City Guides for Endurance Athletes

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Where to train, eat and sleep in cities around the world

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Columbia Talus Ridge

, April 2, 2012

The Talus Ridge is Columbia’s attempt to fill the gap between lightweight trail running shoes and the heavier, more sturdy walking boot. Capable of perfoming across a range of disciplines and weathers the shoe has been referred to by its manufacturers as the ‘opitamy of trail multi sport’, an apt description for any outdoors shoe.

Navigating Ben Nevis

, April 1, 2012

At a an altitude of 1,344m, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Located in the Grampian Mountains in the west of Scotland, it represents one of the many highlights of Scottish highland hiking. Being within two hours of Glasgow, and less than three hours from Edinburgh, it is also a very accessible peak which could even be summited as a day trip from one of Scotland’s cosmopolitan cities.

British National MTB Cross Country Series

, March 31, 2012

The British National MTB Cross Country Series kicked off on Sunday at the standard season opening course – Sherwood Pines in the East Midlands. The flat course consisted of large chunks of tight singletrack interspersesed with short fire road sections. A different course to that used in previous years seemed to divide opinions amongst riders. With no big features along the course, there is little to get stuck into or to get too excited about. Whatever you say about the lack of gradient and the tame technical features, it’s a difficult course to ride fast and it promotes very tight racing.

Gore Bike Wear Fusion GT AS Jacket

, March 29, 2012

I was really keen to test out Gore’s new Active Shell fabric, so when Gore offered the chance to test out one of their jackets, it proved the perfect opportunity. Having caught a rumour from a riding buddy that Gore where going to release a new super breathable, fully waterproof material I knew that it would be ideal for damp UK winter conditions. The new three-layer laminate has an inner layer, which offers excellent comfort next to skin.

Summer Dreaming

, March 28, 2012

With the winter season drawing to a close and the spring melt approaching, the lucky few who escaped to the southern hemisphere are sharing their videos and stories. Here are a couple up of my favourites from the last few months.

Snorkeling with sharks in Belize

, March 27, 2012

The weather was less then promising on the first day, with clouds taking over most of the sky. Nonetheless, I was eager to experience life on this little Caribbean island where the motto “go slow” reigns supreme. The recipe seemed to be large doses of Reggae, enough Belikan beer, and zero expectations that anything would happen time. As they said, just take a “chill pill”.

Old Favourites: Chariots of Fire

, March 26, 2012

This review concerns Chariot ‘child transportation system’ trailers and as I’ve now owned all three models in their ‘Sport’ range (in ascending order of expense!) over the space of six years I’m not going to limit myself to one model – this entire range is worth a mention. Chariot (part of the Thule group) design and assemble all their products in Calgary, Canada and make extensive use of recycled materials in their products. They also have a sister brand of cheaper children’s trailers entirely made in the Far-East called Croozer. Chariot runs two ranges of trailers: the first is the ‘Touring’ range designed with an emphasis upon urban cycling, the second is the ‘Sport’ range designed for flexibility so you don’t have to buy many different carriers for separate outdoor sports.

Canyoneering in the Western Cape, South Africa

, March 26, 2012

Situated between Grabouw and Stellenbosch in the Hottentots Holland mountains, the source of the Palmiet-river marks the starting point of a gem of a valley. The naturally-formed waterslides down waterfalls fall into amazing rock pools, leaving jumps ranging between 3 and 20 metres to help you release your adrenaline-valve in this beautiful canyon. You’ll be busy for anything between 5 and 8 hours, depending on the “escape-route” you choose to take out of Suicide Gorge. There is no variation of trails here, and once in, it’s rather difficult to get out.

Afghan Ski Challenge 2012

, March 23, 2012

Earlier this month, an unusual event took place in the Koh-e-Baba Mountain Range in the central Bamiyan Province of Afghanistan. For just the second time, the Afghan Ski Challenge (ASC) found its form, … Read more

Top 3 Surf Spots on the Gower Peninsula, Wales

, March 16, 2012

Llangennith is a mecca for watersports enthusiasts who flock to the beach throughout the year. Although this surf spot could be spoilt by the sheer numbers of surfers it attracts, the huge size of the beach means that you can still get an awesome session in even when the water is packed. Llangennith is the most consistent break on the Gower Peninsula and offers something for surfers of all levels. Llangennith gets big in the winter, and I mean BIG. It’s known for its long and difficult paddle out and even when the conditions are crystal clean, it still takes some serious physical fitness to get out back. For those that do, though, the reward is great. Long rides all the way to the beach on powerful lefts and rights, Llangennith is one of the best surf spots in the UK.

Renovo Hardwood Bicycles

, March 11, 2012

Every year while racing the Sea Otter Classic bike race at Laguna Seca Speedway in Monterey, California, I spend time between races happily perusing the numerous vendor booths.  As one … Read more

Dragon Alliance APX

, March 11, 2012

In the eyes of a number of adventure’s premium goggle brands, bigger is always better. To them, wider lenses, fatter frames and substantial straps are more than just effective branding. This season, Dragon Alliance have reassessed this paradigm, releasing in their APX goggle and a new perspective that has reigned supreme across the northern hemisphere since December.

Smith Transport Ski Helmet

, March 5, 2012

After reviewing Smith’s I/O Goggle, I searched out another product from the brand’s environmentally friendly Evolve line of helmets. During my testings in Colorado at the beginning of the season, I had the unfortunate luck of being able put the Tranport in an extreme situation that helped prove the helmet’s sturdy design.