This overtaking lark

If you read many cycling blogs, especially the more London-centric ones (yes, Guardian, we're talking about you), you'd be forgiven for thinking that the entire motoring population of the UK are only days away from strapping sythes to the sides of their vehicles in a conspiratorial attempt to mow us all down.

Time to get running again

Next month, I'm taking part in the Charnwood Hills Race - an event I've done pretty much annually for about eight years. The fourteen mile course runs from Martin School in Anstey, across Bradgate Park, over Broombrigg, around Beacon Hill and back and as it is held on the first Sunday of February, it's usually bitterly cold and very muddy.

Review - Forme Longcliffe 5.0

A couple of months ago, I bought a Forme Longcliffe 5.0 road bike. My wife wanted to try out something a bit sportier than her Giant hybrid and I was after a winter bike that I didn't need to be too precious about. Our budget was very tight (£300ish), so the three bikes we considered were Decathlon's B'TWIN Triban 3, Halford's Carrera TdF (which was £249 at the time) and the Forme Loncliffe 5.0 which was on offer at Rutland Cycling for £329 (since buying the bike, the price has fallen to £299).

pride comes before a fall

it's been a wet weekend - the first properly wet one for ages. Sunday's planned ride with friends had to be cancelled so I moped around the house and made lunch. Happily, it dried up a bit afterwards so I decided to go for a quick spin on the 'winter bike'.