Shop Junction Blog

I bought my mountain bike a few years ago and it was a pretty good specification at the time. However, last weekend, I had the chance to compare it with my riding buddy’s new bike, the Kona Kula 2008 ..and I think I need to buy a new mountain bike!

Firstly, the 2008 Kula is great value because it is approximately £300 cheaper than the 2009 model. While next year’s bike may be better specced. I’m not sure if it is £300 better?

Secondly, the bike has a few ‘technical improvements’ that I could only dream of when I bought my bike. It has disc brakes which seem to have crossed over from the car world in my absence from mountain biking shops. It has more gears than my mountain bike (boy, do I need extra gears sometimes!) and it has front suspension as standard.

It all seems to be in a different league to my trusty old Specialized Rockhopper!

I try and get out cycling whenever I can although my wet weather radar is set reassuringly low. An essential piece of equipment for each ride is a cycling computer or trip meter that measures speed, distance, average speed, and various other indicators. I fitted a bike computer from the start which means that whenever I leave home without it, I feel like I am not getting the best out of any ride.

There are a wide range of cycling computers that you can get these days. From basic speed through to models with wireless technology and even models that will display your heart rate. I’ve not been brave enough to measure heart rate since I was cycling up through Macclesfield Forest with a monitor strapped to my chest. The rapidly increasing numbers were a bit worrying as I approached the top of the hill!

Apart from the heart rate measurement in some models, the other indicators like speed and distance are things that I need to know on every ride … even if they are not particularly high figures! If I have not ridden for a while, I use the average speed to tell me how (un)fit I am. Otherwise, I just like to see how far I have cycled.

Evans Cycles has a reasonable range of bike computers. Try the Cateye Enduro 8 (above) for a reasonably priced example.

I’m a bit of a fair weather cyclist. However, I will be joining some friends for a little cycling trip round the Isle of Wight in a few weeks time. Fingers crossed for good weather but it’s October after all. So, I figured I should buy a lightweight, windproof, waterproof cycling jacket for my trip.

After a short journey to my local Evans cycle store in Gatwick, I’m now the proud owner of this Altura Nevis jacket in blue. It seems to be a very good jacket for the price (£50) and I’m pleased with the purchase. It’s not the most expensive jacket in the world but I did not want to pay more than £100.

The jacket feels very comfortable, it’s breathable and it has reflective piping for those October  evenings. On my trip, I’m hoping to be in the bar by the time it gets dark (!) but you never know whether you might be delayed by punctures or map reading on cycling trips…. so reflective material might be useful. I’ll also be taking lights and other reflective gear as well.

All in all, I feel ready for anything that the Isle of Wight and October’s weather can throw at me….

I am a bit of a mountain bike fan. Nothing too extreme you understand but I do like to get out and about on my mountain bike into the Sussex countryside near where I live. Despite living in quite a built-up area, it’s easy to get away from it all with a few miles cycling so that you find yourself in the middle of a forest with only the sounds of the birds for company. Great!

I know most of the trail routes near here but I am always looking for new routes to explore. A new book called Cycling in Sussex: Off-Road Trails and Quiet Lanes seems to be just the book I need to find some new rides!

The book is very nicely designed and each route has a map with some excellent and easy-to-follow directions. The routes are graded from family/easy rides through to medium and hard rides and the distances for each route varies from 4 km to 28 km. There should be something for everybody whatever your cycling experience or fitness.

One other useful feature is that each route has several nearby pubs highlighted! I always find that a beer stop is an essential part of any ride….

Related: Horsham Pub Guide

I am off on a bit of a cycling trip for a few days with a group of old-enough-to know-better mates. We are cycling the Wiltshire Cycleway which, I am told, is approximately 160 miles of country lanes between Salisbury and Malmesbury. Yikes, sounds like a long way! However, I have managed to get out on my Specialised Rockhopper MTB for a few practice rides in recent weeks so I am reasonably confident. Hopefully, it will be a successful ride and we will all get to the finishing point for a few celebratory beers on Saturday. Yay!

Ideally, a road bike would be best for this particular ride because it is mainly an on-road trip. I don’t have a road bike so my MTB will have to do. Mine is a bit like this Rockhopper from Evans Cycles. Everyone else has MTBs and/or hybrid bicycles so I should not be too far behind!

I aim to return with that tired, but not too painful, feeling that you get after a longish walk/ride/run. Wish me luck!