"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."H. G. Wells
1st Delia Beddis, ViCiOUS Velo
2nd Claire Beaumont ViCiOUS Velo
3rd Anett Deli Cycle Lab
- You can use the microwave to dry basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, chives or parsley.
- Take the leaves off the stalks and discard any damaged leaves.
- Wash and pat dry the leaves with kitchen paper (not recycled kitchen paper as there may be metal traces).
- Place one type of herb on a sheet of kitchen paper on a microwave-safe-plate and cover with another sheet.
- Microwave for 30 seconds, full power.
- Check and repeat again until the herbs are dry - they should crumble easily.
- Small leaves dry quickly, so take care not to burn them.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a year
Attack of the bulbous head.
Pre ride / post ride / race / post race picks for CX season 2013/14
L-R
Fiasco woollen hat (http://www.fiascociclismo.com)
Fiasco neck warmer
Use: Pre race warm up, post race podium time
Mac-in-a-Sac (£8.99) lightweight waterproof trousers. Get them from 'The mountain warehouse' don't get wet legs and a muddy butt in doing warm up laps. A must for CX put dwellers.
Use: Race
Rapha trio: new & improved Rapha rainjacket in purple. Super close fit, super waterproof and looks good. Nice feel.
Rapha long sleeve merino base layer.
Use: Extremely cold training days, post race car journeys
Rapha Souesse jersey in blue - a real beaut of a jersey. Been wearing it on most training rides recently, layer up underneath when it's cooler or go short sleeve base layer underneath if your doing hill reps. The fit is superb and brushed material is both lightweight and insulative.
Use: Training rides
Rapha Winter socks - blue - silky soft snug and toasty
Use: Darkest winter training rides, post race car journeys
Rapha merino glove liners - I rock these under waterproof shells for insulation in the freezing wet and muddiest CX conditions.
The liners are supple, close fitting and cozy without being bulky but if you do need protection in from wind chill creeping into the minus values the liners will serve as a perfect additional layers
Use: Darkest winter training rides, pre race warm up
New Vicious Velo skinsuit - Bio Racers fabric use a pro mesh fabric in this skinsuit and it's is really good. Unlike solid basic Lycra it doesn't stretch and lose its form as easily. The fabric holds its form and shapes around my arms and upper body. Snagging on trees, bits of bike when shouldering is almost impossible to do.
Use: Race, where it counts most!
Rapha mesh merino base layer - when you need a long sleeve but you don't want to wear a full merino thick base layer. Perfect winter training ride layer and race wear in the depths of winter. Low volume so I can fit neatly beneath the close fitting skinsuit.
Use: Race
Rapha Pro Team Jacket - I wear a small. Probably should have got an XS.
It's a slightly thicker rain resistant men's version of the Soupleese. Ideal for pre race course warm and for waiting on the start line. Warm jacket for when your handing back your number post race.
Perfect for intense training ride when the temp plummets below 5 degrees.
Use: Training, pre race
Raced Rapha Supercross riding in the elite race for Yorkshire.
Good to race the whole series and good that the riders in the elite women were the same competitors in the National level races.
First round was really good, Broughton Hall was a brilliant course, it had a mix of everything including forced rest sections. Here I'd grab a few gulps and ride fast for the next tough section. When you get to the tough sections you need to 'Energise'. A phrase used by Seth Smith from the Yorkshire Team. Its a good word. Its not a negative word, it sort of inspires, instead of saying 'dig in' or 'push on'. When he first said it I thought it was nonsense but makes alot of sense when you riding.
Second round was hard and overnight my back has seized into a ball of pain. I'm not sure what caused it, maybe lifting bikes into the car at a funny angle. I think I ended up second to last. The long steep hill after the thick custard style mud didn't help. I was pretty annoyed after a good top 8 ride at Broughton.
Pain ensued for the following week. I didn't do much training which made me panic because I'm meant to be building toward riding the Koppenberg (which would be the following week).
I skipped out going to a Hen Party on the Friday night for fear of making the back feel worse and not healing.
I headed to a wedding on Saturday, was 'forced' to stay up till 2am. Luckily the clocks went back on Saturday so it wasn't too bad.
Sunday - didn't feel great. I felt worn out and tired. Aching. I got up at 8am drove to London for the Ally Pally race.
That said race was ok. Faded half way in the headwind, did a gel, got better but I'd already let the field escape me. Thinking back, this is where I should have pushed on got on the wheel of the Felt rider. Finished within the top 10. But not sure where!
There are some great images on Build, Rinse Repeat
Reports are here: Round 1, 2, 3
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| Image: Build Ride Rinse - Erik Jonsson |
No offence to British Cycling, but Rapha Super Cross had the elite field of the National Trophy's but it brought the atmosphere and crowd too. The National Trophies, I think are a bit of a joke. It is not the organisers fault, gosh, I'm thankful they step up and organise. It is the lack of support they receive from the governing body....
