Global Cycle to Work Day - 10/5/2016 #CommutesCount

Strava - #CommutesCount Initiative

It's been a while since I've cycled to work.  Normally once per year as it's 50 miles round trip and takes some planning in between a very busy work and travel schedule.

Strava recently announced a 'Global Cycle to Work' marketing campaign with the 10th of May identified as 'the day' to encourage us all to get on our bikes, then upload our rides to their platform.  Reviewing my diary a few weeks ago, there was a diary sweet spot to join in.  Hurrah.

Global Cycle to Work Day

OK, it's smacks of marketing but beneath it all there is a subset of data which can be taken as a cut to look at the movement and routes then cyclists take on their commute, which Iin theory and if used) could lead to better town planning, cycleways etc.

Thinking about the route I would normally take into work, decision was for me to ride the direct route almost in a straight line from West to East as that would be the ideal route to have a dedicated cycleway for anyone West of Manchester.  

The Riding Reality

Heading out at 6.45am this morning, the 15mph block Easterly headwind was a real treat to ride straight into for 22 of the 25 miles.  It was hard going.  As I rode along parallel to the East Lancs road, the poor condition of the cyclepath struck me. 

Only recently, millions has been spent re-configuring this piece of road to allow bus lanes, which were welcome going Easterly as it made riding safer for sure.  The miss for me was why on earth they didn't re-tarmac the cyclepath which runs parallel for about 10 miles en route?

As you get about two miles out of Manchester the fun starts. Pretty much all pathway runs out and you're left on a busy dual carriageway (A580) heading into the City.  I have to say it was pretty precarious, everyone is focused on their journey to work, people are on phones whilst driving, traffic is backed up.  You really have to keep your wits about you.

Crossing the City wasn't too bad, I knew the best way through which would carry me to Ashton Old Road, another important road which travels out to the East of the City towards Ashton-Under-Lyne.  

There is no provision for commuting cyclists on this road other than the usual green tarmac at the lights giving you a space to roll up to.  Cars are whizzing by, many far too closely, leaving no room for error if a cyclist were to hit a pothole.  I was glad to roll into work.

The Wet Carpet Ride Home

Keeping an eye on the weather during the morning, it was evident that after three days of sunshine, things could only go one way, the opposite way.  Yes, the rain was coming and plenty of it.  Moving my meetings around I decided to get off at lunchtime and zoom to work from home, missing the evening commute.  This meant I could get set up in my home office and was a better use of time.

One thing to look forward to was the tailwind.  As soon as I got going, it was there - boom.  The heavens opened, which was to be expected, but who cares when you're zooming along at 23mph!  It was one of those lovely carpet rides, being blown along - perfect!

The Commutes Stacked Up Like this: -
 
Going - Rush Hour Traffic, 15mph headwind, 25 miles - 1:39 Mins/Avg 15.2mph
Coming Back - Normal Traffic, 15mph tailwind, 25 miles - 1:24 Mins/Avg 18.0mph

What Stops People Riding to Work?

Pushing a quick Twitter poll out, it was interesting to me to think about what some of the blockers might be to people riding into work more regularly.  For me, it's distance and schedule.  For others it might be something as simple as the weather.

Giving four options, here were the responses to the questions - 'What stops you commuting to work more regularly?': -

Distance (too far) - 15%
Road Conditions (safety fears) - 25%
No Cycle Facilities at Work (storage/showers) - 28%
Other (could be schedule, weather, work from home etc). - 32%

Responses (53)

So, there you have it, albeit a very small sample. Road safety and conditions plus provision of cycling facilities in the workplace are key influences in decision making.  


Whilst the safety one was no great surprise, the work cycle facilities was.  We put in secure bike storage, lockers and showers some years ago as a way to encourage people to ride in.  Clearly it can make a big difference.

Where's the Action? 

Whilst we've all uploaded our rides (146,000 people participated) and Strava now have a nice big data set they can use for more PR and to potentially sell to the town planners, what's the real message in the day?

Road conditions (which we know are very poor), road safety (more cycleways) and facilities at work (more provision by employers) remain key issues for people to up their frequency of participation outside of annual 'mass mobilisation' days.

As someone who rides around 4000 miles a year on the road, I can't remember the road conditions (state of repair) ever being worse than now.  The sheer amount of potholes can make riding really precarious, they can also damage your bike (my £200 Mavic rim replacement being a great example).  

In the past few weeks, I have more 'near misses' than ever before.  Each being down to other road users approaching junctions too fast or being on phones.  The road is a place where you really have to have your wits about you.

With such positive health benefits, reducing long term costs for the NHS, there has to be a return on investment somewhere to make our roads more secure, to encourage more people to get on their bike.

Before the flurry of comments telling me what a complicated issue is, I know.  The reality is for the rubber to hit the road and for more people to cycle to work they just need to feel safer, that bit is for the local and central government to solve and for everyone behind the wheel of a vehicle to continue to provide safe passing room when seeing a human on a bike.

How to Spot a New Road Cyclist

I don't know about you, but often I pull aside someone and have a chat when out and about.  Whether novice or experienced, a quick 'How long are you out for?' or 'How far you going today?' sparks up a conversation.

Riding yesterday and pulling alongside a cyclist I commented that it was "good to see so many new cyclists on the road".  Replying the cyclist in question replied 'How do you know I'm a new road cyclist?' to which I replied 'You're helmet is on the wrong way round?'.  It was a tell tale giveaway!

Looking back to when I first started, I made every faux pas there was to make.  You could spot me a mile off as someone new to the pastime, probably you still can!  Anyhow, it got me thinking as to the clues to look for, apart from a helmet the wrong way around!

Tell Tale Clues

• Reflectors still on the wheels.
• Bike doesn't have a saddle bag.
• Wearing trainers and using toe clips.
• Wearing shorts without pads.
• Wearing sports socks.
• Pushing hard gears unnecessarily.
• Wearing huge amounts of luminous gear.
• Riding with a rucksack or back mounted hydration bag.
• Being overdressed on a hot day (often in wet weather gear).
• Riding a B Twin or Halfords Carrera bike.
• And the list goes on.....

The point of the post is not to ridicule but to look for the signs and always ensure you've got an encouraging word as you go past.  Remembering how tough it was when first starting out on a bike, everyone rides past you as you are going slower, many people don't stop and say hello, often you want little bits of advice of have questions to ask and a friendly conversation can pave the way to ask - what might seem an obvious question.

As more and more riders hit the road, I'm sure you encounter many new cyclists on the weekend run.  Some may well have their helmets on the wrong way (it's not the first time I've seen it), be walking home as they can't fix a flat (as happened today) or be going up a climb really slowly (in the wrong gear).  

If you are a more experienced cyclist, look for the obvious clues, invest a few minutes of your time in a short conversation (if you have it) and see what a difference you can make to someone starting out.

1,000,000 Articles Read

Five and a half years ago, following a re-introduction into cycling as a past time, it seemed a good idea to start a blog.  Today that blog achieves a milestone of one million articles read.

There I was in 2009, with a Specialized Allez Sport bike, head to toe colour co-ordinated kit and little knowledge other than how to turn the pedals.  

How hard could it be?

Jargon, acronyms, technique, gear ratios, physiology, history, technique, kit amongst a long list of things.  There was a huge amount to learn, more than I'd ever imagined. 


Reading the cycling press back in 2009, nothing seemed to give the practical advice needed for someone who was literally brand new into the sport.  There was an assumption that you already had a knowledge, which I didn't and many still don't, if jumping back on a bike after a twenty year or so break from it.  Thankfully now things have changed a lot and there's a lot more education and specialist titles.  

Searching for Answers

However, a huge amount of people continue to just search on-line for answers to specific questions and it's amazing how unique content can push up and compete with big brands and media owners.  In the early days, the blog might only get 100 visitors in a month, yet as time passed and more and more content appeared, traffic built substantially. 

The objective of the blog along is that each time I learn something new, to share it, so that if someone else encountered the same issue they could get practical help.  Articles around gear ratios, saddle positioning and bike upgrades tend to be the most popular reads.  This blog is not about money or popularity, simply about sharing and growing other people.  It has however opened up some brilliant opportunities and experiences as a by product, which is great.

Anyone will tell you who writes a blog, that it's a big commitment.  You have to constantly come up with new, relevant content.  This is the 461st post since launch to give you some idea of frequency.  Most new bloggers fail within 100 days by not posting regularly. The early days are tough, not many people read your stuff so it's easy to fizzle out through disillusionment.

Posting the first article on the 16th of August 2009, little did I know that it would go on to help so many people and hit a milestone of one million articles read.  It's amazing how many people I've met have commented on a specific action they have taken as a result of reading an article, which is exactly why it's here. 

For the future, more of the same and more interviews with people associated with the sport in all their different guises.  Thanks for continuing to come by and visit the site.

The Brand Business of Cycling

Reading the news recently about Rapha's £39M turnover in 2014 got me thinking about the business of cycling whilst out on a wet ride yesterday.  

2014 has undoubtedly been a boom year for the industry.  More new businesses, new riders, new products, new technology and applications have pushed up the potential for many start-ups and established businesses.

Taking a quick roll call of the products/services that I was either wearing or had invested in as part of my bike set-up, there were all in 22 differing businesses in the story, quite something.  It looked something like: -

1. Beacon Bikes - Bottles, Bottle Cages and Frameset
2. Bioracer - Bib shorts, Long Sleeved Winter Training Top, Winter Cap.
3. Condor - Socks
4. Contintental - Tubes and Tyres
5. Deda - Bars, Bar Tape, Seat Post, Stem
6. Garmin - Bike Computer
7. High 5 - Gel
8. Look - Cleats & Pedals
9. Mavic - Wheels
10. Oakley - Glasses
11. One Life ID - In Case of Emergency Bracelet
12. Park Tools - Multi-Tool
13. PocPac - iPhone cover
14. Rapha - Overshoes 
15. Selle Italia - Saddle
16. Shimano - Groupset
17. SiS - Energy Bar
18. Specialized - Gloves, Helmet, Shoes, Shoe Inserts
19. SRAM - Garmin Bar Extender 
20. Strava - Application for ride analysis
21. Topeak - Saddle Bags
22. USE Exposure - Lights

So, twenty two different brands had benefitted from my available share of wallet on that ride yesterday, that's before you start thinking about the bike shops, on-line e-tailers, parcel delivery couriers, credit card companies and other vertical supply chain related associated suppliers in manufacturing across the globe.  The list would be much longer if extended to all the other cycling related products and kit that you own, perhaps 50 businesses all in.

Establishing a business isn't easy, establishing a recognised brand is even tougher taking an inordinate of investment and social capital to get into the top three front of mind box for a consumer.  Nevertheless, the above list demonstrates that there is a lot to play for in this market, wide brand diversity and buyers with different tastes and requirements.

Ride your own ride

15.5mph, heart rate 161bpm, battling into a headwind, feeling pretty miserable and then a member of the GB talent squad comes flying past and disappears into the distance like it's a perfect summers day, a memorable moment from my ride yesterday.

A firm reminder that when you're out on your bike, you're going to come across lots of people who are faster, fitter or lighter than you and to ride your own ride, within your own limits.

I'm riding in a specific heart rate zone during January, top of zone 3 to keep my fitness topped up.  It means that you have to pedal hard down hills to keep your heart rate up and slow right down when going up, which creates a yo-yo effect.  Interesting when you've flown past someone on a descent for them to then catch you up and pass you again on an ascent.

See the wind as your training partner

Yesterday was a really interesting ride.  Strong gusts of wind meant the going was really hard and arriving at my planned cafe stop, I was feeling pretty whacked, it had been a big effort for 25 miles.  I needed to have a word with myself about "manning up" for the second half.  It reminded me of a conversation I had with legend - Graeme Obree - who said "see hills and wind as your training partners."  Sound advice.

Heading out for the back half, I got the wind on my back and it was still at tough at times, but more manageable, I managed to lift the average speed to 16.5mph (26.4km/h).  Thing is, I'm glad I went out.  I try and put in a decent January to get some early miles in to set the tone for the year and that means rain, wind and some tough riding at times.  Still rule 5 applies, which Twitter follower @hardboiled2006 reminded me of, that set me up nicely.

Heading out today, it was like yesterday never happened.  Doing the same circuit in reverse, everything just seemed to click.  Arriving back home, my ride average was 18mph (28.8km/h), compared to yesterdays 16.5mph (+9%) with the same average heart rate.  Amazing how the same route on two different days can deliver such a different outcome.

Riding in inclement conditions is essential if you're going to keep your fitness, improve and build into the New Year.  Half of it is in your head, giving it some Jens - "shut up legs."

Riding in Icy Conditions

It's always a difficult call when the weather has been cold overnight as to whether conditions the following morning are going to be OK to ride in.  As a rule of thumb, if it's been freezing overnight, I tend not to ride the following day due to risk of black ice.

Kicking in to 2014, I was keen to get some solid miles in.  January 2013 saw me cover 224 miles in total,  2012 was 204 miles, primarily due to cold weather conditions.  With only one ride last weekend, I had some catching up to do, so although cold overnight I resolved to get out.  Key things to consider when riding in icy conditions are: -

1) Dressing appropriately.
2) Choosing an appropriate route.
3) Slowing down.
4) Whether to go out or stay in and do some intervals instead!

Each to their own, I opted to go out.  There was the familiar crunch underneath the tyres indicating that the roads were likely to be precarious, so conclusion was to keep the ride on main roads.  I only had a couple of hours and had lower miles on the clock yesterday due to a puncture, so I was keen in the couple of hours I had to get out and get some miles in.

As I rode, a few things came in to my head about ride safety in such conditions.  Passing a big peloton of club riders, I thought they were pretty mad personally to ride in a tight group given the unpredictable road conditions. The thoughts I had were: -

1) Running on wider tyres (25mm/28mm) gives you more rubber on the road.
2) The importance of carrying a foil blanket in your back pocket.  If you do go over unsuspectingly, it's vital to keep warm.  For a couple of quid, this is something that will assist you or a fellow cyclist in an emergency.
3) Using the back brake more than the front to avoid losing the front end.
4) The importance of carrying 'ICE' information.  See previous blogpost here about Road Life ID which I use.
5) Going out a bit later to allow the sun to rise and do its work.
6) Steering clear of the gutter at the side of the road, where ice is most likely to form due to lack of salt on the road.
7) Taking turns a bit wider and slower than normal.

Despite a couple of wobbles on unexpected black ice, slowing down on today's ride and keeping things smooth and predictable, it meant the very cold part of the morning around 8.15am passed without drama.  30 miles more in the bag, 121 in total so far this month.

Pump/Valve Incompatibility

It was in contrast to yesterday, which was nearly a write off, with very wet conditions.  There was a lot of surface water and riding through a puddle - bang - I hit a hidden pothole, something I'd previously blogged to beware of!  Straight away, the tyre went down and I had a pinch puncture.  

Usual pack drill, wheel off, tyre off, tube out, I can do it in my sleep now, but I had a repeat of a previous problem.  When removing the hose of my Lezyne Pressure drive pump after inflating the tyre, it also undid the valve inside the Continental inner tube, rendering me unable to pump the tyre up as the valve was completely removed from the tube.

Same thing happened at the back end of last year but I put it down to the long 80mm valves on my deep section rims, thankfully a passing fellow cyclist lent me his pump with a standard press-on fitting and everything was fine.

Conclusion is I've permanently retired the Lezyne pump as I can't have that happening on a ride.  Prior to that it hasn't happened to me before, so it could also be a batch of tubes that I purchased where the valves weren't tight enough in the tube.

Anyhow, it was also a great reminder when passing someone to always ask if everything is OK?  

Here's to a Great 2014

With the New Year firmly upon us, I wish you safe, epic and wind assisted miles, whatever your goals.  For me, it's all about continuing to use the bike as a tool to stay fit, think clearly and see some amazing countryside whilst riding with some great like minded people.  Chapeau!

2013 Round Up

It's that time when the year is drawing to a close and worth a quick moment of reflection as to the key moments of 2013.  So, 10 things that have stood out for me this year are:-

1. Chris Froome winning the Tour de France and showing some real guts whilst without much of his team for many key stages.
2. Riding my fastest 100 miles at an average of 18.6mph in September.
3. The horrendous weather at the Tour of Britain race this year and that excellent day in the The Lakes which really saw the riders suffer.  Nice job Wiggo for the win.
4. How cycling continues to take off in the UK with so many new riders on the road.
5. Completing London to Paris again in June (personal) with a great bunch of people from Skoda Cycling.
6. Number of cyclists being killed on the road seems to be taking a worrying turn in the wrong direction.
7. Riding the mountains in Tenerife in early November - going back there!
8. The big fight for the Presidency of the UCI with the new President - Brian Cookson - taking over.
9. Getting a new road cycling business - Beacon Bikes - off the ground and the first store opened in Whalley, near Clitheroe (personal).
10. The blog clicking over 750,000 visits, something I never planned for.

So, they are some of mine. What about you? What have your highlights been? Feel free to leave a comment.

A bicycle made for two....

Riding in Cheshire a couple of years back I passed a couple on a tandem.  Pulling alongside them I for a natter and a hello, I asked them where they were heading "the Pyrenees" came the reply.  Thinking the wind had constratined my ability to hear them, I said "Where did you say again?".  "The Pyrenees" came the reply.

Yes, they were setting off from Cheshire to ride down to Dover, zip over the Channel and then go riding in South-West Europe and then home again over a three week period.  "Do you mind me asking how old you are?"  Back then, "71 and 73" came the reply.  Wow.

As we rode on, they described all the riding they'd done together on their tandem over the years.  Just about every legendary mountain pass, Audax and route on an average cyclists bucket list in Europe.  The stories were captivating, their love of cycling, the community, the routes, the time they spent together seeing different places.  As I rode off, I hoped that I'd bump into them again one day.

Their names are Brian and Barbara Thompson and seems they are a big of a legendary unit in Audax circles, having ridden just about every Audax route in the country.  I saw Brian out on his bike (75 years young now) the other week and had a natter with him, he'd decided to nip out and do a 75 miler on a Sunday whilst his wife Barbara was recovering from a spate of illness. 

A sun ripened face, old-school kit and a metronomic pedalling style just made Brian stand out.  He found cycling back in the early 80's (in his early 40's as many people are now) and never looked back.  Moving to the tandem after a couple of nasty crashes whilst racing, it meant wife Barbara (the stoker) could keep an eye on him!

Lend a hand

Whistling back from my ride on Sunday, I caught them in the corner of my eye about 10 miles from home in a lane, both off the bike.  I turned round and went back to see them to discover a Brian repairing a snapped chain from his 'toolkit of all toolkits'.

Lending a little mechanical assistance, including a pack of emergency baby wipes for Brian to clean his oil soaked hands, it was magical to hear further epic stories of 600km Audaxes, how they rode the Great Ocean Road in Australia, Edingburgh - London - Edinburgh, Paris - Brest - Paris, amongst a long list of epic adventures.

The stories were legendary, I was totally consumed by this couple from Bolton, who just lived their life on their trusty tandem.  As we got the bike back on the road and I rode alongside them, I can't even remember the three mile stretch we covered, my mind just wandering in appreciation and recognition for these two as they dropped route after route of cycling legend which they'd covered.

In amongst this story, there are a few important observations: -

1) Always be equipped for a broken chain.  Carry a link extractor or an SRAM quick-link in your tool box.

2) Carry some baby wipes for those dirty hands!

3) Take time to say hello to people when you're riding.

4) Cycling is a past time which can see you well beyond your retirement, unlike many sports.

5) Inspiration comes in unusual places.

I'm always re-calling the "I once met a couple riding to the Pyrenees on these roads" when meeting riders on the Cheshire lanes, it was superb to bump into them again. 

A reminder that riding bikes is a journey, both spiritually and geographically.  People who ride, generally live longer, are more resilient to stress and able to cope with the demands of this busy world we now live in.  Brian and Barbara Thompson are living proof of that, both in their 70's, they are doing distances riders in their 20's and 30's would find hard to match.  Inspiring people!

Questions, Questions

Yesterday I did my hardest ride in ages.  A 75 mile (120km) haul over to to Rivington and Parbold, taking in around 4,600 feet of ascent (1400M), it was a great opportunity to test my fitness.  With only three weeks to go until the London to Paris ride, I had a few technical questions in my head about my bike set-up which I wanted to answer, namely: -

1. Should I ride a 53/39 front chain ring vs. a 50/34 (compact)?
2. Should I ride my 50mm deep section wheels?
3. Which handlebars give me the most comfort?

I'm lucky enough to have more than one bike, there are two that I use when riding events such as sportives depending on what the route profile looks like.  One runs a compact chainset, one runs a standard.  Over the past few months my strength has improved and I wanted to see whether I could climb with the 53/39 as I prefer it as a general set-up.

Yesterday was really windy too, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to take the deep section wheels out and see what happened.

So what happened?

1. Gear Ratios.  I climbed pretty well all day with the 53/39 (11/28 on the back) until a steep ramp near Blackrod towards the end of the ride, where I got a twinge in my knee of an old injury.  With the additional strain of being out the saddle and pushing hard up a 20% gradient, it just niggled my knee and that was that.  On the up side, I managed all day so with some further strength training, it should be OK in the future.  Conclusion = ride a compact 50/34 for increased gear ratios/cadence when climbing.
2. Deep Section Wheels.  Yes it was windy and there were times when the wind caught the wheels which made for a hairy moment, particularly as you hit a crosswind.  However, on descents and when turning the gas up on fast, flat straights, the wheels came into their own and were very fast.  Conclusion = I'm running the deep sections.
3. Which bars to use? I've got FSA bars on one of my bikes and 3T on the other.  By far and away, the FSA bars are more comfortable.  They have a flat profile and are very comfortable when riding long distances.  I found myself moving around far more than normal on the 3T bars yesterday.  Conclusion = FSA bars.

It's hugely important to consider things like this well before an event so that you can get your bike set up as it will be before you throw a leg over on day one of your challenge.  It's important that you put some miles in with the configuration that you know will allow you to ride comfortably and at your best.   Think marginal gains!

500,000 Blog Hits Achieved

 

Today the blog reaches a landmark which I'd never planned for or imagined, it's clicked over 500,000 hits since I started it in on the16th August 2009.  My first post had all of 15 views and I hadn't really thought it would go much more than that.  The blog was more or an outlet to share my experience given the absence of blogs aimed at the new road cyclist. 

Since then, I've penned 379 different blog posts on a manner of different subjects, ranging from gear ratios, to bike selection and a few interviews with well known riders that I come across.  

I've been all over including the Tour de France, riding in the team car as the then Garmin Cervelo team rode the Champs Elysee, ridden from London to Paris, acquired a collection of bikes, met loads of wonderful people and had a jolly good time in the process.

I don't write this blog for money or for advertising click throughs.  I don't optimise it or spend much time promoting it particularly.  All I've done is stick to my three golden rules of blogging which are: -

1. Post regularly.
2. Keep the articles fairly short and informative.
3. Share as much as possible to make it relevant for other people.

I'm genuinely delighted that so many people have benefited from the articles that I've written, that's been my whole purpose for doing it.  When I set out, I thought there was a lack of information for people just starting out in road cycling.  

Everything seemed so technical, there were more acronyms than you could shake a stick at and I didn't know if the things I was doing were right or not.  In the last three years I've learned a huge amount and have attempted to relay that in simple terms in my writing.

Win a Bioracer Racing Jersey or Gilet

As a small thank you to my regular readers and twitter followers, I intend to give away a piece of Bioracer clothing every day for the next 5 days.  Bioracer, one of the worlds top performance clothing brands, based in Belgium make kit for many of the pro-teams in the world.  I commissioned them to make some personalised kit for my employer which you can see in the picture below.

Anyone that leaves a comment on this blogpost or mentions the blog on Twitter will qualify and I will pick one person at random each day to be the recipient of a piece of our personalised clothing.  Each item has a value of around £60 and is considered some of the best performance clothing - pound for pound - that you can buy.  I've ridden in it for over a year and I haven't found better.

2013 brings more miles, more experiences, more kit, more interviews and more hints and tips, thanks for visiting, reading and leaving your comments.

What to buy a road cyclist for Christmas?

Xmas is coming - what will Santa bring you?

If you have a partner, spouse of relative that loves road cycling and you're already on the hunt for Christmas stocking fillers, let me give you some inspiration on some items that a road cyclist might quite like to unwrap on Christmas day.

Avoid those bad after shaves, knee-high socks and K-Tel CD compilations and put your money into one of these gifts and you'll be assured of a big happy smiling roadie.  They will be super impressed at your insider knowledge of all things cycling and you'll be guaranteed a brownie point filled Christmas day.

I'll keep adding items as I think of them or come across them, additionally if you have any contributions, just leave a comment.

Gifts Below £10

• Book - Tyler Hamilton - The Secret Race.  Undoubtedly the book of the moment, you will seriously impress your cycling partner with your insider knowledge buying this as a gift.  The book that brought down Lance.  Less than a tenner on Amazon.
• Bike Floss.  It's good to floss and these will make quick work of a dirty cassette or hard to reach area on the bike,  a simple idea but really effective idea.  Brilliant stocking filler from the kids at only £3.99 a set via Purple Harry.
• Condor Race Socks.  Super comfortable, got loads of pairs of these - bargain £7.49 a pair.  Details here.
• Scarf/Buff.  On cold days this is an ideal cycling neck scarf to keep the chills away.  Less than a tenner on Wiggle.
• Purple Harry cleaner and degreaser.  To keep the pride and joy clean, you need a decent cleaning spray, Purple Harry do the trick with this cleaner/degreaser for less than a tenner.  Buy here.
• Garmin Edge 800 silicon cover.  If your partner has got one of these gadgets on their bike, this silicon cover will make sure it stays in tip top condition.  Less than a tenner on Amazon.
• Merino socks.  Tootsies getting cold  makes riding miserable.  Slip your feet into these merino socks and a ready brek like glow will entail for £9.99 (pack of three).  Buy here.
• Chain links.  You will blow your partner away with these, they'll think you've been on a service course.  Everyone should carry one of these in their saddle bag in case of a chain break.  You just need to know what groupset they run on the bike - Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo and hey presto.  Available on Wiggle for under a tenner.
• Chamois cream.  Look away now those of a nervous disposition.  This is cream that you wallop all round your nether regions to help prevent saddle sore.  Essential for those long rides and this product from udderly smooth was developed for milking cows.  Enough said, a great stocking filler for under a tenner.  Available from Wiggle. 
• High Five Zero tablets.  Great electrolyte additive to water.  Around £5.50 a tube, someone will thank you for these.  Available from Wiggle. 
• Space Blanket.   With accidents on the rise and slippery roads, you never know when you are going to come across an incident.  A critical thing is to be able to keep someone warm and for around £3.00-£5.00 you can buy a space blanket off of e-bay which you can keep in your back pocket whilst cycling - it could be a life saver.  
• Outwet balaclava.  Walk into a coffee shop wearing this and they'll be pushing the panic button thinking their about to be turned over!   I swear by one of these in the winter to keep the cold out, they even have a breathing hole bit for those really cold days.  Great gift for under a tenner, you can find them on the Planet X website.
• Chain bath.  Keeping your chain in good order is an essential component of a good drivetrain.  This chainbath from Barbieri will help you keep things nice and clear.  Available here for around £7.50.
• Merino arm warmers.  Merino is great, keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter.  These arm warmers are a bargain at a fiver.  Buy here. 
• Book - Bradley Wiggins - My Time.  Just read this and it's a really good insight into how Wiggins prepared for his famous 2012 Tour de France victory and the real story behind the failed Olympic road race.  Less than a tenner on Amazon.

Gifts Below £20

• DeFeet DuraGlove Wool Glove.  Brilliant Merino gloves at a bargin price of £13.49, look at the delight on your partners face as they rip these open.  Details here.
• One Life ID bracelet.  A QR code with a link to a website detailing all the riders contact and health information available on a variety of things from key-rings or a wrist bracelet.  Essential in case of accident in allowing emergency crews to quickly contact loved ones and identify any existing conditions/allergies.  An essential item for anyone who participates in outdoor sport.  Buy here from £10-£20.
  
• Knog Lights.  Great little lights to have on your bike for emergency lighting when you get caught out.  £17.50 on Wiggle.
• Sealskinz Skull Cap.  Perfect to nip on under your helmet on those cold winter days cycling, it's waterproof too.  Around £18.00 on Wiggle. 
• DeFeet oversocks.  For those days when it's cold, but not wet.  Oversocks help keep your feet warm.  Around £12.00 on Wiggle.
• Lezyne CO2 inflator.  Punctures are a pain, getting yourself repaired and back on the road in the shortest possible time is easier with one of these CO2 inflators which will pump your tyre up to pressure with one squirt.  Less than £20 on Wiggle, re-fills around a tenner.
• Crudguard Mudguards.  Easiest way to get mudguards on a road bike which doesn't have mounting lugs.  Keeps your feet dry and water out of the rider behinds eyes.  You'd seriously impress your partner with these.  Around £27.00 on Wiggle. 
• Inner tubes.  Every cyclist always needs inner tubes, a cheap wrap up which will not be going back with the reciept. I think this Continental five pack is a great gift at under £20, order the 700x20-25mm with a 42mm valve.  On Wiggle here.
• Park Tools Big Wheel Pizza Cutter.  For the man that must have eveything cycling themed in his life.  £12.99 on Amazon.
• Super B Torque Wrench.  It's good to torque and this is easily the best value mini-torque wrench out there.  Great to keep your stem and seatpost perfectly tightened for around £15.  Available here.

Gifts Below £50

• Annual subscription to Cycling Plus Magazine - £37.99.  Details here.
• Lezyne Pressure Drive pump.  Excellent little pump for £27.99.  On Amazon here.
• Topeak Bike Stand.  When you've invested money in a pride and joy bike, you don't want it to fall over and you'll want it to stand upright whilst you sit and gaze at it for hours in the dining room (note not the garage).  Around £40 on Wiggle.
• Park Tools Allen keys.  Every cyclist needs to own a decent set of allen keys in their toolkit, these are not the cheapest but they are one of the best and will last forever.  Around £35 on Wiggle.
• The Obree Way training manual.  The definitive book from one of the UK's greatest ever cyclists.  A legend revealing his methods, this book is available at around £35, but you can also get it as a much cheaper download.  Trust me, this one will be a winner.  Available from Obrees website.
• British Cycling Silver Membership.  If you're new to road cycling it's important you're insured and this silver membership provides some of the essential cover you'll need plus a stack of other benefits.  £36 for a year.  Details here.
• Park Tools chain wear checker.  A stretched chain can lead to all sorts of problems for your drivetrain.  One of those things that you need in your toolbox, quality always counts, don't buy cheap, buy this from Wiggle (around £25).
• Lezyne Track pump.  Maintaining tyre pressures is key for performance on the road.  A good quality pump will last for ages and is one of those essential bits of kit.  Less than £40 on Wiggle
• Tool kit.  As you get more confident with maintaining your bike, like Bob the Builder, you're going to need the right tools for the job.  This starter tool kit for £39.99 has all the essentials you'll need to spanner like a pro.  Buy here.

Gifts £50 Plus

• Annual subscription to Rouleur - £78.  This isn't a magazine, it's a work of art designed for the most contemporary of coffee tables.  Watch as your partner drools at some stunning pictures, keeping them quiet whilst you get on.  Details here.
• Exposure Flash and Flare lights.  The best compact lights out there, make sure you're loved one is seen from a distance.  £75 on Chain Reaction cycles website.
• Workshop stand.  Whether cleaning, maintaining or tinkering a workshop stand is a must have for anyone serious about road cycling.  It will allow you to get in all those nooks and crannies.  This one scored 10/10 in a Cycling Plus review and is available for around £50.  Buy here.

£100 Plus.

• Campagnolo Corkscrew.  Are you a Campag rider through and through?  Then you need the ultimate Campag accessory, the Campagnolo Corkscrew.  A snip at around £150.  Details here.
• Fitness assessment with Total Cycling Performance. Guaranteed delight on Christmas day, this is the one that your partner will rave about for years.  Time with a cycling coach, a full fitness assessment and training plan.  It will make them faster on the bike and totally tick a box for a cycling obsessed partner.  More details on their website.  Mention that you saw them mentioned here and you may get a preferential rate.
• Cyclops turbo trainer.  As the winter beds in, carry on watching your favourite TV by sending your partner into the garage to train on a static trainer.  A must have for anyone wanting to seriously train throughout the winter.  This is a good one for around £135 on Wiggle. (I'd also recommend you buy the riser block for £17.00).

Money No Object

• Rapha Rocket Espress machine.  Coffee is a huge part of the sub-culture of cycling.  Impress the neighbours with this ultimate coffee machine.  Not sure whether it should be in the kitchen or in the front room in a cabinet.  A whopping €1,700 and it's yours.  More info here.

Easing back after illness

October has been a write-off for me on the bike, a virus has lingered in my system keeping me off the road for two weekends in a row.  This weekend looked doubtul too and I opted to stay off the bike yesterday remembering previous advice to fully rest if not at 100%.

Looking out of the curtains today, I was faced with perfect blue skys, temperature around fourteen degrees and hardly any wind - almost perfect riding conditions.  Opting to go out for a couple of hours at a very easy pace, it was splendid to be turning the pedals again.

It's vitally important to ease yourself back into training steadily following illness, monitoring your heart rate is essential to manage the process so that you don't push things too hard.  Keeping revs high and effort low, not putting the heart under any more stress whilst it works on your recovery.

I'd set my heart rate monitor to alert me if I went outside of heart rate zone two, it was just about being out today and I really enjoyed it. It reminded me why I got started three years ago, the fresh air, the scenery and staying fit and healthy.


I've also been taking a cocktail of vitamins and minerals - Vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, Echninacea and Vitamin D - to boost the immune system (all supplied by Boots the chemists not by an anonymous man on a motorbike - Read Tyler Hamiltons book "the secret race" to get that joke).

Echinacea has been recommended to me as something that should be in the "must take" list of supplements throughout the whole winter.   Big thanks to Niko at ProPulse Fitness and Training Consultancy for his continuing advice on the above.

If you're new to road cycling, an investment in a heart rate monitor is well advised for training.  Not just for recovery but for on-going optimisation of your training rides and the events that you may ride.  You can read previous articles I've written on the subject using the tag cloud on the right.

With any luck another weeks light duties, good sleep, hydration and quality diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables should see me right. 

Cycle5afe

Addison Lee Founder & Chairman - John Griffiths

If you're a cyclist in the UK, you couldn't have failed to have noticed the storm that's been whipped up by the founder of the countries largest - London based - minicab company, John Griffiths.  If you've missed the story, best place to have a quick read is on the road.cc website here.  I've also written a blog about it on my business blog here.

Mutual Appreciation

Last year, I came up with a road safety campaign idea called "Cycle5Afe" - The Times subsequently launched a scheme called "Cyclesafe" so I ditched it, having already acquired the URL and Twitter ID I might add!

The crux of the idea was about mutual appreciation of the road and was themed around the five "A's as follows, a bit like the "Think Bike" campaign for motorcyclists: -

• Aware (cars anticipate that a cyclists may need to manoeuvre unexpectedly, cyclists don't wear headphones so you can be aware of what's behind you).
• Alert (always have a spatial view of the road, cars need to understand what gap they need to leave, cyclists need to be aware that swerving unexpectedly may cause an accident behind them).
• Appreciation (of all road users).
• Assertiveness (cyclists own the road when you need to, drivers be assertive and do not pass until safe, even if you are being hassled).
• Always (cyclists wear a helmet, drivers stay safe when passing).

The point was there is as much as of a duty of care that cyclists need to show on the road, as there is to road drivers.  Most cyclists, like drivers, are responsible, safe on the road and just wanting to get from A to B.  As usual, it's the minority that jump traffic lights etc, that create the headlines and attract the anti-cycling ranting, like the idiot drivers that take silly risks when overtaking cyclists.

With rising fuel costs, a pressure to lower carbon footprints, rising healthcare costs amonst other things, more people are taking to the saddle and therefore the road needs to be a safe place for all those that choose to use it.  Let's just take a look at the statistics around the reported cycling incidents: -

The Stats (Source: RoSPA).

• Around 17,000 cycling incidents are reported each year.  Around 2,500 of these involve a serious injury.  
• Around 75% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas.
• Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads.
• 75% happen at, or near, a road junction.
• 80% occur in daylight.
• 80% of cyclist casualties are mal.
• Around three quarters of cyclists killed have major head injuries.

Types of Accident (Source: RoSPA).

• In collisions involving a bicycle and another vehicle, the most common key contributory factor recorded by the police is 'failed to look properly' by either the driver or rider, especially at junctions. 'Failed to look properly' was attributed to the car driver in 57% of serious collisions and to the cyclist in 43% of serious collisions at junctions.
• Other common contributory factors attributed to drivers are 'poor turn/manoeuvre' (in 17% of serious accidents involving a cyclist) and 'careless, reckless, in a hurry (17%). Cyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries when a driver is judged to be 'impaired by alcohol', exceeding the speed limit' or 'travelling too fast for the conditions'.
• The second most common contributory factor attributed to cyclists was 'cyclist entering the road from the pavement' (including when a cyclist crosses the road at a pedestrian crossing), which was recorded in about 20% serious collisions.
• The most common vehicle involved in collisions with cyclists is a car or taxi, with the rider usually being hit by the front of the vehicle. In a quarter of fatal cyclist accidents, the front of the vehicle hit the rear of the bicycle.

Cyclists Pay Their Taxes.

As John Griffiths of Addison Lee is quickly learning around 80% of all cyclists are also drivers (Source - Institute of Advanced Motorists) and quite a large number of them are also Addison Lee customers based upon the negative commentary on social media channels.  It's a myth that cyclists and motorists are separate groups, in four out of five cases, they are one of the same.

The future has to be about mutual respect and co-existence for all road users, regardless of transportation type, a safe environment for all.  Ranting comments just widen the divide, rather than narrow it and aren't helpful.  Griffiths has talked today of his support for the Cyclesafe campaign from The Times, which does rather make you wonder whether there is some serious back-pedalling being done.

Power to the People

The most important point to remember in this whole affair is that cyclists are people.  Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Nephews, Aunties and Uncles to others.  A moment of madness can lead to devastating effects, just ask Simon Richardson MBE about that, innocently mown down whilst training by a drunk driver.  Being safe is about your actions behind the wheel or behind the handlebars towards another human being, simple as that.  Stay safe, stay cycle5Afe.  See you on the road.

Breaking the Cycle - A Sponsors View

With the news that Alberto Contador has this week had a two year ban for contravening regulations around banned substances in his bloodstream and former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich now facing a retrospective two year ban (although he is now retired), I found myself driving home the tonight thinking about the potential impact that such news has on sponsorship for the sport.

It's a well known fact that there aren't many big ticket sponsors out there in the world right now, look at how difficult it was for Andy Schlecks Leopard-Trek team to gain a title sponsor - teams requiring millions of dollars a year in sponsorship income are desperate to woo the big brands to the sport.

As a director of a large technology multi-national, I'm forever being approached by a myriad of sporting teams across a wide range of sports for sponsorship.  So, what goes through the mind of a potential sponsor around the pro-cycling opportunity?

Usual things - potential audience, demographic, reach and brand image are key, then there are the drugs, the history, the omerta and the potential for some serious brand damage.

The key issue why many brands don't take the leap is the continuing talk around doping and cheating in the sport which it continues to try and shake, if a rider or team is found to be associated with any kind of doping case then it instantly reflects on the team and the sponsors.  Just think Willy Voet and Festina in 1998 to see how that can unfold.  Therein continues to lie the problem with attracting sponsors to the World Pro Tour scene

Things did seem to be improving from the really terrible times of the 90's when EPO and other substances made all the headlines, when average speeds went superhuman and riders just rode away in questionable circumstances.  New teams with zero tolerance policies like Garmin-Cervelo (now Carmin-Baracuda) and Team Sky are making their stance clear and the talk around the 2011 Tour de France was one of it being the "cleanest ever."

The Contador case puts the sport on the backfoot and in the spotlight for the wrong reasons again. The whole Contador mess has taken far too long to sort out - if there is something amiss a sponsor will want it dealt with quickly.  They won't want to see their name associated in lights over a long period, which is exactly what has happened with Contador. 

Executives at Saxo Bank-Sungard I'm sure will be less than happy, think about T-Mobile when Jan Ulrich was discovered to be doping, they totally pulled out of the sport.  It's taken five years for the ruling on Ullrich to materialise incidentally.


The potential brand damage of a doping cyclist will mean sponsors may wish to distance themselves or to completely discount the whole concept given the potential risks that cycling seem to carry vs. other sports (rightly or wrongly).  Perhaps the authorities need to take some responsibility for this, they need to act swiftly and decisively, think about lifetime bans and create the conditions to bring sponsors in, to finally deal with this once and for all.

At the end of it all, it's part of a vicious cycle (excuse the pun).  Riders want to earn big salaries, so some choose to enhance their performance illegally - ruining it for everyone else when they are discovered and distancing further potential sponsors.  But without those big sponsors, big salaries will be nothing but a dream for all but the very best. 

I think the worst of the days are behind the sport, genuine progress has been made since the days of Pantani et al, however the sport still presents known unknowns to potential sponsors of reputational damage.  Only if a sponsor is a cycling nut can they perhaps know who to back, which riders are suspect, which teams are clean or how to enter the industry in a way which minimises that risk.  One thing I do know is that the cycling authorities have a very big part to play in creating the conditions for this situation to improve.

Base (miles), how slow can you go?

The 2012 mileage account is offcially open. Setting our this morning at 9am, today's ride was all about base miles.  A cold but bright start saw me setting out from home on a loop over to Knutsford.  My ride today was all about staying in heart rate zone one/two (60-75% of my maximum heart rate) in order to fat burn. It's easier said that done.

First things first, I'd got my Garmin set up with an alarm to beep when my heart rate went above 120bpm.  Every time I hit anything with an incline, off it went - bzzz.  A lapse of concentration and you begin to push a bit harder - bzzz, a headwind - bzzzz, a rider in the distance - bzzzz, it felt like I was constantly throttling back. 

It's also difficult to find a route that is pan flat to increase your chances of staying in the zone.  Living in Cheshire, it's perhaps a little easier, so my route today had around 1k of ascent, you can see where those bits were as my heart rate rises.

Overall, my average heart rate was 114bpm, within my target zone for the bulk of the ride, perhaps erring more on a recovery ride than anything.  I also looked to keep my cadence around the 80 mark, so that I could keep a good pedal stroke, getting back my average was 78rpm, so I'll aim for higher next time.

It's funny as people go flying by you as you ride, it's so tempting to turn the gas up, however there is an important principle at stake - go slower, to go faster - don't be tempted to increase your intensity.

By riding in a lower heart rate zone, you are burning more fat as your energy source, ultimately meaning that it can contribute to weight loss, more weight loss with no power loss, means a better power to weight ratio, therefore faster on the bike - bingo, bango, bungo!

It felt good to be out today and get some early miles in, saw a good few cyclists out and about, all smiling and happy.  2012, here we come.....

Welcome to 2012

Reset your mileage clocks everyone, we're starting again.  It's day one of a new year when you can set some new objectives for this year around your bike. Happy New Year!

For lots of people, the key objectives are based upon achieving a certain mileage, me included.  This year however, I'm having a good think about those miles.  Just riding brings it's advantages of course, it keeps your heart fit, helps with the weight and gets you out in the fresh air.

If you want to achieve something more specific, like a power increase, getting better at hill climbing, building a specific aerobic base, completing your first time trial or riding your first century, then it will do you a whole lot of good if you think about what your absolute objective is then plan the type of miles you intend to do around that.  That is, train for what you want to achieve.

To be a better hill climber for example, you'd do well to lose some weight and get your power to weight ratio lower, so a good place to start would be some low heart rate zone rides to burn fat, then to build on your aerobic base and your strength.

I'm not a cycling coach, so please consult one if you have specific goals, my underlying point is that you would do well to get some advice and tailor your training plan accordingly.  Having a quick think about what I'd like to do on the bike this year.

1. I am keen to surpass 4,000 miles, with more emphasis on hillier miles (according to my Garmin log, my ascent was 149K in 2011.  End of year exit at 165K+ would be good - plus 10%).
2. I am keen for my power to weight ratio to be 10% higher than current (so I either need to lose weight or increase power, or both).  Current PWR is 3.35, target 3.70.
3. I'd like to go under 27 minutes for a 10M time trial by the end of the season (I've never done one, so this is a bit of a stab in the dark in terms of a time).

What are your plans?  Feel free to leave a comment and share with the other readers.

2011 Review

Here's my review of 2011, both personal and things in road cycling generally.  It's not meant to be exhaustive, just a few things that have stood out to me personally as a casual observor.  It's been quite a year on a lot of levels......

January

• Spanish rider Alberto Contador is cleared of doping charges by the Spanish cycling federation.  The 2010 Tour de France winner is still awaiting a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport as to whether his title will be stripped from him after Clenbuterol was discovered in his system at a routine drugs test.
• Britains Ben Swift takes third spot in the Santos Tour down Under.
• Former two times Hour record holder and World Champion Graeme Obree announces he's gay.  Article.
• My YTD Mileage - 380M/608KM

February

• Storck Scenero wins Cycling Plus "Bike of the Year" award.  Article.  (Storck has subsequently been aquired by fitness chain Decathlon - watch this space).
• My YTD Mileage - 685M/1,096KM

 March

• The 2011 World Track Championships take place in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.  Australia top the medal chart.  France's Gregory takes the Gold in the mens sprint, Britains Jason Kenny takes Silver, ahead of Sir Chris Hoy in third place.  Team GB re-state that everything is on track for London 2012.  
• Brtiains Laura Trott, Wendy Houvenaghel and Danielle King take Britains only gold medal in the Womens team pursuit.  Results here.
• Specialized launch their Venge bike, Mark Cavendish rode this in 2011.  Article.
• Bradley Wiggins takes third spot in Paris-Nice.  Things looking good for the Tour de France.
• My YTD Mileage - 993/1,589KM  

April 

• Take delivery of my new road bike - an Onix Azzuro.  Article.
• Paris-Roubaix (The Hell of the North) is won by Belgian Johan Vansummeren.
• Mark Cavendish wins the one day classic Grote Scheldeprijs.

 May

• Rode the Fred Whitton sportive.  My hardest ever day in the saddle.  Article.
• Pro Cyclist Wouter Weylandt dies after an accident at the Giro d'Italia.  RIP.  Article.
• Spanish rider Alberto Contador wins the Giro d'Italia overall, taking two stage wins along the way.  GC here.
• Geraint Thomas wins the Bayern-Rundfahrt.
• My YTD Mileage - 1,401M/2,241KM

 June

• Get my Dolan Ares back from Performance Race Art with a brand new paint job tributed to my blog featuring every GC winner of the Tour de France from its inception to 2010 on the headtube.  Article.
• Bradley Wiggins wins the Critérium du Dauphiné.  Go Bradley!
• My YTD Mileage - 1,663M/2,660KM 

 July

• Tour de France.  One of the best weekends I've ever enjoyed.  Article.  
• Cadel Evans takes the yellow jersey, Mark Cavendish takes the green jersey.  I thought Cadel a worthy winner and Cav is the man when it comes to points and stage wins.
• Britans GC hope - Bradley Wiggins - retires with a broken collarbone following a crash.
• Still no English rider in the top 10 of the GC!  GC here.
• My YTD Mileage - 2,240M/3,584KM  

 August

• Paralympic Gold Medallist Simon Richardson is knocked off his bike and critically injured in a road collision for the second time.  The driver is subsequently charged with dangerous driving.  Articles.
• 2011 Vuelta a Espana is won by Spains Juan Jose Cobo.  Britains Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky, take 2nd and 3rd place.  GC here.
• David Millar takes third spot in the Eneco Tour.
• My YTD Mileage - 2,595M/4,152KM   

 September

• Mark Cavendish wins the rainbow jersey at the 2011 UCI World Road Championships.  The pinnacle of a three year plan which saw the first rainbow jersey in over 50 years for a UK rider.  Bradley Wiggins comes second in the time trial.
• Britains Lucy Garner takes the rainbow jersey in the Womens Junior Road race at the World Championships.  Results here.
• My YTD Mileage - 3018M/4,829KM  

 October

• James Cracknell and Jerone Waters attempt to break the end to end tandem record. Article.
• Built my winter bike.  Article.
• Britains David Millar takes second place in the Tour of Beijing, with Chris Froome taking third place.
• ROSPA report that 111 cyclists have been killed on the road in 2011 so far.  2,660 seriously injured, 14,414 slightly injured.
• My YTD Mileage - 3,337M/5,339KM  

November

• Belgian Phillipe Gilbert tops the UCI world rankings.
• Rob Hayles retires from cycling.  A fantastic ambassador.  Article.
• My YTD Mileage - 3,539M/5,662KM   

December 

• Wiggle sells for £180M. Article.
• Graeme Obree launches his training manual. Article.
• Mark Cavendish wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year.  Well deserved.
• My YTD Mileage - 3,658M/5,852KM   

2011 has seen around 170 articles published on the blog and over 200K hits, thanks all for continuing to visit.  It pleases me a huge amount when people say that the blog has helped them in one way or another.  Blogging takes time, those that write blogs will tell you that, there's plenty of failed bloggers out there (I'm a previous first time round failed blogger), so I appreciate it when people pass comment, it makes the time investment worthwhile.

So, what have been your highlights?  Feel free to leave a comment.  Here's to a safe 2012.