Reasons to cycle to work

As if we need a reason to work? But, apparently some folk do need a reason to cycle to work.

1. it gets you fit
2. it saves you money
3. makes you healthier
4. you'll live longer
5. it makes you more attractive to the opposite sex
6. It makes you more attractive to the same sex
7. its free training you can kick your mates ass on sunday
8. you see stuff you dont see in cars
   
   • i saw an owl hunting
   • i saw a big giant furry catapillar
   • i saw a deer
   • i saw a weasel
   • i saw saw a fox kill a rabbit
   • i saw a badger
    
9. you get to buy more cycling kit
10. you get to buy more bikes(i have 3 now)
11. you can eat more chocolate and crisps

"ATAQUES CHARLY!"

If ever you wanted proof. Witness here the final kilometers of Stage 5 of Vuleta a Asturias when Charly Wegelius attacks and sends spanish TV into the dark ages. Such is the power on the Yorkshireman.

il Fenicottero sale

The hardened race fans will have heard already, but i'm going to shout it again.

The Vuelta a Asturias was run this weekend in North Western Spain. The United Healthcare Pro-cycling team have been rocking it hard. Five podiums and win from Robert Forster has made a very successful  outing.
my real thrill and yells of jubilation came when i read the race report today.  Charly Wegelius the uber domestique and all round good egg romped home in 3rd place only four seconds back from the stage winner and more importanly (for bragging rights) 12 seconds ahead of Christian Meier.

As the worlds biggest fan of la fenicotterro( the flamingo) I would like to take this opportunity to say a big and heartfelt congratulations to Charly and the entire UHC team for a brilliant Vuelta a Asturias

RvV 2011

Quite possibly the hardest and most enjoyably day i have ever spent on the bike. It was fabulous to meet the the rest of the Gazzetta team and finally meet DS Lamb. I am alreadly looking forward to RvV 2012

D-day is upon us

We shall fight them on the beaches and run away like big scared girls. Yes my fellow cyclists, Flanders is upon us. It my all time favourite time of year. The spring classics are well underway. Already we've had a rather mellow Paris-Nice. A scintillating Tirreno-Adriatico and legendary edition of Milan - San Remo to name but a few. I was personally gripped by the thoroughly exciting Kuurne-Brussells-Kuurne and Omloop Het Niewsblad. These races are both run over pretty much the same Bergs as my all time favourite, Den Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Only last weekend in an unusual move from its usual midweek position, the Ghent-Wevelgem saw the King of Belgium win - Mr Tom Boonen. Is he the on form rider? or will Spartacus rule supreme again. After his showing in the E3 Prijs, my money is on Fabian Cancellara.

But this year i am even more excited. Having visited the legendary race previously, i will be actually riding over the fabled cobbles on Saturday 2nd April in the RVV sportive. Yes i am going to attempt to ride the route(along with 17000 other fools) and my club Gruppo Sportivo Gazzetta. All in matching kit, we will look fabulous as we sit at the bottom of the Koppenberg and cry. The bike has been fettled and fitted with wider tyres ready for the cobbles. Now i just have to convice my body to play ball.

On Sunday 3rd, we will take out place on the bergs and watch the pro riders do it!

I would just like to say, Good luck to all those attempting the sportive and chapeau to the pro riders who make it look too easy.

Springtime is here!

Yes its official! Spring is here! How can you tell? well the European racing season has finally started. Yes my friends, this is the time of year when I just get a little bit giddy.

Paris - Nice is the real season opener. Always has been. Yes its nice to ride in the southern hemisphere in January and February, but riding from the cold north of France to the sunny Riviera is what cycling is about. The week before saw the legendary Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in the Flandrian heartlands. Old traditional races which really sorts the hard men out. As usual the weather was appalling. Chris Sutton taking a fabulous win in K-B-K and Langeveld earning his stripes in the Omloop.

This week is simultaneous running of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. Both races ran over the same week but wholly different beasts. And whats up next week boys and girls? oh yes! Milan - San Remo baby!

Yes spring is here!

Omloop - pain suffering and glory

Omloop - a cobbled climb

Omloop - Gilbert

Omloop - Flecha

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne - Sutton triumphant

The Up-North-Twitter-Ride

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Mel (@MrsBYork)

me (@hardboiled2006)

Dave (@Rab2011Dave)

all of us