Epic Rides 2021 - Sonder Book by Alpkit

EPIC RIDES 2021

Your story. Loud or quiet. Dramatic or peaceful. Etched in asphalt. Sketched playfully into gravel. Engraved boldly across a whole continent or urgently signed down a heart-in-the-mouth singletrack. Packed in and out of panniers or retold by faded scars. What matters is that it’s yours.

EVERY ONE HAS A STORY. WHAT’S YOURS?

MEET THE FAMILY

EVOL PG08

Superfast 140/150mm aggressive 29er

SIGNAL PG16

Aggressive hardtail 29er

FRONTIER PG22 Hardtail trail bike 29er

“I was aware of a drop to my right and when I stopped to look, my bike light didn’t reach the bottom...”

CORTEX PG10 Short-travel 29er

TRANSMITTER PG18

Aggressive 27.5+ hardtail

Stories THROUGHOUT

Covering the full spectrum from rowdy to roady and everything in-between. Each Sonder is uniquely its own entity, capable of writing a million different stories on two wheels.

DIAL PG24

CAMINO PG32

SANTIAGO PG42

BROKEN ROAD PG30

CONTINENTAL TWIN PG38

COLIBRI PG50

Race-tuned XC hardtail

Wilderness trail bike

Award-winning gravel bike

Reynolds Steel tourer

Endurance road bike

Road tandem tourer

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Across the Northern Frontier Words by Sonder rider Emma Pooley

CHINA

V IE T NA M

MYA N MA R

L AOS

T HAIL AND

CAMBODIA

It’s classic advice: never take a brand new bike on a trip, without at least a few test rides to set it up. Classic and very sound advice. Which, for my first trip on my Camino, I totally ignored. I’m not proud of my incompetence, arriving in Hanoi with the bike still in its original delivery box from Sonder (I’d opened it, to squeeze in a well-padded bundle of helmet, saddle, pedals and some spares, but the bike had literally never left the box before it got to Vietnam) but what can I say? It had been a busy time with work and travel, and I was pushing the limits of holiday and overtime to be able to fit in this threeweek bike trip at all. So it was the finer details of packing and preparation that took a hit. Therefore when we rolled out of Hanoi I had no idea of the route or itinerary. Luckily that didn’t matter because we had Ashley from Velo Vietnam guiding us. In fact, we were his guinea-pig-guests to test ride a new ‘dirt’ tour for gravel bikes. I was a little surprised when we pulled into a side road before even escaping the city to detour to a café. Surprised but delighted, because the coffee was fantastic. Happily, such refreshment breaks 06

and delicious coffee became a very frequent feature of our rides – some days I lost count. I should have had a ‘caution: sudden coffee breaks’ sticker on my backside. We were not in a hurry. An extra benefit of all these stops was that I could incrementally adjust my bike setup without holding the others back too much. Part of my poor preparation was not researching the climate: I expected tropical heat but for the first week as we rode west through mountains towards Laos it was mostly cold, rain, and unbelievable amounts of orange-red mud. I love mud, but there are limits to how much of it I want to swallow. The stunning scenery made up for

“ We dried our kit hung around the fire – my rain jacket has smelled of wood smoke ever since, which makes me smile every time I put it on.”

it though, and there’s grim satisfaction in pushing on through those conditions. As we approached the border there was even a 5km section of road on the mountainside that had been entirely destroyed by a mudslide; hike-a-bike skills required. On the coldest, wettest, filthiest day, our accommodation was a homestay in a traditional stilt house. Unbelievably, the family had a washing machine which they kindly let us use (despite seeing the state of us). We dried our kit hung around the fire – my rain jacket has smelled of wood smoke ever since, which makes me smile every time I put it on. Double-Ashley, as he will forever be known to me (because he’s so strong he always pulled double turns on the front, and also he could somehow knock back double beers in the evening and still be fresh in the morning!) is not your average bike tour guide. He’s an anthropologist who’s spent years researching in Vietnam, and speaks fluent Vietnamese and Lao. Thanks to Ashley we could communicate wherever we were and always found a warm, dry bed (ranging from stilt hut to 3* hotel). I’m sure the wonderful people would have been friendly in any case, but there’s definitely an extra smile for someone who can speak the language and knows the social norms.

Also thanks to Ashley we often had no choice of what to eat – in a good way. He always knew the local speciality and what to order. We ate a lot of pho (noodle soup for breakfast is great!), and got to try a multitude of utterly delicious things – except for the thing made of bile at a night market in Laos. But I’m still glad I tried it.

about fair trade cultivation – gourmet coffee and the best apple tart I have ever tasted. At dawn I ran around the ancient royal capital of Laos watching the daily procession of Buddhist monks for alms, orange robes in the mist as the sun rose between the temples. It was truly a magical thing to see.

The highland region we rode through towards Luang Prabang is breathtakingly beautiful – misty forested mountains with steep, rocky outcrops. There’s less cultivation and fewer rice paddies than on the Vietnamese side, which is partly due to a horrific legacy of the Second Indochina War (known as the American War in Vietnam, or Vietnam War by westerners): unexploded ordnance buried in the soil. Still, after all these decades, people are killed and maimed trying to farm the land. It’s a tragic injustice to these lovely people. At Viengxay, Ashley insisted on a day’s cultural excursion to show us the vast cave complex that was the hideaway for the Pathet Lao Communist forces during the Second Indochina War, which was fascinating while also deeply saddening. Ashley also encouraged us to take a rest day in Luang Prabang to visit one of the saffron coffee plantations to learn

As we progressed south in Laos the sun made its presence felt, and the orange mud turned to orange dust. Hot coffee with condensed milk at the roadside cafes was still a staple, but now I also discovered the cans of sweet coconut water: blissfully cold and refreshing. I don’t know if our daily itineraries became more ambitious or if I was just getting tired, but there were some tough days. Even Double Ashley occasionally looked a little out of breath. The volcano was perhaps the most spectacular ride – a long climb from jungle to grassland in the caldera at the top, then descending a viciously steep ‘main’ road on dirt, past crippled trucks stranded with their engines smoking or tyres shredded from the heat of braking. But one particular day will stay in my memory forever, because it was so hard that I’d put it up there with some of the toughest bike races I’ve ever done: 130km of

flat dirt road made up entirely of desiccated pale grey mud, carved into a bone-shaking washboard of ridges interspersed with patches of deep dust. There was no good line. There was not enough water. There was nothing but slow miserable progress for hours in the heat. Not many things have tasted as good as that can of coconut water 100km in. On our final day we rolled into Hoi An with two Velo Vietnam jerseys on the front; co-founder David had joined us. My Camino was finally set up just how I wanted it and covered in orange dust. I was also dusty and tired, but wishing I could ride on for another 3 weeks. There are surely enough beautiful roads to keep any exploring cyclist happy for months – especially with the quality of the coffee! The funny thing is: I went to Vietnam just wanting to pedal, but what made the trip great was the people, the culture and the history. A bike is a wonderful way to move slowly through a country and get a little closer to the life there than in a vehicle. I can’t wait to go back.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

EVOL

Superfast 140/150mm aggressive 29er

Imagine having a bike park to yourself. Just for one day. Hit the jumps just how you want. Take the perfect line. And have another go (and another, and another) if you don’t quite get it right. Zack Harrop got Farmer John’s to himself on an overcast summer’s day to test his new Sonder Evol. And what an unforgettable day it was.

FEEL Confident high-speed descender with a bottomless feel to the suspension and the agility to throw it hard into every corner. Goldilocks geometry gives a comfortable neutral riding position and allows efficient pedalling so you won’t waste energy on the uphill slogs; save it for the descent.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Hydroformed and custom butted 6061 alloy frame

Evol SX Eagle £1,699

140mm RockShox Deluxe RT Debonair rear shock [1]

Evol NX Eagle £2,099

Goldilocks geometry: Long, low and slack but still pedals well uphill [2]

Evol GX Eagle £2,599

COLOURS Blue

Black

Metric shock standard Horst-link suspension [3] Internal cable routing [4]

[4]

[2]

[3]

[1]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

CORTEX

Fast and agile short-travel 29er

The clouds threatened rain as three riders headed into Kirroughtree. ‘Which trails are we doing?’, ‘How many laps?’, ‘Has anybody seen my five mil?’. The weather gods were pleased and no rain fell. Two loops in and the trailhead coffee shop was calling. But it wasn’t caffeine that Rebecca wanted. It was McMoab and Black Craig. So that’s where Rebecca went. 10

FEEL A downcountry bike built for epic days over mixed terrain. Playful and confidence-inspiring without sacrificing efficiency. Cover huge ground on a big day out without getting beaten up and enjoy every technical section you come to. Manual sections of trail and pop-off jumps. Stamp on the pedals and fly up short and loose technical climbs.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Hydroformed and custom butted 6061 alloy frame

Cortex SX Eagle £1,599

120mm Rockshox Deluxe Select+

Cortex NX Eagle £2,049

Downcountry geometry: Trail bike agility with Enduro bike stability [1]

Cortex GX Eagle £2,499

COLOURS Crayon

Forest

Metric shock standard Horst-link suspension [2] Internal cable routing

Brown

[1]

[2]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

RIDE THE CLEANEST LINE

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

EUROPE’S ONLY B CORP BIKES

To read more about our sustainability principles visit alpkit.com/sustainability

We put people and planet before profit. We use business as a force for good. It’s our love of the outdoors and our belief in nature that drives the way we do things. Everything is connected. Sustainability isn’t just one topic like carbon footprint. It’s making sure the supply chain

is good. It’s building a good team and paying people fairly. It’s making sure everyone has the time to volunteer. It’s treating animals humanely and looking after our environment. It’s giving back. Most importantly it’s designing great, well-made product using lower impact materials

Lakeland Joy Riding A stimulating, engaging environment that promotes inclusion is vital in a fulfilled life, particularly for older adults and those living with dementia. Amy’s Care in Keswick specialises in taking those living with dementia out on activities, helping them socialise, live life and engage with their communities. Last year they applied for help from the Alpkit Foundation towards the purchase of trishaw bikes to encourage their participants to get outside and feel that joy of wind in their hair. Fraser Dooley, founder of Amy’s Care has reported back on the success of the trishaws. “All participants have benefited from this novel form of transport. We’ve trained volunteers as pilots who’ve

benefited from the exercise and passengers and pilots alike love the social aspect that the trishaws provide.” The trishaws are available to other community groups, so the physical and mental wellbeing benefits can be experienced by the widest possible community. “The reaction to the trishaws has been overwhelmingly positive. People love to wave, stop and chat. They really are fostering a feeling of community cohesion.” We hope to see them become a common sight on the streets and parks of Keswick.

and being there for our customers, no matter what the situation is. We’re proud of the steps we’ve taken. But there’s an urgency to the situation and we’re serious about doing our bit. So if not us, who? And if not now, when?

“ The project has definitely been a success. They will be an asset for people living with dementia and restricted mobility in Keswick for years to come.”

Alpkit donates 1% of sales and at least 10% of annual profit to support grass-roots projects. So far we’ve helped over 1,000 projects with £300,000 given to education, environment, diversity, mental health and participation projects.

OBSESSIVE When someone knows what they’re doing and they can just get on and do it, great things happen. And when that person is responsible for the whole and not just part, you get something truly exceptional. Neil Sutton designs every element of Sonder bikes. He starts with the character of the ride and goes from there. The big decisions and finer points are all looked after by Neil. He’s meticulous and nothing gets overlooked. Like when it comes to geometry. Neil uses size-specific tubesets to make a difference where it really matters – like the Signal’s variable chainstay lengths, specifically adjusted so it pops into a manual just the same, whether you’re 5' 3" or 6' 3." Outstanding geometry, materials and craftsmanship are dialled into every Sonder. For bikes that perform beautifully on the rides and journeys they’re designed for.

No matter who you speak to at Sonder, you’re just one step away from Neil. Sonders are specced with incredible care. With no corners cut. Anywhere. We work with the best factories and framebuilders in the world, who we visit regularly. We have direct relationships with key suppliers, which means we use full groupsets so that everything works together, just like it’s been designed to. And every piece of Sonder finishing kit is thoughtfully designed, made with the right materials and construction so the character that Neil started with is what you feel on your ride. Sometimes we try to talk to Neil about things that don’t move on two wheels. But never for too long.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

SIGNAL Aggressive hardtail 29er you can pedal all day

You’ve worked all day, stared out of the window and looked at a glorious blue sky, hoping it’ll last. The trails are dusty, the air’s warm and the scent of summer is everywhere. Then, suddenly work’s over. The evening’s yours. Zack and Oscar rode straight out of the city to the trails. It’s a few miles, takes about half an hour, but everything was just as they’d been dreaming of.

FEEL Built for speed on fast singletrack and for attacking big mountains. It pedals like an XC and descends like an enduro. Stand up, sprint, and ride it hard on the groomed trails at Llandegla and Glentress or take it to the big mountains and let loose.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Choose between steel and titanium

Signal Steel SX Eagle £1,199

4130 chromoly, hand welded steel frame [1]

Signal Ti NX Eagle £2,299

3Al/2.5V aeronautical grade hand welded titanium frame [2]

Signal Ti Pinion Eagle £3,999

COLOURS Copper

Gunmetal

Aggressive trail bike geometry Internal cable routing

Raw Ti

Size-specific chainstay lengths

[1]

[2]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

TRANSMITTER Aggressive 27.5+ hardtail that holds the toughest lines

Dear trail centres of the world, thank you for your devoted service to mountain biking. From schralpable berms and unshakeable northshore to rock strewn gardens and the techiest climbs. Your gnarliest black runs and chillest blues. Your conveniently placed car parks, cafes and loos. 18

FEEL Transmitter is the bike for the toughest lines. Smash it down Jacob’s Ladder, slog up Garburn with no dabs. A long, low, slack hooligan of a bike for trail centres, singletrack and big mountains. You’re a better rider than you think you are.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Stealth Dropper Routing

Transmitter SX Eagle £999

Internal cable routing [1] Size-specific chainstay Lengths Chain guide ready [2]

COLOURS Mango

Transmitter NX Eagle £1,499 Transmitter GX Eagle £1,999

Charcoal

Boost 148 rear spacing

Plum

[2]

[1]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Ton Pass, 4013m Sonder rider Stu Taylor recalls his night on the Ton Pass, one of the more notorious passes of the Silk Road Mountain Race. Words by Stu Taylor

I had stopped in Bokonbayveo, a small town in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, to fuel up and gather supplies in preparation for the challenge that lay ahead; climbing the Ton Pass. A high mountain pass looming over the Tian Shan mountain range at an altitude of 4013 metres.

A short ride brought me to the foot of the pass and the start of the 3,000m ascent. I could see yurts scattered around the lower pastures, inhabited by local families looking after their herds. I also noticed the first signs that the volatile Kyrgyz weather gods may not be on my side as I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance behind me. A little tip that I picked up from past trips was that once you hear the thunder and the leaves on the trees start moving you have around ten minutes before the storm reaches you. I put my waterproofs on in preparation.

Sure enough after a few minutes, bang; the thunder and rain were truly biblical. I was seriously thinking about going off-route to find shelter as I needed to keep as dry as possible to have any chance of reaching the summit. I carried on, pushing, as any chance of riding was gone with all the rain water turning the track into a steep muddy stream. With the thunder banging and cracking so loud directly above me it was head down slogging up the hike-a-bike, until a glimpse of a blue sky half an hour later gave me some hope. As quick as the storm arrived it left, leaving a considerable impression on the landscape.

“My pace had dropped significantly as I approached the top. My GPS unit read 3900m; another 113 metres to go. The track had turned to narrow singletrack and the snow was hard-packed, icy and very precarious. I was aware of a drop to my right and when I stopped to look, my bike light didn’t reach the bottom! Carefully I manoeuvred along with my fully loaded bike in my right arm closest to the drop, as precious as my beautiful Titanium Broken Road is I wasn’t going off that edge.”

After a couple more hours of grovelling upwards, the pass only getting steeper, I was joined by a local on horseback who appeared from out of nowhere. He trotted alongside me talking and laughing. Not understanding a word of it, I just talked and laughed back. It was nice to have some company. In the distance on the mountainside I could see a lonely yurt with smoke coming from the chimney. He waved and headed off the track taking a direct route to the yurt. Having managed to stay mostly dry in the storm I was confident that I could summit without getting too cold, which was a good job as the top of the pass was now visible and completely covered in snow. As the sun began setting behind the mountain it was certainly going to be dark by the time I reached the top. After a wide but shallow river crossing I found a derelict building and stopped for some food. Tucking into a freeze-dried meal and sipping on an instant coffee I worked out that I should be over the top before midnight depending how slow the snow section would be. My pace had dropped significantly as I approached the top. My GPS unit read 3900m; another 113 metres to go. The track had turned to narrow singletrack and the snow was hard packed, icy and very precarious. I was aware of a drop to my right and when I stopped to look, my bike light didn’t reach the bottom! Carefully I manoeuvred along with my fully loaded bike in my right arm closest to the drop, as precious as my beautiful Titanium Broken Road is I wasn’t going off that edge. At 22.19pm I finally reached the summit, eight and a half hours after I started. Now for the fun to start. From here I wanted to descend to below 2,000 metres before sleeping. Before the trip I had decided to run

my bike as a rigid 29er but this was one of the times I thought suspension might have been good. I managed to pick my way down over the snow, rocks and ice without incident, my light bouncing of the terrain and creating the craziest shadows around me. It felt so good flying down a mountainside fully focused on my light beam ahead – like being in a video game. With a couple of river crossings ahead, I was slightly concerned how deep these might be after all the rain that had just fallen. As I approached the first one I could hear it way before I could see it. The river was swollen and there wasn’t an option to cross on the gps line, it was flowing way to fast and looked very deep. The only option was to scramble along the banking until it became wider and looked fordable. I crossed barefoot in a bid to keep dry and warm but not long after rejoining the track, I was soon at the second river crossing. This one did appear rideable, or so I thought. As I reached the middle a hidden rock stopped me dead in my tracks and with no time to unclip from my pedals I found myself laid down in the freezing waters. Soaking wet, I had no choice but to set up camp straight away, get out of my wet clothes and get warm. In record time my tent was pitched, sleep mat blown up and I was in my sleeping bag with a hot drink warming me through, staring at the most amazing stars. I had managed to descend to 2600 metres, which wasn’t quite my planned altitude but I was warm, dry and settled in for the night. My alarm was set for 5am ready to see what the next day would bring on my Kyrgyz adventure.

Tempted by adventure racing? Stu’s Ton Pass experience comes from his attempt at the Silk Road Mountain Race, first held in 2018 in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. The Ton Pass has become notorious for causing difficulty for riders on several editions. The event is extremely tough, even by adventure racing standards. An 1,800-kilometre single-stage race through the mountains and valleys of the land where the famous trade route once dominated and a unique set of challenges for those daring enough to take part.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

FRONTIER 29er trail bike for every ride you’ve planned

Still mudsplattered from the midweek blast, today’s plans are more relaxed. Same bike, different mode of enjoyment; the benefit of a genuine all-rounder. Easy does it up the side of Derwent Reservoir to Slippery Stones for a dip and a coffee. Blast back down the unpaved eastern flank, high on endorphins and wondering why I’d ever need another bike.

FEEL Quick, lightweight and capable. A genuine multi-activity hardtail. Responsive geometry balances with big wheels for a sharp feel and ride-over-anything confidence. Take it to a trail centre and set some fast laps. Load it up with bags and ride rugged country, bikepacking to the bothy and beyond.

DETAILS

BUILDS

6061 aluminium frame

Frontier SX Eagle Rigid £799

Internal cable routing Boost 148 rear spacing Rigid fork option with triple cage mounts

COLOURS Forest

Frontier SX Eagle £899 Frontier NX Eagle £1,099

Crayon

Pannier rack mount [1] 29" & 27.5" compatible [2]

Black

[2]

[1]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

DIAL Race-tuned cross-country hardtail

There had been weeks of snow; too many rides of the indoor variety. Then weather broke and a warm front moved in. The trails were well-drained and the wind had dropped. Today was PB day. It was the thought of this day that had got Rebecca through all those turbo sessions and she left nothing on the trails.

FEEL Race-tuned XC trail bike, built for speed and efficiency. Beat your best time, cover big miles on a long day out, race to the podium. With its lightweight aluminium tubeset and 100mm travel up front, the Dial gives maximum pedalling efficiency whether you’re riding 200kms at Dirty Reiver or racing flat out.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Dial aluminium frame

Dial SX Eagle £999

Dropper post ready: reverb stealth port [1] Internal cable routing Chain guide ready

COLOURS Jaffa

Dial NX Eagle £1,399 Dial GX Eagle £1,699

Grey

Boost 148mm rear spacing [2]

[2]

[1]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Tour Divide

Ride, eat, sleep, repeat. Happy days mixed with tough times and living the dream pedalling from Canada to Mexico. Words and images by Sonder rider Rich Seipp.

The Tour Divide was a ride we’d been talking about for years. 2745 miles in distance, it starts in Banff, Canada and zigzags its way South along the continental divide to Antelope Wells on the Mexican border. My son Tom (14 at the time) and I got on our Sonder Broken Roads and over 32 days (with none off for good behaviour) rode it all. We had ridden a long way together over the last few years. Before we left for Canada, Tom had under his belt around 19,000 miles. Lots of 100 mile days, 24 hour races, a 200 mile ride and several multi-day bikepacking trips. We felt ready and suitably experienced for the Tour Divide. In some ways, all those miles we’d previously ridden were training for this, the big one. We had an aim-high goal of completing the route inside 25 days, with a fall back position of 30 days. Whilst I thought 25 days was going to be tough, I thought we’d easily make it inside 30 days presuming nothing much went wrong. We were ambitious and confident before we started. Getting to the end was going to happen. I say that because Tom and I have always had a pact that if we start a ride, we will finish it. There are rides that we’ve talked about and not started, but the only reasons we’ve not finished rides which we’ve started are due to becoming physically ill. We might be determined, but sometimes our bodies have other plans. We rocked up to the start in Banff with some nerves though. Would we be struck by lightning, eaten by bears, crash out or get unlucky in some other way? Too many possibilities, most of which would be dictated by luck or chance. Best get on our bikes then and not worry about that which we’ve no way of controlling. Once on our bikes, we fell into a familiar rhythm of riding our bikes, sourcing and

eating food, and of course, sleeping. It was business as usual.

“No problem Tom, let’s have a look at your shoes, maybe it’s your cleat position. Are your laces too tight? Let’s get you some gloves at the next town. It is no exaggeration to say that the landscape Maybe an early night and a lie in tomorrow?” that unfolded was amazing. Big mountains, Rapid fire answers which I’d hoped would big forests, and so much wildlife. On the first staunch Tom’s sudden flood of negativity. day we saw a black bear, the first of three Answers that would normally tick the boxes we saw. There were loads of other birds and to get Tom back on his bike and riding again. animals, and I mean loads. We felt so lucky to see such things. Instead, I received a glazed-over look that truly said Tom was done. The way it usually goes on big trips is this. Day one, a sense of awe, elation and a lack of Several people have told me “Enjoy your fatigue. Day two tiredness and maybe a niggle time cycling with your son as one day it will or two make themselves apparent. Day three be over. Tom will grow up and become a man is often a crux. Not enough food eaten on who makes his own decisions. Decisions that the preceding days, the makings of an injury have to be respected.” maybe, or the most common one, gone out Tom’s a strong rider, there were never too hard too soon. complaints, he was always the one who was We knew these things though, we’d done happy to ride that bit further, but now he this before, and we made it through the was the one who wanted to stop riding. first few days OK. I was shocked and a bit confused. I guess if we were in a town, then that could have been the end of it. Home time.

“Big mountains, forests, and so much wildlife. On the first day we saw a black bear, the first of three we saw.”

The towns and villages we went through had the friendliest and most helpful people, the food was better than we’d hoped for. I can recall posting a picture on Instagram around the 700 mile mark. Tom looked happy and strong if a little dirty. Happy days. Truly living the dream. Ride, eat, sleep, repeat. We’d got this. “I’m done with this. My feet hurt, my hands hurt and I’m tired.” Tom had stopped at the side of the trail and was sat down unlacing his shoes.

Many years ago, on a ride, we were in the middle of nowhere and Tom wanted to bail, the only problem was there was no easy way out other than to continue our journey. I said the same words I said back then, “Tom get on your bike. We can’t stay here.” That was a fact. He definitely wasn’t happy, but we both knew that we needed to ride somewhere other than a clearing in a forest. I talk about various things as we start riding again. All I want to do is draw Tom from the darkness which I hoped had only temporarily ensnared him. The conversation ebbed and flowed before settling on guitars. Tom tells me of his dream guitar; a blue starburst maple, humbucker pickups and many other details. Tom’s eyes have regained their usual sparkle and he can see some good in the world again.

C A NA DA A L B E R TA BA N F F

B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A

Stopping for a drink on the Old Bannack Road, Montana.

M O N TA NA

W YO M I N G

UN I T E D STAT E S

I DA H O

Storm avoidance on the way to Atlantic City, Wyoming.

Leaving Brush Mountain Lodge in Colorado.

C O L O R A D O

N E W M E X I C O

Top of Indiana Pass, the high point of the Tour Divide at 11910 ft.

A N TEL O P E W EL LS

Tour Divide follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route – the world’s longest off-road cycling route. If you follow the route and reach the end, you’ll have climbed nearly 200,000 feet of vertical; equivalent to summiting Mount Everest 7 times.

Finish of Tour Divide at Antelope Wells.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

ING THE W T N E V HE N I EL E

NOVA Tubeless ready and bombproof. Nova are our reliable, versatile wheelsets for any terrain, all year round. Beautifully balanced with a steel freehub body and stainless steel spokes for ultimate durability. Sealed cartridge bearings also make Nova low-maintenance.

ALPHA High performance, durable, low maintenance, uncompromising quality. Our hand-built wheels are built to take mountains of abuse in their stride. When we started Sonder, money couldn’t buy the wheels we were riding, so we built our own. Introducing our Nova and Alpha wheelsets.

28-Day Rolling Returns If you don’t love your Sonder wheels, you can send them back for a no-quibble refund within 28 days.

Wider. Lighter. Faster. Alpha are tubeless-ready performance wheelsets with wider internal widths for decreased rolling resistance. The 6 Pawl, alloy freehub provides 120 engagement points for immediate pedalling response and stainless steel spokes provide year-round durability.

YOU’RE ONE IN A MILLION (WELL, ONE IN 111,476,736 TO BE PRECISE)

That’s how many combinations are possible with our range of Sonder components. Components that have been individually designed for a specific purpose, expertly made and fieldtested by us, ready to assemble for you in the UK. So whatever your size, riding style, niggles or quirks, you can find your perfect build. All parts working together in harmony, just like they’ve been designed to. The ride you dream of.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

BROKEN ROAD Wilderness trail bike

Too steep, too rough, too tired, it happens. Sometimes the terrain conspires against you and you’re forced to get off and push. No shame in it. And no bike more capable of getting you that far into a remote mountainous expedition, or more ready the second you’re able to pedal again.

FEEL Strong, light and fast. A titanium hardtail to ride into the wilderness. And while it’s home, tackle your local trails or ride through long nights on a 24 hour race. 29er, 650b, 700c, hub gear, single-speed, fixed. It’s your choice. The perfect companion for a lifetime of adventure.

DETAILS

BUILDS

3Al/2.5V aeronautical grade hand welded titanium frame

Broken Road SX Eagle £1,649

Adventure trail bike geometry: comfortable for miles and miles

COLOURS Raw Ti

Broken Road GX Eagle £2,249 Broken Road Pinion £3,499

Adjustable sliding dropouts [1] Rack & guard mounts [2] 650B+ ready

[2]

[1]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

CAMINO Award-winning gravel bike

I’ve heard people say ‘there are no real gravel roads in the UK’, and I’ve ridden my share of lumpy bridleways in search of them, but as I cruised along the Raiders’ Road Forest Drive (it’s in Dumfries and Galloway before you ask) I was reassured and more than a little bit thankful. There are definitely real gravel roads in the UK. 32

FEEL Fast and capable gravel bike. Stable at speed with confident, responsive handling. Singletrack. Your favourite road climbs. Gravel. Gravel Plus. Those are the ingredients of a Camino ride.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Choose between aluminium and titanium

Camino Al Apex Flat £899

Expedition geometry: comfortable, confidence inspiring riding position

Camino Al GRX1 £1,299

700x50mm clearance [1]

Camino Ti Force1 £2,399

COLOURS

Raw Ti

Pacific

Sage

Midnight

Rack & guard mounts [2] 650B & 700C compatible 12mm bolt-thru axles

[2]

[1]

Singletrack 2021 and Cycling Weekly 2020

EDITOR’S CHOICE

New Camino for 2021 – unrivalled ride quality Progressive size-specific reach means that whether you’re 6'4" or 5'2" you get the same ride experience.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Second City Divide Plotting a bike-packing route between Glasgow and Manchester; two proud second cities linked by, if you look carefully, some of the UK’s finest all-road riding. Words and images by Luke from Outdoor Provisions

It was riding the Torino Nice Rally in 2017 that planted the seed for devising a UK equivalent. A long distance, country to country, city to city trail with a load of rough stuff and wilderness in-between. Just swap gnocchi and pastries for Lorne sausage and Eccles cakes. After a few years of obsessive refinement, the route is now a kind of ‘best of British’ bikepacking trip that would make a tough long weekend or lovely week’s tour, with the start/finish handily linked up by the West Coast Main Line. This account begins in Glasgow, having just ridden the Badger Divide from Inverness; 330km down and a new set of brake pads, resupply of dark chocolate Tunnock’s and some 600km between here and Manchester.

Day One – Glasgow to Talla Linnfoots Route notes: The SCD can be roughly broken into five sections. Section one out of Glasgow and for most of your first day is in the borderlands. Huge windfarms with undulating gravel access roads, quiet b-roads and the odd bit of bridleway. There’s the world famous Cock of the North trees that you always see from the motorway and a first bothy opportunity at Talla Linnfoots. We’ve done this day out of the city in terrible weather previously, where the exposed ‘wind’ farms have really lived up to their name and made for slow progress. This time was the opposite – once we’d picked our way south, a ripping tailwind made for quick progress. Pete had pitched up just as we were leaving George Square, Greggs’ pasty in hand, and two other riders, Stu and Carl, caught us up a few brisk hours later, making for a nice little riding group. Having left at midday, the wind assisted progress was a bonus that we all agreed was worth making the most of. Despite some

awkward tubeless puncture faff we covered 130km and finished in the dark with a short detour off the route, removing socks and shoes to cross a river and into an empty bothy. Day Two – Talla to Kielder Section two dives into Ettrick and Kielder Forests. Wind farms are swapped for hard packed gravel tracks and old drovers’ roads. A cut through to avoid a long road section will require a tiny bit of hike-a-bike before the long climb up to the Scottish/English border. There are several bothies hidden away in these parts but it’s surprisingly barren and you could get caught out if you don’t pick your resupply points wisely. Breakfast at the Glen Cafe is recommended as it’s the last hot food option you’ll have for 100km or so. We ate some excellent Lorne sausage butties whilst some locals went for a swim in the loch. The grassy drovers’ road climb out of here is lovely, with a screaming descent on the

D AN

OT Lanark

Penis shaped woods

Whitelee Windfarm

GL A SGOW

Talla Linnfoots St Mary’s Loch

Craik Forest The cut through

Border crossing

NO RTHUMBRI A Kielder Water

’s Wall

Hadrian

Alston

NO RTH PENNI NES Cross Fell

Tan Hill Inn

Beggarman’s Road Ribblehead Viaduct

A mix of gravel tracks, forests, haggis, wind farms, bothies, drovers’ roads, Irn-Bru, lochs, Cumberland sausage, bridleways, byways, hike-a-bike, Vimto, Hadrian’s Wall, viaducts, dangle mugs, canal paths, strada bianchi and farm tracks.

YO RK SHI RE DALES

FO REST O F BOWL AND Salter Fell Road

Rooley Moor Hartshead Pike

MANCHESTER

Bike choice There’s no perfect bike for this kind of ride. Different bikes will excel on different sections. Don’t underestimate it though – many have tried and bailed. We reckon 35mm wide tyres at least, more if you can. As you can tell from the bike of choice for this ride, it’s perfect Camino territory. Donations The route is open for use by anyone. So if you’ve enjoyed riding it, we’d be made up if you donated some pennies to some of the people that make bikepacking in the UK some of the best. - Mountain Bothies Association - Great North Air Ambulance Not mandatory, but it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“…somewhere in the middle of that bit where there was nothing.” Carl, in reference to where we slept on the second night. 36

other side. The cut-through after Craik is becoming increasingly infamous now. You’ll have to push for a few mins but trust the gpx and you’ll emerge safely on the other side. Kielder is big and empty but lovely riding.

the pub in Dufton open and with the fire recently lit. A beer or two later we caught wind of some £10/night bunk beds going nearby, so made a plan to cut today short, dry out an get an early start tomorrow.

A pre-dark pizza once we’d made it to Kielder Water where the accents turn from Scottish to North East English, then off into the dark for a second bothy stop all on our own. Carl later described the location as, “…somewhere in the middle of that bit where there was nothing.”

Day Four – Dufton to PBW Near Trawden

Day Three – Kielder to Dufton Section three; welcome to the Pennines. Once you’ve escaped Kielder and crossed Hadrian’s Wall you can make good progress south in preparation for getting up and over Cross Fell, unless you plan to spend the night at Greg’s Hut near the top. If you’re lucky, you’ll get good conditions for the long gravel climb to the hut and the bog over the top will be easy to navigate, with incredible views of the Lake District and Solway Firth. We were not so lucky with conditions this time. Leaving Alston with fresh supplies it was spitting, and as we left the road and started climbing on gravel it was chucking it down. A bloke stoically laying a dry stone wall gave us a puzzled look. The previously visible Cross Fell summit was now engulfed in cloud. Heads down, waterproofs on. We didn’t even bother trying to avoid the boggy sections over the top as we were soaked anyway. Slipping and splashing down the grassy but lumpy decent, brakes squealing, it was a relief to be off the fell and into the valley below. Looking for a place to regroup and assess plans we found

Section four is all about Yorkshire. Tan Hill Inn, Swaledale, Beggarman’s Road, Cam High Road, Batty Moss Viaduct and Salter Fell Road (Lancs). It’s tough, but lovely, with plenty of cafes and pubs to keep you interested. We left at 5am, mostly dried out but feeling better for a pub dinner. We zipped along the Eden Valley back roads in the early morning light and climbed up to England’s highest pub, Tan Hill Inn. Usually, a stop here would be a must, but it wasn’t even open yet. There is plenty of climbing to get stuck into today on road up the likes of Oxnop Scar and off road up the relentless Beggarman’s Road. Salter Fell remains a real highlight of the route – a premium 12km section of white gravel that could have you thinking you were in Tuscany if you squinted, really hard. Grabbed some chips in Gisburn after a tarmac section and navigated Colne in the dark, the first biggish town since Glasgow. What are these traffic light thingys? Find a small section of secluded woods for a stealthy wild camp within striking distance of Manchester tomorrow. Day Five – PBW Near Trawden to Manchester Section five into Manchester is through lumpy Lancashire. It’s tough; a real sting in the tail. From Salter Fell Road, the rough Rooley Moor

The Glasman The Glas(gow)man(chester) Information is scarce. We believe he stalks the route, looking to add to his dangle mug collection. The cut through near Craik, the bothies in Kielder or on Cross Fell summit. He could catch you out when you least expect it, when you’re separated from the group or when night falls.

cobbles and the sublime singletrack of selected parts of the Pennine Bridleway, it can really catch you out. When you first catch sight of Manchester, you still have 40km to go. Up early, porridge, pack up, leave no trace. The terrain is the perfect definition of undulating. Tired and dirty now, we’re ready to finish and catch sight of the city we’ve been cycling towards for 5 days as we rattle over the huge cobbles and cart track slabs of Rooley Moor Road. Legs are feeling cooked now. A quick lap of the pump track at the bottom and a terrible coffee at the only service station open (it was a Sunday to be fair) and we began to pick our way around the city limits. From Hartshead Pike, we ripped down into the city and onto a final bit of canal to The Pilcrow, where the sun was out and no one really cared where we’d been, except a few other riders who’d been ahead of us the whole time. Obligatory photo by the ‘keep your pecker up’ sign, pizza and exchange of each rider’s different experience, which given you’ve ridden the same route only slightly apart, can be wildly different. Find out more on the route at secondcitydivide.cc / @secondcitydivide

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

CONTINENTAL TWIN Road tandem tourer for sharing miles of joy

Riding a tandem is magical. Pedal through the world and the world smiles back. And then there’s the relationship between you and your ride partner. Wherever it’s headed, you’ll get there faster on a tandem. 38

FEEL Comfortable and quick, titanium road tandem. The Continental Twin’s hand-built titanium frame gives the perfect balance of silky-smooth speed, comfort and carrying capacity. Enjoy a day out to explore new roads, load it up for the Wild Atlantic Way or cross a continent together.

DETAILS

BUILDS

3Al/2.5V aeronautical grade hand welded titanium frame

Every Continental Twin is a bespoke build

COLOURS Raw Ti

12mm thru-axles Full rack & guard mounts Full external cable routing 650B and 700C compatible Relaxed geometry for miles of comfort

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

SONDER RIDERS

Alastair Humphreys

It’s an honour to have brought together this little gang of dirt loving, gravity taming, tarmac scorching, gravel munchers. They embody everything that Sonder stands for and inspire us with their daring deeds, tales from the trail and life on two wheels. So much of their experience is engrained in the bikes, components and gear we make. So here’s to you, riders of Sonder.

Stu Taylor

Neil Cottam

Grace

All mountain biker, brewer and coffee roaster. Riding and racing bikes around the globe, Stu found himself drifting into the world of ultra-endurance, self-supported bike packing events. He’s unstoppable and has ridden in the Highland Trail 550, the French Divide, Silk Road Mountain Race and Atlas Mountain Race.

Mechanical engineer, biker and outdoorsman with a penchant for the offbeat or unusual. He’s raced the Yak Attack, Rumble in the Jungle, Strathpuffer and circumnavigated Sri Lanka on a local singlespeed bicycle.

The ‘Queen of Audax’, Grace specialises in huge 200, 300, 400 and 600km rides.

Perhaps most impressively, he was 67th in the Crazy Golf World Champ. Chapeau!

British adventurer and author. Spent over 4 years cycling around the world and pioneered the concept of ‘microadventures’. As well as his adventures by bike, Al has walked across Southern India, rowed the Atlantic Ocean, trekked 1,000 miles across the Empty Quarter desert and 120 miles around the M25. It’s no wonder he was voted one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the year.

Charley Lambert-Smith Oldrid

She has a ‘Randonneur Round the Year’ award (12 consecutive months of riding at least one 200km ride) and has finished the infamous 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris.

MTB coach and guide based in the Lake District. You can find Charley regularly out in the hills on his Transmitter, seeking out the steepest and most technical lines.

@augustusfarmer

Emma Pooley

Pete McNeil

Steve Bate

Rich and Tom Seipp

One of GB’s most respected and successful cyclists. Emma now cycles purely for fun and the sense of personal challenge in ultra-distance bikepacking events. She also has a huge passion for eating real, tasty food in sport.

Mountain bike guide, adventure racer, and expedition leader. Pragmatic and humble, Pete runs Adventure Pedlars in the Hope Valley.

Paralympic gold medallist Steve was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition in 2011 and realised there was so much he wanted to see and do before losing his eyesight. A climber by trade, he turned out to be a monster on a bike; happiest in wild places testing his physical and mental boundaries.

A father and son team taking on adventures. Together they have ticked off the Tour Divide, a few editions of the Strathpuffer 24 hour mountain bike race, cycled 2,000 miles across France and back over the summer holidays, raced the Dirty Reiver 200 and, well, the list goes on and on...

As well as 10 Olympic and Commonwealth medals, Emma holds the women’s everesting record and has actually done a gravel Everest on a brutal 571m gravel climb on her very own Sonder Camino Ti.

Cycling from the UK to New Zealand was the obvious way for Pete and his wife Alice to spend their honeymoon. Pete has finished an impressive 5th in the Highland Trail 550 and 8th in the first Silk Road Mountain Race.

After his gold medals, Steve counts amongst his greatest achievements being ginger (his words!) and climbing El Capitan.

Rich recently wrote his first book: 22,000 Miles to celebrate the distance that he and Tom have ridden together.

Lucy Allan

Scott Swalling

Zack Harrop

Craig Lee Scott

MTB guide Lucy used to be Assistant Manager at our Ambleside store. She lives in the Lake District and loves anything mtb.

Mountain and gravel biker, rock and ice climber.

Enduro rider with his eyes set on the world stage, Zack is a consistent top ten finisher in the National Enduro Series.

Trials rider Craig lives in Wales and rides his Transmitter on steep singletrack, wide forestry roads and fun, techy descents.

Look out for Zack in the Enduro World Series this year and give him a massive cheer.

Craig has opened our eyes to what’s possible on a Transmitter.

She is also pretty formidable on the road too.

Scott loves pinning a number on and leaving everything out there. His favourite events are Rovaniemi 150, Battle on the Beach, Dirty Reiver 200 and Dorset Gravel Dash.

Go Zack!

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

SANTIAGO Reynolds Steel tourer

Speed was not a priority today. The weight of my tent and two weeks’ worth of stuff anchored me firmly to the road as I inched my way round the last cobbled switchback, summit in sight. Not so nice in the rain I thought to myself. Glance to the right, that view! Part Belgian berg, part Alpine col the way over Vršič pass, Slovenia’s highest paved road, would lead me down to my campsite in the Soca valley below.

FEEL Classic steel smoothness. In terms of comfort, it’s the closest thing you can get to riding your favourite armchair. It’s the bike for long winter rides or weeks away cycle touring. Santiago is the bike for riding around the world.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Reynolds 631 steel

Santiago Apex1 Flat Bar £1,149

Touring geometry Full rack & guard mounts [1] Cage mounts on forks [2]

COLOURS Grey

Santiago Rival1 Mechanical £1,299 Santiago Rival22 Hydraulic £1,549

Green

[1] [2]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

TOHOKU

Exploring Tohoku The world is so big, so where do you start exploring? For many years now my answer to that has been ‘at your front door.’ But back in the autumn I was invited to Japan to make a short film about the travel possibilities of Tohoku. Words by Alpkiteer Alastair Humphreys

What I discovered was an area perfect for gentle discovery by bikepacking or hiking. The first thing that appealed to me about the invitation was that I knew little about Tohoku. I once cycled the length of Japan and had always wanted to return: it is one of the most fascinating countries I have ever visited. For many people the word ‘Japan’ conjures up the chaos and bright lights of Tokyo. But just three hours from the massive energy of Tokyo is the slower, older, simpler land of Tohoku. Tohoku was an opportunity to get far away from the crowds, to leave the tourist trail, and immerse yourself in the normal, ordinary world of rural Japan that looks anything but normal or ordinary to my fresh eyes.

a pleasure. So I felt doubly appreciative on this visit to Tohoku to sit outside my tent on the shores of Lake Hibara. It was a mild evening after an enjoyable hike, with masses of stars above the tent, fish plopping in the lake, cicadas chirruping and the fire crackling. It’s always nice to stretch out your legs and look back up at a mountain you were recently looking down from. The scale of the 19th century’s eruption was very apparent from down here, with the whole northern side blasted away into a sheer, rocky fall. That eruption completely shifted the local ecosystem, resulting in a web of peaceful lakes rich with bird life.

Tohoku has a slow and relaxed atmosphere and was a satisfying region to travel slowly through. The culture and traditions remain strong, the landscapes are surprisingly peaceful and untouched. It felt accessible yet original to visit; comfortable yet with enough variety to feel as though I was exploring and being surprised.

I particularly enjoyed sharing the evening’s camp with two new friends who were working on the film we were making. I spend many nights sleeping under the stars, but in my new life of microadventures very few of them are in exotic places like Tohoku, and none of them generally involve all kinds of weird, crazy, unimaginable Japanese foodstuffs to stick on the barbecue...

The world is larger, richer and more varied than I can ever begin to appreciate. Choosing to go places that you know little about is one of the best (and easiest) ways I know to open yourself up to adventure and surprise.

I enjoyed playing a game in Japan which I called ‘chocolate or fish’: when eating a new, mystery food there’s always the moment of not quite knowing whether it’s going to taste of chocolate or fish!

The last time I was in northern Japan it was winter and extremely cold. Camping at night had been a challenge and a mission rather than

Food and drink are always at the heart of travelling, both the enjoyment of the reassuringly familiar in new places, and

“I enjoyed playing a game in Japan which I called ‘chocolate or fish’: when eating a new, mystery food there’s always the moment of not quite knowing whether it’s going to taste of chocolate or fish!”

Left: Tohoku is a region of Japan’s Honshu Island, known for its volcanoes, mountainous terrain and skiing. It’s home to the tiny, pine-covered islets of Matsushima Bay, and Lake Towada, a huge crater lake renowned for its bright blue colour and surrounding forests.

Right: Al rode his fully loaded Santiago.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

“However much you love your food, however knowledgeable you are about produce and cooking, you need spend only 10 minutes in a Japanese market to appreciate how little you actually know.”

the intangible cultural heritage based upon unique regional foods. The heightened appetite that comes with being active in the outdoors and sleeping under the stars turns even simple food into a meal to savour and remember, especially when combined with new people, new cultures and new places; this quiet lake so far from home.

apparently made particularly delicious by the nutrients leaching slowly into the bay from the forested hills all around), an old lady selling vegetables, a roadside honesty box for edamame beans, or the enthusiastic community drummers showcasing the region’s regeneration efforts after recent hard times.

However much you love your food, however knowledgeable you are about produce and cooking, you need spend only 10 minutes in a Japanese market to appreciate how little you actually know. Fruits you have never seen before. Vegetables you could not even imagine. Tofu ‘milkshakes’ which are surprisingly delicious. And a thousandand-one ways to eat a thousand-and-one sea creatures that you might not have ever considered putting in your mouth! The world is larger and more varied than I can ever begin to appreciate.

I went for dinner with a family who hosted me back when I cycled through Japan, though now with the addition of two young daughters. The girls taught me some origami and put me to shame with their violin playing. It was so lovely to see them all again. My journey round the world was filled with strangers who became friends, as well as the melancholy knowledge that I would never see the vast majority of them again.

In Tohoku, the language locals use, and the way they express themselves with words or art or music might be very different to what I am accustomed to at home, but I felt a universal connection above that – whether it was with a fifth generation oyster fisherman working hard to feed his family, and proud of the local heritage (his oysters

Miyako and Katsumi welcomed me back into their home with their customary good humour. Though 77 now, they both have a far better memory than I do. We reminisced about them teaching me chopsticks with a set designed for toddlers, and laughed at the debacle when I had to eat a fried egg with chopsticks. In some ways their life looks so foreign to mine (strange food, illegible writing, space age toilets with heated seats and magical sprays and

Despite the language struggle and the chopsticks and my inelegant shovelling of food, it felt exactly the same as a billion other happy family evenings across the world. The world is smaller than it appears. At times the sense of ‘sonder’ was almost overwhelming – that occasional realisation that every single person is living a life as rich and tangled as your own.

sound effects), yet our lives had far more in common. The two little girls were half bubbly, half shy; their dad was tired from work but still had to deal with an evening conference call; Miyako bustled and fussed in the kitchen while Katsumi slipped wearily away from the dining table for a whisky in front of the baseball on TV, motioning for me to join him on the sofa. Despite the language struggle and the chopsticks and my inelegant shovelling of food, it felt exactly the same as a billion other happy family evenings across the world. At times the sense of ‘sonder’ was almost overwhelming – that occasional realisation that every single person is living a life as rich and tangled as your own. We were all experiencing this exact moment, but in unique ways. So many fears and hopes and stories. Sonder comes on strong when I travel, drifting into lives I could not have imagined, shaking hands with people I never knew existed. And now here we were all together, our lives all containing this hour. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own – populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness – an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in

the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. There are a million stories that I will never know, more of everything than I could ever fully explore or understand. In many ways Japan is the most foreign, unusual culture that I know – it is rich, developed, educated and so on. But it is also so very different to everything I consider ‘normal’ in my world. Yet I felt at home in the hills and forests of Tohoku. Perhaps I always do when I’m out on my bike. And Japan is a fantastic country for cycle tourists. Exploring by bicycle is the best way I know for trying to make sense of places, indulging my curiosity and taking me to beautiful places far from the tourist’s map, like the bright yellow rice fields around Mount Bandai or a magnificent waterfall up winding, wooded, rural valleys. Riding the back roads of Tohoku, through Akiu, I felt the language of ‘welcome’, even without being able to speak the language. Also in Tohoku is the Michinoku Coastal Trail – Japan’s newest 1,000+km hiking trail along the Pacific Coast. If you’re on the lookout for a fascinating, little-known, longdistance challenge then this would be worth considering. Here’s a summary from the Michinoku Coastal Trail’s website:

As one of Japan’s more remote and less developed regions, Tohoku is known for its untamed nature and rugged landscapes, worlds away from the bright lights and tourism hubs of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. A land steeped in history, mythology, and folklore, Tohoku has retained its own identity over the centuries; from its charming and (at times, indecipherable) dialect to its ancient traditions and tales, occupying a unique space in the Japanese archipelago. And while the tourism boom continues to grip Japan, fewer than 2% of foreign travellers make their way to Tohoku, making it the ideal get-away for an authentic, off-thebeaten-path experience. I am increasingly convinced that the secret to exploration is curiosity. If you learn to look with fresh eyes at the world – to pay attention – and listen carefully to the sounds of nature you will discover new wonders all around you. And a simple (but not easy) way to make that happen is do something like launch out onto a long coastal trail that you have never heard of before, but are willing to go and explore and be surprised.

In ancient times, Japan’s north-eastern Tohoku region was known as ‘Michinoku’ – meaning ‘the end of the road.’ Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Bespoke titanium frames, meticulously designed in the UK and hand-built by specialist titanium-workers.

WHY WE LOVE TI 1. Ride feel: smooth and zingy like steel but at a fraction of the weight. 2. Hardiness: takes knocks and bumps brilliantly.

For many, owning a custom frame is the ultimate dream; geometry, feel and function combined with only you in mind and details matching exactly the journeys you have planned. A bike that makes you proudly say ‘that’s my bike’. With years of experience designing award-winning bikes, Neil and the team at Sonder

can turn the dream of owning a custom bike into a reality. The right head angle, the perfect top tube length. Shorter stays or an eccentric bottom bracket? As radical as you like. Whether your dream is a long-distance tourer that soothes your aches and pains or the perfect jump bike, we’ll take it from that initial spark in your

head all the way through to the finished article. Meticulously sketched here in the UK, hand-built by specialist titanium-workers and finally assembled at Alpkit Campus in Nottingham. Interested? Get in touch and tell us about the bike you’re dreaming of. Every one has a story. What’s yours?

3. Lasts a lifetime: doesn’t corrode or rust so you can ride it yearround, in all weathers. 4. Easy to recycle: most of the energy is used in refining the ore so recycling titanium is very worthwhile. 5. Self cleaning: when sunlight hits wet Ti, water can get between dust and oil so they float and flow apart.

DAVID’S CUSTOM BROKEN ROAD David wanted a bike for big trips; to cover huge miles with minimal maintenance. He also wanted it to work as a commuter steed and while he wanted gears, he didn’t want a rear mech. Neil designed David a custom Broken Road with Pinion gears and belt drive – the ultimate in low to no maintenance. As it’s a Broken Road it takes 29" wheels and 650bs, so there’s huge flexibility for different trips. 48

“I couldn’t believe how beautifully engineered it was. I couldn’t see the join in the frame for the belt drive.”

EVERY BIKE IS BUILT TO ORDER, HERE’S HOW TO GET YOURS. Choosing a new bike has to be one of the most exciting things we get to do. Ever. Buying your Sonder is a moment to savour.

1. BUILD

2. PAY

Use our Bike Builder to tell us exactly how you want your Sonder.

Credit/Debit Card

Different bars and a dropper post? Suspension upgrade and 650B wheels with a tubeless set-up? Questions during your build? We’re just at the end of the phone.

All major Cycle to Work schemes Finance with flexible options to suit you

3. WAIT IMPATIENTLY Your Sonder will be built at Alpkit Campus in Nottingham by Liam and his team of expert mechanics, and you’ll get a photo of your bike as it’s being built. We’ll give you tracking details so you can follow your bike on its way to you and it’ll arrive nearly fully assembled. Just put in the front wheel, bars and pedals and you’re good to go.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Our bikes are available to demo for free. Come along to our stores and you can take a bike to spin round for an hour or so. Or, go one step further and hire a Sonder bike to put it to its test on your local trails and home roads for a weekend or longer. We’ll deliver it to your door and arrange a pick-up when you’re done. And you’ll get a full refund of the rental cost should you go on and buy a Sonder bike.

28 DAY RIDE GUARANTEE If you don’t love your Sonder you can send it back to us for a no-quibble refund within 28 days.

COLIBRI Endurance road bike

The morning’s plan was 32 miles of premium Dartmoor, linking three classic climbs; the brutal Dartmeet, followed by the more drawn-out Widecombe in the Moor and finally Haytor Vale up to the impressive Haytor Rocks. Classic UK winter conditions too, but the high tempo and town sign sprints would keep us warm. Back in time for lunch. 50

FEEL The endurance road bike for remote roads and the toughest climbs, whatever the weather. It’s the bike for riding fast and smooth, day after day. Every day of the year. Take it to the Alps, ride Britain’s most remote and broken roads, choose it as your partner for ultra-endurance racing.

DETAILS

BUILDS

Choose from aluminium, titanium and carbon

Colibri Al Tiagra £999

Internal cable routing [1]

Colibri Carbon 105 £1,949

Tapered headtube

Colibri Ti Force22 £2,449

Tyre clearance to 36mm tyres [2]

COLOURS Raw Ti

Reef

Cage mounts on forks [3] Slate

[1]

[3]

[2]

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Bivvy-on-the-beach

If you’re into the mystical world of Audax, your perception of distance is somewhat skewed. So riding 300km to see your friend seems perfectly normal, and we commend that kind of attitude. Words and images by Sonder rider Grace Lambert-Smith

At the start of what would become one of the strangest years of my life, I took ownership of my new Sonder Colibri. I’d lusted after one for many months as, in my opinion, the Colibri ticks all the boxes. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realised that I need a bike that can do everything I want it to do and possibly more. I’ve realised that cycling holds the key to my happiness and there’s nothing more satisfying than riding a bike you truly love. This, dear reader, should be your first criteria when buying a new bike.

T H E N O R T H S E A

SHE F F I EL D HOPE

W E LLS - N E XT-T HE - S E A

N ORW IC H

BI R MI NGHAM

E N GL A ND C AM B R ID G E

L O N D ON

In any normal year, I like to ride for days at a time in lovely places. By that I mean I like taking part in Audax events (sometimes called Randonnees) but 2020 had other plans to which I’m sure you can also attest. As I look back now, Sia (that’s her name) and I had a great year. The spring and summer were brought some of the best weather we’ve had in years and we all know blue skies and bikes go together like peanut butter and jam sandwiches (which, by the way, have brought me back from the brink many a time). The mid-summer solstice was approaching and I hadn’t seen one of my closest friends, Jane, for months. We hatched a plan: she would ride from London (the long way) and I would ride from my home in the Hope Valley.

Newark-on-Trent symbolised the end of the rollercoaster of hills I’d plotted for myself. I’d hoped for a decent coffee in a regular Audax control (Gannet’s) but due to the pandemic, it was closed. Onwards, I thought, coffee will have to wait (blasphemy, I know). A micro-adventure like this one isn’t without its low points and this ride was no exception. I reached the junction of the A17 with no other option than to take this highway of headwind out of Heckington before ditching left into quieter lanes. I punctuated this small stretch of pain with an iced coffee at a petrol station and talked myself back on to the road for a couple more kilometres. Never before has a petrol station forecourt provided such respite.

“I’ve realised that cycling holds the key to my happiness and there’s nothing more satisfying than riding a bike you truly love.” Our destination: Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. The night before, I packed my PB&J sandwiches, stuffed my Elan bivvy bag in my front roll-bag along with my sleeping bag and other such bikepacking items in my saddlebag. A last weather and kit check and I bid farewell to the day with a 5:30am alarm clock set. I never sleep well before big rides – it must be the anticipation of what’s to come. Often it’s the adrenaline that gets me through the next day. I hadn’t ridden down that side of the country much, so was looking forward to uncharted territory. Having hills on my doorstep, it would be a nice change to be cruising along the Lincolnshire flats. My dynamo light lit the footpath from my house to the road but no sooner had I mounted my bike than the sun had risen and led the way as I pointed my bike east. I meandered my way through the Peak District’s peaceful roads with only horses, sheep and cows to say good morning to before hitting the outskirts of Chesterfield. Tempting as it was to find good coffee, I decided to crack on. I had 250km to cover before dinner time and a few more hills before I could sit happy in the big ring. I usually study the route in detail and note the landmarks to keep me buoyant during the tougher times. Remarks like, when’s the first hill? When’s the last hill? Which town is at halfway? What time is sunset? All these questions spin around in my head while my legs spin around my bike.

With that behind me, I could enjoy the flatlands and scenic potato fields of Lincolnshire. I accidentally routed myself straight through a potato farm, but what’s a long ride without a routing error? Jane and I sent each other voice messages as we homed in on Wells. The potatoes went straight to my head and I sent her a song about riding into headwinds and my frustration at the monotonous scenery. All in jest of course. The warm sun was beating down on me as I hit the surprise hills between King’s Lynn and Wells. Quaint cottages scattered themselves along the roadsides and as usual, I picked out the one I’d like to live in. I reached the High Street in Wells-nextthe-Sea where Jane waved me down with the promise of gin in a tin while we queued outside a chip shop. I hadn’t felt the sand and water on my toes for months, and after a day in the same shoes and socks, there was no better relief. Having waited for the sun to set to find our pitch for the night, we caught up on all the things best friends catch up on after time apart, again the adrenaline of the day just gone and anticipation of tomorrow in full flow. After months cooped up within the confines of my house, a ride like this felt like finding myself again. I still ‘had it’ and as long as I have my bike, I have everything I need.

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

Dream bikes

EVOL GX EAGLE

CORTEX GX EAGLE

SIGNAL TI GX EAGLE

TRANSMITTER GX EAGLE

FRONTIER NX EAGLE

Full-suspension 29er

Short-travel 29er

Aggressive 29er hardtail

Aggressive 27.5+ hardtail

29er hardtail trail bike

Hydroformed and custom butted 6061 alloy frame with 140mm through RockShox Deluxe RT Debonair rear shock

Hydroformed and custom butted 6061 alloy frame with 120mm through Cane Creek DB-IL Air

Signal Ti aeronautical grade titanium frame

Hand welded 6061-T6 triple butted frameset

6061 Aluminium frame

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate RC2

Cane Creek Helm MK2 Air

RockShox Pike Ultimate RCT3

Cane Creek Helm MK2 Air

Rockshox Reba RL

Brakes

SRAM Code R

SRAM G2 R

SRAM Level

Wheels

Sonder Alpha 29

Sonder Alpha 27.5

Sonder Nova 29

WTB Vigilante/WTB Trail Boss

WTB Ranger

Goldilocks geometry – Great for bike park laps, big mountain descents and pedals well uphill

Downcountry geometry – XC agility with Enduro stability

Aggressive Trail Bike Geometry

Stealth Dropper Routing

Internal cable routing

Boost 148 rear spacing

Internal cable routing

Metric Shock Standard

Triple bottle cages

Thru axle

Size-specific chainstay Lengths

Horst-link Suspension

Chain guide ready

Internal cable routing

Variable Chainstay lengths

29" & 27.5" compatible

14.9kg

14.7kg

12.65kg

13.8kg

12.2kg

Wheelbase

1213mm

1191m

1149mm

1169mm

1127mm

Reach

455mm

440mm

432.5mm

442.5mm

420mm

65 degrees

66 degrees

65 degrees

68 degrees

445mm

425mm

445mm

Build Specification

Frame

Fork

Tyres

Features

Metric Shock Standard Horst-link Suspension

Pannier Rack Mount

Boost 148 rear spacing

Internal cable routing

Bike Weight (Medium)

Head angle

Chainstay 445mm length

Prices and specs correct as of 20 March 2021 and subject to change

DIAL GX EAGLE

BROKEN ROAD PINION

CAMINO TI GRX

Race-tuned XC hardtail

Adventure trail bike

Award-winning gravel bike

Dial aluminium frame with race-tuned geometry

3Al/ 2.5V Aeronautical Grade Hand Welded Titanium Frame

Rockshox Sid SL Ultimate

Rockshox Reba RL

One piece carbon monocoque fork

SRAM Level TL

SRAM G2 R

Sonder Alpha XC

SANTIAGO RIVAL 22 HYDRAULIC

COLIBRI TI ULTEGRA

CONTINENTAL TWIN

Endurance road bike

Road tandem tourer

3Al/ 2.5V Aeronautical Grade Hand Welded Titanium Frame

Chromoly fork

Monocoque Carbon Fork with mudguard and cage mounts

One piece carbon monocoque fork

Shimano GRX

SRAM Rival 22

Shimano Ultegra

Shimano 105

Sonder Alpha 29

Sonder Alpha

Sonder Alpha 700C

Vision Team 30

Sonder Alpha 700C

WTB Ranger

WTB Resolute

WTB All Terrain

WTB Expanse

Fast & Sharp XC geometry

Adventure trail bike geometry

Touring Geometry

Internal cable routing

12mm thru-axles

Comfortable for miles and miles

Full rack & guard mounts

Tapered Headtube

Dropper post ready – reverb stealth port

Expedition Geometry – comfortable, confidence inspiring riding position

Full rack & guard mounts

700x50mm clearance

Cage mounts on forks

Tyre clearance to 36mm tyres

Internal cable routing

Adjustable sliding dropouts

Reynolds Steel Tourer

Reynolds 631 steel, cold worked, air hardened seat tube, top tube and down tube

Rack & guard mounts

Full external cable routing

Rack & guard mounts

650B & 700C compatible

650B+ ready

12mm bolt-thru axles

11.7kg

12.65kg

9.1kg

11.9kg

9.3kg

Subject to build

1114mm

1154mm

1040mm

1063mm

1014mm

Bespoke

435mm

430mm

385mm

390mm

Bespoke

69 degrees

68 degrees

71 degrees

72 degrees

Bespoke

430mm

440-460mm

435mm

450mm

420mm

Bespoke

148mm x 12mm dropouts

Every one has a story. What’s yours?

EVERY ONE HAS A STORY. WHAT’S YOURS?

Epic Rides 2021 - Sonder Book

Articles inside

DIAL

CAMINO

TWIN