The Cycle Hub

Review – dhb Performance Triathlon kit

Posted on 10 May, 2015 by doug

This nice bit of kit is a sample from the new dhb Performance Tri range and if you’re a general sporty type, this is worth clocking. dhb has been building up a good range of decent cycle clothing over recent years and it’s good to see this new range of sensibly priced triathlon gear being released. It is very respectable kit for anyone getting into triathlons which can involve a considerable investment. I will be bringing reviews of other dhb kit over the next few weeks and I hope they’ll be useful for readers.

Before I started reviewing the more recent dhb items, I can say the dhb clothing I had bought for myself over the years has always served me well; so they are already off to a good start with me.

The Tri top

dhb-Performance-Tri-Top-Blue-Tri-Top

The Tri top above is from the dhb Performance range which is aimed at intermediate and enthusiast triathletes with a price tag of £23. Not a bad price. The range also includes tri suits, shorts, swimming gear and a wetsuit costing less than £100. Also worth clocking there’s a parallel range for women with a specific fit and colourways.

The dhb Performance Tri Top

I tried out this sample when I took part in the MK Marathon last weekend. On one level you could say it was risky using a new bit of kit for the first time in an event – but it did seem to have a good fit and seemed ideal for this race. Although I took the risk, I was pretty confident I would be okay since the seams are flat and therefore unlikely to ever become ‘rub’ points.

Real life testing the dhb trip top

As you can see, it’s designed to have a close fit. I went for the medium size and it was just right for me, although I recommend if you’re between sizes it’s probably best to go for the next size up. It makes sense having a good close fit to avoid getting any drag with loose clothing flapping in the breeze or simply slowing you down in the water. The ‘tail’ is quite long and a brilliant cut for being on the bike.

The fabric is lovely. It is by VITA and designed to be tough, smooth and stretchy, it moves with you. Also it is UV and chlorine resistant; handy for triathletes.

The Tri top features a front zip (with a neat panel to stop chaffing) which is three quarter length. There is a mesh panel on the back for temperature management and there are two pockets, one either side on the back. These pockets are elasticated and fairly compact, ideal for carrying some gels. I actually used one of the for stuffing my arm warmers in as you can see I was prepared for a chilly start in the marathon earlier this week.

Throughout the 26.2 miles, I was at the right temperature in terms of my core. Although my hands and shoulders were a little cold to begin with, this dhb Performance Tri top kept me warm enough. Once the sun had lifted the temperature and a few miles had been completed, I remained at a good steady temperature. In fact I wasn’t really aware of what I was wearing, so it must have been confortable and doing its job.

I know this is a review about the dhb kit, I can’t resist slipping in that I shaved a couple of minutes off my PB in this marathon by coming in at 3:56 and having a pretty consistent pace throughout. I am already chewing over what could be my next event: another marathon or perhaps a triathlon…… ?

This Tri top is available from Wiggle at £23 or less. Click here for the range.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, review | Leave a comment

Spin London

Posted on 9 May, 2015 by doug

SPIN LONDON VENUE

Dingy, dank and dark: a promising description for a cycle show? Wrong? Right? Yes!

The Spin London Urban Cycle Show’s 2015 venue was the old Sorting Office in Holborn and they kindly sent me a press invite (thanks guys!). The event started yesterday and runs through today and finishes tomorrow afternoon.

You actually can’t help but smile when you see the dump of a venue – it’s simply great because it is so anti-corporate, slightly rebellious and underground. Sometimes cyclists admit to wearing uniforms about who they are as cyclists and what kind of tribe we identify with. This was evident but not in an excessive way. But then, I’m bound to say that, aren’t I? I must have looked a bit conspicuous in my office clothes with my shiny business Ecco shoes, smart trousers and pink shirt but at least I didn’t have an ID badge fluttering around.

SPIN LONDON

Go and visit if you can.

You’ll get a great chance to see some novel bike brands and chat to the makers. This all makes a welcome change from the Lycra orientated road bikes. You can even try out quite a few of these around the weird test track which takes you around the basement, then up and down a vehicle ramp and you can have fun bombing your way through the cool, damp air alongside a few others sharing the delights. Mind you, there’s a few peculiar machines which I reckon you’ll need to be brave if you want to ride these (me, I gave them a wide berth) and make sure you can see where you’re going.

Then there’s also a good range of entrepreneurial folk with their wares: arty things, clothing, bags and also some coffee and food.

Well worth it if you get the chance. I will blog a little more soon about the show as there were a few fascinating conversations…

Here’s the link: http://spinldn.com or on Twitter as #SPINLDN

SPIN LONDON

Posted in people | Tagged bikes, cycling organisations | Leave a comment

Review – dhb ASV Professional Bib Shorts

Posted on 8 May, 2015 by doug

Ever wondered whether upmarket cycle clothing is a rip off or actually worth spending the extra on? Ever wondered what’s the point of having those bib shorts, with the straps that go up and over your shoulders? Well here’s an opportunity to take a look at the dhb ASV Professional bib shorts and see what the fuss is about. To get a full picture of what they’re like, fellow cyclist Barry tries them out.

About
The ASV – Professional is dhb’s premium range and claims to be based on the clothing worn by professional cyclists, such as the Wiggle Honda Pro team. At a RRP of £64.99 they are not cheap, but noticeably cheaper than some of the offerings from Castelli, Sportful etc…. The design is smart without being too flashy.

dhb ASV Professional range

The dhb shorts Barry already has are from their Aeron range, which is the dhb mid price ‘Performance’ range and it’s interesting to see what you get for the extra money and the extent to which it makes a difference. Would it be extra money well spent? Would it be a waste of money?

Getting the size right
The dhb Professional range are sized a little differently to others in the range and it’s worth checking the size guidance on the website. I have blogged below about this range being best suited to the lean, athletic figures best of all. In brief the dhb guidance includes “dhb Professional garments come up smaller in comparison to dhb Performance. If you are of a larger/muscular build, we recommend ordering one or two sizes up to match your usual dhb performance size. For further sizing and fit advice, please see our size guide”.

Barry at 5’10” and 11st 7lb is a fairly average build and would normally go for a small size. Based on this guidance the medium is size is fine and says “when they came the fit proved to be bang on, not too tight but with a little bit of compression”.

What are they like?
These dhb shorts are really nicely made with different types of fabric used for the different panels to give a different stretch, and come with a really nice flush leg gripper, no more knicker lines on your thighs. First impressions at this stage are pretty impressive.

Left – Aeron, Right – ASV

The Chamois pad feels really nice with two independent pads sewn in, with a nice cut out to take pressure off the Perineum; this is something some cyclists will be aware of as a significant problem.

Comparing the pad with the cheaper dhb Aeron, there is a significant difference with the Aeron version feeling much thinner.

On the Road
Barry has given them a try and comments “So far I have only ridden for about two and a half hours in these shorts and I didn’t notice I was wearing them, which is a good thing” and continues “There was no chafing, cutting in or pressure points. This is really good. Still with the pads in mind, it also felt like the pad had done a better job than my usual Aeron shorts in terms of isolating the vibration you get from our notoriously rough roads”.

The temperature was only about 10C and Barry was worried about getting cold as the fabric is quite thin. He needn’t have worried as the weave appears to be fairly tight and does a good job of stopping wind chill.

You might also wonder about the slightly awkward question of stopping for a pee while out cycling and this could almost be included in the “questions you’ve been too embarrassed to ask about”. It is fair to say this is not a subject which is likely to be discussed by many cyclists! The answer is simple and it lies in the fact the fabric is very stretchy and the design allows for a relatively low cut at the front. Men, therefore, can pull the shorts down and outwards to answer the call of nature.

Barry will be riding the Chiltern 100 later this month (110 miles 9000’ climbing) and will be giving these shorts a serious workout then (7 hours plus in the saddle). If they come through that with flying colours then they really will be #Goodstuff.

Summary
So back to the original question, are they with the extra money? Well the answer has to be a definite yes. They are clearly a quality product and the Chamois is definitely superior to their cheaper ranges, which will be more noticeable on longer rides.

At £64.99 they are not cheap but providing you look after them well , they should provide many years of good service.

To see these shorts via Wiggle: click here

Posted in reviews | Tagged clothing, review | Leave a comment

Installing Shimano Ultegra shifters

Posted on 29 April, 2015 by doug

At the kayaking club, I remember Beth saying before she was putting a bike together for a triathlon in the pipeline. This is the kind of thing some kayakers do. Excellent stuff and I have blogged before about kayakers having good all-round fitness and strength.

Beth went on to explain she has indeed put a bike together herself but has run into problems getting the front mech to work. Everything else works and just needs a bit of fine tuning and bedding-in.

Checking out Beth’s Lynskey

“Sure” I instantly said, not knowing what kind of bike Beth had. My worst fears were that she had thrown some BSO together which was going to be a heap of junk and ready to be thrown into the canal. But then, neither Beth, any of the kayakers or myself could possibly dream of doing such an anti-social thing.

Beth duly produced her bike and I must say I was really impressed at what she’d got and that she’s built it herself (building your own bike can be both risky and also satisfying). She has spent some time gathering the various components from eBay and the like to put together a very respectable and cost effective bicycle. It is based around a Lynskey frame, with carbon fibre forks. It is a beautifully made frame with a superb finish. Lynskey make their frames using titanium, a high performing and durable metal. The wheelset is, from memory, Mavics and she’s wisely invested in an Ultegra groupset. I pressed down on the pedal to see how much the frame flexed. There was a little flex there, certainly not rock solid it seemed. This means the frame should contribute to the overall comfort of the bicycle and ensure it’s not tiring to ride as the road surfaces are variable.

So far Beth is delighted with it and it certainly looks the business. The snag is the front mech isn’t working and on closer inspection it appeared to be a cable routing issue (having not been tempted with the electronic version). Ultegra is certainly nice kit and with an 11 speed cassette she’s got contemporary equipment.

Really sorry Beth I couldn’t sort it for you last night. Installing Shimano Ultegra shifters is straightforward according to the above YouTube. Take a look and you’ll see the correct routing for the gear cable, easy when you know how. While I’m blogging about this, the Ultegra shifters are a pleasure to use and are, in my view, well designed from an ergonomic point of view. Considering you’ll be riding for many hours, resting your hands on the lever hoods in the right way can have an impact on your comfort and performance. With this in mind, make sure you clock the spacers which can be inserted above the levers: these are useful if the finger reach required needs to come in a bit. Experimenting with the position of the contact points (your hands, butt and feet) will be worthwhile and something you shouldn’t rush.

Posted in cycle maintenance | Tagged components, friend | Leave a comment

Review – Olixar universal bike phone mount

Posted on 24 April, 2015 by doug

I toyed with getting one of these a while back but I wasn’t convinced it would hold my iPhone securely enough. So getting the chance to test out and review a sample seemed a good (but cautious) step to take. In the end I was pleasantly surprised….

Olixar universal bike mount

Description
This is a universal mounting to connect a smart phone to the handlebar of a bicycle, or I guess, even a motorbike or a golf buggy.

It is a two piece design with one half clamping to the handlebars and the other half holding the phone. The two halves lock together easily enough and when clipped together it seems totally secure with a reassuring “click”.

The holder can adjust for phones between 54 and 100mm, so virtually all current smart phones could be used with the Olixar. There is a little button, which when pressed, slowly allows the arms to glide wide open. Once the phone is in place, the arms can be pushed inwards to hold the phone securely. These arms are slightly flexible (a bit of springiness) have some neat little grippy bits of soft rubber which add to the security of the phone. Also there is a little flap which supports the base of the phone and there is a soft pad for the back of the phone to rest on; I imagine this is designed to stop the phone rattling around on a bicycle.

Olixar universal bike phone mount

The handlebar clamp is pretty straight forward and has a single screw knob for attaching to a handlebar. Helpfully there are two little soft pads stuck on the inside to provide a good grip on the handlebar. Two further rubber strips are supplied if the handlebar is a non-standard size and small (that might be handy if you’re using the Olixar on a golf buggy or something else.

In use
Please don’t make the mistake I made! In my eagerness to get this onto some handlebars to try out I found I was trying to clamp it around the brake cables, as well as the handlebars. How embarrassing! Me of all people! Please don’t tell anyone! Apart from that middle-age moment, fitting it was a piece of cake.

I am really pleased to say the mount held my iPhone in place very securely as I went for a cycle ride one evening. There was no vibration showing itself with any wobbles, rattles or anything like that. Just as well really as any smart phone is an expensive bit of kit on a bicycle handlebar and the last thing you want is to loose it.

Dad, why don’t you wave it around?
Good idea, perhaps. So once the road test was done – and passed with flying colours – it was time to be a bit more extreme. I took the mount off the bike and with the phone still in place, it was waved, jerked and shaken to see how securely it would hold the phone. Happily it held firmly in place and didn’t budge at all.

Now I know this wasn’t exactly a scientific experiment with all kinds of controls and test conditions, but it did nevertheless seem to do the job well.

Conclusion
If you’re thinking it might be useful to have your smart phone on your handlebars, for using a map app for instance, this could be the answer. As I mentioned above it could be used on other things like golf buggies, pushchairs and the like. It certainly works in terms of holding my iPhone in place very securely.

At £9.99 it seems a good deal and it’s available direct from Mobile Fun, in fact here’s a link to their website: Mobile Fun

Many thanks to Mobile Fun for supplying this sample for me to test.

Posted in reviews | Tagged components, review | 2 Comments

Runners & cyclists – are we rude?

Posted on 21 April, 2015 by doug

L to R: me, Jeremy, Josh, Andrew, Robin

This is a slightly refreshed article from four years ago: now the nice weather has finally arrived and more cyclists and runners are hitting the roads, I find this question has risen again: runners and cyclists, are we rude?

Whenever I spot another cyclist or runner I always make some kind of a friendly gesture: perhaps a “hi there!” or a nod, or whatever seems right at the time. Sometimes the other person will make the first move and I’ll always respond in a friendly kind of way.

And yet, I am often astonished at the response. Or maybe the complete lack of any response. The range is quite remarkable and varies from an enthusiastic greeting coming back through to, well, just a blank look or even not to even bother to look across the road.

Perhaps it’s a micro version of life, with there being such a wide spectrum of people. Of course, I do recognise that running and cycling are great ways to just get out there and be on your own without having to bother with other people and all the complications that can bring but it doesn’t hurt, does it, to just give some kind of acknowledgement?

I’ve also wondered what could lie behind this indifference. Is it some thing I’ve done wrong? Do people think I’m some kind of a weird person who is sending a greeting across the road with some dodgy motive? Perhaps it’s because I’m not in the right gang with the right gear? What would happen if I was in the middle of nowhere trying to repair my bike, or got injured in some way. You’d like to think someone would stop and offer some kind of assistance.

There are probably some factors that might influence this whole thing. Some of these could be:

What kind of bike you’re riding: MTB, road, tourer, hybrid etc
How you’re dressed: scruffy, casual, Lycra, fashionable team kit etc.
Time of day
Local cultures
Location
Age
and so on…..

For now I am not sure there’s any common thread. I am just going to carry on with those smiles, nods etc regardless.

Related:
Cyclists are nice people

Posted in people | Tagged attitudes, life | 2 Comments

How many bikes are sold in the UK?

Posted on 20 April, 2015 by doug

How many bikes are sold in the UK each year? More than cars? Less than cars?

CTC

The graph shows the number of bikes sold, year by year, and I find this astonishing and delighted to see this is higher than the number of cars sold. In fact, during 2013 there were about 3.3 million new bicycles sold here in the UK, compared to around 2.2 million cars.

According to the CTC, about 30% of these are kid’s bikes and presumably covers all ages. Unsurprisingly 98.5% of the bikes sold in the UK were imported and I can’t help wondering if the 1.5% made in this country are exotic bicycles? This would mean around 50,000 bikes being made in the UK and while I might dream of these all being exotic, classy machines, the chances are they may not all be like that. Importantly it is encouraging overall.

Likewise it would be easy to say the 3.3 million bikes sold are most likely flat-packed bike shaped objects sold in super-markets. I dare say some of these will be included but moreover I anticipate many will include decent quality road, MTB, hybrids etc. Initiatives such as the various Cycle to Work schemes will have helped. This is all fantastic and yet it is also disappointing that the number of miles cycled each year remains at modest levels. In fact the most recent spike has been in the 1980s when mountain bikes were selling like hot cakes.

All in all, pretty good!

Related:

Beware Bike Shaped Objects

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged attitudes, cycling organisations | 3 Comments

Cyclists are nice people

Posted on 19 April, 2015 by doug

My good friend Jon is a fantastic person to run with. We have enjoyed each other’s company on the handful of runs that we have done with each other. We seem to agree on just about everything. Everything, that is, except cyclists.

Jon is one of those lovely people who simply do not appreciate cyclists and I just can’t understand why. He says it mostly from the perspective of being a car driver himself and he complains about the bad behaviour of cyclists and is often ‘put out’ when cyclists make better progress than cars through places like Harpenden.

On our run last week Jon could not help but notice how friendly with each of the cyclists were that we passed. Some of them would ping their bells for us to hear they were coming, others would simply say hello as they passed us. Every single one of them was friendly and pleasant.

I couldn’t help but comment on this.

“Jon you can see, they’re all nice people, everyone of those cyclists”

We strode on a few yards.

“I can’t explain it Doug. Must be because they’ve read your cycling blog!”

Now that sounded good to me. And then another group when past us a few minutes later and they beat us to it in terms of exchanging a greeting.

And Jon, there’s more. When I was running yesterday over a similar area it was almost exactly the same. Apart from one single cyclist, who was clearly on a mission and “in the zone, man” was cheery and at the very least smiled. Even a group of MTBs greeted me; they were at the side of the road waiting patiently while one of them fixed a puncture.

The highlight of me interacting with the happy cyclists of Hertfordshire was at the point of being really thirsty. So when the next cyclist passed by I asked him if he could spare a little water. Naturally and without any hesitation he poured me some water. I commented on his new looking bike, a carbon Boardman and he said he was “just getting into it” as he sped off.

Drat I didn’t get a chance to ask if he’d seen my blog.

So there you are, proof that cyclists are [generally] nice friendly people. Take note.

Posted in running | Tagged attitudes, friend | 6 Comments

Review – dhb Flashlight Compact-XT jacket

Posted on 28 March, 2015 by doug

dhb-Flashlight-Compact-XT-Waterproof-Jacket-Cycling-Waterproof-Jackets-Fluoro

Next up in my dhb reviews is this nifty cycling jacket courtesy of those nice folk at Wiggle. This is the kind of jacket I think every cyclist needs to have, no matter whether you’re a short distance commuter riding a heap of junk to the station, or a no-expense-spared biker subscribing to the n+1 approach. While it’s quite nice, it’s not perfect. Read on….

What it is

At £64.99 this is a mid range water proof jacket, with a cycling cut which means it has longer arms and a bit of a tail to keep your backside protected. It is claimed to be breathable, it has some nice touches (see below) and these include some highly reflective patches.

I selected the bright yellow version. It is a seriously bright yellow with some kind of fluorescent finish so it really catches your eye from a distance. There is a blue version also available and while I think it looks nice, it’s not quite so conspicuous but it still has all of the reflective features.

This dhb Flashlight Compact jacket is ideal for cyclists who want to be seen: it has it’s place for urban commuters and also those venturing out into dark country lanes.

Features

There’s a couple of decent sized pockets in the usual places i.e. on the chest (great for a smart phone) and at the lower back. This pocket is useful enough for a punch of keys, an inner tube and a snack (helpfully not so big that you cannot find anything!). The zips appear to be high quality and these are sewn in perfectly. Interestingly the back pocket has an extended tag on the zip to make it easier to find – there are many times before when I have fumbled around trying to find a back pocket zip and this pretty much solves this problem.

water beading off the dhb jacket

I have mentioned the reflective panels already. These are dotted around and are the well respected 3M Scotchlite material which claim high levels of visibility and durability.

The collar is finished with a thin fleece layer which brings some comfort and takes away the stiffness of the collar, although it does absorb some water (see hose pipe test below…).

The cuffs are partly elasticated and have a velcro adjuster: these both work well together. Also there is an elasticated draw cord on each side at the hem to pull the waist in to have a nice snug fit.

I have already mentioned the material but I’d like to add there is a ventilation flap across the back and the actual material seems pretty tough. In fact there appears to be a kind of “rip stop” ability incorporated into the material and there is a finish which causes water to simply roll off.

It is worth at this stage saying something about the construction: it is superbly made. I have been all over looking for any imprecations and there aren’t any at all. The accuracy of the taped seams are spot on and every single stitch is perfect. In terms of the construction, I cannot fault it in any way and believe me, I have looked really hard!

That’s all very well but what’s it like to use?

On the whole it’s pretty good but not perfect.

My loving family decided they would offer their full support in the interests of my blogging. Knowing we haven’t had much rain recently I was frog marched out into the garden and hosed down!

dhb jacket and the hose pipe test

Needless to say they got a bit carried away spraying me from all angles at close range but I stood there very dutifully, as one does. I took the precaution of wearing shorts and I’m certainly needed I should as it was like I was standing there in a monsoon. I can say there was absolutely NO water getting in: there was nothing getting in through the material or the zips or the pockets or the seams or anywhere.

The fit is relaxed and ideal for every day use such as commuting and has enough room for you to have a few layers on underneath. I went for the medium size and it had the right length of sleeves. The tail does extend below the waist which is helpful but to be honest I would go for an extra two inches.

The less perfect element is the breathability. Having cycled around at ordinary speeds and not getting seriously out of breath, it was fine. Having used it for club running with a few intervals, I was a bit humid inside.

Conclusions

Pros
Highly visible, good for night time use (especially the yellow one)
Water proof
Wind proof
Very practical
Superb construction
Fair price

Cons
Not totally breathable
Could be a little longer at the back (this is nit-picking)

Overall
While not perfect, this should perform well with considerable durability.

Useful links

Click here for the jacket on Wiggle
Click here for all other dhb jackets

Posted in reviews | Tagged clothing, commuting, review | 2 Comments

Planet X journey

Posted on 25 March, 2015 by doug

Planet X single speed

It is lovely to hear from fellow cyclists and to sometimes learn a little more about their own personal journey in life. This is Dave’s new Planet X bike and one that he’s rightly proud of and as I’ve learnt something of his journey, it is worth sharing.

First of all, the bicycle itself

I think Dave has invested in one of the Planet X Pro Carbon frame sets, all very nice and from the outset I do like the simplicity of it i.e. nothing too flash or pretentious. He loves the feel and handling, describing it as having sensitive handling and being stiff – this shows itself when powering hard uphill. I imagine this is partly due to the materials of the frame and also the short, tight wheelbase which would minimise any “crabbing”.

The original Chinese bottom bracket has been replaced twice through rusting; I would be seriously disappointed if that happened to me. Sensibly, Dave now has upgraded this to Shimano 105 which is a dependable choice. The brake levers are Record carbon (I guess Campagnolo) and are 15 years old and don’t look dated at all. Talking of Shimano 105, this is the same for the very effective brakes and nice looking chain set: these are all 2015 versions. Pedals are the Look Keo Max which have been selected instead of the Shimano equivalents.

After the frameset, most cyclists agree the next most important element of a bike are the wheels. Wheels can make a huge difference to the weight and performance of a bike in terms of acceleration, hill climbing and so forth. Also do take care in choosing the right tyres and you could transform the overall quality and feel of a bike. Dave has gone for Mavic Aksiums, a popular upgrade, and shod with Schwalbe Durano tyres. These tyres are new to me but Dave tells me that he found them to be harsh at the start and therefore ran them at a lower pressure of 75lbs p.s.i. until they were broken in and a little more supple.

One of the most obvious features are the lack of gears. Now this is an interesting step! I do not know where Dave lives or cycles but presume the terrain isn’t too hilly (?) but doing this makes some sense in terms of developing strength and fitness. By changing the rear sprocket Dave has had a 66 inch gear which means the bike will move forward by this amount for every complete turn of the pedals. He describes this as a little low and yet the alternative sprocket is 72 inches isn’t quite so nice.

Secondly and most importantly: Dave the cyclist

Dave is a classic example of regular cycling bringing some real health benefits. Twenty years ago he was diagnosed with a heart problem through a routine health check which was prompted by fatigue. Gradually the problem became worse until eventually he needed a replacement of the aortic valve; such serious surgery is not for the faint hearted.

One of the things which really helped Dave was being was pretty lean and fit when he went for the surgery. Dave tells me that his recover was “…way faster than normal and I’m fighting fit again”. Furthermore he had his first bike ride just 11 weeks after the operation and while he could have been back on the road sooner, Dave was wanting to maximise the healing in order to protect himself should he ever have had an accident. The last thing he would need, as he explains, is “busting open the sternum” should he crash and not be well healed.

One of the reasons why Dave seems so happy about cycling and having his new bike is that he was unable to ride in the year leading to his operation. Knowing that there wasn’t sufficient blood being pumped around his system must have been very frustrating, potentially dangerous and limiting. Furthermore he put on quite a bit of weight during that time but that’s all been burnt away now that he’s back in the saddle.

Getting his bike set up has been a key element of Dave’s recuperation. It has helped him regain his fitness and has certainly provided a focus while he was recovering. He also suggests it is the key to future fitness and health which I’m sure every regular cyclist will connect with. Myself I can understand why Dave says “knowing the [heart] problem existed I have lived my life to the full, and it’s been quite a ride”.

Health issues, whether we experience them ourselves or see others go through difficult times, really does bring life into perspective. I am grateful to Dave for sharing his journey.

Posted in health, people | Tagged attitudes, health, life | 1 Comment

Coroner’s Court and a taste of old fashioned yoghurt

Posted on 22 March, 2015 by doug

Straight Up yoghurt

This post has potential for being a bit weird and disjointed but please bear with me. I have recently completed my stint as a good, consciencous citizen in serving as a jury member on two recent cases.

In the UK the Coroner investigates the cause of deaths and in cases where the deceased person was detained by the State, an Inquest takes place and a Jury diligently enquires into the circumstances surrounding the death. This provides a degree of openness and public scrutiny, therefore ensuring nobody is “bumped off” or “done away with”.

HM Coroner’s Court

Jury service is pretty much compulsory if you are selected at random and it’s based on the electoral role. Normally you can expect to be called only once and I think it is less common to be a jury member in a Coroner’s Court; normally it would be a criminal case being tried in a Crown Court. For myself it was interesting to do my jury service in the Coroner’s Court as this was new ground for me; professionally I used to spend much time in the Magistrates Court, until the late 1990s. Perhaps when I retire I will write my memoirs and some of those Court room dramas will feature heavily as I still remember them to this day.

Anyway, the situation is that you can claim a lunch allowance of a heady £5.71 and there happened to be a nearby branch of Waitrose to blow it in. Each day I made sure I had something completely different and on one particular day my lunch included a small tub of Straight Up yoghurt for my pudding.

The taste

Without doubt, this is one heck of a yoghurt. First impressions are sort of smooth, with a thick creamy texture. The taste is anything but creamy – it is sharp, sour, tart and almost tangy – certainly ‘old school’. Yes I do agree with their assertion that this is ‘old school’ and it reminds me of who yoghurt used to taste like.

In fact I remember my first taste of yoghurt, as a child in the 1960s and it was an ‘acquired taste’ which is a polite way of saying it wasn’t nice and took a long time before it was anywhere near acceptable and anywhere near being enjoyable.

What’s in it?

Live Yoghurt* (Milk), Gelling Agent (Pectin), *Contains Cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, L. Bulgaricus, L. Casei

I’m afraid I don’t know all the ins and outs of these bugs other than they are helpful in aiding our digestive tract to keep it all in good order. Eating this yoghurt also brings a good dose of protein, some carbohydrates and calcium.

Conclusion

Trying out new foods can be fun, especially when they are free! Unexpectedly this yoghurt really did bring back memories of how I remember yoghurt from several decades ago and also from when I had a go at making yoghurt myself in a Thermos flask.

Would I buy it again? Maybe, now and again. I prefer a more mild taste in the case of yoghurt although it has to be said you can use this sparingly and economically.

One last word on jury service: please don’t ever be one of those people who moan like hell at the thought of doing jury service. Yes it can be inconvenient and it can be challenging or distressing. However it is all about local justice and being a member of your society. Living in a country where justice is relatively open is a really important thing which we shouldn’t ever take for granted. There, I’ve said my piece.

Posted in food, health | Tagged food, health | Leave a comment

Review – dhb Professional Long Sleeve Jersey

Posted on 18 March, 2015 by doug

dhb-ASV-Long-Sleeve-Jersey-Long-Sleeve-Jerseys-Black-Blue-A0834-0

If you are an Aldi cycle clothing fan you might wonder what on earth goes into making this dhb jersey so pricey at £64.99. Then again, when you clock the whole range of cycle jerseys on offer these days, you realise it’s not that pricey. In fact it is fairly mid range in terms of the cost.

Wiggle have kindly sent this jersey to review. Notwithstanding this I am going to tell you what I genuinely think about this jersey. Please bear in mind I have tested this in March – often a month of chilly, cold winds and so I can’t really comment on the ability to handle high summer temperatures.

Description

As you can see, it’s a long sleeve cycling jersey. It is from dhb’s professional range and this means it uses upmarket performance fabrics, has a leaner fit and a few other nice touches (see below). The blurb on the website says it is from the professional range, so it’s exactly the same as the official Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling Team apparel. The graphics and appearance are a matter of personal taste.

I got the medium size and it only weighs 192 grams, so pretty light. First impressions are that it’s a fairly thin fabric so I wasn’t sure about warmth until I’d tried it out. The jersey features a full length zip at the front and three drop pockets across the back, plus one additional zipped pocket.

Fabric

The fabric is manufactured by Tessport, an Italian company with only a basic website (but at least it’s stylish website). The actual fabric is HydroFit which is described as being soft and light and having good wicking properties.

It is nice and smooth to the touch and quite stretchy, with a good amount of ‘give’ in all directions. This makes it comfortable to wear and has some discreet flat seams inside. It seems to be the same thickness all over and the design is printed on.

Importantly the fabric has an anti-bacterial treatment and I can tell you, this is a really important feature, at least in our house. Anyone who uses technical fabrics will know how they develop a certain odour after a while which tends to linger even after being washed. Well the anti-bacterial treatment does seem to help minimise the ‘smelly-helly’ effect but I think it’ll still benefit from being washed in the appropriate detergent (we recommend Halo).

The fit

This is where it starts to get interesting and I gave some thought before saying I would go for a medium size. You need to clock this – the cut is designed for an athletic figure. If you are particularly muscular or have a heavy build, probably best to go up from your usual size. You need to bear this in mind if you’re carrying a spare tyre i.e. some extra weight around your midriff. Even so this is designed to be a fairly close fit and this is important to make the most from the wicking abilities of the fabric.

I have already mentioned it has a certain amount of stretch and ‘give’ which could be welcome for anyone who is looking to lose a little weight. When you’re wearing this without any base layer and it’s skin tight, it will reveal all the features of your physique and any adornments – I guess some of my readers will absolutely love this! If you are more modest, you might like to go up a size. Nevertheless, take care to get this right – avoid anything overly tight and certainly avoid a size which flaps around in the breeze. This is simply not cool for a serious cyclist.

Helpfully the sleeves are quite long. This is a really essential part of a cycling jersey and sadly some manufacturers skip this. Likewise the tail is a little longer, also useful. These features are just what you need when you’re leaning over the drops at speed.

Around the waist there are some little blobs of silicone type material that helps keep it in place and (mostly) stops the fabric from rolling up. How much it might / might not roll up also depends on your body shape. The wrists have a subtly elasticated band to keep the sleeves in place.

Construction, features

There is a full length YKK zip at the front which is almost hidden and neatly folds down at the top for comfort (i.e. so you’re not jabbing your throat with the top of the zip). It’s not a bulky zip, so it won’t detract from the figure-hugging qualities of the jersey.

Pockets are really important and there are three, side by side, across the back. With these you’ll have enough room for a handful of energy gels, kits, spare tube and so on. On the outside of the middle pocket there is an additional pocket which is zipped (for extra security) and also has a water proof liner. This is brilliant for keeping any papers, cash or your phone secure AND dry. One word of advice, make sure you empty the pockets when you have it washed and you’ll need to dry inside the waterproof pocket with a small cloth.

There is a token gesture of some reflective bits but these are too subtle to make any difference. This is a shame, I don’t think it would hurt to have a reflective band across the back, maybe just above the hem.

Performance, in use

I’ve already mentioned I have been trying this out in March. Although it’s a cycling jersey I used it for a 95 minute run today. At 5 degrees it was fairly cool I didn’t wear anything underneath and thankfully I judged this about right. Although it is a thin fabric, it kept me warm enough, even though my hands were really cold (wish I’d worn gloves!). On the bike at this temperature I would normally have a couple of layers, so bear this in mind. Likewise in the summer, you can probably just wear this on it’s own.

As my run was 12 miles I was out long enough to get properly warmed up and enough to build up a bit of a sweat. The wicking performance was fine.

Overall

Overall I liked it. The company dbh have a decent range of cycle specific clothing, pitched at different levels and I’ve had their stuff before without any complaints.

I was quite impressed by the design and performance and the look. It is contemporary design and yet I don’t think it will look particularly dated over the next few years, not that I could care less about this anyway. It’s bold but not too flashy. Whether you like the look or not is simply a matter of personal taste I guess. As mentioned above, some reflective bits wouldn’t go amiss.

At £64.99 it’s not cheap and yet being realistic, it is actually a mid-priced jersey. There’s some nice touches (especially the good pockets) and the overall shape and design. If you have a slim, lean figure, this jersey will look great on you.

Want a closer look? Click here for the relevant Wiggle page

Posted in reviews | Tagged clothing, review | 3 Comments

Brainy bike lights

Posted on 1 March, 2015 by doug

Another interesting product I liked at the London Bike Show were the Brainy Bike Lights and I think they’re an interesting and novel approach to cycle lights.

Brainy bike light stand

The idea is pretty simple as a way of solving the problem of cyclists in urban areas not always being seen, despite having lights. If the light itself is the illuminated image of a cyclist on a bicycle, it is more likely to be recognisable as a cyclist and therefore the motorist has to react.

The Brainy Bike Lights – rear and front

I am not sure my photos really do justice to the lights themselves. The light is nice and clean, with clear edges to the images. The actual units seem well made, black and fairly unobtrusive when they’re not being used. As you would expect, there are various static and flashing modes. To keep things simple, they are sold only in pairs.

It seems the image of a cyclist is more likely to catch the eye of a motorist and quickly register that there’s a cyclist in front. Simple as that. I have included their website at the bottom of this post so you can take a look yourself at their evidence as to how this works. All clever stuff. It has to be said, in my view, these lights are really best kept for the urban environment, not for those dark, quiet country lanes where a high output of eye-burning Lumens is required.

Once again it was nice meeting the owners at the show (names escape me right now) and seeing that enterprising spirit alive and kicking. It was great chatting at the show and learning a little more about the origins of the lights. Myself, I liken them to the emergence of cycle helmets back in the 1980s. Although the helmets then weren’t as good as they are these days, they did at least catch the eye of motorists who would instantly go through that thought process of “cyclist – helmet – safety – make sure you pass safely” or something along those lines. It’s a similar thought process with these lights.

So there you are, another exhibitor at the show with a novel and interesting product. They had a tiny little display stand but it was, nevertheless, attracting quite a lot of attention from folk passing by. That, I suppose is the point, shows it works and I reckon it made a few people smile. Would I use one myself? Yes, sure I would but only in an urban area. Apart from something practical and workable, it’s also a little different and slightly off-beat: another reason to like them!

I promised you their website to see all of the evidence etc: Brainy Bike Lights

Posted in cycling at night | Tagged commuting, components | Leave a comment

Personalised number plates UK?

Posted on 23 February, 2015 by doug

Blogger’s number plate (almost?)

Very sorry everyone, I am NOT into personalised number plates but this one did catch my eye. I was daydreaming in a traffic jam while driving to work a couple of weeks ago.

I figured BL07 could almost be BL06 which would nearly look like BLOG. Ridiculous isn’t it? And yet people spend heaps of money on this kind of thing: there are all kinds of problems in the world, People are starving elsewhere, ISIS is doing dreadful things, Ebola is still a problem, there’s much unrest in the Ukraine, modern slavery still takes place and people spend money on personalised number plates.

Back to BL07 in my daydream. In my wistful daydream the letters YMC actually became GER, so BLOG gets GER to become BLOGGER. Just as I was wondering what having such a number plate would be like, the traffic suddenly started moving and I quickly got the shot above. I woke up and was zooming off to the office.

All very well but at least it’s not this:

WELL FAT

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged attitudes, blogging, ethics, life | Leave a comment