Women's Cycling issue 1

WOMEN'S ACTIVE NETWORK ISSUE THREE £4.00

OVER

1EV7EN0TS LISTED!

GET FIT HAVE FUN BEST PLACES TO CYCLE FIND A RIDING BUDDY CHOOSE THE RIGHT KIT

Your must-read gear guide!

24 pairs of shorts tested

FUEL YOUR RIDE BEST BARS TESTED BEGINNERS

Find the right bike for you

FAMILY FITNESS

GET YOUR KIDS RIDING cycling1_001.indd 1

RIDE HAPPY

REAL LIFE

‘Cycling helped me go from fat kid to high achiever’

OFF-ROAD ROUTES AND KIT HOW TO LOVE DOWNHILLS

ROUND THE WORLD

18,000 MILES 152 DAYS 29 FLAT TYRES ONE AMAZING STORY ISSN: 2051–5278

08/03/2013 15:19

Editor’s note

www.womenscyclinguk.co.uk {AUGUST 2012} Editor Lara Dunn lara.dunn@womenscyclinguk.co.uk

‘Women are the next big thing in cycling’

Freelance Sub Editor Jon Edwards

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© EDDIE MACDONALD

After one of the greatest ever years in British cycling, with incredible and inspiring performances from Olympic and Paralympic athletes, professional and amateur riders in all disciplines, why is it that most of the enduring headlines have been about male riders and medal winners? Sure, there have been flash-in-the-pan congratulations to female Olympians, but by far the majority of column inches and broadcast hours have been dedicated to the burlier sex.

But this is changing, a critical mass seems to have been reached, an energy that has been slowly but surely building since women first mounted bicycles and grasped their emancipation. More and more women are now working in the cycle industry and their passion and dedication to carrying that progress forwards is contagious. Where only a few years ago women were marginalised in cycling, both as a pastime and a sport, with little or no equipment or clothing around to answer their specific needs, this is now being changed by these women within the industry, and the enlightened men with whom they work.

There are rumblings afoot (some sounding a little nervous), that women are the ‘next big thing in cycling’. This is news to me, I didn’t know we were ever a small and insignificant thing. Still, I guess we should all be thankful that perhaps this means the ‘powers that be’ are finally starting to sit up and take notice.

But there’s still a lot of work to be done. This first issue of Women’s Cycling celebrates all aspects of cycling for women, from a pootle alongside a scenic canal to riding solo around the world, and every little pedal stroke in between. I hope that you find something to inspire you to get out and enjoy riding more, and if you can carry other women along with you in that enthusiasm, then so much the better. Sarai Snyder, founder of International Women’s Cycling Day CycloFemme (see page 24), would love you to get one more woman riding a bike and so would Breeze (page 44) and for that matter, so would I! If you’re already a keen rider, enjoy the route guides and stories, the kit advice and plan your challenges using the events calendar.

Most of all, enjoy riding with us!

Lara Dunn Editor

T H I S M O N T H , W E A S K E D O U R C O N T R I B U TO R S …

What cycling plans do you have for this spring?

‘I’m planning a long ride south-east, to the Kentish coast, then I’ll have my first paddle of the season. It’ll be so good to ride through country lanes instead of city streets and to make the most of the lighter evenings.’

Ronnie Haydon

‘I’ll be cycling from London to Brixham (a journey of 240 miles which I’ll do over four days) then setting sail around the coast of the UK! A totally different type of adventure.’

Anna Hughes

Music & movement

What the Women’s Cycling team is humming inside their heads this month…

BEST FOR HILLS – Our Velocity, Maximo Park BEST FOR SUNNY DAYS – The Bike Song, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl BEST FOR STRESS RELIEF OR SPRINTS – Firestarter, The Prodigy BEST FOR TINKERING – Girl I Love You, Massive Attack

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Art Director/Designer/Production Xavier Robleda artdirector@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Editorial Director Christina Macdonald chris.macdonald@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Online Editor Carys Matthews carys.matthews@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Tel: 020 8996 5056 Commercial Director Allan Pattison allan.pattison@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Tel: 020 8996 5058 Advertising Manager Claire Alliott claire.alliott@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Tel: 020 8996 5113 Advertising Sales Executive Rhiannon Matthews rhiannon.matthews@wildbunchmedia.co.uk

Tel: 020 8996 5090 Classified Sales Executive Fionnuala Collins f.collins@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Tel: 020 8996 5104 Circulation & Marketing Manager Helen Knight helen.knight@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Director Nick Troop nick.troop@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Director Kevin McCormick kevin.mccormick@wildbunchmedia.co.uk Contributors Anne-Marie Lategan, Christine Bailey, Ronnie Haydon, Nicola Joyce, Chloe Rafferty, Sarah Muir, Jill Eckersley, David Pawsey, Louise Mullagh, Muireann CareyCampbell, Felicity Cousins, Ruth Tongue, Lauren Jenkins, Anna Hughes, Louise Mahe, Maria Clements, Gabrielle Maye, Sarai Snyder Published by Wild Bunch Media Ltd 1st Floor, Gable House 18-24 Turnham Green Terrace London W4 1QP Printed by William Gibbons Tel: 01902 730011 Distribution by Marketforce UK Ltd, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU Tel: 020 3148 3300 To advertise call 020 8996 5058 To subscribe call 0844 245 6918 Website www.womenscyclinguk.co.uk No part of this magazine may be copied, reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without prior written consent of the publisher. @ Wild Bunch Media Ltd 2013 Women’s Cycling is a UK publication, published by Wild Bunch Media Ltd, and is not associated with any other women’s cycling magazines.

The UK standard annual subscription rate is £14.97 for one year (six issues).

The Europe standard annual subscription rate is £25 for one year (six issues).

The Rest of the World standard annual subscription rate is £40 for one year (six issues).

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 14 JUNE 2013

07/03/2013 17:31

Meet the experts THE WOMEN’S CYCLING EXPERT PANEL HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP YOU GET THE MOST FROM YOUR CYCLING

CHRISTINE BAILEY

RONNIE HAYDON

ANNA HUGHES

LAUREN JENKINS

NICOLA JOYCE

Christine Bailey is a renowned nutritionist, presenter, chef and journalist with over 18 years of experience. An author of numerous health and recipe books, she has a particular expertise in sports nutrition and sees a range of athletes at her clinics in Berkshire and London as well as working alongside coaches. www.advancenutrition.co.uk

Ronnie Haydon, a writer and editor, has been cycling in London for 30 years but admits to still feeling terrified at times.

She believes staying close to the kerb does not keep you out of trouble on your bike, but concedes that she erred more on the side of caution when she used to ride with small children on the back.

Anna is a lifelong cyclist who completed a 4,000 mile circumnavigation of Britain’s coastline in 2011, spending ten weeks on the road. She has previously worked for Sustrans as a Bike It officer, encouraging children to ride their bikes to school. Her book, How to Cycle Round Britain is due to be released this year. www.annacycles.co.uk

After riding downhill for only a year, 23-yearold Lauren secured a sponsorship deal with Don Skene cycles. She enjoys competing in downhill races and hopes to have a great race season then progress onto some of the bigger races on the circuit. Her enthusiasm for the sport just keeps growing, and she likes to try new disciplines.

Nicola Joyce has been writing for sport and fitness magazines since 2004. She was introduced to cycling through triathlon and has come to love long road rides, although she doesn’t get on her bike as often as she would like these days.

She blogs about writing and training at The Fit Writer (www.thefitwriter. wordpress.com).

ANNE-MARIE LATEGAN

LOUISE MAHE

SARAH MUIR

CHLOE RAFFERTY

RUTH TONGUE

Anne-Marie Lategan has a BSc honours in Human Movement and has over 15 years of experience in various sections of the fitness industry around the world. She specialises in performance improvement and rehabilitation though her company Fitness for Wellbeing. She is also a fully qualified indoor cycling instructor.

As a member of the British Cycling Talent Team, Louise Mahe stood out in races from a young age. The former junior road race champion brings a wealth of knowledge, offering expert insight on tech, health, fitness and cycling lifestyle. After dabbling in national cyclocross, she enters the 2013 race season focusing on road and track.

Sarah Muir is a keen mountain biker who felt that women were under represented in the more competitive side of the sport, so set up her own women’s-only downhill mountain bike event. The event has grown so popular it’s now a series and is joined by a women’s-only enduro series as well. www.divadescent.com

Chloe Rafferty helps run mountain bike guiding and training company 1MTB1. com. She’s been a qualified MBLA instructor for a number of years and loves nothing better than getting more people enthusiastic about riding. When she’s not out teaching others, she can be found biking the hillsides of Snowdonia. www.1MTB1.co.uk

Ruth is a nutritionist, sports scientist and STOTT Pilates trainer based in London. She has worked in the health and wellbeing industry for over ten years, providing health, nutrition and fitness advice to a range of individuals – from athletes and footballers, to individuals wanting to lose or gain weight. www.ruthtongue.com

Wales road and scenery

In September 2010, Chloe cycled around the entire border of Wales to raise money for Mountain Rescue England and Wales. The epic road ride tackled some of Wales’ most challenging hills, headwinds and horizontal rain and took nine days, raising an impressive £1,000 for her cause.

Chloe rediscovered a love of all things two-wheeled about ten years ago, and has ridden on and off-road throughout the UK, as well as in the Italian Dolomites, the Alps and Spain.

She can usually be found riding

the sinuous local trails of Snowdonia. North Wales, usually wearing elbow and knee pads due to a propensity for damaging herself.

In addition to guiding and instructing at training company, 1MTB1, she also helps out with groups requiring special assistance in the hills. She would love to help more women become confident with mountain biking, and cycling in general.

Chloe is a whizz with a set of allen keys and a tyre lever, but prefers getting bikes dirty to having to wash them.

© EDDIE MACDONALD

Spotlight on… Chloe Rafferty

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A quick spin through what’s new and weird

POSH FROCKS, BEAUTIFUL BIKES AND CHATEAUX The third incarnation of Anjou Vélo Vintage is set to grace the stunning setting of Saumur, on the banks of the river Loire on 22nd and 23rd of June.

With a vintage village, parties, ride outs (37km, 46km and 96km) and the Concours d’élégance to show just how stylish a rider can be, it’s a chance for lovers of old bicycles, the glory days of the Tour de France and the glamorous image of yesteryear to celebrate with like-minded people.

Saumur is hard to beat as a venue – sophisticated and elegant – with its own château towering above the town and the mighty Loire, as well as truly excellent wine.

For more information visit www.anjou-velo-vintage.com

Le Mans 24 Hours… by bike This year, RIDE24, the original 24-hour non-stop endurance cycle race, is offering an added incentive to competitors – the chance to do it all over again as part of a team in the prestigious French 24 Heures Vélo at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, more famous for its motorised 24-hour races.

Under the light of the silvery moon Do you fancy a 100km fully-supported charity ride in the UK, but with a twist? The Moonriders series events each start at 10pm on a Friday night, and have a party atmosphere with DJ’s at the start and finish, a hot meal at the halfway point and a celebratory brunch for riders and supporters at the finish. Riders can choose their own charity to raise money for. The first one of 2013 is London to Cambridge on 10th May, with London to Brighton in July.

See www.moonriders.co.uk for more information and to register.

RIDE24 will take place on 7th and 8th September, at Thruxton Motor Circuit where riders will take on the 2.4-mile smooth circuit in a test of endurance, tactics and sheer stubbornness. The team with the most laps covered in the 24 hours will win the team title and secure themselves a free place in the 2014 French Le Mans event, which is set to attract some 400-plus teams.

RIDE24 is organised by children’s charity Action Medical Research.

For more information about RIDE24 and to register, visit www.action.org.uk/r24

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and wonderful in the world of cycling

Book reviews

Elegance on a bike, set against a stunning backdrop on the banks of the river Loire

Ride, raise money for charity and, er, Samba Canterbury based bike retailer BikeTart.com is launching a new women’s bike ride Divas on Wheels.

Starting out from the shop on 23rd June, the ride is aimed at women of all abilities, with choices of a 25 or 50 mile route. The ride finishes up with a bit of a festival atmosphere, with the all women samba band Samba Pelo Mar, a barbecue, complimentary hair and massage treatments and a visit from Anna Glowinski, the creator of women’s cycle clothing range Ana Nichoola who will be showcasing her new range.

Best of all, the day is in aid of a very good cause – Pilgrim’s Hospices. www.biketart.com

© CORALIE PILARD / BERTRAND BECHARD

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SPORTS NUTRITION 7TH EDITION Author: Anita Bean Publisher: Bloomsbury £18.99 Whether you’re a relative novice starting to get more serious about your sport, or a committed athlete looking to shave precious seconds off and improve recovery times, this is a book that delivers.

Nutrition is the bedrock of any sport, and in order to enjoy that sport more, improve and protect our bodies, we need to be watching what we put into them. With chapters covering everything from supplements to weight loss (and gain), there’s also a chapter dedicated to female sports nutrition, as well as menu plans and recipes.

Clearly laid out, accessible and thorough.

JANAPAR Author: Tom Allen £10 When he set out to cycle the world with his friends, small-town 23-year-old Tom Allen had little idea the extent to which that journey would change his life. Janapar is the deeply personal account of the sort of physical journey that many of us dream of and few ever achieve, but it is also so much more than being just another tale of cycling heroism. It’s also a bitter sweet romance as Tom meets a feisty Iranian-Armenian girl on his travels and falls head over heels in love with her. His original plans are derailed and choices have to be made.

Evocative, reflective and a joy to read. www.janapar.com

FITTER, FURTHER, FASTER Get fit for sportives and road riding Authors: Rebecca Charlton, Robert Hicks, Hannah Reynolds Publisher: Bloomsbury £18.99 Answering the huge and continuing growth in popularity of mass participation cycling events, this is a training guide dedicated to preparing for just such events. With in-depth training and nutrition programmes for every level of cyclist, from first time sportive rider to competitive roadie, this book offers a step-by-step guide on how to prepare, broken down in easy-to-follow stages, from six months to go to the day before. It also has helpful advice on matters like hydration, hill climbing (and descending), first aid and even advice for race day itself.

Written by cyclists, for cyclists and it shows. We’ll be reading it cover to cover!

www.womenscyclinguk.co.uk

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TA

A NIS H C

DON’T FALL FLAT → FEELING DEFLATED? CHLOE RAFFERTY DEMONSTRATES HOW TO FIX A PUNCTURE

Flat tyres are a real pain in the you-know-what, but we’re all bound to suffer one sooner or later. The right preparation, a bit of practice and know how, and they’re easy to fix. With this no nonsense guide you’ll never be a deflated damsel again!

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● TOOLS FOR THE JOB First, invest in a spare inner tube, or two, a decent tool kit and make sure you carry it with you every time you ride.

If you get a flat out on a ride it’s far easier to pop in a new tube and repair the punctured one when you get home, especially if it’s raining. A spare tube will also save you pushing if you run out of patches, find a hole that is too big to patch, or bust the air valve.

In your tool kit you’ll need a decent pump, three tyre levers, a puncture repair kit (with patches, sandpaper, chalk and glue) or a pack of instant patches. If your wheels attach with bolts you’ll also need a 15mm spanner to remove them. ● TIP Make sure that the pump you carry fits the type of valve on your inner tube. Most pumps can be converted to fit both Schrader and Presta valves so make sure you know how your pump works before you need to use it!

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WHAT CAUSED THE PUNCTURE? Single small slits and holes are generally caused by pieces of glass, wire, sharp stones or thorns that have gone through the tyre. Two small holes in a tube placed fairly close together, like a snake bite, indicate a pinch puncture. This is caused by the tube getting trapped between the tyre and the rim when riding over a hard, sharp edge. Under inflated tyres are often the cause of this.

A hole on the inner side of the tube could mean that the puncture was caused by a spoke that has worn through the rim tape. Check that no spoke ends poke through the tape on the inner surface of the rim. If this happens it will need filing down and taping over.

A less common cause of a puncture is a rough edge to the valve hole in the rim of the wheel. The puncture will be at the base of the valve and will not be repairable. Make sure you have your spare inner tube with you and file off the rough edge, at the time if you can or certainly before your next ride.

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● REMOVING THE INNER TUBE Let any remaining air out of the tube and pinch the sides of the tyres inwards to loosen them from the rim edge (2). Push the valve up into the tyre, unscrewing and retaining the valve ring and cap, if fitted (3). Push the flat end of a tyre lever between the rim and the tyre, bend it back and hook it on to one of the spokes (4). Take the next lever and do the same a little way further around the tyre. Do the same with the third. Remove the middle lever and again insert it further along the rim and continue, lifting the tyre’s bead over the edge of the rim, until one side of the tyre is completely free. Now you can pull the tube out (5). ● TIP Insert the levers over a spoke end so it will be in the right position when you bend it back and need to hook it onto one.

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2 5

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cycling support

BREEZY RIDERS

’s Breeze initiative Since May 2011, British Cycling n to enjoy being has been helping more wome cling reports on out on their bikes. Women’s Cy a hugely successful project iding a bicycle is exciting and gives a sense of freedom like nothing else. As interest in British women’s cycling reaches heights undreamt of only five years ago and cycling superstars like Laura Trott and Sarah Storey add an extra dose of girl power, British Cycling is working hard to get more women on their bikes for fun.

In May 2011, British Cycling set up a programme designed to tackle some of the barriers discouraging women from cycling and to provide

R

fun and free opportunities to help them get back on their bikes. Breeze is now the biggest programme ever to get more women riding for fun and it’s helping thousands more ladies feel more confident and comfortable about getting out on their bikes.

TRAINING CHAMPIONS With support from the National Lottery via Sport England’s Active Women’s fund and using the opinions of over 1,000 women to design an accessible programme, a local network of trained female Breeze champions was created. British Cycling has trained over 700 passionate female volunteers to become Breeze champions, who have, so far, helped organise almost 3,000 bike rides and inspired over 17,000 women to get involved.

Natalie Justice, Women’s Network Project Manager for British Cycling, says: ‘Our Breeze champions are at the heart of everything we do and are a real inspiration to their local communities. Getting into cycling doesn’t have to be a daunting experience and our champions are there to support participants and start them on their cycling journey.’

ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION One woman who’s making a real impact in her local area is Adrienne Horne. Becoming a Breeze champion in 2011, Adrienne set up Breeze network East Surrey and strives to make every one of her participants feel confident on a bike – her

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cycling support

Many Breeze rides are open to women and their children

● To register your interest, contact breeze@britishcycling.org.uk ● To be a part of the Breeze network please visit www.breezebikerides.com

To become a Breeze champion The Breeze initiative is a great way to have fun with friends and meet new people

Take part in a fun one-day ride leadership course where you’ll have a chance to meet other Breeze champions.

The certificate qualifies you to independently plan, deliver and promote rides to groups of women.

In addition to free training, Breeze will provide you with free kit, British Cycling Ride membership and plenty of support.

Furthermore, to ensure you’re able to deliver safe bike rides, British Cycling will help you to gain a first aid qualification.

In return, it asks champions to deliver on average 12 rides over the year to local women in their area.

passion has been infectious across the local area. She also helps other champions through her role as regional coordinator and mentors many women across the South East of England.

Encouragement Led by women, for women, Breeze rides are local, friendly and informal.

The majority are on traffic-free routes and are ideal for busy mums and anyone who hasn’t been on a bike for a while. Rides usually start or end at a local café, where cake and friendly natter is served in abundance.

Designed to suit all ages and abilities, they are the perfect excuse to get out into the great outdoors

Led by women, for women, Breeze rides are local, friendly and informal. The majority are on traffic-free routes and are ideal for busy mums and anyone who hasn’t been on a bike for a while and explore the local area on two wheels. Many Breeze rides are open to women and also their children – making them the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together and maybe encourage future generations of young cyclists.

Some Breeze participants who started off with an easy three-mile ride have wanted to progress to longer distances, so many rides have been developed to incorporate longer distances up to 30 miles, for those wishing to take things that bit further. As a result of initiatives like Breeze, the number of women cycling has risen dramatically in the last 12 months – almost 63,000 more women are now cycling regularly.

2012 saw a number of successful Breeze cycling events for women. From informal events like the Big Breeze Bike Ride and Breeze in the Park, through to a partnership with Cycletta (women-only challenge bike rides) and working collaboratively with other sportive organisers to provide challenge rides for women. This resulted in over 7,500 ladies engaging in women-only cycling events and a lot more planned for this year.

Breezebikerides.com doesn’t just give access to hundreds of free bike rides, it also provides a helping hand to get women started on their cycling journey.

Buying a bike or getting one repaired can be daunting.

Breeze is campaigning for female-friendly bike shops via a partnership with the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), which promotes independent bike shops who support women new to cycling with straightforward advice, a range of women’s bicycles and family kit, and information on local rides and hire facilities. This partnership has already helped accredit over 300 independent bike shops. There’s also advice on hiring bikes or purchasing refurbished ones, for those not in the market to buy new.

Be part of it This year, Breeze is looking to expand their network of volunteer Breeze champions. There’s no need to be an expert - just be confident on a bike and have heaps of enthusiasm.

Breeze champions are friendly, confident, chatty individuals who love encouraging others. By joining the Breeze network, you’ll inspire women to get more out of their bike, have fun with friends and get a recognised qualification at the same time. www.womenscyclinguk.co.uk

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