James Witts

Clevedon

Cycling scribe. Latest book, Riding with the Rocketmen, about pedalling, pain and pursuing the pros. More on link below. Writes for Rouleur, Cyclist & more

Articles

Ben Peverall: the youngest professional UK cricket umpire

3 days ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | James Witts

'In 2018, Somerset Life ran an alphabetical series looking at local people’s jobs. When it came to ‘U’, they were scratching their heads. They mentioned ‘undertaker’ but thought it a little morbid. Then they thought ‘umpire’ and got in touch. I dreamt of becoming a professional. And now it’s happened.
Is it ever too late to exercise?

3 days ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

It’s never too late to exercise but there are some changes you’ll need to make to your programming to reduce the risk of injury and maintain performance Stark facts: after 30, your VO2max drops by around 10% each decade, while muscular strength decreases, too. Why’s down to numerous reasons, one of the major factors being nerve loss, which then kills off muscle fibres.
Garmin Fenix 7 Solar review

5 days ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

220 Triathlon verdictArguably the rating should be even higher, but you can’t ignore this is one hefty outlay. Score: 89%ProsRobust, premium buildGarmin’s software and features is class leadingConsPrice tag is the main drawbackMay be a little heavy or bulky for smaller wristsThe Garmin Fenix is one of the brand’s most popular sports watches and comes in a dizzying array of models and specs. On test here, I have the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar, so let’s see how it compares to the best triathlon watches.
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar review

5 days ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

220 Triathlon verdictWell-thought-out upgrade that lasts longer than ever. Score: 87%ProsFeels lightweight on the wristExcellent gamut of performance featuresConsDoesn’t quite feel as premium as the Fenix 7Rather high price tagAhh, the original Garmin Forerunner 101. It must have been nearly 20 years ago that I tested the US company’s breakthrough multisport watch. For those of a younger persuasion, it resembled the shape of a small mobile phone strapped to your wrist.
Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Di2 review

5 days ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

Credit: Steve Sayers / The Secret Studio 220 Triathlon VerdictImpressive aero road bike that effortlessly morphs into a tri bike. Lots to like for the price tag too. Score: 82%ProsFastVersatileBeautiful looksConsNo mountain goatTo maximise its triathlon usefulness requires a further spend.
Coros Dura review: astonishing battery life, but there's one area that needs improvement

1 week ago | bikeradar.com | James Witts

SQUIRREL_13194831The Dura is the maiden bike computer from Coros, a brand that made its reputation with running and multi-sport devices. Its excellent battery life is a highlight, but there’s more to it than that. All the fundamental functions are present, correct and operate well overall, it works with the major third-party apps and it’s cheaper than many rivals. It still needs refinement – the screen size is a flaw – but there’s much to be enjoyed about the Dura.
Short break: The Cotley Inn, Chard, Somerset-Devon border

1 week ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | James Witts

I grew up in Exeter, lived in Bristol for years and then dropped down to Clevedon where my family and I now reside. So why, oh why did the Blackdown Hills, which straddle the Somerset-Devon border, remain off my radar? More specifically, why, oh why did The Cotley Inn near Chard remain off my radar? If you’re looking for next-level hospitality wrapped up in bucolic nirvana, join me as I turn off the A30 and navigate tight country lanes to the parish of Wambrook.
Suunto 9 Peak Pro review

1 week ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

220 Triathlon VerdictA quality watch, but not up there with the competition. Score: 77%ProsPlenty of multisport features and training dataBoosted battery life and GPSConsNavigation lags behind the bestSmall display makes screen hard to readSuunto has arguably fallen behind the likes of Garmin and Polar in the triathlon watch market, so it was with a modicum of anticipation that I tested what the Finnish brand terms its ‘most powerful and best-performing GPS yet’.
10 vegetables to fight and beat belly fat | Countryfile.com

1 week ago | flipboard.com | James Witts

NowDiets plentiful in fibre have been tied to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and diverticulitis. A high-fibre diet has also consistently been shown to promote a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in overall health. And for people …
What retirement looks like for Alistair Brownlee

2 weeks ago | 220triathlon.com | James Witts

Credit : TrueFuels Alistair Brownlee signed off from his racing career six months ago. Since then, it’s been boxsets, beer and Benidorm… Or not, as we discovered on catching up with Britain’s busiest retiree. “I’m still training two or three hours a day and really enjoying getting out there just for the love of triathlon and exercise. Do I miss the racing? We’ll see once the season really kicks in.

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James Witts @james_witts

16 May 25

Twitter callout… Any road cyclists or TTErs tried sodium bicarbonate supplementation? If so, keen to drop you a line for your experiences. Feel free to follow and message. Cheers

James Witts @james_witts

29 Apr 25

Repeat of Tweet alert… Journo callout: looking for any recreational road riders who've successfully (and unsuccessfully) tried to up their on-bike carb intake to over 100g an hour. Feed me up!

James Witts @james_witts

24 Apr 25

RT @ClevedonTownFC: We don’t yet know our opponents but one thing is confirmed… Tuesday 29th April is our home Playoff Semi-Final and WE N…