Oh Pants

Or shorts to be exact...

I'm now the proud owner of some new cycle shorts. Now you need to understand that cycle shorts are part of this underworld of myth and wizardry. Where people walk about nodding at each other in recognition and understanding although few speak of the actual action or process of wearing cycling shorts. I suppose it's like wearing a kilt, which I have done. And no, I won't discuss what was worn under said garment. When getting fitted for a kilt you find that your size of kilt is not based upon your waist size but rather your belly. Twas a rather new experience.

It's a sensitive matter. No, really it is. As your shorts have to protect your important bits from wearing away while riding for all hours of the day, so the better the shorts the more comfortable your experience will be. Get the wrong saddle, or shorts, or cream to lube between your shorts and skin then it's going to be a painful experience. Oh yes, did I not say, just like a kilt, nothing is worn under your shorts.

So the next time you are following a pack of cyclists you will be thinking, are they a true cyclist?

This Sunday is the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride organised by the British Heart Foundation. Holly and I will be taking part and using it as a part of our training for the big ride even though it's merely 55 miles which represents the shortest distance we will be doing on LEJOG. With a 7 am start time, which is really 7.30am once our transport gets us there, we expect to get to Brighton by early afternoon. And with that as our example riding day should allow us plenty of slack in some of our more challenging days we are expecting.

And finally, with my bike awaiting it's big service next week a few questions have come to light. Namely, with the extra weight of luggage on my bike I'm wondering whether I should replace the chainset on my bike for something allowing more flexibility in gearing. I find I can do most of my rides either in the lower front gear or the higher gear depending upon the terrain. And to be fair there is a lot of overlap in gearing meaning I may be able to select something more suited to the long run we will be doing. I think I'll go and do some math to work out the possibilities.

Until then bloggers!