Juliet Elliott

I have a pretty awesome job, in fact I’d go so far as saying it’s a dream job. Riding and racing, creating videos, taking photos, writing for magazines and websites and attending photoshoots are all components or a life that I feel very fortunate to live

Accessible, beautiful and an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, the area is home to world famous climbing routes, is frequently named one of the best areas for mountain biking and a fell runner’s But as the week progressed, I found it wasn’t possible to wait for the best time to ride so it was either get togged up in ASSOS’s finest wet weather gear (the Schlosshund jacket was my saviour! ) and just stuck in, or stay at home, regret it and grumble for the remainder of the day. In Devon, many bridleways are so heavy going that it’s tough on a mountain bike, let alone a gravel bike. The first one, taking in Longshaw Estate, Blacka Moor, Totley Moor and Houndkirk (an old Roman road) and a superb gravel road up Burbage was a phenomenal mixture of singletrack, open moorland, tarmac and bridleways; a real taste of the best the Peaks have to offer.

The brand has recently launched a women’s collection, which I find a little confusing because as far as I was aware there already was women’s stuff. I’d really like it if Chrome would hurry up and make some women’s shorts because the men’s start at a 28-inch waist that’s huge on me. But what is available appears to be well thought out I managed to get my hands on the women’s Storm Seeker Shell Jacket, a casual rain jacket designed to keep you dry and comfortable when riding in the city, or anywhere for that matter. Chrome have chosen a nice cut that’s just slim enough to feel like a woman’s product but roomy enough to accommodate a sweater.

What gearing you select depends on how fit or strong you are, how good you are at pushing a big gear or spinning a high cadence, and what the course is like – the bigger, more open and less technical the course, the less you’ll need to slow down in corners and then get going again – tricky (though not impossible) with a big gear. Cornering on a fixed gear bike is very different to cornering on a road bike so make sure you practice this too. Practice riding in close proximity to other people If you’ve never raced before, it’s essential that you practice riding ‘on someone’s wheel’ and right next to someone else, both on straight roads and around corners. If you don’t have much race experience on a road bike or haven’t ridden a fixed gear bike for very long, look for a fixed gear crit which has as A and a B category so that you have a chance to fully experience racing.