Velo Klubhaus.com

The Extra Mile.

Published to mark Rapha’s 20th anniversary, The Extra Mile tells the inside story of how a brand was built through passion, innovation and obsession.

A few of my pictures shot at the Smithfield Market Nocturne in London. Danke to Guy Andrews for the picture.

Nocturne: https://veloklubhaus.com/2018/11/16/smithfield-nocturne-the-coming-of-the-new/

Buy book here:
https://www.rapha.cc/de/de/shop/the-extra-mile-softback/product/ATX02 # #

Gö Gravel Herbst Ausfahrt 3 – October 21 2024

The third of a series of Monday informal social rides through October.

Short, moderate tempo and social on a warm Herbst evening.
The ride featured Felix T, John, Josh), Max, Sandra, Johannes (Slowjoe), Tim M, Victor, Def, Victoria, Chris, and Andrea.

Mehr: https://veloklubhaus.com/2024/10/01/october-2024-rides/

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12710780252

Gö Gravel Herbst Ausfahrt 2 – October 14 2024

The second of a series of Monday informal social rides through October.

It was an awesome mudfest because the Sugar beet harvest is being gathered in and mud is being spread everywhere by farm machinery.

A stick was a useful item to have to clear out gunk between tyre and frame.

We rode at a social pace onto to the high ground to the West of Göttingen.

The ride featured Josh, Tim Me, Sandra, John, Andrea, Chris, Jennifer, Johannes L, and Felix T.

Mehr: https://veloklubhaus.com/2024/10/07/october-2024-rides/

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12655254638

Gö Paris Tours - Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop – October 12 2024

Inspired by stage nine of the 2024 Tour De France (men) I have been riding a series of tours that feature mostly asphalt roads interspersed with gravel, Feldweg and Betonweg.

We also celebrate the 2024 Paris Tours Road Race which was a mud fest.

One of the principal concepts of this tour to establish a regular temp on asphalt and then be able to transition onto the gravel at speed and to carry it through the sector without a dramatic change of cadence.

Danke to Sandra for her company.

Mehr (GPS, Fotos, words, links): https://veloklubhaus.com/2024/10/12/go-paris-tours-roadie-chemin-blanc-omloop-october-12-2024/

Doped in Gö – September 3 2024

Bon Courage is an antidote for fear, it allows me to take a step towards rather than retreat from people or activities even if at times it feels like I put one foot forward and three back.

Much of this is related to my recent heart attack and having had my world turned upside down.

Pharma

A good degree of Bon Courage also helps me to put into perspective the mountain of pharmaceuticals I consume daily. For instance, most notably I must take blood thinners for a year to help blood flow through a lifesaving Stent which keeps my previously Infarcted heart artery open whilst it is absorbed into my body.

Not for Dogs

None of my drugs are explicitly mentioned by the UCI (Union Cyclist International), although one is named as being banned in Greyhound racing! Nonetheless the blood thinners I take do enhance blood circulation and thus the transport of oxygen in my system. This is a massive thing in blood doping and is a red flag in sports medicine.

An alarming side effect of the blood thinners is that large bruises can suddenly erupt on my body without physical provocation at any time making me look like I have been in a 10-round fight.

I take these drugs to enhance my life chances.

I additionally inject myself with Vitamin B12. Such supplements are often recommended for physical exercise and are not banned at a low dose in sport. The use of injections and intravenous drips in competition are subject to scrutiny and can be a smoking gun to anti-doping agencies.

The ticking bomb which had been counting down inside my body has been defused, and I am less in danger of a repeat than most people (especially those who think they are immune because they are fit).

Victory

Although the blood thinners may offer me sporting benefit helping to deliver oxygen to my muscles, sadly, blood pressure reducing medication holds me back especially on hills, but I won´t complain because my heartbeat is low enough not to require Beta Blockers.

I assume I am a doper but unlike in my younger years this time it is under medical supervision, and have I never doped for a greater sport prowess. OK, I did once take a Paracetamol when riding the cobbles of Paris Roubaix.

I rode my road bike on a lovely summers evening and every pedal stroke feels like a victory. The route included one short sector of mild gravel and of course there was ice-cream at ride end.

Mehr: https://veloklubhaus.com/2024/09/03/doped-in-go-september-3-2024/

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12317746543

On the front of the peloton with Hannah.

The excitement is building for the first ride with this great wheel set from Xaver von Treyer at Bockstein.

Xaver has hand built the wheels with my love of mixing straße with gravel in mind and they will be fast and strong enough to deal with my love of cobbles as well.

More about the wheels to come.

Danke Xaver!

Circa 1990/2000

I posted a popular thread to the then new Drop Bars & Knobbies Facebook group in May 2020, and it recently has come under renewed interest.

The bike is from before before gravel became a thing, but it did the same job as its modern equivalent.

It was my rough stuff bike circa 1990/2000.

Like so many bikes before groupsets became the normal we tended to kit out our bikes from all sorts of eclectic sources…

Specification
Frame: Reynolds 531c
Fork: Reynolds 531c
Bars: Cinelli
Stem: Cinelli (quill)
Seatpin: Shimano XT
Saddle: Selle Italia OXO
Brakes: Ritchey Logic Cantilevers
Rear Mech: Campagnolo Record Titanium 8 speed (1996) – finally mangled at old Eastway.
Front Mech: Campagnolo Record Titanium 8 speed (1996)
Chainset: Shimano LX Triple
Levers: Right – Campag Record (yes it worked on a triple)
Levers: Left – Shimano Bar end/Shimano 600
Wheels: Mavic on Hope hubs
Tyres: Michelin Rear – ‘File tread’ and Front ‘Mud’(green)
Pedals: Time Atac

Website page: https://veloklubhaus.com/2018/03/15/before-there-was-gravel-531c-cyclo-cross-bike/

More of my old bikes: https://veloklubhaus.com/2021/09/26/a-world-turned-upside-down-my-new-gravel-bike/