Winter is here and you read it on this page first.

A good friend of mine sent me a text yesterday asking if i fancied a ride with him and his dad around the Island (Jersey) ,at a steady pace, as they are just starting their preparation for an epic 2000 mile charity ride in the UK next year.  I looked out of the window, saw the black clouds and decided to call the Met Office at the airport for an accurate forecast – Rain showers becoming heavier and more frequent.  Going for a ride?  I think not. 

Today my I-phone beeped at about 0900 to tell me that my friend had sent me another txt suggesting we went today instead.  He also added that he went on his own yesterday and got blown about like a leaf and soaked through (He’ll learn).  The BBC had just shown the forecast & so it was agreed that 12.30 would be a good start in St Helier.  Four of us started the ride and within 20 seconds one of us had punctured.  A quick repair and then hop on with a tail wind most of the way to Gorey so the pace was steady at 30kph.  At the bottom of Gorey hill we all saw the clouds gathering in the west, we were ok as the sun was shining on us.  A steady pace to Ransoms and the first spots of rain. By the time we were riding across the top of the rock the wind was in our faces, the sleet was horizontal, the rain made the road like an ice rink and we took the straightest line back to St Brelades.  One of my companions had a Velosport short-sleeved shirt over a base layer and bib tights.  He did have two pairs of gloves though! The rest of us had various layers of clothing but ultimately the three of us had a waterproof jacket.  The wind chill coupled with the sleet made for a very cold ride home.  For the folically challenged like me it is getting to that time of year when a cap or buff under the crash hat is a good idea as it keeps some of the heat in.  Leggings or bib tights are now a must have and the days of the mitt are gone untill the calendar reads 2010.  Overshoes especially the waterproof windproof ones are great for keeping ones toes toastie - again my friends suffered a bit today.  Lastly a waterproof jacket is essential on showery days like today.  I can safely say that Winter 2009 has arrived and it is time to re-sort the cycling section of my wardrobe .

As I sit with my now warmed up fingers bouncing across the keyboard of my laptop and an empty tea mug next to me I am starting to think of the stock we are going to need to have in Big Maggys for the winter of 2010.  AHHHH  I have let the secret squirrel out of the bag.  Hey-ho now you know. Project BM is going to be ‘Big Maggys’.  Have a read of Moffaman’s blog too and you will get double the insight.  Currently we are looking at the summer wear for 2010 and the girls are going to love some of the stuff we are bringing in for the female rider.  Exciting designs and some real Kick Ass clothing that will make them look the real McCoy (or Nicole, Lizzie, Emma Victoria, Liz).  New manufacturers alongside the traditional Santini, Pearl Izumi, Nalini, Gore etc will tempt some of you guys to part with some hard-earned cash and maybe recycle the three-year old Quickstep kit – you know who you are.   Look out for the logo in the coming weeks as Big Maggy’s starts to take shape and he muscles his way across the net.    In the meantime, Moffaman & I are taking enquiries by the bucketload so feel free to ask, words and a bit of research cost nothing – it is all part of the customer service.

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• November 5, 2009
• BY Ian Williams
• IN