BICYCLING - http://www.bicycling.com/ Let's start with the basics. Literally, Bicycling magazine and its website are a great resource for the beginner cyclist. Although they offer a variety of articles about professional cycling, culture, guides, etc, its strength lies on the fact that it is written in a very approachable manner and offers many basic tips for those who are just getting into the sport. As you become more experienced however, it might become a bit too basic and superficial, but when I was first getting started, it was one of my go-to sources.
GCN Global Cycling Network - http://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/ Another good source for basic information is GCN, which uses youtube videos as its main interface. But GCN, which is rapidly growing, goes far beyond basic tips, as they offer over a thousand videos covering professional racing, training videos, all with a nice touch of Brtish humor.
RAPHA FILMS - https://vimeo.com/raphafilms If it's inspiration you are after, high-end clothing apparel company Rapha, produces incredible quality films which are beautiful not only to cyclists, but to anyone who enjoys beautiful scenery and human spirit. My favorite is a film of an epic journey re-creating the first ever Tour de France stage that went over the high mountains in 1910. You can watch it here - it's gorgeous!
THE COL COLLECTIVE - http://thecolcollective.com/ Another source for beautiful inspiring videos, The Col Collective focuses more on providing inspiration and education for those cyclists who are about to venture up cycling's most famous mountains. So, along with heartbreakingly beautiful scenery, you get information such as steepest sections, when to take breaks, etc. You can watch their video collection here!
Rapha Films offer great cycling inspiration through beautifully made short films.
CYCLINGTIPS - http://cyclingtips.com.au/ Now venturing into the world of blogs, CyclingTips is an Australian website that provides a window into the culture of cycling, offering not only tips, but professional racing coverage, news, reviews etc. Their Roadtripping section also offers photo and video blogs of amazing cycling journeys, if you still want to look at more places you wish you could ride on. It's also worth noting that they recently launched ELLA , another website which focuses on women and cycling.
VELOMINATI - http://www.velominati.com/ Velominati, the Keepers of the Cog, is probably best known for their official "Rules" for cycling. The blog is intended for the more hardcore cyclists who appreciate tradition with a heavy dose of over-the-top nonsense, but their articles are hugely entertaining. If you want to feel you are a part of an elite underworld culture, this may be the site for you!
CYCLOCOSM - http://cyclocosm.com/ This site is dedicated to the more advanced cyclists who race or enjoy watching professional racing. Its author, Cosmo Catalano, has a great way to analyze professional race tactics and a keen eye for detail, which makes his How The Race Was Won video series hugely entertaining, and a great learning tool for amateur racers who can see how the professionals apply their tactics.
CYCLINGNEWS - http://www.cyclingnews.com/ If professional cycling is what you are after, then Cycling News is probably the best source of comprehensive news from the professional peloton. Although they also offer some tech review, their strength really lies on the coverage of all aspects of professional cycling, including in-depth coverage of even minor races, and many great interviews as well.
PELOTON - http://pelotonmagazine.com/ If you instead prefer to focus on the beauty of cycling, along with culture and beautifully written articles, Peloton magazine is the place for you. Their feature articles are so well-written and photographed, that even the most selective literati could be caught reading an article about a Paris coach-builder from 1861. It does offer the usual cycling magazine stuff, but it is a level above the competitors when it comes to writing itself.
The Col Collective - informative and inspiring films. Above, my dream ride - the Stelvio!
STRAVA - http://www.strava.com/ It's even a word in this page's glossary , but no article about cycling websites would be complete without mentioning Strava. Although it is a training app that tracks your bike rides (or other activities) using a GPS device, its social aspect of sharing ride information with other cyclists, or comparing performances on specific stretches of road (called segments) is making Strava an integral part of cycling culture. And yes, it can still be a great training tool as well!
BIKEFORUMS - http://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php - Need more information from the world wide web of cycling? You can tap into the cycling community on Bike Forums. It offers many different forums dedicated to specific aspects of cycling and the folks can be quite helpful (or not - the roadies are a tough crowd). But if you feel isolated as you are starting, this is a great place to start!
Of course, there is Facebook which you can use to connect socially with local cycling clubs in order to know of group rides, but also to follow almost all the webpages listed above. Facebook for me is mostly my little cycling hub (with an occasional photo of a baby here and there!)
Well, this should keep you occupied on the next rainy cold day when you decide its best to stay off the bike. Did I miss anything - if so, please share in the comment section below!
You made such an interesting piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain knowledge. Thanks for sharing the such information with us to read this... Cycling tips
ReplyDeletei never know the use of adobe shadow until i saw this post. thank you for this! this is very helpful. bike seat height
ReplyDeleteI think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. bike change tube
ReplyDelete