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the cycle jersey podcast
at one time, had you scrolled a few centimetres south of here, there was a section featuring washingmachinepost podcasts, essentially the very same as you can read on a daily basis, but spoken out loud and devoid of the colour pictures. my early attempts at podcasting were, to put not too fine a point on it, pretty poor by anyone's standards. though i pride myself on having developed a style of writing with which i am quite comfortable, when it came to the spoken word, there were too many 'aaaahs', 'ums' and 'buts' to pretend i was capable of offering a quality podcast.
in order to get round this apparent difficulty, i took to writing out a script that i would then read into a microphone. there's no doubt the end result was a great improvement on my previous attempts, but in truth, that wasn't saying too much. add to that, i would get very close to the end, at which point, someone would come home and shout upstairs to let me know they'd returned. that brought home the fact that a podcast ought best to be recorded in segments, a situation that allowed for easier retrospective editing. but then there was a need to have background music to avoid the impression all had been 'recorded in a coal bunker'; to be honest, it was all far too much faff.
so it ended.
podcasting was originally my way of appearing au fait with modernity, moving forward from the written word in order to appear progressive. of course, that's decidedly not the way it came across (in my opinion). yet podcasting, though it may have had its day of being cutting edge, has endured to the present; even wired magazine recently featured what it considered the basics for successful podcasting: a four channel beyer mixer and a microphone the brand of which i cannot recall. and a quick survey of the podcasting section on itunes will advise that the genre is not just surviving, but thriving.
and there is a sizeable cycling section to be listened to by the intrepid velocipedinist, one of the most recent of which is the cycle jersey podcast in which ed cowburn of milltag and the inestimable richard mitchelson ('there's no 't' in rich, only tea in rich') discuss iconic and one or two less than iconic cycle jerseys at length and with more than just a single digression along the way ("i thought i'd just spotted a man trying to break into my house").
the self-realised irony of the cycle jersey podcast is that the two gents spend well over an hour discussing a highly visual subject matter in a medium that doesn't (though it can) sustain any visuals. however, it's not a failing that impedes their progress or our enjoyment. though i've previously listened to podcasts that simply brought the horrible realisation that there goes an hour of my life i'll never see again (probably an affliction imposed upon those who listened to the original washingmachinepost efforts). however, cowburn and mitchelson do not fall into that particular trap, offering around an hour's worth of entertainment in each episode and during which time just flies.
no matter your style of riding or affinity for any particular world tour team past or present, cycle jersey design is a subject that concerns us all, even if only to realise that you shouldn't be wearing the rainbow stripes or yellow jersey unless you happen to be peter sagan or chris froome. currently there are four episodes available on itunes; a boxed set, if you will. listen now before you have to stay up all night to catch up.
monday 1 may 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................louison bobet jerseys and bibshorts
about a kilometre and a half from debbie's, heading back towards bridgend, there's a turn just at the start of uiskentuie strand that leads initially past foreland estate. it's a bit of an uphill slog in the early parts, but once at the top, the views over loch gorm and the atlantic will wipe the pain from your legs.
maybe.
this used to be something of an idyllic ride along a single track road that eventually leads to kilchoman beach, or, if you prefer, circumambulates the whole of loch gorm, passing saligo bay, ballinaby farm and carnduncan before heading north easterly to the rspb reserve at gruinart. i say 'used to be' because several years ago, the island's eighth and at that time, smallest distillery (kilchoman) was built at rockside farm, about 8km from the main road. though malt whisky distilleries were once considered simply to be industrial units, they are now fêted worldwide, attracting a serious number of visitors each year.
those visitors almost invariably arrive by motor car, usually whacking great four-wheel-drive lumps that take up most of the roadway and rarely stop in passing places, either because they've no idea what passing places are, or through blatant arrogance. despite our knowledge of this present situation, one that will only get worse before it gets better, it's still an excellent, circular route over which to pedal, particularly once past the distillery. but you will perhaps have taken note that i mentioned the atlantic ocean when first describing the view to be admired on summitting at rock mountain.
this is both a blessing and a curse, for even in these latter days of april, there are headwinds that are undoubtedly more than just a draught. oddly enough, that which was writ large this saturday past, came not from the atlantic but from the opposite direction, whisking spray off the top of the breakers at saligo. however, due to this area having been pummeled by atlantic gales and storms from time immemorial, there is, in fact, no shelter to be gained anywhere on the loch's perimeter, no matter from whence the wind du jour is blowing. and it's at times such as this when one's apparel takes on greater significance than when worn for a quick blast round richmond park of a saturday morning.
even when pulling into a passing place to allow an oncoming tractor and trailer to pass, the body warmth gained from hammering into a galeforce headwind for the previous half an hour, all but disappears in a matter of seconds. that's when those back pockets come into their own, carrying either a gilet or more likely, a folded-up waterproof jacket.
and this provided possibly the only downside i found when wearing either the louison bobet long-sleeve or short sleeve jersey. for though they sport a total of four pockets each, including a zipped security pocket, the middle on each seems crafted to hold only a mini-pump. it is undoubtedly narrower than those on either side and while i managed to secrete with ease, a lightweight gilet, i was unable to successfully stow a wind jacket alongside the mini pump. granted, those two other open pockets easily swallowed a lumix digital camera and a foldaway rucksack, but i'd maintain that the central pocket ought to be every bit as large as its peer group.
however, i'm inclined to think that i doth protest too much, for in every other manner, the bobet jerseys are impeccable. the fit manages to flatter without deceit, the sleeve length on both is well judged and the merino/polyester fabric offers a quality that simple polyester will always struggle to emulate. the hem on each features an adjustable drawcord, while the long-sleeve version's full-length zip is contrasted by the short-sleeve's quarter-length. even when not wearing a windjacket or gilet, the jerseys, though not specifically windproof, offer some resistance to the breeze while retaining an impressive degree of warmth in the face of adversity.
it is an inescapable fact that the sheer act of defying a headwind over an expended period of time will ultimately lead to discomfort in the saddle, partly due to a reticence to stand when pedalling and partly down to sheer air pressure. neither is it recommended for those with inherent back problems. however, just how long the discomfort can be kept at bay depends greatly on the quality of your bibshorts and the luxury of the pad they contain.
the louison bobet bibs, though a tad larger than my wardrobe of small-size shorts, were highly impressive. i managed a wind-inflected 75km without complaint from my undercarriage and no shouting from my shoulders. the white mesh bibs, though perhaps a tad shorter than others, seem to have hit the sweet spot between too much pressure and not enough. in addition, the leg grippers performed their function admirably, something to take note of if you wish to keep a sharp tanline (like anyone's going to acquire a tan up here).
all three garments are adequately monogrammed with the louison bobet name embroidered on the back, with the 'b' logo featured on the chest of the jerseys and the legs of the shorts. both jerseys had a bobet photo image sewn into the leftmost rear pocket; a nice touch. the french-based company have definitely hit the ground running with well-designed, quality cycle clothing and a range that has much to offer the contemporary cyclist wishing for a less overtly modern style. my only other gripe concerns their mission statement 'riding with panache'. there's little doubting the truism of that statement, but i'd really rather they kept it to their packaging and didn't embroider it on the jerseys.
currently, any order in excess of €100 (£85) benefits from free shipping and most garments are offered with a 30 day free trial. with a great deal to gain, what have you got to lose?
the vars long-sleeve jersey is available in sizes small to xl at a cost of €155 (£131). the solingen short sleeve jersey is available in five different colourways in sizes small to xl at a cost of €150 (£127). the saintbrieuc bibshorts retail at €170 (£143) and are available in the same sizes as the jerseys. the louison bobet range contains pretty much every garment you'd need for riding and leisure wear.
sunday 30 april 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................sliding doors
in the peter howitt's 1998 movie 'sliding doors', gwyneth paltrow inhabits two parallel universes based on the premise that in one instance she boarded a train and in the other, she didn't. in the first of these two happenstances, things work out well for helen quilley (paltrow's character) but in the second, her personal situation goes from bad to worse. the idea of parallel universes is not a new one, being one of the fundamental tenets of quantum mechanics, which, just to make it sound like i have the faintest idea of that which i write 'asserts the objective reality of the universal wave function, denying the actuality of wave function collapse.'
no, me neither.
but in more recognisable terms, the notion of so-called 'parallel universes' theorises that there are an infinite number of universes just like ours and everything that could possibly have happened in the past, has taken place in some other universe. it's just the sort of subject matter that forms a part of the velo club's sunday morning conversations, being far more interesting than whether or not disc brakes are preferable to dual-pivot calipers. though admittedly, that may have been in an alternate universe.
britain and the netherlands are succinct evidence of the validity of this theory. for while the latter took note of the encroachment of the motor car upon their society and opted to put the bicycle and pedestrian first, britain pretty much did the opposite. but, according to carlton reid, there was a time in the 1930s when we were reading from the same hymnsheet as the dutch. for in that decade, britain's ministry of transport commissioned 500 miles (810km) of protected cycleways and, surprise, surprise, between 1934 and 1940, they actually built around 280 miles (450km) of cycle-only roadway, usually on each side of the new roads that also appeared at the same time.
bizarrely enough, carlton and his co-conspirator, john dales, have discovered that a substantial amount of these cycleways still exist. many are no longer recognised as a dedicated part of britain's cycling infrastructure while others are overgrown and buried under a few centimetres of topsoil. messrs. reid and dales have therefore instigated a kickstarter campaign to reinstate as many of these as possible while continuing to research whether there may be other stretches of cycleways as yet undiscovered.
while some of you may question whether there is still the impetus in the uk to assist with this important project, in point of fact, the kickstarter campaign reached its target within three days of launching and you might therefore be wondering what would be the point not only of my alerting you to its existence, but of contributing a portion of your hard-earned towards its already apparently full piggy bank?
as with almost every project in the 21st century, an embarrassment of riches could prove highly useful, for rare is the undertaking that costs less or as much as initially thought. therefore, if carlton ends up with double or triple the £7,000 that he asked for, it simply provides him with greater financial resources to get the job done. there will almost doubtless be more than one or two speedbumps along the way.
so, irrespective of your own cycling predilection, whether it be mountain biking, road racing, commuting or whether you simply favour the opportunity to pop down to the shops or head out on the bike at the weekend every now and again, this will affect you or someone you know. it is thus incumbent upon us all as velocipedinists to pony up a few pounds in favour of mr reid and mr dales, that they can carry out their research and lobbying without worrying where the next cup of coffee is coming from.
and now would be a good time to do so.
forgotten cycleways kickstarter page
saturday 29 april 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................the coach pro
i'm not one for watching the x factor, though it's frequently on in the background as i scribble my way through yet another saturday evening's washingmachinepost. i am, however, well-acquainted with the principles behind the programme, even if i'm not in total agreement. for instance, the premise is entirely biased towards singers, completely ignoring those who may have actually spent time mastering a musical instrument. in my day (admittedly not just last week), the singer was often the individual keen to join in the formation of a band, but unable to play any instrument (and sadly, often without any appreciable sense of rhythm. i'm sure that's no longer the case.)
additionally, despite simon cowal claiming to be on the lookout for someone with the x factor, in point of fact, he's simply looking for someone else to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before and apparently singing songs from motown's back catalogue. in short, the programme is merely expensive karaoke producing a winner that ultimately sinks into obscurity. at least, i hope they do.
but the principle of casting several individuals against each other is not a new one. we've been doing something similar ever since we began playing pass the parcel at junior birthday parties or perhaps more accurately, musical chairs. the latter is a competition that most often saw me excluded at the very first musical stop; this, and the fact that i can't sing, are only two salient factors that have kept me well away from involvement with mr cowal's empire.
ultimately, every single bike race is a long-distance x-factor, repeated over the space of three weeks when considering one of the grand tours. and a variation on both formats is one that conditions a second series of the bike channel's the coach. though the protagonists have yet to be selected for the forthcoming series, the two coaches in question remain the same: brian smith and rob hayles. for those unfamiliar with the concept, and i must include myself in this category, i asked brian smith for a brief precis of the reality tv show.
"Last year was the first edition of 'The Coach' in the UK. By an elimination process it was designed to take two amateur cyclists to London's L'Etape to compete against each other. Both Coaches had six weeks to help each athlete train towards the event, with the first rider to finish being declared the winner.
"The 2017 edition is called 'The Coach Pro'. This is a new dynamic, due to the The Bike Channel's sponsorship of a British domestic racing team. The principles are similar to 'The Coach 2016', but this time for serious riders thinking about turning professional. The event this year will be the 'Revolve24' taking place round Brands Hatch. The actual race has still to be confirmed."
though the stakes have obviously been raised for 2017 with the offer of a professional contract to the winning rider, it would still seem like the ideal opportunity for a cyclist eager to receive tutelage at the hands of two of britain's finest former cyclists. though it might not seem like it by the finishing line, even the second place individual could be perceived as a winner, if not quite in the competitive sense. i was tempted above to prefix the word 'rider' with 'young', but on asking brian smith if there was any age limit for applicants, he replied "There are no age limits that I know of at the moment."
maybe there's a chance for me yet?
however, mr smith has always been a competitive individual, occasionally resorting to vocal deviousness by shouting the word "buzzard!" at a strategic moment of the bruichladdich sprint. (ask me about it some time), so the competitive element is not necessarily confined to the successful applicants. am i correct in recalling that brian's coached rider won last year's series?
"Indeed. Could there have been any other outcome? To be fair (my rider) Nic Bennett listened and delivered everything I asked him to do. With his commitment and my experience we managed to beat the other team quite convincingly. With over 2000 applications the Channel chose twelve candidates for the coaches to meet at Derby velodrome last year. It was then down to Rob and myself to choose our victim. With the brief we were give by The Bike Channel we decided to choose two candidates who we thought could improve the most, in order to make the programme more interesting. I think, for a first series, it was a success."
i have not been the only one to compare the series with that of the x factor, even though these are only superficial. but since the latter features only one simon cowal, between rob hayles and brian, which one most closely resembled the musical impressario?
"I would need to say neither of us for the first series. We were both relaxed and up for the challenge and tried to have some fun. This year's edition, however, is a little more serious as there is a potential professional contract up for grabs. That means Rob and I may need to be a little more Simon Cowal and critical on development and performance. I'm not sure if that means wearing high-waisted trousers!"
perhaps my biggest objection to the premise behind the x factor concerns those who appear for a second time, admitting that they failed to reach the final on a previous appearance. in which case, why had they not done that which used to be the aspiring musician's right of passage and paid their dues by slogging round the club circuit? is there a whole generation of pop singers who figure the only way to perceived stardom is by way of participation in a tv reality show? and if so, could the bike channel be about to create a new monster; is this a realistic means of choosing the team's next professional member?
"I think, depending on the selection process, it is going to be a very difficult challenge to develop a rider capable of riding with a domestic pro team. Both Rob and myself are up for this challenge and looking forward to see the level of candidates who apply; or should i say unfortunate individuals!
"The plan is to put them through their paces and push them as hard as we can. Does that mean they will be capable to be competitive in a domestic professional team? Only time will tell!"
both brian smith and rob hayles have enviable palmares. if anyone can bring elite amateur cyclists to a professional level, it is messrs. smith and hayles. and as both have been successful professionals in their own right, they'll be well aware of the processes needed so to do. with that in mind, how close are their coaching methods to those undergone by the average neo-pro nowadays?
"Very close I would say, but obviously the timescales are accelerated. We are hoping for some talented individuals that only need the final polish, but we do realise that, with the correct motivation and commitment any individual can shine."
the phenomenon of the reality show is one born of the 21st century. tv shows such as the oft mentioned 'x factor', along with 'britain's got talent' and 'the voice' may come under the heading of entertainment as far as the audiences are concerned, but they often seem to be the thin line between life or death for the contestants. it thus only remains to ask brian the $64,000 question: would you have entered if such a series had existed in the old days? and would you have beaten rob hayles for the win?
"Sure. It's quiet simple. If there was a competition that gave the opportunity to be a professional rider in my day, I would be in the queue. Rob was also a quality bike rider and talented at various disciplines in our sport. However, coming from Scotland and being a real competitor would have given me the edge on Rob. So yes, Team Smith would have won!"
"Now get your application in!"
friday 28 april 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................probably
some of us scots will be old enough to remember small tins of a drink powder called creamola foam which was available in a variety of flavours, though i cannot deny a particular predilection for the lemon option.
it was a soluble drink offered in scotland by nestlé which, when water was added, created a slightly fizzy concoction topped with a layer of white foam. the drink was sold from 1950 up until production ceased in 1998 and though the original may be defunct, in 2010, there was a revival of sorts under the slightly modified brand name of kramola fizz, once again with a scottish leaning, being manufactured in dumbarton. an alternative to the fizz came in the shape of tins named krakatoa fizz, manufactured by fife-based ally bally bees.
i'm telling you all this because, when i was old enough to pay attention to adverts for beer and lager and then to order a glass of either from the bar without being sternly scolded for being under-age, i figured lager at least would taste just as a glass of lemon creamola foam did. no prizes for guessing how disappointed i was on discovering that both lager and beer are, in fact, disgusting. neither even approximate the flavoured joy of creamola foam.
the last alcoholic beverage i had was on the day i arrived at art college. i ordered a half-pint of lager shandy and i couldn't finish it; in fact, i didn't enjoy either of the first two sups. then the world had alcohol-free lager bestowed upon it and i thought i'd try once more to emulate those happy years of lemon flavoured creamola foam. that too was particularly disgusting. so, in the years that have followed from 1998, the only drinkable fizz in my life has been regular imbibing of san pellegrino (the plain stuff, richard, not the flavoured version).
so should i be at all entranced by the latest tv advert from carlsberg? featuring casino royale actor mads mikkelsen aboard a stylish, single-speed bicycle, spoilt only by a set of v brakes for stopping power, the advert sees the actor riding the bicycle through a series of improbable if not downright surreal situations on the way to the carlsberg brewery. (i think i might have been completely won over had the bicycle featured old fashioned stirrup brakes, such as those fitted to my taurus corinto.) after all, despite bicycles featuring prominently throughout sixty-seconds of colour-saturated advertising, the whole point is ultimately to promote a (sort of) fizzy alcoholic drink that i have no desire to either purchase or drink.
however, though the bicycle in question will never be seen cresting the summit of mont ventoux in the company of christopher froome, nor carried aloft over the finishing line by philippe gilbert, the fact that one of the world's principal drinks producers thinks it a wizard wheeze to sell its drink by association with a bicycle of any description must surely mean that velocipedinists have arisen and the world is now ours for the taking?
or have i missed the point (again)?
thursday 27 april 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................the man and his bike - wilfried de jong. ebury press hardback. 250pp £14.99
"Fifteen minutes ago we had driven at a snail's pace through the local countryside. In the village of Arenberg, we even saw signs of life. A woman with her raincoat zipped up to her chin walked down the street, pulling a shopping trolley behind her. [...] She passed a man who was waiting for the bus, his face like a potato peeled in a hurry."
amongst an entire genre of eccentric musicians, thelonious sphere monk is something of an oddity; an eccentric amongst eccentrics, if that isn't to underline my point just a tad too much. the pianist, born in october 1917, composed more than just a few tunes that are now regarded as jazz standards, titles such as 'round midnight', 'straight no chaser' and 'in walked bud' to name but a few. he is the second most-recorded jazz composer after duke ellington, despite writing fewer than ten percent of the latter's considerable output. he is also responsible for the delightfully named 'crepuscule with nellie', a recording that surely ought to appear in everyone's record collection, if only for the title.
but his eccentricity did not stop at the chords and the titles of his compositions. he also had a particularly distinctive style in clothing, hats and sunglasses, the latter often worn even in darkened venues. and frequently, during solos by accompanying musicians, he'd arise from the piano stool and dance for a moment or two before returning to the keys. a possibly apocryphal story concerns monk listening to other musicians playing several of his compositions and observing "they're making all the wrong mistakes."
thelonious monk also features in a chapter entitled wool. new york in wilfried de jong's superb collection of short stories. here, though the narrative is imbued with the sounds of jazz, monk is represented by a steel pegoretti.
"...my extra baggage consisted of my very own racing bike. Custom-made and named after the high priest of jazz pianists, a man who had lived and breathed this city."
the author is a celebrated dutch broadcaster, writer and journalist and apparently an excellent judge of a book cover. the subject of the latter is unlikely to find himself a future career as the face of l'oreal, but as a warning to the reader that this might be the result by the end of chapter 23, it could not be more graphic. a man and his bike consists of 23 short stories, a mixture of fact and fiction, though his pace of writing will have you puzzling over which is of one and which the other. after the first three chapters, i gave up any pretence of figuring i knew which was which and settled down to enjoy the ride. and enjoyable this set of stories most certainly is.
though i may subsequently be accused of heresy, even on a thelonious monk recording, there may possibly be a single tune that doesn't immediately click. not so midst the contents of the man and his bike; there is scarcely an opportunity to draw breath. and though all are written by the same dutchman, you'd hardly find this as a point of conversation; de jong's transparent, energetic style demonstrates a fresh approach at each chapter heading. and the latter are every bit as eccentric as thelonious' compositions: 'click-clack', 'hotel neuf', 'munkzwalm', and 'jim shine fine' to name but four.
the style is frequently colloquial and almost always in the first person, offering an immediacy that betrays de jong's broadcasting background. and for those who have shown concern that the aforementioned pegoretti may be the only shining example, at the root of every story is the bicycle itself.
"An American. Oh joy. On one of those ugly Trek bikes, I was willing to bet. Or a Ridley. A pro I knew used to swear that a Ridley frame is made from old heating pipes. Bikes devoid of all style."
midst all the histories of the grand tours and autobiographies of riders still in their twenties, 'the man and his bike' is a sparkling beacon. not only is this compulsory reading for the cognoscenti, it ought to accompany every new road bike and sportwool jersey sold in the next decade as the ideal introduction to the sport for those still unsure of the arena they may have mistakenly entered. history has frequently placed the local cycle club in charge of the new adherent's velocipedinal education, but under the section entitled required reading, space must now be reserved for a new manual.
and if you're all alone in the wilderness, bereft of any nearby pelotonese for consultation, here truly is the answer.
"Where are they now, Baha and his bike? I hope they have headed into the mountains. Lying exhausted at the roadside after a punishing climb. The cheek of Baha's distinguished face pressed to the saddle, his arms tenderly embracing the frame.
"Sleeping soundly together."
thanks to the generosity of the publishers, i have two copies of 'the man and his bike' to give away to the first chosen correct answers to the following question. 'which jazz musician features prominently in the book?'. e-mail answers along with a full postal address to brian@twmp.net closing date is wednesday 3 may.
wednesday 26 april 2017
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................louison bobet softshell winter training gloves
you'd sort of wonder why anyone would send over a pair of cosily warm softshell gloves for review just as april decides it's almost finished for 2017 and may is eager to occupy its place. were they unaware that the hardy hebridean cyclist cares not one whit for frostbite and hypothermia, eager to pedal with impunity in any weather conditions you may care to mention? it must be well over a week since i had need of a pair of thermal gloves to fend off the iniquities of the weather and yet here's a french provider of admirable quality apparel with the nerve to insinuate that it may well be time to do so once more.
and if i can lower my voice to a whisper, thank goodness for that. for only in the past few days has the ambient temperature dropped perilously close to freezing, with an accompanying windchill that would, as an esteemed friend of mine is fond of saying "...freeze the buttons off a commissionaire's jacket." in fact, if evidence of the latter were required, you need only have paid close attention to calmac's twitter feed over the past day or so to learn of the number of ferry services liable to disruption due to winds gusting into the mid forties. winds of a less than thermal nature.
our favourite forecaster for the western isles, 'xc weather', was prognosticating snow for monday afternoon, a portent that was held with suspicion until it actually happened. the very weather, you might surmise, for a pair of thermal softshell gloves.
and you'd be right.
louison bobet either is or should be, a name well known to the cognoscenti, the first rider to win three consecutive tours de france, but now one given to a line of superb quality cycle clothing that will feature more widely in thewashingmachinepost over the next week or so. promoting themselves with the legend 'riding with panache', louison bobet cycling apparel feature, as a part of their manifesto, the desire to 'cause a stir once more with a famous name'. though it would seem a tad optimistic that the latter might be true via a pair of softshell winter training gloves, strange to relate, if this was your first and only introduction to the company you'd likely be as impressed as was i.
featuring a water repellent softshell outer, solidly embroidered with the louison bobet moniker, the fit of the review pair (large) was impeccable; perhaps a smidgeon tight at the lengthy neoprene cuffs, but ultimately that helped keep them in place. however, the very best bit and the softshell gloves' secret weapon is the grippp kangaroo leather palms. i almost had need of calling a surgeon to separate the gloves from the bar tape (i might just be making that bit up, but you get the picture). there are also essential microfibre panels on the back of the thumbs providing the archetypal snot wipe.
the thermal part of the equation is provided by the well respected primaloft lining and the stitching featured at the tip of the thumb and forefingers makes the use of a garmin or mobile phone touch screen simplicity itself. and while they're accomplishing all this, they keep a cyclist's hands noticeably cosy and therefore functional when it comes to clicking gear levers, braking or waving to someone at the side of the road you thought you knew. but didn't.
if your training regime demands that you ride in the cold of night, the first light of morning, or just in the hebrides, there might still be a place in your cycling wardrobe for a pair of thermal softshell gloves, particularly those from the legendary louison bobet.
louison bobet softshell winter training gloves are available only in black with worldwide delivery and with a 30-day free trial. sizes are small to xxxl at a cost of €95 (approximately £80).
tuesday 25 april 2017
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