RAS de Cymru: Stage 2 - Chepstow Hills

So today was the first road race, on the fairly hilly Chepstow circuit. 52 miles, with just under 4,000ft of climbing. 3 laps, with a hill finish on the 5 mile climb out of Chepstow towards Usk. (4 times up here in total)

This circuit was used last year, and last year I punctured on the first lap, during the descent into Shirenewton. I spent the race on my own, and really didn't want to do that again, plus it was chucking it down.

Today was dry, and at times, a bit sunny... I was feeling good after the TTT yesterday, and as we faffed around in the car park, I think the rest of Phoenix were too. Given this is quite a hilly circuit I was looking forward to test myself of the hills and see where I was compared to the rest of the field. Start of the race, and it was straight onto the climb, which is a gradual ascent over 5.5 miles, average probably around 3%-4%. The bottom section is quite narrow and very twisty, couple this with solid white lines for around 3 miles this made for a pretty sedate climb. Also made moving up the field very difficult, I was probably 40/50 riders from the front at this point. I needed to move up. Thankfully towards the top there is sharp left which then kicks up. I passed quite a few here, moving up through the field. Next section was a fast and wide descent into Crick, around 4 miles in total. It was pretty intense flying down at 45-50mph in the bunch. Out of Crick there was two quite deceptive climbs, one just after the junction which wasn't much of an issue, then a second, slightly longer section of climbing, it kicked at the start, and the bunch slowed down thankfully, but a few attacks off the front meant that pace kept of creeping up, was starting to hurt now, back down towards Chepstow and it was onto the second lap. I was moving up again and there were a few attacks off the front, at which point group of 4 got away (think it was here anyway) with another group of 6 going shortly after. The field was getting thinned out abit now, which meant descending was feeling a bit safer as you had more room to move around. Coming upto the small climbs after Crick and the pace just went mental, not sure what happened, some serious attacks I guess, but that seriously hurt. Still, hanging around in a good position onto the final lap and penultimate time up the climb. This lap was pretty standard, we reeled in the group of 6 that were away, leaving 4 riders out front at around 50 seconds. Final time on the climb, 3 laps done and 4th time up the climb. Legs were still feeling good, heart rate on the climb wasn't that high, average of probably 160bpm, so I had the capacity to push... This proved difficult though given how hard it was to move up... I should have been in a better position coming into the climb. The finish line was around 0.5 miles from the summit (safer section of road) 1km to go sign was passed and the pace was getting up, riders all over the whole road, and yet again, difficult to move forward, I sowed my way through for the sprint which I contested and finished in the top 20. Don't think there was any time gaps for the bunch, so the 4 riders who stayed away will have a nice advantage of around 50 seconds plus yesterday.

Overall pretty pleased. Will be interesting to see where this puts us on the GC table. Things I learnt, MOVE UP. Kind of obvious I guess, but i'll focus on this in tomorrow's stage. RR in the morning with a ITT in the afternoon. Think i'll be cooked tomorrow evening.

As always, thanks to the BC comms, organisers, marshals, NEG riders. The race was very well organised. Thanks to Hugh Fairclough for the photos, seriously quick uploading!

RAS de Cymru: Stage 1 - TTT

It's that time of year again, the RAS de Cymru. I did this last year, and it was brutal, so obviously I was keen to head to Wales and be back again this year to experience that 5 day, 6 stage race pain. Riding again for London Phoenix we had a strong team of Richy Pointer, Simon Johnson and guesting due to Martin's injury, Ross Hallard (plus me).

Stage one, much like last year was a TTT. t was however a different course, slightly shorter at 8.5km and on faster A roads. Unfortunately as a team we hadn't even ridden together let along practiced any TT techniques, so we were going into this a bit blind. We didn't drive the course before, and due to the pretty damp conditions, we we not going to ride it either...

3 minutes to go and we were waiting in the layby. pretty wet, and pretty unsure just how we'd go. I was first rider off, with instructions to ease into the pace. Straight away we hit a problem as Simon, who was second man, could't clip in, there was a 10-15ft gap between me and the guys, so I slowed up for them to rejoin. Back on, and we wound up the pace, typically taking 30 second turns, although I'll be honest, I couldn't really see or read my Garmin through the rain...

We were working together well though as we came upto the first of two roundabouts around 3.5km in I took these fairly steady, perhaps too steady? I don't know, but I certainly didn't want to come off. Onto teh second roundabout and I was 3rd wheel, I let a gap form, perhaps costing us a second? Sprinting back onto Richy & Ross and it was back down the A48 toards the finish. I was feeling pretty strong and doing some good turns. The hills, headwind and water were all a bit sapping on the way back, perhaps loosing a few seconds here, difficult to know really. Final push and Ross was on the front for 30 seconds driving the pace, we finished strong and all finished together which was great.

Me on the front. Good line.

Ross & Richy. Me, chasing.

Our time was 11:41 which has placed us 11th (26 teams) Winning time was 11:04, which was pretty rapid, albeit not surprising given one of their riders is Rich Bussell.

Stage 2 tomorrow is a hilly circuit and a hill top finish. I punctured on the first lap last year and lost valuable time, so i'm keen for that to not happen again.

As always, great organisation by the BC comms, organisers and marshals, thanks!

Mallorca & The dhb Aeron Collection

There is something about Mallorca, maybe it's the mountains, the beaches, the sun, but maybe it's the ice cream…  I first visited Mallorca in May 2015, it was pretty epic, so Lucinda & I decided to come back again this May. This time of year could lead to changeable weather, but we were lucky, with temperatures around 23/24 degrees and 5/7 days of full sun so really, perfect cycling conditions, and a perfect opportunity for me to try out the new dhb Aeron and Aeron Speed range. 

Now unlike many, we don’t both taking our own bikes. In my opinion, it’s a huge hassle, you’ve got to find a bike box, pay the excess baggage and cart the bloody thing to the airport, not to mention the risk of getting your bike damaged… We use PRO cycle hire (http://www.procyclehire.com) so have it pretty good. For the week (6 days) we paid 100 Euros each, and were equipped with Massi Team Carbons, full Ultegra, Fulcrum Quattros, they’re really nice bikes.

Day One
We arrived late on Monday, picked the bikes up Tuesday and headed out to Formentor Lighthouse, a classic route which has a few good climbs (circa 10 min efforts) and some truly spectacular views of the Island. It’s a great way to experience just a little bit of what you’ll be riding over the coming week.  The weather was perfect, no wind, clear blue skies, and around 23 degrees. I opted for the Aeron bibs and jersey on this ride. First up, the bibs. Straight from the packet the quality and feel are excellent, and improved on the previous years models. Once on, they feel very comfortable and supportive, the quality of the material is excellent and the fit is superb. The new leg grippers not only look great, but do a very good job of well, gripping. One of my pet hates is when bib shorts ride up, uncomfortable and looks rubbish. No movement at all in these. I wore the Aeron SS base and the Aeron Jersey as well. With the base, I was particularly interested to see how it would cope with the heat. In short, pretty well. It’s really is very comfortable, fits well and does an excellent job of wicking the sweat away. Kind of all you really need for a base I guess. The Aeron short sleeve jersey is actually one of my favorite items from the collection, lightweight, simple design. Good length arms and gripers, and no riding up or flapping from the main body of the jersey.  After the out and back we decided to go and check out the old town of Pollenca, with the promise of ice cream, coffee and a steep hill which looks back towards the bay. The coffee was indeed excellent, and the views superb, well worth a trip up the road. 

View from the hotel

Pollensa beach on Day one. 

On top of Formentor

Climbing again

Looking out from Formentor Lighthouse

Up & Down 

Old Pollensa Views

Day Two

Today was to be Sa Colabra (Col Deis Reiss) a 6 mile climb, averaging 7%. We had ridden it the year before, but together, so I was keen to stretch the legs and see where I was in terms of VAM and a time. We set off early (7am) as it’s 30 miles to the bottom of the climb (out and back ride) and can get pretty busy with bikes, cars and coaches, so if you want a clear run, hitting it early is essential. Time up the climb was 31:03 – 174bpm Ave – VAM 1291 – 307/27109. Seemed a pretty solid effort,  I always think I can improve after an effort, and certainly think I could and should get to 1,300 VAM on such a climb, maybe it was the hire bike… Pretty sedate ride back to the hotel, but I was glad for the cold beer by the pool after!

Summit Selfie

Classic Shot 

Back from lluc

Day Three

First time UP the Col de Battalla today. We rode down it last year , and it was a bit sketchy, loads of traffic, so another early start. Down through Campanet and Moscari. Distance is only 4.8 miles, and only averaging 5%, it’s a very smooth climb, you can really build up a rhythm. Time was 20:18 – 169bpm Ave – VAM 1126 – 368/29962. One to certainly improve on in terms of HR and VAM, but overall not too bad. Upto the turn off for Sa Colabra, and then back down into Lluc. Another scorching day, so we went for some lunch at Cala Sant Vicenc. Never been here before, but it’s truly stunning, a few little coves and beaches, restaurants on the cliff front and emerald blue sea. Think I might just stop here.

Climbing

Cala Sant Vicenc

Day Four
The Ironman 70.3 event was on during our stay, so we took the opportunity to ride the course, around 55 miles with 3,750ft of climbing, most (if not all) of which is at the start up Coll de Femenia, an excellent 5 mile climb into the mountains from the coast. As we reached the summit the cloud was getting lower, the sun wasn’t coming out and the drizzle started as a fine mist, building upto a more constant stream of rain… Time to get off the mountain I think. A pretty sketchy descent down the Col de Battalla and through Campanet and out onto the flat Mallorcan lanes. A really fun route out to Muro and Sa Pobla then finishing in Alcudia. A great option for when the weather perhaps isn’t as nice as it should be.

Aeron Tan

Day Five
It rained, it rained a lot. So we watched the Ironman from the shelter of a tree for an hour or so, went for a run, chilled out and watched the Giro for the rest of the day. The evening came around, the rain had stopped, the roads were drying out. Had to get out on the bike really. Just a quick ride up the first Formentor climb. This is relatively short at only 2 miles, but average 6% gaining 640ft. I forgot my HR monitor, so just went “all out”. Was in a fair bit of pain at the top, but it seemed a good effort. Turns out it was. 8:45, VAM of 1337 and 76/30769. That’s more like it.

Day Six
This was to be out last ride on the Island, and I’d planned a big one. Weather was looking perfect again, a fresh start, but temperatures due to build up throughout the day. The route would head South of the mountains, through Campanet, Selva, Lloseta, over the Orient and Col de Soller into the Port of Soller, before hitting the biggest climb on the island, Puig Major. This was going to clock in at around 90 miles and 9,000ft of climbing, a big day in the saddle, so an ideal opportunity to test out the new Aeron Speed kit. The speed range is a step up in the collection from the standard Aeron kit. An emphasis on aero, lightweight and close fitting garments for long days in the saddle really rings true. The bib shorts are just excellent. As soon as you put them on, they feel comfortable, the wider mesh straps and mesh back offer great comfort and cooling capabilities, whilst still providing support. For me though, the best part about these bibs is the pad. dhb use a CyTech Elastic pad, I wont bore you with the details, but the different thickness throughout the pad, coupled with the channels in the pad to reduce and stop numbing meant it was amazing on this ride. Literally no discomfort at all. Of course, you don’t just buy something because it’s comfortable, it has to look good. Thankfully dhb deliver here as well, with a more matt finish to the fabric, and a range of colours for the band at the bottom. The first thing you notice about the Aeron Speed jersey is how slippy it is, sounds odd, but the material is very aero. Super lightweight and breathable it was a pleasure to ride on such a hot day in the mountains. I like the design too, looks a bit different to the standard block colours/patterns. The fit is perhaps the best bit, again, very aero and close fitting, there was no issues with the material riding up or bunching, and the sleeve length was long and gripped well. The ride to Port de Soller seemed to take longer than expected, yet we arrived around 11am, found a bar on the harbour front in the sunshine, consumed a coffee and cake and relaxed. Wasn’t quite sure I wanted to smash myself up the Puig now… As with the other long climbs on this trip I wanted to really test myself. This is a superb climb, 8.8 miles at 6%. I was feeling great so aimed to sit between 175bpm and 180bpm for the full duration of the climb, and looking through Strava I was very consistent here. Time was 42:39 – VAM 1143, average HR of 178 and 203/17485. From here it was the standard route through Lluc back to the hotel and a well earned rest.

Early morning into the hills

Climbing

Snack Stop 

So that’s Mallorca done for another year, and another properly good week away on the bikes, enjoying the weather, the roads and some sweet kit. I was happy with my performance on the hills, might be quite a way off from the HC season, but pretty good practice for the Etape!  

Special thanks to dhb for the awesome kit, you can see the Aeron collection here: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ss16-dhb-aeron  For a bit of advice of size, I’m a Small in the jersey and a Large on the bib shorts. I’m 6ft 4” with a 30” waist and 36”-37” chest.

We stayed at the Pollenca Park in Puerto Pollensa, all inclusive package, it’s one of the bigger hotels in the area and caters very well for cyclists, secure basement storage for bikes, a great selection of fresh food throughout the day, and breakfast which is aimed at cyclists (porridge). We flew with Monarch and hired our bikes from https://www.procyclehire.com/ who provided a fantastic service.

Thanks for reading again.

Will

Death or Glory: It's Just a Race

Today was a trip over to Cyclopark to race the Southborough & District Wheelers Crit in the Park. A 2/3/4 race, but, as there was a cat 3 only and cat 4 only race just a few hours before this race just had cat 2s in. A decent size field of 36 lined up, some good riders present, so I was pretty sure I'd be in for a good kicking.

I'd had a pretty decent week, two chaingangs and some solid RP morning sessions meant my legs were feeling pretty good. Im still on the old TCR for now whilst my frame gets repaired, buckled wheel and broken saddle, stuff I maybe should have sorted, ah well.

I got a good start, maybe 5th wheel into the first corner (missing the hairpin due to a circus) and held it there for the first lap. I didn't really have a plan for this race, but I didn't want to sit in the bunch and do nothing only to miss out on the sprint in the final lap, that's boring right? So on the second lap I attacked up the hill, it's a good circuit for me, a decent size hill and plenty of corners. Apart from Palace (obviously) it's my favourite circuit. It was with some surprise to me (and probably others) that on the 3rd lap I was still away, the bunch now at 10 seconds back. This might be fun for a few laps I thought... Laps passed and I was still away, concentrating on nailing the corners and making sure my HR didn't  dip below 180bpm. Around 15 minutes into this solo mission, two riders (James Freeman from Dulwich plus another) broke away from the bunch and tried to get over, they came within 12 seconds but just couldn't quite reach me, maybe I should have slowed and we could have worked together? Maybe just continue to end myself. 25 minutes in and I could see I was still maintaining around a 15 second gap, not huge, but enough, and I could see the gap growing on certain parts of the circuit. I didn't slow down, well I don't think I did anyway, but after 30 minutes I was finally caught by a Richardsons Trek rider and one other. We worked together briefly, with the RT rider going off on a counter attack, I followed, he shouted across to sit on his wheel for a rest and we can work together. Great idea in principle mate, and thanks, but I was cooked. He sailed off into the distance, never to be seen again and take the eventual win. Kudos. I stayed very active in the bunch for the last 30 minutes. Another attack meant I went clear for another 3 laps, but the bunch clearly thought I was on my arse, so didn't chase me down immediately. Back in the bunch, feeling good, but I knew I'd not have much for the sprint. Bell lap and there was a well timed attack, plus another shortly after meant it was a bunch sprint for 4th... I actually felt quite good, rolled over the line around 15th ish. So yeah, real death and glory stuff. 

Staying away.

About to be caught

I was pretty chuffed to stay away for 30minutes in such a good field. I mean yeah, I didn't get any points, but I don't care, it was one of the best races I've done in a while, properly enjoyed it! 

Thanks to Lucinda for the cheering, shouting and photos, and Southborough & District Wheelers for putting on a great event. 

Crit on the Campus - Stirling BC - Race Report

Now I've never raced in Scotland, much the same with England I thought? But looking down the start list for Stirling BC's Crit on the Campus I was slightly concerened to see a selection of big hitters, including Evan Oliphant of Raleigh GAC... 

Lucinda was racing in the E1234 ladies race, and myself in the E123 mens race later. The numbers were pretty big, with 30 in the ladies race and around 70 in the men's, I had no real idea about course, expect it was super technical, abit like Crystal Palace (for my southern readers) but on acid... 

The HQ was Stirling University, and I've got to say, it was stunning, having grounds surrounds by mountains and having their own Loch was quite cool, certainly a bit better than Sheffield Hallam. Running upto the event @critonthecampus were very active, giving some useful insights and information, such as Tunnocks provided upon registration. CPCRITS, take note... Facilities were excellent, good selection of food, all you really needed. There were loads of spectators around the course, heckling, shaking cow bells, it actually felt quite like a cross race. Full race commentary on all the races meant the atmosphere was great, probably one of the best Crits I've raced.

As the name suggests this Crit was run around a university campus, so not a purpose made circuit. This made it tough, speed bumps, curbs and road furniture all played a part, not to mention a varying degree in the quality of surface. Looking at the map it was difficult to get a sense of gradient and climbing, however upon seeing the finishing hill sprint i had a feeling this was going to be pretty tough. 

Lucinda's race was first. 40 minutes + 5 in what seems a pretty stacked field, including local and national teams and clubs. I knew the hill finish would work well for her and positioning was going to be key with this field. I was watching from the side, on the final S bend before the hill finish, a good location I, and many others, thought. Within the first lap the race had become quite fragmented, clearly pace from the off was hot, the front group of 5 consisted of Shani Bloch-Davidov, Cha Joiner (Commonwealth Silver medallist)and Sarah Bradford among others with a second chasing group of 7, of which Lucinda was present. Over the next 15 or so minutes from leaders gap was growing, albeit their group shrinking and now consisting of 1 breakaway and 2 chasers, the other 2 had been swallowed up by Lucinda's group, now at 8 riders. 5 to go and it was a lead group of 2, and the chasing group, still at 8 strong. Lucinda was in a great position, looking very strong up the hill, so I fancied her chances in the sprint, well, that was until the final S bend, on the penultimate lap when a rider rolled a tub, hit the deck, along with two riders who fell on top of her, including Lucinda. Nothing broken, bike ok, so she got back on and rode the last lap, alone, but coming in 9th. Not quite the sprint finish she wanted, but a great result non the less.

Now it was my turn for an hour of pain. 1 neutralised lap and a bit of napping meant I rolled upto the start, right at the back. Think I need to sharpen my elbows... Right from the off and because the course was fairly narrow and technical there was 1 long line of riders. I moved up and continued to do so, going through a few groups, riders getting shelled out the back at an alarming pace. 10 minutes in and I wondered if I could keep this up? The lead group were off in the distance now, and on every lap were pulling away, slightly disheartening seeing this, but, all the same the group I was in worked well and certainly wasn't easy! We continued to work together, picking up a few riders that had been shelled from the front group. I was pretty pleased when the 5 lap board came up, I've hung on. Penultimate lap and the leaders caught us, a small break away I think. I rolled over the line 28th so mid pack, not great, but then not awful, and skills to build on. The men's race was won by Joe Nally of Hardie Bike, 2^nd was Evan Oliphant of Raleigh GAC and 3^rd David Lines of Wheelbase Altura, so all in all a pretty strong field.

Thanks to Stirling BC for putting on such a great event, brilliant course and atmosphere, certainly one i’ll be doing again next year, i’ll even try and bring some other riders from South of the border. 

You can find out everything you need to know here: http://crit.stirlingbikeclub.org.uk/ 

Photo credits to Andrew Gerrie: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewgerrie 

#Lightbro

Sometimes I do wonder why I set my alarm for 5am to go cycling. Most people, infact, most other cyclists would think that is perhaps a little daft? I can't really argue with that, it is kind of daft, but at the same time I love it. It's all about the #lightbro.

This morning was a clear example of why that 5am alarm made sense. The weather forecast was good for the first few hours of the day, and with only limited time, and potentially icy roads in the countryside out of London, Lucinda and I headed over to Swains Lane, Highgate, for our annual Mt Ventoux Challenge (25 reps, 6,500ft climbing) It was the light streaming through the trees, increasing shadows on every lap, the birds just waking up, and the pain in the legs. I know that 25 Swains sounds hard, but as with most challenges like this it is 50% body and 50% mind. That said, I don't fancy 135, which is an Everest... A really great morning on the bike. The best bit? You finish your ride, all before 10am and can spend the rest of the morning drinking coffee and eating pastries. #pro.

Up on Swains today.

Some mornings the weather is rubbish and you do wonder why you bother, but then the following day you'll wake up to clear (and cold) sky. Regents Park, is another pretty special place when the sun is rising, the rest of London is just waking up, apart from a few runners, some ducks, and some wild RPR members.

Regents Park. Central London, but not. 

It's often hard to believe when you're sat at your desk, gazing out the window at grey skies that earlier that day you were riding your bike, and the weather was awesome. There is something about seeing a sunrise over a city, not quite sure why, maybe it's the buildings acting as urban mountains? Maybe the light just looks cool? It's all about getting the best of the day.

Over to Central London from Alexander Palace

That same morning above. 

Central London from Archway Bridge

Central London from Hampstead Heath.

Not to forget the #lightbro, but that 5am alarm certainly means you'll get the miles in. "Ow I could never get up that early" Try it, I guarantee you'll have finished your ride, be sat at your desk, at home, whatever, and be feeling pretty chuffed with yourself. Biggest tip though, make sure you get everything ready the night before and be out the door in 15 minutes. 

Why #lightbro? have a look on Instagram. Then you'll see. 

Enjoy the photos,

Will

The Long Term Kit Review: DHB Aeron Range

For anybody that knows me, or has ridden with me, you'll know that i'm pretty much always cold when on the bike. I've tried lots of different methods over the years from extra thick base layers, to waterproof jackets over the top of a jersey. So, it was with much trepidation, that when DHB asked if I could review and test their Aeron range, I thought I might actually find a range of kit that will keep me warm over winter. 

I've been riding and testing the Aeron range for the past 3 months over a wide range of rides and conditions. So, some background, DHB's new Aeron range is their performance and flagship kit. Originally starting off as just DHB's top of the line bib shorts, this range has evolved into a full range. 

Aeron Roubaix Bibs

This might sound a bit odd, but these are only my second pair of bib longs. Up until winter 14/15 I had only ever ridden in bib shorts with leg warmers. So, as you can imagine, my first pair if bib longs were a bit of a revelation. A pair of classic DHB Roubaix long bibs, served me well, kept me warm and looked good. I was sure these Aeron bib longs would be just as good, if not better. I've worn these for around 1,000 miles now. Usual ride time in these was around 3 hours, as I tended to ride them on the longer weekend and weekday training rides, and they have been superb, very comfortable on all day rides, look good, have zips at the bottom to make getting on and off easier and most importantly the fleecy roubaix fabric throughout keeps you very warm. What more can you ask for? The only change I would make would be to have the zip and material coming up further up your chest to provide an extra layer of warmth.

Aeron Roubaix LS Jersey

Perhaps the best bit of kit from the entire range is the Aeron Roubaix long sleeve jersey. I find jerseys quite a difficult thing to get right in terms of sizing and warmth. The Aeron jersey is made from roubaix lined material, so offers a nice, thick fleecy lining on the arms and body, yet on the rear has slightly thinner material and thus being extra breathable. This jersey has some really key features that I look for, they're simple, but it makes a big difference, first of all, the neck is high, this offers essential protection from the cold, and in addition, looks great. A second key thing is long arms. At 6ft 4" I clearly have quite long arms, often when trying jerseys if I opt for a size that is good in the body, offering a close fit, the sleeves are miles too short, and you get that annoying bit of skin showing between your gloves and jersey, with this jersey, that just isn't an issue. The cuffs are long and elasticated for extra comfort, and ease of getting on and off over gloves, clever. 

I opted for Small and the fluro yellow colour. I tend to go with slightly smaller sizes that usual to get the close fitting nature (This is small, i'm a 37/38" chest) I'll be honest, this is probably one of the best fitting jerseys I own. It looks great, doesn't bulk up when on the drops, doesn't flap in the wind. The fluro yellow is also a great touch for winter and helps with being that little bit extra visible on the roads. I've been wearing this jersey for around 3,000 miles now  in a wind range of conditions, from early December's mild "winter" of 8 degrees, to the more recent weather where we have finally seen temperatures drop below zero. The jersey has been teamed with a LS DHB merino base layer for temperatures around 5 degrees, anything colder than this i'll use the Aeron lightweight Windslam gilet for extra warmth. A couple of cool little features include a zip rear pocket with a waterproof lining, simple touch, but clever and keep the rain and sweat out. 

Aeron Thermal Socks
Socks. A topic that will stir up much conversation and debate between cyclists. Long white,  fancy patterns, black etc... everybody has a favorite style. Thankfully, winter means this debate if often sidelined as your socks are often covered. These Aeron socks are a good length, a simply grey colour (others available if you fancy), no odd patterns, but most importantly for this time of year they're thermal. Nothing much to say really, they work, they have worn well, and can be worn at work if you forget your plain black work socks...

Aeron Lightweight Windslam Gilet
Another cyclist's wardrobe favorite, the gilet. I wear one alot. I've got 4 different ones, and this is often a go to choice. The Aeron range consists of two gilets, softshell one, and this, the lightweight Windslam. The very nature of a gilet means the lightweight construction of this is ideal. It will keep the wind and chill off you first thing but when you're drilling yourself in Zone 5 you can stuff this in a jersey pocket. Once on, the fit is great, I opted for a medium to allow for layering up, and the fit over a base and jersey is perfect, I certainly wouldn't want to go any smaller and the elastic grippers keep it in place no issue. An issue i've had with other gilets in the past is that once on, unless you unzip, you can't access your jersey pockets. DHB have overcome this by putting two slits on the back to allow your hand through to access the pockets. It's the little things but that is a really good feature.

Aeron Oversocks
Oversocks are pretty simple really (although try explaining to non cyclists when you're putting socks over your shoes) and an ideal extra layer when full overshoes aren't needed, they also do a pretty good job of protecting your shoes and keeping them clean. I've been using Prendas oversocks for the past few years, so was keen to see how these DHB ones will stack up. Whilst you may think and oversock is just an oversock, these DHB ones have a few key differences, first of all, they're quite long. Second they have reflective stripes on the heel and the toe, subtle but offer just a little bit extra visability in low light & dark. They have worn well, the constant stop/start nature of commuting means that they are now starting to develop holes in the toes, but they're only £10, so I reckon that's pretty good.

So, my overall verdict? Well, the Aeron range really is great, the value and price is on point, typically much cheaper than rivals, the quality and fit are superb, and have really upped the game on previous DHB items iv'e worn, and so far, all the item have performed very well indeed.

You can pick the Aeron range up from http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ 

Thanks for reading guys.