Navigating a cycling route is a big step on any new cyclists journey. The sense of freedom you get from being able to follow a route opens so many doors to what you can do and where you can go on a bike. The days of sticking to the same area for fear of getting los will be behind you, with just the open road ahead.
Finding and navigating a cycling route is a wonderful feeling, especially if you've built the route yourself. But if you don't have a GPS device like a Wahoo, or have super human memory powers, then you're going to need to navigate on your trusty mobile phone to keep you on the right track.
Be warned, many cyclists will tell you that trying to navigate with your phone is a 'nightmare' and 'just impossible', which may lead you to not bother. But it is possible, and can be an easy (and much cheaper) option for navigating a cycling route, especially if you're just starting out. We've all got a smartphone right?
]]>
Navigating a cycling route is a big step on any new cyclists journey. The sense of freedom you get from being able to follow a route opens so many doors to what you can do and where you can go on a bike.
The days of sticking to the same area for fear of getting lost will be behind you, with just the open road ahead, thanks to awesome apps like komoot.
Finding and navigating a cycling route is a wonderful feeling, especially if you've built the route yourself. But if you don't have a GPS device like a Wahoo, or have super human memory powers, then you're going to need to navigate on your trusty mobile phone to keep you on the right track.
Be warned, many cyclists will tell you that trying to navigate with your phone is a 'nightmare' and 'just impossible', which may lead you to not bother.
But it is possible, and can be an easy (and much cheaper) option for navigating a cycling route, especially if you're just starting out. We've all got a smartphone right?
First things first, you need a route to follow. There are loads of places to find cycling routes if you know where to look.
You can make use of the Dirty Wknd route database, or one of the route database sites like Komoot, Strava and Ride With GPS. Googling 'cycling routes in x' will also always throw up loads of routes,
Of course the best place to find routes is within a cycling club or group. One of the great things about the cycling community is how readily good routes are swapped around (something about cyclists being show offs, who knew!)
So if you're a member of a group or club then ask around, you'll be inundated with good routes in no time.
Ok, let's get down to it. In order to navigate on your phone, you will need to use one of the above apps. I've used all of the three, and I have to say that komoot's navigating function is by far and away the best.
Full disclosure, Komoot is one of our partners, so we do have an interest in promoting them. But the navigation really is streets ahead, which makes them the best. It's why we partnered with them.
You need the Komoot app for mobile navigation, which is free to download from the App or Play Store:
*You don't need a komoot premium account to use the app, but I do think it's worth the money for all the extra features you get.
It really is as simple as that. You don't even need to be right at the start of your route, Komoot will navigate you to the start automatically as long as you're close.
You can also switch on voice notifications and get audible directions, leaving you free to look at nature and the road ahead.
The only real downside to navigating by mobile is that no matter what app you use, it will drain your battery life. There is no escaping the dreaded 'low power mode', so you have to be prepared.
Komoot have a support page for this very thing, with tips to save your battery. However the trick is to take a decent battery pack with you on any ride.
The other thing you might want to look into is a decent handlebar mount for your phone. You can simply put your phone in your pocket of course, but it's not fun stopping every 30 seconds to check directions.
There are loads of handlebar mounts out there, from simple rubber straps to full on waterproof cases.
Our top pick is the Quadlock system. It looks great, it's durable and incredibly easy to use. It is on the pricier end of the spectrum, but it's never failed me, even on gravel/off road rides.
If you've got any question about how to use your mobile phone to navigate a cycling route, or anything else for that matter, get in touch for a chat.
]]>Buying a new bike is a daunting, beguiling and sometimes overwhelming experience for new cyclists. It's a scary prospect for the 'uninitiated', so when Kate Siddiqui, one of our members, offered to write a blog on her bike buying experience, we bit her hand off! Continue reading below for Kate's story, followed by her bike buying top tips:
Come January many of us start with the “New Year, New You” mantra, and this year I was no different. My road bike had sadly been stolen, so with my insurance payout in one hand, a Cycle to Work voucher in the other, I set out to get a new bike. The added motivation to my “New Year, New You” mindset was the fear/foreboding of an Alpine road cycling trip looming in late summer, and I knew I needed to get some serious training miles in.
]]>Come January many of us start with the “New Year, New You” mantra, and this year I was no different. My road bike had sadly been stolen, so with my insurance payout in one hand, a Cycle to Work voucher in the other, I set out to get a new bike.
The added motivation to my “New Year, New You” mindset was the fear/foreboding of an Alpine road cycling trip looming in late summer, and I knew I needed to get some serious training miles in.
Unexpected climbs
Having shortlisted a handful of brands and frames from online research I called around 3 or 4 local bike shops - both small suppliers and your well-know Evans and Cycle Surgery stores - expecting my healthy budget and request for a women’s carbon frame bike would be met with enthusiasm.
My experience at this point was not encouraging. Primarily I was met with a sharp intake of breath and a “we don’t stock any/many carbon women’s… and we don’t have that brand/frame size in stock.”
It was here that I started to realise that this may not be the quick and easy shopping spree I’d expected.
Over the next 5 weeks I spent many an hour trawling around cycling shops all over London, looking at their selection, speaking to the staff, and trying different brands and frame sizes.
It was of course a good problem to have, but it was also fairly exhausting and overwhelming, and I worried I wouldn’t get a bike sorted in time to get in some of those all important winter miles.
The more you know, the more you know how little you know!
The sheer number of shops I visited meant I was getting lots of advice and opinions from the shop staff. This was both positive and negative. I learnt more, and heard different perspectives, but it was also very confusing.
Everyone has different opinions which I found to be both contradictory and not directly comparable. I took each tip and added it to my bank of knowledge and reminded myself that the staff in bike shops are trying to sell their wares.
Feeling lost and anxious that I’d misspend my investment, and totally uneducated in anything bike, I set about on a mission to understand what I was actually doing.
Here’s where messages, phone calls and conversations with many people came into play - the cycling work colleague, my weekly cycling buddy, the occasional cycle buddy, school friends I hadn’t spoken to in years, physios, other people’s husbands - basically ANYBODY who could stand my inane bike chat and incessant questions was bombarded with them.
Over time my knowledge grew and I felt better equipped to make an informed decision about what I was buying.
Finding The One
I tried out lots of bikes - some I just hopped on and off quickly and it was an immediate ‘too small’ or ‘too big’. Some I got rigged up on the turbo and spent a few minutes peddling, and around three I actually took out on the road for a trial. Realising what I was looking for was part of my journey.
During the process I was regularly spinning at a spin studio in the City, and I played around with the bike settings here to see what I thought was comfy - moving the handlebars and seat position to see what made me feel most powerful (technically this should have been reflected in my wattage stats - but let’s be honest they’re still too embarrassing to mention anywhere public!).
The moment I sat on my new bike - a Liv Envie Advanced 2 - I actually cried a little with joy. Don’t worry, none of the cool cycle guys in Cadence Performance saw, as I was wearing my sunglasses at the time (*phew*).
It fitted like a glove and was what I deemed to be a reasonable spec for the spend. It was a moment where all my perseverance paid off and a huge amount of relief that I could get on with training into the spring.
Turns out my instinct on what geometry suited me, developed over weeks of trialling bikes and a sporty background, was right. When Sandro from Cadence took me through a Retul bike fit, it only needed minor adjustments to be the perfect set-up.
The final descent
So what are my takeaways? Educate yourself. Be that annoying person who asks 1000 questions - don’t be intimidated by people’s tone of voice which may come across as patronising.
They’ve often forgotten what it’s like to be new to this, so just ignore them and get on with it.
Whether you’re spending £500 or £5000 it’s your choice, and your bike, so make sure you’re comfortable and don’t be pressured into anything.
Call on the support of your cycling community, as they’ll be able to give you more time to talk and a more rounded opinion than shop staff who are incentivised to sell.
Finally, I don’t believe shopping for a women’s bike is the same as shopping for a man’s bike. There’s less in stock to try out, less engineering and science invested in women’s cycling, and 80% of the time you will be speaking to shop staff who are men.
But as all good cyclists know, nothing is an insurmountable climb, and when you reach the top the view is beautiful.
Kate’s Top Tips for Buying a New Bike:
Now I’m on the road to becoming a fully fledged bike nerd, it’s time for me to share some of my hard-learnt wisdom. If you’re new to road cycling, looking to buy your first bike or upgrade, the tips below are for you.
There is quite a lot online about the various components (gears, brakes, pedals, etc) and any cycling bloke will be able to give you a full rundown of these, probably because these are consistent across male and female bikes.
So instead of repeating what you can probably already find, here are some tips aimed towards newer cyclists, and the female rider, specifically around how to shop for the right frame geometry:
I hope my experience and tips will help you in your bike buying quest. Good luck and see you on the road soon!
Thanks for the amazing blog Kate Siddiqui. If you have any questions about buying a bike then please comment below, or link up with us on Twitter or Facebook. Or you can do it the old fashioned way and Email Us.
Main image: Photo by Coen van de Broek on Unsplash
]]>
Shaving a few grams off your bike weight aren't going to make nearly as much difference to the upcoming spring and summer cycling season as training through the winter will.
Cycling in winter does have its risks, so please bear in mind the below tips when you’re out cycling in the wind and the rain.
]]>Shaving a few grams off your bike weight aren't going to make nearly as much difference to the upcoming spring and summer cycling season as training through the winter will.
Cycling in winter does have its risks, so please bear in mind the below tips when you’re out cycling in the wind and the rain.
Be visible
With any luck the winter will be bright, dry and sunny; and having your bike lights with you will be the last thing on your mind.
However, the dusk can draw in very fast at this time of year, and you don’t want to be caught out on road without your lights.
Make sure you take them just in case. If possible also make sure that your winter kit has some high-viz. Every little helps.
Prepare for the worst and layer up
It’s fairly common knowledge that the weather in the UK can change in a pedal-stroke, so don’t be caught out - make sure you layer up. It’s a lot better to be too hot and peel layers off than to be shivering on the bike wishing to high heaven you’d brought a rain jacket.
Think about the little things - will I need gloves, a snood, over-shoes (the most important thing you can own). The chances are the answer is yes, and worst case you can just take them off. Think ahead.
Just because it’s nice and sunny when you set off, doesn’t mean it’s going to stay like that. If the weather turns and you’re not prepared you won’t enjoy the ride!
Ride what and where you know
Whilst we here at Dirty Wknd are all for cycling in new places and discovering new routes, we recommend that you actually play it a bit safe at this time of year, and ride somewhere you know.
With conditions and road surfaces likely to be a bit more treacherous, you don’t really want to be dealing with the unknown.
If you know the route, and you know what to expect (i.e. how certain corners will change in the wet) then you’re much more likely to have a safe and enjoyable training ride.
If you're a London cyclists, why not stick to riding in Regent's Park or cycling in Richmond Park?
Keep it short
Unless you’re a hardened pro, used to riding though driving rain and snow, then we suggest keeping your winter training rides short.
Whilst you might be able to spend a whole day in the saddle in the summer, it’s much harder, and much less fun, to do so in the Winter. Once you’re muscles start to fatigue and your body temperature starts to drop it’s very difficult to keep your moral up.
This is not to say it should be an easy ride, just a shorter one. Give it everything for the few hours you’re on the bike (and we do recommend 2-3 hours at a time) and then return home to the warmth.
Ride in a group or bring a friend (or at least tell a friend)
Ideally you will be cycling with a friend or a group, it massively helps with motivation, safety and enjoyment when cycling the winter months.
However, there will be times when you're out on your own. Letting someone know you're out riding alone is very sensible advice for the rest of the year anyway, but especially so in winter.
Let a friend or partner know that you’re going out, where you’re going and roughly how long it should take. Make sure your phone and GPS device is charged to avoid being out of reach or getting lost.
This might seem like an extreme measure but it’s best to be safe.
Ride (or exercise) indoors
Indoor cycling is now such an in-depth and enjoyable past time that sometimes opting for the turbo trainer or rollers is a much better choice. Especially if the weather is really bad outside.
If you have a turbo trainer, then why not get a Zwift subscription for the winter. Or make use of the many online indoor cycling workouts on platforms like YouTube. The GCN indoor workouts are particularly good.
If you don't yet have a turbo trainer or Zwift then you can read more about what you need to get set up here.
And if you don't want to cycle indoor, then do another workout indoors. Cross training has been proven to benefit your cycling performance, so doing some yoga, a weights workout or going for a swim are all great options.
And the good old-fashioned run, whilst still outside, is a fail safe option for a short winter exercise.
Exercising through winter is very important for your physical and mental health, but it's important to be safe out there.
Image Credits: CLEMENT Ader on Unsplash | Dmitrii Eliuseev on Unsplash
]]>Vätternrundan is a 315km cycle around Lake Vättern starting and finishing in Motala, Sweden.
There are around 23,000 cyclists who take part making it the world’s largest bike ride!
In mid June 2022, 15 of those 23k were hardy Dirty Wknders, who had flown out to Sweden to take on this epic challenge.
Below you can read their thoughts and feelings after riding 315km in a day.
]]>Vätternrundan is a 315km cycle around Lake Vättern starting and finishing in Motala, Sweden.
There are around 23,000 cyclists who take part making it the world’s largest bike ride!
In mid June 2022, 15 of those 23k were hardy Dirty Wknders, who had flown out to Sweden to take on this epic challenge.
Below you can read their thoughts and feelings after riding 315km in a day.
Lotta Haegg:
Last year I attempted to cycle the 315km bike ride on my own, and with 215kms to go was picked up by a group of Swedes who saw me to the end.
It was an incredible day of riding and I knew I had to come back, with people I ride with regularly.
"You've got to check out these roads"... "we get fed meatballs!" I remember telling my London ride mates.
I threw the invite out and couldn't believe the response. Organising the trip was a breeze, thanks largely to such an easy going, appreciative, and enthusiastic group of people.
Once the accommodation and transport was sorted I was happy.
On the day of travel, seeing everyone load their bike boxes on the coach, I was relieved. We could truly start our cycling holiday.
I've had a tough start to the year, plagued by injury and consecutive flus, chest infections and sinusitis, so I knew the ride would be hard.
The group were great and waited at every depo if I slipped behind.
At 100kms I was ready to throw in the towel, but was stopped by the sheer joy I saw on the faces of everyone riding.
Also, Harry encouraged me enough to say, "ok, I'll go 50kms at a time." I did exactly that and rolled across the finish a very happy woman.
Highlights:
Lowlight:
Lisa Okawa:
Six of us flew out a few days earlier to Stockholm to enjoy a bit of sightseeing and get in a couple of warm up rides.
It helped set the tone for me to get really excited for the big day as the roads and scenery were incredible. We had also done some fantastic carb loading with Swedish buns and meatballs.
When we arrived in Motala, we realised that the rain would be the heaviest from around 10pm – 4am.
The thought of not being able to see sunset or sunrise, whilst being absolutely soaked for up to 8 hours, made us take the sensible decision of pushing our start time back to 4:20am.
The trio of Dmitro, Aaron and Marius decided to have a longer lie-in and start at 6am, as they were going to go at a much punchier pace.
They absolutely smashed it at almost 35km/h average but we managed to find them at each of the hot food stations because duh, everyone stops for good food!
The day itself was so special.
What it came down to was how brilliantly we all communicated; the teamwork was second to none.
It wasn’t just signalling and pointing things out, but making sure that those who came off the front of our chain gang managed to find their way to the back of our group (as we frequently towed dozens of other cyclists behind us).
We let each other know which feed stations we’ll regroup at where we would dine on Swedish snacks (very important) and swap highlights.
Some of the stronger riders would take very long turns at the front into the headwind, or without thought swap sides with you to block you from the crosswind.
It really made me feel so grateful to have found an incredibly inclusive and supportive cycling club, where one person’s bonkers idea (thank you Lotta!) forms into an incredible memory for all of us.
For anyone reading this thinking this ride sounds ridiculous, it really was!
It was the longest ride that most of us had ever done but when you find a great cycling club like Dirty Wknd, you have so much fun.
Jay Finikin:
Vätternrundan provided all the elements of my perfect ride - beautiful scenery, smooth and fast rolling roads, great mates to ride with and exceptional feed stations!
Having such a fun and energised Dirty Wknd crew was the real highlight - we were all there for each other when the weather and distance got tough.
Team spirit got us all over the line in one piece!
There were no real negatives, the event was perfectly organised (primarily thanks to Lotta).
The expected lows of taking on such a big challenge were easily negated by our team working really well together, the amazing scenery (worthy of a second mention) and the great support from all of the locals.
Harry Taylor:
This was my first Dirty WKND trip; it certainly won't be my last. An amazing weekend and the ride was just epic!
We had it all; headwinds, cross-winds, tail-winds, torrential rain, grey skies, blue skies, gorgeous sunshine, wet roads, melting tarmac, meatballs (oh the meatballs) and lasagna.
Through it all, the group worked to stay together, each pitstop a flurry exchange of foods, electrolytes and medicine. The best of times.
Highlight: Looking back at the DW train and not being able to see where it ended.
Lowlight: Feeling my shoes start overflowing from the rain in the first 50km. I looked to the person on my left and I couldn't see who it was through the rain and spray, but they looked back and we were both smiling at the madness!
Andy Stanton:
I was pretty nervous before the ride because it was the biggest ride I’d ever done by a long way.
I didn’t need to worry because we had a great team and everyone helped each other out.
I had a low point at the meatball stop after a night of no sleep, hours of rain and headwinds, but as Lotta said, I took it 50km at a time and after that it was nothing but high points.
Especially all the support from the locals at the top of the lake!
So if anyone is wondering if they can do Vätternrundan, you can definitely do it with this team
Aaron Remedios:
The team plan (Dimi, Marius and I) was to stick together and surf the groups until a fast one came past, then hop on and rotate with them until the end.
We were going for a fast average speed, but fully intended to enjoy the food stops!
Everything went to plan for the first 100km until the feed station - we found a fast group (complete with its own ride leader dressed in bright orange kit and continuously shouting instructions at us in Swedish!) and were able to chaingang with them before stopping for some delicious meatballs.
The three of us then decided to keep the pace steady and wait for another fast group to come past, however none did soooo....hammer time!
Dimi and myself traded some fast pulls in the tailwind for the next 150km until we both felt sick and had worn ourselves out; thankfully Marius, who had decided to hang back a bit, was far more sensible and was able to keep enough in reserve to drag us to the last rest stop.
Fully revived, it was full gas again all the way to the finish line. Feeling over the moon about our average speed over 320km since we were only a team of 3 for the majority!
Highlights: Fantastic roads, beautiful scenery, lasagna and meatball food stops
Honourable mentions: Dimi and Marius - thanks for the company and draft for 9 hours.
Lotta - couldn't have done any of this without your organisation and support, I think we all owe you a morning bun after the next Regent's Park laps!
Simon Smith:
Highlights were being part of a team which really helped get through the grim 100k rainy headwind.
Also experiencing a sportive in a different country; the atmosphere, friendliness and food….;)
It's a ride which would have been hard to plan yourself so doing it as a group made it a lot easier (especially with someone speaking Swedish) 🤣🤣🤣
Lottie Swindlehurst:
Favourite part of the ride was that we rode together for the majority of the ride, everyone helped each other out when needed and we all looked out for each other which made it really enjoyable.
The course was great, food stops were even better, as shown by our elapsed time (😂 ). The locals cheering on the side of the road, even in the rain, was really encouraging and motivating.
I just really love Sweden!
Laura Wilson:
Crossing the finish line with the Dirty Wknd group was one of the highlights for me, because it meant that we’d worked together and helped each other to get to the end of the ride.
Despite starting the day with rain and grueling headwinds and having to deal with various aches and pains, we’d found time to laugh, take in the gorgeous Swedish countryside and truly enjoy our day.
Nick Butler:
Highlights:
Lowlights:
Highlights:
Lowlights:
A truly inspiring ride from everyone, thanks for sharing your post ride feelings and photos. And thanks to Lisa for collating everything.
If this sounds like your kind of thing then join the community (14 day free trial) to take on amazing cycling adventures with an awesome group or people!
So you've decided to attempt the Rapha Festive 500? Good on you. It's a tough challenge and a fun thing to do over the Christmas period. However, due to many circumstances that can pop up over the 8 days, it can be very hard to complete the Festive 500. As someone who has attempted the challenge about five times, and completed it a grand total of zero times, I can attest that it is pretty tricky.
If you're still unsure as to what exactly the Festive 500 is you can read our handy guide here. If you haven't yet signed up for the challenge I can highly recommend it. At the very least it might get you out of the house on Boxing Day when Uncle Gerald starts arguing with Aunty Maude and Mum is suggesting another round of 'Eye Spy'.
]]>However, due to many circumstances that can pop up over the 8 days, it can be very hard to complete the Festive 500. As someone who has attempted the challenge about five times, and completed it a grand total of zero times, I can confirm that it is pretty tricky.
Why are you listening to my advice, I hear you ask? Because by getting it so very wrong, I can hopefully help you to get it right. Or something like that.
If you're still unsure as to what exactly the Festive 500 is you can read about it here. If you haven't yet signed up for the challenge I can highly recommend it. At the very least it gets you out of the house on Boxing Day when Uncle Bob starts arguing with Aunty Maude and Mum is suggesting another Dad's Army marathon.
If you have signed up and are ready to go, then please read on for my top tips on completing the Festive 500. It goes without saying that you should wrap up warm. Please read our guide for how to dress for winter riding.
It also goes without saying that your safety is key. If it looks really bad outside (high wind, heavy rain, ice, snow etc.) then please just stay indoors. You're not a badass if you ride in a blizzard, and please no mentions of rule 5.
No challenge is worth injury and illness, and being safe is the new sexy. Discretion, valour; another mince pie!
A challenge like the Festive 500 is hard enough, but doing it solo is nigh on impossible.
When you're staring down the barrel of 80-90km on the 27th of Dec, rain spattering the window - the ability to say 'ah, I'll just add a bit on tomorrow' is incredibly tempting.
This is how the Festive 500 gets you. Before long you've got 250km to do in 2 days, and it's all out the window.
However, if you've agreed to go out riding with a mate or you've joined a group ride, then the ability to bail is lessened. So join a group ride, press gang some mates into taking on the challenge with you and make it more fun and more achievable.
Not least, you'll have someone to chat too whilst you fix the 3rd puncture of the day, and your loved ones will feel happier that you're out with others.
'Ah, but I can just do it indoors', I hear you cry. This is very true, but let's see how you go when you've got 90km to do on Zwift, with the sofa/fire/family/quality street all calling your name in the other room! #ridewithmates applies to turbo time too - get a group or friend to ride the session with you to help you through it.
Join the Dirty Wknd community to find other members who are taking on the challenge, and will happily ride with you, indoors or out. Join the community to check out the rides and join the fun (30 day free trial for new members).
It's game of numbers, isn't it? 500km in 8 days is 62.5km per day. If you skip Christmas day, then that's 71.4km per day.
Plan how many KMs you're going to do each day as best you can, and ideally stack up the big rides early on (Christmas eve) to really get things started.
However if you've got loads on and can only get out for one hour on Boxing day, then absolutely do. It all counts, and you really don't want to be left with a big chunk to do on NYE.
Anecdote #1. Christmas 2017 (gosh wasn't that a simpler time?) I decided that I would complete the challenge in 2 rides by cycling to Bruges and back. I was going anyway, so why not cycle. All was going well until I got off the ferry in the UK on the way back (on the 28th, I think). I was greeted by the most biblical storm, and hopped on the train back to London, telling myself I'd make up those 150 or so KMs later. Due to poor planning that time never came, so despite riding to Bruges and half way that way back, I did not complete the challenge that year.
Moral of the story, I think, is plan ahead and contingency plan for good measure. If you do decide to do the whole thing in a few mega rides then make sure you have a back up plan.
It's a great way to do it if you get the chance, but it didn't work out for me as I didn't think it could go wrong. Little and often, as with so many things, is a much better way of ensuring you complete the challenge.
Springing the Festive 500 on your partner or family the night before Christmas Eve, might not be the best idea. Both if you want to complete the challenge, and if you want a happy home life.
Hopefully you've already told your family (do it now if not) so you can get them used to the idea. And remember that if they get cross, it's because they love you and they want you around, not because the don't want you to go out and have 'fun'.
Make sure you tell the family now and get everyone on side for this amazing personal challenge. You're getting fitter, pushing your boundaries and, most importantly, will be out of the way for a few hours at a time!
If that doesn't wash, then do the Festive 500 for charity. Raise some cash for the charity of your choice, and guilt trip the family into not giving you a hard time about riding your bike. Win win!
Tempting as it may be to be able to say "yeah well my Festive 500 was much harder than yours, because I did loads of hills too", I'd advise against it pretty strongly.
Actually, it's really not that tempting, is it? For one, you'll sound like a bit of a dick, and two you'll have done a load of extra work on an already tough challenge. Remember, nobody likes a dick!
Whilst I am the last person who would ever advocate planning a flat route, at this time of year and during the Festive 500, it really does make sense. Hills add time, hurt your legs and mentally fatigue you.
Normally, all of that is great fun, but for 8 days of riding, when time can be very tight, it's best to be sensible. Windsor ride x8 it is then!
All joking aside; plan your routes carefully. As few hills as possible, whilst not being too boring. Also try and stay away from tricky descents and tiny roads - they can be treacherous if the weather turns.
I would recommend adding as much variety as possible to keep yourself sane, but the Festive 500 is not the time to try out a load of new routes. Stick to what you know and make life easy on yourself. Check out our perfect Festive 500 routes on our Komoot profile.
Head to the members app to make use of our tried and tested route database.
Annecdote #2 Christmas 2018, I decided to attempt the Festive 500 around a family trip to the Lake District. Even if you know absolutely nothing at all, you'll know the Lake District isn't exactly flat. Armed with a few 'choice' routes from Cold Dark North, all the winter kit in the world and a good attitude, I set off to do Hardknott, The Struggle and all the other 'Hollywood Hills'. One day of that was enough before I gave the whole thing up as a bad idea. In hindsight it was foolish to attempt the challenge in the lakes, whilst on a family holiday. If you want to do turbo charged version of the 500 like this, you need all day every day to get it done. I had maybe a few hours each morning before 'family time' kicked in. I hadn't even checked sunrise times, and I didn't have any lights. Not a well planned year, I think you'll agree!
It's not ideal to switch your morning ride to an afternoon one due to rain, but sometimes it's necessary. Being flexible can be the difference between success and failure here, so be prepared to give a little.
For some this won't be possible, in which case you'll have to get creative, but if you can shuffle things around a bit it will help.
If you have a change of plans and can only go out for an hour on one of the days, don't sack that day off and add it all onto the next day.
Go out for the hour and get as much as you can done (ideally somewhere relatively traffic free like Regent's Park where you can chip away the KMs.)
Then try and split the rest over the remaining days. If you lose a day for whatever reason, don't despair, just readjust your plans and carry on.
Back in the 'old days', something like 12 years ago when the Festive 500 was dreamt up, all KMs had to be ridden outside or you weren't 'doing it properly'.
Whilst some will still sneer at a Festive 500 ridden on Zwift, mixing in some online rides to achieve the 500 is a wise and sensible option. Ignore the fools who go all misty eyed over tales of 'hardness' and 'glory'.
If the choice is failing at the challenge because of weather/scheduling/etc or doing some (or all) of your rides on the trainer, then I know which I'd prefer.
Anyone who says using Zwift is cheating is a) and idiot, and b) has clearly never done back to back high KM Zwift rides before!
And there you have it, my tops tips for doing the Festive 500. Good luck, be safe and have fun. Please tell us how you're getting on by tagging @dirtywknd in your social media posts. It's a hell of a challenge and one that you can brag about for years to come.
Sign up for the Festive 500 - Join The Challenge Here
If you're taking on the challenge and want some company then join the community and head to the members app to meet other cyclists in your area and join a group or find a ride buddy.
Enjoy the ride and good luck!
]]>
Whatever your opinion of Rapha (and nearly everyone has one), it's hard to argue that the Festive 500 is not a good thing. Riding your bike more is generally considered to be a good thing, so joining a world wide challenge to help you ride your bike more can only add to that good thing.
But what is the Rapha Festive 500? This being it's 10th year, the #festive500 (you have to use a hashtag every time you type it, it's the law) is a self set challenge to ride 500km in 8 days. Sounds pretty ok, right? 62.5km per day doesn't sound bad, what's the big deal? Well, those 8 days happen to fall in between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve!
]]>Riding your bike more is generally considered to be a good thing, so joining a world wide challenge to help you ride your bike more can only add to that good thing.
But what is the Rapha Festive 500? Now in its 12th year, the #festive500 (you have to use a hashtag every time you type it, it's the law) is a Strava challenge to ride 500km in 8 days.
Sounds pretty ok, right? 62.5km per day doesn't sound bad, what's the big deal? Well, those 8 days happen to fall in between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve!
Not so easy now, is it? Can you get out to do 62.5km on Christmas day? Indoor rides on the trainer absolutely do count, but those "purists" will always scoff. You know the ones.
All kms have to be ridden within the 8 days. But the 25th Dec is probably a no go, so that's 71.2km... and what about NYE? It starts to get tough pretty quickly.
However it can be done! Click Here to read our top tips on how to complete the Rapha Festive 500.
Once you've got your strategy in place, just hit the link below and sign up to the Strava challenge.
Festive 500 Strava Challenge - Enter Here
No surprises this is one of our top tips (the top tip, actually), but it's so so true. Accountability is a big thing when it comes to a challenge.
Who is relying on me to finish this? Am I letting anyone else down? Riding with a group, or even just a friend or two, will greatly increase your chances of success.
So join a London group ride. We've got plenty of rides going out over the period, with even more being posted daily in our Members Only Forum.
The old mantra really does apply here. The satisfying feeling of seeing your weekly KM count on Strava click over 500km is a joy, but it's even better when it happens at Christmas.
So join the Strava challenge to make sure you get extra kudos for your effort.
So there you have it. The Festive 500 really isn't that complicated. It's riding 500km in 8 days. If you get it right, it can be really fun and a very satisfying challenge.
*Whilst you don't have to upload anything to social media if you don't want to, we'd love you to tag us in your posts and stories (@dirtywknd) so we can shout about your achievements.
]]>The Festive 500 is a great challenge to take on during the Christmas period, but it is bloomin' hard work.
Riding 500km in 8 days, including Christmas Eve, Day and NYE, is a serious commitment. Especially when the in-laws are likely to pop over unannounced on a random day too, probably just after you've put all your winter kit on.
There are also lots of alternative options to the Festive 500 - like Cold Dark North's Festive 50 (ride 50km over the period, if you feel like it). We wholeheartedly support these initiatives too.
]]>Riding 500km in 8 days, including Christmas Eve, Day and NYE, is a serious commitment. Especially when the in-laws are likely to pop over unannounced on a random day too, probably just after you've put all your winter kit on.
There are also lots of alternative options to the Festive 500 - like Cold Dark North's Festive 50 (ride 50km over the period, if you feel like it). We wholeheartedly support these initiatives too.
## The Festive Fundred
If you want to do 'something' this Christmas, then we suggest taking part in our Festive Fundred event.
There's no Strava link to sign up to, or any kind of badge to acquire, but it's a fun challenge to keep you busy between mince pies.
The idea is simple. Do 100 'somethings' over the Festive period. What those things are is totally up to you.
You can commit to riding 100km over the 8 days, or 100 minutes. Or commit to 100 steps per day (this one might be a challenge too far!) Whatever your plan, make it (very) achievable instead of stupidly hard!
Extra points for anyone who commits to eating 100 mince pies over the period.
## Donate money, not quality family time!
If you can't really be bothered to do something 100 times this Christmas, then donate some monies instead of your time.
Either instead of or alongside riding 100km, why not donate £100 or a suitable multiple of 100 pennies to the charity of your choice.
Other amounts are available, but £10 (or more) is a nice amount to donate to a charity in need. Warm fuzzy feels are much better than frigid frozen toes!
As ever, please tag us in your efforts and activities (@dirtywknd) so we can shout about how great you are. Especially if you donate to a charity that means a lot to you - we want to hear about it.
Have a wonderful Christmas break and NYE and good luck in all your festive endeavours.
]]>The time of year where we have to impress our loved ones with Christmas gifts is upon us. And few people are as hard to impress as cyclists!
Every year, poor unsuspecting non-cyclists have to rack their brains to buy their loved ones something that they a). really want and b). don't already have.
It's the second part that's so hard - they already have so many subscriptions, gadgets and funny bits of kit! How are you supposed to know what the cyclist in your life actually needs?
If you're looking for the perfect cycling Christmas gift for 2022 then read on. If you have questions then get in touch, we're here to help.
You will notice that our list does not contain generic bits of cycling kit, gadgets or things like 'new wheels'. This is very much on purpose - we believe in the experiences not things mantra.
]]>Every year, poor unsuspecting non-cyclists have to rack their brains to buy their loved ones something that they a). really want and b). don't already have.
It's the second part that's so hard - they already have so many subscriptions, gadgets and funny bits of kit! How are you supposed to know what the cyclist in your life actually needs?
If you're looking for the perfect cycling Christmas gift for 2022 then read on. If you have questions then get in touch, we're here to help.
You will notice that our list does not contain generic bits of cycling kit, gadgets or things like 'new wheels'. This is very much on purpose - we believe in the experiences not things mantra.
Also cycling paraphernalia is incredibly personal and specific to each cyclist, the buying of which can be very difficult to get right.
If you are certain they love a particular bit of kit then go for it. If you are unsure then play it safe with some Rapha or Wiggle vouchers.
And don't just buy them a generic t-shirt or pair of socks with a bicycle on it. You can do so much better than that!
There is no better performance upgrade than a bike fit. Forget new wheels or aero kit - if you can buy your loved one the gift of comfort and extra performance, wouldn't you do it?
The added bonus is you're giving them something to look forward to in January, as well as much less complaining around the house about aches and pains.
The downside is they'll probably tell you at great length everything they've learned about themselves during the fit. Sorry, but it will be worth it for their ongoing happiness. All down to you.
If your cyclist is a London cyclist, then check out our bike fit partners Dan @ Physio on The Green (SW London) or Laurence at All Angles Bike Fit (N London).
I you're not London based then a bit of goggling should bring up plenty of results.
Similarly to the bike fit, a good mechanic course is the gift that keeps on giving. Your cyclist will be able to learn more about how the bike works, how to maintain and keep their own bike and save some valuable cash.
The best thing about this gift is you'll be giving them a skill, one that they can hone over years and years of bike riding. The downside is, again, you'll have to listen to them talk at length about gear indexing, bottom bracket standards and spoke tension. Sorry.
Check out London Bike Kitchen for their class and one on one courses.
Even with starting a mechanics course, no one will be able to get your loved ones bike(s) in shape like a pro mechanic.
There's no greater feeling than the first ride after a bike has been professionally serviced, and that's quite a gift to give!
Again you can give them a voucher to use when they're ready, which will likely be at the beginning of Spring. The perfect time to have a perfectly functioning machine.
Have a chat with Dirty Wknd servicing partner Willy's Wheels. The servicing options are numerous and the quality levels are sky high. Plus members get huge discounts!
There are loads of great charity initiatives that centre around the bike and cycling, so donating to one of these in your cyclists' name will give them a warm fuzzy feeling on Christmas day.
There are loads of other cycling charities so do some research, find the cause that is closest to yours and your cyclist's hearts and make a donation.
Give the gift of community and friendship. Your cyclist may already be a member of countless clubs, whats app groups and Reddit discussion forums, but if they're not then a year's club membership is a great gift idea.
Especially if they're a beginner rider, joining a club will help them to gain confidence riding on the road and meet other cyclists near them.
The downside for you is that they'll start setting the alarm at 05:30 in the week to make it to morning laps, and spending 4-6 hours off cycling at the weekend. Sorry.
You can gift your loved one a Dirty Wknd membership for just £39 for a year. Just drop us an email for how to sign them up (don't worry, they won't get any info until after Christmas Day).
Or we'd highly recommend buying them membership to the London Cycling Campaign or Cycling UK as well. Two great organisations that are doing loads to help cycling safety in London and the UK as a whole.
Our partner Komoot is the best of the best when it comes to outdoor cycling apps. An annual premium subscription is about 40 quid and will give them nothing short of a wealth of inspiration!
You're probably sick of listening to your cyclist moan about 'this pain' or 'that ache' so this is as much a gift for you as it is them.
Cyclists are famously bad at looking after themselves; as likely to stretch after a ride as drink carrot juice instead of a pint with their post ride pizza. So a present of physio treatment or a sports massage will do wonders for their overall health.
Check out our partner Bodyset for studios all over London and an unrivalled knowledge.
Now you could go out on a limb here and pick an event for them, but you'd be a very brave companion to be sure they haven't already done it!
A much better approach is the 'you find it and I'll pay for it' method.
This way the gift comes in two parts. Actually completing the event, and, almost more importantly, the months of planning and research of said event.
Strange bunch, cyclists. But hey, you love them right?!
And that's all we've got! No doubt this Christmas will be incredibly tough for many so do think about giving to charity or what you (and your loved one's obsessive love of cycling) can do to help.
If we've missed anything then please let us know on Twitter. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the best Christmas gifts for cyclists. We may even add them to the blog.
Have a great Christmas and good luck with the shopping!
Main image credit - cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dave Pickersgill - geograph.org.uk/p/4763856
]]>Love it or hate it, Black Friday is a thing. We ummed and ahhed about doing a Black Friday deal this year, but decided to go ahead on the premise that it will help people get into group cycling, or save some money in a time when things are a bit shit.
So there you have it, our reason for joining the Black Friday circus. Read on for details of our 50% off BFCM deal.
Yeah it's 50% off. That's about the long and short of it. So that's full access to the club membership for just £19.50. That's £1.60 per month.
So there you have it, our reason for joining the Black Friday circus. Read on for details of our 50% off BFCM deal.
50% off annual membership means full access to the club & community for just £19.50. That's £1.60 per month.
This offer is available across the BFCM weekend, so ends at midnight on Monday 28th Nov. See below for how to cash in.
If you're new to Dirty Wknd or a lapsed member, then just follow the simple sign up details below:
If you're a returning member then you just have to log into the members forum and hit the subscribe link.
If you have any issues with this then just drop us an email and we'll help.
If you're an existing club member and want to make the most of this discount then you can do so. This isn't one of those read-the-small-print-new-users-only deals!
We know things are hard right now, so if this deal makes things a little bit easier then great. See below for what to do:
Any problems with above then email us for some help. We can update your subscription manually.
We've talked at great length about the benefits of joining a cycling group. There are so many we've lost count, but the biggies are below:
And of course all the other stuff about gaining fitness, confidence and speed. That all comes twice as fast when riding with other people, trust us.
Don't just take our word for it - the reasons to join a cycling club are numerous. You can also read the Dirty Wknd FAQs if you're unsure, or check out our many blogs that cover all aspects of club life.
Join the community now and get the Black Friday 50% off deal - you'll get immediate access to the membership & rides.
As we get used to the post pandemic world, group rides and events are ramping up again. Starting with the Dirty Wknd Xmas jumper Ride on the 10th Dec.
Then we're straight into the Festive 500 over the Christmas Period and then before you know it BAM... it's January!
Which of course means it's time for our New Year's Revolution ride series. A group ride every Saturday in Jan, building the distance up to 100km.
It's a great way to stay motivated in January and an even better way to meet up with mates for a bit of outside time.
Once January is out of the way, as the days start to get lighter, we've got loads of events in the diary like Hell of the Ashdown, BHF London to Brighton & our Ride London training series.
There will also be audax rides, beginner bike packing trips and holidays to the sun. Alongside all of our regular weekend and midweek group rides for all levels of rider.
So this Black Friday/Cyber Monday is the perfect time to join a cycling club. Just click on this link to join us.
If you have any questions at all then drop us an email or a DM on Instagram. Or click the chat button below to send a quick message.
See you on the road 👍
]]>
To help you stick to your new year fitness resolutions and to keep you riding in the January (and because we like organising fun group rides), we're again running our New Years Revolution series for January 2023
Whether you're a beginner cyclist looking for the help and support of a group or an experienced rider looking for some motivation; we can help you ride more in January.
The premise is very simple - a 'no drop' group ride every Saturday in January, with the distance building up each week, leading to a 100km ride.
With the help of the group and our ride leaders you will get the support and motivation to get out on the road. There will be multiple 'no drop' groups (no one left behind) for all levels.
You will meet a great group of cyclists who will make the rides loads of fun You might even forget it is January. Maybe.
]]>
To help you stick to your new year fitness resolutions and to keep you riding in the January (and because we like organising fun group rides), we're again running our New Years Revolution series for January 2023
Whether you're a beginner cyclist looking for the help and support of a group, or an experienced rider looking for some motivation; we can help you ride more in January.
The premise is very simple - a 'no drop' group ride every Saturday in January, with the distance building up each week, leading to a brilliant 100km finale ride.
With the help of the group and our ride leaders you will get the support and motivation to keep you riding. There will be multiple 'no drop' groups (no one left behind) for all levels.
You will meet a great group of cyclists who will make the rides loads of fun You might even forget it is January. Maybe.
Ride #1 to G!RO cafe - Saturday 7th January @ 8:30am
Work off that Xmas excess and kick off your 2023 cycling goals nice and gently.
Christmas can be tough and January is a looong month, so we'll take it slow! 30-50km depending on the group (2-3 groups for different speeds).
Everyone is welcome & its perfect for beginners looking to get into cycling. Coffee & cake stop halfway.
Full details & Sign up - Click Here
Ride #2 - Saturday 14th January @ 8:30am
Ride number two of the series will increase the distance slightly to around 50 - 65km, depending on the group.
There will still be multiple 'no drop' groups for different abilities and of course there will be a coffee and cake stop again.
Full details and sign up - coming soon!
Ride #3 - Saturday 21st January @ 8:30am
Now we're getting into the series we'll increase the distance a bit more. Week three's rides will be 70 - 80km in length.
Still multiple no drop groups for all levels, and hopefully now you'll have ridden with some of the same people already so will start to get to know each other.
Wait for it... yes there will be a coffee and cake stop halfway. Obviously!
Ride #4 - Saturday 28th January @ 8:30am
The finale. The culmination of a month of rides, steadily increasing in distance.
Rides 1-3 will have built up your fitness and endurance so you'll be able to ride 100km no problem!
Riding 100km in January is no mean feat so you'll be able to rightly celebrate with a well earned pizza after the ride.
Ride, route and sign up details will be posted shortly, but for now save the dates - it's easy to remember: every Saturday morning in January.
Committing to Four rides in January will set you on the right track to achieving your cycling goals for 2023 in the very first month!
Whatever your goals, from an event like Ride London or the BHF London to Brighton ride, starting early is always a good idea.
You'll get a real sense of achievement, you will have ridden throughout the most unforgiving month of the year with a great group of people, and you will hopefully make some cycling friends who you'll see on group rides for the rest of 2023!
We will try to ride in all conditions if we can (wouldn't be much of a challenge if we didn't). But if the weather is really appaling and/or dangerous, then we will make alternative arrangements.
These will likely include a Zwift group ride and a local Digme fitness class instead of riding outdoors. More details to come.
This deal is available only over the weekend - £19.50 for a full 12 months of access to all the rides, routes and everything else in the members forum.
This includes all of the above rides through January and beyond. Click on the below link for all the details and get 50% off annual membership.
There are tons of reasons to join a cycling club or group, and you can read about many of them below. Or you can listen to some of our past 'new joiners' and read about their experiences of joining a group ride.
And of course all the other stuff about gaining fitness, confidence and speed. That all comes twice as fast when riding with other people, trust us.
Join the community now, cash in on the 50% off Black Friday deal, and get access to all of the above right away.
If you have any questions about any of the above details then get in touch by email for a chat.
]]>
It was really easy to get in touch with Bodyset and in no time I was speaking to Jay, one of the physios and had signed up for a consultation and initial session.
They’ve got several branches around London (and a few outside), so I went to the studio in Farringdon as it was a short walk from work.
I was greeted by the lovely Jay who immediately put me at ease, especially as I wasn’t sure what to expect not having ever had physiotherapy before.
We chatted cycling, naturally, and he was easily able to understand my routine and what my day-to-day barriers were.
Initial Assessment
During the initial assessment Jay started off by explaining what the session would cover - looking at my general movements and pain points with a view to making an initial diagnosis.
All being well he would give me some exercises to complete at home.
Jay talked me through the medical terms, but also simplified everything so I could understand the source of the problem.
In short, the intense, multi-sport training and using unfamiliar muscles caused Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, aka ‘runner’s knee’, with my pain actually being most intense on the inside of my knee and thigh muscles.
Jay explained it was simply the impact of training a bit more than my body was used to and that my muscles were not able to cope with the increased load.
This put more stress on my Patellofemoral joint eventually causing pain whenever I put harder loads on the knee, such as running or going down stairs.
He was able to explain it to me in different scenarios and answered all my questions patiently, which was really reassuring.
Recovery at home
I came away with several exercises to work on in order to stretch and build up the right muscles in my leg. These included an extended quad stretch - 45 seconds on each leg, way longer than I would normally hold it for. Jay says this is the key though, so 45 seconds it is.
It was also helpful to get an idea of how long he thought treatment would take (thankfully fairly short-term for me), and knowing that I was not only doing the right stretches but also for the right amount of time.
My post-exercise stretches would usually be quite rushed, only holding any stretch for 15-20 seconds at most. Having Jay’s guidance on how to make my routine more effective will really help going forward.
This being my first physio session, I definitely came away pleased with the amount I got out of it. I would absolutely recommend Bodyset and Jay – one of the most genuine people I’ve met and also very knowledgeable in his expertise.
Bodyset can help across all sorts of cycling and running issues – mine was specifically caused by running but I know that if I had any problems from cycling, they’ll be able to help.
My knee is a lot better and improving every day, hopefully I will be back out running again soon.
It’s always best to address any issues as soon as you can, and means that you can keep on lapping and adventuring with Dirty Wknd without pain. Thanks Jay and Bodyset for the session!
Thanks Lisa for relaying your Bodyset experience in a blog for us. Dirty Wknd members get a free consultation & 50% off initial treatment (and 10% off pay as you go) at all UK centres.
Check out all the partnership details on the members forum. If you’ve got an injury or want some advice then get in touch with the team for a chat.
]]>
It’s safe to say that the past year has been full of surprises – and, pandemics aside, one of the biggest has been the inordinate amount of time I have spent on Zwift.
I unwrapped my smart turbo trainer on Christmas Day 2019 (talk about ahead of the curve) with plans to do “a bit of winter training on rainy days” and, a year later, I find myself racing my socks off every Tuesday night for DWWRT in the WTRL Zwift Racing Leagues.
Yes, it’s sweaty. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s a relatively intense way to spend a weekday evening.
But it’s also really fun. I promise.
]]>It’s safe to say that the past year has been full of surprises – and, pandemics aside, one of the biggest has been the inordinate amount of time I have spent on Zwift.
I unwrapped my smart turbo trainer on Christmas Day 2019 (talk about ahead of the curve) with plans to do “a bit of winter training on rainy days” and, a year later, I find myself racing my socks off every Tuesday night for DWWRT in the WTRL Zwift Racing Leagues.
Yes, it’s sweaty. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s a relatively intense way to spend a weekday evening.
But it’s also really fun. I promise.
My turbo trainer sat gathering dust until Lockdown v1.0 (remember that?). I was a little apprehensive about cycling outdoors in those early days of lockdown and I was really missing group rides with my Dirty Wknd pals.
Luckily Dirty Wknd stepped in to organise a whole bunch of virtual rides, had heaps of advice about getting started with Zwift.
Best of all, set up a Discord channel so we could chat to each other while we zoomed around CGI versions of London and Box Hill (which, amazingly, are linked together by a tube tunnel in Zwift).
Coach extraordinaire Steve Byrne also set up some Monday evening training sessions for Dirty Wknd members. I joined those to do my first ever FTP test, which was gross.
However after a few weeks of training sessions and virtual group rides, I did start to see that FTP score rise.
Steve quickly took me under his wing and encouraged me to try a couple of races as part of my training (with the long-term view of doing real life races when they’re allowed to start up again!).
As with lots of things in cycling, I hadn’t considered getting into racing because I didn’t have the confidence. It sounded scary, I didn’t think I was good enough and I had no idea where to start.
It really helped to have a nudge from people in the club who were there to offer tips, encouragement and the all-important “kudos”.
Virtual racing (and training) became a fun thing to do with friends.
Starting Zwift Racing
I was definitely nervous before my first race, although I can't really remember it now, that's how quickly it becomes normal.
I treated it like a recce/training experience, which made the whole thing less scary and a lot more fun.
I was entering some pretty obscure races at first. One of the great things about Zwift is how many different events are going on at all times of the day.
Enter whichever ride or race makes you feel comfortable to start with, just to get one under your belt.
I made a lot of mistakes when I started: I spent whole races cycling alone because I got dropped from a group.
I forgot that you do still need to change gears in a virtual world, and once dropped my only water bottle and spent the rest of the race trying to retrieve it whilst keeping my legs moving.
It was a really good way to practice race technique and it helped to realise an important thing about virtual racing: no one is really looking at how well you’re doing apart from you.
Everyone else is too busy looking at their own stats and working out if that really is the maximum level their fan goes up to!
Just focus on yourself, your own race and what you're doing. No one else is!
WTRL Zwift Racing Leagues
After a racing hiatus over the summer months, I joined the Dirty Wknd ladies for the last few races of the first WTRL Zwift Racing League in November 2020.
I was nervous to jump back in but it ended up being a real confidence boost – I felt much stronger holding onto groups, pacing myself and generally playing to my strengths.
The second WTRL Zwift racing league is now underway (Jan 2021) and it’s been great so far.
I get such a buzz out of racing that I actually look forward to my weekly ritual of prepping four water bottles and sweating out at least two of them.
It’s also always super fun chatting to the DWWRT ladies on WhatsApp and Discord every week – sharing tales of turbo trainer woes and hyping each other up the whole way round a course.
Dirty Wknd is fielding as many mixed and ladies teams as possible for the WTRL leagues so if you're keen to give it a go then get in touch via email or on Insta.
1. Get a fan and a towel
A towel might be “the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have” but the combination of a fan and towel is the utmost necessity for any Zwift racer.
2. Stay in a group
I can’t emphasise this enough. It really is the key to Zwift races. If you get dropped, put in the power as soon as possible so you can catch up and sit on everyone else’s wheels. It really is a “short-term pain for long-term gain” situation.
3. Listen to dnb
Someone once suggested I listen to dnb while on Zwift because most tracks have the perfect beat for regulating your cadence (how quickly your legs spin). They were right. I’ve never looked back.
4. Ask questions
I wouldn’t enjoy racing as much as I do if it hadn’t been for a whole bunch of Dirty Wknd friends giving me encouragement and guidance.
If you have any questions ask everyone (online & IRL) you can think of for tips and advice.
5. Have fun with it
Get on discord and chat to your pals (before you all descend into heavy breathing). Having friends and teammates in your ear will force you to laugh about the things that go wrong – whether it’s a turbo malfunction or getting dropped from a group on a DESCENT (I don’t know how but it happens) – and it means you have a great group of people to celebrate the highs with.
Thanks to Marissa for this amazing insight into getting started with Zwift events and races. If you're interested in having a go, have questions about the set up or want to join one of the Dirty Wknd race teams then get in touch. Email, social media DM (@dirtywknd) are all great ways to get in touch.
See you on the virtual road!
]]>
Cycling in summer is great. Wherever in the world you are, generally you don't need much kit. A pair of bib shorts, a lightweight jersey and some sun cream. You're all set. Conversely, cycling in deep winter is also fairly easy to do, kit wise. Put on all the layers you have, including that 1980s skiing balaclava of your Dad's, and off you go. You know it's going to be cold and/or wet, so you can prepare.
What to do then when it's just a bit... meh? The autumn and spring months, especially in the UK, can be hugely changeable, making kit choice a bit of a nightmare. Not only that but the weather can change in either direction during the ride.
You can be forgiven for thinking it's not worth riding in this weather, or taking all the kit you own with you (ah hello overheating, we've missed you!), however there are a staple few items that can save your autumn/spring ride. Read on below for our top tips on cool weather cycling kit:
]]>Conversely, cycling in deep winter is also fairly easy to do, kit wise. Put on all the layers you have, including that 1980s skiing balaclava of your Dad's, and off you go. You know it's going to be cold and/or wet, so you can dress appropriately.
What to do then when it's just a bit... meh? The autumn and spring months, especially when cycling in the UK, can be hugely changeable, making kit choice a bit of a nightmare.
Not only that but the weather can go from warm and sunny to a downpour during the ride. It's the hardest time of year to dress for, however there are a few staple items that can save your autumn/spring ride.
Read on below for our top tips on cool weather cycling kit, including our buying tips (with Dirty Wknd member discount, if applicable). We've added a women's and mens option where applicable:
For our guide to full on wither kit then click here - Winter Kit Guide
Toe Thingys:
An odd one for many to get your head around at first. These 'thingys' (such an apt description) go over the ends of your shoes to protect your toes from wind and road splash.
They won't keep you dry in heavy rain, but they are very effective in keeping your toes warm when it's cool. You'll feel weird putting them on for the first time, but you will get used to them and they'll soon become a staple of your autumn wardrobe.
DHB Toe Thingys - Click Here
Over Socks:
Like a more extreme version of the toe thingys (and less annoying than full overshoes), these act exactly the same way as a pair of thick hiking or sports socks would.
Put your normal socks on, and your shoes, and then these slide over your shoes to keep out the wind and spray. They also keep your shoes nice and clean when it's mucky. Top Tip - just use and old pair of hiking socks!!
DeFeet Oversocks - Click Here
Actual Socks:
Never underestimate your socks! A good pair of winter socks make a huge difference to your ride. And who doesn't want more socks?
Pongo Winter Socks (15% Off) - Click Here
Knee Warmers:
A very versatile piece of kit for the majority of the year. These slip under your bib shorts, covering your knees but not your full leg (to prevent the dreaded overheat!)
There is also less fabric, so if you take them off mid ride if it warms up they fit into your pockets much more easily.
Attacus thermal knee warmers (20% Off for members) - Click Here
Leg Warmers:
As above, but for slightly cooler or wetter days. Full coverage of your pins without having to shell out for pair of full bib tights.
Can be removed during your ride if it does warm up, and less 'overpowering' than full bibs. And in answer to the age old question - always under socks. Always!
Attacus reflective thermal leg warmers (20% off for members) - Click Here
Mesh Base Layer:
The humble base layer, what would we do without it. There are many type of base layer, and we'd recommend really getting stuck into the genre... it gives so much back!
A good short sleeve mesh baselayer is perfect for cool weather riding. Back in the day Rapha were the only company who did a really good mesh base, but many other companies have now picked up their game, at a fraction of the price.
DHB Mesh Base Layer - Womens // Mens
Arm Warmers:
Practically mandatory on every ride that's not that one day of pure summer. Seriously, why would you leave home without them?!
Easy to put on and remove as the weather changes mid ride (or depending on whether you're climbing or descending), they're just so clever.
Seriously, why would you leave home without them?!
Attacus thermal arm warmers (20% off for members) - Click Here
Long Sleeve Jersey:
Not because arm warmers and summer jersey won't cut it, but because a really great long sleeve jersey just looks really cool! And what more reason do you need?
In all seriousness, a LS jersey will keep you warmer in the same way bib tights will - less gaps. So a good long sleeve in your wardrobe is key for cooler cool days. Look out for something with wind stopping tech too, as the wind is the worst.
LaPassione Windproof LS Jersey - Womens // Mens
Gilet:
The most important piece of cycling kit you can own. The most useful, versatile and enjoyable piece of kit there is. Putting on or taking off, the humble gilet never fails to have an immediate effect, without being as 'clingy' as a full jacket.
Perfect for the autumn or spring day when you're not sure what the weather is going to do. Also, forgive the bias, but we think our Attacus designed gilet is the best.
Dirty Wknd Maglia Mera Gilet - Click Here
Rain Cape:
For those (rare) days when the gilet just won't cut it. If you know there's a good chance of rain, obviously a rain cape is a good idea.
This is a thin, 'waterproof' layer (nothing is completely waterproof) you can pull out of your pocket and throw on quickly.
Also really good for wind beating or just if you're cold. The bin bag effect will bring your core temperate up nicely.
Lightweight cycling jacket - Womens // Mens
Fingerless Gloves:
There is little worse than 'hot hands' on a ride. Your thick winter gloves get all sweaty, you can't get them off , and how are you supposed to take that perfect mid-ride selfie? Nightmare!
Fingerless gloves really come into their own here. You get a bit of protection, but you can still use your hands. You know, to brake, and stuff.
Attacus lightweight fingerless gloves (20% Off) - Click Here
Thin/'BMX' Gloves:
Not your normal thick winter/skiing gloves. They are breathable so you don't get sweaty hands but still offer a bit of cold weather protection.
And if it gets too hot you can easily take them off and stash them in your pocket. Very useful on an autumn/spring ride.
Attacus lightweight full gloves (20% Off) - Click Here
Neck Warmer:
That space between your chest and your head can be really annoying. You know, your neck!
Normally you'd wear a scarf, but that can be treacherous on a bike ride. Long pieces of material and moving spokes don't mix well!
The neck warmer, snood or neckie, is as useful and vital as arm warmers on an autumn ride, and can even be pulled up over your head to act as a hat/ear warmer if the temperature drops.
Neck warmers on Tredz - Click Here
Casquette (Cycling Cap):
Given a hard time by many as the fare of fixie riding hipsters, the casquette (if you say it in French you sound way more pro) is actually as traditional as the wheel itself.
A favourite of our Belgian friends - and let's be honest, what they don't know about cycling (and cool weather) isn't worth knowing - the cycling cap has many uses.
If it's cold, it keeps your head warm. Dry(ish) if it's wet. And if you do overheat, which you will at least once, it helps mop up the sweat pouring down your face.
Whether you rock that vintage cycling team cap or one from the event you did that time, there are millions to choose from. And a strong cap collection is a fine thing to have for a discerning cyclist.
Look Mum No Hands Cap Collection - Click Here
Ear Warmers/Headband:
Remember when you were a kid and everyone (parents, teachers et al) said that you lose 90% of your body heat through your head (is that even true?). Well, we think it's true, so a good winter hat or skull cap (below) is great.
Of course the reverse is also true, so when it's cool but not cold, a hat or cap will keep in 90% of your body heat. Hello again, overheating!
A good ear warming headband works well here to keep your little ears warm from the wind, but prevents overheating. Couple with a pair of massive shades to look like a really cool 80s skier. Sweet moustache optional, but advised.
Best cycling ear warmer headbands - Click Here
So there you have it - the best guide to cool weather cycling kit you're likely to find anywhere.
Of course, this is based on many years of riding/testing in autumn and spring, but it may not apply to you. Your own ability to deal with the cold must be respected.
You'll need to get out there and test these things yourself.
Always remember the golden rules - it's better to be too hot than too cold, and it's always better to have a piece of kit and not need it than to not have it at all.
Have we missed your favourite piece of cycling kit? Comment below and let us know, or jump on social media (@dirtywknd) and tell us.
Happy riding!
]]>
Every September since 2012, Rapha have been running a global ride to celebrate women's cycling - the WMNS100.
Whilst the gender gap within the cycling industry is definitely better than it was in 2012, there is still so much work to do, which is why we are supporting the WMNS100 rides again this year.
Not only that but it's the 10 year anniversary of the event, so even more reason to come out, join a group ride and support women's cycling.
For this year we have teamed up with Islington CC and Rapha to bring you some awesome training rides in the run up to the big day, as well as a classic Essex 100km ride on the day itself - Sunday 18th Sept.
]]>Every September since 2012, Rapha has been running a global ride to celebrate women's cycling - the WMNS100.
Whilst the gender gap within the cycling industry is definitely better than it was in 2012, there is still so much work to do, which is why we are supporting the WMNS100 rides again this year.
Not only that but it's the 10 year anniversary of the event, so even more reason to come out, join a group ride and support women's cycling.
For this year we have teamed up with Islington CC and Rapha to bring you some awesome training rides in the run up to the big day, as well as a classic Essex 100km ride on the day itself - Sunday 18th Sept.
Watch the video and then check out the ride details below.
The Rapha Women's 100 ride on the 18th September is always 100km.
This year, to help those who might be daunted by 100km straight off the bat, we've created some 'builder rides' to help you gain the confidence to ride 100km.
Saturday 10th Sept:
Sunday 11th Sept:
DW x ICC Rapha WMNS100 - Sunday 18th Sept:
If you're not in London then you can still support the event and join a group ride near you.
Join our Cambridge WMNS100 ride for a flat 100km into the Cambridgeshire countryside on the 18th Sept.
Check out the Rapha Women's 100 page to see what rides are near you.
If you are in Brussels then make sure to check out our friends' Casual Cycling Club who are running a women's only ride on the 18th.
If you can't make a group ride but still want to support the event and women's cycling then you can join the Women's 100 Strava challenge and ride 100km on the 18th Sept.
Whether solo or with mates, just ride 100km wherever you like on Sunday 18th to do your bit.
If you're looking for a fun, social and inclusive cycling group then why not join the Dirty Wknd community to find group rides and meet more cyclists near you.
No drop rides so no one gets left behind, all levels catered for from beginners upwards. If you're new to cycling we'll help you grow in confidence.
Images and videos courtesy of Rapha.
]]>On Sunday afternoon, at around 13:30 CET, the Women's Tour de France, officially the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, will set off in Paris.
The best 160 or so riders in the world will line up on the Champs-Élysées for the first of 8 stages.
TV cameras and the cycling world all watching; this is a massive moment for cycling in general, but especially for the continual growth of women's cycling.
Before we go any further, however, a quick lesson in French pronunciation.
Femmes is not pronounced how it is written, and to sound like a true cycling fan, you need to get it right. Here's a handy pronunciation guide.
Please enjoy our guide to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and make sure you tune into the race (see below) and support women's cycling.
]]>On Sunday afternoon, at around 13:30 CET, the Women's Tour de France, officially the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, will set off in Paris.
The best 160 or so riders in the world will line up on the Champs-Élysées for the first of 8 stages.
The cycling world, and most importantly the TV cameras, will all watching; this is a massive moment for the continual growth of women's cycling.
Before we go any further, however, a quick lesson in French pronunciation.
Femmes is not pronounced how it is written. To sound like a true cycling fan, you need to get it right, so have a practice before the race starts.
Please enjoy our guide to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and make sure you tune into the race (see below) and support women's cycling.
It feels like forever to get to this moment, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is the first ever women's TdF race. However there have been past versions of the race, most notably in the 1980s.
You can read the complete history of the Women's Tour de France here, which will definitely help you to understand how we got to this point.
Previous versions of the race were beset with problems, from chronic underfunding to rubbish or no TV coverage and non-existent prize money.
Basically the women's race has been an afterthought for the last 20 or so years, an add on to keep the small (but growing) number of voices demanding parity.
It took a petition from shining stars of the women's pro peloton, including Marianne Vos and Emma Pooley, for the race organiser to put on a women's race from 2014 to 2020.
And whilst La Course has been a great race, it doesn't even come close to a proper women's stage race that matches the level of competition and the passion of the fans.
In short, the difference is money.
Women's cycling has grown and grown over the last few years, meaning that those voices calling for a proper women's tour have grown to a volume that can no longer be ignored.
The growth in women's cycling means that major sponsors have come on board to properly fund the race.
Sponsors and a healthy demand of fans to watch the race also ensures that TV coverage is guaranteed.
Those within women's pro cycling know that TV coverage is the key to growth and a sustainable race.
Proper TV coverage and willing sponsors are tied together, and these two things are the only way the race can grow and develop.
So how can you help?
Not to go over the same thing over and over again, but whilst women's cycling has been growing rapidly over the years and the TdFF is a massive step, things are far from guaranteed.
In order to guarantee the future of the race and cement the buy in from sponsors and broadcasters, we all need to watch the race live on TV.
Viewer numbers in women's racing are incredibly high, but we need to make sure this point is really driven home by showing maximum interaction with the race.
That means definitely watching all the stages where possible (see below for how), and interacting with the race on your favourite social media platforms.
Tweet about the race, post updates on your story and tag the organisers, sponsors and broadcasters.
A cacophony of notifications is what's needed to ensure that this race is here to stay!
We also highly recommend that you take 30 mins to watch the Eurosport doc below, headed up by all round inspiration Orla Chennaoui.
Covering and dispelling many of the outdated and stupid tropes surrounding women's cycling and sport, it is essential viewing before the race starts.
There are plenty of ways to watch the race live on TV, the best of those being a GCN+ Subscription.
It's 40 quid for a full year and you get full access to all of the stages, pre and post race, loads of articles and other videos etc.
It's amazing value for money as you'll also get access to racing for the rest of the year, and next spring's Classics season too.
Find out more about a GCN+ subscription here.
Ok, you get the point - it's really important that everyone watches the race. Now let's have a look at the actual route.
Stage 1 is a circuit race in Paris, before the finale of the men's race. This is a great move from the organisers, as there will be loads of fans in the city to see both races, and the atmosphere will be electric.
There is no more iconic a cycling scene than the Champs-Élysées, so it is the perfect place to kick off the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
And the racing will be explosive too.
It's essentially a crit race, with a big sprint finish. Expect in form DSM sprinter Lorena Wiebes to take the win on the famed cobbled boulevard.
Having said that, with the first TdFF yellow jersey on the line, you wouldn't put it past GOAT Marriane Vos to pull another famous win out of the bag.
She will want a stage or two very badly before hanging up her helmet.
Stages 2 to 6 are a mix of flat and rolling terrain around the east of France, so expect the sprinters and the odd break away to hoover up all of the wins.
It will be interesting to watch how the GC contenders manage these stages - either trying to hide and just stay in touch, waiting for the big two finale stages.
Or put in some big attacks on the rolling days and try to create some time gaps. Tactics will be fascinating on these mid-week stages.
Keep an eye out for stage 4 on Wednesday however, as the riders take on the 'Chemin Blancs' or white gravel roads.
Expect fireworks here, and some favourites to come unstuck.
But ultimately, the race will be decided in the mountains.
The final two days (Sat 30th and Sun 31s July) are going to be massive and will almost certainly decide who wins the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Centred in the tough Vosges region of eastern France the finale of the race is an ascent of the infamous La Super Planche des Belles Filles.
Depending on how the race pans out in the week, we could find ourselves in a situation where the main favourites are separated by very small time gaps.
Which means loads of attacks on the slopes of the final climbs, with the outcome possibly being decided on the very last climb.
This will be a must watch final weekend, so get yourself in front of a TV!
La Planche des Belles Filles - Pic credit: Patrick Strahm (usage details).
Whilst the field is totally stacked, it's almost impossible to look past Dutch all-rounder Annemiek van Vleuten.
She can, and has, done it all and will be so hard to beat on the final weekend's mountains.
Second at Strade Bianche in the spring, she's not scared of gravel, and can sprint with the best of them. She's the complete package.
And not only that, she's coming off the back of a convincing Giro Donne win and is set to retire at the end of the season.
Motivation to take the first TdFF overall win will be sky high.
Other GC riders to watch include Demi Vollering, Marta Carvalli, Kasia Niewiadoma, Elisa Longo Borghini and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig.
Whilst the sprinter field is incredibly deep, the final two mountain stages mean that the overall winner will be a climber/GC rider.
However the mid-week stages will see the likes of Vos, Wiebes, Lotte Kopecky and world champ Elisa Balsamo tear lumps out of each other, and it's going to be glorious!
For a full round up of the runners and riders, as well as predictions, check out the GCN preview below:
As well as watching the Tour de France Femmes and interacting online, you can join loads of fan events and group rides.
Title sponsor Zwift are going to be running virtual group rides all week with awesome women's cycling groups like our friends Les Internationelles.
Hop on the trainer and join the ride.
The best cycling cafes in London will be showing the stages live, so if you don't have access to the race then head along to Look Mum No Hands, The Dynamo or G!RO cafe to watch the racing with other cycling fans.
And we will of course be running plenty of group rides to coincide with the major stages, starting with an Essex ride from LMNH this Sunday.
Check out the membership options and join a ride here.
If you really want to get into the technical (nerdy) side of the Tour de France Femmes, then join our Velogames league.
Fantasy pro cycling is really, really cool, so you won't want to miss out on the fun.
Pick your 9 riders to create your team of stage and GC winners, and then enter our league for ultimate glory.
Sign up link - Click Here
League Name: Dirty Wknd CC TdFF
League Code: 447917218
Talking endlessly about how your fantasy team is doing at the mid-ride cafe stop is a sure fire way to win cycling friends and impress people!
If you want to comment, disagree or argue as the race develops then get in touch on social media (@dirtywknd). We love to hear your thoughts, predictions and hot takes!
Enjoy the racing; make sure you shout about it online, and get involved in as many ways that you can.
Vive le Tour de France Femmes!
Main Photo credit: Sirbikesalot (usage details)
]]>It's the final week of your Ride London training, and the nerves will be starting to build.
Unless you started panicking as soon as you got your acceptance letter, in which case this is your normal state now!
But I am here to tell you not to worry. Easy to say I know, and such a throw away statement might not help you right now, but hopefully the below final tips might.
I've completed the ride 3 times, and Dirty Wknd has helped a few hundred members to smash the ride too, so hopefully we can help you too.
]]>Unless you started panicking as soon as you got your acceptance letter, in which case this is your normal state now!
But I am here to tell you not to worry. Easy to say I know, and such a throw away statement might not help you right now, but hopefully the below final tips might.
I've completed the ride 3 times, and Dirty Wknd has helped a few hundred members to smash the ride too, so hopefully we can help you too.
1) Taper, Taper, Taper....
It's incredibly hard to take it easy in the week running up to the ride, especially if you're a bit nervous and think you haven't trained enough.
However a big effort this close to the ride isn't going to make a huge difference to your overall fitness.
All it will do is deplete your energy levels and hinder your performance on the day. You've done your training and you can handle the ride - trust yourself!
Our advice is to do a couple of small, very low effort spins to keep the legs moving (think chatty Regent's Park laps, but rest up for the remainder of the week.
British Olympic Cycling has a good mantra for this: 'If you can sit instead of stand: sit. If you can lie down instead of sit: lie down.' And they know a thing or two!
2) Eat, Eat, Eat...
A big ride like Ride London will need all your energy stores, so it's crucial that you fill them up ready for the big effort.
However before you rush to the fridge it's a good idea to plan out how you're going to eat 'all the food in the world'.
Carb loading is only really effective when started a few days before the ride, and doesn't mean eating 17000KGs of pasta in one go!
It means upping your carb intake a few days before the ride, so that you have slow releasing energy to burn on the day.
Plan out your meal schedule before the ride and buy everything in advance - no extra walking to the shops for you. Also make sure to only eat things you are familiar with before the event.
The most important meals of this week is the night before (pasta, potatoes etc) and the morning of the ride.
A good breakfast is the key to any bike ride, but it's doubly important on Ride London day. Our favourite is always porridge - it is high in energy, super slow releasing and keeps you feeling full for ages.
Don't believe me, just see what all the pros eat the day before a Giro stage (above). Except the ones that have pasta, that's just weird!
Whatever your breakfast of choice, stay away from heavy fat, as it will delay the absorption of fuel later on (no full English, sadly).
Pro Tip - you'll be held at the start line for ages, so take a couple of extra bars to use up then if you get hungry quickly. That way you won't have tucked into your ride snacks before you even start.
3) Prepare your bike:
You may still be able to squeeze in a full service with our partner Willy's Wheels, but if not then that's not a problem - you can do plenty of checks and tune ups yourself at home.
Give your bike (especially your chain and gears) a really good clean and check your brakes/brake pads aren't worn and are working fine.
Also check your tyres for signs of wear (small cracks/holes). Punctures are very uncool on Ride London day, so if you've got old tyres then change them before the ride.
And on tyres - make sure yours are pumped up to the correct pressure. Check out this handy pressure calculator for what that means for you.
If you're unsure about your bike's fitness then take it into a shop ASAP and get them to look over it.
4) Prepare your nutrition & study the course:
Knowing what what and when you're going to eat and drink is vital to enjoying your ride - the dreaded bonk is only ever a missed feed stop away!
You don't want to change anything before the ride when it comes to nutrition, so make sure to stock up on products that you've trained with.
Whether that's bars, gels or peanut butter sandwiches, stick to what you know and get them ready in advance.
For bars, open one end so it's easier to get at whilst riding.
Pro Tip - don't do this with gels. Hell of a mess!
Practise packing your jersey pockets, and wear said jersey around, also practising taking things in and out of the pockets.
You'll look pretty silly, but who'll be laughing when you've avoided bonking? You, that's who!
The second part of nailing your nutrition involves studying the course and working out when you're going to fuel.
Hopefully your training rides have given you a good idea of how often you need to eat, but a good rule of thumb is to eat something every hour, and to drink every 15 minutes.
You'll know if you need more or less than this, but the golden rule is drink before you're thirsty and eat before you're hungry.
Study the route to see where the feed/water stops are and work out which ones you plan to stop at and how far into the course they are.
That way you have targets to aim for and can work out how many bottles or bars you'll need between each one.
5) Prepare your body:
As a continuation of point one, I really can't stress enough how important it is to rest and relax this week.
Not only will it increase your performance, but it's a great excuse to get your loved ones to do everything for you whilst you lie on the sofa!
If you do Yoga then a session at the beginning of the week to loosen you up might be a good idea; likewise if you use massage therapy - booking an appointment in the early/mid week will certainly help.
Good old fashioned stretching and foam rolling throughout the week will also really help.
Lastly of course, a good night's sleep will do wonders. Not easy when you've got an alarm call at 3am to get to the start line, but something to aim for.
Once you've completed the ride and are hopefully sitting in a local pub or park, sipping on prosecco in the blazing sunshine (think positively people), we really hope that taking on such a massive challenge gives you that 'what's next' feeling.
There's no feeling like it, as you realise you can pretty much conquer anything on a bike with a bit of training and a good group of people.
Good luck and enjoy the ride. Whatever happens, the fact that you put your front wheel across the start line is a huge achievement!
]]>With just a few weeks to go now until Ride London Essex 100, riders thoughts will turn to final preparations and tapering ahead of the big day.
If you’re an experienced cyclist or Ride London regular then you might be thinking about beating your 100 mile PB on the flat(er) course and wide open Essex Roads.
However if you’re a new rider or Ride London debutante then you might be filed with anxiety and worry, with around 1 million doom filled scenarios running through your head.
One of them being finishing within the time cut.
]]>If you’re an experienced cyclist or Ride London regular then you might be thinking about beating your 100 mile PB on the flat(er) course and wide open Essex Roads.
However if you’re a new rider or Ride London debutante then you might be filled with anxiety and worry, with roughly 1 million doom filled scenarios running through your head.
One of them being finishing within the time cut.
If you weren’t aware that there is a time cut for the ride then sorry to break it to you like this, but there is a maximum amount of time to complete the Ride London route.
We've had a few emails about the time cut, so thought it would be helpful to give some tips on how to complete Ride London within the time cut.
Having coached hundreds of new cyclists through Ride London in the past few years, we’ve got some pretty good tips on how to complete the ride happy, healthy and safe!
What is the time cut?
Ride London operates a maximum ride time to complete the course, which is 8.5 hours from when the last groups leave the start.
This means riders will need to travel at a minimum average speed of 19.5kph (12mph) not including stops to beat the broom wagon (cut off time).
To be clear, if you aren’t going to make the cut off time then you won’t be stopped on the road and told to get off your bike and walk home - the organisers will funnel you through a diversion to cut the course.
So you’ll still ride back to London, you just won’t be able to ride the full 100 miles.
If you do get diverted then follow the organisers advice, take the diversion and enjoy the rest of the route. It’s just a bike ride at the end of the day, and you can enter again to take on the full 100 miles in the future.
If you want to give yourself the very best chance to beat the time cut then see our top Ride London tips below. And it doesn’t include ‘just pedaling faster!'
Quick Feed Stops
So much time is lost at the feed stops!
It makes sense - 100 miles is far, and stops are a great chance to get off the bike, walk around, take in the atmosphere and grab some food.
This is all fine if you’re making good time and can relax a bit, but if you’re worried about the time cut then it pays to be really efficient at the feed stops.
Get in, go to the loo, get your bottles filled and get out again!
I’m not saying treat it like an F1 pit stop, but try and cut out any faff. Plenty of time for that when you’re celebrating at the end of the day with a beer and your medal!
And for an extra tip (also important for anyone trying to set/beat a specific time), try and avoid the first feed stop altogether. It’s always really busy and takes double the length of time it should.
If you’ve got enough pocket space or handlebar/frame bag space then start with extra snacks and ride right past the 1st stop and keep the momentum up.
The field will have thinned out by the next stop and it'll be much quicker.
It's also a really good idea to practise eating and drinking whilst cycling. The roads are going to be closed so you won't be stopping at traffic lights so eating and drinking on the move is a great way to save time.
Of course if you really need to stop then do so, staying fuelled and hydrated is priority number one!
Suck All The Wheels!
If you’re new to group riding or you’ve not ridden with others before then you’ll be amazed at how much faster you can cycle in a group.
Thanks to the principle of drafting a large group of cyclists will always travel at a higher speed than an individual rider.
It’s why they always ride in a big bunch at the Tour de France.
So try and get yourself into a nice big group early on and stay there!
Riding in a group fills some cyclists with enormous fear, but at an event like Ride London (especially on the new Essex route) it will be impossible to avoid.
So embrace the group dynamic and suck as much wheel as you can (eminently technical term for sitting behind other riders and drafting!)
The below videos will help you prepare for a day in some big groups:
Don’t chase a group that’s way too strong/fast for your level. You’ll just blow up and then have a miserable rest of the day.
If the group is too fast, let it go and look behind for the next one. There’s a perfect group out there for everyone!
If no is talking in the group then be the one who starts communicating.
Loads of people moan after a ride that no one was communicating and it was sketchy, but you can be the person who starts the talking.
Don’t be shy, if it keeps you and others safe then it’s worth being a bossy boots!
Ride Safe
Following on from group ride etiquette, the best way to get round the Ride London route is exactly that - to get round. A crash or accident will, at best, severely hold you up, so ride safely.
Don’t put yourself in danger to gain a few seconds advantage if it’s going to mean a crash. There are much worse things in life than getting diverted at Ride London, so be sensible and ride within yourself.
And whilst being in a group is important, if it's a really dangerous group with loads of ‘choppers’ (again, more technical terms) then get out of it ASAP!
Drop back and let the group go, there will be another one along behind you shortly.
Avoid A Mechanical
After accidents and crashes, a mechanical fault will be your next biggest time sapper.
This can range from a puncture to gear or brake issues, but either way it’s going to see you helplessly standing at the side of the road, the clock remorselessly ticking.
The best way to try and avoid mechanicals is to get your bike serviced before the event. This can range from a quick check up/tune up to a full service and clean.
If you’re in London then check out club partner Willy’s Wheels (25% off for club members). Get booked in now because he's going to be busy for the next few weeks!
Another good preventative measure is to invest in some new tyres before the ride. New tyres will have better puncture protection and hopefully see you through the 100 miles flat free.
And whilst we're on tyres, make sure yours are inflated to the correct pressure. Go into your local bike shop to find out about tyre pressure and to borrow their track pump.
Clean Your Bike
Much like a service, a good bike clean can do wonders for your Ride London experience!
Not only will it help to highlight any potential mechanical issues, but a clean bike is proven to be faster.
Focus on the drivetrain, meaning your gears and chain. Getting this area sparkling clean and lubed will improve your speed and gear changing efficiency.
Whilst a shiny frame may not translate into extra speed in real terms, knowing that your bike is functioning perfectly will give you extra confidence.
It may sound silly but confidence translates into actual speed on the day. If you feel good, and you know your equipment is on point, you will ride faster.
Check out this full bike clean video to do it at home, or check out our partners Ride Clean if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Enjoy The Ride
And lastly, your enjoyment levels will dictate how fast you ride. If you are tense, anxious and constantly checking your time and speed then that will translate into your legs.
You won’t ride as fast, and you won’t enjoy the day.
If you’re having a great time on the bike and enjoying every pedal stroke then the ride will fly by and you won’t even have to consider the time cut.
A good tip here is to put your GPS device or phone in your pocket and not mount it on your bike.
That way you won’t be looking at it every minute checking your stats. Just ride and enjoy the day, what will be will be.
I know it’s easy for me to say this and you might not be feeling quite so calm two weeks out.
But we have helped hundreds of riders smash their expected time at Ride London over the years, and they all said ‘I wish I hadn’t been so worried about it’ at the end of the ride.
Another reason to be thankful, or optimistic at least, is the new Ride London Essex route is a lot flatter than the Surrey route.
There is no Leith Hill or Box Hill to really slow you down, so we are anticipating some pretty quick finish times across the board.
The route certainly isn’t flat and there will be some bumps that catch you out, but it is a much nicer profile than the old route.
And now the good part - Ride London haven’t adjusted their maximum finish time to reflect this.
So you’ll be riding a flatter and faster course, but with the same amount of time to complete the route before the cut off. Happy days!
Good luck with your final weeks prep and tapering. Remember you can’t do much more training now, you’ll just tire yourself out.
Rest up, spin the legs out gently and get that bike cleaned for the big day!
If you have any questions about the time cut or anything else then get in touch by email or drop us a line on social (@dirtywknd).
You can join the Dirty Wknd community to chat with other Ride London entrants. Start the 14 day free trial and get stuck in.
]]>On the 24th February, Russia invaded Ukraine. The events that followed sent ripples of distress and anxiety through the Ukrainian community. I disengaged with the news just as I usually do with tragic world events. We’ve always been in conflict with Russia. Besides, if I can’t control it, why worry about it?
On March 1st Mum delivered my Birthday cake to work. We sat together in her car as she cried in despair over what was unfolding at home. The rain ran down the windshield as it sank in that this isn’t just news, this is hurting my mum, my family and my people.
My 78 year old Grandma Nina lives in Ukraine. We tried to work out if and how we should evacuate her to come live with us in London. On one hand civilians were being indiscriminately killed in the conflict.
On the other hand, Nina’s entire life was in that small village home. Her animals, her neighbours, her memories. Also the long journey was complicated and dangerous, especially for the elderly. She ultimately decided to stay home and support her country the best way she could.
]]>On Friday the 18th March 2022 Dmitro Khroma and a group of London cyclists set off on a 505km ride to raise money for the Red Cross' Ukraine effort. Taking on 505 laps of Regent's Park Inner Circle, the distance from Kyiv to the Polish border.
What would follow would be an epic night of friends riding together, supporting each other and spreading love. Strangers would join in, local cafes would deliver food and supplies, and a huge amount of money would be raised! You can read Dimi's story below (link to donate at the bottom).
On the 24th February, Russia invaded Ukraine. The events that followed sent ripples of distress and anxiety through the Ukrainian community. I disengaged with the news just as I usually do with tragic world events. We’ve always been in conflict with Russia. Besides, if I can’t control it, why worry about it?
On March 1st Mum delivered my Birthday cake to work. We sat together in her car as she cried in despair over what was unfolding at home. The rain ran down the windshield as it sank in that this isn’t just news, this is hurting my mum, my family and my people.
My 78 year old Grandma Nina lives in Ukraine. We tried to work out if and how we should evacuate her to come live with us in London. On one hand civilians were being indiscriminately killed in the conflict.
On the other hand, Nina’s entire life was in that small village home. Her animals, her neighbours, her memories. Also the long journey was complicated and dangerous, especially for the elderly. She ultimately decided to stay home and support her country the best way she could.
That week was a low point. I spiralled into a news doom scroll on everything that was going on. I followed every battle, every announcement and every death. I stopped eating, sleeping and looking after myself properly. I felt completely helpless in the face of the immensity of the situation.
I shared everything I found with my friends to keep them informed, but really it was a way to communicate that I was not ok and I needed support. Amongst these posts, my brother and I shared the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis appeal. Within a few days this had raised over £1000 and I suddenly felt like it was making some difference.
I wanted to raise more money and attention, and the idea finally clicked into place. I will combine this with my passion for distance cycling and do the most insane cycle possible.
505km was chosen as the distance a Kyiv citizen would need to travel to escape to Poland.
505 laps of Regents Park Inner Circle was chosen to be suitably mentally challenging.
After posting some feelers out, I was surprised to hear some of my cycling buddies think it was a good idea! I also recruited Jess and Lisa who would help with much of the early organisation and outreach. Before I knew it, we had a Strava and JustGiving page, and we were live!
We had to raise the initial target of £1000 within a day as the response was incredible. Big thank you to everyone who shared in the early days and got the word out.
Hunter treated it as his own fundraising and challenge and personally reached all of his friends and colleagues. Lotta put in a word at BBC Radio London Sport which later turned into an live interview!
My clubs DirtyWknd and LFTC reached out to their members. All my cycling friends reached out to their clubs too - ICC, GFTL and CGC. Fettle reached out to support the event by extending it into a 2 week long challenge for anyone to join.
And of course the one and only Sigrid was slated to be joining - thanks to an invite by Stewart. Before I knew it, we had reached £10k. And what I had agreed to do started to sink in…
Friday 18th March. Start of the ride...
We gathered at the round road that would become home for us for the next 20 hours. There was anticipation and buzz in the air from our starting group of riders and about 20 supporters gathered together in the cold to see us off. We all busied away preparing the stand and attaching blue and yellow ribbons to everything that moved.
Unfortunately Hunter’s bike had other ideas! On the way there his gear cable snapped. After 40 minutes of attempted roadside bikework, we decided he would have to ride single speed until our saviour Wilker (Willy’s Wheels) could arrive on an emergency callout.
Around 7:45pm, we all lined up and before I knew it, we had set off.
The first cheer on the first lap was a nice surprise! I remember wishing I could get a cheer on every cycle ride I go on.
Shout out to Eric who made a valiant effort on his Brompton and a massive kudos to Gruff who made a big dent into the distance on his gravel bike too!
Fueled by pizza, the early hours of Saturday were characterised by a single paceline with both Stu and Carlos taking notable and valiant pulls at the front.
Spirited sprint efforts were reined in as the wise elders reminded the young nippers that there was plenty of road ahead. The group pedalled on into the night.
As the night went on, the support crowd thinned out and the cheering became more distinguishable as individuals. Huge kudos to Russ and Lisa F who stayed up until 5am diligently cheering us on throughout. I started to worry about their energy levels more than my own, and made sure I cheered them on with every lap.
Just as our spirits started to tumble and our conversation thinned out, Tendayi emerged from the depths of the night. A fist-bump to the troopers and a promise that Wilker was on his way injected a well-needed sense of relief into the group.
We set off and just as had been prophesied, a flashing beacon of light in the distance grew brighter and stronger. Wilker was here.
Tendayi and Wilker brought with them fresh legs, metronomical pace, and welcome shelter from the wind when we needed it most.
Shout out to Tom and his friends who joined us after their heavy D&B night out at around 3:00 am. He kept at our pace on a boris bike, despite looking in a worse state than we did!
We knew it would be hard, but nothing can prepare you for the mental struggle of the 4-5am section of a night ride.
Every part of your body is telling you to stop and go to sleep. Your inner voice is so reasonable and convincing. Stop pedalling, lay down for a bit, and rest your eyes.
It takes whatever mental strength you have left to fight those urges and keep your eyes open and focused on the road. Luckily at this time the road was clear and the wind was chilly.
Wilker and Tendayi’s heroic 2:00 am to 5:00 am stint (a.k.a. the ‘graveyard shift’), with little to no rest from the wind, saw the pair leave to whatever the cycling equivalent is of a standing ovation.
As if choreographed, the very same lap that saw those diesel engines depart, Chris Toppon swung in for the birdsong shift. The morning light had started to pierce the dark of the night and Chris’ energy was infectious.
By that point we were also joined by James, Dovey, Nathan, Carlos, Laura, Stew, and Stu.
James and Dovey would continue on to the very end, doing a monumental 300km with us.
Every time a new rider joined we would get a new boost of energy. I wish I could remember more names but by this point my memory is only from the photos that were taken!
Glorious sunrise and birdsong. The worst part was surely over.
Also the ground support began to return. Jo arrived again and proceeded to adorn every item of blue and yellow she could find. She was closely followed by Jess who brought a much needed care package of warm McDonald’s breakfast muffins and hot drinks. Those disappeared quickly!
We were not left without support for more than an hour.
Nutrition was the hardest part to get right for me. It’s hard to prepare for an event this long. I tried eating pizza and burger king, but the greasiness didn’t go down well. Also everything I had bought in the last-minute panic suddenly was not appetising.
What I settled on was double strength Tailwind Berry in my bottles, which towards the end turned into Copella Cloudy Apple juice. During the stops I would chug down Hunter’s Chocolate Oatley and flapjacks.
That was mild enough to settle in the stomach and filling enough to balance out the insane amount of sugar I was ingesting on the bike. Only at the last hour did I switch to Haribo Tangfastics for that final boost of finishing energy!
From this point the level of support steadily grew. More riders from the club and further afield started joining. Luka had ridden in from Cambridge. Josh was on his way to Bristol.
Seeing so many ribbons ahead of us helped keep us going as we rode past halfway 250km.
The last 200km was an emotional rollercoaster. My mood would swing wildly between determined excitement to anxious despair, sometimes within the span of the same lap.
I would have to carefully monitor the effect of any change in what I was doing to remain focused and riding. Do I talk or stay silent? What should I eat? When to stop? Am I too warm?
What worked best for me at this point is putting on a playlist called “Gateway House” which is full of meaningful tracks that I first listened to at uni, and sing them at the top of my lungs.
This would be enough to distract me from the complaints of my body and mind. Apologies for any riders within earshot.
Sigrid comes along for the ride! Check out @skintension for his story!
Mum Lana and Little Brother Danny join for a few laps!
Cerys, Russ and Georgie join in as well!
Ollie and baby Scarlett join too
The final 100km were a rush of excitement. Along with a bigger support crowd and louder cheering, was a more crowded park. Calls to avoid cars and pedestrians became more frequent.
Full focus was needed to avoid any accidents. Luckily for us our front riders were experienced group riders and kept us all safe.
There was also drama at basecamp. Regents park rangers were concerned that our event had grown too large.
We reached a compromise and agreed to slow down and break up into smaller riding groups until the end. I’m glad we were able to finish the ride.
Last Lap!
Danny supporting from the crowd.
Coming in to the finishing line
This is where the scale and gravity of the event started to hit. So many friends, family and strangers were cheering us on at the end.
I could not have done it without the riders from start to finish - Aaron, Hunter, James, Dovey & Christoph.
How it started 👆
How it’s going 👆
And we definitely could not have done it without every one of the 505 cheers from our supporters who came along on the day.
Thank you all for bringing the atmosphere and energy, and giving us a reason to push through to the end.
Thank you Jess for your emotional support, and countless late nights with post-it notes and google docs meticulously planning every detail together.
Special thanks to DirtyWknd Cycle Club. It was through you I had met my group of cyclists who pushed me to ride further that I ever thought I could.
Also special thanks to Lisa who is a fundraising guru. She came with all the ideas and ambition to make it much bigger than I ever thought I could.
Thank you to Charlie and Russ who did an excellent job of capturing the emotions and atmosphere of the event through photos and videos. And thank you to everyone else who took and shared photos.
Thank you to all my friends who took time out to cheer us on, skate with us, bike with us, bring us food, share the story, or donate what they could. I never expected it to turn out like this and it was very much thanks to you all.
Thank you Mum and Gran. I did this all for you.
I originally hoped that my ride would raise awareness and donations to a great cause.
Thanks to the incredible support of my family and friends it surpassed my wildest expectations and we managed to make an incredible impact, raising over £20,000 by the end of the event.
During the ride I voluntarily put myself into an emotionally and physically challenging place. This is nothing compared to what the millions who are fleeing their homes to save their lives would go through.
My ride is over and I get to go back home and recover in peace. For many others the journey out of Ukraine is only the beginning of their hardship.
The war in Ukraine is not over, and neither is my efforts to raise money and support.
This will not stop until I am reunited with Gran in our small village farmhouse in Ukraine.
Please continue to support here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ridewithukraine
Thank you Dimi for such a full and honest ride report. Please keep supporting the effort by donating on the link above and by spreading the word to your friends and family.
]]>
Can you feel it in the air? The snow has melted, the wind slightly less biting. The sun is rising before 8am. It's definitely getting warmer, and that can mean only one thing - the coming of the Classics season.
Venerated above (almost) all other bike races, especially in Northern Europe, the Classics are a couple of months of pure pleasure for bike fans. It really is the best time of the year!
From the opening race of Omloop Het Niewsblad (this weekend FYI), through the first Monument (see below) to the crescendo of 'Holy Week', the cycling world goes gaga for mud, dust, dirt, cobbles, impossibly steep climbs and more impossibly strong beer.
But why? What are 'The Classics' exactly, and why are they such a big deal? Read on for our beginner's guide to the Classics, and bask in the next 2 months of cycling bliss, dropping Classics wisdom on your next group ride.
]]>
Venerated above (almost) all other bike races, especially in Northern Europe, the Classics are a couple of months of pure pleasure for bike fans. It really is the best time of the year!
From the opening race of Omloop Het Niewsblad (this weekend FYI), through the first Monument (see below) to the crescendo of 'Holy Week', the cycling world goes gaga for mud, dust, dirt, cobbles, impossibly steep climbs and more impossibly strong beer.
But why? What are 'The Classics' exactly, and why are they such a big deal? Read on for our beginner's guide to the Classics, and bask in the next 2 months of cycling bliss, dropping Classics wisdom on your next group ride.
In a nutshell, the Classics, or sometimes Spring Classics, are a collection of one day bike races that take place in Northern Europe (mostly Belgium) between late Feb and the end of April.
They are also hard. Very hard. Usually well over 250km for the men and 130km for the women, and always including savage cobbles/climbs/dirt/more climbs/more cobbles (delete as appropriate, but the best ones contain all of the above).
They are also one day races, meaning the only thing that counts is what happens between the start flag to the finish line on that day. There is no prize for consistency, just for where you cross the line at the end of the day.
This means the racing is always incredibly exciting. Anyone can win, and most riders actually put their lives on the line to try and do so.
There is no tomorrow for these men and women, so it's usually the best out and out racing of the season. Not 20 days of mostly boring riding, at the end of which someone from Team Sky wins.
Yes. No. Maybe. Hang on... There's a huge amount of debate about what is and isn't a Classics race. There are cobbled Classics, Ardennes Classics, Semi-Classics, there are summer Classics, Autumn Classics - it's all very complicated.
How you define a Classic is up to you, but it's generally safe to call a one day race between Feb and April a Classic. And il Lombardia. After that you're on your own...
As with most things in cycling, they were created to sell newspapers.
To add to the prestige, many had the good sense to be created in the 19th Century, making them even more awesome.
Most have only ever been postponed because of a couple of inconvenient wars taking place near the route. Well, wars and now a certain virus we all know so well.
These races are the epitome of 'cycling legend' and make people who are into such things go all misty eyed. From the first winner in Liege in 1892 (Léon Houa) to today, the Classics have grown and grown in size, scope and popularity.
Most of the Classics, especially those in Belgium and The Netherlands are split into roughly two groups - Cobbled Classics & Ardennes Classics.
The difference, apart from geographically of course, is the presence of cobbles. The Flemish races mostly have lots and lots of cobbles, the Ardennes races remove the cobbles and replace them with extra climbs.
Which you think are harder says a lot about your outlook on life.
The safest bet is to focus on the five monuments. These are the oldest, the biggest and the most lauded of all cycling races, and to many (me) they are more important than all the Grand Tours put together.
They are the very definition of classic, and if you only pay attention to some of the racing this spring, let it be the Monuments:
Milan-San Remo - 298km, 19th March 2022
A beautiful ride along the northern Italian coastline. It is the longest Monument, and arguably the most boring. MSR Only really gets going in the last 30km as the riders hit the Cipressa & Poggio. In fairness, it's always a good finish.
Pros: Good/tense finish, lots of lovely Italian coastal scenery. Cons: Pretty mundane for 95% of the race, no women's equivalent anymore.
2021 Winner: Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo). No women's race - boooo!
2022 Prediction: Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) The mini Aussie rocket is flying so will easily make it over the Poggio with the group. If it's a bunch sprint, he's practically nailed on.
Tour of Flanders - 260km/158km, 3rd April 2021
The pinnacle of the spring season, in my honest opinion. It brings Belgium to a standstill. The perfect mix of cobbles, climbs and everything in between. You have to be a complete rider to win de Ronde.
New for 2022, the women's prize purse is also the same size as the men's (€50k) with the winner of each getting €20k. The women's race is also longer, harder and more cobbley (going up the Koppenberg for the first time). Bravo, Flanders!
Pros: The epitome of the Classics, has a women's equivalent race, circuits of the best climbs/sections to build tension. Cons: There aren't any.
2021 Winners: Kasper Asgreen (Quick-step Alpha Vinyl) for the men, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
2022 Prediction: Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) for the men. Belgium expects... and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) for the women.
Paris Roubaix - 260km/116km, 16th/17th April 2022
La Reine, Hell of the North...nothing is held on as high a pedestal as Roubiax.
Win a cobblestone (the prize trophy) and you'll never have to buy another beer again. One week after Flanders, the only French Classic, but it's a biggie.
For many THE Classic race of the year, and the hardest thing you can do on a bicycle.
Pros: It does look 'quite' hard, there's always an element of luck, weather plays a huge part, famous finish in Roubaix velodrome is always cool - whether a small sprint of battered warriors, or a solo victory lap for one heroic escapee.
And now, finally, there is a women's Roubaix. Cons: Again, nothing to mention now the women's race is set to start. Maybe... it's not Flanders??
2021 Winners: Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious)for the men, the wonderful Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) as the first female Roubaix winner. What a ride!
2022 Prediction: Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) for the men. He can do it. Lizzie again for the women. Maybe not an 80km attack, but a small group sprint.
Liege Bastogne Liege - 260km/135km, 24th April 2021
La Doyenne (The Old Lady). The OG Classic - nearly as long as MSR but with 4000+ metres of climbing (yes, you read that right).
That's a hell of a lot of up for a 'flat' little country like Belgium. The final Ardennes Classic and the culmination of the Spring Classics (for some).
Just look at this route, and the way the climbs fall. The women's route is similarly hard, just a bit shorter. It's insane!
Pros: Seriously tough climbs, one after another. Not cobbled, but that allows more 'pure' climbers to shine. Has a women's equivalent. Cons: No cobbles? Nah, it's pretty great.
2021 Winners: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emerites) for the men and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) for the women
2022 Prediction: Julian Alaphilippe for the men (he's got beef) and Kasia Niewiadoma for the women. So close for so long, 2022 can be her year!
Il Lombardia - 255km, 9th Oct 2021
The Race of the Falling Leaves is the only Monument not held in Spring.
Italy's second Monument, this race closes the season for many. Beautiful climbs and scenery around Lake Como; it's definitely the prettiest race.
Pros: Simply stunning, but also savage. End of the season so any good climber who hasn't won anything yet is going to go hell for leather. Did I mention it's pretty? Cons: No women's race (C'mon Italy!!), cars all over the course (C'mon Italy!!)
2021 Winners: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emerites) for the men, no women's race - booooooo!
2022 Prediction: It's so far away, check back in Sept. Ah sod it... Nibali! The Shark is going to roll back the years. Probably.
Special Mention: Strade Bianche
Too 'new' to be considered a monument, the white roads classic is a seriously special race. 60km of gravel sections and that uphill finish in Siena's illustrious Piazza del Campo.
It also has a women's equivalent, so if it was up to me I would replace MSR with Strade Bianche. I really would.
Alright, maybe just make it the 6th Monument, but if there can be only five...
Oh no... there are many, many more and they're all wonderful. Some are on a Tuesday or a Friday, because who cares about work during the Classics season. E3, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne... all are worth your time.
It's true that many are just different variations of the same roads and hills, but who cares.
Just like in 1892, watching the best of the best from the men's and women's peloton batter themselves over hellish terrain for our entertainment is as close as we'll get to gladiatorial Rome.
Talking about equality in cycling is difficult, mostly because there isn't any. There is such a long way to go to make women's pro racing equal to men's it is laughable, but it is a small consolation that there are women's Classics races.
Mostly held on shortened versions on the same courses on the same day, the women's Classics show that female pro racers can not only handle the same courses as the men, but put on just as good a show.
There are some Classics that still don't have women's races and that needs to addressed (are you listening Milan Sanremo/Il Lombardia).
However supporting the women's classics that do exist by watching the TV coverage, interacting on social media and, if you're lucky enough to, travelling to the races to see if live, is vital to growing and improving these women's races.
You betcha! And what a race the first ever women's Paris Roubaix turned out to be! 2021 saw Brit Lizzie Deignan saunter off the front in horrible conditions to finish off an 80km break!
No doubt the 2022 women's Paris Roubaix will be just as explosive. You can watch the action on Eurosport or GCN Plus - see below for details
The fact that organisers now admit that women are in fact tough enough to take on the 'toughest race in the world' is a great sign.
Let's hope that other race organisers, possibly French ones, take note of the popularity of the women's Paris Roubaix.
The external factor that always plays a part in some or all of the races, is the good old Northern European weather.
Post storm(s) Eunice, Franklin, Bob and Sandra, the weather is Northern Europe, ahead of Omloop and KBK, looks surprisingly good.
Normally this would get a big booooo from me, but I'm actually riding the Omloop sportive on Sunday, so fingers very much crossed for a nice sunny and wind free day!
My point is, in a totally masochistic way, we all hope that the weather is going to be bad for the Classics.
Because stupidly long races on awful roads aren't hard enough, we want our heroes to have to battle 50kph winds, icy sleet and, if at all possible, so snow too.
Also speculating (every year) on whether Roubaix is going to be wet is half the fun. Wet Roubaix in 2021 means that it won't happen again for about another 20 years, but we can dream!
Pavé - cobbles, but if you want to sound fancy.
Hellingen - the range of spiky, mostly cobbled hills in Flanders (also known as the Flemish Ardennes)
The Ardennes - the actual Ardennes. The lush green hilly area in Wallonia (southern Belgium) home to the longer, paved climbs that make up some of the Ardennes Classics.
Belgian toothpaste - mud, spit, blood, vomit (other) on your face during a ride
Puncheur - a Classics specialist: a rider who can sprint, climb and is as tough as 10 year old SPD cleats.
Muur/Mur - Flemish/French for wall. Like the Muur van Geraardsbergen or the Mur de Huy. Very unpleasant climbs that appear on many of the best races.
'Berg - hill, but it sounds cooler. Like Koppenberg, Paterburg etc etc.
If you're in the UK then the best options (and coverage) of the racing will be on Eurosport/GCN. They are both owned by Discovery+ now, so the coverage is the same on both.
If you just want cycling content and loads of extra videos, get a GCN subscription. If you like other weird sports and motor racing, then Eurosport is a great option.
Subscription is about £30 for the year, which is a steal for endless hours of bike racing. If you don't want to pay, then direct your VPN to Belgium and go to Sporza.be
Dutch commentary makes it more atmospheric!
Anyone who wants to learn more about the Classics, you've got so much great material ahead of you.
From beautiful hardback books that adorn your coffee table to free Youtube films and races to watch, there really is a lot to get through. Lucky you.
A Sunday in Hell (film, above) - The best cycling film you will ever find, focusing on the 1976 Paris Roubaix. For many still the golden era of cycling.
A Sunday In Hell (book) - William Fotherington at his best, describing the race, film and background of the above 1976 Paris Roubaix.
Rapha's 'Pick of the Classics'. Some of Rapha's favourite Classics races through the years, including links to watch each race on Youtube.
1991 Motorola Classics Team. A look behind the scenes of the '91 Classics season from the viewpoint of one of the big teams.
The Ronde - Inside The World's Toughest Bike Race. Everything you need to know about the best race on earth.
The Spring Classics: Cycling's Greatest One Day Races. All the best stories from all the best races, all in one place. Lovely photographs too.
De Ronde 100 - Behind The Scenes. A great film from behind the scenes of the 100th Ronde (2016). The view from the media tent, team car and more. There are also films for De Ronde 101, 102, 103... so much Ronde!
That's it. Before anyone starts shouting about the races I've missed, or how Milan Sanremo is actually a great race, I am fully aware that I've missed loads out.
This is an intro to The Classics for new fans and riders, feel free to go as deep as you like in your own time. And I'm only (partially) joking about MSR.
Whatever I've missed/got wrong, please feel free to tell us at length on social media (@dirtywknd) or in the comments below.
I really hope you enjoy the 2022 Classics season - it's going to be a cracker. If you have any questions during the races drop us a DM or an email.
]]>
Gone is the Olympic Park start; no more Newlands Corner. Bye bye Box Hill, the Ride London masses will not only return to the capital from an entirely different direction in 2022, but they'll finish in front of a different landmark too.
The 2022 Ride London 100 route is out, and it is about as different from the 'old' Surrey version of 2013-19 fame as it can get (whilst still being in/near London).
The new route starts at the River and heads out east through the Docklands and Stratford (the only bit that's included from the old route), before catching the Epping New Road express way into Essex.
Returning via the same way, for a big photo finish in front of Tower Bridge. Loads to pick over, but let's break the route down into segments and see what's coming up.
]]>Once in Essex, riders will glide past some of the county’s most picturesque towns and villages, including Ongar, Fyfield, the Rodings and Great Dunmow, before joining a section of the 2014 Stage Three Tour de France route
Gone is the Olympic Park start; no more Newlands Corner. Bye bye Box Hill; the Ride London masses will not only return to the capital from an entirely different direction in 2022, but they'll finish in front of an entirely different landmark too.
The 2022 Ride London 100 route is out, and it is about as different from the 'old' Surrey version of 2013-19 fame as it can get (whilst still being in/near London).
The new route starts at the River and heads out east through the Docklands and Stratford (the only bit that's included from the old route), before catching the Epping New Road express way into Essex.
Returning via the same way, for a big photo finish in front of Tower Bridge. Loads to pick over, but let's break the route down into segments and see what's coming up.
You can also read out 'How to Train for Ride London' blog to help you get ready for the big day.
The Grand Depart of the 2020 Ride London will take place on the Victoria Embankment, just below Aldwych. Quite where they're going to place 25,000 cyclists outside the tube stop is not yet clear!
The old start at the Olympic Park seemed perfect for a mass participation start, so it's a wonder they've moved it. But moved it they have, and it will be pretty cool rolling out along the river in a huge peloton
The roads are very flat, so will serve as a good warm up before the real action begins. You'll wind out past the Tower of London and Canary Wharf, before turning north to Stratford.
This is the only bit of the route that is the same as the Surrey route, so many will have ridden these roads before.
The big wide roads should give you nothing to worry about, but the groups will be big so practise riding in groups will be very beneficial.
From Stratford you'll wind through Hackney Wick onto the Essex express way - Epping New Road. All East end cyclists know it well as the quickest way out of town.
It will be nice to ride this road without a load of Vauxhall Corsas and vans speeding past!
Looking at the elevation profile, it looks like this is quite a big climb but this is a bit misleading. Epping New Road is a gradual gradient, which looks like a big berg on the map due to the river being basically at sea level. It's not that hard.
That's not to say it's not tough, the road is very sticky and feels a lot harder than it should. It'll be very important to stay in as big a group here, and suck wheels all the way out to the M25.
Once you cross the Orbital you'll ride through lovely villages like Epping and Fyfield on rolling roads. It's never flat, but there are no major peaks or climbs.
Through 'the Rodings' you'll encounter some very straight roads where the speed should be incredibly high if you're in a big group. It'll be interesting to see what the wind is doing here on the day, but it could easily be a cross tail wind.
Trying to hide in a group will be vital here, and if you can do that you should be able to eat up valuable KMs until you get to Great Dunmow.
These roads were used in the 2014 Grand Depart as the pro peloton made its way towards London. From Dunmow you'll head due east (hopefully with a tailwind) to the midway point.
Either side of Great Dunmow there are a couple of ramps that do a very good job of looking like hills, so keep an eye out for them. The first is climbing out of Dunmow and the second comes just after that (75 and 77km roughly).
There are no details about feed stops yet, but it's likely that the first main feed stop will be around here.
After the 80km mark, you'll head south again heading towards Little Waltham and another clump of lovely Essex villages.
From the Walthams you'll skirt around Chelmsford, and then start heading west again towards London. This is the Ongar/Chelmsford road and it might be the most difficult bit of the ride.
There is a steady uphill gradient leading to a peak at Norton Heath, which may very well coincide with a nice head wind.
It'll be vital to be in a group all the way to Chipping Ongar, or it's going to feel very lonely on your own.
Assume there will be a feed station at Chipping Ongar around 120km as well, as it's where the route crosses over. Either way the crowds should be really big here, and will give you a big boost for the final 40km!
Heading South West now you're on the final stretch, but again be warned you may be riding into a head wind. You're nearly finished, but this could be a really tough stretch.
If you're a London cyclist you're back on very familiar ground now as you come back into Chigwell and Hainault.
There are a few more peaks on the elevation profile to deal with before you join back up at the bottom of Epping New Road.
Once you join back up with the route that you took on the way out, the hard stuff is over, and you've just got to retrace your tyre tracks back to Tower Bridge.
There is a lovely downward trajectory on the elevation profile, just what you want with 90 miles in your legs. Enjoy the ride back into town and finishing under Tower Bridge, a well ridden imperial century!
Certainly less of a challenge than the 'old' Surrey Ride London route, this new Essex loop is a bit more accessible and should be a bit less scary from the outset.
There are no big climbs like Leith or Box Hill, which some will miss. But that does also mean that there should be fewer bottlenecks and hold ups further down the field.
On the old route, if you didn't start before 7am then you were almost guaranteed to get stuck at some point. Looking at this route that shouldn't happen anywhere, allowing for a more clear run no matter when you start or at what speed you ride.
It will still be a tough day out, as any 100 mile ride should be. The wind may also play more of a part on the Essex flat lands, so don't count that out.
It should be a grand day out!
It's unclear as yet where the post ride event village will be - it's not like they have a Green Park by Tower Bridge, but once we know we'll post details of the Dirty Wknd post ride picnic, just like in previous years.
Wherever it takes place (either in a pop up event village or at a local pub), we'll be congregating to celebrate smashing the ride with club mates, and we'd love to you to join us.
If you're signed up to the 2022 Ride London then check out our Ride London Training Zone on our members app and meet/chat with other participants.
There is no better place to train for Ride London and get ready for the big day!
Let us know which bits of the route you're looking forward to on social media (@dirtywknd) or get in touch if you've got any questions about the route or ride.
Banner image courtesy of Ride London
]]>So, you've just found out that you've got a place in the 2022 Ride London via the ballot, and you're probably panicking about the thought of riding 100 miles at the end of May?
Or maybe you managed to get a place in the pre ballot sale, and, you know, actually wanted to take part in the event! Either way have no fear, whilst you don't have 'nothing to worry about' (100 miles is 100 miles), we can certainly help you to prepare and train for the event.
How, I hear you ask? How, can you possibly know what I can do? You've never met me, and you can't possibly know how slow/unfit/underprepared I am!
Well, actually I do feel very confident in telling you that not only will you be able to complete the ride, you'll do it much more quickly than you think and *whisper it* you'll actually really enjoy it.
I know this because we've been helping hundreds (maybe even thousands) of cyclists to train for Ride London over the last 6 years, and almost everyone has had the same concerns and worries before the ride.
And guess what? They all smashed it, completing the ride way faster than they had predicted, and (mostly) they loved every second of it. I say mostly, no one actually 'likes' Leith Hill, but you know what I mean!
]]>So, you've just found out that you've got a place at Ride London 2022 via the ballot, and you're probably panicking about the thought of riding 100 miles at the end of May?
Or maybe you managed to get a place in the pre ballot sale because you, you know, actually wanted to take part in the event?
Either way, have no fear, whilst you don't have 'nothing to worry about' (100 miles is 100 miles), we can certainly help you to prepare and train for the event.
How, I hear you ask? How can you possibly know if I can cycle 100 miles? You've never met me, and you can't possibly know how slow/unfit/underprepared I am!
Well, actually I do feel very confident in telling you that not only will you be able to complete the ride, you'll do it much more quickly than you think and, *whisper it*, you'll actually really enjoy it.
I know this because Dirty Wknd have been helping hundreds (maybe even thousands) of cyclists to train for Ride London over the last 6 years, and almost everyone has had the same concerns and worries as you in the run up to the ride.
And guess what? They all smashed it, completing the ride way faster than they had predicted, and (mostly) they loved every second of it. I say mostly, no one actually 'likes' Leith Hill, but you know what I mean.
Don't believe me? Read 'complete beginner' Mel's story here.
So whilst your concerns are completely valid and won't be completely calmed by reading a blog, hopefully you can take some comfort from knowing that many others have come before you.
They all came out stronger, fitter and more rounded cyclists (and people?) on the other side, and you will too!
We asked our members and put a question out on social media too - what is the thing that's worrying you most about taking on Ride London in May? Below are the answers, and how to deal with those worries.
A bit like a marathon, very few people have ever run 26 miles when they sign up. I can promise that it is possible to build up to 100 miles in a few months, no matter where you're starting from.
The thought of riding 100 miles in a day is pretty terrifying, especially if you're new to it. But the trick is to break it down into manageable segments and not focus on the full 100 from the outset.
If you've ridden 50km before, then you can definitely ride 50 miles (80km). Once you've done 80km, you'll be able to build up to 100km.
If you keep adding a little distance to your long rides each week, you'll get there in no time. Mid-week shorter/high intensity rides are also a great training option too (see below).
But here's the real truth, again much like a Marathon, you don't actually need to have ridden the full distance before the event. Adrenaline, the atmosphere and the crowd will carry you over the 100 miles.
Rather than thinking about distance, it's important also to think about time on the bike. Riding 100 miles can take anywhere between 4 and 8 hours, so getting your body used to spending that long in the saddle is key.
Plenty of people on social media are worrying about the distance, so you're far from alone, but you will be able to build up to it.
The second most mentioned worry was not knowing how long to spend riding per week or how many sessions to do per week.
This is a harder one to answer as every rider is different. Not only the training load you can bear and how much recovery you need, but how much time you have to train.
The main thing is that you can fit your training into your work and family life. The more training the better, but don't let your relationship or family life suffer for a bike ride.
Riding 3-4 times a week is plenty. You don't need to be doing 12+ hour weeks like some wannabe pro.
2-3 short rides in the week (mix of intense and recovery) and a longer ride at the weekend is a nice easy framework for a training plan.
Having a structure to work to is a very good thing. This can be an excel spreadsheet of intended rides, something you found on Google or using an actual coach/training plan.
If you're lucky enough to be in the position to take on a cycling coach for the duration of your training then great. They'll give you a plan, regular feedback and loads of extra info too.
If you're not in the position to spend 50-100 per month, then have a look at our partners Spoked. This online cycling coach is a virtual platform that will provide everything you need, for just £11.99 a month.
You tell the system when and for how long you can ride each week, it will set you a plan to work through until the event. You'll also get feedback as you build towards the event.
Dirty Wknd members also get a month's trial so you can really try it out before you have to pay anything. Don't let that sway you though, I use the platform and it's great.
Knowing that fuelling correctly is the key to riding 100 miles is the first step to glory, finding out what works for you is the second.
Loads of people asking how to fuel and what to eat, but the truth is everyone is different. You have to test out many of the products on the market to work out what is best for you.
That includes energy bars, electrolyte tabs and other products, but also making use of natural forms of energy. Bananas are a great option, as well as boiled potatoes.
If you've got a stomach that is easily affected by lots of sugar or additives (not something you want on a 100 mile ride), then try 'real food' in your training rides.
The golden, unbreakable and never-to-be-questioned rule is never use anything new on event day that you've not tested. True for everything, but doubly true of nutrition.
But how am I supposed to carry all this nutrition?
Staring down the barrel of a 100 mile ride like Ride London, it's natural to think that you're going to have to carry up to 8 hours worth of food, fluids and more.
In reality, you just need enough to get yourself to the first feed stop (roughly 50 miles/80km), where you can pick up more food and fill your bottles.
As experienced Rider Londoner and club ambassador Paul says "Don’t overpack. It’s tempting to fill your pockets to bursting point, or even to take a backpack filled with stuff you’ll never use, but by halfway through you’ll regret it."
We're waiting for the official route details including where the feed stops will fall, but based on the Surrey 100 route, the first proper feed stop came at 50 miles.
So really you just need enough fuel to carry yourself 80km, which is easy to practise in your training rides and get your pocket packing perfected. This is not a joke, definitely practise packing your pockets. Watch this great GCN video on how to pack your pockets for cycling for tips.
The feed stops are incredibly well stocked and organised, so you don't need to worry about being caught short. If you're going for a really fast time, then I'd recommend missing the first feed stop as it's always really busy. Carry enough food/water to get you to Box Hill (roughly 130km) for a much quicker stop.
With a plethora of amazing bike luggage options on offer these days, you also have loads of ways to carry your kit. Gone are the days of the trusty saddlebag and pockets full to ripping point.
There are frame bags that hang above your water bottles, top tube bags that sit on top of your frame behind the stem, or handlebar bags that hang down below your stem. All are great for different options, and are well worth looking into.
Top tube bags are really handy for snacks - very accessible whilst riding the bike and an especially great option if you struggle to pull things out of your back pocket whilst riding. See our partners Restrap for a great top tube bag (20% off for members).
However for me a handlebar bag (sometimes called a canister bag) is the best option. Unless I'm racing, I'll tend to have my Attacus handlebar bag on my bike for most rides.
It's very easy to fit, looks cool and holds a surprising amount. I also just much prefer riding with as little in my pockets as possible.
This is one of the biggest sportives in the world, and the level of support is enormous. If you're worried about being left alone on the ride, you really needn't be.
The feed stops are huge and plentiful, there are toilets in loads of areas along the routes and the traveling mechanics and thousands of other riders on the course will help you out if you get stuck.
You really will never do another ride that is as well supported as this one, so hopefully you can take that as peace of mind when you complete your training.
We also asked some of our more experienced members and social media followers for their advice on how to prepare for Ride London.
Some of them have done the ride once, some up to four times, but hopefully you can take some tips from them to help you prepare.
This may seem a bit biased coming from us, but there is no greater piece of advice. This was the first thing said by anyone who has ridden Ride London before.
Joining a cycling group opens you up to an entire community of like minded folks, all on the same journey as you are. Some are ahead of you, some in exactly the same place and, as you'll find out, some are even newer to it than you are.
You'll learn from them, ride with groups that will help you to go further, faster and higher than you have done before, all whilst making it more fun and interesting.
And yes I know all the usual excuses - I'm too slow/unfit/inexperienced, or you might be worried you'll hold the group up. Believe me everyone is worried about that, but if you find the right group then it really doesn't matter.
You would be more than welcome to join us, and meet other cyclists to train with and learn from, or you can use the British Cycling club finder tool.
Either way, just do yourself a favour and join a cycling group.
Ride London 2022 route details have now been released, and of course we've already done a deep dive into what you can expect. You can read our 100 Mile Route Preview here.
It's vital to stud the route as much as you can. There's a reason pro cyclists do - you have to know what's coming so you can fuel properly and mentally prepare.
The beginner mentality I encounter most is 'don't tell me I don't want to know', like this is going to make the hill/road somehow easier. It's not, it's just going to make you less prepared for it, and therefore it's going to hurt more!
Get out of this mentality ASAP and start studying the route. Our blog (above) should help, and allow you to make mental notes that you can take into the ride with you.
And if you get the chance, absolutely ride as much of the route as you can in training. Whether that's a special trip to East London/Essex to ride a certain section, or just heading out east more often, it will definitely help.
Our community members will be heading out to Essex plenty in the next few months, so join the community and get stuck in. It will all help on the day.
What we do know at this point, according to the Ride London website, is that the route will start on the Embankment and finish at Tower Bridge.
A great tip for preparedness is to plan your arrival at the start of the event well ahead of time. If you're a London cyclist this might mean staying with a friend near the start, or working out how to get the train to the start line in good time.
Whatever you can do to calm your pre-event nerves then do it (you will have pre-event nerves). A lot of that will include event morning logistics.
We'll cover this in a more specific blog nearer the time, but my biggest piece of advice is to stay as close to the start line as you can.
You don't want to be worrying about a long ride or train journey just to get to the start. Also, you have to arrive at the event ages before your depart time, so if you live a decent distance away, that's a very early alarm!
If you don't live in London then book some accommodation as close to the start line as you can, as far in advance as you can. It will fill up quickly.
You'll no doubt have a busy work, social and family life so you won't be able to make every session exactly as you planned. You just won't, so try not to stress it.
Be a bit flexible with training, and don't be too hard on yourself if you miss one of two sessions. If you don't have time for your 2 hour ride, then do one hour. Or go for a run, or a swim.
And if you're knackered then take the day off or do some yoga. Listen to your body.
Take it from club ambassador Lisa: if it's not fun there's no point. She didn't touch her bike for months after Ride London because of the ordeal.
Granted it may not seem like it's going to be fun right now, but it's important to focus on the fact that it should be.
If you've got a training plan, or a strict structure, then I would always advise sacking off one of those sessions every now and again to just go and ride for fun. Ideally with mates.
This is especially true if you're feeling everything getting on top of you and you're getting really anxious about the event. Your health and happiness is way more important than a bike ride.
There will be more Ride London training updates coming soon, to help you to prepare for the big day.
If you've got questions about Ride London training then drop us an email, or get in touch on social media (@dirtywknd).
We'd love to hear from you about how your training is going or if you have any questions, so don't be a stranger. If you join the Dirty Wknd community you can visit our dedicated Ride London training space to meet and chat with other entrants.
We have a month free trial in Feb, so now is a great time to join 👍
]]>Mel Joined Dirty Wknd for her first ride back in Feb 2017 after signing up for Ride London. Hopefully she won't mind us saying that she was 'as beginner a cyclist as you can be' when she joined, but as you'll read below, through hard work, determination and a willingness to learn, she went onto smash the 100 mile sportive a few short month's later! So impressed were we by her progress, and that fact that she always had a massive smile on her face, we made Mel our 'Ride Over The Year' 2017 (it's a very big deal!) Complete beginner to Rider of the Year in a few short month's. This is her incredible story!
]]>Hopefully she won't mind us saying that she was 'as beginner a cyclist as you can be' when she joined, but as you'll read below, through hard work, determination and a willingness to learn, she went onto smash the 100 mile sportive a few short month's later.
So impressed were we by her progress, and that fact that she always had a massive smile on her face, we made Mel our 'Ride Over The Year' 2017 (it's a very big deal!)
Complete beginner to Rider of the Year in a few short month's. This is her incredible story:
I had been a runner for about four years but I was plagued with injury which was so tiresome and frustrating, so I was looking for something new, but I was also approaching my 40th year so I needed a challenge to mark the occasion.
Cycling seemed a good option, so with very little idea of what would be involved, I entered the ballot for Ride London.
To be honest, I signed up and then almost forgot about it/dismissed as I didn’t think I’d get a place in something so in demand. Then the magazine dropped on my doorstep telling me I was in!
Well, none really.
I cycled as a child but fell off, knocking myself unconscious (no helmet!) so I gave up aged 12.
I had purchased a road bike the year before entering Ride London and did Bikeability with Kingston Council. I wasn’t even let onto the roads at first, initially during my first few lessons I was cycling on a local basketball court, negotiating cones, learning how to brake, and just concentrating on staying upright.
After bikeability I decided cycling wasn’t really for me, and put my bike firmly in the shed, mainly because I had very little cycling confidence and no idea how to improve or progress from the level that I was at.
My partner called me at work to tell me the RideLondon mag had arrived and I was in…it was sheer incredulous horror on my part, it seemed like such an impossible task.
I thought about it for a few days, I had conversations with people about whether I should just pull out immediately, I was actually annoyed with myself for even entering and taking someone else's place.
So I had to either just withdraw, or get on and really commit to doing it…that’s how I found Dirty Wknd.
In the days after successfully gaining a place, I googled beginner cycling in my local area and it brought up Dirty Wknd’s Richmond Park beginner laps, so I fired off a quick email explaining that I was a total beginner, and that I couldn’t actually take my hands off the handlebars, or confidently ride on any downhill incline, and waited for the response.
Luckily the response was “Our beginner rides are perfect for you”.
My first ride was beginner laps of RP, I drove my car to the park with my bike on the back.
I was so nervous I considered going home, especially when I saw the two lycra clad ladies who turned up to lead the ride (Laura and Helena); i felt so out of place, but they were so welcoming.
I was acutely embarrassed to tell them that I’d signed up for RideLondon, but they didn’t bat an eyelid at my lack of cycling skills, they were so positive that I’d improve and meet the challenge.
During the first short ride they gave me so many tips on gears, body position, pot holes, as well as just chatting and showing me the best coffee stops in the park. It was fab, I loved it.
So many things learnt. I honestly believe that I couldn't have done RL had I not joined Dirty Wknd. Every cyclist i met had tips and info that they were so willing to share.
I learnt a lot just riding side by side and chatting to different people. One important thing I learnt…I have a small chain ring!! Ha, who knew?! Thanks to David for explaining to a beginner how all the gears work.
Also learnt that communication/signals are key and essential for safety; I’m quite happy now to shout out what I’m doing.
Despite usually being nervous on the roads, I feel so much more comfortable and confident in the group.
It’s been a confidence builder no doubt, and that generally transfers to other life skills. I was super proud of myself after RL, and that has definitely stayed with me.
Working and having a pre-schooler makes life busy, so taking a couple of hours cycle/catch up for coffee with cycling friends on the weekend really sets me up for the day and gives me a sense of well-being, a quick spin to the park a great stress buster, which positively impacts on every day life.
And I love that my 4-year old daughter sees me being active and is starting to ask if we can bike ride together.
Decide what commitment you need in order to be well prepared, then plan, and stick to it, don’t be half hearted.
I knew I needed a big commitment to get to the right level, so I planned all my rides and worked them around other commitments.
As Well as DW RL series, I was out cycling round RP at 5am A LOT and it all paid off.
If at all possible, ride the route or parts of it before hand, and definitely the hills. It’s mentally very good to know you have conquered Leith, Box, and Newlands previously.
If you’re a beginner and not yet in cleats, consider trying them. This was the most frightening part for me, there was no pressure from DW to swap my flat pedals and trainers, only gentle encouragement.
So on the safety of grass in my local park I tried clippy shoes, I may have fallen off twice during that afternoon, but I really felt the difference on the next long ride, especially on the hills.
My top tips for inexperienced riders;
If it helps, mentally break down the route into smaller chunks and tick them off in your head as you pass. Limehouse Link, RP, Box hill etc.
Even getting to the start in plenty of time was a Ticky box in my head and every positive really helped with the nerves.
2017 was fab, after Ride London I felt that my fitness had really improved from the training so I did a couple of duathlons soon afterwards, which was so much fun and pushed my speed over shorter distances.
This year I’ve been lucky enough to get another place in Ride London through the ballot, so if I stop a few less times to chat to fellow cyclists, I aim to complete the route slightly quicker (although I do consider food stops and chat part of the fun!)
I’m thinking of my first cycling holiday in 2018 (Mallorca hills maybe?!)
I definitely have my eye on Deloitte Ride across Britain but that will be for next year as this years event clashes with my daughters first day at school, so best to save that one!
And whilst I’m now doing things that I didn’t previously think I could do, I might also learn to swim so who knows, there may be a first triathlon in 2019.
Thanks Mel - you're a rockstar and we love riding with you! Can't wait to ride with you more in 2018 and 2019!
]]>
The Hell Of The Ashdown is the best early season sportive in the South East of England and it's back for 2022!
Taking on 10 tough Kent climbs, with a new start and end point at Westerham Brewery, Sunday the 27th Feb is set to be a great day!
The event is currently sold out, but should 100% be on your list for next year if you missed out. If you're riding then check out our route breakdown below.
I have ridden the HOTA route many times, so the below musings are made up of my memories and some general Strava segment searching. You can scroll to the bottom to see my ride data from the 2019 HOTA challenge, for reference.
And if you need some help to train for the event then we have some HOTA training rides, hill rep sessions and other events on our members app. Join the community (28 days free in Feb) and get stuck in!
]]>Taking on 10 tough Kent climbs, with a new start and end point at Westerham Brewery, Sunday the 27th Feb is set to be a great day!
The event is currently sold out, but should 100% be on your list for next year if you missed out. If you're riding then check out our route breakdown below.
I have ridden the HOTA route many times, so the below musings are made up of my memories and some general Strava segment searching. You can scroll to the bottom to see my ride data from the 2019 HOTA challenge, for reference.
And if you need some help to train for the event then we have some HOTA training rides, hill rep sessions and other events on our members app. Join the community (28 days free in Feb) and get stuck in!
The route is very similar to previous years, but around 7km shorter due to the new start/end point. Can't see anyone complaining about that!
Click on the link above to examine the route more closely.
The ride starts at Westerham Brewery just outside, you guessed it, Westerham. Be warned there is no parking at the Brewery; check out these parking instructions from the organisers.
Exiting the Brewery and after a bit of nasty main road (should be fun, post new Highway Code updates!) it's straight onto the first climb (you may want to think about a warm up).
Climb #1 - Toys Hill (Chart Lane) - Strava Segment
The 'nice side' of Toys Hill! Well, it's nicer than the other, so make the most of that. Chart Lane is a pretty steady gradient of just over 5% for just under 3km.
The road is straight as an arrow with little undulation from the start. When you reach the pub on your left you've reached the top.
Be careful over the other side as the descent on the 'north face' is pretty treacherous. -18% gradients and terrible road surfaces can easily lead to accidents, especially in Feb.
Climb #2 - Markbeech - Strava Segment
The really 'fun' thing about the Hell of the Ashdown route, is that it's rarely ever flat. So as well as the 10 categorised climbs, you've got loads of rollers in between too.
Next up on the categorised list though is Markbeech, which rises up out of Hever after you pass the Castle. 4% at 1.7km is not too much to worry about, and from memory the road surface is pretty good. Get it over with and move onto the next!
Climb #3 - Cowden (Blowers Hill?) - Strava Segment?
I can't find any information on this climb, either on Strava or in the old memory bank. Any help here would be great. Blowers Hill is around 2% average, but with a max of 10%, so not nothing.
My overriding memory of this part of the course however is that it is rolling, with some leg sapping drags, but nothing you would call a mega climb. Still, be wary, it's often those rollers that will cause you the most pain!
Climb #4 - Wych Cross (Priory Road?) - Strava Segment
No mention of Wych Cross on the Strava data either, but next up is Priory Road (I think).
Nearly 4km long all told but with a forgiving average of 3.6%, don't underestimate this one. It's not that steep, but all the hard stuff comes at the end, and it does go on!
They're coming thick and fast now, so take your time and make sure you keep eating and drinking.
Climb #5 - Twyford Lane (Pillow Mounds Hill) - Strava Segment
Why it's called Pillow Mounds is anyone's guess, answers on a postcard please, it's far from nice and soft. 6+% avg for 1.7km will register, believe you me!
You're deep into the Ashdown Forest now and, if the weather isn't being nice, then this section will be very tough. If it's even a bit wet then you'll have zero grip here, so stay seated and get into a nice gear.
Be careful also, because just before the climb is Twyford Ford, so even if it's not wet you'll still struggle for grip. Fun, right?
Climb #6 - Kidds Hill (The Wall) - Strava Segment
The big one. The main event. The Wall! The only official top 100 climb on the route, Kidds Hill is truly hard.
8.5% for a KM and a half, but it feels a lot more than that. It starts off gently getting steeper as you go, but the really savage thing about The Wall (TM) is that you can see it laid out before you the whole time. The road is dead straight, and just rises and rises in front of you. Kind of, you know... like a wall.
If memory serves, then the first feed stop is also just before the climb, on Colemen's Hatch Rd (exactly 50km). So not only is it a doubly hard climb, you're also dealing with cafe legs.
It's been over 3 years since I've ridden up Kidds Hill, but I'm doing a little shiver just thinking about it!
Climb #7 - Col de Groombridge - Strava Segment
Legs well and truly ripped off, you do now get the benefit of quite a nice descent from Kidds and a bit of undulation before the next climb.
Mercifully, Groombridge is one of the easier climbs on the route. I even think the 6.8% average on Strava is a bit generous, but it's a climb nonetheless.
The good news is that you've turned the corner and are heading north back towards civilization - nearly 70km down and just 30 to do. Start dreaming about that beer!
Climb #8 - Hobbs Hill (Top Hill?) - Strava Segment
Another lump on the way back to Westerham, you swing right onto Top Hill and start climbing right away.
It's actually one of the most beautiful climbs on the route (not that you'll appreciate it at this point) but try and look around as the view/hill is great.
It's short (0.6km) but steadily steep (8.5% average) so it's not easy, but with just 2 more to go after this one you're nearly home! Your second wind should be coming in momentarily!
Climb #9 - Hubbards Hill - Strava Segment
Hubbards Hill really is, and pardon my french, a total shit. There's no other word for it, at this point in the route, it's really savage.
Not only is it a tough climb, it's also not a very nice road. Crossing above the motorway, after many hours of climbing, this is where you'll be questioning your life choices (if you haven't done so several times already).
But just keep reminding yourself you're nearly finished. Nearly there. The segment above also belies the whole climb, as it starts a few KM before you really start going uphill.
Rising up a few % at a time, the bulk of the climbing is back loaded, but it's another dead straight road, so you can see the whole climb. For me these are the worst climbs, and I'm begging for a corner or something of interest at this point.
But as you cross above the motorway, remind yourself that you could be sitting in a car on the M25, so even crawling up hill is better than that!
Possibly a bit sadistically (thanks organisers) the second feed stop falls just before you start climbing Hubbards.
Climb #10 - Brasted Hill - Strava Segment
The final test, and boy is it a test. Probably the second hardest climb on the route, especially falling as it does right at the end.
But mental strength will play a part here - just get over Brasted (like everyone else, you'll be calling it something else on the day) and you're home and dry.
The organisers have switched from Hogtrough to Brasted Hill for 2022, something you certainly won't thank them for. But in reality by this point in the day it's much of a muchness. You can do it. Just one left!
You'll swing right onto Brasted from Pilgrims Way, and you'll be able to see most of the climb in front of you. There's a bit of flat(ish) road to get into the right gear, but then it starts going up. And up...
The section you'll be riding is about 700 metres long, but at an average of 10%. There's no getting away from it, it is steep. You'll really need to dig in.
Most of the climb is straight until the very end where it bends right and then left again. This is pretty much the steepest part. You'll go into the trees, and it might seem unending, but believe me you're so near the top.
Once you make the left bend, it's just one final push and you'll crest the top. It flattens out very quickly, as most steep climbs do. And you've done it - start thinking about that beer!
However please take care on the way down Hogtrough Hill. It's a lovely dowward sloping route, that suddenly drops off a cliff at -16%, with a hidden junction at the bottom.
Take it easy on the steep section - a trip to A&E is not how you want to celebrate completing the Hell of The Ashdown route!
Once you've conquered Brasted and navigated the descent back to Pilgrims Way, you've just got to roll back to the Brewery for a well deserved beer!
Congratulations, you've completed the Hell of the Ashdown!
Good luck on the ride - enjoy some of the best roads and climbs in the south and what is a really excellent sportive.
Remember if you want some help training for the event or just to meet some like minded cyclists who are also riding then come and join the community.
And if you want to check out my ride data from the 2019 edition then you can do so below:
Please tell us your favourite bits of the route or ask us any HOTA questions in the comments below, or get in touch via social media (@dirtywknd) or by email.
]]>Our club kit partner Attacus make some of the finest cycling garms around, and we're proud to call them friends and allies!
As such, they're giving our members a great 20% off their kit site wide!
This 20% cycling kit discount is for members only and a great way to get yourself some much coveted Attacus kit.
Members can log into the 'Members App' to access the discount code.
]]>
As such, they're giving our members a great 20% off their kit site wide!
This 20% cycling kit discount is for members only and a great way to get yourself some much coveted Attacus kit.
Members can log into the 'Members App' to access the discount code.
Not a member yet? Join The Community from just £3.25 per month and get this amazing discount plus group rides, routes and more cycling discount codes.
New members get a month's free trial when signing up in February - 28 full days free to download the app, join a ride and meet more riders near you.
Any questions drop us an email or connect on social media (@dirtywknd).
See you on the road!
]]>Anyone who has ridden with me before will have heard me talk at length about the beauty of bike touring (sorry about that). I could talk about it for hours because it's probably my favourite type of cycling. Riding from point A to point B with everything you need to survive on your back brings a very real sense of freedom. Not only are powering yourself - you're carrying your home (tent) clothes (spare bib shorts) and supplies (Clif Bars). You can go anywhere and do anything and that's a pretty special prospect.
When my family decided to have Christmas in Bruges this year it took me about 0.1 nanoseconds to decide I was going to cycle there. The thought of setting off from home with all your kit and riding across countries has always appealed to me, and before looking at the logistics I'd made up my mind. Luckily when I did eventually look up the logistics (roughly 4 days before setting off), it turned out to be a pretty simple ride. 230km give or take a few from Dirty Wknd Towers in Hackney to the Grote Markt in Bruges. On December 23rd. Easy peasy.
]]>Anyone who has ridden with me for any length of time, you will have heard me talk (at length) about the beauty of bike touring.
I could talk about it for hours because it's probably my favourite type of cycling. Riding from point A to point B with everything you need to survive on your back brings a very real sense of freedom.
Not only are powering yourself - you're carrying your home (tent) clothes (spare bib shorts) and supplies (Clif Bars).
You can go anywhere and do anything and that's a pretty special prospect.
When my family decided to have Christmas in Bruges in 2017 it took me about 0.1 nanoseconds to decide I was going to cycle there.
The thought of setting off from home with all your kit and riding across a country has always appealed to me, and before looking at the logistics I'd made up my mind.
Luckily when I did eventually look up the logistics (roughly 4 days before setting off), it turned out to be a pretty simple ride. 230km give or take a few from Dirty Wknd Towers in Hackney to the Grote Markt in Bruges. On December 23rd. Easy peasy.
Now - more organised people than myself would've planned this trip a bit more. Scrabbling around for a route the day before setting off whilst awaiting delivery of my shiny new Restrap bike packing gear (i.e my luggage for the trip) is not the ideal prep for a tour.
If you want my advice you should plan ahead - it was a little bit stressful!
However, as these things have a tendency to do, it all worked out in the end. Just. When you boil it down you need three things for a bike packing adventure:
1. A bike
2. Some Luggage
3. A Plan
That's it! The further you go the more of the above you'll need, but really that's all it comes down to.
And if you're being a real maverick, you don't even need a plan - just a start point!
As I knew I would be able to ride the distance, and that the ferry crossing was pretty straightforward, I didn't plan very much. This was a mistake, as you'll find out a bit later.
If you are thinking about riding to Bruges you will find a section at the bottom of this post with all of the logistics it took to get me there. But don't scroll right down just yet, we're just getting started...
Stage One - London to Dover
Stage One was easy. Stage One I had done before. Wouldn't be a problem, right? Oh how wrong I was. Lack of Planning strike one!
Because I had done this part of the ride before I wouldn't need to create a new route.
I had a lovely route down to Folkstone that we did on Sophie Radcliffe's London 2 Paris 24HR Sportive. It was a lovely ride, and would suit this bit of the trip perfectly. Job done - just need to pack the sweet new Restrap bags and get some shut eye.
The only thing I forgot about was that Sophie's London 2 Paris ride started at 3pm. In April. Now it was 4am in late December and the conditions weren't quite the same!
Not only that, but Sophie's ride was a tough event designed to challenge everyone on their way to 24 hour glory. This means hills - lots of hills!
Now Kent is never flat, but the trick with touring is usually to try and find the flattest/easiest way from A to B so as not to expend too much energy per day. Whilst this was a beautiful route - it's wasn't ideal for touring.
The other thing I forgot that on the way to Paris back in April our bags had been stowed very nicely in one of Sophie's vans.
This time I would be carrying everything on my bike. So it was pitch black, a hilly profile lay ahead and I was riding a 30kg bike (with Restap bags attached).
Now this is not to say the Restrap bags are heavy - they're very light in comparison to traditional panniers or a backpack. But carrying all your stuff with you is always going to weigh you down - another reason for picking a flat route!
I had booked a 12pm ferry crossing from Dover to Dunkirk, so I had to work out how long it would take me to ride the 140km. At 30kph it would take me 4 hours, but that might be punchy - and what about stopping for coffee and cake?
The whole point of touring is to take in your surroundings and sample the local village delicacies. I decided to leave at 5am - this way I had 6 hours to get to the Ferry Port with plenty of time to spare.
Riding through central London at the time is a joy - there's no one around and the roads are empty. I had dressed in full winter gear, it being December 23rd and all, and immediately over heated.
Our winter jersey and jacket combo with a merino winter base layer is a toasty combo and I was in trouble.
Coming through the Greenwich foot tunnel and riding through Greenwich park in the orangey glow of pre sunrise was delightful, but it was on leaving Blackheath behind that I ran into problem number two for the morning. I couldn't see anything.
My two lights, both good quality, were illuminating little of the road in front of me, making for a fairly sketchy trip down some very windy, very muddy lanes.
However, this is where one of the few good decisions I did make came into play - choosing to ride my Brother gravel/adventure bike.
The 40mm gravel tyres 40mm and sturdy steel frame clung to the road through the worst conditions, so I was able to pedal hard regardless of the slippy surface and poor visibility.
My Wahoo was handily pointing out any sharp bends so I could just get my head down and go. Could've probably had a little snooze, if it wasn't for those pesky hills!
Eventually though the sun did start to come up (a full 3 hours after setting off) and I had well passed the half way point. With no traffic on the road I was making excellent time.
I had booked a fixed crossing as opposed to a flexi crossing (it was cheaper) but with the fixed ticket you can jump on a crossing either side of yours if you're early/late.
It was here I started to dream I might be able to make the 10am crossing. Landing in Dunkirk is good because you're closer to Bruges, but travelling to Calais is a lot more frequent and the crossing is 30 mins shorter.
As I was trying to get there in one day, I opted for the slightly longer crossing and docking closer to Bruges.
I was gunning for the 10am ferry now and putting my foot down. The KMs began ticking down on my wahoo as I was getting closer and closer.
Still massively overheating (it was very warn for December) and hammering it, I got to Folkstone and my Wahoo was reading 2.4km to destination. I knew Folskstone and Dover were close, but I didn't think they were that close.
As I rode on a bit further it dawned on me that my route actually finished in Folkstone. Because I hadn't planned a new route to Dover, preferring to lazily rely on an old London to Folkstone route.
Now I have ridden from Folkstone to Dover before on an Audax, and if memory served it involved going up a pretty big hill.
At this point I was very tired. Riding a 30kg bike 130km at a decent tempo, up and down quite a few hills, had really taken its toll. As much as I love hills, I was really not looking forward to this one!
The first attempt at circumnavigating the final climb led me into a caravan park, so I gave up trying to avoid the inevitable and headed back to the foot of the climb.
Despite this hideous final climb, I made it to Dover ferry port and, as the only cyclist within 10 miles, I was ushered onto the boat with an hour to spare.
Ferry journeys remind me of being a kid and I still look forward to them - they remind me of holidays, exploring and freedom. Pretty apt for this trip!
After finding a suitable seat with enough plug sockets to charge my 1 million devices, the next task was food and coffee. Not stopping on the way down and sweating out half my body weight had left me pretty peckish.
This reminds me that the most important thing to do on the ferry, even before charging your phone, is to get out of wet/sweaty kit.
Having done many a freezing over night ferry crossing in bib shorts and a wet jersey, my number one tip is bring something dry to wear on the crossing, and dry kit to put on for the next leg.
Hanging out all your sopping kit on the surrounding chairs also puts off any annoying tourist/non cyclist 'normals' from joining you at your table!
Fed, charged and dry - it was very hard not to fall asleep.
Bleary eyed Instagram stories and semi legible tweets would take up about an hour, before it was time to pack up the bike and ride off the boat.
A quick word about the Restrap gear and why it's so good for this type of trip. The bags actually come in two parts - a holster, which attaches to your bike with lots of supportive straps and cables, and a dry bag, which slides into the holster very easily, clipping in to place securely.
It makes a ferry ride/cafe stop much easier as you don't have to remove all of the strapping every time you go anywhere.
You just slide out the dry bag. So I was packed up, gear back on the bike and rolling down the ferry ramp into Northern France in no time at all.
I rode onto French soil at about 3pm, with 90km separating myself and Bruges. On the ferry I realised that my lack of planning had come back to bite me again.
Having not created a route for stage 2, my plan was to steal Helena's Calais to Bruges route and pick it up at Dunkirk.
However on the ferry I couldn't load it on my Wahoo because I hadn't saved it properly. Something I definitely should've checked before leaving home.
Not much good to me now and no use crying over spilt GPX files. I'd navigated my way from London to Nice by writing town names down on my hand before - this was practically a straight line, how hard could it be.
The first town on my list was Veune, so after a couple of wrong turns I found the road I needed and set off on what was, admittedly, a pretty big road.
For those of you that haven't ridden in Northern France or Belgium before it really is a delight; there are cycle paths everywhere and the drivers are incredibly courteous - it's a dream that UK cycling is sadly quite far away from.
In fact, the only person who beeped at me was a very nice chap who was kindly pointing out that there was a cycle path on the other side of the road, and that maybe I should get off the 90kmph dual-carriageway. I owe that man a beer.
After finding the cycle path and working my way into Dunkirk town, I had a brain wave. Whilst I do actually enjoy town sign navigating (i'm old school), I was on a bit of a deadline, and I did have another option.
I had a Wahoo. One of the particularly cool features of the Wahoo set up is that if you're lost, fed up or haven't done any planning for a fairly important bike tour, you can just open up the app, go to the 'take me to..' function and input your destination.
So that's what I did. "Take me to Bruges, Wahoo, and don't spare the horses!" I was off again and on a much nicer route, thanks to Wahoo. It basically put me on a cycle path, which I didn't really get off until Bruges.
Being a born and bred Norfolk boy, I am very used to cycling in vast open landscapes that are incredibly flat - so Belgium felt like home!
Starting pretty much on the French/Belgian border, the majority of the ride is in Belgium, and it is beautiful. No mountain horizons to focus on, but the vast expanse of farmland holds its own special beauty.
Maybe you had to grow up in vast expanses of farmland to appreciate it, but i like it. Any fans of Grand Designs will also be well served here as there are a lot of very cool, very modern houses on the route.
I was not able to play Kevin Macleod for very long, however, as it started to get dark again.
The weather was so nice I'd forgotten it was December and, firing up the lights, I was set to finish this ride as I'd started - in the dark! As fun as this trip was, I would always recommend bikepacking in the months where you get more than 8 hours of daylight!
There were still plenty of KMs to go before Bruges, as I passed through small Belgian towns following the canal/river (never did find out which), on the same cycle path.
The only change in the smooth road surface was when, whilst travelling at about 30kmph in a bit of a daydream, the path turned into some rather large cobbles.
To say I was shaken out of my stupor was a bit of an understatement!
The Brother dealt with the cobbles perfectly (once I'd woken up) but it was a bit of a shock. Note to self; you're in Belgium - there's always cobbles!
Living in London as a cyclist you get very used to the 20km or so of 'outer London' that you have to navigate to actually get into anything that resembles London.
Smaller UK cities aren't as bad, but there's always a bit of urban sprawl to signal the end of your ride and the return to the city! So you can imagine my surprise when, 5km from the centre of Bruges, I was still surrounded by a couple of lost looking sheep and one small shed.
I pushed on however, trusting that Wahoo knew where we were going, and a few KM later I started to reach civilisation.
This is how small Bruges is.
One of the more spectacular entrances to a town I've ridden into - there are still town gates (I could easily picture the draw bridge). Even better than that is the bike lane has its own little entry so you can slide right through the gate as the traffic sits still.
Might as well be a sign saying "cars not welcome; bikes come on in!"
Of course, inside the town walls the streets are ALL cobbled. After 229km it's not ideal, but the cobbles sit so well with medieval town buildings and the romance of Belgian cycling that they're a pleasure to ride over.
Well, that and knowing you've made it!
Riding into the Grote Markt (the famous town square from all the pictures) there's all the Christmas going on, and I finally start to feel christmasy at last!
Bruges is so picturesque you'd be forgiven for thinking someone had made it up. Having arrived at about 6:30pm I was just in time for a quick beer with the family, before heading off to the apartment to lie down!
As tours go, it's not the most difficult I've done, but riding from London to Bruges in a day is a great fun ride, and one that all but a really beginner rider could achieve.
The logistics are very straightforward (with a little planning), the ferry crossing is easy and the route a real joy to ride. If however, you don't want to do it in one day, you could easily split into two and explore Belgium a bit more.
Or you can get the train all the way or part way to Dover and then ride from there. The possibilities are endless.
One thing that remains constant is that the destination of Bruges is completely worth the trip, which ever way you do it.
And it's very easy to get back from - either reverse your route and ride back the way you came, or get a local train to Brussels and catch the Eurostar.
Either way it's a very worthwhile trip, and despite my own (self induced) issues, it's a very straightforward bike tour to undertake.
See below for logistics and then get out there and ride it!
Kit list: 4x inner tubes, pump, levers, multi tool, spare base layer, spare jersey, spare socks. Various plugs/adapters/cables. 2x front & back lights, lock, spare clothes. That's it!
Route 1: London to Dover - Click Here (maybe try and find a flatter route :)
Ferry Crossing: 12pm to 2pm Dover to Dunkik with DFDS Seaways
£30 each way (fixed ticket). Flexi ticket £50 each way.
Route 2: Dunkirk Ferry Port to Bruges Click Here (starts in Calais, can pick up in Dunkirk)
Luggage: Check out our luggage partner Restrap! The best bike packing kit we've ever used and 20% off for members.
Bike: I rode a Brother Kepler that I built myself, but you can get hold of a full build of the same bike here. Truly spectacular bike, but any working bike will do the job!
Good luck if you are attempthing the trip - please let us know how you get on! You can connect with us by email or on social media (@dirtywknd). We'd love to hear from you.
]]>As long as you have the right kit there aren't many weathers you can't cycle in (of course, please be careful/stay indoors during really heavy rain/snow/ice). And yes, we know; more kit to buy! This burgeoning cycling addiction is really crippling your bank account.
But think of it as an investment - winter kit is hard wearing so should last you a few seasons, and if it means you can keep doing the thing that you love all winter, then that's pretty great!
Over the many years I've been cycling I've bought some truly terrible bits of kit. This guide will hopefully help you to avoid those mistakes, and buy the 'right' bits of kit that you will actually use over and over again.
]]>Alfred Wainwright might have been talking about walking, but the above statement couldn't be more true of cycling either.
As long as you have the right kit there aren't many weathers you can't cycle in (of course, please be careful/stay indoors during really heavy rain/snow/ice). And yes, we know; more kit to buy! This burgeoning cycling addiction is really crippling your bank account.
But think of it as an investment - winter kit is hard wearing so should last you a few seasons, and if it means you can keep doing the thing that you love all winter, then that's pretty great!
Over the many years I've been cycling I've bought some truly terrible bits of kit. This guide will hopefully help you to avoid those mistakes, and buy the 'right' bits of kit that you will actually use over and over again.
One important aspect to understand is that not all cyclists are the same. We've all got that one ride buddy who is freezing even when it's 30 degrees, and the other one who wears shorts in January - everyone's different (and some people are just weird!)
You have to find out how your body reacts to the cold before you start stocking up so you get the kit that works best for you.
If you're a runner or outdoor adventurer who's just getting into cycling then chances are you've got plenty of winter and wet weather gear already. Will that work?
Try it out and find out, and if it isn't up to the job use the below guide to buy what you do need. Unfortunately it means you might have to endure a couple of cold/wet rides, but it's better than wasting a load of cash on kit you'll never wear!
Firstly a quick note about layering! Layering is the key to winning in winter.
Just like skiing or hiking, you really want multiple layers that trap the air, but that you can also peel off and put back on as you need to.
Our glorious Northern European climate is so charming that you can experience 3 seasons of weather in one ride, so you need a few different layers to cope with all eventualities.
Layers work exactly as you would imagine - start with the thing you won't take off at all closest to your skin (usually a base layer/jersey combo) and then build on top of that. Arm warmers, gilet, jacket etc.
Then if you get hotter throughout the day you can whip off a layer and store it in your pockets. This is particularly great if you're stopping for coffee, as you can put the layers back on as you leave the cafe for maximum warmth.
So exactly what layers do you need? Below is our guide to the kit that's really helped us out over the years, starting from the feet up. Hopefully it'll help you too.
Overshoes shouldn't be left at home during winter riding, even if it's not raining or particularly cold when you set out.
The weather can change quickly, and they will help to stop the wind and road surface water from making your toes cold.
Once they go cold - that's it, no return.
Overshoes will also help to keep your sparkly white cycling shoes nice and clean!
There are varying levels of 'deep winterness' shoe covers on the market, depending on how warm you want your toes to, in theory, remain.
As with a lot of winter kit, we're yet to find a pair that work in really really heavy rain, but if it's cold and dry or you're riding in light rain, then these little neoprene booties will do wonders.
For an extra pro tip, why not wrap your shoes in tin foil before putting the overshoes on. Will you feel silly? Yes. Does it work? Sort of...
What would we do without arm and leg warmers? Seriously - a more versatile bit of kit doesn't exist. Ever sweated your way up a long climb, boiling hot, only to cool down at the top and really feel the cold on the descent?
With a set of arm warmers in your back pocket, you can quickly chuck them on at the top of the hill, and then peel them off at the bottom (or when you've warmed up again).
Arm warmers instantly turn your short sleeve jersey into a long sleeve one saving you a bit of cash too.
Likewise with leg warmers, worn under your bib shorts; you've got a ready made pair of tights without the extra expense.
If, like me, you get warm legs when out riding then a set of knee warmers are a really good idea.
They offer a bit of warmth around your knees without getting too hot and if the sun miraculously comes out on a winter ride, you can whip off the warmers and stick them in your pocket.
Check out our friends Attacus' range of sweet arm, leg and knee warmers (20% off for members).
As with overshoes, trying to keep your fingers warm on a ride can sometimes be impossible, but a good pair of gloves can certainly help.
Whilst you don't have to break the bank here, a cheap pair won't cut it on really cold days. You're looking for windproof/wind stopper, full finger gloves with a long cuff to stop the cold getting in. Ideally with grippy fingers to help you with the brakes.
If you've got a pair of heavy duty ski gloves, why not try them? As long as you can use the brakes properly, then give them a go. Do they keep your hands warm? If yes then that's good enough for me.
When you're starting out, you'll hear loads about 'cycling specific kit'. Sometimes it's true, but often the multi sport kit you have will work just fine. I personally still wear my Dad's old leather motorcycle gloves on really cold days. They work brilliantly!
The beginning and the end of your winter kit selection!
Now this really is something I would recommend spending money on. The most important thing to staying warm on a ride is keeping your core temperature up - and a good base layer is the best option for this.
Whether long sleeve or short, wearing a base layer is a necessity around 364 days of the year, and especially in winter.
It used to be that Rapha made the only good baselayer on the market, but thankfully that's changed now. DHB do an equally good offering now, for a fraction of the price.
Again, you don't necessarily need a cycling specific baselayer. I've got a few from old rugby days that I often use, and they're great. But I do tend to opt for my Rapha or DHB merino base layers for most rides, especially in winter.
Back in the day cycling jackets used to be one of two things: either a very thin, bin bag like layer that neither kept you warm or dry, or a thick, baggy overcoat that made you sweat profusely, but also, somehow, didn't keep you dry either.
Technology has come on heaps since I started out, and there are loads of great options for close fitting, warm and waterproof cycling jackets on the market.
As with any 'super-good' technology (that's the technical term, FYI), the price tag tends to be sky high. You can pay some truly eye watering amounts for a cycling jacket these days, so have a good shop around before making your choice.
I would recommend Attacus' Shield Jacket as a great performer in most conditions, and it's very reasonable for a great piece of kit.
Don't overlook the humble rain cape/shell jacket either (the old, bin bag type layer).
It will easily fit in your pocket/frame bag and works brilliantly as a last layer of defence. It's a great thing to start out wearing (or leave the cafe wearing) and then peel off 10 mins into the ride when you're starting to heat up.
Similar to a good gilet (the best piece of cycling kit there is, hands down) it's so versatile and will get you out of a spot of bother - you'd be surprised how much warmth you can get from that thin layer!
Not just for hipsters, the trusty cycling cap is a great friend especially in winter.
Having a thin layer of fabric under your helmet makes a huge difference, especially as most modern lids are so well vented. If it rains you've also got an extra layer of protection.
However once it stops raining take it off - the wind and wet cap combo will make your head freezing! A cap also helps to stop the sweat from running down your face - sweat on skin in a cold wind can be bone-chilling!
Thermal skull cap type headgear is also great in really cold weather, and you can even get a special type of balaclava. Just don't be surprised if no one sits with you at the cafe!
Another great tip is to combine a normal cycling cap with an ear covering headband (the sort that runners/80's skiers wear). Loads of extra warmth that you can adjust if the temperature goes up; just remove either the cap or the headband.
Plus looking like an 80s skier is so hot right now!
Finally, the biggest tip I can give you when shopping for winter kit is to ask around. Speak to friends, read reviews and make use of your cycling community.
If you've got any questions about what kit you need then get in touch for a chat, or drop us a message on the socials (@dirtywknd).
Thanks to Attacus, Tom Austin and Unsplash for the images.
]]>
Amol was swiftly made a club ambassador and he's been inspiring and helping new members ever since. Read how he got into cycling and what he's learnt in two short years...
Two years ago today I was diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. That’s why I started cycling – and it saved me, physically and mentally. It also gave me a community and freedom that I truly cherish and want to bring to others.
I was four months into a graduate job as a trainee solicitor and life was good. I spent most weekends like your average yuppie: drunk on Clapham Common with no real regard for my health. Exercise? I don’t know her.
On 9 July, the evening after an annual health check-up, I got a call from a private number. “Amol, I told you I’d call you if there was anything unusual on your blood tests. I’m sorry to tell you there may be something wrong with your liver.”
I had early stage Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. It was manageable, but if I didn’t make significant, healthy changes to my lifestyle I would die early.
I was determined to beat it, including by starting to exercise. But how could I carve out an hour each day when work already left me with no time?
I decided to try commuting to work on a Boris bike. Google Maps told me the 6 km each way would take half an hour – the same as my Central line commute and about as sweaty (lucky my office has showers).
So on the 11th of July, off I set. I hadn’t exercised in forever, so it was tiring, but I liked it and kept doing it. In September I bought a Pinnacle Lithium 0, Evans Cycles’ most basic hybrid bike, on the Cycle to Work scheme.
I thought I’d stop over winter when it got too much but I never did. I was feeling better than ever, physically and mentally.
The more I enjoyed it the more I wanted to try cycling on weekends for fun. But I felt nervous seeing images of really fit men on expensive bikes in lycra.
I just had a hybrid bike with a pannier rack, Adidas shoes, thermal tights, a hi vis vest and a backpack. But just before Christmas I found a friendly-looking club and went on my first social ride: 20 km around Maida Vale and Regents Canal.
I messaged my parents afterwards, exhilarated and in disbelief that I had cycled such a big distance.
The next few months were a roller coaster. The hybrid bike and Adidas shoes stayed, but I got into lycra (which I found more comfortable and practical) and ditched the backpack.
On a whim I signed up to Ride London 100 – and then panicked! The Prudential Ride London, for the uninitiated, is a 100 mile ride through London and the Surrey Hills, including some of the biggest hills in the area.
I couldn’t cycle a 100 miles! Could I?
Luckily I found Dirty Wknd, and joined their series of Ride London training rides. That’s how I ended up whizzing through the Surrey Hills every sunny weekend, increasing my distance and speed week on week.
I felt so free, exploring the world around me, with a community of diverse, young and welcoming cyclists. I was the fittest I’d ever been. And I made some amazing friends – I’m even moving in with one of them next month!
Only 7.5 months after my first social ride, I finished Ride London on my trusty hybrid in just under 6 hours (see pictures below).
When I stopped pedalling, I started crying. I couldn’t believe how far I’d come: literally and metaphorically. I got there because I had the support and encouragement of more experienced cyclists, the resources to pick up cycling, and a bit of application of Rule 5: Harden The Fuck Up (or, more politely, you have the ability to do so much more than you believe).
That’s why I feel sad that some groups find cycling harder to access: especially women, BAME people, and people on low incomes.
I am brown and live in East London, one of London’s most diverse areas, yet I have only met two other brown people through cycling.
Still, I am proud to be part of Dirty Wknd: I don’t hesitate to say we are London’s most diverse and encouraging club and we work hard on doing better every day.
But as individuals, we’ve still got work to do. I invest a lot of time in cycling with beginners (particularly from underrepresented groups) to build their confidence, signposting to resources, and listening to and amplifying quieter voices.
I’m trying to play my part in bringing the sport I love to them, whether they want to pootle around on a Dutch bike in everyday clothes or grind out an audax in lycra. I hope you are too.
If you're thinking about getting into cycling, want to start commuting or join a group ride but have questions, then get in touch with me on Instagram (@amol_chalis) for a chat. Follow me and send a DM, I'll help in any way I can.
Thanks for your insight Amol, you really are a credit to the community! You'll often find Amol riding in Regent's Park on our morning laps (when he can get away from his desk), so come and join him on one of our intro rides.
]]>
The group mostly stayed together; picking up new people and dropping others as we climbed, descended and stopped for food.
After the Col de Lagarde, we descended to the bottom of the Ventoux, for our first ascent of the weekend.
Mont Ventoux Ascent #1 - via Sault (24km @ 4.9%)
One of the factors to contend with at Mont Ventoux is always the weather. You hear about weekend trips that have involved merely sitting around in Bedoin because it has been so awful.
So the shortening of the final day's time trial to 15km was disappointing, but with two great weather days in the bag, we could hardly be too aggrieved.
Safety had to come first, and the 100kph winds were deemed too dangerous to ride all the way to the top.
As with the 2016 Tour de France, the stage would be stopping at Chalet Reynard. Whilst it probably would have been faster, I was left hoping I wouldn't need to run at any point.
Mont Ventoux Ascent #3 - Via Bedion
Thanks to the hard working Haute Route staff a TT start ramp had miraculously appeared overnight. They didn't even have one of these at the recent British TT champs.
Riders were set off based on their overall time in 20 second intervals to try and avoid drafting (it sort of worked). It felt quite busy on the road which, after two days of solitary climbing, was very welcome.
We rolled out of Bedoin and over the timing mat to start our effort, immediately greeted by a very strong wind. If it was this bad at the bottom, imagine the scenes at the top.
The Bedoin side is said to be the hardest, and it's pretty easy to see why. Descending this side after stages one and two doesn't really prepare you for the almost 10% average in the early slopes.
After leaving Bedoin there's a few (very open) KMs before you reach the forest and the wind effect subsides. But here you reach the 10% gradient, so you really are stuck between a rock and a windy place.
I was trying to measure my effort and not get carried away. I could definitely feel 2 days climbing in my legs and wasn't keen for a repeat of day one.
However at this point, there is only so much you can actually do. Hidden reserves of strength will either present themselves, or they won't. All you can do is pedal.
I was overtaken by other riders coming up behind (ahead in the GC and clearly having a really, really good day) and I managed to catch a few people in front too. Using the riders ahead as a target was my only strategy, as I again inched forward.
Everyone finds their place in a stage race like this one, and you generally finish where you're meant to.
So generally you see the same people during your race, and can build a bit of a rapport. I tried to encourage everyone near me - those going by and those I was passing.
At one point I had a whole conversation about gearing with another Brit as I passed him (that's how slowly we were going!)
The atmosphere on the road was great though, with plenty of 'chapeaus' and 'bonne chances' expelled whilst gasping for air. Despite our collective suffering, bonhomie was high.
The gradient of this most famous side of the Ventoux stayed pretty constant until the last few KMs before the Chalet, where I was able to pick it up a bit. I even managed to get into a sprint race to the line.
Haute Route did their best to create a party atmosphere at the finish, including a rendition of Sweet Caroline from effervescent event compère Fergus, but the weather was pretty bad.
After a bit more quiche and some rosé it was back down the way we came to the event village.
I'm not sure anyone went for a post stage three massage. Actually, they probably did, but I didn't even think about it. The ride was done and all I wanted was one of those sweet 1.2% beers!
The prize giving ceremony and BBQ in the village coincided with Paris Roubaix on the big screen. As post event entertainment goes this was pretty good.
I was expecting a serious race where no one spoke to or helped each other, and instead I experienced a friendly atmosphere and some absolutely brilliant organisation.
The routes are serious, because they are designed to push the riders to their limits. But the 'professional' element of a Haute Route was most evident to me in the organisation, as much as the cycling experience.
From Fergus the speaker to the admin and ambassadors teams, the Haute Route staff laid on a seamless event, which just felt a level above other cycling events I've done in the past.
So thank you Haute Route team. I am already planning my next Haute Route experience for 2022.
Question is whether to go for five days in the Dolomites, or seven days in the Alps??
If you are interested in learning more about the Haute Route 2022 events then get in touch for a chat. Dirty Wknd is an official Haute Route partner, and we'll be bringing you more events and content throughout 2022.
As I head towards the Giant of Provence and the Haute Route Ventoux amateur cycling race, I wanted to write down my top tips for training for a Haute Route event, especially if you don't have much time.
Just in case anyone is thinking about making Haute Route their 2022 or 2023 cycling challenge.
I’m not trying to suggest I’ve gone from 0-60 in 4 weeks, I ride my bike a lot. But I usually ride 'for fun' without a real goal in mind; a mixture of crit racing (very short, very hard 30-60 minute efforts) or cafe rides with mates, as well as some gravel/MTB too.
As I head towards the Giant of Provence and the Haute Route Ventoux amateur cycling race, I wanted to write down my top tips for training for a Haute Route event, especially if you don't have much time.
Just in case anyone is thinking about making Haute Route their 2022 or 2023 cycling challenge.
I’m not trying to suggest I’ve gone from 0-60 in 4 weeks, I ride my bike a lot. But I usually ride 'for fun' without a real goal in mind; a mixture of crit racing (very short, very hard 30-60 minute efforts) or cafe rides with mates, as well as some gravel/MTB too.
There are many reasons to start cycling. You might need to get your heart pumping and lose weight. Maybe you want to improve your overall fitness goals. It could be as simple as wanting to build some muscle. But keep in mind that there are mental health benefits to cycling too. Various studies have proven that exercising contributes to a more positive mental attitude.
Let’s take a closer look at how your interest in cycling can improve your overall mental health.
]]>There are many reasons to start cycling. You might need to get your heart pumping and lose weight. Maybe you want to improve your overall fitness goals. It could be as simple as wanting to build some muscle.
But keep in mind that there are mental health benefits to cycling too. Various studies have proven that exercising contributes to a more positive mental attitude.
Let’s take a closer look at how your interest in cycling can improve your overall mental health.
More in Touch with Nature
Being out in nature can offer a calming effect. There’s something inherently peaceful about going cycling and getting some distance from your smartphone and for a while.
Integrating yourself with nature might help your emotional state and might decrease levels of:
If you ever feel frustrated or as though you need a break from a particularly stressful situation, try going out on a nature cycling trek. You should notice that you’ll return feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world again.
Regular Sleeping Pattern
Have you ever noticed that you get sleepy after taking a hot shower or spending an entire day at the beach? The body’s initial response to elevations in core body temperature is that it’s time to stay alert.
It’s similar to what a hot shower does early in the morning; you’ll typically finish showering feeling more awake. However, your body’s temperature decreases over the next 60 to 90 minutes, and you may start to feel sleepy again.
You’re usually able to overcome that morning sleepiness as you’re forced to remain active. That can be because you have work during the week, or catch up with friends.
A physical response to cycling is an increase in body temperature. For that reason, you’ll notice the same biological response when you get off your bike.
By the way, everyone’s body reacts differently to aerobic exercise like cycling. Consider whether you get a better night’s sleep based on if you go cycling in the morning or closer to bedtime by cycling at different times.
Reduced Levels of Stress
One way to look at cycling is that it’s an active form of meditation. Sure, you might think a lot while cycling, but that’s a positive effect of the exercise where your mind races through your current life situations.
Sometimes, you may even notice and be shocked by how far you’ve cycled, despite feeling as though only a few moments have passed.
That’s what meditation is all about. People meditate to reach a state of “no-thinking”, where the mind no longer thinks conscious thoughts. Meditation is a well-known stress reliever, and you can benefit from its effects while cycling.
Epidemiologic studies show us that cycling also lowers your cardiovascular response to stress. A direct link exists between aerobic exercise and the body’s ability to lower blood pressure for stress management purposes.
Using cycling as your chosen exercise should benefit you with reduced levels of mental and physical stress.
More in Touch with People
Human beings need contact with other human beings—we all know that on a deep instinctual level. That’s why we form groups and communities, and it’s why social media is so popular.
We need to talk to and receive input from their friends, family, co-workers, and associates.
Can you think of a better way to combine your exercise needs and your need for human contact than cycling? It’s the best of both worlds. You’re able to go out into nature, exercise, and get around other people.
If you haven’t done so yet, join a cycling club. You’d be surprised by how amazing it feels to share your interest in cycling with others, much less how much fun!
More in Touch with the Present Moment
This goes back to our example about the power of meditation. People practice meditation to become more in touch with the present moment.
It’s incredible how cycling helps with this process. You can hop on your bike, get out on the road, and get lost in your thoughts.
Unlike meditation, where you try to achieve a completely clear mind, you can benefit from losing yourself in your thoughts while cycling.
The present moment offers a unique benefit of helping you become attuned to what’s important. For example, imagine dealing with an especially tough personal relationship or work situation. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to think through the situation calmly while cycling compared to doing it while anxious and stationary.
It’s not uncommon to “see” the answers to problems while cycling. The reason is that your exercise activity, the motion of cycling, and the daydreaming aspect of the routine puts you more in touch with the present moment. Our brains often become more stimulated and “in the zone” when we live in the present.
Increased Self-Esteem
Have you ever recognised how much more alert and focused you feel after exercising? This comes as a result of aerobic exercise feeding additional oxygen and nutrients to your brain.
Afterward, you function with an improved sense of cognitive ability. The result is that you will more efficiently complete daily tasks and thus achieve a feeling of enhanced self-esteem.
More Happy Chemicals in the Brain
Cycling might reduce stress hormones in your body, such as cortisol and adrenaline. At the same time, the activity may stimulate the extra production of “happy” chemicals in your brain.
These happy chemicals, or endorphins, work as natural mood elevators and painkillers. They’re what cause what’s known as a “runner’s high”—although in this case, it’s more of a “cyclist’s high”.
The result is that you’ll feel more optimistic and relaxed during these times.
Were you surprised by how tremendous the benefits of cycling are? Now it’s your turn. Keep these benefits in mind, grab your gear, hop on your bike, and hit the road! Your body and mind will love you for it.
Thanks Ella. If you have any questions about the topic please feel free to get in touch. You can also join our community and meet other cyclists in your area. Start your 30 day free trial now and hit the road!
]]>