Category: Reviews

5 Reasons to Love the Vitamix S30 Blender

5 Reasons to Love the Vitamix S30

5 Reasons Why I Love the Vitamix S30 – and you will too!

I have been eyeing up one of the Vitamix blenders for around a year, so when Vitamix contacted me a couple of months ago and asked me to try out their Vitamix S30 I was super quick to bite their hand off! Trying to consciously improve my diet so that I can feel better on the inside and look better on the outside, the Vitamix range had been my radar as some of the best blenders on the market.

Despite its pretty hefty RRP at around £299, the S-series is the baby of the Vitamix models; for a kitchen blender I can’t deny that’s a lot of money to pay. But the Vitamix is special and I can see why they have the reputation they have. For anyone into their healthy eating and their cooking, the Vitamix S30 is an investment worth adding to your kitchen.  Here’s the top five reasons why I love it: (more…)

The Boardman Road Team Carbon Women’s Bike

Boardman Road Team carbon women's road bike

If you’re looking to invest in a carbon road bike that will last you a good couple of years and your budget is under £1000 the Boardman Road Team carbon women’s bike should most definitely be on your list.

I’ve had my Specialized Dolce Sport since I first discovered cycling some four or five years ago. It’s not carbon framed, but back then it cost me around £800 and my budget wouldn’t stretch to a carbon framed bike. As my first bike, I can’t deny that I’ve been attached to it, so much so that I hadn’t considered upgrading until recently, despite people regularly asking me why I don’t ride a carbon frame. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it and it’s incredibly comfortable but it is starting to look a little dated now and in all honesty, if you’re into cycling, then carbon is where it’s at! So, when Halfords asked if I’d like to try the Boardman Road Team carbon women’s bike, I jumped at the chance. I was really keen to see how it felt and if I could really see a genuine difference in my riding. Does a carbon frame really make a difference? (more…)

Review: Skins DNAmic Compression Tights

Skins DNAmic Compression tightsThose who read Ordinary Cycling Girl regularly will be aware that I have some back issues which can give me some referred leg pain. Annoying when you’re a lover of sport and fitness, but you know, you ride with it and you find ways of making it work. I’d read that compression tights can help to regulate blood circulation and assist and speed up recovery time from exercise, so, when Skins contacted me to ask if I’d be interested in trying out a pair of their DNAmic compression tights, I was super keen.

I like to try and mix up my fitness and keep things interesting so I’m not always on the bike. As someone with a bad back, it’s kind of crucial for me, as cycling, whilst it’s low impact for joints, can cause really tight hamstrings which can have a knock-on effect on my lower spine. So, whilst running is out for me, the gym and certain gym classes are not. I like yoga and pilates and lately, I’ve discovered stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and SUP yoga! So I’d say I’ve put these tights through their paces over the last month or so. (more…)

Review: The Heritage Jersey from Svelte

Svelte Heritage Jersey
The Heritage Jersey from Svelte

Please welcome my better half to the Ordinary Cycling Girl review panel! Let’s call him Ordinary Cycling Guy for ease; it fits with the blog initials! Here he is with his review of the Heritage Jersey from new British brand, Svelte.

Thanks to Ordinary Cycling Girl (my wife!) for asking me to review the Heritage Jersey from Svelte.

Now, unlike my slender other half, I am a robust MAMIL who fell in love with cycling once rugby became too painful. The flash, heavily emblazoned offerings of many manufacturers are not a ‘good look’ for me. I like to go for understated but hopefully still good-looking kit which, if you care about quality, means expensive! Svelte’s stated aim is to offer ‘stylish, high-quality bike clothing at competitive prices’. This sounds like good news…. (more…)

Junior Cycling: Review of the Frog Road 67 Bike

Frog Road 67 bikeWhen you find a bike your child wants to ride you know you’re on to a winner. Anything which encourages children to get outdoors and to keep fit is, in my book, worth its weight in gold!  For kids who already love cycling, like my eight year old daughter, finding a bike that makes it easy and enjoyable just adds to their enthusiasm. Wrap all that up into a nice little bundle, adding fantastic build quality and decent components on a bike that really fits them and then you know their enthusiasm is unlikely to wane.  Allow me to introduce you to the Frog road 67 bike. (more…)

Women’s Cycling Kit: Fierlan Three-Quarter Length Bib Cycling Tights

Fierlan three-quarter length bib cycling tights

When I first discovered my love for cycling there was little out there in the form of women’s specific kit, particularly shorts and tights that were cut for a woman’s shape. As a five foot nine tall woman, with a 33 inch inside leg, I would opt for men’s tights so that I could be sure to get the leg length I needed, but take it from me, there is nothing more uncomfortable than cycling in something where the chamois is bulky and chaffing in the groin area. Ouch!

Who are Fierlan?

That was my experience until I discovered Fierlan. Fierlan is a British women’s cycling apparel brand based in Bristol. They’re quite new to the scene and with lovely flattering designs, that are cool rather than girly and great Italian made quality, they’re really making a name for themselves. (more…)

Review: Showers Pass Rogue Hoodie

Showers Pass Rogue HoodieAsk anyone who sees me out at the moment and they’ll tell you just how often I’m wearing this red Showers Pass Rogue Hoodie, a soft shell jacket which is packed with great little features.

Before I start, you can probably already tell this is going to be a positive review; and then you may well ask why you don’t see many negative reviews on OCG. In case it’s not obvious, the items reviewed on Ordinary Cycling Girl are sent to me by the manufacturer, distributor or PR. I don’t receive payment for writing reviews. The truth is, there’s not a lot of fun in writing negative reviews about products that are far from impressive. I receive quite a lot of clothing for review purposes and in the main, I like much of it. If I do, you’ll find a write up on here telling you exactly why it’s worth spending your hard earned cash on it. It’ll be an honest and unbiased review. If there are any bad points I’ve found I’ll certainly tell you, but if it’s featured on Ordinary Cycling Girl you can be sure that overall I’ve liked it.

So, what’s great about the Showers Pass Rogue Hoodie?

I’ve been wearing this windproof, waterproof jacket for a couple of months now and since Autumn has arrived it’s really come into its own. It’s a multi purpose jacket so it’s rarely been off my back and I’ve been wearing it to anything and everything, not just for cycling. (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…)

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…)