I don't know why everybody moans about the weather on Ben Nevis. Every time I've been up the behemoth the sun has been shining bright in the sky. First time was a perfect winters day with crystal clear blue skies. Views far and wide over the Highlands. The most recent was a few weeks ago. A Wednesday in late August with a bit of haze. With a temperature in the mid to high 20s. By the halfway lochan or to give it's correct name, Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, (cut and pasted) I'd gone through 2 1/2 litres of water and one of my group the same. So it was time to test the Grayl Geopress

It's a strange old time for cycling. Worldwide events mean every thing is pretty much based from the front door, but you know what? You can find some adventure from your front door if you try and even though the Zoa Insulated Jacket from Albion Cycling is probably designed for something a little more wild we still managed to put it through it's paces in the post  industrial landscape of South Wales.

I'm obsessed with base layers.  They are the foundation of the layering system, in fact you could say they are the base from which all other active clothing perform. A £500 jacket is useless if the base layer doesn't allow it to transmit moisture and a thermal mid layer is redundant if the item under it doesn't wick and or conducts heat away from the body.

So I did a thing. I signed up to do the Virgin Money London Marathon. Now I'm not a runner, I'm a cyclist. Annoyingly runners can transition to cycling with ease, whereas us superior athletes tend to struggle because our  far higher fitness levels exceed our muscle memory and ability to deal with impact. So not wanted to injure myself I obtained a pair of On Running Cloudswifts to test.

I've never seen the attraction of running. When I first tried it to enter a duathlon, my fitness from riding made me go too far too soon and I had a sore shins for weeks. Besides we've a few runners on here so I didn't feel the desire to test any kit. But times can change and I was looking for a new challenge. So against all common sense and advice I've entered the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon and in training for this I've the perfect opportunity to do a little testing, including the RX3 Compression tights from triathlon brand Zone3.

The world is a frustrating place today. Full of people pretending prejudice is a worthwhile opinion. People being more interested in what others are doing and getting enraged about that rather than trying to improve things for themselves. People who think that their knowledge, procured watching Top Gear, The One Show and the fat liar on GMTV is as valid as someone who has studied evidence from opposing viewpoints and come to an informed opinion.

I try to stay away from a lot of this and cycling is my escape and blessed relief but sadly the stench of self righteous, whilst always there, has now become a risk to my sanity. Cycling is in danger of becoming another outlet of middle aged ire and rage and I can't just step aside and let it happen. Not on my watch.

Slight confession to start this review with. It's way, way overdue. I've had these socks since the beginning of Spring but I've not reviewed them. In my defence there is a very valid reason for this. I can never find them. I'm constantly having to buy new hosiery. Seriously once I got myself 6 pairs exactly the same. Yellow and resplendent  with the Lion of Flanders. Within 3 weeks I was down to one. They still occasionally turn up but not with any consistency. Some people have a sock drawer. I have odd sock bedroom set.

Cycling helmets have certainly moved on from when I was tearing up the streets on my Raleigh Burner or 10 speed Falcon Rapier. Back then skid lids looked like leather sausages held together by a piece of string masquerading as chin strap. Sartorial elegance, they were not and I don't even remember that many pros wearing them. Hinault looked cool in his aviators, badger thatch luxurious on his Breton Noggin and Fignon with his metal geek glasses and blonde flowing pony tail was as elegant as you'd ever see. Even my fellow ADHDer Greg Lemond with his just got out of a bed in a wind tunnel in a fun fair do looked better than leather sausage heads. In the last couple of decades modern technology has changed this. Helmets have become nice looking, light, aero, and comfortable. No whatever your reason for not wearing one, looking stupid isn't a factor. Today helmets can be purchased at as little as £10. The Smith Trace however is way more at £200. Is this justified? I tested it to find out.

I'll admit I have actually watched Love Island. In my defence I've a teenage daughter, but I've been fascinated by the sheer array of ludicrous sunglasses on display. I'm assuming they get provided by sponsors of the show because there's no way anybody would where them otherwise would they? I mean the only people that usually wear ridiculously oversized glasses are cyclists and the rules state they shouldn't be worn off the bike anyway. Going back to the point of this review, I do like my shades and was only too happy to take up the chance to review the Smith Attack glasses.

Last week whilst enjoying some amazing Trentino wines, I was chatting to a PR friend about travel. I know strange to be chatting to travel people about travel but one must be dangerous. The subject of Croatia came up and of course the obvious Dubrovnik. I commented that Dubrovnik is the Newquay of Croatia, what I should have said is that it's the St Ives. Overpriced, full of artistes wittering on about the light  and TV and film buffs who pretend they watch a certain program because of the stories and not the nudity and S&M. Luckily I've seen a lot of Croatia and know where the nicer, cheaper, prettier and better beered areas are so as I reeled off examples I remembered how I'd ridden to these places.