Bikeability 2 - Linking Outcomes

Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6

One for the Crossers and the Comutters !

The Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6 review on Road CC available as complete bike or as a frame build in the Velo Store, Stone

The Pro 6 is perhaps unusual in that - despite being positioned as a race bike first and foremost - Kinesis have nevertheless included mounts for a rack and full mudguards. This gets a big thumbs up from me. I've used cross bikes as commuters, tourers and road bikes and that versatility is a big part of their charm. Adding mounts needn't significantly increase cost or weight, so it's a no-brainer in my view.

Zipp Speed Weaponry

Spring is here this weekend and its summer bike time.

Velo are now stocking the full range of Zipp wheels with the 202, 303 and 404 already in Store and stock arriving all the time. The perfect wheel choice, and regarded as the best £ for £ upgrade you can make.



Whats more Velo will price match any Genuine Retail Offer*. And during March any customer purchasing in store can have any of our  in stock tyres for free, including  continental GP 4000s and the Vittoria open Corsa







*full details in store

High Atlas - A Bonus Trip

Riding the High Atlas - I got More than I bargained For...

I don't really consider myself to be well travelled but my bikes have taken me to many amazing places but none more so than Morocco.

Its 2000 - 15 years ago now ! I had got my first decent bonus at work and blew some cash on a Mountain Bike Holiday to ride across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The trip looked amazing and combined my love of cycling, mountains and photography !

I must have been fit back then as I rode the 70 kms a day off road carrying a 35mm SLR camera, tripod and a spare lens ! Plus my spares etc ! That was despite the fact that the days were fully vehicle supported - I don't believe in slumming it on the bike - I like to do the best riding I can and enjoy it!!

I rode a steel KHS hard tail, with V brakes and terrible forks on reflection but It was always in tip top shape and ready to role. I always had hand built wheels on to mavic rims.  I lived in Sheffield at the time and rode up to 8 hrs in a day at the weekend (i was single) so I tended to go through a rim about once every 6 months ! I learnt to descend better purely to save cash!

The high atlas was a truly amazing place - to today its the best riding holiday I have been on, Riding through vast valleys where Star Wars was filmed, 18km long climbs off road, huge descents, sleeping on the roof of a Gite under the stars.  Getting chased by people in villages and laughed at because in their culture a t shirt is underwear! Letting the kids ride your bike and wondering if they will come back only to see them turn around at the end of the village - they have never been further !

Its a vast dusty but strangely beautiful landscape once away from the crazy bustle of our arrival city - Marrakech.  The riding was tough but mostly on vehicle width "roads".  It wasn't a technical trip but you get a real sense of remoteness and as a point to point trip a sense of a achievement moving through the landscape.

What I didn't realise however, was that this trip would prove to be a life changing event.  There was a girl on the trip - riding an obscure bike to me Handsome Dog - fully teched up with Pace Carbon forks and all the toys ! She wasn't fast but rode steadily all day without seemingly struggling or pausing conversation ! That is with the exception of eating which she did on a very regular basis it would appear ! Eventually we got chatting and i found myself sliding down the group to chat to her as much as I could before riding off to take more pictures !

The woman in question is of course my Wife now and that trip seems a world away from our life now  but it remains the foundation of our lives together and a shared passion.

Today with two young kids, riding together has been a challenge, riding with the kids is great fun though and we have already had some amazing adventures together mostly in France - our youngest riding quite far even when he was so little he had a balance bike and would climb into the trailer and sleep for miles after tiering himself out!  But as the kids are getting bigger and with a new T130 in the fleet, Mrs T is getting back into her riding - In fact as she now works for Cyclist Training Limited, its pretty much compulsory ;-)  Last year we enjoyed the Vendee and this year we will explore the Jura with me fitting in a few hours on the road every few days.

So that one holiday changed my life and built my cycling family and I am grateful for that. So if you are looking for something to do over the summer but are not sure - my advice is booked that trip to in a group and you never know what might happen next !

And of course if you need a bike for that big adventure - then I know just the place ;-)

Happy Valentines day !

The Great car con (which is the safest)

One for the urban warriors amongst us..... worth a watch

This recent episode of Channel 4's Dispatches is definitely worth a watch. In one part program they carry out an experiment to see who is exposed to the most NOx pollution. What do you think the answer is - the car passenger, bus passenger, pedestrian or cyclist?


http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/on-demand

Carbon Virgin

Carbon Virgin !

So I have never ridden a carbon - I have had a Titanium, and the luxury of a Bespoke Reynolds 853 and 953.  But finally curiosity has got the better of me and I've taken the plunge and bought a carbon frame.  I have specced it up in Campag Chorus with fulcrum Racing Zeros and it comes in at a respectable 7.2 KG.  The informed will note that its not a top end carbon frame, but its a Derosa and they don't do "cheap frames" like many brands and it gets rave reviews. 

I wanted to see how it compared to my 953 which in the same spec weighed in at 7.6 KG.   I am told that it will be stiffer at the BB and in the right places - and we shall see.  

Part of my decision was purely form over function I am slightly ashamed to admit  - it looks super bling and I fancied a bit of flu yellow in the fleet! 

Either way I look forward to giving this a good test over the spring / summer with trips planned to the Liege, The Jura and hopefully a fleeting stop at the Alps to take on Galibier ! So I will let you know.  

But for now I think you will agree this is a good looking piece of kit ready to roll when the mercury finally rises and the gritters are put to bed - Allez!

Run Velo, Run

Strava nuts may have noticed the occasional run popping up on our club section ( some with faster times than others, no names mentioned Im injured Ade cash, I never train Chaz, and I don't Im not really running this year Martin)and if it isn't a club member running faster further harder than me then its one of your wives.

and those that don't well to be fair you should.

It is with all this in mind and the fact that the just isn't anywhere local to buy decent running kit we've launched our in store running section.

And Just Like we've made sure we can offer you the best in the bike world with Whats Mountain bikes Trail Bike of the Year and Best Hardball for the past three years were starting by doing the same with our shoes by bringing the Editors choice Trail running shoe from Pearl Izumi with shoes for both men and women road and trail.

So start running round the block now so come post Feb you can join us on one of lunch time runs.

Stepping Up

CTL has been busty developing its own Pedestrian training courses for use in early years and reception , Key Stage 1 and keys stage 2 to offer out to schools and local authorities.

This has been made possible by recruiting  local aauthorities head of Road safety Richard Clark last year from Stockport. Richard has many year of experience as is a leader in his field of road casualty reduction and promotion of sustainable transport.

following lots of ground work pre Christmas the products are now live and being delivered with some fantastic feedback already and some real impacts already taking place.

The product has now gone live with training sessions being delivered and planned across the West Midlands and in the North West, following a session yesterday at the willows Primary Richard Clark who is lead on the scheme gave the following quote -

"Over the past few days instructors from CTL have been working with the school to provide pedestrian training to all children in Reception and Year 1. This was very well received by the children and sets a good foundation for walking safely to school with parents and for independent travel when the children are older.

When delivering the training it is obvious to instructors that children who regularly walk to school have greater road safety awareness than those who do not. This training aims to actively encourage more children and parents to walk to school. The school is a very active partner in this project and with further help from CTL hopes to reinstate a walking bus. "

If you like to find out more or to book your schools sessions then call CTL on 01785 818193 or e mail peter@cyclist-training.co.uk.

Pedal Smoothly @ Stoke On Trent 6th Form College

January saw CTL & Velo launch a brand new interactive product, the Fabulous Pedal Smoothly which has already been busy with smoothies been made by Pedal Power across the Stoke and Staffordshire.

Pedal Smoothly is fantastic fun for all ages - public, private, charity or corporate events. 

The bike blender really stands out in a crowd, on its own or will draw an audience in to compliment other activites.  The bike blender is an amazing and interactive way for your clients and guests to create delicious fruit smoothies using pedal power alone.

Here's a few pics of it in action yesterday at Stoke on Trent 6th form college.

 

Pedal Smoothly is driven by pedal power and needs no electricity - great for any location!

 

Pedal smoothly is fun for everyone

 

 

Hire a bike on its own, with ingredients or with a staff member - we can also provide workshops that focus on wellbeing, exercise, nutrition and sustainability.

 

 

 

Velo Ride Planner

Following publication of the Velo shop rides, Martyn B and I have got together to schedule some more Sunday cafe rides around these over the year plus a few other key dates.  Schedule is below and will be posted to the Facebook Page as events in due course.  We thought a bit more structure around ride dates would be useful especially for those members that work shifts.

These rides are open to all members and operate a strict no drop policy.  All rides plan a cafe stop unless otherwise stated or agreed on the day. There are some fairly challenging rides here so a good level of fitness is required.

If these look a little challenging then the Sat Ride which operates from the store every Sat at 9 am for 2 hrs is a good place to start upping your fitness.

Cheers.

Jon

MEN OF FLANDERS

Velo - its not just and ordinary  Cycling Club – it’s a growing community of crazy mad guys who all just love riding.  We are a modernist group who just love riding bikes and everything that goes with it!

It's winter - its cold but at the weekend I got smashed round 55 miles by the considerably faster fitter and leaner Andy Price - why - because classics season is approaching and this year a number of us have entered the Liege Sportive - Belgium 100 miles (more if you are mental) and some 8500 ft of climbing.

On a ride the other day I discovered a few other guys are going to Flanders this year and thought they might appreciate this little insight.

In 2014 I suggested we go and do the Tour of Flanders Sportive and 4 other pioneering guys agreed (Foolish). I have been riding to various degrees of mediocre for years but mostly the others are relative newbies.  When we talk about cycling they do so with the passion and expression I consider that the cave men must have displayed when they discovered fire !

So it was set - 4 guys, one people carrier laden with bikes, and a lot of banta and anticipation! 

Having suggested this trip, as I rode into the first sector of Pave and the bars came up to meet my hands, my thoughts were a combination of shit this is going to hurt and the guys are going to murder me!

Everyone got around thankfully and we had a great laugh – in particular partying on top of the Kwaremont with what seemed like the entire population of Belgium the following day was simply awesome!!  Its a great spot to watch the pro race as there is a square with a big screen food and naturally Beer ! In particular because the race goes up the Kwaremont 3 times you get to see more live action.

Put simply it is the best organised sportive I have ridden with police on every junction and excellent feed stations! 

So in April last year 5 Random guys bought together in a single weekend and all now Men of Flanders!

This year a pensions man, a sales man ,a retired teacher, a property man (me) 3 Police officers (security detail) and a traffic engineer will take on the famous Liege Baston Liege course - why - because we can ;-)

Boz - The Baker

He's a mountain biker, a converted roadie a gentleman and surprisingly a baker of talent !

At Velo, everyone brings something to the party and Boz is one of those guys.  His cake has become almost institutional on a Saturday morning ! Its been in place so long I have lost sight of when it started but the unassuming sometimes bearded, bespectacled mountain biker, persuaded roadie starting rocking up with cake to accompany the post Saturday coffee! So established has this become that he gets requests for certain members favourites!

Not content with smashing each other up local climbs such as Hanchurch as is the usual way on a club ride, this has recently developed in to a bit of a Bake off rather than Bike off with new entrants in to the post ride provisions! Boz is holding his own though and has been the mainstay of the post ride cake hit!

So the purpose of this Blog is simply to say - To Boz - Thanks you are a Top Bloke !

If you fancy a sociable ride on a Saturday Morning we always do a steady 2 hours and everyone gets round. But you might want to put the hammer down in the last mile or so if you don't want to be in a Que for the Coffee Machine - and of course Cake !!

If Boz was a  Lego Mini Figure !

Cobbles, Cafes Chain Gangs and Selfies - Velo.

Cobbles, Cafes, Chain Gangs and Selfies !

Flanders April 2014

So here we go with the first of my Guest Velo Blogs and given its the end of the year I thought I would provide my perspective on the year from a Velo member perspective!  Its  been quite a year for the club -The start of which included the launch of the very stylish new club kit and a relaunch of the membership scheme by The Management - Jeffers and the Williams Sisters!

Its been a massive success and the club has seen rapid growth! I went on the Sat ride last week and led out a 23 strong group up the Eccleshall Road despite the cold conditions ! 

But this has got me thinking - what is making us successful ? well the membership scheme is a no brainer given it pays for a service and gets you access to all the rides and member discounts in the shop. 

But thats not the sole attraction.  For me its the approach, we are not an old school elitist racing led club where non racers are made to feel second class, we are a modernist group of guys who just love riding bikes and everything that goes with it! 

Our facebook page is testament to this as it is more likely to be adorned with the latest set of action shots from inside the peleton rather that a list of Time Trial Results from the weekend etc.  You are more likely to find the latest picture in a series of members rides framed by a random farm gate or the latest cycling landscape art / selfie from Paul Hollins !

  

Hollins - Selfie Tastic

All of this is usually backed up by a load of Banta followed by the random suggestion of actually going for a ride some time!  

We are not anti racing at all - in fact some of the guys have got into the racing scene this year and that is likely to progress into next season. Watch this space. The Thursday night Chain gang is now pretty established and postings will recommence in Jan time to reignite the burners on those fast pace runs - and remember guys the last lap - its every man for himself ;-)

For me its been a great way of meeting people having returned to live in stone 4 years ago and at that time the only people I knew were - my parents!

Velo is a cycling based community, a developing one, in which everyone brings something to the party !

2014 started for most with the Cheshire Cat Sportive run out in pretty shocking weather !

In April 5 of us went over to ride the Tour of Flanders Sportive.  Having suggested this trip, as I rode into the first sector of Pave and the bars came up to meet my hands, my thoughts were a combination of shit this is going to hurt and the guys are going to murder me! 

Everyone got around though and we had a great laugh in particular partying on top of the Kwaremont with what seemed like the entire population of Belgium the following day was simply awesome!!  

Beers, Bikes and Belgians - The top of the Kwaremont

  

Another Leg Breaker was the Malvern Hills classic!! Mental amount of climbing !!

Getting my Legs broke By Andy Prince - A theme of the year ! 

The Annual Dougie Mac charity ride was a real highlight with a massive turn out from the club and we rolled out to Llangollen in a big group and hardly felt I had touched the pedals at half way - not sure Andy Prince did as he was - rather hung over ! 

Below are a few more photos that sum up my thoughts on Velo and our growing community of crazy mad cyclists ! See you on a Sat ride soon guys and have a fantastic Christmas and heres to a 2015 full of cycling !

 

Mow Cop - Classic Early season training - Malkin and I went on to ride 100 this day including the length to he Tissington Trail just to mix it up! Epic Day.

Epic Winter Ride out to the Peak - Classic.

Ade Cash - Shortly After Smashing it round flanders ! 2015 is going to be a great year for this guy !

Baggleys Tours are a big feature of the year - Vertical days out involving cafes! Great to see Martin this year after probably 25 years since we were in V.C. Pierre together as kids!

Paul Hollins - Fast becoming the Jens Voigt of Velo! 

Cops on Bikes - The Uber Commuters Michael Palmer and Paul Broomers ! 

The Chain Gang !

The Pros Mount the top of the Kwaremont April 2014 

CTL Launch Walking Bus Programme

Back in the warmer months CTL won a small contract to set up a sustainable travel programme in 8 Primary schools in Stoke on Trent. At the same time we were approached by a few Primary schools to run some Pedestrian training for their students.

If your a school who is interested in setting up similar and can access some funding then why not call and see what is involved

I would like to thank the team from Cyclist Training Ltd for the ‘Stepping Up’ pedestrian training that was delivered at Burnwood Community School on 08/12/14.The tutors were friendly, professional and knowledgeable. The training was specific to our school and the problems on the roads surrounding the school and the worksheets reflected this.This training has been added to our bank of evidence which has allowed us to achieve the Gold Modeshift Stars Award and has also resulted in the school being awarded the Modeshift Stars School of the Region for the West Midlands.Many thanks to you all for such a worthwhile and essential programme.Mrs. E. Wickham, Deputy Head Teacher, Burnwood Community School, Stoke-on -Trent

The whole programme went live in December and we will be working with the schools teachers students and parents to help them establish walking buses and scooter trains. Along side this will run a series of Dr Bikes, scooter Training, Learn to ride and Bikeability Levels 1, 2 & 3.

Velo Christmas opening and Ride

Not long now till Santa turns up with his array of presents for all the good riders this year, I doubt Vino will be getting anything.

Anyway for those of you who want to buy your own present or send your significant other to buy it, heres when were open and what rides either Me (Peter) Tom or Simon will be leading over Christmas

   

University & College Bikes Returns

The first phase of the Education Local Sustainable Travel fund comes to an end with a christmas break so could all students and staff please ensure that Bikes and Equipment are returned to Velo for safe keeping and maintenance.

Each site has an allocated pick up time shown below. It is essential we see all bikes at this so even if you want to keep it over christmas you must bring it to the drop off to be seen by a member of Velo Staff.

All bike will then be redistributed when the colleges and universities return after the Christmas Break.

Bike Loan Returns and Calendar Launch for 2015

16/12/2014            Newcastle College          09.00 am - 12.00

16/12/2014            S-O-T College                09.00 am - 12.00

16/12/2014            S-O-T 6th Form              01.00 pm - 15.00

18/12/2014            Staffordshire University 09.00 am - 12.00

18/12/2014            Keele Universtiy            01.00 pm - 15.00

Anyone who cannot make these dates must contact Simon Mansell by e-mail

simon@cyclist-training.co.uk

Dirty Dozen | It's Pittsburgh & A Lot of Other Stuff | A Program by Rick...

Theres got to be Stone version

of this we could run next autumn as a sportive ?











Theres got to be Stone version

of this we could run next autumn as a sportive ?

Would you run faster Naked ? (warning Strava content)

I have started to run naked.
Well kind of and Mondays run was a revolution thanks to it.


My Garmin Forerunner watch has been playing up so its gone back to madison for some love, and so  I found myself for the first time in a long time, running performance tracking naked.

I had no way of knowing my pace, distance speed heart rate recoverys or my oscillation. So I just ran. I stopped for photos at gates i watched the clouds and the otter near the river, I ran down paths, lanes and alleyways. and it was great because what i didn't know wasn't dictating what I was I up-to.

I realised afterwards I must run looking at my wrist. Checking if I'm going fast enough or if Ive gone far enough. But with out I didn't even know how far Id gone and instead of checking I started to relax and run. And do you know what I ran further than normal. A full mile and half further and I enjoyed it.

So give it go, I know that from here on in Im pretty tempted to try running Strava naked again, but perhaps not always :-)

Christmas Learn 2 Ride in Stoke & Crewe

The two most popular camps of the year are back, if you want your child to learn to ride their own bike or gain a few safety skills then sign up now. These camps book up really fast and their is limited spaces available. 

How to Fix a Flat With Lance Armstrong (watch out Tom)