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Bike tech st Fair Bicycle Drop Be rb dropper Paul (right) enabled the club to buy bikes and train ride leaders
You ride
Paul Devlin Former footballer
B
orn and raised in Erdington, Birmingham, ex-professional footballer Paul Devlin describes himself as being “a typical innercity kid”. After 15 years playing for a variety of clubs including Sheffield United, Notts County, Birmingham City, and the Scotland national team, Paul now runs a community interest group (CIC) and has donated £5,000 to the Road to Recovery Cycling Club based in Solihull. The cycling group helps people recovering from addiction and mental health problems, an issue close to Paul’s heart. “I’ve come across lots of people over the years that have had drinking and addiction problems,” Paul says. “I’m a big believer in healthy body, healthy mind. If I go two or three days without doing anything, I find myself feeling irritable, sluggish, you get that sort of brain fog. I’m not going to say keeping fit is going to solve all your mental health problems but from a personal point of view I do think the two go hand in hand.” The money Paul’s CIC has donated to the group has enabled them to buy a fleet of bikes and train up another seven ride leaders. Paul’s even joining the group on some of their rides. “I’m a newbie,” says Paul, “but I’m really getting into it. I really enjoy it. I wish I’d taken it up years ago.”
ROAD TO RECOVERY Find out more about the Road to Recovery Cycling Club at cyclinguk.org/article/road-to-recovery
Right: Graham Brodie
Event DEVON DIRT
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Really?
POC Consort MTB Dungaree £450 to look like Geoffrey from Rainbow while you ride your mountain bike? Evidently so. Yes, they’re waterproof. Yes, there are advantages to the bib-and-brace versus waist fastening. But you could buy an excellent secondhand bike for the price of these mustard yellow bib overalls. pocsports.com
Classic tech
Madison Flux “Just get a Charge Spoon.” That was long a standard cycling forum answer to the “what saddle?” question. The Spoon’s grooved shape gave good sit-bone support, and it was inexpensive and fairly light. Then it was discontinued. Madison’s Flux (142mm wide, 283g) is a saddle in literally the same mould. £39.99, freewheel.co.uk
Devon Dirt, the annual off-road ride on the edge of Dartmoor, returns on 3 April. Described by organiser Graham Brodie of South Devon CTC as “a fun day out on muddy tracks linked by country lanes” it starts in Ashburton. It’s not a technical challenge and could be ridden on a cyclocross bike. Adult entry is £20, junior £15. Cycling UK members get £5 off. devondirt.co.uk cycle
FE B R UARY / M ARCH 2022