Tell s more about SteepMedia and what you look to achieve?

SteepMedia is a company I started a while back that focused on adventure film content (specifically rock climbing), but due to commercial work it lost momentum so has been dormant for a few years. I thought this would be a good project to aid it’s revival and pivot into digital publishing.

Have you embarked upon a long distance cycle tour previously?

Nope, never. It’s funny (or stupid) because even though it was advised, I didn’t do any training at all before setting off. The reason was, well it’s such a long ride, that the first few weeks would be natural training. It was quite a shock to the system and upon landing in New York – I had severe doubts about what on earth I was getting in to.

Why North America?

So many classic adventurous tales of ‘the open road’ come from North America, that was definitely a huge appeal. It’s such a vast continent, with a huge variety of people, landscapes and travel conditions. Plus in Europe, bears aren’t much of an issue. It just seemed like the obvious option that would result in a truly adventurous story.

So before we get started on why your doing it, lets talk about your bike, ultimately the most important part of your kit, what is your chosen steed and how much kit have you taken?

I think this is the bit where you find out that I really went into this project with a certain amount of naivety. The bike is a Trek 7.5FX, it’s basically a standard version component-wise, but I’ve changed the wheels to stronger Salsa rims, got a Brooks saddle, Marathon touring tyres, SPD pedals and adapted it to carry pannier bags with Tubus racks. The reason for going with this option was that it was the only bike on eBay that was the right size, within 3 weeks of setting off. It does the job most of the time though – but this morning I’ve just found out I’ve snapped another spoke on the back wheel. That is such a frustrating problem.

What has inspired you to take on this journey?

I had that common nagging feeling that a lot of people get. When you’re sat at a desk for too long, and gaze out of the window daydreaming about the adventures that are out there waiting to be had. I felt a strong and growing desire to get away the daily grind and go on an adventurous mission. It’s easy to fall into a trap of thinking about doing stuff, but making excuses because it’s not ‘the right time’ or whatever. I thought well even if it’s not the right time, it’ll never get easier than this. I was terrified about the decision, but there was no going back.

It clearly seems like a journey of self discovery, what do you think you have learned so far?

That’s definitely a part of the project. It’s been a total shock to the system – constantly being on the road and spending many nights in a tent or bivvy bag without home comforts. I suppose the self-discovery thing was more a case of seeing what happens when I get completely immersed in a new way of living. There’s been so much learning – perhaps one of the most significant has been to do with intimidation. Interacting with people or scenarios that are intimidating for whatever reason has become a relative non-issue. People are people, whether you grow organic vegetables, are an ex-convict or direct films with Ryan Gosling in them, and most of the time there’s no need to be intimidated.

Your objective seems to be about finding out how other cultures live, what has been the stand out point for you so far?

We are bombarded, every single day, by negative news. It’s easy to forget that there’s also a lot of positives out there. There’s been so much generosity on the trip so far – people cooking meals, offering a place to sleep – it shows that so many people are kind. Also, there’s been times meeting people who are just super intimidating – big motor biker dudes with tattoos and scary appearances -and they’ve turned out to be awesome and insist on watching Mr Bean. Seriously. There’s something to be said about the judging a book cover cliché.

11,000 miles across a part of the world that was unfamiliar to you, do you get lonely or scared, what has kept you going?

Yes to both of those. There are situations that are just scary, no two ways about it. Neighbourhoods that you just do not want to be in. And loneliness is a constant issue on this kind of project. Whilst it’s a project about people, the reality is that you only ever spend a few hours / a day with someone, and most of the time you’re totally solo. Coping with that was really tough at first. But it’s important to remember to just savour and appreciate the good moments as they happen. And there’s a goal to the project – I can literally map the progress I’m making – so what keeps me going is knowing that the project is progressing. Plus with tools like Skype the world is a much more connected place.

I would imagine that not all those 11,000 miles go smoothly, what’s been the most challenging aspect so far?

There’s three challenging sides. Mental, physical, and mechanical. Something’s always going wrong with the bike, but eventually you learn to just take it as it comes and not worry too much. The physical challenge was quite a shock to begin with – my body hadn’t adjusted at all so there were a lot of sore days in the beginning. Now though they don’t seem to be as common. The hardest challenges are mental. Some days motivation is just nowhere to be seen, plus you can be in an area or around people who make you uncomfortable, and also you can go for days without real conversation. Coping with the mental game can be hard, but then you get to a massive downhill and it’s all good again.

Highlight to date?

A riding day would be Van Horn to El Paso – 106 miles of basically downhill all the way. An effortless triple figure day. Doesn’t get better than that. An off-the-bike highlight would be getting invited onto the set of a new TV show to watch a scene involving an exploding van.

People seem to be a big inspiration for you, what’s been the most interesting person you have come across so far?

The biggest part of this project for me is about the people along the way. The cycling is really just the means of getting around. To name one person as the most interesting is impossible, but there’s definitely been some unique examples: a singing cowgirl in Texas, civil war re-enactors in Georgia, and a major film director in LA.

What cycling have you enjoyed prior to this journey, are you an avid cyclist in day to day life?

I used to be big into trials riding but quit about 6 years ago. Watching Danny Macaskill video’s still gets me really psyched, he’s a badass. Other than that, I used to commute 3 miles to work in Manchester on a road bike when it wasn’t raining, which was rare.

What do you miss most about home and what do you miss least?

I miss friends, family, a bed, a hot shower, a kitchen, a sofa. I don’t miss the rain or the 9-5 or a car (much).

Unchained Mag wish Dave all the best for the rest of his journey and look forward to hearing more as it happens…

Follow Dave’s cycle tour and the people he meets along the way here www.vaguedirection.com

The weekend will offer a variety of biking coaching sessions and races, and will also including a world record attempt at the longest mountain biking train. The festival will also include The Marketplace, a chill out teepee, children’s entertainment, pump track, and nutrition and wellbeing booth. Coaching sessions will be available, with help on hand from top world class coaches Tracy Moseley, Ben Cathro (Sick Skills), Helen Gaskell, Emma Guy, Tracy Brunger and Andy Weir of Tweed.Jayfest will have a strong focus on both coaching and the nurturing of new and emerging downhill mountain biking talent at a grass roots level. Money raised will contribute to the backbone of the festival, The Jaymie Mart Foundation. It is the aim of The Foundation to nurture and support both socially and financially, talented downhill riders in their future careers, in the hope that they grow to become successful athletes of the future, and go on to compete on the world stage.

The festival is dedicated to Jaymie Mart, who was a highly successful and truly colourful personality in the worlds of downhill racing, nutrition and business. She was an inspiration to many but tragically she died in September 2012. It is her life, which is the inspiration and driving force behind the creation of Jayfest, and it is hoped that this festival will contribute heavily towards her legacy. The event is being organised by Jaymie’s friends and family to celebrate her life and everything she stood for.

Festival Co-Director Adam Mart issued a statement saying “We’re truly excited to be offering this unique, innovative and vibrant event to the mountain biking calendar and to Innerleithen, an area already revered for its rich mountain biking pedigree. It’s going to be absolutely awesome!”

For more information and event listings please visit:
Or contact emma@jayfest.co.uk or adam@jayfest.co.uk

Facebook: Jayfestuk

Twitter: @jayfestuk

The world-championship racer, and Glasgow 2014 medal hope, was on the shores of Loch Ness to launch the second Loch Ness Duathlon.

Supported by Santander, the sponsored event once again offers an exciting challenge to enthusiastic mountain-bikers and road cyclists, with a bit of running thrown in.

Taking place on Saturday 24 August, it starts in Fort Augustus and follows a scenic and challenging route to finish in Inverness. Individuals will choose one option:

1. Running 7.5k on forest trails and then mountain biking 60k (with over 2000m of climb) on the north side of Loch Ness.

2. Running 7.5k on forest trails and then road cycling 60km (with over 1500m of climb) on the south side of Loch Ness.

Lee, who is based in Inverness and also runs Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop in the city, says: “Biking is such an exciting sport and this is an amazing location – put the two together and you’ve got a cracking combination for BHF Scotland’s Loch Ness Duathlon.

“Everyone who takes part will be raising vital funds to help fight heart disease across the country. And, by taking part, you’ll be benefiting your own heart health. So, even if you’re not used to these distances, I’d say sign up today, get in training and help save lives.”

Event organiser Ms Gizem Fowler says: “Loch Ness Duathlon 2013, which is supported by Santander, is a great opportunity to really help make a difference to the lives of people with heart disease; from babies born with a congenital condition, to teenagers learning to live with a heart condition to parents and grandparents who have had a heart attack or are living with heart failure.

“It costs £50 to enter, which covers our essential costs related to staging a safe and professional event, and we need everyone to raise at least £100 in sponsorship. Join us and have fun, get fit and save lives.”

Loch Ness Duathlon participants need to be 18 and over, although 16 and 17-year-olds can take part if accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Register at: bhf.org.uk/lochness

Tel.0845 130 866

E mail. events@bhf.org.uk

Find BHF Scotland on Facebook and Tweet using #bhfduathlon.

]]> http://unchainedmag.co.uk/british-heart-foundation-scotland-unveils-loch-ness-duathlon-2013/feed/ 0 http://unchainedmag.co.uk/dirt-school-coaching-at-new-commonwealth-games-venue/ http://unchainedmag.co.uk/dirt-school-coaching-at-new-commonwealth-games-venue/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:28:20 +0000 admin http://unchainedmag.co.uk/?p=4143 Dirt School are excited to announce they are now offering their unique brand of mountain bike coaching at the 2014 Commonwealth Games venue, Cathkin Braes.

Just 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre, Cathkin Braes is a brand new, world-class trail centre built to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games cross country competition.

Now in its sixth year, Dirt School is one of the UK’s leading mountain bike coaching companies, which has, until now, been based predominantly in Glentress and Innerleithen in the iconic Tweed Valley.

Hosting classes at this new venue will be Rab Wardell, world cup cross-country racer, reigning Scottish Cyclocross Champion and Commonwealth Games athlete. As well as extensive experience on the bike, Rab is also a qualified coach and worked in regional development for Scottish Cycling until last year.

Rab said: “I’m delighted to be joining Dirt School. Dirt School has a great reputation for its innovative approach to coaching and I look forward to sharing this with people in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.

“Cathkin Braes has lots to offer with technical trail features such as drops, berms and jumps all within 20 minutes of Glasgow. I’ll be offering a full range of cross-country, children’s and women specific classes, as well as private courses. I’ll also be reintroducing the Dirt School two hour private course designed to suit city living – with classes on a morning, afternoon or evening during the week.”

Chris Ball, founder of Dirt School, added: “I’ve known, ridden and worked with Rab for years. His talent on the bike coupled with his great attitude and fantastic teaching style, makes him a perfect for the Dirt School ethos-to to learn improve and have fun doing it”

The 2013 Martin Currie Rob Roy Challenge will be the eighth year of the event. This follows seven hugely successful years in which £2.3 million has been raised for good causes. The target for this year’s event is to exceed a £2.5 million fundraising total and is once again supported by accomplished adventurer, broadcaster and world record-breaking cyclist, Mark Beaumont.

The Rob Roy Challenge covers 55 miles of the spectacular Rob Roy Way, through the Trossachs to the banks of Loch Tay. Teams and participants first walk or run 16 miles from Drymen, near Loch Lomond, to Callander where they then saddle up for a gruelling 39 mile cycle to the finish line at Kenmore. On completion of the event, teams are rewarded with a sumptuous feast, party and fireworks!

Each year, The Martin Currie Charitable Foundation chooses three main charity partners who will benefit from the money raised from the event. The three charities benefitingfrom the 2013 Rob Roy Challenge are WaterAid, Over the Wall and Alzheimer Scotland.

Perthshire born Mark Beaumont is confident that this year’s event will be a success: “I absolutely loved my first Rob Roy Challenge, even if I was dressed in a rather uncomfortable Spiderman outfit throughout! And I am delighted to be supporting the event again in 2013. The Rob Roy Challenge showed me an amazing route through Perthshire which I had never seen, despite the fact that I live there! And despite being a tough challenge, it is very achievable for a wide range of people. Plus, it is all in the name of three outstanding charities! I really encourage people to take on this challenge… make it your New Years resolution… and in doing so, help us to smash the £2.5 million fundraising target!”

The Rob Roy Challenge is now recruiting fundraising participants to take part in the 2013 event on Saturday 22nd June. A £75 early bird registration offer is now available until the end of January. For more details and to register for the event, visit the Rob Roy Challenge website www.robroychallenge.com.

www.wildfoxevents.com

Loeka Know Style….

Women need not fret, Style wise, this jacket ticks all the boxes..the bright pink beetroot purple is fab not only for getting you noticed with subtle reflective piping while on that rainy day commute, will look great covered in mud post trail ride too! Its almost like a tailored jacket but incredibly comfortable and functional with little details like the under arm vents, generous pockets and asymmetrical zips for added style. Made from a lightweight and durable polyester fabric with sealed seams for water resistance and lined with mesh for breathability.

Rory Harmse (co-founder and now sole owner of Loeka) insists that the company doesn’t use “vanity sizing”, instead making clothes for “real women who mountain bike.” Its good news as I am 5’4” and around a size 10 I am able to buy the small to medium without the worry of will it fit and leave me enough room to move but also feel fitted and functional at the same time.

I want to wear clothing that doesn’t hinder my riding and to be honest until I tested out this jacket I was wearing my husbands cast off’s as I had failed to come across a keenly priced and feminine without being too girly jacket.

Loeka are proud of the their recycling initiatives and this jacket is 100% Recyclable. If you return your old Loeka gear you get money off your next purchase! Perfect!

The need to know bit:

• 75D 100% Polyester
• 100% Polyester anti chafe mesh lining
• 10000ml Waterproof, 8000ml Breathability
• Contoured reflective piping
• Surged double stitched taped seams
• Under arm zippered vents, natural built in chest vent
• Adjustable wrist closures, Lycra hands
• Rear zippered pocket, side pockets
• 100% Recyclable

Price  £95.99
Fix Distribution 07974 198 664
www.loeka.com

For me a long sleeve base layer is possibly the most important piece of my cycling apparel, useful throughout winter and even into Spring as a stand alone layer. A good base layer is an investment and will last years.

The Jersey is form fitting to help limit drag and resistance out on the road. They’re made of a combination of Icebreaker’s patented merino GT260 midweight wool and Lycra. Merino is breathable and naturally odour resistant so when off the bike its great to wear too, its quick drying so comfy enough to wear for that pub lunch stop! I can honestly say I have worn this top for over a month of riding and sometimes even running without washing it and it didn’t get whiffy!

Icebreaker certainly put a lot of thought into their design elements, incorporating generous 3 panel back pockets great for stashing energy bars, mobile phones or even a pump! There is also a smaller zipper pocket, handy if you are looking for somewhere safe for your keys etc. A lovely deep purple not overly girly but with little added details like the starbursts that decorate the sleeve and hem hint this is just for us ladies! A full length contrasting colour front zip helps to regulate and control your temperature. However I found the size small very snug, as an ample busted lady the medium might be a better fit and allow me more control over the front zip, if you catch my drift! Sleeve length is great and the high neck gives a wee bit of added warmth on those extra cold days.

At Unchained Mag we love sustainable products and Icebreaker describe their products as ”sustainable and made with integrity” Most people know very little or nothing about where the products you are wearing are made. Icebreaker provide a BAACODE.com  which allows me to trace the origins of my jersey to the merino growers in Irishman Creek Station in New Zealand!

Go get one now! www.velovixen.com

By Michelle

In 2012 Teko launched Teko Nepal where they aim to work together with their retail partners to ensure that any test or demo socks are donated to the Sherpa communities at the end of every season.

They also launched Planet Positive, an initiative that aims to lead by example, Teko want to inspire other companies to make the best product possible with minimal environmental impact.

The Teko women’s TekoPoly Light Minicrew socks have been made using 60% tekoPOLY 100% recycled polyester, 36% nylon and 4% Lycra. They also have a narrower heel pocket and tapered toe to ensure a smooth and secure fit for a woman’s foot.

I have been wearing these socks for running, in the gym and cycling and they do exactly what they say on the tin, keep you dry and cosy with maximum performance my feet where happy and that’s important, keeping your feet dry and warm can surely be one of the most important things in order to enjoy a rainy cold mountain bike ride! At the end of a soaking wet slog up a freezing hill the socks dried off nicely. I usually have a second pair to change once back at the car but to be honest when I was wearing the Teko socks I forgot as they kept moisture away from my feet and had moulded to them very comfortably, plus a huge bonus was they are not smelly!

The socks look great, nice styling and even some girly colours! They are so versatile that you could just wear them everyday and your feet would be very happy! They fit brilliantly especially around the ankles, the ankle height was just right, they didn’t fall down and bunch up inside your shoes and are high enough around the ankle. Also no floppy toes!

They are great for milder days and will be great right through spring, however on colder days I opted for the The Teko Merino Light Hiking socks, packed with technical features they provide a supportive, performance fit. They feature a blend of 58% tekoMERINO wool, 30% nylon,10% tekoPOLY recycled polyester and 2% Lycra, and have light cushioning in the footbed and leg. The extra height provided an added protection against the cold and although a hiking sock they worked perfectly well for cycling too. Although light in comparison to the mimicrew they did seem warmer. Again super soft and cosy socks when hiking or cycling, they kept me warm, dry and fitted perfectly!

Teko claim to produce the best socks on the planet, well, I would say they are certainly the best socks I have ever had on my feet and keenly priced you can afford to treat your toes to a couple of pairs at least and hit the hills with happy feet!

Price  £12.95 to £14.95
Teko Socks UK 08000 323 505
www.tekosocks.co.uk

This was my 5th Puffer, first 2 as a quad on a full suss bike, miserable rain non-stop and then sheet ice the year after, both the last time i would do the Puffer for sure! I really didn’t train in advance, just doing what i could. I rode local trail centres mostly and relied on my weekend warrior fitness from hill walking, climbing and running. Then I did it as a pair, using my girlfriends hard tail, which was more fun, more riding, less time sitting around, although a snow storm about 10pm made us hunker down in the caravan till it passed many hours later (a good excuse to stop). That was the Puffer put to bed. But the spell wasn’t broken yet. Last year I went for a solo place thinking that would end the story, 15 laps, albeit taking a long break between midnight and 4.30am because the boredom and brain got to me. That seemed enough, time to move on. I couldn’t improve on that without cutting out the breaks to eat and rest.

In the true spirit of the event (for me), I really wondered what it would be like to stay up, not sleep a wink, ride all the way, no camper-van, no tent, no comforts, the purest form of the Puffer. I was in good shape “for a punter” building up to it, with Ironman training building up (I’m doing the Celtman this July, www.cxtri.com), lots of early morning spinning sessions at home, and with recently moving to Aviemore, the vast amount of amazing trails gave every incentive to get out and explore. I had done the No Fuss Big Ben Nevis Triathlon in September and had lost weight and body fat training hard. Gone were the days of training= cheating. The body was ready at least.

The weather always has a big impact on outdoor sports in Scotland, especially in winter and the recent freeze had me agonising over tyres. In the end I didn’t use spikes and went for a Schwalbe Nobby Nick I bought from Bothy Bikes the day before on the rear and a well used Bontrager XC Jones on the front, with spikes as backup. My steed was a carbon Trek Superfly 29er hardtail, which worked well the year before and at the Ben Nevis Tri, albeit giving me a sore butt. I was a 29er convert. This bike made every day seem like Xmas.

So onto the 2013 Strathpuffer. A gentle stroll to the bike after the “le mans” start and it was all go. I learned the year before to take it easy on the first handful of laps to avoid burning up and killing the legs, its endurance after all. Its not like I intend to win, just do myself justice, whatever that is.

I rode alongside my biking pals and all was fine, until the fast sweeping descent to end of lap 1 taken at full speed, I washed out on some ice on a corner, hit the deck busting my right knee and getting a dead leg for afters. I saw many riders wipeout here later in spectacular style. I felt sick, nausea, shock and a lot of pain. It was enough to throw my leg over the bike and get back to the start. It was only lap 1, this wasn’t in the plan! I took on some painkillers and by lap 3 I was in such a negative place I thought I might have to quit, which would have been gutting. In the end I had a word with myself, its a long race, lots of ups and downs, I can ride this out. Making that commitment was key, and by darkness I had done 6 laps without stopping, the painkillers were working and I was getting over the psychological downers after the adrenaline response to my crash. Like the year before, my fitness was okay but the Puffer can be very “boring” on the mind, lap after lap. The fun can go out of it and it takes another form, that of a mental game with the demons which are in for a feast come nightfall.

A quick food-stop for some mac and cheese from the local Red Poppy caterers (could have eaten 4 portions) had me back out and in the zone and before I knew it I had 10 laps by 8pm. It was a confidence boost to get 10 done so soon. I felt strong and took some positivity out of having gone through the pain barrier with the injured leg. Could I dare to believe I could keep going all night? A motivational quote from legendary British Alpinist Doug Scott hit me. He recently said describing one of his epics “What if we were the last men on this planet would we still be doing this? Absolutely not. Are we suffering because of our egos? Just wanna go home and impress everybody? What if we actually just didn’t push that little bit harder, and take it to the limit, wouldn’t we forever be dissatisfied?”

Did I have the belief to keep going, or to try. Did i have the desire? Around midnight I started to do the maths. By midnight last year I had managed 10 laps. By this point now I had 12. I could rest up, sit in the car like last time, get my head together, get up at 4am and crank out another 4 to easily beat my tally from 2012. It was a tempting strategy. However, my legs felt fine and I knew this would be a chance to do what I dreamt, would I regret not trying. How good would it feel to do it! I got some great advice from two guys near a viewpoint, cheering everyone on with a cowbell and whooping, basically saying I would be better to continue, taking it easy where I could, than stopping and trying to get going again.

I decided to push on, lap at a time, setting small goals along the way (one being if this was definitely my last Puffer then why not give it everything). I longed for the sunrise lap, surely the best moment of any Puffer, when the primal being in you understands man’s connection with nature and the power of the sun. I threw calories at my body to keep it going, same places every lap. Homemade flapjack, hydration drinks, turkish delight, an energy gel, flat coke, a chilli burger from the Red Poppy catering. This was like doing a hard rock climb when you commit and hungrily seek out places in the cliffs to lace with hardware for protection. I was eating nuts instead of placing them in cracks in the rocks.

By 2.30am Iwas going out for lap 15. I believed. I seem to remember the weather getting bad, the trails getting more icy, visibility was harder. The fireroads became more slippy. I fell a few more times, worrying I would get another dead leg (I did on my left leg this time). I was in the zone, staring at the small dot from my headtorch, but talking to myself out loud . At one point I was sure the bushes had disco lights flashing, even some puddles. I realised then that bikes were actually hallucinogenic. The sunrise would restore my sanity. It eventually arrived, not as a spectacular light show, more of a dull peeling back of the curtain of night. More riders joined the trails. Despite the tiredness and intense focus, I became sort of emotional, perhaps due to the music on my i-shuffle in one ear, but it certainly wasn’t the joyous moment I had hoped for, I was pretty wrecked. I got to 17 laps then knew I could do 2 more in the light no matter what, despite the sore butt (I wasn’t wearing cycling shorts, bad mistake). On my last lap I was spent, maybe because I could mentally ease off. I thanked the marshals best I could for their support, perhaps mumbling and finally dibbed my last lap with a smile, 19 laps done, a little chastising myself for not riding faster to get time for doing 20! I knew the sense of personal achievement would arrive later, especially having to dig deep after the buggered leg on lap 1.

I got a hug and a kiss from Polly, my “pit bitch” and long time girlfriend who like the year before had selflessly hung out in the event tent to look after me with a bike wash, snacks, water top ups and words of encouragement, small acts of extreme kindness. So there we are. Despite the deeply etched memories from 5 Puffers , my lasting “warm” memories remain connected to the inspiring spirit of the event, the beautiful landscape and how it brings out the best in people, strangers and friends alike. The fact that the organisers have the ambition to run an event like this, and people come and suffer side by side in peace. Ride a bike all night and see the sunrise. Last Puffer? Maybe.

By Barry Middleton
Photography By Gary Williamson

I’ve used various base layers during the summer period for years but have struggled to find something for the late Autumn and early Spring periods when it’s not cold enough to use a windproof winter jacket but my current base layers are a bit light for use under a fleece jersey. Having stumbled across the Gore Windstopper base layer I’ve been using it for the last six months and think I’ve solved the problem.

I’m a fan of Windstopper fabric. I have various outer layers which use it (the Gore skull cap and turtle neck I’ve found to be lightweight and excellent during the winter) but it had never occurred to me that it could be used as an under layer. The boffins at Gore are, thankfully, more tuned in and they’ve come up with this.

I’ve been using it under a Lusso Breathe long sleeve jersey which, although a fairly warm fleeced jersey, has no wind resistance. This base layer is therefore a perfect complement.

I assumed I would have to wear a mid-layer but, aside from particularly cold Autumn days, I’ve found the Lusso and Gore products are fine together and the only other thing I’ve needed to pack is the inevitable rain jacket.

The material is thin, so doesn’t add much bulk, and has a soft underside which feels very comfortable next to your skin. The Windstopper panels are on the front and sleeves and also stretch round to cover the kidney area with the rear having a light mesh which aids breathability. Other features which make it very cycling friendly are the longer back, which won’t ride up when you’re bent over the bars, and flat-lock seams to prevent chaffing.

The only downside I’ve found is that, since it is long sleeved with a crew neck, you can overheat if the temperature rises (Gore have addressed this with a newer model now sporting a zip, and there are short sleeved versions too).

Having got used to it during the autumn I’ve continued to wear it during the winter beneath a windstopper jacket, where it’s also worked a treat.

As with all of the Gore Bike Wear products, it’s not cheap and will set you back about £55 for the men’s version, a bit less for the lady’s. I’ve found it a good investment, though, and it’s firmly established itself as one of my favourite and most used bits of gear.

by Brian Hickey