Want It Wednesday: GoPro Hero 3, Outride and QMountz

I probably spend too much time looking at bike videos on YouTube.  I like watching what people ride and like to see previews of places where I will ride or race next.  So of course its not long before ideas come into my head that I could do that too.  Actually my imagination runs wild with a lavish imagination of entire bike movies and super cool music.  Although realistically a video of my runs down the local trails will no doubt show off how slow I actually am and probably won't prove that interesting to watch it still is something I'd like to do.  So what should I be looking at to make me the next biking Ridley Scott?

There is one real big option out there and lots of people will have heard of them and that is GoPro.  These are loved because of their small size and versatility.  They can be mounted on a riders helmet, handle bar or even by using a harness, strapped to your chest. They can be used under water too so while not a use for cycling has its uses for diving, surf boarding and many other water sports.  In fact with its 1080p quality it can be used for all manner of sports.

There are three main cameras within its range.  White, Silver and Black editions.  The white edition is its cheapest model at £199 and has the lowest image quality with 1080p at 30fps. As a standard camera it has 5mp with an 3fps burst time.  For the more expensive Black edition the camera boasts a 12mp camera and films at 60fps.  It costs a more robust £359, although does come with a natty little wifi remote.

The quality of film is outstanding and has truly revolutionised home video quality but what do you do if this is out of your price range and you can not really justify this lavish toy?  Well the are a few alternatives.  Well there are if you own an Iphone anyway.

Outride and Qmountz are a couple of different companies who are using the phones ability to shoot 1080p quality film and have created a safe secure cases for the phone that can be mounted in much the same way a GoPro can.  The cases are waterproof too and can be used to a few meters under water, as well as been shock proof and shatter proof.  Which is just as well as the Iphones are a bit fragile.  The camera cases change the cameras focal length into a more wide angle view giving a broader range of shot but just as importantly a more stable image.







Having viewed the images compared to the GoPro they are not as good but that's not to say they are bad.  The iphones doesn't cope as well in light to dark situations as fast as the GoPros nor is the image as stable but the image quality is still really high and not pixelated like older style cameras.  They have the advantage of being to upload you film shot to the Internet faster too or even put on twitter or facebook.  For £65 to £85 they are more than half the price of the basic GoPro so are a sound option for those on more of a budget.

Film below shows the quality of the GoPro Black

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Iphone Covers by The Beautiful Ride

The Beautiful Ride appeared in a recent Want It Wednesday of mine for there cycle specific and beautifully designed notebooks.  What I didn't touch upon was the other products in their line. 

Recently I purchased an iphone 5 and as this was perhaps a lavish item for me to own I set about looking for someway to protect it.  I would say that I looked quite hard to find a suitable product that was cycle related but never really found anything that either suited me as a rider or my sense of aesthetics.  I had remembered seeing an iphone cover on The Beautiful rides website and decided that would be perfect.  They only do one design at the moment and as a young company this may remain the case until more demand is made.

The choice of a Polka Dot design reflects the Polka Dot jeresy worn during the Tour de France for those with the most climbing points or better named 'King of the Mountains'.  As a strong climber myself this would I imagine seem very apt for me.

The case itself arrived the day after ordering which is great service and the usual and professional correspondence was in place to let me know that the order was received and put in the post.

When it arrived the case was wrapped in a lovely printed tissue paper which added to the feel of unwrapping something special.  The case itself is  polycarbon with the image thermally embedded so it won't scratch peel or peel of.  It is very slim in design so adds very little bulk to your phone which is always a bonus. As for price I would mark it at the higher end of the price spectrum.  £22.50 is however, not as expensive as many of the cycle designed covers I've seen from the likes Zazzle which can be up to ten pounds more, and that's not buying you anything better in quality.

Overall, I'm very impressed with it and would happily recommend using the Beautiful Ride again if you want something that bit different.  It would make a great gift for the cyclist in your life or just as a little special something to treat yourself.  Hopefully in the future the range can be extended using the same great images as used for their notebooks.

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Book Review - My Time by Bradley Wiggins

 

 

Bradley Wiggins latest book concentrates on his successful 2012 season. The book is co written with Guardian sports writer William Fotheringham, and takes you through a brief background of his past but mainly concentrates on his successful races at the Tour of Romandie, Paris-Nice, the Tour de France and Olympics.

Bradley Wiggins is now by far the most famous and successful British cyclist of our time moving out of Mark Cavendish's shadow and become a icon in his right.  This book is real thoughts to pages stuff.  He lays down exactly what he thinks giving you very detailed accounts of his emotions, his relationships with staff and team members.

From this book, you learn what it takes to make a great champion and he takes you back a few years from his earlier days on the track to his rise in road racing, where even in his own submission he lacked the right attitude as a team leader.  The death of his grandfather and his only male role model, and the tough love from the team senior management bring forward a change in Wiggins that allowed him to reach his true potential.  Certainly his relationships with members of the team are interesting and how he views them particularly with David Brailsford and Mark Cavendish, but its what you learn about the teams approach to training and why team Sky has become so dominant that interested me the most.

The book isn't overly scientific or even aimed at just cyclists which should help with a broad range of readers wanting to know a little more about the recent Sports Personality of the Year.  It covers all areas too from doping and Wiggins and the teams stance on it as well as the relationship between himself and Chris Froome during the tough stages in the mountains of the Tour de France.  The book also gives a glimpse into what he plans for his future in the sport, and the reasons for not contesting for another Tour title.

Sometimes the book lacks solid structure flipping backwards and forwards at time.  It reads like Wiggins speaking his mind whilst the writer takes notes, but doesn't really edit it.  This is the only criticism I could find from the book in what is overall a good read and a worthy buy. 

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Strava and Races to Come

I could very easily get addicted to Strava.  I particularly like it when I get my KOM stats and find I'm at the top!  Strava has allowed me to show off my KOM but sadly not my ride which despite the cold and the mud was enjoyable.  Now I find myself analysing all of my efforts along the route, which I'm not sure if it's encouraging to my ride or in the long run detrimental.  Will I ever just casually go up a hill again?  Still, whilst my motivation in training has been lacking maybe this is what I need to keep me going and a little part of me is already finding other hills I can try and win a crown.....even if its only a minor victory that I can share with myself.

Talking of training, I have had a crisis meeting with myself and have come to the conclusion that this year could be asking too much for me to do a 100 mile MTB race.  I know I've still got months to go but I'm not sure a) I could do that distance on a rigid fork for and b) do that kind of distance averaging 8mph or more.

At the moment I'm going to concentrate on short xc racing.  The North East XC series is back this year and starts earlier with eight full round.  I finished 8th overall last year and would like to better improve on this, so I've now set an ambitious target of placing on the podium for the series.  Basically I need to finish top three.  A tall order for someone racing on one gear and in no fit condition.  I've got until the 20th April before my first round.  I need to loose 7lbs by then and be able to maintain race pace for an hour.  Sounds doable, and if it's not well hopefully someone will cheer me on as I puff and pant my way slowly around the course.  I'll still at least be the one smiling the most. 

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Book Review - Riis Stages of Light and Dark by Bjarne Riis

 

 

The rider Bjarne Riis was a rider who featured in my early interest in road cycling and the Tour de France.  He wasn't a rider that I ever learned much about at the time, he was infamous for his private nature and like many riders from his era questioned about how clean a rider he was.

 

Riis is perhaps famed as much for his win of the 1996 Tour de France as his eventual and more recent admission to EPO usage during his career.  The book which is ghost written by journalist Lars Steen Pedersen, is a look back over those years in an attempt to reveal his dark secrets and bring light to on his questionable past.

 

The book takes you back to his past and to the the cycling world he grew up in, talking about how as a shy youth he found cycling an outlet where he could express himself.  Actually his early years is somewhat skipped over in my opinion but forms some of the most interesting aspects of the book or at least the most honest.  He talks with some fondness of riding and learning from Laurent Fignon, which makes for interesting reading and you learn of his desire to make his break with the bigger teams, trying to get himself more noticed to earn the bigger pay check. The book follows an almost similar pattern to many other cycling books of a young clean rider, naive to the real world of cycling and doping, and his eventual demise to user followed by guilt.  However, if you are seeking an open account and insight into the dirty world of the peleton then you will be left disappointed.

 

 

His admission to taking EPO is mentioned but Riis blows over the subject as though he is doing what every other rider his doing. It certainly central to the narrative. There is no name dropping and you can't but help that he holds back detail.  In his admission to using EPO there is no mention in how he got it, how he used it just emotional reaction to having to use it.  This has probably got a lot to with him still working within cycling and 'spitting in the soup' is something he is not still willing to do.  This is you feel quite a theme in the book.  It's not what he telling you but what he is missing out.  His accounts of the Festina affair in 1998 from his point of view labours on the side of hypocritical as he complains of them 'riding like animals'  and the press lumping them all together with the same label as dopers.  It just strikes that he is still unhappy that he was out doped rather than real remorse for the damage being done in the sport.

 

What is apparent in his admission is the lack of actual belief that doping had anything to do with his success of the tour and he attributes much more of it to his scientific approach to cycling compared to other riders who still just churned out the miles.  He talks in length about some of the stages of the tour in which he wins and his rise as a team leader and getting the riders to respect him.  His overcoming of his natural shyness to champion is an interesting tale but it is more in the latter parts of the book I found more interesting and that is his time as team owner and directeur sportif for the CSC team.  It does give good insight into the personalities of the riders he has worked with including Tyler Hamilton, Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador.

 

 

The book doesn't make him out to be the most likable of people and this probably his why he struggled with riders on his team as both rider and team leader, and his inevitable admission to doping feels like it comes not from real guilt but pressure from the press after members of his previous Telekom team speak out.  It has rings of the same scenario we now see with Lance Armstrong.

 

 

Overall,  the book has some good aspects to it but it also feels self serving, a confession of some sorts while deeper details have been left out, and think it is this that makes it hard for the reader to have any really empathy for him  Maybe when he fully retires will a broader picture be painted.
 

 

 

 



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Want It Wednesday - The Beautiful Ride Notebooks

I was recently explaining my lack of love for training diaries.  I'm never good at keeping them up to date and even my best laid out plans fall apart leaving an unwanted book that serves little purpose for the future.  I'm no longer transfixed with recording every given hour on the bike, recording it down and making some anal chart that proves just how little I'm really doing

What works better for me is to keep a more loose style journal of my rides and races.  More importantly I like to write down goals, Time targets, mile targets, weights, average heart rates.  Everything but how long I've done on a bike or how many hours I've spent spinning my legs on a turbo.  Information like that is no use.  To know you're improving its much better to have something instantly measurable and something you can then go back year after year to see changes.

This leads me onto my 'Want'.   I recently wanted a notebook to enter my data for this year, the trouble is nothing really stands out to me as a cyclist.  I love fancy stationary stuff, and am a sucker for nice address books and diaries, birthday books etc.  Sadly, in a rush I lumped for a rather plain notebook that just isn't.....well....me.  It had to do as I wasn't near a decent shop at the time.

However, I came across this company Beautifulride

These are just the thing I am looking for

 

 These were brought to my attention by Tim at his blog Life in the Saddle where he has written a review on them so it worth checking it out by clicking on the link.  Another review to look at as is by The Discerning Cyclist.

The price is only its slight draw back for me but I'd be buying into something that I would more than likely keep for years and can imagine it to evolve to be full of notes doodles tatty folded up bits of paper etc.  They are British, look and sound lovely only now I have to decide which one I'd have!

If you'd like to write a Want it Wednesday and have it in a place for all to see then please go to my Want It Wednesday page and follow the instructions.

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Getting To Grips With Nymeria (On-One Scandal 29er)

Nymeria for those aren't up to date with my blog is my new beloved bike.  My On-One Scandal 29er.  If you are wondering on the name then it is from George Martins books the Game Of Thrones one of my favourite authors.  Nymeria itself is a pet dire wolf, and wolves are some the most interesting of beasts and to all intense and purpose so is my new bike.

This isn't a full review as I feel I'm yet to bond fully with Nymeria, like an animal it needs some taming before I think I can truly appreciate what she is really capable of.  There are three things totally different about this bike I'm having to take into account when riding compared to previous bikes.  Carbon rigid forks, 29er Wheels and Tubeless.

I've read so much about how much better 29 inch wheels are that when you start riding you expect some kind of revelation, and I didn't get that. At least not right away. In fact jumping on it felt very natural and not overly different from my kinesis, this maybe because I'd got the cockpit measurements similar.  There seemed no noticeable extra effort to get the wheels rolling as many have lead me to believe.  This maybe because overall the wheels are lighter than my previous set which weren't heavy but by buying Stans rims and running them tubeless I've managed to drop about 100 grams in weight including tyres.

So then comes the idea of them giving more stability.  I wasn't sure how this could be proved, I mean I don't ever remember stability being an issue with 26ers.  That was until I took my hands off the bars.  Riding no handed has never been a skill I've managed greatly.  Yes I could ride 100 yards and not fall off but I'd have to make loads of micro adjustments.  I'd always found my road bike easier in this case.  The 29er proved its stability to me by being so easy to ride no handed.  I barely had to try to keep it straight, it just did it and I can only imagine that this extra stability helps in singletrack and technical sections

I'm not going to comment to much on grip.  This is supposed to be a big bonus due the extra contact patch of the tyre to the ground.  The reason I'm holding back is that conditions have been very muddy and so the bike hasn't been pushed to its limits in corners. Yet. The grip is there but I'm still finding my limits.  For this reason I'm still to really see the benefit in tubeless except in weight.  More and that to come in the next few months as I find better pressures to use and learn to really rail it properly.

Every time I pushed to go fast the bike responded quickly.  The overall low weight meant this bike was like a missile.  A 21.8lbs missile.  It goes without saying that this bike climbed well and the geometry didn't seem to unsettle the front end to much.  The actual frame felt quite soft for an aluminium frame.  Some frame using this metal can be horrible and harsh. Ideal for your local races but every day long rides something that can tire you out quicker.  This felt compliant and when chucking it rough singletrack it never felt like it had longer chain stays, just wanted you to try that bit harder.  The geometry is sound not going to the extreme of being an out and out racer but a proper all day riding bike that leaves you smiling.

What I'm struggling to get to grips with is the fork.  It would be very easy for me to say its harsh but in comparison to steel forks my memory doesn't go back that far.  Through bumpy corners the front bounces up hard and does hurt your wrists.  On many occasions my hand struggled to use the brakes and stay on the grips.  This I can see is going to take the most getting used.  Perhaps even a bit of strengthening of my arms!  It does, however, in smoother parts track well and the steering is very direct so much more so than bikes with suspension forks.  It never felt nervous just a case of point and shoot.

Overall, I'm beginning to love this bike.  Its rides as well as it looks and once I'm more used to it I have no doubt about its extra capabilities.  This bike will be like lightening in the right hands.  I just need to get my fitness back and tame that fork.

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New Bike On-One Scandal 29er Singlespeed - FINISHED!!

It's done, it's finally complete. My On-One Scandal  is after an agonising six months of planning and buying, ready to ride and be shown off to the world.

Whats killing me know is the amount of snow and bad weather we are having so I'm not sure when its going to get its first outing, but the weather forecasters have mentioned some milder weather next week so I've got my fingers tightly crossed.

I've included pictures below for you to view.  There are a few small things that I will want to change when I've got the money, the main one being to ditch the dual shifter brakes as they are a bulky eye sore.  I also am still thinking of getting some horizontal dropouts for it too so I can get rid of the messy chain tensioner.  Lastly the red anodised skewers have got to go.  I had bought some nice ti silver ones but the front was on the short side and I just didn't trust it so its been sent back. 

Anyway, enough talk.  Here's Nymeria.

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Want It Wednesday - Engin Bikes

Yes I know I've just got my bike built and I'm already looking at other bikes but I came across this company by accident (forum site).  Engin Bikes ( pro. en-jen) aren't out there making space age carbon bikes but ones even the most modern bike designer could look at and appreciate.  They are a Philadelphia based company who build there bikes one at a time to suit each riders needs.  They deal only with steel although some Titanium frames are due for 2013. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say but I just can't see how anyone would put off by them.

Anyway I'll let you decide and have a look at some example shots or you can link up to their website here.......before telling you the price.

 

 

 

 

So are you in love like me?  Do you have $2500 (£1500) for the frame alone?  One for my dreams......

 

Have you got anything to share that is bike related then start your own post starting with the title Want It Wednesday and I shall add you to my Want It Wednesday Page for others to see!!

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The Year Ahead 2013

Firstly,

Happy New Year!

I'm not big on making new years resolutions but I have told myself that I need to give my blog a bit of tlc as I'm not writing or updating it as much as I used too.  I guess coming to the end of 2012 I was going through a lot of stress with trying to sort my job out and certain things have fallen by the wayside as stress took over.  Well my job is now secure and so life can go on once again.  Obviously, my blog has also lacked content as I have neither been racing or training.  I still don't have my mtb and my road bike is suffering from endless mechanicals which is putting me off long rides out.

Still this is all to change.

The Bike Build

How patient have I had to be for this? I am so close to getting this done.  So close in fact it was due to have been finished this weekend but I was let down with an order on spokes and sent the wrong length.  More delays....Arrggghhh.  So maybe, just maybe it'll be next weekend and I'll be posting it up here as soon as I've got some pictures in place.  Watch this space and expect many a report on my new 29er.  In the mean time here is a little teaser shot to give you an idea....

 

 

Training

 

So it begins.  I've kind of enjoyed not having to slug my guts through the wind and rain of autumn and part of the winter.  The rain here has meant the ground is so muddy and it's going to take a lot of dry weather before it improves. My main target race which is an XC 100 miler in September has meant not having to rush into my training. However, some XC races are starting from March and I don't think I'll have any fitness by then, which is a shame but it'll not rule me out from trying them.  I'll just see how I feel at the time. 

 

I'm taking a whole new approach to my training this year which is something to do with having a mixed need of abilities.  I want to do the really fast races in the summer which are only an hour long but also have a long race to aim for at the end of it all.  I'm going to really concentrate on building strength this year, including core work and upper body strength to help with my rather poor technical abilities.  I think people often neglect strength training too much in the fear of bulking muscle but the reality of it is you won't really gain muscle mass unless you eat the right diet to go with it.  There is growing evidence against long hours in the saddle when building your foundations and I've always believed in being specific to what you train for.  Long rides have never made me a better racer so I'm going to just try something different this year and see.

 

Back to trail running for me too.  I miss running and it's time to get the shoes out and spend my January on the trails.  Its a great work out building my leg strength which is good for out of saddle climbing on the bike.  It also does a damn good job of strengthening my core.  By February, it'll start to be much more about the bike.

 

 

The Blog

 

I've got a few things planned to write about in the next few up and coming weeks including my write up on Bjarne Riss book, some more want it Wednesdays but just as importantly giving my blog a little lift and updating some pictures and altering the layout.  I also want to expand my audience so will be looking for more followers via blogger and twitter.  I love making good connections with cyclists on here it often makes the whole thing worth while.  I may never get to meet any of you in person but I love sharing and hearing your views and ideas on a hobby we all love and enjoy.

 

Here's to a fantastic 2013!



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Names On Frames - Personalised Decals Review

There is a trend increasing within the cycling world to make what you ride and what you wear more unique than ever.  More options than ever are open to us the cyclist.  Recently, I got some home designed cycle jerseys and I also talked in my Want It Wednesday about your own coloured saddle from Charge.  No you can design your own helmet or even get shoes made in special colour as well.

All great stuff, but a couple of weeks ago I came across this little gem from Names On Frames on twitter.  I've often loved looking at Pro cyclists bikes and loved knowing which is there bike parked up by the team bus.  The little name tag on the frame giving away who they are and in my soul I've harboured a little desire to have something similar.  I've always meant to find a company that would help me achieve this little dream without being stupidly priced.  Names On Frames, @NamesOnFrames just fits the bill perfectly and they are so easy to use.

Via their website you just fill in the drop down boxes with the kind of flag, script and colouring you want and your done.  Very easy.  Prices start from a happy on your wallet £5.95 for four stickers.

So to the review itself, and over all I am very happy with the services of Name On Frames.  Granted there was a technical hic-cup and my details of what I wanted hadn't work right for some reason or other either on my behalf or theirs.  However, I was contacted swiftly by David via E-Mail and when I didn't respond straight away he even tried me on Twitter too which in my mind is great customer service.  Once everything was ironed out the stickers came in the post within a few days so the wait really isn't long either.

The stickers are of good quality and easy to apply and have found a happy home on my helmet and frame.  Being white, they obviously don't stand out on my frame but all my decals are white as I'm after a subtle look.  Obviously others may want to purchase theirs in black script.  Still, you can see the stickers better on my helmet in the image below.

Overall, I would happily use Name On Frames again and if you want something similar then I see no reason to look elsewhere.

Subtle in White but goes well with the rest of my Decals

Feeling like a Pro

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Planning for the 2013 season - Keider 100, Three Peaks and C2C

My original plans of doing the UK 24hr solo championships were sadly put to a halt this year when I discovered that the venue had been moved from its usual hilly all weather surface to something quite the oposite.  It had been moved I think to make it more accessable for a larger number of riders and so increase the entries but sadly it is now a 7 hour trip and one I'm not willing to make.

So I've had to do a bit of head scratching.  It seems that endurance races in my part of the country are getting rarer.  I thought therefore that I would have to spend my season just doing short xc races instead.  No bad thing but anything over an hour and I struggle to make any impact no matter how much training I fit in.  I have however found something!  The Kielder 100 is a race I dismissed as being beyond my capabilities, but then I thought the same of a 24hr race so after a bit of reading I decided that it would be my main target for the year.  As a bonus it is held in September so my training for it wouldn't start till late winter (I hate training through the winter!)  This means I can still do bits of xc racing to keep up my speed and motivation.

The Kielder 100 is one tough race. The 100 stands for its distance in MILES, with about 14,000ft of climbing.  As its a race there are check points along the massive one lap course with cut off times.  If you don't make it in time your race is over.  Basically, it works out you have to keep over an 8mph average!  I'll be doing it on my rigid singlespeed........just because I can and they a proper SS category.

Anyway here is a video from the winners point of view during last years race.

There is also another race I am interested in doing and that is the Three Peaks Cyclo Cross race which is 38miles with 5,000ft of climbing and labelled as the worlds toughest CX race.  It is about two weeks after the Kielder 100 so I'm still not sure and places are limited so it may have to be a target for another year. That and I need a CX bike!  It looks hard, grim, challenging and fantastic all rolled into one.  Perfect.  Couples of videos below to whet the appetite.

 

 

 

Hopefully in preparation for these events I will also be finally getting my act together and doing the Coast to Coast which isn't a race but more a challenge.  Its a 150 mile ride taking in some tough road climbs of the lake district and pennines.  Some people take about 3 - 5 days to do it but it is possible to do it in one day and that will be my target.

 

 

So there we go.  I'll get some prep training in January started which will include some good cross training like trail running and weights, then time on the bike from February.  It's going to be a fab year if all goes to plan!

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Want It Wednesday - Custom Charge Spoon Saddle

Came across this 'Want' last night.  I'm going to be buying a new saddle for my new mtb and was looking at buying this rather lovely one here.

 

However, is that good enough for my my WIW? No, I don't think so either.  So how about if you could have it custom coloured? Well now you can, because after a couple of years of rumour the lovely people of Charge now have a designated personalised saddle service allowing you to choose the colour of the cover, underside, bumpers, logo and stitching! You can have a go here. 

 

 

So is that a bit more exciting? I think so but obviously this bumps up the price quite a bit more and starts to put it out of my range a bit.  A normal saddle costs about £25 ($40) but a custom will cost from £70 ($112) which is a hefty jump!

 

There are some other people who also like to take part in Want It Wednesday and you can see them in the link.  Here you can see how to take part and see what others have been talking about.  So why not give it a go.

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Eclipse Cycling Custom Made Cycle Clothing - Review

Recently I formed a group on facebook called North East Single Speed.  It's aim was to get together a group of like minded individuals to share thoughts, go on rides and socialise.  I know in the group there are some who will just do casual rides but then there are those like myself who would like to race.  On a trip to one such race I was travelling with a friend and we were discussing how cool it would be to have our own team kit so that we would be recognised at races and group meetings.  I explained that I'd already had a quick look and even had ideas for the design but sadly most of the companies would only allow you to order in bulk and we'd have to have more willing buyers before it could be considered.

However, after a little search I came across this company Eclipse Cycling.  The company, still very young and based in China, struck me for two reasons.  There is NO MINIMUM orders on anything you design and the clothing wasn't expensive.  I did some research and found only a small amount of information but there was enough out there to make me think that they could be trusted.  As there wasn't a load of cost involved I took the gamble and I thought I'd share my experiences with you.

On the website you go to their design software where you are given a number of pre set stencils which with a large range of colours gives you the scope to create something quite unique and stylish.  They have a showcase of some of there designs but really a little imagination is needed and you can produce some great looking tops.  I had already made designs on Photoshop for the jerseys logos on the front and the back which the software allow you to use on the jerseys and shorts.  Overall, the process of design is easy to use and quite fun so have a play around but bear in mind you can't save these unless you submit them to the company, but more on that in a bit. What I will say before you submit the design is don't rush it.  Get it as good and as close to your finished design as you can as it will save further complications in the future.  This is what I created:

Once you have submitted a 'ticket' then the real process begins.  You will then receive an email with a message from Eclipse and that will show you the image of your design. You can now, for the first time save the image and use it to show friends if you like, you have not yet committed to buying. I was contacted by Annie Lee, others have dealt with Max, but from my experience you keep in contact with the same person throughout the process.  You are now given the chance to finalise the product or make any changes, of which you are given three chances.

This is in my opinion where things got tricky and at times long winded.  Obviously here in the UK time zones mean that Emails to China would be slow and I'd often have to wait till the next morning to have any information from them. At first this was fine.  I made a small change to where I wanted the writing and that was done promptly and with no problems. However, I had grown a little impatient over a design on the long jersey whereby I wanted the sleeves done a certain way.  I explained as best I could but each time it was not done, sometimes with the design it went back to the original look that I'd already said was wrong.  Basically, although their written English is good, some things are lost in translation. You can see examples of their English on the website and grammar can let them down and not give a very professional impression.  In the end I took the image and saved it and manipulated it in photoshop to show what I wanted.  My advise stands as before, if you want it to look right and save a long process and explanation, try and get it as good as near finished first time.

With the design confirmed you are given a list of prices.  The prices are excellent.  You will find it hard to find normal tops that compare let alone ones with your own design.  Here is their list prices:

Short Sleeve Jersey $29.99
Wind Vest $37.99
Thermal Wind Vest $37.99
Long Sleeve Jersey $33.99
Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey $40.99
Regular Shorts $27.99
Bib Shorts $29.99
Pants $40.99
Thermal Pants $42.99
Bib Pants $42.99
Thermal Bib Pants $46.99
Arm Warmers $18
Thermal Arm Warmers $20

Short Sleeve Jersey + Regular Shorts $50
Short Sleeve Jersey + Bib Shorts $52
Long Sleeve Jersey + Pants Kits $65
Long Sleeve Jersey + Bib Pants Kits $70
Long Sleeve Jersey + Pants (Both Thermal) $70
Long Sleeve Jersey + Bib Pants Kits (Both Thermal) $78

There is on top of this postage to pay which is $12 if under $100 in total.

In UK currency it cost me £34 for a thermal jersey INCLUDING postage.  You will be informed about about how long the making and ordering process is expected to take.  Overall it takes about a month and you will be sent and Email when your item is shipped. The item can be tracked also but I found this was never updated and even now says processing! I know others who have said similar things. If you intend to want the jersey for an event or charity then I'd give the whole process at least two months from start to finish to avoid disappointment.

One more thing that bothers me about the current website is you can't see all the designs of others as you could previously. It also meant that I had to email again to get information on my design so others could also order. This in my mind needs to be addressed to make it easier for the consumer.

When my long sleeve thermal jersey came i couldn't have been more pleased. The jersey itself is made by Descente, and fitted just right. The sizing guide from experience is accurate and the top fitted the same as many of my other tops.  The actual jersey is much more like a training top, slightly loose on the chest allowing me to put it over my short sleeved jersey. I can confirm that after some cold weather here the top does a good job in adding warmth.  The top has also retained it colour and shape after a few washes. On a negative side, the print quality isn't 100%.  There is some 'ghosting' with parts of the logo and some of the red letters, but you'd have to be looking fairly close to really notice. There is, if you also look carefully at the back logo, a couple of small red spots that shouldn't be there  In fairness I suppose if you want Assos style gear with a unique well printed design be prepared to pay twice if not three times the amount and look elsewhere. The clothes at Eclipse, are good and allow you to have something unique for yourself or your team so on the whole I'd recommend them and will be placing further orders with them.  Below are some pictures of the final product.  Hope you like it as much as I do!

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Want It Wednesday - Bike Transport

How do you get your bike to a venue, a race or a group meet?  Do you do what I do and fling your bike in the back of the car (remembering to bring some large sheets to cover the back so it doesn't get dirty)? Or do you have a way of transporting them on your vehicle of choice such as on a roof rack?  These are all very acceptable forms of bike transport but sometimes its just not......whats the word......'cool' enough?

I want something more special.  I want a van.  I think I've been harbouring this desire from many races I've been to where I've walked by and looked in the back of some of these vans and see them carry all manner of bike kit.  Which got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to have a van that was purposely set up for bike transportation.

I think my dream van would cover the obvious inner racking to hold a couple of bikes securely during driving, perhaps where I can take the front wheel of and secure it by a clamp on the forks.  Then I think what about tools.  This van should have an inset tool chest bolted in, covering all my mechanical needs and maybe a work stand that works with the tow bar. 

How about a place to put your bike shoes, helmet, back packs and clothing.  And what if you're going to a bigger event. Then we are talking somewhere to sleep, maybe even a canopy or gazebo to keep you dry outside of the van including tables chairs etc.  A BBQ, a wood stove burner to keep you warm at night?

You probably think I'm being a bit mad but I've seen all this kind of stuff at various races and I want one too.  Although I would want it super smart inside and organised not just a mobile shed.  Some of you maybe thinking why not get a camper van or big bus thingy with all the latest home comforts, but the truth is most roads in this county are small and don't warrant big vehicles and most of the time I only want to drive out locally with it.  Maybe for some this would be a bit 'pro' or team vehicle (the thought of personalised decals had occurred to me!) but I just like the idea having everything I need with me.  Maybe that is just me.....

Anyway that's my WIW which I know has been a long time coming.  Sorry about that.  Others have also been contributing in the last few weeks as well so you really should check their blogs out to see what they want.  See my link here to see them and how you can join in too.

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Build Progress

Just thought I'd post up this picture to show you how the build up of my new bike is going. I officially now don't have a mtb to ride which sucks but needs must.  Hopefully another months time I'm going to be ready to ride!!

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Pro Cycling - It's Time To Believe In A Clean Sport

The USADA report has changed so much in cycling.  I for one welcomed the damning of Lance Armstrong, the downfall and final stripping of his seven cheated Tour de France Titles.  I've read so much into this man now that my head is swimming with endless information.  I've trawled the countless arguments on the forums and sat and watched as the pro Lance arguments have become more desperate in his defence.

There was nothing in the USADA report that was not already known, it was interesting certainly but much of the information I've touched on here before.  Perhaps it was the extent of how much he pushed other riders into doping that caused most alarm but it was no shock to me.  My opinion of Lance was never that great, I had already deemed him a bully so this was still not news.  Everyone just suddenly seemed so shocked by it all, I can only assume these people never read much into the subject and had to have it written out chapter and verse for them to get it.

I can say though it did change the hearts of many.  One of my friends who I've clashed on on a many of occasions was still strongly defending him before the report, claiming defence of hearsay, bad witness' etc.  Armstrong to him was an inspiration as a cyclist.  He went quiet for ages and I was surprised one day when he announced his feelings of sadness and having been totally let down by his hero.  He had come around, and instead of feeling smug I actually felt for him.  I had long excepted him as a cheat but for those that truly believed it must be so much of a let down.

I would say justice is done and the Armstrong has been rightfully stripped of his Titles and at time of writing his Olympic medal from Sydney is also under threat.

So what has this all meant.  Where does that leave pro cycling and its future?  Certainly, the focus has now shifted away from lance and moved onto the UCI.  This is a good direction to take as the UCI is rotten to the core and we can't have the top end of cycling run by those who aren't proactive in taking stronger measures against doping.  We need a new President to replace Pat "Dick" Mcquaid.  I find myself a little sympathetic of his rule at times.  He has wanted to prove the sport clean and show that cycling has moved on since the Festina affair.  But this idea has been his uncoming for in showing the sport to be clean has he had to ignore positive dope tests? Surely, to show the sport is clean is to not actually catch anyone? It is good to see in this instance that Paul Kimmage has lodged a criminal complaint against Pat for defamation after dropping a similar one against him!  The time for playing softly softly is over, and a hard stance has to be taken, not just with the positive tests but from the teams as a whole. And for this we need someone new and even new staff.

The pressure of doping can come in two forms.  The one most commonly thought of is the plain cheat.  The one who wants to win for themselves, be the best at the sport and damn what the rest think.  There have always been these people in sport, and no doubt always will be.  Then there are the teams that pressure their riders for better results to please the sponsors,  the teams that will openly pay more to a rider if they dope.

In both instances I would propose that blame not be put onto just the rider but also the team managers and directeur sportives.  Let me explain.  If the leaders of the team were held more accountable for doping in the team then they would work more proactively to ensure it didn't happen or else loose their own jobs.  Even for the rogue cyclist, doping would be harder if the managers were trying to catch them out.  We need to removing the likes of Johan Bryneel who has had many riders dope under his control.  Riders who no doubt doped and are now team managers is not always good news, particularly those that have got away with it for years.

I like what team Garmin have done with their approach to doping.  They have ex dopers on the team yes but take a pro active approach against it.  They now have riders who talk out against it which many of the peleton despite the talk since LA have remained silent.  The Omerta remaining as strong as ever?  Sky have taken a different approach and have made all riders and staff sign a contract to state they don't and never have been involved in doping.  The result is they have lost big name staff such as Sean Yates.  Is this what all teams should do?  No, I don't think so.  By threatening peoples loss of jobs they are driving the issue under ground and ex dopers that are young and still got a career in front of them will not come forward.  I was all for the idea of an amnesty for riders to come forward but this has slipped away.  Maybe the truth would have been to much?  However, when people talk next year of teams being clean (and they will) will anyone dare say Team Sky is dirty?  Maybe that is what David Brailsford is striving for.  Teams we can start to believe and champions that we can say, "yeah he was clean" rather than the cloud of doubt left by so many previous yellow jersey cheats.

Americas golden age of cycling may have been something that never really was but at least they are talking.  Why have so many of the Europeans kept quiet on the matter?  Some of the Brits such as Cavendish and Wiggins have had much to say on the subject as of course has David Millar.  But what of the French and Italians? The Spanish have been coming out in the last week.  Indurain and Contador have shown support for Armstrong, which I felt strange.  Was the USADA report not translated into Spanish? Who knows but other Spaniard Oscar Friere was more honest and linked Spain as being the dirtiest of the nations and wondered on the link there.

People say cycling is now clean.  I say its not.  It cleaner.  But while new drugs are being developed and drug tests are being beaten then this problem will always emerge.  New drug tests aren't the answer to stopping this, but removing the old doctors, making managers accountable, having the tech for team mangers to test their riders and punishments that will effect a riders career rather than season could well be.  It needs to be explored but I seldom think it is.  I keep having this gut feeling people are looking at the wrong thing.  Happy just to blame but not make a proactive attempt to change.

I want to believe again.  I want to cheer a winner and know he is really clean. Here's what History has to say.  Lets hope the future is brighter.

Status of Tour de France winners

Years	Name	Status	Details
2012	Bradley Wiggins	Never tested positive
2011	Cadel Evans	Never tested positive
2007 2009–2010	Alberto Contador	Tested positive Banned for two years	Named in Operación Puerto doping case, but later declared clean. Tested positive during 2010 Tour de France for the banned stimulant clenbuterol. Suspended for two years. Andy Schleck named as winner by default[97]
2008	Carlos Sastre	Never tested positive
2006	Floyd Landis	Tested positive Banned for two years	Tested positive for high testosterone to epitestosterone ratio;[47] Óscar Pereiro named as winner by default - Clean but cleared after testing positive for salbutamol. In 2010 admitted to taking EPO, testosterone, human growth hormone and blood transfusions along with female hormones and insulin.[clarification needed]
1999–2005	Lance Armstrong	Banned for life. Retroactively stripped of all titles since August 1998.	Tested positive for glucocorticosteroid hormone without prescription given in advance.[98] Associated with Michele Ferrari, who is suspected of prescribing doping agents.[99] Allegations by former assistant for Androstenine use.[100] Alleged EPO use in 1999 Tour de France.[101] According to court testimony by former teammate, Frankie Andreu, Armstrong admitted to doping to his doctor when in hospital for cancer treatment.[102] Floyd Landis accused Armstrong of doping in 2002 and 2003, and claimed that U.S. Postal team director Johan Bruyneel had bribed former UCI president Hein Verbruggen to keep quiet about a positive Armstrong test in 2002.[103][104][105] Landis also maintains that he witnessed Armstrong receiving multiple blood transfusions, and dispensing testosterone patches to his teammates on the United States Postal Service Team.[106] Former team-mate Tyler Hamilton accused Armstrong of doping with testimony to a federal grand jury during an investigation of Armstrong.[107] Hamilton implicated that Armstrong had used EPO on the TV news show 60 Minutes.[108] Implicated in a massive doping scheme by findings by USADA in 2012. Consequently banned for life and stripped of all career titles since August 1998.[41]
1998	Marco Pantani	Never tested positive Banned for six months	Failed a blood test in 1999 Giro d'Italia. Insulin found in his hotel room in the 2001 Giro d'Italia, but later declared clean "for not having committed any infraction." Nonetheless, the UCI confirmed the suspension. [109][110][111]
1997	Jan Ullrich	Never tested positive Banned from the 2006 Tour Retroactively stripped of titles 2005-2007.	Tested positive for amphetamines (off season, not taken for athletic performance gain)[112] Involved in the Operacion Puerto case. DNA subsequently linked to blood bag discovered during Puerto investigation[113]
1996	Bjarne Riis	Never tested positive Confessed doping use	Confessed having used EPO in 1996[114]
1991–1995	Miguel Indurain	Tested positive Never sanctioned	Tested positive for salbutamol in 1994, however both the IOC and UCI allowed Indurain, and asthma sufferers to use Salbutomol at the time.[115]
1986 1989–1990	Greg LeMond	Never tested positive
1988	Pedro Delgado	Tested positive Never sanctioned	Tested positive for probenecid in the 1988 Tour de France, although it was not illegal for cyclists at that time[116]
1987	Stephen Roche	Never tested positive Never sanctioned	According to an investigation in Italy into the practices of Francesco Conconi, Roche received EPO in 1993[117]
1978-1979 1981-1982 1985	Bernard Hinault	Never tested positive
1983–1984	Laurent Fignon	Tested positive	In 1989 Fignon tested positive after a team time trial[118][119][120] tested positive for amphetamines at the Grand Prix de la Liberation in Eindhoven on 17 September 1989.[121][122]
1980	Joop Zoetemelk	Tested positive	Tested positive in the 1977 (pemoline[123]), 1979 (steroids[124]) and 1983 Tour de France (nandrolon, although that was retracted later[123])
1975 1977	Bernard Thévenet	Never tested positive Confessed doping use	Admitted using steroids in the 1975 and 1977 Tour[30][125]
1976	Lucien Van Impe	Never tested positive
1969-1972 1974	Eddy Merckx	Tested positive	Merckx has tested positive three times, but never at the Tour de France. He was expelled from the 1969 Giro d'Italia after testing positive for Reactivan.[126] He tested positive for Mucantil after winning the 1973 Giro di Lombardia. The drug was later take off the banned list.[126] In the 1977 Flèche Wallonne, Merckx tested positive for Stimul (pemoline), along with Freddy Maertens and Michel Pollentier .[127]
1973	Luis Ocaña	Tested positive	Tested positive in the 1977 Tour de France (pemoline) 18st stage.
1968	Jan Janssen	Never tested positive
1967	Roger Pingeon	Never tested positive
1966	Lucien Aimar	Tested positive Banned for one month	Missed the 1969 Vuelta a España due to a one-month doping ban.
1965	Felice Gimondi	Never tested positive
1957 1961–1964	Jacques Anquetil	Confessed doping use	Debated with French government minister on television, saying "Leave me in peace; everybody takes dope." After winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1966, was temporarily disqualified after refusing a drug test, saying he had already been to the toilet. He was later reinstated after he engaged a lawyer as the case was never heard.

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