And the winner is….Forme Formeula Road 24

First junior road bike
A big thumbs up from Miss OCG for her new bike!

Christmas has come early for  Miss OCG! She has her first road bike and she is thrilled!

She’s actually had it about two months now, a decent enough time to have tried it out on the road and on fields and she is loving it! And so are we.

So, choosing Miss OCG’s first junior road bike proved a tricky process but the winner is…..the Forme Formeula 24″. (more…)

My Christmas Cycling Wish List 2014

Christmas Wish List 2014

Christmas is just around the corner! Mulled wine is on the stove and the fire is lit. The trees, the fields and the roof tops are all covered with frost. It’s starting to feel very magical! The goose is getting fat and quite frankly it’s a given that I will put on a few pounds over the Christmas period, so what better motivation to get back on the bike on Boxing day (or may be the day after depending on the hangover from the big day) than some stylish new kit – hopefully very kindly left by Santa under the Christmas tree.

Here’s a few of my faves and ones I have on my own Christmas cycling wish list (I hope the big man, St. Nic, is reading this!). (more…)

OCG chats with…Olympic Gold Medallist, Ed Clancy MBE

Ed Clancy MBE
Image courtesy of CCDPR

If you pop by regularly you’ll remember how much fun I had track cycling for the first time recently. Well, as you can imagine, when I was offered the opportunity of chatting to Ed Clancy, MBE at OCG HQ recently, I couldn’t resist! Exciting times at OCG HQ!

Ed Clancy, MBE is an English professional track and road cyclist who races for Team GB and the Rapha JLT Condor-team. A two-time Olympic Gold medallist, an Olympic Bronze medallist and five-time world champion, no less! On the track his specialist disciplines are the team pursuit, in which he is the reigning Olympic and European champion and the new Olympic individual multi event, the Omnium, in which he won a bronze medal at London 2012. (more…)

Keeping motivated with Monster iSport Victory in-ear headphones

Monster iSport Victory in-ear headphonesNormally I like to cycle with friends. I find that’s the best way for me to keep motivated, but now that the colder weather is upon us it’s not always easy to get out on the bike so I’ve been looking for alternative ways of keep my commitment.

I don’t like to wear earphones when I’m cycling out on the road, purely for safety reasons – I like to hear what traffic is around me and to be able to hear any possible hazards – but when I’m training indoors on the turbo trainer music is a must! So the Monster iSport Victory in-ear headphones are a very welcome addition to my training schedule. I was asked to try them out recently during a forty minute turbo trainer session, plugged into my iPhone 4S,  in my garage with the door open on to the street. (more…)

She builds

Build your own bike
Image: Stefan Haehnel via Flickr

 

Ever contemplated building your own bike?

This was a question I asked my other half recently. How many of you have wondered about building your own bike? I’m probably not alone when I look at some bikes and think: “I really like it but If I could only change that bit, and do that with that bit, then I would just LOVE it!”  (more…)

Powered up for Autumn cycling

Autumn cycling
Image via Flickr

Brrrr, it’s been a cold week in Nottingham this week. Give me summer over winter any day of the week. Warm sunshine, blue skies and green trees…just lovely. But this is the UK and Autumn has arrived, so, if I want to carrying on cycling all year round I either need to toughen up or wrap up. (more…)

Choosing Miss OCG’s first junior road bike….where to start?! Help!

Choosing a junior road bike
Now, which one to go for?…

Miss OCG is still loving her cycling and wants a road bike.

Ever since watching the Milk Race in Nottingham back in May and being inspired to learn to ride her bike, she’s been asking for a road bike! She’s tried a few British Cycling Go Ride sessions and sampled a local club or two and she’s determined she’s ready to take it all a little bit further.

So, choosing that first junior road bike – where to start!?

(more…)

For coffee lovers…Pact Coffee

Image: Phil Jones

Cyclists love coffee. The two just seem to fit so snugly together. There’s rarely a cross word between a cyclist and their coffee cup…it’s the perfect relationship. A steaming cup of hot coffee filling the kitchen with it’s delicious aroma is the most wonderful way to start the day and the perfect way to prepare for that cycle ride. (more…)

Le Col Sport short sleeve women’s cycling jersey review

Le_Col_Summer_front view
The lovely Le Col Sport short sleeve women’s cycling jersey where, in reality, the sleeves aren’t that short and are just perfect!

About Le Col

Le Col is a cycling apparel brand established in 2009, for men and women set up by Welsh professional Team Raleigh rider, Yanto Barker. The Sport collection is the most affordable range from Le Col, but it’s certainly not a budget range. You might be forgiven for not being overly familiar with the brand Le Col – it’s not in your face or overtly out there, but it’s definitely a brand you should be checking out.

Le Col say they are ‘committed to delivering the finest products, meaning all their apparel is rigorously tested before being put into production. The personal input and critical eye on all aspects of the brands products and services sets Le Col apart from other cycling brands.’

I personally think it’s a really stylish brand. I love the simple design, the logo and the lettering. And their colours are pretty cool too. This particular top comes in this lovely bright blue, a vivid yellow and a striking red – all contrasting great against the flattering black to provide some visibility on the road.

Le Col isn’t a budget range; the Le Col Sport short sleeve women’s cycling jersey is the cheapest in their range and retails at £80(more…)