two, we departed the house we were staying at early doors to take advantage of quiet roads. 160km with 2775 meters of climbing. We all anticipated this day heading straight through The Lake District and into the North Pennines. 

The first major climb of the day. The aptly named 'The Struggle' a road that runs from the village of Ambleside up to Kirkstone Pass. One gent wished us luck at the bottom, as the rain came down and the mist closed in whilst we climbed. 

The view from the top, even though covered in mist was still rewarding.

The climbing didn't stop as we headed into the North Pennines with brutal 20mph headwinds to battle against. As you pass through The Lakes on day two, be sure to recover from The Struggle at Helvellyn Country Kitchen and again at Hartside Top Cafe, the highest cafe in England. The climb up Hartside, is a long one but equally stunning. 

From the top of Hartside we are graciously greeted with a 20km descent. Any climb is worth a 20km descent. One last climb for the day, greeted by the 20mph headwind to battle through. This proved a tough, long climb where you could simply get your head down and hope. 

Our day finished in Kirkby Stephen. Fletcher House is a wonderfully welcoming spot to rest your head and lock up your bike while mentally and physically preparing for the final leg of your journey. 

Day Three. 

182km and 2770 meters of climbing infront of us and the coast in Scarborough. Another big day of climbing from the set of. Number 78 in the 100 best climbs, Lamps Moss. One way to get the legs warmed up. 

The majority of the rest of the day involved rolling hills, some of steep gradients as we ventured through the Yorkshire Dales towards The North York Moors. 

Long straight roads, lined with heather greeted us as we travelled into the Moors. With the scenery we had seen on this adventure its understandable how all of them are National Parks or areas of outstanding natural beauty. 

80km into day three sees you arrive into Northallerton, a small town between The Dales and The Moors. If you're lucky enough to be passing through Monday to Saturday, a myriad of local bakeries and cafes await. Sunday's offer a reduced choice, but there are still plenty of options on the high street. 

We stopped briefly in Whitby for a refuel and headed towards Scarborough. As we headed close to Scarborough traffic lights appeared and we could sense the end of our epic adventure.  Lots of climbing, all the weather you can think of. Great memories and renewed friendships. 

This ride was organised as part of the 10000kmcc collective. Check them out. Photos by Ele Suggett, Richard Frazier and myself.  You can download the routes here

Paria

(Pa-Rye-Ahh)

Noun1. An Outcast. A person who is rejected or cast out, as from home or society: In the beginning the area was settled by outcasts, adventurers and felons. 

Given the above, we would imagine you asking what it is the connection to cycling? 

Paria have always had a passion for the irreverent and alternative, whether this be design, attitude or even out look. They have prided themselves on this, but it means  sometimes ended up feeling like the odd one out.

Take this raison d’etre, and twin it with a keen eye for design and all things unconventional then you have the makings of Paria.

Their aim was borne out of a desire to deliver something fresh into the cycling market taking urban influences and attitude, coupled with the grit and fervor driven out of the Yorkshire countryside.

They want to design apparel which will deliver exceptional performance with no compromises in either technical ability or durability. Paria have made it their mission to design and manufacture top class apparel and kit which will take some stick and still look good.

How are they doing this? Rather than get a sweat shop of creatives and bespectacled hipsters, they are working with up and coming designers and artists from a range of disciplines; illustrators, digital specialists and bamboo tattoo artists.

The brand's ethos and attitude is something that sits well with many cyclists out there, as generally we are extroverts in our own ways. Paria and Ripcor have collaborated on two kits so far, the Richmond24 Jersey and the Gran Fondo Great Britain Ripcor kit. Both of these are availible to order for a limited time on the Paria website. 

Verve Infocrank

Infocrank have supported me for several months since Richmond24. Currently I have been using the double sided power meter on my Focus Izalco Pro 3.0 and bike computer across my bikes. The chain rings are Praxis Works which are installed onto my Focus Izalco Team. 

InfoCrank is loved by the pros and Institutes, but in reality it was designed for normal cyclists who want to improve their cycling performance. 

InfoCrank is a highly complex scientific unit, but its easy to install, setup and beautiful to ride. From start to finish of your ride, an InfoCrank bike power meter records true Left and Right power balance, Pedal Smoothness, Torque Effectiveness and Cadence – all without skipping a beat. All in all a fantastic device providing you with accurate data to train to.

The device is used by the UCI, British Cycling, One ProCycling and Dame Sarah Storey to name a few people who use the infocrank. 

For more information click here

London (Loch Fyne) to Paris

To celebrate Ripcor's 10th anniversary, we decided to do the first ride founders Treve Ripley and Sean Cornell rode together London (Loch Fyne in Ascot) to Paris.

Day 1- Loch Fyne to Newhaven

We started early doors outside Ripcor's dedicated clubhouse, AKA Loch Fyne in Ascot. Teams were sent off in waves to keep disruption on the roads to a minimum. Long flowing roads with a few climbs and multiple punctures lead to my group arriving at Newhaven last, but we made it in time for the ferry, which was our main worry. 

Day 2- Dieppe to Beauvais

Day 2, we compared shoes early on and set off from Dieppe loosely following an old railway line which runs straight into Beauvais. Long straight roads were our friends for the day, leading past fields of crop and animals. 

Occasionally met by small villages, farmer's shops, coffee stops and chateaus, there were plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the scenes around us. 

We arrived in Beauvais accompanied by yet more beautiful architecture and a great bar to prop up in until the rest of riders arrived. 

Day 3- Beauvais to Paris

Our final day, the homeward stretch into Paris, the opportunity to celebrate Ripcor's 10 years with all groups riding the majority of the ride together, Teams leading out their strongest sprinters for the town sign sprints, regular coffee pauses and chats and banter all the way.

Coffee stops were frequent, in an attempt to extend our final glory day of riding into the French capital. a moment to mix up with people you may not have seen much on previous days. The roads into Paris became congested and busy, but the excitement levels were high. All 37 of us made it on one piece (just) to achieve a ride set out by the two founders 10 years ago.

Chapeau Ripcor 

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SBC Cycles

Probably the raddest bike shop you will ever go into. 

Jamie (left) and Mark (right) the two owners of SBC both come with a wealth of experience, knowledge and love of all things bike (and Zuber) 

SBC Cycles is a truly independent bike shop in the heart of East London, situated a stones throw from Old Street Station and sit right in between Shoreditch, Hoxton, Hackney and Islington

They are just two mechanics with near debilitating bicycle addictions. They love all types of bikes from Carbon Road to Vintage Choppers to Full Sus MTB's and have a special passion for the rare and interesting parts of bicycle history.

They believe that riding bikes is not only the best transport and great exercise, its also FUN! and they think that going to a bike shop should be too.

The two met whilst working at Tokyo Fixed back in 2010 and realised they had a somewhat compulsive love of bikes, bicycle modification, riding everything and heavy music… With the seed planted they started working on the idea of opening our own space. These things never go as quickly as you think, but in 2015 launching our own bespoke workshop.

Having worked in a fair few bike shops in the past 10 years, they've taken all of the best bits from their previous jobs to create a destination store for cyclists, created by cyclists. The shop was designed and fitted out solely by them. Nearly all of the furniture and fixtures have been handcrafted and built from scratch using recycled and found materials.

They have a fully equipped professional workshop that can cater for any servicing and repairs. Along side that they specialise in custom bicycles and hand built wheels. They have the capacity to fix absolutely any mechanical issue that you may have, regardless of what type of bike you own. SBC stock a variety of parts for builds, along with componentry and upgrades across all cycling disciplines.

Their ideology behind the shop is based around adventures on bikes, whatever shape or form. Whether it’s shredding trails in a forest, riding track bikes on the street, day long road rides or touring the mountainous landscapes of the world. As long as it’s with a good group of friends."

Pop in. You have to make this your local bike shop.

Hunt Bike Wheels

I have been privileged to help test and collaborate with Tom and Peter for a while now, both on the 24, racing in Perth and out in Italy. We will also be collaborating on another exciting project in the near future. To give you some information on the brand:

WHY - The bike wheelsets we want to buy aren't easily available so we've made them. Peter and Tom Marchment, are avid cyclists and have years of experience in the UK bike industry sourcing and marketing bike components from around the world. Tom has worked with several leading performance wheel brands. This knowledge means HuntBikeWheels bring you the latest practical technology and thinking in all things round. Their hubs, spokes, rims, bearings and quick-releases are manufactured by leaders in each field and are then lovingly hand-built into outstanding wheels by experts with thousands of builds to their names.

THE CHASE - Most of their rides are currently on the road so that's where they began. The wheels used for the vast majority of road miles need to be fast, light weight, suitable for wider road tyres, durable, easily serviceable and provide excellent braking performance. They have become strong advocates for tubeless technology. Having tested tubeless extensively on and off road they know it provides you with noticeably improved ride quality, grip and puncture protection. All their wheels come tubeless ready, but work perfectly with standard tyres and tubes, and provide excellent specs and low weight. Plus you're future-proofed if you want to go tubeless later. Of course, the wheels have to look stunning yet sophisticated too. They don't spec down to a price point we just create the best wheels for each type of riding. 

THE PLAN - Their wheels are available to order through your local bike shop (just ask them to contact them) or purchase directly here at HuntBikeWheels.com, with international shipping available free of charge. They invest more in the details and significantly increase the specification of each component so Hunt wheels provide maximum performance to the rider. Their direct customer service means you will always be able to speak to a person and access the parts and servicing you need fast. Above all they want to create wheels and provide service you depend on, and allow you to perform to the highest level day-in day-out. They would love to hear how we can help you ride further and faster.