always riding's cycling blog

Red Bull Hill Chasers returns Feb 18th

Let's not beat around the bush - there was no way a fixed bike, bmx or a mountain bike was ever going to win the 2011 Reb Bull Hill Chaser event held in Bristol, England last January. Yes cyclists, a road bke won - a svelte, smooth rolling multi geared bike designed to go faster than any other type of bike, hence its use in races like the Tour de France. Whilst we might dream of seeing Alberto Contador gamely trying to 'weeny pedal' his BMX past a looming Levi Leipheimer, it's just not going to happen.

All that being said, the annual Red Bull Hill Chasers event is still a fantastic evening of bike racing, and this year's event has seen the course shortened in order to try to equalise the disciplines, which is certainly a welcome step.

Bringing together a qualifying 16 amatuer and 16 elite riders in a frantic head to head knockout format that will halve the field until only two riders remain, Hill Chasers is set on a short, uphill section of Bristol's city centre (Park St), and is an apply online only event for amateur cyclists looking to participate.

Posted by alwaysriding

For Japanese city cyclists, gaman spirit rules the road

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"...it’s not that they don’t like their cars in Japan. It’s just that cycling makes sense."

After Mikael Coville-Anderson of Copenhagenize (a very nice Bicycle Culture blog), ranked Japan as the world's third greatest cycling nation behind European heavyweights Netherlands and Denmark in a recent blog post, Tokyo by Bike took it upon themselves to provide some interesting information about why, despite the lack of dedicated lanes or pavements in some cases, cycling in Japan is booming and the gaman spirit rules the road.

For city cyclists on this side of the world, it makes for an enlightening read, particularly for bike commuters in cities like London, where a workable city cycling infrastructure is still seemingly decades away. You can check it out here.

Posted by alwaysriding

Are naughty Tour riders moonlighting as flashers? Australia says yes

In a quite unintentionally hilarious article published this week at SBS.com.au, Tour Down Under organisers are reported to have had to issue formal apologies to a particular fan who accidentally caught site of a rider's 'little fellow' as he partook of some good old fashioned mid-race urination.

In an interview with Seven News, the terribly upset spectator seemed to infer that the rider may have targeted her on purpose for a close up look at his little Popo: "I would like to believe it was an innocent mistake from him, but at the same time I dont see how he could not have seen us." Is this then the latest craze to sweep the peloton? Once racing hits full steam in July, can we look forward to more riders baptising the bitumen mid-crowd in a bid to compete for the most horrified spectator award? More worrying still - do professional riders not suffer that terrible long ride affliction, that bastion of embarrassment, the frightened turtle?

Riders of the Tour - we salute you.

Posted by alwaysriding

City Cycling's Long Game

Not perhaps best known for their cycling features, nevertheless it was with interest that we read a revealing interview held by the Hindu Business Line with Mr Roelof Wittink, the Director of the Dutch Cycling Embassy. With India facing increasing urban space and climate pressures, it's unsurprising that they would look to the Netherlands as an example of what it takes to truly embed cycling at the core of urban life; yet what the article finds is that integrating cycling is a long game, and one that most cities have yet to join.

Here's the link to the article:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article2804088.ece?ref=wl_home&homepage=true

Posted by alwaysriding

Introducing the new Radioshack Nissan Trek Jersey

Music by Kraftwerk, jokes by Fabian, and a reassuring message from Chris Horner about the precise location of Luxembourg in the minds of his US compatriots - so went this week's Luxembourg launch of the new iteration of last year's Leopard Trek team, now known as Radioshack Nissan Trek, or just plain RSNT if you prefer.

Having merged with Johan Bruyneel's Team Radioshack, the new RNST team takes some of the best elements from last year's Leopard Trek organisation, and introduces the leadership of the experienced Belgian along with selected riders from both teams and a larger US sponsor presence.

Of course, being Always Riding, our main concern is cycle apparel, and on that front, we are very pleased to see an update of the jersey that keeps last year's highly popular design as the main style, with the addition of well positioned Radioshack, Livestrong and Nissan logos. Our friends at Craft in Sweden are of course the producers of the jersey, of which we will be stocking the entire Radioshack Nissan Trek kit as it becomes available, along with selected off the bike wear pieces from the team.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the developed jersey design, we know a lot of Always Riding customers have a great eye for detail and design, so please let us know your opinion!

Posted by alwaysriding

Contador finds a flying use for his Etxeondo Letras headband!

High octane motivational stuff from the champion of teamwork, Bjarne Riis, saw 2010 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador take a great leap skyward this week, and to ward off the cold, he took along his favourite piece of winter cycling apparel, the Etxeondo Letras Headband.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/gallery-contador-and-riis-go-skydiving

You can check out the Letras head band here >

Posted by alwaysriding

Bike for the weekend? Velolet brings the social to bike rental

The next time you're travelling in and around the US, you may want to rethink lugging your bike along for the ride, and instead take heed of new startup Velolet, which opens up a whole world of private bikes for short term rental.

Although limited to a small but growing number of US locations, city hopping bike riders can easily search & book their temporary steed online at Velolet, then pickup at a time denoted by the hirer. In Velolet's words:

"We help cyclists rent bikes when they travel by connecting them with other cyclists who have bikes to rent. The cyclist renting the bike gets what they want (to ride) and the cyclist listing their bike earns some money (of course to spend on more bike stuff"

In addition to a growing stock of bikes from industrious private hirers willing to let their beloved bike switch riders for a self-set fee, Velolet also offers inventory from a number of bike rental companies and bike shops keen to energise their stores with a new, but potentially lucrative revenue stream.

Whether the idea takes hold in the long term is yet to be seen, but we think it is an exciting idea that could certainly ease the logistics of transporting a bike round the world for short periods. When you're always riding, you need that bike by your side 24-7. Moving to this side of the pond, could we see a startup mirroring Velolet's idea, and if so, would you use it?

Posted by alwaysriding

Morvelo's new Ride Everything™ video

They really do ride everything. Awesome.

see all the Morvelo apparel >

Posted by alwaysriding

Craft to sponsor Radioshack Nissan Trek

The good news coming out of Sweden today is that run, bike and ski apparel brand Craft have extended their sponsorship deal of the existing Leopard Trek team as it merges into the newly named Radioshack Nissan Trek for the start of next year's Pro Tour season. Penned for an initial two year involvement, Craft will supply base layers, accessories, team kit, compression items and after bike wear to the Johan Bruyneel led squad.

Always Riding was informed of the continuation a few weeks ago, but was placed under strict instructions not to say anything. To all customers that did ask, we are very sorry for not being able to tell you the good news until today.

For any riders interested in today's announcement, we have attached the official Craft press release to this post.

Click here to download:

CRAFT_PME_RadioShackNissanTrek.pdf (58 KB)

(download)

Posted by alwaysriding

New Twin Six Apparel for Autumn Winter

With the weather (at least in London anyway) still offering plenty of opportunities to rides sans jacket, the latest Twin Six seasonal arrivals could not have come at a better time. From the much requested Speedy London Jersey to new cycling t-shirt arrivals and fresh colour ways of old favourites, the new additions to the store are now in stock and ready for immediate despatch.

With the Christmas just around the corner, many of these new products would of course make excellent Christmas present choices for your cycling obsessed loved one. Splendid tidings indeed!

see all the new products >

see all Twin Six >

Ho Ho Happy Riding.