Op!Op!Op!

Cycling blog and skills coaching

Twitter Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Reviews
      • Rides
      • Bikes
      • Gear
      • Kit
      • Nutrition
  • Hello Velo! cycle skill coaching
  • Bike maintenance workshops
  • Contact

The Rapha Pro Team Lightweight GORE-TEX Jacket: A new mum’s best friend

September 7, 2020September 7, 2020opopop Leave a comment

And if you’re not a new mum, bear with me for the first couple of paragraphs as this jacket is worth reading about!

Read More

Cycling when pregnant: Knowing how hard to push before you… push

May 18, 2020May 19, 2020opopop Leave a comment

Ahead of the big push (at the end of the nine months), knowing how hard to ride was my main concern. While your belly is still flat it’s easy to exert the same effort you would have done pre-pregnancy, but is that ok?

Read More

Cycling the North Coast 500: What to know before you go

March 4, 2019May 23, 2020opopop 2 Comments

Often referred to as Scotland’s Route 66, the North Coast 500 is an incredible, unbroken loop of tarmac that starts and finishes in Inverness. It does what it says on the tin, in that the 500-mile trip hugs the coastline of the most northerly chunk of Scotland taking in beautiful and unspoiled views. And while…

Read More

Review: IRIS Kochi women’s cycling jersey

November 13, 2018May 19, 2020opopop Leave a comment

At some point in about February this year I opened my cycling kit drawer and pulled the various Lycra and merino wool items this way and that, looking for the jersey that most summed up how I felt that day and what sort of ride I was after. I probably hoiked a few pieces out,…

Read More
Cable tie at hub end of mudguard mount

Hack: Focus Paralane mudguard rattle

March 30, 2018May 19, 2020opopop 2 Comments

I am a very proud and happy owner of a Focus Paralane AL 105 and I ruddy love the thing. At a price point of £1,499 it ticked all of the necessary winter bike boxes, as well as being a great commuter and all-round good performer for everyday riding. If I’d been a little more…

Read More

Far-out, far-Eastern kit on the way from Iris Slappendel

March 18, 2018March 18, 2018opopop Leave a comment

Exciting new threads are on the way from ex-pro Iris Slappendel, by the looks of a few posts from her current trip to Japan. Already in the kit game, the new range looks to be taking an Eastern-inspired turn with bold prints right alongside delicate detail. It feels as though the wider industry is having…

Read More

Cotswold Veldrijden RR: A race of (unfortunate) attrition

May 15, 2016May 16, 2016opopop Leave a comment

At 1.15 on Sunday 15 May a field of around 40 riders rolled out for what was the first women’s event at the Cotswold Veldrijden Road Race. Taking place pretty close to where my parents are based and on roads I’m relatively familiar with, I made the journey down from the north west and was…

Read More
Bib tights and jacket

Review: Hoy Vulpine women’s Roubaix bib tights

January 3, 2016November 13, 2018opopop Leave a comment

Cyclists spend the majority of their time bent double, with joints and hinges at the ankles, knees, hips and shoulders all needing a considerable range of movement to perform unimpeded. So when you think about it, meeting this need is actually quite a big ask for a piece of kit in comparison to the clothes…

Read More

Review: HOY Vulpine women’s long sleeve Roubaix jersey

December 4, 2015November 13, 2018opopop Leave a comment

I should probably come clean early on and fess up that, despite wearing lots of different bits and pieces of cycling kit, I actually haven’t reviewed all that many. As such, I approached this write-up feeling slightly unsure on how many words you, the reader, might want to read – and just how technical to…

Read More

33% of the Six Days of Ghent

November 14, 2015November 14, 2015opopop Leave a comment

The Six Days of Ghent is a pretty incredible coming together of lots of people, bikes and beer in one fantastic city. Taking place towards the end of November, the multi-day competition has been held since 1922 in the Kuipke velodrome based in the Citadelpark. Though the exterior looks a bit like a run-down convention…

Read More

Posts navigation

Older Posts

Get op to date

  • The Rapha Pro Team Lightweight GORE-TEX Jacket: A new mum’s best friend
  • Cycling when pregnant: Knowing how hard to push before you… push
  • Cycling the North Coast 500: What to know before you go
  • Review: IRIS Kochi women’s cycling jersey
  • Hack: Focus Paralane mudguard rattle
© 2023 Op!Op!Op! | WordPress Theme: Semplicemente by CrestaProject.