It's not about the kit it is about getting started....

"love him or hate him
you can't deny his excellence"

Lycra...... it's just not meant for men.  No matter how you look at it......(and don't ever look at it who can forget Linford Christie's Olympic exhibition) lycra is just not for men.  That said as you look through the pages of Trail Running or Outdoor Fitness there is a lot of clingy clingy, stretchy stretchy garments on the market......and let's not talk about skimpy skimpy shorts!  Cycling gloves alone are a world of technology and if you don't have the techknowledge it becomes very difficult to choose between your kangaroo leather palm and your synthetic gel enhanced carpal protection band (I made that last one up before you go looking for it).

The thing is I think we are all gear junkies and often not even informed ones.  At least one advertisement I read offered me the saving of an eighth of an ounce on a head torch........I am 18 stone for goodness sake, shaving my head will save me an eighth of an ounce but I will still be pushing 18 stone around.  These small margins are for the pros for the people where the marginal differences mean seconds, my margins are currently to be measured in minutes or perhaps even quarter hours.

No at this point it is all about getting started, the gear may not be the best but let's face it neither is the current performance!

"You may not see the exclusive features of "Sally" on Bradley Wiggins bike below"

"I give you the Pinarello D2...I wonder what I would name such a bike"

Strangely Team Sky don't see the need for bike lock hanger, child seat mounting points, commuter panniers, front shocks (somewhat rusted stiff), 2 inch tyres, comfy saddle cover (as I lack padded shorts) and the cross country gearing.  Mayb they'll retro fit them to next years bike??? That said Sally and I have been bashing out the miles around about 100 or so a week and she creaks, moans, clicks and rattles but we can bash out a steady 15-16mph average over 20 or so miles and our distances are increasing slowly.

"Asics Cumulus 13"

There is one are which you can't skimp on, particularly at 18 stone, training shoes. I have always come back to Asics as the suit my gait perfectly.  Someone once tried to convert me to another brand which shall remain anonymous and they were OK but I am back with Asics.

Training shoes you can't afford to get wrong.  The gait analysis and the expense  is all worth it to be able to run comfortably for any distance.  I use these cumulus for on road and mild off road running including sprint and recovery sessions in my local park.

Well the olympics are on now and there is a fair amount of inspiration knocking about on the TV so I am going to hop off now and watch....purely for performance tips.