G!RO CYCLES ULTRA DISTANCE CYCLING WEEKEND
GOING THE DISTANCE
GOING THE DISTANCEG!RO CYCLES of Esher, Surrey hosted a weekend long event celebrating all things endurance cycling. The primary focus being the Trans Continental Race, insightful stories and expert advice were shared by previous participants regaling both the highs and the lows. Brand representatives from Apidura, Sportful and Curve Cycling were on hand to answer product related questions; making the connection between man rider and machine.
Sunday was an opportunity for customers and friends of G!RO CYCLES to ride with Kristof Allegaert; a former winner of the Trans Continental and this is where this photographic story begins. (Photo credit: Taylor Tulip-Close)
PRE RIDE BRIEF
Giro Cycles is located on Portsmouth Road, the main thoroughfare for any city (read London) based cyclist and an ideal access point to the Surrey Hills. A "rolling route" of 100km mapped by Matthew Falconer, a venerable GPS of the road less travelled would allow all those in attendance, the opportunity to chat to Kristof on relatively traffic free roads.
HIDDEN GEMS OF SURREY
As a man who spends as much time studying maps as he does riding the roads depicted on them, Kristof is someone who values a little local knowledge and insight. A seemingly dead end road which would normally lead to a U-turn, transpired to be an access point to Denbies Vineyard and the perfect back drop to a wonderful pedal through the Surrey lanes.
Why so serious? A photographer laying in the middle of the road and directly in your path perhaps?
Squad Goals! G!RO Prestige in full force and looking sharp!
Ever the thoughtful and considerate cyclist. Kristof checks to make sure everyone is "on" and safe.
Kristof has been known to go "left" when all other cyclists go "right". Sportful well represented. Kristof chose the R and D Cima kit, well suited for the hot weather on Sundays's ride.
ALL SMILES
All the serious pre conceptions of a man driven to ride his bike thousands of km's couldn't be more different from the reality. Kristof Allegaert is possibly the nicest guy in the world of cycling, modest to a fault and generous with his time and advice; as anyone who attended Sunday's event will attest. To confirm Kristof is an absolute machine on the bike.
A multi winner of the TCR, Red Bull Siberian Challenge.... he has an uncanny way of making the impressive endurance feats, seem very normal and matter of fact. It's worth noting that Kristof rode his bike from his home in Kortrijk, Belgium to Esher, UK and while I'm unsure of the exact route, a quick look on google maps would suggest he rode at least 370KM (and the same on the way home!)
"So long Taylor!!"
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Also in G!RO // TALK
BELGIAN ULTRA-ENDURANCE CYCLING LEGEND, KRISTOF ALLEGAERT HAS JOINED THE CURVE SQUAD.
Today Curve Cycling is excited to announce that Kristof Allegaert has joined the Curve squad.
So with all this great news we're also very excited to announce Kristof will be riding with us here at G!RO on the 1st July! On the 29th, 30th June and 1st July, we are having a Transcontinental Road Race extravaganza and will be welcoming Apidura on the Friday, a Curve Demo day on the Saturday and a ride out with Kristof on the Sunday! It's going to be a be a big one and you'd be crazy to miss it! More details to follow soon...
The Cold Coffee Takeover
Picture the scene. It’s a hot sweltering day. You’re out on a ride in need of refreshment. Something only a caffeine based drink will satisfy. Alas, a hot coffee won’t butter no parsnips. What do you do?! Decide on a drink that has the potential to refresh but also the potential to make you bonk on the home straight!? Don’t be ridiculous. Embrace what is the ever growing cold coffee world!
Find out about our favourite Cold Coffee brew methods and try them at home! The Cold Coffee Takeover!
The Three Lakes
We we would be nothing without people. We pride ourselves on the relationships that we've jointly created, from the people that walk / cycle through our door to the amazing brands and companies that we work with. This has allowed our cycling community to blossom due to the basic principles that we share. Jon Skinner and Paolo Mariani are the absolute definition of this! We're fortunate enough for them to share their company and riding with us. This is their #ridewithmates Cycling Trip to 'The Three Lakes' of Verona, Italy.
"Jon and I met through the fantastic Giro Cycles community. Both of us have similar goals of what we want to get out from cycling - meaningwe rarely disagree on anything about adventures however, for everything else it’s a different story."