Dirty Wknd Blog - The social cycling community

A Beginner's Journey - How Health Problems Got Me Into Cycling

November 03, 2021

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).

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Haute Route Ventoux 2021 Ride Report

October 22, 2021

Haute Route cycling events exist to offer the amateur club cyclist a high level, professional cycling experience. Multi day stage races, from 3 to 7 days, with all the trimmings you would expect from watching (too much) Tour de France on TV.

From aggregate General Classification timings and motorcycle outriders to post stage massage, it's not your average Sunday sportive.

Two weeks ago I took part in the Haute Route Ventoux 3 day weekend. Reflecting on the event now that my legs have recovered, I have to admit that it was one of the best cycling experiences of my life.

I wasn’t expecting that, for a few reasons. I think I was expecting the event to be a bit on the serious side, with lots of serious riders all taking themselves very seriously.

And it was a serious event. 285km and 8000 metres of climbing in a weekend is serious.

We'd all trained hard for the ride and wanted to do our best. Unlike some other events I've ridden in the past, I didn't see anyone downing rosé the night before stage one!

However the fact that riders were focused didn't stop everyone socialising, helping each other out and mixing well. The balance was good, which I was very thankful for.

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How to Train for Haute Route (in 4 weeks!)

September 30, 2021

I am sitting on an SNCF train from Brussels to Bédoin. My bike has been precariously placed on the top shelf of a large luggage rack in a thin fluro bag (train rules, it’s luggage apparently).

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.

Training for a mountainous event like Haute Route Ventoux is a different kettle of bike ride, so it did require some different training.

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How Does Cycling Affect Your Mental Health?

September 03, 2021

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.

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You CAN be good at Climbing — Top Tips for New Cyclists

August 05, 2021

Climbing: you either love it or you hate it! Sadly, for most cyclists, the latter seems to be the norm. The thought of going out for a hilly ride brings many out in a bout of ‘oh gosh, doesn’t the weather look like it’s about to turn?’ That’s why learning to climb when you start out is the best thing you can do.

Climbing is difficult. It’s arguably the hardest thing you can do on a bike; whether it’s a short, sharp lung-burner, or a longer ascent that seems like it’s never going to end. It’s no wonder then that many new cyclists avoid the hilly rides in favour of a flatter, easier route. Here’s the rub: climbing, like most difficult things, makes you better! Nothing will improve your cycling ability, confidence and enjoyment more than learning to climb. The good news is that climbing is as much about technique as it is fitness, and that technique can be learnt.

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5 Reasons To Train Indoors This Autumn

August 05, 2021

Indoor cycling used to mean one of two things. A gruelling solo effort on the turbo trainer in your living room, trying to concentrate on Eastenders to stop the pain, or a techno pumping, dance-on-your-bike spin class. Now we've got nothing against either of those things (if that's what you're into), but if you like suffering with other people, or want some stats with your techno, where do you go?

Well luckily for you, Digme Fitness exists to offer you a much better alternative. An indoor cycling studio (well, multiple studios in The City, Richmond and Oxford) that caters for both stat heads, pedal pushing techno dancers and everyone in between. Digme also love to promote for the community aspect of indoor cycling - large classes (around 50 bikes) feel small with the use of flat screens showing stats and animated cycling avatars, and hugely enthusiastic trainers get everyone involved.

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