September 2010

Got to love a good book. Store this one on the coffee table and leaf through it on one of those damp winter afternoons.

Cycling's Spring Classics are always the most anticipated of the year, not only because the herald the start to the seaon but because they are brutally difficult and spectacularly unpredictable. And then they always seem to be run in terrible conditions - mud covered cobbles, then if its dry there is a choking dust in the air, then there is always leg-numbing sleet.

Despite its title the colourful pages are filled with the one day races of the Spring (there are loads) but also the Autumn classics (Clasica San Sebastian, Paris-Tours, Tour of Lombardy) and the lesser known Bordeaux-Paris, Paris-Brussels, Zurich.

The long and the short of it is, Sammy cannot get enough of the Rambler backpack from Mission Workshop. And, if you try and tell him something else is better then you'll get an ear full.

The guys from Mission Workshop are based in San Fran and aren't new to the cyclist utility bag game; they have been making bags since 1994. The weatherproof Rambler comes in two sizes (the Vandal is the larger) and has about a million compartments, which you open out to provide more and more capacity, perfect for when you next to stash that emergency box of wine or go on an epic trip.

The back sheet combined with the adjustable straps spreads the weight of the bag evenly across the back of the rider. There are plenty of weatherproof compartments, zips and tricks. Loops for locks and easy fixing for rear lights. Sammy likes it because you can unfold so much that a keg will fit inside and after crashing on the bag it remained unscathed. But they also come with a lifetime warranty too.

2 weatherproof compartments
1 external accessory pocket
Expanding cargo compartment
Messenger bag durability
Water-resistant urethane coated zippers
Rugged internal frame
Made in America with a lifetime warranty

Dimensions - Compact
Measures - 13'' x 19'' x 5''
Volume - 1,350 cu. in. / 22 L / 5 Gallons

Dimensions - Expanded
Measures - 13'' x 19'' x 10''
Volume - 2,700 cu. in. / 44 L / 10 Gallons

Not just a mountain bike shoe, this is Tom's new cyclo-cross race boot for his first foray into the winter sport.

The Specialized S-Works shoe has been re-vamped with fully replaceable tread with internally mounted bolts for security. Uber light carbon makes a return to the sole that makes these kicks some of the lightest on the market.

Tom says they feel pretty nice on and probably isn't going to take them off.

Turn up at any London based cyclo-cross race and you will see more than a handfull of past and present Condor employees competing at every level, from seasoned campaigners to wet-behind-the-ears newbies.

There are riders winning the women's category, riders battling in the Veteran's category and riders fighting tooth and nail at the sharp end of the Senior category. Every year, at least one member of this extended family makes the pilgrimage up north to pit his or herself against the might of the Three Peaks Cyclocross Race.

In the past, our Cyclocross offering has been a token affair but with so many members of staff keenly competing; coupled with the mass boom in poluarity of the sport, we are raising our game. To go with our newly designed Terra-X and Bivio-X 'cross frames for 2011, we have increased our offering to include Challenge tyres (steel bead), Kevlar folding tyres, folding open tubulars and the Challenge 32mm tubular -all sporting the popular Griffo tread.

This means that you can pick the level of performance to suit your budget and needs while still utilising the same tried and tested tread pattern, as used by pros the world over. This is only the beginning and we are looking to increase our offering of brands in this area.