Summer is finally here, and as we all know that could mean anything from sunny 25°C to rainy and windy 10°C.
During the summertime most people try to spend their time outside with their families, to have BBQs, to have a pint in the beer garden or set out to explore the beautiful English landscape by bike or foot. But whatever you’re planning on doing, preparation is key. When it comes to the subject of clothing for cycling it is really not as trivial as it seems. This is particularly noticeable when the temperatures fluctuate significantly (so at any time of the year really). There are a few things to consider, which we will explain exactly in this article.
Personal comfort counts
First of all, of course, it is important that the clothing is tailored to you and your body. If you sweat heavily, it doesn’t do you any good to throw on an inexpensive rain jacket. Are you freezing easily? Then there is probably no way around thick cycling shorts and thermal shoes. Finding the right recipe is not that easy and experience has shown that you have to try a little bit to see what works best for you in which weather.
The head: pay attention to fit and ventilation
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Let’s start at the top: our head is naturally covered by a helmet when cycling. In summer you can make sure that the ventilation openings are as large as possible so that no heat builds up, especially when it is hot. If it gets colder, you should make sure to keep your head warm. A thin headband can be the right choice, but if the temperatures continue to drop, you should use an under-helmet cap. These have the advantage that they are flat and therefore take up little space under the helmet.
Also, make sure to always protect your eyes with glasses and your skin with sun protection.
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The upper body: the material makes it
For the upper body, the onion principle is required, which can fully develop its advantages especially in cold temperatures. An insulating long-sleeved undershirt, for example made of merino wool, provides warmth, while a wind and waterproof jacket prevents you from cooling down due to the wind, rain or snow. In rougher weather conditions it is also absolutely necessary to make yourself visible to others. Additionally to light sources on your bike, you should also consider wearing a high visibility vest to be seen by other in the fog or rain.
At the end of the arms there are two extremities that require special attention: the hands. We use them to steer the bike, but otherwise hardly move them. Especially when it’s cold, they cool down quickly and when it is hot, they might get sunburned. That can quickly become uncomfortable. To be on the safe side, take a wind- and waterproof variant with lining, with enough grip and padding.
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The feet: the right choice of shoes
The choice of shoes is not too difficult and depends primarily on the type of bike:
Road bike shoes for example are light and stiff to allow efficient power transmission, while mountain bike shoes have a more flexible sole. Socks can also make a not insignificant contribution to well-being on the bike, because if they don’t sit properly, blisters and pressure points can occur. Therefore, they should sit very close to the foot and, if possible, not slip.
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
The Manc -
16th June 2021 
