pOcpacs

pocpacKeeping kit and belongings dry on the bike is a perennial problem and, if legend is to believed, one that caught the attention of two brothers from South Africa – both engineers and keen mountain bikers. Out one day in the bush and caught in a torrential downpour that soaked or diluted everything in their saddlebags and pockets they noticing that the only thing unaffected was the water in their camelbaks; it set them thinking that perhaps using the tech that kept fluid in, could be used to keep fluid out. And so pOcpacs were born.

 

The pOcpacs range of sealable bike packs are made from recyclable (though not actually recycled) material which has both memory and elasticity, meaning the cases can be filled to the brim and still close effortlessly. The closure is achieved via a fairly standard looking zipped press-seal (with a substantial metal zipper) but unlike many fastenings of this type Cyclo has encountered they stayed firmly and reassuringly shut however much we tried to over-stuff the packs.

 

pOcpacs are available in three flavours: The Off-Road Pac, the largest at approximately 150x170mm, has a clear plastic divider inside and easily held a multitool, spare inner, puncture kit, gels, wallet, keys and various other cycling detritus. The Road Pac – slightly smaller at approximately 150x140mm – also features an internal divider and neatly fitted an inner, tyre leavers, gels and other odds and ends. Finally the iPac (at 140x95mm) is designed for phones and has the added advantage off allowing full touch-screen functionality without having to remove the phone in adverse weather.

 

pOcpacs are a neat and functional solution that do one thing and do it extremely well. An obvious benefit is that they can be slipped into a jersey lumber pocket; neatly hold everything together in one place (and keeping them dry as a bone) without the need for saddle- or seatpost bags. The Off-Road and Road Pacs costs £9.99 and the iPac £6.99 and whilst the simple design and branding is fine as is, the manufacturers can also supply them (minimum order of 100 units) branded for clubs or sportive events.

 

Further details and online orders at thepocpac.co.uk

 

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Phil Vickery: Rugby to Riding

Phil Vickery Wooden SpoonAfter 73 England caps, two tours with the British and Irish Lions and over 300 professional appearances against some of the most feared men in the world of rugby, you wouldn’t think that much would intimidate Phil Vickery. But this coming summer holds a whole new set of challenges for him. Now in his third year as an Ambassador for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, Vickery has signed up to help out their fundraising efforts by participating in all four of their flagship extreme challenges, two of which see him take to two wheels.

 

Details are still being finalised, but Vickery will be taking part in the London to Monte Carlo Bike Challenge – 760miles and 28,000 feet of climb all in just 8.5 days – in June and the Great British Bike Ride, where challengers set off for 350miles of riding for five days from Land’s End, finishing with a lap at the Aviva Premiership Rugby ‘London Double Header’ in Twickenham in front of 70,000 cheering fans.

 

Commenting on the not-inconsiderable commitment Vickery said, ‘When Spoon first approached me with the idea of taking part in all of their Challenges it sounded great, but it wasn’t until I saw just what I had signed myself up for, that it really sank in.’

 

For full details of all the challenges (and to find out how you could get involved) see woodenspoon.com

 

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Brompton Treble

Brompton TrebleBrompton Bicycle has announced a new programme of events and activities to supplement the Brompton Treble – which is made up of three Brompton-only race events including the Brompton World Championship, taking place at Orbital Cycling Festival (Goodwood Motor Circuit) on July 27 and 28.

 

Rollapaluza have engineered specially modified rigs for Brompton roller racing, which will see racers going head-to-head and spin to win over 500 metres on the static bikes, whilst renowned street artist Zabou will be making a Brompton art installation over the weekend. In addition Brompton Afternoon Tea, a stalwart of Brompton events and free to all Brompton participants, will be serving up a very British cup of tea this year with tea supplied by Tregothnan, the only tea growers in Britain.

 

The Brompton World Championships themselves will see a host impressive prizes on offer with fastest male and female walking (riding?) away with the much-coveted Barcelona Brompton from a limited run of 500. Runners-up will be rewarded with goodies from Schwalbe, Berocca and Green Oil. Top positions in the team event will see team members receiving Brooks accessories, ranging from their lovely leather bags to saddles and grips. Nutcase will be rewarding the most dapper racers for the hotly contested Best Dressed prize.

 

The two other events which make up the Brompton treble – the Brompton Sprint and Brompton Eliminator – are sponsored by Jagwire and Green Oil respectively. The overall male and female winners of the Brompton Treble, who will have battled it out over all three events, can expect a more relaxing experience as part of their prize: a stay in a 5-star, hand-picked hotel courtesy of Mr & Mrs Smith.

 

For more information on the Brompton World Championship see bwc.brompton.co.uk and for details of the Orbital Cycling Festival visit orbitalfestival.com

 

 

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Pedal on Parliament

Pedal on ParliamentYesterday (Sunday, May 19) saw thousands of cyclists descend on the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood as part a campaign, supported by Olympic legend Chris Hoy and ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Graeme Obree, calling for 5% of Scotland’s transport budget to be spent on cycling. Pedal on Parliament, who describe themselves as, ‘a grass-roots group of cyclists of all kinds who want to see Scotland become a place where everyone can cycle safely and enjoyably,’ claimed some 3-4,000 cyclists look part, whilst police estimated just 2,500 participants. Beginning at 3pm with a minute’s silence to remember those who have lost their lives on Scottish roads, the cyclists headed for Holyrood through the centre of Edinburgh and down the Royal Mile.

 

Reiterating the campaigns ‘everyman’ approach, David Brennan – one of the Pedal on Parliament organisers – told the assembled crowd: ‘We aren’t “cyclists”, we’re everyone – from the mum taking her children to nursery to the road cyclist doing 100km at the weekend… But we’re also the kids in the back of the car looking wistfully out of the window because their parents can’t risk them riding to school, the people who drive to the gym to ride on stationary bikes because the roads are too fast and busy.’

 

The campaign’s manifesto is calling for:

 

Proper funding for cycling.

Design cycling into Scotland’s roads.

Slower speeds where people live, work and play

Integrate cycling into local transport strategies

Improved road traffic law and enforcement

Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians

A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training

Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy

 

Further details can be found at pedalonparliament.org

 

 

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Bradley Wiggins out of Giro d’Italia

Bradley Wiggins Out of Giro d’ItaliaBradley Wiggins dream of adding a Giro d’Italia win to his epic 2012 Tour de France victory are over as he retires ahead of today’s Stage 13 (Busseto to Cherasco) on the advice of Team Sky medical staff. A worsen chest infection saw the 33-year-old drop to 13th overall place after yesterday’s tough Stage 12 and with his prospects looking unlikely to improve the decision has been made to return to the UK for further tests and rest. With a strong group of eight riders remaining at the Giro, Team Sky will ride in support of Rigoberto Urán, who currently sits in third place overall, two minutes and four seconds off the race lead.

 

Outlining the situation, Team Sky Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: ‘We monitored Bradley overnight and this morning we’ve withdrawn him from the Giro after consulting the team doctor. His chest infection has been getting worse and our primary concern is always the health of our riders… Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible. As a passionate racer he wanted to continue but he is simply unable to do so on medical grounds.’

 

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