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# Chasing Wheels Cycling Blog

The journal of Alex Murray, one of Britain's least competitive cyclists

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## Posts

- [No fairytale finish for Mark Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/no-fairytale-finish-for-sir-mark-cavendish) - I've been lucky enough to witness Cavendish - the greatest male sprinter of all time - win the greatest sprint finish - Stage 21, Champs Elysees - on three occasions. That includes the spine-tingling 2012 win as World Champion - led out by the first British Tour winner, Bradley Wiggins, resplendent in the yellow jersey.
- [Women's U23 World Titles: create the slot, scale participation](https://chasingwheels.com/world-championships/womens-u23-world-titles-create-the-slot-scale-participation) - In 2022, the UCI has deemed it timely to create world title events for U23 Women in road race and time trial. Obviously, the best way to do this is to simply integrate the even into the existing Elite Women competitions. This innovative approach to giving rising stars the opportunity to shine - by potentially
- [Why the UCI needs to make more money](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/why-the-uci-needs-to-make-more-money) - Cor, the Tour of Beijing has ruffled feathers among the noisy few. For all the cries of despair, you'd think the world of cycling was coming to an end. I'm going to cut straight in: the value to the sport of accessing markets where cycling is a ingrained activity is vital for its survival. A
- [When the Tour of Britain rolled though...](https://chasingwheels.com/general/when-the-tour-of-briain-rolled-through) - So after my morning disaster I trotted down hoping to catch the back end of the women's support race and, of course, managed to miss it. I did get there in time to watch the Bob Chicken London GP where London Dynamo had plenty of riders showing well for what felt like a home fixture.
- [Dirty miles done cheap](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/dirty_miles_done_cheap) - After all the hemming and hawing over the weather I made a break for it last night and headed out to the park at dusk. The gates are shut to cars from nightfall making it an ideal time to get the miles in on virtually empty roads. There are only two hazards to worry about:
- [Undermining #cyclesafe by running red lights](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/undermining-cyclesafe-by-running-red-lights) - "Recently I approached a notoriously dangerous junction with the lights on red and a police car at the front of the queue. I knew that in half a second the lights would switch, that the other lanes were already at red and had stopped. I ran the red light. Blue lights flashed. I was fined
- [I hope you're getting a bike for Christmas](https://chasingwheels.com/gift-ideas/i-hope-youre-getting-a-bike-for-christmas) - Do children still get bikes for Christmas? I hope so. Christmas and birthday, the two times of the year when a child can ask for a bicycle and have a better than usual chance of getting one. But I think I'm going to gift my kid a mini bike with special made parts from https://www.tbparts.com/.
- [Help recycle a bicycle to Namibia](https://chasingwheels.com/video/help-recycle-a-bicycle-to-namibia) - I've not had enough time to write anything so far this week, but this dropped into my mailbox, so I thought I'd do my bit for what seems like a very good cause by posting it. Re~Cycle from See The Difference on Vimeo. See The Difference have teamed up with Re~Cycle, who have gathered 420
- [Chris Horner: the 'redneck' can write](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/chris-horner-the-redneck-can-write) - One of the joys of the internet age is that publishing is so swift and global that I can read stuff from news sources that I might never have known about. For example, The Oregonian is unlikely to be on the news stands of West London, but its internet presence oregonlive.com is available in my
- [The surface and the sensation of Richmond Park ruined](https://chasingwheels.com/richmond-park/the-surface-and-the-sensation-of-richmond-park-ruined) - You have to take advantage of the hot days when they come. So after work I rushed home to get changed and head out for three laps of Richmond Park which should be the best place in London to ride a bike. This is also the place where used cars logan ut dealers meet up.
- [Why competitive sport teaches you very little](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/why-competitive-sport-teaches-you-very-little) - I don't believe that focusing solely on bringing back competitive sport in schools is the answer. I believe that engaging children with high quality coaching and skills is far more important than them being able to show off their Win-Lose-Draw stats at the end of a year. One season's results are meaningless set against longer
- [Podcast episode 6 - Women's Tour and Giro 2014](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/podcast-episode-6-womens-tour-and-giro-2014) - Between here and the third week of July, it's hard to think of a more interesting and exciting week in the sport of professional cycling, to use a classic Sherwenism. The inaugural Women's Tour and the Giro d'Italia are both up for discussion. Is this the start of something big for women's cycling? Can the Giro defy expectations yet again?
- [Where is the saving in the cycle to work scheme?](https://chasingwheels.com/cycle-to-work/where-is-the-saving-in-the-cycle-to-work-scheme) - So after 12 months it's time to find out what the fair market value of my current Cyclescheme bike is. And the email suggests that HMRC are quite prepared to hump me for it. They suggest I should pay £250 as fair market value for the bicycle, around 27% of the original value. It's a
- [Raining on my race](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/raining-on-my-race) - No I didn't compete in my first criterium on Sunday because when I woke up it was absolutely shelling it down. Cowardice or common sense? I'd opt for the latter. I haven't done one before but from what I've read Cat 3/4/Novice races can get a little messy in good conditions so I really didn't
- [Some of the things Sir Bradley Wiggins might say to Andrew Marr about Grand Tour TUEs](https://chasingwheels.com/olympics/london-2012/some-of-the-things-sir-bradley-wiggins-might-say-to-andrew-marr-about-grand-tour-tues) - Coming this weekend exclusively on #marr - @OfficialWIGGINS tells @AndrewMarr9 why he took triamcinolone. BBC1 9am, Sunday. pic.twitter.com/pjdqmYuqdg — Rob Burley (@RobBurl) September 23, 2016 I could have misjudged XIX Management's strategy on this, but their game now is re-positioning Wiggins as a mainstream "inspirational" lifestyle brand. That's why they've chosen Marr and not a
- [Brad Wiggins wears Maglia Rosa the right way](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/brad-wiggins-wears-maglia-rosa-the-right-way) - I believe that the great jerseys of cycling look best with black shorts. It's good to see that Bradley Wiggins agrees, judging by his decision to wear the Maglia Rosa on stage two with black shorts. That's a great image by Michel Bakkenes on Flickr. Really love the motion in the picture and the desaturated
- [5 things you should know about that Colombian cycling kit](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/5-things-you-should-know-about-that-colombian-cycling-kit) - 1. It's not the national team or the national team kit It's the colours of IDRD-Bogotá Humana-San Mateo-Solgar, who the Colombian Federation proudly announced would be competing in the Giro Del Toscana 2. It's not flesh or nude, it's gold There are numerous tweets to this effect from people who have been paying attention. Lycra done
- [In defence of Paul Kimmage](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/in-defence-of-paul-kimmage) - "Our freedom of speech is freedom or death We got to fight the powers that be" - Chuck D Paul Kimmage is an exemplary journalist. A cantankerous goat he may be at times, but he is an incredible journalist with an ability to get inside an athlete's head that makes me weep with envy. I've written
- [Here's why Sky should have invested in a British Women's team](https://chasingwheels.com/british-cycling/heres-why-sky-should-have-invested-in-a-british-womens-team) - Because women control the vast majority of consumer purchase decisions in the household 70-80% was the figure I was told by Bob Stapleton, owner of High Road Sports in 2011 - HTC-Colombia - on the process of searching for new sponsors. You don't believe me? Try Bridget Brennan writing in Forbes: Women drive 70-80% of
- [Does British cycling have a problem with women?](https://chasingwheels.com/british-cycling/does-british-cycling-have-a-problem-with-women) - So, we're here again, debating sexism and British Cycling. https://twitter.com/leguape/status/724854583600799745 Nicole's article contains a more analytical and well-evidenced case. That GB's women did not have access to the ultra-aero UKSI bikes for London 2012 road races, what can you say? Look at the gold medal potential in that women's squad - Cooke, Pooley, Armistead -
- [The joy of Gary Imlach's Tour de France coverage](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/the-joy-of-gary-imlachs-tour-de-france-coverage) - Gary Imlach has been part of my summer for 20 years now, so it feels right to praise one of the best broadcasters in sport. A carrier bag for a hat The image of him defying the elements - a thunderous storm in Northern Spain - with a carrier bag for a hat is burned
- [London 2007 v Yorkshire 2014 - Tour de France compared](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/london-2007-v-yorkshire-2014-tour-de-france-compared) - So the report into Yorkshire (and London and Cambridge) hosting the Grand Depart 2014 has finally surfaced. You can read the full report here as a PDF file . Here's the equivalent summary for London 2007 which is worth re-reading as a comparison. Over the first two days Yorkshire had 2.3m unique spectators across the two Yorkshire
- [Farewell the mighty Emma Pooley](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/farewell-the-mighty-emma-pooley) - #149177043 / gettyimages.com Big scoop for Sarah Connolly to get Emma Pooley's retirement story for Rouleur. I interviewed Emma a few times back in 2009, when I had time to write about women's cycling. On one occasion she called me back from a train in Switzerland, apologised for missing my call - she was in
- [Do Yorkshire's Tour de France sums add up?](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/do-yorkshires-tour-de-france-sums-add-up) - Do Yorkshire's Tour de France sums add up? I'm not certain the hope of their claims can be matched by the expectations of reality.
- [10 things to be excited about in cycling in 2014](https://chasingwheels.com/women/10-things-to-be-excited-about-in-cycling-in-2014) - There's plenty to look forward to in 2014, including the possibility of this podcast happening more than last year. So here's a run down of ten things, in no particular order, that you should be looking forward to in cycling this year.
- [Podcast Episode 5 - Just in time for Paris-Roubaix](https://chasingwheels.com/listening/podcast-listening/podcast-episode-5-just-in-time-for-paris-roubaix) - After too much coffee and - appropriately enough - a Belgian bun, I rattle though some choice morsels in episode 5 of the eternally delayed and somewhat infrequent Chasing Wheels podcast: Paris-Roubaix, betting, Women's World Cup coverage, Fleche Wallonne coverage, Contador back on form, and Great Britain gets ready to stand by its roadsides.
- [Europe is not the answer](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/europe-is-not-the-answer) - So, according to VeloNews, what cycling needs is more races in shrinking markets with shrinking capital investment, not new races in growing markets with growing capital investment.
- [What is the challenge facing British Cycling and Sir Dave Brailsford?](https://chasingwheels.com/british-cycling/what-is-the-challenge-facing-british-cycling-and-sir-dave-brailsford) - Winning Le Tour De France with a British rider was the stated purpose of Team Sky from the outset. How has that challenge changed, or did they think they'd fluke it once and that would be it?
- [The church of the high mountain](https://chasingwheels.com/mountains/the-church-of-the-high-mountain) - Roland Barthes wrote of the Tour de France as being in the tradition of epic. Yet there is much to be said for the race as in the tradition of religious experience. It is perhaps most evident in the veneration of the mountains and the sanctification of those whose glory shines upon them. According to
- [Episode 3: At last there's racing to talk about!](https://chasingwheels.com/listening/podcast-listening/episode-3-at-last-theres-racing-to-talk-about) - Track Worlds reviewed; Het Nieuwsblad in brief; RCS starts a revival in Rome; World Series Cycling, will it never go away?; Truth and Reconsiliation, what does it really mean?; The UCI's secret life as a Russian doll; Death on the public highway in Central London - the solutions are obvious.
- [Episode 2: The Qatar is operational!](https://chasingwheels.com/listening/podcast-listening/episode-2-the-qatar-is-operational) - Farewell Sandro Carrea; Nicole Cooke retires; Wiggle Honda - new teams, great, but what about the infrastructure?; Tour of Qatar - Al-Jazeera runs women's race live, so why is it so difficult for others?; Yet another chance to talk about Lance Armstrong; Parliamentary Inquiry - will it get Britain cycling or put it on the wrong path?
- [Episode 1: New year, new podcast](https://chasingwheels.com/listening/podcast-listening/episode-1-new-year-new-podcast) - For your listening pleasure: A change of kit for teams and riders, some more significant than others; More races fold, organisers follow the money to Arabia - The Tour of Qatar, more interesting than you think; Armstrong, in brief, very brief; Why I'm excited about MTN-Qhubeka and their Algerian hardman; Commuting, casual riding, whatever - are there more of them out there already?
- [Racing Through The Dark - David Millar interview](https://chasingwheels.com/listening/podcast-listening/racing-through-the-dark-david-millar-interview) - An interview with David Millar from June 2011 about his book, Racing Through the Dark: The Fall and Rise of David Millar, which charts his career up to his return to the sport after his doping ban. We discuss his own career, doping and what the future holds for cycling.
- [World Series Cycling a masterclass in how not to tell exciting stories](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/world-series-cycling-a-masterclass-in-how-not-to-tell-exciting-stories) - A while ago, I was trying to write something about the UCI, breakaway leagues/calendar reform and revenues. I became so bored researching it, I gave up. But seeing as the UCI seems determined to chase around after a billionaire's loose change in return for control, I thought I'd muse afresh. A memorandum of understanding, if
- [Team Sky zero tolerance policy or how not to address reality](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/team-sky-zero-tolerance-policy-or-how-not-to-address-reality) - Team Sky has never had an active zero tolerance policy, Team Sky has always had a zero tolerance policy on doping. Team Sky would like you to know from their statement that "Team Sky has had a clear position on doping from the very start. We are a clean team and have shown it is
- [Lance Armstrong and the death of a romantic dream](https://chasingwheels.com/lance-armstrong/lance-armstrong-and-the-death-of-a-romantic-dream) - (Photo by Tom Raftery, used under Attribution-Share Alike Creative Commons) I watched Lance Armstrong's first Tour de France victory through a blinding haze of alcohol, in the blazing heat of a summer of celebration in France. I was teaching English at Cavilam in Vichy, having just graduated from Manchester University, so it was a final
- [Why winning bike races can make you unpopular with the public](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/2012/why-winning-bike-races-can-make-you-unpopular-with-the-public) - A lot of flak is hovering around the Team Sky bus right now with questions about transparency, employees and results going off all over. Bradley Wiggins is the most obvious target of much of the incoming fire, in particular over his hotheaded outburst in a press conference and his perceived indifference to the question of
- [3 things from 3 Tour de France stages](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/3-things-from-3-tour-de-france-stages) - 1. Team Sky have not become self-aware For all their dominance in the run-up to the Tour, they seem to be lacking the confidence to place Wiggins in the posh seats at the front. Sending back multiple riders to try and bring Froome back up as Plan B showed their hand far too early. On
- [We need to talk about Frank](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/we-need-to-talk-about-frank) - There's been widespread questioning of Andy Schleck's ability to be competitive at the Tour de France 2012 after a disastrous Dauphiné which saw him abandon, succumbing to the effects of a crash in the time trial. The Dauphin, dethroned at the Dauphiné, if you will. (I managed to type that entire passage with a straight
- [Some recommended cycling reading](https://chasingwheels.com/blogs-2/some-recommended-cycling-reading) - I've not had much time to write recently so, in lieu of silence or half-baked wittering from me, here's some recommended reading to fill your time with. I've skipped twitter and obvious blogs, as well as magazines. This is a short list of some of the places I like to visit on my interwebs wanderings.
- [Bad habits in the Benelux - the wayward learning of Andy Schleck](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/bad-habits-in-the-benelux-the-wayward-learning-of-andy-schleck) - Andy Schleck has probably forgotten more about bike riding than most of us will ever learn. but the one thing he is yet to learn is perhaps the lesson he most needs: Success begets success. Image by Jean Pierre Belot on Flickr (Having typed that, I'm suddenly doubtful. Most of us can: get down a
- [Hi-Viz yellow, a blot and a blight on the landscape](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/hi-viz-yellow-a-blot-and-a-blight-on-the-landscape) - If tomorrow you burn your hi-Viz jacket or bib, then you will have done something to restore a little bit of beauty to the experience of cycling
- [What we learned from the London Track World Cup](https://chasingwheels.com/track-2/what-we-learned-from-the-london-track-world-cup) - Who better to show you around the new London Velodrome than cycling addict Sir Paul Smith? Percy Pigs are the food of champions Lizzie Armitstead ate no less that five of them, doesn't seem to do her any harm. I ate three bags and don't seem to have suffered either. If you put in a
- [Presenting Radish Hack Nissen Hut and other follies](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/presenting-radish-hack-nissen-hut-and-other-follies) - So there was Leopard Trek, a laughable example of what happens when you try to create brilliance by focus group. And there was Radioshack, a magnificent monument to the total indifference of Johan Bruyneel and his cohorts to any other than simple pleasure of getting paid. One was packed with "winning talent", but couldn't find
- [This is how you do Urban Cyclocross](https://chasingwheels.com/video/this-is-how-you-do-urban-cyclocross) - Smashing video from the mighty Morvelo which deserves to go on here rather than just on the Chasing Wheels Tumblr which is where I find I'm posting a fair bit of quick and dirty pix'n'vidz at the moment.
- [The prologue seen from an ASO car](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/the-prologue-seen-from-an-aso-car) - Great video here from a chap I know: View from an official ASO car as Alexandre Botcharov rides the Tour de France prologue in London, 7th July 2007 from Alex Balfour and Vimeo.
- [Mark Cavendish winning Stage 21](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/mark-cavendish-winning-stage-21) - Here's a short Youtube clip from yesterday's stage 21 finish in Paris on Les Champs Elysees. We were in the press area up near the 100 metre board and I've never been so excited to be at a bike race. Didn't see the mistake by Garmin or "Big" George Hincapie derailing their effort to break
- [All hail Dario Pegoretti, master craftsman](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/all-hail-dario-pegoretti-master-craftsman) - Via @mattseaton and Nowness. Matt is still waiting on his Marcelo (I forget whether it was that or a Responsorium he was getting), which he was sure he'd see by summer when I asked him about it at Herne Hill before Christmas. You can't really hurry these things though, can you?
- [Stage 17 of Tour de France 2010 - How tough?](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/stage-17-of-tour-de-france-2010-how-tough) - While riding the Etape du Tour, I also found time to make a video report for BBC Sport You can watch it on the BBC Cycling site: Tour de France 2010: How tough is the Col du Tourmalet? My favourite shot in the whole piece is at about 01:00 in as we climbed the Marie-Blanque.
- [The Hour by Graeme Obree for Mr Jones Watches](https://chasingwheels.com/video/the-hour-by-graeme-obree-for-mr-jones-watches) - The Hour - TL from Mr Jones on Vimeo. "I wanted to use words that would instill a sense of value that an hour is a unit of time to be or do or think or act in some way that makes us realise its passing. In a subtle way to instill a sense of
- [HTC and Specialized show how to do team branding well](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/htc-and-specialized-show-how-to-do-team-branding-well) - Their 2011 kit may be unspeakably bland - black shorts do not a "retro-inspired" kit make - but the HTC-Highroad team and the riders aren't. They swear, they laugh, they are funny. The are not robots who just ride bikes. It's something that Specialized have recognised in these clips for the squad. It's the perfect
- [Trek get driven for Team Leopard-Trek](https://chasingwheels.com/video/trek-get-driven-for-team-leopard-trek) - In the last decade, Trek have been pretty good at backing Tour de France winners. The likelihood is that the three million euro they've put on the name Andy/Frank Schleck and Team Leopard-Trek will ensure that they continue to do so in 2011. They've come up with the now-obligatory narrative video campaign to show how
- [Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke broaden their appeal](https://chasingwheels.com/video/victoria-pendleton-and-nicole-cooke-broaden-their-appeal) - Victoria Pendleton is the face of Hovis, the breadmakers with a long association with cycling. They were the original sponsor of Freewheel which has now morphed into Skyride and their 1970s campaign featuring a baker's boy and his bike is a part of Britain's cultural history. Here she is fronting their current healthy eating campaign:
- [Rapha + Paul Smith SS11 video promo](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rapha-paul-smith-ss11-video-promo) - (Via Racefietsblog.nl) Not sure why I didn't notice this earlier. Rapha + Paul Smith SS11 from RAPHA on Vimeo.http://www.rapha.cc/shop/paul-smith Director: Ben Ingham Photography: Ben Ingham and Patrick Scola Editor: Owynne Dawkins Sound: Soundfly
- [The way of the Keirin](https://chasingwheels.com/video/the-way-of-the-keirin) - A fascinating documentary on Keirin from Nowness by Jonathan de Villiers. It shows how it has its own culture in Japan which extends far beyond just being a bike race. Keirin: Speed Racers on Nowness.com. These sort of documentaries always seem to work better when the person making them goes in cold and without much
- [Champagne Charlott' and their amazing kit](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/champagne-charlott-and-their-amazing-kit) - Even Mario Cipollini would be jealous. He only ever managed to go as far as having Pamela Anderson taped to his stem. In case you're wondering, Charlott' is a direct sales lingerie company, and Club Champagne Charlott' are the cycling team formerly known as UV Aube who Yauheni Hutarovich and Anthony Roux both rode for
- [Bike vs Buck video - biker gets taken down by Antelope](https://chasingwheels.com/video/bike-vs-buck-biker-gets-taken-down-by-antelope) - (via Competitive Cyclist on Twitter) Puts into perspective the risks people run with deer crossing the road in Richmond Park. Actually it seems there's a seriously aggro badger that's been taking people out recently.
- [My Pegoretti Marcelo: The Thin White Duke](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/my-pegoretti-marcelo-the-thin-white-duke) - At last my dream bike is complete: A Pegoretti Marcelo. It's to bike ownership what a Chanel 2:55 is to handbags: a timeless classic piece of artisanal craft whose quality is evident but not showy. Ordered in January 2011 and finally delivered today, it's been a lengthy process but never a fraught one thanks to
- [Analysis: How Great Britain won the world championship for Mark Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/analysis-how-great-britain-won-the-world-championship-for-mark-cavendish) - What more is there to add? There have been few more impressive displays of teamwork in the history of the Worlds. Lionel Birnie wrote about Project Rainbow, Rod Ellingworth's plan, in 2008, when pretty much everyone in the world thought Great Britain would never really challenge the big nations on the road. Well on Sunday,
- [Ways to celebrate the Leopard Trek-Radioshack Merger](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/ways-to-celebrate-the-leopard-trek-radioshack-merger) - I started with this on twitter last night, got a few retweets, so I thought I'd pull them all together into one blog post and add a few more. I'll leave it up to devine which factual events I'm referring to. And yes, these all relate to things that have occurred or been done by
- [Is cycling really worth that much to the UK?](https://chasingwheels.com/business/is-cycling-really-worth-that-much-to-the-uk) - This week nearly every cycling publication, and most of the mainstream press to boot, reported that cycling is worth nearly £3 billion to the UK economy and growing. The ever-eloquent Dynamite Files sounded a note of caution that I've not seen in many other places: "2 NO CHANGE The London School of Economics The world
- [The absurd and depressing end of High Road Sports](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/the-absurd-and-depressing-end-of-high-road-sports) - (Team HTC-Highroad have thrown in the towel on finding a new sponsor, picture by Natalie on Flickr) Well the hyenas will be cackling this morning, but no one with an interest in the long-term sustainability of cycling as an elite sport should be anything less than profoundly grim faced: High Road Sports is to pull
- [Tour de France 2011 stage 21 photos](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2011-stage-21-photos) - Here's the first few off the camera. Will upload and tag more later.
- [Praise and honour from the first to the last](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/praise-and-honour-from-the-first-to-the-last) - The greatest paradox of the Tour de France is that there is almost as much praise and honour to be accorded to the last placed rider as the first. Thomas Voeckler has set up a fascinating final week by defending his position in the yellow jersey. If the Tour wanted to reset the balance and
- [Bastille Day at Le Tour, fireworks guaranteed](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/bastille-day-at-le-tour-fireworks-guaranteed) - Look at little Tommy Voeckler in yellow back in 2004, doesn't he look full of boyish energy? Photo by by Simon Aughton, on Flickr, used under Creative Commons licence. Christian Prudhomme will be counting his blessings this Bastille Day, 14th July. I don't think he could have imagined it working out so well when
- [Are the Schlecks really that afraid of Contador or just a bit hypocritical?](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/contador-ftw-over-fearful-schlecks) - Alberto Contador is a great bike rider. You can disagree if you like but his record as a Grand Tour rider calls you an idiot. Great riders win the Tour de France repeatedly, something he has done already. Reed Albergotti in the WSJ outlines the inconvenient truth of his talent. I want Alberto Contador to win
- [Tour de France selection - my 9 to watch](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-selection-my-9-to-watch) - While Directeurs sportifs have been making difficult choices, I've got the liberty of not having to choose from the riders I'm paying. So here's the nine riders I've selected to ride in the colours of Chasing Wheels (basically La Vie Claire vandalised with a marker pen and tippex). We might be a bit light in
- [So who does BMC Soigneur Sven Schoutteten know?](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/so-who-does-bmc-soigneur-sven-schoutteten-know) - View "So who does BMC Soigneur Sven Schoutteten knows?" on Storify
- [Tour de France infographic](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-infographic) - Nearly there! Thanks to Greg Jensen for sending me this. Yes, it's an ad for USDish, a satellite dish installer/retailer, but it's a cracking visualisation. But better still are these mugs from the magnificent London hostelry that is Look Mum No Hands!. £15 for the set.
- [The only critical mass that matters](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/the-only-critical-mass-that-matters) - It's Team Green Britain Bike Week, another of those pointless ghettoising weeks that litter the calendar, like National Doughnut Week. One week of the year when a PR company tries to place cycling stories so that everyone can forget about them for the rest of the year. Media organisations hate these sort of things and editors
- [David Millar, Racing Through the Dark interview and review](https://chasingwheels.com/books/david-millar-racing-through-the-dark-interview-and-review) - I spoke to David Millar while he was doing his press tour of the UK. Unfortunately my interview didn't run as planned but, in keeping with my policy of publishing where I can, I've decided to put the interview out here, unabridged. I spent a lot of time arranging the interview in my spare time
- [Gerard Vroomen hits the mark with Contador and Schleck, but misses Riis](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/gerard-vroomen-hits-the-mark-with-contador-and-schleck-but-misses-riis) - Since getting shuffled out as CEO of Cervelo, Gerard Vroomen seems to have become a lot more outspoken about the top tier of cycle sport. This section in an interview with Cyclingnews, about the tipping point in the relationship between CSC and Cervelo as well as the Contador case, is very telling and a point
- [The Giro 2011: It's all about Alberto Contador, except when it isn't](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/the-giro-2011-its-all-about-alberto-contador-except-when-it-isnt) - Contador has been the dominant force in the race for the Maglia Rosa in the Giro d'Italia 2011, no doubt about it. But comparing it to all the other Grand Tours he has won reveals a more interesting story. Take the time gap between first (Contador) to tenth in each case: Tour de France 2007:
- [Strange coincidences in the world of anti-doping](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/strange-coincidences-in-the-world-of-anti-doping) - First, last week there was a report from EU Athletes on the relative success of Wada's anti-doping effort described in the press release thus: "The report, 'Adverse Analyzing', raises serious questions about the foundation of evidence behind current anti doping rules." I've read through the Executive Summary briefly and looked at the Final Report but
- [Crystal Palace: one for the scrapbook](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/crystal-palace/crystal-palace-one-for-the-scrapbook) - First week of the massively popular Crystal Palace Tuesday night race series, held in Crystal Palace Park. I got nerfed and then struggled to stay on the pace from the outset so ended up racing in a grupetto which was frustrating as I didn't need to be back there. Highlight of the evening was watching
- [Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2011: What riders are thinking about infographic](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/liege-bastogne-liege-2011-what-riders-are-thinking-about-infographic)
- [The Grand Illusion: doping has changed](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/the-grand-illusion-doping-has-changed) - This is part of a series of posts on what I think are illusions that have grown up over the years around cycling. For further reading, you can do no better than read the section in Roland Barthes Mythologies and Benjo Maso's excellent The Sweat of the Gods: Myths and Legends of Bicycle Racing. Doping
- [When is doping not doping?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/when-is-doping-not-doping) - When it's doing dope (spliff/herb/ganga/weed) in Downhill Mountain Bike racing. Or when you're a footballer. For no particular reason (other than reading up on statute of limitations) I was browsing the UK Sport site and came across their list of closed cases for doping. Skipping to the bit that I found curious: apparently until 2006
- [Don't call it a comeback](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/dont-call-it-a-comeback) - Now Alexandre Vinokourov wants back in on the top flight of cycling. Is there anyone, apart from Jan Ullrich, who hasn't served a ban or banishment from the pro peloton who doesn't want to seek redemption on the road? You've got Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso and Floyd Landis all confirmed as returning to the elite
- [New positives, same negatives](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/new-positives-same-negatives) - Stefan Schumacher and Leonardo Piepoli coming up positive has barely registered a raised eyebrow of surprise in the cycling world. Ghoulish Leo had already confessed so it was just a matter of waiting for that box to be ticked while Schumi's time-trial performances at Le Tour proved to be too good to be true. For
- [What's wrong with retroactive testing](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/whats-wrong-with-retroactive-testing) - I've got a real problem with this retroactive testing. Exactly where does it stop and who does it benefit? You're the guy who has been cheated out of a gold medal earning opportunities, are you going to put your career on hold to go through the hell of court proceedings just because the IOC/UCI/ASO and
- [Tunes to ride to, episode 2, plus Ashenden v Armstrong](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/tunes-to-ride-to-episode-2-plus-ashenden-v-armstrong) - Here's another batch of five, available from amazon.co.uk and currently on my iPod (other mp3 players are available). Amazon.co.uk Widgets Today's ride was punctuated by a puncture and coffee so not the most profitable but I'm still gradually working my way towards the very distant goal of "being race fit". Right now I'm currently distracting
- [Ashenden, Armstrong, Kimmage](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/ashenden-armstrong-kimmage) - Somehow I seem to have a rather high googlerank if you are searching for the Michael Ashenden interview from NY velocity in which he examines the evidence around Lance Armstrong and his 1999 Tour De France samples and the states that: "So there is no doubt in my mind he (Lance Armstrong) took EPO during
- [As Le Tour approaches so does doping scandal](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/as-le-tour-approaches-so-does-doping-scandal) - Once you become a fan of professional bike racing, your year develops a pattern based around the race calendar. It shapes your moods and expectations, how focused you are at work, who you dream of being on the bike. It starts with the early season warm-up races, maybe takes in Tour Down Under or Tour
- [Anne Gripper is alive! And the blood passports may deliver](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/anne-gripper-is-alive-and-the-blood-passports-may-deliver) - We're into the first week of June and the clouds of war gather ever faster around the Tour De France. There's three stories that you should read to understand where cycling is heading between now and July. 1. Bernard Kohl's doping confession in L'Equipe and his claim "The first ten should have been positive" via
- [Biological passports: Is that it?](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/biological-passports-is-that-it-1) - Five riders named as having produced values irregular enough to warrant sanction was never going to be enough to meet expectations that had built up over months. I think my initial reaction on twitter summed it up pretty well: "@stephenfarrand Not even enough to qualify as anti-climatic. at least Fofanov had the decency to be
- [The hubris of dopers: can it be stopped?](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/the-hubris-of-dopers-can-it-be-stopped) - The most compelling reason riders dope is that they don't think they'll get caught. It's nothing to do with the winning, it's all about the perceived risk of sanction. Joe Lindsey expounded on this in the Boulder Report: Read "Can Black Swans Stop Doping?" Of course he was talking about Danilo Di Luca getting busted.
- [Fizik saddles advertising EPIC FAIL!](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/fizik-saddles-advertising-epic-fail) - I don't usually berate road cycling adverts for getting it wrong because I think the standard is so ridiculous across the entire industry, stretching from shamefully bad to well-intended disaster. I've never understood the obsessions with Tron pseudo-science and heritage in road cycling advertising. They are at the root of why road has failed to
- [Breaking the wheel: time for cycling to find its Kerry Packer?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/breaking-the-wheel-time-for-cycling-to-find-its-kerry-packer) - I've avoided poking the road rash on the rump of professional cycling that is the Floyd Landis case. Nobody has ever thanked the ninety-nine-millionth-and-one person who says "look you seem to have fallen off" while prodding the weeping flesh. Instead I recommend you read the following articles: "When Floyd Landis last week accused several top
- [Some questions about Alberto Contador that I need answers for](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/some-questions-about-alberto-contador-that-i-need-answers-for-1) - Is this a credible explanation or a plausible explanation? Where I have questions is over whether this is credible - worthy of being believed - or only plausible - having the appearance of truth. My default setting is to trust an athlete's defence until I'm proved otherwise. The problem with the strict liability of the
- [Analysing the Sports Illustrated Case Against Lance Armstrong](https://chasingwheels.com/lance-armstrong/analysing-the-sports-illustrated-case-against-lance-armstrong) - It's been much anticipated as the article to illuminate the key themes of the third act of the life of Lance Armstrong. As the crescendo builds and the fat lady draws a deep breath, I'm going to pick out what I think are the key themes in Sports Illustrated's The Case Against Lance Armstrong The
- [On doping and other matters, some articles you should read](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/on-doping-and-other-matters-some-articles-you-should-read) - The latest edition of Procycling has turned up, cover is "The inside story behind the creation of" Team Laypreacher-Trunk, not a single mention of women's professional cycling again. So here's some articles that I've been reading that you should read. Contador, Clenbuterol and cows The best article you will read this week comes from one
- [We're back in 2008 as Ricco faces failure](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/were-back-in-2008-as-ricco-faces-failure) - Here's a meme I prepared earlier: Riccardo Ricco Epic Fail. A lot earlier. Like July 2008 earlier. Then I wrote of the hubris of Riccardo Ricco. I stand by what I said then "Don’t bother searching for culprits in systematic doping, teams, managers, soigneurs or any of the other diversions from the ultimate truth: the ego
- [How Paul Kimmage changed the game of cycling journalism](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/how-paul-kimmage-changed-the-game-of-cycling-journalism) - In 1990, Paul Kimmage stuck his head above the parapet and published his account of his time as a professional cyclist, Rough Ride. It changed cycling journalism. In 2011, Kimmage once again changed cycling journalism in a fundamental way. Except it went largely unremarked. "P.K Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow. Do you have a preferred
- [An open letter to professional riders on the subject of speaking out about doping](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/an-open-letter-to-profesional-riders-on-the-subject-of-speaking-out-about-doping) - Dear riders, Some of you have been remarkably outspoken on the fate of one of your number, forcefully damning one idiot. Sadly you seem to equally reticent to condemn another, well, idiot. I'm sure you don't need me to put the names here for us all to be familiar with the situations I am typing
- [Say adios to steak-frites Alberto Contador](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/say-adios-to-steak-frites-alberto-contador) - (Photo by Sifu Renka on Flickr, used under Creative Commons licence) There are few culinary delights in this world which can match the pleasure of steak-frites done properly. It's the great constant of French cuisine that you can order anywhere and know that even the most pastis-pickled commis is unlikely to get it wrong. And
- [What Pat McQuaid is really thinking](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/what-pat-mcquaid-is-really-thinking)
- [The myth of the green cyclist](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/the-myth-of-the-green-cyclist) - There are many stereotypes which come up time and again when cycling is discussed: red-light jumpers, lycra louts, mid-life crisis on carbon and - the one I hate the most - the environmentally-aware commuter. It comes up, alongside the others, in a BBC News article on the whats and wherefore of proposed legislation to add
- [Geraint Thomas on The Classics - bonus edition](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/geraint-thomas-on-the-classics-bonus-edition) - My article for BBC Sport is online now, in time for Milan San-Remo. It features quotes from an interview with Geraint Thomas, who tips Mark Cavendish: Read Mark Cavendish tipped to impress at Milan-San Remo on BBC Sport As ever with journalism, there was plenty of material that didn't make the final edit, so here's
- [Radio feedback](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/radio-feedback) - Before I decided to waste entire days in the futile pursuit of riding my bike at a speed not fast enough to be deemed competitive, I used to play guitar. If I could find my cheap Squier telecaster among the bike wheels I'd probably start playing it again. Like every self-respecting wannabe I was in
- [For sale on ebay: cycle computers](https://chasingwheels.com/components/for-sale-on-ebay-cycle-computers) - Having a clearout of my parts box. So it turns out I've got a few cycle computers that I don't need and which need a home. Buy a Cateye Strada wired cycle computer on Ebay Buy a Cateye Astrale 8 wired cycle computer with cadence on Ebay
- [Ride because it makes your life richer](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/ride-because-it-makes-your-life-richer) - A couple of blog posts recently have encouraged me to think about why I love cycling and why I ride my bike. Work has been tough recently and the bike has been a nice place away from the newsroom, which can be both grim and elating in the same breath. Firstly, Michael Barry of Team
- [Get your first taste of racing this weekend](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/get-your-first-taste-of-racing-this-weekend) - This Saturday marks the beginning of the road season in the South East for many amateurs. If you've not raced before then the London Dynamo Beginners' Race is a brilliant way to decide if it's for you. The club has been organising these for a few years now on the Chertsey/Longcross circuit as part of
- [Return of the classic Selle Royal Aeroyal saddle](https://chasingwheels.com/components/return-of-the-classic-selle-royal-aeroyal-saddle) - If you're a bike rider of a certain age, then this saddle is part of your youth. The Selle Royal Aeroyal saddle was what you stuck on your BMX to replace the saddle it came with. In my case it was a red Aeroyal that sat on my Raleigh Burner Mark II. I miss that
- [Cycling BASIC](https://chasingwheels.com/technique/cycling-basic) - 10 INPUT left pedal 20 INPUT right pedal RUN 10 UPDATE 01/02/2011 My friend Stephen suggests: 10 INPUT LeftPedal 20 INPUT RightPedal 30 GOTO 10 RUN or 10 REPEAT 20 INPUT LeftPedal 30 INPUT RightPedal 40 UNTIL FALSE
- [Fred Perry polo shirt homage to the classic Ford France jersey of Jacques Anquetil](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/fred-perry-homage-to-the-classic-ford-france-jersey-of-jacques-anquetil) - Lovely looking Fred Perry polo shirt spotted over on Selectism. There's something about it which reminds me strongly of the classic Ford France-Gitane kit worn by Anquetil in 1965 (and the fantastic Brit, Vin Denson). Not available until autumn/winter 2011 and no more details on where it will be available. Hello Fred Perry PR, if you're
- [The most amazing goodie bag of Liquigas kit arrived today](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/the-most-amazing-goodie-bag-of-liquigas-kit-arrived-today) - My friend Perry is one lucky man: His day job is playing guitar in Pendulum which means he gets to rock it on a regular basis. It also means he has plenty of time to ride his bikes (he has several lovely ones to choose from). And he's friends with Manuel Quinziato, which means he
- [Does Bradley Wiggins call Juan Antonio Norman Stanley Flecha?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/does-bradley-wiggins-call-juan-antonio-norman-stanley-flecha) - Clearly one of the most important questions in cycling. Now it has been asked of the spanish archer and we know the answer: With thanks to Cycling Weekly for allowing that past the idiot filter.
- [Did no one tell Team Radioshack about the 2011 kit rules?](https://chasingwheels.com/video/did-no-one-tell-team-radioshack-about-the-2011-kit-rules) - Whispering Pines on Wheels, AKA Team Lance, AKA The Shack, AKA Grave Avoiders CC, AKA The Rolling Bones. Team Radioshack, previously owners of one of 2010's ugliest kits, now owners of a refreshed, newly-curated kit for 2011. Looks like they missed the UCI memo on team kit for 2011: "All kit shall be predominantly black
- [The 2011 Men's professional peloton as seen from above](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/the-2011-mens-professional-peloton-as-seen-from-above) - Black seems to be the colour of choice this season: Lazy, unimaginative, corporate, dull. So (with apologies for my own lazy murdering of the flipflopflyin' style) here's what those helicopter shots of the Tour will look like this year. I've thrown in red and green for the sake of BMC Racing and Liquigas Cannondale and
- [Predictions for professional cycling in 2010: the bad news](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/predictions-for-professional-cycling-in-2010) - Of the top 20 riders in the UCI rankings, at least one will not start the Tour de France in July for reasons other than injury I was going to go with top 10 at the Tour de France 2009 but that ruled out some of the more interesting stories that could develop this season,
- [Svein Tuft, un rouleur romantique](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/svein-tuft-un-rouleur-romantique) - If Svein Tuft didn't exist then someone would have written him into the literary history of cycling. Juliet Macur paints a beautiful portrait in her New York Times article 'Canadian Rider Has Made Unorthodox Climb to the Top'. In an era where British Cycling is deciding who will become a champion at an age when
- [Christmas gift haul](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/christmas-gift-haul) - Clearly the letter writing campaign worked!
- [And so it begins...](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/and_so_it_begins) - Nervously hunched over the laptop in late December, wondering whether this slight niggle in the lower back is going to ruin my preparation. Asking myself why on earth I've signed up to ride the gruelling Etape Du Tour 2006: up the Col D'Izoard, then onto Lauttaret and finally, after 160km, having to summon up every
- [Got to have a strategy](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/got_to_have_a_strategy) - I'm not sure if I buy into this notion that it'll take me six months to get in the sort of shape I need to be in for the one ride. Or maybe I'm just looking for excuses not to do the kilometres. What I am looking for is time to get on the bike
- [First ride of the year](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/first_ride_of_the_year) - Do not let anyone ever convince you that "recovery drinks" taste palatable in any way. I just tried the vanilla-flavoured Science in Sport Rego in my trial pack I bought and, good god! It was down the sink faster than it took to make it. I'm going to have to find something more palatable for
- [Early loss of motivation](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/early_loss_of_motivation) - Because of poor sleep my head is still all foggy mid-afternoon and having ventured out of the office to grab my lunch I realised that it seems to be cold enough out to freeze vodka solid. Not ideal conditions for going out for a ride, as I had planned. This sort of lack of motivation
- [Made up for lost time](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/made_up_for_lost_time) - By putting in almost 3 hours on the bike yesterday, riding hard as much as possible to make up for the lack of distance I've been getting in the last week. From home to East Dulwich in South East London, in the morning - mappy.co.uk says around 18km, I say further as it always goes
- [Using the big ring](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/using_the_big_ring) - Last night cycled up various hills, if they can be described as such, around London on a trip across town. Not pushing too hard but just getting there as smoothly as possible. I was feeling rather tired so it was more a case of not making myself any more exhausted. It was about an hour
- [Going out the back](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/going_out_the_back) - I was out on the bike at 8:40am today and went to join a cycling club training run with the London Dynamo club in Richmond Park. I got shelled out the back of the intermediate group after a lap and a bit, then the slow/seniors group came past me and I just couldn't kick myself
- [A trip to town and back](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/a_trip_to_town_and_back) - Monday night trip to the theatre demanded that I cycle in early evening dampness from White City to Seven Dials in Covent Garden. Took the route through Notting Hill and then up the inside of Hyde Park, along Park Lane and up Piccadilly before braving the insanity of Shaftesbury Avenue. It's not the longest ride
- [Once around the park](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/once_around_the_park) - Went out for a night-ride round Richmond Park last night. It was a new experience and not an entirely unpleasant one. I managed a lap and a half before I found the cold was getting to me and I ran out of drink in my bottle. I still haven't got it into my head that,
- [Cheap sunglasses](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/cheap_sunglasses) - It would be rather premature to say the worst of the winter has passed, given that the siberian blast from Russia is due here next week, but the clear sunny weather today gave cyclists of every persuasion in the park a reason to be cheerful. It was an enjoyable 3 laps of the park for
- [Cracked on the big hill](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/cracked_on_the_big_hill) - Went up the biggest hill I could find in London, all one kilometre of it at about 10% gradient. Well I work on the principle that it is the biggest as it's the biggest one I've ridden up. Some may put in claims for Crystal Palace or Muswell Hill from the Alexandra Palace side but
- [Fear of failure](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/fear_of_failure) - I'm having a bit of crisis today after my episode with what should count as a minor hill in the grand scheme of things. I'm worrying about not getting the miles in now and finding myself in the broom wagon on the day. The broom wagon is what happens to those who simply haven't got
- [An evening with Rapha](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/an_evening_with_rapha) - Spent a very pleasant few hours this evening at the HQ of Rapha (www.rapha.cc), manufacturer of some of the best designed kit around, in my opinion. I already own a few bits by them, a particular favourite of mine being the long-sleeved merino base layer which I've been wearing almost constantly this winter. So when
- [Triple chainrings, a basic guide](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/triple_chainrings_a_basic_guid) - The big one: for going down hills. The middle one: for going along the flat. The small one: for going up hills. That's how I explained it to the lady who I stopped to help at the bottom of the big hill. She was struggling with her brand-new Specialized Dolce and a jumpy chain. She
- [January done and all is well](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/january_done_and_all_is_well) - Following Ron from etape.org.uk's advice I made sure that at the end of Janaury I could do a reasonable and attainable goal for this stage in the training. So on Tuesday I made the most of my day off during the week and headed out to Box Hill and back for a little over 80km/50
- [Just sit back and relax...](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/just_sit_back_and_relax) - This headline is fast becoming my climbing motto as I discover a technique that suits me best for the mountains, which still fill me with a certain amount of fear at this stage. Ideally I'd like to get out to France in May or early June and at least take a tilt at Izoard, Lauttaret
- [Wishing I was skinny](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/wishing_i_was_skinny) - Listening to the Boo Radleys this evening and recovering from today's ride. Was out for about four hours although I ended up spending some time in a cycle shop, De Ver Cycles in Streatham, where I put down the deposit on my new bike and weapon of choice for the Etape. I've gone for the
- [Still worried about the miles](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/still_worried_about_the_miles) - I wanted to go out for a ride today. I didn't and now I feel guilty. I gave myself the option of going to the gym where I could have watched football from the cycling machine, thus combining two things I wanted to do this evening. Instead, I fell asleep on the sofa for a
- [Talking tactics #1: gels or drinks](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/talking_tactics_1_gels_or_drin) - I've just spent a few minutes mulling over how many SiS GO gels I could attach to my top tube. An odd thing to find myself doing but one I think every Etaper needs to think about. The food/fuel/drink debate is going to form a significant part of most riders strategy as time lost at
- [Back on top of it](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/back_on_top_of_it) - A good weekend getting plenty of miles in. More importantly I got the new bike and feel committed to things again. Went out on Saturday morning with London Dynamo for an excellent ride. As there were quite a few new riders they put together a group for us and we got through four laps at
- [Just because it's sunny doesn't mean it's warm](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/just_because_its_sunny_doesnt) - It's blowing a gale in W12 and Richmond. I nearly got blown to a halt on the big hill - and I was going down it. Apologies for the lack of posts this week, I've been having trouble with blogger.com and my hosting service. I'm trying to get it sorted but blogger aren't being particularly
- [Rough patch and the plan](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/rough_patch_and_the_plan) - Anyone starting to get panicky yet about it? I'm having a rough patch with training and not getting in enough miles due to work/weather combination - I'm down to about 50 miles a week but did manage a 50 miler at the end of January which took me about 3-4 hours from Richmond out to
- [Harder, faster, stronger](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/harder_faster_stronger) - Got out yesterday with London Dynamo and Rhyddid and got in a grand total of around 70 miles. So I'm feeling a bit better and back on top of the mileage. Went out with the slow/steady group which got a little too fast on the third lap but that's longer than I usually last. I
- [Rain, rain go away...](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/rain_rain_go_away) - Finally, I have nothing to concentrate on other than getting in the miles and have more than enough time to do so. Which would be why the weather has decided to turn exceptionally wet. Oh hang on, the downpour outside my window has stopped. That's alright, it's just waiting for me to get the bike
- [Into the storm](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/into_the_storm) - It was blowing in all directions today, making the 8 laps (8x11=88 + 8 each way there and back = 96 km) hard work which I'm paying for now. According to the various weather reports the wind was up to 27kph so I think it's not unreasonable to suggest that, in terms of the amount
- [A quick 50km and then home](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/a_quick_50km_and_then_home) - As you can see the site has got a fancy new colour scheme to it, which I have spent the whole of yesterday tinkering with. Which is my excuse for having not written this week so far. On Sunday, still suffering from Saturday's exertions, I decided to take it easy and head over to my
- [I made it round!](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/i_made_it_round) - A full four laps in the steady group, without getting dropped. Yes, we got lapped by two groups, although we may have unlapped ourselves from the second on the final stretch, but I made it round without having to do a solitary trudge to the cafe as i usually do. It's a small achievement but
- [Standing in the rain/Facing Izoard](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/standing_in_the_rainfacing_izo) - Went out on Tuesday inbetween the cloudbursts and managed to get soaked and frozen. It was sunny when I left the house but grim and wet by the time I got home. I headed out to Richmond to try and get three laps in but on the second the weather came in, harsh, grey and
- [Chute sur la descente](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/chute_sur_la_descente) - I'm slightly muddy as I managed to have my first big fall of the year. Coming down a descent at about 50kph, misjudged a righthander, hit loose gravel and a rivulet of water, aquaplaned and then got thrown sideways off the bike. Luckily I landed in a muddy bank. Thank fuck for that bank. Surprisingly
- [Here's some mud in your eye](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/heres_some_mud_in_your_eye_1) - Below are a few photos I took when I got home this afternoon after my fall. As you can see, mostly just mud on me but a couple of dings on the bike. My Rapha top took the worst of the mud, right on the white bit which meant a good hard handwash to get
- [Music to turn pedals to](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/music_to_turn_pedals_to) - There's one band whose name is instantaneously invoked by cyclists everywhere: Kraftwerk. Those metronomic Germans have something of a monoppoly on Le tour, musically speaking. Their 2003 album, Tour De France Soundtracks, is fairly constantly on my iPod when I'm out riding on my own and is just about right for the average training ride.
- [5577 (Sas de d�part n� 6)](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/5577_sas_de_depart_n_6) - Yes, the numbers are up on the official site. Go to http://www.letapedutour.com/ and make sure you're in the French version. It's under "La liste des inscrits". you enter you surname and it should produce a list including yourself. This has made me incredibly nervous and excited. As you can tell from the post title my
- [The joy of rest](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_joy_of_rest) - For the first time in what seems like ages I didn't go out riding on Saturday. Instead I went off and did other things with my day and saved my energies for the Sunday ride through the Surrey Hills. The difference was marked and worth noting: My legs felt stronger, I found myself riding on
- [Well, that's the bike ready](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/well_thats_the_bike_ready) - Now I just need to finish getting myself ready. I fitted the computer and got the cassette changed at Sigma Sport, who managed to fit me in and do it all in about 10 minutes. The bike will probably go in for a final checkover about a month before the event, maybe some new tyres
- [Useful advice](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/useful_advice) - There's always plenty of it around, nowhere more so than cycling messageboards. It can range from the have-a-go-heroes telling you you're not training hard enough unless you are riding every hill in sight in some monster gear to the genuinely informative, like the following one from Ed In Vercors on the Cycling Plus forum, which
- [120km feels comfortable + some french phrases](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/120km_feels_comfortable) - Sunday's club ride felt good in my legs and I found myself comfortably sitting on the front for plenty of the ride and really going at the hills with purpose. By the time I got home I felt I could have gone another hour without too much suffering. Admittedly as I pedalled up my street
- [Need a lift?](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/need_a_lift) - Ed in Vercors may be able to help if you need a transfer from the airport for either La Marmotte or L'Etape: "There obviously seems to be a lot of interest in these 2 events at the moment. I was wondering if there are any independent riders out there travelling on their own or as
- [The battle of wounded knee](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_battle_of_wounded_knee) - It's not so much a physical one as a mental one - My left knee has been feeling a bit sore since Monday and I haven't been out on the bike to stretch it out yet. I'm going to get it looked at just to be sure but that hasn't stopped me worrying. The "what
- [The legends of Izoard](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_legends_of_izoard) - I've said it before but of the three climbs the Izoard is really the one with true history, character and dramatic views. Most famously Coppi and Bobet's rivalry through the 1950s is celebrated by the monument near the summit. It's been part of the tour since 1922 and the list of riders to have crossed
- [Come rain and tenners go missing](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/come_rain_and_tenners_go_missi) - Sunday's club ride was a proper battle with the elements that constitute the glorious British Springtime. It clocked up 125km in total but it felt like a lot more. Looking out of my window at 7.45am I was rather surprised to find that the dry, sunny day I had been expecting when I went to
- [A brave few went out](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/a_brave_few) - So once again I look out the window on a Sunday morning and I'm confronted by grey skies and patchy rain. I could have gone back to bed and pretended, to myself, that I overslept or wasn't feeling right. Instead I pulled on my kit and prepared for another wet day in the saddle. When
- [City sprints](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/city_sprints) - As I'm now day-to-day commuter I've taken to using the 30 minute ride each way as an opportunity to do some of those short intervals everyone talks about. Well, it's one way to liven up the grind of going from red light to red light and I suppose it gets me there quicker. Actually, depending
- [The small matter of 1 kilometre per hour](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_small_matter_of_1_kilometr) - A strange sense of trepidation over one line in the information pack I received today from Velo magazine - "The maximum time limit will be calculated according to an average speed of 19km/h." - I have no idea why one measly kilometre an hour worries me so much, maybe because I've mentally worked on the
- [Push the tempo](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/push_the_tempo) - Sunday's ride turned out to be a little quicker than usual as, in the absence of the usual moderating influences, the pace shot up from our the usual "steady" to something closer to "moderate". The only evidence I have for this is that my average speed on my computer went up a from 23.9km/h, after
- [Chasing the pack](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/chasing_the_pack) - I've still not fully recovered from Sunday's ride which was a bit quicker than usual as some of faster boys came out to play. But I just about managed to hang in there and it seems to have done wonders for pushing my fitness level along a bit. The first half hour was fine, rolling
- [Royally soaked](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/royally_soaked) - I'm a bit behind with these posts, largely due to another busy week, so apologies in advance. I'd love to be able to claim it's because I'm spending more time on the bike to and from work and riding harder and faster than ever. The reality is that I've been putting off my writing up
- [Etape du Tour 2007](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/etape_du_tour_2007) - Well they've announced it and, with a strange sense of inevitability, I have already emailed the charity I rode for last year to do it again. It looks even tougher that the 2006 edition I failed to finish but I am going to be fitter, stronger and way more determined. It's the Pyrenees, it's the
- [Just bring it!](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/just_bring_it) - I think we all know what the picture below means. Yes, despite my vain attempts to avoid it, I'm now bang up for the Etape again and I have a place. Which means this blog will be getting a lick of paint, change of banner and the return of regular posting.
- [End of January : a good basis to work from](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/end_of_january_a_good_basis_to) - This time last year the most I had managed was a ride to Box Hill and back in about 4 hours and a total of about 80km for my longest ride. This year I've been out almost every Sunday since New Year on the Sunday 9am ride through the Surrey Hills with my club, London
- ["The last 20 are downhill..."](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_last_20_are_downhill_1) - As Rich, a fellow London Dynamo who rode last year's Etape and who I saw out on a sunday ride yesterday, pointed out. I had been fretting that 196km is an awful long way to train for, even though it's only 10 more than last year. But as Rich spotted, after the final climb it's
- [Going short on stems](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/going_short_on_stems) - Having tried the trick of flipping over my 110mm one to give a more upright position I finally came to the conclusion that I was going to have to go short rather than up. So I've purchased the shortest I could get - an 80mm version of my existing one. I thought about going for
- [Another 130km of pain](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/another_130km_of_pain) - All this riding faster than usual is still hurting far too much for my liking. I say this as I hobble about the flat in between cleaning the bike and avoiding smoking. I've finally committed to stopping smoking after all these months. It's proving tougher than giving up drinking was, maybe because I gave up
- [Solving the puncture mystery](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/solving_the_puncture_mystery) - Having had a through check of the tyre it seems it was a flint that did the damage. I've just plucked it out. At least I now have the excuse I need for some new tyres on the bike. I think I'll go with the Continental GP4000s which are essentially the top of the line
- [Sunday, day of rest](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/sunday_day_of_rest) - I'm sitting here on a glorious Sunday afternoon when really I should be out on the bike. There's two explanations for this: 1. I am waiting for someone to turn up with our new cooker and install it. An annoyance, yes, as I would much rather be out putting the miles in round the Surrey
- [I, spanner](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/i_spanner) - Saw an osteopath today who has figured out the root of my problem: lack of flexibility. so I'm on a strict diet of stretching to regain some. He reckoned I am only about 30% as flexible as I should be which is what has been causing me all these aches and pains. So I can
- [Back in a groove](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/back_in_a_groove) - Put in a tidy 130km at an average of 26km/h on Sunday. As recommended by the osteopath, Dave Knight, I didn't push it too much and came in the moment I started to feeel a twinge in my left calf. I've been doing my stretches and trying to keep to a regime of at least
- [Cut-off times](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/cutoff_times) - The organisers have started adding more detail to the site now including a schedule of timings for the event here: http://www.letapedutour.com/2006/us/itineraire_horaire.html As I have already posted elsewhere: "I certainly am going to enjoy the moment as it's something I've wanted to do for as many years as I can remember. I'm also going to pedal
- [Descending the Izoard](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/descending_the_izoard) - Here's a clip of Kap from the Cycling Plus forum doing so last week. How much am I looking forward to it watching this? A whole heap. This is the hairpin section at the top And this is the straighter bit down towards Briancon
- [I rode on the front again :(](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/lazy_sunday_afternoon) - After being rudely awoken by some numpty from Curry's, who was meant to be fitting an oven but took one look and said "no can do", I did actually get out for the club ride. Admittedly, I was a little light on breakfast but I took half a dozen jaffa cakes and a few gels
- [They shoot horses don't they?](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/they_shoot_horses_dont_they) - Truly I suffered like a nag ready for the knacker's yard today. I drifted to the front again and may have accidently pushed the pace a bit on the way out to the hills but that doesn't explain why I was going up hills with all the pace of a hearse. Leith Hill turned into
- [On your radio](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/on_your_radio) - On Monday night I accepted the kind invitation from Jack Thurston to appear on The Bike Show on Resonance to talk about the Etape and be a studio guest. I very much enjoyed it, even if I am a bit rusty at the whole live radio guest thing. You can listen to me, as well
- [Eating strategies](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/eating_strategies) - Good article here: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article.asp?UAN=1436&v=1 On planning your eating, energy drinks and so on for the distance from Tim at Science in Sport. He should know what he's talking about, even if he did suggest that I should reconsider on my jaffa cake intake and go for something more tailored to the job instead. I was
- [Not quite as relaxing as I hoped](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/not_quite_as_relaxing_as_i_hop) - Sunday's ride was meant to be a tapering exercise - sit in the middle of the group, take it steady up the hills. Unfortunately it didn't work out like that as I ended up trying to lead the group with Toby. So I found myself at the front again for long stretches. Then we had
- [Famous faces on the Etape](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/famous_faces_on_the_etape) - Chris Hoy, one of Britain's top track cyclists is riding it to raise money for Children with Leukemia, according to a story here: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article.asp?UAN=1447&v=1 So you can sponsor him or you can sponsor me, but please sponsor one of us as it is in a good cause. Now I know he's quick on the track
- [Packed and ready to go](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/packed_and_ready_to_go) - With much swearing, sweating and shoving I packed up the bike into the case last night before indulging in a pizza as just reward for wrestling it into the case. Luckily I had popped into Borders at lunchtime to read Cycling Plus' guide to packing a bike which was most helpful in picking up things
- [The first report](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_first_report) - Here's my initial report as posted on my club's forum, when I have time this week I'll do some further stuff including my pictures: "Firstly, huge congratulations to the Dynamos who made it to the top of Alpe D'Huez. I salute your efforts because that was just a plain brutal day in the saddle wherever
- [Photos and other stuff](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/photos_and_other_stuff) - Here's Paul Kimmage being his usual moaning, miserable self about doing the Etape: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2271966,00.html And here's my holiday snaps from the adventure: http://homepage.mac.com/atomicecho/PhotoAlbum9.html See if you can guess which one of me was taken at the top of the Izoard and which one at the bottom of Alpe D'Huez after failing to beat the elimination
- [Looking forward from here](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/looking_forward_from_here) - Having watched the stage on the big screen yesterday at Rapha's little soirée off Brick Lane and then watched Landis go from nailed on for winning to "I can't find him in the CG" today I've started to remember what it was about cycling and Le tour that first captivated me. Much as I loved
- [My report on the Etape on the radio](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/my_report_on_the_etape_on_the) - As you may remember I was a guest on Resonance fm's Bike Show a few weeks back. On Monday 24 July 206 my report on the Etape should hopefully go out on the show. It might sound a little dated as I did it before the stage was run but I hope you enjoy it.
- [In case you missed my report](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/in_case_you_missed_my_report) - You can find it here: http://bikeshow.blogspot.com/2006/07/24-july-2006-remembering-major-taylor.html Along with a very interesting report on Major Taylor which is well worth a listen. That's me almost done with this blog now but it'll hopefully be back for next year's Etape. I may also do a more general cycling one when I get a moment to sort it
- [Weigh-in time](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/weighin_time) - Have finally bought a set of scales - cheap ones from Ikea - to see where I'm up to with my training regime. Once I got the blighted thing set up properly and it stopped telling me that I have put on 8kg I was quite happy. Being told you have gone up to 84kg
- [140km comfortably across Flanders](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/140km_comfortably_across_fland) - Having been a bit lax about blogging on here what with the new job and the other cycling blog, I felt you were due an update. So here goes: Weight: somewhere between 71 and 74 kg, depending on time of day, food consumption, water retention and the upward lift effect of the extractor fan in
- [The route to victory starts here](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_route_to_victory_starts_he) - The detailed route for this year's Etape is now on the official site: http://www.letapedutour.com/2007/ETDT/presentation/us/itineraire.htm Pretty darned detailed I'd say. It's interesting to note that it seems there's far more allowance for the climbs than last year. There's two more climbs and two more hours in the schedule for a grand total of 7km more. OK
- [SWRC Sportif, test number 2](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/swrc_sportif_test_number_2) - David predicted monsoon conditions for Sunday's SWRC sportif. Well, we got that and a whole lot more: mud, rain and wind as well as a 149km (92 mile) route that seemingly never let up with nearly 2,400m of ascent. For me it was my first proper British sportif. By contrast with the big events I've
- [It's getting closer all the time](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/its_getting_closer_all_the_tim) - A little over five weeks to go and the enrves are setting in. The doubts start to pop up and nag away before I manage to shut them up for a while. Being a dreadful worrier, it's never long before they come back. The most common of them is whether 34/26 is going to be
- [That didn't go according to plan](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/that_didnt_go_according_to_pla) - My second big tester, the Highclere Sportif didn't go half as well as I had hoped. It didn't go disastrously though, which is a crumb of comfort. Read my fuller report here: One hell of a day at Highclere Maybe I was having a bit of an off day or went off too quick. Still,
- [Essential reading](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/essential_reading) - Rapha's typically detailed and well illustrated guide to the Etape is now up: http://www.rapha.cc/index.php?page=300 Well worth reading to get a sense of what lies ahead. There's plenty of video floating about the web as well which I'll try and collate when I get time.
- [It is nearly upon us](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/it_is_nearly_upon_us) - Firstly let me apologise for my lack of writing on this blog over the last few months. I've come to the conclusion that writing two blogs is probably a bit more than I have time for. My last distance test before the Etape was the London to Canterbury sportif which clocked in at 203km. My
- [Weather looks good](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/weather_looks_good) - Looking at various forecasts it looks like we could be in for a plus 30C day on Monday. Which means keeping hydrated and not overheating is going to be an issue. If you haven't packed some already, energy drinks with electrolytes could be a useful thing to make sure you have. Last year I found
- [Vive la france!](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/vive_la_france) - Vive la france! Originally uploaded by leguape
- [The obligatory free bottle  Done registe](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_obligatory_free_bottle_don) - The obligatory free bottle Done registe Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Here we go!  It's time for the big one.](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/here_we_go_its_time_for_the_bi) - Here we go! It's time for the big one. Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Top of col de port](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/top_of_col_de_port) - Top of col de port Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Band at first feed Feeling ok 70 done](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/band_at_first_feed_feeling_ok) - Band at first feed Feeling ok 70 done Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Col aspet. It's got as sin](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/col_aspet_its_got_as_sin) - Col aspet. It's got as sin Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Done it! Last climb nailed](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/done_it_last_climb_nailed) - Done it! Last climb nailed Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Get in!](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/get_in) - Get in! Originally uploaded by leguape
- [Report on BBC 606](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/report_on_bbc_606) - You can read one of my reports on this year's event on 606 here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A24909889 I'll be adding more colourful bits on here as well. There's so many wonderful memories that I want to get down somewhere before they fade. I have never been so glad as when I saw the flamme rouge and rolled
- [The WTF? bits](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_wtf_bits) - 1. The bloke with one leg. No prosthesis, just the one leg. Pedalling away merrily up the climbs, in his Credit Mutuel-sponsored kit, and telling his mate not to got too hard. His mate's reply was that he'd only catch him later because he descended "like a madman". He certainly did from what I saw
- [Un jour d'enfer](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/un_jour_denfer) - Un jour d'enfer Originally uploaded by leguape This is about as bad as it got, going through utter hell on the Port de Bales. This was where I was just clinging on grimly and trying to get over this one without losing the plot. I think this was about 5km from the top so 15km
- [Etape du Tour survival: Your bike](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/etape-du-tour-survival-your-bike) - So it's about six weeks away now and most people have done a handful of long tough sportives to get in shape. I've been battering out the bike time with a mix of riding in the Surrey Hills (usually a door-to-door of around 140km) and racing on Tuesdays. This is the first in a series
- [2009: It's Ventoux](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/2009_its_ventoux) - This year's Etape has as its centrepiece the Mont Ventoux, the legendary climb situated in Provence. Full details on the official site: http://www.letapedutour.com Here's the profile: I'm definitely up for it at this stage. Mont Ventoux is probably one of the few climbs I've still got a burning ambition to do, having missed out on
- [Etape du Tour survival: Your clothing and kit](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/etape-du-tour-survival-your-clothing) - So we've done the bike, now to deal with the other big area of equipment: what to wear for the big day. The most important elements to get right are those that will have most contact during the ride: shorts and shoes. Shorts Shorts are a deeply personal affair for numerous reasons including their contents
- [Route recce by Mike Cotty](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/route_recce_by_mike_cotty) - Mike Cotty is a well-respected Sportive rider whose route rides are pretty complete in terms of information and giving an overall picture of the ride. He's done one for this year's Etape and you can read it in full on cycling weekly's site: ETAPE DU TOUR 2009: ROUTE RECCE He also works with Cyclefilm who
- [Training still not underway](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/training_still_not_underway) - Despite my best efforts, December was a write-off due to illness and holiday. I'm still suffering with a bad cold which is limiting the effort I can put in. Still, in 2007 my training didn't really get underway until January and only picked up in earnest once the weather started to improve in March and
- [Etape du Tour survival: Food and drink](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/etape-du-tour-survival-food-and-drink) - I'm no nutritionist but one thing I know is that lots of people get it wrong. And it's just as easy to eat and drink too much as it is to take on too little. Cyclefit have a great guide to the Etape which features some very informed stuff from Darren Barclay who is a
- [The road to Ventoux begins in our dreams](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/the_road_to_ventoux_begins_in) - Still not sorted out a place, still not properly organised but I'll share with you an experience we will all endure. Riding out to Richmond Park this morning, headphones in, head prepared for three laps (roughly an hour and fifteen minutes of riding), I wondered how many people's preparation for the Etape begins in the
- [Etape du Tour survival: Preparing your head](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/etape-du-tour-survival-preparing-your-head) - Nothing to do with your choice of mandatory helmet (Giro Prolight is my current choice) but with the art of mentally preparing yourself for the event. It's as important as your physical fitness to get your positive, winning attitude right and to know how to cope with the challenge. There are some things you should
- [I'm riding for Roy Kinnear House](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/im-riding-for-roy-kinnear-house) - It's seems it's all the rage these days to say you're riding for someone or something. There's even people riding just for the fun of it in among those riding for everything from cancer to a free lunch. I've ummed and ahhed about it, shuffled from foot to foot awkwardly and can't avoid the fact
- [Etape du Tour survival: Key times and distances guide](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/etape-du-tour-survival-key-times-and-distances-guide) - Here's something I ran up for the event and which I'll be taping to my top tube on the day. It's a cut out and stick on guide to the key distances, times and locations for the day. It should be fairly self-explanatory, but in case it isn't: Black numbers on left are the distance
- [Etape du Tour 2010: Pau to Tourmalet in which time slips away from me](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/etape-du-tour-2010-pau-to-tourmalet-in-which-time-slips-away-from-me) - 07:44 it read at the foot of the Tourmalet as I swung left over the timing mat and up through Luz Saint Saveur. "No danger from the voiture balai here. Should be able to do this in under ten hours still - this is good." "Good" had stopped happening some time ago, somewhere along the
- [After the climb, the descent](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/after-the-climb-the-descent) - It sits there in the hallway, untouched. It pleads with me every time I pass it, but I ignore it. I ignore it as long as I can. But there comes a point where you have to take the bike out of the box and reassemble it. Out it comes, number still attached to the
- [Rapha Sportwool jersey](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rapha-sportwool-jersey) - It's probably the item of cycling gear that I get the most use out of all year round. I bought it last year in late November and have been using it constantly since then. Yes, it's pricey but it's also incredibly practical. As autumn draws in I've started to wear the arm warmers that came
- [Bagaboo bag update](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/bagaboo-bag-update) - I've been enjoying mine for a while now so here's my more extended view on the little big beauty (for a picture click here): "I went with the front adjustable strap which I definitely prefer to a side one, like the one on my crumpler bag, as it's much easier to yank on the strap
- [Merckx Racing: first impressions](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/merckx-racing-first-impression) - Whippy is perhaps my first thought on describing the new bike. Not in the sense of flailing all over the place but in the sense of responsive to the touch and manoeuvrable. Light is the next thing thing that springs to mind: light on the road, light to control and light in the hand. I
- [Rapha Cross Jersey and Cross 3/4 Bib Shorts reviewed](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rapha-cross-jersey-and-cross-34-bib-shorts-reviewed) - I'm a sucker for Rapha gear. There, I admit it, I'm a soft sell. So I put in to get some of their cross gear to review. Image by LondonCycleSport on Flickr I've been riding it pretty hard for the last couple of rounds of cyclocross and out training. Simply put I love it. OK
- [My Rapha Spring/Summer 2010 wishlist](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/my-rapha-springsummer-2010-wishlist) - The big headline is Rapha for Women at last! Obviously my first response is to make a list of the things I want. The lightweight jersey in light blue would be nice if I'm doing the Etape this year (of course this means the moment I get one it'll be hellish weather). It's got something
- [Bont A1 shoes first ride impressions review](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/bont-a1-shoes-first-ride-impressions-review) - I first spotted Bont cycling shoes back in 2008 when they were being hidden under overshoes by the all-conquering Great Britain Track team. Given their commitment to the best kit, that immediately marked them out as worth investigating. Since then the list of professional riders strapping on a pair of Bont cycling shoes has leapt
- [Rapha Embrocation review](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rapha/rapha-embrocation-review) - The leading luxury brand in cycling seems to be in a period of diversification which includes a push into product sectors such as holidays and womenswear. The Rapha Embrocation falls into what could loosely be termed as "toiletries", as part of a range that includes chamois cream and soap. Certainly it's packaged in such a
- [Crystal Palace Tuesday night races, my first experience](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/crystal-palace-tuesday-night-races-my-first-experience) - SPRINT! DAMN YOU! CORNER, DON'T TAKE ANYONE OUT! SPRINT! CORNER! BRAKE... NO DON'T BRAKE! PEDAL HARDER! HILL!!!!! PEDAL HARDER! *SPORZA COMMENTARY VOICE* "OY-OY-OY-OY-OY!" BREATH DAMN YOU LUNGS. (REPEAT X25) And that's pretty much how it goes for roughly an hour. Fun, yes? HELL YEAH! Hillingdon, you go for the tea and cake and pottering round
- [Christmas gift ideas: Leather gloves](https://chasingwheels.com/gift-ideas/christmas-gift-ideas-leather-gloves) - Every year people ask me what's the best gloves to keep their hands warm in winter. There is only one answer: Leather Now as a cyclist, you're thinking "he's going to say get the Rapha Leather Town Gloves" (£120) and yes, I might suggest them, but there are equally good alternatives. At the moment I'm
- [Christmas gift ideas: Rapha Breton Sweater & Merino Base Layer Bundle](https://chasingwheels.com/gift-ideas/christmas-gift-ideas-rapha-breton-sweater-merino-base-layer-bundle) - I love a bit of Rapha. In fact, I love a lot of Rapha. If you are buying someone something that says "I really do love you" then anything from the Perrin Street label will get the message across, except perhaps the soap. The best value items are the bundles where typically you see a
- [Christmas gift ideas: Windrider bicycle clips](https://chasingwheels.com/gift-ideas/christmas-gift-ideas-windrider-bicycles-clips) - Lots of sites are putting together some great lists of things to buy. As far as I can tell, everything I've suggested I might like this Christmas is bike-related. So over the next week I'm going to highlight a few products that I've seen and liked. First up Windrider bicycle clips from Magma Books At
- [Bernard Hinault, fashion guru](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/bernard-hinault-fashion-guru) - Check out this picture on Flickr: Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault at the Coors classics in 1985 Now check out this dress from Urban Outfitters Who said that cycling couldn't be fashionable. Yes, Lemond was an innovator in the sport but setting high street fashion looks is something else all together. (I'm still trying to
- [It's in fashion](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/its-in-fashion) - Hat tip to Quickrelease.tv for this one: Watch skinny cyclist with dodgy shades which is actually a story about fashion and cycling. Topshop have picked up on cycling as one of this summer's trends which is amazing for so many reasons. Here's a few of the key ones: Cycling as fashionable The most dominant arbiter
- [Cycling chic: Vogue a season late](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/cycling-chic-vogue-a-season-late) - Traditionally it's the High Street that follows on from Designer when it comes to setting light to a trend and watching it spread across the field of fashion. So it's quite heartening to see a reversal of this trend when it comes to women and cycling. Earlier this summer I wrote that a big shift
- [Cycling will be more fashionable in 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/cycling-will-be-more-fashionable-in-2009) - There's every indication that 2009 could be a boom year for the stylish cyclist. And, praise be, it's not going to be just lycra for weekend wannabes. Last year we saw Topshop encouraging women to cycle in style something which has extended into the menswear side of things with Topman shoppers wanting the bikes in
- [Get the same sunglasses as Mark Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/fashion/get-the-same-sunglasses-as-mark-cavendish) - Sunglasses are one of those things that go in trend waves in cycling. More often than not it's Oakley who are responsible for it with their saturation marketing of the pro peloton. The Oakley Radar, which became widespread in 2007, has become near ubiqitous at every level of the sport so they have to come
- [Fashionable gear: adidas by Stella McCartney does cycling](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/fashionable-gear-adidas-by-stella-mccartney-does-cycling) - Featured in her latest collection of adidas by Stella McCartney, due to hit stores in spring/summer 2010, is cycling gear. Notes to other cycling clothing retailers This is how you make cycling attractive to women. Well-cut, attractive clothing that isn't just "shrink'n'pink". If you are selling clothing, strong, considered photography works. It's clothing, not a
- [The 2010 Professional "shit kit" competition is on](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/the-2010-professional-shit-kit-competition-is-on) - Opening entries are from Team Radioshack and Omega Pharma Lotto. Hitting it hard for the first batter up to the plate (baseball metaphor? WTF?) "The Shack" are putting it into the bleachers with this number. Where to begin? The arbitrary nipple high divide making it look like a boobtube The stuck in the 90s grey-on-grey
- [Waterbottle and cycling cap by Marc Jacobs](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/waterbottle-and-cycling-cap-by-marc-jacobs) - The last few spring/summer collections have seen bike accessories becoming increasingly common in mainstream fashion. This season Marc Jacobs is on the case with a range of caps and waterbottles available in Marc by Marc Jacobs stores. The cap comes in what we call tweed but Americans call plaid, retails at $49 according to the
- [Paul Smith and Rapha Condor](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/paul-smith-and-rapha-condor) - Love the visual twists and the tight focus shooting. Really clean piece of work. Via the fantantically dapper 00o00 blog
- [Cycling influenced Le Coq Sportif polo shirts](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/cycling-influenced-le-coq-sportif-polo-shirts) - Spotted this while checking out Le Coq Sportif's Eroica competition. It's a very nice take on their original cycling kit but done in a modern fashion style. It's available to buy online at Shop Le Coq for 120 Euro There's also a pretty sweet World Champion Polo for 70 Euro
- [The bandit and the champion - they don't make 'em like this anymore](https://chasingwheels.com/fashion/the-bandit-and-the-champion-they-dont-make-em-like-this-anymore) - It's a frequent complaint that some of the romance and mythology has disappeared from cycling in the modern era. Reading Flavio Zappi's excellent account of the story of the bandit and the champion which tells the story of the relationship between champion Costante Girardengo and bandit Sante Pollastri - it's hard to argue: Read "Il
- [Styling it in Cancun with Alexandre Vinokourov](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/styling-it-in-cancun-with-alexandre-vinokourov) - (via yay! cycling) Vino wearing Rayban Aviators, John Galliano T-shirt, unidentified 3/4 length jeans and sandals which look like they might be Prada. Could his look be any more clearly that of a "wealthy man from former soviet bloc country"? He'll be buying property in central London next, mark my words. Actually it seems to
- ["Nothing better than feeling... you've destroyed people" - Mark Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/nothing-better-than-feeling-youve-destroyed-people-mark-cavendish) - #WeAreTheDestroyers - part of Nike's Destroy to Create campaign
- [Team Bee jersey update](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/team-bee-jersey-update) - So far I think I've got six (6) expressions of interest in the Team Bee jersey. Just need four more to make the minimum and then I'll start the process of ordering. So if you are interested and haven't already said so, please leave a comment with your name to let me add you to
- [Trek Madone by Damien Hirst: bicycle as art](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/trek-madone-by-damien-hirst-bicycle-as-art) - The bicycle is a piece of modern art. As a piece of design it's unrivalled in the 20th Century for its purity of form. Lance Armstrong has been riding a who bunch of beautifully decalled bikes through his comeback season. Putting aside all other sentiments, the Damien Hirst decorated one is among the most beautiful
- [Oooh, look! Hills!](https://chasingwheels.com/training/oooh-look-hills) - Some time back in July I went up a lot of big hills in the Pyrenees. You may remember me writing about it. It now seems distinctly possible that I haven't actually been up hills in earnest since then. On Sunday I decided to take advantage of some nice autumnal weather and head out on
- [Caught in the ‘cross fire](https://chasingwheels.com/components/caught-in-the-cross-fire) - Argh, it's an itch I can't scratch - I've been caught up in the rush to try cyclocross and I'm trying to resist buying another bike. I can't afford it (I've just impulse bought a new SRAM Rival groupset for my other road bike) but I really fancy having a crack at the wintery fun.
- [I didn’t last long](https://chasingwheels.com/components/i-didnt-last-long) - There's a Dolan cyclocross frame in the post, some Empella FrogLeg cantilever brakes and Continental Twister tyres. I've stripped down the Trek 1000 for a Sora triple groupset, bar and stem. Yes, it looks like cyclocross is on. I've ended up buying tools to free cranks and get bottom brackets out as well as cables.
- [Building work is still in progress](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/building-work-is-still-in-progress) - This is how far I've got with building up my cyclocross bike: Just need to buy some hangers for front and rear brake cables, a wrench or two for the bottom bracket and cranks and get the star nut done and it will be ready to ride. Hopefully should have all but the last of
- [The finished Dolan Cyclocross build](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/the-finished-dolan-cyclocross-build) - The finished Dolan Cyclocross build, originally uploaded by leguape. At last, after many hours of tinkering, crying and wailing it is ready for riding. Woolsey's of Acton sorted the headset star nut this morning but otherwise all the fitting and maintenance has been done by me. It's the first bike I have ever built up
- [Converted to 'cross](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/converted-to-cross) - One race into my cyclocross season in the London League and, despite riding convincingly towards the laterne rouge end of the race, I really enjoyed it. In fact I'm rather hooked and can't wait to get cracking again next weekend. I might even remember to do my legs for it. I've even written a brief
- [Bruised and lightly battered](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/bruised-and-lightly-battered) - Lydden Hill. Well there's definitely a hill there, that much I can be sure of. And it hurts like hell. Race two of my season was tough but not as much of a shock to the system as last week's. Got a lift there with Jason and a lift back with Rusty to a venue
- [Mud, glorious mud](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/mud-glorious-mud) - They say that the 'cross season doesn't start in earnest until you come home caked in mud. In which case, as of Sunday: IT IS ON! Sunday was the offroad circuit at Penshurst which was muddy in every way imaginable. From gloopy-strength-sapping treacle to shimmering-slippery slime, almost every form was represented on the course. It
- [Hail, hail, hail. Oh!](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/hail-hail-hail-oh) - Winter is here but that apparently is not the sort of thing to stop the hardened cyclocross loon. Not even a freezing gale, hail and a course that turned into muddy hell midway through the race at Brighton's Stanmer Park. Travelling down with Rusty it looked fresh but not freezing, a notion we were soon
- [A better result all round](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/a-better-result-all-round) - Note one: If you are visually impaired it is advisable that you wear your glasses or contact lenses when racing. That way you won't go at corners like a sparrow at a closed patio door and end up forming a close acquaintance with the trees. Note two: If you have the lung capacity of a
- [Wrecks and Mechs](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/wrecks-and-mechs) - A busy weekend with two days of racing, none of which went quite as well as it could. First a quick hello to Paul, a reader who races and who I met on Saturday at Hillingdon. It's good to know there's someone out there reading and finding it useful. Now to Hillingdon, first race of
- [The off-season?](https://chasingwheels.com/general/the-off-season) - If you love riding a bike is there really such a thing as "the off-season"? It feels like there are less competitive periods of the year but, as I ride most days to commute, I don't feel like I ever have a season without the bike. Last year I contented myself through the winter months
- [A good time to be ill](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/a-good-time-to-be-ill) - If ever there's a good weekend to come down with a heavy case of the manflu, aka the common cold, this weekend past was it. Temperatures below freezing added to sleeting snow and rain should and would have had me reaching for the excuses book had "ill" not got there first. Looking around the internet
- [What's with your Victoria Pendleton obsession?](https://chasingwheels.com/general/whats-with-your-victoria-pendleton-obsession) - I know she's cute, I know she's pretty much unbeatable in a sprint event, but why is she the most common search term people end up at this site via? Is there nothing I'm writing about that is of interest *awaits predictable "no"? Five out of my top ten searches are for her, or feature
- [August is cycling's dead month](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/august-is-cyclings-dead-month) - After the highs of the Tour De France comes August's procession of minor races and exhibition criteriums. It's like a mid-season break before the Vuelta, Worlds and Lombardy. So that made it the perfect excuse for a holiday. Two weeks in Italy, didn't even throw my leg over a bike but did work hard on
- [Tunes to ride to: Autumn classics](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/tunes-to-ride-to-autumn-classics) - There's definitely a chill in the air and the leaves have started to turn. I've put the road bike away and the 'cross bike is in the hallway. It's a bit dusty as the damp hasn't set in yet - I took it out for a bit of deer dodging in Richmond Park last week.
- [London League 2009/10, round 3: brutally fun](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-3-brutally-fun) - So first cyclocross race of the season done and dusted. I'd forgotten just how much it hurts and how much fun it is. That's me on the right, somewhere between complete power failure mid-race and power-slide-gone-wrong fall on the penultimate lap. It's all done in sharp contrast to road racing in terms of the sense
- [London League 2009/10, round 6: crashingly bad](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-6-crashingly-bad) - My race lasted about as long as it took me to click up a gear and follow Rene's wheel towards the first turn. Then someone failed to negotiate the transition from tarmac to grass, speared into someone's back wheel and they ended up taking me out. So far so bad. The poor lady who got
- [Get yourself and cyclocross on the BBC](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/get-yourself-and-cyclocross-on-the-bbc) - This is a public service broadcasting announcement on behalf of Ken Iino and the London Cyclocross League: "The BBC would like to do a short feature on Cyclo-Cross for the national weekend news, and we need your help to make it happen. The film crew and presenter can't film at weekends so instead of a
- [Cyclocross training around Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/cyclocross-training-around-richmond-park-and-wimbledon-common) - So I've now got the new Ridley Crossbow set up as close to perfect as I can get, I've got no excuses for not training. Today I rode a nice loop that I think makes a half decent training ride for cyclocross: Chiswick Bridge to the Wimbledon Windmill and back. View Chiswick Bridge Wimbledon Windmill
- [Urban Cyclocross manifesto](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/urban-cyclocross-manifesto) - Off the back of the Rollapaluza Hallowe'en Cross race, the seed of an idea which came up a while back has started germinating: Urban Cyclocross. So I would like to help get the idea into a reality. I know there's a few London cross riders out there interested and, in theory, it's an ideal city
- [Urban Cyclocross: Montmartre, Paris 1943 style](https://chasingwheels.com/video/urban-cyclocross-montmartre-paris-1943-style) - So there we were trying to invent Urban cyclocross and it turns out it the French invented it way back in the 1940s. Competitive Cyclist's What's New column flagged these two up from INA, the French national archive. retrouver ce m
- [London League 2009/10, round 9 Penshurst: glorious mud](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-9-penshurst-glorious-mud) - This is always my favourite race of the London League season. The course is challenging, muddy and interesting which is always better than grassy parkland. It's a proper offroad riding where handling matters and mine was really lacking through lack of practice cornering on loose mud. Still the results suggest that I might have lapped
- [London League 2009/10, round 10 Hog Hill: muddier than Penshurst](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-10-hog-hill-muddier-than-penshurst) - Last week was Penshurst and one muddy hell that usually isn't surpassed in the season. Hog Hill is new this season and now goes down as the muddiest fixture in the calendar. As London Cyclesport puts it "The first cyclo cross race at this venue was held in some truly atrocious weather that brought heavy
- [This is how to ride your bike in snow](https://chasingwheels.com/video/this-is-how-to-ride-your-bike-in-snow) - With London struggling under the weight of a bit of light snow, the place has ground to a halt. It's pretty embarrassing that it took me an hour to complete a ten minute journey on the bus in one of the world's major cities. Lots of people will probably be leaving their bikes at home
- [London League 2009/10, round 11: Herne Hill as the ice planet Hoth](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-11-herne-hill-as-the-ice-planet-hoth) - It was epic, it was cold, it was helluvaheckalot of fun. Riding the frozen wastes of the Herne Hill velodrome certainly made for something different from the usual "mud and iron" of the London Cyclocross League. (Photo: John Mullineaux for Londoncyclesport.com) I haven't trained for nearly two weeks so was planning on taking it a
- [London League 2009/10, round 15: Team Championships](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-league-200910-round-15-team-championships) - Great video of the race, see if you can spot me. Blink and you'll miss me. In fact it's probably not worth the effort trying not to blink. Enjoy instead how much fun cyclocross is. Despite suffering like a beaten dog in every race, attacking the furthest depths of the finishing order and generally not
- [Rollapaluza Halloween Cross 2010](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/rollapaluza-halloween-cross-2010) - Last year's was an absolute scream to ride. This year's promises to be even better. Unfortunately, visitors mean I'm not able to ride it this year. More information and how to enter
- [London Cyclocross League 2010/11 Round 2 Happy Valley Park](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-cyclocross-league-201011-round-2-happy-valley-park) - Matt at The Inner Ring has recently posted about Why he hates cyclocross as a spectator and Scott over on Velocast has replied with his reasons to love cyclocross as an activity, So I'm adding to the mix with why I love cyclocross as a competitor (I use that term advisedly). That's me looking "competitive"
- [London Cyclocross League 2010/11 Round 3 Hog Hill](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-cyclocross-league-201011-round-3-hog-hill) - (Picture by Cross Crazy) I only got lapped once. I didn't come last. I beat Rene and TeeCee. But for a mechanical I would have beaten my bearded nemesis. Andy Waterman reckons Hog Hill is rubbish for cyclocross: "Hog Hill is just plain unsuitable for cyclocross racing" He argues that "12min+ laps are too long
- [London Cyclocross League 2010/11 Round 5 Herne Hill](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/london-cyclocross-league-201011-round-5-herne-hill) - It would have been a great day to race, sadly I didn't make it. Went downstairs to fetch the Ridley and discovered the hubs had seized. PANIC! After much trying to figure out what was wrong, I just prayed and sprayed with WD40 which seemed to free up the hubs. The front feels like like
- [Rollapaluza's Knog Muddy Hell Halloween Cyclocross 2010 - Night of the Living Pumpkinhead](https://chasingwheels.com/cyclocross/rollapaluzas-knog-muddy-hell-halloween-cyclocross-2010-night-of-the-living-pumpkinhead) - The second year of what I think is one of the best UK cyclocross events of the year, sponsored by the excellent Knog. As Mark Phillips, who took that awesome photo of me in action, says "Yep even better than last year's event. Mrs P even enjoyed watching bike racin', so it -must- have been
- [Team Bee short sleeve jersey design v0.1](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/team-bee-short-sleeve-jersey-design-v01) - I've been knocking this idea about in my head for a while now: Team Bee So as I had some time on my hands this morning while waiting for the repair man to come and look at our washing machine, I thought I'd run up a first effort at designing the jersey to see if
- [If you can taste blood…](https://chasingwheels.com/uncategorized/if-you-can-taste-blood) - You know you've been to the races and gone hard. Either that or you've crashed and are contemplating how much of your mush you've left on the road. Fortunately for me the taste of blood was down to the former at the weekend. My first run at the Imperial Winter Series, in the familiar surroundings
- [Another finish out of the points](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/another-finish-out-of-the-points) - Saturday 22 December saw my last race of 2007 and I'm not going to even pretend I covered myself in glory. I finished somewhere in the midfield of the twenties and was being passed by a fair few people coming out of the final bend. I rode well and aggressively throughout the race but I
- [Imperial Winter Series 2009/10: 4th Cat, 05 December 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/imperial-winter-series/imperial-winter-series-200910-4th-cat-05-december-2009) - Well that was a pretty miserable and frustrating experience for me. How was it for you? I look forward to the Imperial Winter Series as motivation to see me through the winter, but it got off to a mediocre start as I made all my usual mistakes: Not holding my position and drifting back through
- [Imperial Winter Series 2009/10: 4th Cat, 17 January 2010](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/imperial-winter-series-200910-4th-cat-17-january-2010) - (Photo by Lucy @ Imperial RT who organises the Winter Series) See that rain? I've not ridden in anything quite so torrential in ages. Or so cold. On the plus side my white Mavic Razors are not as muddy as they were and look almost white. It's not that I'm too lazy to clean them
- [Imperial Winter Series 2009/10: 4th Cat, 23 January 2010](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/imperial-winter-series/imperial-winter-series-200910-4th-cat-23-january-2010) - (Photo by Lucy @ Imperial RT who organises the Winter Series) There I am, another futile attack, this time trying to go after the mid-race prime. Went too early in pursuit of my friend James Curry (on the right of shot), both of us reaching our limits well before the line and were swamped by
- [Imperial Winter Series 2009/10: 4th Cat, 30 January 2010](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/imperial-winter-series/imperial-winter-series-200910-4th-cat-30-january-2010) - When the sun comes out Hillingdon is always busy and everyone seems to wheel out their sunny day bikes (expensive carbon frame, top-end groupset, deep section wheels). Either that or we're getting towards the end of the series and the beginning of Spring. (Photo by British Cycling on Flickr) So the 4ths set off with
- [Imperial Winter Series 2009/10: 4th Cat, 13 February 2010](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/imperial-winter-series/imperial-winter-series-200910-4th-cat-13-february-2010) - The final race of the series which has been incredibly well organised in trying conditions, both meteorological and logistical. The former has come on the form of snow, torrential rain and freezing gales. The latter in the form of crashes and riders who don't always do as they are instructed. OK, that's me filibustering to
- [Moving blogging platforms](https://chasingwheels.com/housekeeping/moving-blogging-platforms) - I've just spent the last few days figuring out how to migrate the site from Movable Type to Wordpress. Now I've moved the site across it should look better and be easier to update. I'll be trying to make sure all the old content is still there and working, but if you spot anything that
- [Bike channels: a solution to the problem of getting bicycles up stairs](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/bike-channels-a-solution-to-the-problem-of-getting-bicycles-up-stairs) - Out for a Sunday constitutional walk to Richmond, I spotted strange looking metal channels running up the sides of the various flights of stairs around Barnes Railway Bridge Initially I was a little baffled as to what they were for, but as you can guess from the title I found out that these are "bike
- [How do you stop 4th Cat riders crashing?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/how-do-you-stop-4th-cat-riders-crashing) - Interesting article on Cycling Weekly about the issue of crashes in entry-level races which is being put on the British Cycling National Council agenda: Investigation called for into fourth cat. crashes I've been a 4th category rider since 2006 when I started racing. In what amounts to five seasons of racing I have yet to
- [Cycle to work scheme savings: update](https://chasingwheels.com/cycle-to-work/cycle-to-work-scheme-savings-update) - I recently asked "Where is the saving in the cycle to work scheme?". I had a few responses, including a few indications that I'm not alone in having concerns about the "fair value" option after 12 months and the extended hire option. So I sent an email to the folk that run the scheme I'm
- [Chasing Legends review](https://chasingwheels.com/movies/chasing-legends-review) - For anyone who follows cycling the narrative arc of Chasing Legends would appear to be pretty simple: HTC-Columbia's attempt to win the green jersey for Mark Cavendish at the Tour de France 2009. We know how it ends, but for those who want to avoid a particularly obvious spoiler, look away now He fails to
- [Pedal-powered cinema with Mark Kermode](https://chasingwheels.com/movies/pedal-powered-cinema-with-mark-kermode) - The Good Doctor is a very lovely man and this sounds like a very good festival. Find out more about the New Forest Festival
- [Ebay parts bonanza this week](https://chasingwheels.com/components/ebay-parts-bonanza-this-week) - Having a bit of a clearout of used and no longer needed parts: Deda Elementi Newton 26 stem, 100mm - perfect for fans of classic handlebars of 26mm standard diameter. Tetkro 992AG Oryx Cantilever Brakes with pads and straddle cable Tetkro 992AG Oryx Cantilever Brakes with straddle cable, pads not included Ashima Aero Ultralight 3
- [Assos may be good kit but the look stops me buying](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/assos-may-be-good-kit-but-the-look-stops-me-buying) - I saw Simon Lamb of La Gazzetta Della Bici mention Assos this afternoon and that they're doing a "heritage" range next year. I remembered that I'd seen Fignon wearing Assos in his Renault days, so it was no surprise one of their heritage options is the classic Renault-Elf jersey when I found some pics on
- [Lovely Hercules commuter bicycle](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/lovely-hercules-commuter-bicycle) - Spotted while on holiday in Greece. Difficult to figure out how old it actually is, but it was in great condition. I would love something like that for pottering about town.
- [How do you help your mum buy a bike?](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/how-do-you-help-your-mum-buy-a-bike) - My mum wants to get a bike and she wants me to help her find one. Now that's a lot more challenging than most requests I get for help with finding a bike. Seriously struggling to come up with a range of ideas at a suitable price. Seems if you're small, female and looking for
- [Lacoste commuter bike](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/lacoste-commuter-bike) - Spotted this on Cyclefilm's twitpic yesterday from the annual bike trade uberfest that is Eurobike. I love Lacoste. Currently on my most wanted list is their 60th anniversary Snoopy limited edition at Dover Street Market (more details pics on Fashionism). The Fashion+Cycling Venn diagram has an increasingly large intersection. In the UK Paul Smith+Rapha+Condor is
- [Laurent Fignon, 1960-2010](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/laurent-fignon-1960-2010) - In 1983, aged 22, Laurent Fignon won the Tour de France in his first attempt at the race, making him the youngest winner in 50 years. He remains the last rider to win the Tour de France at their first attempt. He is one of three riders (Contador and Ullrich are the others) to have
- [Chasing Wheels finally get its own domain](https://chasingwheels.com/general/chasing-wheels-finally-get-its-own-domain) - We're on the move. Finally I've got round to buying the proper domain for this blog - www.chasingwheels.com. I'll still be publishing to the old address (I hope) but links will start www.chasingwheels.com/page-name rather than www.chasingwheels.com/page-name It's a long overdue change and it should free up my alex.com domain to be more about my work
- [London weekday bike racing opportunities](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/london-weekday-bike-racing-opportunities) - One of the joys of being a London cyclist is that once the weather is good enough, there's a good choice of weekday racing a short pedal from your doorstep. Tuesday night is the big night with a choice between Crystal Palace and Hillingdon. Palace starts this week (Tuesday 20 April) while Hillingdon started a
- [If the cobbles are in France why did Armstrong go to Belgium?](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/if-the-cobbles-are-in-france-why-did-armstrong-go-to-belgium) - It's probably not even worthy of footnote status in the story of the Tour de France 2010 but the question of cobbles has been bothering me through the last week or so. Lance Armstrong made a big point of riding the Tour of Flanders and talking about how it was all part of the preparation
- [Cobble, Cobble, Cobble, Flanders!](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/cobble-cobble-cobble-flanders) - Hands up who knows what they'll be watching on Easter Sunday afternoon (probably on Sky+ HD after an unfeasibly large roast dinner)? TOUR OF FLANDERS! My favourite Flanders fact/legend: The Paterberg was cobbled by the local farmer to ensure that the race went past his house. Now that's how to get involved in supporting your
- [Recommended cycling podcasts: Bike Show, Real Peloton, Velocast](https://chasingwheels.com/recommendations/recommended-cycling-podcasts-bike-show-real-peloton-velocast) - Inspired by Owen Philipson's podcast reviews I thought I'd post up some of my recommended listens. At the moment there's only three cycling podcasts that I listen to with any regularity: The Bike Show from Resonance FM, Real Peloton and Velocast. I spend my working day listening to some of the best speech broadcasters currently
- [Tour de France by Magnum photographers with comments by Joergen Leth](https://chasingwheels.com/photography/tour-de-france-by-magnum-photographers-with-comments-by-joergen-leth) - Magnum is the most incredible agency in the history of photography. Its history is without compare. Imagine Bartali, Coppi, Bobet, Koblet and Kubler, starting their own team and then you've got an idea of the impact of its creation by Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Rodger and Seymour. I'm not sure where I clicked on to stumble upon
- [Cyclocosm's A Classic Rivalry](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/cyclocosms-a-classic-rivalry) - A Classic Rivalry, originally uploaded by cosmocatalano. A brilliant visualisation of the history of the Belgian rivalry between Quickstep and Lotto that dominates the spring races from cyclocosm, one of the most consistently interesting cycling blogs around. You can read the full explanation of how it came to be on Cyclocosm which is a must-add
- [Spring Classics: Leave Them All Behind by Ride](https://chasingwheels.com/music/spring-classics-leave-them-all-behind-by-ride) - Keeping with my teenaged years of the early 1990s, Ride's Leave Them All Behind is one of those songs that fits with cycling both lyrically and musically. It's one of the pinnacles of Shoegazer pop for me, from a time when it felt like there was a bridge between electronic/dance and guitar/indie music. At eight
- [Cycling in dark ages when it comes to public relations](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/cycling-in-dark-ages-when-it-comes-to-public-relations) - A quick mid-weeker to pick up on one of those quotes that guaranteed to infuriate me. I was reading Richard Moore's latest piece on Team Sky in The Guardian Bradley Wiggins dismisses claim that pro cycling hates Team Sky. It was this section about Marc Madiot's annoyance that infuriated: "Other criticisms, such as those made
- [Spring Classics: Waterfall by The Stones Roses](https://chasingwheels.com/music/spring-classics-waterfall-by-the-stones-roses) - As the days lengthen so the time for riding grows. Music has always filled my head when I ride, regardless of whether I'm wearing my headphones or not. Some tunes fall into the category of CHOON! and recur on playlists and preferences at certain times of the year. Waterfall is inextricably a Spring song. It's
- [Signing Pereiro is Contador's smartest move](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/signing-pereiro-is-contadors-smartest-move) - A lot of people have seen the signing of Oscar Pereiro Sio as simply an attempt to bolster the Astana squad with an experienced rider who can be there when it matters in the high mountains. His ability to sacrifice his own interests in working for Alejandro Valverde over the last few years will have
- [Things that put people off cycling: cycle specific clothing](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/things-that-put-people-off-cycling-cycle-specific-clothing) - Wearing lycra to ride your bike makes you weird. The truth is that the vast majority of people who ride bikes do so without pseudo-scientific technical fabrics or specialist footwear. This occurred to me while reading something Mark at iBikeLondon has written about Boris Johnson's consultation with the bike industry: City's cyclists should have their
- [Back in Black: Why black shorts make you a better dressed cyclist](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/black-is-back-simple-style-choices-to-look-better-on-the-bike) - Women have the little black dress. Very few women have just the one. This should tell the predominately male cycling population something. Sadly, far too many choose to ignore a simple truth: black is the most stylish of colours. Rapha understand this, that's why their classic jersey is black. So did Henry Ford. For nearly
- [Worst professional kit of 2010: Footon-Servetto-Fuji](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/worst-professional-kit-of-2010-footon-servetto-fuji) - I am reliably told that nude and flesh tones are the most happening colours in fashion this season. My friend Lance Woodman pointed me in the direction of this fashion hate crime. I hereby declare the competition for the worst professional kit of 2010 OVAH! Did the designer accidentally pick up a copy of Elle
- [Wee Bert Contador's big wheels](https://chasingwheels.com/components/wee-bert-contadors-big-wheels) - He's known round our house as "Wee Bert Contador" on account of someone once describing him as "that wee lad who rides with Armstrong" last year. 2010 is going to be a bugger of a year for him if you believe some of the more partisan pieces of criticism of him, such as these two
- [If Team Sky is about inspiring participation, why no women?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/if-team-sky-is-about-inspiring-participation-why-no-women) - Dave Brailsford in a BBC interview says that the Team Sky project is all about inspiring participation. But I keep on coming back to the same question I asked back at the Worlds in September: where are the women? It's not like there aren't great squads that could do with a sponsor and come ready
- [Predictions for professional cycling in 2010: the good news](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/predictions-for-professional-cycling-in-2010-the-good-news) - Like ying and yang, for every list of bad news, there is good. So here's my predictions for good things that might happen this year. (I've updated this to correct a couple of errors and add a couple of links 04/10/2010) The arrival of significant new teams will increase interest in cycling outside of the
- [More rubbish professional kits for 2010: Astana and Quick-Step](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/more-rubbish-professional-kits-for-2010) - First up, Astana. I think we can dispatch this one pretty quickly. Is there anything good to say about it? The visual branding is weaker than last year even if the logos are less confused. That's about as good as it gets. There's just no definition to the colour blocks and it all just goes
- [The amazing Danny MacAskill amazes in Volkswagen ad](https://chasingwheels.com/video/the-amazing-danny-macaskill-amazes-in-volkswagen-ad) - Ooooh to the eeM to the Gee! Via Bikeradar Also available on Vimeo
- [Winter cycling essentials for commuting](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/winter-cycling-essentials-for-commuting) - With the cold arriving in London, it looks like autumn has lasted all of a couple of days. London Cyclist Blog has got their winter motivating in motion, so I thought it my civic duty to do likewise. Mudguards Wet feet, rainwater splash, grit and sundry other forms of road grim are the constant companions
- [Col du Tourmalet celebrates its centenary](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/col-du-tourmalet-celebrates-its-centenary) - So on Sunday 18 July 2010 9,500 riders will head off from Pau in search of the summit of the Col du Tourmalet, the summit on which the centenary visit to the Pyrenees will focus. I've gone two years without the Etape, next year I'm very eager to return to the challenge. It's tough looking
- [New shoes: Bont A1 in blue](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/new-shoes-bont-a1-in-blue) - I've been lusting after them all year and finally I cracked. In reality it was less a case of cracking and more a case of not being able to turn down a bargain. Originally I had wanted them in black or white, but why follow the crowd? Yes, the bargain I got in Prologue Bikes
- [Does sexism in cycling still exist?](https://chasingwheels.com/women/does-sexism-in-cycling-still-exist) - Last week, during the World Championships, Sky News ran the news package below, about the Call For Sexual Equality In Sport, based on the news that the UCI is to insist on parity between men's and women's events at London 2012. Brendan Gallagher in The Telegraph has a good overview: Read London 2012: Victoria Pendleton
- [A great weekend for cycling in London](https://chasingwheels.com/london/a-great-weekend-for-cycling-in-london) - Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year for cycling in London and this weekend promises to be a particularly fine one. First, there's the finale of the Tour of Britain on Saturday. It's running along the same Embankment course as last year but sensibly finishes on Whitehall instead of the riverside, making
- [Hounslow, we have lift off! Team Sky announce six riders](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/hounslow-we-have-lift-off-team-sky-announce-six-riders) - So at last we've got some names in the book for Team Sky: Geraint Thomas Pete Kennaugh Steve Cummings Rusell Downing Ian Stannard Chris Froome Clever PR to start by naming the British core of the team thus establishing the team identity in the mind of the public. Apparently there'll be a couple more names
- [Team Sky riders? Your guess as good as mine](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/team-sky-riders-your-guess-as-good-as-mine) - It's the time of year when I spend a week or two raising an eyebrow at the shuffling of riders around the teams. Until you see a signature on a piece of paper, it's barely worth believing the vast majority or the rumours. I mean look how some of these have (apparently) panned out: Alessandro
- [The challenge of the Vuelta](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/the-challenge-of-the-vuelta) - For the riders, it's the heat, the wind, the Netherlands (WTF?), the mountains and the bleached scenery. For me it's trying to find an angle to write about the damned thing. Well, I managed it in the end: Read "Has the Vuelta lost its way?" on BBC Sport That journalistic trick of asking a question
- [Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi by William Fotheringham reviewed](https://chasingwheels.com/books/fallen-angel-the-passion-of-fausto-coppi-by-william-fotheringham-reviewed) - The lack of a good biography of Coppi is one of those omissions in the field of English-language cycling books that seems barely credible. But having read Fotheringham's book and looked around on Amazon, it does seem fair to say that this is the first book that qualifies as a good English-language biography of Coppi
- [Stage 15  - Contador goes fast up hills](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/stage-15-contador-goes-fast-up-hills) - Statement of the obvious: shit happens fast in a bike race. You can keep up when all you're doing is watching and shouting at the telly, it's entirely different when you're trying to form coherent, publishable sentences for live text commentary. One minute the big names are all together on the climb to Verbier and
- [What we learned from the first week of Le Tour 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/what-we-learned-from-the-first-week-of-le-tour-2009) - 1. If you were expecting the GC to be exciting and to change hands like it did last year, then you were mistaken. Once Cancellara bagged jaune in Monaco it was going to be tough to shift him until the mountains. Saxo Bank did work on the front protecting it and getting the sponsor plenty
- [Follow the Tour de France 2009 on twitter](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/follow-the-tour-de-france-2009-on-twitter) - This afternoon I got a little bugged trying to keep up with all the people either riding or reporting on this year's Tour de France. So I built a Yahoo! Pipe to bring together all the accounts I'm aware of into one manageable feed. It's a bit rudimentary but I'm hoping to do a more
- [Exciting news about Robert Millar](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/exciting-news-about-robert-millar) - Brian Smith tweet has got me quite excited: "arranged an interview with Robert Millar for ITV's Tour de France show....25 yrs ago 'Bob' finished 4th and won the KOM...friend and legend!" That would be the first interview in years and would be a great way to mark the 25th anniversary of his King Of The
- [Betting on the Tour de France 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/betting-on-the-tour-de-france-2009) - Way back in 2006 I made my most successful tip on the race ever: I told a friend who does a fair bit of betting to take Flooyd Landis to win on Betfair at around 70/1. He might well have put a hundred quid on him while I didn't, not wanting to jinx his bet.
- [Lance in France](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/lance-in-france) - Lance in France, originally uploaded by Bike miscellany. With a nod to the excellent Competitive Cyclist for uploading this. It's a work of strange beauty and genius. Now I'm running through a list of other "legendary moments from Le Tour" that I would love to see rendered in this fashion. I'm quite tempted to track
- [The best cycling writers at the Giro](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/the-best-cycling-writers-at-the-giro) - If you're following the Giro D'Italia then in my opinion there really is one writer who you have to read: Juliet Macur of The New York Times. In our house she's the first report we read when looking for perspective on what's happening. You can read her work on The New York Times site or
- [Centenary Giro off to a historic start](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/centenary-giro-off-to-a-historic-start) - For all the Armstrong hype in the preamble, the really interesting battles on the opening day were all about Columbia v Garmin. Not just the team battle but the rivalry between the British riders over who would be able to say "I was the first British rider ever to wear the pink jersey". DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty
- [Why Robert Millar is the coolest British rider ever](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/why-robert-millar-is-the-coolest-british-rider-ever) - Rober Millar isn't just Great Britain's best climber and Grand tour finisher, he's where my love of road cycling springs from and an inimitable icon. The piece below has been doing the rounds of cycling fora over the last couple of days. It features Millar, late in his career, revisiting his home town of Glasgow
- [Women's race at Smithfield Nocturne 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/womens-race-at-smithfield-nocturne-2009) - A women's race has been one of the big missing components from the Smithfield Nocturne's first two editions. But in 2009 that is set to change with the announcement of the Women's Elite Criterium in the programme. Having recently started writing about that side of the sport I think it's fair to say that its
- [How to look and ride like a Pro](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/how-to-look-and-ride-like-a-pro) - Contrary to what many may tell you, looking and riding like you are a professional is important. You look good and you feel good on the bike, it really is as simple as that. Some follow a code of practice laid down on Facebook in the The Official Rules of the Euro Cyclist but in
- [Avoiding crashes and points at Hillingdon](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/avoiding-crashes-and-points-at-hillingdon) - Yes, I know it's like a scratched record, but I failed to score any points last night at Hillingdon. Then again I also avoided going down in a nasty looking crash in the sprint for the minor places. When you weigh those two things up, I'll settle for missing out on a point over hitting
- [First race at Hog Hill](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/first-race-at-hog-hill) - As a race venue Hog Hill is exactly as described: there is a hill, it is an absolute pig. The Redbridge Cycle Centre is better known as Hog Hill and it's developing a reputation as a tough but exciting circuit to race on. I made my first trip up there on Saturday and can report
- [Tunes to ride to, episode 1](https://chasingwheels.com/shopping/tunes-to-ride-to-episode-1) - My head's a bit mashed after my first race of the season so rather than try and write, here's five songs I frequently listen to when I'm out riding. A mixed bag and all available as DRM-free downloads from amazon.co.uk for around 79p. Amazon.co.uk Widgets
- [Cycling popularity increases except in sports pages](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/cycling-popularity-increases-except-in-sports-pages) - Saturday's The Times declares that "Inspirational Olympic heroes turn cycling into a family favourite" and celebrates a 40% increase in cycling as a result of the track team's success. Meanwhile The Sunday Times manages to lead its Sport In Brief section with Mark Cavendish taking Milan-San Remo at the first attempt and the first British
- [The joy of riding the Surrey Hills](https://chasingwheels.com/training/the-joy-of-riding-the-surrey-hills) - Went out on Tuesday for my first long ride in ages through the Surrey Hills. They form one of the main hubs of activity for cyclists in the South East of England and I've been riding them ever since I was a child. I think I rode for around 5 hours, missed a couple of
- [A steady rate of climbing](https://chasingwheels.com/training/a-steady-rate-of-climbing) - I've been trying to get the hang of climbing out of the saddle for the last few weeks. Not that I've ever been any good at climbing but I don't seem to be able to crack finding a nice rhythm. My main problem is finding a steady cadence and level of effort. Is that the
- [Support your local bike race](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/support-your-local-bike-race) - On Sunday I left the house planning to go racing for the first time this year. In the end I didn't race but instead did something equally useful: marshalled. British cycling at the elite level on the track may be flourishing, but look on any cycling forum and you'll see that there's huge concern about
- [Great service from Geoffrey Butler Cycles](https://chasingwheels.com/women/great-service-from-geoffrey-butler-cycles) - I recently posted about some of the issues when it comes to buying a woman's bike and how frustrating my girlfriend was finding it. Great response to it from readers on the issues as well. Today I can announce that she is the very happy owner of the Bianchi that she had set her mind
- [Buying a women's road bike - where to look for advice?](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/buying-a-womens-road-bike-where-to-look-for-advice) - My girlfriend is currently in the process of trying to buy herself a road bike. Were she looking at men's bikes then she'd have a huge array of brands, equipment and parts to chose from. As she's a woman, she's forced to accept that the industry seems to believe there's no need to cater for
- [Can you cycle on snow?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/can-you-cycle-on-snow) - It's the question that some British cyclists have been asking this week with the UK getting the sort of snow that Scandinavians and Canadians regard as a seasonal norm. As far as I can tell the simple answer is that you can if it is still falling and you've got some wide, soft tyres. On
- [A return to fitness starts with pain](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/a-return-to-fitness-starts-with-pain) - After bemoaning that I was getting nowhere with getting back in shape I managed to get in about 5-7 hours riding in the last week or so. As liversedge pointed out on twitter: "They say to form a habit you need to do something 17 times. You've lost the habit. Plan to get to 17
- [Do I need a turbo trainer to perform well?](https://chasingwheels.com/training/do-i-need-a-turbo-trainer-to-perform-well) - I'm staring out the window at what looks like a passably sunny January day here in London and regretting not going out for a ride first thing - I'm on a late shift this week and that's about the only perceivable benefit. I have weighed myself this morning and I'm still somewhere between 75 and
- [Back in training](https://chasingwheels.com/training/back-in-training-2) - At last, after weeks of illness and grumbling, I have started my winter training... with two laps of Richmond Park on a freezing Sunday afternoon. Not for me the pleasures of Southern European warmness and training camps. No, I am a Northern European hardman and, as such, freezing fog and bleak grey skies are what
- [Christmas is coming](https://chasingwheels.com/training/christmas-is-coming) - It's a difficult time if you are looking for gifts for your cycling-obsessed, loved one. Thankfully, the subject is covered in some detail (and a jolly good job they do too) by the Two Johns podcast. A little American-centric but neatly divided into price points, it's a great little listen: The Two Johns Podcast -
- [Lance Armstrong to ride Tour and Giro](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/lance-armstrong-to-ride-tour-and-giro) - He announced it on twitter with the words: "Just did an interview with AP announcing I am doing the Tour de France in 2009" Which means the corporate machines kick into overdrive and the press has to figure out the angle they wish to take. The divide will now be clearer than ever between the
- [In tandem with Stella Artois](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/in-tandem-with-stella-artois) - Having once again looked out the window and considered that it was too cold and too wet for me to go out - I am still recovering from illness - Sunday was spent going for a gentle walk and catching up on the internet. Props to Urban Velo for this delightful Stella Artois ad. What's
- [Complete lack of recovery](https://chasingwheels.com/training/complete-lack-of-recovery) - I'm really struggling with my recovery after rides at the moment. As in feeling borderline unwell, like I'm coming down with a cold/virus within hours of getting home. Anyone got any tips to help improve this situation? I seem to remember that iron plays a role in the rate and level of recovery but, being
- [Rapha at bargain prices](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rapha-at-bargain-prices) - Regular readers (a list so short that it doesn't even include my mum) will know I'm a bit of a fan of Rapha gear - I even started the Rapha Junkies group on Facebook - so when I got an email about their sample sale I knew from past ones that I would find at
- [Cats and bikes](https://chasingwheels.com/funny/cats-and-bikes) - NKMK?..., originally uploaded by fixedgearlondon.com. What's not to like about this picture by Greg Falski that I bumbled across on Flickr? Oh well, it cheers me up as I look out of the window at sleety rain and temperatures of less than 10C in London. I'm currently avoiding going to one bike and parts sale
- [Transportation bikes, less a style more an ethos](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/transportation-bikes-less-a-st) - Reflecting back on Cycle, the London bike show at Earls Court, I was reading Carlton Reid's thoughts over on quickrelease.tv and I think he's right about how the industry is missing a coming trend: "Don't get me wrong, aspirational bikes are good and a show stuffed with stealth black hybrids and Dutch roadsters would turn
- [Spotted at the Cycle Show today](https://chasingwheels.com/general/spotted-at-the-cycle-show-today) - Malcolm Elliott and Stephen Roche, originally uploaded by leguape. Malcolm Elliott and Stephen Roche having a chat. No I didn't ask for an autograph, although I swear Roche thought I was a nutter because I kept on going past them and muttering as I got a bit lost and was going round in circles.
- [My current cycling wishlist](https://chasingwheels.com/general/my-current-cycling-wishlist) - As the season draws to a close, the big shows also get underway as manufacturers show off what they think we will want to buy next year. I've got a few items on my wishlist, most of which aren't brand-spanking new. Bont cycling shoes (350 USD) As worn by the GB cycling team at the
- [Jamie Staff and Shanaze Reade on BMX](https://chasingwheels.com/bmx/jamie-staff-and-shanaze-reade-on-bmx) - Here's that video clip I promised you. Yes, I know the audio's out of synch due to dropped frames and I'm pretty embarrassed that I couldn't remember where Shanaze is from but I don't want to hurl my laptop out the window in the course of tinkering further. Enjoy. Jamie Staff and Shanaze Reade on
- [London Freewheel at Buckingham Palace](https://chasingwheels.com/general/london-freewheel-at-buckingham-palace) - London freewheel at Buckingham Palace, originally uploaded by leguape. Here's one of the pics I took today out and about at the Freewheel. Didn't get to interview Victoria but got a couple of bits with Ed Clancy about the Worlds) and Jamie Staff and Shanaze Reade about getting into BMX. I'll post them up later
- [Squad rotation, pro peloton-style](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/squad-rotation-pro-peloton-style) - I've given up trying to keep track of who is going where next season. And I'm not just talking about riders but manufacturers, sponsors and most likely cuddly toys and small dogs. Could everyone who is staying where they are this year put their hands up, it's going to be easier to count up that
- [A really engaging cycling site](https://chasingwheels.com/general/a-really-engaging-cycling-site) - I got sent a link to a great example of how well a cycling blog can be done with a bit of thought and the right technology which I thought I'd share with you all. It's called The Great IBC Bike Ride and the idea is "A bunch of geeks cycle from London to Amsterdam
- [Lance Armstrong Rides Again](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/lance-armstrong-rides-again) - Yes, you heard right. First interview in Vanity Fair is online now. Lance Armstrong Rides Again - Vanity Fair It's a masterful piece of PR all round because this comeback isn't about bike racing, it's about cancer. Go on, you try not inviting him to your race now. Bon chance with that ASO. Reading the
- [Lance Armstrong comeback? *popcorn*](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/lance-armstrong-comeback-popco) - There's few things that set me off like a good rumour in professional cycling. And there's none bigger than "Lance Armstrong is making a comeback to the pro peloton and will ride the Tour". As if by magic... "Sources: Lance Armstrong coming back" - velonews.com Brilliant! Utterly A to the M to the A to
- [Tour of Britain 2008, stage 1](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/tour-of-britain-2008-stage-1) - Tour of Britain 2008 - Stage 1, originally uploaded by leguape. I'm waiting for the highlights to come on so I can find out how the finish panned out. Steff and I were walking down and about 500 metres away on the last lap so missed the sprint. Took a few pictures of the day
- [Struggling to get excited by the Vuelta?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/professional-road-racing/struggling-to-get-excited-by-the-vuelta) - I don't know why I can't get myself caring about it as much as other races in the calendar so far. OK I'm still dashing home to catch the end of the stage on Eurosport but I'm not putting myself out to follow it. Anyone else feeling a bit lacklustre about it? Yes, I know
- [In praise of the silk scarf](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/in-praise-of-the-silk-scarf) - So Rapha have added one to their range and quite sexy it is too but as ever it's Rapha so it's getting a knocking on the internet forums, part in jest, part in earnest. But a silk scarf or neckerchief is one of the best items any cyclist can have in their wardrobe when it
- [Will Sky's millions make a difference?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/will-skys-millions-make-a-difference) - There's been a big buzz around the announcement of Sky (part of Rupert Murdoch's News International operation) putting down a sum of money to be a "partner" of British Cycling. A very prescient move on the part of Sky given the huge wave of interest on the back of Olympic success. Now it would be
- [And if you type "Monkey on a bike" into google...](https://chasingwheels.com/funny/and-if-you-type-monkey-on-a-bike-into-google) - "Monkey on a bike", need I say more!, originally uploaded by oregonlahar. This is what you get. Good position on the bike, paws on the drops ready for sprinting. Damn that monkey looks better on a bike than me.
- [Why Shanaze Reade is a winner](https://chasingwheels.com/bmx/why-shanaze-reade-is-a-winner) - To be honest I'm a bit down about her crashing out of the Olympic final. Everyone thought it would be a formality, even Chris Hoy who doesn't get much wrong when it comes to bike racing. I even got up/got woken up in the middle of the night to watch it which doesn't happen often.
- [After the gold rush](https://chasingwheels.com/track-2/after-the-gold-rush) - I think I managed to catch all the important bits this weekend at the Olympics from Usain Bolt jogging to a world record to every Great Britain rider who started an event on the track winning a medal. Looking ahead the only one I think I might miss watching live is Shanaze Reade in the
- [Cooke-ing with gas (and gelato)](https://chasingwheels.com/doping/cookeing-with-gas-and-gelato) - So in the time that I've managed to go on holiday, get a tan and put on two kilos, cycling has been getting busy with doping busts, post-Tour criteriums and most importantly, The Beijing Olympics. I caught all of the Men's Road Race while in Italy but managed to miss the final stages of the
- [Wim Vansevenant, a record in rouge](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/wim-vansevenant-a-record-in-rouge) - Great picture that my girlfriend found on Flickr of Wim holding a Lanterne Rouge to mark his rare achievement of finishing the Tour de France last three times in a row. Photo credit: NATHALIE MAGNIEZ/AFP/Getty Images To finish the race once would be an achievement for anyone in the sport but to keep coming back
- [Can't seem to get lucky](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/cant-seem-to-get-lucky) - Another unsuccessful Tuesday at Hillingdon for me. I just can't seem to get lucky in those races. Was going well, working my way up through the wheels in the last three laps then some numpty completely fails to take the bottom corner and I find myself practically at a stop trying not to get taken
- [Epic win!!!1111!!!!!](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/epic-win1111) - Cav does it again. Time to get that internet meme thang working again...
- [Epic fail](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/epic-fail) - Never let those pesky internet memes get away from you...
- [The hubris of Riccardo Ricco](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/the-hubris-of-riccardo-ricco) - I honestly cannot bring myself to waste my energy on being surprised or outraged by the news that Riccardo Ricco returned a positive test result on a day when Mark Cavendish made cycling history at Le Tour: Mark Cavendish completes Tour de France hat-trick as Riccardo Ricco tests for EPO - read more at telegraph.co.uk
- [God speed you Cav!](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/god-speed-you-cav) - Either I've broken my jinx or Mark Cavendish really is bloody quick. Two stages, both with clear air between him and the fastest men in the peleton. OK, no Boonen or Bennati but he's already proven he can beat both of them this year. What's impressed me is the rate at which he's learnt both
- [When everything goes dark](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/when-everything-goes-dark) - So after a fortnight spent wondering if riding from Acton to Wimbledon and back might benefit me in some way, I got a chance to put it to the test. I recorded the ride to Wimbledon on my Nokia N95's Sports Tracker software once: http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=279722 I'm not sure where I clocked 148km/h coming over Putney
- [Back 'em, bury 'em](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/back-em-bury-em) - So the Tour De France is underway, much to my total elation as it is every year. It means I get a chance to write a bit more about cycling than usual, such as this profile of Mark Cavendish: Cavendish ready to step up Of course riders who I tip or favour should be aware
- [Sunday driving](https://chasingwheels.com/training/sunday-driving) - I could use this opportunity to get on one about numpty drivers in Richmond Park (which park of "no parking outside of the car parks" and the solid white line denoting no overtaking on Broomfield Hill are too hard to understand?) but it would be much akin to the colour remake of Psycho. Instead I'm
- [Itchy, twitchy and fruitless](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/itchy-twitchy-and-fruitless) - Last Hillingdon for a few weeks was a dismal affair. Everything about it could be found on a list of reasons why most people strive to get out of the 4th Cats as quick as they can. There was the terrifying nervous atmosphere almost from the start where you are immediately ill-at-ease following the wheel
- [You can't win 'em all](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/you-cant-win-em-all) - Last Tuesday's Hillingdon was a race I was never going to win. My lungs were still feeling trashed from the weekend so I mentally prepared myself for just staying in the race and maybe being there at the finish. I rolled in 27th or so but happy not to have blown or worsened my condition.
- [Smithfield Nocturne: Thomas the Engine](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/smithfield-nocturne-thomas-the-engine) - For British cycling fans there's two ways of seeing the big names who've made it to the top flight of the sport. One is to watch them disappearing up the road in a local race when they're still not old enough to legally buy the Champagne. The other is to look out for rare events
- [Smithfield Nocturne 2008 - how not to ride](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/smithfield-nocturne-2008-how-not-to-ride) - Folding Bike Race, originally uploaded by waterboyzoo. I'm going to write more about it tomorrow but thought I'd post something quickly after finding this picture of me on Flickr. Why "how not to ride"? Because at that point I'd just toasted myself in the press race (10 laps at VO2 Max anyone?) to come last
- [Cold, wet and rubbish](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/cold-wet-and-rubbish) - Terrible night's riding last night at Hillingdon. And that's without factoring in the torrential downpour that made sure it was an evening for the brave and foolish. Thought I was going to go well and that the smaller field would work in my favour. It didn't. I couldn't get warm and struggled to get going.
- [Attack! Attack! Attack!](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/attack-attack-attack) - Obviously the most sensible thing to do when you've gone an entire fortnight without riding bike at all, let alone racing, is to sit in the bunch and just get round. Everyone knows the drill: sit in the middle, maybe take a pull if a break needs pulling back or you accidentally roll to the
- [If you don't fall off, you finish](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/if-you-dont-fall-off-you-finis) - First, I've been on holiday which is why I haven't posted in nearly a fortnight. Apologies for that but five and a bit days in Rome is something I couldn't really pass on or interrupt for blogging. As for the bike-racing, well I managed to fit in watching the Giro while over in Italy... mostly
- [Getting nearer the business end](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/getting-nearer-the-business-en) - I've acquired a reputation it seems. Word has got round as I was recognised as "that blogger" when I stuck my head round the door of the hut with the photofinish equipment to see where I had finished last night at Hillingdon. I might have mentioned that I didn't think I was in the points
- [Clothing essentials: what jersey](https://chasingwheels.com/advice-and-tips/clothing_essentials_what_jerse) - One thing that can often baffle and trouble Etape riders is what kit they need to wear and carry on the day. Let's look at the jerseys first. Light colours are recommended, white if you are happy for it to be nowhere near as clean at the end as the start. They'll reflect the heat
- [Time to start saving](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/time-to-start-saving) - I've been dreaming for a while now of a new frame to replace the Merckx. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the Merckx as a basic racing bike but part of me desires a really expensive flashy bike. I was reading a tech article on cyclingnews.com about New road goodies from SRAM which has
- [Still can't get over that hill](https://chasingwheels.com/training/still-cant-get-over-that-hill) - Due to the frustrating nature of my shifts I couldn't race this Tuesday, nor are there any weekend races to be had nearby this weekend or last. Which means I've been limited to a bit of training to keep my fitness up. I hate training rides. I find it mentally boring and get annoyed at
- [Where's the hill at Hillingdon?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/wheres-the-hill-at-hillingdon) - To be honest there isn't one and I really couldn't have cared less last night as I was freezing my paws off in the 4th Cat race. A hill might have been good, it might have meant a respite from the windchill and broken things up a bit. Perhaps I should try and race at
- [The myth of the miles](https://chasingwheels.com/advice-and-tips/the_myth_of_the_miles) - No doubt by now you've been told by someone that "You need to get the miles in" to achieve your goal. They'll have sold you a fishing tale about how you need to be doing hundreds of miles a week and hundreds more at weekends to stand any chance of finishing. They might have finished
- [What are 'The Monuments'?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/what-are-the-monuments) - Instead of trying to explain them I instead refer you to a really good article on them on the highly recommended Belgium Knee Warmers blog entitled The Monuments which explains the significance of the five races.
- [2008: Not again?](https://chasingwheels.com/etape-du-tour/2008/2008_not_again) - At this stage I don't know whether I am definitely going to ride the Etape. It depends on a lot of things, some beyond my control at this stage. What I have been thinking of doing is making this blog more of an advice hotspot for my tips and advice from other riders on what
- [Here come the Belgians!](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/here-come-the-belgians) - The clatter of bikes on cobbles can mean only one thing: it's time for the Northern Classics, starting with the Tour of Flanders, this Sunday. Last year I made the pilgrimage to Flanders fields (and hills) to ride the sportif and watch the race. There's a whole bunch of stuff archived in the Tour of
- [My new Raleigh Burner](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/my-new-raleigh-burner) - My new raleigh burner, originally uploaded by leguape. Sitting here watching the World Championships via the red button on the BBC *thumbs up* and cheering like a loon at the Team GB success rate. I forgot I hadn't posted up a picture of this beauty that my girlfriend got me for my birthday. As you
- [Return of the DNF](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/return-of-the-dnf) - Second race of the Beyond MTB Spring Crits, second DNF of the year. I was planning on getting out of the habit this season after a relatively successful start to the year and managing to get round in cyclocross races. Then again it was a 2/3/4 race and I did fail to concentrate hard enough
- [Plastered at the back](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/plastered-at-the-back) - The Beyond MTB Spring Crits at Hillingdon are the sort of races I have to do - a test of attrition with the 2nd Cat boys hauling along as foolhardy 4th Cats like me try to cling on to the pace. The only way I'm going to get stronger is by getting out of my
- [If your bars are only as wide as your hands](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/if-your-bars-are-only-as-wide-as-your-hands) - Then you are riding a plank. No, it's not going to make any difference to how easy it is to glide through those gaps in traffic that you wish you were brave enough to take on. At the weekend I managed to see some seriously ugly bikes and one seemingly mis-priced one. So, unless I
- [An erratic schedule](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/an-erratic-schedule) - Looking at my training, the last time I had a decent long ride was 25 February, almost two weeks ago. This is probably not an ideal training plan if I'm going to improve this season. It's starting to nag a bit in my mind that I'm probably not where I would like to be in
- [Victoria Pendleton Naked!](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/victoria-pendleton-naked) - Yes, in this weekend's Observer Sport Monthly. On her Trek road bike. There's a peek at it on Cycling Weekly's Tuesday comment piece: Pendleton poses nude and the demise of the Archer Their take on it seems to be that she can make her own choices and has done so. It's a line they take
- [Starting too far back](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/starting-too-far-back) - That is the observation from Ian Paine as to where I went wrong on Sunday. He's absolutely right. The mistake I made was to allow myself to drift down the field in the final laps. It's frustrating but I know where I went wrong in the second Surrey League London Dynamo Beginners Series Race which
- [12=, the worst finish of all](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/12-the-worst-finish-of-all) - There are many places you can finish in a race but for a lowly 4th cat in a Regional C+ race but I've come to the conclusion that 12= is about the worst of them. guess where I finished on Sunday in the Surrey League Beginners' Race? It's not quite "dans les et cetera" or
- [Farewell Sheldon](https://chasingwheels.com/general/farewell-sheldon) - Sheldon Brown is a name every cyclist should know. His website, at www.sheldonbrown.com/ is an encyclopedia of anything useful you might wish to know about bicycle mechanics and history. Sadly he passed away this week, to much sadness among cyclists who have relied on his practical wisdom to resolve and explain technical issues which the
- [Is less more?](https://chasingwheels.com/training/is-less-more) - Since reading January's Procycling magazine, which was guest edited by Greg Lemond, I have become fascinated by the argument in favour of training less. Less purely in terms of time spent out on the bike but more in terms of the intensity required. So more intervals and few slow slogs around the countryside. According to
- [No rushing back](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/no-rushing-back) - By this point in January I was meant to have a hatful of points and be looking at racing as a 3rd Cat. Instead I have a nasty lingering cold and haven't raced since before Christmas. Unhappy with things doesn't quite cover it. Worst of which is that any fitness gains from a week's snowboarding
- [Victoria Pendleton: not famous enough](https://chasingwheels.com/general/victoria-pendleton-not-famous-enough) - She's gorgeous, she's articulate and she's bloody quick on a bike. Enough of my boyish lusting about one of the best women on the track, Victoria has given Will Fotheringham of The Guardian and excellent interview: Victoria Pendleton on why she'd love to be more famous... I have to agree with some of her points
- [Even the deer are giving me odd looks](https://chasingwheels.com/training/even-the-deer-are-giving-me-odd-looks) - Day off today so once the rain cleared I went out for a well-established ritual training ride in Richmond Park: the three lapper. I've not been on the bike much recently so felt like I needed to get out and clear myself out a bit ahead of this weekend's racing as well as attempt to
- [Seasonal adjustment](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/seasonal-adjustment) - It's that time of year when I feel like I'm getting fat and worry about how hard I'll be battling come January to shed the pounds, or rather the kilograms I've put on. With no race last weekend and work this weekend I feel like I'm plumping up again. I don't feel like I'm riding
- [Right turn Clyde](https://chasingwheels.com/general/right-turn-clyde) - Another genius line from the ever-consistent wit of Bikesnob NYC: "I hadn't ridden much since the pre-Dunston days, when I was a hairy fixture on the So-Cal crit circuit. (Show me a banana prime and I'll show you a sprint that makes Ale-jet look like a lemur on a tricycle.)" - Fixedgeargallery... of Special Reviewers
- [Yet another cycling injury!](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/yet-another-cycling-injury) - Yet another cycling injury!, originally uploaded by leguape. This is from last Saturday, I should have posted it earlier. It's gradually healing up but is still a bit sore around the edges. It's at the scabbed over, not quite healed in the middle stage. I am of course stuck at work this weekend, missing out
- [The club champs: grass verges and cuts](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/the-club-champs-grass-verges-and-cuts) - Saturday was the inaugural London Dynamo Club Championships, a 30 lap open race down at Hillingdon. It was an absolute hoot so big thanks to the huge number of people in the club who helped organise it. There's some great pics on Flicker here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61744043@N00/sets/72157602898492830/ And more here on photobox: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/6907700 Where you can see
- [I want my youth back, and my Raleigh Burner](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/i-want-my-youth-back-and-my-raleugh-burner) - If you are around 31 years old, grew up in Britain and rode bikes as a kid you know what I mean. While nostalgics tends to bang on about the Chopper as the iconic Raleigh bike (it tends to be people who are far to young to have ever owned one when they first hit
- [That calf bruise in full](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/that-calf-bruise-in-full) - It's come up lovely and it still a bit sore. Have a juicy picture with too much flash:
- [Going soon on Ebay](https://chasingwheels.com/components/going-soon-on-ebay) - Bunch of 105 brakes, rear derailleur and two pairs of Look Keo classic pedals (one pair with new cleats): Bid for them here Auctions finish on Monday around lunchtime, so you'll need to be quick
- [Are you sure that's my point?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/are-you-sure-thats-my-point) - I seem to have scored a point. According to the officials I finished 9th at Hillingdon last weekend. I'm fairly certain I didn't but I'm not going to complain about my one point's worth of recompense for the season thus far. It's a fair irony that I score my first point through administrative error rather
- [Last race of the season - Hillingdon](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/last-race-of-the-season-hillingdon) - First let's get formalities over and done with - no I didn't score a point, yes I did enjoy myself. Last race of the series and there were a few friendly faces to race with, in particular "wee" Scott and Matt, so it was a good laugh. Here's me and Scott trying to liven things
- [Too much caffeine (and still no points)](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/too-much-caffeine-and-still-no-points) - I'm not sure how many cups count as "too many" in the UCI's books but I can confirm that drinking one eight-cup cafetiere in two large mugs is definitely more than is sensible first thing on a Saturday morning before a race. Nor is staying out until gone 1am the night before and cycling across
- [Puy de Dome](https://chasingwheels.com/climbs/puy-de-dome) - This sign, at the bottom of the climb tells you everything that you need to know and fear about this legendary monument to cycling's greatest names. Like Le Mont Ventoux it dominates the countryside around it and is steeped in a history that stretches far back, beyond the earliest days of cycling. As you climb
- [Feeling fat and out of shape](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/feeling-fat-and-out-of-shape) - I've not been doing much other than racing and training a bit since the Etape. With my weird work hours I've been feeling knackered so I have laid off training as I'm a firm believer that it's a good idea to listen to your body when it tells you it's too tired. Thinking about it
- [How wet was Hillingdon?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/how-wet-was-hillingdon) - (Picture by Dennis Sackett - http://www.dgs-photography.co.uk for Londoncyclesport.com) I finished 11th, my best finish of the season. Unfortunately it's one outside of the points and, with only 13 starters, I should have done considerably better by my own expectations. Maybe it was just one of those days. I was going well to start with, staying
- [No points, no falls](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/no-points-no-falls) - I hate headwinds. actually, I hate any winds, with the honourable exception of the tailwind. Being built somewhat "square-rigged", to borrow a sailing term, I catch a lot of wind no matter where I hide in a bunch. I'm gettnig better at avoiding it, but in a break you have no choice. Which is where
- [Rules of the road, according to Rapha](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/rules-of-the-road-according-to-rapha) - Nice article on bicycling.com about how to dress properly for road riding, by Simon Mottram of Rapha: http://sittingin.bicycling.com/2007/08/wear-it-well.html Obviously that still doesn't explain why his own company offers black socks in its catalogue. I own a pair, very useful for winter training when they can be hidden away under overshoes and legwarmers or tights. Still
- [If at first you don't get away, keep digging](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/if-at-first-you-dont-get-away-keep-digging) - Back into the groove of Hillingdon criterium racing this week. None of the youngsters were about so I thought I'd use the opportunity to have some fun and put in some big digs. Let a few people wind it up a bit for the first few laps then went for the jump when I heard
- [Towards redemption](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/towards-redemption) - If there is one way for the Tour to be in some way redeemed for its sins this year, then racing right to the final line in Paris is it. This is how the story should go: - The sprinter's train of Predictor vs the big bad Disco GC train thundering past Chatenay-Malabry to the
- [Destroyed by madness](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/destroyed-by-madness) - I grew up being deeply in love with the Manic Street Preachers. I remember an interview with Richey and Nicky in which the former said words to the effect of: "There no one you can believe in, no one you can trust. All your idols will betray you eventually." I try to remember that when
- [Un jour d'enfer](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/un-jour-denfer) - Un jour d'enfer, originally uploaded by leguape. This is about as bad as it got, going through utter hell on the Port de Bales. This was where I was just clinging on grimly and trying to get over this one without losing the plot. I think this was about 5km from the top so 15km
- [David Millar's girlfriend is a better climber than me](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/david-millars-girlfriend-is-a-better-climber-than-me) - I was reading David's latest installment to his tour diary on biycling.com, The Millar Diaries, Stage 9: Lacking Inspiration, when the pieces finally fitted together and I figured out who the girl who I'd been trying to help with her rubbing rear derailleur on the Col de Ment� was. I was pootling my way up
- [Etape Du Tour: job done](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/etape-du-tour-job-done) - Having spent most of this year building up to it, I can now proudly announce that I completed the Etape Du Tour, between Foix and Loudenvielle, on Monday. I'm still trying to recover now. My back isn't hurting as much and my lungs have stopped feeling like they've been set on fire but I'm still
- [Dog day for Burghardt](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/dog-day-for-burghardt) - Nothing I can add to that realy, other than there being a couple of dogs on the mountain yesterday at the Etape, luckily only going uphill.
- [My Grand Depart weekend](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/my-grand-depart-weekend) - Saturday was brilliant. you can read about my day on the BBC's 606 in reply to our man-in-a-van's post: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A24564800 And this evening spotted this interview with the lovely Victoria Pendleton: Pendleton strikes the pose of a future Olympic champion Gentlemen, you'll probably want to scroll down the slideshow. The outfits are rather stunning... Today
- [Allez, c'est parti!](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/allez-cest-parti) - Yes, It's all go in London for Le Tour. Went for a pootle around the entire prologue course this morning and took some photos which are now on my TDF set in flickr: My Flickr Tour De France 2007 set I'll be updating it throughout the day tomorrow and posting to here from my mobile
- [London-Canterbury Sportif: fun and fast](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/londoncanterbury-sportif-fun-and-fast) - Getting up at 3:30am is not something I make a habit of but, when the reason is the chance to ride the route of the first stage of this Tour De France 2007, it is sometimes worth the effort. A bowl of Frosties, half a mug of coffee and a last-minute flap about forgetting stuff
- [In race footage from Smithfield Nocturne](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/in-race-footage-from-smithfield-nocturne) - Here's a nice package about the folding bike race, including helmetcam footage I took and my clubmate Angus in the red and gold blazer powering away to a second place: Watch Suits on Wheels from the BBC's cycling site Ironically the Nationals have been cancelled due to rain, the heavy sort which has been drenching
- [British National Championships 2007 preview](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/british-national-championships-2007-preview) - I've written a preview for the BBC's 606: Read my preview of the UK National Road Race Championship 2007 Which is bit foolish really as I'll not be able to report on it myself as I'll be somewhere between London and Canterbury at the time. To use an apprpriate internet meme, *selfbelm*. Great looking fields
- [Smithfield Nocturne: Warrick thrills on a great evening.](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/smithfield-nocturne-warrick-thrills-on-a-great-evening) - So what if he finished fourth, Warrick Spence was the man of the night with a bravura display of handling and power round the tight course. There's a report and more photos on London Cyclesport and I wrote a race report for BBC's 606 cycling section. As for me, I got my arse kicked by
- [I've been Pez'ed](https://chasingwheels.com/general/ive-been-pezed) - Despite a frantic week at work and minimum time on the bike I still managed to get my mug on just about every cycling site going. What's more, I didn't even need to win a race to do it. I got asked to take part in the press call for the Smithfield Nocturne and, as
- [Smithfield Nocturne on BBC London](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/smithfield-nocturne-on-bbc-london) - Here's me talking up my prospects on BBC London 94.9fm's Sunday Sport show: Click to download (2.2Mb mp3 file) It also features James Pope of Face Partnership, the event organisers talking my chances down and talking more about the event. I'm dead excited about it all and I just hope we get good weather for
- [Come to the Smithfield Nocturne](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/come-to-the-smithfield-nocturne) - Come join the fun next Saturday (23rd June) at Smithfield Market http://www.smithfieldnocturne.co.uk/ There's something for everyone: A comedy gold Folding Bike Race An utterly bonkers courier race A fiercely contested support race A lethally quick elite criterium featuring some big name riders Now guess which one I'm entered in? Well there was only one I
- [One hell of a day at Highclere](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/one-hell-of-a-day-at-highclere) - Yesterday was the Highclere sportif, one of the events I had set myself as a fitness test before the Etape Du Tour. Yesterday was also about as much pain as I have endured on a bike since the last Etape. It all started well with a gentle ride out from Newbury where I had stayed
- [Essentials for a training ride](https://chasingwheels.com/components/essentials-for-a-training-ride) - Sunday's training ride was an enjoyable 126km in sunny weather round the Surrey Hills. It took a bit longer than planned due to an unseasonal outbreak of punctures for Simon - 6 in total and we couldn't figure out why. He gave up trying to fix them at Dorking and took the train home. So
- [Going without](https://chasingwheels.com/training/going-without) - The last seven days have been lousy for training. The edge might have gone off my fitness a bit and I've been suffering from extreme tiredness as well, making it doubly hard to get out on the bike. I was working last weekend so couldn't get out much, or rather at all, for a long
- [Condor Tempo](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/condor-tempo) - Condor Tempo, originally uploaded by leguape. The new bike, through the Cycle2work scheme. A singlespeed Condor Tempo with fixed/free. Running 46/18 free and 46/17 fixed. Lovely bike to ride. This will be my everyday bike from now on. It's getting a bit crowded in my flat now with four bicycles. I may have to get
- [Balanced scales?](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/balanced-scales) - I really am very close to winging my bathroom scales out the window. My weight is never the same on the blasted things meaning I've been everything from 76kg to 71kg in the last week alone. How on earth am I meant to measure my weight lose with such variables? I've been trying to eat
- [A big wet one: the SWRC sportive](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/a-big-wet-one-the-swrc-sportive) - David predicted monsoon conditions for Sunday's SWRC sportif. Well, we got that and a whole lot more: mud, rain and wind as well as a 149km (92 mile) route that seemingly never let up with nearly 2,400m of ascent. For me it was my first proper British sportif. By contrast with the big events I've
- [How not to ride a race](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/how-not-to-ride-a-race) - Hang back at the start and dawdle among the back markers for the first few laps Attack from near the back into a headwind When you get off the front give it far too much and not take anyone with you When someone does come across, don't hold their wheel but shout at them to
- [Another race, another crash](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/another-race-another-crash) - Sometimes just finishing a race is a good result, even if you're comfortably outside the points. Saturday's 4th Cat Surrey League race at MOD Chertsey was one of those. It was a generally dull race - one club sent about five riders up to the front and then blocked relentlessly - with the only real
- [No shame in losing a race](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/no-shame-in-losing-a-race) - With a typically cruel irony Tuesday's race at Hillingdon was a disaster. Having written an article in praise of Malcolm Elliott's Experience over youth, I (and the rest of the field in the fourth cats) got a proper kicking off two teenagers. They went after a crash split the field and nobody got back up
- [Will Wiggins' dream come true?](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/will-wiggins-dream-come-true) - I spent most of Thursday morning cycling in Central London traffic with Bradley Wiggins. Trying to keep up with Bradley as he weaves through the buses and cars, leaning on cabs at the lights, is quite a challenge. Following him I get the feeling that riding slowly so that we can keep up is a
- [Riding the prologue with Bradley Wiggins](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/riding-the-prologue-with-bradley-wiggins) - Riding the prologue with Bradley Wiggins, originally uploaded by leguape. See? He's one of us with his hanging off the back of black cabs at the lights. He'll be hoping to wear the yellow jersey proper come July. Yes, I got to ride around Central London with him this morning. It's coming and it is
- [Weekend off for good behaviour](https://chasingwheels.com/training/weekend-off-for-good-behaviour) - They say that rest is as important to good performance as putting in the "hard yards" or whatever you fancy calling it. If you train regularly then sometimes I think it's good to reward yourself with a bit of time off. So I didn't get on the bike this weekend, nor did I do any
- [It's the same old song](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/its-the-same-old-song) - "Away you go then" Keep in among the first third of the field for the first few laps and get a feel for the pace. I'm making sure I'm strong out of the corners, trying not to do too much work, but trying not to drift too far back. Feeling good, reckon I could stay
- [The highs and lows](https://chasingwheels.com/general/the-highs-and-lows) - One week you're kicking the cobbles in Belgium, the next you're stuck in the office trying to follow Paris-Roubaix on the internet and Eurosport. Meanwhile, outside it's a glorious spring day, over 25 degrees and perfect cycling weather. That's how I spent last weekend. Not much fun in any sense other than watching O'Grady win
- [Flanders pictures](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/flanders-pictures) - Having finally sorted my home broadband out I have now uploaded my Flanders pictures to Flickr: www.flickr.com
- [Flanders 2007 on Youtube](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/flanders-2007-on-youtube) - A couple of clips that I found on Youtube which should give you a flavour of the atmosphere: Nicole Cooke on the Muur Ballan leads Hoste over the Muur And if they aren't enough for you: A whole search's worth of clips
- [Twenty thousand Belgians can't be wrong](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/twenty-thousand-belgians-cant-be-wrong) - I've written something for the BBC Sport 606 section on doing the Tour of Flanders 140km. you can have a read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21603674
- [They start them young round here](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/they-start-them-young-round-here) - They start them young round here., originally uploaded by leguape.
- [The Muur on race day](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/the-muur-on-race-day) - DSC00201, originally uploaded by leguape.
- [I finished it.](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/i-finished-it) - I fucking finished it. Time for no alcoh, originally uploaded by leguape.
- [Muur utter carnage. Only rode half](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/muur-utter-carnage-only-rode-h) - Muur utter carnage. Only rode half. One, originally uploaded by leguape.
- [100 days to Le Grand Depart - in video](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/100-days-to-le-grand-depart-in-video)
- [100 days to Le Grand Depart](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-de-france/100-days-to-le-grand-depart) - 100 days to Le Grand Depart, originally uploaded by leguape. Cliff models the freebie T-Shirt we got for turning up in the gloaming of a Friday evening to mark 100 days to go until Le Tour De France rolls down the ramp in London
- [A very useful site](https://chasingwheels.com/general/a-very-useful-site) - I came across Flamme Rouge while having a browse about: http://www.flammerouge.je It's a Jersey-based website which offers a lot of very useful information on everything from training to cyclosportives and racing. It's rather well and clearly written and covers most aspects of cycling. Most useful is the factsheet section which offers guides to training, fitness,
- [Blasted ill!](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/blasted-ill) - I've spent the last few days sat at home trying not to move or cough. Yes, I had "a flu-type virus" which has filled my head with snot, made my lungs rattle and generally caused me to watch too much daytime telly. I think I'll put it down to not fully recovering after last weekend's
- [No longer last up the hills](https://chasingwheels.com/training/no-longer-last-up-the-hills) - Firstly, apologies for my absence over the last week or two. I've been moving house which means a lack of internet access and sleep. It has also meant a lack of hours on the bike which has been rather frustrating. I was a bit daunted before the 2/3/4 race at Hillingdon on Saturday and after
- [Guardian bike guide](https://chasingwheels.com/general/guardian-bike-guide) - Matt Seaton's weekly musings in The Guardian are a regular read for me as it represents one of the few regular mainstream press pieces on cycling other than just race reporting. So I was overjoyed to find that the paper has produced a fabulously complete guide to cycling: http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/cycling/0,,2020192,00.html There's more to choose from than
- [Postively Belgian](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/postively-belgian) - Never trust the weatherman, not even one that is electronic and thus beyond human error. Otherwise you might turn up expecting a dry race and get a wet one. Or, as happened on Sunday, a really sodding wet one. Usually it's the spray off the wheels that soaks you, but it was so wet I
- [Race face #1: suffering](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/race-face-1-suffering) - That's me gasping for air like a fucked pike on dry land at Chertsey. More race pics here: http://www.londoncyclesport.com/editorialgallery/gallery.asp?uegn=176 That's mainly people not looking quite as riced as me. Still it looks like I'm putting the effort in at least. Come join me for more of the same this Sunday down at Chertsey for the
- [Farewell then, fat lad!](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/farewell-then-fat-lad) - So Jan Ullrich has announced his retirement: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/feb07/feb26news2 (Incidentally cyclingnews.com is one of the best sources of cycling news out there) Who now will us amateurs look to for inspiration when we suffer with our "winter weight issues"? This legion of nearly men and battlers who for years have relied on the misfortunes and struggles
- [First race of the new season: same shoddy luck](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/first-race-of-the-new-season-same-shoddy-luck) - I was hoping to be able to write something along the lines of "Went OK today, didn't quite finish in the points but managed to stay up in the bunch" but sadly, and possibly predictably, it didn't go according to plan. It started badly enough. As I was leaving the house I noticed my seat
- [Splash of birthday cash](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/splash-of-birthday-cash) - Yesterday was my birthday: 31 and, in theory, about to enter my racing prime for the Grand Tours. I wish it was the case, sadly nothing is further from reality. So I took advantage of Rapha's sample sale - which runs until Saturday at Velorution on Great Titchfield St, London, W1 - to buy something
- [Le Tour de Cheval](https://chasingwheels.com/general/le-tour-de-cheval) - My mate Dave sent me this. It's one of the greatest bizarre moments in the history of Le Tour:
- [Fitting training to work](https://chasingwheels.com/training/fitting-training-to-work) - Unless you are lucky enough to ride your bike professionally or can afford not to have to go to work, fitting in training can prove a real challenge. The more responsibilities you acquire, the harder it becomes to find the time. So, on a sliding scale, it's not as tough for a single chap like
- [UK Etape route/inscriptions announced](https://chasingwheels.com/general/uk-etape-routeinscriptions-ann) - I'm very much up for this, so I'll be using every wile I can to get a place. There's a huge number from my club who are also up for it and there's talk of trying to get a club entry. Here's some of the key details about the event on Sunday 1st July 2007:
- [Stay loose on the bike](https://chasingwheels.com/training/stay-loose-on-the-bike) - One of the things I've been really focusing on so far this year is my position on the bike. Not just the whole cyclefit experience of dimensions and angles but also the whole area of how I position myself when moving. Yes, a professional fitter can get you right relative to flexibility and various lengths
- [Try your hand at racing](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/try-your-hand-at-racing) - If you've never tried it before, you should do, even if it is just to decide whether or not it's your type of riding. The club I ride with, London Dynamo, is organising a couple of beginners races which offer a perfect opportunity to try it. Here's race secretary Martin Garratt to explain: The beginners
- [Tickets booked on Eurostar](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/tickets-booked-on-eurostar) - Travelling out on the Thursday morning very early. It was the cheapest fare I could get and getting up early seems worth the 20 quid saving. It also means I'll be in Ghent by lunchtime, giving me two full days to explore, relax and get the bike set up for the Saturday. I'm planning to
- [The mighty Merckx](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/the-mighty-merckx) - Here at last is my newest addition to the collection, an Eddy Merckx Racing decked out with full SRAM Rival. You'll probably want the full spec as well to satisfy that "how big's the engine?" thing everyone does with anything mechanical. So here's the full breakdown: Frame: Eddy Merckx Racing (aluminium) Groupset: SRAM Rival, 50/34
- [It's supposed to get easier](https://chasingwheels.com/training/its-supposed-to-get-easier) - Didn't enjoy today's training ride as much as I had hope. The pace was a bit on the quick side of steady for my liking and I found myself struggling a bit. Actually, I was struggling a lot, as much with frustration as with my lousy ability up hills. I guess I must have been
- [(Wind) Resistance training](https://chasingwheels.com/training/wind-resistance-training) - As I've said before, I don't mind the rain and I can just about cope with the cold, but wind; well that's another matter entirely. I utterly detest it; much, much more than I hate hills, punctures and even forcing energy gels down my throat while trying not to gag. So, having successfully avoided cycling
- [A timely ar-Rival](https://chasingwheels.com/components/a-timely-ar-rival) - My new groupset is here at last! 20% off in the January sale meant there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to bag the new SRAM Rival setup for the Merckx I'm having built up. Here is the box full of it that came from GB Cycles: You may notice an
- [Quick name change](https://chasingwheels.com/general/quick-name-change) - I've got rid of "Two wheels good" as there are plenty of pre-existing uses of it on the internet, including a shop, and gone for "Chasing wheels" as it seems to be what I spend almost all of my time doing when I'm out riding. Hope you like it.
- [Still the slowest up hills](https://chasingwheels.com/training/still-the-slowest-up-hills) - The only way I'm going to pass people on hills is if they are walking, and even then it'll be a long, drawn-out affair. I'm stuck at the back on the January training rides and it's starting to annoy me. Actually, it's not even "the back" it's more "off the back and then a couple
- [Lost in the Surrey Hills](https://chasingwheels.com/training/lost-in-the-surrey-hills) - New year means new resolutions to train more and get in shape. So it was no massive surprise to find about 25 Londond Dynamo riders huddled on one side of Hampton Court Bridge for the Sunday club ride, the first one proper of the new year. Grey skies, gusting winds and the knowledge that it
- [I've booked my hotel](https://chasingwheels.com/tour-of-flanders/ive-booked-my-hotel) - Or rather my hostel in a former nunnery that dates from the 13th Century in Ghent. Less than £100 for four nights seems very reasonable to me. Staying in Ghent will also give me a chance to perhaps visit a few places of significance to Tom Simpson, for whom the city was one of his
- [Merckx me up baby!](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/merckx-me-up-baby) - Well the classic shape Eddy Merckx frame was too big for me in the top tube. But the compact/sloping one wasn't, so I now own an Eddy Merckx Race frame in black, silver and red. I've also ordered an SRAM Rival groupset for it. I've already got the bar I want (Deda 215 shallow) and
- [2007: The one year plan](https://chasingwheels.com/general/2007-the-one-year-plan) - This year there must be something to aim for, just to make things easier so here we go with the big "policy decisions" for me and my bikes: Get my weight down to 70kg - the heavier I am the harder work the hills are. Improve my flexibility and core strength - I've got an
- [The ride before Christmas](https://chasingwheels.com/training/the-ride-before-christmas) - I couldn't let myself reach Christmas without getting out into the Surrey Hills for the Sunday club ride so, on Christmas Eve, I dragged myself out of bed and down to Hampton Court Bridge to take a measure of my winter fitness with a bunch of the regulars. There's no need to guess how well
- [E'gads it's a real peasouper](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/egads-its-a-real-peasouper-1) - Winter has finally arrived rolling across London with thick morning fog the last couple of days. It's even forced the thick Altura winter jacket out of the closet, although it's gone back in now that I've remembered just how much it makes me sweat. I think I may have to look at a softshell to
- [NICE says cycling, press say stapling](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/nice-says-cycling-press-say-stapling) - Good article from Bikebiz here: http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/Why-is-stomach-stapling-sexier-than-cycling The title says it all. While NICE (which is easier to type than the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) repeatedly mention cycling as a way to deal with obesity the mainstream media, in typically sensationalist and downright unjournalistic fashion report the headline as being gastric band surgery.
- [Is this about the bike?](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/is-this-about-the-bike) - Went in for my cyclefitting today at Cyclefit to see if getting my position right would help deal with my various problems. After a couple hours of pedalling, adjusting and measuring I came away feeling much happier about the cause of most of the problems: me. The advice from Mark was that I need to
- [Another week, another cold](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/another-week-another-cold) - Having spent most of the last two weeks feeling exhausted and not sleeping properly my body has finally kicked me in the arse and succumbed to the cold virus doing the rounds. Of course it waited until Friday evening to pick up, thus ruining the weekend for cycling purposes. Over-exertion increases susceptibility to whatever is
- [There's wet and there's wet](https://chasingwheels.com/training/theres-wet-and-theres-wet) - Yes, I enjoy riding in the rain usually but this weekend's torrential downpours were just a little beyond my abilities. When I looked out on Saturday the rain was clattering against my window and I headed back to the duvet without a second glance. Cowardly I know but sensible in other ways. My hip and
- [Are cyclists being unfairly targeted?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/are-cyclists-being-unfairly-targeted) - This week the debate has been raging over whether or not the Met Police are deliberately targeting cyclists in Richmond Park for exceeding the 20mph speed limit. You can follow most strands of the discussion on the Cycling Plus forum here: http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC-ID=114300&whichpage=1 In addition there is apparently an unhelpful article in this week's Cycling Weekly
- [One good half](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/one-good-half) - The right side of my body seems to be working fine and coming along nicely, shame the same can't be said for my left. If it was just the one thing that was troubling me then I could rest it but it's the whole left side that's causing problems, from the waist down. I woke
- [Navigating Oxford Street](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/navigating-oxford-street) - Well, I've moved offices which means I'm having to work on a new route in. Instead of the flat side of High Street Kensington and through Hyde Park I'm now north of the park and go up Holland Park Drive before cutting through Connaught Square and other unfamiliar places to get to Fitzrovia. I don't
- [Pushed all the way](https://chasingwheels.com/training/pushed-all-the-way) - "One more rider in the second group, it's not going to go too fast." "OK, I'll go." I pipe up and set off for the toughest session in quite some time. I got hauled round on the first lap until I popped at the start of the second and dropped off the back. Now when
- [It doesn't happen every day](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/it-doesnt-happen-every-day) - It should have been a day like any other: pedal to work far too fast while half awake, spend the rest of the day regretting not stretching enough; then cycle home slightly tired and try to remember what I actually planned to buy when I find myself at the checkout in Waitrose on High Street
- [Tour of Flanders: no Koppenburg](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/tour-of-flanders-no-koppenburg) - Not that that makes it any easier mind. So I'll hold off a sigh of relief just yet. More on the 2007 edition at procycling.com: http://www.procycling.com/news.aspx?ID=2528 I'll need to start sorting hotels, transport and so on if I'm going to head over and ride the sportif the day before the real thing. I'm quite excited
- [When is a positive not a positive?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/when-is-a-positive-not-a-positive) - Interesting piece in the BBC's More or Less programme about testosterone tests: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/more-or-less/6120744.stm You can listen to it again at the moment but I'm not sure whether it will be archived.
- [I made it round! (almost)](https://chasingwheels.com/training/i-made-it-round-almost) - For the first time in an eternity I managed to make it round the traditional four laps of Richmond Park without dropping back a group. Admittedly, I trundled into the car park a fair way back from the group after hitting my limit up the final uphill bump of the session but it still counts
- [TDF? Yours for a pony](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/tdf-yours-for-a-pony) - An interesting article on the ever brilliant PezCycling News on just how much it costs to have a stage of Le Tour in the neighbourhood: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=4481 Do some quick sums, or rough estimates, and you'll see that Le Grand Depart in London next July won't have come cheap. It's also why the Tour doesn't tend
- [At last, the end of summer](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/at-last-the-end-of-summer) - I was beginning to worry that it would never happen, as I rolled down my arm wamers on the way home on Monday night, but finally the ridiculously mild weather has come to an end. No doubt my decision to take out the clippers and crop my hair back to a grade two was highly
- [Back in training](https://chasingwheels.com/training/back-in-training) - With a sigh and a wince it was out the back again for me as I re-acquainted myself with Saturday morning training sessions in Richmond Park with London Dynamo, the club of which I am a member. I joined the supposedly "steady" last group who had overtaken the group in front within two laps at
- [L'Etape du tour 2007](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/letape-du-tour-2007) - Well they've announced it and, with a strange sense of inevitability, I have already emailed the charity I rode for last year to do it again. It looks even tougher that the 2006 edition I failed to finish but I am going to be fitter, stronger and way more determined. It's the Pyrenees, it's the
- [Seasonal disorders](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/seasonal-disorders) - I was hoping to post about racing at Eastway today. Unfortunately my health wasn't so keen on that. My back/hip trouble is back and taking no prisoners and I've still not shifted the remnants of the flu that put me to bed over a week ago. The flu has mutated into a cough/cold/snot problem. I
- [New bag!](https://chasingwheels.com/clothing/new-bag) - Finally my bag that I ordered from Bagaboo has arrived! Handmade by the lovely Tamas to my specification around their standard messenger bag it looks absolutely gorgeous and feels so comfortable - and that's without having broken it in. So I'm now looking forward to going to work tomorrow wearing a bag that is comfortable,
- [It's Millar time again](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/its-millar-time-again) - Here's a clip of David Millar bagging the UK 4000m pursuit title: http://one.revver.com/watch/73699/format/flv/affiliate/0 I'm glad to see him showing his class on the track after his excellent showing at the World Championships, in particular in the road race.
- [Autumn, it's here at last!](https://chasingwheels.com/commuting/autumn-its-here-at-last) - I put on an extra layer against the chill this morning. Did I put on any gloves though? Did I bollocks, so nicely chilled hands tried to battle with the lock when I got to work. I nearly collected a gorgeous blonde pedestrian in my handlebars in Hammersmith. I would have got angry but she
- [Singlespeed without the hassle](https://chasingwheels.com/bikes/singlespeed-without-the-hassle) - For ages I have been falling in and out of temptation to acquire myself something with just the one gear to choose from. Fixed wheel one side and freewheel the other, no derailleurs to get coated in muck as autumn approaches, no downshifting to avoid having to put effort in. I have envied a Condor
- [The BBC's new commitment to cycling?](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/the-bbcs-new-commitment-to-cycling) - In nearly as many months we've had coverage of the Tour of Britain and the World Championships. Has the BBC turned a corner and decided that cycling is worthy of inclusion in its schedules? Yes, the critics will argue that the coverage was only highlights but with the ever-informative Hugh Porter behind the microphone, ably
- [Murcia, home of Valverde](https://chasingwheels.com/training/murcia-home-of-valverde) - And also home of some bloody big hills which I have just about recovered from slogging up. I took no pictures as I was too busy trying not to be sick or pass out. It's a lovely place to take a bike and next time I'll definitely be taking mine. My friend Alex, who I
- [Injury blues](https://chasingwheels.com/fitness-2/injury-blues) - The left thigh is still giving me pain so I'm probably not going to go racing tomorrow. As I'm away next week and helping out at a race the week after, this means my season is, in effect, over. I hope my thigh feels up to it tomorrow but I somehow doubt it. The worst
- [Will I ever finish?](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/will-i-ever-finish) - Well my first proper season as a cyclist is turning out to be an unmitigated embarassment. The scorecard so far is frankly comical: Etape Du Tour: DNF Ciclos Uno 3/4/Novice race, 20.08.2006, Eastway: DNF (vomiting in a bin after 30 minutes) Ciclos Uno Novice race, 27.08.2006, Eastway: DNF (retired with broken spoke with 5 laps
- [The politics of coverage](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/the-politics-of-coverage) - Matt Seaton writes in today's Guardian about his excitement at the coverage of the Tour of Britain (ToB) this week. I'm as excited as anyone by it and will be going down on Sunday armed with my microphone and camera to try and grab what I can. Matt's article mentions the coverage being given by
- [It was going reasonably well...](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/it-was-going-reasonably-well) - Sunday down at Eastway again, this time for a straightforward novice race. Apparently last week's one was a fast race and so it wasn't me being plain rubbish. By contrast the pace in the novice race was far more manageable and I was sitting in quite comfortably by the halfway mark. I even took a
- [Legs like a bag of spanners](https://chasingwheels.com/general/still-feeling-like-a-bag-of-spanners) - I haven't done anything more than ride gently all week simply because I still haven't recovered properly from last Sunday's brutalising. Either I'm still exhausted or my body has given in. I'm trying to figure out which race I should enter on Sunday - the novice one or the HC/All Cats one. The former would
- [A classic first race experience](https://chasingwheels.com/road-racing/a-classic-first-race-experience) - Armed with the accumulated advice from various clunmates I tootled down to the Lea Valley Cycle Circuit, better known as "Eastway", this morning to take my first crack at criterium racing. I took me an hour or so to get there, which is about as long as the racing lasts - one hour and five
- [The irony of injury](https://chasingwheels.com/training/the-irony-of-injury) - Sometimes it seems that injuries heal quicker if you don't stop riding. Or at least that has been the case this week with my a minor quad injury. I tweaked something in the left side on last Sunday's training ride pushing a bit hard up a hill out of frustration - I was having a
- [Not cycling's blackest day](https://chasingwheels.com/opinion/not-cyclings-blackest-day) - Finally I get round to launching this site on the day that Floyd Landis' "B" sample comes back positive for an elevated testosterone:epitestosterone ratio. Not the best of days to set forth into the world of online cycling journalism. Yes, it is sad that he has failed a control but the way in which the

## Pages

- [About](https://chasingwheels.com/about) - Chasing Wheels is the journal of Alex Murray, one of Britain's least competitive cyclists. It covers all aspects of cycling including but not limited to: commuting; racing; cyclosportives; audax; product reviews; opinion; advocacy. Chasing Wheels began in 2006 after I rode and wrote about the Etape du Tour 2006 on Only 187km To Go Advertising
- [How brands can make blogs pay and vice versa](https://chasingwheels.com/how-brands-can-make-blogs-pay-and-vice-versa) - Running a blog is not a zero cost enterprise. It's either going to cost you time or money but in many cases it costs you both. I reckon writing can be made to pay and sometimes a little bit of well targeted paid-for content helps bridge the gap in my hosting bill. That's why I'm

## Categories

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- [London Cyclocross League](https://chasingwheels.com/category/cyclocross/london-cyclocross-league) - Reporting from a muddy field on my racing in the London Cyclocross League.
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- [2010](https://chasingwheels.com/category/etape-du-tour/2010) - The Etape du Tour 2010, Pau to Col du Tourmalet via Col de Marie Blanque and Col du Soulor. This is the story of the preparation, the ride and the aftermath.
- [Urban Cyclocross](https://chasingwheels.com/category/urban-cyclocross-2)
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- [Retro](https://chasingwheels.com/category/retro)
- [2010-2011](https://chasingwheels.com/category/cyclocross/london-cyclocross-league/2010-2011) - Reporting from a muddy field on my rides in the London Cyclocross League, 2010-2011 season.
- [Blogs](https://chasingwheels.com/category/blogs-2)
- [Links](https://chasingwheels.com/category/links)
- [Reviews](https://chasingwheels.com/category/reviews) - Reviews of bikes, components, clothing and other accessories. If you are interested in having your product featured, please email me at alex@chasingwheels.com
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- [Cycle To Work](https://chasingwheels.com/category/cycle-to-work)
- [Team Bee](https://chasingwheels.com/category/team-bee) - A charitable project to raise awareness of the plight of bees, a vital part of the ecosystem. In part inspired by the Co-Operative’s Plan Bee campaign. Profits will be donated in full to bee charities.
- [Charity](https://chasingwheels.com/category/charity-2)
- [2006](https://chasingwheels.com/category/etape-du-tour/2006)
- [2008](https://chasingwheels.com/category/etape-du-tour/2008)
- [Advice and Tips](https://chasingwheels.com/category/advice-and-tips)
- [Gift ideas](https://chasingwheels.com/category/gift-ideas)
- [Christmas](https://chasingwheels.com/category/gift-ideas/christmas-gift-ideas)
- [Product Reviews](https://chasingwheels.com/category/product-reviews) - Reviews of bikes, components, clothing and other accessories. If you are interested in having your product featured, please email me at alex@chasingwheels.com
- [Journalism](https://chasingwheels.com/category/journalism-2)
- [For Sale](https://chasingwheels.com/category/shopping/for-sale)
- [Culture](https://chasingwheels.com/category/culture)
- [The Grand Illusion](https://chasingwheels.com/category/the-grand-illusion)
- [Transport](https://chasingwheels.com/category/transport)
- [Advocacy](https://chasingwheels.com/category/advocacy)
- [Business](https://chasingwheels.com/category/business)
- [Economics](https://chasingwheels.com/category/economics)
- [Safety](https://chasingwheels.com/category/safety-2)
- [2012](https://chasingwheels.com/category/tour-de-france/2012)
- [Podcast](https://chasingwheels.com/category/listening/podcast-listening)
- [Mountains](https://chasingwheels.com/category/mountains)
- [Previews](https://chasingwheels.com/category/previews)
- [2014](https://chasingwheels.com/category/tour-de-france/2014)
- [Yorkshire Grand Depart](https://chasingwheels.com/category/tour-de-france/2014/yorkshire-grand-depart)
- [Particpation](https://chasingwheels.com/category/particpation)

## Tags

- [racing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/racing)
- [criterium](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/criterium)
- [Eastway](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/eastway)
- [Lea Valley Cycle Circuit](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lea-valley-cycle-circuit)
- [fitness](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fitness)
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- [Mavic Kysrium Equipe](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mavic-kysrium-equipe)
- [Cycle Surgery](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cycle-surgery)
- [David Millar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/david-millar)
- [Tour of Britain](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-britain)
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- [Floyd Landis](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/floyd-landis)
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- [De Ronde Von Vlaanderen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/de-ronde-von-vlaanderen)
- [Ninove](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ninove)
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- ["road safety"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/road-safety)
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- ["power output"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/power-output)
- ["Sunday ride"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sunday-ride)
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- ["GB Cycles"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gb-cycles)
- [Specialized Toupe saddle](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/specialized-toupe-saddle)
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- [dehydration](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dehydration)
- [Lucozade](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lucozade)
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- [impressions](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/impressions)
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- [relaxed](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/relaxed)
- [Robert Millar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/robert-millar)
- [shoulders](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shoulders)
- [spine](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/spine)
- [Canterbury](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/canterbury)
- [details](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/details)
- [entry](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/entry)
- ["Stage 1"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stage-1)
- ["UK Etape"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/uk-etape)
- [beginners race](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/beginners-race)
- [cheval](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cheval)
- [horse](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/horse)
- [Rapha softshell jacket](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rapha-softshell-jacket)
- [MOD circuit](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mod-circuit)
- [Quinetiq](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/quinetiq)
- [Bjarne Riis](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bjarne-riis)
- [eulogy](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/eulogy)
- [Jan Ullrich](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jan-ullrich)
- [Telekom](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/telekom)
- ["Race face"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/race-face)
- [suffering](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/suffering)
- [4th Cat](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/4th-cat)
- [Belgian](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/belgian)
- [sprint](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sprint)
- [guide](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/guide)
- ["The Guardian"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-guardian)
- [hail](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hail)
- [useful](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/useful)
- [websites](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/websites)
- [Muur Kapelmuur](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/muur-kapelmuur)
- [pictures](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pictures)
- [Paris-Roubaix](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/paris-roubaix)
- ["Tuesday nights"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tuesday-nights)
- [recovery](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/recovery)
- [rest](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rest)
- [prologue](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/prologue)
- [crash](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/crash)
- ["how not to"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/how-not-to)
- [Race](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/race)
- [tactics](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tactics)
- [Combe Bottom](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/combe-bottom)
- [distance](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/distance)
- [SWRC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/swrc)
- [fluctuation](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fluctuation)
- ["Highclere sportive"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/highclere-sportive)
- [commuter](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/commuter)
- [Condor](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/condor)
- [Condor Tempo](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/condor-tempo)
- [fixed](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fixed)
- ["fixed gear"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fixed-gear)
- ["fixed wheel"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fixed-wheel)
- [singlespeed](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/singlespeed)
- [Tempo](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tempo)
- [schedule](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/schedule)
- [essentials](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/essentials)
- ["inner tube"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/inner-tube)
- [money](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/money)
- [multitool](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/multitool)
- [phone](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/phone)
- [pump](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pump)
- [repairs](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/repairs)
- ["training ride"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/training-ride)
- ["tube patches"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tube-patches)
- ["tyre levers"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tyre-levers)
- [knee](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/knee)
- [pain](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pain)
- [vomiting](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vomiting)
- [Smithfield Nocturne](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/smithfield-nocturne)
- [folding bike race](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/folding-bike-race)
- [BBC London](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bbc-london)
- [Radio](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/radio)
- ["Sunday Sport"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sunday-sport)
- [Dahon](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dahon)
- [press](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/press)
- ["fun racing"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fun-racing)
- ["Warrick Spence"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/warrick-spence)
- [Beverley](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/beverley)
- ["National Road Race Championship"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/national-road-race-championship)
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- [Yorkshire](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/yorkshire)
- [Bernard Hinault](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bernard-hinault)
- ["Greg Lemond"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/greg-lemond)
- ["La Vie Claire"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/la-vie-claire)
- ["Urban Outfitters"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/urban-outfitters)
- [Victoria Pendleton](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/victoria-pendleton)
- [dog](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dog)
- ["Marcus Burghardt"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/marcus-burghardt)
- [Foix](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/foix)
- [Loudenvielle](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/loudenvielle)
- [Rasmussen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rasmussen)
- [Vinokourov](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vinokourov)
- [Boogerd](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/boogerd)
- [Champs Elysee](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/champs-elysee)
- [Discovery](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/discovery)
- [Paris](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/paris)
- [Predictor-Lotto](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/predictor-lotto)
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- [break](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/break)
- [jump](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jump)
- ["lead out"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lead-out)
- ["old git"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/old-git)
- [bicycling.com](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bicycling-com)
- ["dress code"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dress-code)
- [Clermont Ferrand](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/clermont-ferrand)
- [France](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/france)
- ["La Bourboule"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/la-bourboule)
- ["Massif Central"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/massif-central)
- ["Mont Dore"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mont-dore)
- [Puy de Dome](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/puy-de-dome)
- [caffeine](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/caffeine)
- ["London Cyclesport"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/london-cyclesport)
- ["Tacx Flow"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tacx-flow)
- ["turbo trainer"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/turbo-trainer)
- [gilet](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gilet)
- [hills](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hills)
- [Giant](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/giant)
- ["Hovis Freewheel"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hovis-freewheel)
- [Point](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/point)
- [hack](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hack)
- [Sora](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sora)
- [building](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/building)
- [Terry Dolan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/terry-dolan)
- ["Empella Froglegs"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/empella-froglegs)
- [brakes](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/brakes)
- ["Look Keo classic pedals"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/look-keo-classic-pedals)
- ["rear derailleur"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rear-derailleur)
- ["Shimano 105"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shimano-105)
- [Continental Twister tyres](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/continental-twister-tyres)
- [Dolan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dolan)
- [Piega](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/piega)
- ["Shimano 5600 wheels"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shimano-5600-wheels)
- ["London League"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/london-league)
- [Bike Snob NYC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bike-snob-nyc)
- [falling](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/falling)
- ["Lydden Hill"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lydden-hill)
- [bruise](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bruise)
- [calf](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/calf)
- [mud](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mud)
- ["off road"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/off-road)
- [Penshurst](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/penshurst)
- [remount](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/remount)
- [nostalgia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nostalgia)
- [Raleigh Burner](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/raleigh-burner)
- [Championship](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/championship)
- [Clyde](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/clyde)
- [Brighton](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/brighton)
- ["Stanmer Park"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stanmer-park)
- ["Sean Yates"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sean-yates)
- [threshold](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/threshold)
- [interview](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/interview)
- [track](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/track)
- [intervals](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/intervals)
- ["Sheldon Brown"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sheldon-brown)
- [Annie Leibovitz](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/annie-leibovitz)
- ["John Lennon"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/john-lennon)
- [naked](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/naked)
- [classic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/classic)
- [drops](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/drops)
- [handlebars](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/handlebars)
- [racing racing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/racing-racing)
- [limit](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/limit)
- [positioning](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/positioning)
- [power](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/power)
- [Skyways](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/skyways)
- [Ballan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ballan)
- [Nicole Cooke](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nicole-cooke)
- [report](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/report)
- ["The Monuments"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-monuments)
- ["Holland Park Avenue"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/holland-park-avenue)
- ["Pentonville Road"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pentonville-road)
- [Cervelo R3](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cervelo-r3)
- [Serotta](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/serotta)
- [Giro D'Italia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/giro-ditalia)
- ["Geraint Thomas"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/geraint-thomas)
- ["Rob Hayles"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rob-hayles)
- [hayfever](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hayfever)
- [topshop](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/topshop)
- [Mark Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mark-cavendish)
- [Daniele Bennati](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/daniele-bennati)
- [Tom Boonen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tom-boonen)
- [CERA](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cera)
- [EPO](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/epo)
- [micera](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/micera)
- [Riccardo Ricco](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/riccardo-ricco)
- [epic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/epic)
- [fail](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fail)
- [win](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/win)
- [Cadel Evans](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cadel-evans)
- ["Wim Vansevernant"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wim-vansevernant)
- [flickr](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/flickr)
- ["Lanterne Rouge"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lanterne-rouge)
- ["Wim Vansevenant"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wim-vansevenant)
- [Beijing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/beijing)
- [gelato](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gelato)
- [holiday](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/holiday)
- ["Chris Hoy"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/chris-hoy)
- ["Jason Kenny"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jason-kenny)
- ["Rebecca Romero"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rebecca-romero)
- ["Shanaze Reade"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shanaze-reade)
- ["monkey bike"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/monkey-bike)
- [partnership](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/partnership)
- [sky](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sky)
- [Fausto Coppi](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fausto-coppi)
- [scarf](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/scarf)
- [silk](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/silk)
- [Eurosport](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/eurosport)
- ["Garmin Chipotle"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/garmin-chipotle)
- [Rapha-Condor](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rapha-condor)
- ["Rock Racing"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rock-racing)
- ["Tour of Spain"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-spain)
- [Vuelta](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vuelta)
- ["Magnus Backstedt"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/magnus-backstedt)
- [photos](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/photos)
- ["Tour of Britain 2008"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-britain-2008)
- [comeback](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/comeback)
- [gossip](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gossip)
- [rumour](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rumour)
- [blogs](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/blogs)
- [GPS](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gps)
- [Nokia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nokia)
- [twitter](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/twitter)
- [David Brailsford](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/david-brailsford)
- [Katyusha](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/katyusha)
- ["Sean Kelly"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sean-kelly)
- [Fabian Cancellara](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fabian-cancellara)
- [Jamie Staff](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jamie-staff)
- [Levi Leipheimer](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/levi-leipheimer)
- [Paolo Bettini](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/paolo-bettini)
- [bianchi](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bianchi)
- [Bianchi B4P 928 T-Cube](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bianchi-b4p-928-t-cube)
- [bont](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bont)
- [cap](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cap)
- [clincher](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/clincher)
- ["Hed Jet 50"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hed-jet-50)
- [shoes](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shoes)
- ["zipp 404"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/zipp-404)
- [cannabis](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cannabis)
- [Alexandre Vinokourov](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/alexandre-vinokourov)
- ["Gastone Nencini"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gastone-nencini)
- ["Ivan Basso"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ivan-basso)
- ["Roger Riviere"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/roger-riviere)
- ["Leonardo Piepoli"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/leonardo-piepoli)
- [MIRCERA](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mircera)
- ["Stefan Schumacher"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stefan-schumacher)
- [ASO](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/aso)
- [IOC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ioc)
- [retroactive](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/retroactive)
- [UCI](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/uci)
- [WADA](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wada)
- [Malcolm Elliott](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/malcolm-elliott)
- [Stephen Roche](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stephen-roche)
- [Carlton Reid](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/carlton-reid)
- [lights](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lights)
- ["London Cycle Chic"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/london-cycle-chic)
- [Quickrelease.tv](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/quickrelease-tv)
- ["transportation bike"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/transportation-bike)
- [goals](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/goals)
- [off-season](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/off-season)
- [chic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/chic)
- [cycling](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cycling)
- ["The Daily Mail"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-daily-mail)
- [Vogue](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vogue)
- [cats](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cats)
- [bargain](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bargain)
- [clothing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/clothing-2)
- ["Olbas Oil"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/olbas-oil)
- ["Steve Peters"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/steve-peters)
- ["Super Prestige"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/super-prestige)
- [search](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/search)
- [wheels](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wheels)
- [advert](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/advert)
- [L'Eroica](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/leroica)
- ["Stella Artois"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stella-artois)
- [youtube](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/youtube)
- [christmas](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/christmas)
- [gifts](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gifts)
- [bicyclette](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bicyclette)
- [Celine](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/celine)
- ["Trixter Xdream"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/trixter-xdream)
- [ice](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ice)
- [safety](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/safety)
- [snow](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/snow)
- ["Uxbridge Road"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/uxbridge-road)
- [buying](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/buying)
- [Dama Bianca](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dama-bianca)
- [Specialized](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/specialized)
- [women](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/women-2)
- [Canada](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/canada)
- [Garmin](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/garmin)
- ["rouleur romantique"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rouleur-romantique)
- ["Svein Tuft"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/svein-tuft)
- [Bianchi Dama Bianca She](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bianchi-dama-bianca-she)
- [service](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/service)
- [marshalling](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/marshalling)
- [support](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/support)
- [technique](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/technique-2)
- [Alessandro Ballan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/alessandro-ballan)
- ["Oscar Freire"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/oscar-freire)
- [Emma Pooley](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/emma-pooley)
- ["Milan-San Remo"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/milan-san-remo)
- [Delays](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/delays)
- ["Girls Aloud"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/girls-aloud)
- ["Jesus And Mary Chain"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jesus-and-mary-chain)
- [music](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/music-2)
- ["Rex The Dog"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rex-the-dog)
- [Spiritualized](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/spiritualized)
- ["Hog Hill"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hog-hill)
- ["San Fairy Ann"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/san-fairy-ann)
- [Michael Ashenden](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/michael-ashenden)
- [nyvelocity](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nyvelocity)
- [Paul Kimmage](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/paul-kimmage)
- ["Rough Ride"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rough-ride)
- ["The Full Cycle"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-full-cycle)
- ["Vin Denson"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vin-denson)
- [euro](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/euro)
- [kit](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/kit)
- [professional](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/professional)
- [style](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/style)
- [Z-team](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/z-team)
- [Peugeot](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/peugeot)
- [Z](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/z)
- [Columbia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/columbia)
- ["Maglia Rosa"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/maglia-rosa)
- [George Hincapie](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/george-hincapie)
- [jawbone](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jawbone)
- [oakley](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/oakley)
- [radar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/radar)
- [sunglasses](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sunglasses)
- [Thor Hushovd](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/thor-hushovd)
- [Astana](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/astana)
- [Cervelo Test Team](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cervelo-test-team)
- [Chris Horner](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/chris-horner)
- [journalism](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/journalism)
- [Juliet Macur](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/juliet-macur)
- [NYT](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nyt)
- [Ted King](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ted-king)
- [Cycling Weekly](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cycling-weekly)
- [Denis Menchov](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/denis-menchov)
- ["Lionel Birnie"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lionel-birnie)
- [Anne Gripper](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/anne-gripper)
- [Antonio Colom](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/antonio-colom)
- [Bernard Kohl](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bernard-kohl)
- [blood passports](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/blood-passports)
- [Katusha](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/katusha)
- [L'Equipe](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lequipe)
- ["Robbie McEwen"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/robbie-mcewen)
- [betting](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/betting)
- [Carlos Sastre](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/carlos-sastre)
- [Christian Vandevelde](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/christian-vandevelde)
- [biological passport](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/biological-passport)
- [Brian Smith](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/brian-smith)
- ["Rober Millar"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rober-millar)
- [aggregation](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/aggregation)
- [Tour de France 2009](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-de-france-2009)
- [Frank Schleck](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/frank-schleck)
- ["stage 15"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stage-15)
- [Verbier](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/verbier)
- [Damien Hirst](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/damien-hirst)
- ["Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/galerie-emmanuel-perrotin)
- [Stages](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stages)
- [Trek](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/trek)
- ["Les Champs Elysees"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/les-champs-elysees)
- ["Stage 21"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stage-21)
- ["Herne Hill"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/herne-hill)
- [Italy](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/italy)
- [Rollapaluzza](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rollapaluzza)
- [book](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/book)
- [Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fallen-angel-the-passion-of-fausto-coppi)
- ["Sandrino Carrea"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sandrino-carrea)
- ["William Fotheringham"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/william-fotheringham)
- ["Vuelta a Espana"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vuelta-a-espana-2)
- ["Dog in a Hat"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/dog-in-a-hat)
- ["Joe Parkin"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/joe-parkin)
- [BMC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bmc)
- [Damiano Cunego](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/damiano-cunego)
- ["Radio Shack"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/radio-shack)
- [Team Sky](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/team-sky)
- [Ben Swift](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ben-swift)
- [Bob Stapleton](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bob-stapleton)
- ["Chris Froome"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/chris-froome)
- [Columbia-HTC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/columbia-htc)
- ["Ian Stannard"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ian-stannard)
- ["Jonathan Bellis"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jonathan-bellis)
- ["Peter Kennaugh"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/peter-kennaugh)
- ["Russell Downing"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/russell-downing)
- ["Steve Cummings"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/steve-cummings)
- [Cycling Fans Anonymous](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cycling-fans-anonymous)
- [Danilo Di Luca](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/danilo-di-luca)
- ["Mikel Astarloza"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mikel-astarloza)
- ["Tour de l'Avenir"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-de-lavenir)
- [adidas](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/adidas)
- [Mavic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mavic)
- [Pinarello](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pinarello)
- [Skyride](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/skyride)
- ["Mario Cipollini"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mario-cipollini)
- [mitts](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mitts)
- [shorts](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/shorts)
- ["Stella McCartney"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/stella-mccartney)
- ["zebra print"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/zebra-print)
- [autumn](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/autumn)
- ["Halfords Bikehut"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/halfords-bikehut)
- [Lizzie Armitstead](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/lizzie-armitstead)
- [sexism](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sexism)
- ["Gunpowder Park"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gunpowder-park)
- [blue](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/blue)
- [Bont A1](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bont-a1)
- [cyclescheme](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cyclescheme)
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- ["Raymond Louviot"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/raymond-louviot)
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- [Arthur Vichot](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/arthur-vichot)
- ["Marc Madiot"](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/marc-madiot)
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- [photography](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/photography-2)
- [photojournalism](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/photojournalism)
- [Jack Thurston](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jack-thurston)
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- [podcast](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/podcast)
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- [Nike](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nike)
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- [bike channel](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bike-channel)
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- [magma books](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/magma-books)
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- [winter accessories](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/winter-accessories)
- [product reviews](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/product-reviews-2)
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- [Gap](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gap)
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- [Emilia Fahlin](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/emilia-fahlin)
- [men](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/men)
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- [black](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/black)
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- [Hovis](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hovis)
- [Baxi Boilers](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/baxi-boilers)
- [Yaroslave Popovych](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/yaroslave-popovych)
- [Sports Illustrated](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sports-illustrated)
- [Jeff Novitsky](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jeff-novitsky)
- [allegations](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/allegations)
- [Juan Antonio Flecha](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/juan-antonio-flecha)
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- [Ronnie Barker](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ronnie-barker)
- [Norman Stanley Fletcher](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/norman-stanley-fletcher)
- [Frederik Willems](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/frederik-willems)
- [Jacopo Guarnieri](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jacopo-guarnieri)
- [Manuel Quinziato](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/manuel-quinziato)
- [Daniel Oss](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/daniel-oss)
- [Ivan Santaromita](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ivan-santaromita)
- [BMC Racing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bmc-racing)
- [Fred Perry](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fred-perry)
- [homage](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/homage)
- [Ford France](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ford-france)
- [Bonnie D Ford](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bonnie-d-ford)
- [ESPN](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/espn)
- [Jonathan Vaughters](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jonathan-vaughters)
- [Slipstream](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/slipstream)
- [Garmin-Cervelo](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/garmin-cervelo)
- [Trent Lowe](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/trent-lowe)
- [Matt White](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/matt-white)
- [Ed Pickering](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ed-pickering)
- [code](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/code)
- [ZX Spectrum](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/zx-spectrum)
- [programme](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/programme)
- [man machine](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/man-machine)
- [Road.cc](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/road-cc)
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- [Selle Royal](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/selle-royal)
- [NY Velocity](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ny-velocity)
- [omerta](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/omerta)
- [letter](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/letter)
- [steak-frites](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/steak-frites)
- [beef](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/beef)
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- [Namibia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/namibia)
- [Re-Cycle](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/re-cycle)
- [See The Difference](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/see-the-difference)
- [SS11](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ss11)
- [vimeo](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/vimeo)
- [Michael Barry](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/michael-barry)
- [Jules Wall](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jules-wall)
- [Team Rwanda](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/team-rwanda)
- [Adrien Niyonshuti](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/adrien-niyonshuti)
- [Cateye](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cateye)
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- [computer](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/computer)
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- [Japan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/japan)
- [Nowness](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nowness)
- [Awang](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/awang)
- [Champagne Charlott'](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/champagne-charlott)
- [Classics](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/classics)
- [Pat McQuaid](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pat-mcquaid)
- [biopassport](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/biopassport)
- [Liege-Bastogne-Liege](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/liege-bastogne-liege)
- [infographic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/infographic)
- [Germain Burton](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/germain-burton)
- [Tour of California](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-california)
- [OOC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ooc)
- [Out of Competition testing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/out-of-competition-testing)
- [USADA](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/usada)
- [RFEC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rfec)
- [Gerard Vroomen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gerard-vroomen)
- [CSC](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/csc)
- [Bjarne Riss](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bjarne-riss)
- [Kim Andersen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/kim-andersen)
- [Bryan Nygaard](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bryan-nygaard)
- [Racing Through The Dark](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/racing-through-the-dark)
- [audio](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/audio)
- [Critical Mass](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/critical-mass)
- [politics](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/politics)
- [transport](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/transport-2)
- [Philippe Gilbert](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/philippe-gilbert)
- [David Moncoutie](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/david-moncoutie)
- [Anthony Delaplace](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/anthony-delaplace)
- [Amets Txurruka](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/amets-txurruka)
- [Tour Champion](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-champion)
- [Jani Brajkovic](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jani-brajkovic)
- [Thomas Voeckler](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/thomas-voeckler)
- [Maillot Jaune](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/maillot-jaune)
- [Bastille Day](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bastille-day)
- [Rigoberto Uran](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rigoberto-uran)
- [Rigotberto Uran](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rigotberto-uran)
- [Andrey Amador](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/andrey-amador)
- [Yellow Jersey](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/yellow-jersey)
- [Maillot Blanc](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/maillot-blanc)
- [White Jersey](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/white-jersey)
- [High Road Sports](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/high-road-sports)
- [Sponsorship](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sponsorship)
- [investment](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/investment)
- [Teejay Van Garderen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/teejay-van-garderen)
- [Tony Martin](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tony-martin)
- [Green Edge](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/green-edge)
- [Europcar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/europcar)
- [economics](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/economics-2)
- [merger](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/merger)
- [Copenhagen](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/copenhagen)
- [Rainbow Jersey](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rainbow-jersey)
- [Project Rainbow](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/project-rainbow)
- [skinsuits](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/skinsuits)
- [Inner Ring](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/inner-ring)
- [Rod Ellingworth](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rod-ellingworth)
- [Pegoretti](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pegoretti)
- [custom](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/custom)
- [antelope](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/antelope)
- [MTB](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mtb)
- [Africa](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/africa)
- [video](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/video-2)
- [Morvelo](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/morvelo)
- [Radioshack-Nissan-Trek](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/radioshack-nissan-trek)
- [Leopard Trek](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/leopard-trek)
- [#Cyclesafe](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cyclesafe)
- [The Times](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-times)
- [RLJ](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rlj)
- [red light](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/red-light)
- [Sir Paul Smith](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sir-paul-smith)
- [Laura Trott](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/laura-trott)
- [Hi-Viz](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/hi-viz)
- [yellow](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/yellow)
- [Raymond Poulidor](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/raymond-poulidor)
- [victory](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/victory)
- [Col d'Izoard](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/col-dizoard)
- [Galibier](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/galibier)
- [Cycling Inquisition](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cycling-inquisition)
- [Rock and Rouleur](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rock-and-rouleur)
- [Jo Rowsell](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/jo-rowsell)
- [Big Ring Riding](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/big-ring-riding)
- [Peter Sagan](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/peter-sagan)
- [Team BMC Racing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/team-bmc-racing)
- [Emma OReilly](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/emma-oreilly)
- [Ferrari](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ferrari)
- [Mick Rogers](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mick-rogers)
- [World Series Cycling](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/world-series-cycling)
- [Gifted Group](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gifted-group)
- [Bakala](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bakala)
- [Youcef Reguigui](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/youcef-reguigui)
- [Team MTN-Qhubeka](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/team-mtn-qhubeka)
- [Raeburn](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/raeburn)
- [The Inner Ring](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-inner-ring)
- [Tour of Qatar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-qatar)
- [Tour of Dubai](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-dubai)
- [Tour of Oman](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-oman)
- [Armstrong](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/armstrong)
- [Qatar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/qatar)
- [Al-Jazeera](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/al-jazeera)
- [Wiggle Honda](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wiggle-honda)
- [Wiggins](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/wiggins)
- [Cavendish](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/cavendish)
- [Get Britain Cycling](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/get-britain-cycling)
- [Mountain](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/mountain)
- [Ventoux](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/ventoux)
- [Pantani](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/pantani)
- [Contador](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/contador)
- [Quintana](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/quintana)
- [church](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/church)
- [religion](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/religion)
- [RCS](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/rcs)
- [Roubaix](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/roubaix)
- [The Women's Tour](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/the-womens-tour)
- [Baku Cycling Project](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/baku-cycling-project)
- [gravel racing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/gravel-racing)
- [Nairo Quintana](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/nairo-quintana)
- [Richie Porte](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/richie-porte)
- [Marianne Vos](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/marianne-vos)
- [Sir Dave Brailsford](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sir-dave-brailsford)
- [Sky Ride](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/sky-ride)
- [europe](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/europe)
- [roma maxima](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/roma-maxima)
- [Tour of Rwanda](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-rwanda)
- [Tour of Beijing](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/tour-of-beijing)
- [China](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/china)
- [Strade Bianche](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/strade-bianche)
- [Alex Kristof](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/alex-kristof)
- [Fleche Wallonne](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/fleche-wallonne)
- [Women's World Cup](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/womens-world-cup)
- [Carrera de la Mujer](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/carrera-de-la-mujer)
- [Bogota](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/bogota)
- [IDRD-Bogotá Humana-San Mateo-Solgar](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/idrd-bogota-humana-san-mateo-solgar)
- [Giro del Toscana](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/giro-del-toscana)
- [Colombia](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/colombia)
- [Kent](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/kent)
- [statistics](https://chasingwheels.com/tag/statistics)