Category: Features

Best Cycling Books 2013

No arguing that�s it�s been another great year for cycling and an equally good one for books on the subject. With Cyclo�s Best Cycling Books 2013 guide �you can flesh out your Christmas list or get some inspiration for 2014. We�ve picked out our top 5 for your reading pleasure (and thrown in a couple of close contenders too), but if you think there�s something we�ve missed let us know at editor@cyclo.co.uk

Domestique, The True Life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro

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A pro rider for more than a decade with some 14 Grand Tours to his credit, Charly Wegelius sets bare the true struggle of life on the circuit and demystifies much of cycling�s inner machinations but his book is also one of humbling simplicity in many ways and his modesty shines. In his opening chapter, �Prologue� (Cav went for this �gag� in At Speed too), Wegelius says: �What is it to be a great cycling champion, I will never know. What I can tell you is what it is to race bicycles for a living�. And if you want to know what it�s like to be the man who works day in, day out for the glory of others this lays it on the line.

Wegelius and co-author Tom Southam, once a pro himself, now known for his journalism in the sport, balance humour with brutal reality (�forget the glamour, welcome to the shitty, true life ups and downs of a tour cyclist�) and the decision to avoid salacious gossip and expos� in favour of straight talk is to be applauded heartily. Easily our favourite cycling book of the year.

The True Life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro, Ebury Press (ISBN-10: 0091950937) is currently out in hardback at �16.99 (Kindle �9.49) with the paperback edition due February 2014. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

Mountain Higher

Subtitled Europe�s Extreme, Undiscovered and Unforgettable Cycle Climbs, Mountain Higher is the sequel (of sorts) to Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding�s beautiful Mountain High: Europe�s 50 Greatest Cycle Climbs. Concentrating here on the continent�s lesser-known, but still challenging and spectacular mountain roads and passes this is a sumptuous large-format book (no cycling jersey pocket potential unfortunately) that gives both lucid and narrative accounts of each detailed climb along with all the stats and stunning photographs to boot.

The spread through Europe is good � even Belgium gets something of a surprise entry with the 111m climb over 2.2km of the Oude Kwaremont � and those of a techie nature will enjoy the free QuercusEye app which allows you to hover over a selection of the photos and have them augmented with video and other detail. Mountain Higher is certainly amongst our favourite coffee-table books of the year regardless if you are planning to use it for adventure prep or fantasy musings.

Mountain Higher: Europe�s Extreme, Undiscovered and Unforgettable Cycle Climbs (ISBN-10: 1780879121) by Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding is published by Quercus, RRP �25.00 � Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

Tour de France 100th Race Anniversary Edition

Those sunny days of summer may be far behind but relive them (and a hundred more) in this beautifully produced commemorative book. Of course there are no end of volumes on various aspects of the Tour de France and numerous biographies of those you have ridden it to fill in the more personal (often painful) minutiae. But now, thanks to publishers Quercus, comes one as rich and beguiling as the race itself.

Covering the birth of the TdF before dedicating a page per race through the subsequent one hundred editions, it includes overviews that capture the agony and ecstasy along with brief stats, such as final standings, total distances, average winner speed and map, all of which helps contextualise things. More importantly it is also a stunningly illustrated visual history with more than 250 photographs and illustrations, many previously unpublished. As a written history, with substantial sidebars, this book is near perfect; as a collectable coffee table picture book it is unsurpassed.

Tour de France 100th Race Anniversary Edition is published by Quercus (ISBN-10: 1782064141) and worth every penny of the �30 cover price. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

At Speed

At Speed is, in essence, volume two of Mark Cavendish�s autobiography. Boy Racer was published back in 2010, but more than enough has happened to the �Manx Missile� in the intervening years to justify another slice � multiple jerseys from all three Grand Tours, the Olympics, the World Road Race title� You get the idea.

Opening with a thrillingly recounted chapter on the World Championship road race in Copenhagen At Speed takes an occasionally non-linear journey through the other ups and (occasional) downs of Cav�s recent career across three teams in as many years. As befits a cyclist who places equal emphasis on mental as physical prowess � he�s an avid Sudoku solver � he never presents excuses for his failures, just highly analytical and insightful reasons. Although co-written by ghost Daniel Friebe, who, as co-author of Mountain Higher gets two of our top five slots for 2013, At Speed manages to retain a real �first hand� feel through which Cav�s voice and ambitions are clearly heard.

At Speed (ISBN-10: 0091933404) by Mark Cavendish and Daniel Friebe is published by Ebury Press. RRP �20 hardback and �9.49 on Kindle. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

Racing Hard

Few cycling journalists have enjoyed a career as long and esteemed as that of William Fotheringham; since joining the Guardian in 1989 he has established himself as a writer respected not only by the lay-reader but by the Grand Tour participants � he is undoubtedly as �riders� journalist�.� Racing Hard, published by Faber and Faber, brings together what might be considered the definitive collection of tales from the front line of pro-racing, which, taken together, becomes something of a meditation on the changing face of the sport over the last two decades.

The forward by David Millar not only sets out the regard with which Fotheringham is held, but encapsulates the span of his work; Millar writes: �William has put my career into words, from an ambitious teenager to a fallen world champion to a fervent anti-doping campaigner, team owner and father.� Those that know and love Fotheringham�s work as a journalist or author (read the review of his book Merckx: Half Man, Half Bike here) will naturally gravitate towards Racing Hard; but hopefully it will also bring his words to those unfamiliar with his prolific output and earn him yet more dedicated followers. He�s worked long and hard for them�

Racing Hard (ISBN-10: 0571303625) is published by Faber and Faber, RRP �12.99 paperback and Kindle �4.79. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

Also Rode:

They may not have made our Top Five, but treating yourself to one of our �Also Rode� picks is more than recommended�

It’s All About the Bike: My Autobiography – Sean Yates

One of our greatest pro cyclists and also the mind behind the rise and rise of Team Sky; an extraordinary career and a book well deserving of your time. RRP �18.99 Kindle �9.49. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

The Race Against Time – Edward Pickering

Analysis of the rivalry between living-legends Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman at a time which could be argued was the birth of modern British cycling dominance. RRP �16.99, Kindle �9.49. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

On the Road Bike: The Search For a Nation’s Cycling Soul � Ned Boulting

Boulting, the author of How I Won The Yellow Jumper, takes an odd-ways glance at out nation�s often eccentric approach to cycling. �RRP �14.99, Kindle �8.54. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk

Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong � David Walsh

Certainly not the final word on the scandal that is Armstrong, but Walsh remains so inextricably linked to the sordid tale that his book brings a truly unique perspective.� RRP �8.99, Kindle �4.49. Available from, amongst others, Amazon.co.uk�

Mel Simmonds and the Halow250

Post author By Editor
Post date 18/11/2013

In the first of a series of features on cyclists taking on challenges against the odds, Cyclo looks at the Halow250 and how one woman defied medical expectations to help raise essential funds for her charity.

On May 6, after 250miles of riding and 11000ft of climbing, Mel Simmonds was one of a team of 75 people who cycled into Guildford Rugby Club as part of the Halow250 charity ride. Now in its second year and organised by 2Boats Events the test of legs, lungs and spirits had raised an impressive �60k but for Mel the ride and challenge was even more personal.

In July 2010 Mel was on holiday with her boyfriend Jay on the Ionian island of Kefalonia when the steering on the quad bike they had hired locked. Both Mel and Jay were thrown from the bike and both suffered horrific injuries with Mel left with legs badly broken in several places. Back in the UK she spent six months in a wheelchair and underwent several operations – it was thought she would struggle to walk, let alone tackle anything more physically exerting. But determined not to let the accident control or define her she started work at Surrey charity the halow project, which supports young people with learning disabilities. Having been involved with several fundraising events at the charity she took the ultimate leap and entered the Halow250 ride�

But the first obstacle was bike selection; Mel�s network of friends came to her aid and with their help and some back up advice from George and Mark from the 2Boats team, she settled on the Cube Peloton Pro Triple 2013 road bike. Having got the bike, Mel set up her training plan that took place across what turned out to be a harsh winter, but this didn�t stop her. The ride organisers were again on hand to help with advice putting together a programme with Mel carefully building up her road mileage and helping her to gain in confidence on the busy roads of Surrey.

The event day saw halow patron Damon Hill launch the ride with the first stage of 75miles through Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex finishing at Portsmouth Dockyard with a welcome drinks reception on HMS Warrior. After an overnight ferry crossing to the Continent the weather was again perfect for day two; with good support and regular feed stations and lots of encouragement, Mel cycled the 110miles into Caen in good time for a meal and a celebratory drink having comfortably broken the land mark of 100miles in a day. It was then back on the overnight ferry for a good night�s sleep in preparation for the last leg of the ride back to Guildford. The final leg was 50miles up through the beautiful Sussex country, a more leisurely ride for all the cyclists to savour their achievements, with a mass ride into Guildford Rugby club and an emotional welcome home party.

Speaking about her experience Mel says: �The Halow250 event helped me enormously � I had no idea just how much it would mean. Physically, the on-going pain I suffer stopped when I began training and getting fitter ahead of the challenge. I felt great during the challenge and never felt fitter health wise. But more than that, my job and work with halow has helped me both physically and mentally to come to terms with what happened and overcome my injuries.�

�I absolutely love my job with halow and find the work very rewarding,� she continues, �My new found love of cycling would never have happened had it not been for my accident and working with halow. I can�t wait to ride again in the 2014 event in May and I am already trying to get friends and family to sign up and take part. It�s an inspiring ride through beautiful English and French country side with incredible people and is suitable for novice and more experienced riders� I suppose my accident taught me to never give up and live life to the full.�

On May 2-4, 2014, 2Boats will once again be organising the Halow250 to raise essential funding for the halow project � for details on how to get involved visit halow250.org.uk

Do you have an inspirational cycling story for Cyclo? Get in touch � email editor@cyclo.co.uk

Tags 2boats, charity rides

Featured Features

Riding the Pyrenees

Post author By Editor
Post date 08/11/2013

As a relative newcomer to cycling Tim Friend decided not to do things by halves and took on 400 miles from Perpignan to Lourdes for his first serious ride; through the foothills of the Pyrenees and taking in Andora, he tackled several summits of Tour de France fame, including Tormelet, Aspin, and Aubisque and did it all on a decidedly old-fashioned bike. Cyclo spoke to him on his return to talk through the highs and lows of a ride in the mountains�

Cyclo: By your own admission you were not much of a cyclist before this challenge. What made you take it up?

Tim Friend: That’s right, I’ve been playing amateur rugby and enjoy a bit of running. Once a week, I’d cycling to work (20 miles round trip). I often romanticised about a cycling adventure and on holiday in Majorca, surrounded by children and sand castles, I looked enviously at the cyclists returning each day from the mountains. Their bikes and kit looked so cool and the challenge of mountains felt enticing. From the outside, it appeared so exclusive. I wanted to break in.

Cyclo: And you were raising funds for charity too?

Tim Friend: Yes, we’d just had a guest staying with us from an African slum, which literally brought home the reality of poverty. I used the opportunity to raise funds for a Malaria appeal by Christian Aid to help provide community workers in Sierra Leone to educate people in protecting their children from the disease.

Cyclo: You were with a team of other cyclists � was it competitive?

Tim Friend: There was an element of competition. We were a group of 14 cyclists and two drivers. From the start, we were sizing each other up, working out who we might stick with for the first couple of rides, who we’d let steam off on their own etc. We agreed that we’d race up the Tormelet on the penultimate day. Most of the guys had done it the previous year so knew what to expect. I was nervous, even abstaining from a glass of wine the night before! I did it in 1 hour 40 minutes, coming 8th, pleased but feeling I had much more in the tank. The final four kilometre markers had been destroyed by melting snow (which also took out some of the road) and the summit is not visible until the final corner. I’d love to do it again setting a faster pace, aiming to take off at least 10 minutes�

Cyclo: How did you train for such mountainous terrain?�

Tim Friend: My main concern was to dramatically increase my weekly mileage. Over eight weeks, I averaged 125 miles-per-week, not knowing if that was sufficient but aware it was all I could fit in around work and family. Sometimes, I’d head out for a two-hour circuit of the local climbs, though there’s nothing more than 1.5 miles long nearby, but some are pretty steep. I joined a welcoming club and cycled occasionally with a very able cyclist who taught me a couple of techniques � primarily to do with riding on the horns (to open the chest for breathing) and peddling more efficiently uphill.

Cyclo: Any cross-training or all on the bike?

Tim Friend: All on the bike for the eight weeks leading up to the trip, including plenty of stretching and 10 days rest before I hit the Pyrenees. I was relatively fit from running and rugby before I began focusing on the bike.

Cyclo: Your choice of bike was fairly unconventional � what was it and why did you choose it for this ride?

Tim Friend: I’d been given an ‘old-school’ Dawes Galaxy steel-framed touring bike a number of years ago by a retired cyclist. With some modern components and a re-spray, this solid machine from the 1970’s became my closest ally for two months. I’d intended to buy something more flash (not to mention lighter) but as the trip neared, I realised I couldn’t leave the old boy behind. His reliability in training had earned him a place in the team. I wanted to see if I could complete this challenge on a shoe-string, especially as I was raising money for charity. Added to that, I didn’t know if this trip would make or break my interest in the sport!

Cyclo: Any specialist kit or gear with/on the bike?

Tim Friend: I’m glad I swapped the tyres I’d been training on for some slicks. That helped me to keep up with the faster carbon bikes.

Cyclo: What was the most essential thing you took?

Tim Friend: When I started training, I wore baggy shorts and a rugby shirt. By the time I’d landed in France, I had a quality, lightweight gilet plus some basic arm-warmers (both items fantastic for the chilly descents and packed into a pocket)�and some mid-range bib-shorts, which were comfortable and didn’t fill up like sails.

Cyclo: Anything you wish you�d ditched or not taken?

Tim Friend: Not really � I’d done my research and packed fairly minimally. However, on the first couple of rides, I took too much clothing and too much food. As my confidence grew (and as the weather seemed to be consistently dry and warm), I was able pack lighter for each day.

Cyclo: How about fuel? What were you eating to power your ride?

Tim Friend: Each night, I’d fuel up on whatever was going in the local restaurant, ordering pasta and emptying several complimentary bread baskets. Porridge for breakfasts. The best tip I picked out of a book on nutrition for endurance cycling was to break up an energy bar into small pieces, stuff them into a pocket and set an alarm for 15 minute alerts indicating when to have a piece. This worked perfectly for me. I didn’t waste energy digesting large quantities at once and didn’t get low on sugar.

Cyclo: Which was the toughest day?

Tim Friend: The first day – it was terrible! We set off through the foothills for the Pyrenees having no idea what the 50 miles ahead of us entailed (our French maps didn’t have gradients). The first hill turned out to be the longest climb of the entire week – 30 miles! After each turn, I thought �This has got to be the last corner�, but it just kept going. I didn’t sleep well that night worried that the mountains would be far worse. It wasn’t the case � each mountain climb was relatively short and sweet with rewarding views.

Cyclo: And your favourite moment?

Tim Friend: An omelette on top of l’Aubisque outside a cafe above the clouds of the Pyrenees. We had just cycled around ‘the cauldron’ before the final section of the climb, which was stunning. The omelette tasted better than any I’d ever had.�And with Lourdes almost in sight, we were in buoyant mood.

Cyclo: What top tip would you give anyone taking on their first big cycling challenge?

Tim Friend: As a friend from Sherwood CC said to me, �Put all the hard work into the training so you can enjoy�the adventure when you’re out there.� (And don’t be sucked into thinking you have to buy all the expensive kit � it’s the pedalling that counts!)

Cyclo: Are you planning anything else to follow this up?

Tim Friend: Yes, hoping to return to the mountains next summer to cycle from Nice to Lyon, to include Alp d’Huez, with the same motley crew… Same bike though? I’m weighing that up. I’d like to build a bike from scratch to learn more about it and like the sound of a titanium frame. But that’s another chapter.

Tags Tour de France

Featured Features

The Tour of British Columbia

Post author By Editor
Post date 01/11/2013

The UK certainly offers bountiful cycling challenges � some beautiful coast-to-coast routes or perhaps Land’s End to John o’ Groats? But with the best will in the world and even with much looping around and backtracking nothing comes close to the 5,100km on offer at The Tour of British Columbia.

Advertised as �The Longest Ultra-Endurance Bicycle Race on the Planet�, this single-stage, �in your face�, challenge has some terrifying/inspiring (delete as applicable) stats attached: the route climbs over 64,000m (approximately seven times up Mount Everest) with 105 cat 5 climbs, 35 cat 4 climbs, 29 cat 3 climbs, 16 cat 2 climbs and 11 cat 1 climbs all of which must be completed within 384 hours. Of course you could complete it at a �leisurely� 13.4km per hour average, but only if you cycle 24hours a day; so factor in some much needed rest breaks and even the average speed starts to look daunting.

For riders unsure of tackling the full-on distance, organisers have arranged the frankly still impressive-looking BC Explorer (at 2,800km) and the �BC Contender� at a mere 1,600km. But who would enter an event like this? 2014 being the inaugural staging it�s perhaps not possibly to say quite yet, but event organiser Perry Stone says, �My experience with ultra-cycling is that you meet a lot of amazing people from all walks of life and I expect more of that here… ultra-cycling is the Zen of bicycle racing, it attracts people who want to push boundaries and discovery how far they can go.�

A Zen-like dedication to the bike would certainly be in order; starting and finishing near the shores of the North Pacific Ocean in White Rock, BC, The Tour of British Columbia (also known as the Tour de BC) will be staged mostly on the roads of the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta with cyclists riding through some of the most breath-taking scenery in North America. But you would think even the logistics of trying to stage an event like this (let alone ride it) are daunting. Not so, says a relaxed Perry: �Logistically things are not too bad because the race(s) start and finish in the same location. We tried to develop the event to lessen the logistics for the riders and their crews, which in turn lowers the expense of competing. As long as we garner the required volunteers to assist in the vast area we cover we should be good. Even though there are three routes to choose from, they all follow the same route with the shorter routes turning off and then rejoining the main route.�

Having previously worked on the Race Across America � the annual transcontinental bicycle race from the west to east coast of the USA � it was perhaps inevitable that Perry�s thoughts would turn to staging something (arguably) even greater. �As, essentially, a lifelong resident of British Columbia I was very familiar with the terrain and climate and thought we could put together a pretty amazing challenge,� says Perry, �I began plotting routes out on various mapping programs. I found some amazing options and I began to develop the race. I love ultra-cycling as it�s made a big difference in my own life and I want to develop the sport and increase participation at all levels everywhere we can.�

The inaugural Tour of British Columbia, plus the BC Contender and BC Explorer, begins on August 3, 2014. For further details see tourofbritishcolumbia.com

You can follow the Tour de BC on Twitter and facebook

Featured Features

Nigel Mitchell Nutrition Talk

Post author By Editor
Post date 15/10/2013
1 Comment on Nigel Mitchell Nutrition Talk

Nigel Mitchell, Head of Nutrition at Team Sky (and GB Cycling Team Nutritionist to boot), knows a thing or two about what it takes to provide power to the pedals. Last year he was part of the team that helped power Sky to a Tour de France one-two podium finish and go on to help Wiggins and co tear up both track and road at the London Olympics � this year, of course, it was Froome�s turn for a TdF win. Taking time out of his busy Schedule, he talked to Cyclo to discuss �diet �and help answer the question: How can your average rider come close to the nutrition perfection practiced at Team Sky?

Calories � It�s a very individual thing obviously, but a Team Sky rider is probably using about 6000kcal on a long leg of the Tour de France for example. But then if you�ve someone doing a six or seven hour sportive you�re not going to be a million miles away from that. The foods are going to be similar, just that the amount is going to be scaled up or down. You have to remember that if you eat on the bike you can easily be taking on 80g of carbs (360kcal) per hour whilst riding. It�s not as big as you might think�.

Getting the mix right � At Team Sky we work on about 60-90g of carbs per hour and that can be done with a mixture of race drinks, a nutrition bar, maybe a gel and rice cakes, paninis are good. Just simple ever-day foods. This will depend on the intensity of the racing, but dead Easy.

Fast and slow release carbs � You have to think about delivery systems � it�s a little bit like transport networks; if you�re running barges that travel at 5miles an hour but they are delivering every five minutes, then you have an effective delivery system. If you have a Ferrari but it only runs once a week then it�s not as effective as using the much slower barges.

Having some designated fast carbs, like gels, is particularly useful if you are going into something that�s going to be a big effort: bottom of a climb, something like that. A lot of the foods that we tend to give our riders is more of the medium glycaemic, but they are eating on a very regularly basis so they are meeting that delivery system. If they need, let�s call it �quick energy�, then a gel makes sense. Gels for your sportive rider are ideal if they are starting to flag or are getting fatigued, it�s a good fuelling system and they can get most of what they need there. Having a caffeinated gel in reserve can be really useful too.

Fluids � Taking on adequate fluid on the bike and off of the bike is important to manage your hydration.� In Team Sky our energy/hydration drinks are provided by Gatroade.� We recommend one bidon of the race drink per hour, as it gets hotter we just get more fluid from water.� Everyone has different sweat rates you can check your weight before and after training, take into account any fluid drunk and work out the weight difference and therefore your approximate sweat rate.� This is easily done during a 60-minute turbo session.

Pre- and post-ride foods � Breakfast might be omelette and rice or porridge � that�s popular with our guys. Some fruit juice is great. After the bike for your sportive riders � chicken, fish, meat, rice, potatoes, vegetables � exactly the same as our guys are eating. It�s all very simple, straightforward stuff�

Protein � The foods that I�ve mentioned already have a lot of protein in too. The rice cakes that we make have cream cheese in, the bars are a flapjack-type made by CNP, which have protein in, paninis tend to be ham and cheese. So our riders are eating protein on the bike.

You have different metabolic pathways and protein isn�t directly involved in carb metabolism but some of the amino acids and nitrogenous compounds that you get from protein are involved. It�s not a direct effect � the role of protein on he bike isn�t about performance, it�s a recovery thing. It helps them or you ride again the next day. To put it very simply the carbs are for fuelling you and the proteins aid recovery�

The simplicity of milk � I�m a big believer in dairy products in general and in milk particularly � I think it�s fantastic. What you can do very easily with milk is add a couple of bananas which will boost the carb content if you need that, but a pint of milk alone will deliver about 20g of carbs just by itself. It�s a great recovery product, just not always that convenient post-ride�

Vegetable juices � We use a lot of vegetable juices at Team Sky and, again, your sportive riders can do this just as easily. The reason we use fresh vegetable juice is that it�s an easy way to consume the goodness of the vegetable without the bulk. If you�re scaling up your diet and you have to get through loads of pasta or whatever then if you can reduce the bulk that�s needed to be eaten as far as the vegetables are concerned, by getting it in the form of a juice, then you can clearly see the benefits of that.

Additional supplements � Generally I don�t think they�re necessary � perhaps the only one where there might be a real benefit is the Omega-3s, the fish oils, because it�s difficult with a modern diet to get all of the Omega-3 fats from food alone. The quality of the supplement product is vital though � the one we use in the team is very high quality, it�s the CNP Pro-Omega.

Beetroot supplements � There�s probably not a huge benefit, but then again they probably won�t hurt anyone. The worst it will do is turn your pee pink. Under a controlled trial you can show some benefits, but for your sportive rider I�d say save you money and spend it on a set of lighter wheels and do a bit more training. Most benefit comes from training. Basically there are other things you can focus on to improve your performance. Get out on the bike a bit more is key�.

Weight-loss for cycling � What you want to be doing is protecting lean tissue and dropping fat, the best way of doing that is making sure you are getting good quality, regular protein intake and bringing down the calories just a bit. If you don�t get the balance right you end up losing a lot of functional tissue and muscle mass and that, of course, will affect your performance adversely. Some people get it completely wrong and end up looking fatter than before because they have lost proportionally more muscle than fat � they develop what I call the �skinny-fat look�, which isn�t at all good.

Personal favourite bike food � It�s bananas for me. If you do a four-hour ride it�s difficult to carry enough for the full four hours, but I love them��

Tags british cycling, Nigel Mitchell, nutrition, Team Sky

Featured Features

Cycle Safety � Let�s Get Visible

Post author By Editor
Post date 03/10/2013

Cyclo is supporting The Child Brain Injury Trust�s Child Safety and Awareness Campaign (read our feature here) and with this in mind, and with the nights drawing in, we take a look at some of the best reflectives, lights, LEDs and other cycle safety products on the market. It�s really quite simple � if you want to stay safe on the bike, you need to be seen�

Lezyne Femto Drive LED � Keeping it simple (and simply beautiful) Lezyne offer a functional approach to cycle safety, with these tiny, machined aluminum lights that measure just 30mm long, with a sub-25mm diameter and a mere 29g in weight. Attached with modest, but effective, rubberised straps to the bike, the Femto Drive LED isn�t astonishingly light at just 15 lumens front and 7 lumens rear, but they offer five modes � flash, slow flash, rapid flash, strobe and solid � and their go anywhere, fit in a pocket, dimensions means you never have an excuse to get caught without lighting � or extra lighting � again. RRP �12.99. Read the full Cyclo review here.

Knog Lights � Another long-time Cyclo favourite is the Knog range. This Melbourne-originated brand, has been producing cycling kit for a decade now and they continue to combine style with substance almost effortlessly. If the Femto�s harder, more industrial lines are not to your taste then the Knog�s softer approach to aesthetics could be for you. Take for example the Knog Frog Strobe, a flexible silicone bodied light with an impressive 80 hour burn time in flashing mode or 50 hours in constant; they connect to the bike with a quick release system, dish out a more than adequate 25 lumens and, for the fashion conscious, come in a range of five colours including a rakish pink. At around �7, they�re a bargain too. Read the full Cyclo review here.

Nite Ize � Nite Ize supply an impressive range of LED cycle solutions including some child-specific appeal options, such as the bendable BugLit LED Micro Flashlight and carabiner-clipped flashers. Cyclo particularly likes the Nite Ize Helmet Marker Plus; weighing a minimal 19g it�s a thin, durable polymer strip encased in weather-resistant nylon fabric, which can be attached to helmets via hook-and-loop strips or with the rubberised twist tie to pretty much any part of the bike � seat post, baskets, panniers, etc. Also worth a look is the SpokeLit which adds side-on visibility when added (easily and securely) to the spokes – press once for a continuous glow or twice for flashing mode and the supplied and replaceable battery gives up to 20hours of added illumination. Take a look at their products, reviewed on Cyclo, here.

Nathan � Another option for excellent LED solutions � and numerous reflectives � is Nathan (nathansports.com). A brilliantly simple idea is the featherlite ClipLight (�10), coming in at just 7g, including battery, it clips onto apparel � a rear lumber pocket is ideal � or can be attached to ClipPods which, with their sticky back, can in turn be attached to pretty much anything else. With either solid or flash-mode the ClipLight is one of the smallest and most efficient cycle safety LEDs we�ve seen. If you want to add some extra visibility the LighBender is an arm strap, which is weather-proof and, in either blinking of solid mode, promises 2,400foot of visibility and up to 100 hours from the replaceable battery. RRP �19.99

Fibre Flares � We loved Fibre Flares when we first reviewed them back in 2011 and not just because you can have lightsaber fights if you buy a pair. No, Fibre Flares provided much needed, and too often neglected, side-on visibility to the bike using high intensity LED�s to illuminate a flexible fibre optic core and attaching ,via silicone straps, to a variety of bike parts including over-size tubes of up to 60mm. Available in a variety of lengths and colours and promising visibility for up to 300metres and a burn time of 75+hours on a set of two AA batteries � Cyclo can firmly say this is another cycle safety product that looks good in more ways than one. Priced from �21 – Read the full Cyclo review here.

Aura Belts � An approach to not only side-on but true 360degree visibility comes in the form of the Aura Belt. Constructed from high-wearing �ballistic� nylon, the Aura features an integrated LED strip (powered by a replaceable CR2032 battery) beneath coloured, weather-proof, fabric which switches on via a button next to the clip fastener. Available in six colours � pink, yellow, orange, blue, red, green � the belt can deliver either a fixed �on� glow or two speeds of pulsing flash. It comes in a one-size-fits-all option (at �25) so regrettably not an option for kids as yet � but the makers tell us they�re working on it. Read the full Cyclo review here.

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Fuze Wheel Writer � More side-on visibility, arguably for kids (or the big kids in all of us), comes in the form of the Fuze Wheel Writer. It looks initially daunting when it comes to fitting the individual parts to the bike�s spokes, but is far easier than first feared. Once in place and switched on the Wheel Writer�s ultra-bright LEDs can be set to display a range of images and animations as the wheel spins � aliens, skulls, flames, an old-fashioned �space invader�� There�s even an option to display the bike�s speed if you�re really looking to impress. It�s not the most robust or weather-proof piece of kit, but might just provide the fun needed to encourage reluctant children to take cycling safety into consideration. RRP �19.99 and widely available online.

Altura Night Vision Gloves � Adding visibility to apparel greatly improves cycle safety and if you can keep your hands warm at the same time, all the better. The Altura Night Vision Gloves are a Nylon/Polyester mix and a 100% Polyester liner, which cope well with even the most biting winter wind and their ample and well-placed reflective detailing is to be commended. Pick the day-go yellow option rather than the ninja black and that will help visibility too. Available in five sizes � S to XXL � the padding is exceptional and the triple grip (thumb, outer edge and finger bases) delivers superb grip. Take a look at the full Altura Night Vision Gloves review from Cyclo here.

SealSkinz Ultra Grip Hi Vis Gloves � If you�re looking for complete weatherproofing to combine with cycle safety the SealSkinz Ultra Grip Hi Vis Gloves come in either yellow or orange and feature the famous SealSkinz waterproof membrane. Feeling a little bulkier than traditional cycling gloves and lacking zone-specific padding these are best suited for commute rather than dedicated MTB or road cycling, but they live up to their name when it comes to grip � palm and fingers are studded with silicone dots that deliver a Spider-man like grip. They wick will and use Merino wool so their thermal properties are impressive too. RRP �32.50 details and online purchase at sealskinz.com

Vendante Pop Bands � Cycling safety doesn�t have to be complicated and things don�t come much simpler than the Vendante Pop Band. Made of highly reflective 3M Scotchlite (the go-to product for most on-garment sports reflectives) Pop Bands are flexed across their width to straighten, then tapped against the arm/leg to wrap them firmly in place without the need for Velcro, or similar fastening. Available in blue, green, orange, pink, white and yellow, the latter two promise reflectivity from up to 450 meters (the others a still impressive 130m). Vendante Pop Bands come in sets of two at around the �12 mark, Cyclo have tried other similar �snap� bands, but for our money the Vendante are by far the most durable.

FlipFlap � One for the cycling commuters rather than the Lycra-lovers we feel. The FlipFlap is an unusual answer to cycle safety; a reflective designed to flip out of front or rear pockets – one side of these reflective paddles is rubberised to grip the pocket, whilst the flap which� well, flaps out, is hi-viz, tested to (and exceeding) the EN13356 safety standard. You can tuck the whole thing back into your pocket when not in use and it�s on hand (bum) when it�s needed. �16.95 (plus P&P) isn�t cheap for a reflective but the FlipFlap does offer a little more than your standard set of stickers or bike additions. Curious, but well worth your consideration�

Feature photo courtesy of Moritz Waldemeyer. For more information on the �Joy Rider�, an exercise in pure minimalism that mounts two LEDs on spokes to paint a smiling face, and his other extraordinary light projects visit waldemeyer.com

Tags cycling safety, Road Safety

Featured Features

Art of the Tour of Britain

Post author By Editor
Post date 24/09/2013

During both the Tour de France and USA Pro Challenge, which ran this year between August 19 and 25, Cyclo brought you the unique take on events by artist Greig Leach, a one-time amateur club bike racer, participating in the DC and Richmond, Virginia areas of the US. We�re delighted to welcome Greig back with his work from this year�s Tour of Britain. Enjoy�

Stage 1 � �Punching the Air� � A wet start to the Tour, but it was a rider from the sunny climes of Italy, Elia Viviani,�that took the opening sprint in the cold.

Stage 2 � �I Know They’re Back There� � Dan Martin and Nairo Quintana along with another Moviestar team mate, jumped away from the rest of the peloton on the final categorized climb of the day in hopes of repeating their exploits of the Tour de France.

Stage 3 � ‘Making the Catch’ � The Individual Time Trial: Bradley Wiggins took the opportunity to reclaim the glory and form of 2012 along with the stage and ultimately the Yellow Jersey of race leader of the Tour of Britain.

Stage 4 � ‘One at Home’ � Cav taking his first stage of the Tour wearing the British National Championship jersey.

Stage 5 � ‘Swinging Off’ � Jacob Rathe, has just swung off putting, Angel Madrazo on the front as they fly past the council flats of Caerphilly and the final climb of the day.

Stage 6 � ‘Leaving Them All Behind’ � Climbers as Dan Martin and Nairo Quintana ran out of gas when Team Sky sent Lopez after stage glory; but it was the local boy, Simon Yates that had the legs to go the distance on stage 6 in the county of Devon.

Stage 7 � ‘Cav Takes His Second’ � The title says it all as Cavendish take his second win of the Tour of Britain�

Stage 8 � ‘Showing the Jersey’ � Wiggins came into the Tour of Britain with the intention of winning the race and preparing himself for the World Championships. With all of the hometown fans lining the course he made sure to get out in front of the peloton and let everyone see the IG Golden Jersey of race leader

To learn more about the work of Greig Leach and for details of his substantial output from this year�s races see greigleach.com and also theartofcycling.blogspot.com � he is sponsored by Richeson Art, and for an overview of all the work we have featured on Cyclo (including this year�s Tour de France and USA Pro Challenge) click here.

Tags Bradley Wiggins, Greig Leach, Mark Cavendish, Tour of Britain 2013

Featured Features

Child Brain Injury Trust

The Child Brain Injury Trust is a national charity, registered in 1991, providing information, support and training to anyone living in the UK who is affected by a child�s brain injury. In the lead up to the end of British Summer Time, they will be running a Child Safety and Awareness Campaign to encourage school children to embrace the use of helmets, lights and reflectives � Cyclo will be supporting the campaign with a series of features and reviews � but first we spoke to Andrew Tee, the Community Fundraiser at CBIT behind the campaign, to find out what they had planned�

Cyclo: Firstly, can you tell us a little more about what the Child Brain Injury Trust does�

Andrew Tee: We currently work with over 5,000 people each year � not just injured children but their family (both immediate and extended), and any professionals who come into contact with the child from teachers to healthcare and social care workers. We ensure that we are accessible at every stage to provide practical support and solutions to the many complex issues surrounding a child with an acquired brain injury

Cyclo: And the campaign?

AT: The Child Brain Injury Trust is committed to providing practical and up to date advice on road safety and the prevention of head injury. So we are planning a week-long child safety and awareness campaign to launch on�October 21, which is the week leading up to when the clocks go back. It�s a time of year when suddenly children can find themselves traveling to and from school not necessarily in the dark, but certainly in worsening weather and lower lighting conditions. The campaign will be aimed at school-age children, and will focus on staying safe on the roads whilst cycling, scooting, and skating, and to encourage children to wear a helmet and hi-vis clothing. We really want to get the message across that wearing a helmet is a lot cooler than getting a brain injury!

Cyclo: What activities are planned for the week?

AT: Our Child and Family Support Officers and Fundraisers across the country will be visiting schools to spread the safety message, and handing out reflective �slap wraps� with the slogan �Be seen not hurt� to children to really encourage them to think about being seen and staying safe during the winter months.

We�ve also developed a wide range of National Curriculum based activities and worksheets all based around education and awareness of brain injury, child safety and injury/accident prevention. These school packs will be used in conjunction with the school visits. The campaign will culminate with a sponsored cycle ride from the Charity�s head office in Bicester on Sunday October 27, along with other rides from our offices in Belfast and Glasgow. The campaign aims to engage as many groups and individuals as possible during the week, and we are already getting offers of support from people involved in the sporting/cycling world, and companies who design safety equipment.

Cyclo: And how else are you planning on getting your message across?

AT: We�re planning to post blogs each day throughout the campaign week, from people who can inspire young people to get active, but do it safely. We have a number of seasoned adventurers who have completed amazing journeys by bike and skateboard already signed up to support the campaign and write these for us; they will help us to spread the message via their social media channels.

We will also be dedicating pages on our website to promote the campaign, with safety/prevention information and regular updates from our guest bloggers. We aim to run competitions throughout the week, with prizes from UK cycle and safety companies. Social media will certainly play a big role in this campaign, driving traffic to the website and encouraging our followers to share our activities with their friends and followers.

Cyclo: So your key messages would be?

AT: Wear a helmet! � Our mantra really is that wearing a helmet (and also using lights and reflectives) is a lot cooler than getting a brain injury� We absolutely want to promote that enthusiasm for children to be active, but equally to be safe; so to encourage more children to wear a helmet is fundamental. As a charity we certainly want to raise awareness of childhood brain injuries and highlight the common sense approaches to avoiding them when it comes to road safety.

For further information about the Child Brain Injury Trust (Registered Charity No. 1113326) and the latest on the campaign (check back regularly for updates) see: childbraininjurytrust.org.uk and take a look at their video below.

Read Cyclo’s latest reviews of children’s cycling helmets here�and our reviews of the Nite Ize LED range here.

Tags cycling safety, Road Safety