Category: Lifestyle

It’s the time of year when advice on how to better yourself in some way pervades our lives via advertising and social media ad nauseam; be it drastic diets, stringent exercise regimes or learning to meditate, ’tis the season of fads that will be forgotten by February. So, instead of making a negative pledge in the form of restrictive lifestyle changes why not make a resolution that is sure to stand the test of time and commit to a cycling challenge for 2019?

Top Cycling Challenges for 2019

Whether you’re a total rookie or a hardened roadie a cycling challenge is a great way to motivate yourself to get out there and clock up the kms whilst seeing the world in 2019. Let’s take a look at some of the best cycling adventures to sign up to to keep you on two wheels in 2019!

For The Intrepid Adventurer

A raid or trans cycling tour is the perfect challenge for those with a taste for adventure. An epic point-to-point journey crossing big mountain ranges incorporating some iconic climbs and tough terrain is sure to quench anyone’s thirst for adventure. The feeling after completing a two-wheeled journey that traverses hundreds of kilometres is like no other!

For The Newcomer

No need to be a seasoned rider to set yourself a cycling challenge this year. The key is to start small and not over-face yourself. Our leisure cycling tours are the perfect way to introduce yourself to cycling holidays and discover how much more you can see via bike! With rides to suit your ability and emphasis on exploring the area and experiencing the culture a leisure tour is a great place to start.

Alternatively, setting a distance goal is also a good place to begin to introduce more cycling to your schedule, look at where you are and set a realistic goal and you never know – you might surprise yourself!

For The Rider Who’s Seen It All

If you’re a veteran of cycling holidays then you’ve probably already ‘been there and done that’ when it comes to the Alps, Pyrenees or Dolomites. New experiences and challenges are the perfect way to motivate yourself to train during those winter months and a Hidden Gem cycling tour is the perfect way to explore somewhere new, whether it’s a new mountain range or a whole new country.

For The Competitive Rider

If you have a competitive streak then you’re going to need a competitive event to motivate you! Signing up to a Gran Fondo or sportive is the perfect way to make sure you stick to your training plan and get out of the door on those days when you might not be feeling like it. If you want to take the stress out of organising and travelling then let us do the hard work so all you have to do is prepare and turn up to ride!

Book Your 2019 Cycling Challenge

If you want to make sure you’re fully prepared for your upcoming challenge why not join a ride camp? We provide all inclusive cycling tours to the top cycling destinations in Europe and can tailor your cycling challenge to your needs – whatever they may be! To find out more give us a call now on +34 972 649 131, contact us online or start a live chat and we’ll see you in the saddle soon!

P.S. Enjoyed this blog? Why not sign up to receive notifications every time we post and get regular updates on our latest tours!

Eat Sleep Cycle partner Brian recently outlined our reasons for joining forces with CHPT3 using the fitting analogy of a bike race, but we want to delve further into the brand and why we think they’re a great fit for Eat Sleep Cycle.

There are many cycling brands out there, whether it’s clothing, components, accessories or bikes themselves the market is bursting at its fine, Italian seams. So how do you choose which ones are right? Brian summarized this nicely in his blog: “we want to work with brands who want to work with us”. – Brands who are like-minded, who share a similar vision and believe in our business.

CHPT3 – Girona Based Locals

CHPT3 is a local brand, based in Girona and although this is not a prerequisite for who we partner with, of course, working with local brands allows for greater communication and collaboration – one example of this is our upcoming CHPT3 x Eat Sleep Cycle x Rocacorba Food Truck Christmas ride. From this, came the Girona Collection which is an ode to the city.

Of this, the brand themselves say:

“CHPT3 was founded in Girona, the heartland of professional cycling. It is our home and where we’ve ridden more kilometres than anywhere else in the world, making it the perfect field for research and product development.”

CHPT3 are as passionate as us about showing the cycling community why Girona truly is the best place to ride a bike, in David Millar’s own words: “we have the same vision to help shape Girona and the Costa Brava into the world’s best cycling destination.”

The CHPT3 Concept

The CHPT3 brand embodies Girona. It’s classic, and classy, it’s quality and cool. In the brands own words:

“We founded CHPT3 to be a platform through which we and our partners can do creative, collaborative projects. Together, we seek out new technologies and new contexts in which to push ourselves to the edge of what is possible”

Take CHPT3’s collaboration with Poc to create the new Devesa Ventral SPIN helmet – a world’s best helmet in terms of safety & design given an innovative pattern inspired by Girona’s Devesa forest. What’s not to love?

The Founder of CHPT3

The brand’s founder is none other than ex-professional rider and Tour de France stage winner David Millar which, naturally, automatically brings an element of prestige to the brand. What it also brings is experience.

“David Millar, has been a chief test pilot for the cycling industry for twenty years. Working with material and equipment manufacturers to shape the cutting edge of the sport, CHPT3 is a reflection of his experience and vision, without compromise.”

David is fantastic to work with and is hands-on with his approach to the brand, something that we ourselves admire and believe in.  His enthusiasm for the collaboration is testament to his passion for the brand.

The Products

The concept of ‘you get what you pay for’ is very much true when it comes to cycling kit. Some may bemoan the price of certain, high quality brands’ clothing, but when you realise the hard work; the field testing, the research, the trial and error, that goes into creating a truly great piece of kit, you realise why. Take the CHPT3 Origin 1.62 Jersey/Jacket for example: extensive research has gone into creating a jersey with “a wider temperature range than nearly any other jersey, or jacket, in the world.” As a result it can be considered both a jersey and a jacket, negating the need to fill your pockets with extra layers. It is innovative concepts such as these, coupled with a truly stylish aesthetic, that make CHPT3 so appealing as a brand.

CHPT3 Connections

CHPT3 were already working in conjunction with two other brands that we had also wanted to get on board at Eat Sleep Cycle: Factor Bikes and Brompton. The heritage of Brompton is unmistakable and the iconic commuter bikes are a great fit for getting around a city like Girona. We’ve already written on this blog about why we love Factor bikes – the masses of experience and expertise behind them result in beautiful, high-performance bikes that we can’t wait to get in to The Hub so that our customers in Girona and on tour can see the quality for themselves.

Experience Girona Cycling

Do you want to experience the city that inspired CHPT3, for yourself? Ride through the Devesa park and walk through the historic Old Town taking in the culture and scenery and of course, the amazing road cycling! We have a variety of bike tours in Girona, and CHPT3 gear available – all you have to do is choose what you want! To find out more about our tours give us a call now on +34 972 649 131 or contact us online.

P.S. Enjoyed this blog? Why not sign up to receive notifications every time we post and get regular updates on our latest tours!

All photos by CHPT3.

December is nearly here, and amongst the cries of ‘where has this year gone?!’ you may be able to make out the faint sound of jingle bells hailing the impending festive period and with it the yearly scramble to buy gifts.

Perhaps you are super organised and have already done your Christmas shopping, I salute you. But if you operate on a slightly more human level of organisation you’re probably starting to think about what to buy your friends and loved ones, for those who leave their present buying until the eleventh hour, the humble gift card will have to suffice.

Gifts for Cyclists

Cyclists can be baffling, lycra-clad creatures to the uninitiated, even for those in the know they may seem to have every piece of tech or kit on the market, as such buying gifts for them can prove a challenge. But with the help of our guide to Christmas gifts for Cyclists you’ll be able to find something for every type of cyclist, whether they’ve been naughty or nice

Gifts For The Adventurer Cyclist

Light for Dark Winter Riding
Short, dark winter days mean visibility is especially important at this time of year which calls for a decent light. These Knog front and rear lights are bright, waterproof, versatile and USB rechargeable.
€19.90 -> buy frontlight here and rear light here.

Ortlieb Bikepacking Bag
The bike-packing adventurer needs somewhere to store their things: this Ortlieb Frame-Pack allows you to exploit your bike frame to create valuable stowage.
€99.99 -> buy now!.

Waterproof Jacket
The adventurer will go out in all weather conditions so our SISMIC rain jacket is perfect – waterproof for when the heavens open and easy to fold up and fit in your pocket when not needed.
€120 -> buy now!

Ridley X-Trail Carbon Ultegra Ex-Rental Bike
The ultimate steed for the adventurer is a gravel bike that those who feature at the top of the Nice List this year deserve!
€2,325 -> buy now!

For The Stylish Cyclist

MAAP Long Sleeve Jersey
This long-sleeved pro-fit women’s jersey by MAAP, one of the most stylish cycling brands out there, is a sure fire hit for the female cyclist in your life.
€170 -> buy now!

CHPT3 Origin 1.62 Jersey Jacket
This clever piece of kit from CHPT3 combines a jersey and a jacket making multiple layers a thing of the past!
€200 -> buy now!

Poc Devesa Helmet
Part of the CHPT3 Girona collection this stlyish, custom-designed Poc Devesa helmet is inspired by the eponymous forest in Girona.
€270 -> buy now!

Oakleys Sunglasses
Oakleys are a stylish cycling classic, and there are now myriad styles and colours to choose from. Our favourites are the Jawbreakers.
From €292: -> buy now!

ASSOS Early Winter Long Gloves
These ASSOS gloves are, like all ASSOS kit, simultaneously stylish and practical, perfect for when it’s a little chilly but not enough for the deep-winter kit to come out.
€80 -> buy now!

Rocacorba Food Truck Jumper
Whether you’ve tackled the infamous Rocacorba climb or you’ve never even seen the iconic phone masts, this Rocacorba jumper is a stylish ode to the Girona classic.
€49.95 -> buy now!

Cyclist-Friendly Stocking Fillers

Cycling Book
Read the unsung stories of cycling’s legendary women in Isabel Best’s book Queens of Pain
€30 -> buy now!

Gift Cards
If you’re truly at a loss as to what gift to buy, or you’re in a last-minute Christmas Eve rush then a gift card is the way to go!

Pongo Socks
Socks are usually considered to be a rubbish Christmas present, one up from a lump of coal, but cyclists love a bit of #sockdoping and when they’re as pretty as these Pongo London ones who wouldn’t want Santa to bring them?
€17 -> buy now!

Spurcycle Bell
If they’re already furnished with bike lights you can make sure your cyclist loved-one is both seen and heard with this Spurcycle Bell – engineered for quality sound. Spurcycle bells ring 3x longer than others – and they look cool too!
€49.99 -> buy now!

For The Cyclist Who’s Been Very Nice This Year

A New Bike
The ultimate Christmas present for a cyclist is of course a bike, and for those who have really stayed on Santa’s good side in 2018 a Ridley Helium X is the perfect gift.
€1,949 -> buy now!

Wahoo
There are few riders nowadays who venture out without some kind of device, we love the Wahoo Elemnt – a versatile all-rounder unlike some counterparts it also has full navigation.
€299.99 -> buy now!

For The Cyclist Who Already Has Everything

Cycling Magazine Subscription
If you’re cyclist loved-one seems to have it all why not get them a subscription to a cycling magazine so they can peruse for yet more stuff? Our pick is Cycling Plus.
From €20 -> buy now!

Strava Summit membership
If, like many, the cyclist in your life spends hours on the bike followed by hours of analysing their ride on Strava then a Strava Summit membership might be for them. Choose a pack based on their goals and interests resulting in tailored extra features.
From €2,00 /month -> buy now!

Winter Cycling Tour
A sure fire way to make a cyclist happy is to give them the perfect excuse to go and enjoy some winter sunshine. Our specially designed winter cycling tours make it possible for cyclists to cycle in sun all year round with popular destinations including Gran Canaria and Southern Spain.
From €1,699 -> buy now!

Christmas Gifts for Cyclists

We hope the above suggestions will help make the Christmas gift buying for the cyclist in your life a bit easier but if you’ve any suggestions that we should add to the list please comment below to let us know. And, if you’d like to find out more about any of our tours as gifts, give us a call now +34 972 649 131 on or contact us online!

P.S. Enjoyed this blog? Why not sign up to receive notifications every time we post and get regular updates on our latest tours!

All cyclists have felt it… A tiredness that stops legs from spinning, head dipping, dizzyness, confusions and a general unhappiness. Such a sudden change from “wohooooooo I´m the Tour de France champion” to “I hate cycling!” How can this be?

We asked Gemma Sampson, Accredited Sports Dietitian & Performance Nutritionist (Dietitian Without Borders) for an expert opinion.

What is the bonk in nutrition terms?

 

It’s like running out of fuel when you’re driving in a car. Your body stores carbohydrate as glycogen in the muscles or glucose in the bloodstream to use as fuel during exercise. When you bonk, your blood sugar levels are low and you’ve used up most of your muscle glycogen.

You’ll feel lethargic, lacking energy, sleepy, slightly confused with jelly legs, reduced power and a higher heart rate. It may be difficult to talk and you may feel quite emotional.

What should you do when it happens?

 

You need to get your blood sugar levels up quickly, so it’s important to eat something with carbohydrate that’s quick and easy to digest. For example an energy gel, dried fruit or some sweets. Follow this up with an energy bar or something more substantial to keep you going longer.

Is it dangerous? Should you find food very quickly?

 

If your blood sugar levels get extremely low it can be dangerous to your health. But the biggest risk, particularly when riding on the road is the possibility of crashing or injury when feeling lightheadedness, dizzy or confused.

Getting some carbohydrate into your system quickly and getting your blood sugar levels up to normal will help improve your concentration to keep you safe on the road.

How to avoid it?

 

Prevention is always better than cure! Eating carbohydrates in the form of foods or drinks during your ride will help keep your blood sugar levels up and maintain your glycogen stores.

Exactly how much you need will depend on how long or how hard you are riding, as well as how trained you are.

For rides over 60 minutes aim for 30-60g of carbohydrates per hour. Make a note to start eating early and often, every 20 or 30 minutes rather then forgetting to eat or drink until it’s too late.

To learn more about nutrition with Gemma Sampson visit her website, dietitianwithoutborders.com