PROJECT: HIGH CONTRAST ARMOUR

s I’ve mentioned before, my "battle vest" often draws compliments and recognition, and even my everyday jacket gets its fair share of attention. The irony is that I’m frequently mistaken for a motorcyclist. I’m not; I don’t have a licence, and the act of riding a motorbike has never actually appealed to me. I’ve never understood why that rugged motorcycle aesthetic hasn't crossed over into the cycling world more often. So, what if I decided to expand that look into my own cycling outerwear?

FINDING MY FEET AGAIN

’ve been quiet for a couple of weeks because I realised I needed a bit of a reset.

BEATING THE BLUE

lue Monday was allegedly last week, falling on the third Monday of January as it does every year. It is widely said to be the most depressing day of the calendar, and while I don’t entirely subscribe to the theory, I can certainly recognise where it stems from. It’s that familiar cocktail of the post-festive slump, short daylight hours, and the long, cold stretch toward payday—though I’m fortunate enough to be paid mid-month, which spares me that particular sting.

WALES IN YELLOW: LE TOUR RETURNS

have amazing news, something I’ve been waiting for has finally dropped: the Grand Départ is returning to the UK! There is an unrivalled magic when the Tour de France crosses the Channel, and I am absolutely buzzing that the world's greatest sporting spectacle is set to grace our backyard once again. Not since that spine-tingling summer of 2014 have we seen the peloton on British roads, and the prospect of that electric atmosphere returning is nothing short of incredible.

N PLUS 1

 know, I know—everyone is likely tired of hearing about my cycling collision. But the truth is, if it weren’t for that moment back in November, I wouldn't be sitting here with a new bike. My old one is only three years old and perfectly repairable, so why the upgrade?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026

he year, with all its sound and fury, has settled into memory, and now we face a new one. What will 2026 bring? It feels like only yesterday we were raising a glass to the new millennium, brimming with dreams we can barely recall now.

But let's anchor ourselves back to the present: Yule is drawing to a close. Before the inevitable return to routine, I want to take a moment to share the quiet observations, the small joys, and the reflections that made up my week before looking at the year ahead.

THE MIDPOINT OF MY YULE

hile many feel the festive spirit starts to fade as soon as the Boxing Day leftovers are cleared, those who celebrate Yule know the magic is only just beginning. Far from being a fleeting moment, Yule is a season that carries us through the heart of winter, with celebrations continuing well into the New Year. As we reach the midpoint of this ancient festival, I wanted to pause and share a recap of my journey through Yule so far.

BACK PAIN, BIKE DREAMS, AND A SECRET SANTA SIGH

t’s a slow and deliberate process, but I am truly trying my best to settle back into a normal life and, to some degree, I’m succeeding. The persistent back pain, however, still accompanies me most of the time, which is incredibly annoying. I cannot wait for the day I can ditch the tiresome bus commute and get back in the saddle; my bike is calling to me.

ULLR'S ICY GRIP: FROM SORE TO SWORDS

he temperature is dropping swiftly, and the frosty fingers of Ullr are touching every corner of our land. It’s exactly the kind of cold evening I love—but I find myself tragically trapped indoors by injury. I miss that simple ritual: wrapping up warm, grabbing my dog, and heading out into the dark, chilly night. This feeling of confinement is a powerful reminder that our journey through this cold and dark time of year is only just beginning.

DOWN IN A SPLIT SECOND: THE CRASH

n Wednesday 5th November, I left work on my bike to ride home. Some had expressed concern about the potential for issues, with youths known for throwing fireworks, but I wasn't deterred—this wasn't my first rodeo. So, at 10 pm, I rode into the night.

THE CURSE OF THE CYCLING STEREOTYPE

very November's arrival signals a few things, chief among them the start of the festive season preparations. At work, this translates into two key activities: planning the annual team party (since we're decentralised, every team manages their own event) and, perhaps more notoriously, navigating the annual Secret Santa. For me, this usually means an inevitable delivery of beard products or yet another cycling mug. Is that really all there is to me?

WIGGO WIGGO WIGGO

radley Wiggins is arguably one of the most recognisable sportsmen and pro-cyclists in the UK. A multi-medal winning Olympian and the first britton to win the Tour de France.

THE END OF LIVE CYCLING...

ne thing everyone knows about me is that I love cycling. I'm on my bike most days, and the Grand Tours are a sacred event. The thrill of the race, the beauty of the course, the sheer grit of the riders – it's pure theatre. The Tour de France, a free-to-air treasure in the UK since the 80s, has always been accessible to everyone. But the curtain is about to fall.

2401.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another year in the bag. It's time to look at my 3 targets I set for myself and to look at the year ahead. Before we look of that let's look at my Yule experience.

2312.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE

Another year in the bag and the big news is that I didn't die (well this would be the definition of irony if I fail to survive the next week). The shitstorm continues with high prices and low wages ravaging those of us on below average wages but we struggle through. The world is full of war and climate distasters, I feel so bad for those affected. Maybe one day the power hungry megalomaniacs will get their heads out of their (or each others') arses and work to solve these solvable problems although I'm not holding my breath.

2309.23 CATCHUP TIME

It's been a while since I did a blog post,  So I'll attempt to go over a few of the thing that have happened recently, it's difficult because bugger all has really happened. 

2307.02 IT'S JULY SO IT MUST BE...

It's my favourite time of year. The weather is warmer (although we still get plenty of rain), the days are long and I get to enjoy the greatest bike race in the world. July is a wonderful time of year.

2303.27 N PLUS ONE

Everyone who knows me knows I love cycling. Ok I'm not the fastest, not the strongest but I am a long time bike rider. So before I start let me explain the meaning of the title; 'N+1'. Most people in cycling know that the optimal number of bicycles a person should own is represented by the formula N+1 where N is the number of bikes you currently own.

2207.18 BYE BYE BORIS

The Prime Minister has finally quit after years of lies and basically taking the piss out of the British people. But I have to talk about night's out, birthday celebrations, bike racing and of course, the weather!

2002.03 STRESS, SNEEZING AND SHOES

It's been a manic few days, we had a serious thingy happen at work which has turned everything upside down.