Tag: mountain bike

  • Zero Gravity Boxer Shorts

    Zero Gravity Boxer Shorts

    Whilst developing Grizzly Wears Boxer Shorts to work incredibly well for all sports, I realised I had created Zero Gravity Boxer Shorts. This is a completely unsubstantiated claim and has not been tested. At this moment. My supporting theories definitely hold up well. The laws of physics do suggest I am correct.

    In the event anybody has a trip to space or a flight on the vomit comet booked. I will send you free items in exchange for photographic evidence to support this claim. Until disproven it must be true. Results of testing carried out by Grizzly Wears Boxer Shorts owners, that I can publish to back up my theory will be rewarded.

    Presently, you can get a pair of zero gravity boxer shorts in my online store.

    Grizzly Wears Bamboo Boxer Shorts

    Grizzly Wears Bamboo Boxer Shorts

    Premium quality bamboo boxer shorts. End of Line Stock Release Pricing (per pair): 1 £7.50 : 3+ £6.50 : 5+ £5.75 : 10+ £5

    Original price was: £15.00.Current price is: £7.50.
    Shop now

    What is the theory ?

    My theory is that Grizzly Wears Boxer Shorts keep you supported in Zero Gravity and prevent “fallout”. This is a very simple explanation. Don’t fear, the long complicated version is coming.

    Firstly, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When contents of your boxer shorts try to float away (an action) they are met with the elasticity of the bamboo fabric (reaction). With mass of the average underwear cargo being 190 grams: (2 x 15) + 160. This is not enough to overcome the gentle but firm spring back action of the fabric. Additionally, for the purposes of this theory, I calculate the average contact surface area to be 38cm². This may seem like a lot but it is average. 1 inch square is equal to 6.54cm². Furthermore, with increased mass there is increased surface contact resulting in a greater push back effect. Leading to the conclusion that size doesn’t matter. At least we’re led to believe this is true.

    Secondly, entering a reduced or zero gravity environment results in weight (not mass) being reduced. As spring back remains a constant force, its effects are maximised. Under those circumstances, when you need it most, Grizzly Wears Boxers will keep you more supported, safe and secure.

    If gravity increases, what happens ?

    On the contrary to effects of zero gravity, there is the opposite effect when gravity increases. This could be centrifugal force from an aggressive manoeuvre. My theory has not pin pointed the exact point at which cargo weight overcomes spring back. Elasticity is intended to be comfortable without restriction under normal operating conditions.

    The average person becomes unconscious at 5G. If we take the previous calculated average mass of 190g and multiply it by 5… 5 x 190 = 950. Carrying 950g in your boxer shorts is not advisable. I am indeed confident that Grizzly Wears Boxers can take this strain. The tensile strength of steel is 247MPa. Bamboo fabric used to construct zero gravity boxer shorts is 262MPa. Meaning you are safer and comfier in a pair of these than encasing yourself in steel.

    What about Black Holes ?

    Uncertainty around what happens in black holes makes this hard to theorise. Knowing that there is a stretching effect coming in to play when crossing the event horizon adds a new level of complexity. Coupled with the extreme compression inside a black hole, this gets even harder to calculate. Too many factors are at play for me to predict what will happen accurately. Objects may appear smaller in a black hole. This is due to extreme gravity and cold. Be sensible, stay safe and don’t be sucked into a black hole.

    Zero Gravity Boxer Shorts - Image courtesy of NASA
    A Black Hole

    For more information on black holes you should absolutely check out Professor Brian Cox. Definitely not me.

    What else is good about your boxer shorts ?

    Grizzly Wears boxers have many great features. They are sustainable, responsibly sourced, made from Bamboo and seamless. In essence they are great for any activity, even space walks.

    Pick up a pair of Grizzly Wears Boxer Shorts and take them on all your adventures. You can rely on them to stay supportive and comfortable all day long. Soft, smooth bamboo fabric reduces all the friction where you want no friction. Zero gravity compatible and zero chafing. Henceforth, no matter what activity you’re doing, we’ve got you totally covered !

    Testing Zero Gravity Boxer Shorts

    Finally, if you have an experiment to test the performance of a pair of Grizzly Wears boxers, I would love to hear from you. Please fill out the product tester form, mention zero gravity in the description and I’ll be in touch. Remember we need the evidence to prove the science. Help me prove that natural fabrics can have super powers.

    Lastly, as always, support me by buying the products in my online shop.

  • Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes ?

    Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes ?

    Riding mountain bike in the UK often means you will get plastered in mud for at least 11 months of the year. It isn’t good to put your bike shoes in the washing machine constantly. What are the consequences of giving them a heavy dose of bike cleaner and a quick rinse ? Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes ?

    For the purpose of this test I used my favourite bike cleaner. Peaty’s Loam Foam. Not only is this stuff great because it’s super effective and reduces bike cleaning effort. It is also eco friendly. The spray bottle is a great design. You can pick up a cheap concentrate refill to keep topping it up too. I’ve tried a few other bike cleaners but because of all the boxes this one ticks, it is my current favourite.

    Peaty’s Loam Foam – Matches my Bike !

    After a quick rinse with the hose pipe followed by a quick covering with loam foam to get the stubborn dirt. I like to leave the foam to dwell for a while. Finally followed by a good blast with the hose to remove the remainder.

    Getting my shoes dirty.

    Firstly I had a good ride, got my shoes loaded up with mud. As per usual. I strongly believe with mountain biking that if you don’t come home covered, you aren’t doing it right.

    Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes - my muddy shoes !
    Shoes prepared for cleaning

    The Wash Cycle

    Secondly, I gave my shoes a good coating of Peaty’s finest product. Then I gave it a few minutes to do its thing, soak in, loosen that mud.

    Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes - Foaming Action
    Foaming Action

    The Revealing Rinse

    Finally, I turned the hose back on my shoes and gave them a good rinsing to wash away that biodegradable foam and the mud with it. Look at that effortless finish. Saved water, detergent and the washing machine by throwing my shoes in it.

    Can Bike Cleaner Clean Shoes - Amazingly well it turns out !
    Good as new !

    I won’t lie, cleaning my bike shoes is probably the last thing on my mind after every ride. They quite often get left plastered because its only going to happen again. However, this is probably the cleanest they have been since new and it took me 2 minutes whilst cleaning the bike anyway.

    So Can Bike Cleaner Clean Bike Shoes ?

    100% Yes. Is it a good Idea and will it damage your shoes ? I’ve no idea. I could probably do with a new pair anyway as these have had years of use. I wonder what else I can clean with this miracle stuff. Next time I will try doing the laundry with it !

    As usual, If you found this useful, informative and possibly the answer to a question you never asked, please support by visiting my shop. If you tried this out and found it works miracles, drop me a comment. If your shoes dissolved, I take no responsibility. For updates and news check my Instagram.

  • Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava

    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava

    Strava is a fantastic tool. It is great for tracking fitness progress, seeing how you compare against friends and measuring how far you have been. Although Strava also has a dark side. Thieves can locate your address and use this information to steal your bike. Here are a few tips to Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava.

    *For the purpose of writing this Blog I have taken screen shots from my account on https://www.strava.com

    What is the Risk ?

    Using Strava for years and only hearing of a few bike thefts this way, I would say Strava is fairly safe. Unfortunately there are opportunistic thieves out there who will take a chance. I have not had anything stolen myself but have avoided using Strava often because of this risk. The last thing anybody wants is to have their beloved bike taken from them. With a few tips, I will show you how to reduce the risk even further. Due to an increasing number of people taking up mountain biking and cycling there is likely an increase in the number of bike thieves.

    Bike thieves will attempt to track down your address via the location in your maps and listing what gear you have is like giving them a shopping list. With many bikes being well over £1000 in value there is a great incentive for bikes to be stolen. The best way to stop thieves is by making information unavailable or harder to get.

    Strava Privacy Controls – Where you appear

    Firstly, Privacy Controls are your best starting place to secure your account. You should see a number of different settings when opening this section. Each section contains permissions for where your activity can be viewed. I like to set all my settings to “Followers”. In turn this means someone must follow me to be able to view my activities and personal data. Limiting the number of people who can view your information is the first step towards securing your account.

    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava
    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava – Where you Appear

    You will also see settings for Activities and Group Activities. I also set these to “Followers”. Local Legends and Flyby are slightly different. These will only make your time on a particular section visible to everyone when left open. The main risk is someone being able to track your home address. This leads nicely into the next section…

    Strava Privacy Controls – Additional Controls

    Second on the list is Additional Controls. Although most importantly these controls can prevent your address being shown altogether. Map Visibility is the key section where you can keep your home address hidden. In my settings I like to hide all activity within 1/4 mile of my home address and other addresses I commonly ride from. If you often ride from a friend’s house it is worth adding their address to. Although a better outcome for you, you don’t want to be the reason they are targeted. Furthermore to improve safety I also Hide the start and end points of every ride by 1/8 mile. Meaning a fellow riders address is hidden by default when starting there. Also your car/van is not shown if you drive somewhere to ride.

    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava
    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava – Additional Settings

    Now that you have limited activities only to followers and hidden the start and end points of your rides there is one more important piece of information. The shopping list…

    Strava My Gear

    Finally, it is every mountain biker and cyclists god given right to boast about how awesome their bike is. Tell your friends in the car park, the coffee shop, the pub and remind them every time whilst your riding. Do try and avoid telling potential bike thieves.

    If you are a runner, the likelihood of your running shoes being stolen is minimal. I don’t think many thieves target used footwear. To itemise all of your expensive cycling gear and make it public knowledge is not a great move. Don’t give thieves a reason to target you. For this reason, put your running shoes on there, not your bike. Advertising an ultimate spec, high end bike on here is going to make you very attractive to thieves.

    Keep Your Bike Safe on Strava – Checklist

    To summarise and keep it short:

    • Limit who can see you to Followers.
    • Be selective about your Followers.
    • Hide your home address
    • Add your friends, families or other addresses you often ride from
    • Conceal your start and end points.
    • Don’t publish a shopping list !

    In conclusion, follow these steps and make sure your bike stays safe. Keep your insurance provider happy. Every so often I see posts about bike theft. Above all else, nobody wants their bike stealing so make sure you aren’t next. For fear of somebody coming along, tracking you, invading your privacy, keep your data and your bike safe on Strava.

    In the meantime, if you found this helpful – check out my other posts. Follow me on instagram to stay up to date. Lastly, support me on my mission by buying some of my sustainable clothing. There will be more mountain biking/cycling/sportswear coming soon !

  • How to run for bike fitness

    How to run for bike fitness

    After almost 2 years of COVID isolation and lock down I decided it was time to boost my fitness. Starting from the worst shape I have been in for years. I pushed myself hard, it hurt. After only 10 days I felt physically and mentally better, ready to tackle 2022 head on. Also without realising I had decided to run for bike fitness.

    Firstly I would like to declare I am not a qualified fitness coach or personal trainer. This is about how I gave myself a huge boost in only 10 days. Starting every year I feel like I have lost the gains from the previous year. The excuses for not consistently riding and keeping up my fitness over every winter are:

    • Dark
    • Cold
    • Muddy
    • Wet

    Facing reality, none of these actually bother me a great deal. Pushing myself to get out despite these horrors leads me to having fun anyway. Every year I seem to repeat the same cycle. 2021 was especially difficult for me, I won’t go into that. This is about how I found motivation and drive for the future. Boosted my fitness in 10 days. Felt enthusiastic about getting on my bike again. Furthermore, learnt to enjoy running where I have never managed this before.

    Low Clouds seen on a run for bike fitness
    Shoes to run for bike fitness
    Run for Bike fitness down a cycle route
    A run for bike fitness view
    run to Roseberry Topping for bike fitness
    Sunset taken whilst on a run
    A view whilst having a run for bike fitness
    Sunrise taken whilst out on a run
    A few photo highlights along my way

    Where do I Start ?

    Seeking a reason to run, I impulsively signed up to run 50 miles for Prostate Cancer UK. Signing up on 30th December and starting 1st January gave me little time for excuses. Having a good reason to get out gave me a lot of drive to succeed. Importantly I felt as though I couldn’t let them down. Because of this I was more determined to keep going through any pain. Realising there are two types of pain, without a doubt there is the pain you can run through. This is pain caused by your body improving and also adapting to the new demands you are asking from it. Nonetheless some pain should slow you down, make you take a break or rest. Undoubtedly you will feel the first kind of pain if you are starting from the same place as I did but coping and overcoming only makes you stronger.

    Starting on a Saturday meant that I had 2 full days to achieve some critical miles before 5 easier days when I couldn’t run as much because of work. This definitely made me chase as many miles as I could in the time I had. Running became a top priority and an enjoyment for the first time in my life.

    Lastly here are the things I wish I had worked out at the start:

    • The right shoes are worth it
    • Speed is not important at all
    • Focus on breathing and let it dictate your pace
    • Concentrate on smoother steps
    • Don’t push to the point of gasping for breath
    • Make time to stretch before and after
    • Duct tape is the best fix for blisters and hot spots

    The Run to Bike Fitness Plan

    Clearly, to say I had a plan to start with would be a lie, I had a rough daily distance to cover and a new found level of motivation. Either way what I did over the 10 days was along the lines of this:

    DayActivitiesNotesTotal
    1Run – 4 miles
    Run – 4 miles    		Skinned heels due to bad shoes on run 1.
    Fixed heels with duct tape, ran again.    		8 miles
    2Run – 6 milesMiles adding up already14 miles
    3Run – 4 miles
    Walk – 1 mile    		Walking helps to keep you moving and loosen up19 miles
    4Walk – 1 mileRest day but walk to stay loose20 miles
    5Walk – 1 mile
    Run – 4 mile    		Keep walking to recover
    Half way there now    		25 miles
    6Walk – 2 milesRest day with longer walk27 miles
    7Walk – 1 mile
    Run – 4 miles    		Keep going, keep walking, keep running32 miles
    8Run – 10 milesForget about speed, walk if you need to, just keep moving42 miles
    9Walk – 1 mile
    Run – 3 miles    		Get loose with that walk.
    Gentle 3 miles     		46 miles
    10Walk – 1 mile
    Run – 3 miles    		If you made it this far you should feel the benefit.
    Be proud of what you have done    		50 miles
    My rough guide to covering 50 miles in 10 days

    Did you get to the end ?

    Did you manage to run to bike fitness ?

    If you made it all the way through and feel ready to get back on your bike or gained a new love for running this is great. The mileage shown in the plan is roughly what I did but not exactly. You don’t have to complete every walk/run to the exact mileage. Importantly you don’t have to run fast. Distance and keeping going is where I found my fitness boost. Lastly if this helped please leave me a comment. Furthermore if you are an experienced Personal Trainer or Running Coach, I hope you haven’t recoiled in terror at this. After doing this I definitely gave my fitness and mental state a giant boost. Apart from this, I went on to further complete 131 miles (5 marathons) over 30 days.

    In Conclusion, please use this as a guide, adjust distances, durations and frequencies if you have to. The key to succeeding for me was forgetting about speed and just keeping moving. I was unquestionably in a better place than where I started after only 10 days. After trying Couch to 5K and finding it didn’t work for me I needed to concentrate on my own pace and not run to somebody else’s rhythm.

    Importantly, if you love cycling, mountain biking or running check out my online shop. My ever growing range of sportswear is absolutely sustainable and also environmentally friendly.