Cycling travel tips, resources and product reviews
So, SRAM has done something interesting and put out a 1 chainring group set for the road market in their Force and Rival lines. (Not to say SRAM don’t do interesting things, it just seemed an appropriate intro). Called 1x henceforth, and specifically available as Force 1 and Rival 1, it’s aimed at road, CX, […]
Disclaimer: Velonomad uses and recommends Scicon Bike Bags, most particularly the Aerocomfort 2.0 TSA. Here’s my Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA review. Here’s a breakdown on how the Scicon-sponsored Tour of California teams manage their logistics and why they love the Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bags. *** California: a place that conjures up images of glamour, […]
When I think of Merino wool, I think of Australia (sorry, Kiwis!): Australia getting rich on the back of the sheep. (Though with the Kiwi dollar at parity with the AUD, I guess our frunds across the dutch are having the last laugh!) I think of big Merino rams….just like in the photo above (Goulburn […]
CONTROVERSY ALERT! Whenever I talk about diet, nutrition and supplements, I’m mindful of not appearing to be proselytising. You guys know I just care about you, right? And for those who haven’t been following Velonomad for a while, my diet is mostly vegan for both health and ethical reasons. You can read more about my […]
Since originally writing this in July 2013, I subsequently have ridden and owned a Tarmac SWorks SL3 and Colnago C59 Italia and am now on a BH Ultralight RC. Each has their pros and cons but there are numerous reasons for such a ridiculous array of bikes in such a short period of time which […]
In undertaking this Scicon Bike Defender review, it became patently obvious that every travelling cyclist should own one. Here’s why. Background This past Christmas, Mrs Velonomad, Velonomad Head of Chook Herding, Poppins the Golden Retriever, and I drove a round trip of around 4000km to Melbourne and back to visit family. My precious Colnago was to […]
Although VeloNomad is all about self-touring holidays and teaching you how to plan a cycling trip in France yourself, sometimes it’s easier to join a tour and let someone else take care of the small stuff so you can just turn up and ride. Let’s dive into my 2015 trip case study into how to […]
The 2015 Etape du Tour route has been announced; and boy, what a doozy. Whilst reader Paul conveyed his disappointment that the Etape won’t be the Modane-Alpe D’Huez TdF stage (Stage 20)—saying “How much of a crush to morale is a long downhill stretch with Telegraphe/Glandon next up”—this route will still be a moral crusher. (And, […]
Some of the very awesome Velonomad readers wrote in with amazing 2014 Etape reports and photos from their epic completions of Etape 2014. Without further ado, we have reports from Paul T, Mario, Darren, Andrew, Bayne and Matt A. Paul T, UK Hi Tim Hope you are very well – wanted to send you a […]
Whilst energy gels are great, what do you do with the packet after you’re done? If it’s an event like Etape or a sportive, you try and time your consumption near the rubbish spots and chuck the packet out. If it’s a big bike race, well, you roll it up nice and tight and put […]
Lots of cyclists just love the latest tech. Mostly our focus is on group sets, computers and power meters. But something rather large and game changing happened last week. Apple released its Apple Watch. Whilst you’ll find incredible reviews by watch nerds and tech nerds (John Gruber’s EXCELLENT summary, if you like tech reads) none […]
I love simple things. And this Scicon Elan Saddle Bag Review shows a saddle bag that’s as simple as it gets. Life is busy enough without unnecessary distractions or complications. (Exceptions of course include an overly complex tractor for the farm.) And it does not get much simpler than this Scicon Elan 210 Saddle Bag. […]
These are my favourite Tour de France Spectator Tips. These help ensure you don’t waste time on the day arguing with gendarmes, getting there late, or forgetting things you’ll need.where’s And hopefully they stop you looking like an idiot on international television. You can read these Tour de France Spectator tips in more detail in […]
“Mont Ventoux training: is it necessary?”, you ask. Ah, Mont Ventoux. My favourite climb in the world (by a mile). Many cyclists have seen Le Geant on TV or read about it. Its eerie moonscape-like upper slopes beckon with a challenge. But you’ll find the Mont’s slopes littered with the broken dreams of thousands of […]
Are wider rims better? I think so, but to get a professional take on this, I asked local wheelbuilder extraordinaire Josh Beck of XLR8 wheels why wider rims are better on the road. Josh has been building bikes and wheels for 25 years and puts my developing mechanical skills to utter shame. TM: What is […]
Quite a number of months ago, my friend Chris became a Vegan Cyclist (the mirth I need to supress when expressing things in these terms is quite considerable). Chris did this as he’d tried everything to lose weight. And no, not one of those “I’ve tried everything” people who are still munging down on doughnuts […]
How tall should cycling socks be: an investigation into optimum sock height and its effect on peak cycling performance. Isn’t cycling a funny old sport? The whims and whimsies of each individual are divergent, many-varied and ever on display, often in an overt display much like a male peacock’s routine. And it’s funny how quickly […]
Ah, the Atlantic Pyrenees: perfect for cycling. I can still remember the buzz of cicadas in the warm, balmy summer air; long, long days; epic Atlantic Pyrenees cycling routes and amazing atmosphere. I remember delicious dinners, cold beers or local wines, going to sleep late and waking up to another warm day of exploring the […]
All Etape participants need an Etape du Tour medical certificate. The Etape du Tour medical certificate must be filled out in a precise manner, or else you can be denied entry to Etape when you register in the days prior. In 2011, I saw an Italian guy being denied a start place as his Etape […]
I get lots of traffic to the site for people looking for a cycling nutrition. And those people are smart, because they’re looking for a way to lose weight by controlling their diet. Let me tell you a little story. My weight’s been a yo-yo since I was little. Chubby kid with problems with asthma. […]
I get lots of traffic to the site for people looking for a cycling meal plan for weight loss. And those people are smart, because they’re looking for a way to lose weight by controlling their diet. Let me tell you a little story. My weight’s been a yo-yo since I was little. Chubby kid […]
We now sell prepaid SIMs for France and the EU. You can get a data-only SIM or a SIM for calls, text and data. Get them from our store. If you’re cycling through France, at some point you’re likely going to find yourself needing to make a phone call or wanting to use the Internet. […]
I recently received a question about cycling insurance from long time VeloNomad reader Alex M from South Australia: “Timbo, what does one do for one day of insurance for Etape du Tour?” (Good question, Alex, and one we might extend to all Gran Fondos, like Marmotte, Haute Route and beyond. It also gave me cause […]
As I rode to work today, I passed the local Uniting Church, which had a small yet poignant plot of white crosses signifying a remembrance field in preparation for Anzac Day. For those of you outside Australia, NZ, the UK and even Turkey, Anzac Day holds a special regard in our hearts. Its origins—slaughter at […]
Pat from Cyckit contacted me to see if I was interested in doing a Cyckit review to help him with his Kickstarter (the product has since gone into general production since originally publishing this). What I like The “bag” is compact, out of the way and light. It’s well thought-out, well made and just works. […]